Author's note: Hey! If you haven't read about Harry not being (yet) officially a prince, please check the previous chapter's author note where I have posted an update before analysing an aspect I've just recently realized. Also, the story is going to become quicker now until we reach Hogwarts age when it will of course slow down once again. And from now on we will have plenty of canon characters to appear. :3 Harry's schools are based on real schools, schools English princes really tend to attend, but the names (except for Eton) and a few details are made up (and for example the uniform's colour is changed). In the upcoming chapters a few times the point of view will shift - simply, because Harry wouldn't be invited to a few grown-up talks that are needed... He is six after all.

UPDATE (22-03-2016): Yes, I did delete the chapter. The original version of this chapter really was choppy. Sorry for that, it seems that yesterday I was unable to write, I shouldn't have forced, but it's break, so I wanted to update. I hope you like the new version more. Only one big change was made, but that will come up countless times over the next few chapters if you don't want to re-read it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series, all rights go to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 6

Partial Past

Harry wasn't sure what to expect from his first weekend with his grandparents, but it surely didn't turn out anything like he imagined. Simply, because they have left. Okay, it was somewhat more complicated than that, actually so complex that he didn't understand fully. They went to Windsor Castle for the whole weekend to entertain one important foreign politician or another. Harry hasn't even heard about the country before where the political figure came from. He wanted to join his grandparents, not because he was so curious about that important person, but because he wanted to spend more time with his new family. However, he was told that he was too young and he didn't know enough of how these events go and no one even knew about him yet.

However, he wasn't to spend an entire weekend alone, so he was shipped off first thing on Saturday morning to Kensington Palace. He was surprised to learn that his Aunt Sarah, Uncle Philip and his new cousins all lived there and they were happy to look after him for the time being. He was curious of who phrased that sentence, who from his new family was happy to spend time with him – probably his new aunt, he decided.

"I thought they live outside of London," he told his grandmother when she proposed the idea. Wasn't it a big deal that they came to London to meet him? Then his grandmother explained to him that they weren't in town then, because they were doing their royal duties. Royal duties, Harry shuddered at the expression, not knowing exactly what it meant. He was pretty sure now that such things as gardening or cleaning weren't among them, but he had no idea what was. He was just about to ask his grandmother when she started talking about what clothes to take with himself, not that he cared about it.

Harry then had to say good bye to his grandparents and it was a bigger deal than he first thought. When he looked into the green eyes of his grandmother the first thing that came to his mind was if he was ever going to see her again. It was a pretty illogical thought, he knew that in two days they were coming back and even until then he was to spend time with his grandpa's brother's family, but still.

"I will miss you," he said softly and his grandmother smiled at him. She hugged him, to which by now he started to get used to. She felt so warm and caring.

"Don't worry, my dear chap, we will be back by Sunday evening," his grandpa said with a small smile, and he tousled his hair, which Harry found especially funny as his hair was messy enough.

"You promise?" he asked quietly, not trusting his own voice. Until now he was always happy to see his guardians leave home, but these weren't the Dursleys. No, his grandparents showed him more love in like two days than his Aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon in five years. He might have been young, but he understood what that meant – his grandparents cared about him, and he wanted that. He wanted to feel the warm feeling he got every time they showed their love for him for the rest of his life.

"Of course, Harry, we promise. You will get sick of us, we will spend so much time together, I promise," his grandfather said with a wink which just seemed so out of place. His grandfather was a very solemn and formal man after all.

His grandparents accompanied him on his ride to Kensington Palace which made him extremely happy. He wasn't sure why, but just sitting next to them made him feel better. He supposed it was still hard to believe that he had grandparents who wanted him around. It also eased the pain inside his chest that the idea of them leaving left. Yes, they were going away for the weekend, but they would be back soon – very soon.

Once his door was opened Harry got see another palace as well. How many more were there? He was amazed by Kensington just as much as Buckingham, though in many ways it was less impressing. He wondered if he was ever going to get used to the idea of living in palaces, though.

"Harry, sweetheart, it's good to see you again," his Aunt Sarah said with a wide smile which lit her face up and she looked younger than she was. His Uncle Philip stood behind her, but he didn't seem as happy to see him as his wife did. Harry didn't like the stoic expression on his uncle's face, but one look on the smile on her aunt's face and he couldn't feel bad. It couldn't have been fake – she was glad that he was there.

