Disclaimer in Chapter 1

Author's Note (...letter): Well, we thought we would try something new... like posting another chapter of our story. We have been on quite a break, and I just want to say, it is entirely not my fault. Allow me to begin by making excuses: we live a thousand miles apart during the summer A problem we have rectified by moving into the same room during the school year. Yes, now that we are back together, we can pick up our once a week schedule. Excuses aside, the fault is truly mine, as I am possibly the world's most gifted procrastinator. Anyway, we are pleased to bring you, at long last, chapter fourteen. Thanks for sticking with us, and once again, we're sorry for the ... ahem... three month sabbatical.

Chapter 14: Christmas at Grimmauld Place

The last week of the term had arrived, and the students were relieved to be going home after such a strenuous first term. Harry had, of course, planned on staying at Hogwarts for the holidays, but had received a letter from the Order requesting that he return to Grimmuald Place for the start of the break. He would be spending the remainder of the break with the Weasleys at the Burrow.

Harry could think of few places he wanted to spend Christmas less than Sirius' home, but at least he wasn't being forced to go back to the Dursley's.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Lubode all boarded the train for their departure from Hogwarts. Although the Weasleys had invited Hermione for Christmas, she had decided spend the time with her parents, as she still felt slightly guilty for abandoning their ski trip last year without being able to give them a proper reason.

"So, Ginny, how's Dean?" asked Ron innocently, though his tone didn't fool anyone in the compartment.

"Oh, he's marvelous Ron, lately we've been thinking about our marriage after Hogwarts," responded Ginny smoothly.

Harry and Hermione exchanged an amused look; they both knew how Ron was about to react.

"Married! You're thinking about getting married? That's ridiculous!" shouted Ron.

"I know what you mean," said Ginny, shaking her head sadly, "waiting two and half years for me to graduate seems entirely too long, which is why I think I'll drop out after sixth year and than we can elope.

"Are you MAD!?!" shouted Ron, he ranted for a few more seconds before Hermione interrupted.

"Honestly, Ginny just tell him that you're joking already. I swear Ron, you have no sense of humor when it comes to Ginny at all."

"No Hermione, she's not joking, why would she be joking?" asked Ron, genuinely confused.

"Because she's tired of you grilling her about her relationship, when she's more than capable of deciding who she should and shouldn't date," said Harry tiredly. "Honestly, Ron, Ginny can take care of herself. Personally, I would be far more concerned for anyone that tried to hurt her than for Ginny."

"See Ron, Harry realizes that I'm old enough to handle myself, you should really start seeing that I don't need to be protected from every guy that wants to talk to me."

"I reckon that Dean wants to do more than talk, Ginny."

"And perhaps I do as well. Really Ron, rather than concern yourself with my love life you should consider getting one of your own."

Ron turned beat red at the last comment, and it was Lubode that changed the subject for him. "So, Hermione, what did you think of our last Potion's exam?"

Well, of course that launched Hermione into a twenty minute tirade on their school work in general, complaining that none of the sixth years were taking their work seriously enough, and she was concerned that they would hold back their studies and they would be unable to be properly prepared for the NEWTS.

"Relax Hermione," said Harry with a yawn, "we were fine for the OWLS and that was when we had Umbridge running rampant in the school, you shouldn't be worried, you could probably pass the NEWTS by the end of this year if you really wanted to."

"Hey Harry, are you cold? You look like you're shivering," asked Ginny concernedly. Everyone else seemed perfectly comfortable in tee shirts, and Harry was wearing a heavy jumper.

"A bit I suppose," said Harry indifferently.

"Well, I think it's rather comfortable in here... are you sure you're feeling alright?" asked Hermione concernedly, as she reached over to touch his forehead. Harry dodged her hand and said shortly, "I'm fine Hermione, like I said, just a bit cold. It's nothing."

"Yeah don't worry, Harry looks fine to me," said Lubode as he patted him on the back and handed him a chocolate frog card.

Harry took the card gratefully, eager to be rid of Hermione's concern, He had never quite grown accustomed to having people fuss over him, as he never received such treatment growing up with the Dursleys. He could very well have been on the brink of death and the Dursley's would have told him to sleep it off and have him do chores the next morning. He much preferred Lubode's casual assurances to Hermione's motherly concern.

