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White Flag	By : bittsweetmis Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > Slash - Male/Male Views: 23910 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Twilight or any of their respective characters, they belong to JK Rowling, Stephanie Meyer and the appropriate publishing houses and film studios e.t.c. This is purely a work of fiction and no profit is made from

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
AN: Here�s Chapter 2! Thank you all for the amazing
response, and special thanks go to Kirallie
and The Group of One for betaing
this.

Feeling Low and
Lost

If you�re feeling low
and lost today,

You�re probably doing
too much again.

Do You Have a Little
Time � Dido

__________

Harry still could not find the words to talk as Remus
bundled him into the back of his Peugeot which had obviously seen better days.
The werewolf then stepped aside as a revived Petunia Dursley slid in next to
her nephew. A massive bruise was beginning to develop on one side of her face
and there was a small trickle of blood coming from a small cut on her temple
which had been caused by the impact with the table. Petunia�s hand easily
slipped into Harry�s. They looked at each other and knew that the relationship
between them had only strengthened under the recent bout of domestic violence.

�Will you both be okay here?� Remus asked from the pavement.
�I need to go inside and call the police. It�ll make sure that Vernon
and Dudley won�t be able to hurt either of
you. Is that alright with you, Mrs Dursley?�

�Petunia.� The woman corrected with a sniff. �Go on, I need
to have a talk with Harry that�s long overdue.�

�I�ll just be in the house, Cub.� Remus reassured Harry who
responded with a nod. Petunia and Harry watched as he hurried back into the
house.

Harry was the first to break the silence. �I knew he�d get
angry�he always gets angry. I just never thought that Uncle Vernon would
actually hit you.� He admitted quietly.

�Don�t call him you uncle anymore. He always was a brute.�
Petunia sighed sadly. �I had always been jealous of Lily. For me, it was so
unfair that she�d gotten magic and I hadn�t. I was rubbish at school, except
for art, mind you. I�d finished school with decent grades and gone to
university. Then when I left, your grandparents died and I was in so much
debt.�

�So, you married Vernon.�
It wasn�t a question.

�It was easy for him to think I was in love with him. Then I
became pregnant. It wasn�t planned of course.� Petunia pulled a face in memory.
�I refused to have an abortion, so we got married. Then it went to hell.�

�When did you tell him about the magic?� Harry asked
curiously. Petunia smirked in a way that was worthy of a Malfoy.

�I didn�t. I had him take me to your parent�s wedding. I
think I was hoping that he�d have a heart attack.�

�It certainly would
have made the world a better place.� Harry thought. �Aunt Petunia, after
all these years, why now? Why have you been horrible to me until now?�

�Vernon�s
a very�dominant man. If he wants something, you do it. He wanted me to be a
stay at home wife, so I never got a job even though I had my teaching degree. He
paid my student debts and in turn I stayed his wife after Dudley
was born. I had no money and there was no way I could be a single mother, let
alone afford a divorce, I hated myself for being so dependant on him. He took
my dislike of magic to a whole new level, and when you appeared on our
doorstep, I did what I could to make sure that you at least had a roof over
your head and food to eat. Then this year, while you were at school, I lucked
out. I�d finally managed to get proof of Vernon sleeping with another woman,
his secretary, and one of the local arts colleges needed a new teacher and
decided to hire me despite my lack of experience.� Petunia explained, staring
at her lap the whole time.

�So you�ll be able to support yourself and push the costs of
getting a quick divorce onto Vernon?�
Harry summed up.

�Yes, and I can finally be the aunt that you always needed
me to be.� Petunia said with determination in her voice before she clutched
Harry�s hand tighter. �Harry, you can�t believe how sorry I am.�

�It�s in the past now, it doesn�t matter anymore.�

That being said, Harry and Petunia turned their heads to the
house, wondering what was happening inside.

)(0)(

Remus returned to the house and immediately went into the
kitchen-dining area where Severus Snape was monitoring Vernon and Dudley with
open disgust.

