"Do I?" Replied the snake.
"You never said you were teaching me occlumency. And why were you so quiet when we went back to the Dursleys'?" Asked Harry.
"I never saw a reason to explain it beyond simple meditation. As for why I was silent, I simply had nothing to say. It was a very stressful evening for all involved." Said Boris, raising his head to look towards Harry. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now that I've slept and got some food in me." Said Harry, patting his stuffed stomach. "Maybe a bit too much food..."
"So what is the plan for the rest of the summer? Remaining here?" Asked Boris.
"Nah. We're apparently gonna head to Sirius' house." Said Harry, grinning now. "It'll be good to see him again. Moony's probably there too."
"Ahh... Away from the madness of this part of the country, eh?"
"Well, maybe. Dunno where his house is exactly. ...We're probably gonna be apparating. You gonna be alright with that?" Asked Harry.
"I made it through a portkey travel before. I should have no problems with other means of magical travel." Said Boris, laying his head back down. "Will we be returning to your relatives' house next summer?"
"Not if I have any say in the matter. Blood wards be damned, I'm not going back there again. I don't see the point of the wards. It's doubtful that they would have kept the dementors out. And if they can't keep those things away, who's to say they would keep anything else out? No, I'm staying here come next summer. If Dumbledore wants me to go back there, he can jolly well collect me and take me back himself."
"A wise choice. I do not believe your family would be pleased to see you again." Said Boris.
"When have they ever been pleased to see me?" Asked Harry.
"Point. So, when are we leaving?"
"Tonight sometime. Dumbledore's gonna come by and collect us." Harry said. "Dunno how to kill the time, either. Logic dictates I should get some of my homework done, since I have a feeling I won't get much done at Sirius' place. My stomach dictates, however, that I should really take a nap and sleep all that food off. Merlin's bits, what was I thinking? You know, I think Nymmy and her mother made a bet before I woke up to see how much I could eat before getting sick."
"You can be a bit of a glutton when you're hungry. Understandable, mind you, as we snakes haven't exactly been light eaters, but still."
"Yeah. But I don't want to sleep anymore. I slept over a day without having been attacked or anything. Usually that kinda rest only happens in the hospital wing at school." Harry said, making a face. "Besides, I don't want to see that stupid blue gemstone begging for help anymore. Wish I knew what the hell it was."
"Perhaps you could spend your free time this year researching magical gems?" Suggested Boris.
"Dunno if I'll have a chance. Our O.W.L.s are this year. Lotta hard tests, apparently. I'll probably be swamped with schoolwork. Schoolwork and whatever the hell else decides to invade Hogwarts this time." Harry said.
"You don't know there will be trouble. From what you've told me, your third year was mostly problem-free." Said Boris.
"Mostly." Harry repeated. "Still had a lot on my mind. Anyway, even if nothing happens at the school, Voldemort's out there. Him and his boot-kissing followers. I wouldn't mind getting ahold of the one who set those dementors loose..."
"And what of your mysterious contact?" Asked Boris.
"Yeah. Gonna have to try and hunt him down at school, too. Easier said than done." Harry said, flopping back in bed and staring up at the ceiling. "He saved my life and he had no reason to. I refuse to believe it's a trap..."
"It could be an elaborate one. You don't know it isn't for sure." Boris stated.
"No, I do. He's not the type to do things on a whim. Maybe he saw things for what they really were." Harry pondered.
"Maybe. I'd be careful around him if I were you, though." Said Boris.
"Dumbledore knows too. He can't try anything with the headmaster keeping an eye on him, too." Harry said.
"If you say so. Still..."
"I'll be careful, Boris. I promise. Look, maybe we could find a guardian for the Pit to help keep me and my friends safe." Harry said, waving a hand vaguely in the air above him.
"A guardian? What do you mean?" Asked the taipan.
"Like the gargoyle statue that guards Dumbledore's office or something, I dunno. I haven't given it a whole lot of thought." Harry said.
"Statues can be broken." Boris pointed out.
"Okay, so something a bit tougher... I'll think about it. Maybe once we're at school I'll get an idea." Harry said.