After another series of saying good bye he was led into the palace. He was told that Mag (though his new relatives instead of calling her Mary Margaret) had already gone back to school and his other cousins, Edward and Christian continued doing their royal duties. His Aunt then started talking about some charity event, not that he understood how they have changed the topic and what that had to do with anything. However, he wasn't comfortable with asking questions. It was one thing to question his grandparents, but completely different to ask questions from his new aunt and uncle, he decided.

"I'm needed now," his Uncle Philip stated just after they entered a series of rooms where according to his aunt he would stay for the weekend. He nodded simply and said good bye to his uncle while he watched his aunt looking not exactly approvingly at the older man.

"Then it's just the two of us now, Harry. Why don't we sit down and you could tell me about yourself," she suggested with a smile, though he wasn't sure that he liked the idea. What was he supposed to say? He was very far from interesting, the Dursleys always said so, and they were never interested what has happened to him unless he was in trouble, so why would she want to talk about him of all things?

He sat down on a sofa though just as she said and after being asked he took a piece of cake.

"I'm very sorry that we could hardly talk, but your grandmother has said so many things about you already," she said with a smile after taking place right next to him. Harry felt his cheeks warm by the attention. He dearly hoped that his grandma had only good things to say – he didn't want to disappoint any of his family. Family, it was still such a foreign thought, he had family. He didn't know what to say, and she seemed to sense it, so just like Mag did she started asking many different questions from him.

"When is your birthday?" she asked with a smile. He answered that it was the end of July.

She asked many questions about school and what he liked. It felt strange that a grown-up would be so interested in his life, only his grandparents seemed to be that way, it never happened before he has met them. He wanted to tell his aunt that she didn't really need to do this, she must have had millions of better things to do, but she just kept on asking things and commenting what he has said and he didn't want to disturb her.

"Harry, have you been happy since you have left your Aunt Petunia?" she asked softly and he nodded without thinking. This entire prince thing seemed overly-complicated to him and he wasn't sure that he could do it, but he has never felt so... loved before. Yes, loved. His Aunt Petunia might have provided enough food for him to get around, but she and his Uncle Vernon didn't care about him not to mention love him.

"Yes, my grandparents are very... nice," he struggled to find a fitting word and he didn't want to share his private thoughts with Aunt Sarah, because while he liked her very much, they have just met and he didn't exactly have good experience when it came to aunts. There was knocking on the door and after Aunt Sarah told the person to come in the door opened. It was a young woman in business attire and she seemed very surprised to find Harry there. She curtsied and greeted his aunt and then she looked uncomfortable.

"Harry, darling. Would you mind waiting outside for a few minutes? I have to talk with Miss Smith," she asked him and he nodded. He left the room and closed the door behind himself. He was usually a good boy and he did what he was told, but to be honest, he was curious. He has seen parts of the palace while they came in, but not enough. He started walking around, but never going far away from the corridor he was supposed to be waiting patiently. Harry was just walking on a corridor, looking in every direction with curiosity when a woman rushed through it. She looked at him with wide eyes when she nearly knocked him over.

"Boy, what are you doing here? You aren't supposed to be here, this is the Prince of Wales' and the Princesses of Wales' private residence," she started. Harry opened his mouth to tell her that he was staying in this apartment, but the woman was a whirlwind. She even had crazy dark hair which reminded Harry of a microphone, it was so curly and big. She grabbed his hand though not too strongly, so it didn't hurt and started pulling Harry with her. For a moment Harry thought of telling her that he was Aunt Sarah's and Uncle Philip's guest and there was a mistake, but then he saw a card in her neck saying that she was working in the Palace, so he thought that she might know what she was doing, so she let her drag him around. Not that he had many chances telling her as she was an unstoppable force when it came to talking and she even seemed to forget that she was talking to anyone because she gave no space for any reaction.

"You should have followed the tourist guide, never leave the official route. Where are your parents anyway? Or are you here with school, because that's even a trickier situation, we would have to call your parents as well and obviously the teacher then wasn't doing the supposed job well, so the school had to be notified also. Why were you walking around anyway? Was His or Her Royal Highness in their apartment? Were you listening to their private conversations?" And it went like that while they crossed pretty much the entire palace. He had seen the palace from the outside, so he knew that it wasn't small, but he was still surprised how much you had to walk when you lived in a castle. He realized soon why most people lived in smaller houses or flats. Living in a palace was exhausting especially as the lady dragging him was pretty tall with long legs and she seemed to be in great hurry. If Harry wasn't always pretty quick (as he was told in school that he was), he would have had a hard time keeping up with her.

