A/N: - SOOOO SORRY! I never meant for this chapter to be up so late but I was banned from the uploading for a week for inappropriate language in a story…except for the fact that the story in question, which was automatically removed, had been up since Christmas 2003 and was rated PG with nothing stronger than "Oh my God!" in it…anyway, please review for me – I need a boost!

Chapter Eleven – Snuffles.

The next day was stormy. Grayish-black clouds darkened the skies and rain was threatening to fall. And what made matters worse was that Hermione was in a foul mood and was taking it out on Ron in the common room at lunchtime.

"Do you have to do that?" Hermione snapped.

"Yes," Ron replied, continuing to flick noisily backwards and forwards through his potions textbook.

"Can you at least be a bit quieter?"

"No," Ron said sourly.

"Do you have to be so rude to me? You're always so bad-tempered and stubborn!"

"Me, bad-tempered? It's you with the problem today, Hermione. You haven't stopped complaining all day!"

"Well sorry for trying to do my homework in peace!"

"So you should be if it makes you this stroppy all the time."

"ARGH!" Hermione three her hands up in exasperation, slammed her book shut and stormed up to the Girls' Dormitories.

"What's her problem?" Ron snorted, giving up on potions reading and taking a seat opposite Harry and reaching for his Butterbeer.

"Maybe she had…you know…girl problems,"

"I never thought of that," groaned Ron.

"You wouldn't." Harry frowned, taking a swig of Butterbeer.

"What was that mate? Are you implying that I'm insensitive to girls?"

"Well, you are a bit insensitive sometimes, Ron," Harry said apologetically. Ron just made a 'humph' sound and drank his Butterbeer in three gulps. The bell rang for afternoon lessons and the two boys scarpered in hope of avoiding Hermione's wrath when she flounced down the stairs seconds after they'd escaped through the portrait hole.

In Charms they were practicing advanced levitation of large and living objects. They levitated each other and just about everything else in the Charms classroom until Flitwick called a halt and restored the room to it's original state of tidiness. Astronomy was the next lesson and the only thing keeping the students going was the knowledge that they had Defence Against the Dark Arts next and it was bound to be interesting.

"Please sit down, class. Now, due to Mr. Malfoy's little – explosion- the other day he will no longer be in these lessons. But as good as that sounds to you, it meant I didn't have time to prepare a practical so I'm afraid you'll have to work from textbooks and do a practical next lesson."

"Professor?"

"Yes, Parvati?"

"What are we studying after Christmas?"

"Dark Creatures," Lupin answered shortly, "and yes, that does include werewolves. They are being recruited by Voldemort and they're on the NEWT syllabus so you have a doubly good reason to study them."

"But sir----"

"No buts please, Ron. I'm the Defence teacher so, funnily enough, if it's on my syllabus to teach then I have to teach it to you!"

The class began working from the textbooks quietly but had been working for all of five minutes when Lupin just set the rest of the section for homework and started teaching them how to get rid on unwanted pixies that would be lurking in Christmas trees. He didn't have any real pixies so he just taught them the incantation and explained why Christmas pixies were different to those that Lockhart had shown them. Lupin was aware that the holidays were soon to begin and he didn't wish to press too much hard work on them beforehand; the real work would start after the Christmas holidays and after January 5th's full moon.

Finally, the Christmas holidays arrived. They broke up on the 19th December and everyone was getting excited. Harry, Ron and Hermione would be going back to spend Christmas at Grimmauld Place. Harry was feeling a little dismal, what with it being the first Christmas for a while without Sirius being around. They arrived at the house at midday and were greeted enthusiastically by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, Bill, Fred, George and Tonks, whose hair was a deep red with bleach blonde highlights.

"Wotcher, Harry," she greeted, winking at him.

"Hello Tonks!" Ginny Weasley pushed forward, "you ok?"

"Fine thanks, Ginny – I've got something to show you and I need your opinion on it," Tonks led Ginny off into the cellar.

"So, how are you, Harry?" Fred asked.

"I'm great," Harry replied in a falsely cheery voice. Fred and George raised their eyebrows and shrugged, heading off in the direction of the kitchen, discussing something in low whispers. Harry made a mental note to check all the food before he ate it. Ginny had come back with Tonks and in her arms was a small, black puppy. It had pointy ears and a long snout.

"That looks like Snuffles," Harry's voice cracked.

"He's the dog for the Order. We thought it could be a present to all of you kids." Tonks told him brightly.

"We thought you should get the honour of naming him, Harry," Mr. Weasley said, pushing his horn-rimmed glasses up onto the bridge of his nose from where they had slipped.

"I…I don't know."

