And on to the second chapter...thank u rolan!

Chapter 11

Harry's hands shook as he entered Lupin's office. Hermione bit her lip. True, Lupin could have called them for a good reason, but for some reason, Harry's stomach said no. They had hesitated a moment, in front of the door. Hermione reached over and squeezed Harry's hand before taking it away and knocking, lightly on the door. For a moment, no one answered. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, quizzically. They were just about to leave when a soft "come in" pushed its way through the old oak of the door.

"Sit down." Lupin held a hand in front of him, indicating 2 chairs in front of an old desk, of which he was sitting behind. The desk was a mess, covered in sneak-o-scopes, rememberalls, piles of parchment with all sorts of things scribbled over them, and many many little trinkets and such that Harry couldn't recognize.

Lupin looked tired. He had dark circles under his eyes, along with some new wrinkles. His skin was a bit puckered, loosing its color. His hair, now with fresh spots of gray, was a mess on top of his head, looking as though it hadn't been washed, or combed in several days. He ran his hands over his face, breathing in heavily and then sighing, softly.

"I'm sure, by now, your aware that you are not here for a good reason." He hadn't taken his face out of his hands, but he did so, blinked a few times, and continued.

Harry laughed nervously and looked over at Hermione, who was staring at her hands quietly. "What's this about?" Harry asked, still nervously.

"Ok, I'm not going to beat around the bush, and I'm not going to try to hide information. Voldemort's back, Harry. And he's looking for you." He adverted his gaze to Hermione. "And you."

"Me?" Hermione looked at Harry, begging for an explanation, then leaned forward and stared at the old professor. "What does he want with me?"

"Hermione, there are a lot of things about yourself you don't know. A lot of things. You're not really a muggle-born Hermione. You're a pureblood."

Hermione gasped. "No, I'm not! My parents are both muggles! Professor you...you must be wrong"

"I am afraid, I'm not wrong Hermione. Allow me to explain. Your parents were in the first Order of the Phoenix. They were both aurors. Among the greatest rated of their time."

Hermione's eyes welled up with tears as Lupin continued.

"They loved it very much, but they knew of the dangers. And pretty soon, they became quite a threat to you-know-who. They were most definitely the leaders and most official members of the order, and you-know-who knew that without them, there would be no order. So they became one of his main pursuits. That's when your mum became pregnant with you. They knew they couldn't raise you, always running around the world, constantly living in fear. So they went into hiding, changed their names, erased their records, and became, well, muggles. They tried to shield it from you as well, but they loved their old lives. They didn't want to keep that from you. So they had a talk with Dumbledore, and well, here you are."

Tears were running down Hermione's eyes and she chewed her lower lip. "So my parents were...my parents were aurors? They weren't muggles?"

"Far from it." Lupin's eyes held sorrow. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I knew they wanted to tell you, someday, on their own. But..." he stopped.

Tears ran down Hermione's face. Harry got up and walked over and bent down. He gave her a hug, rubbing her back and telling her everything was going to be ok. Only when she calmed down did he return, a bit embarrassed about being in front of Lupin and all.

The old professor cleared his throat, seeming a bit tense by what had just happened.

"So, what does he want with us?" asked Harry.

"Well Harry, having loosing the prophecy made him extremely weak. All summer he has been regaining strength, very quickly actually. The order has been keeping an eye on him, and we know he has come very close to you a few times, sometimes invading your dreams, sometimes entering your mind without you even knowing. He wants you to feel pain. He feeds on it."

"I don't understand.." said Harry.

"Think of it this way. Your mother's love warded him off. But your anger, fear, misery, all of it makes him stronger. He's looking for a really great way to devastate you, because as you're accepting Sirius's death, you're feeling a lot less pain." said Lupin.

"So, after he comes back to power, what will he do?" asked Hermione.

"Well, to be honest, we're not sure. We're trying to stop him from coming to power altogether, and hoping that we won't have to worry what he is up to." Lupin gave a small smile.

"So what does he want with Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Back in their auror days, Hermione's parents killed a man named Icarus Smithenson, a very powerful man, and a very devoted follower of you-know-who. He was his right hand man. Voldemort said 'jump' and Icarus said 'how high?'. When he was killed, Voldemort became very week, and very self-dependent. He was not used to having to take care of himself, and several times he was reduced to near death. He killed Hermione's parents, and tried to kill Hermione, purely out of spite, and revenge."

"That doesn't sound like him." said Hermione. "He doesn't kill people for no reason."

"Oh, but he does." said Lupin. "Hermione, my dear, you don't even know the half of It." he smiled again.

Harry stood up. "I want to join the order." He said, trying to sound determined and dignified.

Lupin put his head in his hands. "Harry, you are too young, ok? We've been over this. We are aware you are in the center of all of this, but this is too much for you."

"Who knows more about this than me? How can you say I can't take this! I've been through more than anyone when it comes to the dark lord! If there's anyone who can handle this, it's me!" Harry yelled, pacing through the room, fists clenched.

"Harry, I say no, and I'm sure the rest of the order agrees with me. I wish to hear no more about it. Good day." Lupin gave a small wave, and Harry and Hermione stalked out.

"I can't believe that! How can he not think I'm mature enough to be in the order? Honestly!" Harry was still fuming, while Hermione, walking faithfully beside him, remained quiet.

Harry looked over to her. "Are you ok?" he asked.

Hermione's voice shook. "Of course I'm not ok! I've just been told that all my life I've been lied to, by my own parents who died because of it. And now, the person who killed them is after me. Harry, one of the most powerful, and evil wizards in the world is after me." Tears streaked her face, once again.

Harry stopped mid-hallway and pulled her into a hug. They sat there holding each other for maybe 3 or 4 minuets, until Hermione spoke. "Harry, is there somewhere we can talk?"

"Common room?" Harry suggested.

"Too crowded." said Hermione. "Let's go to the room of requirement."

She and Harry were practically silent until they got there. They both had a feeling they knew what was coming.
"Harry, how do you do it?" Hermione asked, as they walked into a the Room of requirement. It was a simple room with a fireplace, and 2 comfortable looking chairs, just right for talking.

"Do what?" asked Harry.

"Live in fear. Not knowing if when you go to bed at night, you'll even wake up in the morning. How can you do that day after day?" her eyes welled up with tears of fear, or maybe frustration.

"I don't live in fear. I have my mothers love to protect me. Nothing's stronger than that." He smiled at her.

"I don't have that" said Hermione. Harry chuckled.

"Yes you do" said Harry. "From me. That's all the protection you need."

R&R R&R R&R R&R R&R R&R R&R R&R R&R it makes things easier!