They abruptly stopped and Harry soon realized why. They obviously left the living corners as where they were must have been the part of the palace which was opened for tourist with texts everywhere about what one could see and red cordons all around stopping people from touching the old furniture. He also heard the unmistakable noises of a tourist group coming from a room right next to the one where he was standing. The lady holding him seemed conflicted for a moment then she looked at him.

"Stay here boy until I'm back with someone who will question you and your parents. The group will join you in this room in a few minutes and then you can re-unite with your guardians," she stated and before he could answer, he left as tornado once again, probably knocking over someone else in the process as well. Harry thought about going back to Aunt Sarah's apartment but in the running they have done, he didn't have the opportunity to pay much attention to the route they have taken. He supposed that once the lady was back (this time with someone who may even pay attention to him), he would have his chance to tell them that there had been a mistake (because now he was sure that while the lady did work here, she has made one) and that he was supposed to be with his Aunt Sarah… Princess Sarah, he corrected himself.

So, once again he was standing alone in the palace waiting for a grown-up, and once again he was disturbed. This time a man left the room where the guiding was obviously taking place (he even heard a few words when the guide raised his voice).

"Excuse me, do you know where the toilette is?" he asked politely not looking at him. When Harry opened his mouth to say "No, I'm sorry, sir." he was stopped by the vocal reaction of the man.

"Harry? Is it really you?" he asked and he bent down to be on Harry's eye level. The man couldn't be very old, Harry supposed, not much older than his two older cousins. Maybe around the same age as his parents would be if they were still alive? He had light brown hair and while Harry was told at school never to talk to strangers he didn't seem scary at all in his white shirt and black trousers. Also, he had the look of a teacher, Harry supposed – he was reminded of one of his teachers, Mr Gordon who looked a lot like this man only he was a bit older with darker hair.

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't think we have met," he stated softly looking around, not knowing what to do with this man. He supposed was the man not as non-scary as he looked, the group was close enough to hear him. The man seemed crestfallen like he hoped for a different answer, but then his expression changed.

"Is your name Harry James Potter?" the man once again asked and Harry stilled. He found strange that the man guessed his first name correctly, but it was a pretty common and simply name, it could have been even a nickname for another name like Henry. But now that he has said his entire name it surely wasn't a coincidence. He looked into the light eyes of the man and for a second he felt some sort of recognition. He couldn't place the man in front of him, but he did seem familiar to him. If this happened a few days before he would have easily answered that yes that was his name. But now he was supposed to be a big secret – what if this man knew something about why he was in this palace the first place?

The fact that he seemed troubled by the question was probably a good enough answer to the man, because he continued speaking and what he said stunned Harry once again.

"I knew your parents; we have gone to school together. They were my best friends," he stated with a small tired smile like the thought caused him pain.

"My parents?" he asked with shakily voice. He took a step closer to the man who nodded softly.

"Lily and James Potter. Though if you're here then I guess you must have heard about your mother under a different name. The Princess Royal, I believe?" he asked with a wink, but even that seemed somewhat pained, not that Harry cared much about something like that when this man obviously was speaking the truth or he was someone who guessed Harry's secret and wanted more information.

"I didn't know that you know," the man informed him like he actually knew what Harry knew and what he didn't. He remembered something though – his grandparents mentioned that his Dad's friends spent some time in Buckingham one summer. So, at least a few had to know about his mother's identity. Maybe this really was one of his father's and mother's friends?

"Who are you?" he asked softly and he seemed surprised and he suppressed a smile.

"Sorry, in my shock of seeing you, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Remus Lupin and I've known your parents since we were eleven," he stated simply, but his eyes seemed distant. "The moment I've seen you I knew who you had to be. You look just like your father, I'm sure you will be his exact copy, though with your mother's eyes. I've only ever seen that eyes in this family," he stated and Harry knew what he meant by this family – the royal family, because his grandmother had the same eyes. He didn't know what to say, because his grandparents did say the exact same thing about his appearance, but if this was someone who has looked up his mother and father he might have come to the same conclusion.

