Chapter 2: Calming Down

After his outburst with Professor Snape, Harry marched straight up to his room and slammed the door shut. He was half-waiting to hear the shrieks of Mrs. Black's portrait, but then Harry realized it had already been taken down. Harry paced the room, thinking of what he could do next. He had already alienated a teacher, and term hadn't even started yet. Harry could find his own place. Dumbledore could bewitch it so nobody could find him, another Fidelis charm. Ron could be the secret keeper and maybe even move in with him.

But Harry was hardly 16. Sirius himself was 17 when he got a place of his own, a year older than Harry. And Sirius wasn't being hunted down by the most feared wizard alive. That plan was worthless. Sighing, Harry went to his trunk, which Tonks must've put there sometime before dinner. Harry rummaged through it, not sure exactly what he was looking for. He pulled out an old spellbook. Flicking through it, Harry threw it aside when he realized this was from his first year at Hogwarts. It was elementary wand use and some charms. Harry was way past this now. Harry laid back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. A knock came at Harry's door.

"It's open," Harry said dully. Professor Lupin came in, followed by Professor McGonagall. She shut the door behind her. Harry didn't want to listen to what Lupin had to say. He didn't want to listen to what anyone had to say.

"Harry…" Lupin said quietly. He sat on the edge of Harry's bed, McGonagall sat on the edge of Ron's.

"I don't want to hear it. I'll never trust Snape, never," Harry said, not daring to look either of them in the eye.

"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall began, "Professor Snape may have a certain dislike for you father, and perhaps for you," (Harry snorted loudly at this comment) "but he is, and will forever remain, on our side."

Harry couldn't help but smirk. "Oh please, Professor, but he almost makes Umbridge look like a cute kitten." Harry half expected Professor McGonagall to cringe at the sound of her name, but alas, she didn't. She turned to Professor Lupin.

"Harry, we must discuss your behavior tonight at the dinner table," Lupin said with a sigh.

"Harry, even for you, that was quite inappropriate," Professor McGonagall said disapprovingly. Harry noticed she wasn't using his surname anymore, he must be in trouble.

"Professor, I realize when you're Head of House you sometimes tend to favor certain students, but he takes it to an entirely new level!"

"I try my best, Mr. Potter, to ensure that all my students are treated equally and fairly, even those who are not in Gryffindor. But even I fail, too," Professor McGonagall said soothingly. "I must say, I've fallen off the wagon over the years. I pride the Quidditch players the most."

"Professor, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you are stern with your students. Even the ones in Gryffindor and on the Quidditch team. He…he hates his students that don't have the 'privilege' of being in Slytherin," Harry said. "The things he does to me during class…he does it all on purpose! Vanishing charms on my potions…you should see him during Quidditch season."

"Harry, Severus would have taken a certain disliking to you no matter what. James made his life a living hell throughout Hogwarts, and I'm sure the fact that James saved his life isn't helping things either," Professor Lupin said. Harry wasn't sure if this was supposed to make him feel better or not. "I suppose you being a spitting image of your father really isn't in your favor."

"I'm tired of it," Harry said. "I thought…I thought him being in the Order would help things. But I wonder if it didn't make them worse." Harry was positive Professor McGonagall gave him a look of pity.

"I'm sure he's just looking out for himself, Harry. He defied You-Know-Who at his own great, personal risk. That isn't exactly looked up upon, you know," Lupin said. He was right. Professor Snape was in a lot of danger too.

"But he isn't exactly #1 on Voldemort's hit list, now is he? He hasn't been tailed, his whereabouts of every hour of every day aren't being tracked by some random member of the Order," Harry replied sharply.

"No, but if Voldemort gets ahold of him, Harry, he is as good as dead," Professor Lupin said, with a certain amount of dread in his voice. Harry didn't wish death upon anyone, no, just as Professor Dumbledore said, there are much worse things than death.

"I don't want him to die," Harry forced himself to say. "He's treated me like some sort of bad guy since the first day of Potions class."

"He has pains in his past too, Harry. You're not the only one with demons, inside and out," Professor Lupin said.

"But he has to take out his pain and frustration on everyone else?" Harry asked.

"Even the best can let their emotions run rampant. It's the only way he knows how to express himself," Lupin replied. "Remember when you blew up your aunt?"

Harry smiled. "She deserved it." Harry thought he saw Professor McGonagall smile too.

