Well, it's here

[alt_sirius]

First September, 1991. Harry is eleven, and he's on his way to Hogwarts. May already be there.

I hope he does his parents proud.

Comments

[alt_harry]

My parents?

[alt_sirius]

Hallo, Harry.

Yes, your parents. Lily and James Potter - Your real parents. They were...friends of mine. It's probably not safe to talk about it right now, not like this.

But your dad and I were good mates. I'm sure you'll be a Gryffindor, like they were.

Good luck, Harry!

[alt_harry]

Well I'm not a Gryffindor now am I?

But - the Hat told me my name was Potter - what does that mean? What were they like? You can't just say that and not tell me.

[alt_sirius]

WHAT!?

What do you mean, you're not a Gryffindor?

Harry, believe me, I should like nothing better than to have a nice, long chat. But these journals can be watched.

[alt_harry]

I'm not a Gryffindor. I thought everyone had heard by now. The Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor, but Father wouldn't hear of it. So now I'm in Slytherin, which is where everyone says I should be, anyway.

It honestly isn't so bad. I'm with Draco, at least, which is something! And it isn't like I don't get to have friends in other Houses, is it?

I don't see why it matters that the journals can be watched. I want to know, and I know Father won't tell me, but I don't see how he could be angry if someone else did.

[alt_sirius]

If I tell you, you have to promise NOT to say anything about it in your own journal. I don't think your "father" knows about mine, or me, and it must, MUST stay that way, Harry.

Your real father was a hero. Voldemort klled him, and your mother, when you were only a baby.

Harry...I'm your real godfather.

Your dad, and your mum, and I, we were all in Gryffindor. Two people whom we thought we could trust betrayed us--betrayed James--and led Voldemort to you.

I know you're very young to hear all this for the first time. Harry, please, please be careful. If Voldemort knows we are in contact...

Speaking of which, how did you even find my journal? Did Minerva make it available?

Must take pains to keep it secret, if so.

[alt_harry]

I don't know what you're talking about. Someone would have told me if that was true. Who are you, anyway? I don't know anything about you. Why should I believe anything you have to say?

Who's Minerva? Why should this be secret? Of course it isn't secret! These are public journals! Everyone is supposed to have one.

I think maybe Father wouldn't want me talking to you, you're right. So I won't.

[alt_sirius]

Harry - wait.

It's all right if you don't believe me. I realize it's a lot to take in all at once, and you've had the truth hidden from you for a long time.

But you don't have to believe just me. Just ask Argus Filch about James Potter and Sirius Black....

[alt_lupin]

Well done, Sirius.

[alt_sirius]

Oh, and you'd have lied to the little bugger, wouldn't you have done?

How the devil was I to know the boy would find this?

[alt_lupin]

Honesty is a virtue of course, but sometimes a small, white lie is better than a bigger, darker truth. Especially to someone who might not readily understand what it is you're trying to tell them.

I'd hoped you'd been a bit more tactful, but I suppose that's a bit silly on my part, isn't it?

You look well, anyway. For what it's worth.

[alt_sirius]

sometimes a small, white lie is better than a bigger, darker truth

Spoken like someone who hasn't lived with the knowledge that his godson is in the hands of the enemy. And one who'd know about darkness, eh, Moony?

Living a free life agrees with me, apparently.

[alt_lupin]

As usual, Sirius, you miss the point.

It's good to see that time has not tempered your spirit, at least. However, if you'd like to continue living a 'free' life, as free as any of us can be, you would do well not to spout off about certain subjects where all can see.

Darkness, incidentally, is relative. We've all darkness within us. Some wear it more blatantly than others, and others never asked for it in the first place.