Disclaimer: Own nothing sadly, like every author on here doing it fun and righting the wrongs JK made. Enjoy...Re-Edited

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 7

Snape

-o-

It seemed Remus had been underground with the outcast werewolves, trying to find out if they would be joining Voldemort or if they believed whether he had returned. It had taken longer than he first planned to gain their trust, which had slowly begun to form the longer he stayed, especially when he went through the transformation without the Wolfsbane Potion. Though the trust was there, they were not totally open to Remus as he had attempted to live in the wizarding world, abiding by the awful laws that were in place against werewolves.

"So you were an outsider taking a chance then?" Harry had asked, Remus nodding sadly.

"Could they have…killed you?"

"There was that possibility," Remus had replied avoiding his gaze. "But I was confident that they would want to judge me, for they knew I had been wronged in so many ways. Some knew I was a top student while at Hogwarts, but even with my good grades the Ministry would not accept me."

"Give me a few hours with Fudge and you'll have his job," Sirius had said evilly. "He's already got a face full of Hippogriff dung sent by some unanimous persons." The Azkaban escapee merely smiled when Remus stared at him in shock. "Apparently he's still trying to get the taste out of his mouth."

"How did it get through to him?" Remus had asked in disbelief.

"We had Tonks and Kingsley do the checks, helps having Aurors in the Ministry doesn't it?" Sirius had joked, his friend chuckling. "You've missed out Moony, but we're planning on sending a sample to the Toad we know and love. Fancy being involved?"

"Most definitely," Remus had replied grinning, his eyes looking to dance at the thought.

But before they got round to sending a certain Toad a present, Harry had lessons and Remus was happy to take over from Sirius who had missed simply sleeping all morning. Instead of having his usual timetable of lessons, Remus decided to dedicate half an hour to each subject to see how far he had come along, the day after he had returned. The werewolf had been very pleased, checking over the things Sirius had ticked off on the lesson plans.

"Transfiguration, half way through third year material, verbally and non-verbally, Occlumency has definitely helped with your non-verbal casting. Charms you're progressing very quickly through, fourth year spells fantastic!"

"It's not really a hard subject, helps that I've learned the stuff already though," shrugged Harry from the kitchen counter, where he was making tea for he and Remus. "Also helps that Sirius found Charms one of his easiest subjects and taught me several methods to make my spell work easier."

"So basically he showed you the wand movements several hundred times until you had them perfect before you attempted the spell?" asked Remus with a small smile, accepting the tea Harry floated over to him. "Two sugars?"

"As always," replied Harry joining him at the table. "How far I'm I in my other subjects?"

Remus glanced over the checklist on each of the lesson plans laid out. "Third year Transfiguration, fourth year Charms, fourth year Care of Magical creatures, which is surprising since it's a whole new syllabus I put together myself. History of Magic you're in second year through Padfoot's acting."

By Padfoot's acting he meant Sirius dressing up as different creatures and people to get his points across. So far he had been a Ministry Historian with several huge boils on his neck, an unnaturally tall goblin, his skin horribly dark and with unnaturally long fingers and feet. He was preparing to be a vampire next, but said he had to talk with Snape to get it down perfectly.

"His acting skills are good," chuckled Harry, Remus rolling his eyes. "We needed someway to make History of Magic interesting, you listened to Binns moan on about Ministry Laws and Giant wars."

"Point taken." Remus continued down the checklist with the hint of a smile. "Herbology you're on third year work, but with little practical experience. Potions you're stuck in third year, most of your potions ranging from Acceptable to Exceeds Expectations. Occlumency and Legilimency are going fine, still learning the basics and you could easily pass your Defence OWL with flying colours."

"So I'm doing okay then?" asked Harry.

"Better than okay, but I'm thinking of stopping your lessons once you finish fourth year work."

"Why?" asked Harry confused.

"That came out wrong," chuckled Remus shaking his head. "What I meant to say was that once you finish fourth year work in each of your subjects, we'll stop so that you can catch up in other subjects. That way when you start fifth year work, you'll be starting on even footing with all your other subjects."

