Best Served Cold
by LNLisa
Chapter Three
The next day Ron was set to testify. He woke early to get ready, which woke Harry. Ron looked distinctly uneasy as he told Harry, "Good Morning."
"You okay?" asked Harry. Ron shrugged half-heartedly. Harry watched him thoughtfully for a moment as Ron bent to pick up his rolled socks after dropping them for the third time.
"You'll do fine today...at the hearing," Harry told him quietly. Ron stopped trying to collect the rest of his clothes and turned to look at Harry.
"I could get you in trouble." Ron said as he turned half away.
"You couldn't tell them anything worse than what I've already said," Harry told him. "You weren't aware for most of it, Ron, and I told them everything. Besides, wasn't it you who said I get away with everything?" Harry reminded him with a forced smile. Ron slowly smiled in return before gathering up the rest of his stuff to carry to the bathroom.
While Ron was in the shower, Harry decided to read his Occlumency book.
What Is Anger?
Anger is a response to stress. Behaviors associated with angeryelling, complaining, etc.often serve as a release from tension caused by stress. Anger may include denial, avoiding the reasons for stress. However, it does not resolve problems. Any benefit from the release of stress is temporary because the problem continues.
Anger can help ease emotional suffering for a short time, but the long-term costs can be very high. Loss of temper often prevents or wears away at the trust and intimacy required for meaningful relationships. Anger can also cause serious health problems over an extended period of time.
Anger is a habit, a conditioned response that at one point may have seemed beneficial. Like all habits, short tempers and the tendency toward anger can be unlearned. The mind can be reconditioned.
Anger is a choice that every person makes. Stress is part of the living experience. How one reacts to stress is up to the individual.
This sounds like one of Lily's lectures. I can hear her now, "Sirius, no one made you do anything. Snape can't make you get angry. YOU losing your temper, and YOU hexing people was a choice that only YOU made."
I never really believed her. I mean when someone like Snivellus starts insulting you and your friends, how could anyone stay calm?
Harry stopped reading, shocked that Sirius' question so closely mirrored his own. Then he thought of his mother. He'd admired her so much for standing up to her dad when he'd been harassing Snape, but here she had told Sirius the same sort of things Hermione kept telling him. Harry hadn't really believed Hermione either. Who was right?
Maybe I should have listened. That was your mum though, smarter than most books. Still, I don't know. How do you keep from getting mad when you have so many reasons to be angry?
I don't know, Harry thought.
Ron came in a few minutes later and together they went down to breakfast. Mrs. Weasley was already busy laying out the dishes and cereal. Remus, like the day before, was sitting at the far end dressed except for the slippers he wore on his feet in place of shoes and reading the newspaper.
"Good morning, dears," said Mrs. Weasley who was busy at the stove making something that resembled waffles. She had her usual apron on, but Harry noticed that the robes she was wearing were much nicer than what she normally wore.
"Ron make sure you eat enough for breakfast. It might be awhile before you get anything else to eat," Mrs. Wealsey told him.
"We'll get lunch, won't we?" asked Ron looking horror stricken. "They can't keep us from eating lunch, can they?"
"Of course we'll have lunch, but that might not be for six hours," answered Mrs. Weasley sounding annoyed.
"Six hours..." Ron mumbled to himself shaking his head. Harry watched him as he grabbed two plates and began filling both.
"So, Mrs. Weasley," Harry asked as he sat between Ron and Remus at the table and began filling a plate, "are you going too?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall kindly volunteered to help Remus with the lot of you," she answered.
"We aren't little kids! We don't need babysitters," Harry said resentfully.
"Harry, you and your friends, we trust," Remus interrupted. "It's Voldemort and the Death Eaters that concern us. Having two people in the house that can legally perform magic is a safety measure only. It is in no way a reflection on any of you."
Harry wasn't sure how to respond. Remus had sounded so sure and honest that Harry found he couldn't disbelieve him. Harry turned back to his breakfast.
After a few minutes, to break the silence, Harry said, "I wonder what Professor McGonagall will think about our little project."
"Tell me what the project is, and I'll tell you what I think," Minerva McGonagall told him as she swept into the room. She stopped beside Harry and looked down at him with her eyebrows raised suspiciously. Harry found he couldn't meet her eyes. I haven't done anything wrong, Harry thought, Have I?
"Uh...how are you feeling?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall answered stiffly. "What is this project? All I could see coming in were shorn drapes and a screaming Madella Black looking unnaturally yellow."
"Mawewwa?" asked Ron with his mouth still full of toast.
"You'll find it's much easier to talk, Mr. Weasley, if your mouth isn't already full," Professor McGonagall responded as she walked around the table to take the empty seat on the other side of Remus. "She and I were classmates at Hogwarts. Of course, she was in Slytherin house, while I was in Gryffindor."
"Were you friends?" Harry asked.
"No, we were not," said the Professor with pursed lips. "Is the inquisition over? You have yet to explain your project, Mr. Potter."
"Well," said Harry slowly, "We're going to convince Mrs. Black to tell us the charm that will get her off the wall."
The professor looked at Harry thoughtfully, "And how do you expect to do that?"
