Ramona was expecting the house to be full when she arrived Thursday evening.
She expected to step through the fireplace to find Molly harping over her children to finish up the last of their holiday homework, to find some subset of Order members sitting around sipping coffee and talking- the normal run around of the house; but there was no one. The silence caught her off guard, so she took her wand out and gripped it tight.
"Hello?" She called, receiving no reply at first. Slowly, Ramona slipped out of her stiletto work heels and padded quietly on the cold hardwood floor. If there was something wrong, it would be much easier to run barefoot than in the heels, she reasoned. Plus they'd been killing her feet all day, but that was neither her main concern nor out of the norm for her.
"Molly?" She called, poking her head from the dining room to the kitchen, finding that it was not only empty, but also stripped bare. The walls sat patchy and empty, white primer covering what had previously been green and gold walls and furnishings. The only thing adorning the counter was a serving tray, which had a silver dome covering whatever was under it. Ramona raised an eyebrow in confusion, but moved on.
The front hall entryway had also been stripped down to its bare bones. The thick tapestry lining the left side, the dark brown wallpaper from the right, and all the taxidermied house elves- all were missing. The decades worth of cobwebs had been cleared away, and the carpet covering the stairs ripped up.
"Hello?" Ramona called up the stairs. "Sirius?"
"Up here darling!" He called back in an almost sing-song voice.
Ramona cautiously climbed the stairs to the third floor, finding Sirius leaning against the bedroom door of what she knew to be Buckbeak's room. She was a bit taken back by the outfit he'd dressed in. Normally Ramona found him in jeans and either an old band t-shirt or a button down he may or may not bother to fully do up. Today however, he was in a full suit, minus the tie, and while he still hadn't bothered to fully button the white collared shirt that he wore beneath his vest, it suited him more to leave it this way, with some of his chest and tattoos exposed.
"Where is everyone?" She ask, taking the hand he extended to her.
"Out." Sirius replied simply, kissing her knuckles. "Kicked them all out for the evening."
"Sirius there are like... Ten other people living here full time. How can you kick them all out?" Ramona questioned, a bit confused.
"Well, first off..." Sirius turned her hand over in his, and placed a second kiss on her inner wrist, "This is my house, so they live here because I allow it. Second off- they've only given us the evening. I said until about 9:30 or so this evening. I hope to be back upstairs by then, after that I don't care who's back. Now- I wasn't quite done downstairs, so you go change and I'll come get you in a moment."
"What?" Ramona demanded as Sirius placed a final kiss on her temple as he moved past her.
"Dress is on the bed!" He called as he descended the stairs.
"What?" Ramona repeated, confused. She looked back to the door she'd found him leaned against. It wasn't his bedroom, at least not the one she knew of him staying in last. His was his childhood room, with an upgraded bed from a twin to a queen. It was very much a rebellious teen's room, still decorated with Gryffindor banners and motorcycle posters. She'd found it enduring at first, and had never really mentioned changing it, just making another room into 'their' room. She stood for a moment outside the door, then cautiously opened it up.
Rather than the normal mess and strong smell of cooped up hippogriff, she was met by the faint scent of lavender as she pushed the door fully open.
The room she found inside didn't even look like it belonged to the same house. The walls were now a bright teal with white crown molding at the top and gentle molding across the bottom. The windows had been completely replaced, a large picture window with white framing and a bench window seat was in its place. The white bedroom furniture from her home had been moved, Remus' doing, she assumed. Her dresser and wardrobe were on the left of the bed, her makeup table to the right. Against the far wall was a king-sized canopy bed, surrounded with sheer white curtains. It was made with billowing white blankets adorned with small, yellow flowers and swirling vines. Just as Sirius had said, there was a dress laid out on the bed. A black one, which had been form fitting before, but had enough give that it would still fit now and hug her small bump.
Across the room on the opposite wall, just past the ensuite bathroom, was a crib that matched the bed, and beside it, a lacy white bassinet. Ramona ignored the dress and moved over to the crib, gently running her hand along the rail.
The wood work on the crib was gorgeous- and Ramona felt tears pouring down her face before she knew what had even happened. It was all so beautiful, even more than the version in her daydreams. The old, molded carpet had been ripped up and replaced with a plush, light beige one had replaced it. It felt soft and comforting beneath her still-bare feet. From that she could see through the open bathroom door, it had been redone to match the bedroom, except with fresh white and teal tiles.