"Take your time in deciding, dear. Dinner will be ready at six o'clock so you can tell us the name you've chosen then. There's a plate of sandwiches and other nibbles up in your rooms as we have an important meeting down here." Mrs. Weasley bustled them up the stairs along with Fred and George, who for once didn't complain.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George were sat in the Harry and Ron's room eating lunch. The puppy had been sent up with them and it was bounding around the room like it was possessed…the truth being that it was looking for the dog food that Fred had hidden under the wardrobe.

"Give him the food, Fred," sighed Hermione.

"No, this is funny."

"All the yapping is giving me a headache!"

"Oh well – he can have the food when he finds it. Anyway, what are you going to call him, Harry?"

"I'm not sure."

"I think it should be Snuffles," Ron said.

"Or Padfoot," Hermione added.

"Hermione, there was only ever one Padfoot, and there are other members of the Order to think about. We have to make sure it's a name that everyone approves of," Harry said glumly.

"Call him Snuffles," Ron persisted, "that way it's in Sirius' memory but it's more subtle and he won't always be compared to Sirius' dog-like mannerisms."

"Snuffles it is then, Ron," beamed Harry, looking round for everyone's approval. All who were present nodded and Snuffles was named.

At five o'clock Harry, Ron and Hermione were up in Buckbeak's room to feed him the dead rats that were kept in a cupboard just outside the room. They were just watching Buckbeak lick his lips when they heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley coming upstairs arguing.

"He doesn't have to know, Arthur."

"Molly, you can't keep hiding stuff from Harry – he needs to know every bit of what's going on."

"And what is going on?" Harry poked his head round the door to Buckbeak's room in curiosity.

"Nothing, nothing," Mrs. Weasley replied hurriedly.

"Well, actually there is something. There are these things called prophecies, Harry." Mr. Weasley continued.

"And there is one about me and Voldemort saying that only one of us will survive the last battle," Harry's voice screamed boredom and there was a stunned silence as the Weasleys took on what he was saying. Harry had already known about the prophecy – but the Weasleys didn't know that. There was noting left to argue about.

"Harry, you knew?"

"Since just after Sirius died,"

"Then…you're not worried?"

"Why should I be? It doesn't change anything. Deep down, I've always known that I would have to kill Voldemort or he would kill me – that's nothing new. Now I just know the reasoning behind it."

The Order gathered round to dinner at six o'clock as planned. It was an informal catch-up on what had been going on. All Harry could hear at first was a string of violent curses towards the Malfoy family, mainly from Mundungus and Moody.

"I do not think you should be discussing my student in such a manner that I can hear every single word you say," Snape remarked icily. Mundungus sniggered – his main objective had been to irritate Snape and this proved that he was doing very well at it.

"Harry, dear, do eat something," Mrs. Weasley said as she passed him.

"I will, Mrs. Weasley," replied Harry absent mindedly. His eyes were locked with those of Snape's and it was beginning to feel like a giant staring contest.

"Severus, do try some of the sandwiches – they're marvelous," Dumbledore broke Snape's gaze away from Harry and thrust a plate of food in front of the potions master. Harry grasped the opportunity to scuttle into a corner with his plate of food but he came crashing to the ground just before he reached it.

"Snuffles!" he exclaimed as he brushed himself off and blew the dust off his sandwiches. Everyone's eyes were on Harry and the dog.

"You ok, Harry?" Tonks asked him.

"Fine, I tripped over Snuffles, that's all." he replied sullenly, feeling a little humiliated as his face went as red as Ron's hair. The group began their general chatter again and Harry was soon caught up in the party atmosphere.

"Harry, can I speak with you a moment?"

"Sure."

"Severus has just informed me that you've been having dreams that are indicating all possible consequences of the war that involve the Order's destruction," Said Dumbledore.

"How did he----"

"He read into your eyes and has told me that you weren't very successful at hiding your mind from him while you held eye contact."

"That's why he held my gaze for so long…"

"Yes, and that's why you will be re-taking Occlumency as an extra NEWT."

"No – why?"

"You need to block your mind more now than ever if we are to keep letting you in on the meetings. And you are also putting those you care about in danger. If Voldemort sees those you care about most then he will use it to his advantage, like he did with Sirius."

"Fine, I'll take Occlumency…" Harry agreed sourly, shooting daggers at Snape, who was talking grimly to Lupin. Dumbledore ushered Harry over to them.

"Harry has decided to take Occlumency again, Severus. You can decide when the lessons are according to which periods you have free and which periods Harry has free without a club."

"Yes, Headmaster," Snape said, walking away.

"You're re-taking Occlumency? Harry, that's brilliant!" Lupin clapped him on the back.

"I didn't really get much of a choice in the matter."

"But we're one step closer to defeating Voldemort if he can't see our plans."

"I suppose so – but, professor, how much do we actually know of his plans?"

