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Harry Potter and the Unusual Alliance	By : RikuRocks Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 5752 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Harry Potter, nor am I making any money from this work of fiction.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Chapter 19: Number Thirteen, Tête-à-tête Lane.
Harry heard Draco call his name as he felt Remus� arm fall across his chest and a hand on his shoulder just before he was due to crash to the ground. The werewolf made sure Harry was standing on his own before releasing him.
"Are you alright?" asked Draco as he approached Harry's other side.
"Yeah, just didn't quite prepare for stopping," answered the raven-haired boy.
"Would you like a moment to regain your bearings before we continue?" asked Remus kindly.
"Yeah, thanks," Harry answered as he looked around the room they had emerged into.
It appeared to be a sitting room, although it was smaller than the ones in Grimmauld Place and Privet Drive; it also had a much cozier feel to it than the rooms in either of those places. It was far neater and decidedly less magical in appearance than the sitting room in the Burrow as well. The room had the same comfortable feel that Remus' bedroom in Grimmauld Place possessed.
"This is yours?" asked Harry as he turned to the lycanthrope.
"Yes, it used to belong to my parents." Remus replied softly and walked in to a small kitchenette that separated from the sitting room by only half a wall.
"Where are they?" Harry asked as Remus returned with three glasses of pumpkin juice; the question earned him a reproachful glance from Draco.
Remus stopped in his tracks and appeared to consider his answer for the span of a heartbeat before he finally replied. "They passed away some time ago, I'm afraid." He then proceeded to hand each of the teens a glass of juice.
Harry was debating just how insensitive and inappropriate it would be to ask any further questions when Draco commented on a charcoal drawing in an attempt to change the subject.
"That's a very intriguing piece." The blonde indicated a Muggle style sketch of what appeared to be the Grim bowing its head in a cemetery. "I take it the artist is a Muggle? What's their name?"
"Half blood," corrected Remus, without actually looking at the drawing. "I drew that a long time ago," he continued as he finally turned his eyes to the sketch. "Sirius loved it for some reason, and insisted I put it over the mantel."
"Is it Padfoot?" asked Harry quietly, for the animal in the painting looked exactly as his godfather had while in his Animagus form, only thicker and with a slightly better groomed appearance. Harry figured this is what he had looked like before Azkaban.
"Yes it is," Remus turned to the bespectacled teen and proceeded to answer the other questions that the boy was not sure he should ask. "I did it shortly after he was sent to Azkaban. If one were to look closely enough, they would find the graves marked for Wormtail, your parents, my parents, and a few other members of the original Order of the Phoenix. I suppose it was my attempt at a lament for those we lost in the war."
Both boys stared at the heavily detailed drawing. "That's a lot to lose," Draco said softly.
"We weren't as well prepared then, we didn't have the warning we did this time, and the war lasted for years longer than this one is most likely going to," commented Remus gently. "Hopefully, we'll be able to prevent so many lives from being lost again. We're already doing much better than the last time."
Harry just now noticed that, as Remus was speaking, he had rummaged in his own rucksack and pulled out a stout bottle filled with a mucky concoction that the bespectacled boy recognized as Polyjuice potion.
"What's that for?"
"I have a plan I would like to suggest, if you don't mind;" the lycanthrope politely.
"Of course I don't mind." Harry looked to Draco, who had turned his attention to Remus as well, "Draco; do you?"
"Not at all," answered the blonde, "Actually I'd rather like to hear it."
Harry smiled at the fair boy before returning his attention to Remus, who wore a small smile of his own.
"I did some thinking last night, after you said you wanted to go to Godric's Hollow today," began the werewolf. "While no one there may know either of you personally, most will know of and possibly have met your parents�and you each look too much like them for us to expect the likeness to go unquestioned."
"So you want us to take Polyjuice potion to disguise ourselves?" asked Harry.
"Yes," Remus looked concerned for a moment; "Neither of you are particularly safe out in the open. If Voldemort were to hear rumors that you were seen there� And we cannot rule out the possibility that he has Death Eaters stationed there."
"That sounds reasonable," commented Draco and Harry nodded his agreement.
"What about you?" questioned the raven-haired boy. "Would people there recognize you? You said you lived there with Sirius for awhile, and I'm sure you visited my parents at some point."
"I tend to keep to myself -although thanks to Sirius and James, I'm sure there are a few who would remember me, assuming that they still live there of course," explained Remus. "However, Polyjuice potion is only designed for human use, and anyway, those that will recognize me will most likely avoid me like a plague victim."
