AN: I haven't updated because my computer was shreded by a virus. Had to restore it with a disc. Someone needs to get a life. If you have fun screwing with peoples personal lives then you need serious help. Fking hackers. I tend to curse a lot.
I've added more and fixed the end.
Shouting.
Uber pissed off shouting.
Chapter 5: The Will and an Old Friend
Harry and Tonks landed in the foyer of Headquarters moments after their departure. Harry suprised himself by somehow not falling from the impact of the portkey though his glasses did fall off.
Mrs. Weasley came rushing from the direction of the kitchen and grabbed Harry into a firm hug.
"Harry, dear! Have those dreadful muggles been feeding you? Would you like something to eat?"
"No thanks, Mrs. Weasley. I already ate."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."
"Well...ok, then," she said pulling away from the hug and studied his looks as if she could see for herself. When she got to the robes she seemed suprised and looked him up and down a few times.
He began to look unnerved at her scrutiny and was fidgeting by the time she finished and speaking again.
"Don't you just look so handsome in those robes? And they must have cost a fortune!"
"Thanks, and I don't really know how much. I...uh...found them in my trunk. I guess I bought them by accident," said Harry with a blush on his face.
"Oh, really? That's strange, but anyway they're great for you. Don't you think so, Tonks?"
"Absolutely," said Tonks. She had been standing aside watching with with apparent amusement. She laughed queitly when she saw Harry's blush become even more red.
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" This was directed at Mrs. Weasley even though he was trying his best to scowl at Tonks.
This only caused her to laugh more and Mrs. Weasley to look at her like she was crazy.
"I believe they're...upstairs. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything dear." She turned back to the door she came through and walked away.
"That wasn't funny."
"Sure it was. Just not to you," Tonks said with a grin.
Harry shook his head and smiled at her easy-going attitude. turned to the stairs and was almost at them when he remembered what Tonks did for him. He turned to see her about to leave.
"Tonks?"
"Yeah, Harry?"
"Thank you."
"Your welcome, Harry," with a small smile she continued. "If you ever need anything just come to me."
"Then the same goes for you."
"Thanks, Harry."
"See you later."
"Later, Harry," she said while walking in the direction of the kitchen.
Walking up the stairs his mind wondered to why Mrs. Weasley seemed hesitant to tell him where Ron and Hermione were. 'I guess she really wanted me to eat.'
Harry understood her hesitation after opening the door to the room that he and Ron shared last summer to see Ron and Hermione kissing on the bed. Not wanting to intrude and slightly hurt that he hadn't been told of their relationship, Harry backed out quietly and shut the door.
Feeling insociable, Harry walked quietly through the house to the sitting room. 'Hopefully no one is in here.'
Opening the door he saw that the room was not empty. He started to back out the door, but amber eyes met green and he stopped.
"You can come in." Harry gave him a sad smile. He walked to the couch that Lupin was on and sat at the other end.
After inspecting him for a moment, Harry felt like he would drown in guilt. Lupin looked like a begger. The bags under his eyes were so dark that he looked like he had two black eyes. His robes were as worn and ragged as ever. Overall the werewolf had a very strong depressed air about him.
"Hey, Remus."
"Hello, Harry. Don't feel guilty. It's not your fault."
"How do you know I feel guilty?"
"I can smell it. The are up sides to being a wereanimal and by the way...nice robes."
Harry was beginning to think he should have changed them. Someone was bound to ask how he got them. "...Thanks..."
It seemed that neither were willing to say more so they sat and stared into the fireplace.
'Might as well put my spare time to use. I wonder how long it will take me to go into the meditative state.' He had relaxed his entire body and cleared most of his thoughts before Remus noticed the change in him.
"Harry. What are you doing?"
"Meditating.", Harry said in a calm voice.
"Why are you meditating? For that matter, how are you meditating? Few people successfully learn how to do it correctly."
"I'm meditating because it calms me. I am also meditating because I learned how."
"Real funny, Harry. How long have you been practicing it?"
"About a day."
"I'm serious Harry. How long have you been doing this?"
"I told you about a day. What is the big deal?"
"This big deal is that your doing something most people can't do until months and sometimes years of practice."
"Sure I am."
"You don't believe me?"
"Not really."
"Then how are you talking to me while meditating? Sounds like partial meditation to me."
Harry then realized that he had indeed done a partial meditation. This supprising knowledge was enough to break his concentration.
"How was I doing that?"
"You were doing that by accident, weren't you?"
"...Yes..."
"Seems like you just made the 'First' list again, Harry."
"What is that?"
