Chapter Two

Tangled Webs Unraveling

Written by empathically chosen

The only period I fear of committing a sin is when I am at the best level of performing good deeds, cause in that actual duration the wickedness of immorality creeps in me due to my overconfidence of controlling it." -- author unknown

Harry froze unable to speak. Sirius was searching him, staring at him as though he could see right past Harry's magical disguise. Harry dismissed it telling himself that while Sirius was in his human form he could not smell the blood and Sirius could keep staring at him all he liked but if the powder was strong enough to resist Dumbledore's prying eyes they could certainly with stand Sirius's scrutiny.

No, Harry told himself his secret was safe. There is no way Sirius will ever fin d out about my summers of torture. Well at least not until Remus tells him about the blood and my room. But even then the only thing he would have were his own suspicions. Harry could deal with suspicious behavior. Madam Pomfrey was suspicious of Harry's home life ever since second year and as of yet she still didn't have any proof to back up her suspicions.

"Hi Sirius," Harry muttered finally.

"As touching as this little reunion is, professor Dumbledore has asked me to escort Potter to the drawing room where he has been waiting with Potter's friends for over an hour," said a silky voice from behind him.

There was only one person it could be and as Harry turned around to face him an overwhelming dread filled his body. Sure enough their he was Harry's least favorite teacher, Professor Severus Snape. Wasn't it bad enough that Harry had to put up with this man torturing him every day at Hogwarts? Now the horrid professor was invading Harry's summer as well. Snape's lips were curled and he was staring at Remus with utter disdain as though he could not believe he was being forced to be in such close proximity to this man. Harry felt his blood boiling. How dare Snape treat his Moony this way?

"I'm afraid it could not be help Severus," said Remus as politely as ever. "If the headmaster has a problem with it, I'm sure Moody would love to explain why he insisted upon stopping every time he heard a cat behind a rubbish bin."

"C'mon Harry, I'll take you to the drawing room," Sirius said sorely.

"Sorry Black, but Dumbledore specifically told me that I'm to show Potter to the drawing room myself," said Snape who seemed quite pleased to deny Sirius this menial task.

"Why pray tell, am I not allowed to take my godchild to a room in my house," growled Sirius.

"I don't know Black, perhaps the headmaster was worried it would interfere with your cleaning," Snape sneered.

Without warning Sirius charged Snape so enraged that Remus had to dive forward and seize Sirius's shoulders to keep him from tackling the potionsmaster to the ground and wrangling him with his bare hands. Even though Harry knew that Sirius and Professor Snape had always been enemies, Sirius's reaction to the vengeful professor's comment to carry completely by surprise.

On the other hand Snape did not appear to be alarmed at all by the sudden urge for violence in fact he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself and could barely contain his laughter. Even with Remus holding his shoulder Sirius didn't stop trying to strangle the potionsmaster who just kept laughing making Sirius all the more eager to get at his target. Harry stared unsure of what to do. should he try and help Remus restrain his godfather or should he just let the lycanthrope handle it?

"Harry the drawing room is upstairs and it's the third door on the left. Go, just go everything's fine here," Remus commanded.

Reluctantly Harry headed up the rickety old staircase examining his surroundings with grim interest. The more Harry saw of this house the more morbid everything became. The house was at war with Harry attacking his sense of humanity as it engulfed him in darkness as he passed all the disturbing oddities that littered the house. The dwelling almost achieved its goal when Harry past a row of shrunken house elf heads on the wall that went all down the hall.

Why on earth did Sirius live in this house? Surely there were places that better suited the man's personality. Harry tried his best to ignore the ambience of darkness around the house as he struggled to find the room that Remus had indicated. At long last when it seemed that the darkness would surely engulf him and destroy his soul Harry had reached the drawing room. with a sigh of great relief Harry knocked sharply on the door before hurrying inside.

