Chapter 43: Organizing the Order

Moony use to live in Yorkshire, but Mundugus Fletcher had informed Sirius that this was no longer the case. Now Moony lived farther north in a small village with dilapidated houses. Moony's was one of the most well kept, but it still had a porch that was falling into disrepair and a roof that needed some work. The garden was neat and tidy, though and all the grass stood low to the ground with plots of flowers sprinkled about. Despite it's outward appearance, inside it was warm and roomy.

"Expanded it magically," Moony explained when Sirius arrived. "Mundungus said you were heading my way, so I tidied up a bit."

"This is a new place for you," Sirius asked.

Moony shrugged, "It's the best I can afford."

"I thought you said Calamity sent you money."

"Of course she denies it," Moony said handing him a cup of tea. "But I don't spend it. It was bad enough when you and Prongs did it. I can't owe Calamity as well."

"Moony, you're being ridiculous. You don't owe her or us anything. Just use the money."

"I use it when I get desperate," Moony conceded.

"Come on Moony," Sirius began, but Moony's expression said he was done with the conversation, so Sirius closed his mouth.

"Did you find everyone?"

"Indeed I did," Sirius said with a smile. "The nose knows."

"And I'm the last on the list?"

"Well, you and Calamity. Have you heard anything from her?"

Moony took a sip from his cup and considered Sirius for a moment. "She's joined," he said finally.

"How do you know," Sirius asked. "I haven't heard from her in three weeks!"

"You can't exactly get letters as a dog, can you?" Moony replied with a smirk. "Dumbledore asked her to help with keeping an eye on Harry. He hasn't met her so she can go unnoticed. Oh! That reminds me..." Moony shuffled about his cupboards for a moment before bringing out a wand. "She wanted me to get this to you."

Sirius took the wand and inspected it, "she found it?"

"Yes, she said you'd better have one if you plan on doing this all over again. She also told me to tell you not to do anything stupid."

Sirius made a sound as if he were offended. He gave the wand a flick and the cupboard door flew off the hinge, hitting the wall before landing on the floor.

"I told her there was no use warning you because you can't help your own stupidity," he said with a smirk.

"Whoops," Sirius said sheepishly. "I'll fix it."

They sat in silence as Sirius practiced moving the wand. It had been so long since he had had one. This one felt alright, certainly not as good as his own wand, but good enough to work with. Sirius tried to remember all his hexes, they were coming back slowly. He caught Moony's eye and grinned.

"What was that one spell that Prongs loved to use?"

"Anaticula."

"Remember when he used it on Snape in first year before the Transfiguration exam. There Snape was trying to transfigure his match into a needle and every time he said a spell ducks came out of his wand!" Sirius guffawed at the memory.

"I member Professor Mcgonagall was furious. We got detention for a whole week."

"You and Peter didn't even do anything, you just got in trouble for laughing so hard."

"It was a bit immature," said Moony. Sirius looked darkly at Moony.

"He shouldn't have been boasting about himself and taunting Peter then, calling him a squib. Of course, if I'd known then what I know now..."

Sirius trailed off into silence as they both considered their friend who was somewhere assisting Lord Voldemort, as he had been for years before Voldemort's fall.

Moony interrupted his thoughts.

"You know what we're getting into, don't you," Moony said seriously.

"The Order," Sirius replied nonchalantly.

"Dumbledore thinks Voldemort is going to come back more powerful than before. There have been a lot of people waiting for him and the ministry never really worked on building bridges with their old enemies."

"Like the giants," offered Sirius remembering what Dumbledore had told Fudge in the Hospital wing.

"Like the giants," Moony agreed.

"He wanted Hagrid to meet him in his office, reckon that's what he wanted?"

"I imagine son, Hagrid is half giant."

"I read that," Sirius said.

An owl appeared at the window and Moony let it in. It dropped a gray letter then flew out without waiting for a treat or thank you.

"It's a letter from the ministry," Moony said. Moony opened it and scanned over it, a tired look returning to his face, a weary smile playing on his mouth. After a few moments he handed the letter to Sirius.

To Mr. Remus J. Lupin,

In accordance to the Werewolf Code of Conduct and Article 5 of Protection for and against Lycanthropy, it is our duty to inform you that you have been mentioned and listed as a known werewolf and will therefore be checked up on at any given time by representatives of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures Beat division. Per the Code of Conduct, all houses must be secure from possible break outs when in beast form. Visits may occur without warning beginning forty-eight hours after the arrival of this letter.

Regards,

Dolores Umbridge
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic

"It's rubbish," Sirius snapped, tearing the letter up and tossing the scraps into the air dramatically.

"Fudge is unnerved," Moony said as Sirius finished, an amused smile on his face. "He's never used that code before on me, but I suppose he wants to keep a close eye on any half-breeds he thinks are close with Dumbledore."

