HPLS21-30

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 21 "Heartfelt Compassion"New

5 hours agoThe same voice that was coming over the mirror was echoing down the steps. Harry and Hermione looked up and into the face of Sirius Black. When Harry saw his Godfather, he asked "Wouldn't want company for breakfast, would you?"

Sirius froze in mid-stride, looking fairly ridiculous with one hand holding the mirror, one foot in the air, and a look of utter confusion on his face. His eyes moved from the teens to the mirror in his hand and back again. Words like 'How' and 'Where' materialized on his lips, but the sounds never made it out. Finally he gathered himself and asked "What's going on Harry? What are you doing here?"

"Let's go to the kitchen and talk Sirius, but let us know if anyone else shows up," Harry said. "No one else can know we are here."

"I presume this is important then? Not just wanting to know more about that memory of Snape's concerning your father."

Harry had almost forgotten about that. It was too long ago and it was so minor considering what he had seen since, but he remember how important it had been two years ago. "No, it's not that," When they were all seated around the table, Harry asked, "Where's Kreacher?"

"Upstairs somewhere," Sirius muttered.

"Can you call him down?" Harry said. He glanced over at Hermione, "I think that might be the best place to start. We can give provable knowledge first."

"What do you need with the elf?" Sirius asked. "All he does is wander around muttering to himself all day."

"I think you will find it very important, please call him."

"Kreacher," Sirius yelled out and with a pop the elf materialized next to his master.

"You called Kreacher?" The elf asked and then continued in an overly loud whisper. "Useless spawn of my mistress, talking to a mudblood. I thought she was gone, and now she back befouling my mistress' house."

"Sirius, ask Kreacher if he has been visiting any other of your relatives recently," Harry said quietly. "But do not threaten him when he answers."

"Of course he hasn't. He can't leave this house," Sirius exclaimed.

"Please, just ask...no order him to tell you."

Sirius looked at his godson, wondering where this was going, but curiosity got the best of him and he turned to the house-elf, "Kreacher, I am ordering you to tell me if you have visited any other relatives of mine recently."

The elf hesitated, his eyes widen as if trying to fight an answer, but finally, "Yes, Kreacher has."

Sirius looked startled, "Who, Kreacher? Who've you visited, you miserable elf?"

"Sirius, no, don't be mean please trust us," Hermione pleaded.

"Mi..Miss Cissy and M..Miss Bella," The words struggled out of the elf's mouth.

"Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange?" Boomed Sirius.

"Yes, Master," Kreacher answered.

"Disgusting little..." Sirius' hand rose to strike at the little elf.

"Sirius, NO!" Harry yelled stopping his godfather in his tracks. "Don't hurt him."

Sirius turned to the teens as he stood from his chair. "Look, you don't understand what this means. You need to get out of here so I can contact Dumbledore. We HAVE to know exactly where Kreacher has been and what he has told them."

Harry raised a hand to stop his godfather. "Not yet, Sirius. Sit down, please. There is a lot more we need to deal with. Stuff that we need you to promise not to tell Dumbledore about."

"But I have too, Harry. The Order has to know. We have plans," Sirius argued.

"I know all about the plans, but I also know what we have to say is more important," Harry responded. "Look, just hear us out and then we'll talk okay?"

Sirius studied his godson and noticed something had changed in him; the boy in front of him wasn't the moody person that he had seen before. There was a tired look in his eyes that he had seen a lot in the last war. A look usually found in people who had seen too much. Looking at the young lady beside him, he noticed the same look in her eyes, as well. He finally shrugged and sat back down. "A couple of minutes then," He then turned to Kreacher. "And you don't move from that spot."

"Yes, Master," Kreacher replied as he froze. He'd been trying to back out of the kitchen unnoticed.

"So, what's so important?" Sirius asked Harry and Hermione.

"I have one more order for you to give Kreacher," Harry replied. "Order him to tell me when was the last time he saw your brother, and EXACTLY what he was doing at the time. He is under orders not to tell anyone in your family, but since I'm not a Black I hope this will work."

When Sirius ordered the little elf to tell the tale to Harry, the little elf seemed to fight an internal battle before the tale that they had heard a little more than a year in the future emerged. Sirius listened and his understanding of his younger brother was completely undone. Sirius heard how Kreacher had been used by Voldemort to hide something, something Regulus later went to recover in defiance to the Dark Lord; an act that ended up costing him his life. Harry and Hermione gave Sirius the questions to ask to fill in the story until the whole thing was out. When it was over, Kreacher was on the floor crying. It had taken a direct order from Sirius, at Hermione's insistence, for Kreacher to not hurt himself when he admitted he'd failed Regulus in not destroying the locket.

Tears were in Sirius' eyes as he looked at Harry and Hermione. "Regulus had turned against Voldemort?"

"He loved Kreacher," Hermione explained, causing Sirius to look at the elf. "That Voldemort was willing to throw Kreacher's life away was what caused the defection, it looks like."

"All these years, I've thought he was just a dumb kid who got in over his head and panicked," Sirius said. He sat in silence as he contemplated what he'd heard. Then he looked at Harry and Hermione. "How...how do you know all of this?"

"We are going to tell you, but first let me do something," Hermione said. She rose from her chair and knelt beside the still crying elf. Kreacher cringed from her when she did so. "Kreacher," Hermione started softly. "I know I'm not your master and I know you think you don't like me, but if we could help you destroy the locket, would you want us to?"

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 22 "A Bond Revealed"New

5 hours agoThe elf's tears stopped but he refused to look at Hermione as he started muttering. "Mudblood comes close to Kreacher; oh what would my mistress say? But she offers to help do what Kreacher cannot. If Kreacher refuses then it might not get done, and I was ordered to do it. I have to let the mudblood help," Even as he continued to look away, Kreacher nodded.

"Kreacher, could you get the locket?" Hermione asked still in a gentle voice and when the elf shook his head she asked. "Why not?"

"Master told Kreacher not to move from this spot," Kreacher explained, "Kreacher must stay."

Hermione looked at Sirius who said. "Kreacher, you may go get this item and then return directly back here."

Kreacher disappeared in an instant. As soon as he was gone, Hermione turned back to Sirius, "Is there something of Regulus' around that Kreacher might like? Wait, let's ask him."

When Kreacher returned with the heavy gold locket with the 'S' on the front, he laid it on the table. He then looked at Hermione and stated, "Mudblood said she could destroy it."

"We will, but we need a little time," Hermione replied as she stared at the object knowing what it was. Finally she turned to the elf. "Kreacher, you did a brave thing those years ago. Sirius," She looked over at her husband's godfather, "has agreed to let you have anything in the house that you would like. I think you already have some treasures in your room. Would you like to be able to keep them all, with Sirius' blessing?"

"All?" Kreacher asked looking at Hermione, and then at Sirius who was still trying to figure out what was going on.

"You can keep anything you have, Kreacher," Sirius said, as he was coming to grips with the new understanding of his family. "And if there is anything else you want of Regulus', let me know and I'll let you have it, if possible."

The house-elf broke down in a new bout of crying.

"So what makes this locket so important to Voldemort? Why did it get my brother killed?" Sirius asked as he reached for it.