"Tell me something what you could only know if you really their friend," he asked with some accusation in his voice. He couldn't dare to hope not after being told by his grandparents how many journalists would be after his story. But he did want it to be the truth – his grandparents did say themselves that they hardly knew his father and they didn't know anything about his mother once she has left school.

Mr Lupin looked at him with a thoughtful expression for a second like he was thinking of a way to convince him.

"The story about your mother going to a faraway university was completely fake. Your grandparents had no idea where she was, but she always stayed in England. She asked for a bit of time from your grandparents, she didn't just want to be a princess after we have graduated. Your grandparents also weren't happy about how serious things were between your parents, while they didn't personally have anything against your father; he wasn't exactly what they imagined for your mother. But she was a very stubborn creature," he smiled at the end and Harry's heart started beating faster. The story he has just said was a lot like the one his grandparents personally told him, but somehow it still wasn't enough for him. But before he could have asked for anything else the microphone whirlwind was back another woman with a name tag and identification card. Harry didn't know her, but she seemed to know who he was – or at least the official story about being the King's and the Queen's guest, because she seemed surprised by seeing Harry and she looked at Mr Lupin. She also turned towards the other woman.

"This is Mr Potter, he is His and Her Majesty's guest and while they are on official royal business he is staying in the apartment of the Princes and the Princess of Wales," she stated and the whirlwind gaped. She obviously didn't think that he was supposed to be in Aunt Sarah's apartment. She turned towards Mr Lupin then.

"And who are you? Mr Potter is His and Her Majesty's guest, why were you talking to him?" Well, she did seem to have a change of heart pretty quickly. Mr Lupin opened his mouth, but before he could even reply another random person appeared pretty much out of nowhere. Okay, that wasn't exactly the truth, because she entered through the door, Harry supposed, but he didn't exactly expect to see her, Aunt Sarah. The whole situation kind of reminded him of one out of a movie, which was bad, because he was supposed to be invisible, remaining undetected until his heritage was announced.

"Harry, oh, God, I have been looking for you everywhere!" Aunt Sarah said happily once she stumbled upon their little group. The exact same moment to make matters even worse the tour group at long last entered the room. The tour guide looked at their strange little group, while one tourist quickly recognized Aunt Sarah and after a loud "Princess Sarah!" shriek everyone started taking photos with their cameras. Harry panicked not knowing what to do and he looked at his aunt who seemed not to like the tourists who wanted to come closer to them. Eventually whirlwind became quite useful, because the same way she paralyzed Harry, she did the entire tourist group. His aunt grabbed his hand and he was once again led to another room while he noticed that the other palace worker and Mr Lupin stayed behind as well.

"What happened to you?" Aunt Sarah asked with crossed arms and raised eyebrows in an empty room.

"The whirlwind grabbed me," he answered truthfully and he noticed a small smile playing on the edge of her aunt's mouth. She nodded, though she didn't seem exactly happy.

"Harry, what was the name of the man you were talking to?" she asked and he told them the name the man gave him. Remus Lupin, he remembered.

"He said that he was my parents' friend in school," he stated and his aunt had a troubled expression.

"Harry, what did he say exactly to you and what did you tell him?" she asked and so Harry told her everything he could remember. When she realized that this man knew who Harry was exactly she was clearly unhappy. "Please, if you see this man again don't talk to him, okay?" He reluctantly nodded, because even if he wasn't completely convinced about what Mr Lupin said, he might have easily told him the truth and then he did want to talk to the man.

The next two days went without a hitch, though that was probably because after what has happened he was pretty much locked up in his room. His aunt hardly ever left his side. However, he only saw his uncle a couple of times, and his cousins did not come back while he was in Kensington. With every passing hour he became more nervous though, as Monday came closer and cloer, because he realized that he had to go to a new school.

"It's going to be okay, Harry, don't worry. You said that you were excited about meeting new kids and getting friends," his Aunt Sarah tried to calm him down on Sunday evening before his grandparents arrived back. He was still in Kensington and he would only go back with his grandparents, they didn't want him to be alone even for a moment, which was a big change from how the Dursleys treated him. Well, he had to admit that he was excited in a way, because he did like the idea of having some friends, but he was extra nervous of how he was going to be received. In the only ever school he has gone before pretty much no one liked him and he always assumed it was because Dudley, but what if he was wrong? What if he was at fault and the same thing would happen again?