When the train reached the station, Harry bid his friends goodbye and spotted Tonks, who was there to retrieve him, easily in the crowd with her spiky purple hair.

"Hiya Harry, how are ya?" she greeted brightly.

"I'm fine thanks, how are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine, though I have been very busy along with everyone else."

Harry knew she couldn't mention the Order in the middle of King's Cross, but it wasn't hard to figure out exactly what she had meant by the comment. Voldemort was attacking more and more frequently and the fear the wizarding world had experienced in Voldemort's first reign of terror, feat that Harry had heard about since he was eleven, had returned in full force.

Harry once again found himself wondering how they would be getting to Headquarters, as portkeys needed to be authorized. Though the Order was technically working with the Ministry now, Harry supposed they wouldn't reveal their Headquarters to them, as the Order never was, and never would be, under the control of the Ministry.

"We'll be taking the muggle underground, alright Harry," said Tonks, as though she could read his mind.

As Harry traveled towards his late godfather's house, something seemed off. Harry had that feeling one gets when they think they are forgetting something important and can't seem to remember what it is. Something was nagging at the edge of his mind and yet it wasn't until he stepped into the foyer that he realized what he was missing.

His grief.

He had assumed that going back to Sirius' house would fill him with the sorrow and pain that had consumed him after his godfather's death. Instead he felt oddly detached. As though this house was no different than any other, and any of the emotional ties that he thought should be connected to it had been severed. Though this strange numbness came somewhat as a pleasant surprise, Harry thought he could hear an inner voice, much like the voice he heard when he fought the Imperious Curse, saying that this cool detachment from pain was wrong. Yet Harry shrugged the voice off.

It's better not to feel anything at all than to feel the grief that I felt last year, was his last thought before he entered the kitchen to find Remus and Professor Dumbledore waiting for him.

Harry was quite surprised to see Dumbledore there, though he knew it was normal for Order members to come and go at regular intervals, the headmaster usually only attended the meetings, as that was all his busy schedule would permit.

"Ah, Harry, I'm pleased to see you and Nymphadora made it here safely. I was wondering if I might have a word with you in private," greeted Dumbledore.

"Yes, of course, sir," said Harry, clueless as to why the headmaster would wish to speak to him, though he knew it must have to do with why he had been asked back to Grimmauld Place.

Harry followed the elderly Headmaster into the sitting room and took a seat facing him. I suppose you're wondering why the Order requested that you return here for the holiday?" asked Dumbledore.

"Well, actually, yes I was."

"Well, you see Harry, this is actually something that should have been discussed with you over the summer, but with how busy the Order was at the time, and considering that we thought you might like some time to process what happened to Sirius, I decided we would wait until now to explain to you Sirius' will."

Harry's eyes widened; he hadn't considered Sirius' will. The way the conversation had started out, Harry had thought that the Order had been keeping secrets from him again. However, unlike last year, he could see why they had decided to wait, and was even grateful for the extra time.

"Sirius' will," Harry asked weakly.

"Yes, you see, Sirius was the last of his family, and he obviously had no children. Harry, he left his entire estate to you. This house, as well as the Black family fortune I yours."

Harry gasped in surprise. He knew the Blacks had been a wealthy family, so this inheritance must be considerable. He had never, however, expected Sirius to leave it all to him.

"Now, legally none of this can be claimed until you're seventeen, as you're still a minor, however, the Order wishes to make a request of you."

"Of course, sir, you know that I would do anything for the Order," said Harry seriously, he was honestly surprised that they would want something from him, and even more surprised that they felt that they needed to ask.

"Well, as you are now the owner of our Headquarters, we would be very grateful if you allowed us to still make use of Grimmauld Place for our meetings."

"Yes... I mean, of course!" stammered Harry immediately.

"Thank you, Harry, but perhaps it is best that I tell you now that even though we are grateful that you are allowing us to use your home, we still cannot allow you join the Order until you graduate from Hogwarts."

"I know that, sir, I didn't expect you to let me join."

