Before I start with the new chapter I want to apologise for not updating.
My MS Word crashed, thus enabling me to do so. I hope you can find it in
your hearts to forgive me and keep reading this fic.
I will post my thank-you notes at the end of the chapter, since ff.net will not open for me. I do not know why but ff.net is screwing with my quotation marks. Therefore when someone is speaking it will be between #blabla#.
DISCLAIMER: Nope, not mine, I wish they were though.
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Harry woke up with a start when he heard some abrupt knocking on his door before it opened. He opened his eyes and saw his aunt standing in the doorway with a scowl on her face. In her hands she carried a plate with dinner on it.
#Dinner?# he asked tiredly. #Is it that late already, I just closed my eyes for a little while. Sorry Aunt Petunia, I guess I will have to do my chores in the morning then.#
She opened her mouth to snap at him but something seemed to stop her and she forced a smile, which looked more like a grimace but hey, the effort was well noted.
#It is fine H-Harry.# His name came out forced and it surprised Harry to hear her say it since he was always referred to as *him* or *the boy*.
Petunia handed him his plate and left the room again, leaving Harry behind puzzled with her behaviour. He looked at his plate and his stomach clenched as he saw the mashed potatoes, beans and steak he was given.
It was more then he used to get but still not as much as her dearest Dudley would get, but Harry did not mind. He took a few bites and played with his food. He was too upset to eat but he also knew he needed to get something into his system.
The task took a lot of force but Harry was able to finish his food and brought his plate to the kitchen where Aunt Petunia was doing the dishes.
Without any words being exchanged Harry handed her his plate and took up a dishrag, drying the dishes she had washed already.
Harry had something on his mind for a long time already and he was searching for a way to ask this and not anger his aunt. He decided to go for it when she did not snap at him once.
#Aunt Petunia, I was wondering. . . # His aunt looked at him and he swallowed nervously. #I mean I have a question and maybe you could answer it. . . and uhm. . .#
#Spit it out, no use babbling now.# She interrupted and Harry started to spit out the words at this.
#I know all this stuff about my dad from his friends and everything but I realised I know so little about my mum besides the fact I have her eyes, that she used to hate my dad until seventh year, she was Head Girl with top marks and that she died to protect me. And I thought maybe you can tell me a little about when she was little.#
He did not dare look at her when he finished and he was already bracing himself for the angry tirade that he expected to be thrown at him. Imagine his surprise when she just walked out of the kitchen without saying a word.
*There goes that idea.* He thought and he shook his head at his own stupidity as he cleaned up the last of the dishes. He could hear the thunderous laughter of his uncle and the weird hiccuping sound that Dudley made from the living room as he made his way back to his room.
His room. Harry scoffed at calling it that. It was never his room, he just occupied it. He looked at all the broken toys that took up a lot of space in the corner and thought about how that used to anger him. Now it did not seem to matter anymore, his shot at his own room was blown away when Sirius died.
No longer could he hold on to the dream of Sirius being pardoned and then they would live in a house together, playing Quidditch all day and planning jokes at night.
He sighed at his own depressing thoughts and grabbed the Chronicles again and opened it to the page with the drawings of the Marauders.
#I am sorry Sirius.# He whispered to the teenage version on the page. #Sorry I was not smart enough to realise Voldemort was tricking me, sorry I was not fast enough to help you with Bellatrix, sorry I was not strong enough to break free from Remus so I could help you.#
Strangely Harry felt a little better when he said that. He always felt guilty but being able to express that guilt and not being contradicted on it, like Remus did, it lifted a little weight from his shoulders.
He was once again surprised when there was a knock on the door and his aunt was standing in the doorway with an album in his hands. She had a little dust in her hair, Harry noted, and she thrust the album at him without an explanation.
#Thanks.# Harry said but his aunt had left already. He did not know what to think so he opened the album, which was green on the outside, to the first page.
*This album is the property of Lily Evans.* It was written in a neat and flowing handwriting and Harry knew it had to be his mother her handwriting. He swallowed away the lump that was already forming in his throat.
He did not know how long he had been looking in the album but he was startled when Hedwig flew into his room once again. Looking at the window he saw that the sun was starting to come up already.
*I did not sleep at all.* He realised this when he filled Hedwig her tray with some water and handed her some owl treats, which she ate quickly.
Knowing that Remus was probably sleeping, tired from his transformation, Harry decided to talk to Hedwig like he had done on many occasions already.
#I finally asked aunt Petunia about my mum girl.# Harry said as he sat back on his bed with Hedwig attached on his knee, which was bent for her to sit on. She looked at him with her big eyes and seemed to ask him what had happened.
#At first I thought she was angry, well maybe she was but she gave me my mum her album and it is full with pictures and her little comments and. . . she was really pretty you know. I can see why my dad fell for her, even though he was a prick at that time.#
#There were a lot of pictures of her parents as well, my grandparents. . . I think they are dead though. The pictures of them stopped somewhere when she was sixteen or seventeen maybe, I wonder what happened to them but I do not think I will ask aunt Petunia, do not want to break my luck with her.#
A rapping noise interrupted the one-way conversation and Harry opened the window to let Errol in. The owl was carrying a large parcel once again and Harry sighed. Mrs. Weasley was doing this twice a week now and he had more food than he could eat.
He relieved the tired owl from his package and read the letter in the package.
*Harry dear,
I made some chocolate pie and pumpkin pastries for you, I never know if those muggles are giving you enough to eat. You are not just saying that they are treating you well are you dear? Because I will come and get you if you give the word. I also included some potions in the package. You will recognise the Dreamless Sleep and the Pain relief draughts. Take them to stop those horrid dreams of yours.
Love, Mrs Weasley.o
Harry opened the parcel and snorted. Some pie and pastries was an understatement. There was a huge pie and what looked like 20 pastries. Not to mention the supply of potions he now had. Ten bottles of Dreamless sleep and also ten pain relief.
He placed the bottles in the carved wooden box Hagrid had given him for his birthday. The half-giant had someone charm it so the box could contain a lot of items.
Harry used the box to store the potion supply he had been receiving from Mrs. Weasley and Hermione. Neither knew that the other one was sending them.
As far as Harry could tell Hermione found out that brewing potions was not considered as doing magic, so she was practising daily. She told him she had already reviewed the last five years since the NEWT class would be very hard.
She sent him all kinds of potions, varying from healing potions to antidotes for some poisons. He was sure that if she kept this up, she would get an O for her NEWT with no trouble at all.
He felt sort of guilty about not telling her about his summer projects for Potions and not telling her that he got into NEWT Potions as well.
Mrs. Weasley on the other hand. . . well he was almost sure that she was somehow forcing Snape to brew these potions for him and he wondered how she did that. Though, resisting Mrs. Weasley was a dangerous thing to do.
Harry did not know what to do with the food though, he would never eat it all. An idea came up and he quickly put on some clothes and shoes. He grabbed the parcel and walked silently down the stairs, careful not to wake his relatives. Sunday was the only day they could sleep in after all.
Leaving the house he darted over to Mrs. Figghers house and knocked softly on the door. He was surprised when not Mrs. Figg, but Arthur Weasley opened the door for him. On his account Mr. Weasley was equally surprised.
#Harry! What are you doing here? Are you all right? Did something happen?# He was already fingering his wand and ready for any danger but Harry shook his head.
#It is nothing of the sort Mr. Weasley, may I come in?#
#Oh, yes, yes, of course. Where are my manners? Come in, have a seat. Arabella is making some tea, would you like some?#
They entered the kitchen and Harry placed the parcel on the table and Mrs. Figg asked him what it was.
Suddenly Harry blushed a little and he started to stammer an explanation. #Ah well, uhm, Mrs. Weasley sent me a, uhm, care-package this morning but it, well, it is far too much for me. So I thought, uhm, maybe you would like to have it since your house is always the centre of Order members looking out for me.#
Harry glanced at Mr. Weasley to see if he had offended him or something and watched as he opened the parcel that Harry had brought with him.
He did not appear to be offended for he started to chuckle. #No worries Harry.# He said and winked at him as well. #Molly always was a little protective over you. Though I think you should eat a little more, you are getting skinny again.#
Avoiding to look into the other man his eyes Harry mumbled something about it being to hot to eat, hoping that this explanation would be accepted.
If he saw through the little lie Mr. Weasley did not show it. Harry decided to change the subject. #Who is on guard duty next Mr. Weasley?#
#Actually Harry, that is why I am here. You will be coming to Headquarters with me this morning. Molly finally convinced Albus to let you stay with the rest of the order, since you will be as safe there as you are here. Even safer perhaps.#
Trying to smile Harry nodded at Mr. Weasley, hoping that would be enough. When Mr. Weasley told him to pack he left the house quickly and ran back to his room.
He started to throw things into his trunk and found that he had to sit on the lid to close it in the end, with all the extra things he had to put in it. Though he had some of the books he needed he was looking forwards to going to Diagon Ally.
