Rating, Summary, and Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Two - McGonagall and Dumbledore

A sudden tapping at his Tower window made Dumbledore look up from his reading. There, in the late-July sun, was the barn owl that belonged to Lupin Manor. With a speed that belied his years, the Headmaster strode to the window, removed the scroll from the owl's leg, and resumed his seat at his desk. He opened the scroll of parchment and read:

"Sir,

The house is now ours.

It put up quite a fight! We won, much to my mother's dismay.

S & R"

The Order of the Phoenix now had a headquarters. Dumbledore had sent Lupin and Sirius to check out the house the previous week. The two wizards had spent the week preparing the house for the Order meeting. He could picture Sirius taking the parchment from Lupin and adding his own two Knuts worth.

The Headmaster took a fresh piece of parchment and quickly wrote a response to Sirius and Lupin. He tossed the owl a treat and then attached the letter. Hooting its thanks, the bird spread its wings and set off for home.

Dumbledore left the Headmaster's Tower and made his way down to Professor McGonagall's office without passing another person. He felt a twinge of sadness as he made his way through the empty halls to McGonagall's office. He loved the energy, the laughter, even the mischief the students brought to Hogwarts. Without them, the castle somehow seemed less alive. He rapped lightly on her door. She called for him to enter.

Dumbledore smiled at his Transfiguration professor. "Minerva, the Order meeting is tonight at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London. Yes, the ancestral home of the Black family," he said in answer to her questioning look. He then took the seat in front of her desk.

"So, am I to assume that Sirius was indeed innocent?" she asked, putting her quill down. "What happened?"

"Yes, he is innocent. Sirius and James decided at the last minute to change Secret-Keepers."

"From Sirius…to Peter," Minerva said.

"Yes," Dumbledore answered simply.

"It was Peter, not Sirius, who betrayed the Potters. Oh my God." She removed her spectacles and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Dumbledore leaned across the desk and took her hand. "Sirius confronted Peter, not the other way. I know it is a lot to take in. You do understand why I didn't tell you last year."

"Of course, Albus. The fewer who knew, the better. Sirius will be there tonight?"

"Yes. He has been on the run for last two years. He went overseas, but came back when Harry's name was pulled from the Goblet of Fire." Dumbledore paused. "Remus had a hard time telling me this, but James, Peter, and Sirius managed in their fifth year to become illegal Animagi."

"Illegal Animagi?"

"They used to accompany him during full moons."

"They did what?" She stood quickly and then sat back down. "That large black dog that was with Harry last week! That was Sirius. And that's how Peter got away."

"Yes, it was. And yes, it is." Dumbledore patted her hand again.

"Oh my God," Minerva repeated.

"They both will be there tonight, Sirius and Remus, you can yell at them then," Dumbledore told her. She smiled. "Arthur and Molly Weasley immediately agreed to join the Order. Arthur's position in Ministry will likely be very helpful to us, as he will be able to recruit others. He has already spoken to Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks. Their sons Bill and Charlie also agreed to join. Bill is well connected with the goblins, and Charlie can recruit at the dragon compound. I've also spoken to Emmeline Vance, and Hestia Jones. Oh, and Severus will be joining us. Hagrid will be staying here to watch over the school."

"Severus…interesting. Two Aurors are wonderful. Nymphadora Tonks. She was a natural at Transfiguration. On her very first day of class, she morphed in to me. I had to try my hardest not to laugh. Quite the clumsy one, too, if I recall correctly. If I had a Galleon for the number of times Severus fussed about her knocking over a cauldron or something."

"You taught her everything she knows," Dumbledore said.

"Well, I just taught her how to control her abilities," Minerva said, her cheeks turning pink. "Kingsley was good at Muggle Studies, if I remember correctly."

Dumbledore nodded his agreement. "Yes, he was."

"What about Percy Weasley? He's of age and works at the Ministry as well."

"Percy has taken the same position as the Minister. He and Arthur had a big fight and he moved out. He hasn't spoken to his family in a week."

"Percy was always ambitious, but to walk out on his family." Minerva frowned.

"I know. We all need to band together in these troubled times. Now, I am off to cast the Fidelius Charm on Grimmauld Place. Then I'm going to the Burrow. The meeting is at 7 PM." Dumbledore stood. He reached in his robes and handed McGonagall a scrap of parchment. "You and Severus will need that once the Charm is cast. I'll see you tonight."

Dumbledore let himself out of her office. After the door had closed, McGonagall unrolled the scroll and read:

"The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London."

Sirius stood staring at his mother's portrait. Lupin had just let Dumbledore in, so she was screaming at the top of her lungs. They had not managed to warn him in time to keep quite. Sirius had spent a week trying to get her down, but there had to be a Permanent Sticking Charm on her portrait or something.

"Are you going to shut her curtains?" Lupin asked him, coming up the kitchen stairs and entering the hallway. "The Headmaster is downstairs. He's beginning the incantation now."

"Sorry. Help me out, Moony." Sirius glared at his mother one last time before he and Lupin wrestled the curtains in front of her portrait closed. "Stupid old hag," he muttered once they were closed.

"She's your mother, Sirius," Lupin said.

"You have no idea what it was like growing up here. No idea. I hate being back here. Hate it."

Lupin didn't comment. He could see that his friend was extremely upset. Both men gasped as they felt the house jolt. They both knew that Dumbledore was through casting the Fidelius Charm.

"It is done," Dumbledore said as he came up the stairs. He handed both men a scrap of parchment. On each were the same words as on the parchment he had given to McGonagall earlier that day. "You will both need that to re-enter this house now. Sirius, I don't want you going out unless it's an emergency. According to the Ministry, you're still a wanted criminal." He paused as Sirius rolled his eyes. Lupin frowned at his friend. "I am on my way to the Burrow now. I shall return with the Weasleys. Minerva and Severus--"

Sirius kicked the wall beneath his mother's portrait. Lupin's frown deepened.

"Please remember you two are on the same side now. Minerva and Severus will be here at 7 PM. I'm heading to Arabella's first, that's where everyone else is meeting. Then I will bring Kingsley, Arthur, and Nymphadora."

"Yes, sir," both men said.

Dumbledore nodded at both of them. He then opened the front door and left.

"Let's get you settled in, Moony," Sirius said before Lupin could say anything to him. "You can have my brother's bedroom. That should get Mum's knickers in a twist, a werewolf sleeping in the good son's room."

Lupin sighed as Sirius bounded up the stairs. A moment later, he followed.

TBC