"I hope those are happy tears, because if I have to make those Weasley boys do any more work in here, they may riot." Sirius joked from behind her, and she spun on her heels.
"Sirius, this is-" She stopped and looked up, blinking rapidly. "Its amazing."
"Promise you're not just saying that?" He ask, crossing the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around her and held her just far enough away that he could still see her face. "Because I wanted to make a place you'd want to come to."
"Sirius..." Her voice broke, and she laid one hand gently against his cheek. "Thank you." She stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss gently on his lips.
"I was coming to get you for dinner, but it seems you're still somewhat under-dressed. So let me give you this..." He produced a rose from the air and handed it to her. "And I'll leave you again. When you're ready, come on down to the back kitchen door."
"Oh, okay." Ramona nodded. "Sorry- I was just distracted."
"I figured." Sirius laughed. "Come on."
Ramona hurried to dress, and found that happily when her furniture had been moved, her belongings had remained in place so she was able to find some flats that would suit the dress to throw on so she could hurry down stairs. Once again, she found Sirius propped on a door, waiting for her.
"Well damn, Mumma, look at you." Sirius grinned as she came around the corner.
"Yeah, thanks." Ramona looked down at her dress. "I meant to tell you earlier-"
"You don't have to tell me nothing, babe, I know I look good." He joked, cutting her off with a laugh and a wink.
"Just take the compliment, you ass." Ramona joked back as he opened the door.
Not that she had expected it to be any different, but the patio was in much the same shape as last she'd been to Grimmauld. Tonight, however, there was a small table set for two, and candles floating all around, enhancing the golden evening sky. There were eleven long stem red roses in the middle of the table, the rest of the set, she imagined, to the one she'd left laying on her dresser.
"Damn it, Sirius..." Ramona choked, trying to blink tears away again. Sirius handed her a handkerchief as he gently guided her to her seat. He pulled her chair out, then assisted her with scooting to the table before taking his own seat.
"This is kind of fun for me, you know." Sirius smiled as Ramona tried to dab her eyes so that she did not smear her makeup.
"What?" She demanded, offended at the remark.
"You're just... you're a tough cookie. I was completely sure I'd never see you cry, but now these hormones have you on and off like a faucet." He explained.
"Sirius, I don't think I need the hormonal help to be moved to tears by things like this..." She replied.
"Not bad for a shut in, huh?" Sirius smirked. He took bottle from a bucket of ice and popped the cork. "Relax," he assured her, "Its sparkling grape juice."
"You thought of everything." She gushed.
"Well, we have a lot to talk about, and I wanted to you know- make sure you knew I was thinking about you, and how much I want to make you happy." Sirius replied quietly.
"I know." Ramona nodded. "Can I know what is for food?"
Sirius snorted at her wording, but removed the silver dish cover to reveal two very cheesy plates of Pasta Alfredo and a large basket of garlic bread.
"I was going to do a whole 'soup, salad, meal' thing, but Tonks told me to skip it. Figured you'd be happier with this... and Apparently that was a good plan..." Sirius laughed watching as Ramona had already taken a large bite of bread, having snatched one on sight.
"Did you make this?" Her words came garbled behind her bite.
"Believe it or not." Sirius nodded.
"Oh my gosh..." She groaned. "I'm like... I'm so happy right now. You just..." She took a moment to clear her mouth of bread, had a sip of her juice, then continued. "You just have no idea- but don't worry, I'll show you later."
Sirius sat back in his seat laughing, then nodded along. "Alright, I look forward to it."
He took a little bit of a conversational break, eating at his own food but mostly watching her enjoy hers. Ramona moaned into her food, continuously complimenting his surprise cooking skills. When she was about halfway through the mound of pasta before her and had slowed down a bit, she took a large drink of her juice to clear her mouth again, and she cleared her throat.
"So, Harry's birthday is... five weeks? Four?" She ask, knowing that this discussion was the elephant in the room.
"Four." Sirius nodded. "I er- Moony and I, we talked about that."
"I don't want you to think I was doubting you, you know." Ramona insisted. "I just..."
"I know." Sirius nodded again. "He explained. And I get it..." he took her hand in his, "I'm not Lyall. You're not Walburga. We deserved better, so that is what we will be. We're going to make this hell hole a happy home."
"I'm glad to hear you say that..." Ramona smiled slightly, "I uh- I turned my notice in today. Two more weeks, and I'm done. I was hoping your offer was still good."