Even though he tried to pack as quietly as he could, he did not do it without any sound and soon enough Aunt Petunia was standing in front of him once again. Harry had observed that after the letter from Moody Uncle Vernon refused to speak with him, thus leaving this to his wife.
#What are you doing? Do you know what time it is?#
#I am sorry for the disturbance Aunt Petunia, but Mr. Weasley, you know the man with the red hair from the platform, said I had to pack. I will be leaving today.#
She nodded curtly. #Stay here, I have to get something.#
Harry was shocked to see his aunt carrying a box that was labelled with the name Lily Evans. She handed it to him like she had the album, without a word.
When he started to thank her she snapped at him. #Do not thank me, I want nothing to do with the freak things of my sister. I should have burned them long ago but seeing as you are a freak like she was, you can take them with you.#
*And here I was thinking she was actually nice for a time.* Harry thought but shrugged after that. He should have known that nice and Aunt Petunia would not go well together.
She left to her bedroom again and Harry dragged his trunk to the stairs. He went back to his room and let Hedwig out of her cage. #Go to the Headquarters girl, I will meet you there, I know how much you hate being locked in your cage.#
He watched as she soared through the air and grabbed the cage and the box his aunt had just given him and carried those downstairs already. He was contemplating what to do with his trunk, he did not know how to get it down without any noise, when there was a soft knock on the door.
#Ready Harry? Asked Mr. Weasley and when Harry nodded he noticed the predicament he was in. With a wave of his wand and some muttered words the trunk to the size of a bean. The same happened to the box and the cage.
Harry put them in his pocket and turned to Mr. Weasley. #How will we get there, I cannot fly, my Firebolt is still hidden somewhere in Hogwarts.# He grimaced at the thought of his beloved broom in some kind of dungeon. It was one of the only things he had left from Sirius.
#We will go by portkey but we will not end up at HQ itself seeing as how it is unplottable, we will end up a few streets from there so we will have to walk the last block. I will have to put an invisibility charm on the both of us.#
Not sure whether Mr. Weasley knew about it or not, Harry decided not to mention his invisibility cloak as an option and nodded in consent of the plan.
Grabbing a battery out of his pocket Mr. Weasley told Harry to hold on to it. When they touched it Harry felt the, by now, familiar pull of being sucked away and closed his eyes.
When he felt solid ground under his feet he opened them again and he followed Mr. Weasley as he walked away. Too soon for Harryhiss taste they arrived at the place he had dreaded to see. Grimmauld Place number twelve.
Looking at the ground he followed Mr. Weasley as he entered the house and as soon as he set foot in the house Harry felt a rush of memories come over him.
He remembered how Sirius had yelled at the, now screaming, portrait of his mother. How he had sung during Christmas, at how he had talked to the through the fire.
Harry was shaken out of his reverie when he was suddenly smothered in an embrace. #Harry, dear how good it is to see you. Look at you, you are far too skinny, did not those Dursleys feed you? I did not send enough food did I, come and sit, I will make you something.#
Breaking free from Mrs. Weasley Harry shook his head. #That is okay Mrs. Weasley, I am not really hungry. It is far too hot to eat, plus I already had some breakfast this morning.#
But she would have none of it and forced him into a chair and piled a plate full of food and put in front of him. Ordering him to eat it all she left the kitchen, with the intent to wake up her children.
Giving the pile one look Harry shoved it away from him with disgust. Tonks, who was sitting in the kitchen at the time, commented on this.
#Molly may have gone a little over the top, but you should eat some of it. You are a skinny as a pole and the rings under your eyes don ot look that healthy either.#
Harry frowned, he hated when people tried to fuss over him. #I am just not hungry Tonks, I had breakfast already.# He repeated the lie he told Mrs. Weasley, not wanting to tell her that he hadnot been eating all that well.
Tonks opened her mouth to retort but the sound of thundering footsteps coming down the stairs interrupted and Ron barged into the kitchen and dragged Harry off to their room, talking excitedly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ron and Harry stayed in their room until they were called down for lunch. Mrs. Weasley put an even bigger plate then earlier in front of Harry and he rolled his eyes as he picked at the eggs. To satisfy Mrs. Weasley he stuffed some in his mouth and ate them.
Hermione and Ginny werenot there at the moment. Moody escorted them to Diagon Alley that morning, since they wanted to visit Fred and George.
Lunch was pretty much a sombre affair since nobody was talking and they were all startled when they heard the door open and close and then some shuffling.
Then there was a thump, like body hitting the floor and everyone ran towards the sound, Harry as well even though Mrs. Weasley tried to stop him.
#Remus!# shouted Tonks and she immediately knelt down next to his form. He was laying face down on the floor and she turned over and gasped audibly.
Harry sat down at the other side of the fallen werewolf and took in his injuries. His face was bruised and the circles under his eyes were darker then he had ever seen. His robes were torn and he could see a bloody gash on Remus his torso.
He put his hand on Remus his head and found that he had a slight fever. At feeling this contact Remus opened his eyes and focussed them on him.
#Sorry you have to see me like this Harry. . . # he rasped. #Potion was not strong enough, I was too angry. Moony too strong.#
#It is ok, just rest, we will take care of you now.# Tonks said and Harry discovered a loving glint in her eyes. He had trouble hiding his smile at the thought that popped into his head. *Dung was right about that.*
Mr. Weasley and Tonks levitated Remus to his room and Harry wanted to follow but was once again stopped by Mrs. Weasley. #Just leave them for a while Harry, you cannot help them with this.#
#But I can!# Harry ran to his room and began to rummage through his potion box. He got out a vile of pain relief, bruise fading and wounds mending potion. He knocked on the door where Remus had been brought to. He opened the door without waiting for answer.
#I have some potions that will help. Hermione has been sending them to me, Mrs. Weasley as well. I am sure they can help him.#
He then noticed that Remus was unconscious and looked at Tonks with alarm in his eyes. She answered his unanswered question quickly. We put him unconscious, he was in a lot of pain. I am sure the potions will help, now if you just. . . #
#No# said Harry firmly. #I am staying and I want to help.# Shrugging at each other Mr. Weasley and Tonks let him stay. They peeled the bloodstained shirt from his chest and saw bloody scratches all over it.
The three cleaned the wounds and bandaged them as well. Remus had done a number on himself. Not only did he have scratches and bitemarks, his ankle was badly sprained and his arm seemed to be broken.
They woke him to make him drink the potions and then watched as he fell into a deep, and hopefully healing, sleep.
Walking out of the room they walked back to the kitchen. Tonks was wiping some tears from her eyes and Mr. Weasley was deathly pale. Harry knew he was pale as well but did not want to show any emotion.
Breaking the silence he asked the question that was on his mind. #I thought the Wolfsbane Potion helped him keep his humanity, how could it fail like that? And what did he mean with he was too angry, did something happen?#
Uncomfortable silence filled the kitchen but nobody answered his questions. Feeling his temper starting to rise Harry decided that it was better to leave for a while. #Do not tell me then.# He sneered and walked to his room, grabbed his potion book and homework he had to hand in that evening and went back to Remus his room.
He sat on the desk that was placed next to the bed and soon there was no sound in the room but the scribbling of a quill, turning of some pages and the deep breathing of the Remus.
After a few hours Remus started to move and Harry was with him in a matter of seconds. Remus had opened his eyes and gave Harry a slight smile.
#It looks like I created quite a mess for myself.# He wanted to sit up but laid back immediately, wincing all the while. #I feel like a mess as well.#
Harry kept his tone light. #You are not a mess. You only broke your arm, sprained your ankle, scratched and bit yourself and managed to bruise yourself all over.#
#Hmmm, I must have been fixed up already, I do not feel that bad at all.#
#That is just the pain relief potion talking. By the way, you are very lucky Mr. Weasley is much better at healing broken bones than Lockhart was. Skele-grow is horrible.#
#I know, I had to take it once after Severus thought it would be funny to hit me with a curse that made the bones in my arm disappear. I do not know what was worse, the potion and the pain or Snape his smug look that was stuck on his face for weeks.#
Harry noticed Remus raspy voice and dry lips. #Do you want me to get some tea and some toast maybe?#
#Would you mind terribly?#
#I would not ask it if I did not want to, now wait here and do not move. I will be right back.# Harry left the room and went to the kitchen, which was now empty. He could hear voices coming from the living room but ignored them.
He put on some water and made some toast as well. Attracted by the activity in the kitchen Mrs. Weasley walked in and wanted to meddle.
#Let me do that dear, you can just sit and I will have it done in a flash.# By then Harry was already pouring the steaming hot water in to mugs and had some dry toast on a plate.
#I am already done, thanks for the offer though.# He put the mugs and the plate on a tray and walked back upstairs, not noting that Mrs. Weasley was a little hurt that he would not let her help him.
Back with Remus Harry helped him sit up a little, fluffing the pillows a little before Remus could lean against them. He handed him a cup of bitter tea and a piece of toast.
Remus smiled a little as the tea made him feel warm on the inside. #You would make a fine nurse do you know that. You already have the bedside manner and not to mention the ability to fluff up pillows.#
#Not funny.# Harry scowled. #I was just really worried about you. Besides, it is nice to be the one fussing instead of the one being fussed about.#
#Molly.# Remus did not even state it as a question.
