The next few days passed in a blur. Kreacher had disappeared; neither Remus or Sirius ran across him in their travels from floor to floor. This worried Sirius, as he wanted to ensure that Kreacher would remain under control and within the confines of Grimmauld Place sooner rather than later; Remus assured him that the elf most likely knew nothing of the outside world and that they would talk to Albus the next time he came to the house. They continued cleaning; Fred and George's room, completed the day after Molly and Arthur's, turned into a rather large and bright room that Sirius could only imagine would become more cheerful once Fred and George moved in after hearing the stories Remus had told him about the twins as they worked to complete it. He was looking forward to meeting all of the Weasleys, but especially Fred and George.

They went ahead with a room for the two girls next, assuming that if Harry did come to stay it wouldn't be until later in the summer so if necessary, Ron could make do with a cot on the floor in Fred and George's room. They found a curio cabinet in that room that was filled with horrible looking items; Remus simply levitated it to the drawing room and said they would deal with it when there was more time. Remus was hopeful that Molly wouldn't mind if the children helped with the cleaning; Sirius was worried that the house might maim or injure one of them. So far they had left the most challenging rooms untouched. Hermione and Ginny's room was darker than the others, as it only had one very small window, but it would have to do.

Albus stopped by the day they finished the girls room. Startled by the doorbell, Sirius ran downstairs. The peephole Albus had added was quite helpful; he was able to swing the door open with much more confidence knowing who was on the other side. Albus swept past him, stared around the entryway, and said "ah well not much has changed now has it my boy?" "We've been working quite hard Headmaster" Remus called from the top of the stairs, before Sirius could snap back an answer. "But we have tried to focus on the areas that actually count; no one shall be sleeping or dressing in the entryway." Albus smiled. "Forgive me Remus; I quite forgot what a large house this is and had hoped the changes would be easy to see all at once." Drawing a tiny bag out of his pocket, the Headmaster began removing items from it and, with a tap of his wand, returning them to normal size. "The mattresses would be better off in the rooms, not down here" said Sirius brusquely, and brushed past Albus to start up the stairs. Albus chuckled. "Of course they would."

The two men toured the Headmaster around the house; as they looked into each room he added the new items he had brought. Mattresses, linens, bedclothes and curtains made all of their hard work look even more impressive, Sirius thought. "And what about a room for Ronald, and later Harry?" asked Albus. "That's tomorrow's project Albus," said Remus. "If you leave things in the hall we'll move them in. It usually takes a few days to get a room done." Albus nodded. "We'll also need the kitchen in some sort of operational state; I'm sure Molly will be of assistance with that as well. Let's go down now and see what needs to be done, and we'll go over the timetable of who is coming when before I take my leave."

In the kitchen Albus tutted over the moldy table and filthy countertops. Sirius couldn't take it anymore. "We're up every day at six in the morning Albus, we eat a cold breakfast and work until suppertime most days without a break. It's filthy, it's noisome and we can't find the blasted house elf. There's only so much two people can do in a five story house!" Albus acted as though he hadn't even heard Sirius, but raised his eyebrows when Sirius mentioned Kreacher. "House elf?"

"He must have been living here the whole time Albus," said Remus, laying a hand on Sirius's shoulder as a way of warning him to shut up. Sirius remembers him, his name is Kreacher. Unless we find another, he's most likely the last of the elves that the Blacks enslaved." "Where is he now?" asked Albus. "We haven't seen him for some days. Sirius has been worried, he wants to find out if Kreacher is still bound by the Blacks or not." Remus looked to Sirius as he finished speaking and Sirius knew that Remus wanted him to take up the conversation with Albus, but he refused. "Well," said Albus, looking and talking only to Remus, "Sirius may not be familiar with the ancient magic that keeps a house elf bound to his or her family, as he left home at a young age and I'm sure never wanted to keep a slave himself. All he needs to do is call Kreacher's name; if the elf is still a servant of the Blacks, he will have to present himself in front of Sirius immediately, no matter where he is or what he is doing." Sirius hadn't known that; he was still too chuffed with the Headmaster to respond though, so he simply called out "Kreacher!"

With a crack the elf appeared in the kitchen. He looked a bit surprised and the muttering began again instantly. "Master Sirius is truly a Black, he was not lying, Kreacher is surprised, but he remembers what mistress said about Master Sirius oh yes, Kreacher does not like him…" Give him an order, please, Sirius." Said Albus. "Kreacher, stop muttering." It was the first thing that came to Sirius's mind. The elf stopped immediately and looked annoyed. "How can I help Master Sirius and his…friends?" he said in a normal tone of voice. Sirius looked to the Headmaster, who was scribbling on a piece of parchment he had withdrawn from his robes. Once finished he handed it to Sirius. "Go through this list with him; be thorough; and keep an eye on him. You should summon him a few times each day to make sure you are keeping track of him. For now have him wait while we finish our business here." Sirius crammed the list in his pocket and told Kreacher to go to the drawing room and start cleaning it. The elf disappeared and Albus sat at the table; Remus and Sirius sat across from him.

