Chapter 2

The Order

Harry had gotten into a routine in this new home. His adopter wasn't seen much, not that he felt it was his place to ask about her whereabouts. He knew he should be just grateful for a home. Besides, she was a mother to be, so perhaps she was getting ready for that.

He and Sirius spent a lot of time together. Some days, Sirius went into his dog form and the two went on a walk. There were a few nights, where he was asked to go to bed a little early. He could swear he began to hear the voices of Lupin and Arthur. He knew they were up to something, but kept his distance. It seemed the person that brought him in did too.

One morning did stand out. It began with the Weasley family entering the home, the whole lot of them. And Hermione. She ran and hugged him.

"So you are safe!" She exclaimed. "I wasn't sure, you are still not answering your owls."

"I have been way to busy for that, but why are you all here?" He asked.

"We came here for safety." Ron commented, "And to make the Order business way easier."

"They've been coming here a lot lately. I wish they'd let me sit in on one of those meetings. They're mainly about me."

"I will hear none of that. You are a boy." Came a motherly voice. Molly came and hugged him. "Arthur said you were here. Are you okay? Is Sirius feeding you?"

"I'm good, really good." Harry smiled and laughed. "Better than ever during the summer actually. They've been taking good care of me here."

"Well, that's good. Sirius hasn't told any of us any of what happened here. But as long as you're in good condition."

"He is in fine conditions, I didn't plan on making his summer any more miserable than the Order would've had it. Apparently those that want to protect him most, had no trouble sending him to the worst monsters I have seen." Said Seres, walking in. Her pregnancy was way more visible these days. Harry had never been near a pregnant woman, but heck she was radiant and slightly protective of him these days.

"We just did as Dumble..."

"Yeah, yeah...Dumbledore said he had to be protected by the blood of his aunt. Granted a small vial around his neck does a good trick." Seres responded, as Sirius walked in.

"As, you've met Molly. Molly, this is my cousin Seres. You'll have to forgive her temper..."

"Don't you dare blame this on hormones Sirius, even you said you wanted to kidnap him from that place." Seres replied, as she glared at him. "And you will do well to remember these people are only here because you wouldn't stop asking."

"I know, I know."

"And you did tell them about the deal we made?"

"Well, not exactly."

"What deal?" Molly asked, as she looked at the two.

"Well, you see Molly, my cousin has some very heightened senses these days. The smell of meats make her rather ill. So by staying in this home, you'll have to at the minimum adhere to a Vegetarian diet." Sirius explained, with a small smile.

Ron's eye nearly bulged, as he looked at the group, "No meat? Harry, how can you survive in this?"

"Easy, if we want meat we go out. But she's a rather good cook and I hardly miss it."

"Thank you Harry, I appreciate the complement. Though, Kreacher does most of the cooking. He refuses to let me lift a finger these days." She pointed out. "I'm also sitting in on these meetings going forward. I need to make sure this home and my child stay equally safe. I also think we need to readdress Harry's involvement. I mean, they are after a prophecy about him."

Prophecy?" Harry looked at her, the first he knew of any of the whispers.

"Yeah, the one that sent my father to mark you as his equal. I don't know why he actually needs it. Maybe to ensure he knows the whole thing." Seres shrugged. "Silly if you ask me. He heard all that was truly important."

"You, you know the prophecy?" Harry stepped a tad closer.

She gave a nod, "Mostly, I don't truly have the talents the Seer that gave it had. I am merely a Leglemens..."

"A what?"

"It means she can read minds, rather dangerous things she can feed back to her father. If he is who it sounds like." Hermione answered.

"Yes, he is who you think." Seres began, before turning to Harry, "But I wouldn't worry about me giving away his thoughts. I don't tend to jump into the mind of teenage boys. Equally, he could find out all of the thoughts on his own."

Harry was more confused, but he shrugged off. The door opened again, he saw Lupin and a young female enter.

She randomly hugged him, before going off to the kitchen.

"Hello Harry." Lupin greeted. "That was Nymphadora..."

"We just call her Tonks." Sirius replied, as he followed her.

Seres gave Lupin a hug, and looked in Tonks' direction. "So how is she doing? Still worried she's cooking a werewolf in there?"

Lupin looked worried and frowned. "She is fine, and yes still very concerned."

"No need to be concerned, as I told you all research indicates the mother has to be the werewolf. Your child will be a normal child. Crazy as its mother." She teased.

Harry got a little excited, "You're going to be a father?"

"Yes, in a few months. Been a very crazy few weeks." Lupin replied, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks to Seres here, though, I get a bit of relief here and there." He added. "Her Wolfsbane is also a bit of a relief."

"A bit, you want me to sale it to the masses."

"Well, it actually tastes good and works more efficiently. Who would've guessed some small changes and honey." He marveled. "You should get some potion tips from her while you're here. All three of you."

Harry looked a bit shocked. "You brew potions?"

She nodded, "Yes, I've been brewing since I was a small girl. Always fascinated me. For me, it's an escape."

"So you'd teach me? And my friends?" He asked again.

"I guess, I've got nothing else to do. Besides, from what I hear you three are rubbish at them. Though that could be true, or Snape is an idiot." Seres thought a moment, "Or a bit of both."

Tonks came back in, smiling with an apple in her mouth. She put a hand on Seres' stomach. "Is it kicking and moving all the time, cousin?"

Seres shook her head, "No, a rather peaceful baby. If it weren't for the weight, and full moons I wouldn't know it was there."