"I wouldn't touch it too often," Hermione warned.

Sirius jerked his hand away as if the metal had turned red hot. "Why?"

Harry glanced at Hermione. They both knew the next few minutes were critical. They knew they had to convince Sirius and it all depended on his next few words. He let out a sigh as he reached for and picked up the locket. The feeling of revulsion coursed through him as he remembered the effects it had had on them while they had worn it all of those months. "This is what Dumbledore has been hiding from everyone because he thinks no one but himself should know," He started. "This and similar objects are the secret to defeating Voldemort."

"What? How could you possibly know that?"

"If we tell you, you have to promise that you won't tell Dumbledore. EVEN if you don't believe us, you can't tell Dumbledore what we are about to tell you."

"Why?" Sirius again had a look of a confused man. "Dumbledore needs to know anything that can help defeat Voldemort."

"Not this, and you'll understand why if you'll just promise us you won't tell him. If he were to find out what we know, he'd most likely obliviate us to keep the knowledge to himself."

Sirius was about to object, but the fierceness of Harry's gaze made him pause. Slowly he nodded. "Fine, but I still have to tell him about Kreacher going to the Malfoys."

Harry shrugged. "Once we finish telling you what we have to say, you might think otherwise, but I won't keep you from doing that. You do need to order Kreacher to not tell anyone, not even Order members, that he saw Hermione and me here today. He especially can't tell anyone what we have discussed and will discuss, unless you say otherwise."

Sirius again nodded and gave Kreacher the commands.

"A couple of other things we need to tell you before we begin the main story," Harry said. "The first is we know what The Order has been trying to protect in the Department of Mysteries. I know all about the prophecy," That brought Sirius' eyes onto Harry's very quickly.

"How?" Was all Sirius asked. "Who told you what they're guarding?"

"You'll soon know," Harry explained. "The other thing is, I know you made me your heir in your will," And at another surprised look from his godfather he explained, "I know this because your will was read after your death in about three weeks," Harry held up his hand and said, "Let me finish, please. This is the part that's going to sound utterly insane, but just let us finish," Harry looked at his wife and gave her a small smile before he turned back to Sirius. "We, I mean Hermione and I, are really two years older and have seen too many deaths; yours, Remus', Tonks', Dumbledore's and many others. We were given the chance to come back to our bodies in this time and try to fix the mistakes mostly caused by one man, Albus Dumbledore."

Sirius had a look of disbelief on his face, but before he could say anything, Harry continued. "Please, let me finish. It all started right after I defeated Voldemort."

"You defeated Voldemort?" Now Sirius was staring at Harry as if he had two heads.

"Do you know what the prophecy says? The one the Order is protecting?"

"No," Sirius admitted. "Dumbledore said it concerns you and Voldemort, but it's too dangerous for anyone to know what it says."

"Of course," Harry replied. "Snape didn't know the prophecy, at least not the part he didn't overhear. In his memories he blasted Dumbledore for not telling him when Dumbledore told me. Besides," He looked at Hermione, "could you imagine Mundungus knowing what it was?"

"So, what is it then?"

"Don't let Dumbledore know you know or he'll obliviate you," Harry cautioned. He took a breath and recited the words that had haunted him for two years.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.

"WHAT?" Sirius exclaimed. "You?"

Harry nodded. "Trelawney recited that prophecy back before I was born. Snape overheard the first part of it and told Voldemort. That's why he targeted my parents and why they are dead."

"Snivellus?" Growled Sirius.

"Snape realized it was mum that Voldemort was after and told Dumbledore."

"I remember Dumbledore warning James and Lily. We never knew where he got his information of course, and we definitely didn't know it was Snape."

"Then, of course, that night," Harry continued as he tapped his scar, "He marked me his equal."

"So you say you beat him?" Sirius asked forgetting that he wasn't sure if Harry was telling the truth or not about being from the future.

"Yeah, just last night, or something like that in our time," Harry explained. "I'm still a little confused. Too much has happened in to short of a time, but I can say that I won purely by luck."

"You beat Voldemort last night?" Sirius asked in disbelief.

"Two years in the future last night," Hermione corrected him. "There was a big battle at Hogwarts and that's when it happened."

"We're getting ahead of ourselves, though. Let me tell you how we got from two years in the future to here and now," Harry said. He put his hand over Hermione's before he continued. "It all started the morning after that battle, when this gorgeous lady came to my room to ask a favor. It seemed like a simple thing at the time, but it turned our lives upside down."

"What happened?"

"Well it seems, quite literally, I am the man of her dreams," Harry smirked.

Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Well, I can't argue that fact, but actually we...uh...ended up kissing for the first time and that finalized a soul bond between us."

"Soul bond? What do you mean?" Sirius asked.

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 23 Harry and Hermione's Resentment""New

5 hours agoHarry and Hermione launched into exactly what happened after the kiss, the meeting with the Goddess of Love, the revelations about their friends who had betrayed them, and about Dumbledore. How they were given a choice to come back and try to fix what went wrong.

"Even my original meeting with the Weasleys was staged," Harry said as they ended the explanation.

"So this Miranda is a Goddess? That's a bit farfetched isn't it? Are you sure you didn't just have a shared dream? Or maybe someone pranked you with polyjuice or something?"

"Want me to tell you everything we learned in our sixth year?" Hermione asked. "Potions with Professor Slughorn was much better than Professor Snape, but..."

"Slughorn? How do you know about him? He was my potions Professor."

"I know. He remembered my mother," Harry replied.

"We knew him because in the last timeline," Hermione added. "Snape became the Defense Professor and Dumbledore brought Slughorn back to teach Potions."

"Besides, how you do think we knew about Regulus and Kreacher?" Harry asked with his voice rising, "How do I know about the prophecy? Or that you put me in you will?"

"Okay, say I believe you, and, as crazy as it sounds, I'm actually starting too, why can't we tell Dumbledore?"

"You know I have, had...well, have again, a connection with Voldemort right? The reason I knew about Mr. Weasley?" When Sirius nodded, Harry continued. "Did Dumbledore ever explain exactly what it was? I am presuming not, since no one knew about those things," Harry nodded at the locket, "when he died."

"Dumbledore died?" Sirius asked incredulously. He remembered them mentioning it earlier, but he hadn't really believed them at the time.

"Yeah, end of next year," Harry said. "No one knew it, but he was dying anyway. This summer, he ended being cursed and only had a year left. He set it up so Snape would kill him to better his position with Voldemort," He then turned to Hermione, "You know, that's something else on Dumbledore's shoulders. Since everyone believed Voldemort was able to kill Dumbledore, it demoralized those who were fighting against him," Harry's eyes were flashing in anger now. "How many people lost their lives because they gave up the will to fight?"

Hermione put her hand on Harry's to calm him down. "It's not going to happen that way this time," She said. She then continued the explanation to Sirius. "We're still realizing all the mistakes Dumbledore made. I hope you can see that we need more than Professor Dumbledore deciding what is best."

"Yeah, I can see that," Sirius replied. "Harry, what were you going to say about the connection you have? And what does it have to do with that locket?"

"Have any idea what a Horcrux is?" Harry asked his godfather.

Sirius eyes hardened, "Is that what Voldemort did? And that," He nodded at the locket, "is it?"

