Chapter 39 Revelations

Harry's POV

The first thing Harry did the next morning was get Dobby to pop a letter to Amelia Bones. He made sure to tell her his suspicion of Snape's part of the downfall of his and Neville's parents. So that she would know what to question him about. He was positive the man knew more about what happened than he ever let on. It might be one of the reasons he was such a bastard to them, so he had been told. It was probably misdirected guilt. He wouldn't put it past the greasy git to blame them for what happened, or didn't happen, as the case may be.

When he was done sending that off, he went downstairs and joined his friends. The twins were there looking elated and smug. "What are you two up to?" he asked merrily, knowing that whatever it was, it should be fun.

"We'll tell you guys after classes. We need to work a few more… ideas? Thoughts? Well there are a few wrinkles that need to be straightened out, but don't worry you're gonna like it," Fred said, clapping the shorter teen on the back. They had spent all their free time doing this, and were very hopeful that Harry, at least, could pull it off. It might save the boy's life, who knew.

"Yes, we're sure it's something you'll beat yourself up over not having tried it sooner," George stated with a wicked grin as he too gave Harry a clap on the back.

And with that the lookalikes started whistling and moved ahead of the three fourth-year Gryffindors. The ones left back looked at each other and shrugged, and then they went to pick up Luna, who was more than happy to see them. She greeted them all with a hug, maybe a bit longer for Harry, but still they all got one.

A good part of her happiness was because she wasn't picked on anymore, thanks to the anti-bullying wards, which reacted in kind to whatever the perpetrator did. If they stole her clothes, then theirs would disappear. If they cornered her, the armor would reciprocate.

One time, a bold girl attempted to hex her. She was left standing in the hallway much like Malfoy and his cronies were. Everyone who had classes along that corridor saw her. The fallout was massive, for the her, in that the girl was the topic of conversation for a week. Her boyfriend broke up with her, after he was told that it was the wards that did that to her. She was shunned by many of her pacifist housemates. Even Flitwick took her aside and scolded her. Now the snotty girls of Ravenclaw left Luna in peace.

"Well, we have plans for after classes it seems," Neville said, and then informed her about what the twins said.

"Oh goody, I've been waiting for this," she said, clapping her hands and bouncing down the hall. The boys watched her perky arse, until Hermione harrumphed.

"Luna," Harry called her back, making her stop until they caught up. "Aren't you going to tell us?" he asked with a charming smile. She just grinned and shook her head, and then commenced to skipping again. "Well, if it makes her that happy, then it can't be that bad, right?" he asked, sharing a look with the other two. Not that he didn't trust the twins and Luna, but with her happy acceptance, well he was unsure as to what to expect.

"I don't know; she's pulled pranks with the twins before. All in the guise of teaching them the new magic," Neville answered with some trepidation.

It was how they found out how far the wards would be pushed. If there was no intent to harm, most pranks went off without a hitch. However, if they were meant to do more than get some laughs, then the prankster was the one who got pranked. George wanted to get revenge on someone on the Slytherin quidditch team for cheating, but since it was payback, it was the redhead who spent the day with a tail and horns until Poppy could remove them. They weren't set to fade and had to be taken off by a professional. The potion he had put in the other boy's juice wound up in his. Needless to say, the two jokesters were very careful about their pranks after that.

Luna was a good guide for the lookalikes. She made sure they stayed on track yet had fun.

"Still, she doesn't appear to have that look in her eyes, so I'm going to call it a win," Harry said as they finally made it to the Great Hall. They went to their table and joined the little blonde. The amnesiac would spend the day with his godfather, while the others attended classes. He'd ask him about the soul piece and what to do with it. Then meet the others this afternoon, and then hopefully they'd find out what the twins were up to.

Amelia's POV

Amelia was just finishing her morning tea, when the house elf popped in and gave her a letter. She read it and decided that she would question Snape today. She finished off some paperwork, secured her office, grabbed two Aurors, and made her way to Azkaban.

