" I wondered when I was going to see you again Remus," Dumbledore said the second Remus opened his office door, the look on his face showing no sign of anger or curiosity, but Remus knew that Dumbledore was aware that Harry was taken from the Dursley's, and he was pretty sure Dumbledore knew who did it.
The blasted man seemed to know everything.
Before Remus had the chance to respond, Dumbedore took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes shutting as he muttered his next words.
" It seems Mr. Potter has been removed from his relatives… you wouldn't happen to know why that is, do you?" His voice was resigned, not a bit challenging.
Remus plopped down in the cushioned chair in front of Dumbledore's desk and sighed heavily. He knew what was to come, a long debate that he knew he had to win.
Clearing his voice and sitting up straight, Remus took one last look around the office before answering.
"Yes, I am aware Harry has been taken as I was the one who took him." Remus said, waiting for Dumbledore to open his eyes and say something.
" And could you tell me why you did such a foolish thing Remus?" Dumbledore sighed, opening his eyes and gazing intently at the younger man before him.
Remus matched Dumbledore's gaze, his confidence not wavering.
" I thought it was in his best interest." Remus said simply, as if that should seal the matter.
" Yes, but you see, I thought it was in his best interest to keep him there- to protect him from Voldemort and the clan of Death Eaters waiting to kill him and bring him to the Dark Lord."
Temper getting the best of him, Remus sat up sharply, all niceties forgotten.
"Dumbledore! You go see what Harry's like when he's living with the Dursley's and see what it is you want to protect him from…"
" Are you saying there's a greater threat to Harry than Voldemort?" Dumbledore challenged, his voice tinted with disbelief.
Remebering that it was his mentor sitting across the table, Remus sunk into the comfort of the red arm chair and let his sore muscles relax for the first time in a long while.
" Yes Albus…" Remus said solemnly, his mind wandering to a time when Harry's situation reflected one of his own. A time when Remus was his own worst enemy. Something more dangerous than the most evil, senile wizard alive, an innocent but guilty sole, a lonely, depressed teenager whose world is out to get him, a kid with nothing to live for and everything to die for. " I think there's a new threat facing Harry these days, such a trivial one, so easy to look over…"
When Remus offered no further explanation, Dumbledore leaned over in his desk, " And may I ask you what it is?"
" Himself."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Had Dumbledore really missed such a threat? Had he over looked this potential problem so easily because Harry had taken everything else that had ever happened to him in stride, but then again, Harry had never watched one he loved, especially Sirius of all people, be murdered.
Perhaps he had expected too much of the boys tolerance. Yes, Harry had destroyed his office the night of his godfather's death, but despite that, Dumbledore assumed Harry would get over it, just like he had everything else.
" So- Harry, why don't you go outside for a while until supper is ready? Ron and the twins will be delighted you're here." Said Mrs. Weasley, looking Harry over affectionately and trying to hide her concern.
" What would you like for dinner?" She asked as an after note, wisely thinking he hadn't been able to eat his favorite dish for quite some time.
" Uh, well…" Harry stammered, " I'm not actually that hungry."
Mrs. Weasley's face immediately fell, loss of appetite, one of the first signs of depression.
" Okay Harry, go outside and play with the kids, and then we'll see about super." Mrs. Weasley said kindly pushing Harry out the door, who was soon accompanied by Hermione who looked very uncomfortable.
" Actually Harry, I think I'm going to go back inside." Hermione said trying to free her wrist from Harry's strong grasp while trying to ignore the smirk growing on Harry's face as he shook his head and kept walking.
" Harry- come on, what's the meaning of this?" Hermione pleaded after another unsuccessful attempt to free herself from Harry's hold, " I have books I have to read…"
" Hermione- come on, you've been inside all day, haven't you? Reading I bet. You need to take a break from all that studying, it wont do you any good… it's summer."
" No Harry, I have to…" Hermione began only to be interrupted when Harry stopped abruptly, her body running into his.
" Listen, I know you think there's a thousand other things you'd rather be doing than going down to the Quidditch post," Harry began, looking into Hermione's honey eyes wondering when his best friend had become so beautiful, and then again wondering when his other best friend Ron would actually admit it, " and all I'm asking is for thirty minutes max, if you don't like it then go ahead and go inside. But at least come out and play for a little bit- the last time I saw you on a broom was first year... and we had fun, so come on… I don't know if I'm going to be allowed to leave the Dursley's again this summer and I want both of my best friends with me, okay?" Harry asked sincerely.
Harry knew from the moment he asked her to do it for him, she would, and smiling in the known victory, he slung an arm over her shoulder and began the way to the post, " And besides, even if you suck, mo one will care… laugh maybe, but not care."
" I'm so glad you believe in me that much…" Hermione smirked, her head high in the air as she wriggled out from Harry's arm and passed him heading toward the Quidditch post, " And you can wipe that smirk off your face Potter, or I may have to send a Bludger your way to do it for me."
Still laughing, the two friends made their way down to where the rest of the Weasley kids were playing a hot game of Quidditch.
Harry didn't think it was possible for four people to play, but as clever as the twins were, they found a way. They enchanted the clubs to fly and hit the Bludgers (which seemed to be following Ginny as if on command to her great unhappiness) while Ginny and Fred were on opposite teams stealing the Quaffle from each other racing it down the length of the field as Ron and George guarded the hoops.
" Room for two more?" Harry shouted, causing Ron to almost fall off his broom in surprise.
" 'Arry!" Ron shouted incredulously. " What're you doin' 'ere mate?"
