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: Third chapter. Wow. This sucks.
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Every Month or so
Chapter 3: A Very Happy Birthday Indeed
Lupin sat down at the table and smiled as he watched everything clean itself up. Sam was sitting at the other end, the tank of chocolate frogs in front of him as he fished around in it, trying to catch another.
Harry walked in and paused at the door before speaking. "I was wondering where my bedroom was." he said quietly, feeling a bit awkward standing in the doorway. He was reminded that he was to stay with two werewolves, one whom he wasn't all to sure of. Harry watched as Sam stuffed three frogs into his mouth and held his mouth wide open over the top of the open tank, hoping to catch some.
"Oh, sorry about that Harry." Lupin said sliding his chair back to get up. "I'll take you to your new room, not to worry." he said guiding Harry out of the kitchen and shutting the door. It was then Harry reminded himself of how much he trusted Lupin and that he was certain if Sam did anything or didn't drink a certain drink, Lupin would assist Harry in every way. "It's rather different from your old one and we did move that portrait of Sirius' great grandfather to it, so you can stay in contact with Dumbledore." Lupin said quietly. Harry noticed how his tone dropped after he said Sirius' name. Harry felt his mood drop with it.
Lupin led Harry up the stairs and down the halls of the second floor. The second floor looked like the first, fairly neat and welcoming, though in the distance Harry could make out the part of the house that wasn't that happy and clean in the distance. "Here's your room. Lock the door, Kreacher tends to rummage in people's things at night..." Lupin mumbled, unlocked the door in front of them and handing Harry a key. "Have a nice sleep Harry, and remember to wake up as early as possible, wouldn't want to miss your birthday." Lupin added. "I would wake you up but Sam's morning shouting should do the trick..." Lupin added quietly. "Good night Harry."
"Good night." Harry called, shutting the door as Lupin disappeared at the stairs and walking into the room. The room was the exact same shade of green as his eyes, though he was sure it wasn't painted that way for that reason, but for the sake of honoring the Slytherin house colors. The blank portrait was hung beside the large canopy bed, which was set in the middle of the room. A nightstand was placed by the bed along with his trunk and Firebolt. Harry sat down on the squishy bed and bounced a bit, then fell back and quickly fell asleep, happy to get some rest.
The next morning Harry was indeed woken up by shouting. He got up and listened by the door closely to see what it was about.
"KREACHER YOU NASTY RAT! WHAT HAVE YOU PUT IN MY POTION?!"
"NASTY HALF-BREEDS INVADING MY HOUSE!"
Harry snorted and opened the door as Lupin rushed by. He paused to look back at Harry, looking more tired and dusty then ever, and wished him a 'Happy Birthday' before rushing down the stairs with his wand.
"FRIGID WITCH CALLING ME A HALF-BREED!"
"Sam, it's just a painting, help my close it..."
"I'd like to set it on fire, in fact I think I should!"
"Sam, you know that doesn't work, it's only-"
"I'M ON FIRE!"
Harry snorted again then rushed down the stairs 1to help Lupin extinguish him. "FILTHY SCUM TRYING TO SET ME ON FIRE!" Harry quickly started to help Lupin pull the curtains together and found it was actually much harder then he thought it would be, but they did get it closed, but not before the portrait managed to call them all 'disgraceful freaks' and 'mudblood mingling rats'. Sam was still on the floor fuming when they finished.
"Well, how did you sleep?" Lupin asked cheerfully, ignoring Sam's indignant mumblings.
"Good." Harry answered shortly.
"Excellent!" Lupin said clapping his hands together. "Now let's set off to the kitchen so you can get to your presents." he said, swiveling on his heel and setting off.
Harry glanced back down at Sam, who was glaring at the cherry red curtains that covered Mrs. Black. "Sorry for waking you up." he mumbled, still a bit hoarse from yelling. "On your birthday and all..."
"It's alright." Harry said quietly. He quickly followed Lupin down to the kitchen, not wanting to be left alone with the angry man.