Harry nodded. #Tonks as well, but Mrs. Weasley the most. If she had her way I would do nothing but eat and sleep.#
#She means well Harry.# Remus said. #Even though she can get a little. . . lets say overwhelming, she has a good heart. She would do anything to protect the ones she cares about.#
Deciding to change the subject Harry asked a question. #Remus, how well did you know my mum. I mean, besides knowing her as my dad his girl and all.#
#It took a while but at the end of seventh year I would call her a close friend, why do you ask?#
#Well, I asked Aunt Petunia about my mum and to my shock she gave me some box and an album full of pictures and I noted that the pictures of my grandparents stopped somewhere. What happened to them?#
Remus frowned a little. #They were killed during our seventh year. I think that was one of the reasons your mother saw your father as something else then an annoying prick. He was the one that found her after she received the news you see, and he comforted her and tried to make her smile for days after that.#
#So you did not know them?#
#Unfortunately not, though Lily only had good things to say about them. I bet you would have loved them, they had accepted her witchcraft fully and were very interested in our world.#
#I guess I will find out sometime.#
#Just not too soon I hope.# Remus said. He tried to hide it but Harry saw he was getting more and more tired. He stood up and made him lay down again.
#You should get some more rest, I will have to send my essay to Snape anyway.# He watched as Remus absently nodded and closed his eyes again. He closed the door softly behind him and walked back to the kitchen, for he smelled dinner.
#Harry!# someone flung herself at him and clutched him close and it took a few seconds before he identified Hermione. He hugged her back, though not as tight as she was hugging him. He saw Ron scowl a little and wondered what was wrong but did not have the time to think about it, seeing how Hermione started to rattle.
#Oh Harry, I have been so worried about you. How are you doing? Did you finish your homework? You should not leave it till the last day you know. Have those muggles been feeding you? You are awfully skinny.#
Wondering when she would stop to get some air Harry finally grew tired of it and put his hand over her mouth. Thus successfully shutting her up.
#I am fine, yes I finished and yes but it was far too hot to eat a lot.#
Hermione glared at him, as if telling him she was not buying that explanation but Harry skilfully avoided that gaze and started on a different subject.
#How was the shop? Did Fred and George do a good job with setting it up?#
#As far as a joke-shop can get, I suppose it was pretty nice. They had lots of customers and they handled things scarily serious. It was not what I had expected of it, it was more mature then I thought it would be.#
#Did you do the shopping I asked you to?# asked Mrs Weasley.
Hermione nodded and pointed at the bags and packages in the corner. #I got all our school things, including that for Ron and Harry, plus those cleaning potions you asked for.#
At hearing she had got his things Harry choked on a small piece of steak he was eating. After he stopped coughing he turned to Hermione.
#How do you mean you already got my school things?#
Mrs. Weasley answered for Hermione. #Oh that is simple dear. I sent her to collect them so you would not have to go out. It is getting more and more dangerous you know. I thought it would be easier to do it like this.#
#You do not even know what books I will need or what I wanted to get. You did not even ask!# Harry was not yelling but he was very angry. His eyes were shooting sparks and his fists were balled.
#Oh I owled Minerva for your list. Nothing to worry about dear, I made sure to get you everything you needed.#
Harry nearly growled. #Maybe I *wanted* to go to Diagon Ally. Maybe I wanted to shop for myself. Maybe you should have minded your own business.#
#Do not you take that tone with me young man. I am only doing what is best for you.# Mrs. Weasley was going a little red as she got excited. The people in the kitchen were all silent spectators at what was going on.
#Do not tell me what I can and what I cannot do! You are not MY MOTHER, SO BUT OUT!# Harry gave up not yelling and it was as if a dam burst loose. #YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO OWL ABOUT ME BEHIND MY BACK WITH MY PROFESSOR OR GET THE MONEY OUT OF MY SAFE OR ANYTHING. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!#
Mrs. Weasley grew pale at his outburst and Mr. Weasley stepped in. #Now Harry, you should not. . . #
#I SHOULD NOT WHAT?# Harry roared. #SHOULD NOT STAND UP FOR MYSELF?# forcing himself to calm down he spoke in a normal level again but his voice was laced with anger and coldness.
#She wants to treat me like a child and I hate that. I am not a child, after all, a child is not supposed to kill or be killed by Voldemort would he? Well I am. The stupid prophecy said *I* have to kill Voldemort, *I* have to stand up to him and. . . # His voice faltered.
#It is hard enough to deal with without anyone fussing over me.# Everyone was silent and Harry realised that none of them had known about the prophecy. #I would like to be alone if you do not mind.# He stormed up the stairs and left a room full of shocked people.
#Well# said Tonks shakily. #You are not having your week are you Molly, this is the second time you are being yelled at.#
But her attempt at humour was not picked up as Molly crashed in a chair and started to sob. #Oh Arthur.# She wailed. #Did you hear him, he said he had to kill Voldemort but. . . he is just a boy. Just a boy. Albus cannot be serious about this, he is just too young.#
As Mr. Weasley tried to calm his wife Ginny, Ron and Hermione were huddled together digesting the information they had just got to know.
That night, none of the inhabitants, save the sleeping werewolf upstairs, of Grimmauld Place slept well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The following morning Remus woke from his deep sleep and was annoyed by some tingling in his arm. When he tried to move it he found he could not. Prying his eyes open he looked what was holding his arm pinned down and to his great surprise he found it was Harry his head.
Harry had moved the chair from the desk to next to his bed and was resting his head on Remus his arm, while bent over in the chair. Knowing how much pain Harry was in for, sleeping like he had done did nothing but torture your spine and neck, Remus tried to wake him up by shaking him a little with his free arm.
#Wake up Harry. You better wake up if you want to be able to turn your neck sometime this week.#
After some more shaking and talking Harry opened his eyes and tried to sit up, tried being the operative word. As soon as he lifted his head from his pillow Harry winced and rubbed his neck while groaning softly.
#Ouch.# He muttered sleepily. #Note to self, never sleep in that position ever again. Merlin my neck is killing me.#
Remus smiled at him. #You are not the only one in pain here mister. My arm has yet to regain a normal feeling instead of the tingling.# Turning serious he looked at Harry before he asked the question that was on his mind from the moment he woke.
#Not that I am unhappy to see you Harry, but what are you doing here? Did you have another vision?#
Harry shook his head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He tried to change the subject. #What happened to you Remus? I thought the Wolfsbane Potion helped you control the wolf.#
#I am not falling for that tactic Harry, I am the master of that particular one you are now displaying. Answering a question with a question is my speciality.# He grinned lazily. #Tell you what, you answer my question and I will answer yours.#
It took a few minutes and a lot of stammering but when Harry started to talk he could not stop. He told Remus how scared he had been when he had come back to the house injured and at how he had blown up at Mrs. Weasley for once again mothering him.
#I said some nasty things Remus but I do not regret any of it. I know she means well but I am just so sick of being babied. And when I started yelling I could not stop myself and suddenly I told them about the prophecy. They were all so quiet after that, in shock. That is when I raced upstairs and sat with you, thus resulting in my now aching neck.#
As usual Remus stayed silent for a while, contemplating what to say to Harry. #I suppose I should be angry or disappointed by your behaviour regarding Molly but seeing as how I had a huge row with her the day before, that would be a little hypocritical of me.#
#You had a row with Mrs. Weasley? You?# Harry shook his head in wonder, the thought of the usually very calm Remus fighting with anyone seemed surreal.
#Yes Harry, I had a row with her. She said some things that were able to anger me and I lost my temper. It was not very pretty.# Remus grimaced a little.
#So. . . # Harry stated. #Because you were still angry with Mrs. Weasley you could not control the wolf like you always do and managed to injure yourself.# The statement was not even a question.
Remus nodded. #Controlling Moony is never easy and it requires my full attention. I was so angry and my anger gave Moony the strength to break free. It is exactly the reason why people fear werewolves. Once angered properly, it is never certain whether or not they will attack like the Dark Creature they are.#
#That is ridiculous. You are not a Dark Creature! Dark Creatures maim and kill for the fun of it. You are a great wizard with a kind heart who had this curse placed upon him when he was very young. It is not your fault.#
Sitting up and moving over Remus patted on the empty space next to him and Harry sat next to him. Resting his head on Remus his shoulder Harry listened to Remus with closed eyes.
