Disclaimer; still don't own it!
Chapter 3 - New homes
"Well get your trunk boy, Dumbledore's waiting," growled Moody.
"Now?" asked Harry in surprise. He turned back up the stairs to pack his trunk. The sound of someone tripping into his room caused him to turn in surprise.
"I'll help," grinned Tonks from the door way. But to Harry's surprise she bent down and started to pick up various books and things from the floor.
"Can't you just do that spell to pack again?" asked Harry.
"Absolutely no magic! Dumbledore's orders, come on don't just stand there," Tonks replied.
20 minutes later they had packed his trunk, collected Hedwig and his broom, Harry was checking the room once more for any forgotten bits and pieces, when Tonks said, "right if that's it all?"
They carried Harry's things back down to find Moody and Lupin still waiting for them at the foot of the stairs, Aunt Petunia had retreated to the kitchen, Harry went to the kitchen door and said, "Right then, I'll be off, see you next year."
"Bye" sniffed his Aunt without turning to look at him. Harry shrugged and returned to the others.
"Right, stay close, if you see anything funny, back here as quickly as you can," Moody told him, then opened the front door and checked out the street.
It occurred to Harry that they made a strange group, especially since Lupin was heaving a large trunk and Tonks was carrying an owl in a cage, to his surprise they went straight to Mrs Figg's house.
"This is my new hide-out?" asked Harry in a slightly disappointed voice.
"Course not, but we can't risk doing magic at your Aunts house now can we?" replied Moody. He handed Harry a piece of paper with Dumbledore's hand writing on it. It said "Dumbledore's residence, Redwood Valley."
"Read this and when I give you the feather, think about Dumbledore, very clearly, nothing else, got it?" Moody said seriously.
Harry nodded and took the feather, immediately he was surrounded by flames of brilliant red, closing his eyes in shock he forced the image of Dumbledore into his mind, he felt his feet lift of the ground and plonk back down again, he was staring so hard at the image of Dumbledore it took a few seconds for it to register that Dumbledore was actually standing in front of him, not just an image in his mind.
"Oh...how did that work?" he stammered.
"With a little help from Fawkes!" smiled Dumbledore. "Welcome to Redwood Valley, your new home for the next four weeks."
"Redwood Valley?" asked Harry.
Before Dumbledore could answer they heard crackling flame noises indicating the arrival of the others. Dumbledore greeted them then turned to Harry to say, "Come, I will show you your room, then I think we should all enjoy some lunch."
Dumbledore led Harry along a wooden floored passage way which seemed to lead downwards, after a few moments they arrived at a large wooden door with a brass handle, Dumbledore opened it and indicated for Harry to enter.
Harry walked into a large room with a wooden floor and roughly plastered yellow walls. The four poster bed stood against one wall, complete with heavy red velvet hangings. There was also a heavy wooden wardrobe, a desk and chair, a red velvet sofa and a heavy looking book case, with several leather books, that looked very old. At the side of the room was a door, which on inspection, led to a large bathroom, with a deep bath and several gold taps like the prefects bathroom at Hogwarts. In fact the whole place reminded him of the Gryffindor dorm.
"I thought this might make you feel at home," smiled Dumbledore. "Now let's go and eat, you can unpack later." Once again Dumbledore led him along the passage this time entering a different door, they were in a well proportioned dining room, waiting for them were Tonks, Lupin and Moody.
Dumbledore sat down at the large circular room and Harry followed suit. With a wave of Dumbledore wand, the table was suddenly filled with food, Harry's stomach growled loudly as he filled his plate, the others laughed, and Harry looked slightly embarrassed.
The conversation was general over lunch and Harry noticed Lupin didn't speak much, or eat much. He wondered if Lupin was angry with him.
"So Harry, how are you?" asked Dumbledore.
"I'm fine," replied Harry quickly, then thinking he should be honest he added, "Well, I'm better, the meditation I've been practicing has helped me to get some rest. Other things..are still...hard to think about."
"I miss him too," said Lupin quietly.
Harry looked at him in surprise, there had been no anger or blame in his voice that Harry could sense.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault that he.." replied Harry.
"No it was not," Dumbledore said, "it was Voldemort's fault."
"Harry, you couldn't have known it was a trap, Sirius was proud of you and he knew the risks that night!" Lupin said. "All of the Order understands the risks they take."
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat and barely whispered, "So you're not angry with me for getting him killed?"
Lupin jumped up from the table and rushed over to Harry, bending down he embraced the trembling boy and said forcefully, "No, I am not, I am thankful that I didn't lose you too! We have lost enough people we care about!"
"Here, here," said Tonks, raising her goblet, "To all our brave friends, my we never forget their sacrifice, and may their deaths be avenged!"
