Harry Potter and the Book of Shadows

An Overdue Visit

A knock at the front door that evening brought welcome distraction and Harry, followed by Ron and Hermione, went to see who it was. Knowing Persephone was supposed to help with dinner, Harry was surprised to see Tonks on the other side of the door when he opened it.

"Hullo, Harry!" she said cheerfully as she entered.

The trio greeted her as she took off her cloak.

"How are things at the Ministry?" Hermione asked. Tonks' frown was answer enough.

"Tonks," a mildly surprised voice came from somewhere above them. She smiled up at Lupin as he came down the stairs. "You're early."

"Thought I could help out a bit, you know," she said, smiling.

Lupin looked somewhat hesitant. "Oh well, Seph said she'd take care of dinner tonight, but if you wanted to-"

"Oh." Tonks' expression darkened. Then she brightened. "Well, I can start something. What's she making?"

Wary of her eagerness to help, Lupin led the way to the kitchen. "Some kind of pasta, I think. I suppose we could start some water..."

Tonks dug through the cupboard where the pots and pans were kept. There was a sudden expletive followed by a cacophonous cascade of cookware. Sheepishly looking up from the mess, Tonks held out a large copper pot. "Here you go."

With a resigned smile, Lupin took it, filled it with cold water, and set it on the stove. Hermione helped Tonks gather up the rest of the pots and pans and place them back in the cupboard.

Finding a loaf of bread, Tonks set to cutting it as everyone else sat around the table. "Where's Ginny?"

The trio looked at one another guiltily. Hermione said, "Well, we had a bit of..."

"You had a fight?" Lupin filled in when Harry shifted uncomfortably and Ron glared at him.

Harry inwardly cringed. "Not really. We were talking about..." He stopped, not wanting Lupin and Tonks to know what they'd been doing or that he'd said something that horrible. "I kind of said something careless-"

"Kind of?" Ron interjected heatedly.

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Harry said vehemently. Seeing Lupin and Tonks looking at him pointedly, he mumbled, "I apologized, but she's still upset, I guess."

"Should I go talk to her?" Tonks asked.

Thinking Seph was due any minute, Lupin hoped that seeing Tonks helping with dinner might pave the way for a more civilized relationship and got up. "I'll go."

He unlocked the door as he passed, hoping the trio would help buffer any interaction between the two women.

With the bread sliced and the water set to boil, Tonks lost interest in doing anything further. "So what do you lot think of her?"

A bit taken aback by the abrupt question, it took a moment for them to realize to whom she was referring. Hermione shrugged. "Persephone's okay, I suppose.

Harry knew she probably held some resentment against Persephone for making her give up S.P.E.W. His mind flashed back to the Order meeting earlier that day and the conversation Lupin and Persephone had had immediately afterwards. Hoping he could find out something, Harry said, "You don't seem to like her much."

Tonks snorted. "What's to like?" Seeing their curious looks, she leaned forward. "I'm not one to gossip, but I don't think she's been on the level, if you know what I mean."

The trio clearly did not. Seeing she had an interested audience for once, Tonks went on, "Well, you know we need all the help for the Order we can get, right? Still, it's not like we don't make sure we know something about who we let in. Especially the ones we let come here." Harry's mind flicked to Snape, but Tonks continued, interrupting his thoughts. "Even though Dumbledore and Remus said they knew enough about her to trust her, I checked her out on my own and let me tell you, she's got a shady past. Parents were big You-Know-Who supporters and her father was a Death Eater. Turns out her mother tried to quit, but you all know how well they take that kind of attitude. If you ask me, I think she had something to do with it."

Harry didn't want to think about the memory he'd seen of her mother being murdered and so, said nothing. Not that he knew enough to say anything anyway.

Continuing, Tonks said, "She was still in school when Harry here...well, you know. But they arrested her father right away. I don't know if anyone else knows, but they arrested her, too. About two weeks after that night. Why would they have done that if she wasn't helping them, too?"

"You mean she was in Azkaban as a You-Know-Who supporter?" Hermione said, eyes wide with shock.

"Yeah, and not for just a day or two, either," Tonks added.

"How long was she there?" Ron asked.