Harry's momentary happiness at finding the right room in a house where all the rooms seemed to be a maze of dark objects did not last long however. The minute Harry placed one foot inside the room he was bombarded by a puff of gray smoke that filled his lungs making it impossible to breathe. Harry fell to his knees which caused a bigger cloud of smoke to free itself from a carpet. He gasped for air but only inhale the rest of the dust. Harry began coughing violently until his lungs felt like they were going to pop from the strain. Thankfully when he was able to take a few deep breaths the coughing subsided and he was able to get back on his feet. Hermione shrieked staring at Harry in horror.

"Harry are you all right," asked Hermione alarmed.

"Yeah, sure I'm fine," but he was far too distracted to elaborate any further.

Unlike Sirius, Hermione and Ron were immune to the powder and were staring at Harry's mangled body instead of his magical disguise. Harry spoke not once taking his eyes off of the Headmaster. Hermione nodded her understanding that they would discuss it later.

Harry turned his attention back to his surroundings. He had just caught sight of the oddities in this room and was once again taken aback. The kinds of things that littered every portion of the shelves on the olive colored walls would have made Lucius Malfoy grow green with envy. Harry's eyes traveled from object to object wondering more and more why Professor Dumbledore chose this place for the secret headquarters Hermione and Ron weren't supposed to tell him existed.

"Interesting headquarters, Professor," said Harry.

Professor Dumbledore looked from Harry to Ron to Hermione neither of whom bothered to look guilty. The headmaster's eyes began to twinkle merrily causing Harry to wonder whether or not Professor Dumbledore was serious when he told Harry's two best friends to keep a secret from him or if he said it to cover his tracks with Mrs. Weasley. The more Harry thought about it the more he assumed it was the latter. Harry, Hermione and Ron shared too much to keep secrets from each other and the headmaster knew that better than anyone. In fact what with all the secrets they were keeping from everyone else, Professor Dumbledore all but demanded they keep no secrets from each other.

"Yes, I quite agree," said the headmaster darkly. "But Sirius's father was obsessive about keeping unwanted people away from his home. Which of course makes this the perfect place for a secret organization. Does it not?"

Harry nodded no longer wondering why Sirius lived here of all places.

"Now then I suppose you're wondering why I wanted to see all of you. Molly and the other order members might not want me to tell you this but I believe the three of you deserve more than anyone else to know the truth. The truth is we're losing the war. I fear the only way for us to win is for the three of you to regain the powers that I removed in your first year. I would also like for the three of you to become honorary members of the order of the Phoenix," the headmaster announced solemnly.

Harry, Hermione and Ron stared at one another. None of them were surprised by Dumbledore's request. When Dumbledore removed the powers from the threesome it was at a time when the headmaster expected Tom Riddle might never regain a body. Especially after Harry, Hermione and Ron were so skillful in warding off his attempts at the Sorcerer Stone. All three of them knew that there was a good chance they would get their powers back by the end of last year when the truth about the events after the third task of the Triwizard Tournament really sunk in for all of them.

Be that as it may Harry, Hermione and Ron didn't want to come back into their powers. They all had very good albeit rather selfish reasons for wanting the powers suppressed in the first place. Hermione's parents were very leery of the things their daughter was capable of, Ron was subject to much teasing by Fred and George because of his unique abilities and Harry well he knew that his powers were the reason his aunt and uncle thought of him as a freak. He'd long ago given up hope of ever pleasing them but because of the abuse he suffered Harry was convinced that these powers were also the reason Remus never bothered to come visit him or even write him a letter until after they were removed.

Even though Harry, Hermione and Ron had their reasons for wanting the powers out of their lives forever they knew full well that they were the ones who were most likely to defeat Vodemort and none of them was prepared to doom the whole entire world both magical and Muggle alike because they wanted to be normal. Harry, Hermione and Ron nodded. Professor Dumbledore looked very pleased at their decision. The ritual to release the powers from their oppression took a full twenty minutes.

