12 Grimmauld Place was a dreadful house. It had been in Sirius' family for generations and he hated it. As the last heir of the Black family, the house had gone to him. It had been more than 12 years since anybody had lived in the house. Some of the bedrooms and the kitchen had been cleaned up before Harry arrived to allow a few people to live there but it was far from over. The old house elf Kreatcher was going senile and spent all his time wondering the house muttering to himself and cursing.

The gloomy house did not stop Harry from feeling extremely happy to be among friends once more. He had reunited with Sirius and did not have to return to the Dursleys for the rest of the summer. Mrs Weasley and Sirius had tried to talk to Harry about what had happened at the Dursleys but Harry had stayed silent on the matter. They were bound to drop the subject eventually. Ron had stayed clear of the subject, which Harry was grateful for. But Hermione kept glancing at Harry, waiting for the perfect opportunity to break his silence.

Harry had never seen Sirius happier. The house was full. All of the Weasley children were now living there, and people came by every night during secret meetings of the Order of the Phoenix.

"What is the Order of the Phoenix ?" Harry had asked his friends when he heard Sirius mentionning it to Mrs Weasley.

"Oh right!"Ron said. "I forgot you couldn't know. The Order is an organization that Dumbledore created during the first war against You-Know-Who. They are plenty of Aurors in there too. Moody's here. But I reckon they accept everyone. Even Snape is a member." Ron said disgustingly.

"You kidding ? Snape's a member ? He can't be trusted can he ?" Harry could not believe his ears. Snape, the bat of the dungeon. The person he hated the most was working in the secret organization.

"Oh yeah. The greasy git has Dumbledore's trust apparently. Well nobody's too happy about this mind you"

"Oh! Honestly Ronald ! Snape saved Harry's life. How can you say he's not trustworthy !" Hermione said rolling her eyes.

Ron only answered by shrugging. The two of them had apparently refrained from fighting in front of Harry for his sake.

It had been a surprise to learn of Snape's presence in the Order. But maybe even more to learn that Bill, Charlie and Mr and Mrs Weasley were members too.

"Yeah. But Mum doesn't want us to join. She says we're too young. We tried to spy on them during the meetings but Mum keeps silencing the door. So far we did not hear much. They mostly talk about the Ministry and Fudge. The git still won't hear a word about You-Know-Who's return. But Fred and Georges reckon they have a way to spy on them. They won't tell me what it is though."

Harry had asked about joining during the first dinner he was at headquarters but Mrs Weasley had strictly forbade it. She quickly change the subject to the twin's last year at Hogwarts and how she hoped to see them getting as much NEWTS as they could.

After dinner, Sirius had gestured Harry to come with him to his room. Remus followed closely. When they arrived in the bedroom, Remus closed the door behind them.

"Sit down Harry please. We wanted to talk to you." Remus said when he sat on the bed in front of Harry. Sirius was standing looking angry.

"Now Harry, I know that Sirius and Molly have been trying to get you to talk to them about what happened to you this summer, and I know you have been avoiding them."

Harry felt his chest tightened. Fooling Mrs Weasley and Sirius was easy enough. Lupin would not be so easy. Harry took a deep breath and waited for the other shoe to drop.

"Harry you have to understand that we are only trying to help you. But you've been here a week and still you haven't said a single word about what has happened to you. Professor Dumbledore thought you might need counseling to come to terms with what happened to you. You know what counseling is don't you ?"

Harry nodded and noticed that Sirius was clenching his fists.

"Good. We would like you to talk to her and see what you think. You don't have to keep talking to her if you can't trust her."

Sirius snorted loudly at that. Lupin turned to him.

"Something to add Sirius?" He asked, visibly annoyed by Sirius.

"I don't trust that woman." He said darkly.

"Your thought on that are irrelevant." Remus replied.

"Irrelevant ? Remus you are asking Harry to trust a woman I can't trust. If he is anything like his father, he's not gonna trust her either. I'm telling you this is a waste of time. Find him someone else."

Harry started to feel annoyed by this as well. They were talking about a woman he had probably never met and did not even try to include him in the discussion. Before Remus could answer Sirius Harry interjected.

"No stop it. Don't fight. Who's that woman anyway?"

The adults both turned their faces to look at him.

"Jane Osborn" Sirius growled.

"Oh I know her. She seems nice enough. I met her in the hospital Wing. She's going to be the new Defense teacher." Harry shrugged.

"Oh you know her do you ?" Sirius said sarcastically. "And did you're new friend told you she was a great friend of Snape? If that greasy monster could ever be capable of making a friend. I'm telling you they are up to no good those two filthy.."

"Sirius that's enough!" Remus had gotten to his feet to stop Sirius rambling on. "You don't want to put any ideas in Harry's head." Lupin went back to Harry. "Harry. I would like you to try and talk to her anyway. She has experience dealing with that kind of things. Don't let Sirius' ideas get to you. So will you talk to her please ?"

Lupin's eyes were pleading. Harry thought for a moment and then nodded. Remus smiled at him and he swore he heard Sirius growling.

"Wait. Professor Lupin." Harry started

"I'm not your teacher anymore Harry. Call me Remus."

"Remus then. Could you not tell anyone I'm seeing her? I don't want everyone to think I'm weak." Harry said quietly. He could not bear the thought of his friends finding out he was seeing a shrink. They would think he's loosing his mind.

"Sure Harry." Remus nodded.

"So when can I see her?" Harry asked.

"Well right now actually. She's downstairs. I'm going to show you to the study so you can have privacy and I'm going to get her."

Harry followed Remus down the corridor and into a small room with two sofas at either end of the room. Harry sat on one of the sofa and Remus closed the door behind him as he went to bring Professor Osborn.