Chapter Two: Clothes, goodnights and meetings
I sat stiffly as Black, Shacklebolt, Lupin, Tonks, Diggle and Doge went on about getting Potter.
I scowled and pushed down my anger and resentment for the boy. He was an idiotic boy, arrogant and rude just like his father.
"So," Albus said, his eyes sparkling, like they always do when Potter comes up, "why did you trip Shacklebolt?" Shacklebolt flushed and murmured, "String."
I snorted and said, "String Shacklebolt. String took you down, all mighty Auror?"
He glared. "It was dark and it was clear string-,"
"-and you let a fifteen year old defeat you. What else did he do?"
Lupin continued, "Well I found this note," he handed it to Albus, to which he read it. "We turned around, found no one and found this one," he handed him another. I scowled when I read it. Mischief Managed.
A bark like laughter erupted from Black as he read the second one.
"That's my godson!" Disgusting pride was in his tone. I felt like vomiting.
The meeting seemed to go on forever and as I got out, I headed to the kitchen for a quick snack. As I opened the door, I noticed Potter was chewing on an apple, staring at the snake picture near him.
"Potter," I acknowledged. He turned his eyes to me, swallowed and said, "Professor Snape would you like something to eat?"
I decided to not be sarcastic and said, "Yes." He got up and turned to one of the cupboards that I knew didn't open and touched it. It opened. I felt shock go through me.
"They know." I frowned. What did he mean?
"The house knows I'm a parslemouth, things open for me that usually don't for anyone else." He turned and handed me an apple. I nodded thanks.
Potter sat back in his seat and took another bite of his apple and traced something on the table. Silence over took the room as we ate awkwardly before he said, "Do you know tobacco helps the wolfsbane develop?"
I frowned and said, "And where did you learn this?" Potter smiled slightly.
"I was experimenting." I glared and hissed, "You could have got someone hurt."
He laughed. It was so much like Lily's laugh, one that would seduce velas and make Voldemort smile. How I missed her.
"It was at Hogwarts, so don't worry." I glared and stalked off.
I fiddled with the muggle stereo, hoping to position it correctly.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," Harry said, coming up behind me. He flashed me a grin. I smiled and said, "Can you help?"
The hour went by quickly as Harry and I worked to put the sound system in correctly. He was a great young man, I had to admit, as I spent more time with him, I saw how untrusting he was with adults. He never relaxes, only when I got up to leave he seemed to relax.
He fiddled with some of the dials and a soft voice, males, filled the house. We had set it up so it would reach almost every where.
I think you can do much better than me
After all the lies that I made you believe
Guilt kicks in and I start to see
The edge of the bed
Where your nightgown used to be
I told myself I won't miss you
But I remember
What it feels like beside you
I really miss your hair in my face
And the way your innocence tastes
And I think you should know this
You deserve much better than me
Harry smiled and leaned against the wall, absorbing the music. It had a nice rhythm and a great tune. I walked out of the room, where many Order members looked around bewildered to where to music was coming from.
While looking through your old box of notes
I found those pictures I took
That you were looking for
If there's one memory I don't want to lose
That time at the mall
You and me in the dressing room
I told myself I won't miss you
But I remember
What it feels like beside you
I really miss your hair in my face
And the way your innocence tastes
And I think you should know this
You deserve much better than me
"Arthur," Molly said threateningly to me. I smiled softly towards her. She was chopping potatoes, her hair up in a messy bun, her eyes sparkling with anger. The children, minus Harry, had filed in. Hermione smiled and said, "I love this song." Ginny giggled and nodded.
Sirius, who had been in a bad mood, came in and every one tensed. They knew how he was when he was thinking.
He had his eyes narrowed in thought and then he opened his mouth to say something, he was cut off when a joyful voice of his godson made him blink.
"Sirius," Harry said, his eyes sparkling, "come here! I have to show you something." Sirius then grinned, his face relieved of his lines, making him look younger.