Ron started to say something despite having a mouth full of food, but no one could understand him. He was trying to swallow, before he repeated himself when Alastar Moody and Mr. Weasley entered the room.
"Arthur, we're leaving in two minutes whether you're ready or not!" Mad-Eye told him angrily.
Like the day before, Mr. Weasley had entered at an almost run and was grabbing toast and a glass of juice as he made his way over to kiss his wife's cheek.
"I'm going with you today, dear," Mrs. Weasley interrupted him before he could get crumbs on her cheek.
Mr. Weasely nodded trying to say something through the food in his mouth. He turned to get another sausage, but Ron, who had finished everything on his second plate, grabbed it first.
"Mmufrmm..." Mr. Weasley said scolding Ron.
"Burummfim..." whinned Ron holding up six fingers.
"There's more sausage over here," Remus told them pointing to a serving plate between Harry and himself. Both Weasley men dived for the plate with Ron falling into Harry's lap and Mr. Weasley splayed over the table only nearly missing Professor McGonagall.
"ARTHUR! RON!" Screamed Mrs. Weasley enraged.
"Thirty seconds," interrupted Moody. The Weasley men, with sausages in each hand hurriedly followed Moody up the stairs. Mrs. Weasley threw her apron on the table angrily still yelling at them as they headed up the stairs.
"DISGRACEFUL! YOU ACT LIKE YOU HAVEN'T EATEN IN YEARS! NEARLY KNOCKED MINERVA OVER!"
"You know, I remember watching Arthur when he was a student at Hogwarts and thinking no one else could be as ravenous at meal times," McGonagall told them a hint of amazement in her voice. "Then he had six sons."
Harry and Remus exchanged a smile. Remus went back to his Muggle newspaper. Professor McGonagall sipped pumpkin juice while staring absently at a plate of toast. She finally grabbed a slice spreading jam on it. Harry smiled to himself enjoying the moment of peace.
He was finishing the last of the food on his plate, when a sudden memory of Sirius sitting with him at the breakfast table came into his mind. Sirius' eyes had been constantly darting around as his hands went from place to place, planted first on his thighs, then roving through his hair, finally playing with his fork, but never resting. That Sirius would rather be up doing something or going somewhere had always been plainly evident.
Harry watched Remus as he read the newspaper in front of him. Harry suddenly realized that Remus' eyes weren't moving at all. He was staring at the page in front of him without reading it. Remus sighed then, and Harry wondered if Remus felt confined like Sirius had.
"Remus," asked Harry, "do you mind being stuck on babysitting duty? There must be something else more interesting that you could be doing. You could be in court today watching Ron testify, or I don't know..." Harry shrugged.
"No Harry," answered Remus after a surprised pause. "I would much rather be here with you and your friends than anywhere else. Besides I had quite enough of the hearing the two days I was there with you, and I still have to go back and testify myself." Remus shook his head at the thought. "No, I have no interest in watching the trial..."
"Hearing," corrected McGonagall.
Remus nodded, "Hearing, yes. As for the other things I might be doing, I can only think of several tedious chores I've been putting off for a reason. Staying here with you sounds much more enjoyable...it's funny, I was just remembering you as a baby, Harry. You were always up to something then tooinvestigating your mother's potted plants, which of course meant pulling the whole thing out, or trying to climb to new heights on the furniture. I remember bookcases were your favorite." Remus smiled putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Babysitting you has never been boring."
Harry couldn't keep the smile off his face as a deep sense of peace filled him. He liked hearing Remus talk about when he was a baby. He felt more connected to his parents and to Remus.
"And you, Professor McGonagall?" asked Harry. "Isn't there somewhere else you wouldn't rather be?"
"I volunteered actually. I'm hoping that without all of the usual distractions at Hogwarts, I'll be able to get a great deal of my work done. I've been looking forward to this all week.
"Now Mr. Potter, tell me, how do you plan to convince Mrs. Black to tell you the charm that's holding her to the wall?"
"Drive her mad," said Ginny casually as she and Hermione entered the kitchen.
"Good Morning Professor," chorused the two girls as they sat in empty chairs next to McGonagall.
"Harry's plan is actually quite sneaky," Ginny told Professor McGonagall. Harry blushed at the compliment.
"Yes," agreed Remus thoughtfully. "James and Sirius would have been proud. Though I doubt either of them could have pulled it off themselves."
"Why not?" asked Harry.
"Hmmm? Well, you see, they never could just let things go. No matter how many times we told them, they just couldn't ignore Snape's snide little comments. They always had to get in the last word."
"I seem to remember a certain Gryffindor getting upset a time or two after Draco Malfoy's snide comments," Professor McGonagall remarked giving Harry a pointed look. "Are you going to be able to ignore Mrs. Black's insults?"
"Yes, I think so," Harry said. "At least that's what I'm trying to work on. These Occlumency books I'm reading say you can't get angry all the time."
"That's very true, but I fail to see how…confronting Mrs. Black, if that's what you are doing, will help you or convince the painting to tell you that charm," said McGonagall.
"She's trapped, but she doesn't know it," Harry told her. "She thinks that by hanging up on that wall she is some how...I don't know...hurting us? We have to convince her that she's powerless. All she can do is watch us, which she obviously doesn't enjoy."