"You'd better sit up. You'll end up falling asleep whether you want to or not if you lay like that for much longer." Boris said.
"Oh, shut up." Harry said, stretching his arms out. "I've earned some relaxation time."
"Ah, but would you rather spend it alone and asleep or with your girlfriend?" Asked the snake.
"...Ah, you're right. I should go on back downstairs. I told them I wanted to talk to you for a bit." Harry said, forcing himself to sit back up. "You wanna come with?"
"I'll pass, thanks." Boris said.
"I'll be back up when it's time to go this evening!" Harry said, standing and heading for the door. "Getting hungry?"
"I was fed while you were asleep." Boris said.
"Oh. Well that was nice of them." Harry replied, eyebrows raised slightly.
"Indeed. Especially since they can't understand me. We worked out a simple system, though. They would ask yes or no questions and I would either nod or shake my head in response. I can't complain too much. It got me another rat." Boris said.
"Let's hope we get Pettigrew one of these days." Harry said, voice low. "Not sure how he'd taste, though. ...Anyway, I'll stop thinking about that rat and head downstairs. Gotta keep my mind off that stuff if I'm ever going to try having a normal summer."
"Best of luck." Murmured Boris, eyes closing.
"Sweet dreams." Harry said, smirking as he turned and headed downstairs.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"What're ya thinkin' about?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing at all."
Tonks grinned, leaning against Harry and closing her eyes. "I'm glad you're awake. It was ruddy boring when you were out."
"It's good to be awake again." Harry said. "Boris had to convince me not to nap earlier, you know."
"Good thing you listened to him." Tonks said. "I woulda woke you up with ice cubes."
"You wouldn't have dared."
"You've known me for how long now?"
"Point. ...Wonder when Dumbledore's gonna show."
"Probably when we least suspect it." Tonks mumbled. "Tends to be his way."
"True. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, I just want to be away from the general area." Harry said.
"Understandable." Tonks said. "Hope it isn't until after our food settles though."
"Yeah, I'm stuffed. Again." Harry said, patting his stomach. "Urk..."
The two had finished eating dinner ten minutes ago and were now occupying the couch in the living room. Andromeda had had to pop in to work for a bit and had been gone over an hour. She had promised to return before Dumbledore dropped by, though Tonks and Harry both were baffled by this, as no one ever knew when Dumbledore would appear. He was quirky like that.
"Sirius' house..." Harry said quietly. "Wonder what it's like."
"Well," Tonks replied, lifting her head up and tilting it to the other side. "The Black family is pretty old. Wouldn't surprise me if it's a manor house of some sort. Plenty of room for us."
"And anyone we might need to spirit away to safety." Harry added.
"You thinkin' of your contact?" Asked Tonks.
"Yeah. I wish there was some way to get ahold of him. Gonna drive me barmy waiting for the ride to school." Harry said. "That said, if he makes it to school, there's no point in worrying. I can't write to Pansy, either, since she's openly admitted her parents are Death Eaters..."
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't?"
"Something like that."
Tonks leaned back against Harry. "Well, no point worrying about things you can do nothing about, right?"
"I suppose." Harry said, shrugging.
Tonks lightly bopped his arm. "No getting worried about stuff before we even get to school! You're going to look like Lupin does if you keep that up!"
"What, you don't think I'd look sophisticated with some greying hair?" Asked Harry, grinning crookedly.
"I think it's pointless to talk about since you could always just use your powers to change your hair back." Tonks said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh. Yeah. ...How the hell do I keep forgetting about that?" Harry wondered aloud.
"You're a blockhead, that's why." Tonks answered, smiling sweetly.
"I am not!"
"Are so."
"Not."
"So."
"Quiet, Nymmy."
Swat.
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, okay. I deserved that. ...You know, I wonder..."
"What?"
"Sirius hasn't ever really talked about his home to me before. Surely there's a reason for it. If he's living there now, it means it must be safe. Why would he have not returned there sooner, then?" Asked Harry.
"Dunno." Tonks said. "Maybe Dumbledore did something to it."