"Moony, you aren't a half-breed," snapped Sirius. "You shouldn't even be in the beasts division. What are these idiots playing at?"

"Try not to think about it," Moony said with a shrug. "Though you'll have to be hidden when they come."

"You think it'll be soon?"

"I imagine they'll arrive right as hour forty eight and one minute hits. They're hoping to catch me off guard. Unless they want to wait until after the full moon."

The door opened suddenly and Sirius, in pure instinct, leaped up from his chair, wand pointed at the figure in the door. It took him a moment to recognize that it was Albus Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes and long white beard that he was pointing his wand at. Before Sirius could apologize profusely, Dumbledore motioned for a woman to follow him in. He closed the door behind her as she pulled her hood back to reveal Calamity, looking about at the house with concern. She spotted the scraps of paper on the floor.

"You got a letter too," she asked. She grinned at Sirius. "Honestly, you couldn't save it for us to read?"

Sirius let out a bark like laugh and hugged her, lifting her from the ground and kissing her cheek. When she was back on the floor she slumped in a chair and rolled her eyes. "You are honestly too much, do you know that? I'm exhausted and we've just reunited."

"He's a puppy," Moony agreed. "Tea?"

"I would greatly appreciate it," Dumbledore said taking a seat. He turned to Sirius. "You were successful?"

"I was. They are all ready to hear what's next."

"What is next," asked Calamity.

"Time is of the essence. There are already suspicious reports."

"There are," asked Sirius.

"Nothing to the untrained eye," Calamity said. She sighed "nothing in the muggle news."

"Nothing in the Daily Prophet," Moony added.

"I don't expect there will be for some time," Dumbledore said. His tone was calm, but his eyes flashed menacingly. "The minister will want to keep any news quiet. He is determined not to start an uproar."

"Harry's a gem," Calamity said to Sirius. Sirius perked up at his godson's name.

"You met him?"

"No, Petunia and Vernon, they didn't recognize me. I was over for tea, but he was just up in his room. He's been devouring every news story. He seems a bit of a wreck when i saw him rush out the house. Dumbledore, have you told him anything?"

Dumbledore waved the question away and said, "We must find a headquarter to meet- some place secure and roomy enough for members to stay if necessary. I had hoped I would have an idea by now, but I have not come up with anything."

Calamity looked ready to push her question, forward, but Moony spoke first.

"I would offer my abode, but I've just found out I'll be visited by the Ministry. So I can't exactly disappear from the map."

"Understandable," Dumbledore said with a smile. "It is best if we find some place with protections already in place. Perhaps some place that holds the history opposite of the future we hope."

"There is always the ancestral house of the most noble and ancient house of Black," Sirius said in a joking tone.

Dumbledore, Moony, and Calamity didn't laugh. They were looking at him very seriously.

"Your childhood home," Moony clarified.

"My father put every security measure on it. It's unplottable so muggles can't come and find it."
"Where," asked Calamity curiously.
"Northwestern London," Sirius said. "Probably a twenty minute walk from Kings Cross Station- number twelve, Grimmauld Place."
"No one would expect Albus Dumbledore to put the Order there," Calamity agreed.

Moony looked at Sirius thoughtfully. "It was passed to you, despite your being disowned?"
"Yes," Dumbledore answered. "Yes, as the heir, Sirius would receive. His being disowned doesn't change the fact that he is the next male with the name of 'Black.' Such ancient magic law cannot be prevented by disinheritance or any other legal means, unless the heir is dead and wills it to another. The noble and most ancient house of Black might work. Without your permission no one could live there."
"It's the ancestral home, but certainly not the most cheery place. I imagine at this point it needs some tidying up. I don't even think anyone remembers it," Sirius said.

"Will you show us," asked Dumbledore.
"You mean apparate," Sirius asked.

Dumbledore nodded. He held out his arm for Sirius to take. Sirius glanced at Calamity and Moony, then he took Dumbledore's arm. Sirius felt Dumbledore's arm twist away from him and re-doubled his grip: the next thing he knew everything went black; he was pressed very hard from all directions. Sirius was having a hard time breathing, as if there were iron bands tightening around his chest; his eyeballs were being forced back into his head; his ear-drums were being pushed deeper into his skull. He'd forgotten how uncomfortable it was to apparate while attached to someone. Still, when they landed on the muggle street Sirius was just happy not the be sliched in any way.

They were standing on Grimmauld Place, a muggle neighborhood street with townhouses 11 and 13 before them. Sirius moved forward quickly, looking about as a fugitive might. Once he was right at the crack between the two muggle townhouses, the buildings began to move. As if sensing his presence, 12 Grimmauld place began to appear, pushing the muggle townhouses out of the way until it fit into it's rightful place. Sirius remembered that at some point number 12 Grimmauld Place had been handsome, like the townhouses on either side, but now it was dirty, old, and forgotten.

