Disclaimer:  I own none of the characters in Harry Potter, or any of the locations, or anything else at all.  They all belong to J. K. Rowling

The Portrait

            The sun was just beginning to rise over the city and it seemed to be promising an exceptionally nice day.  Two loud cracks ripped the quiet over Grimmauld Place as Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody apparated back to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters.  Moody stumped along quickly towards Number Twelve, while Remus approached more slowly.  The battle with the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries had taken its toll on him and he was dog tired.  Every muscle in his body seemed to be crying out in protest against every move he made.

            Remus watched as a harried-looking Molly Weasley threw the door open right before Moody reached it.  He couldn't hear what was said, but from the flow of emotions over Molly's face, Remus knew that Moody was sparing no details in the events of the night.  Moody pushed past Molly into the house and she distractedly followed him, closing the door behind her.

            Remus continued his slow journey to the door of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.  He reached the door and he could hear Molly weeping softly on the other side, while the twins tried to comfort her and discover what had happened at the same time.  Remus turned and looked at the cheery sunrise; it seemed to be in very bad taste considering the events that had just occurred.  Then he quietly opened the door and entered the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. 

            Fred and George immediately looked up at him, silent inquiries flying from their eyes.  Remus just shook his head slowly and they turned back to their grieving mother.  He sidled quietly along the wall past the Weasley trio, until he bumped unexpectedly into the horrendous umbrella stand.  Then he lost his balance and fell to the ground amid a clatter of umbrellas.  The silence in the hall was rent by the sudden and immediate wailing of most of the portraits walls.

            Even and the three Weasleys took off up and down the hall, blasting the paintings with stunning spells, thick and ratty velvet curtains seemed to spring apart and Remus found himself staring at the portrait of the deceased Mrs. Black, and she stared at him.  Then Mrs. Black began to scream, "Half-breeds!  Filth!  How dare you denigrate the house of my ancestors!  Be gone from this place!  Freaks!"

            Something about Mrs. Black's howling caused Remus to snap.  He was on his feet in an instant, yelling back at the portrait outright, "Shut up, you hag!  Your son, and last heir to the house of Black, is dead!  Give us some peace you wretched woman!  Give us some bloody peace!"

            After his tirade Remus sank back to the ground, the gates of his emotion down, and began to sob hysterically.  Molly Weasley rushed to him and rocked him in her arms like a child, rubbing his back and crying softly along with him.  And for the first time in months, the portrait of Mrs. Black was uncovered and silent.

Fini