Chapter Two: A House of Memories
Harry stood in Grimmauld Place and watched the familiar magical emergence of number 12 pop-up between number 11 and number 13. Harry watched as the house finally appeared in all its glory, he let out a small sigh as he watched Mad-Eye Moody turn his head in 8 different directions and then open the door to the house.
Moody stepped into the house first and signalled for Harry to follow him as Remus, Tonks and Kingsley followed closely behind in flanking positions. The moment Harry entered the house, a flood of memories about Sirius flooded back to him; he was overwhelmed by them all flying at him at 500 miles an hour. But this was to be expected, Grimmauld place was always going to remind him of Sirius, it had his memories in every nook and cranny of the house. Harry walked through into the kitchen and sat himself down at the large table in the centre of the musty old kitchen, he looked around at the dusty kitchen and images of the days spent here last summer with everyone cascaded into his head.
Harry held his head in his hands and closed his eyes as he tried to stop the emotion and brevity of the place engulf himself. Harry slowed his breathing as he heard footsteps in the room, he didn't turn to meet the sounds, but instead just stayed as he was, locked in a sea of sadness and regret. The footsteps were of Remus Lupin, he stood watching Harry intently. "I know it must be hard Harry," said Remus softly, his voice tinged with a sympathetic undertone. "But don't blame yourself for what happened you didn't know it was only a dream, there was no way for you to know he was at home still."
Harry removed himself from his hands and looked up at Remus and shook his head. "But I am to blame, I should've known it was a dream, it kept happening over and over, I should've known it wasn't actually happening but I didn't… Remus, I didn't…" Harry let-out in one breath, he was cut short by Remus putting his right hand on Harry's shoulder and putting his finger on his lips.
"Harry, don't let it get to you, we're all hurting after his death, but if anything we're to blame, we should've known Voldemort would exploit you like that," Remus calmly said, his voice having a calming and soothing effect on Harry. "Look Harry, I know you must be finding it extremely hard to be here, we all are, but and I shouldn't be telling you this we're trying to get the authorisation for you to spend the summer with the Weasley's at the Burrow. Don't get your hopes up mind, but we think it might be best if you're in a location that doesn't remind you of Sirius."
Harry looked at Remus and a tiny smile escaped onto his face, he'd not dreamt he'd be spending the summer at the Burrow and there was a chance he might. "But what about all the curses and spells the house has? Wouldn't it be safer for me to be here?" Harry asked quickly, trying to find out as much as possible as to avoid disappointment.
"Well, this house is a lot safer, but we feel that your emotional health is important also and whilst we can protect you easier here, it be better for you in the long-run if you stay at the Burrow," Remus said very matter of factly. "There is also a rumour that the whereabouts of the Order's headquarters has got out to some rather nasty individuals and well maybe if you were at the Burrow it'd avoid certain individuals harming you."
Harry looked at Remus with a confused look, he'd thought that the house was a complete secret, how could anyone know of it whereabouts? Then it hit him, Harry then realised that it could very well have been Kreacher that let the cat out of the bag, he wasn't bound to the house and with Sirius being dead he wouldn't be sworn to his master's secrecy. "Kreacher!" exclaimed Harry, his voice bellowing around the kitchen as Remus stepped back and turned towards the kitchen sink.
"It could very well have been Kreacher, but we're not certain, Sturgis Podmore could've given it away under interrogation from Deatheaters," was Remus' succinct reply.
Harry was about to reply when the jovial Mrs Weasley barrelled into the kitchen. "Right you two, out of the kitchen for the time-being, I have dinner to prepare," Mrs Weasley said to the two of them with a big smile drawn across her face. Remus smiled at Mrs Weasley and then turned to Harry "Come on Harry, we can continue this conversation later, let's get your stuff to your room and sorted," was Remus' polite words as he directed Harry out of the kitchen and to the foot of the stairs.
Harry began walking up the stairs but was stopped by Remus who was close enough to Harry so that he could whisper into his ear. "Harry, don't unpack all of your things, if you are allowed to stay at the Burrow, we're going to be removing you as quickly as possible, I have a sinking feeling we may need every second," Remus whispered with an air of urgency and worry in his voice.
Harry didn't stop to linger, but thundered up the stairs and barrelled into his room. The room was exactly as he left it, the wardrobe's and paintings all had a layer of dust and his bed lay under the placing of Phineas Nigellus' portrait. Upon the bed was his trunk and Hedwig's cage with Hedwig stood next to it.