The dark foreboding island was not a place she liked to go. There was no warden, there was no spell casting, the was no hope for the prisoners to escape, or so they thought until Black and Crouch Jr. left. It was only outside the building that the guards could use magic. There were no lower security cellblocks, everyone suffered the same no matter what the crime. Since the Wizarding World deemed prisoners as too dangerous to be taken out of their cells, there was no interrogation room. The only way to keep the Dementors off was a charmed necklace that was obtained from the gate guards.

Getting said necklaces, she and her Aurors made their way to Snape's cell. She had no choice but to question him here, making her heave a great sigh that this could condemn the man even more. Not that he'd ever leave, most prisoners died before they got out. Only those sentenced to serve minimal time were lucky enough to get reprieved with their minds intact. She still had no idea how Black did it, though Crouch Jr was quite mad.

When the greasy man saw the woman who put him here, he sneered, looking down his long-hooked nose at her. He was dirty, greasier than ever, and angry. Oh, so very angry. It was his self-righteous indignation that was keeping him from going stark raving mad, unlike the Death Eaters near him, who were all insane. He was sure that everything he did was justifiable; therefore, he was not meant to be locked up, not while Black and Dumbledore were free. Sure, the Headmaster escaped, but the old man could've rescued him as well. After everything he had done for the man, Albus just left him to hang. He should have known that Potter would come first. He always does. While those thoughts and feelings didn't keep the Dementors away, it did make their aura… less. His Occlumency helped as well.

"Mr. Snape, I have a few questions to ask you," Bones said, holding up a familiar vial of clear liquid. "We can do this the easy way, or…" she jiggled the small bottle to finish that sentence.

"What do you want to know?" the greasy man asked, leaning against the wall casually.

"First, what can you tell me about Albus Dumbledore? Where would he hide? What is so important that he would flee? Why does he want to talk to Mr. Potter?" she fired off, setting up her pen and paper.

"I cannot tell you where he is. He lived at the castle year-round, so I am not privy to any of his houses. There is a prophecy that predicts that Potter is the one who will vanquish the Dark Lord. Albus is certain he will return and that only the brat will defeat him," he sneered at the thought, not bothering to keep his voice down. He could care less what these people thought, they were never going to leave. Well, unless the Dark Lord got his body back, but Snape was condemned anyway. That statement caused the Death Eaters in that cellblock to start screaming that Snape was a traitor. The man just scoffed at them. "I only know the first part, but it does say that a child born as the seventh month dies will be the one to do it."

"How do you know this?" she asked, angry that the old man kept this secret. This was vital information. If she had known she would've done more to keep her department from being depleted to a skeletal crew. Now, she was going to have to get the boy to the Ministry to hear it. She needed to be prepared.

"I was there when Trelawney spouted it," he answered with a shrug. "I was a loyal Death Eater then and went straight to the Dark Lord to let him know." He heard his prison mates once again take up the call. He knew when the Dark Lord came back, his life was forfeit. Right now, he could care less.

"When did you turn spy?" she asked. That had always bothered her, spies could not be trusted unless they truly reformed. She doubted this man had. From what she heard about his treatment of the student, no, he was still an… enemy, maybe that was too harsh, but he was not a good man.

"When I found out that the Potters were a target. Lily was my best friend as a child, and I didn't want to see her dead," he snarled out, not wanting to think about the worst moment of his life. It would drive the Dementors into a feeding frenzy. He would always hold her dearest in his heart, and he blamed both of his masters for her death. "I begged both Dumbledore and the Dark Lord to protect her. They both failed. It was at that time that I relied only on myself. I played at being a good boy to Dumbledore, while keeping the Death Eaters thinking I was still loyal. Both sides bought it. Idiots, all of them," he laughed at the fools in his life.