Harry was confused for a moment and then he noticed Draco's slightly shamed expression and then annoyance replaced his confusion. "You mean because Snape ousted you as a werewolf?"
Remus nodded; "It's all right Harry, please don't be so angry�and Draco, you have done nothing to be ashamed of in this instance. After all, you kept my secret for a time as well."
"Only because Snape asked me to," murmured the pale boy.
"I appreciate it just the same;" the lycanthrope replied kindly.
"Any chance they haven't heard yet?" asked Harry.
"I'm afraid not," said Remus levelly. "Word of a werewolf teaching at the most renowned Wizarding school in Britain spreads quickly. However, since that would mean they heard I was teaching, that will be our cover."
"That's brilliant," Draco commented quietly.
"What is? I think I'm missing something," said Harry.
"Well for starters, most witches and Wizards are not going to stop to talk to a known werewolf," explained Draco, to which Remus nodded his confirmation. "�And those few that do can be lead to believe he's our professor who's taking us on an educational excursion of one of the most historically notable Wizarding communities."
Harry blinked at that. "One of the�?"
"Harry, Wizards from all over Britain travel to Godric's Hollow�some as tourists, some as historians, and some for educational purposes," explained Remus. "It was the birthplace of Godric Gryffindor; the location where the first Golden Snitch was created; the first community where magical and non-magical people truly co-existed well after the Statute of Secrecy came into effect; the location where Lord Voldemort fell�And where, for the first time in history, someone survived the killing curse. It�s also the home or former home of several historically famous wizards and witches."
Harry wondered how he had never known how renowned his old hometown was. "Oh, but won't they know that you don't work at Hogwarts anymore?"
"Harry," Draco answered instead of Remus, who looked torn between amusement, concern, and a gentle fondness of the confused Gryffindor. "Not all Wizarding families can afford to send their children off to school; so they teach them at home, either themselves or by hiring private magical tutors. Although it's unlikely that anyone would hire a known werewolf."
Draco turned to Remus, who had schooled his features into his usual kind and mild expression. "Isn't that going to be a problem?"
"The odds of anyone actually stopping to speak to me, and likewise either of you whilst you're with me are low," stated the lycanthrope. "However if they do ask you about it, simply say that your family could not afford another teacher and that I do not stay with you, so your parents deemed it worth a try."
Harry considered this for a moment; even Ron, who had known, liked, and respected Lupin for a year, and who was from the most tolerant pureblood Wizarding family Harry knew of, had reacted poorly to the news of Remus' affliction at first. Then, his thoughts turned to people like Delores Umbridge, Lucius Malfoy, and Viktor Focey. "Remus�? They wouldn't hurt you�would they?"
Remus hesitated for a brief moment before answering solemnly. "That is always a possibility, Harry; and if that happens, then I want you and Draco to stay out of it."
"It isn't that likely in Godric's Hollow," the blonde hastened to add. "There aren't many purebloods like my family there. It's a mixed community, and no one who is that intolerant is going to live in a village that accepts Muggles, Muggle-borns, and half bloods so freely."
Remus nodded desolately, "It is less of a concern there than most magical communities."
"Was it like this before Voldemort?" asked Harry with his eyes narrowed. "What about when he was in power last time?"
"Due to my condition, I didn't have very much interaction with other people until I went to Hogwarts; my family always kept my lycanthropy a secret as well as they could," said Remus in a carefully neutral tone. "Voldemort was already well on the rise by then, so I think I came to know the worst that society has to offer, as it did improve after he fell. It's starting to get bad out there again now, but I think we're in for a bigger improvement afterwards this time."
"Yeah, well, in the meantime if someone attacks you, you can't expect us to just step out of the way and wait for it to be done with," commented Harry heatedly.
"Actually, he can," say Draco quietly with a saddened glance toward the bespectacled boy; "Everyone else will�assuming someone doesn't decide to assist his attacker."
"What?" Harry turned from the grey-eyed boy to the werewolf and then back again. Both appeared more concerned by his reaction than the fact they were presenting. It was as if they had resigned themselves to accept the situation as it were.
"I don't agree with that line thinking," Draco stated quickly, "Especially not after I met Lupin�but my parents and most of their friends wouldn't even consider stopping someone from harming a werewolf. Some of their associates certainly would help the aggressor cause greater damage. I'd like to think that most wouldn't go that far, but I can assure you that most witches and wizards aren't going to risk any trouble over a werewolf."
Harry turned to Remus, hoping that he might say Draco was wrong, but the expression on his scarred face was that of pained resignation. Harry remembered Remus telling him once of his amazement that the other marauders had not abandoned him upon learning what he was. "But that's�"