"Harry," McGonagall said after a pause, "the Madella Black I knew would have been happy even if the only thing she could do was make the people around her miserable. She was single minded in her determination to hurt others once she'd decided they offended her.
"Wounding her pride though...that may work, but I'm not sure." McGonagall studied him thoughtfully. "Her pride and her short temper were always her biggest stumbling blocks…
McGonagall studied Harry for a minute more before turning her attention to Remus, "Have silencing charms been placed on all of the rooms?" The professor asked briskly changing the subject.
"Yes, and there are several in the hallways as well."
"Where might I have the best chance of working uninterrupted for an extended period of time?"
"The dining room," answered Hermione promptly. "It's just above us. The drawing room has a table we use for studying, but we also sometimes play games in there or talk..."
"The dining room sounds imminently suitable," said the professor interrupting.
Luna came in shortly after that greeting the professor and telling her about her trip to Norway. Neville was the last to join them. He was rubbing sleep out of his eyes still wearing his pajamas when he suddenly noticed the professor. He immediately tripped on the slippers he was wearing and landed with his face on Professor McGonagall's shoes. Neville quickly got up scrambling around the table to sit next to Harry.
"Right, is that everyone?" asked Professor McGonagall.
"Yes," answered Remus.
"Good, we have some business to discuss," McGonagall informed them. "Molly has assured me that there would be plenty food to make sandwiches for lunch. If half of us clean up these breakfast dishes, then the other half can do the lunchtime cleaning. Any objections?"
"That sounds fine," answered Remus.
"I've already finished breakfast," said Harry collecting his plate and walking over to the sink. "I can get started with cleaning these dishes now."
"I'll help," said Remus. Remus carried the dirty dishes and cutlery over to the sink while Harry rolled up his sleeves and began washing. Once Remus had gathered all of the dirty dishes that were not still being used, he picked up a clean dishtowel and began drying the dishes Harry had cleaned. They were quickly finished which left only the plates on the table still needing to be cleaned.
"I'll get the rest, Harry," offered Ginny. "I'll sweep the floor too, so you can both go upstairs if you want to."
"Thanks," said Harry.
"No problem, it's a treat really," Ginny told them. "I usually get stuck with all the cleaning. Mum has to pull the boys into the kitchen kicking and screaming if she wants them to help. Asking me is just easier." Harry nodded understandingly.
Harry and Neville went upstairs to the drawing room where they began quizzing each other on common potion ingredients. Neville had surprised everyone, himself included, by getting an "E" in Potions. After a personal interview with Professor Snape, Mrs. Longbottom managed to convince the Potions Master that he should accept Neville into his NEWT level class. Neville was studying frantically as a result, worried about how Snape would treat him in class. Harry had already decided that his high score was the direct result of his friendship with Hermione. He too wanted to be prepared for Snape's class.
Harry quickly realized that Neville was already familiar with most of the herb-based potions, so they focused more on the animal-based potions. They had finished with dragons and moved on to magical compounds created from the skin of dugbogs when Ginny ran into the room.
"Harry, Neville, you've got to come out here and see this! Luna and Hermione are talking to Mrs. Black. Like Fred and George, only they're sincere! This is brilliant!" Harry and Neville quickly threw their books aside and followed Ginny out the door.
"HORRID FREAK! ODIOUS MUTANT FREAK!"
"You've said that before, Mrs. Black," Luna calmly replied. "Minus one tenth of a point. Maybe if you tried strange or weirdo or oddity or...?"
"SPAWN!"
"Oh wonderful, that's a new one," Luna congratulated the painting. Mrs. Black screamed in frustration.
"FILTH! SCUM! MUD-BLOOD! HALF-BREEDS! BLOOD TRAITORS! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"Actually, you've never owned this house, so it isn't really your house," Hermione explained patiently. "The house was entailed, so that it could only pass directly from your husband to your son, Sirius. I'm not sure who he left the house to, but I'm sure he didn't leave it to a painting."
"IMPURITY! FILTH! MUD-BLOOD! SCUM! FILTH!"
"She really needs a thesaurus, doesn't she?" Hermione commented to Luna.
"I suggested that to her yesterday," answered Luna. Harry and Ginny exchanged a grin. Harry wouldn't ever have expected Luna and Hermione to make such a good team.
"I'll go get one," said Hermione standing. "If she has to yell at everyone, then she could at least be interesting. A four year old could think up better insults"
"That's not a fair comparison though," said Luna. "After all, four years old is the prime age for the creative use of insults. The only age that is better is eight and a quarter years old." Hermione gave Luna a puzzled look before moving to the end of the hallway.
Hermione gave Harry, Ginny and Neville a smile as she passed them on the stairs, but didn't stop. She was back a few minutes later with several extremely large books. The two girls immediately set to helping Mrs. Black improve her vocabulary.
Once Hermione and Luna began looking up synonyms for "filth," Harry and Neville decided to get back to their studying.
They worked quietly throughout the morning. Harry was finishing a list of the uses for Kneazle fur when Remus stuck his head in the room.
"Lunch," he told them. Harry and Neville gratefully put their books aside and followed him.
Hermione and Luna were still giving Mrs. Black suggestions when they reached the bottom of the stairs, "Maybe if you tried a synonym for blood..." Hermione flipped through the pages of her thesaurus.
