Author's Note: Hello, I know I've been gone for a couple months, but we had a family emergency and then I had a health issue and was unable to type and then the holidays and...anyway I'm back. This chapter is about 2500 words, which is a normal chapter length for me. I'm going to ask that you, the reader, weigh in on whether you'd like a weekly chapter of between 2-3K or if you'd rather a chapter every other week of 5-6K. I am working on another story, Restrain, and I update weekly on that one. Please just comment at the end your preference, if you have one. Otherwise, enjoy, you'll begin to get a feel for how this story is going to go from this chapter. MNF

Chapter 6:

Normalcy

Harry awoke the following morning, appreciating the exhaustive sleep after his nightmare and then long talk with Sirius. He noticed the other bed in the room was empty, and sounds were coming from the lower level. Slipping his feet into some woolly socks, he headed downstairs.

"We're going to need more Mugwort than that," Sirius said. "I have a suspicion we're going to need more Lacewings than you've ordered, too."

"Are we planning to brew a lot of Polyjuice Potion?" Harry asked as he stepped onto the main floor. Sirius and Remus were at the kitchen table making a list and were mildly surprised by his sudden presence.

"Dear Merlin, you look like your father when you get up in the morning," Sirius said with a far-away look in his eyes. He realized what he said and came back to the moment. "We might need to make some Polyjuice, you never know, and we won't find them in nature." He turned back to glare at Remus.

"Yes, but I can grow Mugwort and then dry it. We only need enough to get us through the end of the month," Remus said, putting his quill down, thereby refusing to increase their order.

"What is it used for?" Harry asked, "I don't remember Snape—"

"Professor Snape," Remus automatically corrected Harry before stopping himself. "Actually, he isn't a professor anymore. He appears to have disappeared. Minerva sent me a letter this morning. No one has seen him since the night of the last task."

"Well, since the rest of the tattooed troupe have disappeared, should we be surprised that the greasy-haired git is gone too?" Sirius added, causing Harry to smile.

"You do like alliterations, don't you, Padfoot?" the boy said with a smile.

"If you're able to make a tongue twister while relating reliable references, then I believe you should. Your father excelled at it." That was something Harry didn't know about his dad. He relished finding out these little titbits.

"Anyway," Remus said, ending the inanity of Sirius' speech, "Mugwort is a common herb used to treat many stomach ailments, even by Muggles. It's easy to grow and far cheaper than using a Stomach Soothing potion. I tend to need something to settle my system after a full moon. As for Polyjuice, we might need to use it somewhere along the way."

"I understand," Harry said quietly. Danger lurked everywhere in his life, it seemed, so he could acknowledge the need for precautions. Harry looked at his godfather and former professor cum honorary uncle and felt a sort of peace come over him. They were doing something to take care of him, making sure they had the potions which could be needed. It was a strange feeling for Harry to know that there was an adult who wanted to provide for him and, more importantly, loved him. Sirius recognized the look, as he was sure it was how he looked when he realized Fee Potter loved him. He was only a bit older than Harry when she'd taken him in. He silently vowed to her that he would do his best to love her grandson the way she'd loved and cherished him.

"Harry, come sit down," Remus said. "What would you like for breakfast, or well, given the time, brunch." Harry hadn't even realized how late it was. Looking at the rather garish wall clock, which clashed horribly with the olive-green wallpaper in the kitchen - the clock was orange with golden flowers and enamelled birds in a shocking turquoise colour, holding the clock face in their claws - and saw that it was nearly eleven.

"Why didn't you wake me?" he asked while taking the chair Sirius had pulled out for him.

"Because you needed to sleep," the man said, reaching out to touch Harry's arm. It was near to where he'd been cut by Wormtail. "We're not going to allow you to lounge about all summer, however. I haven't the foggiest idea how to wash clothes in a machine or cook on a gas stove. So I'm counting on you to teach me."

"That will be interesting," Harry said with a smile. "Will I need to do schoolwork?"

"You should tackle your summer assignments if you received them, that is," Remus said.

"I did, for a couple of classes, but Hagrid never gave any summer work, and I never had my final classes in most of my subjects. They were supposed to be this week," Harry answered. "I'd love some fried eggs and maybe some toast if that isn't too much."

