Chapter 52 – Unexpected Visitors

It had now been a few days since the group had got the Horcurx necklace from the Ministry. All had been quiet at number 12 Grimmauld place, although boredom was kicking in again. Hermione had taken to reading every book she had with her for any information on how to destroy the Horcrux but she wasn't having much luck. Fred and George had been spending time working on new product ideas for their shop. The boredom probably effected Ron and Harry the most. There were only so many games of Exploding Snap they could play. Harry would sometimes disappear to Sirius' old room and have a look through old letters and photos, some of which featured his Mum and Dad. It was times like this that Harry wished more than ever that his parents were still alive. He really did envy Ron, Fred and George and even Hermione.

The group had just finished lunch which Kretcher had cooked them when the front door opened. All five of them jumped to their feet at once, drawing out their wands. Harry led the way with the other four following them out to the hall way. There stood was Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

"What on earth are you both doing here?" Harry asked.
"We thought we'd come and visit you all," Lupin answered.
"Am I not allowed in my own house?" Sirius laughed.
"Should we check and make sure they are really them?" Hermione whispered to Fred.
"They wouldn't have gotten in here if they were imposters," Harry answered.
"I think you should check anyway," Lupin stated.
"When you were teaching me the Patronus charm, what memory did I tell you I was using?" Harry asked, keeping his wand at arm's length.
"The first time you rode a broom and I told you it wasn't anywhere near good enough," Lupin answered.
"I could murder a cup of tea." Sirius stated. "How's that elf treating you all anyway?"
"Really well actually Sirius. He's been cooking and cleaning for us all," Fred answered.
"Good, good," Sirius replied.

They all moved back into the kitchen were Harry kindly asked Kretcher to make Lupin and Sirius cups of tea. Kretcher did as he was asked.

"So what all has been happening here?" Lupin asked, removing his black cloak.
"Nothing much to be honest," Harry quickly replied.
"Did you find that necklace you were looking for?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah we found it," Ron replied.
"What were you looking for it for anyway?" Sirius asked.
"Well it was your brothers, wasn't it?" Harry answered. "It was stolen from here by Mundungus Fletcher but we managed to get it back."
"Oh good. Where was it?" Sirius asked.

Hermione shot Harry a look as if to tell him not to say anything.

"So have you too got any news for us all? How is everyone?" Fred asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Everyone is doing ok considering. Today has been the first time I've left Andromeda's house since the wedding," Lupin answered.
"Do you know how Mum and Dad and everyone is?" Ron asked.
"They are all doing well. They are being watched and followed everywhere they go. Molly hardly ever leaves the house now. Bill and Fleur are both doing well and still working hard. Charlie is living with them at the moment," Sirius answered.
"Of course your mother is missing you all," Lupin added.
"But she's alright though?" George asked.
"Yes she's fine but she's worried about you all," Lupin replied.
"Has she heard from Ginny?" Fred asked.
"Not that we are aware of. I assume it'll be hard for Ginny to write to Molly now with all these new rules at the school," Lupin answered.
"Have you heard from any of the Order?" Harry then asked.
"Not really. Kingsley has had to take a massive step back as he's being watched too. He can't take any chances which having such a high up job in the Ministry. We haven't seen Mundungus since he scampered that night we left Privet drive," Lupin answered. "Everyone else is keeping a very low profile at the moment."

"Why don't you tell them the good news Remus? The news you came here to tell them," Sirius pushed.
"What news?" Harry questioned.
"Tonks and I are having a baby," Lupin announced.
"Oh my goodness! That is amazing news, congratulations," Hermione chirped.
"That's great news mate, congratulations," Fred added.

George, Harry and Ron all offered their congratulations and shook Lupin's hand.

"You don't seem overly happy," Hermione spotted.
"I'm not really Hermione. I've already got Tonks in so much trouble already what with marrying her and now I've got her pregnant," Lupin answered, sadly.
"Why? Aren't you both really happy together?" Hermione asked.
"Well yes, I guess we are. I do love Tonks a lot and she does make me extremely happy but you've got to remember I'm a werewolf. Marrying a werewolf is frowned upon in our world," Lupin answered.
"Can't be any worse than marrying a Muggle-born at the minute," Ron muttered but Lupin didn't hear him.
"Then I go and get Tonk's pregnant which is even worse. There's a chance our baby will have my condition. It could grow up to be like me so I've tarnished the poor child for life, before it's even born," Lupin spoke, pain evident in his voice.
"But there's a chance it won't have your werewolf gene, Lupin. I read about it all the time Snape set us the essay," Hermione spoke.
"We obviously won't know until the child is born and it could be years before we know," Lupin said.
"How does Tonks feel about this?" Hermione asked.
"She's over the moon about it despite the fact it's not the best time to be getting pregnant," Lupin replied.
"You know what Tonks is like though. She's a very positive person. She wants the baby and that's all that matters," Sirius said.
"She'll be an amazing Mum," Hermione chirped.
"Oh she will be a brilliant Mother. I don't doubt that at all Hermione but like I said, maybe now is not the best time what with you-know-who going on the rampage," Lupin replied. "She's had to stop her work as an Auror for fear of getting seriously hurt or losing the baby."
"Well she hasn't completely stopped. She's doing undercover work for the Order," Sirius said. "All while making sure her Father isn't caught by the Ministry as he's a Muggle-born."