"Six weeks," a cold voice replied from the staircase.

They looked up to see Persephone standing at the bottom of the stairs, watching them with an expression of barely controlled fury. Everyone flushed guiltily, but Tonks lifted her chin.

Glaring, Persephone set down the groceries she'd brought and gestured for Tonks to continue. "Oh, by all means, go on."

"They have a right to know," Tonks said defensively.

Watching them all with a carefully controlled expression, Persephone smiled coldly. "Of course."

"Well, why were you there so long if you didn't do anything wrong?" Tonks demanded to know.

"Perhaps you're too young to recall," Persephone began, "but they weren't exactly ready for that kind of downfall. Azkaban was rather full at the time and well, people tended to be forgotten."

"They questioned you the first day they brought you there," Tonks countered. "I read the transcripts. You weren't exactly cooperative."

Persephone's calm started to falter, though her tone remained icy. "I couldn't give them answers I didn't have."

Tonks got to her feet. "Please, you didn't tell them anything. You can't tell me after living for years in a house with a known Death Eater that you didn't know something."

"And you're an expert on what I should know?" She laughed. "Tell me Tonks, do you know what they did during those inquiries? How they got their confessions? No, I can see you don't, because there is no way you would stand there and accuse me of lying if you did. I didn't give them answers because I didn't have any."

Though he wasn't in a position to catch her eye, Harry had the distinct feeling that while he didn't think she was lying, exactly, she was holding something back. Hiding something.

"Don't play that card with me," Tonks said derisively. "You were practically a child! They wouldn't have-"

"Oh, they wouldn't have?" Persephone stepped closer to stare Tonks right in the eye. "Do you want to know what they wouldn't have done?"

"What is going on here?"

Harry and the others looked to Lupin with relief. Tonks and Persephone seemed to have forgotten they were even there. Ginny stood on the step just behind Lupin, looking rather confused.

"Ask the Auror," Persephone said it like an insult. She stalked back to her groceries and stared unpacking the bag angrily.

Lupin looked to Tonks with raised eyebrows, but she dropped her eyes and said nothing. Ginny sat next to Hermione, still looking lost.

Seeing he wasn't going to get anything out of Tonks without some effort, he turned to look at Persephone's back as she started chopping something rather violently. "Do you need help?"

"I'm fine. In fact, if you'd all rather go upstairs until dinner's ready, that would be great." Her voice was tight. As it was obviously a request for them to leave, everyone stood up and filed out of the kitchen.

Lupin pulled Tonks into the drawing room, and the foursome took it as a hint that they should go elsewhere. Settling in Harry's room, they looked at one another in confused silence for a moment.

Finally, Ginny said, "So what was that all about?"

When Hermione finished explaining, Ginny looked apprehensive. "But it's really not fair to jump to that conclusion."

Ron looked dubious. "You have to admit it does sound pretty bad."

"Well, think," Ginny insisted. "Sirius' parents were Dark wizards too, and look how making that same mistake ruined his life. I just don't think we should assume the worst. How old could she have been, anyway?"

"Fourteen," Harry said automatically, thinking of what he had seen in her trunk. The other three looked at him in surprise and he added quickly, "Just a guess. I mean, by guessing how old she is now."

"Would they really have-" Hermione stopped herself, looking a bit ill.

Ron shrugged slowly. "I don't want to think they would, but thinking if say, Malfoy was in Azkaban right now, it's not so hard to see, right?"

Harry hated to admit he didn't mind the idea of Aurors torturing answers out of Draco as much as he probably should.

Ginny frowned. "That's even not why Tonks hates her, anyway."

Ron and Harry exchanged looks, but Hermione seemed to understand. After a moment of quiet, Hermione looked pointedly at Ron. "Ron, didn't you want to borrow..." she trailed off uncertainly.

For once getting the hint, Ron stood quickly. "Those notes. Yeah, I did. Might as well get them now."

Harry almost rolled his eyes at their obvious attempt to leave him and Ginny to sort out their earlier row, but the sudden sinking feeling he had prevented it. "So..." He cleared his throat uncomfortably after Ron and Hermione were gone. "You used the soap again?"