#Never before have you sounded so much like your father, cub. He always was very passionate about this subject. He and Sirius both actually, but your father was always more. . . no pun intended, serious about it than Padfoot.#
Putting his arm around Harry his shoulder Remus hugged Harry against him as he continued to speak. #Now I know it is all hard to deal with. The prophecy, Paddy his death, the incessant nagging of Molly. What I want you to realise is that it will all turn out like it is supposed to. You can only do your best Harry and you cannot expect miracles from yourself. You are after all only a sixteen year old wizard who has not even finished his education.#
#But Voldemort is back and he plans to continue where he left off, how can I ignore that. When I return to Hogwarts the students will expect me to do something. They place their hope in me, just because I defeated him when I was a baby, which was mum her doing and not mine. Sure I faced him a few times but I always had help with those encounters. People expect me to be the hero and I am not sure I can live up to those expectations.#
#You do not have to live up to them. You have to live up to your own expectations, as long as you know you are doing your best it should be enough.#
Harry nodded. #That was actually one of the reasons I was so angry about not being able to go to Diagon Ally. I wanted to get more books to study and a great supply of potion ingredients so I can start practising. I have not always been very dedicated to my studies but last year I realised that I know so little. If I am going to defeat Voldemort I should at least be able to protect myself from the more advanced curses and stuff.#
#Right you are cub. What do you say about a little trip to Diagon Ally, just the two of us? We will get you your things and I will be able to pick up some books I ordered as well.#
Harry smiled. #You mean it? Great!# After some thinking he added a question. #Why do you do that?#
#Taking you to the Ally you mean? I thought I explained that already.#
Shaking his head Harry continued. #No, you called me cub. Twice actually. I was wondering why you called me that, you never did before.#
#A very old habit coming back to me I guess.# Said Remus. #When you were little we all had our nicknames for you. You were James his pronglet, Lily her sunshine, Sirius his pup and my cub. I used to baby-sit you a lot, whenever James and Lily had business to attend to.#
Sitting up Harry looked at Remus with wonder. #You never mentioned that.#
#It never came up. But if you do not want me to call you cub I will just. . . #
Harry interrupted before the sentence could be finished. #No, it is fine. I just. . . well I never had a nickname before, besides nasty comments from the Dursleys and the Slytherins of course. I kind of like it.#
Furrowing his brow Remus thought about Harry his life until now. He had been lacking a lot in his life and Remus was going to change that. Deciding to stop his thought right there he spoke. #Lets get changed and we will go to the Ally immediately. Breakfast is on me in the Leaky Cauldron.#
#Are you sure you are up to it? I mean you were badly injured.# Harry sounded concerned but Remus waved it away.
#I have had worse, besides the potions worked like a charm. My arm and ankle are completely healed and the bruises are already fading. No need to worry about me.#
A mischievous look came on Harry his face. #I do not think I need to worry all that much about you. Tonks can do that on her own perfectly. You know, Dung was completely right about that one. Completely smitten with you she is.#
Harry ducked the pillow thrown in his direction just in time and laughed at Remus his words. #Shut up cub. It is not that funny you know. Hmpf, we will see what you will get for breakfast now. Here I am being kind and overall nice and this is how you repay me, by mocking me.# Remus clutched his chest. #I am badly wounded, whatever did I do to deserve such treatment?#
#You are a Marauder Remus, you should be able to handle a little teasing. Looks like I overestimated you a little.#
#Get dressed and meet me downstairs in twenty minutes. Just you wait, I will make you pay for that remark.#
Grinning Harry left the room and walked to his own. He sobered before he entered it, he did share it with Ron after all and Ron was bound to be angry with him. Either for yelling at his mother or not telling him about the prophecy, a fight was imminent.
To his relief the room was empty and Harry quickly grabbed some clean clothes and ran to the showers. After getting ready he looked at the tiny clock that was installed in the wall and saw it was time to meet Remus already.
When he exited the shower and walked to the hallway, his hair still wet from the water, he ran into Remus and they made their way downstairs together. Remus was carrying a fancy looking quill and Harry questioned him about it.
#It is a special portkey that can be activated by saying the code word. It will transport us to the Leaky Cauldron and back here again, well a few blocks from here.#
Harry was confused about it. #So we can use the portkey to get out of here but not to get back in, why do not we use floo or does not this house have that either?#
#You are right, this house does not have floo-access and it has an anti- apparation ward as well. The only way to get to the house is travelling towards it in a normal manner.#
Harry asked a few more questions about the house until they reached the kitchen where they both fell silent. The kitchen was filled with all the people who witnessed the outburst the night before, this time Moody and Kingsley were there as well.
Watching as Remus exchanged some words with Moody who after a minute of thought nodded his head in what Harry saw as agreement to their plan, he managed to avoid the gaze of everybody.
Remus motioned with his head to the hallway and just as they wanted to leave Mrs. Weasley decided to but in and placed her body in the doorway, thus blocking their exit.
#Where are you going? Dumbledore made it clear that Harry was to stay safe. Going out does not equal safe, in fact it equals danger.#
Saying it as possible and nice as possible Remus countered. #Harry will be safe. I will be escorting him to Diagon Ally and there will be aurors undercover all over the area.#
#I cannot allow you to take him Remus, you have proven that you are very dangerous and I do not think it is wise to leave Harry in the care of an angry werewolf.#
Remus looked like had been slapped in the face and that was enough for Harry his already explosive anger to burst.
#I thought I made it clear last night that you are not my mother.# He hissed. #You hold no authorisation over me, only the Dursleys# he made a face at stating them, #Dumbledore and Remus can tell me what I can and cannot do.#
Mrs. Weasley wrung her hands. #But Harry how can you trust him? You have not seen him loose his temper, he nearly attacked me? Besides, I cannot understand why you even want to spend time with him, he turned his back on you all summer.#
#He did no such thing and even if he had done so, it does not matter to you. It is a matter between Remus and myself. Now if you do not mind, we will be leaving now.#
Harry held his hand in front of him and Remus gave him the quill while still holding onto it. #Pax.# Remus said and they had disappeared from the kitchen, leaving a fuming Mrs. Weasley and a once again, astounded audience.
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A/N: I hope you guys like this chapter, I made it extra long to make up for not being able to update. Was anyone out of character? Do you have any ideas or pointers for me? Please review to let me know.
I cannot believe all the nice reviews I got.
Icedragon: I am happy you liked it.
Laerwen: I am keeping with the story and I want to apologise once again for not updating sooner. *glares at computer* hope you can understand.
Merlin: *blushes* Thanks for the compliment. And Noooo, I would never put a transferstudent in it, that is too cliché and I HATE Draco so he will not turn well either.
Sharazhad Potter: I agree with you on OotP but you forgot one option. . . you can both hate it and love it at the same time. I mean the story was great but the fact she killed Sirius. . . . well I was so sad about that. I agree about Remus as a good rolemodel, I loved since PoA.
Damien: I am keeping it up, hope you like it.
Porphyrphobic Grape: I am happy you think last chapter was better and hope you like this one as well. Was it overdone or cliche? Let me know please, I have yet lots to learn about writing HP-fics.
Equinox-15: It is always nice to be complimented on your work so thank you for that. I hope you will like this chapter as well.
Aquitaineq: I tried to keep her as realistic as possible but I hope I did not overdo it in this chapter. Let me know please.
Lady Phoenix Gryffondor: Remus losing his temper is one of my fascinations, I always wondered what would happen if he lost control.
Yoshi-fan2003: It is not a fast update, sorry about that, but I hope you like it.
Kliewer: You are not the only one to think that. It really stinks that the only place he is remotely safe is with those stupid muggles.
Arwen-evenstar: Arwen!!! You read my HP-fic!!! I will try to go through 6th year and maybe even beyond. I feel honoured that you read my HP-fic, but I have a question. Do you think this fic is totally different from Protector, if yes, is my style worse or. . . lets just say I am a little insecure about writing HP, it is so different from Protector.
Angie: I agree with you, from my point of view Remus and Harry are a lot alike. They both keep their feelings bottled up, so imagine them blowing up. . . ;) I loved Sirius but he had his own problems, Remus is more mature.
Redwitch: Hmmm, you may be right about Molly but I never really liked her so it might be because of that, that she is so annoying.
The Lady Wolfshead: I am happy you liked it. Molly did get annoying in OotP, grrr, I really hated her for acting like she did towards Sirius.
Kento: I hope you like this chapter, I put a lot of work in it.
Heather: Aaaah, another Ron-hater. I hated that annoying prat from the moment he acted so nasty towards Hermione in PoA but it flared during GoF. This will not be a Ron bashing fic though since I want to keep it a bit in character but I am not going to idolise him either.
Mella deRanged: She did, did not she? Hope you will love this chapter as well then.
Lissie89: Another update for you. Ik ontmoet niet veel Nederlanders hier. Anyway, hope you like it, let me know what you think.
Skysong: I am happy you liked how I started this fic and also hope you want me to keep continuing it.
The Great One: Whoops, I forgot about Harry smashing the mirror, well, lets just pretend that did not happen ok? The mirror can be used by the person you give it to I guess or else harry would not have been able to use it either. Hope you forgive me for not updating for a while.
Kurbani: Harry/Ginny??? Maybe, I havenot figured that out really. I think I will keep Harry single until I do figure it out.
Demon-Child: I will keep on going, I am happy you still like it. What did you think of this chapter?
Musicgrl: Thanks for reviewing, I loved it. I did not really think Hermione was out of character seeing how she can have these flashes of disrespect against adults, remeber Snape in PoA or Rita Skeeter in GoF? Why apologise for your friend? She left an honest review and I love it when people are honest.