All around the table raised their goblets, Moody held his hip flask high, and drank to the toast.
Dumbledore was smiling gently at Harry as he said, "Now young man, there is much work to be done in the next four weeks, you will have to work very hard, you are staying here with Remus and whoever else can spare the time, unfortunately you cannot be in contact with your friends for a while, but I will inform them not to worry. Some of the order members will be engaged to help teach you."
Harry's mind recalled the lessons with Snape the previous year. Dumbledore added, "Professor Snape will be too busy, but Professor McGonagall will arrive tomorrow, she will stay for a few days. Remus will be helping you with the defence spell as will Mr Moody and myself. But for now I think I will leave you to unpack and explore, you should know there is no door that leads you outside!"
They all rose from the table and Harry excused himself to go and unpack, arriving in his room he found his trunk and a package of school new books, a little later he began his exploration. Harry discovered that the 'house' was a little strange; all the corridors lit up to let him see, but returned to darkness when he had passed. There were no windows, so he couldn't tell where Redwood was.
The house contained several bedrooms besides his own; he also found a large sitting room, a library, what looked like a classroom, a gym equipped with all kinds of machines and a room that had a soft cushioned floor. In kitchen was a surprise, a small house elf was working quietly in one corner as he entered but appeared at his side as soon as she had noticed him, "would the young master like anything? My name is Tikka; I am here to serve you."
"Could I just have a drink of pumpkin juice, please?" asked Harry.
The words were barely out of his mouth when Tikka offered him a large glass of juice and several biscuits on a silver tray. Sitting at the kitchen table, Harry set to work.
When Harry returned to his room to shower and change he discovered someone, probably Tikka had taken his dirty clothes and washed and ironed them. He went into his bathroom and relaxed for a while in the bath before dressing. Lupin was waiting for him in his room and greeted him with the words, "Are you ready for dinner? Everyone is waiting."
Curious to see who everyone was Harry followed Lupin back to the dinning room, Tonks, Moody and Arthur Weasley were sitting at the table, but Dumbledore had gone. They exchanged polite small talk over dinner and when Harry failed to suppress a huge yawn, Lupin smiled and said, "I think it's time to call it a day, Harry see you early in the morning, I'll tell Tikka to wake you at 7am your first lesson will be with Professor McGonagall at 8am, okay?"
Harry nodded his agreement and with a mumbled "Good night," made his way to bed.
Chapter 3 - New homes
"Well get your trunk boy, Dumbledore's waiting," growled Moody.
"Now?" asked Harry in surprise. He turned back up the stairs to pack his trunk. The sound of someone tripping into his room caused him to turn in surprise.
"I'll help," grinned Tonks from the door way. But to Harry's surprise she bent down and started to pick up various books and things from the floor.
"Can't you just do that spell to pack again?" asked Harry.
"Absolutely no magic! Dumbledore's orders, come on don't just stand there," Tonks replied.
20 minutes later they had packed his trunk, collected Hedwig and his broom, Harry was checking the room once more for any forgotten bits and pieces, when Tonks said, "right if that's it all?"
They carried Harry's things back down to find Moody and Lupin still waiting for them at the foot of the stairs, Aunt Petunia had retreated to the kitchen, Harry went to the kitchen door and said, "Right then, I'll be off, see you next year."
"Bye" sniffed his Aunt without turning to look at him. Harry shrugged and returned to the others.
"Right, stay close, if you see anything funny, back here as quickly as you can," Moody told him, then opened the front door and checked out the street.
It occurred to Harry that they made a strange group, especially since Lupin was heaving a large trunk and Tonks was carrying an owl in a cage, to his surprise they went straight to Mrs Figg's house.
"This is my new hide-out?" asked Harry in a slightly disappointed voice.
"Course not, but we can't risk doing magic at your Aunts house now can we?" replied Moody. He handed Harry a piece of paper with Dumbledore's hand writing on it. It said "Dumbledore's residence, Redwood Valley."
"Read this and when I give you the feather, think about Dumbledore, very clearly, nothing else, got it?" Moody said seriously.
Harry nodded and took the feather, immediately he was surrounded by flames of brilliant red, closing his eyes in shock he forced the image of Dumbledore into his mind, he felt his feet lift of the ground and plonk back down again, he was staring so hard at the image of Dumbledore it took a few seconds for it to register that Dumbledore was actually standing in front of him, not just an image in his mind.
"Oh...how did that work?" he stammered.
"With a little help from Fawkes!" smiled Dumbledore. "Welcome to Redwood Valley, your new home for the next four weeks."
"Redwood Valley?" asked Harry.
Before Dumbledore could answer they heard crackling flame noises indicating the arrival of the others. Dumbledore greeted them then turned to Harry to say, "Come, I will show you your room, then I think we should all enjoy some lunch."
