Return to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place

Remus J. Lupin paced nervously around the hall of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. He had offered to move there after the death of his only living friend, Sirius Black. It wrenched him to think about it. He had sat alone, in this house's only room full of pictures, staring blankly at the wall for quite some time after his death, remembering the best times he had with all of them, James, Sirius…

Dumbledore had made sure he had been given wolfsbane so that he did not transform and become out of control. He was still allowed to curl up in a corner and sleep peacefully. The plant's uses had yet to be discovered by the public, so no one carried it in Diagon Alley. If it weren't for Dumbledore, Remus would still be dangerous.

He had a different problem at hand, though. They had just gotten news that Voldemort was moving for a new plan now. He had decided his old body was too old, and he needed another one, a new host. They were not sure whom, though, so the Order had been called to discuss possible victims. Snape had been doing extra spying for them recently, along with two other spying Death Eaters. Voldemort had yet to reveal whom he was planning on infesting, even to his followers.

Remus was currently waiting for the Weasleys. They had been sent an owl that morning, and had been told of a Portkey they could use. It was rumored that some Death Eaters were keeping an eye on it, trying to find the place of the Order of the Phoenix. Honestly, the old house of the Blacks was one of the last they'd be searching.

Remus had just checked outside the door, when a group of spinning people materialized in front of him, quickly coming to halt.

'Good, you're here,' he said calmly, though urgency was clearly sketched in his face. 'The Order will be starting soon,' he said, and Mrs. Weasley nodded.

'Thank you, Remus,' she said, letting go of the torn-up rubber chicken they all were holding and motioned to her children and Terry, 'we didn't know how long we'd be so we brought all of them, hope it won't be a problem.' Remus shook his head, and led Mr. Weasley, his wife, and Charlie to the dinning room.

'Bill came straight here, we gave him an owl this morning at Gringotts,' at this Fred nudged George, and they grinned at each other.

'Finally got that desk job…' Fred whispered quietly, and they strode off to make good use of their extendable ears.

Terry, by now, was in a rather confused state. They had hurried her from the Burrow along with the others, and they had used the chicken as a Portkey. Now that the confusion had ended she turned to Ron.

'Ron,' she said, but Ron put a hand over her mouth.

'Sh…' he said, 'you'll wake her picture…' he said, and motioned to a pair of curtains.

'Who's it of?' Terry asked as he took her into the bedroom he had shared with Harry the summer before. Ginny closed the door behind them quietly.

'Mrs. Black,' Ginny said in a normal tone, and sat on the bed. 'She tends to scream… a lot.'

'Bitch, that one,' Ron said, and climbed the ladder to the top bunk. 'Now, what did you want?'

'No one's explained to me what the Order was,' Terry replied, and Ron nodded.

'Oh, yeah, sorry, we were at a bit of a rush,' he said, and explained the Order and what it was for. By the end Terry looked thouroughly upset.

''E's back?' she asked, and Ginny nodded.

'He has been for about two years now,' she said, and Terry sat on the bed as if her legs had given out on her.

''Is followers are back?'

'Most of them.'

'And why are we 'ere?' she asked, looking around the room. 'Number twelve Grimmauld Place is the most unpleasant place I've 'ad the 'orror to set my eyes on.'

'Er-' Ron said: no one had told her the address.

'Mrs. Black, as you probably know her, was my mum's second cousin,' Terry explained, 'speaking of which, do you know what 'appened to Sirius? We 'ad always gotten along well, I've known 'im ever since… did I say somefing wrong?' she asked, as Ginny looked up at her older brother.

'She doesn't know…' she said, and Terry looked around.

'I don't know what? I know that 'e used to be in Azkaban, if that's what you-'

'Terry, Sirius died,' Ginny said and much of the color drained from Terry's face.

'You're not serious…' but Ginny and Ron both nodded. 'O-oh… well… that… that doesn't come as much of a… much of a surprise… I guess…' she muttered, and stared at her shoes.

