Chapter 4
The Most Unexpected Guest
Harry was awestruck, to say the least. First the talking stationary, then the message of Sirius's sparkling image. And, of course, the arrival of one of his father's oldest friends.
Remus Lupin looked surprisingly better than the last time Harry had seen him. That was, considering the fact that he was a werewolf. Harry knew that the full moon had just passed, which was the cause for Lupin's paler than usual complexion and the reason for his suken, hollow looking eyes. Despite this, he looked fuller than normal, as if he had managed to put on some weight. And he was wearing new robes of the darkest midnight blue. Occasionally a shooting star would travel from the hem of the garment all the way to the shoulder, and then fade away like a distant dream.
"I'm glad to see that you're looking well, Harry," Lupin said, beaming. He and Harry exchanged a quick hug and stood back, taking in all of the changes that had occurred.
"You've grown even taller than the last time I've seen you," Lupin said, scratching his head absentmindedly. "You're a spitting image of your father at your age."
"You look as though some food is finally sticking to your bones," Harry said, grinning widely. "And the robes do suit you quite well."
"Ha!" Lupin laughed, sitting down in the one chair in the room. "I've been devouring Molly's food for over a year. I swear, I've never been so anxious to be hungry before now. And the robes, well, Sirius demanded that I go out and buy some new ones. He said that no half-man should look so shabby for the rest of his life."
At the mention of Sirius's name, the smiles on Lupin's and Harry's faces faded. "I take it you've received the Converselope," Lupin said, a bit more quietly.
"I did," Harry replied. "Just a minute ago, actually."
"Do you have any questions?"
"Yes," Harry said, eying the letter ever so slightly. "Why did Sirius write it in the first place? He couldn't have predicted his death."
Lupin sighed heavily. "No, I'm sure he didn't. Sirius always had an air of invincibility. He believed that nothing could touch him, and I'm sure the thought never even occurred to anyone else. Nonetheless, once Voldemort returned and the Order reconvened, everyone recorded Converselopes."
"Does everyone in the Order make them?"
"Yes. It's one of the more thoughtful measures Dumbledore has the Order take. Some people have only a few to do. Others have several, but hopefully, there won't have to be anymore sent out."
Harry pondered this thought. He could only imagine how many Mr. and Mrs. Weasley must have. He shuddered at the thought. "How many did Sirius have?"
"Four. Ones to you, I, Dumbledore, and, well, the fourth is actually the reason I'm here."
Harry hadn't even asked why Lupin had come to him so early. After the excitement wore off, he realized that this was an odd visit indeed. Members of the Order weren't supposed to arrive to bring him to Headquarters until late next week. And the fact that the Dursleys hadn't made a noise was rather suspect as well.
"Why are you here, Remus?" Harry asked.
"We need you to be at Twelve Grimmauld Place to meet someone when they arrive."
"Who's coming? And why do you need me to meet them?" Harry could sense the feelings of resentment building up inside of himself. "Why don't you just be honest with me and tell me what's going on," Harry said a bit too loudly. "This seems a bit too familiar. Didn't we go through this last year? Wasn't this how it all began? Didn't Dumbledore say that Sirius would be alive if I had JUST BEEN TOLD THE TRUTH FROM THE BEGINNING?"
"Harry, believe me, if I knew more I would tell you. The only one who understands all of this-"
"-is Dumbledore." Harry somehow felt that his reoccurring feelings were justified. It made perfect sense. "All right. Give me a moment to pack," Harry mumbled.
"Here, let me do it," Lupin said, pulling out his wand.
"Accio supplisis!" Lupin said forcefully. Immediately all of Harry's robes and clothing popped out of his armoire and into the open trunk at the end of his bed. All of his books, supplies and other items followed suit. The last items in were his Invisibility Cloak, the Marauders' Map and the melted magical knife Sirius had given to him. It was of no use now, but Harry could not bring himself to part with it. The all were wrapped within a heavy piece of black velvet, and they settle nicely in the top of his trunk. Harry threw in his supply list for school, the Converselope, along with other letters he had received from Hermione and Ron this summer, and what food he had left in his room. The trunk shut and locked with a small thunk and click. He got his Firebolt from a corner of the room and grabbed Hedwig's cage. Hedwig gave a small indignant hoot.
"Is anyone else here?" Harry asked. The summer before, he had a small entourage accompany him to headquarters.
At that moment there was a small pop and Tonks appeared next to him. She was sporting cotton candy pink hair in nearly foot long spikes.
"I left them a message saying we have him. Nasty snore that Vernon Dursley has." Tonks beamed at Harry and took him into a great hug. "How are you doing, Harry?" she asked, releasing him.
Harry couldn't help but smile. Tonks had a way of stealing attention, though it was unintended. Her appearance was something of a marvel.
"I like the hair, Tonks. Very rock n' roll."
"Rock n' what?" Tonks asked, looked befuddled.
Harry grinned. "Never mind. So how are we getting there? Flying? Floo Powder? Apparation?"
Lupin smiled. "Something a little more basic." He pointed to Harry's small desk. "Portkey."
