REUNIONS

"Everyone to the Kitchen, its dinner time!!" said Mrs.Weasley over everyone's voices.  Harry walked into the kitchen to come across the most enormous cake ever, modeled after a golden snitch. The cake was happily fluttering around the place. "It's enchanted, It'll fly around till you're ready to cut it" explained Hermione. Fireworks exploded all over the place as Harry blew out the candles and cut the cake. The noise culminated with all the people breaking out into a chorus of "Happy Birthday dear Harry……."

Harry couldn't remember a happier day in his life.

 Just before leaving professor Dumbledore handed Harry a "Harry, here you are, it's a portkey to my office, use it when you think you are ready. We need to have a little talk. Just brush the ring thrice and you'll be there."

"So, how've you been old mate" Harry turned around to face both Ron and Hermione. He just realized that he had been at number 12 for over 5 hours and had not had a proper conversation with either of them. "I'm sorry……I didn't talk earlier…you know…..with the party…..with Sirius and stuff ….."  "No need for and apology Harry, and we were just as speechless when we saw Sirius tonight" said Hermione.

""What do you mean saw him tonight? Weren't you guys here all the time? At least Ron…after you know, what happened to the burrow. How did it happen anyway?" The words came out in a rush. There was so much catching up to do. It seemed like Ron too was waiting for this moment, for words gushed out at a tremendous pace.

"It was a holiday at the ministry; I guess you know who figured all of us would be home. We would have been, if it hadn't been for your birthday. Professor Lupin had us come over here to help him get the place in shape. Dad went with Fred and George to see their work shop. They needed to get some stuff for you, and mom didn't trust them enough to get the right stuff for you…..if you know what I mean? You should see their shop, its wonderful. They've got 2 floors….."

Harry marveled at how Ron could completely diverge from the topic in discussion. "Ron…you were talking about the burrow!!!" "Oh! Yes….. so when we were done clearing up and preparing for your party, we decided to go home for the night. We traveled by floo powder. When I stepped into the fireplace and yelled BURROW I was thrown back into this room!! Professor Lupin immediately contacted Dumbledore. He said that floos throw their passengers out only when the destination does not exist or has been closed. Dumbledore and dad came back with the news that the burrow was gone!! They said that it was completely razed to the ground. Luckily all of us were away. Fred and George had heard Dumbledore saying that he had discovered remnants of residual magic and that it was no natural disaster!!"

"I'm sorry Ron said Harry. I'd always thought the Burrow was the perfect house…."

"Don't be…..yelled Ron haven't you seen the mobile Burrow, it's way cooler than our old one! And all of us are safe aren't we and I get to spend all summer with you folks this way?" Harry and Hermione exchanged significant glances. "I'm…eh…glad that you are taking this well Ron….real brave of you. What's up with you Hermione? When did you get here?"

"Well, I came here today morning, after sending my parents off to France. Professor Dumbledore wanted quick action. He felt that it was in the best interests of all muggle born wizarding families to relocate themselves in distant locations…basically away from here. The attacks have started Harry and the Professor feels that it will only get worse."

"Don't look so forlorn Harry; we at least get to spend the rest of summer together. Nothing's lost yet, we all are in one piece and more importantly Sirius is back"

"Hey speaking of Sirius, you guys haven't told me what you learnt from him"

"Nothing!! Professor Lupin was very secretive about it and had even placed an Impenetrable charm around the painting. He said it was to be opened by Harry only and no one else."

 "Or else you'd have ruined the surprise….said Lupin as he walked into the room carry a life sized framed canvas. "Hey, what's that for?" asked Harry. "Oh this is so that Sirius can stretch his legs. I am placing empty canvasses all around the house and bewitching them so that Sirius can walk around, feel at home"

"EXCELLENT IDEA" said all three in chorus. "What's an excellent idea? Boomed Sirius' voice as he entered the empty frame Lupin had just place over the fire place. "Hey moony, couldn't you find a better place for this, its right over the fire, and I'm sweating already. It's terribly hot!!!"

"Hey Sirius, I've been dying to ask you? Can you still transform when you are a portrait?" asked Ron.  "Fat help it'll be to be able to turn into a dog when you are nothing but an animation, capable of running from frame to frame!!! snapped Sirius, we portraits are totally incapable of magic."

"I really must read up on charms on paintings" muttered Hermione. "Light reading Hermione? bantered Ron

"I want you guys to leave this room, I need to talk to Harry alone" said Sirius.

"Anything you say to Harry, you can say in front of us……isn't that right mate?"

Sirius stared at Harry, with an eyebrow raised. After a while, Harry said softly "I don't know Ron, there are a few things that, I don't think you are quite ready to hear!" He looked pleadingly at Hermione who quickly responded" C'mon Ron, he'll tell us later, let's go and with that she dragged a rather reluctant, red faced Ron out of the room. Lupin quickly followed suit.

"Let's get straight to it. You, Dumbledore and I are the only ones who know the prophecy." "How do you know?"

"Well Dumbledore decided to tell me because he felt you would need someone to share your feelings, secondly, no one can gain access to a portrait's mind through legillimency.  So I was the right choice for more than one reason. Now you need to master legillimency, if Voldemort gets an inkling of what the prophecy says, you can imagine what he will do. Any you know that you are in no shape to face him" Harry felt a familiar surge of anger rush through him as he heard this. "There is no need to blow steam at what I've said. I accept that you've battled him more often than any know wizard and come out tops. Something not many full grown wizards can boast of, but I'm sure you witnessed the duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort? Do you think you can do just as well in a one on one combat with Voldemort, or Lestrange or the rest of the death eaters? Remember they come not as one's or two's but as hoards.

I think you know what you have to do Harry. Talk to Dumbledore, he's the only one who can help you. Do what he says." Harry flared up "Look what listening to him, did to you, and did to me!!! If he had been upfront with me, would this have happened to you? Tell me… TELL ME!!! "

"People make mistakes Harry" "BUT OTHER PEOPLE'S MISTAKES ALWAYS SEEM TO COST ME!!! FIRST MY PARENTS, NOW YOU"

"At least you have got me back  ...…..err…..to some extent at least! And what ever has happened gives you no excuse for your actions!!  And stop blaming Dumbledore for what has happened." 

Sirius broke the silence "Think about what I've said Harry, I know you will." With that Sirius left the canvas leaving Harry to stare at the blank canvas. 

After a few moments, Harry brushed his ring thrice, felt the familiar tug behind the navel and landed spot in the middle of Dumbledore's office. "Here I am sir, I'm ready for our talk!"

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