Author's Note: And here we go again!
"You're okay?" Harry said into the telephone. "You did what?" Harry dropped the phone and collapsed into laughter. Paul caught the phone as it fell and moved it to his own ear.
"What did you say?" Paul asked Petunia.
"Oh, I gave one of his teachers, his most intimidating one, a black eye. It was healed when he came back with the headmaster, but I'm sure he'll remember it." Petunia told Paul with an obvious pride in her voice. Harry's laughter died down a bit. "How is he doing?" she asked a little nervously.
"He's getting there. He seems to like Joe." Harry sat up from the floor and looked at Paul with one of his eyebrows raised.
"You can stop talking about me as if I'm not here." He said with a smile. "May I have my aunt back?"
"Harry wants you back." Paul handed off the phone to Harry and sat back in his chair.
"You hit Snape?" Harry asked excitedly. Paul studied Harry over his hands as the boy talked to his relation. Something had changed there. Perhaps Harry would be willing to start joint counseling sessions with his aunt. Harry hung up the phone just a few seconds later after thanking his aunt for returning his call as promised and smiled up at Paul. "She hit Snape." Harry said with a smile. "She gave Snape a black eye. She, Petunia Dursley, is the envy of almost every student at Hogwarts." Paul smiled and motioned Harry to the couch.
"He can't be that bad, can he?" Paul asked. Harry's look told him otherwise. "Huh." A noise from the corner of the room startled him and he looked up to find a beautiful red and gold bird had appeared in flames? "What?" He asked. A strangled noise from Harry caused Paul to look at his charge. "Harry? What's wrong?"
"Fawkes." Harry said in a dead voice. "Dumbledore can find me now."
If one of the students had managed to look out of a window that night, he would have witnessed the arrival of every single Order member at the gates of Hogwarts. Some Apparated in. Others had the use of Portkeys. A few flew. No matter the method of transportation, none hesitated to start straight up to the castle. Some ran up the path, others walked. One leaned heavily on a cane as he pulled his shabby robes around him in an attempt to ward off the encroaching chill. His amber eyes lifted to regard the castle for a few minutes before he made his way towards it.
The entry looked the same as it always did as he found the Great Hall. Order members, old and new, milled around the Hall as though it was home. Different tables each offered one of the day's main meals, as well as normal refreshments. Translation spells hovered over the entire hall, allowing everyone to understand the others with the least amount of effort. Order members were no longer confined to England. Once Fudge had alerted the wizarding community that Voldemort was alive and well (unfortunately), the Order had full backing from the Ministry. As such, Dumbledore had reached out and contacted other countries. Many had sent representatives to join the Order and promised help in the upcoming war. No one wanted to appear to be against Dumbledore at this point. Everyone knew that he was the only one able to stand against Voldemort with any success.
The mood changed when he entered the room. Quiet awe came from the younger generation, while the older gave him grudging respect. He knew what they were all thinking. He's a war hero. He has lost his best friend. He's letting the wolf win. Remus made no move to correct them. Let them think that.
Dumbledore had effectively retired him after the death of Sirius. He was a resource, someone sought out for advice or knowledge. He was no longer a fighter. That suited him for now. He had no wish to watch others die any longer. One of the older Weasley boys, Charlie, leapt up from his seat to guide Remus to a chair of his own. He nodded his thanks and accepted a cup of tea from Molly. He watched as the door opened again to admit Dumbledore's brilliant plan, the Hogwarts' Protectors. They were so young. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Glory. Honor. At what cost? His eyes searched the students, looking for the familiar untidy mop of black hair. He had not wanted Harry moved from Gryffindor Tower, but Albus was adamant that Harry needed to train. Remus agreed with him in principle, but that didn't mean Remus liked it. A shape settled into the chair next to him.
"You're looking worse for the wear, wolf." Snape sneered at him. Remus knew him well enough to read between the lines and nodded.
"I've been worse, Severus. Thank you for asking." His eyes returned to the crowd and found Draco Malfoy. "It appears that Draco is settling in." Severus folded his arms with no indication he had heard. His voice came a few seconds later.
"He is floundering around his peers, especially the Slytherins and Gryffindors. He'll be fine." Severus's pride was obvious in his voice, but his face was the same stony mask it had always been. Remus's eyes returned to the crowd of children. Where was Harry?
"It changes you, doesn't it?" Remus said quietly. "When one of your students becomes more than a student." Severus nodded once.
"Yes, well, if the Dark Lord doesn't manage to kill me…" Remus knew what the man had not said. The worry for him will. Remus turned back to the students. Untidy black hair. Untidy black hair. "He's not here." Severus said quietly next to him.
"Who's not?" Remus asked. Surely he didn't mean…
"Potter. He didn't arrive with the others and he is not at his aunt's house. She said she sent him to another school. No one knows where." Remus sat back in shock. Harry? Not here? He was in danger if he wasn't at his aunt's home or Hogwarts. Where was he? Was he okay? Happy? Miserable? Was he having nightmares? Was he clearing his mind? Was he safe? "Don't fret so." Severus sneered in a mocking tone of voice. "He is the Boy Who Lived with some amazing luck." Remus was not sure if that was a reassurance or not. They had to find him! Remus could not let anything happen to hi. He could never forgive himself if something happened to Harry. A burst of flames above him distracted him from his increasing panic. He looked up as Fawkes appeared. The bird hovered in front of him until he offered his arm as a perch. Fawkes settled down on his arm and started preening his fathers. Remus's lips twitched at the bird's actions, panic momentarily forgotten.
