Crimsion Kiss

Recap of chapter 2:

"The only thing we can do is research it. When we get back to school, I'll get Sirius to give use passes to the Restricted Section. I'm sure they would have stuff in there."

"Yeah." Harry said as he looked away from Hermione. "Guess I'm just over thinking it."

"No way, mate. It's better to over think it then to just forget about it. This way, you'll know to expect something." Ron smiled.

"Yeah but... what?"

Chapter 3

"Harry, can you help me with this?"

"Ummn... sure, Ginny." Harry said as he got up from the table and got Ginny's milk. He walked with her, setting it down and went make to his seat.

"Oh, Harry, could you help me with my chair?"

Harry sighed but smiled and pulled out the chair, sitting back down before she could say anything else.

Ron looked at him, clearly holding back his laughter. Harry rolled his eyes. This had been going on for the better part of two weeks. It seemed everywhere he was, Ginny was sure to be there as well.

Fred said it was her crush... George said old Voldy had possessed her and was after Harry's bits.

Harry was hoping it was Voldemort more then Ginny. At least then he'd have a reason to punch her. But then again, Remus knew Ginny didn't stand a chance.

He'd never came out and said that, but he'd hinted at it enough for him to get the picture.

And poor Sirius, finally free and already was locked away again because of the Defense classes he was planning.

Really, Remus had been appointed that position but since he would be gone for a little each month, Sirius would be teaching also. Remus had just smiled and told Sirius that he could handle the outline for the older students. Sirius had just smiled and said he'd be more then okay to deal with the younger years.

Harry smiled as he thought of Sirius' face when he learned that he had to model the lessons around what Snape did in his class. It was priceless! And Sirius had already made several different lesson plans... all vetoed by Snape.

That was the only time Harry had even seen Snape, and then it was only a few minutes.

Harry's breath caught, he could feel his face heat up. Those few moments when Snape had walked into the kitchen, Harry felt like his neck had been lit on fire, Snape's eyes had turned to pure darkness and Harry had felt himself drowning in the dark depths.

"Harry?"

Harry gasped and turned quickly to see Hermione with her hand on his shoulder. He'd forgotten that he was still in the kitchen.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just fine."

"Well, Sirius just finished his lesson plans and wants to see us in the main study." Hermione said as she stood up straight and looked at him sadly. "Snape was here for a while, not long, but he used the floo in Remus' room. Harry... it was Snape who Marked you, wasn't it?"

Harry nodded as he pushed his plate away and got up from the table. "Don't tell Ron, not yet. I want to know what he is first."

"Of course, but I think you should tell him. At least so he can understand better what we are looking for."

"Not this time, Hermione... by the way, where is everyone?"

"You've been sitting here for 15 minutes off to who knows where. Ginny and Ron are already in the study. Sirius wanted to talk to Ron about something and he knows how much Ginny has been following you so he asked me to come get you."

"Sirius knows Ginny has been hounding me?"

"I wouldn't put it like that..."

Harry glared, a little smirk on his face.

"Okay, so she's been hounding you. But yes, he knew. Remus has been to see him every night. I only know because..." Hermione blushed.

"Because you were leaving Ron's room and ran into Remus going into Sirius' room?"

"Hush you, but if you must know, I was just returning a book. Back to what I was saying, I had to wait until Remus left, and when he was, he was telling Sirius about Ginny. At first, Sirius seemed to think it was funny and that she would make a cute girlfriend for you. But Remus told him about her following you and that he didn't think you liked her that way and Sirius became really worried." Hermione took a deep breath. "Harry, Sirius thinks something is wrong with Ginny. Mr. Weasley got a green letter this morning."

"What does it matter is the letter was green? And what does that have to do with what's wrong with Ginny?"

"Harry, with the fear of Magical Creatures working for Voldemort, the Ministry is sending out letters, notifying families if they have any creature blood, not matter how faint..."

Harry paused. Ron? Had creature blood? He knew it wasn't odd for pure blood families but he didn't think the Weasley's cared about that. He looked up and noticed that Hermione was still talking.

"... Ron said it was because of his great-great grandfather, who had married a Banshee. Tonks got a letter as well. Hers was because her father had a history of a muggle shape shifter in his blood. The Ministry is trying to pass a law that will require all persons with a magical creature in their bloodline, not matter how long ago it was, to wear a badge so people know who is dangerous."

"But... wouldn't that be too much like the muggle war? The one with--"

"Yes, Harry, Mr. Weasley said the law wasn't going to pass. But that letters will be sent out to families with the history and they will have to report to the Ministry. Also, a list of names will be given to each student at the start of term. Everyone, even teachers, will on it."