�I guess he isn�t like his father at all then.� Severus grumbled,
acknowledging the other�s presence.

�We need to phone the muggle aurors and gather some things
for Harry and his aunt.� Remus said, picking up the phone and dialling 999.

�Mr Weasley is gathering Potter�s possessions as we speak, I
will pack some clothes for the woman.� Severus swept out of the room, sneering
at the unconscious bodies as he passed them. Bill Weasley nodded to him as he
came down the stairs bearing an empty owl cage and a broomstick in his hands.
The potions professor couldn�t help but grimace as he spotted the countless
photographs in the hallway which showed the muggle boy who resembled an
overweight pig. When Severus entered the master bedroom, he was surprised to
find that Petunia (for he wasn�t sure whether he could call her Mrs Dursley at
the moment) had already packed the majority of her belongings in several
suitcases which were hidden in the back of her wardrobe, and perched on top of
them was a box wrapped neatly in blue wrapping paper. The tag revealed that it
was for Harry. He shrunk the suitcases down and carried all of them in his
hands with the gift tucked under his arm. Once he was by the car, Severus
enlarged the suitcases, using several glamours to shield the act from any
muggle eyes. He passed the gift to Petunia with a silent nod and watched as
Potter opened it.

�It�s a mobile phone.� The boy announced softly. �I don�t
understand.�

�Happy early birthday, I suppose. It will never make up for sixteen
years of neglect, but please promise me you�ll stay in contact. I don�t care
whether it�s with that owl or with this, just as long as I know you�re safe,
you�re all I have left.� Petunia murmured, she held Potter close to her, and
from the expression on the boy�s face, it was probably the first time he had
been embraced by his aunt. His eyes were squeezed closed, with traces of tears
lingering at the edges.

�Yes,� Severus
decided at that moment. �I have most
definitely been wrong about the boy.�

)(0)(

The police arrived and had taken away Vernon
and Dudley as soon as they saw that damage
inflicted to Petunia. Then, Remus had driven Petunia to her new flat where she
would settle in before going to the police station to make her statement
against Vernon and maybe take a trip to the hospital for a check-up. Harry
agreed to stay in contact with his aunt, and was extremely grateful when he�d
been informed that he�d always be welcome to stay.

In the car, Remus drove whilst Severus sat in the passenger
seat. Bill sat next to Harry in the back and the youngest wizard couldn�t
decide whether the silence which had settled over the vehicle was awkward or
not.

Harry could have hit himself when he blurted out the first
question he thought of. �Remus, why do you have a car? You�re a wizard.� Bill
laughed loudly and ruffled Harry�s already messy hair whilst Severus groaned
into his hand.

�I never cease to be amazed by your complete lack of sense,
Potter.�

Remus cast Harry an amused look through the rear-view
mirror. �Well, when one�s a werewolf, it�s generally easier to integrate
ourselves into muggle society. Before I started teaching Defence at Hogwarts, I
worked as a nurse in a hospital and also tutored part-time to make ends meet. I
needed a car to get around, seeing as I could not apparate everywhere.�

�What about the full moon?� Bill asked, apparently
interested.

�I just said that I had to take a regular leave on the days
surrounding it for �religious reasons�. Nobody really asks after that, they
just thought I was into that New Age stuff.�

�How smart of you,
Wolf.�

�Only Snape can make a
compliment sound like an insult.� Harry thought with some disdain. However,
he was confused at how agreeable his professor was being.

Remus once again caught Harry�s eye in the mirror. �Harry,�
he said in a stern voice, �we will be
talking about what happened back there, okay? Who knows what would have
happened if we hadn�t gotten you out of there. You could have been killed.� The stern tone in the former
professor�s voice quickly became worried. Something which could only make guilt
gnaw in Harry�s gut.

�Remus, that was a one time thing.� Bill interjected, �At
least, judging by Petunia and Harry�s reactions. There was no way that anyone
could have predicted it.�

The werewolf�s worries were not placated by the eldest
Weasley child�s words. If anything, his tightened grip on the steering wheel
showed that he was even more anxious about the situation.

