Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Harry Potter or any characters or places in this story, they belong to JK Rowling. I am making no money from this story.
Chapter 4 The Will
Harry and Ron returned to the kitchen a few minutes later and sat down to tea and a few chocolate éclairs. Lupin greeted Harry with a look of respect. After a brief chat Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent the rest of the morning talking with Dumbledore and helping him to set out chairs in the dining room, which turned out to be a good deal of fun as Dumbledore taught them a charm to conjure chairs. It was a welcome distraction for Harry, who couldn't recall having a reason to laugh in ages. There was quite an assortment of chairs when Mrs. Weasley called them to the kitchen for lunch. Some of the chairs were lopsided or missing legs, while others were multicolored, or not entirely there. It seemed that the charm was basic, but difficult to do while laughing. Which most of them did after looking at Ron's first attempt, a pink shag covered armchair that leaned heavily to the left. Dumbledore gave a flick of his wand before they left the room, and transfigured all of the chairs into a more uniform appearance.
After Lunch Dumbledore asked Harry if he would assist Remus with greeting the members of the Order as they arrived. Everyone was expected to arrive some time around Two O'clock. Harry was eager to speak privately with Lupin so he agreed to welcome the other wizards. Ron and Hermione were delegated the task of helping Mrs. Weasley prepare a large meal for supper as most of the people attending would be staying for a meeting later that evening. Harry was curious as to the whereabouts of Fred, George, and Ginny. Ron's elder twin brothers were conspicuous by their absence, which usually meant that they were up to some sort of mischief. Harry put the question to Remus as they stepped into the front hall.
With a small grin Lupin explained that Fred and George were quite occupied with their business at the moment. In fact Weasley Wizard Wheezes was so thriving that they were overwhelmed with customers and had taken Ginny on as part time help. "They will of course be coming in shortly. I believe their friend Lee will be managing the shop for the afternoon so they may attend. Poor soul." remarked Remus.
Harry found comfort in being back where he belonged. Just having fun with his friends, or talking with the people he cared about and hearing of the success at the joke shop seemed to lift a bit of the pressure off of his shoulders. Remus looked at Harry and nodded knowingly. He understood and shared in the same relief that these small matters offered. Harry noticed that Remus was looking a little more worn around the eyes, perhaps just leftover results of the last full moon. His face bore the deep lines of someone who had aged before their time and his hair was slightly grayed, but his eyes remained keen and bright. Harry couldn't bring himself to start the conversation he had been anxious to have with his old professor. So he let the moment pass, and his attention was diverted as the members of the Order began to arrive.
His job was much easier than he had thought it would be. Harry knew most of the wizards, and he followed Remus' lead, shaking hands and showing the wizards into the dinning room. Moody entered followed by Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks, and they spent a moment talking with Harry to make sure that he had been treated well at the Dursley's. Next came Mundungus Fletcher who gave a weak smile and proceeded directly into the dining room.
George, Fred, and Ginny arrived looking utterly worn out. Their faces rose when they saw Harry though. Ginny gave him a quick hug and an appraising look reminiscent of her mother, and the twins shook his hand wholeheartedly. "If we get a chance later Fred and I want to talk to you." whispered George as he leaned in so that only Harry could hear him. Fred gave a wink as they quickly went upstairs to wash up.
There were many more witches and wizards than Harry had expected and it looked as though everyone in the Order of the Phoenix was showing up. However the last person to appear was not someone Harry would have thought likely to be there. "Good afternoon Mr. Potter." came the silky cold voice of Severus Snape.
If it were possible Harry responded in an even icier tone, "Hello Professor." Harry couldn't believe that Snape would dare to show his face here. Harry still held him partly responsible for Sirius' death. Snape could obviously sense the enmity Harry felt towards him. Harry's face began to go flush.
"Hello Remus." Snape said as he and Harry glared at each other.
"Come now both of you," interjected Lupin as he stepped between them, "put aside your dislike of each other for today. Severus, you should at least remember what Dumbledore said about this nonsense."
"Indeed." replied Snape as he broke away from his stare and stepped in the next room.
Harry looked at Lupin questioningly, to which Lupin replied, "I'll explain later." With that he lead the way in to join the gathering.
As they entered the room Remus nodded to Dumbledore and took a seat near the front of the room. Harry felt a little uneasy as he sat between Remus and Ron, who gave him a nervous glance. Dumbledore stood up and began to speak, "Now then, seeing as everyone has arrived I would like to begin by saying welcome and thank you for coming. We are here today, of course, to remember our friend and fellow Sirius Black, and to settle his will. As you all know Sirius fell in battle just over a month ago. He was a bold man, both proud and stern, who stood by his convictions. Yet always did he remember to enjoy those around him. His life was filled with suffering. He lost one of his best friends and his freedom when he was betrayed by another friend. To escape after thirteen years of imprisonment only to be confined in his own home was a sore trial for him. However he died defending the people he cared for, a merit that tells how he chose to live his life. I can think of no words which are more fitting for our friend. And now a moment of silence, to reflect on our fondest memories of Sirius."