As for becoming members of the order Harry, Hermione and Ron agreed to that as well. But they were careful to make it clear that Dumbledore was to handle this announcement by himself. They didn't want to have anything to do with the displeasure that Mrs. Weasley and Professor McGonagall would have no qualms about expressing, the headmaster smiled knowingly before asking one more favor of them. He wanted Harry, Hermione and Ron to create several spells that Voldemort might not be expecting. What those spells were could be left up to the three friends. Creating spells was the only part of their powers that they missed so they agreed to this part without hesitation.

Sirius always considered Remus Lupin to be a reflective person but something was different about today. Remus didn't even bother to reprimand Sirius for trying to strangle that sadistic moron Snape. Not even to use the old standby claiming that now Snape was probably going to treat Harry worse than usual. Which coincidentally was the only thing Remus could say to make Sirius feel even the slightest bit guilty. Then again perhaps he didn't need to say it today. Snape pretty well hinted Harry would be receiving a month's worth of detentions as soon as he got back to school.

Just the same Sirius wasn't used to Remus ignoring him for this long. Maybe when they were teenagers, but ever since Sirius was sent to Azkaban leaving Remus all alone, neither man was particularly comfortable when there was silence between them. Sirius watched Remus sit in a Dragon Hide armchair staring down at the book in his hands with a vacant expression.

Curiously Sirius went over and plucked the book from Remus's all too loose grip. Remus didn't object. In fact Remus didn't even take notice that Sirius was in front of him. Worried Sirius looked down at the book wondering if it were enchanted with some dark curse. Much to his surprise he found himself looking down at a Muggle psychology book. Sirius wouldn't have thought his pureblood maniac parents even allowed such material into their home.

Sirius knew that Remus was a half blood and as the most studious of the marauders he took great enjoyment reading what his friend might have passed by on the shelf only daring to pick up if there was absolutely nothing else left in the world to do but Sirius couldn't help thinking that the reason he chose this book today had something to do with why Remus was borderline catatonic now. What could have caused this reaction today of all days? The only thing different about today was . . . -- Harry. Oh Godric. Please don't let it have anything to do with Harry.

"Earth to Moony, earth to Moony," said Sirius waving a hand in front of Remus's face to get his attention. "Snap out of it, you're scaring me."

"Wha -- . . . oh sorry Pads, I was just thinking," Remus replied.

"About what?" Not Harry . . . not Harry . . . not Harry.

"Harry."

Dung bombs Moony. I told you not to tell me it had anything to do with Harry. Can't you read minds anymore, Sirius thought bitterly. Sirius raised his eyebrows quizzically. Hoping against hope that it wasn't as bad as the knot in his stomach was suggesting. Remus opened his mouth to reply when Ginny walked into the room. Shaking his head Remus pointed upstairs. Sirius was starting to panic.

Whatever Remus needed to talk to him about couldn't be said in front of others. This was just getting worse and worse by the minute. Nodding Sirius followed his old friend upstairs feeling very much like he was in the middle of a death march. Upstairs the two men dived into the nearest room and shut the door, Sirius waited but Remus said nothing choosing instead to pace the length of the room running his hand nervously through his hair.

"Well spit it out! What happened? Did you walk in on him with the girl or something," Sirius inquired playfully.

"No Padfoot, believe it or not all teenage boys aren't as hormonal as you were," Remus said rolling his eyes.

"Well what is it then?"

"Padfoot, I -- I need to tell you something but you have to promise not to fly off the handle or anything," Remus began slowly.

Sirius's heart plummeted fifty feet. No good conversation ever started with the phrase you have to promise not to fly off the handle. Sirius didn't want to have any such conversation where the words you have to promise not to fly off the handle were spoken when a revelation was about to be made about Harry. Why couldn't it ever be girl trouble with that boy? Girl trouble Sirius could've handled in his sleep. Girl trouble was certainly a lot easier to deal with then a maniacal megalomaniac intent upon exacting his revenge.