"Mr. Potter, if Professor Dumbledore trusts him, you can trust him, too. I can assure you, Severus Snape is as harmful to you as I am," Professor McGonagall said.

"We'll see about that, once N.E.W.T. Transfiguration and Potions start up," Harry said with a grin. Professor McGonagall grinned back.

"I must be going, Albus expects a report any minute now. Take care of him, won't you, Remus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"You have my word, Minerva."

"Professor, I'm glad to see- you know, that you're better and everything. I wasn't sure entirely-"

"Thank you, Potter." And with that, Professor McGonagall vanished.

Harry looked at Lupin, almost with a look of pity in his eyes. "Professor, what's going to happen now? He's back, he's really back. Fudge is- wait, Fudge is gone! I'd forgotten to ask you about that. What happened? What about this Conall guy? Does he know Voldemort is back?"

"Calm down, Harry, calm down! There's no way we'll let you travel to Diagon Alley, even though most of Voldemort's Death Eaters are still in Azkaban. Molly will buy your school things. The Order will accompany you to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, and maybe even on the train," Lupin explained.

"And Fudge? What's going on at the Ministry of Magic?" Harry asked excitedly.

"Everyone voted him out of office, once they realized Voldemort was back," Lupin explained. "Roman Conall, he's a nice fellow. Wouldn't want to cross him, but he seems like just the person we need. Especially in a time like this. Things are going to get more dangerous, you'll see Harry. Your safety is our number one priority." Harry gave Lupin an exasperated look.

"Will I ever be normal, Professor?" Harry asked.

Lupin gave Harry a weak smile. "You're a wizard, Harry. You'll never be normal. Now why don't you come downstairs, Molly has made some delicious looking apple pie I've been dying to try." Lupin made a motion to do the door, and Harry, realizing his defeat, got up and walked downstairs with Lupin.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten about Harry's outburst, and even if they hadn't, Harry was positive Mrs. Weasley told them not to say anything. Helping himself to a large piece of apple pie, Harry sat between Hermione and Ron.

"This pie's really good, Harry," Hermione said in between bites. Ron, who was too busy eating his apple pie to answer, nodded in agreement.

"Was I really out of line, guys? I mean with Snape-?" Harry asked. Ron put down his fork, and Hermione followed in pursuit.

"He did provoke you," Ron said.

"But the Dark Lord comment was a little out of hand," Hermione said. Harry nodded.

"I still don't trust him. No matter what Dumbledore or McGonagall or even Lupin say, I'll never trust him."

"And nobody expects you to, Harry. I don't trust him either," Hermione said soothingly.

"Nobody else in my family does either. But if we can't trust Dumbledore's judgement, who can we trust?" Ron said, finishing off his apple pie.

Nobody said anything. As if a Sleeping Spell was placed on everyone, yawns were heard and slowly, everyone filed upstairs into bed. It was only Harry, Lupin, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.

"I was hoping to get you alone, Harry," Lupin said quietly. "There's something you need to see." He pulled out a piece of parchment from his robes, and handed it to Harry. Harry took it, giving Lupin a quizzing look as he did so. "It seems Sirius left you most of his possessions before his death."

Harry stared down at the piece of parchment Lupin just handed him, in complete shock. "But I- seriously?"

Lupin nodded. "You and I are splitting the Black family fortune, which by the looks of it, seems to be quite a chunk of money. I've already had your portion transferred to your vault. And then of course, Grimmauld Place is yours now, too. I hope you'll continue letting us use it as Headquarters."

"Yeah, absolutely. Of course."

"And it will provide a home for you after Hogwarts, if you don't-" Lupin stopped. "Maybe another time." Harry thought Lupin's abrupt stop was weird, but didn't want to ask any questions about it. "Good, now that that has been settled. I thought I should explain Kreacher's- er, abrupt departure."

"She isn't with Bellatrix Lestrange, is she?" Harry asked.

"No, absolutely not. That would have devastated the Order. I hope you don't tell Hermione what really happened, she'd be devastated. We told her Kreacher got too old and he died in his sleep. Well, from what we saw, he got a little, er, too close to Buckbeak," Lupin said with an odd smile on his face.

Harry smirked. "Serves him right."

Lupin stood up. "You should probably head to bed, Harry. You'll be needing your rest." Harry nodded, and walked his way up the dark stairs into a dreamless sleep.