Chapter 5



Harry awoke the next morning to the delicious smell of pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Must be Mrs. Weasley's cooking, he thought to himself. Harry noticed, while he was getting dressed, that Ron had already left the room. He started down the stairs as Hermione exited her room.

"Morning, Hermione," he yawned.

"Morning," she replied brightly.

They walked into the dining room just as Emilee emerged from the kitchen with breakfast.

"Wow, Em, did you cook this?" Harry asked surprisedly.

"Who else would cook since Mrs. Weasley is buying your school supplies right now?" she teased.

"Oh, when did our letters come in?" Hermione inquired.

"This morning," said Emilee, "Dumbledore sent them. He went back to Hogwarts last night."

"Oh," Harry remarked.

"Well, let's eat then!" Ron exclaimed.

After everyone finished eating, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to the den to "clean".

"Mrs. Weasley's orders," Emilee told them firmly, but also a with a hint of laughter in her eyes, " but don't work too hard though, because Snivellus and the other Order members are coming to help soon."

As soon as the three began the task, Tonks came bursting in, knocking over the troll's leg umbrella stand, as she usually did.

"Hey everybody! How can I help?" she asked cheerfully.

"You can, um, uh, clean the..." Hermione stammered as she tried to think of something Tonks couldn't break, "the picture of Sirius's mum." Harry and Ron nodded enthusiastically.

"Ok!" Tonks agreed, bounding off to clean the picture, knocking over a lamp as she went.

"Oops..." she said sheepishly.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughed as Tonks went to get the broom.

Suddenly, Snape and Lupin burst through the door, arguing, unaware that the others were standing there.

"How could you? The Dark Lord will surely know now of our plans! Why did you do it, Lupin?" Snape growled menacingly.

"Dumbledore told me I needed to, Severus! We have to stick together in these times of crisis!" Lupin retorted, equally miffed.

Then they noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Both men seemed rather embarrassed at the thought of being seen arguing by younger people, and both were lost for words.

"Did you come to help with the cleaning?" Hermione piped up, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, yes! Yes we did," Lupin stuttered.

"I'm going to the kitchen," muttered Snape, as he walked in that direction.

Everyone continued to clean. A horrible shriek emitted from the kitchen, along with a terrible stench, like that of rotten eggs.

"Why do you always have to bloody do things like that!?!"

Snape exited the kitchen very quickly.

"I guess I'll be going now." he muttered, "see you all at Hogwarts."

Emilee came through the kitchen door with a very awful look on her face just as Snape left Grimmauld Place.

"What did he do Em?" Lupin questioned.

"He really shouldn't EVER clean. He doesn't know how to." she grumpily replied. "I better go get rid of that smell."

Emilee went back into the kitchen. A few minutes later, the smell was gone. She came back into the den, a great deal happier since Snape had left.

"What were you and Professor Snape arguing about, Remus?" Harry curiously asked.

"Well, Harry, I guess you can't call me Remus anymore," Lupin replied.

"Does that mean-?" Harry questioned in awe.

"Yes, it does. I have some news, everyone. I am teaching at Hogwarts again." Lupin grinned.