Dumbledore came in from the side door and called the meeting to order. Students and adults alike dropped into seats on the benches and faced the aged headmaster. "Thank you all for responding so quickly to the summons. I realized that this is not a regularly scheduled meeting, but something has happened and needs our immediate and discrete response." He paused to look over the people facing him. "Harry Potter is missing." The adults gathered began questioning his disappearance while the students merely blinked. No one had known that he was actually missing. Dumbledore waved everyone into silence once again. "The exact date of his disappearance is unknown, but we do know that he was still in his home on the date of the Hogsmeade attack. Visits to his home have given us no information." Fawkes shifting called Remus's attention back to him. Remus smiled a bit at the creature, stroking his chest feathers with a crooked finger. The bird's eyes caught his own, and for almost a minute, Remus found images displayed for him. Of Harry! Harry running with another boy. Harry studying. Harry crying, held and comforted by a kind-looking man. Harry on a stage. Harry laughing with boys near his age. Harry waking from a nightmare, only to be comforted by the same man. Remus blinked and the moment ended with a whisper. Go to his aunt.
"Remus, have you heard from Harry?" Remus looked up to see Dumbledore looking at him expectantly. It appeared that Dumbledore had repeated the question.
"No, Albus, I have not." He answered truthfully. Dumbledore turned back to the crowd.
"You should find in front of you the most recent photograph we have of Harry Potter. I like to think that he is in an English-speaking country, but that does not eliminate other countries. Please circulate the photographs with your law enforcement, schools, and travel agencies. Harry may be trying to come here, but be without resources to do so." Remus regarded the photograph. Harry was staring off into the distance. His gaze shifted towards the camera for a few seconds before his eyes moved off again. The boy Fawkes had shown him looked so much more like a child. Happier. Lighter. This one was so…serious. "In the unlikely event that one of you should se Harry himself, tell him the location of our original headquarters, however small that may be now." Dumbledore said with a light smile. The Order had outgrown their house. "That should be enough to garner his trust and allow you to bring him here." Dumbledore paused, as though considering something. "If that is not enough, I authorize you all to use a light Stunning curse. I know that that is not traditionally acceptable, but I must remind you that the longer he is not here, safe and sound, the longer Voldemort has to find him." Most of the crowd flinched at the name of the Dark Lord.
Remus decided that he had had enough and pretended to doze off. The status of "retired war hero" gave him many privileges outside the bounds of normal decorum and those privileges allowed him to act like an overtired great uncle humored for his many eccentricities. Fawkes fluttered off his arm and to the top of his chair. A snort came from the man sitting next to him. "Wolf!" Snape hissed. "Lupin!" Remus ignored him and let out a light snore. "Oh, for the…" Remus watched through his lashes as Snape stood and motioned to someone. Draco Malfoy stood and came over to Snape. Remus noticed that Dumbledore had moved on to regional meetings, speaking with the leaders of each region on what they had observed or witnessed. He had not noticed that Remus had "fallen asleep" "Lupin!" Snape hissed again, shaking Remus by the shoulder. Remus opened his eyes and looked up at Snape. "You dozed off. You should go home, as you are not fit to be here. Obviously." He motioned to the boy standing next to him. "Draco will help you to the gates."
"Oh, thank you, Severus, but I am quite capable…" Snape cut him off by waving his protest away.
"For my peace of mind. Goodness knows what Albus will do if anything happens to you." He gave a look to Draco before going to join his own regional team. Remus got to his feet and took his cane when the boy handed it to him.
"Well, Master Malfoy, let's go, for Severus's 'peace of mind'." The boy smiled a bit and offered his arm. "I'm not that old." He complained, moving forward on his cane. Draco nodded and walked beside him as Remus left the Great Hall and started down the stairs. "How have you been doing since your inheritance?" Remus asked.
"As well as can be expected, sir." Draco returned. "Thank you for asking." Remus nodded, holding his walking to a plod while Draco strolled next to him.
"I hope your mother is well?" Draco smiled a little at this and relaxed a bit.
"She is…adjusting nicely to her new circumstances. I've set her to a new project, one that she seems to enjoy, making an orphanage for the victims of the war." Remus turned a bit to look at the boy. Draco looked pained, or in pain, he wasn't sure. One hand reached up to rub the scar on his face before he became aware of his actions and jerked his hand back to his side.
"Well done, lad. Well done." Remus noticed the faint color of embarrassment in Draco's cheeks. He did not miss the please smile the boy gave. "If you ever need an ear, come find me. That seems to be the only thing I'm good for nowadays."
"I'll do that, sir." Remus fell silent as they reached the gate.