�Bill�s right. Vernon�s
never hit me or Aunt Petunia before. He was angry because they�re getting
divorced. He had an affair and Aunt Petunia wanted to leave him for a long
time.� Harry confirmed. �He�s always been an angry person�this is the angriest
I�ve ever seen him.�

�Potter, that doesn�t excuse that oaf�s actions.� Snape
spat.

�I�m not saying that it does!� Harry retorted loudly. �And
besides, what the Hell are you and Bill doing here? I thought this was meant to
be kept from The Order!�

Bill opened his mouth to try and calm his brother�s best
friend whilst Severus made to berate him. However, Remus cut them both off.
�There�s no need to be rude, Harry.� He said in his �teacher�s voice�. �I
offered to bring Bill along, seeing as we shall be living together soon, and
Severus was going to tell Dumbledore.� He ignored the withering glare that
Snape sent his way.

Harry was content with this answer. �Oh, okay. Sorry for
snapping Bill.� He apologised sheepishly, Severus huffed from the front seat
when he was left out.

Bill smiled back. �No probl-� He was startled when Harry
suddenly shot up in his seat, a shocked expression on his face.

�W-wait a second. Living together? I thought Grimmauld Place was full with Shacklebolt and Tonks?� He
exclaimed.

Remus sighed heavily. �We�re both going to be living
together, away from Grimmauld Place�� He
trailed off, unsure of how to break the news to his cub. Several weeks of
procrastination had been ruined by his own slip of tongue.

�Where are you moving to?� Harry urged, worried. �No this can�t be happening!� He thought
in despair. �Remus can�t be leaving me
too!�

Bill chose to speak for the werewolf, realising how hard it
must be for him. �Harry, Gringott�s recently gave me a promotion, which would
mean that I�d have to leave Britain.
Remus can�t stay here either. He�s still hurting from Sirius. Also, it�s
becoming increasingly hard for werewolves to get jobs in the wizarding world
and even harder to escape prejudice, especially now that You-Know-Who�s back.
Dumbledore�s own methods are also questionable. You know that.� His voice was
level as he tried to explain the situation in the best way possible. �Do you
understand why this is necessary?�

�Yes, I do.� Harry said, staring at his lap. �Where are you
both moving to?� �I guess�I guess I�m
just being selfish. I probably deserve all of this.�

�To America.
Bill�s job is in the wizarding community in Washington State,
so we�re going to settle down in a small town nearby.� Remus� heart nearly
broke when he saw the devastated look on his cub�s face.

�I-I see.� �It�s all
my fault anyway.�

�Harry, whatever you�re thinking, stop it.� Everyone in the
car was startled by the strict tone in Bill�s order. The red-headed male�s face
was clouded in something that was akin to anger, but not quite.

�Bill, stop it.� Remus requested softly from the front when
he saw how Harry�s eyes had widened.

�No, I won�t, Remus. This needs to be said.� Bill�s tone was
hard and domineering, it demanded attention. �Harry, whatever it is that you�re
thinking, it needs to stop. It�s bad, your face is an open book, so don�t even
thing about lying. First of all, you didn�t even let us finish, and secondly, do
you really think that Remus is so heartless to leave you alone at a time like
this?�

�N-no.� Harry replied in a whisper.

�Exactly, he wouldn�t. Which is why for the last couple of
weeks he�s been trying to figure out ways to ask you to join us in America.�
Bill�s frustration with Harry turned into confusion when the boy appeared to be
even more upset by this news.

�What is it now, Potter?� Snape asked from the front, even
though he already knew what the problem was. �I wish that blasted prophecy never existed.�

�I-It�s not that I don�t want to go with you guys to America, it�s
the one thing I want to do the most in the world. It�s just that I can�t�Voldemort��
Harry trailed off.