"Wouldn't surprise me. Dumbledore's pretty crafty when he wants to be." Harry said. "Maybe they've hidden it away or something."
"Could be. Might be why mum couldn't recall where it was." Tonks said.
"Fidellus maybe?"
"Probably."
Harry nodded slowly. "Hope it works better for our lot this time than it did the last..."
"No thinking of depressing things, Harry." Tonks said, nudging him lightly.
"Oh, I wasn't." Harry said, smiling aside at the girl. "Just saying. Wormtail was a traitor. Moody was a traitor. Who's to say something bad isn't going to happen again?"
"I guess there'll always be calculated risks." Tonks said. "Especially in a war. You take whoever's willing to fight and hope they don't double cross you in the end."
"I suppose. But I still don't like it." Harry said, letting his head loll back. "...Moody must have been really good at hiding his memories to keep Dumbledore from seeing what he was really upto. ...Wonder if I can learn to be that good."
"At which? Hiding your own memories or prying into others'?"
"Both." Harry said. "Being able to keep my own intentions to myself is top priority, though. I hope Boris and I will have time to sit and practice a bit after we arrive. Knowing Sirius, he may be planning to keep us both busy the rest of the summer."
"Oh man, I hope not. I love Sirius and all, but he doesn't need to do that." Tonks said. "Hopefully Lupin's keeping him under reigns."
Harry chuckled. "Keeping the dog on a leash, as it were?"
"Indeed."
"Well, whatever he's got planned, I'm sure the rest of the summer's going to be better than this bit's been." Harry said.
"Can't see how it'd get much worse." Tonks murmured.
"I'm just glad I'm forcing myself to stay away from the Prophet." Harry said. "Not that I think they're telling the truth anyway. Fudge is such a bumbling idiot, he's probably gonna ignore all the signs and pretend it isn't happening."
"Probably. Think he'll get sacked?" Asked Tonks.
"If there's any justice in the world."
"Meaning you don't think there's a chance in hell it'll happen."
"Sadly." Harry muttered. "But what can you do? If the Minister wants to deceive the public, it's his business. Let it be on his head if people die. I certainly can't do anything about it. He's the one with the trained force of Aurors."
"Does this mean you're not going to take every death personally?"
"No reason to." Harry said. "I'm not exactly happy with what happened, but blaming myself won't do anyone any good. I have to be stronger than that. Because, for whatever reason, people seem to look at me and see some kind of hero figure. Trouble is I'm not a hero. I'm just really lucky when I need to be and horribly unlucky the rest of the time."
"I hope everyone we know is safe." Tonks said, her voice suddenly quiet.
"I hope so too." Harry said, slipping an arm around Tonks' shoulders and giving her a one-armed hug.
"I just keep wondering how many empty spots at the House tables there are going to be." Tonks said. "Very depressing."
"Weren't you telling me not to think depressing thoughts not too long ago?" Harry asked.
"Shush. This is different." Tonks said.
"I know, I know. But the point holds. Being sad and worrying won't get us anywhere. We need to get stronger. I have a feeling the training room in the Pit's going to get a lot of use this year." Harry said.
"Mm."
"So what do you want to do while we wait for your mum and Dumbledore?" Asked Harry.
"Read?"
"Read? Really?"
"I am in Ravenclaw, y'know." Tonks said, lower lip jutting out slightly.
"Yes, yes. You're queen of literature." Harry said.
"Oh, shut up!" Tonks whined, getting to her feet and heading towards a bookcase. "Want me to just grab you any old thing?"
"Sure, I'm not picky." Harry said.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Andromeda was home within the hour. Dumbledore arrived nearly forty-five minutes after that. He looked as pleasant as he ever did, though Harry could tell something was bothering the man. What it was, he would probably never know. He was certain he'd never be able to spy on the headmaster's mind. And, of course, Dumbledore would never come out and tell him. But Harry knew something was bothering him nonetheless. And whenever Dumbledore was worried about something, it was worth worrying about.