He didn't know what to say, so he was extremely happy when he was spared of answering as the door opened and Miss Smith (who he learned was his aunt's private secretary) announced his grandparents. He jumped up from the table where he and Aunt Sarah were just playing cards and he ran up to his grandparents. But then he realized that Miss Smith was still around and he didn't hug them as he originally planned.

However, once they were left alone he could greet his grandparents as he wanted and while he thought that he has never seen them running around as he has just done, they didn't seem angry with him, but they did like when he hugged both of them. This was the first time he hugged his grandfather, he realized and while he wasn't as warm and soft as his grandma, he did like the embrace.

"Was everything in order?" his grandfather turned to his Aunt Sarah, who hesitated for a moment before she nodded. Harry noted that his grandmother didn't seem to like the hesitation.

"I will call you Sarah tomorrow," his grandma said to his aunt before they left. During the ride home his grandparents told bits of what happened with them in the last two days and in change he told them about all the games he has played with his new aunt and how much he liked spending time with her. He was so happy that his grandparents came back though, that he nearly forgot about what was waiting for him the next day. However, the next morning came sooner than he thought it was possible and while he was happy that his grandparents were with him now, he was even more nervous than the evening before if it was even possible.

He was woken up earlier than any days before since he has left the Dursley family. And what surprised him even more that a maid came in with his new uniform. He had received a white long sleeved shirt, dark grey trousers, grey jumper with blue trim, a blue school tie, long grey socks with blue stripes and black shorts. As it was already November he also had to put on a grey coat with blue trim and blue scarf and glove and grey and blue striped scarf. He felt it was a bit too much (of blue – especially as it was ironically royal blue – and grey) but when his grandmother entered the room after he was clothed she had tears in her eyes.

"Oh, you look so grown-up!" she exclaimed which was strange when it came to his grandmother, because both she and his grandfather were very private people who rarely raised their voices or showed any emotions. Harry himself wasn't as sure about that as his grandmother, but he supposed at least his new clothes fit and he liked the colour, it was a lot better than some uniforms he has seen before. Imagine an orange-maroon uniform for example!

"What do I say if someone asks why I've changed school?" he asked his grandmother who produced a camera out of nowhere and took a picture of him in his new clothes. He had to admit that it made him smile. The Dursleys would have never done anything like that for him, only ever for Dudley.

"That you have just moved to London," she stated simply and he nodded. It was the truth he supposed, he just had to leave that bit about the royal grandparents out. Not that it was a bit, only a few days ago this might have felt like a dream or a trick, going to a prestigious private school in new, fitting uniform and he has just started on. He was living in a palace after all! But no, now this really was his life. He supposed even if he could share it with others, he wouldn't be able. Telling the truth to a total stranger, a new classmate? No, he wasn't ready for that. For a little time he just wanted to be like the others – not the loser, but not the prince either.

"Will you come with me?" Harry asked hopefully, but one look on the face of his grandmother was enough of an answer for him. He stepped closer to him and she put her arms around him. It felt oddly calming to him, though he imagined what it would have felt was it his mother.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but it is still unknown to the public what the relation between you and us are. We had everything sorted out with the school and if that was only it it wouldn't be a problem, but anyone can spot us and that would raise questions," she told him and Harry felt the urge to tell her that he didn't care what others thought, but even in few days he realized that his new family did care about such things and probably it was expected from him to care as well. So with a sigh he nodded. He couldn't have everything he wanted – this was already a lot more than what he has ever had before and what he deserved according to the Dursleys.

"Matt will accompany you into the classroom as well, and he will speak with your teachers, okay?" Why he liked Matt, he was certainly not one of his grandparents, but he nodded anyway, he didn't want his grandmother to be unhappy because of him.

Before he left his grandfather checked on him as well and wished him good luck. He didn't hug him like his grandmother did, but he did pat him on his shoulder and called him "my son" which made Harry extremely happy.

"Harry, if you have any problem Matt will be around, waiting just outside the school. Ask for a teacher to find him and he will be able to get in touch with us. Also, ask for the headmaster, he knows what to do as well," his grandfather stated and Harry nodded. He wasn't sure what his grandpa meant under 'problem', but he dearly hoped that there wouldn't be any. No, he wanted everything to be perfect.

