A/N: I don't own anything, JKR has that privledge.

The port key dropped them into Grimmauld Place's attic. Dumbledore had made it for the Weasley family so they wouldn't upset Mrs. Black's portrait every time they sought refuge at headquarters. They climbed down from the attic and Harry noticed right away just how many things Mundungus had stolen while the house was vacant. He wanted to go demand that he return it all straight away until he remembered that the Ministry still had Mundungus in custody. Harry wasn't sure which emotion to focus on, the anger at Sirius's death, the anger at Mundungus, the anger at the ministry- all he knew was that anger was consuming him and he was at a loss to control it.

All of this, was his… and he would give it all away in a heartbeat to have Sirius back. But he didn't want some skiving thief to sell it all, despite that Sirius would have given it all to Dung had he only asked.

"Um, right. Well, Harry since this is um, your house now, where would you like us to go?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I don't want this house, Mrs. Weasley, it is Order headquarters now, and as you are the only order member here, you decide." was Harry's reply.

"Then everyone head to their old rooms. It is late enough and you all have had quite an exciting day." Mrs. Weasley ordered.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny might have gone to their rooms, but sleep was the furthest thing from anyone's mind. The girls had no problem sneaking into Harry and Ron's room knowing that Mrs. Weasley had Order business to attend to. Harry had heard Bill and Fluer head upstairs shortly after Ron had shut their door.

"What do you reckon that was all about," asked Ginny. She seemed more mad than afraid.

"Dunno. What do you mean?" questioned Ron.

"She means, Why would dementors show up at Bill's wedding? Deatheaters I expected," started Hermione.

"What?" Asked Harry suddenly looking up as if he had just started to hear the conversation.

"Hermione, what do you mean you expected deatheaters?"

"Oh Harry, you didn't think that one of the largest blood traitor families could have a family function without the deatheaters showing up. The whole idea now is to get rid of muggles and blood traitors, haven't you been reading all the disappearings in the Daily Prophet? Surely you don't think all those muggles went on an unplottable vacation do you? But, why dementors? All of us can cast a Patronus, there was no reason to send them," Hermione continued her rant.

"Blimey, Mione. You mean that you were expecting trouble?" Ron asked.

"Oh Ron, of course. Surely you knew that Remus, your dad, Charlie, all of the Order expected something like that tonight. What have you been paying attention to all this time?" she asked exasperated.

Ron turned a bright shade of red that Ginny could see even by moonlight. She had a good idea what he had been paying attention to and she knew that Hermione hadn't forgotten either.

"My guess," Hermione dropped her voice. "Is that he had no intention of killing anyone, he simply wanted to taunt everyone that he is still out there and can do as he pleases now."

"It just doesn't make sense," Ginny said aloud.

Harry really was listening but inside he was agreeing with Hermione. Voldemort could have easily sent Deatheaters to the wedding and caused way more destruction than the Dementors had. Voldemort wasn't merciful and he didn't play games, so why had he sent the dementors?

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Harry didn't remember falling asleep, but he knew when he was abruptly woken up that something had startled him. With a glance at the clock, which was glaring 1:45 am, Harry rubbed his eyes, slipped on his glasses and slipped out of bed. He tiptoed out but judging by Ron's snores, he needn't have bothered.

As Harry tiptoed down the stairs he felt the hairs on his neck prickle as he heard what seemed to be hundreds of voices coming from the drawing room.

"I have called this meeting tonight, a full meeting, yes I know, but we must decide tonight. It is imperative we vote on whether or not to keep headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix here." Harry recognized Minerva McGonagall's voice.

"I reckon if Dumbledore trusts im still , we oughta to. I was there tha nigh ya know," came the booming voice of Hagrid.

"Keep your voice down," snapped Mrs. Weasley.

"I was there that night, too Hagrid. I am not about to forget that night. What I am trying to decipher is what happened exactly and why Dumbledore still believes in him," snapped McGonagal.

"Can we take the risk, of Severus knowing how to access headquarters? We certainly can't house Harry here if there is a chance," Remus Lupin said.

"Dumbledore assures me that he can still be trusted but he offers no more details than that," replied McGonagall.

Harry's heart leapt at Dumbledore's name. Surely, he wasn't dead. If McGonagall had talked to him, he couldn't be dead, could he? The fact that they were discussing Snape made Harry want to rush in there and tell them that if they knew of Snape's whereabouts that Harry would be the first to volunteer to go after him.

"Minerva, Dumbledore's portrait can only tell us so much. How heavily should we base the Order's safety and anonymity on it? Less witches than yourself have been led astray by paintings." questioned Moody.

Harry felt all hope drain. The dread in his stomach at facing Dumbledore's death all over again made Harry ill.