"Or a different language," suggested Luna. "There's Babylonian, Leprecaunsh, Old English, Atlantian..."
"That's a good idea," said Hermione enthusiastically. "I have my Latin dictionary here, but my French dictionary is still upstairs." Hermione looked towards the stairs noticing Remus, Harry, Neville and Ginny for the first time. She smiled and started to say something, but Mrs. Black, who'd been strangely silent, interrupted first.
"QUIET! YOU INSUFFERABLE BRATS! I NEED NO HELP FROM YOU...YOU DISEASED EXTRATION OF FILTH!"
"Insufferable Brats! Three points! Luna, that's a new one, isn't it?" Hermione asked eagerly.
Luna looked down at their notes and shook her head. "No, she used that one over an hour ago."
"Oh, that's too bad, Mrs. Black. Keep trying though!"
"ODIOUS MUDBLOOD MAGGOT!"
"Three and a half!" Luna called out. "You're getting better already!"
"FILTH! SCUM! YOU MOCK ME! STOP THIS VILLANY AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"No," Harry told her. He stood directly in front of her, almost nose to nose, and repeated himself, "No." Mrs. Black stopped screaming in surprise staring at him.
"No, we will not leave this house," Harry told her in a conversational tone of voice. "No, you will never get this house back. Someone else will always be here. Your little slave is gone now, and he'll never come back. Your life is over, everyone else has moved on. We will keep living here, keep working here, and everyday you'll have to watch us.
"You'll have to watch as we–purebloods, half-bloods, muggle-borns, half-giants, werewolves, and others–work to fight people like you. We'll never stop, not until Voldemort and his supporters are dead or in prison.
"If you had been half the mother you should have been, you'd be glad we're fighting against Voldemort. HE KILLED BOTH OF YOUR SONS!" Harry yelled. He tried to calm down before continuing, but he couldn't help the bitter laugh that accompanied his words, "Instead you curse and insult us!" Harry shook his head still trying to regain his composure.
"No more, you can't hide from the truth anymore. This pureblood madness has destroyed your family. Now, you will be our witness as we seek justice for your slain children. And then afterwards...
"Day in and day out you'll watch as we live in this house, meet in this house, have fun and enjoy our lives in this house. Because this house no longer belongs with the dark arts. This house belongs to me, and I intend to fill it with the people I love and all the good things in life.
"And you, Mrs. Black? You're stuck! You have no choice but to hang there up on that wall and watch." Harry waved a hand behind him. "You were right, they are mocking you. Get used to it! Your very existence is a mockery!"
Harry turned and walked away. Silently all of his friends fell into step behind him and turning their back on the painting.
Professor McGonagall, who'd been pulling food out for sandwiches, watched as they walked in silently, sitting down one by one. She raised her eyebrows in surprise at the serious group.
Ginny finally interrupted the silence, "That was brilliant Harry."
Harry smiled briefly at her but his attention was on Remus.
"You did well, Harry." Remus told him. "If I may make a small suggestion?" Harry nodded. "You should avoid the painting for the rest of the day. You were able to retain control of your temper, and that is at least half of the reason you won that argument. Mrs. Black will be looking for ways to upset you after this."
"What happened then?" asked Professor McGonagall. She handed Ginny the cutting board, a knife, and the lettuce and tomatoes she'd found. Remus took the loaf of bread and began buttering the slices.
Harry shrugged, "I told her we weren't leaving. She can't do anything now but watch us."
"Ginny and I can take a turn harassing her this afternoon," Neville volunteered looking at Ginny for confirmation. Ginny nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, it'll be fun!" she told them.
"I haven't sat in front of her all day," Harry said. "I feel bad that I started this project, and now I'm not doing my fair share."
"That's what happens when you're only a figurehead!" said Ginny cheekily. Harry grabbed a tomato slice from the cutting board and threw it at Ginny, but Professor McGonagall stopped the tomato in midflight.
"None of that!" She told them both crossly before bringing the pitcher of pumpkin juice to the table. Ginny stuck her tongue out at Harry making him laugh.
"You know," said Luna conversationally. "I don't think Mrs. Black is very happy. I thought at first she was just in a bad mood, but she hasn't been happy the whole time we've been here." The group stared at Luna in amazement.
"I don't know that's she's ever been happy," said Professor McGonagall thoughtfully.
"Have you known her long?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, I mentioned it to Harry earlier," said McGonagall. "She and I were at school together. In fact we rode the Hogwarts Express together that first year before we'd been sorted. That was the first and last time we ever had a civil conversation."
"What was she like then?" asked Harry thinking of his own first trip on the Hogwarts Express. He'd always been grateful that the first people he met at the station were the Weasely's.
"Determined," McGonagall answered. "She was determined to be someone, as she put it. She told us then, there were six of us first year girls in a compartment together, that someday she'd be rich and then she could wear fancy clothes and people would have to listen to her. We were overawed. She was amazingly beautiful even at eleven and so sure of herself." McGonagall shrugged.
