Chapter 5
Allies and Adversaries
Remus had been quite busy while Harry was sleeping. He had returned to Privet Drive and picked up all of Harry's things. He then went to Gringott's Bank and traveled down to the Black vault, which he had access to as executor of Sirius' estate, and collected quite a large sum of funds and a few things they would need on their journey. He was never so thankful his friend was so generous. He smiled to himself knowing Sirius would be proud.
Harry awoke to a crash. He leaped up in a fright, wand drawn. He looked about, and then sniggered. "OH! 'Ello Tonks."
"Wotcher Harry," replied Tonks as she extradited herself from the curtains tearing them even more then they had already been damaged.
"Er, not to be rude, but what are you doing here Tonks?" Harry asked.
Tonks chuckled. "Watching you, of course. Don't rightly know why..." She suddenly whispered, "Very hush, hush you know. Remus just asked that I stay here with you until he returns and not let anyone, even the Order, know where you are."
Harry frowned. "Uh, okay."
Before Harry could muse over his memories of the shack, Remus returned. He and Tonks spoke softly in a corner. It seemed they were arguing about something but Harry could not make out the words. Abruptly, Remus turned to Harry, "How'd you like to take a short holiday?"
Harry's face brightened and he gave them his first real smile of the summer. "Yes!"
Tonks took one look at Harry and relented. "Alright, alright, I'll do as you ask, but just so ya know I'm not taking the blame for all this."
She smiled at Harry, wished him well on his trip then disapparated. Remus whispered a spell that relocated all the dust; fixed the damage Tonks did to the curtains and left the Shrieking Shack seeming untouched, as if they had not been there at all. He then pointed his wand and created his second illegal portkey of the afternoon. Remus felt his pocket to ensure he had everything and addressed Harry. "Let's go."
Number 12 Grimmauld Place had been in an uproar for the last three hours. Remus Lupin had vanished from the living room with no warning and seemingly not of his own power. As Kingsley reported, Remus was sitting at the dining room table eating a snack when he promptly vanished. No wand drawn, no warning – mid-sentence even. To make matters worse, apparently Harry had had an outburst of accidental magic.
Dumbledore had managed to quiet Mafalda Hopkirk's office before things got out of hand. Although Fudge has seemingly forgiven Dumbledore, he apparently still held a grudge against the Boy-Who-Lived for being right. However, the calm was short lived. When the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad arrived at the counselor's office, all evidence of the magic had already been cleaned up and Harry was nowhere to be found. Panic ensued.
Dumbledore seemed twenty years older as her took a coin out of his pocket and set the fake galleon, an idea they had borrowed from an ingenious young witch, to call all the members of the Order to headquarters. Dumbledore did not call an actual meeting but began as soon as the first members arrived; he began a search for both Harry and Remus.
Harry looked out over the lake from the small porch of the cabin. He couldn't believe his luck, not only was he away from those god-awful Dursleys, he was on the first holiday of his life. Remus had filled Harry in on some of his expeditions that day. He explained that the cabin was given to him in Sirius' will and it was unplottable. As soon as they had arrived, Remus performed the Fidelius Charm to ensure their privacy from both friend and foe. Remus had also made certain that they had enough funds to last through the summer if not the year. He told Harry that they definitely needed to talk but would allow Harry to choose the terms. Tonks, he said, could not reveal their location and would only inform Dumbledore that Harry was in Remus' care and was safe. Harry cringed as he imagined the berating she was going to receive. He would really have to thank her.
Tonks arrived shortly after the first Order members were sent out. She requested to meet privately with the headmaster, partially because she did not want everyone hear her humiliated. This wish however was not to be granted.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY'VE GONE AWAY!" shouted Dumbledore, shattering the silencing charms with the magic that he was emitting.
Tonks winced. "Er..."
The old man calmed his tone but his demeanor still held all of the power his emotions were generating. "Miss Tonks, could you please clarify that statement."
Tonks spoke in a hush. "Er. Well you see, Remus was forcibly apparated to Harry during his accidental magic spell. Harry was not doing well, and er, well, he took him to talk and then he decided well, er, he decided, er, he said Marauderstakecareoftheirown."
Dumbledore glared at her. "Could you repeat that last part, please?"
Tonks spoke just above a whisper. "He said to tell you, it's about time the Marauders take care of their own."
