Spoiler Notes: This is after book five so expect spoilers from it, including frequent mention of who dies.

Disclaimer: The most important part. I do not own any of the characters/settings written in the fic and I do not profit from it in anyway. The joy of writing is my payment. ^^

Author's Notes: The first chapter. Let's just hope I get this down how I wanted it... Urgh.

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Every Month or So

Chapter One: Crashes in the Night and a Very Late Dinner

The summer night on Number 4 Privet Drive was warm and welcoming. Birds sang their midnight sonata's, coupled by the clicking of crickets. The sound of TV's and music had long since died out into the beauty of the night and almost everyone in the house was asleep, dreaming about the next day.

Except one resident of the house.

Harry Potter sat in his cramped room staring moodily out the window for signs of his pet owl, Hedwig, who had been recently sent off with letters to his friends. Harry was no ordinary scruffy boy sitting at his windowsill, he was a wizard, but even in the wizard world he differed from most. Harry was dubbed 'the boy he lived' for most of his life, but he didn't know about it till three years ago when Hagrid, now a good friend, had come bursting into the shack where his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin Dudley were hiding out.

Now that Harry thought about it, it was exactly three years ago, after all it was his birthday, 12:00 in the morning just like then. He remembered lying on the floor with a small blanket when Hagrid hammered down the door and walked in. He remembered Hagrid yelling at his Aunt and Uncle for not telling Harry about his past, about his parents, while he himself could hardly believe it.

What he needed now was to be at the burrow, eating mince pies with his friends, Ron and Hermione, looking at Fred and George's latest products, and discussing the upcoming school year. He even at number 12 Grimmauld place with the Order, discussing Voldemort, would do, even if it did remind him of his deceased godfather.

Harry drew away from the window and lay back on his bed, wondering what he would get for his birthday when he heard something outside. Almost instantly he rushed back to his window and squinted at the sky. There were dots, five of them, coming closer fast. Owls maybe? That meant presents, and letters! Harry leaned forward ready to catch his own owl on his hand. He could hear his Aunt Petunia's high voice in his head, shrieking 'What would the neighbors think?!' as he leaned farther, almost falling out.

But soon it became apparent that they weren't owls at all, but people, on broomsticks, coming at him at an alarmingly fast rate. Harry lurched back and slammed his window shut. If it was death eaters then he was in trouble, but as long as he was in the house he was fine.

The five landed in the bushes below, stowing their brooms away most likely. Harry grabbed his wand from the cluttered desktop and leaned against his door, listening for any noises.

The sound of the front door opening was barely audible past his Uncles snores and snorts, but it was there. Harry opened his door and rushed to the stairs, slowly creeping down them. The five figures were entering, talking in very hushed voices.

"-he's likely to defend himself..."

"Don't be silly! I'll get him, it's his birthday a surprise!" Harry could hardly make out the voices. The first one sounded male, as did the second, only the second was lighter and smoother and the first was darker and gruffer.

Harry froze as one of the figures began making their way up the stairs. They obviously didn't see him, only inches away from bumping into him. Harry decided not to take a chance and use magic, he didn't want to be in court again like the year before, so he shoved his wand in his pocket and push off of the man in front of him, then ran back up the stairs.

There was a loud thump as the figure hit the floor, and another particularly loud snort from his Aunt and Uncle's room. "Ouch!"

"You fool, Mad-eye told you he would defend himself." a female voice hissed.

There was a muffled voice next, and after a bit of shuffling around and a couple of sorries from man. Another voice spoke, this one was very familiar. "Sam, I told you that was a silly idea, now if you would mind getting off my legs..." whispered a very hoarse voice.

"Sorry comrade..." the unfamiliar voice said, followed by more shuffles.

"Professor Lupin?" Harry called, trying to see in the light.

"Right here Harry." the hoarse voice answered, more shuffling.

There was a rather loud sigh from the female. "I'm always the one with the sense here, aren't I? Lumos!"

