SOUL PIECES
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter 2: Sírius' Brother and Hermione's Plan
Regulus Arcturus Black
Regulus Arcturus Black
R.A.B
R.A.B…
Harry frowned. He was shocked. No words seemed came to mind. Remus Lupin looked at the boy in concern.
"Harry, are you alright?"
Lupin's voice awaked the young wizard.
"Oh? Ah, yeah, yeah…everything's fine."
"Harry, what's so important about Reg? Why was Hermione, and now you, in so much shock?" Remus asked and Harry felt a little discomfort.
"Nothing…"
"Harry…"
"Look, Remus, I'm really sorry but I can't say a word. I promised Dumbledore. The only people I can discuss this issue with are Hermione and Ron. I'm sorry."
Remus looked a little disappointed. He really wanted Harry to trust him, but he, Remus Lupin had his own secrets.
"Okay, Harry. I won't insist if you promised Dumbledore. There's only one thing: please be careful."
Harry gave him a weak smile.
"So, Remus, how are we going? I know how you apparated, but I can't…will we go by floo or Portkey?"
"No, we can't floo. You see Hermione's house belongs to muggles, so, it's a little complicated. And a Portkey…we would have to ask permission for one at the Ministry and you know…"
"Okay, so how…?"
"By car," Remus interrupted.
Harry had very wide-open eyes. For a moment he thought about a certain old blue Ford Anglia….
"B…by…car?"
Remus chuckled.
"Yes, Harry, by car, but a muggle one and we'll travel in the muggle way. Before you ask, yes, I have a license to drive AND the car is legal. I borrowed it from Tonks' dad; he's muggle-born. So, let's go, Kent isn't far away."
Half an hour later, Harry had changed his clothes and talked to his Aunt about his travel plans. Remus told Petunia that Harry would be back before evening.
The trip turned out to be soothing for Harry. He and Remus talked about several things, especially about the war. Remus explained that McGonagall and Moody were commanding the Order of the Phoenix.
"It was the best decision. You see, Moody is a great warrior but he isn't a very pleasant person. Minerva has a great knowledge of magic and she's now the Head of Hogwarts. Everybody respects her."
The former Professor also told Harry that the Order was trying to gather new allies.
"And Voldemort?"
"Well, there were some attacks in Bristol and Whitshire."
"Whitshire? But isn't the…?"
"Yes, Malfor Manor is located in Whitshire but we think the manor was not attacked because we didn't see anything. The Malfoys had the same sort of charms that Dumbledore used at Grimmauld Place."
"But why?"
"Voldemort probably isn't very happy with the Malfoys. Some sources said that Narcissa had been put in question by some in Voldemort's order. And Draco…"
"I know. Any news about Snape?"
"No, he disappeared."
A few hours later, the two wizards arrived in a small and peaceful street (very much like Privet Drive). Hermione's home was a beautiful house with white walls, large windows and a small garden.
They rang the door bell and Harry could hear someone's shout inside the house.
"Hang on! I am coming!"
That was Hermione's voice.
Less than two minutes later, a smiling Hermione opened the door.
"Harry! Professor Lupin!"
Harry said nothing. He only looked at his friend in disbelief.
Her hair was a little less bushy and shorter than the last time he saw her. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a blue tank top. Hermione wasn't indecent or even dressed in a sexy way; she was just casual...
Merlin, those clothes! I can see her belly (very nice, by the way…) and… and…her legs! OH MY GOD, those legs! So long, so pretty, so damn sexy…OH! Shut up, Potter!
The awkward moment was interrupted by Remus' cough and Harry knew he wanted to laugh. Harry's face was priceless.
"Hello, Hermione. As I promised you, here is Harry," Remus said.
The girl looked at Harry and seemed a little preoccupied. The boy hadn't said a word.
"Are you alright, Harry?"
"Oh? Oh yeah. How are you, Hermione?"
"Well, the same, I guess…but what we are doing here? Let's go inside. And Prof… I mean, Remus, please lunch with us. The food is already done and I bet you two are hungry. And after lunch, we'll talk," she said looking at Harry at the last part.
"Oh, thank you, Hermione. But your parents-"
"No problem, they're at work."
8888888888
They ate delicious pasta for lunch and Remus left almost immediately afterwards. He said that would pick Harry up at about 4:30 PM that evening.
"So, Harry. I imagine Remus gave you my message?" she asked.
"Yes, I can't believe we didn't think about Sirius's brother. Everything matches. But where…"
The look on Hermione's face gave him the answer: 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Yes, Harry, Sirius' house. The locket is there."
"But how … Dumbledore's gone…"
"Harry, you're the new Master of that house."
"So, we need to go there now," he said.
"Yes, but the house isn't safe right now. And not to mention it's very dirty."
"You don't want to clea-"
"No, silly. Not us, Kreacher."
Harry gave her a disgusted look.
"Harry, you know how I feel about house elves and I know how you feel about Kreacher. But you're his Master now. You'll tell him to clean the house and that you want the house exactly how it was during the Blacks' golden days."
"Okay, but I'll ask Dobby too. I don't trust that… that… THING."
"Well, perfect. And now, the second part of my plan."
"Second part? Plan?"
"Harry, this is serious, we simply can't fail. We need to plan everything very carefully. The house will be clean but still not safe. I don't know, but if it's alright with you, we could ask Professor McGonagall to put some security charms again. You can say to her that you'll no longer be living with Dursleys, that you need a new home, etc… etc… etc."