"You are being very silent," Matt stated once they were sitting in a sleek black car. Harry noted that Matt didn't call him either highness or sir, but even that couldn't cheer him up. The last time it was first day at school, it didn't turn out anything like how he imagined it would. No, everyone looked at him strangely because of his clothes and everyone was afraid of getting on Dudley's bad side. "If it is about school, don't worry, if you don't like it, your grandparents will just choose you another school. Every school will want you, everyone wants your grandparents to choose their school," he joked and it worked, Harry smiled.

When the car stopped Matt opened the door to him and theatrically stated, "Welcome to Kilburn Pre-Preparatory School." It was a very nice white building and Harry automatically liked it and he also noticed that many children were guided inside all wearing the same grey-blue uniforms. He noted how the children chatted among each other enthusiastically and no one seemed to even notice him. Some parents looked at Matt and him curiously (after all they looked nothing alike, so most assumed that they couldn't have been related, he thought) and while the rest of the children were going in the direction of their classes, Matt led him to the offices. An overly excited assistant told them to go inside and that the Headmaster was already waiting for them. Harry when he heard the word 'headmaster' automatically tried to think what he had done wrongly only to realize that they were just being welcomed.

"Welcome, welcome," the Headmaster had an enthusiastic smile on his face as well, and Harry had inkling that the man knew who he was or at least he had a very good guess. "Mr Potter, what a pleasure that you join our school." After then the man turned towards Matt and they started discussing something which was though obviously about him, the conversation wasn't for him to hear. So, he waited patiently until he was guided by the Headmaster himself to his classroom. Matt tailed them and flashed an encouraging smile in his direction when he had to enter the classroom.

He must have disrupted an already ongoing lesson, because the teacher stopped speaking and everyone was looking at them. The Headmaster motioned for him to go in and he did as he was told smiling shyly at all the boys. Of course, he nearly forgot that this was a school only for boys. It was a bit strange, but at the same time, it wasn't like he needed girls – boys were more fun to play with after all.

"This is Mr Harry Potter, please all of you welcome him to Kilburn," the Headmaster stated and a buzz of excitement ran through the classroom. Matt and the Headmaster left quickly after a good bye and Harry was still standing in front of all these kids who were curiously looking at him.

"Welcome in class. My name is Miss Adams. Please take place there," the teacher, a strict looking middle-aged woman pointed to a free place next to a curly-haired blonde boy who was smiling at him happily, he obviously seemed excited by the fact that Harry was sitting next to him. When Harry took place right next to him, he grabbed his hand and shook it.

"I'm Finch-Fletchley, Justin Finch-Fletchley," he introduced himself with a wide smile. Harry had to smile as well – maybe getting a friend wasn't going to be hard. Obviously this boy was very welcoming; he just hoped that the others were going to be like Justin.

"Harry, I mean, Harry Potter," he said with a shy smile not quite sure what he was supposed to say. "It's nice to meet you," he stated eventually. Justin nodded enthusiastically.

"So, what are you?" he asked while he pretended to listen to the Maths lesson. Harry frowned not understanding the question at all. He told Justin who for a moment seemed surprised, but then he smiled.

"You need to have a place reserved to get into this school pretty much the moment you are born, so the fact that you are a transfer student means that you obviously have to be someone. So, old family or new money?" The question still seemed strange for Harry, but he did gasp the basic idea. Well, the monarchy was old, wasn't it? Then obviously the royal family had to be old, so he guessed he fit into the first category.

"Old family," he told Justin who once again seemed surprised. "Hm, I didn't think with such a name." Harry was saved from answering because the teacher asked Justin a question. When he didn't know the answer he looked at Harry with hopeful eyes and Harry mouthed the answer. Once the teacher congratulated Justin for the good answer he said a quiet thank you to Harry and asked if he wanted to join him and his friends for football after the lessons. After that the idea of new school seemed a lot better to Harry.

About the same moment Harry was thanked by Justin and asked to join their game, in the Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty the Queen entered her office which to her greatest surprise wasn't empty – and no, not a maid was cleaning nor was her private secretary speaking on her phone. Instead a young man was leaning against her table. She opened her mouth to shout for the guards, but no sound came out of her throat and when she turned around to leave the room, the doors were closed.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I didn't want to frighten you and I really don't want to hurt you, I just needed to speak with you," the man stated, and she was surprised how soft-spoken he was and the way he spoke suggested higher education. He stepped closer and she was even more surprised to see that he didn't look at all frightening with dark blonde hair and light eyes. He had to be in his late twenties, if she was right. "If you promise me that you won't scream or call for the guards I will give you back your voice," the man stated, which made her froze. There was only one way that he was able to mute her – one closer look at the man confirmed her suspicions, he had a stick in his right hand. No, not a stick, she reminded herself, but a magical wand.