"She always had groupies around her at Hogwarts including one of my cousins, Mary. In seventh year, Madella convinced Sirius' father, Caelum, that he'd be a fool not to marry her right away. We were very surprised she was interested in him. He was bookish for a Slytheryn and not in a good way. He was morose but arrogant too, while Madella had always been the life of any party demanding everyone's attention and devotion.
"Caelum and Mary had been a couple for three or four years before Madella turned her attention on Caelum. Mary was heartbroken. Caelum's mother didn't approve of Madella, but no one could stop him. His father had already died, and he would inherit his part of the family fortune at eighteen regardless of whom he married. They eloped right after graduation, and it was quite the scandal at the time.
"I didn't see them for many years, not until Sirius started school. By then Madella couldn't hide the lines of dissatisfaction on her face, and Caelum had all but retreated from everyone into his books. Mary always felt like she'd had a lucky escape in the end. She married a charming Muggle and had five children. They moved to America."
The group sat in silence.
It wasn't until everyone was eating that Harry realized Hermione hadn't said anything since they'd come downstairs. He looked over at her. She was chewing her food slowly staring at her plate. Harry opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but changed his mind before he said anything. Whatever she was thinking, he was sure she'd tell him about it later, and he'd rather not have so many witnesses when she did.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. Ginny and Neville had gotten bored with Mrs. Black, so they decided to abandon their post. Harry happily joined them as they started putting together a muggle jig-saw puzzle Hermione had brought with her to Grimmauld Place.
Remus went out for pizza from a muggle restaurant in the early evening. Ron returned just in time to grab an entire box for himself. Harry noticed though that he wasn't eating with his usual enthusiasm. Ron hadn't even commented on the strange Muggle food. He'd just started eating.
"They really grilled you, didn't they?" asked Harry quietly after leaning against the wall beside him.
Ron nodded. "It was unbelievable, mate. Ten people or more asking question after question. As soon as you go to answer one question, you get asked three more." Ron shook his head. "I don't know how they expected a bloke to answer the way they kept interrupting. Never even gave me a chance to think. I have no idea what I said. Though I did try to say something about the way they'd treated the Grangers, but I don't think they were really listening."
"Oh Ron, you didn't have to do that," Hermione said from the table. Harry noticed she had tears in her eyes. Whatever happened yesterday must have been really bad.
"Course I did. It wasn't right what they'd done. I knew Harry would have said something if he'd been there. He wasn't though, so I knew it was up to me," Ron shrugged. Harry gave Ron a smile.
Hermione had been trying to hold in her snuffles, but at Ron's words she gave up and ran over to hug Ron.
Ron patted Hermione awkwardly on the back, but judging from the squeak Hermione made after the first pat, Harry guessed the pats were more like thumps. She quickly composed herself and returned to her seat at the table. Ron looked around before taking the empty seat between Ginny and Luna.
"I understand completely, Harry, why you'd want to start that project," Ron told Harry shaking his head. Hermione's head perked up that and she stared at them both. "Gotta say I wouldn't mind yelling at that old witch myself tonight."
"Wait until tomorrow," Ginny advised. "Harry made some progress today. Give her a chance to settle down first."
"You made some progress, Harry?" asked Ron between bites of his pizza.
"Ron, what did you mean by that?" Hemione interrupted. "Why do you understand Harry's reasons for starting his project?"
"Isn't it obvious?" asked Ron.
"No, not to me."
"You've testified already, Hermione," said Ron. "You know how...stuck you feel. Like when Mum catches you doing something you shouldn't, only this was worse cause now there's five Mum's all screaming at you." Ron shrugged his shoulders looking at Hermione. "Yelling at someone else, instead of always getting yelled at, will feel pretty good after being at that hearing today. That's all I meant."
Hermione looked down at her plate while she thought about what Ron had said. Finally she looked up and gave Harry a piercing stare, "Harry, do you feel like Ron? Is this all about lashing out at someone?"
"I explained yesterday. She needs to be off that wall."
Hermione didn't look convinced, but again she let the moment passed. Harry had a feeling that soon he'd be having a big conversation with Hermione.
The conversation moved on. Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley seemed to be pleased with Ron's testimony. Mrs. Weasley patted Ron's shoulder each time she walked by. Then she made her husband's night when she commented, "those muggles have the right idea with this pittsa stuff. Quite easy to clean up." Everyone laughed out loud when Mr. Weasley hopped out of his chair and gave his wife a hug.
"Yes, they do," he told her kissing her cheek.
Harry woke early again the next morning. Phineus Nigellus was seated in a chair in his painting obviously waiting for Harry to acknowledge him, but Harry completely ignored him. Instead, after wrapping his blanket around his shoulders, he grabbed his Occlumency book and glasses and made a dash out of the room. After a brief visit to the loo, Harry went down into the drawing room. Turning on the lamp next to the sofa, Harry opened the book and began reading.
What Motivates Anger?
As stated previously, anger is a response to stress. There are many causes of stress, but those can be narrowed down into four categories.
Emotional pain stemming from how we deal with others to how we deal with ourselves. Problems of loneliness, fear, guilt, grief, and feelings of unworthiness fit into this category. All cause stress that can lead to anger.
Physical pain from illness or injury causes stress as the body tries to cope with the extra burden of trying to heal. Anxiety and worry may develop as the sufferer considers the nature of the illness and/or the likelihood of recovery.
