Author's Note - Sorry everyone for the long away once again. Just a tough block in med school right now. Thanks to SiriusHarryPotter for diligence and patience and the same goes to you all that were doing the same. I don't believe I've thanked my new beta yet either, so thanks to Wolviesfan.
This is the end of Chapter 6 and the start of 7 as some transition was needed before proceeding.
"As I said, nothing glamorous about it," Remus sighed, wincing as he leaned backwards, stretching sore muscles. "He used me to complete the most definitive study of werewolves on record, and I used him to get my Masters."
"How long did it take you?" Sirius asked.
"Five years. Three years of apprenticeship study and then two years of externship," Remus replied, glancing at the door, "You forgot to order Kreacher to come back, didn't you?"
"Bugger," Sirius grumbled, storming out of the room, "Kreacher!"
Remus grinned, shaking his head, and continued cleaning.
Sirius stomped down the stairs, barking for the house elf. He quieted when he neared his mother's portrait and went into the kitchen, searching under the table and in the nook where he used to stay without success. He froze when he heard the front door open. It was far too early for anyone to be arriving for training tonight. He drew his wand as footsteps proceeded down the hall…footsteps that stopped suddenly only to be followed by a clatter and a feminine "Bollocks!"
Sirius snorted and stowed his wand. He left the kitchen to find his cousin sprawled on the floor, a troll's leg umbrella stand upended at her feet.
"Wotcher," Tonks moaned, accepting Sirius' help to her feet.
"I see you never outgrew that clumsiness your mother always lamented." Sirius grinned.
"Poor woman had the best reparo in the country." Tonks nodded, sucking at an abrasion on her palm, "Almost failed stealth and tracking over it."
"So what are you doing here so early? Nothing better to do than hang out in an decrepit musty house of loathsome witches and wizards?"
"I came to help you do something about that. I know you and your friend are cleaning up," she said, brushing herself off, "I'm not really very good at householdy spells, but I figured if I accidentally incinerated something, you wouldn't mind."
"Want to start in my mother's room?" Siris smirked. "Come on up. I left Remus in one of the guest rooms. Not too much left to do, really. We just wanted enough rooms for the Weasleys to start with, but we'll need more for later. Last time around, most of us ended up staying at headquarters more than our homes. Moony, mate, reinforcements have arrived!"
Chapter 7 – Patronus Lessons
"I'm telling you, Ronald, if Dumbledore thinks its best that Harry not be told anything, then there's a reason for it," Hermione said for what felt like the fiftieth time, but in truth was only the forth. She followed the Weasleys through the streets of London, headed for the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. She wished Ron would be quiet. She was trying to memorize the way should she ever need to find it on her own. She was also trying to take note of places where she would divert her path should she be followed or slip away and hide should she be ambushed.
"Well if you were Harry, wouldn't you think you had more of a right than anyone to know what's going on?" Ron countered.
"If I were Harry, I would trust Professor Dumbledore to do what's right." They had been having this argument since Professor Dumbledore had met her at the Burrow to reveal the location of headquarters to her and to tell them not to include any details if they wrote to Harry.
"Then why isn't Harry coming to Headquarters too," Ron huffed, "I mean when was the last time Harry spent the whole summer at his aunt and uncles?
"Well, I suppose the summer before he first came to Hogwarts. He spent the next summer with you."
"And the next he ran off and got to stay in Diagon Alley," Ron added.
"And last summer he stayed with you again." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Exactly! So why is it that this summer when You-Know-Who is back he's staying with muggles instead of at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix where there are witches and wizards and aurors?" Ron almost ran into Hermione's back, "What'd you stop for?"
"You know, you have a good point."
"What?"
"Oh, close your mouth. You look like a guppy," Hermione said, trying to hide her smile, "I said, you have a good point. You would think that he would be safer at Headquarters where he could be protected."
"Someone's watching Harry," Ginny interjected from in front of them.
"Would you stop eavesdropping on conversations," Ron snapped.
"If you don't want to be overheard, have your conversation in private," Ginny snapped back.
"What do you mean someone's watching Harry?" Hermione asked hurriedly as Ron drew breath to retort.
"I overheard Mum and Dad talking last night. They said that the Order is assigning rotating guards for Harry's house."
"How is it that you always know what's going on? You knew Bill and Charlie were coming in, you knew we were coming here the other day." Ron sputtered.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Just because I'm the youngest doesn't mean I'm stupid."
"Where did Mr. and Mrs. Weasley go?" Hermione asked sharply, cutting Ron off from continuing the argument.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, glancing at the front steps of Grimmauld Place, "They're on the stoop."
"We're here?" Hermione looked about, "but I don't see anything."
Charlie joined them from where he had been bringing up the rear, "We've all been here once before. To see it for the first time, you have to concentrate a bit. Just relax and look at the spot between numbers 11 and 13."