"One would figure that if Severus has chosen to disclose the information to Voldemort then the Order would have been discovered already. Dumbledore has never steered us wrong." Mr. Weasley argued.

"Perhaps maybe he is waiting for the right time, the right incentive to disclose our whereabouts, eh?" replied Moody.

"This is all speculation." McGonagall continued. "I need a definitive decision. All for keeping the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix here at Grimmauld place, as Dumbledore wants it, say Aye," she finished.

There was a loud murmur followed by a chorus or Aye's.

"Those opposed?" McGonagall stated.

Several loud Nay's were issued.

"Right then, the Aye's have it. Now as for Mr. Potter… all those for keeping him here at headquarters say Aye," McGonagall started.

Harry felt the bile rise up his throat. Who were they, some people he had never known, to decide what Harry did. He would be of age soon enough and he could decide what to do on his own he thought angrily.

"Really wanting to burst in there aren't ya?" Gave a gruff voice behind him.

Harry wheeled about reaching for his wand to see the gaze of Mad Eye Moody.

"I knew someone was listening at the door. Didn't want to alert Molly though as I figured it was one her chicks." Mad Eye replied.

Harry still startled but more angry ground out, "Who gave them the right to determine what I do with my life?"

"Why you are our prime witness," replied Moody. "We will be happy to let you go, should you prefer Scrigemour's company to ours, but somehow I don't think you thought that far."

"Dumbledore's death has the whole Wizarding community in an uproar Harry. Surely you know that," came the quiet voice of Lupin. "No one knows where to turn now, and terror comes easily. The ministry would love to get a hold of you to ease the fears. Scridgemour has been questioning Arthur everyday."

"What do they want me for,"Harry asked. Although he already knew the answer deep down. Scridgemour hadn't cornered him at Dumbledore's funeral to discuss his welfare. He hadn't visited the Burrow at Christmas to wish Harry a Happy Holiday.

"Why, if you are living at the ministry, if Scridgemour has you as a right hand man, then it will look like the ministry is on top of things. Convey that they will soon be able to eliminate Voldemort." Lupin replied with a gleam to his eye that stated he had a hunch that Harry already knew the answer.

"It can't be done. Not yet," Harry replied miserably. The whole day's events crashing down upon him, Harry let his guard down.

"What can't?" questioned Mad Eye.

Harry, suddenly remembering what they were discussing got quiet. "Oh,um nothing. Just thinking out loud," Harry replied under Mad Eye's scrutinizing glare.

"You better get back upstairs," said Lupin. " None of us are ready for the row Molly would have if she knew you were down here."

"But I want some information. Sirius always filled me in, and before he died Dumbledore did too." Harry said stubbornly.

"I will come visit first thing tomorrow," Lupin replied tiredly. "I think I can put off my assignment for a few hours."

Harry, feeling guilty that he easily forgot how hard Remus had been working for the Order, nodded and headed up the stairs. It wouldn't occur to Harry until the following day that the vote to keep him at headquarters must have been approved.

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"Get up off your lazy arse, for the last time," came a voice though the fog in Harry's mind that he vaguely recognized as Ginny's.

"Huh," Harry replied as he groggily looked up at her.

"Ron gave up trying to wake you up. Mum's been yelling for you. What is wrong with you Harry?" Ginny questioned.

"Oh, worn out I guess," he replied.

"Nice try. I know you weren't in your bed the whole night," she replied with a smirk on her face.

"What?" Harry asked shocked.

"I found this at the bottom of the stairs this morning. You better be more careful, Mum and Dad are loads smarter than Ron." she glared.

"There was an order meeting last night," Harry mumbled.

"Tell me," she replied. They spent the morning in discussion while Mrs. Weasley gave her last warning about breakfast getting cold.

They didn't emerge until Hermione stuck her head in with a curious glance towards Harry and Ginny sitting on the bed.

"Harry, Professor Lupin is downstairs. He wants to talk to you, alone," she shot Ginny a look. Ginny just smiled knowing that she knew everything already.

"Where's that git of a brother of mine," Ginny asked.

"Erm, we have been studying in the library," Hermione weakly answered.

Shooting a grin towards Ginny and giving Hermione a small salute Harry headed down to the drawing room. Molly was there with a worried look towards Lupin.

"What kind of things do you need to discuss with Harry, Remus?" Molly asked.

Taking her hand he replied, "Molly dear, Harry will be of age, he has some questions, as do I. We will be ok-ay." He stressed the word okay as if it were two separate words. Molly not looking convinced headed to the kitchen wringing her hands.

Giving Harry a tired smile, he motioned Harry into the drawing room.

"Let's get right down to it Harry, shall we?" Lupin asked.

"Sure," Harry replied.