He could not find the words to express the injustice and general wrongness that he felt, but then he realized that he did not have to. The two people he was speaking to had known this long before Harry and Hermione started discussing the rights and unfair treatment of non-humans.
"I think we've become a little sidetracked," Remus interjected gently. "Perhaps we should finish this discussion another time and return to the task at hand for now."
Harry nodded feebly, his mind still fighting back images of tortured werewolves that were ignored the people that could help them.
Draco slowly turned his attention from Harry to Lupin. "So our cover is that we're brothers being escorted by our professor on an educational trip to see some of the historical sights the village has to offer?"
"Yes, very good," answered the former professor. He pulled two small, clear bags out of the front pocket of his rucksack; they looked like the ones Harry had seen his aunt receive her jewelry back in from the cleaners. Inside of one bag were a few wavy light brown hairs and a few sleek dark blonde hairs were inside the other.
With a flick of his wand, two glasses flew out of a kitchen cupboard and through the open space between the kitchenette and the sitting room to where Remus caught them. He shook the bottle of Ployjuice potion before pouring half of its contents into one glass and the remaining half in the other, and then he added the hairs. Both potions smoked briefly, before the first turned a translucent silvery-blue color and the other an opaque olive green.
"How are we getting to Godric's Hollow?" asked Harry as he eyed the potions distastefully�he remembered the foul flavor from his second year all too well. "Apparation?"
"We could," Remus responded with a slow nod, "Or we could Floo from here to Sirius' old place."
"Won't the current owners have some complaints about that?" questioned Draco.
"It�s the home Sirius and I shared once upon a time; he left it to me. I just say 'Sirius' old place' simply because I cannot think of it as anything other than Sirius' place, and given the circumstances�" Remus trailed off with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"Sirius left you some things?" asked Harry as his attention was once again on the werewolf.
Remus nodded with an uncertain look upon his face. "Is that a problem?" he asked in a tone of concern and genuine curiosity.
"No! Of course not," the green-eyed boy responded quickly, and then added in a calmer tone; "It's just that Dumbledore said he left me everything�"
"He did leave nearly everything to you, Harry," said Remus in a consoling tone. "He loved you very much�"
"It's not that," said Harry. "Why would Dumbledore lie about the will?"
"Perhaps he didn't know," commented Draco in tone that was both comforting and curious.
"He knew," the raven-haired boy said thoughtfully. "He would have heard about it when the will was read�right?"
The blonde nodded, "That's right."
Remus seemed to be considering this, "Perhaps he didn't want you to become distracted. He had already told you some important facts on your last meeting�and I imagine he had more to tell you still."
Harry blinked as he took in what Remus had just said, or more importantly, what he did not say. He recalled the conversation he and his friends had listened to using the extendable ears a few days previously, and the thought he had back then increased. Remus knows more than he lets on.
Harry wondered just how much the lycanthrope knew�
"Do you know what Dumbledore told me that night? After�" Harry swallowed, and then knew by the change of expression on his scarred face, that Remus understood which night he meant.
"He spoke to me briefly after he was finished with Fudge," Remus replied mildly. "I was upset, and�I may have been brasher than was strictly necessary. In any case, I told him if he did not explain, then I would."
The first odd thought to cross Harry's mind was that Remus' idea of behaving brashly was probably much tamer than most people's definition of the word. After that, his mind produced questions that he was not sure of the answers to; would Dumbledore have told Harry of the prophecy that evening if Remus had not given him that ultimatum? Had the headmaster still intended on protecting Harry through ignorance? Was the explanation that Remus suggested for his lie the real reason behind it?
The words protect through ignorance and become distracted seemed to leap into the forefront of Harry's mind. Suddenly, he understood. Dumbledore had been trying to protect his feelings again by not telling him the whole truth.
The raven-haired boy did not think that he would have questioned it if he had known that Sirius remembered Remus in his will. However, had he simply mentioned it to Ron and Hermione -as he most likely would have at some point- they might have voiced the opinion that they had not mentioned until a couple of days ago as it were. Harry would then have realized that his mistake had not only lead to Sirius death and his own grief and anguish, but Remus' as well. He also would have realized the extent of that anguish, and at the time, he would have blamed himself for it.
Now, he thought back to Remus' words that same day he argued with Mrs. Weasley: "The only one at fault for that night is Lord Voldemort."

