Harry Potter and the I have yet to give it a name
SUMMARY: - Year 6 for Harry and co. and things don't look good. I am sooooooo hoping to finish this before J.K. Rowling finishes her book 6. DADA sees a friendly face and everyone is trying, and failing, to cope with Sirius' death.
DISCLAIMER: - I still don't own any of the wonderful characters or any of the dazzling settings……shame, really!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: - Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Dory's human replica is still here and ready to roll on her next fic! Rubs hands in evil manner Have fun……because I'll be back!!!!!!!!
1- The Reunion
No one could have guessed upon first glance that Harry Potter was anything special. He was just an average sixteen year old, well, to most of the neighbours he was a criminal, a filthy example of how low humans could stoop! He was leaning against the fence in the local park, just thinking of Hogwarts and how much he wished he was back there. He wanted to see Hermione and Ron again. Once again, his summer had been a dismal and thoroughly un-enjoyable. He gazed up at the slowly darkening sky. As he felt a few solitary raindrops on his forehead, he thought of Sirius. He felt a burning anger for Bellatrix Lestrange (Sirius' cousin) who had murdered him at the end of Harry's fifth year. He kicked a foot against the fence and then attacked it more and more violently until he pulled the mesh off the poles He sank down on to his knees and yelled, angry tears welling up in his eyes.
"IT'S NOT FAIR! HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DIED! WHY WAS IT HIM!? I HATE MY LIFE!" Harry shook the mesh of the fence so hard that he didn't hear a clunk behind him.
"Bit harsh there, Potter!" a growling voice was behind him said. Harry turned.
"M…Moody??? Professor Moody? What are…?"
"The Order needs to speak to you."
"Who…I mean…how many of you are here?"
"Me, Molly and Remus."
"Where are they?" Harry asked, looking round.
"Trying to reason with your aunt and uncle. When I left, it was your aunt and Molly yelling at each other."
"And Lupin and my Uncle?"
"Likewise, though it seemed to be bordering on a fist fight!" Moody edged closer to Harry and then pulled his arm and marched him back to the Dursleys' house at Number Four, Privet Drive. There was shouting and screaming coming from inside, followed by a shout, then a smash. Another scream followed. It was clearly made by Molly Weasley and an incantation was made by a male voice. Harry guessed it was Lupin because Moody muttered something rather rude and sprinted up the driveway, but before he could reach the door, an almighty roar echoed through the house and there was a yell as something…or someone…was thrown into the door. Moody barged into the house and was met by two cowering women, Vernon Dursley covered in blood and obviously suffering from shock – Harry knew that this was because he had been levitated and slammed into the banister (it was broken!), but when Harry turned to see what the others were staring at. It was Lupin, and he was in a heap and shook as he tried to get to his feet. Moody went over to support him and there was anger in Lupin's face that Harry had never seen before. He tried once again to launch himself at Vernon but was restrained by Moody.
"For Merlin's sake Lupin, calm yourself!"
"Let GO of me Moody!" Lupin was struggling against Moody's grip but to no avail. Moody wasn't going to let go in a hurry. His magical eye was swivelling to the two horror stricken women and then to Vernon, who was purple faced with rage, his veins standing out on his temples. He was breathing heavily and he pointed his short stubby finger at Moody, who was still struggling to hold Lupin back, and brought his face up close to Moody's.
"You…get that…thing," he gestured off-handedly at Lupin, "OUT of my house…and don't come back!" Vernon looked like an overgrown plumb about to burst and he turned to Harry with a cold look in his eyes but before he could say anything Lupin felt the need to spit at Vernon's back…he got him…square in the neck.
Vernon wheeled round in fury and, as Moody stepped in-between him and Lupin, threw Moody against the wall and advanced on an already rather bruised Lupin.
"You are a freak…get out of my house," he raised his fist, "GET OUT!" But as he moved closer, Lupin backed up the stairs, his eyes fixed on Harry's uncle.
"I'm getting Harry's things…and don't even think about stopping me!" He turned and ran into Harry's room, only to emerge moments later carrying Harry's, magically packed, trunk. "Come on Harry! Molly, help Alastor and let's go." With that, Lupin grabbed Harry's shoulder and shoved him outside. He waited for Molly and Moody to get out before slamming the door in the Dursleys' faces.
They travelled in complete silence until they reached a deserted alleyway and Lupin took hold of Harry's arm.
"Hold on Harry. Hogwarts, here we come."
"But Professor…." Harry was about to point out that you couldn't apparate on Hogwarts grounds but Lupin had already sent them whirling through a vortex of bright colours and in seconds they arrived outside the gates of Hogwarts. They had to walk the rest of the way. When they reached the castle, they made their way up to McGonagall's office. Halfway there, they were stopped by Dumbledore. His face was unusually solemn and there was no twinkle in his eyes.
"Remus, a word in my office if you please. Harry – if you would be so kind as to come also. Molly and Alastor, could you two please take Harry's trunk to his dormitory and then proceed to the staffroom where we shall meet you."
They got to Dumbledore's office and sat down. He stroked Fawkes softly and then looked over his half-moon glasses at Harry and Lupin.
"Remus, the ministry of magic are on your tail because of a certain incident…"
"If it's to do with Vernon Dursley then he deserved it!"
"No Remus…it is not about that. I have spoken to the ministry and to the parents of many Hogwarts students and they have all agreed that it is best for the school and its students if we re-instate you as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I feel that it was a bad move to let you resign three years ago and to let Severus tell your secret."
"Professor, I…I… don't know if I can…I mean with Sirius dead…and my lycanthropy…"
"Please Remus, it's all sorted on the lycanthropy front and I'm certain Sirius wouldn't want you wasting your life."
