Disclaimers: None of this is mine; characters or setting, except the idea. My idea. ;)

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Learning in the Dark

Chapter 1 – Revelations

His eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness around him and he pulled himself upwards into a standing position. There was shouting throughout the house, but Harry tuned it out. He had learned from experience that it was easier to concentrate on what was happening immediately around him rather than listening to everyone else's battles. Part of him was longing to throw himself into the fray to help the order members he could see, but he forced himself to stay where he was.

At least his friends weren't here.

A sharp purple beam smashed into the counter behind him, grazing his shoulder and snapping him back to reality. He darted through the kitchen door and into the hallway where it was darker still.

Kneeling down Harry crept along the hallway, the sounds of fighting muffled by the stillness. He didn't like it, it was too still and he felt himself tensing unnecessarily; his breathing shallow and silent.

Calm down, I have to calm down.

Harry stopped and tried to stifle the panic that was rising in his chest. Where was everyone? Where was Remus? Where was Arthur Weasley? How many death eaters had attacked? What did they want, had they come for him?

A slight shuffle to his left cut off his worries sharply and his hand tightened around his wand. A figure came into view, moving stealthily towards his position, but Harry guessed that he hadn't been seen. The small amount of light that was visible glinted off the grotesque mask as the man passed by him, hidden in the shadows.

Please don't miss, please don't miss…

Harry took aim and whispered the incantation, willing it to have as much force as it would normally. The flare of magic lit up the corridor and hit the death eater square between the shoulders. He crumpled to the ground stupefied, and Harry, eyes widening in realisation and acting on instinct, quickly cast a charm to catch the falling weight and set the heavyset man down on the ground gently as not to alert anyone nearby.

He let out a sigh of relief and leant back against the wall, a cold chill covering him.

The noise had died down slightly but the occasional yell and rally of spells that followed was still audible from upstairs.

Harry felt his legs stiffening in the crouched position and he stood up slowly and cautiously, green eyes desperately seeking out any threats. He began to move back down the corridor silently, his feet making little noise, so his heart almost leapt out of his mouth when the door right next to him opened with a loud click.

Harry threw himself flat against the wall to the right of the door and held his breath as someone came out, wand raised ahead of them. They stepped out of the room and Harry's legs took control, coming up behind the man where Harry, cursing his bravado, placed his wand against the back of the figure's head forcefully.

The man promptly froze.

"Don't move."

Harry's voice sounded foreign even to him.

The stranger half turned his head and there was a pause where Harry tried to decide what needed to be done next.

"Harry?"

Harry didn't think he'd ever been more happy to hear that familiar voice and as the figure turned around Harry grinned widely.

"Remus, where have you been?" He whispered with a smile, a warm rush filling his chest at finally having found someone he knew.

The older man looked just as relieved to have found the dark haired boy and instead of replying grabbed Harry and gave him a hug which Harry gladly returned. As they separated Remus explained the situation in a hushed voice while Harry tried not to act embarrassed at his sudden show of emotion towards his father's friend… his friend.

"…the death eaters have attacked several residences which Voldemort suspected were the headquarters, so as soon as he realises that his men have struck gold here, he'll be arriving. You have to leave Harry. As soon as possible."

"But what about-"

The question died on Harry's lips as something flickered out of the corner of his eye. He grabbed Remus by the scruff of his robe and pulled him forcefully down behind the stairs as a blue beam ripped into the wall where they had been standing, shredding a large portion of the wallpaper.

The werewolf was already alert, his eyes praising Harry for his quick actions as his keen ears listened for any movement. There was very little, as the death eater must have realised he had given away his position and was awaiting their next move.

As Remus watched the corner of the stairs, Harry's eyes drifted upwards behind them where he noticed a small table with a pack of cards sitting on it. The table was old, but looked steady enough…

"He's just inside the doorway at the bottom of the stairs." Remus mouthed in the dark.

Harry nodded and pointed upwards, and as Remus understood he promptly shook his head with a frown.

"No. Don't you dare."

Harry just nodded and winked, hopping silently up on top of the table and evading Lupin's grab for his robe.

"Harry," He hissed.

But Harry had already made up his mind and jumped hard, fingers grabbing the highest stair edge he could reach.

Quidditch practise don't fail me now.

Using the muscles in his arms he hauled himself up to the edge of the stair-frame, thanking the heavens that he wasn't any heavier. His arms shook slightly in protest once he reached his goal, and he grabbed the banister, pausing for a second and then vaulting silently over it. He now crouched in the shadows near the top of the stairs eyeing the doorframe at the bottom as his arms ached.