Despite this, Harry didn't say anything about it, instead heading up to his room to round his stuff up. Tonks did likewise. The adults walked up the stairs at a more reasonable pace, talking quietly enough that Harry couldn't hear them.
"Uh, Professor?" Asked Harry, stepping out into the hall. "Will I be able to just set my owl free? Will she be able to find Sirius' house alright?"
"She should, yes." Dumbledore said. "And, if she cannot, she is always welcome to wait for you at Hogwarts."
Harry nodded, heading back into his room to let Hedwig free. "Hear that? I'm not entirely sure where we're going, but if you can't hunt me down for some reason, just head on to the school, alright?"
Hedwig hooted indignantly, as if saving she would never be unable to track Harry down. He chuckled and opened the window, letting her go. He watched as she flew off for a moment before turning and getting the rest of his things packed.
"It's time to leave, I take it." Hissed Boris.
"Yup. Here, hop on." Harry said, stepping over to the dresser and extending his right arm. Boris lazily crawled onto it, curling up somewhere around Harry's forearm.
"Let me know if you don't feel well after the trip, okay?" Harry said, dragging his trunk into the hall.
"Oh, I'll be plenty vocal about it if it hurts." Boris said.
"Hopefully it won't." Harry hissed back.
"Hopefully."
Tonks was slightly longer in collecting her things, mostly because they were strewn about her room. Harry stood in the doorway, watching in amusement, as Dumbledore shrunk his trunk down. Once the girl was finished, the headmaster shrunk her trunk as well.
"So, we're going to be apparating?" Harry asked.
"Yes indeed. I think it will be the simplest method of travel. We do not want to gather unwanted attention to ourselves." Said Dumbledore.
"Aww, and here I was hoping we'd get to fly there." Tonks said, pouting.
"Oh come on. Who in their right mind would think that's the best way to get to... wherever we're going?" Harry asked.
"Well! I didn't say it'd be the best. Just the most fun." Tonks said.
"Fun, maybe. Cold, definitely." Harry said. "We'd have to fly up pretty high to avoid being seen by the Muggles. Trust me - the higher you get, the colder you get. This way's much simpler."
"Yeah, yeah." Tonks mumbled.
Pocketing their trunks, the teens headed back downstairs. Harry glanced over his shoulder at Dumbledore. "Sir? Boris is on my arm. Apparating won't affect him, will it?"
"Well, I cannot say for certain, as I have never apparated with a snake of any sort. But there is no reason to believe he will be in any danger." Said Dumbledore, smiling. "Now then, are we all set? Andromeda?"
"I can come back and get my things later." Andromeda said, waving a dismissing hand. "So, are you going to tell me why I can't seem to remember my cousin's house?"
Dumbledore's smile widened. "Ah, I was wondering if you would ask. We have warded Sirius' house up quite well since he returned to it."
"Fidellus?" Asked Harry.
"Very good." Dumbledore said, nodding to Harry. "Sadly, as we are out of school, I can award no points. But yes, Harry, the Fidellus Charm was used to hide the house. And I volunteered myself to be the secret keeper."
"Cool. So, how do the rest of us learn of Sirius' house?" Asked Harry.
Dumbledore just chuckled. "I will show you once we arrive. Andromeda, as your house is not yet warded, I believe we can apparate from your living room if that is alright."
"'Not yet' warded?" Tonks questioned.
"Here is just fine, Albus." Said Andromeda.
"Is our house going to be warded too, then?" Asked Tonks.
"Yes, Nymmy." Andromeda said. "We'll talk about it later, if you want."
"I wouldn't mind hearing about it, either." Harry said. "I'd like to know how the house will be protected."
"All in due time. Now let's get going, or you'll never get settled in before bedtime." Andromeda said, stepping next to Tonks.
"So how, exactly, is this going to work?" Asked Harry, walking towards Dumbledore.
"It's quite simple, really. Just take hold of a bit of my robes and leave the rest to me." Said Dumbledore. "Andromeda, are you sure you'll be alright with your daughter?"
"Of course. I've side-alonged grown wizards before, Albus. Nymmy shouldn't be any trouble." Andromeda replied.