Frustration creates stress. Frustration may develop when personal needs are not met. Feelings of powerlessness and dissatisfaction can also result in frustration.
The last stress factor is a feeling of being threatened. This threat may include a feeling of being attacked or abandoned. There may also be a feeling of being overwhelmed, of being asked to do more than possible.
Coping with stress is somewhat easier once the reasons for that stress are clear. There may be more than one reason for personal stress. In that case, it is important to discover each stess factor, so that they can be more easily dealt with.
Hmmm...I just realized how stressful my life is. Emotional pain, yup. Frustration, yup, someone let me out of this place!. The feeling someone is out to get me? Try an entire government body! I need to tell Remus about this. If you count my stubbed toe, I suffer all four causes of stress! Now I know why I'm always so short tempered, and Remus just thought I lacked maturity. I've got to show this part to Remus...
So what about you, Harry? You have all of these stressors in your life too–wait, no, you haven't stubbed your toe, have you? So you only feel three kinds of frustration, no problem. All kidding aside, I wish I could do something more for you. There goes that frustration stress again. Never ends, does it? Well, keep reading. Maybe, eventually there'll be a useful suggestion...around here…somewhere…anywhere?
Harry smiled ruefully. Sirius had a knack for getting to the heart of his problems. He always said exactly what Harry was thinking. A fierce longing for his godfather overwhelmed him temporarily. Harry focused on his breathing... in and out, in and out...until he was sure his eyes were tearless.
After returning his blanket and book to his room and getting dressed for the day all the while pointedly ignoring Phineas Nigellus, Harry went downstairs. Ginny and her parents were just leaving with Moody. Mr. Weasley had a plate of sausages in his hand and was eating them as quickly as he could.
Ginny gave Harry an apprehensive smile. Harry was surprised. She hadn't seemed at all nervous the day before.
"You'll do fine," Harry assured her quickly. Then, remembering his conversation with Ron the day before, he added, "I've told them everything I know. Nothing you say could be worse than what I've already said." Ginny nodded.
"It's just…I saw you go after Bellatrix," said Ginny.
"I've already told them about that," said Harry unable to meet her eyes. Ginny nodded and gave Harry a weak smile.
"Okay, then," she said taking a deep breath. She hugged Remus and then Harry before following her mother up the stairs.
Harry sat in his usual seat next to Remus.
"Ginny didn't seem nervous at all yesterday," commented Harry still looking towards the stairs.
"Hmmm? No, she wouldn't have. She holds her feelings deep, deep down inside of her. In fact, she's quite a bit like someone else I know," Harry turned to find Remus smiling at him. Harry smiled ruefully. "She'll be fine, Harry." Harry nodded grabbing the nearest plate of food.
"So is our other minder late today?" asked Harry.
"Tonks is still sleeping upstairs," answered Remus sounding amused behind his paper. "As she put it, 'These kids can defend themselves. As long as I'm here in case of an emergency it doesn't matter if I'm conscious or not.'"
Harry nodded. He realized suddenly how unusual it was for Remus and him to be alone together. Thinking that at any moment someone might come down the stairs spurred Harry into saying something.
"Sirius mentions you in that book you gave me," Harry found himself saying.
"Oh?" asked Remus with a smile. "What did he have to say?"
"Uh...well the book was talking about frustration, and how if you're really frustrated you'll get angry a lot. Sirius said he should tell you about that so you'd know why he was always short tempered..." Harry answered.
Remus smiled wryly, "Ah, but even when his life was running smoothly, Sirius had a short temper. It's true though. I should have been more patient with him..." Remus sighed sadly with his head bent down. "I wasn't the friend I should have been to him."
"I think you were," said Harry. "I mean he needed you. Hermione, she's always bossing me and Ron around, and we act like it bothers us because...well, she'd be worse if we didn't. Really though, she helps us a lot, and I know I can trust her. I can trust her even when I can't trust..." Harry stopped talking, afraid to finish. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "even when I can't trust myself.
"We all need friends like that, and you were that kind of friend to Sirius," finished Harry. He looked up to find tears in Remus' eyes. Suddenly Remus reached forward, and grabbed Harry around the shoulders pulling him into a fierce hug.
"Thank you, Harry. You amaze me every day," Remus whispered into his hair. Harry wrapped his arms around Remus and hugged him back. Neither said anything for several minutes. When they finally pulled away, Harry thought he saw Remus wiping his cheeks with a handkerchief.
"You need to teach me the charm for those handkerchiefs," said Harry trying to change the subject. "Would have come in handy last year."
"Ah yes, the famous crying kiss," said Remus with a teasing smile.
"Does everyone know about that?" asked Harry just as Hermione bustled in with Ron behind her.
"Good morning, Remus, Harry," Hermione shouted sounding almost perky.
Harry raised his eyebrows when he noticed Hermione's red-rimmed eyes. Ron shook his head and mouthed, "Don't ask!"
The morning went much the same as the one before. Harry and Remus cleaned up after the rest of the teenagers finished eating. Tonks still hadn't made an appearance by the time they were finished.
Ron set up his chair in front of Mrs. Black's painting, so Harry and Hermione sat on either side of him.
"FILTH!"
"Hag!" shouted Ron.