"Then what have I got to lose? I'll take it!" Lupin beamed at Harry who beamed back.
Suddenly, and without warning, Lupin buckled and clutched at his stomach before falling of his chair and onto his knees. Then his eyes rolled into his head and he went rigid and started twitching. Dumbledore rose and was by Lupin's side in an instant. Harry watched in terror, not knowing what to do until Dumbledore instructed him.
"Harry, get me a glass of cold water and then come back with it and I will instruct you further."
Harry did as he was told and when he got back Lupin had his eyes open and was sitting up while Dumbledore was talking gently to him. Lupin looked round when Harry re-entered the office. He gave Harry a weak smile before Dumbledore helped him to his feet. Lupin drank the water and Harry kept glancing nervously at him. Lupin saw Harry's concerned glances and explained that it had been because he had been splintered with silver when Vernon Dursley had thrown a thin silver glass at him. The silver had got into his bloodstream and he had passed out from the poisoning. Thankfully, Dumbledore had had some purging potion to eliminate it and it was successful. Lupin and Harry went their separate ways and Harry headed off to the dorms. Whatever he expected, it wasn't to find Ron and Hermione along with Ginny in the common room.
"Ron, Hermione, Ginny, what are you all doing here? Aren't you meant to be at Grimmauld Place?" Harry asked.
"No, Mum thought it would be best if we kept you company here at Hogwarts."
"That's brilliant; my holidays are looking up already!" Harry laughed. He composed himself and continued, "You'll never believe what's happening this year…"
"Try us" Ron challenged him.
"Lupin's coming back to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts again. Dumbledore's sorted it all out; even the parents of Hogwarts students have been convinced!" Harry felt a satisfied grin creep on to his face as he saw their shocked reactions.
"What did the ministry have to say?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Nothing, I suppose it's because they don't want to supply a teacher because the stakes have just been made so much higher and they don't want to lose a member of the ministry." Harry said.
"That's evil!" Ginny burst out, "What the ministry mean to say is 'Oh you can employ the werewolf! We don't care…better him losing his life than a member of our ministry! Ooh, wait till Dad hears about this! He'll go absolutely nuts!"
Everyone stared at her, awestruck. Her hair was messy and her face was red. She was usually very shy and an outburst like this was very rare. She cleared her throat and sat down in a plump, squishy chair. Silence filled the common room and the silence was only broken when Lupin's head appeared in the fireplace calling them to dinner. They went without speaking and Harry took a seat next to Lupin and they talked animatedly while they waited for their food. After eating, the guard Harry had met the previous summer arrived and escorted him to the Gryffindor tower. The sight of a load of full grown adults sleeping in the students' dorms was reasonably amusing. Nymphadora Tonks, Hestia Jones and Emmeline Vance slept in Hermione's dorm and Ginny joined them. In a dorm with Harry and Ron were Mad Eye Moody, Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Mundungus Fletcher. Harry's dorm was kept awake all night by the three oldest wizards' snoring. Harry and Ron went down into the common room and were joined shortly afterwards by Lupin who was having trouble ignoring the snorers as well. He had evidently been eavesdropping on the stairs before he showed himself to Harry and Ron. They sat in silence but it was broken by Harry.
"Professor Lupin?"
"Hmmm?"
"When's the next full moon?"
"In 4 days. Why?"
"So it will be before the start of term then. Will you go to the Shrieking Shack?"
"Yeah. Even though I will be under the effects of the Wolfsbane potion."
"If we came across you when you were under the effects of the potion what would happen?"
"Nothing, I'd be completely harmless. Like a wolf shaped dog! Don't get any ideas Harry, I don't want you coming."
"Why?"
"Because…………"
"That's not a proper reason!"
"Harry, I don't want you to have to see the transformation."
"Is it painful?" Ron piped up from a corner.
"More painful than you will ever know." Lupin said, giving them a weak and half-hearted smile, "Sirius' death hasn't helped things either." Lupin smiled again, his young face looked more tired than Harry had ever seen it. Lupin caught Harry's look and raised his eyebrows, "I think I can look after myself now thanks Harry!"
"I didn't say…How did you know what I was thinking?" Harry was utterly bewildered. Lupin just laughed.
"Like father like son!" he grinned broadly, "I could always tell what James was going to say before he said it so I figured I could probably do it to you as well!"
Harry looked at Lupin and a new respect dawned between them as the smiled at each other in the firelight. They heard a clunking noise coming down the stairs. It was Mad-Eye Moody, who had apparently decided to join them and tell them stories of his days as an Auror. He told them about how the Order had formed and even though a few of the many stories were interesting, Harry and Ron were almost asleep. Lupin had left a few stories previously…apparently, he had to go and speak to Dumbledore at 4:00am!!!!
Moody finally went back up to bed and Lupin re-entered the room only five minutes later grinning sympathetically at them.
"Sorry I couldn't get you out as well!" he said "I was waiting out in the corridor and I went for a walk and used some of the extendable ears that I found in your trunk, Ron!!!! When I heard the stories end, I came back so that I could go back to bed without being asked to listen to the stories I missed!"
"You little" Harry started indignantly.
"Be careful, Harry…I'm your teacher again now so you have to watch your language!"
"Yeah, right! I'm going to bed."
"Me too…"Ron yawned.
"You know what? I think I'm going to have to join you." Lupin raised his eyebrows. They all headed up to bed, and as all was silent in the Hogwarts grounds save for the chorus of snoring, the hooting of owls and the scuffle as a solitary rat made it's way, slinking, across the dew-sodden grass and into it's tunnel under the castle.