Hey guys! So, I started this story a long, long time ago - before book 6 had come out. I went back and forth several times as to whether I wanted to continue with it once the books and movies progressed and ended up abandoning for good a couple times. And then for whatever reason, I would come back to it every now and again and end up writing some. Before I knew it, I had nearly completed the whole damn thing. Then I spent some time going back and forth as to whether I would post it and just decided, eh, what's to lose?

I did a TON of re-writes of the beginning, taking into consideration everything that happens in book 6 and 7. I tried to stay on point with those storylines, however because of how I started this story, it's not going to match up completely. But hey, it's all fiction anyway so does it matter? Probably not in the big scheme of things. At the moment I'm just going to repost up to where I had left off previously and then add one more new chapter. Again, I've got it mostly finished but I don't want to get ahead of myself, so not sure how regularly new chapters will come up. At the moment I'm just dealing with finishing off two sections in the second half of the story, but once those are done, should be completely done.

Anywho, I don't own any of the HP characters. Just hope you enjoy!

The summer felt endless and only two weeks had passed. The second Harry had returned to the Dursley's the old animosity started all over again. Though it was more bearable this summer. Apparently the Order's warning had registered with Uncle Vernon, though it didn't stop him from glaring menacingly at Harry periodically. He was still put to work around the house and viewed as the scum of the family, but neither Vernon nor Dudley would ever think to lay a hand on him or do something truly horrible.

It was mid-morning and the Dursley's had just finished breakfast. There was a frenzied air as Aunt Petunia rushed around trying to get breakfast cleaned up.

"Hurry up, boy. Get those dishes done. Dudley's tutor will be here any moment," she shouted as she put more dishes by the sink. Harry sighed as he continued rinsing off the large plate in his hands.

"Why do I have to have a tutor, Mum? Only losers have tutors," Dudley shouted from his seat at the kitchen table.

"Yes, Petunia. I don't understand why we have to put Dudley through this. Those teachers just don't understand his brilliance," Uncle Vernon complained just as loudly. The doorbell chimed.

"Coming," Aunt Petunia called loudly. She then glared at Uncle Vernon and Dudley. "Look, if you want Dudley to continue attending Smeltings, he has got to get his marks up. Now, Dudley dear, I want you to be nice to Jenny. She came highly recommended." With that said, Aunt Petunia turn and rushed out of the kitchen. The only sounds came from the water pouring into the sink and Dudley's quiet grumbling at the kitchen table. Harry could hear quiet murmuring coming from the hallway.

Suddenly the door opened and in walked a smiling Aunt Petunia followed by a pretty, young woman. She had a large bag thrown over her shoulder that was obviously full of books. Dudley stopped his grumbling as both he and Uncle Vernon turned their attention to the new tutor. She was short and had long, full brunette hair that hung in ringlets down her back. Her perfect teeth shined white when she smiled demurely and looked down at her feet, giving her the air of one who was shy and studious. She looked about early twenties, though she could have been younger. Harry watched her from his station at the sink. She fidgeted slightly and glanced at him with bright green eyes that seemed oddly familiar. Harry must have given her a weird look because she quickly looked away and turned her attention to Dudley, who was in a trance at the kitchen table.

"Dudley, this is your tutor, Jenny. And this is Dudley and my husband, Mr. Dursley," Aunt Petunia said graciously. Uncle Vernon stood up so quickly, he almost knocked his chair over.

"Hello, and thank you so much for agreeing to help our Dudley here," he lumbered on, practically drooling all over. Harry couldn't help laughing softly. It was quite funny to watch Uncle Vernon making an idiot out of himself.

"It's no problem, Mr. Dursley. I just hope that I can help Dudley," she said quietly, glancing over at Petunia.

"Please, please, call me Vernon," he said, inching closer to Jenny.

"I think we should go to the parlor, dear, and let Dudley get on with his lessons," Aunt Petunia said, her fake smile now firmly painted on. Uncle Vernon stood planted in a spot, staring at Jenny with a grin on his face. "Dear," Aunt Petunia said firmly. Uncle Vernon snapped out of his trance and nodded.

"Yes, yes. Let Dudley get on with his studies." Aunt Petunia practically dragged Uncle Vernon out of the room, but not before she glared at Harry.