She nodded, knowing that if he was a wizard the guards couldn't do much anyways. He could easily keep them out or something. He raised his wand and then he nodded towards her. She didn't feel any different but when she opened her mouth, now she could speak.

"Who are you? What do you want?" she asked quietly, but with authority. He looked somewhat apologetically at her.

"When I said that I just wanted to talk, I meant it. My name is Remus Lupin. We have actually met a couple of times, you might remember me. James and later Lily became my best friends," he stated and she gasped. When her sister-in-law seemed hesitant to answer she knew something was up. Just this morning she has called her and she heard what has happened and the exact same name was mentioned. She didn't want to make Harry even more nervous so she didn't question him on his conversation with the stranger, but she was planning to do that night, especially as she has just received the information that could be found on Mr Remus Lupin and she wasn't happy with what she got. The man hardly seemed to exist.

Now it all made sense – the reason why so little information was found about him as well. A wizard, of course. She knew naturally that with Harry in their lives magic would re-appear as well. Just after she got to know that she had a grandson she was told by her husband that her grandson was magical, just like his mother. Still, she hoped that she would still have a few years to get used to the idea again.

"What was the name of Lily's owl?" she questioned him and she saw a faint smile on his face appear.

"Well, what wasn't? She got it when she first went to Diagon Alley and named it Minerva after the Roman wisdom goddess, but once we arrived to Hogwarts and she realized that it was our Head of the House's name it became an awkward name, and renamed the bird Athena, but it was a very stubborn owl just like Lils herself and wouldn't listen to her new name. So, Lily started calling her Minnie, which was where James got the inspiration for calling McGonagall that as well. So, eventually McGonagall became Minnie and Lily went back calling the bird Minerva." After the first sentence she knew that his answer was right, but she didn't stop him, no, she was clinging to every word. It has been so long she has heard someone talking about her daughter like that. Everyone always went on and on how sorry they were that she died, but no one ever said anything about her. Nothing new anyways. But here was a man standing, breaking in her office and telling her a story she has half-forgotten.

"You were here with Po… James once, during the summer holiday," she stated remembering him. Yes, she remembered that there was some type of dare and debt involved and that was how her daughter has arrived home with four boys. There was of course James Potter who shared the face of her grandson and his friends, a loud, but obviously highborn dark-haired boy, a small chubby blonde and a fourth one. Quiet, polite and kind, she remembered how much Lily talked about him and at one point she even thought that her daughter liked this boy until she laughed her off and told her that Remus was more like a brother to her. Something she found strange back then, but understood now completely – her daughter was already half in love with this man's best friend.

"Yes, I remember James' face when Lily first told him her real name and what she was. I actually knew it before, she has made some slip ups and I looked into it, but she made me swear not to tell anyone," he said with a nostalgic smile.

"Why are you here now?" she asked though after seen with Harry she had a pretty good idea. But what if he wanted to take Harry with him? What if there was some strange wizarding law she didn't know involved? She has already lost both of his children; she wasn't ready to lose her only grandchild as well.

"Harry, of course," he stated simply. "Were things different he would be calling me now his uncle and I want to be part of his life." The fact that he even knew about Harry meant that what he said was the complete truth. She wanted Harry as far from magic as possible for as long as she could keep him away, because she has lost her daughter to it, but she knew that Harry was a wizard and that magic seemed to mean so much for those who possessed it. Her own daughter chose it over being part of this family after all. So, while she wanted to keep him away, she knew that it was impossible.

"Harry doesn't know about magic," she stated firmly and he nodded simply. She didn't want this man around her grandson, simply because she didn't want him yet to learn about his other heritage. So much was already expected from him and so much more would be the moment it was out who he was. He had to learn that furthermost he was a prince, and then when he was older he would learn that he also had magical abilities he has gotten from his parents, but he had to have his priorities straight.