�Voldemort has nothing to do with this!� Remus exclaimed. �I
have no idea what Dumbledore�s been telling you recently, but you do not have to defeat Voldemort. Yes, you
defeated him the first time, but it�s not like it�s written in stone that you
have to defeat him a second time.�

The werewolf felt his heart crumble a little bit more when
his ears were only met with silence. One look at his old classmate�s face told
him everything he needed to know, and as Bill leaned against his seatbelt to
give Harry, whose eyes were welling with tears, an awkward hug, the only sound
that could be heard in that one moment was the hissed �Fuck.� which escaped the
lips of a werewolf who had experienced more hardships than anyone ever should.

)(0)(

Neville Longbottom was bad at many things. This was proven
many times during his time at Hogwarts, especially by one Severus Snape.
However, even though he did not have many academic achievements outside of
Herbology, he was still smart at other things. He could be described almost as
the opposite to Hermione Granger. So of course, whilst Hermione was bad at
dealing with emotions, Neville felt that he was quite empathetic. So when he
had first arrived at Grimmauld Place after
his grandmother had been taken ill, he chose to stay quiet after he had been
told about The Order of the Phoenix
by Auror Shacklebolt and Professor McGonagall upon sensing the sombre
atmosphere which surrounded the rather macabre looking house. When he had first
accidently woken up the portrait of Walburga Black (by knocking over a vase
with wilted flowers), Neville had been more stunned by the volume at which the
deceased woman spoke rather than what she actually said (for everyone knew that
Draco Malfoy could say something much fowler in half the time).

Then, Mrs Weasley had arrived with Ron and Ginny in tow
during the same afternoon, and Neville was pleased to know that he would be
sharing a room with his class and dorm-mate as well as with Harry when he was
due to arrive � whenever that was. On the first night at Grimmauld
Place, Neville had opened his mouth, about to ask if Ron wanted
him to turn off the light, when the hot-blooded Gryffindor decided to blurt out
all of the secrets that the decrepit house held. In less than ten minutes,
Neville knew everything, he knew about Sirius, about how he was an animagus and
innocent of charges. He also knew how important the deceased man was to Harry, because
after the man fell through the odd curtain at the Ministry, his friend and
Professor Lupin�s reactions resembled that of pure grief.

Still, when Ron smiled sheepishly and apologised, �Sorry
mate, I just needed to get that off my chest, y�know?� Neville couldn�t help
but feel disappointed in his friend.

�I don�t see why, I was at the Department of Mysteries too.
I already guessed half of that already. And besides, none of that was for you
to tell, it should have been Harry or even Professor Lupin telling me that.�

�Err�right�d�ya mind turning off the light now? I�m
knackered.� Ron asked sheepishly, not sure how else he could have responded.

Neville silently did as he was asked; he couldn�t say
anything else about the matter. He would just hope that Ron had taken in his
words and would learn his lesson.

The next day had been awkward to say the least. Ron had
decided to stick to Ginny and carry out the chores which Mrs Weasley set whilst
Neville decided to explore the small greenhouse outside and see if he could salvage
anything from the mess of weeds and foliage. Whilst he went about weeding the
miniature forest, the Gryffindor began to ponder about what it was that
happened at breakfast. He smiled victoriously as he uncovered some Honking
Daffodil bulbs and set them aside. Ron had been avoiding meeting his gaze,
which made Neville think that the other boy still felt a bit guilty, and Ginny
kept sending him these odd, tiny smiles. They scared the living daylights out
of him. Sure, Neville had taken the girl to the ball, but that was ages go and
she was Ron�s baby sister! The whole notion was just plain wrong.

Neville had sat down at the table and watched as Ron�s mum
cooked up a storm. He�d offered to set the table but the woman glared at him
and declared that he was a guest. Then Remus Lupin had entered the kitchen,
looking slightly disorientated upon spotting Neville nursing a large mug of tea.
To his credit, the former professor had recovered from his confusion quite
quickly as soon as he received a mug of hot chocolate.

�I�m sorry,� The man had apologised when Neville told him
about his grandmother.

