Harry Potter stepped out of the floo and into Professor Snape's parlor. If that moment had been foretold by the most trustworthy seer, Harry would never have believed it. He had a sister. And apparently an adoptive father. Or at least guardian? And he was standing in that man's house, even though, until today, he would have sworn up and down that his demise was likely to be carried out by the Potions Master.

Harry wasn't sure what to do with the small box in his hands. Snape had reduced his steamer trunk to something that looked more like the treasure chest that Harry's 2nd grade teacher had used to house prizes.

As if he was reading the younger wizard's mind, Snape strode out of the room, waving for Harry to follow. "I'll show you to your room," he said as they rounded the corner and started up the stairs. "You can feel free to unpack your belongings, but I would like you to leave all your clothing on the bed. We need to determine what to purchase before the coming semester."

"I didn't really know that I needed other clothes," Harry said quietly as they reached the second floor. "And by the time I realized it, I didn't really know where to go, and all my money is Wizarding."

Severus hummed softly. He hadn't been to the Potter vault in a significant amount of time. Obviously, half of that money belonged to Olivia, but he always purposed to raise her without it. He had always assumed that he would tell her of her parentage at a much more advanced age, when she was able to handle that much money. Now, he supposed, he would have to tell her. She was liable to notice that Harry had a large vault of gold.

Severus supposed he was now in control of the entirety of the Potter fortune. However, he had no desire to be Harry's accountant.

"Severus?" There were footsteps on the stairs, and Lupin appeared in the doorway. When his eyes fell on Harry, he froze, clearly without the ability to speak for several moments.

Finally, he closed his eyes briefly and look a deep breath. "Harry. You look just exactly like your father."

Harry looked a bit embarrassed. He was used to being recognized, but this man was looking at him with more familiarity than anyone had.

"Mr. Potter, meet Remus Lupin." Severus broke the awkward silence.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Lupin." Harry was suddenly very aware that he had no idea what to do with his hands.

"Remus, please," Lupin corrected. He looked at Severus. "I was in the basement, I thought I heard the floo. Where's my little felon?"

"Asleep in her room," Severus gestured into the hallway, in the direction Harry assumed must be Olivia's room. "I told her that you would go talk to her."

Lupin grimaced. "It's possible that I was a little too… forceful earlier. Usually I leave the shouting to you."

Severus rolled his eyes. "I hardly have to shout," he waved his hand toward the hallway again. "Wake her and work it out, please. Then we can have lunch."

Remus went toward the door. "How mental did you go? Should I get ready to commiserate about what an overbearing tyrant you are?"

"She'll live," Severus smirked.

Harry continued to stand awkwardly during the exchange. He wasn't totally sure what the relationship between the two men was, but they were clearly used to having these kinds of conversations. It seemed that Olivia was in some sort of trouble, but neither man seemed nearly as explosive as Uncle Vernon could be.

Remus went down the hall, knocking softly at Olivia's door before going in. The dark haired child was indeed sleeping, her head poking out from the covers. He crossed the room and sat down on the edge of her bed, using one hand to smooth her hair.

Olivia rolled over and opened her eyes. Remus could see that she had been crying; her eyes were still red and puffy. "Remus?"

"In the flesh," Remus conjured a cool wet cloth and wiped her face. "Why do you do these things to yourself, hmm?"

"I'm sorry, Remus," the tears threatened to reappear, and Remus gave up all thoughts of staying stern.

"I know you are," he said gently, helping her to sit up. As soon as she was vertical, she fell forward into his chest, and he wrapped his arms securely around her. "You could have just asked to go, you know. We would have taken you. You should never be afraid to ask something."

Olivia nodded against his shirt. "Remus?" She pulled away slightly to look at him. "Where do you really go? Every month? During the full moon?"

Remus blinked. "What makes you think…" He paused and shook his head. Of course she had realized that it was always during the full moon. He'd been her astronomy teacher for crying out loud.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," Olivia said quietly. "But we don't usually lie to each other."

That was like a knife in the gut. Remus nodded once, then making a snap decision that he'd known her whole life that he would have to make, he moved her from his lap to the floor. "Come with me," he said simply, and led her down the stairs to the basement door. When Remus opened the door and started down the stairs, Olivia looked wary.

Remus chuckled. "Nothing is dangerous down here right now," he assured her, holding out his hand for her to take and follow him.

