Chapter Seven

A mask of worry highlighted Thalia's face as she stood beside another just outside the gates of Hogwarts. The tall iron gates closed with a heavy clang before a shimmer of magic ran down each column before vanishing. It made her sigh and when she finally looked away, her eyes moving into the trees that surrounded them. They were overgrown and the inside looked dark, making her skin turn cold, or perhaps it was just the breeze that picked up.

Before she could let her mind run away with her imagination about all the things that were in the dark, waiting for her, a small rustling noise beside her caught her attention. Remus pulled a piece of parchment from inside his brown robe and folded it over again, holding onto it securely. In his other hand he held his wand, which made her slightly nervous as to what it was for and why they were standing out here so late at night.

Sick of the silence, she opened her mouth to ask but Remus beat her to it. "We're going to headquarters for the Order. You're about to meet everyone and spill your guts about what you know. Ready?"

"Spill my guts?" asked Thalia, raising an eyebrow.

Remus looked away, only chuckling in response.

"I suppose," said Thalia, shrugging. "Where are we going exactly?"

"Take my arm and you'll find out," said Remus, holding out his left arm.

Thalia eyed it wearily but didn't question it. Without another word, she reached up and took hold and instantly they left. Everything went black. Pressure built from all sides and little air got through. A shattering noise echoed straight through her ear-drums and before she knew it, they had arrived, back into an extensive space with plenty of breathable air around them.

When realising her hand was still on his arm moments after arriving, Thalia jerked it off, feeling a little embarrassed. But if Remus noticed, he didn't say anything. He only handed the piece of parchment from before towards her and she took it, opening it slowly. It only contained twelve words.

"The Order of the Phoenix can be found at twelve Grimmauld Place."

"What-"

A sudden yelp escaped her as it parchment burst into flames, vanishing into thin air. Her eyes quickly met Remus' but from the look on his face, she held back her questions. She watched as Remus stepped through the creaky iron gate and up the grubby concrete steps to a bulky black door that stood closed. He tapped it lightly with his wand and several metallic clicks followed it.

At the noise, Thalia jumped back a few steps, stopping in the middle of the empty street. The front door scraped open and Remus turned to face her, gesturing for her to join him. Swallowing hard, Thalia approached and made her way up the stairs. Remus went inside and with hesitations, she followed.

At passing the landing, a stale stench hit her nose, making her recoil. It opened into a long hallway, lit by a large chandelier and gas lamps that lined the walls. The dark wallpaper was peeling, bits of it littering the already dirty carpeted floor. A troll-leg umbrella stand stood beside the door, half full of umbrellas. Near the end of the hallways, a movement caught Thalia's eye. A small house-elf walked across a long curtain that hung down the wall and underneath a row of mounted elf heads on the wall.

"Come on," whispered Remus.

They walked to the very end and descended down a narrow staircase. It ended at a cavernous room with a large fireplace at one end that roared with life and a long wooden table in the centre at which many people sat around. The chatter from seconds ago vanished and all eyes went to them.

Thalia stepped behind Remus as the staring continued, not wanting to be seen. Peering around her, she saw Dumbledore and he got to his feet and approached two of them. Whispered words went around the table but when Dumbledore turned to face them, they stopped.

"I know this meeting was called abruptly and I thank you all for being here," began Dumbledore. "Tonight, we have new business that needs to be taken care of. As some of you know, a couple of weeks ago Hogwarts received a new guest and she's here tonight, ready to help us in whatever way she can. Thalia, come here please."

Instantly, Thalia shook her head but Remus stepped aside, tugging at her arm. At Dumbledore's side, she glanced over everyone that sat before her but she took nothing in. It was a blur as fear pulsed through her body, making her feel as though her vision was swimming.

"This is Thalia Greyback," said Dumbledore clearly. "She is Fenrir's daughter and she has agreed to share her information as well as help us with some of the larger werewolf packs in Britain. Now, before you ask, yes, trust will be an issue for some but I believe we shouldn't judge people we do not know. And she has my trust."