"When you're finished, Harry, you can go up to your room. I don't want you disturbing Dudley and his tutor," she said with cold politeness. Harry nodded.

"Yes, Aunt Petunia." He then turned back to the dishes. Jenny pulled a chair out and set her heavy bag in it. She then started pulling out large textbooks and stacking them on the table.

"Now, what shall we start with?" she asked softly. Dudley didn't answer. He was too busy staring at Jenny. She started to fidget again. "Um, what are you having the most trouble with?"

"Um, I, uh, I have problems with everything," Dudley finally said. She knit her eyebrows and stared at the stack of books.

"All right then, that certainly doesn't narrow it down. Ehm, let's start with history. Just to see what we have to work with." She pulled out a thick green book and placed it in front of Dudley. His eyes never left her as she stood next to him. "Well?" she asked.

"Um, what?" Dudley asked. Harry smiled to himself as he saw Jenny sigh and roll her eyes, frustration starting to break through her proper facade.

"Open the book," she said, a little more tersely. "Start reading the first chapter and then I'll quiz you over it. You're not going to learn anything by staring at me." Quietly, Dudley turned to the book and opened it, glancing up at Jenny every so often to see if she really meant what she said. Meanwhile, Jenny had sat down in the chair next to him and pulled out a piece of paper and pencil. She quietly began writing what looked like questions, obviously knowing what was in the first chapter from previous tutoring sessions. Harry finished the dishes and started walking towards the door that led to the hallway.

"Hey," Dudley shouted. Harry stopped and looked at him with a wide, bored expression.

"What Dudley?"

"Get me something to drink," he ordered. Harry turned and walked back to the fridge. "Would you like something to drink?" he could hear Dudley ask sweetly. Jenny snorted.

"No, not when you're going to act like a git and order your cousin around. Get up and get it yourself," she said before turning back to her paper. Dudley's eyes widened with shock.

"What did you call me?" he whispered. Harry turned around to watch the fireworks. Personally, he was betting on Jenny. Jenny put her pencil down and looked Dudley in the eye, suddenly losing every bit of the soft and studious tutor image that she had walked in with.

"I call you a git because that's what you are. A lazy git who can't do anything for himself, not even pass a grade. Now, your parents didn't hire me to sit here and give you a lesson on how to be a better person, so I would really appreciate it if you would kindly go back to your reading and let him get on with whatever he has to do." She picked up her pencil and calmly began writing again as Dudley sat in shock. It was all Harry could do to keep from laughing. He quietly went to walk out of the kitchen again when Jenny looked up at him. There really was something about her eyes that seemed so familiar. He felt them move up and pause on his scar. She inhaled sharply and turned back to her quiz. Harry shook his head, not sure what had exactly happened.

"I'll have my mum and dad sack you," he heard Dudley say menacingly. Harry started walking out of the door.

"Good, then I can quit wasting my time with a blockhead like you," she muttered, not even looking up from the paper. Harry smiled to himself. Finally, Dudley was getting just what he deserved.

Either Dudley never told his parents or Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't care because Jenny continued to come twice a week to tutor Dudley. As usual, Harry would be ordered to leave them alone, but he never managed to stray too far away. Despite Dudley's pea-sized brain, he seemed to be improving slightly over a couple weeks. Granted, it was going to take a lot longer than one summer to turn him from a blockhead to a star student.

One day, Jenny stayed until late evening helping Dudley with the Roman Empire at the patio table in the backyard. Aunt Petunia had insisted that the summer air would help Dudley concentrate. Harry lay hidden in a bush nearby. It was often entertaining to hear Jenny go off on Dudley when he couldn't even get the simplest answer right.

"Who was the last emperor of the Pax Romana?" Jenny asked.

"Um, Julius Caesar."

"Wrong, Marcus Aurelius. Who named his horse a governor?"

"Confucius."

"Wrong civilization. It was Caligula. Honestly, how did you make it this far in your schooling?" Jenny said with a sigh. Harry suppressed a laugh. He heard Dudley's chair screech back.

"I'm going to get something to eat," he muttered.

"Suit yourself," Jenny said lightly. A door opened and shut. Harry could hear Jenny slamming books shut. He lay still, pondering how he could slip out of the bush without her noticing. Apparently, Jenny had heard him anyway. "I know you're there, Harry," she said. Harry froze and then slid out from the bush and faced her. Dirt was smudged on his pants and down his left cheek. It suddenly felt slightly childish, despite his nearly sixteen years, to be standing in front of Jenny dirty and caught red handed for eavesdropping. He watched as Jenny continued packing her books in her bag.

