A/N: Well, here's Chapter 2! I hope you all like it.
Disclaimer: Not mine, all J.K.Rowlings. I get no money, etc.
Thanks so much for the reviews! 3 in the first night! Yay!
LaBOBuren: I know; cliffhangers are evil. Sorry! Thanks for the compliment!
BlackHorntailJunior: I'm glad you approve of my choice of characters! I'm also glad you think they are in canon.
And a special thanks to Cleons Angel, my beta and 3rd reviewer.
Well, enough of that. Here's the story:
Chapter Two: The Order Reformed
Remus put a hand to the doorframe of his cramped apartment, as if to steady himself. Voldemort was back? The wolf in Remus twitched and strained again. Gritting his teeth in determination, Remus tried his hardest to ignore the wild beast inside of him.
Once he had calmed the wolf, Remus' next thought was of Harry Potter.
"How is Harry taking this news?" Remus asked Dumbledore anxiously. "Is he all right?"
"Harry is fine," Dumbledore said calmly. "As you can imagine, he is worried, but unhurt."
Remus nodded numbly, not sure how to respond.
Dumbledore put his hand on Remus' shoulder in a paternal gesture, smiling at him, although his eyes lacked the usual twinkle they possessed. "I am reforming the Order," he said to Remus. "We are just about to meet at twelve Grimmauld Place, which explains my arrival at your apartment so early in the morning."
Remus nodded again, rubbing his eyes wearily. "Shall we go, then?" Remus said as cheerfully as he could, smiling as if the world's darkest wizard had not just returned to power.
He pulled his wand out of his robe pocket deftly fingering the smooth wood, feeling a cold tingle of magic in his fingertips.
"Ready, Remus?" Dumbledore asked, looking at the other man.
Remus simply nodded, gathering his strength for the apparation. Dumbledore apparated first, his form disappearing with a small 'pop'. Remus followed shortly after. The space between houses eleven and thirteen soon came into view. Dumbledore walked towards the space between as The Order's secret headquarters appeared, first the battered door, shortly followed by the dirty walls and grimy windows.
Remus sighed heavily as he looked at 'The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black', his memories all flooding back to him in a rush. Sirius, why did you have to leave me so soon? Look what you did to me, to the Marauders. Don't worry, Padfoot old friend. I know it wasn't your fault. At least you won't be lonely. You're with James and Lily now.
Remus mourned, but he could not cry. He had know too much pain in his life, too much sorrow and grief, to break down, because if he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop.
Remus sighed again, straightened his robe and combed his fingers through his hair, and followed Dumbledore up the stairs and into the house.
Remus stood in the dark, musty hallway, feeling rather uncomfortable. He had never been in the house without Sirius. Get used to it, Lupin, he told himself. If you're going to help The Order, you'll be spending a lot of time here without Sirius.
Dumbledore lit the lamps on the dank, dusty walls, giving the hallway an eerie feel to it. The shadows reflected off the paintings on the walls, giving their residents an evil, corpse-like appearance. It's as if the dead are haunting us, Remus thought.
He shuddered and quickly followed Dumbledore into the kitchen where the other members of The Order were seated, talking and, Remus noticed gratefully, laughing. The sound of laughter echoing through the halls made the house seem less spooky, less devoid of life.
As Dumbledore entered the room, all the occupants nodded their heads respectfully towards him. However, as Remus entered, the woman sitting nearest the door swept him into one of her trademark, bone breaking hugs.
"Hello, Molly," Remus said breathlessly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"How are you, Remus, dear?" she asked him cheerfully.
Remus rolled his eyes good-naturedly at Molly's parental nature. For heaven's sakes, he thought. She treats me as if I was Harry's age.
"Don't you roll your eyes at me," she reprimanded him, half-joking. "You're too thin. You should eat more."
"I'm fine, Molly," he said. "Don't fuss." He grinned, almost wolfishly, as he moved to sit down at the table.
"Well, Lupin, my boy," Mad-Eye Moody growled as Remus took a seat next to him. "Here we are, about to save the world... again."
"Well, well, Lupin," Severus Snape sneered. "If it isn't the werewolf, back to help defend the weak all over again."
"It's nice to see you, too, Severus," Remus said smiling, ignoring the other man's remarks.
Nymphadora Tonks grinned at Remus from across the table. "Don't listen to Snape," she said. "He's just bitter because all the Hogwarts kids like you better than they like him."
"May I have your attention, please?" Dumbledore said, bringing the meeting to order. "As you all know, we have received news of Death Eater activity. I have reformed The Order so we can be ready to fight as soon as we have more information concerning their locations."
Remus winced as he felt the wolf, yet again, straining to be let loose. He clenched his fists underneath the table. The full moon was the next day, and he had already begun to feel the moon's pull.
Some of his distress must have shown on his face, because Dumbledore paused, looking concerned. "Are you all right, Remus?"
"Fine," he answered through clenched teeth, his response almost sounding like a growl. As he fought to control the wolf, he tried to listen to Dumbledore who had resumed talking. This is going to be a long meeting, he thought to himself.
