Hey guys, sorry this took a while, I just had a billion and one other things to do as well is all =] But I finally got around to finishing this chapter so here it is. Oh and I know i followed the movie when it came to the battle at the dept. of mysteries, but the injuries and what not where much more severe in the book so I used the effects of the battle according to the book =]
Anywhooo Enjoy!
Like every other muggle neighborhood in London, the one that housed Number 12 Grimmauld Place was quiet.
That is until an groundbreaking crack sounded and all together, almost two dozen wizards apparated in front of the large building. The majority being injured young and underage.
No one said a word as Moody stepped forward and revealed the entrance to Grimmauld Place. But Harry, despite his current situation(leaning heavily on Remus because there was a deep gash the size of his arm on his left leg) looked amused. It never ceased to amaze him how Grimmauld Place was revealed. He always found himself awestruck every time he saw Moody doing it.
He was jerked out of his thoughts as Remus gently nudged him forward. He looked up at the older man and just barely missed his gaze. Remus kept a steady hold of Harry's arm which was slung over his shoulder, as he followed the others towards the former Black residence. Directly ahead of him Tonks, was helping Ginny Weasley in a similar way as he was to Harry. Ginny had broken her ankle rather painfully halfway through the battle(Remus had seen it and it looked pretty nasty.) Hermione stood next to Tonks. She wasn't as injured as some of the rest of them(because if anyone in the D.A other than Harry knew how to really defend themselves then it was her) but she was worn out. In front of Tonks, Hermione and Ginny was Kingsley, who had an unconscious Ron Weasley on his back. Poor Ron was cursed this way and that after that disorientation charm he was hit with. Remus knew, the rest of the Weasleys were informed of the battle that had just occurred in the Department of Mysteries and where probably waiting inside for their arrival. Of course, they would fins one of the gang was missing, seeing that Neville was sent St Mungo's after Bellatrix used the Cruciatus Curse on him. They had to have him admitted immediately despite the lack of rooms at St Mungo's at the moment. But And they did it(Oh the things one growl from Moody could get you.)
The first, the ones to lead the way into the small dark house was both Sirius and Moody.
Sirius.
Remus thought hard about his old friend. It hadn't really sunk in until now, that if he hadn't done what he had, Sirius would be dead right now. The thought shook Remus up a bit. He couldn't possibly bear to loose another one of his friends so fast. He was puled out of his thoughts as the door opened, light seeped out into the small cramped hallway and out walked he form of Molly Weasley. She looked worried out of her mind, though Remus could see very little of her face past all the people ahead of him.
He vaguely heard Moody tell her something(he couldn't quite catch what) and then Molly gasping. Moody strode into the house, Sirius and Kingsley followed. Once everyone was in the house, they went off to pertain to their own jobs. Moody went to speak to Arthur, Dumbeldore, and McGonagall who where present in the depths of the house. Kingsley took off towards Ron's room to drop the unconscious boy off(Molly followed him.) Tonks, Ginny and Hermione headed off to Ginny's room. And Sirius....well...Remus scanned area for him but found the scraggly Marauder no where to be found.
So Remus sighed and helped Harry into the kitchen, where he seated the teen at one of the many chairs of the enormous dinner table.
"Alright Harry, this'll only sting for a minute" he said as he quickly whipped out his wand and crouched down in front of the boy. Harry made no visible reaction, so Remus went on and lightly tapped his wand on his left leg. It took a second for the spell to take effect, but once it did, Harry felt the "sting" that his former professor told him about. He clenched his fists tightly, but the pain left as soon as it came.
Remus saw the cut begin to patch itself up almost immediately. Knowing his job was done, he stood up and resheathed his wand. He felt terrible. For some god knew what reason, Remus felt a bit choked up inside. Like there where a million and one things bottled up inside of him and as much as he needed to let them all out, he couldn't.
He really needed to get home, collapse on the bed and drown himself in a bottle of firewhiskey. Fast.
He turned to leave, forgetting Harry was there.
"Remus?" Harry called out to him. He still found it very odd for him to call the older man anything but Professor....but since he insisted...
Remus, suddenly remembered Harry's presence and turned back to him "Harry! I'm sorry, I really need to go and-"
"You seem a bit....on edge. Full moon's not for another few weeks...are you alright?" Harry asked carefully.
Remus sighed " Not really..." he allowed a comfortable silence to come over them.
"Remember back in my third year, when you told me those stories about my parents?" Harry said a bit too suddenly. Remus looked up at him with a rather confused expression, but nodded anyway."Remember how after you told me all those good times you guys had together, it made me feel terrible inside? And then you said to me..." Harry continued "Harry, if you ever...ever need to talk about anything...anything at all, you can always come to me. And now I say to you Remus....if there's anything you'd like to talk about...."
Remus shook his head "Nothing a bottle of firewhiskey won't cure" he flashed a bittersweet smile as he turned to leave once more.
"Remus wait" Harry called him back again.
This time, Remus simply turned back to face the teen.
"Listen I....I just wanted to thank you..." Harry began looking away.
Remus raised a brow.