Dumbledore led Harry along a wooden floored passage way which seemed to lead downwards, after a few moments they arrived at a large wooden door with a brass handle, Dumbledore opened it and indicated for Harry to enter.
Harry walked into a large room with a wooden floor and roughly plastered yellow walls. The four poster bed stood against one wall, complete with heavy red velvet hangings. There was also a heavy wooden wardrobe, a desk and chair, a red velvet sofa and a heavy looking book case, with several leather books, that looked very old. At the side of the room was a door, which on inspection, led to a large bathroom, with a deep bath and several gold taps like the prefects bathroom at Hogwarts. In fact the whole place reminded him of the Gryffindor dorm.
"I thought this might make you feel at home," smiled Dumbledore. "Now let's go and eat, you can unpack later." Once again Dumbledore led him along the passage this time entering a different door, they were in a well proportioned dining room, waiting for them were Tonks, Lupin and Moody.
Dumbledore sat down at the large circular room and Harry followed suit. With a wave of Dumbledore wand, the table was suddenly filled with food, Harry's stomach growled loudly as he filled his plate, the others laughed, and Harry looked slightly embarrassed.
The conversation was general over lunch and Harry noticed Lupin didn't speak much, or eat much. He wondered if Lupin was angry with him.
"So Harry, how are you?" asked Dumbledore.
"I'm fine," replied Harry quickly, then thinking he should be honest he added, "Well, I'm better, the meditation I've been practicing has helped me to get some rest. Other things..are still...hard to think about."
"I miss him too," said Lupin quietly.
Harry looked at him in surprise, there had been no anger or blame in his voice that Harry could sense.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault that he.." replied Harry.
"No it was not," Dumbledore said, "it was Voldemort's fault."
"Harry, you couldn't have known it was a trap, Sirius was proud of you and he knew the risks that night!" Lupin said. "All of the Order understands the risks they take."
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat and barely whispered, "So you're not angry with me for getting him killed?"
Lupin jumped up from the table and rushed over to Harry, bending down he embraced the trembling boy and said forcefully, "No, I am not, I am thankful that I didn't lose you too! We have lost enough people we care about!"
"Here, here," said Tonks, raising her goblet, "To all our brave friends, my we never forget their sacrifice, and may their deaths be avenged!"
All around the table raised their goblets, Moody held his hip flask high, and drank to the toast.
Dumbledore was smiling gently at Harry as he said, "Now young man, there is much work to be done in the next four weeks, you will have to work very hard, you are staying here with Remus and whoever else can spare the time, unfortunately you cannot be in contact with your friends for a while, but I will inform them not to worry. Some of the order members will be engaged to help teach you."
Harry's mind recalled the lessons with Snape the previous year. Dumbledore added, "Professor Snape will be too busy, but Professor McGonagall will arrive tomorrow, she will stay for a few days. Remus will be helping you with the defence spell as will Mr Moody and myself. But for now I think I will leave you to unpack and explore, you should know there is no door that leads you outside!"
They all rose from the table and Harry excused himself to go and unpack, arriving in his room he found his trunk and a package of school new books, a little later he began his exploration. Harry discovered that the 'house' was a little strange; all the corridors lit up to let him see, but returned to darkness when he had passed. There were no windows, so he couldn't tell where Redwood was.
The house contained several bedrooms besides his own; he also found a large sitting room, a library, what looked like a classroom, a gym equipped with all kinds of machines and a room that had a soft cushioned floor. In kitchen was a surprise, a small house elf was working quietly in one corner as he entered but appeared at his side as soon as she had noticed him, "would the young master like anything? My name is Tikka; I am here to serve you."
"Could I just have a drink of pumpkin juice, please?" asked Harry.
The words were barely out of his mouth when Tikka offered him a large glass of juice and several biscuits on a silver tray. Sitting at the kitchen table, Harry set to work.
When Harry returned to his room to shower and change he discovered someone, probably Tikka had taken his dirty clothes and washed and ironed them. He went into his bathroom and relaxed for a while in the bath before dressing. Lupin was waiting for him in his room and greeted him with the words, "Are you ready for dinner? Everyone is waiting."
Curious to see who everyone was Harry followed Lupin back to the dinning room, Tonks, Moody and Arthur Weasley were sitting at the table, but Dumbledore had gone. They exchanged polite small talk over dinner and when Harry failed to suppress a huge yawn, Lupin smiled and said, "I think it's time to call it a day, Harry see you early in the morning, I'll tell Tikka to wake you at 7am your first lesson will be with Professor McGonagall at 8am, okay?"
Harry nodded his agreement and with a mumbled "Good night," made his way to bed.