The kitchen was sparkling clean after it's clean up the night before. A fire blazed in the fireplace and Lupin was tending to the eggs on the stove. "Your presents are in the corner by the fireplace, you may open them whenever you like. It's not like I have a camera or anything." Lupin muttered, concentrating on the sizzling Sunnyside up in front of him.
Harry nodded and walked to the corner where a pile of present was stowed. He was about to pick when up with a head appeared in the fireplace, making him jump.
"You may not care Remus, but I do." Dumbledore said briskly. "As does Mrs. and Mr. Weasley. We'll be there in mere minutes!" Lupin nodded, not turning away from the meal he was making.
"I suppose you want scrambled Dumbledore?" he asked in a offhand tone.
"Yes please, Molly says that she and her family have already had breakfast though."
"Alright then." Lupin said cracking another egg open. "One or two?" he asked glancing back at the fire as he held up the second egg.
"Two please, thank you. I'll see you both soon." he said bowing out of the fire. Harry watched the fire for a couple of minutes before sitting at the table. So he didn't get to open his presents and it seemed like he was being treated like a kid. He had hoped that they would drop that act and treat him like an adult, but it was obvious that wasn't happening anytime soon. Sirius would have treated him adult, even at times when he shouldn't have. Harry shuddered as he recalled the look on Sirius' face as he fell through the veil.
"Something wrong Harry?" Lupin was now facing him with a look of concern in his eyes.
"No...nothing really... It's err... Could you treat me less like a kid?" he asked quietly.
Lupin smiled simply. "Is that all? That can be arranged Harry. Come and get your eggs though." he said nodding towards the pan.
Just as Harry was about to get up the doorbell rang and Lupin got up to greet the others and make sure the portrait stayed quiet. Hermione and Ron rushed into the room as Harry got up to find them.
"Harry!" Ron gasped, running up to him. Ron stopped and looked behind him as Hermione shut the kitchen door and leaned against it listening with an extendable ear. "They're planning something odd, the order I mean." he said in a half whisper.
"That's not unusual." Harry said tartly. The Order was always doing something odd, Harry figured he should be used to it by now.
Ron shook his head. "No no, it's really...quite different from what we usual hear. They weren't particularly discreet about it either, having it at my house, and they weren't whispering or anything either..."
"It probably didn't matter, so long as Harry didn't hear it." Hermione muttered, still listening under the door.
Ron ignored her and went on. "Don't get mad or testy about this, but they mentioned your dad, and Sirius, and Peter, and then you. They were talking about other strange things too, enlargement spells, and Ollivanders... Then Lupin said something about... keeping 'them' here." Ron sat back with a look of pride on his face. "What do you think it's about?"
"I think they're insane." Harry said irritably. "Simply mental."
"But it's interesting isn't it?" Ron asked, leaning in keenly. Harry shrugged and gave a small nod. Talking about his dad and Sirius, that was a bit peculiar. They were probably just talking about how Peter betrayed them... Harry's fist clenched together at the thought of the withering rat at his feet more then two years ago. Why'd he let him go? How foolish, how incredibly thick was he? Harry frowned, no use talking about it now.
"They're coming." Hermione said slipping the extendable ear back. "Harry, I think it sounds a bit off as well. I think we should give it some real thought when we can."
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, running in with her arms spread out. "Happy Birthday Harry, dear!" she said hugging him. Harry gagged for a second whilst Ron grinned at him, obviously enjoying the fact that he wasn't the one being choked.
"Molly! Five seconds more and you'll kill him!" Sam yelled as he walked into the room.
Mrs. Weasley let go of Harry and let out a loud, not to mention angry, sigh. "Sam R. Grim you are as bad as that Si-"
"How is everyone?" Dumbledore asked, waltzing in at just the right time. "Such a lovely morning, don't you think Harry?"
"I wouldn't know sir, as I have no windows in my room." Harry said stiffly. Dumbledore only grinned in response.
"I suppose you don't, do you? We'll have to get more enchanted windows in this house, ones that don't show images of graveyards and such."
"Quite right Albus." Moody added, hobbling in, his cane hitting the ground so hard Harry was happy they were on the bottom floor. "We should also set up more alarm systems around the second floors..."