A bright light filled the hall and Harry stared down at the five figures below. He recognized four of them as Mad-eye Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphodora Tonks, and Bill Weasley, but one remained nameless. He knew he had seen the face before but he couldn't put his finger on who it was.

"Wow... Harry Potter." the nameless man said, whistling. "Never thought I'd actually get to meet you." he chuckled.

"Harry, this is Sam Grim, he's a new member of the Order." Lupin said, nodded towards the man as he dusted off his robes. Lupin had new robes this time, though they obviously weren't brand new because they still looked a bit odd and loose. Previously Lupin had worn the same extremely shabby robes since the day Harry met him on the Hogwarts Express in his third year. Lupin, who noticed the stare chuckled. "Yes, I'm afraid my other robes disintegrated on me one night so I had to get another set."

"Disintegrated is right, Sam here caught them on fire." Moody grunted. "Trying to light a candle, were you?"

Sam blushed and looked down. "Well I didn't mean to, now did I?" he said defensively.

"Yeah, but that brawl you had with him the night earlier said otherwise, I think your pride was ruined because Remus won." Tonks taunted, her green curls bouncing lightly.

"Shut up, Nymphadora." Sam said spitefully. This time Tonks blushed, but she was obviously angry. She hated being called by her first name, she made that clear to Harry the day he met her the last summer.

"Well, we should get ready to leave, now shouldn't we?" Lupin interrupted, clapping his hands together and looking about him smiling cheerfully, obviously an attempt to break the tension.

"Ah, yes!" Bill said walking up the stairs. "Show me the way Harry and I'll help you pack." he whispered. Bill was the brother of one of Harry's best friends, Ron. He had rather long hair pulled back into a ponytail; red like all the Weasley's, and his mother was constantly fusing over it, though Harry thought it was rather cool. "This it?" he asked, peeking into Harry's room and looking about. "Wait tell Mum gets a hold of this place, tsk tsk Harry…" he said observing the mess.

"Yes well, I err... wasn't expecting guests..." Harry said shuffling around to pick up things.

"Pack." Bill said softly, waving his wand. The books and papers flew out of Harry's hand and into his open trunk. Harry put all of his other unneeded junk away and watched the rest float in neatly. "We're going off to 12GP and your staying there with Remus and Sam for the rest of the summer, of course, if that's alright with you..." Bill said slowly.

"Of course it is!" Harry said, almost a little too quickly. Staying with Lupin was bound to be better then staying with the Dursleys, as long as his friends came over that is.

"Alright. Us Weasley's are going to be over there most of the time as well, if you can handle that too." Bill said smirking.

Harry wondered if Percy would be there too, then decided he'd rather not have him there. In the previous year Percy had a fight with Mr. Weasley and left the family, while saying a load of unpleasant things about them and him. Mrs. Weasley had spent a good portion of the last year upset because of him, and Harry hated to see his mother-like figure upset.

"All packed, grab your amazingly sheik Firebolt and we'll be on our way." Bill said smirking at Harry's broom. "Locamotive Trunk!" he said flicking his wand and directing the trunk out of the room with it. Harry grabbed his Firebolt and paused. His godfather had given it to him in this third year, and looking at brought back the painful memory of his death. Harry gripped the handle and moved out of the room quietly as possible with Bill, shutting the door behind himself.

"All ready?" Moody asked gruffly.

"Yes." the both answered, making their way down the stairs.

A door from upstairs burst open and Harry froze. "What's going on here?!" shouted the unmistakable voice of Harry's uncle.

"Oh my." Sam said staring at Uncle Vernan merrily. "A muggle!" he said, obviously delighted.

"Sam, please." Tonks said rolling her eyes.

Lupin stepped forward and ushered Harry down the stairs. "Sir, we were just about to collect your nephew, so there's-"

"YOU BROKE INTO MY HOUSE!"