�It�s alright. Gran�s been ill for a bit now, so I should
have expected it a lot earlier.� Neville confessed, earning a sympathetic look
from Mrs Weasley who ushered her children out of the room. �They that she�s
going to be in hospital for the next couple of months, but I�m scared that she
won�t recover. When I went to St. Mungo�s to visit Gran, she looked so frail � it
made it all real.�

�Everybody has there own time, there�s nothing you can do
about it.� Remus sighed sadly. Neville was slightly grateful for the man�s
words, he hadn�t tried to sugar-coat the situation like the healers at the
hospital had.

�Professor Lupin, about that man � Sirius Black�� Neville began
hesitantly.

�I must admit that I�m being incredibly hypocritical when it
comes to Sirius. I�m afraid that I won�t be able to ever believe that my friend
is dead until I know exactly what that Veil does. For some reason I can�t let
go and I know I won�t find the answers here. And please, call me Remus; I�m not
exactly your professor now, am I?� Remus said with a small reassuring smile
having easily guessed that Neville was about to ask how he was coping.

�Okay, Prof-Mr�Err Remus.� Neville stammered, causing the
werewolf to laugh warmly.

�I guess it is a bit strange to be talking to your teacher
in a familiar manner.� He chuckled before looking up at the clock. �Well Mr
Longbottom, I must be off. Bill Weasley will be arriving at any minute and I
suppose I should really greet him.� He took both of the now empty mugs and set
them in the sink where a sponge immediately went to scrubbing at them.

�Alright, Professor. Umm, I saw that you had a greenhouse in
the back garden, would it be alright if I took a look at it?� The younger
Gryffindor asked as they both entered the hallway.

The russet-haired man thought carefully for a moment. �That
should be fine, I guess. But nobody�s been there for a while so I imagine that
it�s all a big mess. Be careful and make sure you take the proper equipment.
Don�t forget that a very dark family used to live here so there will more than
likely be some very dangerous plants. Oh, and don�t worry if you see Kreacher
lurking about. He�s harmless�but if he does trouble you, get Tonks to help you
out, okay? She�s off today�

�Sure. See you later Professor!� Neville said before he shot
up the stairs in order to get his tools. He barely missed Remus calling out, �I
told you, it�s Remus!�

When he�d gotten his gear (protective gloves, goggles and
earmuffs alongside a trowel, a sturdy pair of secateurs and some spare pots),
Neville ran into Auror Shacklebolt (�Call me Kingsley.�) in the hallway and
escorted the man downstairs. He answered all the questions the other man asked him
about school with a polite smile. Downstairs, Remus had just left the drawing
room with Bill Weasley in tow. The red-headed man looked exactly as how Harry
had described him a few years ago.

Neville noted how Remus stiffened when he and Kingsley
approached the bottom of the stairs, and wondered why. �Remus, Bill.� Kingsley
greeted with a nod of his head. �Molly, Ron and your sister are cleaning the
rooms upstairs if you want them.�

Bill opened his mouth to reply but Remus beat him to it.
�Actually Kingsley, we were just on our way out.� He said hastily. Bill nodded
in agreement, confused, like Neville, about the Marauder�s complete change in
attitude.

�Remus, about last night, I said I was so-� Kingsley began.

�Leave it Kingsley.� Remus practically ordered. �If we have
to talk about what happened, then we can do it later.� He gave Kingsley a
meaningful look before dragging a frowning Bill towards the door. Kingsley just
shook his head and went into the drawing room, probably to use the Floo.

�Are you okay, Remus?� Bill asked as he handed the
aforementioned man a light brown coat.

�I�ll explain in the car.� He replied just before Professor
Snape barged in through the front door, causing Neville�s heart to do a tiny
tap dance of fear.

�Where are you off to, Wolf?� The Potions Master sneered.

�We�re going to get Harry.� Bill said for the other man who
was fiddling with his buttons. Neville�s heart began to settle slightly with
this news, his excitement about seeing his friend rising against his fear of
Snape.