"Let me get this straight, it was your word that put the Potters, and the Longbottoms, in jeopardy?" she asked in a snarl. They had thought it was Black all this time. Now, even though the man was free, she was going to have to tell the Wizengamot. More years might be added to this man's sentence, not that he seemed to care. "And Dumbledore knew you knew?" She was getting very tired of the Headmaster's games.

"Of course, he knew, there is little that gets past that man. His brother was the one to throw me out. You might want to ask him where Albus is. Besides, what did I care about some child? At that time, I was very faithful. You can blame Dumbledore for that as well," Severus said, just wanting this woman to go away, so he could wallow in his feelings.

These questions were reminding him of all he lost, and the years of misery that he endured at Hogwarts. He was never meant to be there. No, he was supposed to open his own potion's shop, hire a clerk, and experiment for the rest of his life. Damn those old men and their bloody games. His entire life was ruined because they both played favorites, of which he was not one. Well, Dumbledore would say he was, but truly the Gryffindors always came before Snape.

"Is there anything else I should know about Dumbledore?" she inquired with a lifting of her eyebrow. She wasn't surprised this prisoner put the blame on someone else. It was how the vile man was, nothing was his fault.

"He is keeping a secret. One that would bring the defeat of the Dark Lord. He did not tell me what it was, only that he had everything under control. He made a few references that Potter was to live a very short life. He does not expect the brat to survive the war. I can only guess, but I feel it has something to do with his scar," the ex-professor informed her smugly, a victorious smirk played across his lips. He was glad that boy would die. He should have died in Lily's place.

Amelia snarled and put away her writing instruments. She noted the look of triumph on the man's face. "You are a hateful man, Severus Snape, taking out your woes on a child. Azkaban is too good for you," she snapped and walked away. Her two Aurors following behind.

"Oh, you are very welcome," he sneered back, and then went to the far side of the cell when the Dementors reappeared. His emotions were too raw. He would try to meditate and get his shields stronger. Blast that woman for dredging up the past.

Harry's POV

Harry spent the first part of the day listening to Padfoot's latest conquest. While he was happy the man was getting his leg over, he didn't want the penetrating details. After about a few minutes of hearing about creamy thighs and young perky breasts, the teen gave up and pretended to listen. All the while thinking of what the twins might want to tell the gang. Smart man that he was, Moony left when the first words came out of the free man's mouth.

"Padfoot," the teen snapped, just when it was getting to far, "enough already. I'm still too young to hear about… where you're about to go. I don't need the details. Look, I've got some news and a problem. I need your help," Harry said, veering the topic away from the play by play of a game of slap and tickle. If it had been someone his own age, that'd be different, but this was an adult. Besides, wasn't Sirius supposed to tell him not to until he got married or something. Stupid adults never do what they are supposed to. 'How long did it take to get laid, anyway? We've been at this for a half an hour,' he thought, glaring at his godfather, when he saw mirth in his eyes. 'Bastard.'

"Right, sorry about that," the dogman said with a grin that said he was anything but. He was making most of it up, because he wanted to see how far he could take it before the boy stopped him. This way he could gage just how far the teen had gone with a girl. He still wasn't convinced that the girls were just friends, but now, he was sure they were still at the handholding stage, well, maybe snogging. He was impressed that the boy had lasted this long. It was his version of The Talk. It was better than what he had received, when his dad took him to a brothel. Ah, memories. "What do you need my help with?" he asked, accepting the subject change.

"First, I think I'm starting to remember some things. They are all vague, but I'm hopeful that my memory is coming back," he fabricated, not wanting his godfather to think he was crazy for relying on the spaceship in his head. As far as Padfoot, or anyone for that matter, knew it was just an Occlumency shield. He didn't know about how much Harry used them to help solve his problems.

"That's great," Sirius said sincerely, getting excited for his godson. It would be wonderful if he were to get his memories back. Then maybe he'd treat Moony better. "Like what?"

"Faces and names mostly," he answered truthfully. "I remember a few people and how I felt about them before the… accident, I guess. Like I know I've always hated Malfoy, but I used to like Weasley. And doesn't that cause some confusion, because I sure don't like him now." Some of those things were coming through. He would see a face and know the name of the person, and if he liked them or not before, though not the reasons why.