"Yes, that is a Horcrux, but he made far more than just that one; he made six of them, or actually seven but the last was by accident and he never realized it," Hermione explained.

"Seven?" Sirius whispered.

"Yes, seven and so far only one has been destroyed."

"The seventh one," Harry said and tapping his scar, "Is here."

At the look of horror on Sirius's face, Harry explained further. "When Voldemort tried to kill me all those years ago, a piece of his soul broke off and lodged in me. That is the link we share. How did I get rid of it in the future? Voldemort killed me again. Dumbledore's grand plan had me walk out and take a killing curse, voluntarily, without knowing there was a chance I would live. I thought I was going out to die, Sirius," Tears had come back to Harry's eyes as he remembered the walk into the Forbidden Forest. Hermione's arms reached around him and he heard, "Not this time, Harry. You will not leave me, and I will not leave you."

"Basically, Dumbledore's plan consisted of three teenagers wandering around a countryside looking for horcruxes, with no clue where they were. If we found them all, I was to go get myself killed by Voldemort on purpose," Harry took a breath to calm down and then continued. "Did he even bother to tell me that part of it? Of course not. He left that bit of information with Snape. Only by pure luck was I able to get that knowledge from Snape as he was dying. Even then he left out the part about I had a chance to live through it. Last night...last night I stood in front of Voldemort and let him KILL ME without raising my wand because that was what DUMBLEDORE said I had to do."

The horror had returned to Sirius' face.

"Again, I hope you understand why Dumbledore cannot know what we have to say? We know where all of the Horcruxes are and we will eventually figure out how to get them destroyed, but it will not be his way."

"Yeah I...I can see why," Sirius replied in a shaky voice. "So...what about the locket? How do we destroy it?"

"Harry," Hermione said, "I have an idea that might work," She turned to Sirius, "Will Dumbledore be here anytime soon?"

"He stops by every few days. Why?" Sirius asked.

"You can tell him that you asked Kreacher about Regulus, and give him the story he just told you. Then give Dumbledore the locket," Hermione explained. "See if he mentions to you what it is. If nothing else, he'll destroy it for us."

"He can't without my help to open it," Harry said.

"Why?" Sirius asked.

"This is Salazar Slytherin's locket," Harry explained. "It'll only open to a parseltongue command."

"Will he realize what it is and how it opens?"

"He'll recognize it immediately. He has the memory of a House-elf who served the lady Riddle stole it from. Hez...something or another Smith."

"How do you know all of that?" Sirius asked, but then held up his hands. "Never mind. Obviously a lot has happened. So, will Dumbledore ask for your help?"

"He might try to trick me in helping him, but he's desperate for those Horcruxes, so he'll definitely come to me."

"If, or I should say, when he does," Hermione said. "It will be a good time to force him to tell you about the Horcruxes."

"That's true."

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 24 "Embracing the Future"New

5 hours agoThere was absolutely no doubt in Sirius' mind anymore about the teens' story. He then thought of something. "Harry, the connection to Voldemort was the reason Snape was giving you Occlumency lessons. Did you ever get back to him or learn it in the future? Dumbledore thought it was the most important thing to be done."

"Miranda gave it as a gift when I agreed to have the horcrux put back in," Harry sighed, "I don't know if I was just incapable of learning it from Snape, or if our mutual hatred was causing a problem with the lessons, but I seemed to be more open to the manipulations the night after a lesson than other times. And that is how you ended up dead Sirius," Harry's eyes met his godfather's. "It was my fault."

"Your fault?" Sirius asked.

"Voldemort tricked me into believing you had been captured and were being tortured in the Department of Mysteries," Harry explained. "I now know he just wanted the prophecy," Harry again thought back to that night. "If Dumbledore would have just told me there was something Voldemort wanted and might try to trick me into getting it, I would have been on guard, but again he thought he knew best. He kept everything from me."

"So...what happened?" Sirius asked, unsure he wanted to hear about his own death.

"I led an assortment of students; Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood there in an attempt to rescue you. We were up against twelve Death Eaters, led by Lucius Malfoy and for a short time we were able to hold our own. Eventually, though, we started taking casualties. Fortunately none of our friends died, though Hermione came extremely close. You, Shacklebolt, Tonks, Moody and Remus arrived just in time to save us, with Dumbledore showing up a few minutes later. In the fight, you were dueling Bellatrix and you weren't taking it seriously enough. You were even laughing at her. She hit you with a stunner and...and you fell through the Veil of Death," Again tears had sprung up in Harry's eyes at the remembrance of his godfather falling through the ragged curtain. "And it was my fault. If I had used these mirrors," He held up his, "I would have known you were all right. I tried to talk to you. We ended up having to break into Umbridge's office and we got caught. But I did floo here and…and...Kreacher lied to me. He told me you weren't here. I found out later you were, but you were up with Buckbeak. It...it was one of things the Malfoys had told him to do, distract you on that night."

Sirius's face had turned very pale, but at the last statement he had turned to Kreacher.

"No, Sirius," Hermione said sharply. "It was your fault as well. The way you've been treating him has been horrible," Her voice softened. "When Kreacher told us his tale before we had Regulus' locket and were able to give it to him. He changed almost instantly and became a very good elf. He led the House-elves of Hogwarts against Voldemort's supporters."

Kreacher seemed to swell at the statement and Hermione noticed it. "Kreacher, you are a good elf, supporting a very noble house," She turned back to Sirius, "Instead of sitting here being morose about being stuck in a place you didn't like growing up in, start making plans on how to change the Noble House of Black into something you would be proud of."

Sirius looked sheepish, "It's not that simple, Hermione."

"Then make it that simple. We didn't come back in time to save your life just so you can spend the rest of it lost in your own despair. Eventually, we will get Peter and get you cleared, but for now we're going to need you to help us save everyone else. We need your help to get our knowledge to the right people. You were a great schemer, weren't you?" At the nod from Sirius she continued, "Good, because that is what we need right now. For the next two weeks, Harry and I have to study for our OWLs, so we need someone trying to figure out how we can use the Department of Mysteries events in our favor. Last time, Voldemort showed up and that's when the Ministry admitted that he was back. We need to see if we can develop a plan that will do the same thing."

Harry smiled at Hermione, who was coming off her tirade, then to Sirius, "We forgot to explain one thing about the soul bond we have, Sirius. I would like to introduce you to the person who just berated you, Hermione Potter, my wife."

"WHAT?" Sirius asked. It was too much, too quick, and he was drowning.

"Yeah, that was her reaction as well," Harry said as he took his wife's hand. "But she's mostly gotten over it now."

"Ho…how do you know?" Sirius asked.

"We first found out when Miranda had us look at the Marauder's map. It showed Hermione Potter. She also said it could be verified in the Magical Records Office. We, of course haven't been able to do that yet."

"The map doesn't lie. It's tied into the wards at Hogwarts," Sirius said as he put his head on the table. "My godson, married at fifteen. James would kill me."

"You didn't do it Sirius, and I'm actually almost eighteen," Harry replied. He shook his head as he continued. "This time stuff is going to give me a headache. As for my father, who, if I remember correctly had eyes for my mother long before his fifth year, he would have no reason to complain. Besides, I ended up with the best wife in the world and a relationship blessed by the Goddess of Love. What more can anyone ask for?"