"Alright," breathed Remus, stepping forward. "Perhaps you should meet everyone. We'll go around the table. You can get to know them later." Thalia watched as Remus started at the front to the left and went all around the table. "Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Sirius Black, Arthur Weasley, his wife Molly and their children, Bill and his wife, Fleur, Fred, George and Ron, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Alastor Moody and Mundungus Fletcher."

After the quick introduction, Remus took a light hold of her arm and led her to empty spaces at the table between Hermione and Severus and at the same time, they sat down. Thalia glanced at the girl beside her. Hermione gave a timid but friendly smile. Not wanting to seem rude, she returned it, looking away as Dumbledore began to talk once more.

"Kingsley, how are things at the Ministry?"

"Not good," replied the dark skinned wizard, his voice deep and soothing. "Pius is missing. No one in his department seem to know his location. It's assume he's been captured or killed."

"All departments are freaking out," interjected Nymphadora. "There's been talk about a traitor at the Ministry. Even some of the Aurors are worried about an uprising."

"I do hope it doesn't come to that," said Dumbledore bleakly. "Remus, have you gotten anywhere?"

"No," sighed Remus. "I've been trying to get inside for years now and I haven't made any headway. But perhaps with Thalia, our luck will change."

At the mention of her name, Thalia gave him a sideways glance before glancing down at the table, feeling unable to meet anyone's eye. Under the table, she wringed her hands together but no more mention was made. The conversation moved on.

"The horcruxes, Harry?" said Dumbledore quietly.

"No," replied Harry. "Hermione thinks there's a lead on another one. We're going to check it out in a few days."

"Any news from Romania?" asked Dumbledore.

Thalia looked up to see who he was speaking to. It was Bill. The tall red-head, leaned on the table, clasping his hands together in a casual manner, ignoring the long locks of red hair that fell over his shoulder gracefully. Thalia watched him through narrowed eyes. His scarred face bared a familiar resemblance.

"Charlie wrote last week," he answered. "He hasn't gotten any help yet either. Most of the wizards there would like to stay out of the war, especially since they're not even here while it's going on. He says he'll keep trying though."

"Good," said Dumbledore slowly. "Well, I suppose that ends it. Harry, we should talk a little more about this trip of yours."

Members of the Order stirred. Some filed slowly from the room while a few remained behind, talking in pairs or small groups or getting food from the fridge as Molly seemed to be doing. The scent near her disappeared and Thalia turned her head, seeing Remus walk over to Nymphadora, engaging her in conversation.

Suddenly, Thalia felt exposed and stepped towards the door, hoping leave unnoticed. Once up the stairs, she made her way past the hanging curtain and past the elf heads that were mounted on the wall and found the back door. She pushed it open and rushed outside, breathing the cool night air in deeply.


In the backyard, Thalia approached a pile of bricks that had no business being there and sat on top of it. A slight breeze had picked up and while it lasted, Thalia made a mental note to enjoy it. Since running away she'd spent most of her time inside and it was becoming unnerving. For most of her life, she'd lived outside with the pack.

When the back door creaked open, Thalia turned her head unhurried, thinking it was the wind. But it wasn't. Hermione stood there, her long red coat swaying lightly in the breeze. Looking a little nervous, she walked down the steps and stop a few feet away from her.

"Can I join you?"

"Sure," said Thalia, shifting over on the pile of bricks.

"Thanks," said Hermione, sitting down beside her. "You sure couldn't get out of there fast enough."

Thalia nodded at the statement. "Just when I thought I'd gotten away without being seen." They shared a smile. "So, how do you fit into the Order?"

"I go to school with Harry," she said clearly. "Been friends since our first year at Hogwarts."

"Are you finished yet?"

"No, we're in our last year now," she replied. "We had been planning to leave and search for the horcruxes but that didn't quite pan out. Sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you everything."

"You're not allowed to?" asked Thalia.

"I could but I shouldn't," rephrased Hermione. "I just wanted to meet you properly since the introduction inside was very quick. Did you like it at Hogwarts?"