"Hermione, you really are brilliant."
"And we can use there as our headquarters. You know, the Horcruxes will not appear to us like magic. We'll need to research, not only where they are but how to destroy them. Don't forget Dumbledore's hand."
"Hermione, about that…"
"Harry, please don't. You already know about Ron's decision and mine. So, I thought about using the Fidelius Charm again."
Harry felt a little uneasy. The Fidelius Charm, a wonderful yet cursed charm that he had heard of before. He didn't want to think like that but what if history repeated itself? What if?
Hermione looked at her best friend and she knew that he was having an internal battle. All those years of friendship made her a 'Harry expert'. She knew that the Fidelius Charm brought painful memories, and very painful fears.
She put a hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"I know it isn't for you Harry and I know what you're thinking right now. You're afraid that that someone will betray us. I won't say that you're being silly because you're not, but we need to go on."
"You know better than anyone, Hermione," he said smiling timidly. "It's just that- that I don't know even how to explain. You see, now we think that no one can betray us but my parents and Sirius thought the same thing about Pettigrew. It's just hard."
"I won't say that I know how you're feeling because I don't, Harry. You have such a terrible past that I can't even begin to imagine how you could be such a nice and good person."
Harry blushed.
"However, Harry, we- you- can't be held back by our- your- fears. Maybe I sound a little insensitive but time is passing…we are in a war. We- you- need to put the fears and the pain aside and fight. And for this we need to go to Grimmauld Place. We need a Fidelius Charm."
Harry looked at his friend with such pride and respect. He needed to laugh at his Boggart; he had to destroy his fears.
"You're right, like always. We- I- need to go on. We need a Fidelius, but who? Remus?
"No, Remus is too obvious. Maybe Professor McGonagall. She's trustworthy and serious about helping us."
"Yeah, McGonagall is a good woman. It's a good choice. I just hope-"
"Harry…please."
"I know, sorry. So, should I call Kreacher now?"
In the next hour, several different pops were heard inside Hermione's bedroom. First, Harry called Kreacher and asked him to bring Dobby and Professor McGonagall. After explaining to Dobby and Kreacher what he wanted, Harry told the Headmistress about what he and Hermione had discussed previously. To their surprise, Professor McGonagall didn't ask for anymore details. It seemed that she already knew."
"Well Harry, I think we just took the first step."
"Yes, it's really a start. Now, to change the subject, will you go to The Burrow at the end of the summer?"
The mention of the Weasley's house brought a little red color to her cheeks.
"Er,um,no," she replied.
"But I thought…"
"Well, you see, Harry…. after the burial…er…Ron and I….er…."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, we kissed," she confessed.
Harry felt happy; he knew his two best friends liked each other, but then another thought hit him. If they were together…what about him?
"That's nice. I'm really happy for you two. So, are you two together now?"
"Er, no. I really liked the kiss. It was very sweet and I think Ron and I really needed that, but I don't know. I talked to him and told him that we shouldn't, you know, date."
"What! But why?"
"Harry, we have a very important mission ahead of us. We can't get distracted. Do you imagine if for some reason he and I break up? How stressful would that be?"
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
"And you? How are you and Ginny?"
"There isn't a "Me and Ginny" anymore. I broke it off at the end of last year. It's for the best and no, I'm not being noble. Like you said, we can't have distractions."
"But, do you still like her?"
"Yes, of course, she's very nice. But that's the problem. She's nice, pretty, and smart but, only that; I like her. I don't like her the same way she likes me."
"She loves you, Harry."
"I know but I don't love her. Love is a very strong feeling and I think I am too young for that."
"You have to talk to her Harry. Tell her how feel about her. You need to have a frank conversation with her. It may be hard, but she deserves it, unless, you want a Penelope waiting for you…"
"Of course not! I'll talk to her. But, if you don't go to The Burrow…"
"I talked to Tonks. I'll stay with her and Remus at her parent's house (they're traveling right now). It's in London. I think it's for the best. The Burrow will be a madhouse since Bill and Fleur's wedding is coming up but why don't you stay there too? Really, it'll a little strange for me to live with a couple. If you want go to I'll understand."
"No, I don't want stay at Burrow without you. I'll talk to Remus but I don't think that Ron will like the idea."
"He'll survive," she responded with a smile.
They talked more about several things until Remus showed up to take Harry back to the Dursleys'. The young man had a really great time with his best friend.
Inside the car, Harry asked Remus about Tonks' house and Remus said that he would talk to her about it but that it would more than like be okay with her (the man loved the idea).
"So, Harry, how did you manage to stay with Hermione alone without breaking a sweat?"
"Remus!"
The man laughed.
"Come on, Harry. I saw your face when you saw her. I must admit that she's a sexy girl if I say so myself," Remus comment, glancing at Harry. It was good to see Harry talking about some frivolities.
"She's my friend, Remus. My BEST friend."
"I'm not saying you have to snog her, Harry. You're a young man now and she's a woman. It's normal to feel things. It's biological; physical," he explained.
"Yes, I know what you mean. But, no, nothing "physical" happened to me with her. You're right about the clothes though. Bloody Hell! Did you see her belly? And her legs! I never knew she had legs like that …not to mention the hips…oh BOY!"
Remus Lupin laughed even harder.
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Thanks to my wonderful beta Mabel.