AN: Now betaread thankyou nattieb. There isn't really much changed but their are some new aurthor notes at the bottom (grim sister should really take a look).

Missed chances

"Very good class. Now pack away and remember that two foot essay is to be in next Tuesday," Lupin called to the class as he packed away his own things.

"Sir. Sir! Professor Lupin!" Ron shouted after him as he hastily existed the room.

Ron growled under his breath and followed Harry and Hermione to lunch in the great hall. "Why does he keep doing that?" he asked.

"Who?" Harry asked whilst heaping potatoes onto his plate. He was doing his best to ignore the hawk-like eyes of the witch again sitting in Dumbledore's seat at the head table as the familiar quill noted their presence.

"Lupin. Every time I go to talk to him he runs away," Ron explained.

"Educational Decree 14-" the human encyclopaedia began.

"No information is to be related to students that is not directly associated to the subject blah blah blah," Ron interrupted, "I know that Hermione. Believe me, the knowledge that you have shared with me over the last two and a half weeks ofwhat I can and can't do has been awe-inspiring.But if you don't mind please shut up!"

Hermione sulkily returned to her food and Harry shot Ron an accusatory glance.

"That wasn't needed," Harry warned.

Ron wearily leant his elbows on the table and propped his head in his hands, "I know. I'm sorry." He took a few calming breaths and ran his fingers through his alien black hair. "It's just so frustrating! I'm missing something, something important. I know I am!"

"A little quieter," Harry shushed.

"Of course. We wouldn't want to say anything would we. Wouldn't want to actually do anything to change things. No that would be far too difficult wouldn't it?"

Harry glanced around worriedly and hauled Ron out of the hall, closely followed by Hermione. The corridor was still thronging with students making their way to dinner providing cover for the three with rebellious tendencies to disappear from view. Behind a non-descript tapestry lay a small alcove with just enough room for the three teenagers to talk quietly without being spied upon.

"Right that's it," Harry snarled into Ron's face, "You have done nothing but become more and more dangerous to us over these past weeks. We've done our best to keep your presence quiet and in return you argue with us at every step! I've had enough!"

"You don't understand," hissed Ron in defence, "I'm missing something! Everything around here is getting worse: we haven't seen Dumbledore in days, Professor Sinistra got replaced yesterday and the number of DADA classes has been halved. I need to talk to Lupin and it just isn't happening. It's just so…so frustrating!"

The three of them took a momentary break to calm down in the stifling space.

"You're right about Lupin," Hermione broke the silence, "I managed to grab him at the end of dinner yesterday. Usually he'll give me a minute and we'll pretend I had a problem on a recent test. But this time as soon as I brought up your name he couldn't leave fast enough and he hasn't looked me in the eye since."

"Why though?" questioned Harry, "It makes no sense."

"Have you managed to speak to him at all?" Hermione asked Ron.

"Yeah. Once. On my second day here when we had Defence first thing, I got a few words in while everyone was busy with those shield charms again. He was happy to chat, at first, but as soon as I mentioned Padfoot that was it and he was off like a shot, couldn't get away fast enough."

"I wonder why that was," Harry muttered dryly.

"Can you two just agree to disagree on the Sirius issue please," Hermione rebuked, "I am fed up with the dark looks you cast each other when his name is bought up. Stop it now."

"So it looks like the problem is that he doesn't want to deal with what happened in third year," she continued ignoring their sheepish glances.

"Yes, helpful that considering it's the thing I really need to talk about," Ron mocked. "Hermione it should be you here, I mean in my position, you're the smart one. You'd be able to figure this all out easily. There has to be a reason for V-Voldemort to change tactics like he did and I'm certain that it has something to do with that night."

"Maybe there's nothing to figure out. Well, anyway you're not about to have an epiphany now. Lets actually eat something," Harry suggested, when neither moved he prodded again,"C'mon Ron you especially can't think on an empty stomach."

They shared a tight smile and furtively scrambled from behind the hanging carpet. The corridor had emptied and soon the three friends reached the door to the Great Hall for the second time. Harry was about to enter when a familiar voice spoke quietly behind them.

"Robert Millings, the Headmaster would like to speak to you."

They turned to see the teacher that they had just been talking about standing in front of them in all his threadbare glory.

"Can Harry and Hermione come too?" Ron asked. He was torn between a feeling of relief that the Dumbledore hadn't completely left them and the worry of why the Headmaster would want to see him.

Lupin nodded and beckoned for them to follow. During the short walk to Dumbledore's office Ron tried to indirectly broach the subject of Sirius again, "Sir, do you still have the map if you didn't give it back to Harry at the end of third year?"

Lupin just carried on walking but Ron was not to be daunted, "Sir?"

"No. I no longer have the map," he said, brusquely pausing in front of the familiar gargoyle and continuing to speak before Ron could ask anymore questions, "Here we are, now don't keep the Headmaster waiting. Liquorish."

The revolving staircase appeared and the trio quickly mounted it, all were nervous and curious about why Ron had been called when there was still a week and a half till his return date. As Lupin retreated back down the corridor Ron cast him one last look over his shoulder and pushed away the uncomfortable feeling slithering around his bowels.

"Ah, hello Mr Potter, Miss Granger and Mr Millings." At Dumbledore's acknowledgement of Ron his voice altered slightly with an inflection of regret. "Please take a seat."

Around the well-used desk, covered in odds and ends and papers and ink, sat three empty chairs. They were all of the same comfortable armchair style, though sleeker to fit easily into the space. Ron sat down first on the centre seat and wondered how Dumbledore could have been so sure that Harry and Hermione would have joined him.

The Headmaster leaned over the desk and seemed to be fighting the urge to grasp Ron's folded hands.

"Now I know," Dumbledore began looking directly at Ron, "that this is not your true home but I have seen you adapt well to this unusual situation and I feel that the lines between your previous situation and here are becoming blurred in your mind, especially in regards to your emotions." His words offered no real explanation and were so guarded that the students wondered if their Headmaster was free to talk in his own office. "Robert, tomorrow a story will appear in the Daily Prophet which may affect you even though in truth it bares no real connection to you here." Dumbledore paused. "Early this morning there was an accident at the ministry and Mr Weasley was very badly injured."

Hermione gasped in shock whilst Harry clenched his fists under the table, his face resolute. Ron, on the other hand, just stared back at the tired man in front of him.

"I'm sorry to say that Arthur Weasley passed away a few hours ago."

Suddenly the world stopped for Ron, though the counter on the side still turned with the passing seconds. He quickly leapt from his chair, finding its comfortableness inappropriate, and leaned his forehead against the cool wood of the door. The room was becoming oppressive prompting Ron to reach for his tie and loosen it to prevent the feeling of choking. It didn't work and the walls slowly crept in.

"I'm okay, I'm fine," his gasped through the claustrophobia, "I've just got to get out of here for a moment."

Fighting for breath Ron hurried from the room leaving the door open behind him.

"Leave him for a moment," Dumbledore spoke softly to Hermione as she made her way to follow him.

"It wasn't an accident was it?" she asked, tears distorting her eyes.

The Headmaster didn't answer, the hardened worry lines told enough.


AN: I honestly can't thank you enough for the reviews- they grow more with every chapter and make my day. Thank you. But to particular points made-

Grim sister- sorry your wrong about Lupin (all will be explained) but on your other prediction... well lets just say wait and see.

emeralds gurl- I really do update every friday or saturday at least unless there is a big problem in which case there will be an update later during the week. This fic will not be forgotten and put on hiatus I promise.

suckr4romance81789- how could there be a High Inquisitor without annoying decrees aswell?