Harry's head spun with thoughts of his Godfather. He remembered the surprise as Sirius' head popped into the fire in the Gryffindor common room. The large black dog that frightened him in the alleyway on near Privet Drive the first time Harry had laid eyes on him, not knowing who he was. Sirius flying away to freedom on the back of Buckbeak the hippogriff. And again in his dog form chasing the Hogwarts Express, and a hundred other memories that flashed through his mind. Harry hadn't realized it but tears had begun to leak from his eyes. He removed his glasses and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. Harry was not the only one who had shed a few tears. The eyes of Lupin and Mrs. Weasley, and Tonks as well were all gleaming. Hermione and Ginny were outright sobbing, even Professor McGonagall was dabbing away a tear with a handkerchief she had produced from her robes. As Dumbledore started to speak again Harry noticed that he too had removed his spectacles.
"Forgive me, but I believe we must continue now." He began again. "As to the contents of the will, Sirius charged me with the settlement of his affairs. The instructions of his will state that I am to distribute each part privately. As such I would like to meet each person separately in the drawing room. If you please when I call your name come in. Otherwise feel free to move about and make yourselves more comfortable. I believe Molly has prepared some refreshments, and supper will be served later this evening. Remus, I suppose we shall begin with you." Remus nodded his head and followed Dumbledore into the drawing room.
There was an awkward silence the moment Dumbledore stepped out of the room which was broken when Mrs. Weasley stood up and began to arrange some food on a table. Harry tried to refocus his attention on something else but his attempt was foiled when Hermione came over and gave him a deep hug. Then she moved on to Ron as Ginny stepped up and also embraced him. Ron looked thoroughly disconcerted as Hermione continued to bawl on his shoulder. He seemed to resign himself to comforting her and began to gently rub her back. Slowly the tears seized and they moved to a few chairs on the side of the room. Harry chided himself as he came to the realization that he wasn't the only person who felt the loss of Sirius. He felt foolish for thinking that he was the only person affected by Sirius' death. Even the twins behavior was subdued as they took to helping their mother with setting out the refreshments. His friends looked as though they were waiting for him to say something, but he couldn't think of anything to say. Instead he found himself staring at the floor. The people in the room started to break off into small quiet conversations. Harry decided he could use a cup of tea and asked if anyone else cared for some. A moment later he was back with several cups, and sat in silence sipping from his cup.
Remus came back into the room and told Harry that he was next as he motioned towards the drawing room. Harry set down his cup and walked rather stiffly into the next room.
"Please be seated Harry." said Dumbledore. "I know this is a difficult loss to cope with. Though I am sure you know your own mind best, if you need to speak to someone or need any other help in dealing with your emotions, you should know that I am willing to listen. That being said, let us move on to the business at hand. Sirius was prepared for this occasion. I suppose he learned during our first war with Voldemort that safety was not assured." Dumbledore took a moment to gather his thoughts. His careworn face showed his grief, and his age was more apparent than usual. "There are several possessions that he bequeathed to you Harry. Firstly there is a letter, which I believe contains information he thought best explained to you by himself." Professor Dumbledore handed Harry a sealed parchment that was bound with a black ribbon. "Once we have finished it is your decision as to when and where to open it. Now then, there are several other items he wished to bestow to you . It states that you are to receive one third of the funds in his account at Gringotts Bank. Additionally Sirius leaves to you his estate at number twelve Grimmauld Place, and all possessions therein which are not otherwise specified in this will. Such items have already been set aside for today. As such, everything remaining here in the house now belongs to you." Dumbledore sighed as he finished reading. "You will have a few decisions to make in regard to your new ownership, but I believe they can be left until later. Are there any questions you wish to ask me?"
Harry, whose eyes had not moved from the letter in his hands, felt a little nauseous. He could think of no questions to ask as the Will had been fairly straightforward. "I don't think so. It's just a lot to take in ." Harry said as he looked up into the eyes of the aged man before him.
"I understand Harry. This is a difficult event for everyone, although it has perhaps affected you the most. I wish that I could spare you this loss." It seemed that his words were failing him. After a moment Dumbledore stirred, "Forgive me Harry, I got lost in my own thoughts. Well if there is nothing else I suppose we are finished for now. We shall speak again later if you would like."
"Yes sir." Harry responded quietly. "Then if you could ask Arthur and Molly Weasley to come in I would be grateful." And with that Harry nodded his head as he rose from his seat and returned to the dining room.