"First to survive an unblockable curse and now first to do a partial meditation at fifteen after a day of practicing. I wonder how many more times you'll make that list."
Seeing the look on Harry's face was enough to make Remus do something that hadn't happened in a while. He laughed.
"That's not funny, Remus," said Harry with a scowl.
"To you, maybe." Remus seeing that Harry didn't like being laughed at stopped. "Come on, Harry. Look at it this way, what comes naturally to you will only help you in the long run."
Harry, obviously, did not see it that way. "I don't want it to come naturally. I want to work for it like a normal person."
Harry looked at Remus only to see an odd expression on his face. He somehow knew he wouldn't like what was about to be said. "Harry," Remus began slowly, "why would you even be meditating?"
"I want to." Harry tried unsuccessfully to keep his voice neutral.
Remus sat up from his slouch and turned to face him. "Why, Harry?"
"That is none of your business and you will not tell anyone I have been meditating.," said Harry angrily.
Remus, shocked at being being spoken to like this by Harry, decided to back off of this topic. "Fair enough. Just remember that you made that decision. I'll be here for you when you make a mistake in whatever it is."
Before Harry could reply the door opened and Ron and Hermione walked in.
"Harry we wanted to talk to y-Oh! Sorry for interrupting, Professor Lupin."
"Don't worry, Hermione. I was just leaving and call me Remus," said Remus while standing. Harry turned to looked at Lupin and was about to protest, but he was already going out the door.
The two sat on the couch and traded nervous looks before Hermione nodded.
"Harry, Ron and I have something to te-"
"I know," said Harry with agitated look. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"We have only been dating about a week and wanted to tell you in person."
"Yeah, mate. We weren't trying to hide it from you. Anyway, how did you know?"
"I walked in," he said shortly. They both blushed at that. He had to have walked in while thay were kissing.
"Are you ok with Hermione and I being together?"
"It's okay with me..." Ron took this as an affirmative, but didn't notice Harry's guarded look. Hermione did notice it.
"Harry, just because we are together does not mean that we will abandon you."
"Sure, but I guess it doesn't matter anyway..."
"Harry! Of course our friendship matters!"
'Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! You weren't supposed to say that!'
"I didn't mean that. It's just that I'm going to be preoccupied for a while."
"What do you mean preoccupied, mate?"
"The closest thing that I had to a father just died."
Ron blanched at this and looked immediately guilty. "Sorry, Harry."
"You shouldn't seperate yourself from us because of his death."
This time the door saved Harry.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore would like to speak to you before we leave. He's in the kitchen," said Remus while entering the room.
Harry quickly left the room looking more than a little relieved.
Since he really didn't want to talk to Dumbledore he took his time in getting there.
Before opening the door to the kitchen Harry tried his best to clear his mind and put on a blank face. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and walked through.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. Please sit." Motioning Harry towards the opposite seat from which he sat.
"Good afternoon, Professor."
"Ah, I see that your are still angry with me so I shall get straight to the point," said Dumbledore. He made no effort to hide his sadness.
Harry just continued to blankly stare at him.
"Do you want to go anywhere after the will reading?"
"Yes."
"Would you mind elaborating, Ha-" An odd look overcame the Professor's face. "Have you, by any chance, been meditating, Harry?"
Harry couldn't have been more suprised and his control of his emotions slipped. He quickly gained a furious look and stood.
"He told you?" Harry shouted. "Do you have everyone reporting on me?" Dishes could clearly be heard shattering in the pantry.
Dumbledore appeared to be looking beyond Harry and jumped up in suprised. Gone was the calm exterior. "Calm yourself, Mr. Potter," he yelled. Gaining control of himself he continued in a softer tone. "No one has told me anything about you and I have not asked them to."
Harry obviously didn't believe him. "Oh, he didn't? Then how do you know, old man?" More dishes shattered and the table began to shake.
"I know because I can see it. If you will control your childish temper, I will explain." Calling him childish was definitely the wrong thing to do.
Cabinets blew open and their contents shook out. Everthing in the room was shaking and Dumbledore realized the room itself was shaking.
Harry was glaring at him and the Professor knew that if he didn't stop this soon something bad would happen.
"Look at what your doing, Harry. Stop this before you kill someone!"
"How do you know?"
"I can see it in your aura. No one told me," Dumbledore said with a hint of panic breaking through his calm persona.
It seemed that he was getting through, because the shaking was stopping and Dumbledore saw his aura receding.
"You can see auras?"
"Yes and I ask you to please keep quiet about it. Very few people know this and I intend to keep it that way."
Harry was slightly ashamed at himself for losing his temper so quickly and wondered why it had happened.