"Harry, you can open your presents now." Mrs. Weasley said joyfully, sitting down at the table. Harry stared at her, was she just going to sit there and watch him? Opening presents? His Aunt and Uncle did that for Dudley, but it always seemed a bit... stupid to him. Maybe because he was just watching.
"Molly, I think you're making Harry nervous." Sam laughed, scratching the back of his hands.
"Oh, alright." Molly said turning away, but turning back again when Harry started at his presents.
The doorbells rang and Harry halted his present opening, again. He was starting to wonder if he liked celebrating his birthday alone instead of with the order. Harry, Ron and Hermione quickly got up to see who it was after the portrait began it's rant, obviously someone who didn't know about being quiet around the halls.
"Mrs. Longbottom! I'm very sorry about the noise." Lupin said gesturing to the painting, which was being taken over by Moody and Sam. "Welcome, come in please!" he said bowing smiling. The three gaped, what was Neville's grandmother doing here?
"No thank you." the old woman said stiffly, carefully adjusting her stuff vulture hat and looking around the room. "I'm just here to drop off Neville... Now Lupin, you are sure he would be perfectly safe?" she asked looking at him warily.
"Yes of course... Oh, but I'm afraid someone will have to erase your memory of this place after you leave." Lupin said smiling sheepishly. "We're a bit tight of security and secrecy here." Neville came in bearing his trunks and clutching his toad to his chest. "Hello Neville, having a good summer so far?" Lupin asked shaking his hand after Neville shifting around a bit.
"Yes of course professor!" Neville stammered, clutching the toad even tighter. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances. They all wondered if Neville was actually afraid of Lupin now, but then again he might not be. It could just be Neville acting like Neville.
Luckily they were the only ones who seemed to notice. Lupin turned around as and spotted the trio down the hall. "Oh, Harry! I forgot to tell you, but I needed to borrow a set of your cloths for a couple of new residents." Lupin said as he helped Neville with his luggage. "Mrs. Longbottom, I'm sorry I can't quite stay around to chat."
"No matter Lupin, I'll leave." Mrs. Longbottom said, starting to turn on her heel.
"Tonks, please show Mrs. Longbottom out." Lupin got out his wand and pointed it at the trunk. "Locamotive trunk." he said muttered, then carefully led Neville and the trunk through the house. "Neville and Luna will be taking up residence here for the summer, for safety purposes." Lupin explained as he approached the stairs. "You understand right?" Harry nodded. "Alright Neville, I'll take you to the room we have set up..."
As they started up the stairs Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushed up to greet they're friend and walk with him to his new room. "Neville! Your staying here are you?" Ron exclaimed. "Oh, see Harry, won't be so lonely if Lupin and Sam have to leave for 'Order business' and such."
Harry nodded. Neville wasn't his top choice for people to spend the summer with, but it was better then being alone with the half-insane, and possibly dangerous, house-elf wandering around.
"Quiet for a minute back there." Lupin said sharply. All four shut up instantly as Lupin went ahead up the stairs, the trunk bobbling along behind him. The four exchanged glances and followed him in silence.
Neville bit his fingernails as he looked about at old reminders of what the house used to be like. "There's a lot of snakes..." he said looking at the snake lamps.
"Neville, please..." Lupin said, almost pleadingly as he walked on. "Shh...."
Harry thought he was being ridiculous. What was all this silence about anyway? Was there something up there? Mot something dangerous he hoped... No. Lupin wouldn't have anything dangerous upstairs, unless you counted Kreacher as dangerous, which on certain occasions you could. Harry, for one, wanted to wring the house-elves neck.
"Here you go..." Lupin said unlocking the door next to Harry's room. "Set up in here and remember to lock the door whenever you leave or else the house-elf will find his way around..." Lupin recited as he opening the door and lowering the trunk down.
Once everything was set up in the room Neville stopped the look around. The room had very odd creamy orange wallpaper with dead flowers going from the ceiling to the floor printed on it in white. The bed sheets were pasty white and the curtains were an odd moldy sort of gold. Despite the extreme colors Neville fell back onto the bed as if he were right at home, then quickly sat up, remembering there were still people in the room.
