Dx; Sorry this update is so late!! I just couldn't find the inspiration to write!!

I caved. lol I was going to post this as one long chapter, but I just couldn't do it. Dx So this will probably be two, MAYBE three parts... MAYBE. haha Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Thanks to those who supported me over the long months and didn't push me when it came to this. ) I appreciate it, guys.


Harry's summer had started out like any other. He was brought home in silence, he trudged up to his room in silence, and he sat there in silence waiting to be called by his aunt or uncle to do some chore or other. After all, they usually put him to work as soon as they could. But for the rest of the day, no sound came from the family so Harry went about his room lazily, cleaning everything up and unpacking things he'd absolutely need.

When everything he knew he'd need was unpacked and set up around his room where it would be easy to get to he flopped down onto his bed with a sigh. Something was wrong with his relatives; normally they'd have him working on something or other or Dudley would be bugging him but nothing. Instead of being a relief to Harry, it was unnerving. Finally unable to stand it anymore he got up and made his way downstairs.

Finding no trace of his uncle or cousin in the living room he padded into the kitchen where he found his aunt bustling about, humming to herself. Stepping into the room Harry cleared his throat before asking, "Is there... Is there anything I can help you with?" The sound of his voice brought about a gasp from Petunia as she jumped a little bit and turned around to look at the boy with a hard gaze.

"No! No there is not! Get back up to your room and stay there! We have very important guests coing over and you are not going to ruin this!" She said shrilly. Harry gave a small nod before he turned and quickly left the room before she started whipping utensils at him. So, that was why they were ignoring him so; company was coming over. Harry shrugged to himself. At least he was getting some time to himself. Surely they'd start working him tomorrow. So, returning to his room Harry grabbed a book to read and curled up in his bed. No sooner had he opened the tome had he fallen asleep.

The next day dawned with Harry feeling refreshed, and hungry. He had only gotten up once yesterday and that was to eat a small, quick meal before the guests arrived. Getting off of his bed Harry straightened his wrinkled his clothes and headed downstairs to see if he could get some breakfast. Luckily, his guardians were in a decent mood so they allowed him some of the cooling breakfast. As he sat and ate silently, Vernon talked about the deal he was hoping to make at work and how the office would be busy today while Petunia half listened.

After Vernon finished eating and he got up and kissed Petunia as he got ready to leave. Turning to Harry he regarded the boy with a cold gaze. "Now listen here, boy; you do as your told and maybe you can get a decent supper. Good disipline is rewarded with good things." He said, watching Harry. Raising his gaze from his plate to look his uncle in the face Harry nodded and said, "Yessir." Vernon nodded his head. "Good. Now Petunia dear, you tell Dudders I said for him to have a good day and to stay out of trouble." Harry sat in silence as the two exchanged a few more words and a kiss. After that, Vernon left.

Harry finished his breakfast and got up, about to do the dishes. "Now Harry..." Petunia started as she entered the kitchen. Last summer his aunt had gone soft on him some; she still worked him like a horse but allowed him more breaks and snacks every so often. Dudley stopped showing an interest in cousin ever since the words, "girls are good for more then making fun of" entered his mind and spent his summer trying to woo a girl into being his girlfriend. The only one who hadn't really changed was Vernon; he still seemed to carry some unspoken hate for him.

"Yes, aunt?" He remarked, turning the water on and making in the right temperature. "The dishes; how thoughtful of you, I wasn't going to ask you to do them but please, go ahead!" She remarked as she brought the other dishes to the sink for him. "Once your done could you please dust the livining room, sweep the floors, and pull the weeds in the flower beds?" She requested, standing by his side to wait for his answer.

Harry smiled a little bit to her and nodded his head, "Sure thing, aunt." He answered. She gave him a quick smile before she bustled off to do something else. While Harry scrubbed the dishes and rinsed them off, he thought back to last summer. While he had been with his relatives Petunia had started to be more nicer, and Vernon had begun to spend less and less time at home. Harry frowned a little bit, wondering if something was going on between the two of them. Around the same time, Dudley had finally discovered girls and Harry was no longer that interesting... Not that Harry was complaining or anything.

Once the dishes were done, Harry went about to finish the other chores before he headed to his room to do a little homework, figuring that if he finished it all now, while he was at his relatives house, he would have more time to lounge comfortably at Grimmauld Place and do all sorts of things with Ron and Hermione when they all got together at the Burrow. Harry grinned brightly at the thought of his two best friends. Yes, that would be his drive to finish all his homework before he left.