"My husband isn't so bad either," Hermione chimed in. "But we aren't telling anyone else, at least right now. All Harry needs is more garbage from the Ministry."

"Yeah, I can understand that. But please make sure I'm there when you tell Dumbledore," Sirius begged. "By the way, how did you get here today?"

"Apparated."

"From Hogwarts?" Sirius asked.

"From the Shrieking Shack," Harry replied.

"That's a long way, and you're not licensed yet."

"When you're on the run from Voldemort and the Ministry for a year and the only way to travel is apparation, you get pretty good at it," Harry explained.

"I can imagine."

"To tell you the truth, Sirius, I'm glad you can't," Harry replied with a shake of his head. "But we still have a lot that we haven't covered yet, so you can see just how lucky we got in defeating Voldemort," It took a good thirty minutes before the most important points were covered, including Dumbledore's death, the ministry takeover, muggle born oppression, the horcruxes, and final battle.

"It wasn't just our friends who died, Sirius," Harry explained. "Muggleborn were being prosecuted, and a lot of them were kissed," He turned to Hermione. "We can't let Umbridge do that again. We have to do something to prevent it"

"I agree, but you're not suggesting we kill her, are you?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know what I'm suggesting, Hermione," Harry said softly. "Those muggleborns had husbands, wives, and children. Families that either never saw their loved one again, or they came back from Azkaban a shadow of themselves. We have to do something about the government if we can, and it might start with making sure Umbridge doesn't make it back into it."

Hermione stared at her husband, wanting to protest, but had to admit he was right. "Maybe you're right Harry, but I'm not sure I can kill someone in cold blood."

"I know what you mean, love," Harry said and looked away. They all sat in silence for a few minutes, until Hermione looked at her watch.

"We need to get back to the school. It's time to face Ron," She said.

"So, the Weasleys betrayed you?" Sirius asked bringing up a subject they had glossed over earlier.

Harry sighed as he thought of the young man he considered his best friend, until he found out what he'd done. "Yeah, Ron and Ginny did. Still trying to undo seven years of friendship in my mind, but when I saw Ron sleeping this morning, knowing what he did to Hermione, I had a hard time not cursing him."

"At least it wasn't as bad as it was with Peter. Nobody died because of their actions."

"We don't know that, Sirius," Harry argued. "What would have been different if our next school year hadn't been complicated by jealousy? Besides, if you could have gone back before Peter betrayed my parents, what would you have done?"

Sirius sighed, "I would have ripped the rat into multiple pieces and fed him to whatever creature I could have found," He looked at the couple. "Just don't do anything stupid."

Harry smiled as he looked at Hermione, "That's why she's my soul mate. She's supposed to keep me from doing stupid. Even when I thought you had been captured two years ago; she was trying to be a voice of reason and told me it could be a trap. She's been right about most things, and I think I might have finally learned my lesson. But you know," He looked at his wife, "even when she was sure I was wrong, she's never left my side."

Hermione smiled at Harry and gentle squeezed his hand. "And I never shall love."

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 25 "Unraveling Truths"New

5 hours agoAs Sirius looked at his godson and his wife, he remembered the two of them saving him two years previous. He remembered the way they just seemed so natural together back then, and now he saw the same thing but even more pronounced. "OK, you two get back to school but keep in touch. I'll let you know what Dumbledore says," Sirius looked around the kitchen and at the house-elf.

"Hermione, if my godson can listen to you, maybe I can as well," He turned to the elf that was still standing where Sirius had commanded him to stay. "Kreacher, would you like to help rebuild this Noble house into something Regulus would be proud of. A house that fights against Voldemort, just like Regulus was trying to do at the end?"

"Kreacher would like that, Master," The little elf said.

"When that locket is destroyed," Harry said pointing to the golden horcrux. "I will make sure you get to see it," He promised the house-elf. "And someday, when Voldemort is destroyed and the evil that protects Regulus' locket is removed, I will do my very best to make sure that locket is recovered and given to you."

"Kreacher would like that very much," Kreacher replied.

"I have one request, though," Harry said to the elf. "The day the locket is destroyed and is shown to you, I want you to promise never to call Hermione a mudblood ever again. She fights against Voldemort, too. She's risked her life to fight him, just as brave Regulus did."

Kreacher hesitated but his eyes flickered up to Hermione. "The day the locket is destroyed," He said with a nod.

"We'll be in touch," Harry said to Sirius and gave the man a hug.

A short time later the two Potters found themselves back in the Shrieking Shack. They exited out the passageway under the Whomping Willow, only having to wait short time for a passing couple to clear the area before dashing out.

"We never did get breakfast," Harry grumbled.

"Are you starting to channel Ron now?" Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh...no but I am hungry."

Hermione looked at her watch, "We can go see if breakfast is still available. If it isn't we can go to the kitchen and grab something."

When they entered the Great Hall, there were still a small amount of people at every table eating. At the Gryffindor table a red head looked in their direction. When he saw who it was he came scurrying over to them.

"Hey guys, you'll never guess what rumor was started this morning," Ron said when he came up to them. "People are saying you two are a couple and were seen kissing in the common room," Ron shook his head in amusement. "Pretty stupid, isn't it?" He turned back toward the table. "If you haven't eaten yet, there's still food on the table."

"Ron," Harry called and when his old friend turned around. "It's true," Harry took Hermione's hand in his. "We are a couple. Hermione is my girlfriend."

"Oh come off of it," Ron chuckled. "I'm not falling for it. I've lived with my brothers for too long to fall for something like that."

"Shall we prove it to him?"

"Most definitely."

"Is there a rule about kissing in the Great Hall?"

"Nope."

Harry and Hermione demonstrated to Ron that without a doubt the rumors were true.

As Harry and Hermione ended their kiss, they turned and looked at the person they had considered their best friend. His face was distorted in a mask of confusion and disbelief.

"Now do you believe us Ron?" Harry asked as his hand slid into his pocket where he grasped the handle of his wand.

It took several seconds before recognition appeared on the face of the youngest male Weasley, "But…but it can't...I mean I gave you the perfume," Ron stammered as he looked at Hermione.

"What?" Hermione asked in obvious confusion. "Perfume?"

"For Christmas, I gave you the perfume and Ginny said you wou..." Ron started and then stopped as his eyes went wide in panic.

To say Ginny Weasley was angry would be like saying there is water in the ocean or her brother snored; it would be seriously understating the feelings of the redhead. What should have been the best weekend of her life had turned into a nightmare. She had snatched the snitch right out from under that bitch Chang's nose. That had shown Harry who the better Quidditch player was. Even the idiot Corner had played his part perfectly, he had whined about Ginny stealing the victory from Ravenclaw and Ginny had quite loudly split up with him. She had known Harry would be around and hear the break-up. Even better was that Corner had ended up comforting Chang. Everything had fallen into place perfectly. Last night should have been it, Harry was going appreciate her Quidditch skills, know she wasn't going out with anyone and there was a party to celebrate the Quidditch Cup. EVERYTHING had been perfect. When the party started she could already feel Harry's lips on hers. But during the party Harry had stayed near Hermione discussing something called Grawp. Even when she had tried to talk to HER Harry, he hadn't mentioned the snitch or Cho or her break-up. When both Harry and Hermione had left the party early to go to bed, Ginny had been extremely annoyed.