"Well, I'm certainly grateful, and I dare say the rest of the Order will be as well, I understand it is frustrating to be a man of your age, no longer a child and yet not old to involve yourself in all of the affairs of adults. Although this is a dilemma that everyone of age faces, I admit this must be especially hard for you, as you have been given a difficult burden of responsibility that overshadows that of what most wizards twice your age encounter, and yet none of the privileges that should accompany that responsibility."

"Sir, I understand why things are the way they are, the Order can use Sirius' house...I don't have to know what goes on."

Dumbledore smiled at Harry and bid him goodbye, and after saying his parting words to Remus he was gone. Harry walked up the stairs to unpack.

As he walked into his bedroom, Harry once again heard that nagging voice.

"Remember last Christmas"? It said "When Sirius was so happy? He should be here now you know. Alive. In his house."

The same type of thoughts had plagued him all year, but while he was used to the rising anger he generally felt toward these thoughts, instead he shook his head, shrugged, and finished putting his things away. When he was through, he flopped down on his bed and starred at the ceiling. He tried to sort out his feelings about the past few hours.

He knew he should feel honored that Sirius had left him his fortune. He knew he should feel proud that Dumbledore thought of him as a contributing adult. He should be sad that Sirius had not survived to share Christmas with him, and grateful that he, Harry, made it to his sixteenth Christmas at all. When he tried to process all this, though, he came up cold. He just starred, blank and empty, at the ceiling.

"Maybe it's this stupid cold," he said out loud as he pulled a blanket over himself.

"I'll just get some sleep and tomorrow I'll feel much better." He rolled over onto his side and thought about all the fun he and Ron would have over Christmas.

Harry spent the next few days with Remus signing paperwork and making trips to official looking buildings.

"It's a good thing," Harry thought to himself, "That Remus has my best interests at heart, because I have no idea what any of this stuff is."

The next few nights he spent in Grimmauld Place were passed listening to the bustle of the Order members entering and exiting the house. Every evening Harry would listen for any bit of news that would stray by his ear, eventually falling into a dreamless sleep filled by the steady sound of shuffling feet and hushed voices.

The fourth morning of break, Harry was awakened by a new voice, one which he recognized instantly as that of Arthur Weasley.

"Yes Remus, the whole break. All the paperwork's been done?"

Harry's ears perked up instantly as he sat up, listening to the two men speak.

"All done Arthur. Are you sure he can't come back even for one day at the end of break?" Remus sounded brokenhearted.

Harry listened all the more intently. Why would Remus want to drag Harry back here? Lupin knew he hated it.

"Well, that's entirely up to him, Remus. I was under the impression that Harry didn't really like it here. I can hardly blame him."

Harry peaked out of his room and down to the front door where he could just glimpse Mr. Weasley surveying the house and suppressing a shudder.

"I know you're right. I just..." Lupin looked down at his feet.

"Listen, Remus, why don't you spend Christmas at the Burrow with us? I'm sure Harry would love for you to join us."

Lupin's head bolted up, Harry could almost that imagine he saw his ears prick.

"T-that'd be great!" Remus cried shaking Mr. Weasley's hand. "Just great! I'll go get Harry."

Harry smiled and walked back to his bed to pull his trunk out.

Christmas with the Weasleys and Remus? This holiday was shaping up nicely.

"I knew I just needed some sleep."

"What was that?" Remus was standing in the doorway.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. I was just packing."

"Great, I'll give you a hand." He walked over to the dresser and started levitating Harry's clothes into his trunk.

"Listen, Harry, how would you feel about me spending Christmas with you at the Weasley's?"

Harry feigned surprised enthusiasm. "That'd be great! Harry gave Lupin a big hug before he ran down the stairs, his trunk floating gently behind him.

Mr. Weasley and Harry tied the trunk between their brooms and after a quick disillusionment charm, were on their way to the Burrow.

"Harry! It's so good to see you!" cried Mrs. Weasley as they arrived.

"Hello Mrs. Weasley, hey Ginny."

"Hi Harry." Ginny said as Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry into a warm hug.

Christmas was a mere two days away when Ron and Harry realized that Hermione had failed to remind them to buy their Christmas presents.