"BLOOD-TRAITOR!"
"Ugly, old bat!"
"MUD-BLOOD LOVER!"
"I don't really mind that one actually," said Ron. Harry laughed, but Hermione just shook her head in annoyance.
"Are you planning to spend your entire morning just trading insults with that thing?" Hermione finally asked in exasperation.
"Yup," answered Ron. Hermione stood up with a huff and marched up the stairs. Harry and Ron managed to wait for her to leave before they started laughing.
"She's right though, you know, this is rather boring," said Ron. Harry nodded in agreement.
"Too bad my chess set is up in the drawing room."
"We could play exploding snap," Harry suggested. Ron nodded. The two decided they could play more easily in the dining room, so they moved out of the hallway.
"So what was Hermione crying about this morning?" Harry asked.
Ron rolled his eyes, "I couldn't hardly make it out with all of her snuffling. Were you and Remus having some kind of serious talk this morning?"
"Yeah, sort of," said Harry uneasily.
"Well, I reckon she heard part of it. Something about her making us do more if we didn't complain? I really didn't catch all of it. Next time, get Remus to put up some kind of imperturbable charm, okay. Dealing with a weepy girl so early in the morning, when all you want is some breakfast, is really too much." Harry nodded in agreement.
They continued playing until Hermione discovered them in the dining room about mid morning.
"We were just taking a break, Hermione," said Ron plaintatively as he followed her into the hallway. "See here, I'm finished with my break, I'm ready to take up my post now."
"Ron, I want to see all of this homework you and Harry have supposedly done, and I want to know what the two of you are up to," she told them in her bossiest tone.
Ron turned to Harry, who'd sat next to him, and whispered angrily, "See what you've done? She'll be worse now then she ever was before!" Harry shrugged.
"Come on, you two!" said Hermione once she realized they weren't following her.
Remus had been coming up from the kitchen when they came out of the dining room. When the doorbell rang he walked past them to answer it, pausing briefly to put a muting charm on Mrs. Black.
Even with the charm on the painting Harry could still make out what Mrs. Black was screaming, and he was surprised that when Mrs. Black saw Professor Snape she began cursing the potions master with special vindictiveness.
"SHAME OF SLYTHERIN! BLOOD TRAITOR! CURSED FOOL!"
"What is this nonsense?" demanded Snape angrily once he noticed Ron and Harry sitting in front of the painting. He looked down his nose at them scornfully, and all at once Harry remembered Snape giving the same look to Sirius the summer before.
"Mrs. Black, what was that you were saying?" Harry asked. "Tut tut! You know you shouldn't call Professor Snape the Shame of Slytherin and a greasy git who deserves to be cursed." Ron began coughing rather loudly, while Hermione just gaped at Harry in open-mouthed horror. Harry looked at Remus quickly and noticed his lips were twitching.
Snape looked ready to hex the three of them, but with Remus standing behind him there wasn't much he could do.
Remus managed to pull it together enough to usher Snape into the dining room before the Professor could retaliate.
"That was brilliant, Harry!" said Ron laughing.
"It won't seem so brilliant come September when Harry is stuck in Professor Snape's classroom for the next ten months," Hermione told them.
"It'll be worth it," said Harry. Hermione sniffed disdainfully before sitting in the empty chair next to Ron.
The three waited quietly. Harry put his head back against the wall hoping he would be able to hear something through the wall, but no sound came through.
He gave up on the wall and noticed that Phineas Nigellus was visiting the painting of the Elizabethan Knight. The two were whispering and pointing towards Harry and Mrs. Black. Harry turned his head to the side so that he wouldn't have to look at them. Hermione had been watching him. He gave her a questioning look, but she only shrugged her shoulders in return.
A few minutes later the door to the dining room opened and the two men stepped out. Harry noticed immediately how drawn Remus looked. Snape's news must have been bad, thought Harry.
Snape turned a glare on the three teenagers. "Congratulations! I think you've finally found the perfect occupation for yourselves. I can't think of any three people more likely to annoy and irritate than..."
"There was an old bat, named Mrs. Black, tra-lala-la-la!
Once head of this pure-blood family, tra-lala-la-la!
Now she's a cracking, mad painting, tra-lala-la-la!
Stuck on the wall, angry, angry angry, tra-lala-la-la!
"Oh hello Professor Snape!" Luna called cheerfully once she reached the bottom of the stairs. "I've been wanting to talk to you. Have you seen the latest issue of the Quibbler?" Snape shook his head mutely. "Well, it only came out last week, so I expect you haven't had time.
"Shevu Toofue has invented a new hair tonic potion espcially for people with greasy hair like yours. After only three days' use your hair will be as soft and smooth as silk. Even better though, she says the ends will curl up just like a baby's hair does. Oh Professor, you really should try it. You'd look so much more handsome with a little curl at the ends of your hair!" Luna put a finger to her lips but then shook her head regretfully.
"If I had time I could go upstairs and get my copy of the Quibbler, but it's my turn to annoy Mrs. Black. Unless...would you like to help? I'm sure you're very good at annoying people. We could sing my song together. It has sixteen verses." Luna smiled sweetly at the professor waiting for his answer.