I will post my thank-you notes at the end of the chapter, since ff.net will not open for me. I do not know why but ff.net is screwing with my quotation marks. Therefore when someone is speaking it will be between #blabla#.
DISCLAIMER: Nope, not mine, I wish they were though.
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Harry woke up with a start when he heard some abrupt knocking on his door before it opened. He opened his eyes and saw his aunt standing in the doorway with a scowl on her face. In her hands she carried a plate with dinner on it.
#Dinner?# he asked tiredly. #Is it that late already, I just closed my eyes for a little while. Sorry Aunt Petunia, I guess I will have to do my chores in the morning then.#
She opened her mouth to snap at him but something seemed to stop her and she forced a smile, which looked more like a grimace but hey, the effort was well noted.
#It is fine H-Harry.# His name came out forced and it surprised Harry to hear her say it since he was always referred to as *him* or *the boy*.
Petunia handed him his plate and left the room again, leaving Harry behind puzzled with her behaviour. He looked at his plate and his stomach clenched as he saw the mashed potatoes, beans and steak he was given.
It was more then he used to get but still not as much as her dearest Dudley would get, but Harry did not mind. He took a few bites and played with his food. He was too upset to eat but he also knew he needed to get something into his system.
The task took a lot of force but Harry was able to finish his food and brought his plate to the kitchen where Aunt Petunia was doing the dishes.
Without any words being exchanged Harry handed her his plate and took up a dishrag, drying the dishes she had washed already.
Harry had something on his mind for a long time already and he was searching for a way to ask this and not anger his aunt. He decided to go for it when she did not snap at him once.
#Aunt Petunia, I was wondering. . . # His aunt looked at him and he swallowed nervously. #I mean I have a question and maybe you could answer it. . . and uhm. . .#
#Spit it out, no use babbling now.# She interrupted and Harry started to spit out the words at this.
#I know all this stuff about my dad from his friends and everything but I realised I know so little about my mum besides the fact I have her eyes, that she used to hate my dad until seventh year, she was Head Girl with top marks and that she died to protect me. And I thought maybe you can tell me a little about when she was little.#
He did not dare look at her when he finished and he was already bracing himself for the angry tirade that he expected to be thrown at him. Imagine his surprise when she just walked out of the kitchen without saying a word.
*There goes that idea.* He thought and he shook his head at his own stupidity as he cleaned up the last of the dishes. He could hear the thunderous laughter of his uncle and the weird hiccuping sound that Dudley made from the living room as he made his way back to his room.
His room. Harry scoffed at calling it that. It was never his room, he just occupied it. He looked at all the broken toys that took up a lot of space in the corner and thought about how that used to anger him. Now it did not seem to matter anymore, his shot at his own room was blown away when Sirius died.
No longer could he hold on to the dream of Sirius being pardoned and then they would live in a house together, playing Quidditch all day and planning jokes at night.
He sighed at his own depressing thoughts and grabbed the Chronicles again and opened it to the page with the drawings of the Marauders.
#I am sorry Sirius.# He whispered to the teenage version on the page. #Sorry I was not smart enough to realise Voldemort was tricking me, sorry I was not fast enough to help you with Bellatrix, sorry I was not strong enough to break free from Remus so I could help you.#
Strangely Harry felt a little better when he said that. He always felt guilty but being able to express that guilt and not being contradicted on it, like Remus did, it lifted a little weight from his shoulders.
He was once again surprised when there was a knock on the door and his aunt was standing in the doorway with an album in his hands. She had a little dust in her hair, Harry noted, and she thrust the album at him without an explanation.
#Thanks.# Harry said but his aunt had left already. He did not know what to think so he opened the album, which was green on the outside, to the first page.
*This album is the property of Lily Evans.* It was written in a neat and flowing handwriting and Harry knew it had to be his mother her handwriting. He swallowed away the lump that was already forming in his throat.
He did not know how long he had been looking in the album but he was startled when Hedwig flew into his room once again. Looking at the window he saw that the sun was starting to come up already.
*I did not sleep at all.* He realised this when he filled Hedwig her tray with some water and handed her some owl treats, which she ate quickly.
Knowing that Remus was probably sleeping, tired from his transformation, Harry decided to talk to Hedwig like he had done on many occasions already.
#I finally asked aunt Petunia about my mum girl.# Harry said as he sat back on his bed with Hedwig attached on his knee, which was bent for her to sit on. She looked at him with her big eyes and seemed to ask him what had happened.
#At first I thought she was angry, well maybe she was but she gave me my mum her album and it is full with pictures and her little comments and. . . she was really pretty you know. I can see why my dad fell for her, even though he was a prick at that time.#
#There were a lot of pictures of her parents as well, my grandparents. . . I think they are dead though. The pictures of them stopped somewhere when she was sixteen or seventeen maybe, I wonder what happened to them but I do not think I will ask aunt Petunia, do not want to break my luck with her.#
A rapping noise interrupted the one-way conversation and Harry opened the window to let Errol in. The owl was carrying a large parcel once again and Harry sighed. Mrs. Weasley was doing this twice a week now and he had more food than he could eat.
He relieved the tired owl from his package and read the letter in the package.
*Harry dear,
I made some chocolate pie and pumpkin pastries for you, I never know if those muggles are giving you enough to eat. You are not just saying that they are treating you well are you dear? Because I will come and get you if you give the word. I also included some potions in the package. You will recognise the Dreamless Sleep and the Pain relief draughts. Take them to stop those horrid dreams of yours.
Love, Mrs Weasley.o
Harry opened the parcel and snorted. Some pie and pastries was an understatement. There was a huge pie and what looked like 20 pastries. Not to mention the supply of potions he now had. Ten bottles of Dreamless sleep and also ten pain relief.
He placed the bottles in the carved wooden box Hagrid had given him for his birthday. The half-giant had someone charm it so the box could contain a lot of items.
Harry used the box to store the potion supply he had been receiving from Mrs. Weasley and Hermione. Neither knew that the other one was sending them.
As far as Harry could tell Hermione found out that brewing potions was not considered as doing magic, so she was practising daily. She told him she had already reviewed the last five years since the NEWT class would be very hard.
She sent him all kinds of potions, varying from healing potions to antidotes for some poisons. He was sure that if she kept this up, she would get an O for her NEWT with no trouble at all.
He felt sort of guilty about not telling her about his summer projects for Potions and not telling her that he got into NEWT Potions as well.
Mrs. Weasley on the other hand. . . well he was almost sure that she was somehow forcing Snape to brew these potions for him and he wondered how she did that. Though, resisting Mrs. Weasley was a dangerous thing to do.
Harry did not know what to do with the food though, he would never eat it all. An idea came up and he quickly put on some clothes and shoes. He grabbed the parcel and walked silently down the stairs, careful not to wake his relatives. Sunday was the only day they could sleep in after all.
Leaving the house he darted over to Mrs. Figghers house and knocked softly on the door. He was surprised when not Mrs. Figg, but Arthur Weasley opened the door for him. On his account Mr. Weasley was equally surprised.
#Harry! What are you doing here? Are you all right? Did something happen?# He was already fingering his wand and ready for any danger but Harry shook his head.
#It is nothing of the sort Mr. Weasley, may I come in?#
#Oh, yes, yes, of course. Where are my manners? Come in, have a seat. Arabella is making some tea, would you like some?#
They entered the kitchen and Harry placed the parcel on the table and Mrs. Figg asked him what it was.
Suddenly Harry blushed a little and he started to stammer an explanation. #Ah well, uhm, Mrs. Weasley sent me a, uhm, care-package this morning but it, well, it is far too much for me. So I thought, uhm, maybe you would like to have it since your house is always the centre of Order members looking out for me.#
Harry glanced at Mr. Weasley to see if he had offended him or something and watched as he opened the parcel that Harry had brought with him.
He did not appear to be offended for he started to chuckle. #No worries Harry.# He said and winked at him as well. #Molly always was a little protective over you. Though I think you should eat a little more, you are getting skinny again.#
Avoiding to look into the other man his eyes Harry mumbled something about it being to hot to eat, hoping that this explanation would be accepted.
If he saw through the little lie Mr. Weasley did not show it. Harry decided to change the subject. #Who is on guard duty next Mr. Weasley?#
#Actually Harry, that is why I am here. You will be coming to Headquarters with me this morning. Molly finally convinced Albus to let you stay with the rest of the order, since you will be as safe there as you are here. Even safer perhaps.#
Trying to smile Harry nodded at Mr. Weasley, hoping that would be enough. When Mr. Weasley told him to pack he left the house quickly and ran back to his room.
He started to throw things into his trunk and found that he had to sit on the lid to close it in the end, with all the extra things he had to put in it. Though he had some of the books he needed he was looking forwards to going to Diagon Ally.
Even though he tried to pack as quietly as he could, he did not do it without any sound and soon enough Aunt Petunia was standing in front of him once again. Harry had observed that after the letter from Moody Uncle Vernon refused to speak with him, thus leaving this to his wife.