He glanced down to where Remus' concerned, and slightly scornful, gaze met his. Harry gave him the thumbs up and Remus could only grimace in return. Harry grinned to himself as he watched the older man shake his head as he crept into a better position.

"I don't think I've ever had such a winning streak in a game of cards"

"You're probably cheating." Harry said moodily, mixing the pack slightly rougher than necessary.

Remus laughed cheerfully.

"Werewolves have x-ray vision now do they? I think you had better have another look at your Defence books, Harry. Maybe you're not being taught properly."

"I know just fine that I'm not being taught properly," Harry said, a memory of Snape's constant point deductions coming into his head, "But at least he's better than the teacher we had in third year... he was awful."

Harry grinned at the table, not looking up to see Lupin's reaction.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, I didn't like him very much..."

Green eyes looked up playfully just in time to receive a cushion in the face. Harry dropped the cards all over the floor as he fell back into his armchair.

"Maybe the teacher just thought that some of the pupils were beyond help." Remus said with a sideways grin as he dodged Harry's return throw.

Harry just laughed, glad to be feeling so carefree for once. Grimmald Place was quiet as it was the end of the summer and the Weasley's had headed home. There was the occasional Auror about the place, but Harry's only real social interaction was in the aftermath of a meeting where those with a big enough heart decided to stay and keep the poor 'chosen-one' company for a few days - ie. Lupin in this case.

Brown eyes watched as Harry fumbled for another cushion.

"Maybe some of the pupils were just too clever..." Harry muttered in a Malfoy-esque manner.

"Well, there's gratitude for you," Remus smiled, "I must have spent half my wages buying you chocolate that year because of the number of times you ran into Dementors."

Harry growled and threw the cushion with all his might at Lupin's head. Unfortunately the werewolf was quick enough to dodge this one too, and it went sliding across the table behind him until it met with a glass bottle of some sort. It promptly knocked this on to the wooden floor where it shattered instantly, the liquid inside pouring out and evaporating.

Uh oh, Harry thought. Remus' concerned gaze met his.

"Where there's a potion, there's usually a potion's master..." He said, cautiously stepping over to the spill.

Harry followed and watched as Remus poked at the broken glass with the edge of his battered looking shoe.

"I say we run away." Harry proposed quickly, checking the doors for any sign of movement.

"Harry," Lupin frowned at him.

This was where Harry sometimes wished that Sirius was here in Lupin's place. He knew for a fact that the animagus would have been far more likely to back up this plan than the werewolf would. Harry just supposed he wasn't very used to a responsible adult. It wasn't as if the Dursleys had ever taught him anything.

Harry caught Remus' gaze before he turned back to the mess and could have sworn that the older man had guessed what he was thinking. He felt a pang of guilt and tried to make up for it by asking Remus' advice.

"What should we do?"

Lupin smiled, "The royal 'we', that's nice - including me in this."

"You started it!"

Remus chuckled, "Alright, I'll clean it up if you pick up the cards,"

Harry decided this was reasonable, but Remus continued

"But," he looked up at Harry, "You have to find Snape and explain."

"But-"

"No buts."

Harry bit his tongue and scowled. Snape had already blamed him for stealing some of his ingredients this summer but Harry knew it had been the Weasley twins. The potions master wasn't going to appreciate the fact that Harry had just smashed one of his concoctions all over the floor because of a cushion-fight.

"Fine." He muttered, picking up the cards.

His green gaze spotted Lupin's small smile as he cleared the glass, shaking his head as he did so. Harry felt a wave of anger towards the man, but smothered it quickly, and continued cleaning in silence.

He wasn't a child.

Harry sat for a couple of seconds nervously, waiting for Remus to act, which wasn't long.

The flash of a spell disappeared into the doorway and a snarl was heard as the death eater moved forwards to get a better aim at Lupin. This gave Harry the perfect chance to take aim at the large man and he sent a stupefy at him accordingly. It hit the man on the arm but didn't seem to have been enough to knock him out as he staggered slightly but remained upright.

"Damn it." Harry muttered, dodging a weak spell that came his way in response.

He saw Remus hitting the man dead-on with the stunning spell and this time he hit the floor heavily.

"Perhaps not the brightest of Voldemort's lot." Remus said quietly, checking the death eater was unconscious. He squinted into the dark to see Harry, "You alright?"

"Yeah." Harry replied without thinking to keep his voice down.