" Remus brought me." Harry said simply shrugging it off as if it were normal for their old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to swing by Privet and the Burrow, " So, is there room for a seeker anywhere?"
" Well, if 'Ermione will play, yeah." Ron said looking pointedly to Hermione who gave him an, 'I'm not impressed' smile under his gaze.
" Okay Hermione, all you have to do is catch the Snitch." Ron said slowly as if he were discussing Arithmacy instead of a sport after he landed to get her a broom from their shed.
" I know that Ron!" Hermione said shrilly, rolling her eyes in irritation, " I'm not as thick as you seem to think I am when it comes to Quidditch, I have after all been to every single on of Harry's games…"
Harry and Ron were sure she was going to begin to spout out some odd facts about this and that concerning Quidditch, so they just patted her on her back and walked toward the middle of the field hoping she would get the idea to just shut up and play.
Thirty minutes into the game, Harry came to the conclusion that Hermione wasn't actually that bad. But, of course, Harry was also pretending not to see the Snitch, but after five minutes of agonizing stalling waiting for Hermione to even catch a glance of it, she finally spotted it and they both took off for it, Harry of course reaching it first.
" Good game mate." Ron said patting Harry on the back as a annoyed Ginny walked by- it seemed that the Bludgers were very intent on following her through the game, almost knocking her off her broom more than several times.
" Kids! Supper time!" Mrs. Weasley's voice yelled, echoing through the English countryside.
" Perfect time…" Ron muttered under his breath as Harry, Hermione and he made their way back to the house, thinking how right it felt to have them all together again.
" Fred, George, set the table, and do not use magic." Mrs. Weasley said hastily, giving Harry the impression there had been many mishaps in the kitchen due to the twins. "You have your own two hands that are perfectly capable of taking the plate from the cupboard to the table."
Ron and Harry made their way to the down stairs bathroom piling into the small space to have a go at washing their hands.
" So Harry," Ron asked, looking at his friend who was sitting on the counter opposite him through the mirror as he scrubbed the suds off his hands, " why did Remus bring you here? I mean- don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did, but it's just sort of unexpected after everything that happened last year. I'd think Dumbledore would've you locked in your room to keep you safe…"
" Believe me Ron, it was a bit of a shock for me to find Professor Lupin standing outside my bedroom door…" Harry said with a fake laugh to deter from any further questions about Dumbledore.
Right now all Harry wanted to do was relax and have a good time with his friends because he honestly hadn't felt this good for weeks, which was saying something because he still felt a well of anger and despair in him, just not so strong with the company of the people he had considered his family, well next to Sirius...
Shaking his head, Harry tried desperately to think of something else, anything else when Ron finally spoke up returning Harry to the bathroom from his thoughts.
"Hmp…" Ron said as he dried his hands looking perplexed, " Well, I wont complain if it means we get to hang out for an extra day…"
Ron walked out of the bathroom, leaving Harry alone to his thoughts.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad staying here- I mean, the Weasley's are like family.
Walking out of the bathroom, any hopes of a peaceful evening at the Burrow were dashed when a loud wail of pain sounded from the living room, followed by a quick apology.
Making his way into the living room to see what all the commotion was about, Harry came face to face with a sooty Lupin and a startled and a red faced Ginny.
" I'm so sorry Ms. Weasley, I didn't expect anyone to be sitting near the fireplace…" Remus said as he helped Ginny up from her awkward position on the floor.
" That's alright Professor…" Ginny said clutching her chest as if she were about to have a heart attack, " You just gave me a quick fright when you toppled out of the fireplace right above me."
Remus was about to say something to Ginny when a voice sounded from behind him, " Your back early…" Harry said, his voice quite and his face inscrutable.
" Well, there wasn't much to discuss Harry, now if you don't mind, could you show me to Molly?" Remus asked, his tone closing the discussion until he had time to discuss the situation with Molly.
" Wait," Harry said laughing bitterly, " You can't do that. You drag me here against my will, leave me and then say you need to speak to Dumbledore… come back thirty minutes later and tell me nothing. That's bullshit! I'm not a little kid… I know something up and I want to know now."
Remus pulled his body up to its full height and made his way over to Harry, his eyes blazing with an emotion Harry had never seen in them before. Wisely, Ginny and Ron made their way out of the living room and outside where the rest of the family was already sitting around the picnic table.
" Harry James Potter, you may not speak to me like that. Whether you're happy with me or not right now, I am still your elder and I hope your friend. I have done nothing to deserve your foul words… and you better watch your language."
Harry laughed in disbelief, " I'm sorry, but you're right." Harry said shaking his head looking Remus square in the eyes, "I'm not happy with you, I'm not happy with Dumbledore, actually I'm furious with the both of you! And why shouldn't I be? You don't leave me alone… you plan my fucking life for me." Harry was now red in the face screaming at Remus, feeling an odd release as he did so, " God, I'm not some incapable little kid. I know the score. I understand they're people who would do anything to kill me- even target the people I love, so what're you protecting me for? They always get to me one way or another and I've protected myself more than any of you have… I've always ended up on my own…"
" Harry, you and I are going to have a long talk about this attitude of yours when we get back to my place…" Remus said, his voice silky and unnervingly sounding like Snape." What do you mean your place?" Harry challenged, " I don't want to go to your place, I want to stay here!"
" Too bad Harry, there's been a change in plans…"
Before Harry can sit down for supper Remus pops out of the fireplace startling Ginny into shrieking as if her life depends on it because he fell on her… Professor, what're you doing here? Remus gets Harry from the Weasley;sI can't stay here?
No, by all means you can if you wish
There's been a change in plans…