Harry sat down on the bed and coerced Hedwig into the cage and gave her a bit of food from his pocket as he took the cage and put it in its former place of above the wardrobe. Harry turned back round and immediately tended to his trunk; he opened it up and stared for a brief moment at the multitude of things that were inside, shoes and old hand-me-down clothes and parchment, quills etc for school. His eye caught the image of the broken mirror for communication from Sirius and a small tear began to makes its way down his cheek. He wiped the cheek away and quickly put it into a small drawer of the trunk and pulled out some spare clothes and some pyjamas to sleep in.
Harry put the clothes by the bed and removed the trunk from the bed and put it on the floor and slid it underneath his bed. He stood back up properly and threw himself onto the bed and tried to relax his eyes for a few brief moments, as happy as he was to be away from the Dursley's it wasn't without its downsides. Harry closed his eyes for a moment and tried to think of something other than Sirius farcing through the air and into the veil at the Ministry of Magic, it was an image that seemed to be permanently stuck in front if his eyes.
"Harry Potter!" shouted a voice from inside the room, Harry bounced up with a startle, he'd not expected to be disturbed quite so quickly. Harry looked around the room swiftly to try and see who had said his name, then it dawned on him he turned to look at Phineas Nigellus stood in his portrait with his arms on his hips and a sarcastic face greeting him. "I thought you had some sense Mr. Potter, but obviously I was mistaken," Phineas snorted sarcastically.
"What are you doing here Phineas?" asked Harry quietly, he was still slightly startled by the way Phineas had got his attention.
"Why wouldn't I be here? This is my portrait? Isn't it?" he rhetorically asked Harry, his voice tinged with little to no tolerance for such questions. "If you must know, Albus sent me to check up on you, another one of his meaningless errands."
"Phineas, there's more to it, isn't there?" Harry asked with a hint of wonder in his voice.
"If you must know Mr. Potter, I have to come to ask you a simple question, one I feel I need not ask, but seeing as you are his godson and that you witnessed his death, I feel compelled to ask," he said without a single hint of sarcasm, a strange mix of heartfelt sadness and curiosity. "Who killed my great-great-grandson?"
Harry was confused, he'd always assumed that Professor Dumbledore would've told him by now, and that for Phineas to ask him was something he'd never expected. "But hasn't Professor Dumbledore already told you?" Harry asked him his eyes not focusing on the painted image of Phineas.
"That he has Mr. Potter, but I do feel that to hear it from you will make it a reality," Phineas said solemnly.
"Well Phineas, it was Bellatrix Lestrange, she was the one that made Sirius fall through the veil," Harry said his voice tinged with sorrow at having to verbally say that she had done it.
Phineas didn't reply he just stood there letting the realisation sink in; he held his hand to his chin and then without as much as a word disappeared from the portrait, obviously back to his portrait in Professor Dumbledore's office.
Harry was slow to turn away from the portrait and return back to lying on the bed with his head pushed into the pillow and his arms stretched out as far as he could. Harry stayed like that for a few moments, it felt good to be stretched out so far, and his bed in Privet Drive was far too small for him to even consider such a thing. Harry wiggled his fingers for a moment and wiggled his toes too as he lay there. He stopped the wiggling and turned his head towards the bed adjacent to his and saw that it was obviously Ron's as it wasn't made and all of Ron's things had been thrown around it as if a Cornish Pixy had been unleashed upon his clothes.
"Harry, dinner's ready," shouted Mrs Weasley from down the stairs, Harry was up quicker than he realised. He walked to the door, his stomach grumbling as if it switched on at the mere mention of food. Harry grasped the door handle to the door and turned it, but before he left for the kitchen he turned to the portrait of Phineas Nigellus and paused for a moment. "Phineas, I know you can't hear me, but I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," he said softly, his voice only just audible. As Harry turned his back on the portrait and left for the kitchen a head popped out from the corner of the picture, Phineas watched Harry leave and didn't say anything just stared at him for a moment with an expression of sorrow and grief.
The kitchen and dining table was heaving with food, it was a Sunday evening and naturally Roast Dinner was on the menu. Everyone at the table was drooling in wait for the food, with knives and forks being held tightly and pointed at the ceiling. Harry stepped into the kitchen to see the table packed with people, there was Remus, Mad-Eye, Tonks, Kingsley, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ron and Ginny. Harry looked for a short second and found the one spare seat between Ron and Remus, he sat himself down and picked up his knife and fork as Mrs Weasley leaned forward.