Suddenly that entire evening -Sirius' death and the following events, including the farewell at Kings Cross station- held new meaning for Harry. He looked at Remus with renewed respect and trust. "Which do you think is a better idea? Apparation or Floo, I mean," he asked.
"There are advantages to each," answered the werewolf thoughtfully. "Floo would be more discreet; Apparation will not be monitored. However, the Ministry will not know who used the Floo, and there is no reason for them to question why three people traveled from here to Godric's Hollow."
"Is there a reason for them to notice at all?" asked Draco. "I haven't heard anything about them watching the Floo network anymore closely than usual. Although admittedly, I haven't been keeping up with the news as of late��
"They're paying closer attention than usual," Remus commented lightly. "Normally, one doesn't need to worry unless they travel somewhere that would draw attention and be questioned. Of course, when the home is owned by a registered werewolf�they tend to take note."
"But since you own both houses, won't they just assume you decided to go to your other place?" questioned the emaciated blonde.
"Or just decided to see some of those historical sites you mentioned?" added Harry. "You are the educational sort."
"They also don't have any way of knowing exactly who used the Floo," commented Draco thoughtfully. "You could have just allowed some people from Grimmauld to use your place there for their trip, and they came here first to ask permission or pick up a spare key."
"All are practical," said Remus with a small nod and a faint smile. "This is why I said it would be more discreet. Due to the fact that it is not an all magical community, not many Apparate there unless going straight to their homes, and there are anti-Apparation wards on Sirius' place there."
"Floo sounds like a better choice then," said Harry as he glanced at Draco, who nodded. Then the bespectacled boy returned his attention to Remus. "Who are we supposed to be?"
The hairs turned out to belong to two secondary school-age Muggle boys, and had been obtained by Fred and George, even though they had not know whom the hairs were for. The boys made up the names Keith and Robert Jennings, but decided that they would avoid offering their names if it were possible without arousing suspicion.
Once their aliases were established, the boys drank the potions. Harry, who had taken the olive green one, turned into a boy about his own age; with short and sleek dirty blonde hair, a squared jaw, and hazel eyes that did not require glasses. He was a little more powerfully built than his usual self was, and slightly taller as well.
Draco transformed into a boy who was a year or so younger than himself, with light brown hair that fell just past his shoulders in waves, and teal eyes. He was still slight, but not as thin as his current emaciated form, and not as tall as he normally was. His face was also less angular than usual.
After their appearances and clothing had been adjusted, the boys picked up their rucksacks again and stood by the fireplace with Remus. Their former professor threw a pinch of Floo powder into the flames -which immediately turned emerald green- and said "Number thirteen, Tête-à-tête Lane".
As they had planned before doing so, Remus left first, and after a couple minutes wait, Draco followed, and finally Harry.
Harry was saved from falling face first into the ground once again, this time by Draco, whom he nearly toppled over. When they straightened out, Harry looked around at what had once been the home of his godfather and, for a time, Remus as well.
It was clearly not as large or grand at the houses that Sirius had lived in before, with his parents and later Harry's grandparents, although it was clearly larger and finer than the humble yet cozy cottage to which Remus had been accustomed. The walls were not covered in expensive wallpaper as they were in Grimmauld Place, nor were they the simple wood of Lupin Cottage, but were painted in soft hues that varied from room to room. Soft, pale carpet covered the floors. Sheets of cloth currently covered the furniture and wall hangings, and the drapes over the windows were pulled closed.
Despite the obvious signs that the place had not been lived in for some time, it had just as clearly been cared for over that time, and still had a bright, clean, and inviting feel to it.
They had come out in the sitting room. Harry could see that a wide door to his left led to a kitchen, and a stairwell beyond that door seemed to lead to a small hall. Leaning over and looking up, Harry could tell that it led to two bedrooms, with a bathroom beside the smaller one, and what was most likely a linen closet.
Looking around briefly, the bespectacled boy could definitely see Sirius and Remus -now that he knew so much more about them- living here happily for the few years that they could. Perhaps they would have his parents or Peter over sometimes, while others they would spend happily in the company of no one save for each other.
For a moment, Harry wondered if he had ever been in this place before, as well as how many times he would have been if his parents had never decided to trust Peter over their other friends.
"Harry? Are you alright?" asked Draco quietly from beside the green-eyed boy. "Do you usually have difficulties gaining your bearings after Flooing?"
"What?" Harry turned to see the blonde watching him with an expression that was part concern and part confusion. "No, I was just thinking� I'm fine."
Draco nodded as his expression changed to one of understanding. Harry noticed that he did not find this to be as irritating or frustrating as when Hermione adopted a similar expression.
Then the silver-eyed boy spoke quietly and his words proved to Harry that he truly did understand. "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like now, if my parents had made different choices in the past�or if I had."
Harry smiled slightly. "This would have been like a second home to me. Or possibly my only home, if Pettigrew had been caught after that night," he added in an undertone.
Before either boy could continue the conversation, Remus re-entered the room. "Everything here seems fine. Where do you want to go first?"
Both Remus and Draco looked at Harry in a manner that said it was completely up to him, and the raven-haired boy appreciated that they each understood what it meant to him to be here. He looked at Remus as he answered, "Would you mind if we stopped by my parents' graves? I've never seen them�at least, I don't think I have."
The expression Remus offered Harry was sympathetic and oddly shamed, but his voice hinted at nothing but kindness when he responded. "Of course, Harry. I'm sorry that�" The werewolf took a deep breath and seemed to change his mind about whatever he had been about to say. "You haven't been there since their funeral," he said in answer of Harry's questioning statement.
The bespectacled boy was not sure what to react to first. He shared a surreptitious glance with Draco before responding. "I went to my parents' funeral?"