Snape stared at her in total consternation. His mouth moved but no sound came out. Finally, he turned and practically ran out the door slamming it closed behind him.
Luna looked surprised when the other four people in the hallway suddenly began laughing hysterically.
"Luna," said Remus once he'd calmed down enough to talk. "I'm glad that your father let you join us. It has been a real delight having you in the house this summer.
Ginny had returned a little before dinner and gone up to her room to rest before joining them downstairs in the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were obviously tired, but Harry noticed they both were smiling more often than they had the week before. He thought they were probably relieved that their children's involvement in the hearing was now over.
Luna was going to testify Monday. She didn't seem nervous about it from what Harry could see. Neville who had to testify on Tuesday had already asked several questions and seemed to get a little more nervous each day.
The night before while the three boys were getting ready for bed, Neville had asked, "Do they lock you in that chair? Do you have to answer every question? Do they ask you personal questions? Like, is there a girl you like?"
At this, Ron and Harry stopped tossing around the rolled up pair of socks and turned to stare at Neville.
"What girl do you like?" Ron asked.
"Uh...um...no one, so they're going to ask that?" Neville looked horrified at the thought.
"No," Harry answered. "Why would they? They only ask questions that have something to do with the case."
"Oh," said Neville with a relieved sigh.
That evening most of the Weasley family joined them for dinner. Bill and the twins had stopped at a Fish and Chips shop, and they bought more than enough food for everyone.
At dinner Fred and George asked about Harry's summer project. Harry told them about all the things that had happened, including Hermione and Luna's attempts to be helpful.
"I'm surprised at you, Hermione," said Fred with an admiring smile.
"Don't the screams and insults disturb your studying?" asked George.
"Actually," said Hermione with a slight blush. "I'm getting more done than usual. The silencing charms on all the rooms really help cut down on distractions, and with Harry and Ron busy..." Hermione shrugged. Fred and George laughed at Harry and Ron's surprised expressions.
"Distractions! Is that all we are to you, Hermione?" asked Ron with mock severity.
"Well, it is easier for me to study when the two of you are not around," answered Hermione defensively. She was startled when the four boys all began laughing.
"What I'm wondering," said Mrs. Weasley interrupting, "Are Ron and Harry getting their studies done?"
"We're finished," Harry and Ron said together giving each other proud smiles. Silence was the only response.
"What are you two up to?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Nothing, Mum," said Ron. "Why do you always have to be so suspicious?"
"Because I'm a mother to seven children. What are you up to?"
"I'm doing my homework is all," answered Ron impatiently. "I would think you'd be proud of me."
"Well, you do have a point there," said Mrs. Weasley consideringly. "After all, you can't really get into trouble if you're doing your homework, can you?" Mrs. Weasley nooded to herself before moving to the other end of the table.
"Of course," said George leaning forward to speak in a whisper, "she forgot that you can get into trouble if you've already done you're homework."
"Which reminds us," whispered Fred, "Katie Bell came by the other day. She told us about a very interesting letter the two of you had written her." Harry and Ron exchanged uneasy glances.
"What really surprised her was that neither of you mentioned Quidditch once," George told them.
"Well, whatever the two of you are up to," said Fred.
"We approve," said George. "If you need some Weasley Wizarding Wheezes to help you pull it off, we're even willing to give you a thirty percent discount."
Fred and George gave them knowing smiles before asking Bill about exchange rates at Gringotts. Harry turned to find Hermione glaring at both him and Ron.
"We want to be Aurors," Harry told Hermione before she could start questioning him. "We have to get high marks for that." Hermione gave them a considering look.
"It's true," added Ron. She gave them one last suspicious look, before she turned her attention back to her meal. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
He was surprised when he looked up to see both Remus and Ginny giving them knowing looks. He'd been so busying trying to appease Hermione that he hadn't noticed any onlookers.
"You know Ginny," said Remus in a falsely cheerful tone of voice, "I remember a time when James thought he'd come up with the perfect plan..."
"Oh really," said Ginny in a similar tone of voice. "Did it involve getting a lot of homework done early to get it out of the way?"
"Yes, I believe it was something along those lines."
"How very interesting."
Harry gave them each a weak smile. They returned it with a smirk before turning their attention to Luna's description of Snorkack mating rituals.
"Snape had some interesting information to pass along this afternoon," Remus said once all but Ron had finished eating. "I firecalled Dumbledore, and he's set a meeting for tomorrow afternoon." The teenagers worriedly looked back and forth between Remus and the senior Weasleys.
The twins did a repeat of their clipboard performance for Tonks, who quickly joined in. By the time everyone was ready to say goodnight, Mrs. Black was sporting red and lavender stripes with yellow splotches that still doted across the canvas.
As Harry walked into his bedroom that night he noticed he'd been smiling. He realized with a start that he was enjoying himself.
As he was getting dressed for bed, he began his Occlumency exercises. So far since he'd been at Grimmauld Place, his scar had only twinged a few times each day and night, but nothing severe. Still Harry didn't want to take the chance of a nightmare, so he always tried to empty his mind before sleep. He'd told Dumbledore in his office that he could have learned Occlumency if he'd wanted to. Still Harry had surprised himself by being right. He pulled his glasses off his nose putting them on his night table before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.