"We know his recruiting dark creatures through blackmail or by making promises he knows he can't keep. For instance, he's offering werewolves the chance to be cured – which we all know is impossible. If they refuse to join him then he sets Peter on them with that silver hand of his."

"I hate being caught up in all this."

"Join the club," offered Fred, joining the conversation along with George, "we're getting t-shirts. Oh, and I should probably warn you, Harry."

"About what?" Harry asked. Lupin walked off as Mrs. Weasley gave the dessert call.

"Don't eat the dessert…we'll give you some later but the stuff Mum's put out is all rigged with hexes and some of our special ingredients." Said George, grinning widely as he watched the Order pile their plates with pudding.

"Ok, everyone, dessert's up!" Mrs. Weasley shouted again.

"I think I'll pass on that one thanks, Molly." Lupin said, throwing a wink in the direction of Fred and George.

"Yeah, me too," added Harry.

"And us," said Fred and George, faking that they were full to bursting (which would not be a pretty sight!). They strode over to where Lupin was sat and Harry followed to see what they were doing.

"Spill it, Lupin," Fred laughed.

"How did you know we'd adjusted the puddings?" George finished.

"Simple – I happen to know that you found those recipes under a floorboard in the Gryffindor dorms just before you left Hogwarts." Beamed Lupin, enjoying the reactions of the flabbergasted twins and amazed Harry.

"Oh yeah, those – heh – we hope you don't mind us using them…"

"Not at all – I've never seen the hexes and special ingredients so cleverly disguised. Every time James and Sirius tried it then the food always changed colour…And I expect the ballooning bakewells will be taking effect soon so I suggest you take a seat and watch unless you want to miss it." Lupin gestured over to where Tonks and Ginny had already blown up like balloons and were beginning to float round the room.

What did Snape eat?" asked Harry.

"Wait and see," replied George excitedly. At that moment, Snape shrieked.

"What, in Merlin's name, is going on here?!" he yelled, voice higher pitched than Flitwick's (and that was saying something). He was acting like a ballerina, pirouetting round the room in a very graceful fashion.

"Ballerina Banoffee Pie," Fred informed Harry. Tottering Treacle Tart and Ice Cream Illusions were also beginning to have amusing effects on the members of the Order. Harry, Fred and George were hysterical but Lupin, feeling he should really be doing something about the situation, desperately tried to keep a straight face, although he couldn't help but chuckle as Snape did a particularly elegant twirl. Dumbledore was the only other person not to have eaten dessert – even Snuffles had eaten some off the floor and was floating round the room, blown up like a balloon!

The state of uncontrollable merriment lasted for little more that ten minutes before Lupin decided enough was enough and ordered Fred and George to start doling out the reversal punch which would reverse the effects of any products in the 'Dangerous Desserts' range.

"Well, that was different," giggled Tonks.

"Fred and George Weasley – you are in big trouble!" screeched Mrs. Weasley, "and I never thought you would be the one to encourage them, Remus!"

"Sorry, Molly," Lupin apologised, looking very shame-faced.

"I believe that this little stunt deserves a punishment," a red-faced Snape growled.

"Oh, lighten up, Severus – it was a bit of harmless fun."

"Ok, everyone, I think we should call it a night."

"Good idea, Arthur – Minerva and I should probably be returning to Hogwarts," Dumbledore smiled.

"I'll be coming with yeh," Hagrid said.

"I shall also be joining you – I need to mark the potions essays written by the fourth years or I'll never get it done." Snape stepped forward and the small group left while everyone who was left cleared up the mess.

The next few days leading up to Christmas passed slowly. On Christmas Eve, Harry and Ron went shopping in Diagon Alley (which had recovered from the attack rather nicely) with Hermione and Tonks. Mad-Eye Moody also joined them.

"What would Ginny like?" Hermione asked no-one in particular.

"Ginny likes anything," Ron said dismissively.

"Not helpful, Ron," sighed Hermione, eventually deciding on a pink fluffy notebook that automatically corrected spelling and grammar mistakes and a pen that never ran out. Ron was also trying to find something for his sister as well and finally picked out a box if never-ending chocolates. But Harry was struggling to find presents for the twins.

That night Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George and Hermione were all sent to their rooms early. It was only seven and nobody had eaten yet. The house was filled with excitement and happiness but also with a pang of sadness as there was no Sirius to tramp up and tramp up and down the hall and annoy them with Christmas songs.

"Children, come down!" called Mrs. Weasley. There was a noise like thunder as six pairs of feet stampeded down the stairs. They walked cautiously into the kitchen and gasped at what they saw.

"It's beautiful," breathed Hermione.

