Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, although I wish I did b/c I would be filthy rich…lol
Summery: This story basically picks up where the fifth book left off, when Harry is leaving the station. The Order of the Phoenix gains some new members, and an interesting object is revealed at number twelve, Grimmauld Place.
Last Chapter: Harry and Remus talked for hours about their feelings on the whole situation, and were quite surprised to see that it had begun to get dark outside. Remus remembered something.
"Well," he looked at Harry. "Are you going to read that letter?"
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Padfoot's Letter and Mrs. Figg's House
Harry looked down at the letter in his hands and thought for a moment. He knew reading this letter would only make him feel sad all over again. Please. Said a voice in the back of his head. You know you want to see what is in that letter. Harry sat there for several minutes silently battling with himself until finally curiosity won out. He looked up at Remus who was watching Harry's silent battle with curiosity and pity, almost as if he could hear the battle going on in Harry's head.
":Are you okay?" Remus asked.
"I'm fine," Harry replied. He then looked down once more at the letter in is hands, and ran his fingernail across the seal to break the seal. Remus watched with concern as Harry looked at the letter for a moment and then began to read.
Dear Harry,
I regret to say that if you are reading this it must mean that I am dead. I hope you don't feel to sad, as I am now hanging out with your father and Lily, and we are probably planning the biggest prank in history just to make up for lost time. I also don't want you feeling guilty as I know you have a tendency to do. I hope I died fighting, in which case it was voluntary on my part and was not your fault. I am proud to have died fighting so think nothing of it. I liked the adventure. Another reason this house is so depressing. As I am writing this I fear I will die alone in this stupid house with that damned house elf laughing at me. If that is the case, feed him to Buckbeak. Now back to the reason I am writing you this letter. I wanted to tell you in advance that in my will, I have left you my house and a great deal of my fortune. You may use it however you please, and my only wish is for you to keep the house as headquarters, and let any member of the Order stay there if they should have need (as much as I regret to say it, yes even dear old Snivellus). I also know that if you are receiving this letter it means that Remus Lupin is still alive, and therefore I also ask that you will let Remus stay in one of the rooms, and keep the place up while you are in school. He will stay there for only one galleon a month. If Remus refuses this offer (which I expect he will since he is so stubborn and proud) tell him you have my full permission to hex him good, until he agrees. What you do with the rest of the fortune is up to you. I also wish that if you can find a way to get rid of my mothers bloody portrait, please do so, along with the heads on the wall. You will find out exactly how much money you have received at my hearing. Just know that you are a rich man now Harry, enjoy it. There was a copy of this letter behind Phineus' portrait in your room at Grimmauld place, but it has been bewitched so that when you get this letter it will destroy itself. Just tap your wand to this paper and say "letter received." And do me and James a favor, and send Wormtail to hell for us.
The letter was signed with a single muddy paw print. Harry stared for a moment, and then saw that there was more.
PS- There is a small closet next to Buckbeak's room. If you enter it, and tap the back wall with your wand and say "Padfooted Prongs," it will open up into a room that James and I created one summer after our third year. Keep this room a secret with the exception of moony.
Harry looked up distractedly, and handed Lupin the letter to read. It felt almost as if he had had one last conversation with Sirius, and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not. Before he had the chance to dwell on these thoughts too much, however, Remus looked up from the letter, and gave a small chuckle.
"Padfoot, mate, you always were a sly old dog." Remus chuckled. "It looks like I will be staying in your new house Harry. Padfoot always knew how I hated his and Prong's charity. It seems, however, as though he won't give me much of a choice in the matter, so i feel obligated to accept to avoid being hexed. Oh, and Harry, you have to destroy the copy of this letter."
Harry looked up. He took the letter, and scanned the bottom of it until he found what Sirius had told him to say. He took out his wand, and said "Letter Received." The letter glowed for a second, and then the words 'Copy destroyed' flashed on the bottom, before disappearing again. Harry looked at the letter again, and broke the silence in the room by voicing his curiosity.
"Did you know about this room in Sirius's house? Harry asked Remus. Lupin shook his head.
"No, I did not," he replied sadly. "I think it is something that Sirius and your father created a their hideaway, and only used it together for one summer. I have a suspicion that Sirius visited it many times by himself before he ran away. I think he used it as a hideaway from his parents. When we go to Grimmauld Place sometime after the hearing, we shall go up to that closet together. I think the reason Sirius mentioned it was because he knew must have mementoes of some kind in it of him and your father. He told only us, because he knew you and I, Harry, would be the only people who could fully appreciate it."
They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Lupin spoke again. "Harry," he said. Harry looked at him, and waited for him to continue. "I must be going now, as I have some more work to do for Dumbledore, but I will be stopping by tomorrow morning at nine o'clock to escort you to Mrs. Figgs' house. There we will meet Dumbledore, and I have something to show you that I think you might want to add to the décor of your new house."
"What does Dumbledore want?" Harry asked somewhat irritated at the headmaster. Harry was still a bit upset at how Dumbledore had made him suffer through Occlumency lessons with Snape last year.
As though he could read Harry's mind, Lupin replied, "I believe he wants you to learn Occlumency the correct way, and therefore he will be teaching you himself, among other things."
This had caught Harry's attention. "What other things?" Harry inquired.
Lupin just smiled at him. "You will find out tomorrow. Goodnight Harry." With that he walked out of the room.