'You going to be ok?' Ron asked, and she nodded, forcing a smile.

'Oh, yeah, I'll be fine,' she said. In reality she felt like screaming and throwing just about everything in the room. She had been so little when she had become friends with Sirius that she doubted he had remembered her at all, but he had been the only one in her family that thought like her for most of the time… She couldn't remember his face clearly, except for the fact that he had been extremely good looking.

'I think I'm gonna have a look around,' she announced, and left the room, going into the hall. She honestly didn't know why it hurt that Sirius had died, she had never thought about it until she had been back in the house. She hadn't even been that surprised when he had ran away from home when she was three, as far as she could remember, and she had a sharp memory when she had a mind to. She had come over with her mother that day, and listen to three straight hours of Petronela Black's bitching about how much of a horrible son he was and how glad she was that he was gone. Terry's mother had threatened to do the same if Terry ever was such a disappointment to the family. Unfortunately, Terry had been.

And Voldemort was back? Well, her father should be happy. He was one of Voldemort's most loyal followers. She could just see his expression of glee under the hooded cloak. It made her want to vomit. Instead she looked at the pictures on the wall, which were sleeping in their frames.

'I don't know what we can do,' Lupin stared at Snape as Snape said these words, 'he hasn't told us who he plans to take over, and it's not very likely he will if he hasn't yet,' unfortunately, Lupin had to agree. Voldemort was starting to fear spies in his ranks and was taking precautions. He had yet to explain anything to anyone fully.

'The best we can do,' Dumbledore said quietly behind his touching finger-tips, 'is keep a close eye on people. If they start acting oddly we'll contact the Order immediately.' People took these words as the final ones, and after a moment of silence everyone stood. One-by-one they filed out of the dining room, and through the kitchen. Remus was surprised to find a young woman sitting at the kitchen table along with Ginny, having a cup of tea. She watched as the Order walked out, and when her eyes fell on Snape, he glared back at her.

'What are you doing here?' he asked, and she took another sip of tea.

'I'm a guest at the Weasley's,' she said, smirking.

'Come to set off more stink-bombs, have we, Doony?' he asked, in a quiet, murderous voice.

'I've grown up a bit, Professor,' the girl said, 'spilled any perfectly good potions lately?'

'As a matter of fa-' he started, but Lupin stepped in between them, feeling the tension growing.

'Good bye, Severus,' he said, and with a sneer Snape turned, walking out the door. The Weasley's were still talking to Bill in the dining room, and as Snape left, the young woman sipped her tea calmly.

'What was that about?' Ginny asked, and she shrugged.

'Snape and I go back,' she said simply, and Ginny let it go. 'He tends to 'old grudges.' As the last member left, (a chair successfully knocked over by Tonks) Lupin turned to the two.

'Hello, Miss. Weasley,' he said, and Ginny smiled.

'Hello, Professor,' she greeted, and the girl named Doony looked at him.

'Professor?' she asked, and he nodded, sticking out his hand.

'Yes, Professor Remus J. Lupin,' he said, 'Defense Against the Dark Arts, only a year, I'm afraid.'

'Which one was that?' she asked as she took his hand.

'Ninety-three to ninety-four.'

'Ah, the year after I left… pity I wasted my N.E.W.T year on Lockheart. Anyway, Theresa Doony pleased to meet you.' When she sat down he looked quickly at her hair, but she didn't seem to notice. He found it odd and slightly familiar that she had gray hair at such a young age. 'Tea, Professor?' she asked, and he agreed happily.

'Oh, that reminds me…' he said, and went over to the icebox. From inside he pulled out a goblet, which even though it was in the refrigerator, smoked. Teresa looked at it inquisitively, and Lupin looked down at the contents.

'Is that what they were talking about you taking in school?' Ginny asked and Lupin nodded.

'Yes,' he said grimly, and noticing Terry's now confused expression he took it upon himself to explain. 'I'm a werewolf, Miss. Doony,' he said, and she looked surprised for a second, before forcing a smile and standing up.

