The Burrow was in its usual state of early morning activity when Lupin arrived the day after speaking with Harry.
"Remus, this is a nice surprise."
Mr Weasley seemed genuinely pleased to see an old friend standing on the doorstep.
"Forgive the early visit, Arthur, I need to speak to you and Molly."
"It's no problem. You'll find Molly in the kitchen."
Lupin went through to the back of the house, trying not to give anything away in his body language. Mr Weasley watched his retreating back. He knew it had to be something important to require such an early visit.
By the time Mr Weasley got back to the kitchen, his wife had Lupin sat at the table with a heap of toast in front of him, while he tried to refuse politely.
"Really, Molly, I appreciate this, but I don't need anything."
"You're too thin, Remus, you need feeding."
"I see. You can't give that line to Harry, so you're giving it to me instead."
Lupin instantly regretted his words at the look on Molly's face.
"I'm sorry, Molly, I shouldn't have said that."
"Remus, you've not spoken of Harry in this house, in Molly's presence, for nearly two years, why say his name now when you know it only causes pain?" Mr Weasley demanded.
Lupin visibly sank down a few feet in the chair, "I really am sorry. I wasn't thinking straight."
"You have a great talent for putting your foot in it sometimes. Kind of like Sirius in a way," Mrs Weasley smiled weakly, "I forgive you Remus."
"Actually, the reason I'm here is to discuss Harry."
"Maybe we should go somewhere a little more private." Mr Weasley said, indicating to Ron and Ginny, the only Weasley children still living at the house.
"Yes, I think that would be best, Arthur." Lupin agreed, "Molly, can you join us please?"
"Certainly. You two are to stay here until your father and I return."
Ron nodded, Ginny showed no response.
"She misses Harry so much. It's an effort to get her to do anything now, not like her at all." Molly whispered to Lupin who'd seen the reactions.
Mr Weasley led his wife and friend into the study and motioned that they all sat down.
"What was it about Harry that you wish to tell us, Remus?" Mr Weasley asked once they were all comfortable.
"He returned to Grimmauld Place about 5 days ago. I spoke to him yesterday."
Lupin had been going to Sirius' old house once every week to clean it up a bit. He had come across Harry quite by chance.
"How is he?" Molly asked immediately.
"He seems lonely. Spending two years in solitary has not done him any good. He did say he would be contacting you, but he didn't say when." Remus paused, giving them time to accept the words he'd spoken so far.
"Well that's good isn't it?" Molly asked, looking from one man to the other.
"Yes and no. The only reason he's contacting you is to let you know he's safe. He refused to come here when I asked him about it. He told me the same thing he told Ginny a while back."
"Well he's still got somewhere to live. It can't be all bad. I mean he's a young adult now, he should be allowed some peace." Mr Weasley said lightly, ignoring the expression on his wife's face.
Lupin sighed. He knew they didn't understand the full extent of the reason behind what he'd told Ginny, or even if Ginny had told her parents about that final conversation.
"You don't understand. He's refusing to come here because of Voldemort. He's scared that Voldemort will use one of you, particularly Ginny, to get to him. He's afraid to live."
When neither Weasley parent showed much understanding, Lupin told them plainly.
"He's still blaming himself for both Sirius' and Dumbledore's deaths. If we don't do something to help him soon, it'll be too late, we won't be able to help him."
In the kitchen, Ron and Ginny sat in silence trying to hear what Lupin was saying to their parents.
"I can't bare much more of this!" Ginny blurted out, "What is it about Harry that they don't want us to know?"
"I don't know. It's probably some grown up stuff."
"I don't think it is, Ron. Lupin could've just sent a letter if it wasn't important, or visited later in the day. It's got to be something big for them not to tell us. We're supposed to be his friends." Ginny's voice raised to a shout at the last few words.
"I saw him as more of brother really," Ron admitted. It was the first time he'd actually said it out loud.
They fell silent as their parents returned to the kitchen. Ginny avoided eye contact with all of them, while Ron looked from one to the other, wondering what it was they'd been discussing. His father shook is head slightly when Ron caught his eye.
"Your mother and I are going out for a while. It's probably best if you two stay here, and be careful who you open the door to."
"Sure, Dad, see you later."
"And keep and eye on Ginny please."
"Yes, Mum."