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The next morning Harry awoke to the sound of the doorbell and Uncle Vernon's cry. "Bloody Hell! Who is visiting this early in the morning!" Harry heard him grumble all the way to the door. He looked at the clock next to his bed and saw the time. 8:57! Oh no! I'm late! Harry thought as he rushed into the bathroom to get ready. After he returned from what was probably the quickest shower of his life, he ran to get dressed. Just as Harry was slipping into his shoes, he heard Uncle Vernon scream, "Boy! I said to get your bloody arse down here!" Harry could tell by his voice that this was not the first time Uncle Vernon had called upstairs to him. He quickly put on his shoes and ran downstairs. His eyes went first to Uncle Vernon's red face, and then to Remus Lupin who was standing beside him looking at the kitchen in n amused way. Hary turned to see what he was looking at, and he saw Aunt Petunia and Dudley cowering in the doorway. Harry grinned.
"Hello Remus. Sorry I'm late. I woke up a bit late this morning." Harry's eyes flickered once again to the doorway. "Don't worry Duddykins. It's not full moon for another week." He took a moment to watch the effect of his words. The three Dursley's were terrified as they had no real idea why Harry had just provided this little fact.
"W-w- what's th-that supposed t-to mean?" Dudley sputtered looking scared.
"What do you mean what do I mean?" Harry asked in mock puzzlement. "Surly you know that that's when werewolves are active?" Harry enjoyed watching the three Dursley's expressions become even more confused and worried.
Just then Lupin spoke. "Harry didn't tell you that I am a werewolf?" He asked, trying to keep from grinning. Harry was having a more difficult time trying to keep a straight face however, as he watched the Dursleys' faces switch from worried to scared to completely horrified like a set of traffic lights.
"Sorry," Harry managed to choke out. His eyes were tearing, and he was worried that his chest might burst from trying not to laugh. "I must have forgotten to mention that when I got home."
This time it was Aunt Petunia who was the first Dursley to find her voice. "Get out of my house you monster!" she shrieked.
Lupin and Harry turned to leave when Lupin suddenly turned around and spoke to Aunt Petunia. "You know, when James and I told Lily this news, she took it a lot easier and calmer then you sis Petunia. You should go from her example so as not to make a scene next time." He then turned and left with Harry, leaving the stunned Dursleys behind.
As soon as the door closed Harry and Remus burst out laughing. "That…was …hilarious!" Harry chocked out between fits of laughter. The two wizards laughed all the way to Mrs. Figg's house. When they got there Remus knocked on the door, and a worried Mrs. Figg answered.
"Where have you two been?" she asked angrily as she let them in and locked the door behind them. "We have been waiting for 15 minutes, and we thought you had been attacked."
"Sorry," Harry and Remus replied in unison.
"Would you mind explaining where exactly you were?" asked another voice. Harry recognized it as McGonagall.
"Well," Harry explained. "We saw an excellent prank opportunity that we couldn't pass up." With that Harry and Lupin were on the floor laughing again. McGonagall couldn't help but remember a similar scene involving a hysterical James and Sirius saying the same thing to her one day when she had given them detention. Remembering this she couldn't bring herself to scold them. She wouldn't have had time anyway, as Mrs. Figg had just returned to the room (Harry hadn't noticed she left) and she was with none other than Albus Dumbledore.
"Hello Harry, and Remus," Said Dumbledore. Harry and Remus looked up and stopped laughing.
"Hello sir," Harry replied.
"Harry if you wouldn't mind stepping into this office with me I'd be delighted to inform you as to why you are here." He looked around for a moment before speaking again. "Remus, if you would stay out here, I'm sure Minerva would be so kind as to fill you in on your assignment." Then he motioned for Harry to follow him into the office behind them. He sat down, and motioned for Harry to do the same. After Harry sat down, Dumbledore spoke again.
"Harry, let me just begin by saying that I am very sorry about what happened last term. I should have realized that Severus would not have been able to get over his hatred for your father so easily. This summer I will be teaching you Occlumency and the Legllemins curse properly, so that you may use them in self-defense. You will come over here every morning at 6 o'clock, and we will practice for two hours. Afterwards you will take rather advanced dueling lessons, seeing as you will most likely need them to fulfill the prophecy you heard last month.
"Your teachers will be Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Alastor Moody. Kingsley wanted to help also you see, but being a well respected and experienced Auror, the ministry is depending on him, and the Order needs as many ministry insiders as we can get. You will not be taking these lessons alone however. There will be another student there as well, and you to already know each other so I needn't bother with tedious introductions."
"Who is the other student?" Harry inquired, talking for the first time in minutes.
"You shall see soon enough. They will be arriving here shortly."
"But-" began Harry.
"You will find out soon enough." replied Dumbledore. Harry vaguely wondered why they weren't at Grimmauld Place. "You must be wondering Why we are not at headquarters," said Dumbledore. Harry shivered. Harry could have sworn that Dumbledore had just read his mind. No Kidding! He knows Occlumency stupid. Harry told himself.
"Yes I was wondering," Harry replied.
"Well as you know, Harry," Dumbledore started once again, " You are only guaranteed safety as long as you are in your Aunt and Uncle's house, as they are your only blood relatives." Harry scowled, but kept listening. "And therefore we don't want to bring you to Grimmauld place because it is simply too far away. The other reason is that we want no one, not even anyone else in the Order to know about your dueling training." He paused as he saw Harry about to ask a question. "Not even the Weasleys" Dumbledore said. Before Harry could interrupt however, the doorbell rang. "Ah, that would be your partner." Dumbledore said.
He got up and opened the door of the office. Harry followed him as he walked out, curious to see who he would be working with for the rest of the summer.
"Harry," said McGonagall. "This is your training partner. I believe you two know each other."
Harry looked at the new arrival in surprise, and nodded. He was shocked.
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A/N- whoo hoo! This chappie was a decent length! Over 2300 words! Yea! Can you tell I'm happy? lol
Who was Harry's partner? Review to find out!
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