Chapter 3—Spring Cleaning. In Summer.

"I can't believe this! I absolutely can not believe this!" Andromeda fumed as they entered the elevator.

Remus patted her shoulder comfortingly.

"I don't understand how I can be related to her and Bellatrix!"

"It defies all logic," Remus nodded sagely.

Andromeda had cooled down by the time they reached the lobby. She turned to Harry.

"I'm sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but it's great to finally see you. I understand now why Sirius was so proud of you."

"Thank you."
Harry looked down. Sirius had been proud of him?

"You're welcome over anytime and if you need anything just owl us. I don't care what Craven says about blood, to me you're family."

She swept Harry up in a big hug that smelled of patchouli.

"Thank you," Harry said, blushing.

"Bye, Harry! Bye guys, don't worry, we'll get them another time," said Tonks with a wicked smile, before apparating with her mother.

Remus, Dumbledore, and Harry took the stairs to the Underground. They sat down next to each other, each lost in their own thoughts. Their stop came up very quickly. As they left the Underground, Harry realized something.

"You're actually coming with us, Professor?"

"Yes. I want to supervise the removal of some sensitive materials directly to Hogwarts."

"So it's definite that Hogwarts will be headquarters through summer?" Remus asked quietly.

Dumbledore nodded as they climbed the steps to Grimmauld Place. He tapped the door lightly with his wand and it slid open silently. Mrs. Black's portrait was still there and the curtain was closed, thankfully. The entrance hall looked a good deal cleaner but certain things, like the troll foot umbrella holder remained.

The door to the drawing room opened and Ginny's face peeked out.

"Mum," she said softly, "Harry, and Professor Lupin, and Dumbledore are back!"

Harry shuffled into the dim room, which was also much cleaner than the last time he saw it. Aside from Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, Ron was cleaning the room. Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry.

"How did it go?"

"We lost," said Remus, sagging next to the wall as if suddenly exhausted. "Narcissa Malfoy is claiming the house in three days."

"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" Mrs. Weasley's face darkened.

"Does that mean we can stop cleaning?" Ron asked hopefully, throwing down a rag.

"Yeah, mum, we should leave the house worse than we found it," chimed in Ginny.

"Ronald! Ginny! Show some compassion!"

"It's ok," Remus said with a dry chuckle. "You don't have to bother cleaning anymore, but we have to ensure we have all of our documents."

"I gathered all the paperwork that we were storing in here, just in case," Mrs. Weasley handed Dumbledore several large rolls of parchment.

Dumbledore took the rolls of parchment and quickly charmed them so they were small enough to fit into a small drawstring bag of purple velvet.

"We've also been storing things in Arthur's and my room, on the third floor, and in one of the fourth floor cupboards. I can get the papers from my room."

"I'll get the papers from the cupboard," Remus volunteered.

"It's the cupboard in the third room to the left. The password is 'disingenuous.'"

Remus gave her a funny look.

Mrs. Weasley sighed. "It was a word from one of Arthur's crossword puzzles."

Dumbledore nodded and Remus left the room.

"Albus, I was wondering," Mrs. Weasley began, "We've found some things for terrible dark magic. There was an Urn of Osiris in a chest on the fourth floor, and a whole box of Carpathian lodestones. Imagine if You-Know—Voldemort," Mrs. Weasley made a little hiccupping noise, "Got his hands on them. Would it be ok if you took them and destroyed them?"

"I think that would be the best course of action," Dumbledore's face suddenly darkened. "I'm trusting you to scour the house for other things like that. I'll collect them before Narcissa arrives and properly destroy them."

"Ok," Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands vigorously. "Ron, Harry, Ginny, I want you to go downstairs and separate everything that doesn't belong to the Blacks.

Ron groaned. "But Harry just got back!"

"Now, Ronald! No complaining, we have a lot of work to do. Just hope nothing of yours gets left behind, because you can bet your bottom sickle that you won't get it back."

Ron and Ginny dragged Harry out, wide-eyed.

"This stinks," Ron said, kicking the floor. "We've done nothing but clean and now it's all for nothing."

Ginny gave Ron a warning glare.

"I'm sorry," Harry said softly.

"Hey, I didn't mean anything against you, mate, I just, it's not your fault. I didn't mean that."

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

"I'm really not sure," Harry began. "At first it seemed as if things were going in our favor. Then, this man walked in, whispered something to Craven—that's the solicitor—and he seemed to get upset. Then he decided that Narcissa had the right to the house. I bet the Malfoys bribed Craven."