"Thank you Professor." he said quickly.
"Your welcome Neville." Lupin said with a short smile. "And it's alright if you call me Lupin from now on, I'm not longer a professor anyway." Lupin said detaching a key from his cluttered ring of keys and handing it to Neville. "I need to go down and help with breakfast for you and whoever else."
Neville got to the floor and started to unload his trunk. "So Harry... Lupin's is going to be the only adult here after the rest of those people leave?" he asked nervously, avoiding their eyes as he shuffled through his cloths.
"Well, no actually." Harry didn't know quite what to say. After all, living with two werewolves wasn't such a pleasing thought, no matter how decent they were as humans.
"Oh really?" Neville asked brightly. Harry's spirits sank, Neville obviously felt he was safer with another.
"The thing is Neville..." Hermione said delicately. "The other man's name is Sam, and he's a werewolf too." Harry gulped, happy he didn't have to say that. Neville paled.
"O-ohh... Are they friends?" he asked quietly.
"Not really." Ron snorted. Harry turned to Ron surprised. "I mean, Sam looks up to Lupin a lot but he has big attitude issues, as Mum calls it." he explained. "They get in fights a ton of times, in wolf form and in human." Harry was sure Neville had just become paler. "Lupin usually wins, but they get pretty...awful actually..."
"Not to worry though, they take the wolfsbane potion, so they're safe in their wolf form." Harry said in what he hoped was an assuring voice. "And I think someone will come over and watch them."
"Like mum." Ron added. "She keeps them in their place, especially last time..."
But Ron never got to explain to Neville what happened last time because Fred and George had popped out of nowhere and interrupted. "Mum's got breakfast ready, and she wanted up to 'pop up' and tell you lot." Fred sniggered.
"So we did, even if we were at the bottom of the stairs." George said, inspecting his fingernails.
"Come on children!" George said in a shrill voice. "Budge on to the kitchen!" The two twins disappeared and the four made their way down to the kitchen as quickly as possible.
Okay. I have done it over again. I hope this is...more decent...Murgh...
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: Third chapter. Wow. This sucks.
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Every Month or so
Chapter 3: A Very Happy Birthday Indeed
Lupin sat down at the table and smiled as he watched everything clean itself up. Sam was sitting at the other end, the tank of chocolate frogs in front of him as he fished around in it, trying to catch another.
Harry walked in and paused at the door before speaking. "I was wondering where my bedroom was." he said quietly, feeling a bit awkward standing in the doorway. He was reminded that he was to stay with two werewolves, one whom he wasn't all to sure of. Harry watched as Sam stuffed three frogs into his mouth and held his mouth wide open over the top of the open tank, hoping to catch some.
"Oh, sorry about that Harry." Lupin said sliding his chair back to get up. "I'll take you to your new room, not to worry." he said guiding Harry out of the kitchen and shutting the door. It was then Harry reminded himself of how much he trusted Lupin and that he was certain if Sam did anything or didn't drink a certain drink, Lupin would assist Harry in every way. "It's rather different from your old one and we did move that portrait of Sirius' great grandfather to it, so you can stay in contact with Dumbledore." Lupin said quietly. Harry noticed how his tone dropped after he said Sirius' name. Harry felt his mood drop with it.
Lupin led Harry up the stairs and down the halls of the second floor. The second floor looked like the first, fairly neat and welcoming, though in the distance Harry could make out the part of the house that wasn't that happy and clean in the distance. "Here's your room. Lock the door, Kreacher tends to rummage in people's things at night..." Lupin mumbled, unlocked the door in front of them and handing Harry a key. "Have a nice sleep Harry, and remember to wake up as early as possible, wouldn't want to miss your birthday." Lupin added. "I would wake you up but Sam's morning shouting should do the trick..." Lupin added quietly. "Good night Harry."
"Good night." Harry called, shutting the door as Lupin disappeared at the stairs and walking into the room. The room was the exact same shade of green as his eyes, though he was sure it wasn't painted that way for that reason, but for the sake of honoring the Slytherin house colors. The blank portrait was hung beside the large canopy bed, which was set in the middle of the room. A nightstand was placed by the bed along with his trunk and Firebolt. Harry sat down on the squishy bed and bounced a bit, then fell back and quickly fell asleep, happy to get some rest.