Lupin gave her a worried look, "So it is a werewolf?"

She gave a sad nod, "Yes, it is a werewolf. Confirmed that a few nights ago, it transformed first. Newt is helping me with a bit of research. Nonetheless, it may mean it is quiet because it's weak."

Harry noted their exchange, and remembered a bit from their first meeting. "Didn't you say werewolf babies don't live long?"

"No, they don't. Transformations are hard on a body, and usually they never have the strength to live. Most die on their first transformation. Something I came to terms with, when I became pregnant." He could tell it saddened her, and he didn't know for sure what to do. He noticed the other two just kept a tad away, but Tonks took her hand. "We will be here if you do need anything. But there's still a few months left..."

"Yes, September. Can't get here soon enough. I have a lot to tend to and a short amount of time to get it all done."

She was interrupted by the door opening again, a few random people walked past. They were followed by Mcgonagall, Snape and then Dumbledore. Dumbledore stopped and smiled at Seres.

"Thank you for inviting us into your lovely home, and helping Harry." He commented. He put his hands on either side of her stomach, "Especially in this time, when you probably would prefer some quiet." He laughed. She laughed back.

"It's no trouble Albus. You did help me a bit, and you said he was an easy keeper. Which is true." She added. "I'm glad to see you in this group. I have some updates for you before you leave."

"Very good, I knew you'd come through. So how is this little bundle?"

"Quiet..."

"Well, you know what they say, quiet people are sometimes the most brilliant minded. I feel this child's parentage leads to that." His smile grew more.

"As long as it's healthy, having you as a Godfather will help. I am more than delighted that you agreed."

"Nobody has ever asked, and I do love babies. They are the future of the world."

Harry could tell these two got along wonderfully. "So you knew she was getting me from the train?"

"Yes, she asked me first. Explained the situation. Very brilliant witch. A shame she wouldn't teach at the school with us."

"I'm not a teacher. I don't mind tutoring the minds of those that are here, but Hogwarts didn't want me and I don't want it."

"I still wish the Governors wouldn't have judged you on your family's crimes." He stated, walking towards the kitchen. "I hear you're sitting in..."

"You know, I think I'm taking this small group of kids to my basement. I already know the conversations that will be had, and I don't need to be bored to death."

"I will come find you when we are done, so you can give me your updates and findings."

Molly walked over and closed the door.

Seres straightened the him of her skirt and turned to the group of students behind her.

"So potions help...I see we have pranksters, knowledge seekers and then a bit in the middle."

They all looked a bit irritated about the extra school work. Except for Hermione, it was an excuse to learn.

"Well potions can fall in many categories. They can be used to prank people, and to further the mind. I've been working on a draft that could be put into candies. It'd basically make a person make random animal noises. Silly really, but Zonkos had an interest..."

The twins suddenly brightened up, "Really?" George asked.

She gave a nod, "Yes, unless anybody else wants to have them?"

"How much? How much for the formula?"

"For you two, free. Think of it as an early investment in what I know will be a good joke shop. In the days that are ahead of us, we will need laughter." Was her reply, as she opened a door. "Come now, everything is just down the stairs."

They all followed her. Harry was amazed at all the cauldrons brewing, potion vials everywhere and the books. Well Hermione was into the books already. He could here her going on about the age and the context, some were apparently forbidden.

"This is brilliant, and yet I had no clue it was here." Harry mentioned.

"Nobody usually does. I like to keep this to myself. Half the things I make aren't exactly legal. Though, most is just experimental. You never know what you'll find, when you try something new." She smirked, as she began to prep her ingredients. Harry couldn't help but watch, the way she explained her steps was far better than Snape. Heck she had them helping her along the way. By the end, Ron was screaming like a Chimpanzee.

"This stuff is going to make us a fortune!" Fred nearly squealed, as Dumbledore descended the stairs.

"Ah you're done I take it?" Seres questioned, cleaning up a little of the left over ingredients.

"Yes, I'm to tell them that dinner is almost ready. They should go wash up."

The students left her and Dumbledore be. She watched them leave, a bit of a smile forming.

"That was rather fun, I've never shared this space with others." Once the door closed, she looked back to him. "You're very wise to question him. Well his attachment to my father."

"So he is what I think?"

"A horcrux, no doubt. I've spoken to him in Parsletounge a few times. He also has dreams about my father's locations. None of that is Leglemency. He has an actual connection to him."

"So he must die, in the end."

"Yes, and no. If the prophecy is to be true, and he is to win, he must live. If he were to have the Deathly Hallows, then he could be saved. My father would just have to kill him after he obtained those."

"We are still missing the stone, sadly."

"It's near the Gaunt Place. You shouldn't have trouble finding it. I just ask that you bring it here, instead of trying anything stupid. He hexed it, knowing you were interested in the Hallows. A world without the light switch becomes a dimmer place."

Dumbledore gave a proud nod, "Ah, you find me to be a light in the darkness. How flattering."

"One of a few. At the moment, my world needs more light."

"The child is a werewolf?"

"It is, and sadly I was looking forward to Motherhood. I don't believe in false hope though."

"I'm sorry to hear. Well there's always Harry."

"I may have adopted him, Albus, but Harry is no more than a few years younger than me. Mothering him doesn't fully work."

"Ah, well I tried." He began to leave. "If you do need me, I owe you a few favors. Don't hesitate to ask."

"I will remember that. Safe travels, and have a good school year."

"And you have a good year."