Chapter 3 – Discussions and Explanations

Moony dropped off Harry at Number 4 Privet Drive before returning to Grimmauld Place with Harry's 'new' multi-compartment trunk. He needed to make sure that Harry's room was ready to go by the time he got there in the morning.

To everyone's pleasure, Harry finished his final dinner at Number 4 without incident. He informed his 'family' of his new living arrangements and to his surprise; they restrained themselves from cheering out right while he was still in the room.

He left the table and headed to his room to pack all of his belongings in his old trunk. This didn't take very long since his family didn't allow him to leave his 'unnatural;' stuff out where anyone normal might have to see it, meaning he never took anything except his clothes from the trunk.

At 9:00 A.M. the next morning, Mad-Eye Moody, Remus, and Tonks arrived by portkey in an alley around the corner from Number four. They made their way to Harry's house quickly and knocked on the door, which opened without a moment's hesitation. As soon as they were inside Harry's wand came level with Moody's face. "Where shouldn't I keep my wand?"

His magical eye swirled around slightly before he answered in a bark, "In your back pocket."

Harry nodded and moved his wand to Tonks, "What was your response to his statement?"

Tonks grinned before changing her hair to the same violet color it was the night they met. "Who have you ever met that's blown off their buttock?"

Nodding again, Harry turned to Remus but never got a chance to ask a question.

"I helped you with the patronus charm in third year and I confiscated 'the amp' after the run-in with Severus."

"Good job, boy," Moody grumbled. "Got your stuff ready?"

Harry frowned at the name Moody called him, it was an all too familiar term that he had heard from his uncle for the last ten years and it was something that he was anxious to forget.

"Yeah. Can one of you take Hedwig's cage so I can hold on to my trunk this time?"

"I can take it. Just so you know; Dumbledore wants to talk to you once you get there. Are you okay with that?" Remus asked.

"I don't have any issues with it but he might want to choose a secluded area of the house to have the discussion because I'm sure that what I'm going to be saying is going to offend anyone that hears it," Harry said.

Harry turned to Tonks to ask his last question, "Were you able to get the weights and muggle clothes okay?"

"Yeah, everything went fine," Tonks said, and curled her already violet hair with a thought. "I also had your two new house elves set it up in one of rooms that wasn't being used before. The muggle clothes, along with your new trunk, are in your room."

Harry nodded and reached out to take a hold of the hanger that served as their mode of transportation this morning to Grimmauld Place. It took him a second to regain his balance, but he succeeded before Tonks did and noticed that they had arrived in the drawing room.

"Dumbledore's waiting in the kitchen, so hurry up boy," Mad-Eye said in his usual gruff tone.

Harry tried his best to quail down the anger at being referred to by that name yet again.

"I will make sure that your stuff is taken to your new room. Maybe, after your done talking to Dumbledore, you can tell me why you needed all of that stuff," Remus half asked half said.

Harry nodded in affirmation and headed towards the kitchen for the unavoidable talk with the headmaster. Dumbledore was waiting for Harry alone, which made the situation slightly more tolerable. "Ah, Harry, it's pleasant to see alive and well. How has your summer been so far?"

"So far, it had been really interesting and quite a bit more informative than my other summers have been," Harry said with a tinge of acid in his voice. He was more than a little mad at the fact that after everything that had occurred between the two in the last year he could act as calm as always.

"Remus informed me last night that you are now the owner of this house as well as having been legally emancipated. I know that I cannot stop you from living here since it is no longer within my control. I do, however, have two questions to ask. The first question is obvious; may the Order of the Phoenix continue to use this house as its headquarters?"

Harry nodded in affirmation as he heard the first question. He knew what the second one was as well but he waited for the Headmaster to ask it all the same.

"The second thing I would like to know is how you are dealing with Sirius' death?"

"I am doing better than I though I would be all things considered. I assume that answers that question.

"Now I have a request of my own. In regards to the Order using this house to continue its meetings, I ask that I be informed of any major information regarding the war, or more to the point, Voldemort himself,

"You know the reason why I ask this and for all intents and purposes it isn't up for negotiation. The second request I have is that this information be passed on without Molly Weasley being any the wiser. She will try and object to it but we both know that this goes way beyond her mothering me anymore," Harry deadpanned.