"Well Harry, I hope you haven't already eaten," Mrs Weasley said with a chuckle, Harry just looked up and smiled, he obviously hadn't. "Well everyone, don't let me keep you waiting tuck-in."
Immediately the table was awash with hands clutching at the food as if it was gold, the Roast Beef went first with Mad-Eye giving it out to everyone that requested it, naturally no-one declined, it looked succulent and absolutely delicious. Ron monopolised the Roast Potatoes, he stared scornfully at anyone that came within inches of them until he had at least a half dozen on his plate, Harry laughed at him as he attempted to hijack the potatoes and was greeted with a look of sheer shock and amazement from Ron.
Ginny went straight for the steamed broccoli; she ignored the more popular stuff as it was pointless her trying to contend with 3 aurors, one former professor, and two parents an older brother and Harry. Ginny scooped 3 pieces of broccoli onto her plate and put the bowl back into the centre of the table when Ron looked at her from across the table. "Broccoli Ginny!?" he chided, "that's not like you, you're normally first to the mash, and gravy."
"The gravy!" said Mrs Weasley suddenly, "I'd completely forgotten, bear with me as I quickly make some."
Mrs Weasley jumped from her seat and haphazardly began making some thick, Beef gravy, Ron and Harry watched intently as Remus smiled at them both and began to shovel dollops and dollops of Mashed potato onto his plate. "Oh Don't worry about it Molly, I'm sure the lack of gravy isn't a problem," retorted Kingsley politely, however the rest of the table didn't agree with him, immediately both Mr Weasley and Ron dropped their cutlery and began pleading with Mrs Weasley not to stop making it.
Mrs Weasley didn't stop and after a few minutes brought the gravy over to the table, "Gravy's ready everyone," she announced to the table. Everyone at the table, bar Harry, Ron and Mr Weasley had already begun eating their food. Ron and Mr Weasley had waited for the gravy and Harry had joined in as he didn't want to miss-out on the tradition of pouring gravy on his food first and then eating.
"I nearly had a heart-attack there Molly, I can't have a traditional Roast without my gravy," Mr Weasley said as he wiped his head of sweat. Mrs Weasley smiled and passed him the gravy as Ron waited with bated breath, so he could engulf his food in gravy goodness.
"Arthur, I don't understand your love for this gravy, it's just thick meat juices," uttered Kingsley with a very matter of fact like tone. Mr Weasley finished pouring his gravy, passed it to Ron and then turned back to Kingsley. "It's a muggle tradition that I find to make my dinner's taste like a dream, apparently, they have dried gravy in shops, Harry can confirm this, can't you Harry?" Mr Weasley asked Harry very suddenly who looked over at Kingsley and Mr Weasley as Ron passed him the gravy.
"Ummm, yes, it's very popular in the muggle world," Harry said quickly, trying to finish the discussion so he could pour his gravy and enjoy his food. Harry began to pour his gravy when he was interrupted by Remus. "Harry, could you pass me the gravy when you're finished, I think I might try it," muttered Remus at Harry, as the gravy cascaded over the piles of food on Harry's plate. Harry did as Remus asked and passed him the now half-empty jug of gravy, Remus looked at the gravy for a moment and then conservatively poured it onto his roast dinner.
The table was silent except for the clashing of cutlery and the sound of eating and enjoyment, no-one spoke as the food quickly disappeared, the feast like set-up being gone in a matter of minutes. As soon as the final piece of food was eaten, Mrs Weasley immediately stood up and began clearing the table and starting the washing-up. "I'm stuffed, I couldn't eat another bite," exclaimed Ron with a huge grin plastered across his face.
"You'll have to make room Ron, there's dessert still," retorted Mrs Weasley with a mischievous glee in her voice. Ron looked at his mother; his grin became even bigger as he started massaging his belly. "What are you doing Rob?" questioned Harry.
"I'm making more room for dessert, can't let it go to waste now, can I?" replied Ron as he continued to massage his belly.
"Right you are Ron, good thinking," Mr Weasley joked, he too now massaging his belly with bliss. Harry laughed at the silliness of both Ron and Mr Weasley acting like a pair of 5 year olds at the prospect of dessert.
"Mum, can you hurry-up, Ron and Dad are acting like a right pair of plonkers," Ginny snorted, as he looked at both Ron and her father disapprovingly. Mrs Weasley turned and just chuckled as the plates began to be cleaned by the charmed scrubbing brush and Mrs Weasley pulled out a giant size Black Forest Gateau, 8 bowls and 8 spoons and directed them to the table by her wand.
