I own nothing it all belongs to JK Rowling! I Hope you like this chapter! :)
Harry was back at Hogwarts, propped up against several of his pillows in his four-post bed up in the Gryffindor tower. It was early morning and everyone else in the dormitory could still be heard snoring away, fast asleep. Harry however, was wide awake, his favorite book Quidditch Through the Ages lay open across his lap. He'd remained on the same page for at least fifteen minutes though, and with a frustrated sigh he closed the book. He'd reread the same paragraph five times before he succumbed to the fact that he wasn't Hermione and a book wasn't going to distract him from his troubles.
Hogwarts was one of Harry's favorite places, ever since he'd come to school here his first year when he was eleven it had been like a home to him. His sixth year brought a sea of responsibilities and problems though, and he was glad he'd be leaving for Christmas holiday today once everyone else had awoken.
He was quidditch captain which brought more responsibility than ever to the team. Malfoy was still rubbing him the wrong way, he knew he was behind something but nobody seemed to back him on this. Perhaps it was because his two best friends were too busy sorting through their own problems to worry about Malfoy. Ron and Hermione had bickered all year long it seemed, and now with Ron dating Lavender Brown it was worse than ever between them. Their troubles had all started with the Slug Club of course. Professor Slughorn was the new teacher this year, and had formed a club of his favorite students with rich backgrounds and abilities. Hermione, himself, and Ginny even had made the club, but Ron however hadn't been so lucky.
Slughorn was the new potions teacher which had come as quite a surprise to Harry, as Snape had finally fulfilled his dream of claiming the Dark Arts post. Harry might stress on this more if it wasn't for the fact that he'd been able to take potions again after all, and that's where he'd found the source of one of the better things that had happened to him this year. That was discovering the Half Blood Princes old copy of "potion making." He'd quickly become the best in class this year in Potions, which added to Hermione's fury. He didn't let it bother him because he'd grown rather fond of the Prince. He was hoping to ask Sirius if he or the other Marauder's had been behind it.
His stomach twisted at the thought of Sirius. Looking out the window he longed for nothing more than to see an owl with a letter tied to its leg swoop down and tap on the window. His biggest problem didn't lie with Ron and Hermione, Slughorn, Quidditch, Malfoy, or even his classes with Dumbledore. It lay with the fact that he hadn't heard from his godfather in two weeks now.
He'd never had family who corresponded with him through owl during his school years. He'd occasionally get an owl from Mrs. Weasley and he used to get them from Sirius but he was on the run and they were never consistent. He didn't even get post from Sirius last year once Umbridge had blocked his mail. This year had brought a new gratification of receiving post almost everyday from his godfather. With Ron and Hermione bickering so much it had been a high point to be able to correspond with Sirius frequently. Sirius kept up with him and his lessons with Dumbledore, and in turn he kept up with what Sirius was up to with the Order.
So when the owls stopped coming he noticed quickly that they had. First, he wrote it off as Sirius was busy with work for the Order and he would write in a few days. Once a week passed he wrote him to ask if he was alright, but received no response. Now it was Christmas Holiday and Sirius hadn't returned his letter asking if he were still set with him coming home for the break. Hermione and Ron were supportive, comforting him that it would be fine. He appreciated his friends for this, but he knew them well enough to read their expressions that they too were nervous for Sirius.
Ron told him to just accompany him home to the Burrow for Christmas, that he could meet up with Sirius there or at the very least get word about what is going on. Harry appreciated Ron for this very much, he was grateful to be visiting the Weasleys and to get answers on why his godfather had gone silent. He hoped Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would know something or at the very least he'd get in contact with Lupin who was staying at Sirius's house.
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Harry arrived at the Burrow with Ron later that afternoon. Ron seemed grateful to get away from Lavender, for even he seemed to be getting tired of their constant snogging. Hermione had gone home to visit her parents for Christmas this year so it was just Ron, Ginny, and him making the trip back to the Burrow from Hogwarts.
The Burrow was bright and loud with Christmas Cheer and decorations when they arrived through the door. It was a full house with Bill, Fleur, Charlie, and the twins being home to visit as well. Harry was greeted by Mrs. Weasley who was ecstatic to see him, and pressuring him into eating some of her Christmas treats any chance she caught him without one. Harry spotted Mr. Weasley in the corner chatting with Charlie and jumped at the opportunity to talk to him, he'd always been a bit keener to give Harry information than Mrs. Weasley had been.
"Hey Mr. Weasley" Harry said cheerfully sitting down in a chair opposite of him. Mr. Weasley gave him a warm smile while wringing his hand welcomingly.
"Mr. Weasley, I know it's Christmas tomorrow and I don't want to bombard you with questions about the order but I haven't heard from Sirius… I was just wondering if you knew anything about where he might be?" Harry asked hopefully, he got right to the point. Sirius should be here, he couldn't hold it in anymore. Mr. Weasleys expression changed but he hardly looked surprised.
"Yes. I knew you'd be wondering about him, and I'm really sorry to tell you this but none of us have heard from him either." He looked truly apologetic as he said this. Harry's stomach felt sick, and not from too many of Mrs. Weasley's treats.