The next morning Harry was indeed woken up by shouting. He got up and listened by the door closely to see what it was about.
"KREACHER YOU NASTY RAT! WHAT HAVE YOU PUT IN MY POTION?!"
"NASTY HALF-BREEDS INVADING MY HOUSE!"
Harry snorted and opened the door as Lupin rushed by. He paused to look back at Harry, looking more tired and dusty then ever, and wished him a 'Happy Birthday' before rushing down the stairs with his wand.
"FRIGID WITCH CALLING ME A HALF-BREED!"
"Sam, it's just a painting, help my close it..."
"I'd like to set it on fire, in fact I think I should!"
"Sam, you know that doesn't work, it's only-"
"I'M ON FIRE!"
Harry snorted again then rushed down the stairs 1to help Lupin extinguish him. "FILTHY SCUM TRYING TO SET ME ON FIRE!" Harry quickly started to help Lupin pull the curtains together and found it was actually much harder then he thought it would be, but they did get it closed, but not before the portrait managed to call them all 'disgraceful freaks' and 'mudblood mingling rats'. Sam was still on the floor fuming when they finished.
"Well, how did you sleep?" Lupin asked cheerfully, ignoring Sam's indignant mumblings.
"Good." Harry answered shortly.
"Excellent!" Lupin said clapping his hands together. "Now let's set off to the kitchen so you can get to your presents." he said, swiveling on his heel and setting off.
Harry glanced back down at Sam, who was glaring at the cherry red curtains that covered Mrs. Black. "Sorry for waking you up." he mumbled, still a bit hoarse from yelling. "On your birthday and all..."
"It's alright." Harry said quietly. He quickly followed Lupin down to the kitchen, not wanting to be left alone with the angry man.
The kitchen was sparkling clean after it's clean up the night before. A fire blazed in the fireplace and Lupin was tending to the eggs on the stove. "Your presents are in the corner by the fireplace, you may open them whenever you like. It's not like I have a camera or anything." Lupin muttered, concentrating on the sizzling Sunnyside up in front of him.
Harry nodded and walked to the corner where a pile of present was stowed. He was about to pick when up with a head appeared in the fireplace, making him jump.
"You may not care Remus, but I do." Dumbledore said briskly. "As does Mrs. and Mr. Weasley. We'll be there in mere minutes!" Lupin nodded, not turning away from the meal he was making.
"I suppose you want scrambled Dumbledore?" he asked in a offhand tone.
"Yes please, Molly says that she and her family have already had breakfast though."
"Alright then." Lupin said cracking another egg open. "One or two?" he asked glancing back at the fire as he held up the second egg.
"Two please, thank you. I'll see you both soon." he said bowing out of the fire. Harry watched the fire for a couple of minutes before sitting at the table. So he didn't get to open his presents and it seemed like he was being treated like a kid. He had hoped that they would drop that act and treat him like an adult, but it was obvious that wasn't happening anytime soon. Sirius would have treated him adult, even at times when he shouldn't have. Harry shuddered as he recalled the look on Sirius' face as he fell through the veil.
"Something wrong Harry?" Lupin was now facing him with a look of concern in his eyes.
"No...nothing really... It's err... Could you treat me less like a kid?" he asked quietly.
Lupin smiled simply. "Is that all? That can be arranged Harry. Come and get your eggs though." he said nodding towards the pan.
Just as Harry was about to get up the doorbell rang and Lupin got up to greet the others and make sure the portrait stayed quiet. Hermione and Ron rushed into the room as Harry got up to find them.
"Harry!" Ron gasped, running up to him. Ron stopped and looked behind him as Hermione shut the kitchen door and leaned against it listening with an extendable ear. "They're planning something odd, the order I mean." he said in a half whisper.
"That's not unusual." Harry said tartly. The Order was always doing something odd, Harry figured he should be used to it by now.