"So that means that if I finish Charms and Transfiguration, I'll concentrate more on Potions and History of Magic?" groaned Harry, banging his head on the table.

"Yes, you should finish up Charms within the next week and you've already finished fourth year spells for Defence long ago. Those slots can be used to catch up the work in other subjects."

"I hate you Moony," declared Harry glaring playfully at the werewolf. "So I'm going to stop learning about my favourite subject to study my least favourite subject apart from Divination?"

"Yes," said Remus with a grin, making a disgusted face as he sipped his tea. "You put no sugar in this did you?"

"You deserve it for making me do more potions work," growled Harry in response, sipping at his own sweet tea. "Evil werewolf."

-o-

"I don't deserve this," grumbled Harry as he watched Mad-Eye hobble in with Hestia Jones.

The Order was slowly gathering together in the kitchen and as it was customary, Harry would once again be forced to go upstairs and wait around while the meeting was on. Once it finished however, he would be free from his confinement up the stairs. Meetings normally lasted an hour, sometimes a little longer depending on how important new information being brought in was.

During his second week at the house without his friends, one meeting had lasted close to three hours and the Gryffindor had been told it would last at best an hour. He had not cooked Sirius any dinner that night and Molly Weasley had not stayed behind due to work for the Order. His godfather had been far from pleased, but had forgiven him when Harry had made breakfast the next morning.

"Don't worry about it Hero, it shouldn't last too long," said Tonks with a small smile, changing her hair from spiky bubblegum pink to straight, long and black, her eyes changing from pink to green.

"Think it suits me?"

"The purple eyes look better, but do scare me at times," lied Harry, wincing when Tonks smacked him on the arm. "You look fantastic no matter what Tonks."

"Awww thanks Hero," she said placing a kiss on his cheek. "Got to go say hello to Mad-Eye."

Harry watched as she left, determined not to look as she swayed her hips, but a sneak peak had him watching, the Gryffindor ignoring the snort that came from behind him. "Bite me Padfoot."

"The girl is good," chuckled Sirius taking a seat.

"Shut up," grumbled Harry touching the spot where she had kissed him, Sirius snorting once again.

"Git."

"Me or her?"

"Who do you think?" Harry asked with a grin, watching as Sirius smiled proudly before glaring playfully at him. "Any chance of me hanging around for the meeting, sitting in my room with Phineas isn't exactly what you call fun."

"Not with Molly here," said Sirius, the Boy-Who-Lived not needing to be told the mother hen had just spotted him.

"Hello Harry dear," she said pulling him into a backbreaking hug as he stood. "You're looking very thin dear, I'll have to start staying here so that you get some decent sized meals in you."

The two had thought Molly would be sticking around every night once Harry's friends had returned to Hogwarts, but it seemed she had managed to contain herself…either that or Dumbledore had spoken with the mother hen as he had promised to do. Either way, when Molly came for the meetings, she would sometimes stay afterwards and cook dinner, but most of the time she would leave the moment it ended.

It had been surprising the first time she left without question, Sirius having to be pinched several times to prove it was not a dream.

"Fine by me Mrs Weasley, Sirius can't cook to save his life," said Harry with a grin, watching as Sirius shifted in his seat, most probably preparing himself for a verbal assault. Instead they got something different.

"Well if you would prefer it you could always come around to the Burrow, we have plenty to go around especially for young men like yourselves," said Molly with a smile, Sirius looking up at her in surprise. "It would be no worry dear whatsoever, perhaps I can give you a few cooking lessons, Bill and Charlie begged me for them before they moved away from home."

"Fantastic," said Sirius happily. "That would be fantastic."

"No problem dear, I'm just going to see Bill, his hair honestly," she said smiling, before walking off to talk with her eldest son.

Harry and Sirius shared a look, the Boy-Who-Lived falling back into his chair, both unable to believe what had just happened.

"She didn't call me a useless godfather."

