Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter or related material. ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________
Chapter Two
Surprises and Friends
By Patilaputra Jeanne

Harry trudged up the stairs as he came to realize what going back to Grimwald place actually meant. He was going back to Sirius's house, only now there was no Sirius to brighten his mood. There was no one he felt he could confide in like Sirius, except for Ron and Hermione but he didn't want to frighten them with things like Lord Voldemort or the Prophecy. He was Sirius's heir and he assumed that meant he was now the owner of the decaying mansion and it's occupants. This included the dreadful Kreature that he wasn't sure was even going to be there (whether because the last of the Blacks was dead or that Harry would slay the piece of filth as soon as he saw it.) When Harry finally reached his room, he started violently stuffing all of his belongings into his trunk.

'Screech!' Harry jumped at the noise and realized the owl waiting for him. He undid the letter and began to read.

Dear Harry,
When you have reached sixteen years of age, it has been agreed that Remus will become your guardian and tutor you in certain matters. This has been tradition for thousands of years in our family and our ancestors' families and we want you to carry on the tradition.
With the Best of Luck,
Lily and James Potter

Harry starred down at the only letter he had ever gotten from his parents. His hands were shaking as he looked at the postmark of the envelope. The letter had been written on his first birthday, only a few months before Pettigrew had betrayed them. Harry shook his head to bring himself back to reality and quickly finished packing his trunk. He nearly ran down the stairs, his trunk thumping loudly behind him and entered the kitchen once again.

"Portkey leaves in five minutes," Tonks said as she sealed a note to the Dursleys. Harry set his trunk down and rounded on Remus.

"What is this about?" he asked holding up the letter. Why did everyone always have tons of secrets that Harry was not old enough to know? Remus hesitantly took the letter and went white as he read the contents.

"Great Merlin!" he exclaimed. He turned over the neatly written letter and swore under his breath over and over again. He was still at it when they arrived at Grimwald place.

"Harry, we should see Dumbledore right away." Remus said as Harry opened the door to headquarters like nothing was wrong with it. Lamps lit as they entered the miserable hallway. "He will want to know and send for the papers as well." Harry suddenly stopped and starred at the last Marauder as he was now confused.

"What papers?" he asked. He had a feeling he was revealing his ignorance once again.

"The legal papers," Remus said. "Unless you want to stay with the Dursleys." He was silent for a moment as he looked down at the letter that was still in his hand. "Doesn't look like you have a choice however," he added more to him self than to any of the others.

Harry was not yet sure he liked the change in Remus, the last of the Marauders. He knew that Sirius's death would have a huge impact on his former Professor, but to be this sly and moody made him seem more like... a Marauder.

"Well when?" Harry asked deciding to put his thought of Remus to the back of his head to decipher another time.

"We could go now if you like," Lupin answered. He motioned for Harry to follow him as they strutted towards the kitchen.

"Wait-Just-A-Minute!" Moody growled behind them. Neither of the two answered as they entered the kitchen and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder before disappearing into a green flame.

"Good afternoon Remus," the Headmaster greeted not looking up from his work. "May I inquire as to why you are here?"

"Harry received a note from his parents this morning that they had written before Petigrew betrayed them," Remus explained as he handed the neatly folded and written letter to the professor. Dumbledore looked the note over and raised hid eyebrows at Lupin.

"This says you ate to be Mr. Potter's guardian in certain matters," he stated. Remus and Harry both knew what he was hinting at but neither said anything. Harry couldn't really say anything as he didn't know in the first place. "May I ask what those matters may be?" Harry turned to Remus, wanting to know just that.

"You may ask, but I am not permitted to answer." Remus replied. "This is a sworn secret, you understand." Harry raised an eyebrow. Now he remembered back to the letter and realized that his parents hadn't even dared put it in writing, especially when it would be just lying around for 15 years. Harry did not like all these blank pieces of information.

"And does Mr. Potter know this?" Dumbledore asked. He was still looking at Remus, however, and not Harry. Remus raised an eyebrow at this and looked directly at Harry.

"Mr. Potter does now," Harry pointed out even if it was churlish of him. Dumbledore turned and looked at Harry for a couple moments as if seeing him for the first time and just taking him in as a person.

"I did not see you there Harry." Professor Dumbledore said finally. If Harry hadn't known any better he would have said that Dumbledore was just making an excuse, however, Harry knew enough about Dumbledore to know that was not the case.

"Easy to do," Harry replied in a diplomatic voice. Dumbledore gave him an odd look as if not sure what to make of him.

"I will send for the papers then," Dumbledore said. "We may have some trouble getting the current guardians to sign over, so the transaction should be complete within a week or two." The two others recognized the dismissal and flooed back to Grimwald Palace without another word or glance.

"Is anyone going to tell me what in Merlin's name is going on here?" Moody growled from the kitchen table where he and Tonks sat drinking their way through a bottle of Butterbeer.

"To make a long story short, Harry here got a letter from his parents saying I'm to be his legal guardian when he turns sixteen." Remus answered. He got out a Butterbeer for both him and Harry as they both sat down at the table as well.

The four began discussing what the Order had been doing lately. Harry knew that they would have done it anyway with Sirius's philosophy on the subject, but he couldn't help but think that they were doing it in Sirius's honor. No one talked of Sirius, and whenever the conversation got close to the topic, someone turned it around quickly, though it was never Harry. It was irking him that they might just be doing it to protect him. Fortunately, they were interrupted before Harry could do anything about it.

"Well, hello once more!" Mrs. Weasley said as she entered the room from the fireplace that was still empty from that night last June. "So nice to see you all again." She nodded a hello at Remus, Tonks, and Moody but clearly did not recognize Harry. Ginny and Ron appeared behind her moments later.

Ron looked around the room a bit and gave Harry an odd look before asking, "Where's Harry?" Tonks, Remus, and Moody all looked at Harry who was now greatly saddened by the fact that his best friend didn't recognize him. Ron saw this and interpreted it the wrong way. "Is he alright?" He was clearly worried, as were Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.

"You can figure that one out for your selves," Tonks said. She got up and collected the empty Butterbeer bottles. As she passed Harry, she gave him a nudge but he didn't move or say anything.

"We'll just go put our things in our rooms then," Mrs. Weasley said nervously. "Fred, George, and Arthur will be here for supper as well." As soon as they had left the room, Harry went to go find his own trunk that he'd left in the entrance hall. He dragged it upstairs and into the room he shared with Ron the last time he was there.

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I really appreciate any reviews, but mainly this is just a story that I have been working on for a while and that I just want people to read. I will try to update once a week, that may not seem like much, but I have a huge story to type and there are so many pieces that I have to connect, that I can't really do much more. I know this is more than once a week right now, but that will change as the story goes on so I am going to promise on at least once a week. THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO READS THIS!