"I have some reservations about this but I can see that you are determined so I will grant the requests for now. I also think that staying here with Remus will be good for both of you in the long run.

"Judging by the look in your eyes, I think I would be correct in assuming that you have something you wish to say," Dumbledore said.

"Yes. I have many things to say and it will be easier on both of us if I am allowed to say them without being interrupted.

"First, as the heir of Gryffindor I would like the sword of Gryffindor returned to me as it is rightfully mine.

"Second, I demand private training at Hogwarts because… well you know about the prophecy so you understand.

"Third, tell the Weasleys and Hermione that I am fine and that they won't see me until school begins. The reason for this is very easy to understand. I need to do a significant amount of training this summer and there is no way that I can do it if they are around wanting to do other things. I wouldn't be able to tell the truth as to why I couldn't do the things they were and it will avoid a lot of unnecessary question is the long run. I also need to be allowed into Hogwarts one week before classes begin. I need to make some changes to the Chamber of Secrets and that's going to take a significant amount of time. One thousands years of existence and its only been used a handful of times makes for a lot of cleaning work.

"I will, in turn, show you the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets so that you may know the location of one of the many mysteries that surrounds the castle. I would also like to continue my Occlumency lessons on the condition that you teach me the skill and not Snape," he continued as he saw Dumbledore about to correct him. "We are not at Hogwarts and we are in my house. I can and will call him anything I choose here and now."

Dumbledore seemed thoughtful for a second before saying, "I think there's more to this than meets the eye. I would like to know why you want to use the Chamber of Secrets."

"I have recently acquired two golden griffins and I will need a place close by for them to stay during the school year. It is also another reason that I cannot have my friends come and stay. Having a lot of strangers running around will make them nervous and more likely to attack someone."

"I think I can make the arrangements for everything with no trouble. I think that this will be a good starting place for our relationship to begin healing, if you're willing. I never meant for you to bear the burdens you now do, but I can not change the past. I think the best thing to do from now on, is to move forward."

"I know and that's what I intend to do. I am taking charge of my life. No one will tell me what to do about my life anymore. You can make all the suggestions in the world and I will consider them all but nonetheless they will still be only suggestions," Harry said, and added to a bit to himself. "Especially if I'm going to have a family to protect and care for while I'm alive."

"Understandable. I shall take my leave and take care of everything, if you need anything else, or just someone to talk to I'm always available," Dumbledore said, rising from his chair and heading to the fire.

Harry sat at the table and though over his conversation with Dumbledore. It had gone remarkably well, all considered. He was lost in thought when Remus came in followed by Dobby and Winky. "Everything ok Harry?"

"Everything's fine Remus."

"Stop with the Remus nonsense. Call me Moony. It's been nice to be called that by Sirius all last year."

"I-I'll try," Harry said before he realized that Dobby and Winky were there. He recalled Remus mentioning them the night before but it didn't sink in until now. "What are you two doing here," Harry asked, trying not to sound rude.

"We's be hearing that Harry Potter, sir, be getting a new house. We's asked the headmaster if we's could come and work for you. We is not liking working at Hogwarts anymore," Dobby answered.

"Yes Master Harry Potter, Winky prefers to work for a family. Winky doesn't like working somewhere where they pay elves sir," Winky said, sounding disgusted at the idea of payment.

Harry thought about it for a few minutes. He now owned this house and more than likely some others that would need significant work. It would be best for all involved to have Dobby and Winky around but he knew that Hermione would kill him if he bonded to them. "As long as both of you are here of your own free will then I don't see why you can't work here. I do want a magical oath that you won't reveal any of my secrets though. I know this is usually covered in the bond between an elf and master but you work for me, you aren't my servants."

Dobby and Winky swore the oath, securing his secrets with their magic.

"I guess its time to come clean with you Moony," Harry said. He launched into a two hour discussion of his destiny and what he intended to do to make sure he had the best chances for success in the end.

