Disclaimer: I in no way shape or form own any of the Harry Potter characters or settings

A/N: So so sorry it took this long.

Harry had been disappointed to find Ron already asleep when he returned to their room, he had really wanted to know when to the last time Snape had been seen around there; though why Ron would pay attention to Snape's whereabouts would be beyond Harry, any information would help shed light on the situation. The question would have to wait till morning though, Harry tried to imagine the look on Ron's face if he were to wake him up to ask if he'd seen Snape around lately. Harry laughed to himself, that would give him a right to worry about me, thought Harry as he got into bed and settled down to sleep.

"WAKE UP!" Ron yelled as he shook Harry awake, "Come on, hurry and get up, our O.W.L. results have just arrived."

That part, that last part about the O.W.L. results got Harry's attention; "Alright, alright, I'm getting up, just give me a minute", Harry said with a yawn, and after stretching a bit he finally mustered up enough strength to drag himself out of bed. The O.W.L. exams felt like age ago to Harry, in fact he had forgotten all about them until now; after splashing some cold water on his face, and got dressed, he gulped down some Pick-Me-Up potion and ran down to join the others in the kitchen. "Harry!" Hermione squealed as soon as he came down the stairs, "Our O.W.L. results, I've been waiting for what seems like forever to see how we all made out, where's Ron? I want us all to open them at the same time."

That bum, he dragged me out of bed- thought Harry.

"There you are" Hermione grabbed Ron's arm before he reached the bottom step.

"Calm down, maybe I want some breakfast before finding out I need to repeat 5th year."

"Oh please Ron, I'm sure you didn't do that bad." Harry said reassuringly.

"You can eat all you want after I find out how we did" Hermione said and shoved the official letters at them.

"What makes you think I'll let you see MY results?" said Ron hotly, he ran his finger under the envelope flap and broke the seal.

"I need to see how effective my study my schedule was, that way I'll know what adjustments to make when drawing up N.E.W.T. study schedules."

Harry looked at the paper that would determine his future as an Auror.

Ordinary Wizarding Level

Results

Student: Harry James Potter

Astronomy: Acceptable

Care of Magical Creatures: Exceeding Expectations

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding

Divinations: Poor

Herbology: Exceeding Expectations

History of Magic: Poor

Potions: Outstanding

Theory of Charms: Exceeding Expectations

Transfigurations: Exceeding Expectations

"No!" Hermione's screams of anguish made both Harry and Ron look in her direction, along with everyone else at the breakfast table. She was staring unbelieving at the parchment in her hands "this can't be" she shook her head, blinking her eyes as if that would make whatever it was go away. "What? – What is it?" Asked Ron coming over and trying to steal a look at her O.W.L. results.

"No, I can't let you see these", cried Hermione and she ran from the room leaving Harry and Ron with perplexed looks on their faces.

"What's up with her?" Asked Ron to no one in particular. "Your guess is as good as mine, but I'm guessing she's not satisfied with her grades" replied Harry; staring at the stair Hermione had just run up. "Come on, let's hurry up and eat before Fred and George come down, or there won't be much left", said Ron as if nothing had just happened.

Harry grabbed Ron's arm before he got but a few feet "Wait, I have to ask you something first", Harry pulled Ron to the corner of the kitchen "It's about Snape, when's the last time you've seen him?"

"Snape!" Asked Ron, making a face. "Uh, maybe it was sometime in the beginning of July-why the sudden interest?"

" He sent me a letter," whispered Harry, Lupin was walking passed them on his way to the sink. "He said I should practice Occlumancy by myself", that was two nights ago.

"I can't believe you are worried about Snape's livelihood, but I must admit, it's a bit unnerving". Ron was biting his bottom lip. "Do you have the letter with you?"

"No, Tonks has it".

"So ask her about it, out of everyone else in the Order she's your best bet for getting some information".

Harry thought about it for a second before agreeing with Ron, he was right, Tonks would be a good place to start; "I'll ask her when she brings me my potion".

After eating their fill of sausage, eggs, and hot cakes, Harry and Ron went up to Hermione's room where they were met by a locked door and the sound of Hermione's sobbing coming from the other side. " Girls. They get so dramatic," sighed Ron.

Harry lightly knocked on the door "Hermione, are you alright?'

More sobbing.

"This is pointless," sighed Ron.

The doorknob turned and the door swung open revealing a puffy eyed, red cheeked Hermione; "We brought you our O.W.L. results so you can see how your study system worked" said Ron pulling the crumbled paper from his pocket and handing it over. "Thank you." said Hermione hoarsely, motioning them into the room, she left the door slightly ajar behind them. "Here are mine too." Harry handed over his results and joined Ron in taking a seat on Ginny's bed. Hermione sat across from them on her bed; Harry took notice to the crumbled tissues that littered the sheets behind her. Was she really just being overly dramatic like Ron had said?