"Well not exactly... we didn't break anything coming in that is." Lupin said as pleasantly as possible. "Like I said, we've just come to collect Ha-"

"I don't want you freaks in my house! GET OUT! You said you wouldn't come unless there were problems! THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS!" Harry could see, even in the rather dim light, that his uncle was turning his usual shade of puce; usual for when he was angry at least, and that happened quite often.

"Don't worry Remus, I'll take care of him..." Moody muttered, rolling up his sleeves.

"Mad-eye, please don't. You five go ahead while I patch things up a bit." Lupin said mildly waving them away.

Uncle Vernan obviously did not like Lupin's rather offhand tone and turned a darker shade of purple then before. "Patch things up a BIT?!"

"Vernan what's-" Harry's aunt, Petunia, let out a shriek. "What are they doing here Vernan?!" she asked frightened, scanning the group. Her eye's stopped at Lupin and she let out a shudder of fear. "Y-you...in my house... GET OUT!" she obviously intended it to be a order, but it sounded more panicked.

"Petunia, please give me a chance to speak, we're just here to get Harry, we'll be on our way, and you can see him ne-"

"I know exactly what you are!" Petunia continued. "A werewolf! I heard it from her nasty little friends!"

Lupin didn't look surprised, but Sam obviously thought differently. "Oi! What's wrong with being a-"

"Sam this is no time to start a fight." Lupin warned.

"Like that freaky portrait, that woman..." Sam muttered, guiding Harry out of the house. Harry tried to listen to the conversation between Uncle Vernan, Aunt Petunia, and Lupin, but the four wizards quickly shut the door behind him and brought him to the back where they pulled out their brooms.

"Remus can handle them fine." Moody muttered. "It's just us I'm worried about, if he can' make it out in time we're one short."

"Not to worry Moody, Harry's a accomplished wizard, and Remus will make it out." Tonks said strapping Harry's luggage to her broom. "Same as last time, only no sides, just Bill, Lupin and Sam circling around you. Not to worry though, we'll be safe tonight." she said smiling. Harry felt a familiar chill down his spine as Moody preformed the spell to make him invisible. "Alright then, waiting for the signal..." she said looking up to the sky expectantly.

"Signal one, mount your brooms." Lupin said, shutting the door behind him and rushing to fetch his broom. He sounded tired and exasperated from talking with Harry's Aunt and Uncle and he could understand why. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernan weren't exactly the most magic friendly muggles out there. "Signal two! Let's go!" Lupin shouted. Harry kicked off and flew into the air.

It was a great feeling, flying again. Harry grinned uncontrollably as he flew. The night was perfect for flying, a mild breeze, not a cloud in sight, much to Moody's displeasure, and just the sparkling stars above. Harry decided that this time he wouldn't get tired of being on the broom like the last, he'd enjoy every minute of it, because being on a broom was exactly what he had needed for the past few weeks.

After what seemed like hours of flying, and many plans of detours from Moody, which were promptly cancelled by the infringed Tonks, the unlikely group landed in a familiar dingy neighborhood.

"Nice place, as always." Sam said cheerfully, unstrapping Harry's trunks from Tonks' broom. "Cannot wait to get in and meet Mrs. Black again, she always seems to enjoy my company." Harry wondered if he was being serious or not, he could have been considering Harry had no idea who he was.

"Right then, time to head in." Lupin said, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he carrying his broom towards the area between two houses. Harry followed and watched as a door appeared. Same door, same silvery snake knocker, same gloomy appearance.

"Remember to hush up this time Sam, wouldn't want the portrait going off on you again." Bill said jokingly.

"Right right." Sam laughed. "Such a kind and understanding woman. Not the least bit prejudiced or anything." Tonks and Bill snorted.

Lupin opened the door and held it open for the other five to walk in. They were promptly greeted by an ecstatic Mrs. Weasley, who, besides her puffy red eyes, seemed to be in an extremely joyous mood. Mrs. Weasley threw her arms around Harry and squoze him tight as the other five shut the door and began locking it up.