Finally Harry said, "Now you see why I need to train and how it is important that I start taking control of my life. You're the first person that I've told this to. I'm sure you can imagine why I'm not going to tell my friends for now."

Remus nodded and contemplated what he had learned in the last two days. It was a lot to take in and he wasn't sure he could handle any more right now.

"How about we get something to eat and then we can start on my magical training," Harry said, heading to the ice box.

He didn't bother to wait for Remus to start eating. He seemed to be in a catatonic state of shock at the moment. He was finished with his meal and reading an old copy of the Daily Prophet, before he 'woke' from his trance.

"That's a lot to take in, Harry. Although things are starting to make more sense than they ever have before.

"I once told you mum and dad that I would do everything I could to help you out if anything were to happen to them. That oath stands today. I will be with you when you fight him. I guarantee it."

"Thanks Moony… now come on eat I want to start training soon," said Harry with a smile on his face.

They spent the next few days doing weight lifting in the morning, practicing magic during the afternoon and Harry would read his books and work on homework after dinner. He had managed to get Moony working out with him saying that it would give him more energy eventually.

The only noteworthy thing that happened was that Harry received a reply from Blaise agreeing to meet him on the 14th at the Leaky Cauldron.

On the 13th, Moony and Harry were sitting down to eat lunch when Dumbledore walked into the kitchen. "Hello, Professor, is something wrong?"

"No Harry. I just came to inform you that we will begin your Occlumency lessons in two days time. I have also informed your friends that you will not be able to see them until September. They were not very pleased with it but they understand and wanted to know if they would be able to see you on your birthday if nothing else."

Harry sat there for a minute thinking before he said, "I can't give you that answer right now but I should be able to by our first session. I have my reasons for not answering now and they are my own. It doesn't have to deal with Sirius but it's not something that I'm ready to talk about right now."

"I understand," Dumbledore answered, trying to restore some trust in their relationship. "I think that's all I have come to say, but might I add that it's good to see you in such good health."

"Thank you sir, the physical training has helped, it also helps when you have house elves that actually do what they are supposed to," Harry responded.

"I'll see you in two days for your training," Dumbledore said, and then proceeded to leave but not before returning the sword of Gryffindor to its rightful owner.

Remus looked at his watch, noting they had to get back to training, with a bemused expression on his face. "Why were you unsure about seeing your friends for your birthday anyways?"

"Well you know I'm meeting Blaise tomorrow, and since we are engaged I wanted to let her decide if she wanted to see me on my birthday or not and seeing as how they do not know about her I would want to keep it quiet," Harry said as he and Moony made their way to the room that they had converted into a weight/magical training room.

Remus nodded in understanding and decided to try out something new today. "No Harry put your wand away," Moony said as they entered the room.

Harry was confused. It was the afternoon, so he knew that they were working on magic. He couldn't think of any magic, besides Occlumency, that you could do without a wand.

"I was going through some of the books you took from the Gryffindor vault and I found out some interesting news. It seems that members of your family that have a high amount of magical energy have the ability to do some wandless magic. This is something that needs to be trained and it won't occur overnight so I want to get started on it now.

"Now if I'm right then we should work on some wandless magic as well as using your sword in the morning. This will help increase your physical endurance as well as balance and agility with proper sword training.

"Now I will charm the scabbard of your sword so that it won't appear to be a sword. You will obviously be carrying it around in school because it is too valuable to leave around in your dorm and I don't think that the headmaster would like you having a broadsword attached to your back."

Harry couldn't stop the small smirk that graced his face as he thought about his next encounter with Voldemort. He was glad that he wouldn't have to worry about the brother wand effect if he mastered this.

They spent the rest of the time having Harry try spells with his sword. Moony noticed almost at once that Harry's spells were getting more powerful then when he had first started. Harry also was beginning to be able to do some wandless magic when he was able to maintain focus. Remus decided that he would have to talk to Harry about his magical maturity by his birthday or shortly there afterwards depending on certain things.

Remus cut their training session short to allow Harry to have a bit of extra rest before his big day tomorrow.

A/N: Harry meets Blaise in the next one.