"He's gone off doing work for the Order, and now no one has heard from him?" He asked quietly, a sinking feeling started to hit him. Mr. Weasley nodded solemnly, Harry appreciated his honestly all in the same.
"Sometimes work for the Order just takes time, to keep yourself safe you've got to stay hidden and quiet." Charlie said. He'd been listening to their conversation and gave Harry an encouraging grin. Harry managed to nod back at him, trying to return the smile but he knew it probably looked more of a grimace. Mr. Weasley was looking sympathetic and sad, and somehow it made Harry feel worse.
"Well I'm going to grab something to drink, thanks Mr. Weasley." Harry said excusing himself and walking towards the kitchen. He was feeling rather out of place, with everyone laughing and joking together. Walking into the kitchen he desperately was searching for a moment alone to compose himself, but sitting at the table was Ginny. Somehow Harry didn't find this to be a problem.
"Hey Harry!" She said brightly, shooting him a smile.
"Escaping all your brothers?" Harry asked shooting her a smile back, she laughed with her long red hair falling around her face. Maybe he didn't need a moment alone after all.
"Well I have I have 6 brothers and started dating this year, so yes a moment alone can be nice." She said with a dark look but a little smirk after. "So why are YOU hiding in here huh?" She asked and Harry sighed sitting down in the chair opposite of her. Glancing up at Mrs. Weasley's custom clock he saw that all the hands belonging to her husband and many children were pointing at Mortal Peril.
"I haven't heard from Sirius in 2 weeks now, he was doing work for the Order and I think something happened to him. It's odd he hasn't written me, and especially left me hanging for the holidays." He said honestly, he was grateful to talk to Ginny about it.
"I like Sirius, I'm sorry you haven't heard from him. I'm sure he's doing okay though, I don't think the Death Eaters would harm him as much as they would use him against you first. We already found that out right? Maybe he's laying low on his journey." She suggested looking thoughtful and Harry appreciated her greatly right now. She was blunt, but still radiated kindness all in the same. She had the compassion of her mother and the wildness of her twin brothers. She had a point though, surely they wouldn't just kill him if they came across him as much as they'd use his godfather to get to him.
"Miss the Slug Club yet?" She asked playfully and Harry rolled his eyes with a laugh at this. Ginny was easy to talk to, and conversation seemed to flow between them effortlessly. When he had been with Cho last year everything had felt forced and overthought. Although with Ginny right now, even if it was only for a moment while talking with her about the Gryffindor Quidditch team, he could relax and enjoy being back at the Burrow.
Their conversation had to come to end though eventually, and it did as a loud knock came from the back door. Before Harry or Ginny could make to get it Mrs. Weasley came hurrying through the kitchen to see who it was. Shortly after Harry was happy to see Lupin following her through the kitchen. His cloak had flakes of snow on it and his face was pink from the cold. He looked travel worn but wore a smile and warm expression as he walked in behind her.
"Thanks for having me Molly." He said pulling off his cloak and flashing a grateful smile at Mrs. Weasley who offered him a glass of fire whiskey.
"Of course, Remus you know you're always welcome here. I'll be back, I'm just going to offer one to Arthur as well." She said and bustled out of the kitchen into the living room again. Harry heard commotion from the living room that sounded very much like filibuster firework going off. Probably caused by none other than Fred and George and it was clear Mrs. Weasley would not be right back in just yet. Ginny stood up from her chair at the moment with a look of glee on her face, clearly about to go get in on the action.
"I'm going to play a game of exploding snap with Fred and George after mums done wringing their necks, next game Harry?" Ginny asked and Harry nodded as she smiled and left the kitchen as well.
"How are you Harry?" Lupin asked with a small smile and a quick one-armed hug around Harry's shoulder before sitting in the chair Ginny had just gotten up from.
"I think you probably know the answer to that, do you have any idea where he is?" Harry asked giving lupin an imploring look. He didn't see the point in wasting time beating around the bush with Lupin, he would understand.
"Ah, I figured you'd probably be right to the point." Lupin said slowly, thoughtfulness etched into the lines of his tired face. Harry liked Lupin, he always had from when he first met him in his third year at Hogwarts. Lupin had always been kind and compassionate, even though he suffered from lycanthropism and had every reason to not be.
"He set off a couple weeks back on a lead that Embry was being held at a Death Eaters home. He went to scope it out and I haven't heard back from him. I'm trying to get information but it's tricky out there right now." Lupin explained and Harry felt his stomach drop, his last hope had brought him no new information on his godfather other than confirming his fears. Confirming that Sirius was indeed headed towards the presence of Death Eaters.
"He told me he was going to be more careful, that he wouldn't just take off." Harry said quietly, looking down at the scrubbed wood of the Weasley's kitchen table. He was worried but he was almost angry now with his godfather.
"He was doing a good job of it until he got that lead. It's also important to note we don't know what happened yet. He could be perfectly fine, and I have faith he is." Lupin said and Harry looked up to see Lupin take a deep drink of his fire whiskey.