Snape frowned at this. �The Headmaster said that-�

�Oh, I can�t be bothered with what Dumbledore has to say,
Severus!� Remus snapped before brushing past him and through the open door.
Bill followed, shaking his head and pausing quickly to give Neville an
encouraging grin. Neville was about to go into cardiac arrest when he realised
that he�d more than likely have to deal with his dreaded teacher alone.
However, that was not the case as the man took one glance at Neville before
swearing and following Remus out the door.

Neville could breathe easy until the door closed with a
massive slam, awakening the portrait of Mrs Black.

�FILTHY BLOOD TRAITORS!�

Neville dropped his tools with a squeak and immediately went
to wrestle with the heavy drapes surrounding the painting.

)(0)(

As soon as they had arrived at Grimmauld
Place, Harry immediately went to the room that he�d be sharing
with Ron and Neville. He put his things away and put his share of Aunt
Petunia�s cuttings by the window. �Maybe
Neville can help me with these.� Not feeling up to seeing Ginny and Ron,
despite being the latter�s best friend, Harry thought that he�d go see his
other mate. Hopefully he wouldn�t run into Remus or Snape, he couldn�t stand
seeing the grief on Remus� face and didn�t want to hear what Snape would say
after finding out what his home life was like. He was in luck as he only
crossed paths with Professor Dumbledore in the hallway. The Headmaster was
entering the kitchen where Harry guessed an Order meeting was about to take
place.

�Ah, Harry, my boy!� The oddly dressed man greeted. �How are
you? All good I hope?� He didn�t wait for an answer. �I shall be gone in a
minute � important things to discuss. I do believe Miss Granger will be
arriving shortly, I shall make sure she is sent your way. Young Mr. Weasley is
awfully busy with Molly and Miss Weasley.� Here, Harry nodded mutely. �I was
just wondering why it is that you are here now? I thought that we had agreed
that you would be joining us next week. The blood wards��

�My aunt and uncle just split up, and she just moved house.
I was going to stay with her, but Uncle Vernon kicked me out of the house when
she was out, so I rang Professor Lupin at a payphone.�

�Ah, that is a shame. I trust that you will be staying with
your aunt on your birthday?�

Harry nodded quickly, anxious to be out of the man�s
presence � he wasn�t sure why, he just didn�t feel comfortable where he was. �Excuse
me Professor, I think I�m going to go find Neville now.�

�I do believe he�s in the greenhouse, my boy.� Dumbledore
informed him with a smile.

�Thank you, Professor.� Harry muttered before he hurried to
his destination.

�What the hell is
wrong with me?� �He thought bitterly.
Wrestling open the door, Harry smile benevolently at Neville who was covered in
dirt. �Hullo Neville,� He smiled. �Want some help?� He laughed softly when the
dirt-ridden boy jumped, startled by Harry�s sudden presence.

�Oh! H-hiya Harry! You okay?� Neville asked, worried.

Harry sank to his knees next to him and silently began
pulling at some shrieking weeds. Both boys settled down to work, Neville
listening intently when Harry began to tell him about what had passed at his
home in Surrey, omitting the parts about the prophecy. Hermione Granger soon
joined them, bearing lunch and other snacks to tide the three of them until the
evening, and quickly began regaling them with tales of her holiday so far and
her brief encounter with Ron who had somehow been able to ruffle her feathers
when they had crossed outside the kitchen. Harry grinned at this and handed his
friend a rusty trowel, �C�mon Miss Smarty-pants!� He laughed at her outraged
expression, �It�s priceless when she
can�t think of a comeback!�

Hermione snatched the trowel with a huff. �You�re doing it
all wrong! You need to be more gentle!�

Harry looked at Neville who just shrugged. �She�s right.�
Hermione looked like the cat that got the cream.

