Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and characters related to it. Harry Potter and its characters are the intellectual property of the talented J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Scholastic, Raincoast and Bloomsbury books. Storyline and plot have been developed partially based on the plots, characters and storylines of the first 5 installments of Harry Potter, The Sorceror's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix.

Chapter 3

Harry was rather shocked, "Ginny?"

The red-headed girl looked at him and replied, "Well it's not like you haven't seen me before Harry, how've you been?" she seemed to be blushing very slightly at this, but it was not the usual Weasley blush, it was more like a little livid color on her freckled cheeks.

"Um, sorry Ginny, but I almost didn't recognize you, you've changed quite abit during the summer," replied Harry a little quicker then he normally would have, but he had every reason to be a shocked by Ginny's appearance. She seemed to have grown a few inches, and she was now only a little shorter then he was. Her hair which was once long was now stylishly cut short, her fringes covering her eyes slightly. She had also filled out quite abit, revealing a more curvaceous figure then Harry had remembered previously.

"Oh well, Hermione's been helping me with a new look, I'd say it worked rather well Hermione," she replied as Hermione was suddenly caught in a fit of giggles at Harry's slightly dumbfounded face.

"Well, she did a good job I'll say," went Harry who suddenly became very interested in his mashed potatoes. Hermione seemed to have sensed this slight discomfort and composed herself to start on another topic, "So Harry, you still haven't told us how you did for your O.W.Ls."

"She's right mate, spit it out, how badly did you do?" asked Ron playfully through a mouthful of meatballs. "Well……." He went, "I kinda did much better than I had expected. I got.." before he could finish they were interrupted by a loud CRACK and Mr.Weasley and Remus Lupin stood in the kitchen.

"Ah, we made it for dinner. I'm famished. I've put your stuff in your room Harry," said Mr.Weasley as he sat down next to Mrs.Weasley and started to attack the food.

"Sorry we took a little longer than planned to get back for dinner Molly, we had to drop by at Arabella Figg's to brief her on what has taken place," added Lupin before sitting down and joining the table for dinner.

Ron cleared his throat and turned to Harry, "So Harry, you were saying you got how many O.W.Ls?"

"I was about to say I got……….," and again this was all that Harry had managed to get out as there were another two loud *CRACKS* in the room that made them jump. Harry turned around to see two grinning red heads covered in head to toe in what seemed like the skin of a poor purple animal that Harry was quite sure would have been quite disappointed to have given its life to be used in such a remarkable fashion statement. The purple outfits the twins were wearing clashed rather badly with the color of their hair.

"Harry! It's great to see you old chap how've you been?" said Fred Weasley beaming at him.

"Well I'm fine now since I'm here with you guys again Fred, rather than at Privet Drive. I see business is going good for the both of you," he added, choosing not to comment on the fashion statement the twins were making.

"Well Harry, I thought we would tell you in person that Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes has become probably THE most popular shop in the whole of Diagon Alley. It seems that we've had more students come into the shop than Madam Malkin has to buy Hogwart's robes! It's all thanks to you Harry. All this would not have been possible without your part in the investment," said George Weasley also beaming down at Harry.

"I'm glad to er….have been of help, but er……," his eyes glanced to Mrs.Weasley, since she had not known about the galleons that Harry had given the twins until the day of the twins now infamous flight to freedom last year at school. He had not been told about what Mrs.Weasley thought about his part in the twin's opening of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.

"Oh, don't worry 'bout mum Harry," said George when he noticed Harry and bent down so that his voice was not heard by the entire table, "We bought mum some stuff that she fancied down at Diagon Alley to help out with the household, you know like a new self-spelling dishwasher, a few new robes and some other stuff. We also offered to buy Ron and Ginny's school stuff this year so she's kinda settled into the idea that we're doing well with the joke shop. She's also glad that there are no more of our inventions lying around the house," he added with a grin. Harry could see that Mrs.Weasley was smiling at him, although she did not say anything he felt that he knew now that Mrs.Weasley was in no way mad at him for what he did for the twins and he felt a sudden wave of relief washing over him. The last person in the world he would want to upset was Mrs.Weasley.