"Alright." He followed his chattering godson. Harry was talking about some sort of potion.
I smiled. Harry was a great kid; he did wonders for Sirius in a mere minute.
A new song came on, a more depressing one. The people in the kitchen shuffled.
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
I watched Harry write down something on a piece of paper before saying, "This should do it."
"Do what exactly?" He flashed me a smile.
"Turn Remus's wolf to his anamagus form." My jaw dropped.
"H-how did you learn this?" He shrugged modestly, and flushed at my admiration.
"I had a lot of spare time." He shifted under my gaze and said, "So when is his birthday?"
"August fifth," I said promptly. Harry frowned. August fifth had passed and we had- I and Remus- had a firewhisky celebration.
"Let's start next week, okay? We can surprise him." I nodded and Harry glanced at the clock and said happily, "Dinner time."
Dinner was a joyous occasion, with everyone there, laughing and eating. Molly had made mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken and many other great foods. Harry was sitting next to Remus, listening intently to what he was saying.
I sighed and chewed on a piece of chicken. It reminded me of the time Harry brought me some in the cave near Hogmadge. I smiled.
"Oh-sh-," Tonks didn't get to finish because in the middle of her sentence, Harry's hand shot out and caught it while talking to Remus.
I couldn't help but laugh and say, "Nice reflexes. Lily had hit reflexes when it came to me." The Order members nodded in agreement and Harry laughed.
Thank you James for giving me this great child.
Smiling briefly at me, Harry sat next to me on the couch later that evening, as I knitted Charlie's Christmas sweater. He was awkwardly playing with his old shirt, his eyes staring at the fire.
"Harry, dear," I said as an idea came to me. He looked up, his green eyes piercing mine.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley?" I formed my plan and smiled. Albus couldn't stop me from going to muggle London.
"Would you go shopping with me tomorrow? We need to get food at the muggle mart." Harry narrowed his eyes slightly before smiling. He saw through my plan, that clever child, and said, "Do you mind if I bring someone."
I nodded for him to continue but he got up and moments latter dragged Remus in and said, "Your coming shopping with us." Blunt and to the point, something I did more than often but never Harry. Remus looked shocked, the poor man, before he ruffled Harry's hair, laughed and said, "Dumbledore will never let you go, pup."
Harry's eyes flashed before he said calmly, "Is he my legal guardian?"
Remus shook his head.
"Than he has nothing over me. I am my own person." Remus blinked in surprise. It was true, we all think Dumbledore as a god, with infinite power over us, but in reality he has nothing over us.
Remus smiled thinly and hugged him slightly. "Great thinking."
"You know I can defend myself and yet you constantly hover over me like a helicopter." A what? Remus laughed.
"Yes, but that is because-," Harry cut him off sharply, "Because I am what to any of those guards? A job? A weapon?" He sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Sorry, I am trying to work on something with Sirius but its been-," A loud bang seemed to fill the house. Harry just gestured to say, "It's been that."
Remus sighed, defeated and said, "Alright." I grinned at Harry, who grinned back.
I grumbled under my breath as I held a pile of clothes in my hands as Molly picked them out and stacked them on. Harry, who already had gone shopping, was watching amused.
"Excuse me?" said a snotty voice. It was the sales manager and as she eyes Molly's old clothes she sneered. I felt as if I were looking at a female Severus.
"Yes, ma'am," Harry answered. He didn't look any better than we did, with his large clothes.
"Are you," she sneered again, "sure you can afford any of this?" It was true, from what it seemed, this store seemed pricey but Harry just smiled politely (to which I could see through) and said softly, but with a tinge of power, "We can afford this." He then waved her off as he strode by mumbling, "Sad, this place is so dirty."
I felt like laughing as Harry's words were wrong. This place was spotless and white. The women looked around in alarm and practically rushed for cleaning supplies. Molly looked disapprovingly (and with a tinge of pride) she continued to grab clothes.