"Anyway, enough about us. How are you all getting on with this mission Dumbledore has set you?" Lupin asked.
"Not as well as we'd like too but we'll get there eventually," Harry answered, not giving anything away.
"Lupin, did Dumbledore say anything to you about the mission he gave us before he died?" Hermione wondered.
"Not really Hermione. All he said to us was that he was sending Harry and his friends off on a very important mission and that they would probably need to use this house as a safe house and asked if Sirius could live with Tonks' parents," Lupin answered.
"Are you going to fill us in on what his mission was or are we not allowed?" Sirius wondered.
"We would tell you Sirius but we can't in case any of you get caught and tortured about our whereabouts or what we're up too," Harry answered.
"The necklace has something to do with it, doesn't it?" Sirius then asked.
"Yes it is but that's all we can say for now," Harry replied.
"We understand mate. I just wish we could help you in some way. I feel utterly useless being cooked up in Andromeda's day in day out with nothing to do," Sirius said, sadly.
"Hold on a second, please tell me you didn't break into the Ministry to get a necklace?" Lupin gasped, making Hermione jump.
"What?" Harry asked.
"The Ministry was broken into the other day and a necklace belonging to Umbridge was stolen. It was in the Daily Prophet," Lupin explained.

There was no point in any of them denying it, especially as Sirius had spotted the necklace hanging around Hermione's neck.

"You did, didn't you?" Lupin asked.
"Yes we did. Mundungus sold the necklace to Umbridge and we had to get it back," Harry answered.
"How on earth did you get into the Ministry without getting caught?" Lupin asked, sounding horrified.
"We used Polyjuice potion and changed into five Ministry workers," Harry admitted.
"Merlin's beard Harry! Talk about taking risks. So many things could have gone wrong and you could have been caught or killed," Lupin snapped.
"We know but we had to get that necklace," Harry stated.
"Maybe we should just tell them Harry," Hermione said.
"Yeah they'll be fine knowing," Fred spoke.
"We might be able to help you in some way," Lupin answered.

Harry took a deep breath.

"Dumbledore has set us the task of hunting down Horcuxes," Harry spoke.
"Horcuxes?" Sirius questioned, looking confused.
"Why on earth would Dumbledore have you hunting down those? They are acts of very, very dark magic Harry," Lupin said.
"Dumbledore knows that you-know-who has concealed parts of his soul into items, making them into Horcuxes," Harry explained.
"Dumbledore thinks You-Know-Who has made them?" Lupin asked.
"No he definitely did make them. The diary Ginny was possessed by in her first year at Hogwarts had part of his soul in it which possessed her. The necklace is also one. Dumbledore had already found and destroyed a ring which belonged to Tom Riddle's father," Harry explained.
"So Dumbledore wants you to find these and destroy them?" Sirius asked.
"Yes that is what he wants us to do. He thinks there might be about seven of them. We've already got three so we have three left to find," Hermione replied.
"Do you have any idea what they might be?" Lupin asked.
"Nope we have no idea. They could be anything and they could be anywhere," Ron answered.
"That's really helpful," Sirius said, sarcastically.
"I think Dumbledore thought he'd have longer to help us," Hermione said.
"We do think the items might have meant something to Tom Riddle, like heirlooms," Harry spoke.
"That would make sense. I doubt he'd use any old items," Lupin answered.

"When I went to Dumbledore last year, he showed me some memories which featured some items, that Tom Riddle had taken a liking too. There was the ring and the necklace but two other items," Harry spoke.
"What were they?" Sirius wondered.
"One was some sort of a cup and a tiara," Harry answered.
"A tiara? What on earth would You-Know-Who want with a tiara?" Sirius scoffed, amused.
"I think it's the Ravenclaw Diadem," Hermione piped up.
"That was lost years and years ago," Lupin said.
"I know, but what if You-Know-Who found it then lost it?" Hermione wondered.
"Do you know of any cup that was of any importance?" George asked the two men.
"There's nothing that I can think of at the minute," Sirius replied.
"Wait!" Lupin spoke. "The necklace belonged to Slytherin didn't it?"
"Yes it did," Hermione answered.
"Then you think the Ravenclaw diadem might possibly be one?" Lupin asked.
"Yes. We think it might," Hermione answered.
"Then the other two items might possibly belong to the other Hogwarts house founders," Lupin said.
"It's not the Sword of Gryffindor though," Harry said.
"No it definitely won't be it as it has been hanging in Dumbledore's office for years," Lupin replied.
"So that leaves Hufflepuff," Sirius said.
"I'll ask Tonks if she knows of anything famous items to do with Hufflepuff," Lupin said. "Don't worry I won't tell her anything."
"Look we'll try our best to help you all. I'll try and find out as much information as I can but I'm not promising anything," Lupin stated. "Until then, just don't be getting up to anything you shouldn't be and be careful."
"Yes please try and stay out of trouble. There are death eaters watching the street," Sirius added.
"Are you going already?" Harry asked.
"Yes we best be off or Andromeda will be panicking," Lupin replied.
"You'll both come and visit again?" Harry asked.
"We will try our very best," Sirius replied with a smile.

The two men said their 'goodbyes' to the group then disapparated carefully from the house.

"Oh it was so good to see them both again," Hermione spoke happily. "Just a shame they couldn't really help us much."
"Lupin should be able to help us. He was our defence against the dark arts professor after all," Fred answered.
"Here's hoping," George said.