Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, don't own Harry Potter.

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No.

He was not going to repeat the last summer- especially without Dumbledore there to put his dubious faith in.

He was still Dumbledore's man, through and through, and he was not going to allow himself to wallow in misery. It hurt, the loss, but this time, he was going to push past it. Dumbledore just wasn't there anymore, and Harry was going to have to trust himself.

Maybe this was not the best course, but really, what else was he supposed to do? In a war, you just have to keep going. Harry didn't really know that much of war, but perhaps more than some. War was not cut and dry, like two armies marching across a field of death. It was more complicated than that. Dirty. Complicated. Painful.

Right now, Britain's magical community was in a war, and who knew what the result would be. But that result, Harry hoped, wished, would not involve Voldemort ruling over the future with his cruelty.

Living out here, under tight security, he barely heard a thing. He could see the general state of terror permeating the wizarding world. He did manage to get ahold of wizarding new articles every once in a while, but they were not overly useful.

It was... excruciating to think about the fact the it all resting on him. He was just a school kid, really, and as far as he could tell, had no special abilities. He often sat and contemplated the most frustrating question on his mind: how?

No answers were to be had.

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"Thank you Mrs. Figg."

The kindly old lady gave him a pensive look as she handed over the books. "Be careful with what you learn here. I don't want to think, later, that I've done wrong in giving you these."

Harry wore his usual attire for the summer- raggedy clothes that were too big. "Honestly Mrs. Figg, I meant what I said."

"All right then. What, off so soon? Here, take some cookies with you. Hide some in your pocket- I know most of them will go to those no good Dursleys." Harry gave her a surprised glance- most of the Order liked to avoid the topic of his situation at the Dursleys.

He was angry with that, being cooped up here. But he had decided to deal with it, because... because, Dumbledore was dead, and he had wanted Harry to be here.

"Thanks."

Harry took a moment after he left Mrs. Figgs house to stuff the books into his old delapitated backpack, before slinging it over his shoulder and moving out onto the street. It was a short walk back to the Dursleys, but long enough was an unpleasant incident. Mrs. Talworth, pushing a stroller for her 3 month old son, actually crossed the street to avoid him.

This was fine with him. He was used to the neighbors. When he was younger, he had hoped someone would venture past the Dursleys lies, and see the real Harry. At this point, he didn't want to get close to anyone.

And he wasn't going to even think about a certain redhead, that had respected his wishes and not written him all summer...

"Boy!" his uncle shouted as soon as he came in the door. "since you are back so soon, you might as well clean out the gutters." He uncle sat on the cough with Dudley, watching some Wrestling match. Harry didn't understand the lure of watching wrestling. Dudley was struggling to get off the couch, having seen the plate of cookies.

"Yes, uncle Vernon," Harry said in a monotone, handed Dudley the cookies, and continued on into the kitchen, out the door, and into the well cared for backyard.

Later as he stood on a ladder over the gutters, he paused to look over are the neighborhood from his elevated position. So many people, just trying to live their lives. If Voldemort were to take over, everything would be drastically different.

The light was beginning to wane, and he turned his hands back to the task at hand. His mind however, wandered around getting back to Grimmauld place. Hermione had already figured out the R.A.B. must have been Regulus, Sirius' brother. And that the locket they had found one summer could very well be a horcrux. It was kind of disturbing to realize that they had such unknowing contact with a horcrux.

Harry had wanted to go right away. But, of course, he still had no idea how to destroy it, no way to get there undetected, and, he still was hesitant to reveal the knowledge to the Order. Part of his decisions this summer were based on his goal, destroying the horcruxes, and caution. If Hermione and Ron were determined to follow him, he would see to there safety as best he could. That meant carefully worded letters, and resisting the Order's curiosity.

He didn't really have much of an idea what was going on with the Order. Remus had stopped by a few weeks ago, looking as haggard as usual. Luckily, he had come when the Dursleys were on a family outing. Or maybe someone was watching, and it wasn't so lucky a coincidence.

Harry had opened the door only after asking Prof- Remus a question to verify his identity. He didn't want to become like Moody... but what else was he supposed to do?

"Harry," Remus said, as he stepped into the Dursley's uncomfortably clean home. "How are y-?"

"-Fine." Harry cut him off, and then felt bad. "Um. Want something to drink?"

"...No, I'm fine." There was an awkward silence, while Harry looked everywhere but at Profess- Remus. He really had to remember to call him Remus.

"So, how is the Order? I mean, after, you know?"

Remus sighed. "We are managing. What I came to talk to you about, is that after Albus died, we needyou to reactivate the wards, and to reset the SecretKeepter charmGrimauld place."

Of course. "Done- on one condition."

Remus looked curiously at Harry. Each thought the other looked like he hadn't slept well in years.

"I intend to visit Grimmauld place before school starts, for a few days, with Hermione and Ron. I should be able to freely come and go, if I own the place." Harry braced himself for questions, ready with the defense that he did own the place, after all.

The man sitting beside him hesitated. "...alright. Is there something specific you need from there?"

"No, I just want to... look around... because I miss Sirius." Harry ended with that lame excuse. But the mention of Sirius left them both at a loss for words.

"Proffessor R-"

"Just Remus, please, Harry. It's been years."

"Right. Is Hogwarts reopening? I keep reading articles saying yes, and no..." Harry trailed off, recalling all the confusing rumors and politics.

"Yes, Harry, Minerva will do her best to make it happen."

"Ok..." How was he supposed to tell Professor Lup- Remus that he was had no intention of coming back?

"Harry, the wizarding world is falling back into hard times Even if Hogwarts reopens, you will find many do not return- Yes, even Gryffindore's. Their parent's will be terrified." Remus had a distant look of rememberance.

"Maybe I can help with that." Harry was thinking that maybe he could say something. People seemed to look up to him, and while he didn't really like the idea of influencing others, with decisions they should be making themselves, he was right about this. Hogwarts had it's fair share of trouble, but Harry had a feeling it there would be less without him around.

Remus gave him a searching look.

Remus stood up, and Harry followed. "Harry- it was good to see you." He gave Harry an awkward hug. Harry had been hugged rarely in his life, and took a moment t respond.

"You too- Remus."

Remus had smiled a tired smile, and walked out of the house.

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Author's notes: Well now, I have no plotline, and have abandoned previous fics. Well. There is always hope for the future, right? Feel free to point out mistakes I've made.