"The day Nymmy isn't 'any trouble' is the day I become a squib." Harry dryly commented.
Tonks stuck her tongue out at him.
Chuckling quietly, Dumbledore held his right arm towards Harry, who took hold of a bit of the man's robes. Clutching tightly, just in case the ride was anything like travel by portkey, Harry took a deep breath. "I don't think I'm ever going to get used to magical travel..."
"You will learn in time." Said Dumbledore. "Now then, are you ready?"
"...As ready as I'll ever be, I think. Let's get it over with." Harry said. "Boris, you good to go?"
"All set." Hissed the snake.
"Boris is ready too." Harry said.
"Andromeda, if you'll kindly apparate to the place we discussed the other day..." Dumbledore said, glancing up at the woman.
"It's weird. I can remember the street but not the house." Andromeda said, shaking her head. "My memory feels like swiss cheese and I'll be happy to fill in the holes again."
Dumbledore smiled, put a hand on Harry's back, and they were off. Whatever Harry had been thinking might happen, this wasn't it. He had heard descriptions of apparation before, of course, but reading about it and actually experiencing it were two very different things. He was quite sure his organs were being turned to mush from the compression. His eyes didn't feel too great, either, as though they would pop out at any moment. But, thankfully, the trip was very short.
Harry was slightly wobbly when they arrived, but didn't fall over. He did have to clutch at Dumbledore's robes a bit tighter, however.
"Whoo... that was... that was something." Harry said, shaking his head as if to clear the cobwebs.
"It does take a bit of getting used to, yes." Dumbledore agreed. "But the more you practice, the less you feel it. Eventually, you don't notice it at all."
"Hey Boris? You doin' okay?"
"A bit nauseated, but otherwise fine. It is, I feel, a good thing I haven't eaten in a little while..." Boris replied.
A moment later and a CRACK filled the air as Andromeda and Tonks popped in to their right. Andromeda had to turn and grab at her daughter to keep her from keeling over backwards.
"You okay?" Asked Harry.
"That was AWFUL." Tonks cried, holding her head. "I never want to do that again..."
"Hopefully we won't have to worry about it for awhile." Harry said.
"So, Albus, where are we going?" Asked Andromeda.
Dumbledore started up the sidewalk, motioning for the others to follow him. "Just a bit farther. Ah, before we enter, I do have one warning - when you enter, be very quiet."
"Quiet? What for? Someone sleeping?" Asked Tonks.
"You could say that." Dumbledore said. Harry raised an eyebrow at the slightly annoyed tone of the headmaster's voice.
Suddenly, Dumbledore came to a halt between two of the houses. Turning, he pulled a slip of paper from inside his robes. "Read this and memorize what is on it before passing it along." He said, handing the paper out to Andromeda.
"...Oh yeah." Andromeda said slowly after glancing over the paper. "Well, glad to have that memory back."
Harry's brow creased. He waited for Tonks to read the paper before glancing over it himself. It wasn't very long - just a single sentence. Harry glanced up to ask the headmaster a question, but paused when he noticed that Dumbledore was now standing in front of a house that simply hadn't been there before.
"...Yeah, okay, that was weird." Harry said, holding the paper out for Dumbledore to take back.
"Let us get inside quickly." Dumbledore said. "And remember - remain as quiet as you can."
The four walked up to the front door and Dumbledore opened it, stepping back so the rest could enter before him. Harry was last in line and had to step around the Tonks women to really get a good look at the area he had entered. It looked... old. Very old, in fact. The lights didn't seem to work right yet - even the magical ones were acting up - and the whole place seemed to be covered in a very thick layer of dust.
"Glad I don't have allergies." Harry whispered.
"Ditto." Tonks agreed.
Closing the door gently behind him, Dumbledore waved for the group to follow him again, which they did. He led them down a short hallway and into a large, open room. The living room, Harry guessed, judging by how it was decorated. There were a few people sitting around it, talking quietly. Harry only recognized a few of them.