"No, it's not too much, Harry," Remus said gently. "You're allowed to have whatever you want, and you're going to do whatever you want this summer, besides making sure Padfoot isn't running around naked because his clothes are all manky."

"You just don't want to be intimidated by my perfect posterior," Sirius said, and the other two laughed. "Honestly, Harry, what do you want to do this summer?" Sirius asked.

Harry thought about it while Remus cracked eggs into his buttered skillet and popped two slices of bread into the toaster. The sizzle made Harry feel even hungrier, but he also felt something niggle in his gut. He was uncomfortable having someone else cook for him. Sure, at Hogwarts, he knew there were elves in the kitchens, and he never would get in the way of Mrs Weasley and her Aga, but this was different. This was someone who had taught him, even mentored him with the Patronus Charm; now, he was cooking for him. Remus was someone he respected, and Harry felt like their places should be reversed. Harry was used to being in the role of the servant, not the one being served. Of course, it was only eggs for breakfast, but still. Harry decided he would make dinner tonight to repay him for his kindness.

"Harry, you alright?" Sirius asked quietly, and it woke Harry out of his contemplations.

"This summer, right, I want to make a bonfire and burn every bit of clothing that came from the Dursleys. I want to pick a novel and sit down and read it. I want to fly. I want to go to the Muggle cinema and take a friend like Hermione or introduce it to Neville and maybe," he hesitated before saying the last name, "Ron."

"That was a big pause, Harry," Remus said. "Not sure about Ron?" Remus was aware of how Ron sometimes envied Harry's money or his fame and how it hurt Harry when it happened.

"He was…difficult this year. Part of the time, he treated me like a liar and a cheat, but he apologized, and we made up. But sometimes it's tough to deal with his…" he trailed off.

"His what, Harry?" Sirius prodded.

"He's so jealous of my being the Boy Who Lived, and I hate it. I would give all the gold in my four vaults to have one hour with my mum and dad. He has the best parents, and he doesn't even realize it. All he does is complain about what he lacks rather than think about what he has. I was nearly killed, but, in a way, it was okay because I had a moment with Mum and Dad. Ron thinks my life is so wonderful. My life has been shite!" Harry stood and yelled the last part, surprising them all. Shaken by the outburst, Harry sat down, and Remus handed him his plate, pushing the jam pot towards him.

"Well, no visits with Ron for a few weeks," Sirius said lightly, but the weight of Harry's outburst lingered.

"I don't think taking him to the Muggle cinema would be a good idea either," Harry said with a grin. "He doesn't even try to understand how they do things; he just mocks them. He's not a snob like Malfoy, but he's also not interested in understanding what it is that Hermione and other Muggleborn students are going through." The conversation ended as Harry dug into his food with gusto, which made Sirius and Remus glad. Sirius, however, was more convinced that Harry needed a mind healer. The rage he saw in the boy's eyes was disturbing.

Things were not going as well at the Burrow. Molly Weasley was overcome with dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and the like without her wand. She'd enlisted a somewhat reluctant Ginny who did help, just at a slower pace than her mother would like. They were outside with a large basin, two washboards, and a clothesline.

"Why are more than half of these Ron's things?" Ginny whinged. "He should be doing his own laundry if he keeps making this much."

"That's not a bad idea," Molly agreed, "but I can't seem to get him out of his room. He is waiting for Hedwig to arrive with a word from Harry."

"Mum, I'm not sure that Harry will write," Ginny confessed. "Ron was horrible to Harry this year. He thinks he can say anything he wants, behave like a boar and then say 'sorry' and have everything be fixed. He treated Hermione terribly too. Honestly, I think I'm more mature."

"You are, dear. Boys mature much slower. I think that Charlie has only just embraced adulthood, and that's only because if he didn't, those dragons would do him in."

"How do you explain Percy, then?" Ginny asked, and Molly huffed. She didn't like her children disparaging each other.

"There's an exception to every rule. Now, you're sure about Harry and Ron? They've always been so close." The woman thought of Harry as her seventh son.

"Mum, Ron is…I don't know how to say it to you, but he likes being Harry's best friend without actually doing the work of a best friend," Ginny said reluctantly.

