A/N: I've got nothing better to do with most of my day, so I update my fics… Don't feel sorry. I love writing. Warning: there is a HPHG romance, so don't freak out! ::Furry black stray dog wanders ponderously away after writing another chapter, gazing at the hot sun::

Chapter Four

Lupin came back to the world of Grimmauld a day later, to find everyone on edge and hardly noticing his return.

Harry did.

"Remus!" Harry came over and gave him a hug. Lupin was pleasantly surprised. Then Harry's eyes became dark.

"What's wrong?" Everyone was acting so strange.

"Well, while you were, um, in the basement, someone tried to get into Grimmauld Place."

"WHAT?!" Remus shouted. Then a triggering thought entered his mind, the creature, the howl, the scratching, the thudding noise, the shouting. It all made sense.

"They were trying to get into the basement!" He said, looking at Harry, who looked confused.

"I thought you couldn't remember anything when you were-"

"I am incapable of conscious thinking when I am in werewolf form, but that doesn't mean I forget what happens or what I do," he explained, cutting Harry off. "I have only animal instincts when I am a werewolf."

"Oh." Harry could not find any more to say. Suddenly Remus looked around and pulled Harry to the side, acting secretive.

"I saw something out there through my window the night before and one the night someone tried to break in," he whispered.

"I know, the scratching on the other side of the house came from an animal, Hermione thinks it could have Wormtail. She also thinks that animals are not barred by a Silencing Charm, so-"

"If it was Wormtail, then he could hear me," Lupin finished. "Have you ever told Hermione how brilliant she is?"

"Not really, not sincerely, that is," Harry said sheepishly, and Lupin caught Harry sighing in relief. Of what?

"Well she is, and I'm going to find her the biggest chocolate bar I can find one day for a holiday or her birthday or something," Lupin said seriously. Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"You and your chocolate!" He gave Remus a playful punch on the shoulder and led him over to his usual big breakfast. After his transforming, Molly always made him huge meals on his first day back; he got really hungry. Harry, feeling hungry too, sat down with him. They ate in silence for a while. It was almost a brunch, because everyone else had eaten earlier, Harry had waited for Remus to come.

"You know, Harry. I am technically your guardian now," he offered as conversation, but got no immediate response out of Harry. It was still too hard to think about Sirius not being there, not being his godfather, his guardian.

"No one is allowed to leave Grimmauld Place unless they are given orders to," Harry said, changing the subject.

"Really?"

"Yeah, Dumbledore said so yesterday. But how are we going to get our stuff for school?"

"Oh, I'm sure the security won't be so bad by the time you need to get ready for school."

"I guess so." More silence, but this time, it was a comfortable one as they continued eating the superb meal.

"Harry, is there anything going on between you and Hermione?" Remus asked randomly. It had been on his mind for a while. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all older, and really close friends. He didn't really know what the boys thought of their other best friend, but he had noticed something between them. He had, of course, considered Ron, but he thought he and Hermione just liked fighting and arguing more than anything. Harry stiffened, why was Remus asking him this personal question?

"Ummm," he trailed off, not knowing what to say. He had always loved Hermione deeply, but as a friend. They had gone through a lot together, Ron too. But he did not want to consult his feelings, he was afraid that Hermione would just scoff if he said anything. And, more importantly, he didn't know what Ron felt about Hermione either, so he did not want to tread on such dangerous ground.

"You don't have to answer, I was just curious. You are all getting older, more closer, not the third years I first met when I came to Hogwarts." Lupin looked at Harry, staring at his green eyes. "Your father would be asking the same thing too," he whispered. Harry nodded silently. Of course, Lupin would know more about his father than he ever would, they were friends all through school and beyond, Harry had only known him when he was a baby, too young to really remember.

"Well, Remus, I'm really not sure," he swallowed.

"I'm not saying you have to do anything about it, but just don't deny what you might feel for her." Harry stared at the fire burning brightly in the fireplace, pondering this. But he did not have time to really process anymore when Ron came bounding in with Tonks to challenge him to a game of Wizards Chess. Remus had no choice but to follow Tonks, who said that Dumbledore wanted to talk to him in his room, privately.

"Ah, Remus, nice of you to rejoin the human world!" Dumbledore said, not trying to poke fun at Lupin, just glad to see him. Snape snorted, and Remus noticed him for the first time, sitting silently in an armchair in Dumbledore's quarters.

"You too," Remus said, smiling. That old codger, always makes me smile.

"Well, I'm sure someone has informed of the past days events," he said, getting right to the point.

"Yes, Harry told me."

"Ah, yes, and that is the topic I wish to discuss with you, and Severus," he said, and Professor Snape only nodded.

"We have found him sneaking around the house at night, possibly even leaving the house entirely," Professor Snape said stiffly.

"I was not aware of this," Lupin replied.

"You're usually not aware of anything."

"Severus," Dumbledore cautioned. Snape went silent.

"The last time he was caught by Hermione, who found him downstairs the night someone tried to break in, with a cut above his eyebrow," Dumbledore continued. "She told me about it today. Said he made an excuse that he had tripped on the stairs."

"Do you believe that?" Lupin said, worried now. What was Harry doing?

"Hell no," snapped Severus.

"No, we do not, and we are concerned that the person that tried to break in might have seen Harry, and might know where you are."

"Well, who do you think it is?" Lupin asked, not knowing where this was going.

"Either someone who serves the Dark Lord who happens to be an Animagus," Dumbledore offered.

"Or an Animagus in our own ranks," growled Snape.

A/N: Review please! Doggie treats (reviews) make me happy! (And also make me want to update faster!) ::black doggie grins happily::