Sirius, who had been standing towards the back of the room, quickly moved towards them as they entered. "Managed to get here in one piece, huh?"
"Indeed we have." Said Dumbledore. "Sirius, would you mind terribly if you gave them the once-around? I have a bit more business to attend to tonight."
"Of course. Thanks for delivering them for me." Sirius said, nodding at Dumbledore, who smiled and swept from the room like a ghost.
"Hey." Harry said, grinning at his godfather.
"Hey yourself. Been holding up alright?" Sirius asked.
"About as well as expected, considering." Harry said.
"Yeah. We've heard. Shame about your cousin." Sirius said, though his tone clearly didn't match what he was saying. Harry just nodded, smirking back at him.
"Been awhile since we've had a chance to talk." Andromeda said.
"Indeed it has. Got all the time in the world here, though." Sirius replied.
"So why do we have to stay quiet?" Asked Tonks.
"Because the bitch in the hall won't keep her fat gob quiet if she hears anything." Sirius growled softly.
"Sirius." Came an admonishing voice from behind them. Looking over his shoulder, Harry saw Remus Lupin walk into the room. "You shouldn't talk about her like that."
"Oh come on, Moony. I'm just being truthful." Sirius said, scowling at his friend.
"I'm still confused." Tonks grumbled.
"He refers to a portrait of his mother." Lupin explained. "We've tried everything to remove it from the wall. Never been successful, though. Guarded by a curtain that flies open any time she hears people. She's... very vocal."
"You mean she pitches a fit and curses at everyone." Sirius corrected.
"...Yes, fine. She does." Lupin said. "Anyway, when you're around the stairs to the second floor, just tiptoe, alright? She has to rant herself out, at which point the curtains will draw closed on their own and she 'rests' again."
"Lovely." Harry said. "Hello, Moony. Keeping Sirius in line?"
"Oi..." Sirius said, looking at his godson.
"As best as any one man can." Lupin replied.
"Oi!" Sirius said, louder this time as he turned to glare at Lupin.
"Sirius, would you like to show the kids up to their rooms? I can lead Andromeda to the kitchen if she'd like something to drink." Lupin said.
"Sure. Andi, I'll be in before long, alright?" Sirius said, putting his hands on Harry and Tonks' shoulders.
"I'll come up before I leave, okay?" Andromeda said, looking at the teens, who nodded in response.
"Good. Let's get going then. I'll show you where you need to keep most quiet at as we go, alright?" Sirius said.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
The short trip upstairs had been... interesting, to say the least. They had passed by Mrs. Black's portrait as quickly as they could. Unfortunately, Tonks tripped and let out a loud "Ouch!" when she landed. She had tripped over what Harry originally thought was some sort of hideous trash bin. It was, in fact, a house elf. The oldest house elf Harry had ever come in contact with. It stood hunched over and wringing its hands, its beady, uneven eyes scanning the three as it mumbled darkly under its breath.
Of course, the noise had awakened Mrs. Black's portrait. They hadn't lied - the woman had a set of lungs on her, even in portrait form. She swore at Harry, Tonks, and even Sirius, calling them all sorts of foul things. She cried indignantly about her house being befouled by blood traitors and mudbloods. Sirius gave the shambling house elf a running kick in the bottom before wheeling Harry and Tonks up the stairs.
"There's nothing that can be done about that thing?!" Harry asked as they reached the second floor. "What was with the house elf?"
"That was Kreacher." Sirius snarled, aiming the teens down towards the far end of the hall. "Unfortunately, he seems to have a knack for staying alive. He's also disobedient, a lying little thief, and the biggest pain in the arse ever to step foot in this house. Next to our dear friend Snivellus, of course."
"Snape visits? Well that's just great." Harry grumbled.
"Yeah, I'm not too thrilled with it either. Anyway, here's your room, you two." Sirius said, opening the door.
"Our room? So we're not gonna get holed up in separate ones?" Asked Tonks.
"You two would end up together one way or another." Sirius said, finally smiling again. "I figure it's best to just cut out the middleman. I trust the two of you. You're going to be married someday, after all."