"I'm not surprised, Lily has told us enough about Petunia to not find it surprising at all." If she wasn't convinced before she had to be now. Not only did he know about Harry, but about Petunia as well and that Harry had been staying with her step-daughter. "He will have to get to know about it eventually, doesn't he? You will let him go to Hogwarts, won't you?" There was some accusation in his voice and for a second she didn't know how to answer. Henry and she have of course already talked about it and they agreed that Harry needed to learn to control his abilities and they both knew that Lily would want him there, but they weren't sure.

No, she didn't like the idea one bit. It was one thing that Harry was sent into schools, rather than being homeschooled, but those schools were under constant monitoring and the family had some control over them – enough for her to feel secure with him being there. Alec himself has gone to the same schools they have chosen for Harry for a reason.

However, Hogwarts was different. It was a magical school under the rule of Ministry of Magic; it didn't even exist according to the Parliament and the government! It was one thing for Lily to go there, Alec was the heir after all, and who has gone to Kilburn then to Herlei and then of course Eton. Yes, that was how a crown prince should be educated. Even when Lily was accepted to Hogwarts she could hardly convince them to let her go there, and she wasn't even the heir. No, they wouldn't let Harry there, to the other side of Great Britain, to a place they wouldn't even be able to enter where he would learn so strange things instead of mathematics and literature. However, this wasn't the time to share her thoughts with this man, no, Harry was only six years old, for another four or five years the topic wouldn't come up again.

"We will let him learn to control his abilities," she answered and that made the young man smile. It wasn't a lie; she remembered the warning of the teachers who came to convince them to let Lily attend. They told her that it was dangerous of any young child with magic not to learn to control their abilities; they could hurt themselves or even others. So, she knew that once Harry was a bit older he would have to learn about his abilities, but she has never said anything about going to that school. No, that was out of question. He could always learn magic from private tutors just to make sure that he was in control of his own abilities. The man's smile though, while her memories were vague, she remembered the red of her daughter's hair and her striking green eyes as she hugged the man in front of her and he had the same smile on his face.

"If you want I won't tell him anything, but don't you think that he has a right to know? I understand that one heritage at the time must be enough for him, but he isn't a Muggle-born. He is the heir of the House of Potter as well, and because of what happened he is much more than that too. Most will expect him to know everything about magic, more than those who have grown up in wizarding homes," he stated and she looked at him curiously.

"What happened?" she questioned him and he frowned.

"You don't know how Lily and James died?" he asked and she bit her lips, which she hardly ever did. No, it wasn't something a Queen was supposed to do, but this conversation was going in a direction which made her lose her focus and she felt uncomfortable.

"They were killed by that dark wizard Lily wanted to fight," she stated softly remembering the last time she has seen her daughter. The man in front of her let out a dry chuckle.

"Oh, in the end Lily won, I guess. But yes, we were young and we wanted to change the world, and we fought. I think you should talk to Dumbledore; you obviously have much to discuss. There are so many things you still don't know about Harry," he said while he shook his head. She didn't understand what he meant, but she asked him to arrange a meeting with the Headmaster she still remembered.

"You said that Harry was to be expected to know magic," she stated, though it sounded like a question. She wanted to know what he meant under that.

"Yes, and I meant it. Harry is more than average and not just because of his muggle heritage." She was silent for a moment hoping that she wasn't making a mistake. But last time she wasn't able to save her little girl and she wasn't about to let the same thing happen to her grandson. What if there were more of these dark lords around?

"Lily always spoke highly of you and your knowledge," she said and she hoped that she remembered well. But yes, this was the bookworm; she did remember that whenever she met him there was a book in his hand.

"She was one to speak, no one was better than her," he told her and she felt immensely proud. Yes, her little girl was good in everything she tried.

"I want you to teach Harry magic," she asked the man who looked at her in surprise. He obviously didn't that she would ask something like that. He nodded though and he smiled. He didn't need to know what she really planned. If Harry learned to control his magic now while he was still living here, he wouldn't have a problem once he was expected to go to a boarding school. Yes, the sooner he started learning, the sooner he could finish it and move on to the type of life which was expected from him.

"Do not worry, Your Majesty. If he is anything like Lily or James then you don't have to worry. And I'm more than willing to teach him." The problem was that if Harry was anything like Lily or even James then she did have to worry. Her daughter and her son-in-law did get themselves killed in a bloody war most people didn't even know about. No, that will not happen to Harry – she won't let it happen.