The Most Unexpected Guest
Harry was awestruck, to say the least. First the talking stationary, then the message of Sirius's sparkling image. And, of course, the arrival of one of his father's oldest friends.
Remus Lupin looked surprisingly better than the last time Harry had seen him. That was, considering the fact that he was a werewolf. Harry knew that the full moon had just passed, which was the cause for Lupin's paler than usual complexion and the reason for his suken, hollow looking eyes. Despite this, he looked fuller than normal, as if he had managed to put on some weight. And he was wearing new robes of the darkest midnight blue. Occasionally a shooting star would travel from the hem of the garment all the way to the shoulder, and then fade away like a distant dream.
"I'm glad to see that you're looking well, Harry," Lupin said, beaming. He and Harry exchanged a quick hug and stood back, taking in all of the changes that had occurred.
"You've grown even taller than the last time I've seen you," Lupin said, scratching his head absentmindedly. "You're a spitting image of your father at your age."
"You look as though some food is finally sticking to your bones," Harry said, grinning widely. "And the robes do suit you quite well."
"Ha!" Lupin laughed, sitting down in the one chair in the room. "I've been devouring Molly's food for over a year. I swear, I've never been so anxious to be hungry before now. And the robes, well, Sirius demanded that I go out and buy some new ones. He said that no half-man should look so shabby for the rest of his life."
At the mention of Sirius's name, the smiles on Lupin's and Harry's faces faded. "I take it you've received the Converselope," Lupin said, a bit more quietly.
"I did," Harry replied. "Just a minute ago, actually."
"Do you have any questions?"
"Yes," Harry said, eying the letter ever so slightly. "Why did Sirius write it in the first place? He couldn't have predicted his death."
Lupin sighed heavily. "No, I'm sure he didn't. Sirius always had an air of invincibility. He believed that nothing could touch him, and I'm sure the thought never even occurred to anyone else. Nonetheless, once Voldemort returned and the Order reconvened, everyone recorded Converselopes."
"Does everyone in the Order make them?"
"Yes. It's one of the more thoughtful measures Dumbledore has the Order take. Some people have only a few to do. Others have several, but hopefully, there won't have to be anymore sent out."
Harry pondered this thought. He could only imagine how many Mr. and Mrs. Weasley must have. He shuddered at the thought. "How many did Sirius have?"
"Four. Ones to you, I, Dumbledore, and, well, the fourth is actually the reason I'm here."
Harry hadn't even asked why Lupin had come to him so early. After the excitement wore off, he realized that this was an odd visit indeed. Members of the Order weren't supposed to arrive to bring him to Headquarters until late next week. And the fact that the Dursleys hadn't made a noise was rather suspect as well.
"Why are you here, Remus?" Harry asked.
"We need you to be at Twelve Grimmauld Place to meet someone when they arrive."
"Who's coming? And why do you need me to meet them?" Harry could sense the feelings of resentment building up inside of himself. "Why don't you just be honest with me and tell me what's going on," Harry said a bit too loudly. "This seems a bit too familiar. Didn't we go through this last year? Wasn't this how it all began? Didn't Dumbledore say that Sirius would be alive if I had JUST BEEN TOLD THE TRUTH FROM THE BEGINNING?"
"Harry, believe me, if I knew more I would tell you. The only one who understands all of this-"
"-is Dumbledore." Harry somehow felt that his reoccurring feelings were justified. It made perfect sense. "All right. Give me a moment to pack," Harry mumbled.
"Here, let me do it," Lupin said, pulling out his wand.
"Accio supplisis!" Lupin said forcefully. Immediately all of Harry's robes and clothing popped out of his armoire and into the open trunk at the end of his bed. All of his books, supplies and other items followed suit. The last items in were his Invisibility Cloak, the Marauders' Map and the melted magical knife Sirius had given to him. It was of no use now, but Harry could not bring himself to part with it. The all were wrapped within a heavy piece of black velvet, and they settle nicely in the top of his trunk. Harry threw in his supply list for school, the Converselope, along with other letters he had received from Hermione and Ron this summer, and what food he had left in his room. The trunk shut and locked with a small thunk and click. He got his Firebolt from a corner of the room and grabbed Hedwig's cage. Hedwig gave a small indignant hoot.
"Is anyone else here?" Harry asked. The summer before, he had a small entourage accompany him to headquarters.
At that moment there was a small pop and Tonks appeared next to him. She was sporting cotton candy pink hair in nearly foot long spikes.
"I left them a message saying we have him. Nasty snore that Vernon Dursley has." Tonks beamed at Harry and took him into a great hug. "How are you doing, Harry?" she asked, releasing him.
Harry couldn't help but smile. Tonks had a way of stealing attention, though it was unintended. Her appearance was something of a marvel.
"I like the hair, Tonks. Very rock n' roll."
"Rock n' what?" Tonks asked, looked befuddled.
Harry grinned. "Never mind. So how are we getting there? Flying? Floo Powder? Apparation?"
Lupin smiled. "Something a little more basic." He pointed to Harry's small desk. "Portkey."