"The man speaks the truth." Harry said. "Thanks, Sirius."
"No problem, kiddo. Now then - get your things out. I assume Albus shrunk your trunks?"
"Yup." Harry said, pulling his from his pocket. Next to him, Tonks did likewise.
"Set them down somewhere and I'll get them fixed up for you, alright?" Sirius said, pulling his wand. The teens did as he said and, in a few seconds, their trunks were full size once more and sitting side-by-side at the foot of the large bed.
Tonks walked over and sat on the edge, bouncing slightly. "Ooh, it's soft..."
"Used to be mine. I wasn't going to sleep on a rock." Sirius said, grinning. "Got a room one floor up next to Moony's now. Figured you two could do with a bit better than the others. ...Well, that and I just don't want to be in here myself."
"Bad childhood?" Harry asked.
"You have no idea." Sirius said. "If you want, I can tell you about it. Not got anything better to do at the moment. And I assume you two have already eaten dinner."
Tonks nodded. "Mind if I go check out the bathroom before you start?"
"Feel free." Sirius said.
Tonks hopped down from the bed and scampered across the room, opening the door to the attached bathroom. "...Not quite as good as the one in the Pit, but very nice nonetheless." She said, looking around from the doorway. "...Weren't you teasing Lupin about lavish things?"
"I had no say in the design or decoration." Sirius said. "I've got a nice little twin bed upstairs and it's all I could hope for. My old bed should be more than enough room for you two to stretch out, though. ...Oh. Speaking of. I think I should warn you..."
"Warn us?" Harry repeated. "Of?"
"Molly." Sirius said, a sour look on his face.
"Molly? ...Not Molly Weasley." Harry said.
"The very same." Sirius said. "She and her lot have been moved over here for the summer, along with a couple of your other friends, I think. The kids have been fine - the twins and I get on famously, in fact. But that woman is going to drive me back to madness one of these days."
"What's she doing?" Asked Tonks, walking back over to the bed.
Running a hand back through his hair, Sirius sighed. "What isn't she doing? The minute she stepped foot in here, she damn near took the place over. She cooks all the meals, she cleans here and there between those, and she bickers at me about the state the house has fallen into! There's nothing I can do about it, of course, but it's annoying as hell. Moony's the only thing keeping me from having an all-out battle with the old gorgon."
Harry snorted. "Yeah, I've met her before. She definitely seems the type to be overbearing."
"It wouldn't bother me so much if she wasn't acting like the place belonged to her and I was some servant who failed to do his duties." Sirius said. "What Arthur saw in that woman is beyond me."
"Let us have a moment of silence for poor Mr. Weasley." Tonks said, putting her hands together and bowing her head.
Harry snorted.
"I don't suppose you'd mind telling us your story after we collect our friends, would you?" Asked Tonks, looking up at Sirius as she leaned back.
"I don't suppose so, no. There's not a whole lot to tell. Everyone around your age is up here on the second floor. Tell you what, you two get settled in a bit and I'll go round them up." Sirius said.
"Sounds like a plan. Good luck avoiding your mother and the Weasleys'!" Harry said, grinning as Sirius headed for the door.
"I got stuck between them one day. Worst headache of my life!" Sirius laughed.
Harry flopped back on the bed as Sirius left the room, closing the door behind him. "Well, Nymmy... we're here. ...I wonder if this is where I would've lived if Wormtail hadn't gotten away..."
"You sure you would've wanted that?" Asked Tonks.
"I think so. Sirius' mother isn't much louder than any of the Dursleys. And I think I could deal with Mrs. Weasley. This room is great, though. Nice and open, good bed..."
"We should get some candles going on the dressers and nightstands." Tonks said, looking around. "It'd make it look really nice at night."
"I cannot wait to sleep." Harry said. "It has been an absolutely exhausting summer."
"And we've got a ways to go before returning to Hogwarts." Tonks said. "...So Sirius warned us about Mrs. Weasley. Wonder what for."
"No idea." Harry said. "Probably thought she'd try barging in at all hours to clean or something."
"Probably. Maybe we could ask the twins to trap the door or something."