"Then this morning," Ginny reflected as she put another small bite of food in her mouth. "I put on my special perfume and he was looking at me, I saw it, but he goes to HER and kisses HER and calls HER his girlfriend. What did that bookworm do to my Harry?"

A commotion near the doors of the Great Hall snapped Ginny out of her Hermione hatred thoughts. As she looked up, she saw the end of the kiss between HER Harry and the bitch and her anger flared again. The hatred was replaced by panic as she heard her brother mention the perfume he had given her at Christmas.

"Oh crap," She thought as she raced over to her brother, thinking the whole way. "If she finds out about that perfume, Ron will tell her who gave it to him to give to her."

Hermione was trying to remember back over two years previous to that Christmas. It was the year Ron's father was bitten by the snake. "Oh, he did give me a bottle of perfume that year, horrible smelling cheap stuff," She told Harry.

"So? What does you giving me perfume have to do with me and Harry?" She asked Ron.

"Ginny said…"

"I said that it would let you know he does think of you as a girl," Ginny finished Ron's sentence as she appeared at her brother's side. Seeing HER eyebrow shoot up in question she continued, "Remember last year before the Yule Ball, Ron stuck his foot in his mouth about you being a girl."

Ron turned to Ginny, "But you said it would..." he never finished that sentence either as Ginny glare silenced him.

"I think I need to examine that bottle of perfume," Hermione said to her husband.

"Speaking of perfume, what do you think of mine this morning Harry?" Ginny said with a slight shake of her head that caused her sleek hair to move seductively. "The advertisement said after I put one of my true love's hairs in the bottle, one whiff and he would be mine and I got one of Harry's hairs last night."

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 26 "Embracing Kindness"New

5 hours agoHermione's grip on Harry's arm tightened, but they both heard the voice of their favorite Goddess of Love, "Oh let him sniff," She said in a voice filled with mirth, "she got ripped off buying that stuff. Nothing even close to a love potion in the bottle. And yes Hermione, the perfume he gave you at Christmas was something similar that Ginny bought. Supposed to intoxicate you with the essence of the young man and have you fall in love with him over time. She found an ad in the back of Witch Weekly for the products. Nice advertisement but a rip off for gullible young witches."

"Essence of Ron?" Hermione thought. "No wonder it smelled horrible," And it was at that moment she realized the conflict she had felt about Ron was gone. Seeing him there with her husband, "I am really starting to like that phrase," She thought. There was no comparison between the depth of love she felt for Harry and the tolerance she might still have for Ron.

"Well dear, that's the difference between a soul mate and well Ron," Miranda said. "I'm afraid Ron might end up like Severus Snape since he can't put anyone else ahead of himself."

When Harry smiled at what Miranda had said, Ginny presumed it was the invitation to smell her perfume and she knew she had him. Harry bent closer and took a deep breath and immediately wished he hadn't. He had to choke back the tears that threaten to overwhelm him from the scent. Looking up at Ginny he said, "It's an interesting smell Ginny. It's definitely you," Then to his wife, "Well it does smell very unpleasant."

Ginny smiled knowingly. She gave a quick glance and smirk at Hermione before returning her eyes back to Harry. "Thank you Harry; would you like to have breakfast with me? We can talk all about how my ex-boyfriend is now seeing your ex-girlfriend. I mean Michael and Cho are an item now."

"Thanks for the invitation Ginny, but my girlfriend and I," Harry started as his arm slipped around Hermione's waist, "Will be having breakfast together."

Ginny's ire flared again and it took a minute to choke it back down. "It didn't work," She thought irritably. "Maybe I didn't wear enough."

Ron was still trying to figure out what had happened; yesterday he was on top of the world. He was the Gryffindor Quidditch hero and he was sure Hermione would see how important Quidditch was compared to books. "Especially since Ginny had said the perfume would make her fall for me," He thought.

"Shall we dine with Luna, love?" Harry asked as he spotted the dirty-blonde hair of his friend sitting alone at the Ravenclaw table.

"Sure," Hermione replied and the two of them turned to the Weasleys, "Ron, I am glad you're now seeing me as a girl, especially since I've been one all my life. Now if you will excuse us, we will be eating with Luna this morning."

"Looney?" Ron asked. "Why would you eat with…" his voice trailed off as Harry and Hermione had turned and started walking toward the Ravenclaw table. Ron's jealousy flared and he grabbed Harry's arm. "Just had to steal my girl didn't you Harry?"

"Your girl?" Hermione asked as she whirled back to face Ron while her eyes flashed dangerously. "Since when have I EVER been your girl?"

Ron's attention was still on Harry as he ignored Hermione, "You knew I fancied her."

Harry couldn't even bring himself to be angry at his friend. He just stared at the hand that held his arm until Ron released him. Once Ron had done so, he turned his gaze to look his old friend in the eyes. "Ron the only person you seem to fancy is yourself," With that he turned and taking Hermione's hand in his, walked away.

As Harry and Hermione walked away, they heard the two youngest Weasleys whispering heatedly, and the words "You said" and "Mine" came through loudly from Ron.

"So she had started even before the summer?" Harry thought. "Stay on your toes love."

"I will," Hermione replied. "I should have been more suspicious of that perfume, but growing up, giving cheap perfume was a joke in our house. It meant you waited until the last second and only some late night store selling cheap stuff was open. It seemed so like Ron that I didn't think he wasn't out shopping the night before," She looked back at the Weasleys and noticed the glare Ginny was giving her as she continued to argue with her brother. "Was she ever my friend, or was I just a way to get to Harry?" She wondered.

Harry and Hermione finished the trek to the Ravenclaw table and sat down on either side of their friend. The few Ravenclaws who remained at the table were all looking at the two of them curiously. As Harry sat down his eyes found the one particular person staring the hardest. The dark-haired Cho Chang had an expression written on her face that was easily understood. It was an expression that said "I knew it," Cho turned to the boy sitting on her right, whom Harry recognized as Ginny's old boyfriend and kissed him, and then she turned and looked back at Harry. Harry just shrugged his shoulders at her and turned his attention back to Luna and Hermione.

"Hello Harry, hello Hermione," Luna said in a serene voice. She was currently arranging the food on her plate into an elaborate mess that seemed to fit no pattern or reason.

"Good morning Luna," Harry said.

"Is there something you needed?" Luna asked as she positioned a slice of bacon diagonally across her plate and then put strawberries on either end of it.

"We just wanted to eat with a friend," Hermione replied smiling.

"Friends are nice, but isn't Ronald your friend? Shouldn't you be eating with him?"

"We prefer your company this morning Luna. He is having trouble accepting that Harry and I are together," Hermione replied. "He thinks I belong to him."

"Ah, well it was obvious that you two are together, why else would you have kissed earlier unless Wrackspurts have invaded your minds?" Luna said. "Daddy showed me how to make a Wrackspurt draining funnel if you need one."

