Hi everyone!
Sorry it's taken me ages to update. I've been really busy with assignments and stuff but mid-semester break is next week and things have calmed down for a moment. Thanks everyone for your reviews so far, they've been great :)
~RV
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Professor Lupin pulled himself all the way through the manhole and sat himself on the dusty floor. He smiled widely at Harry although Harry knew he was only doing it to make him feel better. Harry was unsure of how to respond. "Err" stammered Harry, "What did the Dursleys have to say about you being here?" Lupin grinned. This time however, it was a genuine smile.
"Well" replied Lupin, Professor Dumbledore has been spending an awful lot of time at the Ministry of Magic lately, you know, trying to help Cornelius Fudge out of the huge mess he's made" Lupin sighed. "Anyway, it seems as though Fudge was obliging to agree to a request Dumbledore made regarding you at the Dursleys". By now, Harry was hanging on Lupins every word. Lupin continued. "Generally speaking, by law, magic cannot be performed in front of muggles but due to some special circumstances and Dumbledore's influence, the Dursleys are now an exception to this law".
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Harry "So that means that anyone can apparate and disapparate as they please as well?"
"Yes and No" smiled Lupin, "Anyone wanting permission for apparation here must receive personal permission from Dumbledore himself first, due to the bran of magic keeping you safe here. Anyone without permission who tries will find themselves standing in front of Dumbledore and believe me, people wouldn't want that!"
"Yeah" agreed Harry, "Not an angry Dumbledore anyway".
"People with permission from Dumbledore can only arrive at certain times and apparation must take place in the designation place which in this case is the kitchen" continued Lupin. "However, myself, Tonks and Mad-Eye are exceptions to this rule so we can come and go to keep the Dursleys in check. Oh" added Lupin "I believe Fred and George Weasley were one of the first to seek and gain permission so expect a visit from them soon. Oh, and they are under strict order not to feed your cousin anything" Lupin finished, trying to hide a grin from him face.
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. All this was done for him? Words couldn't express how grateful he was for all the work everyone had gone out of their way to do. Somehow, wiping his face, he pulled himself together. Before he could answer though, Professor Lupin spoke again. "Do you mind if I open this box here Harry?" Lupin jerked his head towards the box nearest to him. Harry did not mind at all and watched Lupin open the box. Dust rose into the air and when it cleared, Harry saw that it was filled with photograph album after photograph album. Lupin reached in and pulled out the top-most album and so Harry could see it, he opened it up. A name was written in faded gold ink on the inside of the cover - "Suzanne Potter".
"This was your Grandmothers album" Lupin spoke softly as he passed it to Harry. Trembling, Harry turned the page and was faced with a number of smiling faces all waves at him. The first photograph showed a young couple holding their newborn child in their arms - Harry's father. Turning the pages, Harry saw the newborn growing up - riding a toy broomstick, playing in the park, sitting at the beach, standing with his parents inside The Leaky Cauldron and proudly displaying what Harry recognised as a letter from Hogwarts. As Harry turned the page again, he saw his father again, his messy hair sticking up at the back, his arm around the shoulders of a boy with black hair. Both were laughing and pulling faces. Harry instantly recognised the black-haired boy to be Sirius.
"That would have been when Sirius moved in with James' family" Lupin said quietly. Lupins face had fallen as he struggled to keep his composure. It suddenly clicked to Harry - he had been so self-absorbed in his own loss that he had not taken the time to consider how everyone else was coping. Here seated next to him was a man who had now lost his three best friends - two to death and one to the dark side.
Not knowing what to say, Harry awkwardly turned back to the photo album and this time, he came across a photo of the four friends: His father, Sirius, Professor Lupin and Wormtail all sitting together on a garden wall. All four of them were laughing as Wormtail fell off the wall and into the flowerbed. "I remember when that one was taken" sighed Lupin as he watched Wormtail, embarrassed but laughing, climb back up onto the wall. "You know Harry, despite was people think, Peter did have a conscience. It's just a matter of time before it will catch back up on him". Harry however, was watching his father and Sirius clutching their sides, obviously hurting from extreme laughter.
"Professor Lupin" asked Harry suddenly, "Why was my Dad and Sirius so horrible to Snape at Hogwarts?" Lupin suddenly became very alert as he looked at his watch.
"I'm sorry Harry, have you seen the time? I'm on duty in ten minutes". Lupin avoided Harry's eyes as he spoke. "Anything from up ere you want, make sure you take it down to your room". Awkwardly, Lupin patted Harry on the arm. "Remember, if you need anything, send us an owl. Do you want someone from the Order to pay you regular visits?" Harry thought for a moment.
"Yeah, I'd like that".
"Good" replied Lupin "I'll speak to you soon". With a crack, he was gone, leaving Harry with more than a few thoughts to ponder.