She followed the gateau, bowls and spoons to the table and sat herself back two. "Oh will you two grow-up, you know rubbing your belly doesn't help anyway."
Both Ron and Mr Weasley stopped and everyone tucked into the gorgeous looking gateau. A long queue formed as Mrs Weasley began sharing out the gateau to all those with bowls, which was everyone. Ron was first to be served, he was followed swiftly by Remus who'd seemed to get behind him without anyone noticing, Tonks was next up, though she wasn't quite as stealthy as Remus, she jumped in with a gallant shout of 'I'm next!'.
"This is simply delicious," Remus said as he finished off his spoonful, "you've really gone all out Molly."
"Well, it's a special occasion, it's Harry's first night here, so I thought it best I pull out all the stops," she said whilst smiling at Harry with that typical motherly love type look. Harry blushed a dark shade of red as he looked down at his own dessert and continued to eat, not wanting anyone to see how embarrassed he was.
The dessert again was quickly finished off, and everyone neglected to begin any real conversations during the digestion of the dessert, the only sentences were off thanks and complements to Mrs Weasley and the occasional 'I'm stuffed' or 'I couldn't eat another bite'.
Harry left for his room, without saying much else than a few good nights and a big thank you to Mrs Weasley for the food, it'd been a long day for him and he just wanted to roll-up in his bed and sleep for days. He trudged up the stairs to his room and entered his room without as much as a sound, his body almost on auto-pilot as he changed quickly and rolled into bed and fell asleep.
***
Harry awoke sharply, he could hear a lot of shouting from downstairs, he couldn't figure out what it was all about but obviously something was going on and it wasn't good. Harry sat upright and to his right was Ron sat rubbing his eyes, he looked like death warmed up and like Harry had no idea what was going on.
"What's going on Harry? The shouting woke me up," asked Ron as he sat worriedly.
"I don't know Ron, it woke me up too, let's go find out," Harry said as he slowly crept out of his bed and slipped on his dressing gown and stepped towards the door. Suddenly the door flew open and stood in the doorway was an exasperated Remus; he launched into the room and immediately looked at the boys.
"Get your things boys; you have to leave, now!" he yelled as Harry stepped towards him, looking to ask him what was going on.
"What's going on, Professor?" Harry asked, as he approached Remus.
"We've no time for questions boys, pack your things and go to the kitchen, you have to leave," he replied, his voice tinged with urgency and panic.
Ron looked at Harry and both boys began sorting their things out, Remus helped by taking Hedwig's cage and picking up anything that Ron may have left around the room and throwing it into Ron's trunk. After a minute or two both boys had packed their trunks and pulled them to the doorway as Remus looked at both of them.
"When you get to the kitchen, do not ask any questions, just do as Mrs Weasley says and don't go anywhere else, it is imperative that you go to the kitchen and only the kitchen, I'll be escorting you." Remus led the way down the stirs and both boys followed closely, not pausing for any reason or saying a word, they knew something was wrong and it wasn't something trivial.
All three of them entered the kitchen to see Mr Weasley stood by the fireplace clutching a bag of floo powder, he looked flustered and his face had a couple of welts and bruises as he stood. "Right, you two hurry up and brings your things here, you're going to the Burrow, take a handful of powder each and be quick," Mr Weasley said in a ramble, the voices seemingly merging into one. Both boys took a handful of floo powder and stood close to the fireplace.
"Ron you first, you're going to the Burrow," Mr Weasley said as he directed Ron into the fireplace. Ron pulled his trunk into the fireplace, and stood ready to go as a crash and a bang sounded from elsewhere in the house. Both boys jumped at the fright as Remus looked out the doorway with worry and quickly dropped Hedwig's cage off with Harry.
"Ron, don't waste anytime, go, now!" exclaimed a now panicking Mr Weasley.
"The Burrow," shouted Ron as he threw the floo powder into the flames, green flames engulfed him and in a flash he was gone.
Harry wasted no time in waiting for Mr Weasley to tell him to enter the fireplace he pulled his trunk and Hedwig's cage into the fire and stood in the fireplace and looked out. As he readied himself to go he saw in front of him a tall cloaked thing stood outside the kitchen doorway, the figure lifted his arm and pointed a wand at Harry. "The Burrow," Harry shouted and threw down the floo powder in the flames.
In a split second he heard the wizard shout "AVADA…." And then the flames engulfed him and he was
gone.