If something happened to Harry because that deranged, old loon Moody-- well let's just say the bloke wouldn't be wondering if Sirius was going to attack him. But no that couldn't have been the problem because Mooney wouldn't be hesitant to tell him if that was all there was to it. Sirius had been handling attacks on his godchild since the moment the two of them were reunited in his third year.

Wondering what was really the matter Sirius nodded reluctantly waiting for Remus to continue. His old friend looked as old as Dumbledore as he explained how the advance guard arrived at Number Four, Private Drive only to find what appeared to be an abandoned house. As of yet Sirius was hard-pressed to find the problem. From what the man remembered about Lily's nut job older sister the fact that she wasn't in the house when Remus and the rest of the advance guard went to collect Harry was a good thing, wasn't it?

He was about to suggest is much when Remus held up a hand to stop him. Sirius apologized knowing full well that whatever they were talking about at this moment was killing his best friend. Remus continued the tale by explaining how Moody made the werewolf walk around the entire para meter of the house checking for Death Eaters.

Sirius rolled his eyes. Of course there hadn't been any Death Eaters nevertheless, what Remus claimed to have sensed in their stead was much worse. Blood. Loads of it. Sirius is heart stopped dead. He may not have approved of Harry going to stay with Petunia and Vernon nevertheless he still didn't want the poor child to have witnessed something as awful as the death of the entire Dursley family. For surely that was what Remus was getting at.

According to Remus the scent of blood was most prominent inside the house than out of it. Remus explained how his curiosity got the better of him and how he continued to search the inside of the house for signs of a struggle. There were none. Sirius knew that the sound of his breath of relief was probably heard even to little Ginny downstairs but he ignored it turning his attention back to Remus who never skipped a beat in his story.

Remus kept going describing how the scent of blood was mixed with the sense of bleach and other disinfectants along the floor, walls and even the ceiling. Sirius snorted why did Muggles always think they could get rid of blood? A werewolf or Animagus would always find the traces of blood left behind. Of course the rest of the Advance Guard would not have had such keen abilities and Sirius doubt it very much that Remus said anything to risk Mad-Eye getting even more paranoid

"So I went upstairs to find Harry and just in case you were wondering, yes, Dudley is as spoiled as Harry makes him out to be. He had more stuff in his bedroom then you, me and James combined. Anyway I finally tracked down Harry's scent behind a door with at least a dozen locks on it."

Sirius leapt angrily to his feet. Moony told him to shut up and let him finish. But Sirius didn't want to let him finish. all at once everything started clicking, things that Sirius didn't want to click. He didn't want to listen to this anymore. He just wanted to find a Time Turner and never walk into this room with his old friend. All the same he could never pretend that this conversation never happened Harry needed him to stay and listen to the rest of Remus's story.

After that -- after that . . . well Sirius didn't know what to do but you can bet the Animagus wasn't going to take it lying down. Even if Harry wasn't being -- if the Dursleys were only slightly neglectful of their nephew Sirius would be sure that Harry never went back to that awful place. Considering everything the boy went through over the years but most especially during the past few months Harry deserved to be well taken care of. Not treated as though he were a major inconvenience.

"Sirius, are you listening to me? They had him trapped like an animal in a cage. They made him sleep in a room that looked like a dumping ground for all of their little princeling's rubbish. They locked him away from the rest of the house so he couldn't break anything. There were bars on the windows and the blood -- . . . it was strongest in that room. I'm sorry Padfoot, I think they're abusing him."

I am Both flattered and overwhelmed by the response I gotten to this story. Believe it or not the last chapter received the most reviews I've ever gotten bar none. And now I would like to take a moment to thank an anonymous reviewer for their comment. Thank youl kail I thought having Ron and Hermione know the big secret would separate the story from some of the other ones out there.

Next chapter Sirius confronts Harry, Ron and Hermione.