Just what it deserved, Sirius thought vindictively. He was starting to regret his offer as Dumbledore moved to the door and inspected the knob. He looked back at Sirius expectantly. Sirius turned the knob and pushed the door open slowly.

It smelled like moth balls and mildew. The front door opened into a long hallway. As they entered, Dumbledore muttered a spell and the large chandelier and gas lamps in the hallways jumped to life. At the end of the hallway were the stairs to the upper floors. He could see the row of shrunken house-elf heads mounted on the wall on plaques from his position by the door as he eased it closed. Sirius frowned looking around. Merlin, it was terrible. Even in the silence it reeked with the stench of his childhood. Dumbledore, however, was looking around as if he had stumbled upon the greatest discovery since the invention of the wand.

"Let's look around," he said.

Sirius felt a lurch in his stomach. Now that he was in the hallway and the door was closed behind him, Sirius wanted nothing more than to rush from the house and never return as he had vowed all those years ago. But, it was a good place for their headquarters and he knew that he couldn't say no. So he led Dumbledore quietly to one side of the hallway were the large dining room was. In the far corner stood the same dresser with the Black family crest and china, covered with a bit of dust. Sirius looked more closely. There were spiders hurrying about the china.

Dumbledore followed silently, so Sirius led him back to the hallway and up the staircase. Sirius led him through the first landing, pointing out a drawing room, a bedroom and a bathroom. At the drawing room they paused and Dumbledore eased the door open slightly.

It was like Sirius was back in school. He was thirteen again, pushing open the drawing room door slowly so that his father would not hear and shoo him away. He only wanted to show him what his friend James Potter had sent him- a new muggle toy called a frisbee. It didn't do much, but you were suppose to toss it back and forth and, from the picture of muggles pasted on the frisbee, Sirius had to assume it was fun. The muggle father and son were smiling and having a good time. He had found his father standing with his back to the long windows, staring at the large Black family tree tapestry as if deep in thought. He had instructed Sirius to sit before Sirius could say anything.

"Do you know what family pride is, Sirius," his father had asked. Sirius had felt this heart sink. He was in for a lecture, even though he hadn't done anything to deserve it.
"Yes, father," Sirius replied.
"What is it?"
"It is knowing our place in the world and making sure to live up to the most honorable name of the Black family."
"Indeed," his father had said nodding to himself. "Never forget that, Sirius. You might have your moments where you are headstrong and independent, but you are the heir to the Black name and there is an enormous amount of responsibility that comes with that. When you were sorted into Gryffindor your mother couldn't show her face for a month. But, you must never forget our place, our pride- your place. This phase will pass, but your name, your place, will be here for generations to come."
"Yes, Father," Sirius said. He spotted a new burn mark on the tapestry. There was Cousin Bellatrix right next to Cousin Narcissa, but Cousin Andromeda was nothing but a scorch mark. Whatever had burned her off the tapestry was the same reason he was getting this lecture. Sirius realized his father was looking at him.
"What happened to Andromeda," he demanded pointing to the tapestry, but his father was staring at the frisbee.
"What is that," he asked sternly, his eyes darkening menacingly.
"It's something my friend sent me," Sirius said holding it up. "A frisbee. I wanted to see if you wanted to play catch."
"Catch," repeated his father, still staring at the frisbee and it's picture of the frozen father and son mid game of catch. "Is this a muggle toy?"
The tone was icy cold, but neither a whisper, nor a yell. Still, Sirius shrank back as if he had been struck.
"I- I don't know, Father," he said slowly. His father's eyes darkened even more and he approached his son slowly.

"You let that Mudblood-loving blood-traitor Potter send you this filth," hissed his father.

"He's not a blood traitor," snapped Sirius feeling his usual rage fill his chest, but he wasn't able to finish.

"Sirius?"

Sirius looked at Dumbledore who was watching him with patient, knowing blue eyes. Sirius could still feel the pain on his jaw as if he had been hit for real. He shook his head and grinned at Dumbledore.

"Bit more to see," he said cheerfully. With a leap and bound like a dog playing fetch he rushed up the next set of steps to the second floor to show Dumbledore another bedroom, this one featuring a portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. Then to the third floor with more bedrooms and bathrooms, including a master bedroom. Finally, on the topmost landing were the last two bedrooms: one with a door with Gryffindor colors and banners, the other decorated in Slytherin green. Sirius touched his own door knob and pushed it open to reveal his bedroom as it had been when he left it all those years ago: pictures of bikini-clad Muggle women and muggle motorbikes above the bed. He closed the door and glanced back to the Slytherin one. Inside he knew there was the Black family crest over the bed and newspaper clippings about Lord Voldemort on the walls.

