Note: This is a sequel to my story 'Revenant,' but it can easily stand on its own. However, this story is technically AU if you consider the EU canon. For details on my version of the EU, see the prologue of 'Revenant.'

Disclaimer: Most of this is George's. Only the fairy tale is mine...from a certain point of view. ;)

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Prologue: Secrets

It was his ninth birthday, and he couldn't wait for the festivities to be over.

It wasn't that he wasn't enjoying his party. The food was quite good, and his family and all his friends were there, and the new gaming system he'd asked his Uncle Luke for was certainly a perk. He hadn't asked for a story this year. There was someone else he wanted to ask a story from.

"Ani?" his mother's voice asked, sounding slightly worried. "Have you heard a word I've been saying?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry Mom," he muttered. The concern in her brown eyes made him feel just a bit guilty, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. "I'm just tired, that's all." He almost slapped himself for saying that—it was a lie, and his mother always knew when he was lying.

But for now, at least, she seemed to accept his excuses, though her look told him that she wasn't convinced, and would expect a full explanation in the morning. For now, all she said was, "Well, perhaps you should go to bed then. I'll take care of everything out here."

"Thanks Mom," he said excitedly, forgetting to act tired as he jumped up from his seat to give her a fierce, warm hug, then practically ran for his bedroom before she could change her mind. Had he waited, he might have heard her snort quietly and mutter to herself, "When is that boy going to work up the courage to tell me about his grandfather?"