Chapter Three

The Potter House

"Here, Harry, grab hold of this." Lupin said, holding out the teapot. Harry knew it was a Portkey. He took hold of it, and was joined by Tonks, and Mad-Eye.

"The rest of us will stay and clean up, Lupin." Arthur said. "I'll have Dumbledore join you in a little while." He started walking out of the kitchen to Mrs. Figg's living room to where the other Order members were already Obliviating all the Muggles who had seen the fight. "I'll leave a message at Headquarters so the others know Harry's location," he added. Harry looked up at Lupin,

"We aren't going to Headquarters?" He asked. This didn't make any sense to Harry. Where else can they be taking me? He thought. Maybe the Burrow? Yeah, that's probably it. Keep me away from the Order so I can't nose around. Figures. He thought bitterly.

"No, we're going somewhere... else..." Lupin trailed off, looking away from Harry and out the window.

"Five seconds." Moody barked. Before Harry could think about Lupin's strange evasiveness he felt the uncomfortable tug behind his navel meaning the Portkey had activated. He was bumping into Tonks on his left and Lupin on his right and then suddenly he was jolted to a stop. He fell to the ground and heard the teapot smash. When Harry looked up, he saw he was not at the Burrow as he had thought he would be. He was not, in fact, anywhere he even recognized.

"Let's keep moving." Moody said. "We're not protected out here; they could find us any minute."

"Let him get his feet under himself Mad-Eye." Tonks said gently. Harry stood up slowly and looked to Lupin for direction. He was glad they hadn't taken him to... Sirius' house, though it would have been nice to be around the Order, know what was going on. But he didn't think he'd be able to be in a place that reminded him so much of Sirius just yet. He didn't think he was ready for that.

"It's just a bit farther, Harry. We couldn't Portkey directly there, not with the Ministry monitoring the network so avidly. Dumbledore doesn't want anyone to know where this place is just yet," he concluded while helping Tonks to her feet.

"Where are we?" Harry asked as he followed them down the small path they were now walking. As far as he could tell, they were in the middle of a small forest, walking along a path wide enough for perhaps a small car to drive down. There was thick brush under the trees, and he couldn't see very far ahead in the night's darkness.

"It's... a safe place. That's all you need to know right now." Lupin replied as they rounded a corner. Harry saw, faintly in the distance, an outline of a house. As they approached a tall stone wall rose above them keeping much of the house hidden from Harry's sight. Lupin walked up to the gate. Above him, two identical stone griffons gazed down at him. Much to Harry's surprise the griffons spoke to them.

"Who approaches?" One asked looking at Lupin.

"It's... Moony," he replied. Harry looked at Lupin sharply... Moony? Why would he tell it his Marauder name? He wondered.

"Moony..." the other griffon replied, "it has been a long time since you visited. Welcome. But who are these three who accompany you?" Its gaze shifted from Tonks to Mad-Eye finally resting on Harry.

"Yes..." continued the first griffon, "who are your companions? Are they true of heart?" They were both staring at Harry now.

"The lady is Nymphadora Tonks, an Auror of the Ministry of Magic and trusted member to the Phoenix." Harry was again surprised... He's telling them about the Order? Lupin was still talking. "The man behind her is Alastor Moody, also trusted friend of the Phoenix."

"The Eye." The first griffon said.

"Yes," continued the second, "we have met The Eye before." They were both still staring at Harry. He shifted slightly from one foot to the next, wishing they would look at something else then him. "But the boy who looks to you? We have not met him. Is he of noble heart?"

The question struck a kind of chord within Harry. He found himself stepping forward, in front of Lupin, up to the gate. He looked up at the griffons on either side and found himself speaking to them.

"I'm Harry Potter. My parents were Lily and James Potter." Once he had said this, something clicked into place and the gate opened.

"Welcome Master Potter. We are joyous upon your arrival. You and your companions are very welcome indeed."

"Moony, we are pleased to see you have returned. We are delighted that you have brought such admirable people with you. Please, come in." The two griffons turned their gazes back outwards to the pathway and froze back into their stone. Harry followed Lupin into the yard. When all four of them were within the walls, the gate closed behind them. Harry looked up at the house he now stood in front of.

It was large, but not overwhelmingly so. Inside the yard where they now stood were several fountains that were not running. The yard was overgrown, but there were several nice trees and flowers intermixed with the weeds. Lupin led them up a cracked stone walkway to the front door. It was a large door with a lion head knocker on it. Lupin reached up a hand and knocked three times.

The lion's eyes opened.

"Who knocks?" It asked.

"It's Moony. I have three with me, Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor Moody, and Harry Potter. All come as allies to the Phoenix." Maybe it's some sort of secret password? Harry thought. A password to some secret hideout for the Order? But the lion was speaking again.

"Welcome Mr. Moony. You and your companions are welcome." The door opened.

Inside the door was an entryway that may have been, at one time, quite grand. It had smooth marble flooring, and a large chandelier hung from the high ceiling. The room, however, was greatly covered in cobwebs and dust. None of the candles were lit, and the room was greatly filled with darkness and gloom. Harry again wondered where they were as Tonks closed the door behind them.

"Well, Harry, welcome home." Lupin said sadly as he turned to look at him. Harry stared at him for a moment before realizing what Lupin had said.

"H-home?" He asked. "What do you mean? Is this place mine?" Harry was becoming more confused every moment.

Lupin sighed. "This house belongs to your family. It most recently belonged to your grandparents, your father's parents. No one has lived here for quite a few years though." He looked around at the dusty picture frames and the spider webs hanging from the candle holders.

"Why don't we light some candles and clean up a place to get some rest," Suggested Tonks. "We can fix up a few rooms while we wait for Dumbledore." Harry nodded dazedly. This house is my family's. I have a home. My dad lived here when he was my age. My family lived here. Thoughts were blurring through his mind as he looked around at this place where he father had grown up. There was a grand staircase at the far end of the entryway leading up to a second floor. There were several large doors and archways leading off to corridors to the left and right. A large coat rack stood to the left of the front door, a thick cloak and hat still hanging on it. A small wooden table was to the right of the door, a pair of gloves and a scarf collecting dust. Lupin led them to the right into a sitting room filled with arm chairs and sofas. Tonks waved her wand and the candles on the walls all lit filling the room with a warm glow. Harry looked at Lupin.

"This house was my parent's?" He asked, still dazed at the events of the day and finding himself here so unexpectedly.

"No, your parents didn't live here. Well, your father did when he was growing up, but when he married Lily they got their house in Godric's Hollow. His parents lived here. Your father inherited it when they died. He and Lily would have raised you here, but..." Lupin trailed off. "The Death Eaters killed them shortly before they killed your parents, Harry." He looked very sad, Harry thought to himself. "Lily and James were getting ready to move here, to be moved in for the holidays, but they never got the chance." Harry was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of this. Death Eaters on Privet Drive? A house of my family's? My own home? His head was reeling. He faintly saw Lupin's look of sorrow before it all went black.