"We shall be leaving shortly. Feel free to spend some time in Diagon Alley. Nymphadora and Remus have volunteered to watch over you." Dumbledore had regained his twinkle by then and started to walk to the door.
Harry watched him walk away and turn back halfway to the door to look at him with a thoughtfull expression.
"Where did you get those remarkable robes?"
"Uh...you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Ok...Mr. Potter?" The twinkle was going into overdrive.
"Yes?"
"Try your best to...suppress any strong urges or emotions for the next..." He looked closely at Harry. "Six days, is it?"
With a laugh at the shocked expression on Harry's face, Dumbledore walked out the door.
'He knows and...and he isn't going to stop me!'
The rest of his time passed in a blur and before he knew it they were portkeying to a private room in The Leaky Cauldron. This way fewer people would notice him though all of the people surrounding him made quite a site themselves.
Walking to Gringotts gave Harry mixed emotions.
He didn't want to do this. Sirius shouldn't be dead, but he had killed him and for that he felt the guilt that tore him apart.
Harry looked up and saw the giant white building that was Gringotts. In a rush of feeling he stopped moving as dread and fear overcame. him.
He didn't notice as everyone stopped with him and the concerned and pitying looks he was receiving. He also didn't notice their helpless looks or Tonks motioning them forward with a look that clearly said, 'I'm a girl. We are good at this whether we like it or not. Go away.'
If he did this it would be accepting that Sirius was really dead. 'I can't do this,' he thought, 'I have to get out of here!' At this point he began to shake.
She put a hand on his shoulder and he jumped.
"I-I can't d-do this."
"Yes you can, Harry."
"He can't be dead...He was my godfather...The last of my real family," Harry said with a lost look.
She moved closer to hear him. "What about Remus?"
"Remus," said Harry with a sad laugh, "I wouldn't be suprised if he never wanted to see me again. I'm the reason that his closest friends are dead."
"Harry, you are not! You had no control over anything that has happened."
"There must have been something that I could have done. I've been in the middle of everything!"
"Don't forget that your just a kid, Harry. You couldn't have done anything differently."
"I'm not just a kid. I never had the chance to be one," he said in a hollow and broken voice.
At this she was at a loss for words. "Be that as it may. It does not change the fact that you had no control. Now, come on. We're attracting an audience and the others are waiting."
He looked startled for a moment before glaring at those who had been listening in.
Upon entering Gringotts a goblin motioned for them to follow.
They were led straight from the entrance to the other side of the room to a door that he hadn't noticed before.
When they enetered they saw a long hallway filled with doors as far as they could see.
Luckily they only had to go to the first door on the left.
Harry was suprised to see that the room held quite a few people setting at a log table that took up much of the space in the room.
He and Tonks were the last to arrive and took the two seats that were were labeled with their names.
The goblin sat at the head of the table with Harry sitting to his right and to Harry's suprise Dumbledore sat across from him. Tonks was beside Harry and to his suprise again, McGonagall sat across from her. Beside her was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Auror Shacklebolt. Harry didn't recognize the four people who sat after him. To Harry's right after Tonks sat Remus, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and three others.
After he sat the Goblin began to speak. "Now that you are all here, we may begin. Mr. Black has requested your presence here in his Will. Due to his legal status he had little time to discuss the actual seperation of his belongings so he left a Memory Orb within our care." With that said he sat a transparent ball that had a white liquid in it infront of him and tapped it with a finger.
Harry closed his eyes and gripped the arm of his chair. At the moment he didn't care if anyone saw him like this.
He heard Sirius's voice and couldn't stop his hand from clenching the chair harder. A soft hand cover his right hand in an attempt to console him..
"To the few of you who I knew before I was wrongfully imprisioned, I leave a total of one thousand galleons per person. Have fun with it."
The goblin snapped his finger and pieces of parchment appeared infront of the seven people.
"Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall. You each recieve a scrapbook of our Hogwarts years and ten thousand galleons. The money will be transfered to your vaults. "
The goblin snapped his fingers and their books appeared.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you both get fifteen thousand galleons. Go out and treat yourselves to something nice."
"Kingsley, it was fun while it lasted. I leave you ten thousand galleons. Fred and Gearge Weasley get ten thousand galleon each and the Marauders prank book."
"Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. You all have been good friends to Harry. Please continue to do so. Each of you receive five thousand galleons." Again, the goblin snapped it's finger and parchment appeared.
"Remus, Harry, and Tonks...you three have joint ownership of Grimmauld Place when Harry is of age and the rest of the money is split equally among you. You three also pick out whatever stuff you want and do whatever with the rest. I hope I went out fighting for a good cause."