Ron shook his head. "No no, it's really...quite different from what we usual hear. They weren't particularly discreet about it either, having it at my house, and they weren't whispering or anything either..."
"It probably didn't matter, so long as Harry didn't hear it." Hermione muttered, still listening under the door.
Ron ignored her and went on. "Don't get mad or testy about this, but they mentioned your dad, and Sirius, and Peter, and then you. They were talking about other strange things too, enlargement spells, and Ollivanders... Then Lupin said something about... keeping 'them' here." Ron sat back with a look of pride on his face. "What do you think it's about?"
"I think they're insane." Harry said irritably. "Simply mental."
"But it's interesting isn't it?" Ron asked, leaning in keenly. Harry shrugged and gave a small nod. Talking about his dad and Sirius, that was a bit peculiar. They were probably just talking about how Peter betrayed them... Harry's fist clenched together at the thought of the withering rat at his feet more then two years ago. Why'd he let him go? How foolish, how incredibly thick was he? Harry frowned, no use talking about it now.
"They're coming." Hermione said slipping the extendable ear back. "Harry, I think it sounds a bit off as well. I think we should give it some real thought when we can."
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, running in with her arms spread out. "Happy Birthday Harry, dear!" she said hugging him. Harry gagged for a second whilst Ron grinned at him, obviously enjoying the fact that he wasn't the one being choked.
"Molly! Five seconds more and you'll kill him!" Sam yelled as he walked into the room.
Mrs. Weasley let go of Harry and let out a loud, not to mention angry, sigh. "Sam R. Grim you are as bad as that Si-"
"How is everyone?" Dumbledore asked, waltzing in at just the right time. "Such a lovely morning, don't you think Harry?"
"I wouldn't know sir, as I have no windows in my room." Harry said stiffly. Dumbledore only grinned in response.
"I suppose you don't, do you? We'll have to get more enchanted windows in this house, ones that don't show images of graveyards and such."
"Quite right Albus." Moody added, hobbling in, his cane hitting the ground so hard Harry was happy they were on the bottom floor. "We should also set up more alarm systems around the second floors..."
"Harry, you can open your presents now." Mrs. Weasley said joyfully, sitting down at the table. Harry stared at her, was she just going to sit there and watch him? Opening presents? His Aunt and Uncle did that for Dudley, but it always seemed a bit... stupid to him. Maybe because he was just watching.
"Molly, I think you're making Harry nervous." Sam laughed, scratching the back of his hands.
"Oh, alright." Molly said turning away, but turning back again when Harry started at his presents.
The doorbells rang and Harry halted his present opening, again. He was starting to wonder if he liked celebrating his birthday alone instead of with the order. Harry, Ron and Hermione quickly got up to see who it was after the portrait began it's rant, obviously someone who didn't know about being quiet around the halls.
"Mrs. Longbottom! I'm very sorry about the noise." Lupin said gesturing to the painting, which was being taken over by Moody and Sam. "Welcome, come in please!" he said bowing smiling. The three gaped, what was Neville's grandmother doing here?
"No thank you." the old woman said stiffly, carefully adjusting her stuff vulture hat and looking around the room. "I'm just here to drop off Neville... Now Lupin, you are sure he would be perfectly safe?" she asked looking at him warily.
"Yes of course... Oh, but I'm afraid someone will have to erase your memory of this place after you leave." Lupin said smiling sheepishly. "We're a bit tight of security and secrecy here." Neville came in bearing his trunks and clutching his toad to his chest. "Hello Neville, having a good summer so far?" Lupin asked shaking his hand after Neville shifting around a bit.
"Yes of course professor!" Neville stammered, clutching the toad even tighter. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances. They all wondered if Neville was actually afraid of Lupin now, but then again he might not be. It could just be Neville acting like Neville.
Luckily they were the only ones who seemed to notice. Lupin turned around as and spotted the trio down the hall. "Oh, Harry! I forgot to tell you, but I needed to borrow a set of your cloths for a couple of new residents." Lupin said as he helped Neville with his luggage. "Mrs. Longbottom, I'm sorry I can't quite stay around to chat."
"No matter Lupin, I'll leave." Mrs. Longbottom said, starting to turn on her heel.
