Title: Reading OoTP
"Your - ?"
"My dear old mum, yeah," said Sirius.
"Unfortunately," muttered the present Sirius.
"We've been trying to get her down for a month but we think she put a Permanent Sticking Charm on the back of the canvas."
"I wouldn't put it past her."
"I offered it (the house) to Dumbledore for headquarters – about the only useful thing I've been able to do."
"Oh, that's sad," James said.
"Yeah, I pity myself," Sirius agreed.
Mr. Weasley and his eldest son, Bill, were talking quietly with their heads together at the end of the table.
Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat.
"I really wish we could've heard what they were talking about," Remus said.
"Me, too," James said.
In the flash of light caused by Mrs. Weasley's charm, Harry caught a glimpse of what looked like the plan of a building.
"Wow, this is more serious than I thought," Remus said. "It looks as if they're planning on raiding a building."
"But what building?" James asked.
"Probably some place important, so they can really do some damage," Sirius said. Seeing the looks on everyone's faces, he added, "What? That's what I'd do."
"Some'n say m' name?" Mundungus mumbled sleepily. "I 'gree with Sirius…"
"Looks like you've got some influence over the Order, Sirius," Remus said.
"Who wouldn't want to agree with me?" Sirius said pompously.
"I can think of a few people."
"Owe you a 'pology," grunted a voice from the middle of the smelly cloud.
"That's for sure," James grumbled.
The cloud of smoke vanished as Mundungus stowed his pipe back in his pocket, but an acrid smell of burning socks lingered.
"Burning socks? What is he smoking?" Lily asked.
"You honestly don't know?" Sirius replied.
"No."
"Then don't worry about it."
"No, no, I want to help!" said Tonks brightly, knocking over a chair as she hurried toward the dresser from which Ginny was collecting cutlery.
"This book is really making her look clumsy," Sirius commented.
"Yeah, it says she knocks something over almost every page," James agreed.
"She's not this clumsy now. Maybe it comes with age."
"That doesn't make sense, Padfoot," Remus said. "You think you would become less clumsy over time."
"Well, Nymphadora has always been on the strange side."
"See, I wouldn't 'ave left," said Mundungus, leaning forward, a pleading note in his voice, "but I 'ad a business opportunity-"
"That doesn't matter. You never abandon your post," James said.
"Since when has James Potter had principles?" Lily asked, feigning shock.
"I've always had principles."
"Like what?"
"Never betray a friend… and Snape's a greasy git."
"That doesn't count."
"It does to me."
"Personally, I'd have welcomed a dementor attack."
"Sirius, you're a strange, strange man," James said.
"Thanks."
"You think you've had it bad, at least you've been able to get out and about, stretch your legs, get into a few fights… I've been stuck inside for a month."
"Oh, that's terrible," Sirius said dramatically. "I don't think I could ever live like that."
"Apparently you do," Remus pointed out.
"I don't know how, though. I can't stand to be stuck doing nothing for a day, not to mention a whole month."
Harry felt a sudden upsurge of affection for his godfather.
"Thank you, Harry. Same to you."
"And if you'll believe me, lads, the gormless gargoyle buys all 'is own toads back orf me for twice what 'e paid in the first place-"
"Really?" Sirius said, laughing. "That's a good deal."
"But he cheated that man out of his money," Lily said.
"So?"
"That's not right."
"So? It works, doesn't it?"
"She hasn't forgiven him for slipping off duty when he was supposed to be tailing you."
"Good, he doesn't deserve to be forgiven," James said.
"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenix to ask questions?" asked Sirius. "Harry's been trapped in that Muggle house for a month. He's got the right to know what's been happen -"
"I completely agree with… me," Sirius said.
"That's shocking," Remus said sarcastically. "I didn't see that one coming."
"Then you're just crazy."
Lupin's eyes were fixed on Sirius.
"Like me that much, do you, Remus?" Sirius asked playfully.
"Shut up."
"He's not James, Sirius!"
"Whoa there," Sirius said taken aback. "This is turning ugly."
"Yeah. And why did my name have to get thrown into the argument?" James asked.
"I have no idea."
"I think Harry ought to be allowed a say in this," Lupin continued. "He's old enough to decide for himself."
"I agree. Good job, Moony," James said.
Remus looked over at Sirius with a triumphant look.
"You got this one, Lupin. Beginner's luck."
"Yeah, we'll see."
For a split second, Harry considered telling Ron that he wouldn't tell him a single word, that he could try a taste of being kept in the dark and see how he liked it.
"Don't do that, Harry," Lily advised. "Be the bigger man."
"Do it, Harry," Sirius encouraged. "They deserve it for not telling you anything."
"They were under orders."
"They're supposed to be his friends."
"Dumbledore said -"
"Who cares? They shouldn't have listened."
But the nasty impulse vanished as they looked at each other.
"Good choice, Harry," Lily said.
"Oh well, maybe next time," Sirius sighed.
(Sirius, Remus, Mr. Weasley, Tonks, and Bill answer Harry's questions. I can't see the Marauders interrupting this discussion too much… so they won't. Let's just say that they were too wrapped up in getting the information that they forgot to say anything. If you want to know what happens in the Q&A, it can be found in the chapter The Order of the Phoenix.)
One by one they stood up and Harry, recognizing defeat, followed suit.
"That's the end of the chapter," James said.
"Wow, very informational," Remus said.
"Yeah, the Order is completely different from what I expected. I thought it would just be some people talking about how bad Voldemort is," Sirius explained. "Not some anti-Voldemort movement actually fighting him."
"I want to join," James announced.
"You can't," Sirius said, "you're not out of school or old enough."
"And he isn't in the right time period," Remus added.
"That, too."
"Shall I continue?" James asked. Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I got it. Chapter Six: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black…"
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A/N: Don't forget to review.