A sudden "Ahem," that sounded a lot like Professor Umbridge's sounded across the table and the former Hogwarts students, (as well as the current ones) jumped a little and turned around to see that it was Ginny clearing her throat.

"You were in the middle of telling us about your O.W.Ls Harry," she went on mischievously.

"Yeah Harry, don't try and worm yourself out of telling us how you did. It couldn't have been that bad," said Ron, yet again through a mouthful of potato.

"I got 11 O.W.Ls Ron," he replied with an almost casual voice.

Ron dropped his spoon bellowed in a near unbelieving tone, "I DON'T BLOODY BELIEVE IT! YOU BLOODY GIT! HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO THAT?!" as he slapped Harry on the shoulder, making Harry wince, but smiling nevertheless at his friend's feigned rage.

"Ron, watch your language," piped Mrs.Weasley as she smacked him over the head, "Those are very good results Harry, I'm very proud of you. Congratulations," she said beaming at Harry.

"I knew you had it in you Harry, congratulations you did really well," beamed Hermione.

"Yeah, congratulations Harry," said Ginny grinning at him.

"Well I have to say Harry, that the results you achieved were excellent, considering the circumstances. You actually beat James and Sirius by one O.W.L. Not to say they couldn't have done better, but Padfoot and Prongs only bothered with subjects, well in their words were interesting enough for them to pursue," said Lupin with a soft smile.

"Well I was quite shocked when I saw the grades myself. I didn't really expect to get through all those with what was going on the whole year, or with Umbridge breathing down my neck the whole year, I just wish……," he trailed off when he realized that everyone was looking at him, "Well, I just wish Sirius was here, you know, so I could know what he thought about my grades and all.." he continued with a slightly croaking voice.

There was a short silence around the table before Lupin spoke again, "Harry, I know for a fact that Padfoot, and Prongs, would have been very proud of you. As would Lily," said Lupin, looking straight into Harry's eyes.

"I don't know it's just, well, it feels like something's missing I guess," he went without lifting his head and he suddenly realized he shouldn't be talking about all this when he should be happy to be with his friends again. Somehow he felt like he had spoilt the mood at the table for his "reunion" and all of a sudden he somehow did not feel very hungry anymore so he stood up slowly, "I er….think I'm going to unpack my stuff now, thanks for dinner Mrs.Weasley," and he left the table as politely and quickly as he could before anyone could say anything.

Walking up stairs and through the old corridor of Grimmauld Place, Harry started to remember the time when Sirius talked about his family, telling him of how much he liked going over to his father's place during summer and how much he hated being at his old house again. Harry reached his room and sat down on his bed, opened his chest and took out the knife that Sirius had given him for Christmas during his 4th year at Hogwarts. He smiled when he thought of Sirius telling him to stay out of trouble during that time, when he himself had come into Hogwarts while he was still a wanted man by the Ministry of Magic. Harry closed his eyes and imagined his godfather's face when they talked about his father, and what he had saw in Snape's Pensieve, the smile on Sirius's face as they talked about the old times his father and Sirius used to have. He could feel the inside of his eyes starting to burn when there was a gentle knock on the door. "Harry?" came the voice as the door opened. He opened his eyes and quickly wiped them with his sleeve and looked up to see Ron, Hermione and Ginny coming into the room.


"Harry, we know you miss Sirius, and we know we can't possibly understand how you feel right now, but maybe you might want to just talk about how you feel, or just let out your feelings so you'll feel better," said Hermione, looking at him straight in the eye.

"She's right mate, no use keeping it all inside, we're here so you can take it out on us. We've had enough practice last year already," said Ron half-jokingly.

"Ron! This isn't a time to joke, I don't think Harry's in the mood to joke right now. Besides, Harry, we'll always be there for you if you ever need any of us," said Ginny earnestly.

Harry looked at his two best friends, and then to Ginny. He felt like there was so much he wanted to tell them, yet he just couldn't find the words to express himself, like he couldn't express himself when he tried to write letters to them. All he could manage was telling them, "Thanks you guys, I really appreciate it, you will never know how much you mean to me, ever," and after Harry had finished saying that he found himself in the center of a group hug, which, to him, felt a little weird and awkward, but surprisingly soothing in a way.