"Honestly, she knows that we would never remember, she really could have said something," Ron said to Harry in an exasperated voice.

"Well, in fairness, it's not as if we didn't know it was coming," said Harry.

"Well, normally I would say we could just floo over to Diagon Ally and get whatever we need, but well... with things... as they are... with you, I mean..."

"You mean the fact that every time I go anywhere, I have to have my entourage accompany me," said Harry resignedly.

Ginny happened to overhear the last comment as she entered the living room.

"Why don't you ask Fred and George to take you, they're in the Order now and all, and going with them would be loads of fun anyway."

"Ginny that's a brilliant idea," said Harry, smiling at her.

The next day Ron and Harry found themselves meandering around Diagon Ally with the twins. Fred and George had always had a knack for making even the most ordinary excursions quite interesting, and today was no exception.

Shop after shop the twins would find a way of making the salesperson wary of them, eventually leaving each store in peals of laughter.

After they had finished their shopping, the four companions found their way into Quality Quidditch Supplies.

"Wow, Harry! Look at this!" yelled Ron across the store.

"What is it?" Harry called back excitedly.

"Harry?" Harry turned at the sound of his name to see Lubode emerge from behind a case of struggling bludgers.

"Lubode!" cried Harry, "What are you doing here?"

"Harry? Oh, Lubode...hi," said Ron who had run over to see what had held his friend up.

"I was just doing some last minute Christmas shopping."

"Yeah," said Harry, "us too."

"Oh, well, maybe when you're done we could get a butterbeer over at the Three Broomsticks, huh?"

"Yeah sure," said Harry, "Oh, by the way, this is Fred and George Weasley, Ron's brothers."

"Of course. The legends of Hogwarts. Peeves still sings about you guys all the time."

The twins smiled, obviously pleased to be recognized as legends.

"Well, actually, we're done shopping," said Harry.

"Oh well, I still have a few more things to pick up. If you guys wanna hang out here for a bit, I think Ron had something to show you when I came in." Lubode backed toward the door as he spoke. "I'll only be a few minutes, then we can all walk over together."

"Alright see ya."

A few minutes later, Lubode walked into the store.

"Lets go then."

They walked to the Three Broomsticks, the three Weasleys and Harry sitting while Lubode brought butterbeers back from the bar.

"So, what did you have to pick up still?" said Ron.

"Well... when I saw you guys I realized I hadn't gotten your Christmas gifts yet. I was gonna pick them up just before we went back to Hogwarts but, well, since we're together and all..." Lubode reached down and pulled four bags of Honeydukes candy from his satchel and handed one to each of the four boys at the table.

"Wow, thanks Lubode!" Harry said with a grateful smile.

"Yeah, real nice Lubode," said George.

"Listen, next time your around, come to our store, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Your next gag is on the house," added Fred.

Ron had already opened his bag and pulled out a chocolate frog.

"Yeah, thanks mate!"

They sipped their butterbeers and talked about classes and Quidditch and when their flagons were empty the twins stood.

"We should be getting back. You know, we promised we would bring Harry back before it got dark," said Fred.

"Yeah, lord only knows what could happen the moment we're here after the sun goes down," said Harry with a small sigh.

"What do you mean?" asked Lubode, sounding confused.

"Well, you know, I'm staying with the Weasleys, but since I'm basically number one on Voldemort's hit list, I'm not really supposed to go anywhere alone, or the way many feel, anywhere at all," Harry explained with a shrug.

"Wow, I didn't realize you had so many restrictions and stuff," said Lubode, almost apologetically.

"Well, it's not so bad, I guess I see their point. Better safe than sorry and all," said Harry, as though the fact that a mass murderer was targeting him was a normal right of passage for a teenager.

"Yeah, can't be too protective of the Boy-Who-Lived," said Fred dramatically.

Harry laughed and shook his head at the title. Lubode seemed deep in thought over something and it wasn't until Ron had to ask him twice to stand up so he could get out of the booth that he seemed to come back to the present.

"Well, I guess I'll see you guys when we get back to school," said Lubode brightly.

"Yeah, definitely, thanks again for the candy Lubode, that was really great of you," said Harry, who was always grateful for the gifts he received after living with Durlsey's for so long.