He opened his eyes to see a mist swirling in the vague shape of a man above the ball.
"Don't warry about me," the image said. "My time has come and gone."
He didn't know why but when he saw it...he didn't feel a thing. His mind was hollow.
He stared at the figure, oblivious of the comforting hand.
"Remus...if your here...I've left you alone, old friend. Take this money and do whatever you want with it. Flaunt it around. Show everyone where the last of the Black fortune is. Take the money that supported the dark for centuries and use it against Voldemort, but for Merlin's sake...buy some new clothes," it said with a small laugh.
"Tonks, I wish I could have gotten to know you better...That's life for you...Have a good one...Nymphadora." A small chuckle accompanied this.
"I ask one thing of you three. Have fun and keep each other together. You have more in common than you'd think."
The image's head lowered.
"Harry, since this hasn't been updated I'm guessing that I died before you finished school. My only regret is you. I failed you, kid. I'm sorry. I know you don't see it that way, but I do. You were my responsibility and I screwed up."
Ghostly tears fell down the face.
"Goodbye my friends and...family." The mist faded away and they sat in silence for a few moments.
"Those of you who did not have money transfered to a vault, follow me, please," said the goblin in a neutral tone.
The seven people he didn't recognize got up along with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley followed them in order to guide them in financial matters. The five of them stopped in the doorway and shot worried galces at Harry before Dumbledore motioned them forward.
Dumbledore and McGonagall gathered their books and stood. She had a sad expression on her face when she turned to him. "Mr. Po...Harry?"
Emerald eyes turned to her and she almost shuddered at their dead expression. "If you ever need anything..." He nodded before she finished and she flashed him a sad and understanding smile.
"Mr. Potter?" He turned toward the Headmaster who gave him a small smile. "Hogwarts will forever be open to you."
He turned back to the table and nodded. Thery had almost made it out of the door when Dumbledore turned back and began to speak.
"I've had this nagging sensation in the back of my mind and feel terrible for asking this, but where did you get those...robes?" He had a guilty quizzical expression and appeared to be sucking on a lemon drop.
Harry turned to him again with a contemplative look that was replaced with an uncarring one. "A man appeared in my room, waved his hand, turned my old clothes into these, turned himself into a ball of lightning, and vanished."
Dumbledore quickly paled and started to hack as he chocked on his candy.
Despite his depressed demeanor, Harry had a ghost of a smile on his face. It wasn't everyday that you saw Albus Dumbledore choke on a piece of candy.
McGonagall thumped him on the back a few times before he finally spit it out. He took a few deep breathes before speaking again.
"D-did you s-say lightning, Mr. Potter?" Needless to say that everyone was shocked to hear him stutter.
"Yes."
"Oh, sweet Merlin. Why me!" He visibly collected himself before continuing. "Stay on that man's good side, child."
"I don't think that will be a problem with him, Ablus." This came from directly behind him. Everyone looked up to see a man wearing what appeared to be a stray hat and a big grayish brown robe .
Dumbledore paled again before quickly saying, "My apologies, Harry, but I must be going!"
The man stuck his hand over Dumbledore's head as he spoke.
When he(Dumbledore) appeared to concentrate for a moment a ball electricity shot from the man's hand and hit him. A small crack echoed and he was gone.
Harry raised and eyebrow. "What did you do to him?"
A small chuckle was heard and he said, "I...altered...his destination."
McGonagall gasped while gaining an angry look. "What? Where did you send him?"
He laughed again. "Remus, will you explain? I believe it was nineteen seventy-nine?"
Everyone one turned to see a puzzled Remus Lupin slowly gain a horrified look in his eyes before they heard Tonks burst out laughing.
"You sent Albus Dumbledore There!" Lupin looked slightly amused, but still horrified.
"Amoung various other places," he replied with a smirk.
"Where is he?" McGonagall was almost hysterical by now.
"Minerva, why don't you come with me? I'll explain everything," Remus said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her away.
Harry turned back to the man and ignored the still laughing Tonks. "Where did you send him?"
"Go back to Privet Drive. Now," he said as he spun in a circle and vanished.
Harry stared at the spot a moment before shaking his head and turning to Tonks. "What was that about?"
She shook her head and shoved the portkey into his hand. Before they disappeared he heard McGonagall shout.
"He sent him where?"
AN: Sorry for the wait! I've had a busy month. I will NOT! abandon my stories!
PS:
jabarber69 Thank you! I do like my story, but it was short and to the point because I hadn't updated for a month! I had to get something out.