"She didn't insult you in any way or form."

"She invited us to dinner," they both then said in union.

"Think she'll give us the leftovers to save us cooking the next day?" asked Sirius, Harry feeling confident that she would. "Looks like things are changing for the better."

"Yup," replied Harry getting to his feet once more. "I'm going to head upstairs and if the meeting is going to go on longer than it should, don't hesitate to come upstairs and tell me. Three hours on your own is enough to drive anyone insane."

"Twelve years in Azkaban," countered Sirius with a smile.

"You were already insane," chuckled Harry as Sirius gave him a glare. "Later Padfoot."

"Prongslet."

Harry made his out of the kitchen, saying hello to the members he did know (Dedalus Diggle shaking his hand for far too long), not bothering to stop and chat as the meeting would soon begin. He eventually made it out into the hall, where he began his journey to the stairs wondering what he would do to pass the time. It was while he was there, the front door opened and Severus Snape, with his ever-greasy hair and wearing his black robes that billowed, walked in slamming the door shut hard behind him.

The man's dark eyes located him quickly, a small sneer appearing almost if by magic instantly. "Is the child off to bed?"

"Don't know any children sorry," replied Harry coming to a stop a few feet away from the man.

"Of course, you don't see yourself as a child do you, but instead as an adult," said Snape rolling his eyes. "How silly of me."

"Yes how silly of you, didn't you know grease is slippery?" asked Harry, watching as Snape's lip curled.

"How original Potter, got anymore insults that I've heard Merlin knows how many times before?"

"No, just warning you not to slip on your grease, would hate for you to get hurt for not having the common sense to wash your hair." Harry then walked past the man and began his journey up the stairs with a grin.

"Tell me Potter how are your friends?" Snape then said, Harry whirling around halfway up the steps.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, panic filling him as he thought of Ron and Hermione cornered by a pack of Death Eaters.

Snape merely sneered before looking away from Harry and walking slowly towards the kitchen door. "Surely your friends would not lie to you Potter…or perhaps…"

"Start making sense before I curse it out of you," growled the Gryffindor, making his way down the stairs drawing his wand, stopping when jumping off the bottom step and landing at the top of hallway.

The Potions Master looked around and rolled his eyes at Harry standing there holding his wand, before walking off towards the kitchen again. But he stopped and whirled around when a curse flew over his head striking the door, closing it with a snap.

"Start talking," growled Harry with his wand raised, not fazed in the slightest when Snape drew his, "now!"

"I do not take orders from children," spat the Professor, his wand at his side though his hand was twitching slightly, indicating to the Gryffindor Snape was ready to begin exchanging curses.

"I'm not a child you greasy haired git, now start telling me what's wrong with my friends!" Harry yelled, glad that he had sealed the door. It would take sometime to figure out how to get through the door, the spell being one the Marauders had invented. Only if you said the password could you get through, though knowing Remus and Sirius they probably knew how to get around the spell, meaning he did not have much time.

"You think by threatening me I'll listen to a little brat that needs to learn his pl – " but Snape stopped speaking when a stunner flew from Harry's wand, going wide off the mark. "Clearly your aim – "

"Who said I was aiming?" replied Harry, his anger at boiling point. "Get talking now!"

"Potter I am not one of your – " but the Potions Master ducked this time as the stunner leaving

Harry's wand was not off target. The Professor fired off his own curse, Harry flattening himself against the staircase as the jet of pink light flew past him. "Don't play games you cannot win Potter, you'll end up getting hurt."

"Stupe – " Harry began mentally, but he fell backwards and cursed his stupidity. Occlumency was a useful tool in a duel and he had been a fool to not clear his mind. Growling at his own foolishness, he got to his feet. "So you're a Legilimens then Snape?"

The Potions Master looked taken back, but then a small sneer appeared on his face as he observed the boy he had ridiculed for close to four years. "Perhaps you're not such a dunderhead after all Potter."