"You'd better go back now." Remus told him. "I'll watch you until you are at the door." Remus's face told Draco not to argue. He waved to Draco when the boy reached the doors and shut them behind him. Remus took out his wand and raised it. The triple-decker bus appeared in front of him with its customary bang and Stan Shunpike hopped off. "Number Four, Privet Drive. Little Whinging, Surrey, please, Stan." Remus told him as he climbed aboard and chose a bed. He nodded to acknowledge that it would take most of the night to reach and closed his eyes.
Severus Snape entered his quarters to find Draco waiting for him. "You should be in bed." He told the boy as he hung his robe and poured himself a drink. He paused, poured a second one, and handed it to Draco. "Six will come early for you." Severus told him as he settled into his favorite chair.
"I know." Draco took a sip from his glass and placed it on the table next to him. "Professor Lupin got off safely." He told his mentor, gazing into the fire in front of him.
"That wolf lucked out tonight. He's my age and everyone treats him as a loveable, tottery old bachelor." Draco figured out what Severus really meant and nodded.
"Sad, isn't it?" He said. Snape glanced up at him before turned his own eyes to the fire Draco had built. "I won't hover when that happens to you." His remark had the desired effect.
"I will never take such a far leave of my senses, Master Malfoy." Snape bit out. Draco nodded, reassured that the Potions Master would be around for quite a while, as long as no one killed him.
"So, Potter is really missing?" It was not a real question, but an affirmation of a statement.
"Missing defined as someone in the magical world knowing where he is?" Severus asked, relaxing into his chair. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Yes, he is missing." Severus opened one eye and looked Draco over. "Learn anything from his friends?"
"They're worried about him. They hope he is okay. That's about it." Draco drained his glass and returned it to the table. Severus waved his wand, changing Draco's robes to his favored night clothes.
"Bed. I'll wake you in the morning." Draco opened his mouth to argue. "I'll alert Moody that you are with me. Bed. Now." Draco shut his mouth and thanked him.
"Goodnight, Severus." He said as he stood.
"Goodnight, Draco." Draco moved to the room Severus had set up for him when he had first arrived and shut the door. Severus pulled himself out of his chair, moved to the fireplace, and dropped some Floo powder to make a firecall. "Moody!" The grotesque eye appeared in the fireplace. "Draco is with me." Severus ended the call before Moody could protest and poured another drink. Where in the world was Potter? And why was he, Severus Snape, enemy of all things Potter, obligated to find the boy?
Hermione was in the common room, books spread around her and her "planner" in front of her. She had told the first years that she would be awake for a while, should one of them need her. This served two purposes. One, should someone need her, they knew she would be awake and available. Two, it kept the first years from sneaking out and exploring. Her planner flashed. She whispered the password and opened it.
-I'll Force-choke him! Where is he?
-Which he?
-You know who I mean! Malfoy! Where is he?
-No Force-chokes, please. He's wherever Ron is at the moment. Most likely with the Protectors.
-Just…just keep your guard up around him, please.
-Yes, Master.
-Mi, you know what I mean!
-Yes, Skywalker. I know. I'll be careful.
-Promise?
-Yes. Promise.
-Good. I don't want to lose my 'sis'.
-Have you seen the third movie yet?
-No, why?
-Just asking. You'll love it by the way.
-It's Star Wars. How could I not? So, everyone is frantic, huh?
-Desperately so. Dumbledore held a prefect/protector meeting after the feast. Changes have taken place.
-Like what?
-No Quidditch this year.
-Oh, good. I'm not there.
-Students are not allowed on the grounds at all. Just in the inner courtyard. Curfew is at nine o'clock. All students, except the Heads, prefects, and Protectors, must be in their dormitories by that time.
-Ouch. Guess what?
-What?
-My aunt gave Snape a black eye!
-Bravo to Aunt Petunia! Wait a minute! Dumbledore sent Snape? Will he never learn?
-Yeah. Then, Dumbledore went to my house and my aunt told them off and my uncle basically kicked him and the other teachers out of the house.
-Wow. That's great.
-Oh, Mi. Do not look Snape or Dumbledore in the eye if they ask about me. They're both Legilimens. They can see your thoughts.
-Thanks for the warning. I'll scare them off by bursting into tears.
-When did I become so lucky to have been given a friend like you?
-You saved me from a troll.
-Oh, yeah. So, you think Neville may be our link to what the Protectors are doing?
-So far. Most of the DA is a part of the Protectors. Only people without a magical family are barred from participating.
-No one to protect the house while the kids are in school
-That's right. That's the reason I was not invited, or so I've heard.
-Why would Dumbledore make me join? The Dursleys are so anti-magic that the thought of one of them even thinking of touching a wand would kill them.
-Um, Skywalker? You are you.
-Ah. Should have known that. That explains it. So, everyone there is clueless about my whereabouts?
-Completely. You're enjoying this, aren't you?
-Yes. sheepish grin Fawkes was here earlier, just after the Snape fiasco at my aunt's house. I get the feeling he's going to keep my secret.
-Excellent. Be sure to carry your messenger. If I notice a large amount of the staff gone, I'll let you know.
-Thanks. Mi?
-Yes, Skywalker?
-Thanks. For everything.
-That's what friends are for. So, tell me about your play.
Author's Note: I hope you liked it. Let me know.