Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of J.K. Rowlings characters, places, items, ect. So please, don't sue me. :)
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Chapter 2 – Guarding Silver
When Harry awoke, he was surprised to find that he felt truly happy. Ron was still asleep, so he got dressed and went downstairs on his own. He heard voices in the kitchen, and decided to go and see how long until breakfast was ready. He had only taken a step through the door when he regretted his decision. Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley, and Snape were all arguing, all of them looking furious with the exception of Dumbledore, who looked minorly aggravated.
"I tell you, I'm rested!" Snape roared.
"Severus, calm yourself, you should be ashamed!" Mrs. Weasley reprimanded, "Your turn will come soon enough, but you can't disappear for two days and expect two nights of sleep – if you really are asleep and not plotting your next argument – to be enough for you to go back."
"Damn it!" Snape yelled, "I'm rested!"
Dumbledore caught sight of Harry, and immediately Harry wished he knew how to disapparate.
"Good morning, Harry", he said in a cheerful voice, which somehow did not sound fake at all.
"Morning", Harry mumbled.
Mrs. Weasley and Snape turned to look at him.
"Morning, Harry darling", Mrs. Weasley said, pushing past Snape, "Are you hungry? Eggs, bacon, toast?"
"Yes, please", Harry replied as his stomach rumbled. Snape was looking at him with venom, but not saying a word. Finally, Snape turned to look at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, I insist I am allowed to go", he said, although his voice was much more controlled than it had been a moment ago.
"Very well, Severus", Dumbledore sighed, "Just please come back when you're supposed to this time. That means nine o' clock, sharp." Dumbledore fixed Snape with one of his piercing stares.
"Yes, sir", Snape replied, sounding pleased. With another venomous look at Harry, he sat down next to the head of the table.
Dumbledore also took a seat, at the head of the table by Snape.
"Please, sit down, Harry", he invited. Harry uncertainly made for the chair closest to him, but Dumbledore intervened. "No, no", he said, "Please, up here", he said, pointing to the chair opposite Snape. Harry obediently complied, trying not to look Snape in the face as he sat down. He could feel the piercing stare Snape was giving him, however, and he stared down at his empty plate as if it were the most intriguing thing he had ever seen.
"Did you sleep well last night, Harry?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.
Harry gratefully looked up into his eyes. "Yes, sir", he replied, "I haven't had any dreams all summer."
Dumbledore nodded, "Very good", he said. After a moment he spoke to Mrs. Weasley, who was lovingly buttering toast for Harry. "Molly, would you be so kind as to awaken Ron and Miss Granger?" he asked, "Tell them I wish to speak to them with Harry."
Mrs. Weasley loaded Harry's food onto his plate and nodded. "Of course," she said. She gave Dumbledore and Snape their breakfast and set out two plates of food for Ron and Hermione. She threw Snape a threatening glare as she left the room, and he sneered back at her.
Dumbledore looked amused. Harry glanced at him questioningly, but Dumbledore shook his head ever so slightly. Harry immersed himself in his breakfast, realizing that he hadn't had lunch or dinner the previous day. He stuffed his mouth at an amazing speed, and when he finally looked up, Dumbledore was looking at him admiringly. Harry would have grinned if he could have managed it with such a full mouth.
"Hungry, Potter?" Snape smirked.
Harry swallowed the mouthful with great difficulty and glared at Snape.
"I must say", Dumbledore said, "That is a good appetite. When was the last time you ate?"
"Around 6:30 yesterday morning", Harry admitted as he stuffed the last of the toast into his mouth.
"Well that explains it then", Dumbledore replied brightly. Snape coughed suspiciously. Harry glared at him a minute before clearing his plate spectacularly by stuffing the last of his eggs and bacon in his mouth at once. Dumbledore clapped politely and Snape had a suspicious coughing fit again.
Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Hermione appeared in the kitchen. Ron and Hermione looked sleepy, but interested. They turned to Dumbledore.
"Eat, eat", he encouraged them. They sat down; Ron got stuck next to Snape. Ron looked at Harry's plate a minute and then turned to Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum," he said, "Why didn't you feed Harry?"
Mrs. Weasley turned sharply. "What do you mean why didn't I feed...Harry! Where's all your food gotten to?" She eyed Snape and Dumbledore suspiciously as if she thought they had snatched Harry's food away. Dumbledore looked at her innocently as he took a polite-sized bite of his eggs. Snape smirked at Harry.
"I finished it", Harry replied.
"You WHAT?" she exclaimed.
"Finished it", Harry said, looking up at her blank expression. "I ate all of it", he explained.
"You ate it all?" she asked, gazing at his plate in awe.
"Yes", he confirmed. Then a bit meekly, he added, "May I have seconds?"
"Certainly", she replied, still sounding a bit fazed as she took his plate.
Harry looked hungrily at the other's plates as they ate. He was still very hungry. Lupin walked in, looking well-rested.