"Then we'll be able to know what Snape is?"

"No, they won't tell what the creature is, they just want everyone to be careful. I can understand that they want to save lives, but they should be giving the list to the infirmary, not to children. Harry, this is going to cause havoc."

"It'll be like how the muggle borns used to be treated... won't it?"

"It could be worse, Harry."

Harry gulped. "We have to do something about this."

"Mr. Weasley said that he was looking into having it changed, so as little people as possible know."

"Is everything okay?" Ginny asked, walking next to Harry and putting her arm around his shoulders, almost as if protecting him from Hermione.

"Yeah, we were just getting up to see Sirius." Hermione answered.

"Well, he was still talking to Ron when I left. He had me stand outside the door."

"Right, well, I really do need to see him." Harry said as he stood up and made his way out the room and up the stairs to where he knew Sirius was waiting.

"I understand!" Ron said hotly as he banged open the door and almost hit Harry. "Oh, sorry, mate. You really need to talk to Siri, he's gone bonkers!"

"Just do what I ask of you, Ron. It's not too hard and it'll save trouble."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Come on in, Harry, don't worry about him." Sirius said, pulling Harry into the room and locking the door. "Now, tell me what you know about what is going on."

"Ummn, well, the Ministry to telling people who..."

"Right, right. I mean about your vault."

"Oh!" Harry looked at Sirius' calm face, completely confused. "Just that my dad wanted me to open it when I turned 17. He gave the key to Remus."

"Yes. You see, Harry, James was a bit... well, Remus said he was over reacting but I'm not sure. He didn't trust many people, but I was one that he always came to. Even Lily didn't know about this." Sirius took a deep breath and sat down, motioning for Harry to do the same. "I met James when I was just a baby. My mother was a Ravenclaw and friends with Mrs. Potter when they were in school. One summer, my father wanted to me to say home and study, James went to visit the Orkney Islands in Northern Scotland. We were seven that summer. James came back, happy as could be, with a small wooden box. He never showed me what was inside, said it wasn't safe to open it. He kept it with him were ever he went. Once you were born, he warded it to only open with your touch. He put it in the vault. He didn't trust us at the time, he had just been told to go into hiding and that one of us was leaking information. Remus was given the key, I was told how to open it, and Peter was told what was inside of it."

"Why would he do that if my dad didn't trust you all?"

"But, Harry, that was the point. We were each given information that would mean nothing on it's own. We all thought the other was the traitor, we wouldn't tell anyone what we knew. Lily had no idea there was even a box. James said she wouldn't protect the secret. The night they were killed, I found out Wormtail had told Voldemort where they were, I got there as fast as I could. It was too late, but James had told me what to do if that had happened. I was to go into your room and look under your crib. I took the key and went to your vault, the key was mean to only work once so it desolved as soon as the door opened. I took the box and hid it away. Then I... well... you know what happened then. It wasn't until Snape has something at the start of summer that I remember the box."

"What did he say?" Harry asked.

"It wasn't anything, really." Sirius seemed confused about what to say. "He just said he needed to see his mother."

"Why would that mean anything?"

"He said he was going to the Orkney Islands." Sirius shook his head and smiled. "Well, I guess I best give you this." He took something out of his pocket.

Harry took the bag and opened. Inside was a shrunken wooden box with a rusted lock on the front. He took it out and it grew back to its right size, almost the size of Harry's head. It was a dark colored wood and seemed heavier then it should have been.

Sirius stood up. "Why don't you put it away and I'll see you in the kitchen? We have an Order meeting soon and I'm sure you would like to know what's going on."

Harry just nodded as Sirius left the room. He put the box back in its bad and put the bag in his pocket, he'd have to ask Hermione about it later. He stood and opened the door, almost jumping back when he saw Snape standing there.

"Professor, I didn't know you were here." Harry blushed.

Snape's eyes were pure black again. "Potter, I understand you talked to Black about your fathers box?"

"Yeah, but... hey! How did you know? Sirius said my dad didn't tell anyone but--"

"I was with Pettigrew the night he told the Dark Lord what was inside it."

Harry looked at him with big eyes. "A-and what is inside, sir?"

"Why don't you open it and find out." Snape said with a smirk.

Harry felt his lungs freeze. Magic cracked around him and sparked along his skin. "I-I'm sorry sir but I really have to get downstairs." Harry mumbled as he took off down the hall.

---

A/N: I must say that this chapter is shorter then the last because the information in this one. The next chapter, they're off to Hogwarts and the plot really starts to take hold. Please review.