(A/N: I was surprised by how many reviews this had already, so here's the next chappie. This is my first ever Harry Potter fic, I started it immediately after finishing HBP this summer. I hope you enjoy it. I don't own anything.)

Chapter Two:

Number Twelve,Grimmauld Place

Harry arrived at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, feeling as though a bag of rocks had been placed in the pit of his stomach. The train ride to London from Hogwarts had been a sullen one. No one spoke, everyone's minds back on the castle grounds and the white tomb that was Dumbledore's final resting place. The train was nearly empty. Most had left with their parents after the funeral that nearly everyone in the wizarding world had attended. Ron, Hermione and Ginny had asked their parents' permission to accompany Harry on the journey home, and the four of them took their usual compartment. In the next compartment, three members of the Order of the Phoenix sat just as quietly and sullenly. Moody slept under a travelling cloak on one bench, Lupin and Tonks spoke in hushed tones on the other. Harry's head rested on the window of the compartment the whole way to King's Cross, Ginny next to him, focused intently on writing something on a piece of parchment. Ron and Hermione sat across from them, Ron sitting up straight, looking down nervously, yet rather fondly, at Hermione who was asleep on his shoulder.

"Quickly now, Harry." Tonks said, ushering him in. Moody and Lupin backed in, holding their wands up at the ready. The door shut behind them a little too loudly and the hallway was filled with the shrieks and moans of Mrs.Black.

"FILTHY, DIRTY MUDBLOODS IN MY HOUSE!" Sirius' mother screamed in anguish. Harry sighed heavily and left his trunk where it lay.

"Harry, we need to find out if anyone has been here." Moody said, his magical eye swivelling about.

"Kreacher?" Harry said, unsure. Was the house elf back for the summer, or did he stay at Hogwarts? His question was answered with a loud crack and the appearence of the elderly house elf at Harry's feet, forcing himself into a half-bow.

"Yes master?" Kreacher put emphasis on the second word. Spitting it out in disgust rather than saying it. "Kreacher is here to serve the master with the dirty blood. Kreacher's mistress is not happy, oh no she is not. If Kreacher's mistress could, she would kill the Potter brat." Kreacher's words were proven with a blast of obscenities from the hallway portrait. "But Kreacher must serve his master. Oh yes, Kreacher must."

"Has anyone entered this house that shouldn't have? Snape, Bellatrix, Narcissa, Draco, anyone?"

"No master."

"Not a single soul?" Harry persisted, knowing the elf could not lie to him.

"No master."

"That will do, Harry." Moody said, giving the upstairs rooms a sweep with his eye. "It's all clear up there."

"Okay. You can go back downstairs now." Harry told Kreacher. Kreacher bowed again, letting his nose touch the wooden floor, then disappeared again.

"Remus and I will take your things up to your room, Harry." Tonks said, flicking her wand at Harry's trunk. The trunk rose into the air, floating a few feet ahead of Lupin and Tonks as they began to ascend the stairs together. Harry watched them until they disappeared from the upstairs landing. Moody's hand landed heavily on his shoulder.

"All right there, Harry?"

"Yes, I'm fine." he lied."I'm hungry." he said, deliberately changing the subject as he headed for the kitchen. Moody shook his head, but followed anyway, taking a seat at the roughly hewn table. Harry busied himself with searching the cupboards, but found nothing whatsoever.

"Sit down, Potter." Moody commanded. Harry turned to find a plate of sandwiches and a bottle of Butterbeer on the table. He sat down and picked up the sandwich, then realized he wasn't hungry after all. Instead, he took a sip of the Butterbeer.

"Will the Order come back here for headquarters?" he asked, studying the bottle in front of him.

"That's up to you, Potter. It's your house."

"I already told Dumble--" Harry caught himself and shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. "Of course you can use it."

"I'll bring the matter up with the other members sometime soon." Moody said. "In the meantime, I'd say you have some pretty heavy issues to address, wouldn't you?" Harry glanced at him quizzically. "Like whether you'll be returning to Hogwarts or not." He said. Harry's answer was quick.

"No."

"Why not? You want to be an auror, don't you Potter?"

"Of course I do. But I have to find the other Horcruxes." Harry explained.

"There will be plenty of time to fight this war, Harry." Moody said in a softer tone that was very unlike him. "It's just one more year of school. Then you can begin training to join us against the dark lord."

"What if we don't have a year!" Harry exclaimed, slamming his fist down onto the table. "I've faced Voldemort six times already, haven't I? I've trained a group of students to do the same. One year is an eternity right now. We don't have a year. How many people will have been killed by then? Dumbledore's gone. No one is safe anymore." Harry was standing now, filled with rage and, though he'd never admit it, not even to himself; fear. What if Hogwarts wasn't even open come the fall? What would happen now that Dumbledore was gone? Harry wanted, more than anything, to destroy the last of the Horcruxes and be rid of Voldemort for good. He wanted--no--needed to fight. He needed to avenge the deaths of his mother, father, godfather and mentor. Moody had to know that, yet here he was, telling Harry that he needed to be a good boy and go back to school.

"I didn't mean to upset you, Potter, but there is your future to consider."

"How do I know I have a future? Who says I won't be dead tomorrow? Or next week? Or in five minutes?" Harry said quietly. Moody took the hint and dropped the subject, the kitchen falling silent. "I wonder where Tonks and Lupin are?" Harry finally spoke, picking at the label on the Butterbeer bottle. Moody's magic eye rolled behind him.

"They're talking in the front hall." he informed Harry, who let a faint smile cross his face. Moody jumped suddenly.

"They started snogging, didn't they?" Harry laughed.

"Is that what they call it now days?" The two shared a chuckle."Well, you should probably get some rest. It's been a long day."

"Goodnight, Moody."

"Goodnight, Potter."

(End of chappie two. Whaddya think? It starts out slow, but for you Sirius Black fans, I have a surprise for you. And it isn't him coming back to life either...keep the reviews coming...)