Chapter 2

After listening to Hermione expound on the evil that was Dumbledore, Lily and the Marauders gathered around Harry on the sofa. Harry looked at his loved ones, awe in his expression, and once again, with tears in his eyes, asked, "Why do I have to go back?"

Lily couldn't resist this time and threw her arms around her son. She was very pleased when he leaned into her embrace. "Sweetheart, you aren't dead. Your body is alive somewhere, so you shouldn't be here. Unfortunately, your connection to your physical self is a bit tenuous right now. We need to find a way to strengthen that for you."

Harry smiled. So this is what having a mum feels like. When he looked at his dad, Remus and Sirius, they were nodding like they were puppets on Lily's strings, prompting Harry to ask, "Where is my body?"

"We aren't sure. Something is keeping it hidden," Remus replied.

"If I understand the last few days, and your explanation of what can and cannot be seen from this in-between place, then my body can't be hidden by a wizard or witch because we would see that. So, something else, something powerful... I know! A house-elf!" Harry exclaimed, pleased with himself for thinking of it.

James and Sirius scoffed at him. "Harry, remember Kreacher. How in the world could you even think house-elves are powerful?" Sirius jeered.

James added, "They love to work and cook and clean. They aren't powerful."

Harry just looked at them in disbelief. "You know," he said, "I kept hoping beyond hope that Snape was wrong about you two and you weren't stupid pureblood bullies. He was right. You are no better than all those Slytherins who thought they were better than everyone else just because they existed. Harry leaped to his feet. "Did you know Dobby was able to blast his former master down the hallway without a wand? And you mentioned Kreacher? He kept Regulus' secret and was a masterful fighter and a great help once he realized we wanted the same thing. He survived a poison that would have killed Dumbledore if Snape hadn't been forced to kill him under oath. Bah. I don't even want to look at you two right now." Harry paced back and forth, his voice rising as his steps quickened, he turned his back on the two men abruptly and marched over to the mirror.

James and Sirius looked at each other questioningly. "What the hell is he talking about, Prongs? House-elves aren't good for anything but simple work no one else does."

"I'm not sure, Padfoot. Maybe all those years of living with Lily's crazy relatives warped him."

Remus shook his head at the idiots he called his best friends. Death had finally given Remus Lupin a backbone. "You just don't get it, and probably never will. You never apologized to Severus for the way you treated him; you assume Harry thinks just like you. He doesn't. He was mistreated and ostracized for most of his childhood and thought of as a savior for the rest. I wish I had been half as brave as he is. At least then I would've had friends who believed in me and didn't use me as a murder weapon."

He walked over to Lily and Harry, who were trying to figure out who might have his body.

James and Sirius were quietly arguing on the sofa. "Padfoot, maybe we need to look at this from Harry's point of view. Lily's looking at me like she did for most of our first five years of Hogwarts. I'd like to think I've grown past being a toe-rag."

"Why do you think you're wrong, Prongs? Maybe it's them." Sirius was implacable.

Suddenly there was an odd whine from the mirror, sort of an alarm, or the whiny noise made by someone getting too close to a microphone. All five of the occupants of the common room turned to look. The mirror showed the Atrium at the Ministry of Magic.

A frighteningly benevolent Voldemort addressed the large gathering while gesturing to his guests of honor, Hermione standing at Viktor Krum's and Severus Snape's sides and Katie Bell at the far side of Snape. "We are here today to witness her questioning, under a truth spell, of the only wizarding portrait of the so-called great Albus Dumbledore. After that, we will witness his final destruction at the hands of Severus Snape, who asked for nothing."

"Oh, no, sir. I have some questions for you. Now, first of all: Vir Du Fabrica, Dico Verum!"

Harry gritted his teeth. He had given himself up willingly, just as Dumbledore had planned. At his side, James clenched his fists and shifted closer to the mirror. Sirius made a comment about Dumbledore's probable ancestry, and Lily shushed him as she leaned closer to the mirror.

The Dark Lord laughed. "He most certainly did, Albus. Your sacrificial lamb was quite willing to be a martyr. But why would I pass up an opportunity to finally kill him? And yes, I now live! Britain is bowing to my will and I am reshaping society. It will be a paradise, Albus, and you will have nothing to do with it."

"We'll see about that," Harry muttered.

Albus's painted face looked pained. "I was not interested in shaping society, Tom."

A growl emanated from the Dark Lord, who realized his whole blood-purification agenda fit right into the old chessmaster's plan.

Lily turned to Harry, her green-eyes wide in disbelief. "Harry, we really need to figure out why you wouldn't listen to that girl. She's brilliant."

"I know, Mum," Harry said. "Wow, we weren't even chess pieces. I don't even know what to call what he was doing."

They turned back to the mirror. Even James and Sirius were captivated by the things revealed, although they were whispering like school-boys.

"Prongs, how could anyone follow that snake-faced bastard?"

"I don't know, Padfoot, but then again, I never did. Not everyone could be as good-looking as we are."

Lily turned, ready to blast the two immature idiots, when she saw they were trying to keep the commentary light on purpose. James was running his hands through his hair again, and Sirius was unsuccessfully trying to keep the growl out of his voice.

A hissing voice interjected. "I have heard enough! Severus, do you have anything to ask this old man before you destroy him?"

"I truly hate you, Albus." Severus looked to his wife, who nodded at him, then pointed his wand at the portrait. "Fiendfyre!"

"Oh, go, Snape!" Harry cheered, pumping his fist into the air. He turned back to the mirror. "Wait, he's married to Katie? Blimey."

"Ol' Snivellus must've had his marriage arranged. I can't think of a witch that would have him otherwi---"

SMACK! The sound of Lily's hand hitting Sirius' cheek reverberated through the room. Sirius raised his hand up to his smarting cheek and looked at his best friend. James, who knew better than to disrespect Severus Snape after all this time, just shook his head, his hand fisted in his hair.

Harry's laughter rang through the room. "Mum, you're just like Hermione. Or maybe the other way around. She slapped Draco a good one third year. She had the same exact look on her face that you do now."

Remus and Lily laughed at that bit of nostalgia. Remus looked thoughtful for a bit. "Harry, where is Kreacher? He might know where your body is; you are still his master, especially if you aren't dead."

Harry grinned in excitement. "You're right, Remus. I hope he's at Hogwarts, like I told him to be." His speech grew rapid as he sounded out some ideas. "Maybe Hermione is there, and we can start something. Is there any way to contact someone down there, I mean without the Resurrection stone?"

Lily answered, "I'm not sure, Harry, maybe we can contact a ghost to find out? Then we could pass on a message."

Harry spun around on his heel, as though he were remembering something. "Too bad I can't just call a house-elf. They're great at carrying messages and keeping secrets."

"Who would you call?" asked Remus.

"Dobby!" Harry exclaimed. "He saved my life. I trust him more than just about anyone."

A pop was heard. "Master Harry Potter called for Dobby?"