Author's Note: My apologies for not updating this weekend like I had been. I hadn't really thought anyone was reading, so I didn't hurry myself about it. I'm in the middle of selling a house and preparing to move to start school again, so life's been a bit on the hectic side. Still I found something interesting about myself. Flattery does get me to do things. This bit's for catwalking.owl who is really too kind and I hope I don't disappoint.
Also thanks to those who have alerted the story who I haven't yet acknowledged, SiriusHarryPotter, iPickle11, hate to love you, and catwalking.owl
This chapter is only a two parter and is unfortunately what I always call "necessary filler." Not overly action packed, but necessary for story progression.
Chapter 2 - Dumbledore's Plans (Part 1)
Remus's eyes flew open, hearing footsteps. He glanced about the living room confused for a moment before the events of last night rushed back to him. He wasn't in his bedroom because Sirius was, and it was Sirius's steps he was hearing. He sat up, yawning as Sirius appeared from the bedroom.
"Never could get up without waking you," Sirius shook his head sleepily.
"You know I don't sleep that well anyway," Remus shrugged, stretching, and groaning when a series of pops emitted from his joints.
Sirius shuddered, "Do you have to do that before breakfast?"
"You try having your skeleton rearranged every month for thirty years and see if you can keep your joints from being loose," Remus replied arching his back with a series of cracks.
"Ugh," Sirius put his hands over his ears and went into the kitchen.
Remus popped a few more joints before getting up, attempting with one hand to tame his tousled hair, and joining his friend. He found Sirius with his head in the fridge.
"Remus, you don't have anything in here," He stood up, looking concerned.
"Sorry, that was the last of it last night. I haven't had a chance to go to the market in a few days." Actually, he hadn't had the money, but he didn't want his friend to know that. He'd been trying to make those eggs and bread last till the end of the week, "I'll make some tea and go after Dumbledore leaves." He reached for the tea tin and frowned at how light it was. "Well," he said, a bit chagrined, as he unscrewed the lid and saw only tea dust. He hadn't paid attention to the amount he made last night with the suddenness of Sirius's arrival, "perhaps he won't want tea."
He began going through cabinets, hoping there was something he'd forgotten to offer Sirius and Dumbledore. He'd only gone through two when Sirius stopped him.
"Remus, do you have any food?" He asked softly.
"Sorry," he replied, trying to sound light, "Must not have realized I was so low," he started moving towards the bedroom to change clothes, "Listen, stay here. If Dumbledore shows up before I get back, tell him where I've gone. I shouldn't be long."
"Remus," Sirius caught him by the elbow, "do you have money for food?"
Remus sighed, "No, but the grocer is constantly battling imps stealing from his fruit barrels. I get a certain amount of food from him every month for keeping wards up for him. I'm supposed to come at the end of the week, but he's fairly reasonable. He'll probably let me go ahead and grab a few things before he opens." He pulled away gently so he could dress.
"Why before he opens?" Sirius followed him.
Remus sighed, resigned to dressing as he began to induct Sirius into the daily life of an outed werewolf, "He can't very well risk having his customers see me there. If they knew he was
letting me in the market, he'd lose all his business. It's really very kind he's made this arrangement with me at all."
"Kind!" Sirius growled, "If the man had any spine, he'd tell his customers that he'll sell to who he damn well pleases!"
"Not now, Sirius, please," he begged, pulling a worn oxford shirt over his head, "If I don't get there, I won't have time to slip in."
Before Sirius could reply, they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Oh bugger it," Remus sighed. It could only be Dumbledore. With Sirius's arrival last night, this made his second visitor since he'd arrived at his parent's former home.
He opened the door, standing aside and inviting the elder wizard into the house. Dumbledore entered, carrying a basket.
"Good morning, Remus, Sirius," he nodded at each of them, "I hope you don't mind," he said, holding up a basket, "I brought tea and pumpkin juice as well as a few bites to eat. It seems that one of the kitchen elves, Tinky, remembers you both fondly, and I'm afraid she may have overstuffed the basket."
"Good old Tinky," Sirius grinned, watching as Dumbledore unloaded their favorite foods. There was not only breakfast, but several days' worth of meals.
Remus succeeded in smiling, but couldn't help ducking his head. Seeing this, but knowing better than to speak, Sirius slung an arm across his friend's shoulders.
"Why don't we all tuck in? It is much easier to discuss unpleasant things with a full stomach." The headmaster said.
The trio sat down at the table. Dumbledore sipped quietly on his tea as he watched the boys eat their fill. He observed with regret that both were entirely too thin. Remus was doing his best not to lose his dignity as he dug into chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup. Sirius just barely managed to shell his boiled egg before disposing of it in one mouthful. They slowed down after several minutes, both chewing happily on floppy bacon.