I chewed on a soft pretzel at a table in front of the shop as Molly fussed over the clothes bags. She shrunk them out of the eyes of the muggles roaming the streets. Harry sat next to me, eyeing the crowds with narrowed eyes. He frowned and whispered, "We have to go." I felt coldness come over me and I nodded.
Molly's eyes widened and she winced as the screaming began. Harry wiped out a wand (which was mine by the way.) and shot the patronus spell towards the dementors while grabbing us and running. Molly and I panted as we tried to keep up with the fifteen year old. Neither of us was in much of a shape to be running so fast.
We managed to duck into an alley, while Harry leaned against the wall, his eyes alert. He handed my wand back to me, while smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry," he said, "they'll not know who did it now. Like I need another charge for the trial." I smiled weakly and took my wand.
Now to the trial.
I avoided Harry's almost curious eyes as I wondered into the trial room. He was sitting in a chair in front of the whole Wizengamot, his beautiful eyes of his trying to meet mine. I ducked them and said my piece.
After the trail, I tried to ignore his cries to catch my attention.
It took all my willpower to not turn around and hug him, whispered reassuring things to him.
I dearly hope Sirius gives Harry love that I can not.
I paused awkwardly in the room Harry and Ron shared. I knew it was simple, I'd seen Mrs. Potter do it so many times, come in, say goodnight, kiss us on the foreheads and say she loved us before telling us to not stay up to late, so why was I pausing now?
Harry was sitting up in his bed, looking out the window, while Ron in the bed closest to me, and was snoring away.
"Harry," I whispered, coming in more. His turned his head to meet mine, his green eyes suddenly lit up from their gloomy exterior.
"Sirius," he whispered, sounding like an eager child. He got up quietly and opened one of his clothes drawers. He showed me a brand new jacket and, embarrassedly said, "Mrs. Weasley got it for me." He then grinned sheepishly. He took out a wrapped box and handed it to me.
I was floored. He got me a present. I unwrapped it quietly, hoping not to wake Ronald. It was a beautiful leather jacket. I smelled it and grinned at my godson.
"Do you like it?" Harry sounded nervous, fiddling with a nightshirt he was wearing. "I thought you'd like it- cause Remus said-," I cut him off by hugging him, holding him close.
I smelled in his scent, whispering, "Thank you. I had a leather jacket when I was younger but Lily made me get rid of it. She would have laughed at the fact you got it for me." He clutched me as if I would disappear, as if he'd never hugged someone before and wanted to savor the feeling.
I reluctantly let him go and he smiled at me. He moved toward his bed and said, "So---,"
"So," I heard Harry, my best friend say awkwardly to Sirius, after giving him the gift. I felt a smile tug on my lips. Despite Hermione's instance that I couldn't figure out anyone's emotions, I knew Harry very well.
He was nervous at having a parental figure, to have some one to worry about him when he does his hero act. I know he worries about Sirius thinking of him as James. I had been worried like mum, until I moved here.
That was until the day I was writing to Harry, just this past summer, I had been in the kitchen trying to write something useful to my new deprived friend when Sirius had come in and spontaneously asked me questions about Harry.
When it had been my turn to as a question I had asked one, "Why were you asking me this?" I had asked after answering question after question.
He had answered, his eyes honest and bright at the thought of his godson, "I want to know more about m- Harry." I knew he was about to say 'My.' As I thought back on it, I had remembered my mum and dad saying, "That's my Fred," or "Oh, my Ronnie." They were proud, loving words that I never thought of until Sirius had said them.
How simple things were back when we were younger, I realize, but being Harry Potter's friend I wouldn't give up for anything. He was a brilliant person, caring and brave but he lacked love. I knew this, Professor Dumbledore knew this and yet he sends them back to those retched muggles each year.
My poor brother.