After what seemed like a very long moment, the four of them broke out of the embrace when the second "ahem" sounded for the night. The four of them turned around to see Remus Lupin standing at the door, looking rather weary. He looked at the four of them and mildly smiled as he could probably guess what had been going on in the moments before he had appeared at the door to the room.

"Harry, there are a few things I feel I should talk to you about, seeing as I'm the last Marauder alive," said the werewolf.


Harry could swear that Lupin's voice broke slightly as he mentioned the fact that he was the only remaining Marauder, but he knew that Lupin was there to talk about Sirius and for once, he felt like he had no objections to hear out what his former professor had to say. He nodded slowly as Hermione and Ginny dragged Ron out of the room who was quite confused as to why he was being brought out of the room. He was still pining,

 "Why can't we listen to what….OW! What did you do that for Hermione! OW! GINNY!" Harry could still hear Ginny and Hermione telling Ron off as they walked down the corridor,

"Sometimes Ron, I really wonder how insensitive you can get!" he heard Hermione say as the sounds died down the hallway. Lupin then sat down next to Harry.

"Harry…," he started. He seemed to be thinking slightly about what he was about to say when he continued, "Harry I know that it has been difficult for you to lose Sirius. He was probably the closest thing to a father and a brother you have ever known. I know that you probably have already heard this, but Sirius would not have wanted you to mourn his death and forget to live your own life. Harry I was with Sirius before he went to save you that night, despite our requests that he did not go along with us, I still remember his last words, I will be damned if I am going to sit here and not do anything when my godson is in danger like that, he was willing to risk his life for me when he thought I was in danger and I will not sit idly by and let him fight Voldemort alone, even if it means my own death! I'm not worth it." Lupin had said this last part with such a sad voice that Harry knew his former professor was hurting almost as badly as he was with the death of one of his best friends. When he thought about it, he and Lupin now shared something in their lives that would create a kind of bond between them, Harry had lost his parents, and his godfather to Voldemort, and Lupin had lost the only friends he ever had as a child, his best friends to Voldemort. Harry tried to imagine what he would feel like if he lost Ron or Hermione, or even the twins or Ginny. He felt as though he could relate to Lupin's feelings as much as he could relate to his own.

Still, there was the nagging fact in Harry's head which he voiced out, "Still, Prof- I mean Remus, I still can't help feeling that it was my fault, that I allowed myself to be tricked by Voldemort. If only…..," he said with a croaky voice before he was cut off.

"Harry, I'm sure that Dumbledore has mentioned this before, but older and wiser wizards have been hoodwinked by Voldemort before. I know you don't want to hear this, but you can't take the blame for what happened to Sirius, as I know, for a fact, he wouldn't have blamed you, or would have wanted you to blame yourself. We all have a part to play in the plan's failure,"

Lupin had said this again with such sincerity that Harry found it hard to argue with him. He just nodded his head silently and let a tear trickle down his cheek before he took off his glasses to wipe it off.

"I think you should get some sleep Harry, there are some things that we will have to discuss tomorrow, if you feel up to it," said Lupin as he put his hand on Harry's shoulder.

Harry nodded and Lupin left the room, closing the door behind him. Harry suddenly felt very tired and thought it would be best if he took Lupin's advice and he changed into his nightclothes. He lay down on the bed and thought of what Lupin had just told him, and he could not help but feel his eyes burn again. This time however he fought back the tears as he knew he had to go on, and that there were still things that had to be done as long as Voldemort was still out there. "How does Remus know about the plan as well?" he thought just before he went to sleep, shrugging off the question. He did not even hear Ron's footsteps entering the room as he had already fallen fast asleep by the time.

Authors Note: I know that technically Remus is not the last Marauder alive, but I don't think anyone will object to that fact seeing as how Peter would not really work well into the conversation with Harry. Hope I wrote this part okay. Thanks for the reviews, if any come at all.