"Please, continue eating, the both of you. It looks as if it has been too long since you both enjoyed a good meal. Remus, I trust Sirius has apprised you of the situation." Dumbledore began.
Remus nodded, trying to finish chewing.
"Oh please, keep eating," Dumbledore waved him on, "I have received word from everyone you contacted, Sirius, and I am happy to report that all of them are willing to rejoin the effort. Thank you for your assistance in that."
"It's good to finally be doing something besides looking after my own skin," Sirius said.
"Which leads me to my visit here this morning; the Order is ready to reform, however, since Mr. Pettigrew has, I am quite sure, shared all of our secrets with his new master, the Founder's
Cottage will no longer serve its purpose. We shall need a new place to meet," Dumbledore's gaze shifted from grey eyes to blue.
"Well," Remus began, wiping his mouth with a Hogwart's napkin, "you're welcome to use this house, Albus, but there were often times that members would need to stay the night. This house is rather on the cozy side, I fear."
"And there are anti-Apparition wards around the property," Sirius glared at him. "You'd have to apparate to the end of the road and walk to meetings."
"Better than accidentally apparating to the front door of a werewolf during the full moon," Remus replied calmly.
"While I appreciate your willingness to offer up your childhood home, Remus, I think you are right that this house is a bit small for our needs," Dumbledore interrupted.
"Well, why not trade one childhood home for another," Sirius said. Dumbledore turned his attention to him, "My parents' house is ridiculously huge, conveniently unused, and hilariously ironic." Sirius smirked.
Dumbledore seemed to think for a moment, his long-fingered hands steepled in front of him, "If I remember correctly, your parents' house is in London?"
Sirius nodded, "Yes, in a muggle district oddly enough, but hidden of course."
"Yes, I that will do nicely, but I think for added protection, we should put a Fidelis charm on the location," Dumbledore said.
"Remus should be Secret-Keeper then," Sirius said immediately.
Remus smiled softly. Sirius was as blunt as a mallet most of the time and it extended to everything, even apologies.
"Remus will be needed in the field," Dumbledore replied, "I have no doubts, of course, that the charm would be in good hands," Remus waved him off without offense, "but the Secret-Keeper must be someone who will be in a relatively safe position. I had hoped that you would agree, Sirius?"
"Well I'll be in the field too," Sirius laughed.
"I'm afraid that will be impossible," Dumbledore told him delicately.
"And why is that?" Sirius growled.
"My boy, I'm afraid that you are in the unique position of being wanted by both the Death Eaters and the Ministry. You cannot walk about freely, which limits the amount of information you could obtain. If you were in an engagement the Death Eaters and aurors came on scene, they would go for you before anyone else. If you were to be caught by the Ministry, you would be given the Dementor's Kiss, and I have no wish for you to become a shell of a human being. I hope you will forgive me for that." Dumbledore held nothing back.
"What exactly do you expect me to do then? Pack lunches?" Sirius asked bitterly.
"You will be in charge of headquarters," Dumbledore told him, "You will see that teams coming and going check in and out, coordinate the meetings, see to supplies…I daresay you will be kept quite busy."
"A house elf could do everything you just said," Sirius grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Remus, we will likely be recruiting several new members. I want you to be in charge of seeing that they have all the information and training necessary. Alastor has already given me the names of two aurors that he feels will be inclined to join. One is a senior auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt. He will most likely be fairly well trained, but we will need to test him. He will at least need to be taught the patronus charm. It seems that it is no longer taught since the Ministry believes they have control of the Dementors and I do believe that having taught a thirteen year old to cast the charm, you would be the perfect person to teach a few aurors. The other is a junior auror just out of her apprenticeship. Alastor speaks highly of her; she is, I believe, something of a protégé, but says that she still has much to learn."
"If she has Moody's approval, I'm sure she'll be fine," Remus nodded.
"There is also the Weasley's: Arthur and Molly, of course, and their two oldest Bill and Charlie. Bill is a Gringott's curse-breaker, so he has experience against dark artifacts and malevolent spirits. Charlie is a dragon-keeper and has a solid background in dark creatures, but both will need some further guidance. Subduing spirits and creatures is not the same as dueling dark wizards."
"What about Percy?" Remus asked, remembering him from his classes, "He went into the Ministry, did he not? He could be a valuable member."
"There have been some complications. I will brief everyone at our first meeting, but Percy has not shown that he is trust-worthy at the moment," Dumbledore said sadly.
"I will work out a basic test for all new Order members to get an idea of where each of them are and make out a training plan from there," Remus said.
"Very well then, if that is settled, there is still the matter of the Secret-Keeper?" Dumbledore looked between the other two.
The two Marauders nodded at one another, and then Sirius said, "I think you're the most obvious choice, Albus."
Dumbledore nodded, "Very well then. Remus, if you would please?"