"Again, good news. I don't know Ron, but yeah, you used to write about him being your best mate. Sorry that you aren't close anymore. Still, it is good news that you're getting better," the older man said with nod. "So, what's the problem?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

Harry took a deep breath, looked at his godfather, and plowed straight into it. "While I was meditating, I found a piece of Voldemort's soul attached to my scar," the teen stated, mostly true. He felt his time with the Enterprise crew as a form of meditation. "I think I have a way to remove it, but I don't want anything to do with it after that," he finished in a firm tone. He was hopeful that Sirius would know what to do, because he didn't want to deal with it. He had enough on his plate without having to see if there were more.

"You think I'd know what to do with a horcrux?" the glamored man asked confused. He had to dig deep in his memories just to know what they were. He had no clue how to destroy one, only make them.

"Or, you might know someone who does," offered Harry, thinking the older man would've made some shady friends. "Look, I can take care of it, but I think there may be more. The diadem I cleansed may have been one. From what Hermione told me the diary I… killed might be one as well. That's three, so it might be the end, but what if there's more? I wouldn't put it past this bastard to make as many as he can. Do you know what to do with them or how to find out if there are more?"

"You may be right. But, no, I don't have a clue as to how to trace them, but Moony might. He runs with other werewolves, sometimes. If he doesn't, they might. Leave it to us, and we'll figure it out. You just get that thing out of you," he said with a full body shudder. He hated the thought that the boy was… tainted. He hoped Harry knew what he was doing.

"I'll do that. Thanks, Sirius, you've been a lot of help. I'll get it to you when I get it out. You guys just make sure that there are no more," the teen all but begged. He was just glad that Sirius would do something with it. He wanted to be shot of the Dork Idiot, and maybe this would help. For all he knew the… man could see in his head. That made him shudder. Harry glanced at his watch and saw that classes were about to end. "I've got to go; the twins are finally going to tell us what you four have been keeping secret."

"Great, you're going to like it," Padfoot promised, giving his godson a wink. His mind was going over who he could contact, and how to tell Remus that there may be horcruxes. It was not magic that he wanted to mess with. He just hoped that his best mate would know.

"See ya," Harry called as he ran to the tunnel. He made his way to the Entrance Hall and waited for the gang. All the while, going over what he had talked about with Sirius, maybe he was putting too much on the man, after all he just got out of prison. Still, Sirius needed something to do, and he had a library full of Dark books.

While he was thinking, his friends appeared. The twins, with wicked grins on their faces, jerked their heads for the rest to follow. They all went to the Room and sat in the middle of the large clear space. Everyone looked at the twins wondering what was so important.

"So, what's up, guys?" Harry asked, after he got comfortable.

The twins had remained standing and were looking at their friends with matching smirks.

"Okay," started Fred, "we've figured it out. You guys are going to love this. You'll hate yourself for not thinking of it sooner. I mean, it's not like you don't know two people who can do what we're about to show you."

"I completely agree, brother of mine. Now, if you watch closely, Harry, you should be able to do this without all the steps. Not sure about the rest of you, but you'll get it soon enough. It took us awhile, but now it's easy," George continued, and then shared a look with his brother, who nodded.

And in a blink of an eye, they were a pair of red foxes. Both looked alike, but George had a spot on his left cheek, while Fred had one on his right. Then just as quickly, they changed back. Their beaming faces were laughing at the gobsmacked looks on the rest of the gangs faces.

"So, Harry, do you think you could use your new way of doing magic to do this without the steps, or the potion?" Fred asked with a smirk. He could see the other teen was berating himself for not trying sooner, but for now they should practice. He and George would tease them later.

"Yeah, we can do it slower, that's what took us so long," George said, laughing on the inside. He looked at his brother and saw they were of like mind.