The three of them had unintentionally worked well into the
evening, and because the greenhouse was quite small they had been able to get rid of most of the
weeds and save any plants worth saving. Ron had joined them at some point, but
he was content to watch the other three work and make conversation (as well as
complain about the boys that Ginny had been seeing lately).Harry was grateful
when Neville didn�t mention anything that he had told him and Hermione and Ron
hadn�t asked questions about his summer. He had a funny feeling that Ron would
lose his temper and Hermione would blow it out of proportion. Like many
important events in his life, Harry decided that it was best to just let go. It
was over and there was nothing that neither he nor anyone could do about it.

�Right then,� Neville announced, rising up from his kneeling
position and wiping his forehead with his sleeve. �I reckon that�s enough for
today. Anyone else fancy some dinner?�

�Too right mate!� Ron grinned. �All that hard work�s given
me a massive appetite.�

Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes at each other as they
both got up and tried to get rid of the dirt that was caked on them.

�I�m gonna go ahead and grab a quick shower.� Ron said
before he vanished from the greenhouse, leaving behind Hermione�s �Typical!�

The three remaining Gryffindors trudged back into the house.
�The meeting must have finished by now.� Harry mumbled as they crept in the
hallway.

�I don�t think so; I can still hear some voices from the
kitchen.� Neville muttered. Hermione frowned at this and motioned for the boys
to follow her towards a hidden alcove.

�It�s too muffled!� She complained.

Harry hissed something under his breath, to quick for the
others to hear. �Triwizard Tournament.� He muttered, not meeting their
inquisitive gazes. Hermione smiled in sympathy, but soon her attention was
diverted by the rising volume of voices coming from the kitchen. It was McGonagall
and Dumbledore.

�How dare you!� The Transfiguration teacher shouted, her
students were surprised by the fury in her voice. �You evil, manipulative man!�

�Minerva, please see reason!� The headmaster seemed to beg.

�You must be joking! Do you know how many people died
because of your pure selfishness and need for power? Lily and James died
because of you! Some of my best students!� She began to sob.

�There was no other way!�

�No other way to do what Albus?!?�� Minerva shouted. �Please. Tell me why you
needed to make up a prophecy about Harry and Voldemort! Tell me why half of
Wizarding Britain
was murdered because of you! Tell me why you have made us live through two
wars!� She demanded, her voice rising with her anger.

Silence followed.

�You are an evil bastard�why have we all been so blind?�
Minerva sighed in resignation. �You wait until everyone else finds out about
this.�

�I�m sorry, Minnie�.Obliviate.�
There was a thump as a body hit the floor and a brief sound of scuffling and a
chair being moved.

Harry, Hermione and Neville were invisible to the Headmaster
from their position as he waltzed out of Grimmauld Place
not a care in the world. Hermione breathed deeply. �Harry, are you okay?� She
asked hesitantly. Her greatest friend was still, almost as if he was petrified,
the only signs that he wasn�t were his harsh breathing and the stream of fierce
tears flowing from his eyes.

�That prophecy he was talking about was the one from the
Department of Mysteries, wasn�t it?� Neville asked.

��Neither can live
while the other survives.�� Harry hissed bitterly. An odd strangled noise
escaped his mouth as he fought down wracking sobs. Hermione�s eyes widened in
realisation, �If that prophecy was fake,
then all those people died for nothing�that includes Sirius and Cedric!�

Neville held
Harry�s shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting way, however, both he and
Hermione were startled when Harry tore away from them and ran upstairs. They
both followed, instantly forgetting about Minerva McGonagall who was waking up
at the kitchen table incredibly confused. Her eyes narrowed as she easily recognised
the symptoms she was experiencing.

)(0)(

Remus sighed into his firewhiskey, glad that the order
meeting was over. �I wonder what Minerva
wanted to talk to Albus about�� He once again found himself in the library
mulling over the many texts that the Black family had left behind. He made a
mental note to take most of them away with him for further perusal. Since the
news of the prophecy had arisen, Remus remained unsure of how he should take
the news, he felt numb whenever he thought about it. �Maybe it�s the shock.�

Across from him sat Severus and Bill, they were both
discussing way�s of making a person untraceable. Remus decided to start paying
attention to their conversation for he found himself often glancing at the
bureau where the transfer papers resided.