"I can't imagine how upset you are. First your parents, then Sirius, now Dumbledore, bet you wonder when it is going to end, huh? I forgot to mention your Uncle, but well, I gathered you weren't that friendly," he said with a small wry smile.

"I can't tell you much more actually. McGonagall has enough on her mind, she is trying to run the order as well as Hogwarts, but I think soon someone will replace her at the Order. She has tried to have Professor Snape located…"

Harry interrupted, "Are Aurors after him?"

Lupin sighed, "Yeah, but it is hard knowing that Dumbledore still claims he has trust in him. Claims he knew exactly what he was doing when he put him in the Dark Arts position as if that tells anyone anything."

"He, wait, what?" Harry asked.

"Dumbledore keeps telling McGonagal that he knew exactly what he was doing when he put him in the Dark Arts position. As if that makes everything all better or any clearer." Lupin replied frustrated.

Harry suddenly had a flashback, a memory of a conversation with Dumbledore one night they were having their Horcrux lessons.

(flashback)

"You mean Voldemort wanted you to hire him as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

"Yes, I do indeed," replied Dumbeldore.

"Why do you think that, know that, exactly," Harry continued.

"Because you see, no one has ever taught the class more than one year, the position is cursed." he replied.

(end of flashback)

"I know what it means," Harry said trying to piece it all together in his mind.

"Huh," Lupin asked.

"I know what Dumbledore meant, "Harry said again. "He gave Snape the job because he knew it would be his last year there."

"Harry, what are you talking about?" Lupin asked confused.

"Snape has always wanted it hasn't he,"Harry rushed on, "but Snape never got it. We just thought it was because Dumbledore knew Snape was a deather eater. But it wasn't. Dumbledore wanted to keep Snape at Hogwarts, so he made him teach Potions. But why all of a sudden did he want Snape gone?"

Lupin, stuggling to keep up with Harry, and choosing not to correct him with 'Professor Snape', replied, "So let me see if I understand this. Dumbledore finally gave Severus the DADA job because he knew it would be his last year? Who's last year? Dumbledore's or Severus's?"

"The DADA job is cursed," Harry replied glumly, "Dumbledore knew it. No teacher ever lasted more than a year."

Lupin laughed, "Well that is because one had a Voldemort turban, one went crazy, I am a werewolf, Crouch Jr was a death eater, and Umbridge is, well, nasty. I think Dumbledore has had a string of bad luck, but cursed, nah," Lupin stopped when he saw Harry shaking his head vehemently.

"No, Dumbledore told me, it is cursed," Harry said firmly.

"When, Why?" Lupin asked confused.

"He, uh, just told me. Okay?" Harry pleaded, his eyes begging Lupin to not ask any more questions and believe him.

"Okay,"Lupin said slowly, " So Dumbledore knew the job was cursed. So he gave it to Severus who had put in for it every year and had been turned down up until this year. And anyone who teaches it…"

"Only lasts a year. Yeah," Harry finished for him.

"Okay so the question is, Where was Severus going, or why did Dumbledore want him to teach DADA for just this year? Course, we could be on the wrong track Harry, maybe Dumbledore just couldn't find anyone else," Lupin said.

"No, If Dumbledore had wanted a DADA teacher he would have had Professor Slughorn teach it." Harry replied.

"But Horace Slughorn teaches Potions Harry, always has." Lupin stated.

"So did Snape," Harry countered.

"Well then we are at a block Harry." Lupin finished.

"Maybe not," Harry said, "Where is Dumbledore's pensieve?"

" pensieve?" Lupin asked giving Harry a sly look.

"Look, Dumbledore and I had meetings, right before he died. We…talked. That's all. Well that and Dumbledore let me see some of his memories." Harry replied dodgily without looking up.

"Hmm, let me check with Minerva and I will get back to you on that." Lupin replied hurriedly looking at his watch. "As for any meetings with Dumbledore, please know that anything you and Dumbledore discussed is safe with me, should you ever need to talk. But, for now, I have got to go Harry."

"But we didn't talk about anything…" Harry started.

"Oh yes, we did. But, Harry, did Sirius ever give you anything, a mirror perhaps?' Lupin questioned.

The mirror stowed at the bottom of his trunk occurred to him, "Yeah, so what?" Harry asked rudely as the mirror had always been a sore subject for him after Sirius's death.

"If you need me…" Lupin replied on his way out of the drawing room and out the front door.

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Harry, not yet wanting to talk to anyone, tore up the stairs and before he knew it ended up in Sirius bedroom. Freezing, he stood there, staring at the portrait on the wall. There in the portrait of Phineus Nigellus, a Black ancestor, was Dumbledore smiling down at Harry.

"I dare say, Phineus, it does seem like a fortuitous visit of mine today doesn't it?" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Why, hello Harry," he replied.