Sirius nearly came out of his seat, his eyes gleamed in the candlelight, "Are you serious?"
"No darling, you are." Ramona teased back, even as Sirius was pulling her to her feet.
"I was about to ask you if you wanted to dance anyway..." Sirius replied, spinning her away and then back, holding her close and swaying to the sound of summer crickets and the street cars outside the fence. Sirius watched her face as a range of emotions seemed to play out behind her large hazel eyes. "Are you okay?"
"No." She shook her head, and he let go of her hip long enough to catch a tear and wipe it on his vest.
"How can I help?" He whispered, kissing her cheek.
"I-" Ramona started, and she took deep, shuttering breath. "I need to say something to you. And I need to say it and know that you're really hearing me."
"Anything." Sirius replied gently.
"I love you, Sirius." Ramona shuttered. "I love you in a way that I cannot help, and don't want to help. I love you in a way that is too easy to feel safe, like I'll wake up one day and they other shoe will drop and -"
He cut her off with a kiss again. Soft, gentle, ghost of his lips on hers, just to stop her from getting even more upset.
"I love you, too." Sirius grinned. "Gods, I love you Ramona. I have wanted to say that for so so long but I didn't want-"
"To scare me away?" She guessed with a small giggle. She took one of his hands and slid it down to cover her belly. "I think you're stuck with me either way."
"Thank Heaven for that." Sirius smiled into her lips again before pulling her into a deeper kiss.
"Mmm." Ramona sighed into his mouth. "Question. How does that new bed sleep?"
"I don't know. I mean, I tried it out when we put it up, but I wasn't going to sleep in it without you- please don't cry again."
"I can't stop crying, you won't stop being so sweet..." Ramona laughed, fanning her eyes. "Take me upstairs and get me out of this dress?"
"Ramona, the only reason I picked this dress out was to take it back off of you..." Sirius laughed. "You won't have to ask me twice."
The next few weeks began a hectic combination of Ramona moving everything from she and Remus' mother's house to Grimmauld along with renovations. Molly had been nearly as excited to help Ramona with everything as Ramona herself was to get things done. Both witches spent quite a bit of time pouring over catalogs and paint samples, bossing the wizards in the house around to make everything happen.
To date they'd refinished the front hall with a pastel yellow paint job, redone the stairs and flooring in halls in a light hardwood, and had the sky blue kitchen of Ramona's dreams finished. The formal dining room had thus far been painted, and the mounted china display cleared of the old 'Black Heirloom' china, and Ramona was busy unpacking her personal stores of potion supplies and organizing them onto the china shelves.
Molly had been up since the early morning, starting on the different foods she wanted to have ready for the birthday party they had planned for Harry the following day. It was his birthday, and the Order had plans to pick Harry up bright and early the following morning, August 1st. Molly wanted everything perfect before then. She'd had Hermione and Ginny helping her at first, but once things were in the oven, the younger witches had wandered off in search of other things to do.
Ginny had a new magazine she wanted to read, but Hermione found herself deeply interested in what the residential potion master was busying herself with on this particular morning.
"Ms. Lupin?" Hermione ask, sitting down across from Ramona.
"As stated before, Hermione, Ramona is fine." Ramona smiled, looking up briefly from the label she'd been writing on.
"Sorry. I was just wondering if I could ask you something?" Hermione continued.
"Go for it." Ramona said, turning and releasing the jar into the air, where it floated over and shelved itself next to the last.
"Two things, actually. First off- How do you two do that?" Hermione ask, sitting forward.
"Do what?" Ramona said, sending another jar off.
"That!" Hermione said, pointing at the jar. "You and Professor Lupin do more wandless, wordless magic than anyone else I've ever seen."
"Oh!" Ramona laughed. "I guess its just... Something. I'm not sure. Remus taught me, and I think he also taught himself. Our dad could do it too, but he wasn't really an effective teacher." She shrugged.
"Oh." Hermione nodded.
"What was the other thing?" Ramona ask, pouring a plastic bag filled with dried roots onto the table. She began to pick through them, sitting shriveled ones to the side.
"You're a Potion Master, right?" Hermione ask, and Ramona nodded. "How does one become a 'Master', exactly?"
"Well, you have to have so many OWLs and NEWTs, then you have to apply to a program. St. Mungo's has one, but some of the other private apothecaries do too. If accepted, its two years under another master, then Ministry standardized testing. Then you renew your license yearly." Ramona explained.