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Thanks for reading! I'd love it if you could drop me a review :) Next chapter will be up very soon.I promise! (It's written, just needs to be typed ;) )
~RV
Sorry it's taken me ages to update. I've been really busy with assignments and stuff but mid-semester break is next week and things have calmed down for a moment. Thanks everyone for your reviews so far, they've been great :)
~RV
********************
Professor Lupin pulled himself all the way through the manhole and sat himself on the dusty floor. He smiled widely at Harry although Harry knew he was only doing it to make him feel better. Harry was unsure of how to respond. "Err" stammered Harry, "What did the Dursleys have to say about you being here?" Lupin grinned. This time however, it was a genuine smile.
"Well" replied Lupin, Professor Dumbledore has been spending an awful lot of time at the Ministry of Magic lately, you know, trying to help Cornelius Fudge out of the huge mess he's made" Lupin sighed. "Anyway, it seems as though Fudge was obliging to agree to a request Dumbledore made regarding you at the Dursleys". By now, Harry was hanging on Lupins every word. Lupin continued. "Generally speaking, by law, magic cannot be performed in front of muggles but due to some special circumstances and Dumbledore's influence, the Dursleys are now an exception to this law".
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Harry "So that means that anyone can apparate and disapparate as they please as well?"
"Yes and No" smiled Lupin, "Anyone wanting permission for apparation here must receive personal permission from Dumbledore himself first, due to the bran of magic keeping you safe here. Anyone without permission who tries will find themselves standing in front of Dumbledore and believe me, people wouldn't want that!"
"Yeah" agreed Harry, "Not an angry Dumbledore anyway".
"People with permission from Dumbledore can only arrive at certain times and apparation must take place in the designation place which in this case is the kitchen" continued Lupin. "However, myself, Tonks and Mad-Eye are exceptions to this rule so we can come and go to keep the Dursleys in check. Oh" added Lupin "I believe Fred and George Weasley were one of the first to seek and gain permission so expect a visit from them soon. Oh, and they are under strict order not to feed your cousin anything" Lupin finished, trying to hide a grin from him face.
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. All this was done for him? Words couldn't express how grateful he was for all the work everyone had gone out of their way to do. Somehow, wiping his face, he pulled himself together. Before he could answer though, Professor Lupin spoke again. "Do you mind if I open this box here Harry?" Lupin jerked his head towards the box nearest to him. Harry did not mind at all and watched Lupin open the box. Dust rose into the air and when it cleared, Harry saw that it was filled with photograph album after photograph album. Lupin reached in and pulled out the top-most album and so Harry could see it, he opened it up. A name was written in faded gold ink on the inside of the cover - "Suzanne Potter".
"This was your Grandmothers album" Lupin spoke softly as he passed it to Harry. Trembling, Harry turned the page and was faced with a number of smiling faces all waves at him. The first photograph showed a young couple holding their newborn child in their arms - Harry's father. Turning the pages, Harry saw the newborn growing up - riding a toy broomstick, playing in the park, sitting at the beach, standing with his parents inside The Leaky Cauldron and proudly displaying what Harry recognised as a letter from Hogwarts. As Harry turned the page again, he saw his father again, his messy hair sticking up at the back, his arm around the shoulders of a boy with black hair. Both were laughing and pulling faces. Harry instantly recognised the black-haired boy to be Sirius.
"That would have been when Sirius moved in with James' family" Lupin said quietly. Lupins face had fallen as he struggled to keep his composure. It suddenly clicked to Harry - he had been so self-absorbed in his own loss that he had not taken the time to consider how everyone else was coping. Here seated next to him was a man who had now lost his three best friends - two to death and one to the dark side.
Not knowing what to say, Harry awkwardly turned back to the photo album and this time, he came across a photo of the four friends: His father, Sirius, Professor Lupin and Wormtail all sitting together on a garden wall. All four of them were laughing as Wormtail fell off the wall and into the flowerbed. "I remember when that one was taken" sighed Lupin as he watched Wormtail, embarrassed but laughing, climb back up onto the wall. "You know Harry, despite was people think, Peter did have a conscience. It's just a matter of time before it will catch back up on him". Harry however, was watching his father and Sirius clutching their sides, obviously hurting from extreme laughter.
"Professor Lupin" asked Harry suddenly, "Why was my Dad and Sirius so horrible to Snape at Hogwarts?" Lupin suddenly became very alert as he looked at his watch.
"I'm sorry Harry, have you seen the time? I'm on duty in ten minutes". Lupin avoided Harry's eyes as he spoke. "Anything from up ere you want, make sure you take it down to your room". Awkwardly, Lupin patted Harry on the arm. "Remember, if you need anything, send us an owl. Do you want someone from the Order to pay you regular visits?" Harry thought for a moment.
"Yeah, I'd like that".
"Good" replied Lupin "I'll speak to you soon". With a crack, he was gone, leaving Harry with more than a few thoughts to ponder.
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Thanks for reading! I'd love it if you could drop me a review :) Next chapter will be up very soon.I promise! (It's written, just needs to be typed ;) )
~RV