Harry hadn't realized he had worked on his homework for long and until so late and... Hadn't accomplished much. Between dosing off, not understanding, and being called for different chores every so often, Harry had only finished about half of his Herbology essay and written down a few characteristics that set unicorns apart from malticorns. With a sigh and a dull 'thump' of closing his thick herbology text Harry straightened out and stretched just as the sound of heavy footsteps reached his ears. A moment later a loud thudding sounded on the door.

"Boy! Get a move on! Dinner's getting cold!" Came Vernon's booming voice before his heavy steps headed back downstairs. Harry cocked his head to the side curiously. Why should that have anything to do with him? Shrugging and deciding to go downstairs to find out he got off his bed and headed out of his room, straightening his clothes all the way down. Once he had joined his relatives at the table and a cloud of silence had fallen over everyone Harry looked around uncertainly.

Everyone was eating like they normally did, only they weren't ignoring Harry's presence like they usually did; they all seemed to be acutely aware that the Potter boy was sitting at the table, eating a full meal which was rare. "Um, may I ask a question?" Harry finally managed to say, looking between his aunt and uncle uncertainly; he didn't even want to risk a look at Dudley, knowing that it would only lead to trouble.

Petunia and Vernon looked up from their meals, almost in unison, but their looks were quite different. Vernon wore a look at dark loathing while Petunia wore a look of sickly sweet love, her smile looking a little forced. "What is it, Harry?" She asked, her smile still in place. As Harry sat there, looking at them stupidly Vernon barked, "Out with it boy!" This seemed to bring Harry out of his coma and he shook his head a little before motioning towards the table. "What is with all this?" He asked.

For a moment, it seemed that no one understood the boy but realization seemed to dawn on Petunia after a few moments of looking at Harry blankly. "Oh! Oh, I get what you're saying!" She exclaimed before her smile brightened and that sickly sweet look that was so unlike her was back. "Oh Harry, I figured after all your hard work you deserved a nice big meal. I'm hoping to make this a permanent thing..." She trailed off, her eyes looking at her husband darkly. The look made his own gaze drop to his food and Harry couldn't help but feel wary.

But make it permanent Petunia did. Every night, Harry ate with the family, and every night, things were tenser and tenser. Finally, it snapped in relief when Lupin came by to pick Harry up to spend the remainder of July in Grimmauld place alone. Harry had been upstairs, packing up his things when Vernon's loud voice had boomed, "Get down here boy! Your "friend" is here!" Harry perked up happy and dropped the stack of books he had been holding which made Hedwig screech and ruffle her feathers angrily.

As Harry made his way for the stairs, Lupin turned and watched the boy, a look of slight confusion and mistrust on his face. Harry stopped at the bottom of the stairs and grinned at his former teacher. "Lupin, am I ever glad to see you!" He exclaimed, taking a few steps towards the older man and holding his arms out for a hug. His grin faltered for a moment when Lupin didn't automatically respond. But after a moment he grinned as well, his eyes still looking a little confused as he opened his arms and embraced the teen. "Harry! So good to see you!" He returned, forcing his werewolf instincts to calm down. It was obvious to him something just wasn't right with Harry.

After chatting for a little while, the dark looks Vernon was shooting the pair became too much and Lupin followed Harry upstairs to help him with his trunk and other things. Once they were alone in his room Lupin shut the door softly and turned to watch as Harry packed the of his things up. "Harry... Harry!" Lupin started, grabbing the boys attention. "Yes?" Harry remarked, holding some robes in his hands.

Lupin frowned a little bit; Harry's entire room reeked of something unfamiliar to him but very familiar to his instincts; an enemy if you would. "Harry... Have you been around anyone?" He asked calmly, watching as Harry's face was now showing confusion. "No, sir; I've only been with my relatives... why?" He answered, now watching as Lupin's eyes went over everything in Harry's room. A heavy silence fell before Lupin smiled and said, "Oh it's nothing Harry; I guess it's just too close to a full moon, that's all. Are you all packed? Good, let's hurry on then!" And with that, Lupin opened the door, strode over quickly to cast a feather-spell on Harrys trunk and dragged it out.

Harry stood for a moment, dumbfounded. Lupin had acted so quickly Harry hadn't had a moment to mention that the full moon had already come and gone for the month of July.


Harry smiled brightly the instant the dreary form of Grimmauld Place appeared before him. With a happy laugh Harry left Lupin's side and ran towards the house. Wretching open the door he looked around happily, taking a deep breath as he stepped inside a little more. The entire place was silent, even the old picture of Sirius' mother was silent and gave no scream as he walked passed, grin still in place.

When Lupin came in after him he turned around and said, "This placed hasn't changed one bit; haven't you guys been doing any work?" Lupin set the boy's trunk by the stairs, deciding that the two of them could drag it up to Harry's room later. "Yes, we have. But we decided that this old place shouldn't have any of it's stuff removed so we set about restoring it and anything with Dark Magic has been purified, so to speak." He answered, giving a weak smile. "I think it'll look quite the place when it's all fixed up." He added and Harry nodded his head.