It all happened at once and Harry didn't have a chance to warm Remus of the cloaked figure behind him. Luckily he saw Lupin turn at the last minute and the beginning of a struggle before something with a lot of force hit the side of his own head and threw him against the wall. He took a minute to realise what had happened and staggered upright only to have to duck under another spell that felt like it had rocked the foundations of the house as it connected with the wall.

He heard a yell from the bottom of the stairs but couldn't tell if it was Lupin's or not.

"Remus!" He shouted anxiously.

He could feel the panic filling his body once again as another spell seared across his back, and no reply was heard from the werewolf. Harry knew he should run for cover but he had to see if Remus was alright-

His thoughts were interrupted as a spell with the power of what felt like a speeding car hit him in the chest and threw him down the stairs where he landed at the bottom in a daze. As soon as his senses returned his eyes searched for his friend but there was no sign of either men. The floor spun slightly.

They must have ended up in another room, Harry thought in a panic. He made to stand up but a large hand grabbed his robes and hauled him upright.

"Got you." an unfamiliar voice growled.

Harry had half a second to see the man's deep blue eyes before a heavy-fisted punch snapped his head back painfully.

He kicked out instinctively and connected with the man's knee before making a bid for freedom by diving into the nearest room where a spell shot over his head, splintering the bookcase ahead. He shuffled himself behind the closest sofa and hissed as the pain from his fall down the stairs seeped through him. Harry lay on his back silently, blinking back tears of pain and worry as he tried to remain silent.

Harry scowled as he made his way slowly down the corridor to where he knew Snape was working. He'd managed to put it off for as long as he could, but he supposed he'd better get it over with.

Snape had to work in the dustiest, most depressing part of the house as well, didn't he. Harry coughed as some of the offending dust got up his nose, only making him more grumpy. He was so busy dusting himself off and muttering angrily that he didn't notice Snape coming in his direction until he was right in front of the man.

"Potter," came the growl, "What are you doing down here?"

Harry met Snape's glare with one of his own. It had to be pretty obvious that he was looking for him as the corridor only had the one door this far down and it was his.

"Out for a walk, sir." he replied sarcastically.

Snape seemed to consider him for half a second before dismissing him and carrying on down the corridor. Harry smirked, but then realised that this wasn't really very helpful for his plans and so opened his mouth to call out to the quickly receding form of the potion's master.

"Harry?"

Someone beat him to it however and he turned towards the voice.

Professor Dumbledore stood just outside Snape's doorway in the process of locking it. He was observing Harry over his glasses.

"Professor? I didn't know you were here." Harry said, trying to sound as polite as he could.

The headmaster smiled and joined Harry,

"I was merely here for a quick word with Severus, but I feel like a quick cup of tea before I leave. Would you care to join me, Harry?"

"I- um, yeah, yes. Yes please." Harry rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed.

Thinks weren't going quite to plan at all.

"So," began Dumbledore heading back the way Harry had just come, "What brings you down here at this time of night? I daresay it wasn't for a polite conversation with Professor Snape given the way you two get along."

"Er... no." Harry said uncomfortably, a red flush creeping up his cheeks as he tried to work out a way to explain things to his headmaster.

Dumbledore smiled and continued in Harry's silence.

"He's already had one visitor tonight you know. Remus popped past for a little chat, something about a broken potion I believe."

"Oh..." Harry said, his throat going slightly dry.

Had Remus not thought him capable of coming up here and admitting to his crime?

"Yes, apparently he was in the library and didn't notice it while he was moving books around. Severus wasn't pleased I know, but it didn't seem to be that important a potion and that boy will keep leaving his things in silly places..."

Remus had taken the blame? Harry didn't know what to think. But he was willing to bet that Sirius would never have taken the blame for anything concerning Snape. Maybe Remus wasn't as uptight about the rules as he had thought... Perhaps some amount of responsibility wasn't all that bad.

They continued down the corridor, Harry moving the subject on to another topic. Dumbledore was smiling that knowing smile as he listened to Harry's stories.

Harry lay on his back as he listened to the death eater moving around the room in the dark. His back ached where he'd landed but he concentrated on stopping the dizzy feeling in his head.

Where was everyone? He hoped Mr Weasley was okay. And where the hell was Snape? Harry scowled, he was probably helping the death eaters.

"You can't hide forever." Came the deep voice threateningly from somewhere near the far corner of the room.

Harry tensed but didn't move.

Try me.

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End of chapter one. Hope you liked it. I'm just writing it as it comes so I hope it makes sense! Chapter 2 coming soon. x x x