Chapter 21

The students were packing their stuff as the Christmas holidays ended tomorrow. Harry Potter headed downstairs and decided to use his old name as a way of breaking his ties to the Dark Lord who was clearly a madman. He noticed that his natural parents James and Lily Potter were talking to Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.

"How was the mission to the werewolves Moony?" asked James.

"It went well. Most of them seem accommodating but there are a few stubborn exceptions like Greyback and his cronies," replied Remus.

"Fenrir Greyback is a monster. Is he popular among the werewolves?" asked Sirius.

"Not really but everyone fears him and his cronies who are equally as blood thirsty as him," replied Remus. He remembered Greyback dealing harsh punishments to those werewolves who crossed him while his cronies cheered their leader on. It disgusted him as it proved those bigots right that werewolves were nothing more than animals when clearly Greyback didn't represent all the werewolves.

"So what you are saying is that if we kill Greyback one of his cronies will take his place and carry on his bloody killing sprees?" said Lily in a disgusted tone.

Now Harry had heard of Greyback as the Dark Lord had mentioned him as a useful tool in his plans and often the Dark Lord would hold meetings with Greyback and his cronies to discuss attacks on Muggles.

Remus looked up and saw Harry watching them he nudged James who turned around.

"Yes Harry?" asked James.

"I couldn't help overhearing you guys," said Harry.

"I thought you would be packing as term starts tomorrow," said Sirius, looking at him suspiciously. Old habits die hard and Sirius was going to find it very hard to stop thinking of Harry as the Dark Lord's son.

"I finished my packing that's all," replied Harry.

"Did you want something son?" asked Lily kindly.

"Yes. I wanted to talk to you and dad," said Harry.

"We better go, Prongs. Give you some time to catch up with your son," said Remus, nudging Sirius. The two men left leaving the Potter family alone.

Harry turned to face his natural parents; the people he knew the least apart from what he heard from Lucius and Bella when they were drunk. According to them, James Potter was a disgrace to Purebloods everywhere and his wife was a cunning Mudblood who married James to get her hands on the Potters' fortune.

"So what did you want to talk about Harry?" asked James.

"Your friend, Sirius Black. I guess he still distrusts me," said Harry.

"Well according to Remus it was difficult for him when we all apparently died," replied Lily.

"He looks at me as if I am in league with the mad bint Bellatrix Lestrange when clearly he is mistaken," retorted Harry angrily.

"Give him time son," James urged, desperate for the two to get along.

"Maybe I will.I know that you are my parents. I heard that a long time ago from Wormtail," said Harry.

His parents' faces darkened at the mention of their former friend, Wormtail, who betrayed them to Voldemort and caused their son to be raised by monsters.

"Whatever he has told you about us is probably a lie," said James in a strained voice.

"Well, I must say that I didn't believe him when he first told me," said Harry.

"So you didn't have a good childhood then?" asked Lily curiously.

"Not really," said Harry. Then he talked about his dark past and had his parents cursing out loud at the treatment that their son had had to endure in his childhood.

After their son had finished the Potters hugged each other.

"Just so you know, I am not like Voldemort," said Harry.

"I never doubted that, and don't worry about Sirius. He will come around," said James.

"I love you," said Lily.

Harry left and headed to find Hermione. She was working in the library as usual.

"Harry right?" asked Hermione, looking up from her book.

"Yeah," replied Harry.

"What can I do for you?" asked Hermione.

"I need your help with your friend Ginny," said Harry.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I need you to help her understand that I am still the same man she fell in love with despite my name changes. I mean really, I didn't ask to be kidnapped by You Know Who and raised to be his son. Surely she must see that what has happened to me is not my fault," said Harry passionately.

"Look, Ginny is overwhelmed by all the changes in your life. Don't worry about it. She knows that what has happened isn't your fault," replied Hermione reasonably.

"Can you talk to her for me?" asked Harry. Ginny always seemed to be too busy for him these days.

"Sure I will," replied Hermione gently.

"She is not breaking up with me is she?" asked Harry. Another fear twisted his guts that Ginny wasn't going to stay with him; that all the changes in his life had scared her off.

"Of course not, Harry."

"How do you know?" asked Harry anxiously.

"Look, I know Ginny and she has always been happy with you," said Hermione.

Harry let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, Hermione."

"Don't mention it," she replied.

Harry left and hoped that Hermione could help with out with the situation with Ginny.

Hermione closed her book and went into Ron's room and found Ginny talking to her brother, Neville and Susan.

"I need to talk to Ginny alone," said Hermione.

"Yes, what is it, Hermione?" asked Ginny as once everyone had left.

"I had your boyfriend in a terrible state over you," said Hermione sternly.

"What's happened?" asked Ginny, her brown eyes growing wide with fear.

"He has got it into his head that you are breaking up with him," said Hermione.

"I never said anything like that!" protested Ginny.

"You won't make time to seriously talk to him about all these changes and now Harry is starting to wonder that maybe you don't care anymore or that you blame him for being kidnapped by You Know Who."

"Of course I don't blame him for being kidnapped! I still love him," replied Ginny, looking rather upset.

"You must understand that You Know Who must've given him a negative view of women and that all the harsh experiences in his life have made him wary of accepting love," said Hermione. She knew all this as she had spoken to Harry as he relied on her to be an impartial observer.

Ginny banged her head against the wall as she realised that she had made a terrible mistake in ignoring Harry.

"Where are you going?" asked Hermione.

"To find the love of my life," replied Ginny.

She went to the boy's room and saw Harry reading a book.

"Hey, handsome," said Ginny.

"I spoke to Hermione about us," said Harry.

"I know. She made me see what an idiot I was," said Ginny.

"Well don't do it again," said Harry mock sternly, and he kissed Ginny.

There was a knock at the door. "Hey Harry, Ginny, Mum said that dinner is ready," called out Ron.

"Thanks, Hermione," said Harry.

"Don't mention it" replied Hermione as they were heading to their rooms.

Harry fell asleep and heard Draco, Ron and Neville and Dudley snore

Thanks for all the reviews so far and please send more and I would like to thank my Beta reader Sirius Blackisgod for her hard work on this chapter.