"Oh Harry dear, you are all right aren't you?" she asked looking him over. "Oh goodness Harry, we were all so worried about you after what happened..." Harry would have pulled away with some snide remark, but he decided better of it. He wasn't going to be rude like last year; no he'd shape up.

"Thanks, I'm fine though." Harry said smiling.

"Well I think it's time we started that dinner we promised you Molly." Harry looked up as Mrs. Weasley released him. Standing in the doorway was none other that Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts school headmaster. The year before he had been rather cross with him for not speaking to him as much as he would have liked, but now Harry supposed that things were back to normal. Harry noted his headmaster was wearing a ridiculously fluffy apron and a damp spot on his shoulder, which was most likely caused by Mrs. Weasley's puffy eyes.

"Right you are Albus." Lupin said taking off his robe and rolling up his sleeves. "It's men's night for cooking, our turn to pay you back for all those delectable meals." he said grasping Harry's arm and pulling him along. "I say we prepare desert too, how about a-"

"Chocolate cake!" Sam finished eagerly, rushing up to join them.

"Which chocolate chips, and chocolate frosting, and maybe a little bit of cherries here and there." Lupin said rolling his eyes.

"Yes, a cherry strip in the middle! It'll be the best chocolate cake you've ever tasted Mum, besides your own that is." Bill said winking. Mrs. Weasley smiled at them and shook her head.

"I'll go get Fred, George, and Ron to help." she said starting up the stairs.

As Harry walked with the group of men he noticed that the house was a lot less grim since he last saw it. In fact it looked almost cheery. The windows cleaned till they sparkled and the curtains replaced. The carpets smelled like fresh lemons and there wasn't a cobweb in sight. The tables had been fixed and dusted, and removed of all dark objects, hexes and spells. The old troll leg coat hanger was now replaced with an elegant bronze one, and the wallpaper was painted over with white. The only thing that remained were most of the portraits, but even they had new curtains covering them, nice cherry red ones at that. He could imagine how 'ecstatic' the portrait of Mrs. Black was about that.

The kitchen was below, and it looked a lot more welcoming then before. The chairs now matched and the table was finished. The fireplace looked bigger, but it might have just been the new paint on the walls, and the horrid pans that hung from the ceiling looked more orderly. In addition to that new lamps were installed around the walls so it was a lot brighter then before.

At the table sat Mundungus Fletcher, the so-called crook of the order. He was looking his usual grubby self, sitting in his pile of robes like a mound of rags. Mr. Weasley was sitting at the end of the table reading peacefully with a quaint smile on his face as he turned the pages. He stopped and got up to shake Harry's hand when he came in though, asking him how he was doing, what he was doing, and how his summer had been so far.

When Fred, George, and Ron entered the room Harry greeted his friend with a huge smile as they shook hands. "Great to see you again Harry! Wait till Hermione gets here, which will be soon since she wanted to bring her parents to this dinner." Ron leaned forward to whispered in Harry's ear. "Mum's a bit unsure about having them cook in the kitchen, we had to convince her that Lupin and Dumbledore would keep the rest under control, only that took a lot of time." Harry grinned as Ron stood up straight again. His friend hadn't grown as much as he had last year, about the same as Harry so he appeared to be the same height as the last time he saw him. Fred and George, who were off talking with Sam, hadn't grown at all, and Harry suspected they'd stay like that forever.

"Alright men!" Dumbledore shouted to silence them. "Today we cook for the ladies, and we have to try our best! Remus has arranged a menu based on their requests, but if any of you do not agree on some of the things listed we will try and find an alternative. Any questions?" The group shook their heads. "Alright Remus, let's get started now shall we?" Lupin nodded and started to read off the rather long scroll in his hands.

End Notes: Well I hoped you liked it. I'm trying to make it as humorous as possible while staying true to J.K Rowlings style of writing. Please review and if you decided to criticize me make it constructive.