"So," Sirius said back awkwardly, jolting me out of my thoughts. "I-I would like to say goodnight." I almost chuckled aloud, those poor too. Neither knew what to say nor do, but as I observed this through thinly opened eyes, I saw Harry was sitting on his bed, Sirius standing near him, holding the leather jacket.
Harry's eyes were wide with surprise as if he'd never heard a word like that and Sirius, poor Sirius, was akward.
Go with your instincts, I wanted to tell him, go with what you feel.
Sirius hugged Harry once more and kissed him on his head, making Harry tense slightly then relaxes, smiling slightly over his shoulder.
"Good night, I love you." They were simple enough words but Harry stared at him in shock. The words had been said with confidence, something I knew Sirius had in him.
Go on, I urged my friend mentally; tell him you love him too.
"I love you too." I grinned mentally. My powers of mental manipulation were coming along nicely. Sirius, his eyes were actually beginning to loose his haunted expression with help from Harry or course, who smiled as if he'd been given the world on a whim.
He nodded to Harry and stepped out, but not before giving Harry another hug.
Harry fiddled with his blanket, probably considering to wake me, but I knew he didn't want to. He wouldn't want to wake me up to tell me about 'such silliness' as he would be thinking.
I pretended to stretch and yawn. "Whats all the noise about." Harry's eyes brightened and he launched into the story, with such eagerness I wanted to kill those Dursleys.
Later that night, Harry was asleep, resting peacefully for once, and I smiled at the ceiling.
See Hermione, I'm not as stupid as you think. It's all in the strategy.
I tugged on the jacket Molly and Harry (well mostly Harry) had bought me as the meeting took place in the kitchen. Many order members were eating, but Sirius was talking softly to Tonks, wearing a leather jacket. Yes, my dear Lily, a leather jacket.
I had almost laughed seeing it. I knew Harry didn't go to the bathroom when he had left me and Molly. The dear child was buying that for Sirius.
"Hello," Albus said, sitting down in the head seat. Everyone quieted and turned toward him. His eyes were solemn but lightened when he saw Sirius's jacket.
"Today we will-," and I tuned him out, trying to concentrate on not falling asleep. The full moon was coming up soon and I knew I couldn't just……
"I'm perfectly clear who he is, thanks Molly," Sirius said sharply. I blearily raised my head from the table. I rubbed my eyes and cursed mentally. I had missed the whole meeting.
Molly opened her mouth to retort but Sirius caught sight of me and let out a bark like laughter. Molly turned her eyes on me and her lips turned up from her frown.
"Nice to see you back in the land of living," Sirius said still laughing. Molly's lips twitched and I sighed and ran a hand through my graying hair.
"What were you saying Sirius?" I asked yawning. Molly and Sirius both scowled.
"I know who my godson is Molly!" Sirius snapped at her suddenly, the genial air left from the room replaced by bitterness.
"I'm not so sure Sirius, you treat him like-," Molly began but I cut in.
"Like James?" I asked calmly. They both turned their reddening faces towards me.
"Sirius, Molly I know you both care for Harry but if you keep arguing that's not going to affect anything!"
"B-But," they both stammered.
"But nothing," I said, adopting my Professor voice. A soft laugh from the door made us turn. It was George Weasley (I could tell by their scents. George smelled more like peppermint than Fred.)
"You sound just like you did when you were lecturing us about pranking." Sirius burst out laughing.
"R-Remus l-lecturing about pranking," he said through fits of laughter. I scowled.
"T-hats a good one!" He held his side in mirth and snickered.
"Why is that?" Fred asked but Sirius smiled mysteriously and got up to leave still laughing at me.
Oh Padfoot, how I missed your laughter. Even after all those years, you still knew how to joke.
Hey guys, there is more of Painted Walls. I will include in the next chapter:
Tonks, Hermione, Sirius, Harry and Snape and possibly Dumbledore.
Tell me the characters you want for chapter four. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Bookworm622