Hermione wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and preceded in analyzing their results, a smile told them she was pleased. "You did well, Ron" Hermione said, handing his results back to him, "See what happens when you study." Ron didn't say anything, a goofy grin had appeared on his face; Harry was about to nudge him but stopped, he could've sworn that Hermione had just winked at the goof next to him.

"Hey maybe you know something about the letter Snape sent Harry", said Ron.

"Harry got a letter from Snape?" Hermione looked up from Harry's results. "Can I see it? What did it say?"

"Tonks has it, but it was only two lines telling me to practice Occlumancy on my own" said Harry.

"Well have you been practicing?" Questioned Hermione, totally missing the point.

"That's not the point," yelled Ron getting to his feet, "Don't you find it the least bit strange for Snape to miss a class?"

Hermione didn't get a chance to answer; Ginny was standing in the doorway. "Mom says to stay up here, the Order is having a meeting," she said stepping into the room.

"Did you see Snape?"

"Did Snape come?"

"Is Snape attending the meeting?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione blurted out almost simultaneously.

"No I didn't see him, and now if you excuse me, I'm going to leave before I catch whatever it is you have, you've all gone mental."

"Well if we've all gone mental then we have Hermione to thank-OW!" Ron rubbed his shoulder where Hermione's hand had made contact. "Well you could've fool me, with the way you reacted about your grades" Ron ducked as Hermione came at him again.

"Come on, you couldn't have done that horribly" Harry cut in before things got out of hand.

Hermione stopped stopped trying to hit Ron long enough to toss Harry the envelope, Ron saw his chance and made a run for it yelling over his shoulder "You're on your own Harry."

"Harry unfolded Hermione's results, it was dotted with Os and Es, there was one A, it was in Astronomy. "Hermione, Ron and I got As too, I bet most of our year did, with all that noise down on the grounds…and you did really well in your other classes, look, we'll be in advanced Potions together.

Hermione smiled, "Is that supposed to make me happy, thinking of another year in Snape's class?" "Well you do fancy him, don't you?" Said Harry, his face expressionless. Hermione stuck out her tongue in disgust, "You can't be serious"; " No, of course I'm not, I'm just trying to get you to lighten up a bit" said Harry.

"I knew Ron would rub off on you eventually."

The Order finished their meeting just in time for lunch, conversation centered mostly around new classes, professors and quidditch teams; Ron had decided not to continue his position as Keeper; "My body is just not cut out for that kind of activity", were his exact words. The topic that was getting the most attention was the speculation on who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would be. Harry didn't notice Lupin standing behind him till he spoke "I want you to come with me to feed Buckbeak."

Not sure what to make of this, Harry got up and followed Lupin out of the kitchen, Lupin didn't say anything, Harry stayed quiet waiting for an explanation for his needed assistance in feeding Buckbeak. Lupin finally broke the silence when they reached Buckbeak's room "I want to show you something" he opened the door; it creaked open and Harry could hear the sound of sharp talons scraping on wood in the room beyond.

The floor was littered with droppings and dirty feathers and sitting in the middle of the mess was a bigger mess that was Buckbeak, Harry remembered what Hagrid had said about hippogriffs, back when he was in 3rd year, they are very proud, very clean creatures. Buckbeak was in very bad shape. Harry looked at Lupin "How long has he been like this?"

"Since Sirius didn't return", said Lupin.

"He needs to see a doctor" Harry insisted.

"You know we can't do that, Harry, we can't bring anyone here, Hagrid will tend to him when he returns". Lupin was throwing dead rats to Buckbeak that he took from his oversized pocket, "Harry, I didn't bring you here to show you Buckbeak, I wanted to show you this", Lupin handed Harry a piece of paper. Harry looked at the piece of paper and then at Lupin, "Is this…?"

"Yes Harry, that is your godfather's Last Will in Testaments" Lupin said and threw the last of the dead rats. "What does it say?" Asked Harry, his hands were shaking too much for him to read it himself. Lupin sighed, "He left Buckbeak to you, Harry, and this house he left to the Weasley family.

"Do they know yet?" asked Harry.

"No, and No one knows of this will except for me and now you, Harry" Lupin said as they got ready to leave Buckbeak's room.

Back downstairs there was commotion in the kitchen, and Harry had to duck to avoid a plate that was zooming around overhead as he stepped into the room to see a very odd scene.