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hapter 2: The Flight

They had been following Hedwig for some time, so high up that it even started to make Harry feel queasy; he dreaded to think how Hermione was feeling.

"We'll soon be there though" Harry reassured himself.

Sure enough it wasn't long before Hedwig took a steep dive downwards and the lights below them slowly became larger. Eventually they all realised they were flying low over London.

"Harry, this doesn't seem like a good idea. London isn't safe." Lupin bellowed.

Harry shrugged off the comment, Sirius had given him his house in Grimmauld place, it was covered with protective spells; didn't he have every right to use the Phoenix's Headquarters as home?

The four of them were now so low that, if they bothered to stretch a little bit, their feet would touch the rooftops. Suddenly a dark figure appeared flying their broomstick towards them. Whether friend or foe, the darkness would not allow them to tell. The stranger flew around a bemused Hedwig and pointed their wand at Lupin. Suddenly the swish of a Death Eater cloak was very visible.

"NO!" Harry bellowed, raising his own wand faster than lightning. "EXPELIARMUS!"

The Death Eater's wand went crashing to the ground. The Death Eater stared at Harry for a moment then started to dive to retrieve their wand. Lupin was much too quick for them,

"Stupefy!" Lupin yelled.

The Death Eater tumbled to the ground and out of sight.

"Come On! Quickly!" Lupin urged, wondering if more Death Eaters were lurking around.

They finished their decent and arrived in Grimmauld place, finding Hedwig sitting on the wall that separated number 11 and number 13. As they moved closer number 12 appeared between the two houses; Hedwig gave a hoot of surprise and flew towards Harry. The four of them, and the owl, entered the dark and dingy hall.

"Who was that?" Hermione asked, her voice shaking with shock and fear.

"I don't know, it was too dark to tell." Lupin said, and then he turned to Harry. "Honestly Harry! EXPELIARMUS?" Lupin had raised his voice so much that the portrait of Sirius' mother awoke and started to bellow.

"ARE THERE MUDBLOODS AND TRAITORS IN MY HOUSE AGAIN? I WON'T HAVE IT! FILTH! COMMON BLOOD!"

Their conversation had to end as they struggled to pull the curtain and silence Sirius' mother.

Once the hallway was once again in silence the four of them headed down into the kitchen which Harry was surprised to find empty.

"Where is every ..." Harry broke off midsentence, realising the answer to his question and not believing how stupid he had been. If Snape knew of this place, how on earth could it still be headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix? Instead he changed his question to "Is it safe here?"

"It's a safe as anywhere else is for you Harry, the order have made sure Snape can't utter a word about this place." Lupin took a deep breath and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "But if you carry on using spells like that one out there, you'll never be safe!"

"What's wrong with Expeliarmus? It's served me well it the past!" Harry argued.

"In the past you were a young boy who depended mainly on luck. You admit that yourself. But now the time for depending on luck alone has certainly passed. You MUST learn and above all use attack spells." Lupin's words were wise, but Harry refused to listen.

"I'M NOT A MURDERER!" Harry bellowed. "I will not stoop to their level!"

"At least stun if you aren't prepared to kill." Lupin explained calmly.

Harry knew he'd have no choice but to act on Lupin's advice, but he didn't want to admit it. Death Eaters were trained to attack not to defend; Harry had trained himself to defend and not to attack. It was a habit he'd have to break if he was ever to succeed. He knew loads of stunning spells, he'd learnt as many as he could for the Triwizard Tournament years ago. Yet, with a jolt of realisation, Harry remembered that it was Expeliarmus that he had used in the graveyard when facing death even though he had recently learnt all those stunning spells.

Lupin, now satisfied that Harry, Ron and Hermione were safe, decided to leave. He explained that he had work for the order that needed to be done and assured them that he'd be in touch.

"Lupin, the whole of London will be swarming with Death Eaters now they know Harry's here." Hermione protested. "This place is safe, don't leave yet!"

Despite Hermione's plea Lupin left. He claimed that no Death Eater would have a chance of seeing him if apparated from the top step.

With Lupin now gone, Harry and his two best friends were left all alone. Left to protect each other and do whatever they pleased. Harry was actually pleased at this idea, all his life he'd had grown-ups telling him to sit back and let them take control. Now they were almost classing him as leader, letting him show them the way forward. He wasn't a young boy in need of protection and depending on luck anymore; he'd grown out of that a long time ago. He had to take a step up now, despite the danger all around him. It was his turn to lead and to protect everyone he could.