#What are you doing? Do you know what time it is?#
#I am sorry for the disturbance Aunt Petunia, but Mr. Weasley, you know the man with the red hair from the platform, said I had to pack. I will be leaving today.#
She nodded curtly. #Stay here, I have to get something.#
Harry was shocked to see his aunt carrying a box that was labelled with the name Lily Evans. She handed it to him like she had the album, without a word.
When he started to thank her she snapped at him. #Do not thank me, I want nothing to do with the freak things of my sister. I should have burned them long ago but seeing as you are a freak like she was, you can take them with you.#
*And here I was thinking she was actually nice for a time.* Harry thought but shrugged after that. He should have known that nice and Aunt Petunia would not go well together.
She left to her bedroom again and Harry dragged his trunk to the stairs. He went back to his room and let Hedwig out of her cage. #Go to the Headquarters girl, I will meet you there, I know how much you hate being locked in your cage.#
He watched as she soared through the air and grabbed the cage and the box his aunt had just given him and carried those downstairs already. He was contemplating what to do with his trunk, he did not know how to get it down without any noise, when there was a soft knock on the door.
#Ready Harry? Asked Mr. Weasley and when Harry nodded he noticed the predicament he was in. With a wave of his wand and some muttered words the trunk to the size of a bean. The same happened to the box and the cage.
Harry put them in his pocket and turned to Mr. Weasley. #How will we get there, I cannot fly, my Firebolt is still hidden somewhere in Hogwarts.# He grimaced at the thought of his beloved broom in some kind of dungeon. It was one of the only things he had left from Sirius.
#We will go by portkey but we will not end up at HQ itself seeing as how it is unplottable, we will end up a few streets from there so we will have to walk the last block. I will have to put an invisibility charm on the both of us.#
Not sure whether Mr. Weasley knew about it or not, Harry decided not to mention his invisibility cloak as an option and nodded in consent of the plan.
Grabbing a battery out of his pocket Mr. Weasley told Harry to hold on to it. When they touched it Harry felt the, by now, familiar pull of being sucked away and closed his eyes.
When he felt solid ground under his feet he opened them again and he followed Mr. Weasley as he walked away. Too soon for Harryhiss taste they arrived at the place he had dreaded to see. Grimmauld Place number twelve.
Looking at the ground he followed Mr. Weasley as he entered the house and as soon as he set foot in the house Harry felt a rush of memories come over him.
He remembered how Sirius had yelled at the, now screaming, portrait of his mother. How he had sung during Christmas, at how he had talked to the through the fire.
Harry was shaken out of his reverie when he was suddenly smothered in an embrace. #Harry, dear how good it is to see you. Look at you, you are far too skinny, did not those Dursleys feed you? I did not send enough food did I, come and sit, I will make you something.#
Breaking free from Mrs. Weasley Harry shook his head. #That is okay Mrs. Weasley, I am not really hungry. It is far too hot to eat, plus I already had some breakfast this morning.#
But she would have none of it and forced him into a chair and piled a plate full of food and put in front of him. Ordering him to eat it all she left the kitchen, with the intent to wake up her children.
Giving the pile one look Harry shoved it away from him with disgust. Tonks, who was sitting in the kitchen at the time, commented on this.
#Molly may have gone a little over the top, but you should eat some of it. You are a skinny as a pole and the rings under your eyes don ot look that healthy either.#
Harry frowned, he hated when people tried to fuss over him. #I am just not hungry Tonks, I had breakfast already.# He repeated the lie he told Mrs. Weasley, not wanting to tell her that he hadnot been eating all that well.
Tonks opened her mouth to retort but the sound of thundering footsteps coming down the stairs interrupted and Ron barged into the kitchen and dragged Harry off to their room, talking excitedly.
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Ron and Harry stayed in their room until they were called down for lunch. Mrs. Weasley put an even bigger plate then earlier in front of Harry and he rolled his eyes as he picked at the eggs. To satisfy Mrs. Weasley he stuffed some in his mouth and ate them.
Hermione and Ginny werenot there at the moment. Moody escorted them to Diagon Alley that morning, since they wanted to visit Fred and George.
Lunch was pretty much a sombre affair since nobody was talking and they were all startled when they heard the door open and close and then some shuffling.
Then there was a thump, like body hitting the floor and everyone ran towards the sound, Harry as well even though Mrs. Weasley tried to stop him.
#Remus!# shouted Tonks and she immediately knelt down next to his form. He was laying face down on the floor and she turned over and gasped audibly.
Harry sat down at the other side of the fallen werewolf and took in his injuries. His face was bruised and the circles under his eyes were darker then he had ever seen. His robes were torn and he could see a bloody gash on Remus his torso.
He put his hand on Remus his head and found that he had a slight fever. At feeling this contact Remus opened his eyes and focussed them on him.
#Sorry you have to see me like this Harry. . . # he rasped. #Potion was not strong enough, I was too angry. Moony too strong.#
#It is ok, just rest, we will take care of you now.# Tonks said and Harry discovered a loving glint in her eyes. He had trouble hiding his smile at the thought that popped into his head. *Dung was right about that.*
Mr. Weasley and Tonks levitated Remus to his room and Harry wanted to follow but was once again stopped by Mrs. Weasley. #Just leave them for a while Harry, you cannot help them with this.#
#But I can!# Harry ran to his room and began to rummage through his potion box. He got out a vile of pain relief, bruise fading and wounds mending potion. He knocked on the door where Remus had been brought to. He opened the door without waiting for answer.
#I have some potions that will help. Hermione has been sending them to me, Mrs. Weasley as well. I am sure they can help him.#
He then noticed that Remus was unconscious and looked at Tonks with alarm in his eyes. She answered his unanswered question quickly. We put him unconscious, he was in a lot of pain. I am sure the potions will help, now if you just. . . #
#No# said Harry firmly. #I am staying and I want to help.# Shrugging at each other Mr. Weasley and Tonks let him stay. They peeled the bloodstained shirt from his chest and saw bloody scratches all over it.
The three cleaned the wounds and bandaged them as well. Remus had done a number on himself. Not only did he have scratches and bitemarks, his ankle was badly sprained and his arm seemed to be broken.
They woke him to make him drink the potions and then watched as he fell into a deep, and hopefully healing, sleep.
Walking out of the room they walked back to the kitchen. Tonks was wiping some tears from her eyes and Mr. Weasley was deathly pale. Harry knew he was pale as well but did not want to show any emotion.
Breaking the silence he asked the question that was on his mind. #I thought the Wolfsbane Potion helped him keep his humanity, how could it fail like that? And what did he mean with he was too angry, did something happen?#
Uncomfortable silence filled the kitchen but nobody answered his questions. Feeling his temper starting to rise Harry decided that it was better to leave for a while. #Do not tell me then.# He sneered and walked to his room, grabbed his potion book and homework he had to hand in that evening and went back to Remus his room.
He sat on the desk that was placed next to the bed and soon there was no sound in the room but the scribbling of a quill, turning of some pages and the deep breathing of the Remus.
After a few hours Remus started to move and Harry was with him in a matter of seconds. Remus had opened his eyes and gave Harry a slight smile.
#It looks like I created quite a mess for myself.# He wanted to sit up but laid back immediately, wincing all the while. #I feel like a mess as well.#
Harry kept his tone light. #You are not a mess. You only broke your arm, sprained your ankle, scratched and bit yourself and managed to bruise yourself all over.#
#Hmmm, I must have been fixed up already, I do not feel that bad at all.#
#That is just the pain relief potion talking. By the way, you are very lucky Mr. Weasley is much better at healing broken bones than Lockhart was. Skele-grow is horrible.#
#I know, I had to take it once after Severus thought it would be funny to hit me with a curse that made the bones in my arm disappear. I do not know what was worse, the potion and the pain or Snape his smug look that was stuck on his face for weeks.#
Harry noticed Remus raspy voice and dry lips. #Do you want me to get some tea and some toast maybe?#
#Would you mind terribly?#
#I would not ask it if I did not want to, now wait here and do not move. I will be right back.# Harry left the room and went to the kitchen, which was now empty. He could hear voices coming from the living room but ignored them.
He put on some water and made some toast as well. Attracted by the activity in the kitchen Mrs. Weasley walked in and wanted to meddle.
#Let me do that dear, you can just sit and I will have it done in a flash.# By then Harry was already pouring the steaming hot water in to mugs and had some dry toast on a plate.
#I am already done, thanks for the offer though.# He put the mugs and the plate on a tray and walked back upstairs, not noting that Mrs. Weasley was a little hurt that he would not let her help him.
Back with Remus Harry helped him sit up a little, fluffing the pillows a little before Remus could lean against them. He handed him a cup of bitter tea and a piece of toast.
Remus smiled a little as the tea made him feel warm on the inside. #You would make a fine nurse do you know that. You already have the bedside manner and not to mention the ability to fluff up pillows.#
#Not funny.# Harry scowled. #I was just really worried about you. Besides, it is nice to be the one fussing instead of the one being fussed about.#
#Molly.# Remus did not even state it as a question.