"First, a word of warning about Kreacher. You heard him; when you told him to stop muttering, he began to talk in a normal tone. He knows how to work around commands given by his authority. When you go through that list, leave him no way to get around the boundaries you are setting him. Do you understand?" For the first time that day he made direct eye contact with Sirius. His eyes, so often bright blue and sparkling, were almost grey and very serious. "This is a matter of not only your security but of all who may join or have contact with the Order. Our headquarters must remain safe." Sirius nodded and met Albus's eyes. "Yes Headmaster, I understand. I'll have Remus listen so he catches anything I might not think of." "Excellent!" Albus exclaimed, and his eyes were bright and catching once more. "Now then. You have made excellent progress on the quarters for the Weasleys, which is lovely because I've just come from the Burrow. Arthur and Molly have decided to reside here permanently at least for the summer, as will their school age children. Hermione Granger is welcome here if she needs a place to stay; I will be speaking with her parents shortly. For now though, expect Arthur, Molly and the children the day after tomorrow. In addition, the Weasley's three eldest sons are welcome to stay here if they should need to, as are Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape." Here Sirius moved to interject but Albus held up a hand. "Please save your commentary for the end, Sirius. This is all important." Remus kicked him under the table. "As we recruit more members – I have two people right now that I'm talking to – I will also be extending them the offer of coming to stay here at Grimmauld Place. Once the Weasleys are in place here we will begin to organize security for both the Ministry of Magic, and also for Harry. Myself and Minerva are popping in to Little Whinging twice a day, but we need more extensive surveillance if we are to actually stop an attack before it happens. Now as for Harry – it is June 17th, if possible he should remain with Petunia and Vernon until his birthday. As long as all goes well, he can come here for the month of August. Now, Sirius, please – your questions and comments are welcomed."

Remus cut in first, and Sirius realized he was most likely hoping to diffuse Sirius's anger a bit before Sirius got a chance to speak. "How many rooms would you like prepared for other various guests?" "I think," said Dumbledore, "that once the Weasleys are here you may as well just continue on as you have. Make your way through all the bedrooms and baths; this way as we recruit members, we will have space for them. Then you can move on to the drawing room, the attic, the hall… the entryway… he twinkled at them both. I do apologize for my rather rude assessment. The work you have managed to get done is quite satisfactory, my boys."

But Sirius wasn't done yet. "Harry doesn't get to have his birthday with people he actually likes, eh?" Albus considered for a moment. "How about we set a tentative date for fetching Harry of July 27th? That way if it does need to be changed we have a little room to move it, and he will still have a few days to settle in before the 31st." Sirius nodded, still mad. "And why does Snape get to stay here?" "Because he is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and will be doing the work that is included with that privilege," said Albus. "Just as your work – and Remus's – right now is cleaning this house – a monumental and difficult task in its own right – Severus's work requires that he be near people who are in the Order, and at an easy access point to Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic, and other," here Albus paused and searched for the word he wanted, "locations. And really, Sirius, we all know Severus. The chances of him ever accepting the invitation to stay here are quite low." Remus chuckled. Sirius did not. "Thank you for clarifying Headmaster," he said woodenly. "Is there anything else you require?" Albus thought a moment. "Ah! Yes, I quite forgot. Here." He pulled a package from his pocket and returned it to normal size. "I took the liberty of purchasing some clothes for you, Sirius. I know you've been living in rags far too long. I am happy to pay for them, although knowing you, Sirius, you won't want me to." Sirius nodded at that. "Quite. Thank you Headmaster; I'll reimburse you shortly. Give me the bill before you leave." Albus turned to Remus next. "Remus I will implore you once again to let me purchase you a few pairs of robes; the work you do for the Order will more than repay me." Remus shook his head immediately. "Thank you Headmaster, but I much rather prefer to support myself. I couldn't be content knowing I accepted charity for nothing." Sirius was annoyed with this more than anything he had heard so far that day. "Remus are you kidding, after all the work we did this past week! Take the clothes." But Remus refused and Albus stood up to take his leave. "Farewell my boys, see to Kreacher immediately. I shall send a Patronus the day before the Weasley's arrive. You have done fine work here! Keep your spirits up." And he swept out of the kitchen.

Sirius was immediately howling. "After everything we've done in the past week, he has the nerve to remark on the entryway?! You had to transform in a basement full of god knows what kind of creatures, we can't cook anything because the kitchen is full of scum and mold, but we've got to get all those bedrooms ready for King and Queen Weasley!" Remus gave him a look. "Stop that before you say something you really regret, Sirius. You know the Weasleys probably have no idea that Albus asked us to do this before they arrived; Molly and Arthur are some of the best people out there. They would sooner fight Voldemort himself than have someone do work for them." Remus had gotten Sirius there; he couldn't deny that the Weasleys would be more than willing to do any and all of the work that Albus had assigned them. "Alright but SNIVELLUS? Snivellus! In my house! What do you have to say about that, eh Rem?" Remus became very serious. "Sirius, you really must set all that aside. Severus was a child then, he's a different person now. Do you want to be remembered only as you were when you were sixteen years old? Stop using that ridiculous nickname and try to give Severus a clean slate. That's what I did, and while I can't say we enjoy each other's company, we are certainly able to get along." That was Sirius's last straw. Out of words, he stood up so quickly that he tipped his chair over and left the kitchen in a huff. No more was said that day; he heard Remus working on Ron Weasley's room down below, but he stayed in his own room the rest of the day and took a horrible delight in imagining Remus slaving away doing Dumbledore's bidding. It was only as the anger began to fade and that savage blindness gave way to his normal vision of the world that he realized all he had done by punishing Remus was push the only friend he had away.