�I�ve heard of this one spell�I think it�s from a book by Alden.�
Bill began.

�Ah yes, Alden�s Basic Defence. That book was a load of
nonsense.� Severus grumbled.

�They didn�t work?� Remus questioned curiously.

�They did, but there are simpler ways to achieve the same
effects. Unfortunately for him, Aldren�s forte was Charms rather than Defence.�

Bill snorted. �Didn�t he get murdered by a grindylow?� He
asked incredulously.

�My point exactly.�

Remus was about to suggest Miller�s spell that was mainly
used by hunters who tracked beasts when the door slammed open with a huge bang.

�Potter! What in Merlin�s name?� Severus exclaimed. As soon
as he said this, Remus found his text knocked from his hands as a crying Harry
clutched to his jumper with balled fists.

�Cub?! What on Earth happened?! Are you okay?� Remus asked,
panicked at the state the boy was in.

Harry�s body shuddered with the force of his sobs. �It�it
was�a lie!� He choked out. �Th-they�all�d-died for�.nothing!� Remus began to
soothe him with hushing noises and by stroking his hair like he�d seen Lily do.
The younger wizard began to calm down slightly, his moans becoming less
frequent.

�Neville, Hermione! What is Harry talking about?� Bill
demanded from the other students who were breathing hard after running up the
stairs after their friend.

�We w-were coming out of the greenhouse, but we heard
Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore talking in the kitchen.� Neville began.

�And then Harry cast this spell on the kitchen to make what
they were saying clearer!� Hermione continued.

Severus felt his patience wearing thin. �Get to the point
you blasted Gryffindors!� He hissed with venom.

�Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall were arguing!�
Hermione said for Neville who was stunned by the malice in the Potions
professor�s voice.

Bill laid a placating on Severus� shoulder before the
teacher could open his mouth again. �And?� He prompted. �Then what happened?�

�Professor McGonagall said that Professor Dumbledore made up
a prophecy about Harry and Voldemort!� Hermione exclaimed.

�Then D-Dumbledore used obliviate
on McGonagall and left!� Neville finished.

The adults all remained in stunned silence, taking in the
massive wave of information that had been thrust upon them so suddenly. Harry
was still shaking within Remus� comforting embrace and Severus soon found his
body numbly moving to the doorway. �I shall see to Minerva.� He said stiffly. �Lily�� The door clicked shut after his
departure.

�Remus?� Bill asked, unsure of where he was needed.

�Pass me those forms on the table and a quill with ink.�
Remus requested with a tired smile. He passed Harry into the other man�s
freckled arms where Hermione was instantly by his side.

Neville looked at the papers in the ex-teacher�s hands and
frowned slightly. �Pr-Remus, do you have another copy of those forms?� Neville
asked softly, his mind already made up. At Remus� questioning gaze, Neville
quickly added. �I-I promise I�ll help anyway I can! I want to be there for
Harry in any way possible!�

Remus nodded, satisfied with his answer. �In the drawer,
we�ll be able to get rid of The Trace in America, but we�ll still be living
our lives as muggles for the most part.�

�I�ll stay here and keep track of things for you guys.�
Hermione said. �You are still taking NEWTs aren�t you?� She asked.

�Yes, both Harry and Neville will be homeschooled in Magic,
then they can choose to come here or stay in America to take their exams.� Remus
said, realising that he hadn�t fully explained what would be happening.

�Sound�s good, eh Harry?� Bill asked the boy in his arms. He
was relieved when the black haired wizard had fully stopped crying.

�Mmm.� Harry mumbled sleepily into the red-head�s chest. �America sounds
wonderful.�

Remus picked up the quill and put it to the paper. �Excellent!
We�ll leave after both your birthdays.�

It sounded like a very good plan indeed.

)(0)(

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