The kitchen was lit with hundreds of twinkling lights, strung across the ceiling and down the walls in a glowing waterfall. It was decorated without using magic, as the children were later informed, and yet it all still looked so magical. There was a Christmas tree already set up and decorated in silver and white. There were pine needles strewn across the floor and there were gifts under the tree. The table was lit by candles and the seating arrangements were done alphabetically with a name card and picture to represent the occupant of that seat. The only two who weren't seated alphabetically were Dumbledore and Hagrid, who were seated at either end of the table. There was a tremendous layout of food on the table: - roast chicken, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, gravy, stuffing, turkey, gammon, runner beans, beef, bread sauce, Yorkshire puddings, cranberry sauce, Christmas puddings, and treacle tarts, mince pies with several jugs of drink spread across the table, including mulled wine, fruit punch and sherry.

"I though Christmas dinner was supposed to be on Christmas day," said a confused Harry.

"Not all of the Order are available tomorrow, Harry," Dumbledore explained.

"Why not? No-one's going off to get themselves killed, are they?"

"No, but all of us teachers have to be at Hogwarts and we can't not go. Any students that are staying there will be in danger and Voldemort could try and place spies inside while things are more relaxed," Lupin said mildly.

"Well then, now that's cleared up – let's tuck in!" Arthur Weasley smiled broadly at everyone and they all sat down to dinner.

The group happily tucked in, the huge plates of food slowly emptying until there were only a few scraps left – which were fed to the ecstatic Snuffles. Mrs. Weasley and Emmeline Vance took everyone's plates and brought bowls and spoons for dessert, while everyone else continued their merry chatter.

"I'm seriously gonna do summat drastic if that bluddy Voldemort don't die soon!" Mundungus slurred, having already drunk far too much sherry. Most of the adults were at least a little tipsy, apart from Snape who got more and more serious with every drink he had.

"What're you going to do, Dung?" Fred asked.

"Breathe on old Voldie until he faints, most probably," George replied. There was a huge peal of laughter at this from the rest of the group and Hermione looked disgusted, getting up to go and help Mrs. Weasley and Emmeline Vance with the bowls they were balancing on every available space on their arms.

"Don't go, sweet maiden," Mundungus called after her, falling off his chair and 'zonking out' on the floor. By now, people were wiping the tears from their eyes from where they'd been laughing so much.

"Severus, mate, you look a bit glum – ain't you had enough to fill your tum?" Mundungus garbled in his semi-conscious state. Snape scowled at anyone who dared to laugh…which was practically everyone.

"What would Sirius say if he could see us now?" Fred laughed.

"He'd say: 'How dare you start the party without me and who the hell drank all my sherry?!" George finished. Even Harry found himself in hysterical laughter as they continued to discuss that Sirius would've made. It was true – Sirius would've loved to be there with all his closest friends, with those he cared about. Harry looked round at all those he'd become so close to in the past year and a bit. His thoughts stayed on Sirius and what his Godfather's opinion was of each person in the room. His eyes met those of Lupin, who raised his glass slightly in a silent toast to Sirius' memory, an action which Harry instantly mirrored. At least there was one other person who understood just how much losing Sirius had hurt – at least he wasn't alone.

"So, what are the arrangements for tomorrow evening?" asked Tonks.

"Arthur and you will meet with Severus, Minerva and I at Hogsmeade at six in the evening," said Dumbledore in reply.

"Got it…what about Harry and the others?"

"There will always be someone in here; Molly will be here along with Mad-Eye and Mundungus…Remus may be able to make it here in the evening at some point."

"I should be able to get here for a little while at about seven," Lupin added. It didn't matter that the people talking were at opposite ends of the table but Harry would've appreciated them talking a little quieter.

The dessert was finally served; it was a steaming Christmas pudding with a galleon, a sickle and a Knut hidden somewhere inside it.

"Good luck with finding the coins, everyone," Emmeline Vance said with a smile, handing out the bowls of pudding. Fred Weasley found the Knut almost instantly and Mad-Eye Moody found the sickle not long after. Dedalus Diggle found the Galleon and his squeaky voice rose above everyone else's cheerful voices and he cheered with delight. Even Mundungus opened one eye to see what was going on.

"Well done, well done," Dumbledore congratulated Diggle enthusiastically.

After dessert the group continued to talk for hours until everyone was practically dead with exhaustion.

"I think I'm going to turn in for the night," Mr. Weasley yawned at eleven o'clock.

"Top idea, Arthur," growled Moody, joining the few that had agreed with Arthur in going to bed.

"I'll just set the washing going and then I think I'll follow your lead," Mrs. Weasley set the dishes going, enchanting all the dirty cutlery and plates to wash themselves and put themselves in neat piles in the correct cupboards. By eleven-thirty everyone had retired to bed.

At the same moment, in a forest in Northern Scotland, Voldemort's army was grouping together and preparing for their next attacks.

A/N: - Next chappie up as soon as I can manage it – please review – thank you!