"Sounds kind of like working in the muggle medical field." Hermione replied, eyes wide.
"Are potions something you're interested in?" Ramona laughed.
"Not especially, no." Hermione shrugged. "Professor Snape never explained."
Ramona snorted a bit, just as her watched let out a small melody. "Sorry, Hermione, we'll have to finish this chat a bit later." She stood and adjusted her shirt, which had rose up on her belly when she sat. "Sirius?!" She called. "Time to go!"
Hermione laughed out loud when Sirius, as Padfoot, trotted in wearing his service uniform, leash in his mouth. He laid it at Ramona's feet.
"I have an ultrasound today, I wanted Sirius to be able to go- this is what Remus came up with." She explained. Padfoot sat still by her feet, tail wagging.
"That's- really brilliant, actually." Hermione replied. "Good luck!"
Sirius and Ramona had only been gone about twenty minutes when Tonks came bursting into the house, looking pale and out of breath.
Molly sat her down and fetched her a glass of water, and she sent Ron to find Remus.
"Slowly, deep breaths." Molly instructed. "Tell us what's happened?"
"What's going on?" Remus rushed in, kneeling beside Tonk's chair, his arm bracing him on the chair back, partially wrapped around the colorful auror.
"Harry..." She started, taking a deep breath. "Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin, and the Ministry is expelling him."
"Dementors?" Remus questioned. "Why would there be dementors in Surrey?"
Tonks shook her head.
"Exactly. So the Ministry are calling Harry a liar, saying he exposed us by doing a patronus in front of a muggle..." She explained. "I was listening in when they came in and told this prat I work with, Chancey, he's just under Kingsley in command, but firmly in Fudge's pocket... I got here as quick as I could."
Remus looked up at Molly, who gave the same grave face back.
"They're trying to discredit him. His word about Voldemort." Remus concluded. "Sod it, I'm going to get him."
"Remus I really think you should wait and stick to the plan..." Molly interrupted.
"Respectfully, Molly- No." Remus shook his head. "He should've been here with us this entire time. I'm going to get him. If we wait any longer, Ramona and Sirius may get home, and there will be no keeping Sirius in this house once he hears."
"I'll go with you." Tonks offered. Remus stood and looked her over, considering it for a moment.
"Safety in numbers, I suppose." He nodded. "Come on then."
Remus led Tonks out of the old Manor and down the road to where there was an alley with a tall wooden gate. He held it open for her to slip in, before following her and pulling it shut. He held out a hand, and Tonks hesitated for a moment before laying her hand in his, willing herself to morph over the blush creeping up her cheeks so he wouldn't know this simple gesture of assisting her to apperate to the appropriate destination had such an affect on her. Remus gave her a small warning and then took them out with a faint 'pop'.
When they landed again, Remus kept his arm stiff and held up the clumsy witch, as she readjusted to her feet on the ground.
"Alright?" He ask with a small smile as she let him go and moved her fringe from her eyes.
"Yeah... Just took me a second. Sorry." Tonks replied, looking around. "Did we land in someone's yard?" Tonks noticed they were in a fenced in area, the border tall enough that nobody would've seen them suddenly appear. There was patio furniture and an old, neglected sandbox on the far side, a relic from Harry's cousin's younger days, she assumed, though she wasn't completely sure this was the right house just yet.
"Harry's." Remus nodded, pointing up. The house was dark, save the one window Remus pointed to. "That one there is his bedroom- and lucky us seems like he's the only one here and his window, it's open."
Remus let out a long, high pitched whistle. There was some movement to be seen from the window. He took out his pack of cigarettes and lit one, then whistled again.
"Harry James, I know you can hear me." He called up. A brief second later the young boy's face appeared in the window.
"Remus?" He called back. "What are you doing here?"
"Come to take you home, of course. Pack up and come on down." Remus called up, and Harry nodded and disappeared from view again.
Remus sighed, shook his head, and took another long draw from the cigarette.
"You know, Ramona is not going to let you hold that baby as long as you keep smoking." Tonks teased.
"I've cut way back..." Remus defended. "I'm working on it." He took one last long pull and threw the rest of it to the ground, stomping the embers with his heel. As they spoke, the back door swung open, and Harry came out, dragging his school trunk.
"Harry!" Remus said, catching the younger wizard, as he had dropped the bottom of his trunk he'd been holding and ran to his uncle's arms. Remus held him in the embrace for a long moment, before Harry pulled back.