"Yes," said Remus gently. "The rest of Lily's friends were surprised when Petunia arrived, but of course she wanted to pay her final respects to her sister. As for all that happened afterwards�well that I had expected."
"All that happened afterwards�?" questioned Harry, both surprised and curious.
"She didn't want anything to do with the magical community, which everyone who knew Lily was already aware of," Remus commented regretfully. "However, I had hoped, since I can pass for a Muggle just as well as I can pass for a human, that she might allow me to have some contact with you. Nonetheless, that was a fruitless effort. I still tried sending you cards for your birthday and Christmas -the Muggle way of course- but I think she was simply too afraid."
"You sent me cards?" asked Harry confoundedly. "I never received them�"
"I know," replied the werewolf in the same sad, gentle tone. "I am sorry, Harry. I would have done you more harm than good if I had pushed the matter."
"Why couldn't someone else have written to him?" asked Draco bewilderedly, looking back and forth between the other two wizards. "I mean, I don�t know anyone who would allow a werewolf to correspond with their children, but why couldn't Shacklebolt or Dumbledore have written?"
"My aunt hates magic," said Harry bluntly; "She thinks were a bunch of abnormal freaks. I didn't even know that I was a wizard until I received my Hogwarts letter. If I had been in correspondence with Remus all those years, I would have asked him about some of the funny things that seemed to happen around me, and she couldn't take the risk that he might explain it all."
"You never�?" Draco stared into Harry's eyes for a moment, clearly taken aback, and then his expression turned to indignation. "How could she keep something like that from you? What was Dumbledore thinking, giving you to someone like that? Plenty of families would have taken you in and not treated you like a freak. How could anyone think that of you? Even-"
"Draco, its okay," interrupted Harry. He noticed that Remus looked torn between amusement and agreement at the blonde's rant.
Harry himself had to stave off a grin as the indignant Slytherin responded resentfully, "It is not okay."
"All right," soothed the bespectacled boy, "But I'm over it. She didn't like me and I didn't like her. I'm never going back there again, so it doesn't matter anymore. I have Remus, Ron, Hermione, you, Hagrid, The Weasleys, and most of the Order, I don't need her."
The grey-eyed boy sighed; "Well you're right about that much. I'm sorry. I didn't meant to-"
"No that's alright," interrupted Harry, who could no longer fight the grin pulling at his lips. "Actually, I don't think I've ever seen anyone get that indignant on my behalf before; thanks."
"I have a feeling I'm not the first," said Draco with a glance toward Lupin, "Just the first to show those feelings in your presence."
"I think you're right," said Harry with a glance toward the werewolf. "So, can we go now?" He looked from Draco to Remus.
The raven-haired boy had rarely thought of it before, but now that he was here, he really wanted to see his parents' graves. He also was quite pleased that he would share that experience with these two people.
Both Draco and Remus nodded, and then the three wizards left the house. Harry saw that the cottage was actually one of the smaller ones on the street. The garden, while not as neat as the ones belonging to the cottages on either side, was not as overgrown as he would have expected.
Remus stopped to pick a handful of some long flowers of various hues of purple from the slightly overgrown garden. "Lupines," he said when Harry looked at the flowers in confusion. "Your mother thought it was a charming idea to plant them when I moved in with Sirius. He didn't have a garden before, and they soon took over the yard, so Sirius and I used to bring her and James some whenever either of us stopped by.
�After some time, both James and Sirius told me that they started relating the scent with home; they each also asked me not to tell the other that they had said something so sentimental. I still always bring them some when I stop by. Feel free to pick some if you'd like."
Harry stooped and picked a handful of the flowers, making sure to take in their scent discreetly as he did so. He was trying to figure out how to keep them all together when Draco said, "Here," and tore off a strip from a fine vine from the fence, which seemed to contain several white flowers that had yet to bloom fully.
Harry was intrigued that that the blonde had forgone magic yet again as he watched pale, slender hands tie the vine around the flower stalks.
"Any idea what those are?" The bespectacled boy asked as they all continued walking down the garden path to the street.
"Moon flowers," answered the blonde. "They only bloom at night. My mother had some in her garden. She said that way it was beautiful no matter what time she decided to visit it."
"Did you know what these were when you planted them?" Harry asked the werewolf.
"Sirius did," replied Remus with a small smile. "He thought they were an appropriate compliment to the lupines."
Harry smiled to himself as they turned up the street and continued walking. The cottages that flanked the street looked warm and comfortable; some were larger than others, obviously intended for families. Each home had a garden or a nicely kept lawn in front. He could see why his parents and godparents had wanted to live here.
After walking for nearly two blocks, they came upon the village square. There were shops of the magical and Muggle variety all around a small park in the centre. As they entered the square, Harry could hear music from the local pub and smell fresh baked goods from the bakery. People, some in robes, others in skirts or trousers, talked and laughed as they did their shopping.
Harry was reminded of the mixed awe and excitement he felt on his first trip to Diagon Alley.
"Let's cut through the park," Remus said as he turned his head to see Harry. "I think you'll like it."
"Alright," Harry responded with another grin. He could not have said what he expected Godric's Hollow to be like before, but it certainly had not been this. Perhaps because it was a Wizarding village, he had thought the news of Voldemort's return would disrupt the people's daily lives much more than it appeared to.
A circular path spiraled throughout the park, and white stone benches lined it. Harry noticed that the backrest of each bench has a historical fact about the village carved into it. Some told of the births of famous witches or wizards, others of great deeds or inventions that originated in the community.
In the centre of the park was a pond with an island in the middle, and on this island was a large white marble statue of Godric Gryffindor. He wore long robes and held a familiar sword as well as a shield with a crest that Harry recognized after years of living in Gryffindor tower. Carved into the plinth that the statue stood upon were the dates of his birth and death, along with a brief biography.
They had only walked a few steps past the statue when Remus paused and indicated a bench to their right. Harry took a few steps closer to read the words carved into the white stone.

