DISCLAIMER: I own nothing – it all belongs to JK Rowling.
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Time rushed past quickly, and before they knew it, school was starting. The day before the Hogwarts train was due to leave, the Weasley family migrated to London to stay in the Leaky Cauldron and get school supplies from Diagon Alley. Harry was torn between amusement and irritation at the delegation that arrived to escort them – including Mr Weasley, Bill, Fred and George ("got some interesting new products, Harry – can't wait for you to see the fruits of your investment" whispered Fred), Tonks, Moody, and Lupin.
On their arrival at the Leaky Cauldron, baggage was dispensed to the right rooms. As usual, Harry was in with Ron, with Hermione and Ginny right next door. They had only just moved in when there was a knock at Harry's door.
"Can I have a chat to you, Harry?" said Remus Lupin. He looked more tired and worn than ever, but his eyes were filled with a fire that hadn't been there before.
"I'll just go and see if the girls have settled in," said Ron hastily. Unfolding his long limbs from the bed where he had been reclining, he shot out the door and closed it behind him with a bang.
"Sure, Professor Lupin," said Harry. "Actually, I was hoping to catch you on your own at some point."
Lupin smiled slightly. "Please call me Remus, Harry – I'm not your professor any more, and I'd like to think we've become friends," he said. Startled, Harry nodded his head.
Lupin sat down at the end of Ron's bed. "I've got something to tell you that isn't easy, so I'll just get on with it," he said. Harry's eyes narrowed.
"Does it have something to do with Sirius?" he asked bluntly.
"Yes, and no," said Lupin heavily. "As you know, Sirius was the last of the Black family. He made you his heir, and therefore you now own 12 Grimmauld Place, along with the rest of the Black family fortune."
Harry blinked in surprise, feeling a pang of pain in his chest. "I don't want it," he said roughly, blinking rapidly.
"I know, son," said Lupin gently, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder. "But that's the way it is."
Harry was silent for a few moments. "I want to give the house to the Order, plus the funds from Sirius," he said suddenly. "At least it'll be of some use then, and Sirius won't have died in vain."
It was Lupin's turn to be surprised. "Are you sure, Harry?" he said softly. "It's a lot to be giving away…"
Harry shrugged. "Not if you never had it in the first place," he said. "I won't miss it."
Lupin was silent for a moment. "OK," he said. "I'll discuss it with Dumbledore."
"You said you had something else to talk to me about, that wasn't to do with Sirius?" asked Harry, desperate to change the subject.
"Oh, yes. This is really important, Harry, so listen up," said Lupin seriously. "It's about your Occlumency lessons."
Harry groaned. "As it is, I have to spend enough time with Snape in Potions, and now you want me to spend more time with him?"
Lupin looked interested. "Taking Potions for your N.E.W.Ts, Harry?" he said lightly. "I would have thought you wanted to drop it as soon as possible."
"I did, but I managed to get in. I need it if I'm going to be an Auror," Harry said, with a smile. "Should imagine Snape won't be too pleased about it either."
"Minerva McGonagall mentioned your careers meeting, but I wasn't sure if you'd thought further about it," said Lupin with a smile. "Well done, Harry – but my heavens, you're going to have to work hard. You need five first class passes to be accepted into Auror training."
"I know, but with Hermione around she'll have me locked in the library 24 hours a day anyway," said Harry with a grin.
Lupin laughed. "Our little workaholic. Anyway, it won't be Snape this time, there's too much water under the bridge between you two. It'll be me who'll be teaching you. I've got a nice little place set up in Hogsmeade, so I'll be coming up to the school twice a week to tutor you."
For a minute, Harry's face lit up, making him look like the sixteen year old boy he really was. "Well, OK then!" he said, delighted. "But on a few conditions only."
Lupin looked apprehensive. "What's that?"
Harry took a deep breath, then launched into the idea that had been swimming lazily around his head all summer. "Firstly, I also want to learn to be a Legimens," he said.
"Oh, Harry, I don't think…"
"Hear me out, please, Remus," said Harry softly, holding up his hand. Lupin nodded.
"For the last five years, I've been on the back foot where Voldemort is concerned," Harry explained. "I've had enough of being on the defensive. It's time I started to fight back and I think I know how to do it."
"I know what you want to do – you want to get inside his head!" exclaimed Lupin. "I don't think it's wise, Harry, you know what he could do to you!"
Harry put up his hand again. "I know, Remus, I know. But I can't sit around waiting for him to come and get me, like he did with my parents, and Cedric Diggory…" he swallowed painfully. "Everyone wants to get on top of this situation, and I'm sitting here with the connection to the problem in my head. Let's use it and get Voldemort on the defensive for once."
He paused, then looked Lupin right in the eye. "I know about the prophecy, Remus," he said quietly. "Either he kills me, or I kill him. I'm either murderer or victim, and right now the odds are on his side, not mine. I need to learn as much as possible if I'm going to survive this, you know that. And if I can do that and get information for the Order at the same time, is that a bad thing?"
Lupin buried his head in his hands. "I hear what you're saying, Harry, but I don't know if the Order will go for it," he said, his voice muffled.
"There's one other condition," said Harry. Lupin looked up at him, a glimmer of a smile in his eyes. "Don't ask for much, do you?" he said with a smile.
Harry smiled back. "Not really," he said casually. "I want to be inducted as a member of the Order."
"No. Absolutely not," said Lupin flatly. "You're too young."
"Not too young to have faced Voldemort five times … and survived," said Harry softly, watching Lupin's face. "I don't think the Order has the right to refuse me, after all that."
Lupin held his eyes for a few seconds, and then looked down again. He sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, you're absolutely right," he said. "I'll speak to the others, and that's all I can promise."
"That's all I can ask," said Harry.
They stood, and suddenly Lupin embraced Harry awkwardly. "You're one hell of a kid, do you know that?" he said. "Your parents would have been so proud of you. I know Sirius was…"
Harry nodded, swallowing. "Thanks, Remus, it helps to know that," he said. "Now I better find Ron to go down to lunch, before he dies of starvation."
Lupin laughed. "How he eats so much and stays such a beanpole, I have no idea," he said.
"He works it off by fighting with Hermione," muttered Harry. "I have no idea how they've stayed friends for so long, considering how they go at each other."
Lupin arched an eyebrow. "Don't you?" he said, grinning. "I reckon the penny will drop soon enough." He laughed when Harry looked quizzically at him. "Don't worry – you'll get it eventually. And this is one problem I'm not helping you solve … you're on your own, mate!"
A/N: Like it so far? Hate it? Please review and let me know!