"Tonks, please show Mrs. Longbottom out." Lupin got out his wand and pointed it at the trunk. "Locamotive trunk." he said muttered, then carefully led Neville and the trunk through the house. "Neville and Luna will be taking up residence here for the summer, for safety purposes." Lupin explained as he approached the stairs. "You understand right?" Harry nodded. "Alright Neville, I'll take you to the room we have set up..."
As they started up the stairs Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushed up to greet they're friend and walk with him to his new room. "Neville! Your staying here are you?" Ron exclaimed. "Oh, see Harry, won't be so lonely if Lupin and Sam have to leave for 'Order business' and such."
Harry nodded. Neville wasn't his top choice for people to spend the summer with, but it was better then being alone with the half-insane, and possibly dangerous, house-elf wandering around.
"Quiet for a minute back there." Lupin said sharply. All four shut up instantly as Lupin went ahead up the stairs, the trunk bobbling along behind him. The four exchanged glances and followed him in silence.
Neville bit his fingernails as he looked about at old reminders of what the house used to be like. "There's a lot of snakes..." he said looking at the snake lamps.
"Neville, please..." Lupin said, almost pleadingly as he walked on. "Shh...."
Harry thought he was being ridiculous. What was all this silence about anyway? Was there something up there? Mot something dangerous he hoped... No. Lupin wouldn't have anything dangerous upstairs, unless you counted Kreacher as dangerous, which on certain occasions you could. Harry, for one, wanted to wring the house-elves neck.
"Here you go..." Lupin said unlocking the door next to Harry's room. "Set up in here and remember to lock the door whenever you leave or else the house-elf will find his way around..." Lupin recited as he opening the door and lowering the trunk down.
Once everything was set up in the room Neville stopped the look around. The room had very odd creamy orange wallpaper with dead flowers going from the ceiling to the floor printed on it in white. The bed sheets were pasty white and the curtains were an odd moldy sort of gold. Despite the extreme colors Neville fell back onto the bed as if he were right at home, then quickly sat up, remembering there were still people in the room.
"Thank you Professor." he said quickly.
"Your welcome Neville." Lupin said with a short smile. "And it's alright if you call me Lupin from now on, I'm not longer a professor anyway." Lupin said detaching a key from his cluttered ring of keys and handing it to Neville. "I need to go down and help with breakfast for you and whoever else."
Neville got to the floor and started to unload his trunk. "So Harry... Lupin's is going to be the only adult here after the rest of those people leave?" he asked nervously, avoiding their eyes as he shuffled through his cloths.
"Well, no actually." Harry didn't know quite what to say. After all, living with two werewolves wasn't such a pleasing thought, no matter how decent they were as humans.
"Oh really?" Neville asked brightly. Harry's spirits sank, Neville obviously felt he was safer with another.
"The thing is Neville..." Hermione said delicately. "The other man's name is Sam, and he's a werewolf too." Harry gulped, happy he didn't have to say that. Neville paled.
"O-ohh... Are they friends?" he asked quietly.
"Not really." Ron snorted. Harry turned to Ron surprised. "I mean, Sam looks up to Lupin a lot but he has big attitude issues, as Mum calls it." he explained. "They get in fights a ton of times, in wolf form and in human." Harry was sure Neville had just become paler. "Lupin usually wins, but they get pretty...awful actually..."
"Not to worry though, they take the wolfsbane potion, so they're safe in their wolf form." Harry said in what he hoped was an assuring voice. "And I think someone will come over and watch them."
"Like mum." Ron added. "She keeps them in their place, especially last time..."
But Ron never got to explain to Neville what happened last time because Fred and George had popped out of nowhere and interrupted. "Mum's got breakfast ready, and she wanted up to 'pop up' and tell you lot." Fred sniggered.
"So we did, even if we were at the bottom of the stairs." George said, inspecting his fingernails.
"Come on children!" George said in a shrill voice. "Budge on to the kitchen!" The two twins disappeared and the four made their way down to the kitchen as quickly as possible.
Okay. I have done it over again. I hope this is...more decent...Murgh...