"No, I'm pretty sure that we don't have Wrackspurts Luna," Hermione said remembering her promise to herself not to comment on the imaginary creatures Luna mentioned. "But thank you."

"Why would Ronald think you are his?" Luna asked. "Owning people isn't allowed."

"I mean he thinks because he fancies me; I automatically should fancy him back."

"Oh well that is silly," Luna replied. "Seems he is suffering from Wrackspurts. Maybe I should offer a funnel to him?"

"He and his sister just need to accept that we are together."

"Ginny fancies you too Hermione?" Luna asked with dreamy voice.

"Uh...no. She likes Harry," Hermione replied.

"Yes, that is more likely."

"A real friend would be happy for us," Harry said. "They would accept our relationship."

"Friends accept you for who you are Luna," Hermione said while internally grimacing at the same time as she remembered that it had taken the battle at the Department of Mysteries to start accepting Luna, and even then she hadn't appreciated the friendship as much as she should have. "And don't presume they own you."

"That's true I suppose. I've never had friends," Luna said.

"Yes you have Luna, for several months now," Hermione said, "And for a couple of years."

"If you ever need company or anything Luna," Harry started, "We're here for you. We are your friends."

Luna felt a sense of warmth overcome her as she thought of the word "Friends."

"Now I heard," Harry's voice dropped to a whisper, "That people have been taking and hiding your belongings. Is there anything we can do to help?"

"No, it'll show up before the end of school," Luna replied. "It always does."

"It still doesn't give people the right to take your belongings Luna," Hermione said.

"They just think I'm odd," Luna explained as she looked at Hermione with those misty eyes, "They call me Looney sometimes."

"Not to us they won't," Harry declared.

"Well if you need to borrow anything to wear because something you need is missing, let me know," Hermione said.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," Luna said and all through breakfast Luna's smile increased in size as she occasionally glanced at Harry and Hermione.

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 27 Endearing Affection""New

5 hours agoAfter breakfast, Harry and Hermione decided to spend some time under their favorite beech tree near the lake studying like normal students. Hermione brought out her study guides she had made two years or just days before and started going over what they needed for the tests and what they didn't.

She trimmed the actual material that was going to be covered on the OWLs down to a much more manageable amount. For the next couple of hours, they were re-reading their old textbooks and notes. Harry sat with his back to the tree while Hermione was lying on the ground beside him. Harry kept getting distracted by looking down at his wife watching her chew on her bottom lip as she was deep in thought.

"You know you drive me nuts when you do that don't you?" Harry asked.

"Do what?"

"Chew on you lip when you're thinking."

"You don't like it?" Hermione asked looking up at Harry.

"On the contrary, it makes me want to snog you senseless," Harry replied.

"Well, what's stopping you?" Hermione asked as she started chewing on her lip intentionally while gazing into Harry's eyes. It was an invitation he couldn't refuse. With the perfect weather, the perfect location and the perfect person to be with, Harry and Hermione spent the next couple of hours just being a couple of teenagers in love. They even had Dobby bring them a basket of food for a small picnic lunch.

Their sense of serenity was interrupted when Harry felt his mirror get warm. It had taken him a few seconds to realize it was the mirror and not the closeness of Hermione that was causing the heat.

"Sirius is calling," Harry said.

"Hand me the mirror," Hermione replied as she pulled out her wand and performed the muffliato charm. Harry handed over the mirror and she put it inside of an open book and they both pretended to be studying it. Looking down, they saw the mug of Harry's godfather looking back.

"Hey pup," He said. "Been thinking about what you want me to do, and what you want me to do also Hermione. I'm going to need more information about that night at the Ministry to put together some kind of plan. It would help if you can tell me how many Death Eaters, where they were positioned when you first met them, what their reactions where, things like that. I'm planning on getting a couple of the order members involved."

"You can't..." Hermione started,

"Of course I'm not going to tell them anything," Sirius said, cutting off the objection, "but I'm going to suggest since the Order is guarding the prophecy, we should have a plan to react if Voldemort makes an attempt to take it by force. You said only a few of us showed up that night. I think I can be there with a lot more this time."

"I like that plan, but what about Dumbledore?" Harry asked. "If Voldemort shows up again, we'll need him getting there. Also don't forget to make sure you have a way out of there yourself. We need Aurors to show to see Voldemort, but I don't want you captured."

"I'll think of something," Sirius assured him.

"Okay, we'll write down what we remember and get it to you," Harry said.

"And Hermione, I just want to say thanks," Sirius said with a grin. "I really did need a kick in the butt didn't I?"

"You just needed to know you're needed Sirius," Hermione replied. "And trust me when I say we need you. Harry needs his family, plus without you, Harry had no protection from Dumbledore."

"I think you're his family now, Mrs. Potter," Sirius said with a smirk.

"And you think I can keep him in line without help?" Hermione replied smiling. She really was enjoying that title.

"Good point. He is a troublesome cub isn't he?" Sirius replied. He glanced over his shoulder and then turned back to the mirror. "I really can't believe the difference in Kreacher. The little guy has been cleaning non-stop. Well I'll leave you two to whatever you were doing."

"We…we were just studying." Hermione said. "Getting ready for our OWLs."

"From the looks of your hair and lips, I'd say your studying is getting a little too personal," Sirius said with a grin.

"Oh shut it Sirius," Harry replied. "You're just jealous."

"Well considering I'm starting to think Buckbeak is attractive, you might say that," Sirius as his grin widened. "But I really am happy for the both of you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to help Kreacher."

Once the mirror had been stored, they started writing down the things they remembered from the Ministry. "This would be a lot easier if we just had Dumbledore's Pensieve," Harry grumbled.

Hermione's eyes shot up to his. "Of course, why didn't I think of that? We can borrow it."

"It's locked in Dumbledore's office remember," Harry said as he thought of the device he'd used to view Snape's memories just the previous day, two years in the future. "Even Umbridge can't get in there."

"But it's not Harry. Professor Snape has it. Remember your Occlumency lessons," Hermione reminded him. "Even if he has stopped giving you lessons at this time, he couldn't have returned it to Professor Dumbledore's office."

"You're right. So I just have to steal it from his office," Harry said.

"No, I have to steal it from his office, while you are in sight of him," Hermione corrected him. "You will be his primary suspect and we need you to have the perfect alibi, Professor Snape himself."

"Have I mentioned how brilliant you are?"

"You might have mentioned it once or twice along the way," Hermione replied.

"How about how beautiful you are?"

"You're a little behind with that considering we have been soul mates for so long," Hermione said.

"I better start catching up then," Harry murmured as he pulled Hermione back into his arms.

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 28 "Deception and Distraction"New

5 hours agoTheir plan to get the Pensieve was very straight forward. At dinner that evening Harry would make sure he got close enough to Malfoy to ensure the ferret would say something about Harry and Hermione being together in a derogatory fashion. If he didn't, they were sure Ron would say something stupid. Either way Harry would make sure the argument was loud and lasted for a few minutes. In the meantime Hermione after being seen in the Great Hall, would slip away and under the invisibility cloak sneak into Snape's office and hopefully make off with the Pensieve. Since they were unsure about any tracking charms that might be on the memory device, they decided to hide it in the Room of Requirements.