"You saved my life you know..." He told Remus, smiling. "And Dudley's too, I reckon."
"Yes, I heard. I'm so proud of you- though I am so sorry you had to use it like this..." Remus replied, knowing he meant the patronus charm Remus had taught him. "Listen, Harry. This is Nymphadora T-"
"Just Tonks. Don't call me Nymphadora." Tonks scolded. Remus snorted away a laugh and continued.
"This is Tonks, she's an auror, but more importantly, she's a friend. And Sirius' cousin. She's going to take you back to the house, alright, and I'll bring your things. Everything else can wait until we get there." Remus instructed. "All you have to do is hold on to her, she'll do the rest. Be warned, though. You've never disapperated before... there is a strong chance you'll get sick upon landing."
"Nice to meet you." Tonks smiled warmly. Harry looked her over with large, frightened green eyes. The brightly colored young auror held out her hand, and Harry cautiously laid his in hers, where she promptly gripped him tightly and disapperated with a 'pop'. Remus took a last look around before he grabbed hold of the trunk and followed after them.
Molly met them at the door, ushering them in quickly and locking the door behind them.
"Harry, I am so glad you're here. I'm so sorry this all happened to you on your birthday- we have so much planned for you tomorrow!" Molly gushed, smushing Harry's cheeks in between her hands and kissing his forehead.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Harry replied through his mashed cheeks. "Where are we?"
"Oh- all in good time dear." Molly said glancing over to Remus and Tonks.
"Harry, we've got to get in here and talk to some of the others- go on upstairs, second door on the third floor is you and Ron for now. He and Hermione can fill you in and then any questions you have can wait until supper, yeah?" Remus said, ruffling Harry's hair as he walked by. "Dora, why don't you make sure he finds the right one?" Remus nodded to the staircase. "Maybe remind Ron and Hermione which questions they can and can't answer."
Remus turned back to Molly and started to speak when he noticed Severus Snape already talking to her.
"Tell Lupin I will be glad to take over the wolfsbane when the baby comes, until she's ready to work again..." He said to Molly as he made his way to the door, shoving past Remus as if the potion he was speaking of wasn't meant for him. Remus looked to Molly again, who gave him an apologetic look and ushered him back toward the dining room.
As soon as Tonks had shut the door behind Harry, Hermione had wrapped him in a hug.
"We were so worried!" She sighed. "I'm so glad you're okay. As soon as Tonks came and told Mrs. Weasley what happened, Professor Lupin was gone. He was furious, and he said he knew if he gave it time for Sirius to find out, he'd never stay hidden..."
"Where is Sirius?" Harry questioned, moving to sit down on one of the twin beds. He looked around the room, the old, dusty, Victorian-esc furniture. "Where are we?"
"Headquarters for Order of the Phoenix." Hermione answered.
"And you've caught us about a quarter of the way through renovations." Ron added.
"I'm so confused. Order of the Phoenix?" Harry tilted his head.
"Its an organization to fight the Death Eaters, mate. They were who was fighting the first time, and they're back together now." Ron explained.
Harry sat for a moment and considered the whirlwind day he'd had up until this moment. It had not escaped his notice that neither of his friends had explained where Sirius was, especially if they were overly concerned with keeping him hidden. He also wondered about what Snape had said to Molly, what he'd overheard as the pink haired Auror had escorted him to his room. He sat still for a long time, listening to Ron and Hermione ramble about their summers, what they knew about the Order, etc. After a good half an hour, Harry finally interrupted them.
"Is Remus married now?" He ask, looking back and forth between his friends. "I feel like that's kind of something big to leave out of his letters."
"No?" Hermione answered, confused. "Why?"
"Snape- just now, as Tonks brought me in. Said something about when 'the Lupin baby comes', something like that." Harry shrugged. "I guess you don't have to be married for that."
"Oh-" Ron looked to Hermione, who shook her head. "Sorry mate, somethings are better answered by someone other than us."
Harry scoffed and laid back on the bed.
"No offense, but I haven't heard from either of you all summer. Now I'm here, and you know things, and you're not telling me." Harry snapped. "So maybe I don't want to talk anymore until someone has some answers."
"I can offer those." Sirius called from the doorway, where he'd just opened it. "I can offer you answers to everything."
LONG chapter, but thanks for reading- cliffhanger, I know.
Be sure to follow for updates, and reviews are the boost I need to post quicker- gimmie that sweet sweet Serotonin :)