When they arrived in the barren basement room, Remus used his wand to tap the wall, showing the door. Then he cast the spell that only he and Severus knew, to conjure the metal key. He unlocked the door, and wordlessly lead Olivia down the stairs.

When they reached the barred metal door, he opened it with another conjured key, and swung it open to reveal his monthly cell. He looked at Olivia, who was looking into the room with interest. "So… you go to the basement?"

"Every full moon," Remus said quietly, watching her face carefully. "Since I was 4." Well, not this basement, Remus amended in his head.

"Why?" Olivia looked at him quizzically.

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Olivia… you're smarter than that."

Olivia looked at the cell again, and pieced together the information in her mind. "You were bitten."

Remus nodded, not meeting her eyes, and closed the door, using his wand to turn the opening back into an innocuous wall. He was startled, although maybe he shouldn't have been, when he felt small arms go around his waist. He let the arm that didn't hold his wand settle around her back.

"Does it hurt?"

Remus sheathed his wand and used his hand to smooth the back of her hair. "Not as much anymore. Your father brews a potion that helps." He pulled away far enough to see her face. "You understand you can't tell anyone. I'm trusting that you're old enough to understand—"

"I know," Olivia interrupted. She smiled a little. "Basically my whole life is one big secret right now."

Remus wrapped both arms around her, rocking a little side to side. "I saw part of your secret upstairs. How do you feel about that?"

"Harry?" Olivia shrugged. "I mean, his relatives are not good."

"Your relatives," Remus corrected. "And just because his living situation isn't ideal, doesn't mean you have to be okay with him moving in."

Olivia listened to his heartbeat. "You knew his parents? My parents?"

"James Potter was a close friend." Remus turned her so she was next to him with his arm across her shoulders. "And I'm certain that Lily would be horrified at her sister's treatment of her son." He chuckled. "I'm even more certain that James is spinning in his grave right now at the prospect of his son living with Severus Snape."

"He let me go with Severus Snape," Olivia said quietly as they started up the stairs.

Remus considered the point. "A clear indication of how much James cared about your safety."

"Well then he should be okay with this," Olivia reasoned. "Harry wasn't safe there. His cousin beat him up all the time."

"You are full of debate tonight," Remus led her into the hall and closed the basement door, locking it.

Severus, coming down the stairs, saw the pair, and looked at the door they just came through. "Olivia Eileen—

Remus opened his mouth to assure him that everything was fine, but Olivia interrupted.

"I'm sorry, Dad. Won't happen again, I promise." She looked at Harry. "Don't go in the basement, he's mental about the basement."

Severus's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at his daughter, then at Remus. Lupin tried to communicate through subtle dilations of his pupils that the Potions Master should just leave it alone.

His ocular gymnastics seemed to be successful, because Severus cleared his throat and looked at Harry. "Basement rules will be covered in the extensive conversation about expectations that we will be having after lunch. Which both of you will attend." He gestured toward the kitchen. "Wash your hands, and we will eat." Severus looked at Remus, and they both disappeared into Snape's study.

Harry looked at Olivia. "So. Hi."

Olivia led the way into the kitchen. "I guess you aren't looking in the library over the holiday," she said, turning on the water.

"I don't think we'd find anything anyway," Harry traced the vein of the marble on the countertop with his finger. He paused, not looking up from the counter before continuing. "Is this weird for you?"

Olivia shrugged, drying her hands on the towel beside the sink. "Which part?" She met his eyes. "I feel like I'm supposed to feel completed. Like I should have been missing you all these years."

"Do you?" Harry took his turn at the sink.

"Not really," Olivia leaned against the counter. "It just feels weird. There's this whole other life I could have had if things were different."

"You mean if our parents weren't dead? Or if you'd been stuck with relatives that didn't want you instead of living in a mansion? With a dad? With Christmas and birthdays and a perfect fairy tale life?"

Olivia looked at him. "It's not a mansion. And it's not perfect." She'd never known Harry to be bitter, but then again, they hadn't known each other that long.

"Could have fooled me."

Olivia started to respond, but suddenly heard someone clear their throat. The twins spun around to see Remus in the doorway. "Harry, come take a walk with me," the older wizard phrased it like an invitation, but Harry knew immediately that it was an order. An order from this man he'd only just met. From a man who knew his father.