Harry almost smiled when he heard a familiar sneer of a voice as he walked from the Gryffindor table to talk to Luna since the Ravenclaw table was right next to the Slytherin table. "So Potty, I never thought you would ever sink so low as to actually date the mudblood, or is she providing you with 'distractions' as a good servant should."

"It's on Hermione. Ferret boy never could keep his mouth shut," Harry thought to Hermione who was near the entrance to the Dungeons under the cloak," I will have everyone's attention shortly and Snape is at the Head Table."

"Just don't overdo it," Hermione replied. "Remember he has Umbridge on his side."

Raising his voice to make sure the people around them could hear him, "I guess your father knows all about being a servant doesn't he?" Harry replied evenly to Draco. "Tell me, does your mother kneel before the Dark Lord also?"

"Leave my mother out of this scarhead!"

"You mean she doesn't offer, what was the word you used, 'distractions' to Voldemort? Maybe it's your father then, is that the reason he spends so much time on his knees in front of Voldemort?"

All eyes were now turned toward the pair. Draco's face had turned scarlet as he bolted from his seat. His hand dove into his pocket for his wand but before he pulled it out a sneer crossed his face as he looked past Harry.

From behind him, Harry heard a sound he never wished to hear again.

"Hem hem," Came the sickly sweet cough of Professor Umbridge. "Whatever is going on here Mr. Potter?"

"Is Snape still there? His door was locked and I had to unlock it," Hermione asked. "I want to make sure he didn't have wards he can detect."

Harry glanced toward the head table where he saw Snape was still sitting there staring at him with a greasy smirk on his face. Harry could also see Professor McGonagall looking at him; her eyes clearly pleading for him to not make it worse.

"He's still here," Harry replied to Hermione before he turned to face Umbridge. His eyes locked on her beady toad eyes. "Nothing Professor."

"That is Headmistress Umbridge to you Mr. Potter," Umbridge said as she swelled in her own imagined importance. Even that effect seemed to imitate a toad breathing. "Now I clearly heard you refer to a certain Dark Wizard. Are you telling your lies again Mr. Potter?"

"I was only responding to an insult by Ferret, I mean Malfoy here to a friend of mine," Harry replied. "Unless you think someone of his," Harry mimicked the sneer Malfoy always used, "breeding, would listen to my lies, as you call them."

"That will be thirty points from Gryffindor for the insult to a member of my Inquisitorial Squad," Umbridge said quickly. "I can personal attest to young Malfoy's family, as they are good friends with the Minister and myself. Now anything further from you Mr. Potter and you will be serving detention."

"Got it," Hermione said. "And back out of his office."

Harry forced himself not to smile. His eyes flickered up to the staff table where he made certain that Professor Snape was still in his seat and then again at Professor McGonagall who seemed to be holding her breath. "Yes Professor."

With an air of superiority Umbridge said, "Very well then."

Harry strolled past Umbridge to a chair next to Luna, who again sat alone. As he took the chair to Luna's left, he allowed himself a quick look at the head table once more. When he did, he found McGonagall looking back at him. The goblet in her hand dipped slightly in his direction. Harry returned a small nod and turned to greet Luna. Five minutes later Hermione joined them, apologizing for being delayed in the bathroom so the people nearby would hear. They made sure that neither of them left the Great Hall again before Professor Snape did.

To continue providing themselves with an alibi, Harry and Hermione went to the library immediately after dinner. Hermione asked Madam Pince several questions unique enough to stand out in her memories, but not enough to seem suspicious. They then sat at a table near the Librarian's desk and studied for their OWLs.

"Do you know how to work it?" Hermione asked.

"Both Snape and Dumbledore just put their memories in it and it worked. Same as with Snape's memories," Harry explained. "The question is how to get the memories out of our minds. Any ideas on that?"

"Not really."

"Maybe Sirius knows," Harry suggested.

"Maybe," Hermione replied as she scanned the library wanting to go grab books on the subject of memories. An urge she had to battle with. "I better not get books on it yet, or it could be suspicious."

"You said I have Divinations and Defense tomorrow afternoon?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked at her planner again. "Yes."

"Well I'm not taking Divination OWL anymore, so there is no need to go to that class, and we could skive off Defense and have the whole afternoon to figure out how to work it," Harry said.

"What would Umbridge do?" Hermione asked.

"Who cares?"

History of Magic the next morning was more boring than Harry ever remembered it being. He forced himself to stay awake for Hermione's sake as Professor Binns reviewed for the OWLs. Some of it he remembered on the test from two years earlier, and some from Hermione's notes they had reviewed the previous day, but most of it he never remembered. Hermione would say things like "This isn't on the test" or "The OWL has an essay requirement on this topic," Allowing Harry to focus on what was important.

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 29 "Reaffirming Bonds"New

5 hours agoHarry had no trouble staying awake in the double Potions class that followed. Though Snape was also reviewing for OWLs his eyes rarely left Harry. Harry spent the class organizing his own thoughts about the Potions Master.

The person who had been his mother's childhood friend, but had hated her heritage. Someone who would sacrifice the son of the woman he claimed to love without hesitation.

Someone who promised to help protect that son, but made every day a living hell for him. He played the memories the future Snape had given him over and over in his mind. No matter how he tried, the hour of memories that kept flashing through his mind could not undo the six years Snape had tortured Harry mentally, especially knowing he did not love his mother.

Hermione could feel the emotions playing inside of Harry. "Are you alright Harry?" She asked.

"I think so. It's just Snape. I just can't bring myself to reconcile how he treated me all of these years," Harry explained. "I see him, and I still feel all the mental abuse he heaped on me just because of my father. I also see him dying in the Shrieking Shack. I see the memories he gave me. Yes he spied for Dumbledore, but as I was sitting here another thought crossed my mind. Did Snape spy for Dumbledore to help protect me or to make himself feel important?"

"What do you mean?"

"Snape is purely focused on Snape," Harry explained his thoughts. "As a Death Eater he was one of many and not even that important. But as a spy, he would consider himself the most valuable asset of a Wizard even Voldemort feared. Think of when he died. He was asking permission to come try to get to me, not making any real effort to escape from Voldemort's presence. He knew I needed that information, but he refused to openly betray Voldemort all the way to the very end. He continued to play both sides until the last instant the snake sunk his fangs into him. If Voldemort had not killed him and had won, Snape would have been safe. If I won with him still alive he would have been safe. He didn't sacrifice his life for the cause; it was taken from him because of a mistake by Voldemort concerning the Elder Wand."

"What about how he protected the students at Hogwarts?"

"Did he? Again he did just enough to play both sides. He knew I fancied Ginny so he couldn't let her be tortured but what about all of the students who did suffer the Cruciatus curses as punishments? No, I think Snape did just enough to be vindicated if I won."

Hermione thought about Harry's reasoning and looked up as the Potions Professor. "You might be…" She stopped in mid thought, "No, I believe you are right Harry."

When class was finally over, Harry had just managed to put his book and notes into his book bag when the oily voice he'd been expecting caught up to him, "I need a word Potter."

"Want me to stay with you?" Hermione asked.

"No, but don't go far just in case."

Harry turned and faced Snape. "Yes?"