"Or threatened him."

Ginny opened one of the cupboards and started pulling out the Weasley's pots. Ron sorted through the silverware and Harry sorted through the plates, cups, and bowls.

"Hey," Harry just had a thought. "Where are you guys going to stay?"

"Ginny and I are going back to the Burrow. Bill has his own flat now, and Fred and George live above their shop."

"Oh," said Harry. He wasn't quite sure where he was supposed to go. Since the hearing was over, would he have to return to the Dursley's until school started? He would have loved to go to the Burrow—even though it was ramshackle, it was a hundred times better than Grimmauld Place, in Harry's opinion—but he didn't want to invite himself over.

"You're coming with us, of course. As if you had any choice," said Ron, noticing Harry's down face.

"Wicked," said Harry, a grin brightening his face. Aside from Hogwarts, there were few places in the wizarding world that he would rather be than the Burrow.

"It should be a lot better this time, there's a lot more room. Fred and George and Bill visit a lot, but they never stay over. You can have your own room, and Hermione might not have to share with Ginny when she comes over. She'll be over some time in August—her family's visiting Italy. Percy hasn't been back so we might have an extra room," Ron said quietly, frowning.

"Have you heard from Percy?" Harry asked.

Ginny shook her head no.

"He's still being the world's biggest prat," Ron said bitterly.

"I think he's embarrassed," Ginny said. "I would be after being as wrong as he was."

Despite the cleaning and the talk of Percy, the afternoon continued pleasantly. It had been a long time since Harry had been so content. The kitchen was almost silent except for their chatter and the soft clang of dishes and pans.

"Hey," Harry noticed something was missing. "Where's Kreacher? He's not still here, is he?"

Ron shook his head no. "Mum said he left after talking to you last term. He went back to the Malfoy's house permanently."

"Lucky for him," Harry said darkly.

"Mum cleaned out his nest after she was sure he was gone for good. I'm not sure why she saved it, as if he would actually be welcomed back. She said it was foul, full of pictures of Bellatrix and dark artifacts that he managed to sneak away."

They were sitting at the long table drinking some iced pumpkin juice when Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore, and Remus entered the room.

"Don't worry, mum, your house-elves are just taking a break," said Ron.

Mrs. Weasley tousled Ron's hair affectionately.

"I hope so, because supper's soon and I'll need your help. And you've gotten very tall for a house-elf."

Mrs. Weasley turned to Dumbledore. "You know you're welcome to stay for supper."

"Thank you, Molly. As enticing as that is, I have to return to Hogwarts."

Besides the purple velvet bag, Dumbledore was clutching a black lacquered urn with mysterious hieroglyphics painted on it and a small wooden box.

"Harry," Dumbledore turned to face him, "Remus, Molly and I were talking. We've decided that, regardless of what Narcissa said, you are welcome to take whatever you want from here. Sirius was your godfather, you deserve whatever remembrances of him and your times together that you want."

"Thank you," Harry said softly. " I was actually wondering what's going to happen to Buckbeak? Technically, he's a fugitive, isn't he?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I already discussed Buckbeak with Hagrid and you don't have to worry, he'll be safe. Hagrid made a paddock for him in the Forbidden Forest. He'll be kept safely out of sight from prying eyes."

"What about the centaurs? Last term they said Hagrid wasn't welcome in the forest anymore."

"I've talked to Ronan," Dumbledore said. "We've come to a tentative agreement. Students will no longer be able to trespass in the Forbidden Forest, because Professor Flitwick has put up some new enchantments at its borders. Hagrid, however, will be allowed to move in an out freely as long as he stays within certain territory. He's also responsible for trying keep Grawp under control and teach him."

Harry felt relieved. Buckbeak would be safe and Grawp presumably hadn't been terribly hurt in his fight with the centaurs.

Dumbledore clasped Harry's shoulder to say goodbye. "You did very well today under very trying circumstances. I'm proud of you."

Harry nodded his acceptance. After saying goodbye to everyone, Dumbledore flooed to Hogwarts.

"Harry, Remus, you've both had very trying days. Why don't you take a nap and I'll wake you up when supper's ready?" said Mrs. Weasley.

Remus shook his head no. "I think we still have enough life in us to help out a little." He looked at Harry who nodded his assent.

Soon, the stove was full of the delicious smells of cooking, all supervised under the watchful eye of Mrs. Weasley.