"I guess," said Thalia, with a shrug. "I mainly only saw a few corridors and the hospital wing. Seemed nice from what I saw though."

Suddenly, the back door opened with a cracking bang, making both Thalia and Hermione jump. They both looked over and a familiar figure stood in the doorway. Remus stood there, his shabby robes swaying in the breeze, his face showing concern with wide, searching eyes.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, sauntering down the steps. "I looked all over the house for you. For a moment I thought you'd left. What are you doing out here?"

"I just needed a little air," she replied, confusion sweeping across her face. "Do you really think I'd just leave?"

"No," said Remus. "Hermione, I think Molly could just an extra set of hands. Would you mind?"

"Not at all," she said, getting the hint. "It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise," said Thalia with a small smile.

Hermione turned and walked across the grass and disappeared into the house, leaving the two werewolves alone. Thalia felt her stomach tighten when he sat down in the spot Hermione had just vacated and his scent hit her. It made the memories of a week ago flood her mind.

"Not intentionally anyway," continued Remus , clasping his hands together in his lap. "Is something wrong? You know you can talk to me. We're in a similar boat. I'm not going to judge you."

Thalia hung her head and looked down at her feet which she swung back and forth, liking how it skimmed the grass around the edges of the brick. There was something she wanted to ask, well, there were a couple things actually, but both of them weren't comfortable subjects.

"Is it… wrong to miss my father?"

"No," said Remus quietly. "It's hard being away from someone you've spent your entire life with, no matter who they are. You don't want to go back to him, do you?"

"No," said Thalia, after a moment's thought. "I don't think so. Even if I did, I'd probably be beaten to death for leaving in the first place."

"You think he would do that?" asked Remus curiously.

"Yes," said Thalia instantly. "He doesn't need much of a reason to kill anyone, not even his own children."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't Dumbledore tell you?" said Thalia slowly, frowning slightly. "I'm not an only child. I had a brother but he was born human so father killed him. I also had a sister who was born human but I took her away from there. Don't know where she is now though, not that it matters."

Silence fell between them and Remus finally took his eyes off her, looking towards the back fence that leaned out into the yard beyond. Thuds and clangs came from inside the house and Thalia turned to look but Remus ignored it.

"Remus… about what hap-"

"We never did finish our conversation from the other night," interrupted Remus. "We made a deal, remember?"

"Is that why you sent Hermione away? To talk about that?" asked Thalia slowly.

"You don't know her," said Remus. "And I think-"

"I don't really know you either," interrupted Thalia.

"Stop changing the topic and answer the question," said Remus firmly.

Thalia sighed heavily and felt a twinge of frustration. It had been a week since the full moon and what had transpired between them but still, nothing had been said. Every time she'd tried to bring it up, this happened. Deciding the go along with the older werewolf's plan, she nodded slowly.

"Yes, I remember."

"Do you have any more questions?"

"Not right now," said Thalia softly, knowing what was coming. "Are you going to ask all about my father now?"

"Later," said Remus. "After dinner, some of the Order will remain behind and I'll ask you then so you don't have to keep repeating yourself. Alright?"

"Can't I just tell you and you tell them?"

"No," said Remus with a chuckle. "Because you'll have to learn about the Order so you'll need to be there. There won't be as many people as last time, I promise. Now, come on, it's time to eat."

"Uh… couldn't I skip it?" said Thalia quickly, feeling her heart speed up at the thought of going back inside with all those strangers.

Remus turned his head and regarded her for a long moment. She didn't meet his eye. "Alright," he said eventually. "You can eat later if you wish. Just don't go far, alright?"

Thalia nodded and watched as Remus got to his feet and walked towards the house, disappearing into the darkness. Finally alone, Thalia breathed deeply and got to her feet, walking to the back fence. With curiosity she peered over but there was nothing to see except a quiet, empty street.

The thoughts of her father returned and she looked up into the night sky. She went over her words with Remus. Did she want to be back with her father despite what might happen? Whether she had lied to him or not she wasn't sure.