Harry nodded. #Tonks as well, but Mrs. Weasley the most. If she had her way I would do nothing but eat and sleep.#
#She means well Harry.# Remus said. #Even though she can get a little. . . lets say overwhelming, she has a good heart. She would do anything to protect the ones she cares about.#
Deciding to change the subject Harry asked a question. #Remus, how well did you know my mum. I mean, besides knowing her as my dad his girl and all.#
#It took a while but at the end of seventh year I would call her a close friend, why do you ask?#
#Well, I asked Aunt Petunia about my mum and to my shock she gave me some box and an album full of pictures and I noted that the pictures of my grandparents stopped somewhere. What happened to them?#
Remus frowned a little. #They were killed during our seventh year. I think that was one of the reasons your mother saw your father as something else then an annoying prick. He was the one that found her after she received the news you see, and he comforted her and tried to make her smile for days after that.#
#So you did not know them?#
#Unfortunately not, though Lily only had good things to say about them. I bet you would have loved them, they had accepted her witchcraft fully and were very interested in our world.#
#I guess I will find out sometime.#
#Just not too soon I hope.# Remus said. He tried to hide it but Harry saw he was getting more and more tired. He stood up and made him lay down again.
#You should get some more rest, I will have to send my essay to Snape anyway.# He watched as Remus absently nodded and closed his eyes again. He closed the door softly behind him and walked back to the kitchen, for he smelled dinner.
#Harry!# someone flung herself at him and clutched him close and it took a few seconds before he identified Hermione. He hugged her back, though not as tight as she was hugging him. He saw Ron scowl a little and wondered what was wrong but did not have the time to think about it, seeing how Hermione started to rattle.
#Oh Harry, I have been so worried about you. How are you doing? Did you finish your homework? You should not leave it till the last day you know. Have those muggles been feeding you? You are awfully skinny.#
Wondering when she would stop to get some air Harry finally grew tired of it and put his hand over her mouth. Thus successfully shutting her up.
#I am fine, yes I finished and yes but it was far too hot to eat a lot.#
Hermione glared at him, as if telling him she was not buying that explanation but Harry skilfully avoided that gaze and started on a different subject.
#How was the shop? Did Fred and George do a good job with setting it up?#
#As far as a joke-shop can get, I suppose it was pretty nice. They had lots of customers and they handled things scarily serious. It was not what I had expected of it, it was more mature then I thought it would be.#
#Did you do the shopping I asked you to?# asked Mrs Weasley.
Hermione nodded and pointed at the bags and packages in the corner. #I got all our school things, including that for Ron and Harry, plus those cleaning potions you asked for.#
At hearing she had got his things Harry choked on a small piece of steak he was eating. After he stopped coughing he turned to Hermione.
#How do you mean you already got my school things?#
Mrs. Weasley answered for Hermione. #Oh that is simple dear. I sent her to collect them so you would not have to go out. It is getting more and more dangerous you know. I thought it would be easier to do it like this.#
#You do not even know what books I will need or what I wanted to get. You did not even ask!# Harry was not yelling but he was very angry. His eyes were shooting sparks and his fists were balled.
#Oh I owled Minerva for your list. Nothing to worry about dear, I made sure to get you everything you needed.#
Harry nearly growled. #Maybe I *wanted* to go to Diagon Ally. Maybe I wanted to shop for myself. Maybe you should have minded your own business.#
#Do not you take that tone with me young man. I am only doing what is best for you.# Mrs. Weasley was going a little red as she got excited. The people in the kitchen were all silent spectators at what was going on.
#Do not tell me what I can and what I cannot do! You are not MY MOTHER, SO BUT OUT!# Harry gave up not yelling and it was as if a dam burst loose. #YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO OWL ABOUT ME BEHIND MY BACK WITH MY PROFESSOR OR GET THE MONEY OUT OF MY SAFE OR ANYTHING. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!#
Mrs. Weasley grew pale at his outburst and Mr. Weasley stepped in. #Now Harry, you should not. . . #
#I SHOULD NOT WHAT?# Harry roared. #SHOULD NOT STAND UP FOR MYSELF?# forcing himself to calm down he spoke in a normal level again but his voice was laced with anger and coldness.
#She wants to treat me like a child and I hate that. I am not a child, after all, a child is not supposed to kill or be killed by Voldemort would he? Well I am. The stupid prophecy said *I* have to kill Voldemort, *I* have to stand up to him and. . . # His voice faltered.
#It is hard enough to deal with without anyone fussing over me.# Everyone was silent and Harry realised that none of them had known about the prophecy. #I would like to be alone if you do not mind.# He stormed up the stairs and left a room full of shocked people.
#Well# said Tonks shakily. #You are not having your week are you Molly, this is the second time you are being yelled at.#
But her attempt at humour was not picked up as Molly crashed in a chair and started to sob. #Oh Arthur.# She wailed. #Did you hear him, he said he had to kill Voldemort but. . . he is just a boy. Just a boy. Albus cannot be serious about this, he is just too young.#
As Mr. Weasley tried to calm his wife Ginny, Ron and Hermione were huddled together digesting the information they had just got to know.
That night, none of the inhabitants, save the sleeping werewolf upstairs, of Grimmauld Place slept well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The following morning Remus woke from his deep sleep and was annoyed by some tingling in his arm. When he tried to move it he found he could not. Prying his eyes open he looked what was holding his arm pinned down and to his great surprise he found it was Harry his head.
Harry had moved the chair from the desk to next to his bed and was resting his head on Remus his arm, while bent over in the chair. Knowing how much pain Harry was in for, sleeping like he had done did nothing but torture your spine and neck, Remus tried to wake him up by shaking him a little with his free arm.
#Wake up Harry. You better wake up if you want to be able to turn your neck sometime this week.#
After some more shaking and talking Harry opened his eyes and tried to sit up, tried being the operative word. As soon as he lifted his head from his pillow Harry winced and rubbed his neck while groaning softly.
#Ouch.# He muttered sleepily. #Note to self, never sleep in that position ever again. Merlin my neck is killing me.#
Remus smiled at him. #You are not the only one in pain here mister. My arm has yet to regain a normal feeling instead of the tingling.# Turning serious he looked at Harry before he asked the question that was on his mind from the moment he woke.
#Not that I am unhappy to see you Harry, but what are you doing here? Did you have another vision?#
Harry shook his head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He tried to change the subject. #What happened to you Remus? I thought the Wolfsbane Potion helped you control the wolf.#
#I am not falling for that tactic Harry, I am the master of that particular one you are now displaying. Answering a question with a question is my speciality.# He grinned lazily. #Tell you what, you answer my question and I will answer yours.#
It took a few minutes and a lot of stammering but when Harry started to talk he could not stop. He told Remus how scared he had been when he had come back to the house injured and at how he had blown up at Mrs. Weasley for once again mothering him.
#I said some nasty things Remus but I do not regret any of it. I know she means well but I am just so sick of being babied. And when I started yelling I could not stop myself and suddenly I told them about the prophecy. They were all so quiet after that, in shock. That is when I raced upstairs and sat with you, thus resulting in my now aching neck.#
As usual Remus stayed silent for a while, contemplating what to say to Harry. #I suppose I should be angry or disappointed by your behaviour regarding Molly but seeing as how I had a huge row with her the day before, that would be a little hypocritical of me.#
#You had a row with Mrs. Weasley? You?# Harry shook his head in wonder, the thought of the usually very calm Remus fighting with anyone seemed surreal.
#Yes Harry, I had a row with her. She said some things that were able to anger me and I lost my temper. It was not very pretty.# Remus grimaced a little.
#So. . . # Harry stated. #Because you were still angry with Mrs. Weasley you could not control the wolf like you always do and managed to injure yourself.# The statement was not even a question.
Remus nodded. #Controlling Moony is never easy and it requires my full attention. I was so angry and my anger gave Moony the strength to break free. It is exactly the reason why people fear werewolves. Once angered properly, it is never certain whether or not they will attack like the Dark Creature they are.#
#That is ridiculous. You are not a Dark Creature! Dark Creatures maim and kill for the fun of it. You are a great wizard with a kind heart who had this curse placed upon him when he was very young. It is not your fault.#
Sitting up and moving over Remus patted on the empty space next to him and Harry sat next to him. Resting his head on Remus his shoulder Harry listened to Remus with closed eyes.