"No I'm not," said Harry clearing his mind of all thought, focusing solely on Snape and hoping no stray thoughts would sneak in. "Now lets try this again shall we?"

"Yes le – " but Snape stopped speaking when the front door opened.

Harry looked around to find someone wearing purple robes entering the hall through the front door. The Boy-Who-Lived quickly looked down to his feet to avoid meeting the man's gaze, knowing full well Dumbledore had just entered Grimmauld Place. The Gryffindor pocketed his wand, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Snape did the same thing. "Professor Dumbledore."

"Harry, Severus, I take it you two were having a pleasant conversation?" asked the Headmaster, clearly having seen the two with their wands drawn.

"As always Albus," said Snape, his face emotionless.

"What else could we do Professor?" Harry asked refusing to meet the man's eye, knowing that the murderous feeling would return if he did. "I think I should get to bed, have a pleasant evening."

It was at that moment the kitchen door flew open, Tonks, Sirius and Remus quickly entering the hall with their wands drawn, ready to start cursing. They quickly lowered them however, when finding Dumbledore in the hall.

"Ah, I did not realise that there was a problem," said Dumbledore cheerfully.

"Not anymore by the looks of things," said Tonks glaring at Snape, grasping her wand tightly.

"Seems someone decided to lock the door rather securely."

"That would be me," said Harry looking to the three, receiving curious glances in return. "Wanted a few quiet words with my favourite Professor."

"Well as much as I would like to stay here," said Snape glaring at Harry's comment. "I have others things to do." With that he walked past the three and into the kitchen, his eyes seeming to linger on Tonks who glared in return at the Potions Master.

"Everything fine Prongslet?" asked Sirius looking into the kitchen.

"Yeah," lied Harry, before turning on his heel and making his way up the stairs. He left the four adults in the hall, their gazes all following him as he walked up the stairs, the Gryffindor careful to make sure he did not show how angry or worried he was.

-o-

Harry lay on his bed in his room, anger still coursing through him an hour later. When returning to his bedroom he had for half an hour cursed, thrown things at walls, cursed some more and then contemplated flying to Hogwarts on his broomstick to make sure his friends were fine. The next fifteen minutes he apologised to Hedwig who he had been neglecting and gave several owl treats. The last fifteen he had been lying on his bed seriously contemplating going to Hogwarts, while thinking of ways to make Snape pay for causing him to worry about his friends.

"Complete git," grumbled Harry sitting up and grabbing his wand, summoning Quidditch Through the Ages, throwing it down seconds later having already read the book several times already. "I swear to Merlin I'm going to curse him if my friends are getting hurt and he's done nothing!"

"You do realise talking to yourself is the first sign of madness?" spoke a voice he had not heard in sometime.

"Hello Phineas, how are you?" Harry asked pleasantly, not wanting to get into an argument with the portrait that could be as annoying as Snape if he wanted to be.

"I'm as good as ever, you on the other hand sound as though you're loosing what is left of your supposed mind."

"Got anything pleasant to say, or are you here to criticise me?" asked Harry looking to the pompous portrait and glaring heatedly.

"If I was to criticise you I would be here a lifetime," said Phineas with an air of pompousness, stroking his beard.

"Says the man who was the least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever had?" replied Harry leaning back on his elbows and smiling triumphantly at the portrait who glared at him, Phineas beginning to mutter under his breath. "First sign of madness is talking to yourself Phineas, though with hair like yours most would think it by just looking at you."

The portrait's hand went to his long hair, huffing and glaring he disappeared from the portrait, most probably back to his one at Hogwarts.

"Slimy snake."

"I heard that!"

Harry rolled his eyes and wondered if he should destroy Phineas portrait. Then again he knew Phineas had a portrait at Hogwarts and was required to travel between them for Dumbledore. If it weren't for that the Gryffindor would have gladly fired a Reductor Curse at the pompous git.

"Harry?" A knock came at the door. "Harry, can I come in?"

"Have you got greasy hair or look like a vampire?"

"If you want I can," joked Tonks entering the room with a smile, tucking a stand of purple hair behind her ear. "You okay?"