The Potions Master closed the distance and looked Harry in the eyes, "I hope that Occlumency works," He thought.

"Return it Potter."

"Return what sir?" Harry asked innocently.

"You know what you took. You took the Headmaster's Pensieve. You will bring it back and you will bring it back before the end of the day. Am I clear?"

"Sir, I did not take anything. When was it taken sir?"

"You know perfectly well it was taken last evening."

"Well last evening I was at dinner and then in the library. You can check with Madam Pince if you would like. Besides why would I take the Pensieve?" and Harry felt a sensation in his mind as he stared at Snape. He knew it was a passive legilimency attack from Snape. He wanted to smile when a questioning look appear on Snape's face.

"Fight it off Harry," Miranda said. "You know how."

"What?" But Harry realized he did know how. He brought up the memory he had seen in the Pensieve two years ago and he pushed the snippet of when Snape had called his mother a Mudblood at the presence he could feel. The look of anger and astonishment that crossed the Potion Master's face was priceless, but it was only a split second later that his wand was out and the word "Legilimens!" was spoken.

It was the same sensation but a hundred times more powerful this time. Harry recoiled but then he realized memories were not popping up as they always had done before. Harry searched his own memories for ways to retaliate. He remembered his face to face encounter with the Basilisk and mentally threw that memory at the presence. He followed it closely with the face to face meeting with Aragog, and finally he found the memory of experiencing the cruicatus curse at the hands of Voldemort in the graveyard and sent followed the other two memories. Snape staggered backward. A look of bewilderment registered on his face for a split second before he quickly recovered and his normal sneer appeared.

Harry glared at Snape as he scrambled for an explanation. "Occlumency lessons work much better when I trust the person teaching me. As you can see, I no longer need your training so please refrain from perform Legilimency on me again."

Snape's black eyes were boring into Harry. It didn't take Legilimency to figure out that Snape's ideas right now bordered on unforgivables. "Now Professor, I will say this once, I am not my father. No matter how much revenge you want from him, he is dead along with my mother," Harry let the final word sink in and he saw a ghost of pain reflected in Snape's eyes. "Will there be anything else sir?" Harry asked, when no answer came from Snape, he turned and walked out the door. "Thanks Miranda," Harry thought. "I rather liked that."

Harry heard the giggling, "I thought you might. Just remember that he now has questions he's going to try to get answers to. Be careful."

"It isn't like I go looking for trouble."

"No it's more like you place a full page ad in the Daily Prophet requesting trouble be delivered to your doorstep," Miranda replied with a sigh.

Hermione was waiting outside the classroom with her wand in her hand just in case she had been needed. As Harry came out of the door, she wrapped her arms around him. "Are you alright?"

"Brilliant," Harry replied. "The first thing I want our children taught is Occlumency, well maybe riding a broom is first, but Occlumency is definitely early in their lives."

"Our children? Taking something for granted there Harry?"

Harry realized what he had said, "My apologies. Mrs. Potter, will you someday consider being the mother of my children?"

"As long as you don't see me as a Mrs. Weasley pushing out a kid a week while staying home to raise them we can discuss it."

"How does two or three sound to you? Especially an intelligent little girl who looks exactly like her mother," Harry asked with his emerald eyes locked onto hers.

Hermione smiled as she thought of a future family with Harry and two or three children. She herself imagined a small boy with messy black hair. "I think it sounds perfect."

HP: Love's Second Chance Ch. 30 "Learning to Extract"New

5 hours agoAfter lunch, they made their way to the Room of Requirements where Hermione brought out a surprise for Harry. In a room she had created to hide the Pensieve she pulled a book out and handed it to Harry. It was Snape's potions book, the same book that had caused so much extra jealousy for Hermione in their sixth year.

"Here," She said handing the book to Harry. "I doubt Professor Snape will miss it as long as you're not cursing Malfoy," She gave Harry a small smile. "I know the jealousy was artificial but I really am sorry. This book is actually a valuable treasure of information. Whether it's the printed words or the hand writing in the margins, knowledge is knowledge. And if next year Slughorn is back and has his competition for the Felix Felicis, I expect my husband to win it again."

"We will both work out of this book and both do equally as well," Harry said.

They turned their attention to the Pensieve. They both had seen Snape expelling his memories right before his death and Harry explained how both Snape and Dumbledore used their wand to extract memories from their head.

"Well I'm not quite ready to aim a wand at my head and see what happens," Hermione said cautiously. "Let's see if Sirius knows how it's done."

Harry pulled out the mirror and called "Sirius Black," This time it took a minute before Sirius answered. "Sorry, but Moody is downstairs right now. I had to make an excuse to come see about Buckbeak. What's going on pup?"

"Will Moody see you using the mirror with his eye?" Hermione asked.

"If he bothers to look, yes, but he won't be able to hear anything," Sirius replied. "I have this room silenced anyway since Buckbeak can make a bit of racket from time to time."

"You remember me telling you about the memory of Snape from that time after your OWLs right?"

"Yeah, thought you were over that?" Sirius replied.

"It's not that, we just want to know if you know how to extract memories to use in the Pensieve?"

"Why?"

"Well we sort of stole Dumbledore's Pensieve from Snape," Harry explained.

"You what?" Sirius exploded and then he started laughing. "Oh Merlin. What's he going to do when he finds out?"

"He already suspects me," Harry said. "But he can't prove it. He tried Legilimency on me this morning."

"He did what?" Sirius growled. "Just wait until he shows his ugly mug around here. I'll rip him to pieces."

"Actually it just proves my Occlumency works perfectly," Harry replied. "He got some tasty memories of mine that he didn't find very appealing including an up close and personal visit with a Basilisk."

"He's not going to let that go you know," Sirius said suddenly very serious. "He's going to want to know how you did it."

"Yeah, I mentioned that lessons work better if the person teaching me is someone I trust. I am hoping he thinks Hermione taught me, but for now he's not a threat," Harry said. "Remind me this summer to tell you my thoughts I have about him and you can tell me if they could be right. For now though we wanted to ask if you had any ideas on how to get memories out of your head to use in the Pensieve. We thought if we could give you our memories of the Ministry you would have more to work on."

"That's an excellent idea," Sirius exclaimed. "Uh...yeah. Dumbledore showed me. He wanted my memories of the encounter with Pettigrew and a couple of other ones. It's not really easy but not extremely difficult either," Sirius explained. "Basically you have to push your magic into a memory while focusing on your wand as you have it near your head. You also have to concentrate on keeping the memory or sending it out."

"Thanks," Harry said. "Can we screw up our minds or anything doing this?"

"Try not to think of any dangerous magical spells while you have your wand pointed at your head," Sirius said only half-jokingly. "Even a disarming spell at that range can seriously hurt you. If you are going to try it, work with memories that don't mean anything to you until you are more practiced."

"If we get this to work, can we stop back there on Thursday and show them to you?" Harry asked.

"Mirror me first like last time to make sure no one has dropped by," Sirius said. "We are supposed to have an Order meeting on Wednesday, so I should be able to let you know what Dumbledore had to say about the locket."

"Thanks Sirius, you better get back to Moody," Hermione said.

"Yeah, I guess. See you two Thursday," And Sirius's image disappeared.