'Well, it's wonderful to meet you,' she said hurriedly and pushed her chair in, 'but I think I'd better tell Ron it's over.' She said rather loudly, and ran rather hard up the stairs. Too hard. Immediately the curtains over Petronela Black's picture flew open, and the house ran with her shrieks.

'YOU!' she cried, staring at Terry, 'HOW COULD YOU? HURTING YOUR POOR MOTHER LIKE THAT, BEING ACCEPTED INTO GRYFFINDOR! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, WHERE DID SHE GO WRONG?' Lupin was there in a flash, and among Mrs. Black's shrieking, he got the curtains closed, and there was silence. Terry's face was completely white.

'That picture…' Lupin said, shaking his head, 'we still haven't gotten it out. Now, what was that about, anyway?'

'Family problems,' Terry muttered, as she regained some of the color in her face. 'Speaking of werewolves,' she said, in a forced calm, though no one had spoken of the subject again, 'what day of the month is it?' Lupin thought for a moment before remembering.

'The twenty-third,' he said, and she nodded. 'Is there anything wrong?'

'No, nothing at all. Good, good, thank you,' she had just turned and started to walk down the hall, when she turned again.

'Professor Lupin,' she said, and he turned back around.

'Yes?'

'Actually, there is something bothering me… you see, the Weasley's were kind enough a week ago to let me 'ave a place to stay. You see, I was not living anywhere at that point, and Mrs. Weasley pitied me… but their kids are 'ere now, and I'm afraid I'm just taking up space and food. I've also known this 'ouse since I was a child, and I was wondering, since you're the only one 'ere… that I might be able to stay 'ere… I don't mean to intrude or be rude, but…' she glanced down to the floor as if she could see them talking happily together, 'I can't live off them forever. I have a job, so I can pay for my own food, a-' Lupin nodded before she could go on.

'Yes, my dear, of course,' Lupin said, smiling, 'I daresay I have too much of a house and not enough people here now. Company would be grand.' Teresa's mouth almost dropped to the ground. That had been… easy!

'Well, thank you!' she said, collecting herself, 'but really, if I'm intruding on your privacy-'

'No, no, don't be silly,' he said with a smile. 'You all ready know what I am, and for you to have the courage to ask even after that, by all means I have no problem with it.' An odd twinkle was in his eye, and he started to walk down the stairs. 'Better tell the Weasley's, though, I think they'll be leaving soon.'

'Certainly!' she said, and hurried quietly down the stairs. She didn't know the man, but she trusted him strangely easily. It was as if the air around him made you comfortable. When she came into the dining room, Mr. Weasley and his wife were talking to their son Bill.

'Yes, dear?' Mrs. Weasley asked when she saw Teresa, and she turned to Bill. 'Bill, this is the young woman we said was staying with us,' she said as they shook hands.

'Bill Weasley,' he said politely, his fang-earring dangling. To Teresa his tone clashed oddly with his clothes.

'Teresa Doony,' Teresa said, and turned to Mrs. Weasley, 'and about that… Professor Lupin offered to let me stay 'ere. You've both been so kind to let me stay with you, but your house is filling up and I don't want to take up anymore of your space or food. I mean, I have a job, I can provide other things for myself, it was just the shelter that was a problem.' She said, but Mrs. Weasley looked around the house.

'I'm… I'm not sure, dear, you've been such wonderful company, and Remus had just moved in here-' her husband tapped her on the shoulder, though.

'Molly, I think some company is just what Remus needs. After all, Sirius…' he muttered, and Molly sighed.

'Yes, yes, you're right,' she said, 'I just hate to see you go, but your right, it's not such a bad idea…' she said, and put an arm around Teresa's shoulder. 'You should at least come back and get your things,' she said, and Teresa agreed.

Erhm… yeah, another chapter! YAY! YAY, DAMNIT! WAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!