"I saw what you did in the Department of Mysteries. You saved Sirius's life back there" Harry stated "If...if it weren't for you I would have lost him....I...don't know what I would have done if I lost him, you know..."
"It's...not a problem Harry" Remus sighed "No need for thanks..."
"Actually" another voice joined the conversation. Turning to the sound of the voice, Remus and Harry saw the form of Sirius Black standing at the kitchen door "You know what there is no need for?"
Both Harry and Remus stared at Sirius carefully. But Sirius payed no mind to their confused expressions. He simply walked up to his old friend and put a hand on the werewolf's shoulder "Modesty, Remus. Modesty."
Remus's expression became even more confused. It was at that moment that Sirius decided he couldn't take it anymore. He never had appreciated Remus enough to have received something so big from him. To have received a second chance at life from him. So before the tears came along, Sirius pulled his friend into a strong brotherly embrace.
At first Remus wasn't sure what to do. He had hugged Sirius before, back in his Hogwarts years, but back then it was playful, joking, happy embraces. But this one...this was deep, there was meaning behind it. And Remus could tell, Sirius was doing his best to show his gratitude. The gratefulness from one brother to another. Knowing that, Remus brought his arms up around Sirius's back and returned the embrace.
"I...Thank you Moony. Honestly I'm so grateful I can't even think of anything else to say but thanks..." Sirius said, as low as he could. Knowing that if he tried to put any strength into his voice, it would shake "You've just done so much for me, and Harry and I just........Thank you."
Remus smiled over his friend's shoulder "You're Welcome, Sirius. You are most welcome."
It was at that moment that the doors to the kitchen opened once again, and this time as Sirius, Remus(they pulled away from one another and managed to swallow the lumps that had formed in both of their throats) and Harry turned to look, they saw Arthur Weasley, Albus Dumbeldore and Minerva McGonagall.
"Harry my boy, it is so good to see you are well" Albus smiled. Harry returned the smile, as well as the broad fatherly smile Arthur was sending his way as well. That was one he was certainly used to.
"I'm afraid though, it is high time you return to your aunt and uncle..." Albus frowned. He knew how much Harry disliked it at the Dursley's, and frankly he didn't like it very much either. And by the looks on Remus and Sirius's faces, they looked like they hated the idea as well. Especially Sirius.
"Hang on a minute..." Sirius intervened "Why in the name of Merlin should Harry go back to those foul, no good, git muggles when he can stay with me?!"
"Sirius, you must understand, your current condition would make it difficult for you to care for Harry" Arthur said softly.
"That's why he's here!" Sirius pointed(rather rudely) at Remus "Remus and I can look after him no problem! And when I can't be around Remus will be."
Remus stared at him dubiously "Sirius...need I remind you of my....ahm...furry little problem?"
"So he'll stay with Arthur and Molly for a day or two a month, big deal!" Sirius countered.
Dumbeldore sighed "Sirius, I hope you realize how big of a responsibility this is, not to mention the dangers..."
Harry could tell, by Dumbeldore's tone of voice, that even he wanted custody to be handed over to Remus and Sirius.
"I do know. And so does Remus" Sirius nodded "I'd prefer it if we where to stay at his place rather than here. You can just use this place as headquarters. I have no intention of living here an longer. And besides, I'm sure Remus's place is much more protected than here."
"It is" Remus nodded "I have the Fidelius, and I assure you my secret keeper is one I know can be trusted" Albus noticed Remus catch Arthur's eyes on the words "secret keeper." "I have several other protection charms at play as well. Plus my house is in a remote place that would be practically impossible to locate" Remus finished off.
"Are you sure it is worth loosing the blood protection though?" Minerva spoke up.
Remus opened his mouth to speak, but Sirius beat him to it "A hundred percent!"
Silence reigned after Sirius's outburst. That is until he himself decided to break it shortly afterwards "So it's settled then? You're letting Harry stay with me and Remus?"
"Alright, fine, but we definitely can't have custody under Sirius, so how exactly are we expected to allow the Ministry of custody to Remus?" Minerva asked impatiently.
"Ah, that Minerva, is something that shouldn't be too hard" Albus smiled "Since Lily Potter's will clearly states that if Sirius where unable to fulfill his position as godfather to her son, the role would be passed on to Remus."
Sirius's face broke out into a grin "She always did tell us that accusing Remus of being the spy was a load of b.s. She must have done that without telling James though...."
"It hardly matters. What matters is that, legally, Harry already belongs to Remus" Albus looked over to the very much stunned form of Remus Lupin. Remus simply stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face. Lily had left him with that position? Remus hardly knew how to feel.
But through all the tension, there was one person that, no doubt felt nothing other than pure happiness as to what he had just heard. Harry Potter. "Remus this is great!" Harry grinned and looked to all the adults in the room "When do I move in?!"
And despite the clear troubles, even the adults in the room had to smile at that. For it had been a while since they had seen a smile so wide and sincere on the face of young Harry.
Well, there you have it, chapter 2. I hope you liked that, and I hope it wasn't too rushed =] Next chapter, Harry moves in with Remus and Sirius! Oh boy =] lol
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