31 October 1981: On this day the infamous dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort fell. His reign of terror ended here in Godric's Hollow at number 16 Rowan Avenue, a site that remains untouched to this day. Also on that night, Harold James Potter, born in Godric's Hollow to a family that had resided here for many generations, became the first wizard in history to survive the killing curse.

Harry felt a cool, slender hand slip into his as he stood staring at the bench. He turned his head to look at Draco as he gave the hand a small squeeze. Then both boys quickly dropped their hands to their sides, and Harry turned to look at Remus.
"Number sixteen, Rowan Avenue�They haven't touched it?" He said as he glanced back at the bench.
Remus took a few steps forward to stand beside the raven-haired boy. "They cast a few charms to preserve it and protect it from theft. Aside from that, it's been left as a historical landmark."
"Will those charms be a problem?" asked Draco from Harry's other side.
"Not for us," Remus replied quietly. "I've been in there before, and Harry is technically the owner, now that he is of age."
"I think it should stay a -what did you call it? - historical landmark," said Harry.
The bespectacled boy was surprised and touched by the monument, but was equally pleased that it had been kept so simple, stating only the facts and given no more attention than any of the other Witches and Wizards whose deeds were carved into the other benches. He liked the idea of those events being looked upon as simply another part of Wizarding history.
Remus wore a slight smile, and Draco gave Harry a small nod to show his approval of the decision. Then all three turned and continued across the park. Every now and then, Remus would point out another bench that depicted a person or an event, which might be of interest to the two boys, or Draco would notice a name that he would point out to Harry as he told him more about the witch or wizard to whom the bench was dedicated.
Harry noticed a church across the street ahead of them when Remus led them out of the park. It did not appear to advertise any particular denomination, and had large stained glass windows all around. At first glance, Harry thought that there was a large meadow behind the church, but as they crossed the street, he realized that it was actually a cemetery.
They followed a stone walkway around the side of the church, and passed through a kissing gate that led to the cemetery. Then Harry followed Remus past several rows of gravestones; after the seventh, Remus slowed and said, "You're grandparents are down this row."
"I'd like to see them," Harry stated before Remus had to say anything further. "If you don't mind a detour, that is."
"Of course not, Harry," said Remus kindly. "Anything you want to do is fine."
"This is important to you," added Draco. "It's just as worth the time as the other reason we came here."
"I quite agree," commented Remus as he turned down the path. Harry walked beside him, with Draco following a few steps behind.
They only stood by his grandparents' graves for a moment. Remus told Harry a little about them, and Harry was interested to learn that he was named after his grandfather. Remus took two flowers from the bunch he had picked and gave them to Harry to leave at each of his grandparents' headstones.
Then they moved up a few more rows until Remus stopped them once again. This time they had reached the graves they came here to see, which were side by side and marked with headstones of rose-colored marble. Harry read the one directly before him:

James Matthew Potter

27 March 1960 - 31 October 1981

Beloved Friend, Husband, & Father.

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."

And on the stone directly to the right of it was written,

Lily Anne Potter

30 January 1960 - 31 October 1981

Beloved Friend, Sister, Wife, & Mother.

"Eternal life for one who trusts.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope."

Harry looked from one grave to the other. He could not say that he felt particularly sad; in fact, he felt a strange sort of relief. He had known for nearly the whole of his life that his parents were gone and could never return, and now he had finally seen their graves and the town they had lived in.
He found the words chosen for their headstones to be perfect. From what he knew of them, they each might have told him these things themselves, had he known them.
As Harry laid his homemade bouquet down between the headstones, he noticed two things that he thought he should have before. One was that there was already a bouquet of lilies lying before his mother's grave, and the second, was that Remus was standing before the grave to the left of James', which lay slightly further away from it than Lily's did.
Harry took a couple steps backward so that he could see the grave without leaving his parents', and stopped in shock almost as soon as he made out the writing on the grey marble headstone.

Sirius Orion Black

2 February 1960 - 20 June 1996

Treasured Friend, Lover, & Godfather.

"And when teachings were pumped into me and I was told, 'this is beautiful and this is good', I would think to myself: 'yes, but there is something more, something very secret that people don't know about'."

Remus kneeled to lay half of the flowers he had picked at Sirius' grave as he murmured something Harry could not discern, and then he stood and laid the rest of the flowers at James and Lily's graves. When Remus moved to stand beside him again, Harry noticed the grave on the other side of Sirius', which was slightly nearer to it than James' was.

Remus John Lupin

10 March 1960 -

Treasured Friend & Lover.

"As a child I felt myself to be alone, and today I am still solitary, because I know things and must hint at things which others do not know -and usually do not even want to know."