"Take that back," a voice said from the backdoor as Ron rushed out. "I am Harry's best friend. Look at all the adventures we've had together! And it was me that they took as Harry's hostage for the second task. That's how important I am to him!"

"Yeah, you were really there for him when he needed to find a way to breathe underwater. Dobby helped him get the gillyweed he used. How useful were you when he was training for the first task? That's when you went around badmouthing him," Ginny continued. "You even wore one of those stupid badges that the Hufflepuffs made to back Cedric. Harry arranged for you to have a date to the Yule Ball when you buggered up asking Hermione. Did you ever thank him for that?"

"The ball was boring. So why would I thank him for giving me a terrible night?"

"I had a wonderful time," Ginny said back. "Have you sent Harry a letter that he could respond to?" Ron flushed bright red, a colour that clashed with his hair, and growled.

"He's going to write to me, and then you'll see!" Ron said before sulking off again. Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother while Molly sighed and wondered precisely how badly Ron had offended the dark-haired boy during the school year.

"How is it going today, Minerva?" Filius asked as they sat at a smaller table in the conference room near her office. This is where the skeleton staff had been taking their meals. She had sent most of her professors home just after the students this morning and said there would be no summer stipend this year. So she was relieved when Madame Sinistral took Sybil Trelawney with her to stay at her guest cottage. The only remaining staff were her heads of house and Hagrid, although he kept to his hut.

"The letters are prepared to send to the families. I never realized how much I relied on magic to prepare such things. I was writing into the wee hours of the morning." She was working out a kink in her right palm with her left hand as she said this.

"How much are you asking from the families?" Filius said as he sat down and began to fill his teacup, realizing the tea was cool. He pointed at it, and it instantly was his preferred drinking temperature. Unfortunately, Minerva had no way to keep the pot warm while waiting for the others to arrive for afternoon tea.

"The goblins charged us five Galleons each, which is what I've asked the families for. I don't know where the money for the protections on the castle, new sanitation charms, and anything else we need to do is going to come from. I'm not even sure if we will have classes come autumn." She put her head into her hands and sighed loudly. She never wanted this job and didn't want all it entailed now.

"I believe most families will help," he said as he took two ginger biscuits. "As for the enchantments, I've spoken with friends and relations, and if I call in nearly every favour everyone has ever owed me, we can do the enchanting without incurring further debt. Of course, it will take nearly two weeks of working at night, but it will get done."

"Oh, Filius, that's the best news I've heard in days!" Minerva gushed. "But what about the Muggles? We can't have the castle suddenly visible for two weeks and then just be gone again? They're bound to come looking for us."

"The Muggle-Repelling Charms will be put up first, then we can deal with the rest in whatever order is needed," he said quietly. "After we solve the castle issues, then we can begin dealing with the bigger issues of what learning magic without wands will mean for the students."

Harry and his guardians were in the garden watching a rather impressive fire burn when a car drove up the drive. Remus was concerned, as not many people knew where he lived. He was even more shocked to find Amelia Bones getting out from behind the driver's seat and Moody getting out of her front passenger one.

"Ms Bones, Mad-Eye, good to see you," Remus said, offering his hand to her first. "I didn't know you could drive,"

"I'm a woman of many surprises, including a collection of rather impressive cars my late brother collected. He was fascinated with Muggle automobiles, and I'm rather glad he forced me to learn to drive when I was younger. It was most useful to go to Muggle grocers. My house-elf would only buy what she was using for a particular meal, so aside from some cereal, bread, and milk, we had little in the house when Susan arrived home this morning."

"We took a trip to the Tesco yesterday as well. What can I do for you?"

"I need to speak with both Harry and Sirius," she said. "I've seen Alastor's memories of Sirius's testimony, but I need to ask him a few questions myself. Then I need to talk to Harry about the graveyard."

"I'll warn you; he's traumatized by what happened," Remus started. "He might not be able to tell you what you want to know. I'm quite certain there are gaps in the story he told us."

"I realize that, and I have the memory phial that Alastor pulled from his mind, but I must try. As far as I can tell, there are no wands anywhere within Great Britain, Ireland, and much of western Europe."

"They're in the back. Follow me," Remus said, and the trio went to the rear of the house.