Hermione took a deep breath and stared determined between the numbers. Slowly, the two buildings seemed to shift apart. The occupants of number 11, visible through the front window, seemed unaware of the fact that their apartment was moving as they continued preparing dinner. "Oh, so that's how a Fidelis Charm works."
Fred and George turned and gave identical eye rolls before they proceeded up the front steps behind their parents. Remembering their disastrous entry before, Mr. Weasley softly opened the front door only to have music blast out, extolling the virtues of old time rock and roll. At the end of the hallway, the portrait of Mrs. Black could clearly be seen to be having a fit, but her shrieks muffled under the barrage of music. An ancient house elf, its skin sagging and batlike ears held stiff by rags stuffed in them was attempting to comfort her as he stroked her frame.
Molly Weasley was giving running commentary on the noise and by the speed in which her lips moved, it was clear she had a lot to say. The group made their way upstairs and down a hallway to find the music coming from the library. The door stood open and inside, Sirius spun Tonks about in a wild dance in the middle of the floor. Remus was lounging on a settee, his long legs draped over the arm, seeming to be reading intently, but he glanced up at the movement in the doorway. Beside him, the bell of a gramophone produced multicolored bubbles that shifted with the tone of the music. With a wave of his wand, the music stopped. Tonks stutter stepped and would have fallen had Sirius not caught her and gracefully pulled her into a dip. From downstairs, Mrs. Black's portrait shrieked.
"…blood traitor playing that wretched muggle noise…"
"What'd you stop the music for?" Tonks laughed as Sirius swept her up.
"We have company," Remus inclined his head towards the door, put his book on the end table, and stood.
"Hello Professor Lupin," Hermione pushed past the Weasleys and wrapped her arms around the older man. She let go quickly and blushed, afraid she had overstepped her bounds. After all, she had only been one of his students
Remus blushed a bit himself, but smiled warmly. "Hello Hermione. I think you can dispense with the 'Professor' bit. Remus will do fine."
"I like calling you Professor," Hermione said, "You were the best one we ever had."
Remus blushed a bit deeper and swept his arm towards the other two, "Hermione this is Nymphadora Tonks," then added quickly, "Who goes by Tonks," he said, seeing the telltale start of fiery red at the roots of the woman's hair.
"Wotcher," Tonks said offering her hand.
"You're a metamorphmagus!" Hermione said delighted.
"Yep," Tonks confirmed, obliging shifting her hair fully red.
"Tonks is an auror," Sirius said, "and my baby cousin."
"Hello Sirius," Hermione gave him a warm hug as well, "Its good to see you both. Especially you," she turned a slightly accusing gaze towards Remus. "You left before any of us could say goodbye, and you didn't write any of us," she said.
"Well, I thought it best to leave before the torches and pitchforks came out. As for writing, I apologize. I didn't really think any one would want to hear from me," he shrugged.
"Well, now you know better," Hermione smiled.
"Hello all," Sirius turned to the redheaded crowd at the doorway, "We've got rooms for all of you. Right this way." He swept past them, leading the way.
"You're giving patronus lessons tonight?" Hermione asked as she and Remus followed.
"That's right," Remus nodded.
"Could I sit in?"
"Yeah, Mum, can we?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"Yeah, Mum!"
"Please, Mum!"
"You lot aren't allowed to perform magic during the summer," Mrs. Weasley said sternly.
"We wouldn't have to practice the spell Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said tentatively, "We'd just watch and listen. Professor Lupin always includes theory whenever he's teaching a new spell and it's really helpful."
"Well, I just don't see…"
"Actually, Molly," Arthur interrupted, "I don't see anything wrong with it."
"Please, Mum," Ginny looked up at her pitifully.
"When was the last time we wanted to go to a lesson, huh Mum," Fred wheedled.
"Well…" Molly looked reluctant, "if Mr. Lupin doesn't mind, I suppose you can."
"More the merrier," Remus shrugged.
The children cheered, setting Mrs. Black's portrait off again.
Remus sighed, "I'll get that. I should get the dining hall ready anyway."
"Can I help?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you want to get settled in your room?" Remus asked.
Hermione shrugged, "Ginny can show me where it is later."
"All right then."
As the two descended, the noise from the portrait grew ever louder.
"How could you read with the music so loud?" Hermione asked, wincing as she copied Remus' movements and struggled to pull the curtains across Mrs. Black.
"I shared a dormitory with James and Sirius for seven years," Remus smiled, as he pulled on his side "You quickly learn how to perform a sound dampening charm with all that music and laughing and small explosions."
"Could you teach me that?" Hermione asked through grit teeth, "My roommates are horribly chatty."
Boots clomped down the stairs and hands with black and purple nail polish helped Hermione finally pull the curtains closed.
"Ugh, finally!" Tonks shook her head, "I was about to turn the gramophone back on. I just love oldies, don't you," she nudged the younger girl.
"That, my dear Tonks, is not oldies. That is classic rock," Remus said indignantly, but with a grin.
"Whatever gets you through the night," Tonks smirked, leading a laughing Hermione into the dining hall.