"Good morning, Harry", he greeted.
"Morning", Harry replied cheerfully.
Dumbledore gave Lupin a pointed look.
"Oh, sorry. Good morning everyone", he corrected himself.
Everyone mumbled good morning back except for Snape, who tried to make it look as if he didn't want to talk with his mouth full.
"Hungry, Remus?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Very, Molly", he replied, "And I think one of your delicious breakfasts may very well do the trick."
Mrs. Weasley gave him an approving smile and, in a few minutes, provided both him and Harry with plates brimming full of food. Harry immediately began eating as if he hadn't seen food in a year, while the others watched in a kind of stupor. He glanced up to see that they had all stopped eating to watch him. Lupin had a sly smile on his face as he looked at Harry.
"Ut? Is ood", Harry said. Snape had another coughing fit.
"Indeed", Lupin said, "It is very good."
"Cough drop, Severus?" Dumbledore offered politely.
"No thank you, Headmaster", Snape replied.
Everyone returned to their food, with the exception of Harry, because he had never stopped eating. Harry finally finished, feeling well-fed for the first time in a while, and gulped down some orange juice.
"Any more, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley offered.
"No thanks, I'm full", Harry replied, leaning back in his chair and feeling very full, indeed. He glanced around to see that not even Dumbledore or Snape had finished their first serving yet. He couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly, with a loud crack, Mr. Weasley appeared. He looked tired but content.
"Arthur!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, running forward to give him a hug and leaving the eggs unattended.
"Morning, Molly", Mr. Weasley replied, and then, "Good morning, everyone."
"Morning!" Harry replied brightly.
Mr. Weasley eyed him for a second and then asked, "Molly, why haven't you fed the poor boy?"
"Why does everyone think I've been neglecting Harry?" Mrs. Weasley demanded, "The boy has had firsts and seconds, for your information."
"Oh", Mr. Weasley replied, looking amused, "Were you a bit hungry, Harry?"
"Just a bit", Harry replied, grinning.
Mr. Weasley grinned at him before answering Mrs. Weasley's unspoken question as she walked up to him with a plate brimming with food. "No thanks, Molly", he said, "I'm going to get some sleep." He turned to Dumbledore. "Who's on duty?" he asked.
Snape stood up. "Me", he replied, and then, with a pop, he disappparated.
"Again?" Mr. Weasley asked in surprise.
"He insisted", Dumbledore replied.
"He didn't even finish breakfast", Mr. Weasley said, gesturing to Snape's mostly-eaten breakfast.
"I suspect he will find something to eat", Dumbledore replied.
"So, dad, how was guard duty?" Ron asked suddenly.
Not looking surprised in the least, Mr. Weasley replied, "Good, thank you, son."
"What is it you're guarding again?" Ron asked, trying to sound as if he had just forgotten. Harry got the feeling it wasn't the first time Ron had tried this.
Mr. Weasley shook his head and headed off to his room. Mrs. Weasley looked slightly disappointed that he hadn't eaten, but put a heating charm on his breakfast so that it would be ready when he got back. Ron looked very disappointed and continued eating his breakfast. Lupin chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir", Hermione said hesitantly.
Dumbledore turned towards her expectantly. "I am all ears, Miss Granger", he said pleasantly.
"Why did you call us down here?" Hermione asked respectfully.
Mrs. Weasley turned from cleaning Harry and Snape's plate to hear the answer.
"I thought Harry would enjoy your company", Dumbledore replied cheerfully.
Hermione and Ron looked slightly put out. "Oh", Hermione said.
"Yeah right", Harry countered. Ron and Hermione looked up at him in shock. Harry, however, was looking at Dumbledore. He was certain that Dumbledore was joking.
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "That is no way to speak to your headmaster! Most disrespectful!"
"On the contrary, Molly", Dumbledore replied, "Harry was doing nothing wrong. I daresay our relationship surpasses the student-teacher boundaries. And anyhow, he was right. I was merely toying with his friend's minds."
Mrs. Weasley looked surprised, and replied with the same small "Oh" that Hermione had given.
Harry grinned. "So?" he prompted Dumbledore.
"Well", Dumbledore said, giving Harry, Ron, and Hermione a calculating look, "I daresay you three know the reputation you have for solving mysteries." The trio exchanged a glance, and Dumbledore continued. "I also know that you are probably very interested in what we are guarding at the moment." Harry, Ron, and Hermione instantly scooted to the edges of their seats, leaning closer to Dumbledore. He's going to tell us, Harry thought excitedly. "I must ask you not to try and solve this mystery, however", Dumbledore said. He gave them each a piercing stare in turn. "You will find out before the summer is over, I daresay, but I do not want you to find out before I see fit, and for good reason. Do you understand?"
"Yes", they all mumbled disappointedly, slumping back in their chairs.