#Never before have you sounded so much like your father, cub. He always was very passionate about this subject. He and Sirius both actually, but your father was always more. . . no pun intended, serious about it than Padfoot.#
Putting his arm around Harry his shoulder Remus hugged Harry against him as he continued to speak. #Now I know it is all hard to deal with. The prophecy, Paddy his death, the incessant nagging of Molly. What I want you to realise is that it will all turn out like it is supposed to. You can only do your best Harry and you cannot expect miracles from yourself. You are after all only a sixteen year old wizard who has not even finished his education.#
#But Voldemort is back and he plans to continue where he left off, how can I ignore that. When I return to Hogwarts the students will expect me to do something. They place their hope in me, just because I defeated him when I was a baby, which was mum her doing and not mine. Sure I faced him a few times but I always had help with those encounters. People expect me to be the hero and I am not sure I can live up to those expectations.#
#You do not have to live up to them. You have to live up to your own expectations, as long as you know you are doing your best it should be enough.#
Harry nodded. #That was actually one of the reasons I was so angry about not being able to go to Diagon Ally. I wanted to get more books to study and a great supply of potion ingredients so I can start practising. I have not always been very dedicated to my studies but last year I realised that I know so little. If I am going to defeat Voldemort I should at least be able to protect myself from the more advanced curses and stuff.#
#Right you are cub. What do you say about a little trip to Diagon Ally, just the two of us? We will get you your things and I will be able to pick up some books I ordered as well.#
Harry smiled. #You mean it? Great!# After some thinking he added a question. #Why do you do that?#
#Taking you to the Ally you mean? I thought I explained that already.#
Shaking his head Harry continued. #No, you called me cub. Twice actually. I was wondering why you called me that, you never did before.#
#A very old habit coming back to me I guess.# Said Remus. #When you were little we all had our nicknames for you. You were James his pronglet, Lily her sunshine, Sirius his pup and my cub. I used to baby-sit you a lot, whenever James and Lily had business to attend to.#
Sitting up Harry looked at Remus with wonder. #You never mentioned that.#
#It never came up. But if you do not want me to call you cub I will just. . . #
Harry interrupted before the sentence could be finished. #No, it is fine. I just. . . well I never had a nickname before, besides nasty comments from the Dursleys and the Slytherins of course. I kind of like it.#
Furrowing his brow Remus thought about Harry his life until now. He had been lacking a lot in his life and Remus was going to change that. Deciding to stop his thought right there he spoke. #Lets get changed and we will go to the Ally immediately. Breakfast is on me in the Leaky Cauldron.#
#Are you sure you are up to it? I mean you were badly injured.# Harry sounded concerned but Remus waved it away.
#I have had worse, besides the potions worked like a charm. My arm and ankle are completely healed and the bruises are already fading. No need to worry about me.#
A mischievous look came on Harry his face. #I do not think I need to worry all that much about you. Tonks can do that on her own perfectly. You know, Dung was completely right about that one. Completely smitten with you she is.#
Harry ducked the pillow thrown in his direction just in time and laughed at Remus his words. #Shut up cub. It is not that funny you know. Hmpf, we will see what you will get for breakfast now. Here I am being kind and overall nice and this is how you repay me, by mocking me.# Remus clutched his chest. #I am badly wounded, whatever did I do to deserve such treatment?#
#You are a Marauder Remus, you should be able to handle a little teasing. Looks like I overestimated you a little.#
#Get dressed and meet me downstairs in twenty minutes. Just you wait, I will make you pay for that remark.#
Grinning Harry left the room and walked to his own. He sobered before he entered it, he did share it with Ron after all and Ron was bound to be angry with him. Either for yelling at his mother or not telling him about the prophecy, a fight was imminent.
To his relief the room was empty and Harry quickly grabbed some clean clothes and ran to the showers. After getting ready he looked at the tiny clock that was installed in the wall and saw it was time to meet Remus already.
When he exited the shower and walked to the hallway, his hair still wet from the water, he ran into Remus and they made their way downstairs together. Remus was carrying a fancy looking quill and Harry questioned him about it.
#It is a special portkey that can be activated by saying the code word. It will transport us to the Leaky Cauldron and back here again, well a few blocks from here.#
Harry was confused about it. #So we can use the portkey to get out of here but not to get back in, why do not we use floo or does not this house have that either?#
#You are right, this house does not have floo-access and it has an anti- apparation ward as well. The only way to get to the house is travelling towards it in a normal manner.#
Harry asked a few more questions about the house until they reached the kitchen where they both fell silent. The kitchen was filled with all the people who witnessed the outburst the night before, this time Moody and Kingsley were there as well.
Watching as Remus exchanged some words with Moody who after a minute of thought nodded his head in what Harry saw as agreement to their plan, he managed to avoid the gaze of everybody.
Remus motioned with his head to the hallway and just as they wanted to leave Mrs. Weasley decided to but in and placed her body in the doorway, thus blocking their exit.
#Where are you going? Dumbledore made it clear that Harry was to stay safe. Going out does not equal safe, in fact it equals danger.#
Saying it as possible and nice as possible Remus countered. #Harry will be safe. I will be escorting him to Diagon Ally and there will be aurors undercover all over the area.#
#I cannot allow you to take him Remus, you have proven that you are very dangerous and I do not think it is wise to leave Harry in the care of an angry werewolf.#
Remus looked like had been slapped in the face and that was enough for Harry his already explosive anger to burst.
#I thought I made it clear last night that you are not my mother.# He hissed. #You hold no authorisation over me, only the Dursleys# he made a face at stating them, #Dumbledore and Remus can tell me what I can and cannot do.#
Mrs. Weasley wrung her hands. #But Harry how can you trust him? You have not seen him loose his temper, he nearly attacked me? Besides, I cannot understand why you even want to spend time with him, he turned his back on you all summer.#
#He did no such thing and even if he had done so, it does not matter to you. It is a matter between Remus and myself. Now if you do not mind, we will be leaving now.#
Harry held his hand in front of him and Remus gave him the quill while still holding onto it. #Pax.# Remus said and they had disappeared from the kitchen, leaving a fuming Mrs. Weasley and a once again, astounded audience.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: I hope you guys like this chapter, I made it extra long to make up for not being able to update. Was anyone out of character? Do you have any ideas or pointers for me? Please review to let me know.
I cannot believe all the nice reviews I got.
Icedragon: I am happy you liked it.
Laerwen: I am keeping with the story and I want to apologise once again for not updating sooner. *glares at computer* hope you can understand.
Merlin: *blushes* Thanks for the compliment. And Noooo, I would never put a transferstudent in it, that is too cliché and I HATE Draco so he will not turn well either.
Sharazhad Potter: I agree with you on OotP but you forgot one option. . . you can both hate it and love it at the same time. I mean the story was great but the fact she killed Sirius. . . . well I was so sad about that. I agree about Remus as a good rolemodel, I loved since PoA.
Damien: I am keeping it up, hope you like it.
Porphyrphobic Grape: I am happy you think last chapter was better and hope you like this one as well. Was it overdone or cliche? Let me know please, I have yet lots to learn about writing HP-fics.
Equinox-15: It is always nice to be complimented on your work so thank you for that. I hope you will like this chapter as well.
Aquitaineq: I tried to keep her as realistic as possible but I hope I did not overdo it in this chapter. Let me know please.
Lady Phoenix Gryffondor: Remus losing his temper is one of my fascinations, I always wondered what would happen if he lost control.
Yoshi-fan2003: It is not a fast update, sorry about that, but I hope you like it.
Kliewer: You are not the only one to think that. It really stinks that the only place he is remotely safe is with those stupid muggles.
Arwen-evenstar: Arwen!!! You read my HP-fic!!! I will try to go through 6th year and maybe even beyond. I feel honoured that you read my HP-fic, but I have a question. Do you think this fic is totally different from Protector, if yes, is my style worse or. . . lets just say I am a little insecure about writing HP, it is so different from Protector.
Angie: I agree with you, from my point of view Remus and Harry are a lot alike. They both keep their feelings bottled up, so imagine them blowing up. . . ;) I loved Sirius but he had his own problems, Remus is more mature.
Redwitch: Hmmm, you may be right about Molly but I never really liked her so it might be because of that, that she is so annoying.
The Lady Wolfshead: I am happy you liked it. Molly did get annoying in OotP, grrr, I really hated her for acting like she did towards Sirius.
Kento: I hope you like this chapter, I put a lot of work in it.
Heather: Aaaah, another Ron-hater. I hated that annoying prat from the moment he acted so nasty towards Hermione in PoA but it flared during GoF. This will not be a Ron bashing fic though since I want to keep it a bit in character but I am not going to idolise him either.
Mella deRanged: She did, did not she? Hope you will love this chapter as well then.
Lissie89: Another update for you. Ik ontmoet niet veel Nederlanders hier. Anyway, hope you like it, let me know what you think.
Skysong: I am happy you liked how I started this fic and also hope you want me to keep continuing it.
The Great One: Whoops, I forgot about Harry smashing the mirror, well, lets just pretend that did not happen ok? The mirror can be used by the person you give it to I guess or else harry would not have been able to use it either. Hope you forgive me for not updating for a while.
Kurbani: Harry/Ginny??? Maybe, I havenot figured that out really. I think I will keep Harry single until I do figure it out.
Demon-Child: I will keep on going, I am happy you still like it. What did you think of this chapter?
Musicgrl: Thanks for reviewing, I loved it. I did not really think Hermione was out of character seeing how she can have these flashes of disrespect against adults, remeber Snape in PoA or Rita Skeeter in GoF? Why apologise for your friend? She left an honest review and I love it when people are honest.