Turning around again Harry took in a deep breath. "I like it the way it is." He said finally and Lupin nodded his head though he doubted Harry could see it. "So when does the Order meet here?" He asked, turning around once more to regard the werewolf. Lupin shrugged and scratched his head. "We don't really... Have a set date and time. But when we do plan to meet we'll be sure to send you a warning or something. Just so we don't drop in unexpectedly." He answered. They hadn't planned what he said, but he'd be sure to run it past the other Order members. Lupin may have never had kids or married but he knew from experience that teenagers liked their time alone and he didn't really want to make Harry wary of unexpected visitors in what was technically his house.

"Okay, thanks Lupin." Harry said, his smile softening into something one would give a father or a role model; the smile made Lupin smile a little and duck his head sheepishly. "Don't mention it, Harry..." He mumbled before he looked up and cleared his throat before adding, "Well, how about we get your stuff to your room and then we have a late lunch?" And gratefully, Harry agreed.

It didn't take them long to get Harry set up in a room set in the west side of house so half an hour or so later the two of them were in the kitchen eating sandwiches and sharing stories of what had happened that summer or memories from before. "-Remember when you brought in that Boggart?" Harry asked with a grin and a mouthful of sandwiches, "And Ron made it turn into a spider and then he was scared stiff?" Lupin grinned and took a sip of his juice. "Yes, yes; poor boy." Lupin remarked and shook his head. Harry laughed and said, "He had nightmares for weeks!" And Lupin's laughter joined Harry's.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Lupin, who was looking at his plate uneasily; said, "Harry has... Has anything weird happened this summer? Like, to you or around you...?" He looked up at the other though his head remained bowed. Harry sat silently for a moment, a frown in his face. "Other then my aunt treating me like a regular human being, no. Why do you ask?" He answered, his green gaze making the other squirm somewhat.

"Oh, no reason. I was just curious and well, you know how things have been lately..." Lupin returned hesitatingly. At that moment, a clock deep within the house chimed loudly and Lupin jumped up from the table. "Oh dear, I hadn't realized that it was so late. I'm sorry to run so suddenly Harry but I'm afraid I'm late for an important meeting with Professor Dumbledore." He remarked, picking up his and Harry's dishes before setting them into the sink and spelling them to clean and put themselves away.

Harry stood up and walked silently with Lupin to th front door. "It's no trouble, Lupin; I'm glad you could have stayed even for a little while." He said before letting himself be embraced by the older man. "I am too Harry. And if you ever need anything or anything happens, just call for me with floo." He remarked, his grip tightening on the boy. "Promise me that Harry." He added. Harry was silent for a moment before answered, "Of course, Lupin; you know I will." And with that, Lupin let go of Harry and gave him a small smile before he headed off, Harry looking thoughtful as the werewolf soon disappeared with a muffled pop. Once he was sure the other was gone he closed the door and sighed, leaning against it. He was thankful for the time alone. With a happy hum Harry set off to find something to occupy his time with.


"You're sure about this, Lupin?" Dumbledore asked, regarded the werewolf over the top of his half-moon glasses and Lupin nodded furiously. "I'm quite sure; we should kepe a close eye on him." He answered.

Dumbledore gave a soft sigh as he leaned back in his chair, tapping his nose thoughtfully. "So Harry's scent has changed, you're sure of that?" His question was answered with a nod. "And you know you've smelt it before, but you can't place it?" Another nod. Another sigh. "Lupin, maybe you're just smelling another scent on him." He reasoned, but Lupin shook his head. "I thought that at first too, Professor, but the longer I stayed around him, the more I realized that the scent was coming off of him." He answered, and Dumbledore held up his hands. "All right Lupin. I'll send someone out to watch him for awhile." Lupin's face fell before he opened his mouth, but Dumbledore cut him off. "I'm sorry Lupin, but I think we need to send someone else; we'll need an expert... You say it was an animal smell coming from him?" He remarked and Lupin started to nod once more before pausing with a frown.

"It was animal-like... Like another werewolf, only... Different..." He muttered out, not sure if he made sense. Dumbledore was quiet for a moment, before he nodded. "All right, I would like to send Hagrid, but I need him for other things around Hogwarts. I guess that only leaves one person..." Dumbledore trailed off with a sigh, knowing that this would come back to hit him. "Who, Professor?" Lupin questioned.

"...Severus Snape..."


Well, I hope this chapter was slightly enoyable, hehe and hopefully I'll have the second part up sooner rather then later