"Now there's a thought." Harry said. "Hopefully we can catch them after Sirius' story and before we go to bed."
"Hopefully."
Harry turned his head. "...I hear footsteps."
"Lots of footsteps."
Harry sat up, stretching and groaning. "Got a ways to go before the day's over. Gotta at least try and be good hosts."
"But we're not the hosts. We're guests here too!" Tonks said.
"True, but this is our room now." Harry said.
"I guess. I think I'll be ready to curl up and drift off too when the time comes. Dinner's finally settling back down after that stupid apparation trip and it's telling me it wants me to sleep while it digests." Tonks said, patting her stomach.
"...You know what would be funny?" Harry suddenly said.
"What?"
"Changing our appearances to look like Malfoy and Parkinson." Harry said.
"Ooh. That would be mean."
"Think of their expressions, though." Harry said.
"Yeah, but have you practiced enough to do something like that?"
"...I think so. And look at it this way - if I haven't, it's going to be even funnier." Harry said.
Tonks snorted. "Well, that's good enough for me. C'mon, we've gotta be quick about this. They'll be here any time."
A minute later and the door to the room opened once more. Sirius stepped in, a chain of people behind him. "Well, I think I've gotten everyone, Harry, but--"
Sirius came to a dead halt as he stared at the people across the room. One had short, dark hair that slightly obscured one of her eyes. The other... well, it almost looked as if that one had gotten into a fight with a campfire and the fire had won.
Hermione was the first to enter. She simply stared at Harry and Tonks with her mouth open. Ginny was next in. She did the same, but quickly had to hide a grin. Ron was peering around Sirius, trying to get a good look. Solieyu and the twins were near the back and were simply wondering what the holdup was.
As the two groups stared at one another, Fred and George pushed their way to the front. As soon as they caught sight of the two, they immediately started laughing. And, as much as he tried not to, Harry eventually joined in, his face returning to normal.
"You two are horrible!" Harry cried, grabbing a pillow and flinging it at the twins. "I was trying to get a scream out of someone!"
"Mate, the only way you could've done that is if Draco Malfoy himself had walked in and seen you. ...And now that I've said that, you're going to have to do that as soon as school starts or I'll never get the idea out of my head." Said Fred, wiping his eyes.
"Bets on if Malfoy wets himself?" George added.
"Two galleons says he does." Came Ron's voice from somewhere in the back.
"Oh lord. You people are off to an early start." Came Solieyu's voice as he moved through the crowd. "Hello, you two."
"Leon." Harry said. "Good to know you got somewhere safe."
"Yes, I thought so. It's... been an odd time here, though." Said the vampire as he walked over.
"Speaking of odd times, Sirius has agreed to tell us of his childhood!" Tonks said. "So find somewhere to sit and let's hear what he has to say."
"The Sirius Black Nighttime Story Hour! How could we pass up such a chance?" Asked George.
"...I should've collected Moony. I have a feeling I'm going to chase at least one of you out of the room before this is over." Sirius said, shaking his head and sitting on the opposite side of the bed that Harry and Tonks were sitting on. "Right. Like they said - sit down. This may take awhile."
oOoOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: Well, it's been a bit since I updated. Blame catching a weekend-long plague (aka the flu), getting an Xbox 360 (because there were no Wiis to be found around here), and having writer's block! The next chapter's going to be a bit bothersome too. But chapter 6 has been mostly written since mid-Goblet, so that one shouldn't take too long.
I really don't have much to say on this chapter. It's a bit longer than I planned, but only because I could NOT find a good cutoff point. I'm still mostly on track with my chapter guide. Chapter 7's going to be interesting because it introduces a key plot point for the rest of the books. An item, in fact. Cookies to anyone who can guess what it is.
Oh, and before anyone comments - I'm pretty sure Grimmauld is only two stories in the canon. Plus a possible basement. But I thought that, with all the people staying there, it just didn't seem to make sense. So I added a floor. And if it was three stories anyway, then good for it.
So yeah. Short notes this time. Seeya next chapter, kids.