"How'd you know I was there?" he asked, puzzled.

"You're not very good at covering your laughter," she before glancing up at him. Again, her eyes lingered on his scar before quickly turning away. He self consciously reached up and flattened his fringe over it."Sorry, it's an interesting scar, I can't help but notice it," she said softly, packing up her books a little quicker.

"It's all right," Harry found himself saying, "I'm used to it." Suddenly, out of nowhere, Harry was overcome with a deep, overwhelming sadness. It felt as though a giant rock had been placed on his chest as he gasped to breathe. He couldn't explain where it came from. It was almost as if he were feeling someone else's emotions, like with Voldemort. But Harry knew that it wasn't Voldemort because his scar wasn't searing with pain. A tear trickled down his cheek.

"He has our eyes." It was a small whisper that seemed to come from somewhere inside his head.

"I have my mother's eyes," he said aloud, before he realized what was happening. Jenny froze and looked at him, her eyes wide with fear.

"What did you say?" she whispered.

"I, I have my mother's eyes," Harry said again, a little louder. Turning quickly, Jenny threw the last of her books into the bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"I must be off," she said, starting towards the gate. "Please tell Pe-your aunt that I won't be returning and she doesn't have to worry about paying me." Harry started to follow her, knowing that whatever had just happened had something to do with Jenny and magic.

"Wait!" he yelled. But Jenny took off at a run.

"Just leave it be," she yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared around the corner. Harry quickly followed her, but as he rounded the house he could find no sign of her or anyone. It was odd. He ran through the gate and out to the front of the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her running down the sidewalk, but she was nowhere in sight.

"Where could she have gone?" he thought. Harry took off in a light jog down the sidewalk, hoping to find her. He knew it was probably dangerous, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to ask Jenny about what had just happened.

Twilight was quickly falling and soon Harry found himself jogging in the dark down a deserted street. He looked around as he came to a stop. There was a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that he needed to get back home. It was dangerous for him to be outside at night by himself. Quickly, he turned and started running back in the direction he came from. If he could just make back to the house. It was foolish of him to run out like that.

The Dursley's house came in sight. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he sped up a little. Unfortunately, a large pop behind him made that relief short-lived. Harry glanced over his shoulder and saw a tall man, clothed in a black cloak with his face hidden in shadow.

"Not so fast!" the man shouted right before sending a curse Harry's way. Harry quickly dodged it, causing him to fall to the ground. Rolling over, he then quickly jumped to his feet, reaching for his wand, only to remember that he had left it back at the house.

"Harry Potter. What are you doing so far from home at this time of night?" the man said in a low, menacing voice. He laughed as he realized that Harry was wandless, no longer feeling he had any need to rush. The Death Eater clearly had the upperhand. He held his wand up to Harry and flicked it, shouting "Impedimenta!"

Harry grimaced as he tried to turn and dodge the second spell, yet still expecting to feel it hit him at any moment, but surprisingly it didn't. Instead, there was a bright flash that knocked Harry to the ground. He heard the man yell in surprise.

"What are you?!" he shouted. Quickly, Harry rolled over and gasped at what he saw. Standing in between him and the Death Eater was a woman with long red hair. She was facing the man with her hands up - no wand in sight - and had created some sort of shield that had deflected the spell. The man was stumbling backwards, trying to get away from her as though he was facing a ghost. Harry was in shock. It couldn't be. The woman standing in front of him couldn't possibly be who he thought it was. She glanced back at Harry and saw him lying on the ground.

"Run, Harry. Get up and run," she yelled. That knocked Harry out of his daze. He hopped to his feet and began running to the house, not stopping until he reached the doorstep. He then turned around and saw the Death Eater apparating. The woman put her hands down and turned to see Harry staring at her. She was far enough away that Harry couldn't completely make out her face, but he was pretty sure he knew who she was. Suddenly and silently, she just disappeared. Harry quickly went inside and slammed the door shut behind him, his thoughts racing through his head. He couldn't have possibly seen whom he thought he had seen. It was impossible. She was dead. There was no way that the woman who had just saved Harry's life was his mother.