"Well," Sirius said with a smile. "That's the tour! Think it will work?"

"It will do quite nicely," Dumbledore said. "Thank you."

They moved down the stairs again in silence, some wood creaking under decay. He would be happy to leave for a bit and get back to Moony's. They reached the entrance hall once more and Sirius froze, staring at a small figure with a bulbous, snout-like nose, bloodshot eyes, many folds of skin, and white hair growing out of his bat-like ears.

"Kreacher," gasped Sirius. "You're still alive?"

"Kreacher is as alive as Master Sirius is a blood-traitor and free. Sirius should not be here in my mistresses house. My mistress would not like this, not one bit."

"Your mistress is dead," Sirius snapped, "And the world rejoiced at that."

"My mistress, my mistress," Kreacher called pulling on his ears as if distressed by the news. "My mistress detested Master Sirius! He is disowned, she tells Kreacher! He is a blood-traitor! Kreacher will not stand for him dirtying his mistress' house!"

"I hate to tell you this Kreacher, but the house doesn't need my help to get any more-" Sirius was cut off as screaming filled the room and he replaced his last few words with a string of curse words instead.

As if summoned the moth eaten velvet curtains behind Kreacher flew open to reveal a horrifyingly realistic life-size portrait of Walburga Black in a black cap screaming and screaming as though she was being tortured.

"Filth! Stain of dishonor! Blood traitor! Taint of shame on the house of my fathers!"

She was much older than Sirius remembered with yellowing skin on her face that stretched taut. She was drooling while her eyes rolled about her head as she screamed. It escalated rapidly and soon the hallway was alive with yelling as other portraits woke and began to join in. Sirius screwed up his eyes at the noise and clapped his hands over his ears. He rushed forward, pushing Kreacher out of the way and to the floor. He tugged the curtains shut over his mother, but they would not close and she screeched louder than ever, brandishing clawed hands as though trying to tear at his face, which he was sure she would do if she weren't stuck in canvas. Sirius could not think of a more horrifying and unpleasant affair in his whole life- and that included his time in Azkaban. Finally, with some effort, he and Dumbledore managed to close the curtains.

Kreacher was muttering angrily from his spot on the floor. "Filthy blood traitor! Mudblood lover and disgrace..."

"Go back to the kitchen and stay there, Kreacher," snapped Sirius. "And shut up!"

Kreacher's mouth shut suddenly and he stood, giving Sirius one last angry look before leaving the room for the kitchen. Sirius glanced at Dumbledore, who was looking at the chandelier above them with the utmost interest.

"Let's go," grumbled Sirius.

When they arrived back at Moony's they found Calamity in the middle of making a Wolfsbane potion, much to Moony's protests. Sirius slumped down in the chair next to Moony, who did a double take at his expression, before pulling out a piece of chocolate from a pocket and handing it over to him. Sirius gave him a nod of thanks as he took a bite.

"She's ignoring my pleas to stop worrying like a mother hen," Moony explained motioning back to Calamity.

"He's been using chains instead of Wolfsbane," snapped Calamity.

"My potion making skills are not what they use to be," Moony said with a shrug.

"And you refuse to use any money on potion ingredients," added Calamity.

"I don't have any money," Moony replied.

"You can always ask, you git. Course my batch won't be as good as Nymphadora would make it. She's the genius."

"The pink haired auror, right?"

"Sirius' cousin's kid. She was a delight, wasn't she?"

"She was very interesting," agreed Remus.

Calamity glanced over her shoulder and paused when she caught Sirius' expression. "I take it the trip wasn't so good."

"It was fine," Sirius said. He looked at Dumbledore who was silently contemplating. "Do you think it will work?"

"It will be perfect, with some extra charms and protections," Dumbledore said. "I will need to return with you as soon as you are able to make the proper arrangements. Tomorrow morning will do."

He picked up Calamity's new wand from the table and inspected it. "This is a new wand," He observed. "An American one?"

"Yes," Calamity said. "I couldn't refuse."

"It's quite well made. I ventured to America in my younger years for an excursion or two and found it quite delightful. This wand behaves for you?"

"Sure, why wouldn't it?"

"I see," Dumbledore said in a tone that made Sirius feel like he was seeing more than he was letting on. He did not elaborate. Instead he stood beaming at them. "I will send word as I always have when the first meeting is ready to be arranged. And Sirius," said Dumbledore. "We'll arrange the headquarters tomorrow- how is eight for you?"

"I've got a pretty packed schedule," Sirius said with a straight face, despite Moony nudging him. Calamity rolled her eyes.

"Try to fit me in, if you will,"Dumbledore smiled, "welcome back to the Order of the Phoenix."

A/N: DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!