Dumbledore smiled at them. "Don't be too disappointed, you may find out sooner than you think", he said. They all gave him despairing looks, which only made him smile more. "Thank you for breakfast, Molly, it was spectacular", Dumbledore said, rising.
"Anytime, Albus", Molly replied fondly.
As soon as Dumbledore left, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances. Harry was suddenly feeling very disappointed and sad, without really knowing why. He got up, feeling a sudden desire to go somewhere, although where, he didn't know. Without an explanation, he got up and went upstairs. He was walking toward his room when he suddenly turned and began to walk down the hallway. He only realized where he was going when he got there. He slowly turned the knob and walked into Sirius' bedroom again. In all the pictures of him, he was either sleeping or gone. One particular picture caught his eye, however. His mother, father, Sirius, and Lupin were waving at him cheerfully. He picked up the picture and fell onto Sirius' bed looking at it. His mom blew him a kiss and his father gave him a thumbs-up sign. Sirius winked at him for no apparent reason, and Lupin simply beamed. Harry found himself smiling wistfully up at them. Suddenly there was a soft knock at the door. Harry sat up on the bed as Lupin let himself in. He came and sat down next to Harry and gazed at the picture he was holding.
"That's one of my favorites, too", Lupin said fondly.
"I miss them", Harry said, as a familiar wave of guilt, sadness, and frustration washed over him.
"Me too", said Lupin, putting an arm around Harry's shoulders, "I know how you feel, Harry."
"Thanks", Harry said quietly. Lupin released him and for a moment they stared down at the picture.
"I was never very photogenic", Lupin said.
Harry looked thoughtfully down at the picture. Lupin's picture self did look a bit shy. "I think you look nice", Harry replied.
Lupin smiled. "Thanks, Harry", he said.
Suddenly there was another knock at the door.
"Harry?" Hermione asked as she opened the door. She peeked her head in, as did Ron, but they both withdrew a few steps when they saw Harry and Lupin. "Sorry", Hermione said quickly. Ron nodded his agreement. "We'll wait for you in the living room", Hermione added. Ron was looking around the room at all the pictures of Harry. "Ron", Hermione said exasperatedly. As she shut the door, Harry vaguely heard Ron saying, "He really loved Harry, didn't he?"
Harry's feelings towards Ron's comment were mixed. He was happy that Sirius had loved him, but sad and frustrated that Sirius was gone.
"Lupin", Harry said, "Sirius never actually told me that he loved me, and I never told him." It had been bothering Harry for quite some time, but he hadn't wanted to tell anyone.
"Oh yes you did, Harry", Lupin replied, "And so did he. Look around – his room is a shrine to you. And you showed that you wanted to protect him as much as he did you. He knew, Harry. It was what got him through many days alone in this house. And you know he loved you, don't you?"
"Yes", Harry replied. He fiercely fought back the tears that threatened to come. Lupin placed a hand on his shoulder, and he lost his grip on himself. Tears spilled down his cheeks. He got up and began to run for the door. He wanted to run out of this house, out of his whole life. Lupin caught him and pulled him down onto the bed.
"You can't run, Harry", he said.
Harry knew it, but he didn't want to admit it. Lupin sat with him, his hands firmly on Harry's shaking shoulders, until the tears subsided. Harry was grateful Lupin wasn't smothering him with hugs the way Mrs. Weasley was sure to have done. Then, for a while they just sat there. Harry wouldn't have minded sitting in Lupin's company the whole day, but Lupin suddenly straightened and patted his back.
"Your friends are waiting for you", he reminded him.
"Yeah", Harry said reluctantly.
"If you need me, you know where to find me", he said.
Harry nodded and headed downstairs. When he arrived in the living room, he found Hermione and Ron sitting looking elated. Next to them was a pair of Extendable Ears. They pulled him down and began talking so fast he only barely realized what they were saying.
"-found out what they're guarding!"
"-a girl! Snape wants to be with a girl!"
"-named Silver-"
"-do you reckon Snape fancies her?"
"-our age-"
"-maybe it's his daughter-"
"Oh Ron, will you shut up about Snape?" Hermione said exasperatedly.
"Well why on earth would Snape want to guard a girl?" Ron persisted.
Harry processed the information as fast as he could. The adults were guarding a girl their age named Silver – and Snape had taken an odd interest in her.
"Well, Ron, maybe Snape has feelings", Hermione said.
Ron snorted. "Next you'll be saying he's human", he retorted.
"It's possible", she insisted.
"Not really", Harry replied.
She glared at them, but then brightened. "The point is, we've found out what they're guarding!"
The three exchanged an elated glance.
"We have to meet her", Hermione said, "We just have to find out where they're disapparating to. Let's see if Dumbledore and Moody are still talking about it."
"Sounds like a plan!" Ron answered.
"Let's get to it", Harry replied.
Giving each other mischievous glances, they grabbed the Extendable Ears and began to listen.