Next chapter's up! And the plot starts to show a bit more. The next part's kinda sketchy in my head, so expect a bit of a gap. Or a big bit of a gap. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed. And now, here is the next chapter!
"What do you mean he's staying here?"
"I mean that he's staying here. It's the best solution right now until we can figure out what to do with the boy. He's not safe anywhere. At least here, we won't kill him."
"Not yet anyway," Moody mumbled.
"Alastor! Let's not be rash. As far as we know, the boy could or not be telling the truth. Innocent until proven guilty as the Muggles say."
"Always the diplomat, eh Lupin?"
"Tonks-"
"No, I agree. If he's being truthful, he could be useful."
"What are they saying?"
"I don't know I can't hear anything over Ron's complaining."
"But I'm not complaining!"
"You are now."
"Will you all shut it? I can't hear what's coming through the Extendable Ears!"
Fred was currently dangling a pink string over the banister so that the other end was right above the kitchen entryway.
"So it's agreed then. We keep him here until further notice."
"Keep who here?"
"I don't know. They haven't said a name since they started talking about it."
"And who they're talking about doesn't concern any of you children."
They all turned around and met the eyes of on Severus Snape.
Hermione was inching her way to the stairs, Ron had gone pale, Fred and George were still attempting to hear the conversation, and Harry stood there, his entire body tensed up, his hand twitching. He glared at Snape, all thoughts of eavesdropping forgotten.
"Well? Didn't you brats hear me? Go away and play with your toys or something. This isn't your affair."
"You bastard."
"I beg your pardon Potter?"
"You bloody bastard. Why the hell are you here? Why? What makes you think that you have the right to be here!"
Harry had pounced on Snape and was attempting to choke him.
"Harry! Harry stop!"
It took all of Fred, George, and Ron's strength to pry his hands off Snape's neck and hold him down.
"What the bloody hell's going on here?"
By now, the Order members had heard the commotion and came out to see Harry being held back by three Weasleys, Hermione still shouting at him to calm down, and Snape sitting on the ground, rubbing his neck.
Immediately, Remus took charge.
"Tonks, calm Harry down. Moody, you go with her. I'll tend to Severus."
"Right-o then. Come on Moody. Somebody's got to fill Harry in on the situation."
Remus walked over to Snape and helped him up, checking to make sure he wasn't seriously hurt.
"Are you alright Severus?"
He pushed him away lightly.
"I'm fine Lupin. The brat just went loony and attacked me."
"Because you killed him you bloody double-crossing prick!"
"Harry stop it."
At Remus's words, Harry stilled. He motioned for them to let him go and Harry fell to the floor. Remus knelt down in front of him, taking his face in his hands.
"I know that having Severus here upsets you. I know that you probably will not like that he is staying here until further notice. But there is a good reason. And I think you deserve to know. However, I cannot tell you until you're perfectly calm. Are you?"
Harry nodded, not meeting his eyes.
"Good."
He helped Harry stand and turned to the others, "Harry and I are going for a little walk. The rest of you go on and eat. I'm sure Mrs. Weasley's wondering where you all are."
"The gardens are lovely this time of year aren't they Harry?"
"Sure."
For the past half hour, he and Remus had been walking through the gardens of Grimmauld Place, making small talk. And it was driving Harry bonkers.
"Remus, I don't want small talk. I want the reason why that…thing…is here."
"Severus is a person Harry. A person who did a horrible thing, but he had no other choice."
"Yes he did!"
"It might have appeared that way, but there was no way he could have gotten out of it. He made an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy. He had no choice."
"But he could've-"
"No. Harry, it was time. Severus was merely obeying the orders he'd been given."
Remus turned to look at him, a twinkle in his eyes. Harry just sighed, lost in his thoughts, staring at the ground.
"If you say so Remus. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
By now they had reached the doorway.
"Actually Harry, there's one more thing we might have forgotten to mention-"
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS HE DOING HERE?"
"That sounds like Ron."
"That it does."
They walked into the kitchen to see one red-faced Ron Weasley holding a wizard at wandpoint.
His normally pale skin was flushed and his eyes were bright with unshed tears. His hair was tousled and he looked more like a lost little boy that he wanted to comfort rather than one of his worst enemies.
Ron currently had one Draco Malfoy, fugitive, almost murderer, bastard extraordinaire, at wandpoint.
"What the bloody hell is he doing here?"
