Hey guys, sorry for the late chapter – had a very busy week (birthday, band concert) and I've still got four school projects going, but I've managed to sneak this in.

RelaxingPikachu – glad to see you've caught up with the story now, thanks!

Emily, emily – same person? Anyway, I almost always respond to all reviews so no problem. Thanks for the comment about being obsessed with my fan fiction, but it's certainly not that good...

Howdareu – Well, sorry you're feeling depressed.

Bhekie – OR IS HE? We'll have to see, although Hermione, his typical voice of reason, is at the moment in shambles...

High Serpent King – Thanks! Also, as soon as I catch up with your story I'll promptly review it. I don't know why I keep falling behind...

Esrb99 – Yep, I'm reading your story although I haven't quite got up to the last chapter yet, thus the reason I haven't reviewed...

Greenpluff – Cool, a new reviewer! Anyway, thanks!

Memommy27 – As you can see, you're not alone.

Thanks all reviewers! Anyway, as the story is clearly leaning towards focusing on the war considerably more, we're starting off with a character we haven't seen in a long time – 20 chapters if I'm correct...

Chapter 28 – Godric's Hollow

Remus Lupin stared at the old ruin with sorrowful eyes, every part and facet of it reflecting to him the memory of James and Lily. He could see their faces everywhere in the old ramshackle place, could almost hear their last dying screams...Remus had figured that by now he'd be accustomed to this feeling whenever he came here, but it still took him by surprise. It was an emotion too powerful to lose its edge and feeling. The mourning had never stopped, the sadness never dulled.

Yet he was here again, at Godric's Hollow, or more correctly what remained of it. The place where Voldemort had personally come to kill Harry, but failed. And that was why he was here. Clues lay everywhere to why Harry had survived, but how was one to find them? These weren't even physical – they were magical, clues that lay in the air and permeated the whole place with an odd sort of dreariness. It almost felt like death was still lingering in the air from sixteen years ago.

Remus scanned the place wearily once again. He came here regularly and had been for years. Dumbledore had immediately hid the place after the attack from intruding eyes and locked it away – no one could even physically see it anymore without Dumbledore's consent.

Tired from all the work that he had done here, he started to Apparate but remembered that he couldn't near Godric's Hollow. He looked out of the area as he was about to step out to make sure no one would notice if he came through – if they did, it would appear as if Lupin was stepping out of absolutely nothing onto the sidewalk. The coast was clear, however, except for a boy, whose back was to him, sitting quietly on a bench. Remus stepped through the barrier and made to go off to a place where the boy wouldn't be able to see or hear him Apparate out, as he was likely a Muggle. As he moved away he suddenly hear footsteps behind him, following him to where he was going. He turned around sharply, worried there were Death Eaters.

It was the boy, following him. He looked to be about sixteen, and had dark hair. He had a strange smile on his face. He abruptly pulled out a wand and pointed it at Remus.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Remus was too quick though, and had already started to move out of the way and dodged the jet of green light narrowly. Fast thinking led him to the conclusion that there was no way out – the boy was obviously more powerful than he appeared and would kill him in a fight in which he was unprepared. He quickly brought out his wand and Apparated, to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

Remus Lupin vanished with a loud crack right before the angry boy's eyes.

Dumbledore surveyed the shelf of the mystical glass orbs with an air of someone very weary but determined to linger on. The Department of Mysteries was predictably full of surprises and secrets, and Harry and his friends had barely scratched the surface on their – "expedition" – to it. Two rooms, though, held particular interest for Dumbledore. First, the room with the arch and the whispering voices – with the veil that Sirius fell through. Second, this room – full of dusty glass balls and prophecies about the future. The room was huge and held rows and rows of Prophecies, seemingly not categorized in any particular manner. Dumbledore was searching through any Prophecies that held names of any interest to the war or unlabeled ones – they could be vital.

Dumbledore sighed as he perused shelves full of meaningless names – Jason Carter, Helga Brown, Mary Stantor, even one inexplicably labeled "Sterling" with no first name. Dumbledore came here frequently looking for anything to help, but nothing showed up. His eyes widened in shock as he spotted a name on the 265th row that he never thought he would see again. The label clearly printed the name: Ron Weasley?.

"That's impossible," Dumbledore murmured while unconsciously reaching to remove the Prophecy, suddenly thankful for his high-level clearance in the Ministry that allowed him to take Prophecies when they weren't his. His long spindly fingers wrapped around the orb as he stared intently at the label. Why was there a question mark? In a minute, he answered his own question, though – the prophecy obviously couldn't be fulfilled if someone was dead. But why label a prophecy with the name then – unless it provided conclusive evidence that it did apply to him?

Dumbledore nearly opened the Prophecy at that moment, but chose not to, remembering that although the Ministry was on his side now Voldemort still had an upsetting number of spies planted everywhere. He slipped the orb into his pocket and strode out of the Department of Mysteries, immediately going to a safer place where he could listen to the Prophecy and mull over it in peace.

Harry Potter wearily trekked back up to the Gryffindor Common Room with Lavender quietly after eating. Classes had been canceled because there were so little people to do them, what would be the use? He was contemplating his new resolve to be involved in the war. Although it hadn't lessened in the slightest, he had no idea what kind of direction to take with this. Dumbledore had inexplicably left the Great Hall quickly after eating, so Harry was fairly certain that he couldn't talk to him at the moment. Harry knew that he couldn't really do anything more than hurt the war rather than help it until he had some information from Dumbledore, but he still felt like he would be wasting time doing nothing. He was about to go visit Parvati, Hermione and the rest of his friends in the Hospital Wing.

"Hey, Lavender, I'm going to go to the Hospital Wing."

"Well, I'll come with you!" Lavender said. "I need to see everyone there too."

Harry cast a weary smile her way before they started to walk to the Hospital Wing. Head down, he suddenly bumped into someone he hadn't expected to see.

"Professor Lupin?"

"Harry, for the last time, Remus."

"Oh, hi Professor – um, Remus."

Lupin laughed and greeted Lavender. Lavender went back on her way to the Hospital Wing, waving Harry goodbye.

"Harry – you wouldn't happen to know where Albus is, would you?"

"Uh – I think he left earlier, after breakfast."

"Really, that's odd..."

As Lupin thought, Harry was suddenly struck with a thought.

"Um – Remus – could we go for a walk?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, sure Harry. Is there something you need to talk about?"

His mind fixed on the war, Harry started to walk towards the Great Hall doors to go outside. He was going to get some answers.

Well, there's a chapter over. I hope some of you are happy to see Lupin back, he's one of my favorite characters. This chapter had a lot of information to digest at one go so have fun with it!