"Do it slower, I want to scan you," Harry requested, keeping his eyes on Fred. He knew they were going to rib him later, but for now, he was more concerned about getting this done. It might be important later.

"Not a problem," the twin on the right said. And they complied, while the others watched, and the younger boy nodded his head.

He could do this, though he wasn't sure about the rest of the gang. "I'm going to give it a shot," he stated as he got up. He touched his core and quick as a snitch turned into a goshawk. Then after a minute, he morphed into a griffin, making everyone move back to give him room. Another moment passed, then there was a swallow. Soon after, he turned back human. "That's all I got. I tried for more, but magic wouldn't let me." He shrugged and then looked at the astonished faces. "What?"

"Harry, most people only have one form. It is said that only very powerful people will have multiple animals," explained Luna in her airy way. She patted him on the arm and then tried to transform. Only her arms did. They were covered with brown hair, giving no indication as to what she would be.

"Right, that's one of those rules you told me to ignore," he said with a smile.

"Why yes, yes, it is. Very good, Harry," she said as she willed the hair off her arms.

"You guys give it a go," the dark-haired wizard said, waving to Neville and Hermione.

The three tried for hours until dinner but got no further than partial transformations. They gave it up for the night but were excited to have something to work on besides the Room. The twins gave them all a hard time as they went down to dinner, Hermione made sure to thump them for that. The gang entered the Great Hall laughing and chatting. They sat in their normal spots and ate in complete compatibility, happy to be in each other's company. It was good to have close friends.

Harry wondered why he never was this close to this many people before he lost his memory. Knowing that he was all but a recluse made him worry that he might not like what he remembered. Then he looked around at the smiling faces that surrounded him and knew it didn't matter. They would help if he needed it.

McGonagall's POV

McGonagall was glaring at the group. Once more she was sure they were up to something. She had no idea what, since they snuck off to where she couldn't find them. The portraits would only tell her that they went to the seventh floor, but then they would lose sight of the miscreants. Now that two of the House Ghosts were gone, she just didn't have enough spies to watch everyone. Oh, how she hated that Hogwarts didn't recognize her as the Headmistress. Her head jerked around when she was addressed.

"I don't know why you stare at zem so," Madame Maxime stated, not liking the look in the new Hogwarts Headmistress's eyes. "Zey 'ave done nozzing wrong. Et has been proven za boy did not enter ze tournament. Why do you not trust 'im after zat?" Now that she was convinced that the boy was the victim in all of this, she felt pity for the child. The people in charge of his school had done him a great wrong, and she was going to stand up for the boy. It was the least she could do.

"That child is rude and confrontational," was Minerva's reply, as if that explained everything. After all, Maxime was the Head of her school. She should know that there were always problem children.

"Do you not zink 'e 'as a right to be?" the astonished half-giant woman declared, looking at the other woman as if she had lost her mind. "After everyzing zat 'as 'appened to 'im, done by your staff by ze way, I zink 'e 'as good cause to be angry."

"Everything we did was within the rules. We were only trying to help the boy, not that he appreciates it. Now he is being confrontational and rude. Severus was correct he is arrogant, and I will not pamper him, nor will I condone his bad behavior. He needs to start following the rules, or I will find a way to get him out of the castle," McGonagall stated firmly, and then turned back to watch the teens.

"I would be careful, were I you. You might just make and enemy of a very strong wizard," the French woman said, looking at the teen in question, remembering what had happened at the first task.

"I think I know Mr. Potter better than you," McGonagall sniffed, not believing for a minute that child had improved over the course of a few weeks. His attitude was enough to show he was just as lazy as he had been before his amnesia. The fact that he scorned a great man like Dumbledore showed that he needed to be taken in hand.

If she could, she'd force Harry Potter to talk to Dumbledore. If he was going to fight for Wizarding Britain, then he needed the information Albus had. Maybe she would talk to her friend and he could tell her what the child needed to know. One way or another the boy needed to know his part.