"Fine," mumbled Harry, feeling a bit better since she entered the room. That was the thing about Tonks; she always seemed to cheer him up by her mere presence.

"I thought we were close Hero?" she said lying down next to him on the bed, elbowing him lightly.

"We are close, you're right next to me," said Harry receiving another elbow in side, this one hurting more. "Surely I can have you arrested for hurting the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"Arrogant git," Tonks said elbowing him a third time. "Now tell me how you are really."

"Really?" Harry asked turning his head to stare at Tonks green eyes. "I'm angry and want to hurt Snape if my friends are in trouble, and then hurt him even more if he hasn't done a damn thing to help them. But then I'm not just angry at him."

"Who else?"

"I'm angry at them as well because if they're in trouble, why can't they tell me?" Harry asked her sitting up, hating the fact that he could do nothing.

Tonks sighed and rolled onto her side, still facing him. "If they were in trouble Hero, what would you do?"

Harry knew immediately what he would do. No matter what, he would find a way to get to them and help in any way possible. Nothing else mattered to him but their safety, even if it meant he would get in serious trouble for whatever stupid thing he would have to do to make sure they were all right.

Tonks smiled sadly and sat up, pulling him into a hug, Harry wrapping his arms around in return.

"What should I do?" he whispered, as he was right next to her ear.

"Everything I've heard about you tells me you will do whatever it takes to keep your friends safe. I would bet all the money in Gringotts that you would face the graveyard all over again on your own so no one was hurt or killed."

Harry did not reply because it true, he would face the graveyard again on his own. His stay with the Dursleys that summer he had wondered if things would have turned out differently if Cedric had not been there. And he always came to the conclusion that if he had grabbed the cup alone, everything would have turned out the same except for Cedric dying. It was horrible to think he had had the choice to take the cup alone and face those horrible trials. If he had, Cedric would have lived and so would he.

"I'm right aren't I?"

"Yes," said Harry, resting his head on her shoulder. "Can you blame me for wanting to protect everyone?"

"Heroes can't protect everyone Harry," mumbled Tonks pulling away and kissing his cheek softly.

"The fact that you're willing to try having faced the things you have shows how amazing you really are. But as I said you can't protect everyone and there are some battles that we have to leave alone, some that we have to watch from the sidelines."

"I can't sit around Tonks," said Harry letting his arms go back to his sides. "My friends mean too much to me."

"Tell you what, I'll stop by Hogwarts tomorrow and check up on everyone," she said. "Once I've done that I'll come straight back here."

Harry mulled over the idea, not liking the fact he could not check up on his friends personally. He knew that going there himself would probably get him in trouble with the Ministry and the Order, and if he did there was a good chance he'd come face to face with Dolores Umbridge. That would not be good for the Toad, as Harry knew he would show her what he thought of her foolish beliefs.

If Tonks went however, it would look far too suspicious and she could get in trouble with Scrimgeour, her boss that was already asking far too many questions.

"No," said Harry shaking his head. "If your boss found out he'd start asking more questions."

"I can handle Scrimgeour," said Tonks rolling her eyes.

"And if you lose your job?"

"I'll share your vault," she said simply, Harry rolling eyes. "You're saying you wouldn't?

"I'd think about it," said Harry with a small smile. "But seriously, if you're caught then – "

"I can cast a Disillusionment Charm on myself." Tonks jumped to her feet and got out her wand, tapping her head and slowly she begun to blend into the room. "See."

"Well…wait!" Harry suddenly had a brainstorm and went to his trunk, throwing it open and grabbing the two items that were on top. He looked back to Tonks who had cancelled the charm, looking at him confused. He simply held up his Invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map.

"Wow!" said Tonks taking the cloak he handed her and admiring it, while staring at the piece of old parchment in his hand. "You've got an Invisibility cloak, this is better than the charm, but what's with the old piece of parchment?"

Harry merely smiled in response and drew his own wand, tapping it to the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."