The Secrets of the Past

Harry smiled at Fleur and Hermione then looking at Remus again he asked. "Can you tell me more about my mother Remus? I mean I know some things about my father but I don't know too much about mom."

Remus face softened as a look of sadness appeared on it. "Sure," He said, and then he composed his thoughts for a few seconds before continuing. "Lily was red-headed tempest with a heart unmatched. Smart, beautiful and a temper that even Merlin would have feared," Remus looked away as he fought the tears trying to materialize in his eyes. "She knew about my condition; one of the few who figured it out and it never bothered her. I will tell you the single most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life was the first time I saw her holding you Harry. She lit up the room with her glow of happiness. It was only a couple days after a full moon and just that sight of her made all the pains I felt go away. Your mother really loved you. I should say she loves you, since I'm sure they are there watching you."

Hermione and Fleur moved to sit on either side of Harry as they felt his sadness. Gabrielle was currently in Transfiguration but she also felt the sadness.

"What's wrong love," Gabrielle asked.

"Nothing Angel. Remus is just telling me about my mother."

"Fleur and 'Ermione zere?"

"Yes."

"Zey'll take care of you. I'll see you soon as class is over," Gabrielle said. "I love you."

Remus gave a little laugh as the tears still threaten to fall, then he continued, "Your mother hated your father you know," At the questioning look Harry gave him, he continued, "I mean at the beginning, they didn't get together until their seventh year. Your father had a bit of arrogance about him when he got here. He was a natural leader who was very good at everything he did and he thought your mother would swoon over him like all the other girls did."

"Mum didn't like that?" Harry asked.

"That is an understatement. She despised him, especially since her best friend at the time was your father's favorite target to bully."

"Bully? My father was a bully?"

Remus sighed and looked down as he contemplated what to tell Harry. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but yes, sometimes your father was a bit…immature. At times we all were a bit immature."

"But Snivellus deserved it," Sirius spoke up. "Mostly anyway."

"Snivellus? Severus?" Harry asked incredulously. "Snape was my mother's best friend?"

"Yes. They were best friends up until the fifth year or so," Sirius said. "They grew up together. Friends before they ever came to Hogwarts. I remember seeing them on the train for the first time. It was instant dislike between your father, me and Severus."

Harry whole belief in what he knew about his parents was disappearing fast. His father was an arrogant bully and his mother was best friends with someone who hated Harry's guts. "What…What happened in the fifth year? You said they were friends until then."

Remus looked at Sirius and both studied the ground for a while before Remus finally spoke up. "James…well we had just finished our OWLs and well…" His voice trailed off as he found it hard to tell the tale. He glanced over at Sirius.

"James and I started picking on Severus. Pretty severely actually," Sirius continued the story. "Lily came to Severus' defense and Snape, embarrassed by his predicament, called her a mudblood."

"Her best friend called her a mudblood?" Hermione asked. She'd been called that name too many times for it to bother her too much, but could not imagine someone like Harry or Ron using the vile word.

"They'd probably started growing apart before then," Remus replied. "Severus had a group of Slytherins he kept with while Lily had her own friends. But yes, he did call her that name and she never really forgave him after that."

"So if my mother hated my father so much how did…"

"James changed," Remus replied. "He became the man who your mother grew to love. As I said, whatever your father wanted to do, he did well. When he decided he wanted to be a better man, he made himself the best man anyone could ask for. He wanted to prove to your moth…no that's not a right; he wanted to be the man worthy of your mother," Remus wiped an eye clear with a sleeve of his shabby robe. "You know Harry; you are the best of both of your parents. You have your mother's heart and your father's determination."

"I…I'm not anyone special," Harry said.

"Harry, you're talking to the man who watched you as third year conquer a charm that a lot of adult witches and wizards can't do just so he wouldn't let his Quidditch team down," Remus replied. "You then used that charm to dispatch over a hundred Dementors. I can't even do that Harry. Trust me, when you truly want to do something, you have it in you to do it. That is James' determination in you. When you develop his confidence, you will be a force to reckon with."

"I.." was all Harry could say so he just nodded at his father's friend.

"You are special Harry," Hermione said.

"I promised Gabrielle I would take her flying tonight," Harry said finally to change the subject. "It's a new moon and it's going to be nothing but stars in the sky."

"I want to go with you sometime soon 'Arry," Fleur said and then she looked at Hermione.

"I don't really like brooms," She said, "But maybe with you Harry, if you promise none of the wild flying you do."

"Do I really have to promise love? The broom just likes to fly."

"We'll see, but you do have to promise to stop if I ask you too," Hermione insisted.

"That I will promise."

"How does that Firebolt fly Harry?" Sirius asked.

"Like a dream Sirius," Harry replied. "Best present ever."

"You know that's the second broom I bought for you," Sirius asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I bought you your first broom as well. A toy one for your first birthday," Sirius replied. "Lily sent me a picture of you flying on it. She said you almost killed the cat."

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