Harry blinked, and when the gravestone remained the same, turned to his former professor. "Remus�? Why do you have a tombstone?"
"It was Sirius' doing," answered the werewolf. "When James told him that he was purchasing these lots to ensure that he and Lily would always have a place beside each other, Sirius decided it was a brilliant idea and that he wanted the same for us."
Harry thought that this sounded like Sirius, as all three fell into a companionable silence for a moment.
"I don't recognize any of these epitaphs," said Draco. "Are they personal quotes?"
"No," answered Remus. "Lily's is from the Christian Bible; James' is a quote from a Muggle singer named Ella Fitzgerald. Sirius chose his and mine from a book that he borrowed from me some time ago."
"My dad chose a quote from a Muggle singer?" Harry questioned before remembering that Remus not only had a Muggle mother, but a fondness for Muggle music. He quickly added, "Not that there's anything wrong with that. It actually sounds quite suiting for him. I just-"
"It's alright, Harry," interrupted Remus gently. "I know what you meant. James never listened to Muggle music until he married Lily. Once during our sixth year at Hogwarts, he was trying to explain to Sirius why he kept pursuing Lily even though she always turned him down. He was struggling with his explanation and that quote seemed to sum up the points he was trying to make, so I suggested it, and he loved it.�
The werewolf smiled softly, �James made me write it down for him, and it remained his motto from then on."
"I could se that," said Harry with a small smile. "Actually, I agree with Draco, all of these sounds like something each of you might have said."
Remus nodded, "I think so too."
After a moment, Remus' attention turned to the lilies by Lily's headstone. "Did you add the lupine to that?" he asked as he pointed to the bouquet.
Harry looked closely at the bouquet, and noticed that there was a pale violet lupine hidden amongst the lilies. "No, I hadn't even noticed it."
Remus shifted his eyes to glance discreetly around the cemetery. Harry and Draco followed suite, but saw nothing suspicious. The churchyard was empty save for them, and an elderly couple in wizards robes who were laying a garland of wildflowers by a grave several yards away.
The lycanthrope kneeled and discreetly slipped the lupine out of Lily's bouquet. He appeared to pick at the stalk, until he pulled away a bit of tissue paper that matched the flower stem perfectly and was rolled tightly around it. Remus held the slip of paper open and at an angle that allowed Harry and Draco to read it as he did.

Lupin,

It seems we have both taken to stopping by before we undertake particularly dangerous tasks. I trust you know that each of your current endeavors fall under this category. When he has finished there, tell my protégé to meet me at the place where he first learned the difference between masking your fears and facing them. Tell him to come during the day. He will know the rest. He may allow the other to accompany him, if he wishes it. -PS

The brief missive began to burn away slowly, without ever catching fire. If one were watching, they might have thought that Remus lit some incense and placed it on the ground before the James and Lily's graves.
"Who was that from?" questioned Harry.
"Snape," answered Remus, and Draco nodded as though that had been what he thought too.
"He didn't finish it," said Harry.
"What do you mean?" asked Remus.
"It said PS at the end, but there wasn't any postscript afterwards," the green-eyed boy responded.
"It wasn't a postscript, it was his way of signing off without giving his name," explained Draco.
"PS?" repeated Harry.
"Prince-Snape," said Remus, "His mother and father's surnames."
"Or Prince Severus," suggested Harry� "He was the Half-Blood Prince." If this surprised or confused either of his companions, then they did not show it. Harry had not expected it to.
"Did you understand the message he left for you?" Remus asked Draco.
"Yes," replied the blonde. "What about the warning he left you?"
"Yes," responded Remus, "I understood it."
"Do either of you have the feeling that we should get moving?" questioned Harry as he glanced about the cemetery.
"Yes," replied both Draco and Remus, and then all three turned and left the cemetery.
"Where are we headed?" asked Draco quietly as they passed the church.
"To number sixteen, Rowan Avenue," answered Harry, and the teens allowed Remus to lead them down the square.
Author's note: The book referred to here, is Memories, Dreams, Reflections by C. G. Jung. Remus accurately credits all other epitaphs in this chapter.

I used Harry and Draco�s usual descriptions even while they under the effects of the Polyjuice potion in order to avoid confusion and wordiness. I�ll make it clear when the potion has worn off in the next chapter. I made up James and Lily�s middle names for this story.
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Harry Potter and the Unusual Alliance