He knew she had because he could smell the alluring scent from where he sat across from her. She looked at the floor. "Yeah."

"Ginny, I really didn't mean...I mean...I'm sorry I said it. Really." Harry stared at the floor, too. He didn't know what else to say and repeating the lame apology he'd given before only made him feel worse.

"It's okay," she said. "Forget it happened. Did you guys practice anyway?"

Now feeling bad they'd left her out, Harry nodded. "Hermione thought practicing when we were all in not so great moods would be a good idea."

"Makes sense," Ginny agreed. "How did it go?"

He was trying to explain what they'd found out when Lupin called them down to dinner. While he was glad to have an excuse to end the uncomfortable conversation he was in, Harry wondered if he were just trading it for an equally, if not more, uncomfortable dinner. His fears were unfounded as it became apparent that Persephone was not going to stay. She had only set six places at the table and didn't sit when everyone else entered the kitchen. Lupin helped her bring the pasta and salad to the table.

"You're sure you're not going to stay? This smells fantastic." He threw a teasing look at her. "You didn't add Amortentia to this did you?"

She smiled a playfully in return. "I don't need Amortentia to make you fall madly in love with me."

He rolled his eyes in response and she laughed. Harry caught Tonks' glare, but it disappeared when Lupin sat and Persephone headed to the stairs.

"You're off, then?" Lupin's expression took a on a touch of concern.

"I'll be fine, don't worry." She toyed with a ruby pendant Harry thought looked familiar.

"Just be careful, all right?" Lupin cautioned. "When will you be back?"

She shrugged. "Hard to say. Stop worrying, it'll be fine." She pinned Tonks with a look. Lupin tensed, but Persephone only said, "Make sure he eats."

Tonks gave Persephone a small nod in return and everyone relaxed visibly after she left. With Persephone gone, Tonks resumed her usual sunny demeanor and dinner passed with much laugher and amusing stories. After Tonks left and the kitchen had been cleaned up, the foursome headed back to the drawing room. Lupin, looking a bit worn out, bid them an early goodnight and disappeared up the stairs.

Having had an eventful day, Harry was ready to head to bed himself after only a few games of Exploding Snap. Noticing his fatigue and suddenly very much aware of her own, Hermione suggested they have an early night as well. No one protested and Number Twelve was soon wrapped in silence and shadows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry's eyes snapped open to all-encompassing darkness. Not sure why he was suddenly wide awake, he lay still, listening for the slightest sound. The sudden, loud pounding on the front door startled him so much he almost fell out of bed. His heart hammering, Harry wondered who would be banging on the door at, he put on his glasses and squinted blearily at his watch in the dim light, two-thirty in the morning.

He was wondering if he should go see who it was when he heard footsteps on the stairs and figured Lupin had gone to answer the door. Yawning, he lay back for a moment and, finally giving in to curiosity, silently got out of bed and tiptoed into the hall. Peeking around the stairwell corner, he could just make out the entryway below.

Moving with the slow motions of someone still half-asleep, Lupin unlocked the door. He jumped back in surprise when Persephone stumbled through it, having attempted to knock again and finding the door suddenly open, lost her balance.

"Seph!" Lupin steadied her and Harry saw her wince. "Are you all right? What are you doing here?"

Righting herself, she leaned against the end of the staircase banister. "Fine, I'm fine. I was just hoping I could maybe Floo back to Hogwarts from here. It's been a long night."

Something brushed against Harry's back and he jumped. A hand clamped over his mouth and his heart skipped until he realized it was Ginny. He shouldn't have been surprised she was awake, as her room was directly over the front door.

"Don't do that!" he whispered, trying to slow his heart.

"Sorry," she whispered back. "What's going on?"

Harry looked back down the stairs. "Persephone just got back. Are Ron and Hermione awake?"

Ginny shook her head. "Ron sleeps through anything and Hermione's room is far enough away I don't think it woke her up."

Lupin, now fully awake, was looking at Persephone with concern. "You look awfully pale. You're not all right."

When he reached for her, she backed up a step. "No, really. I'm fine. Just tired."

"How did the visit go? Seph?" She had sort of sagged against the banister.

Lupin's expression changed suddenly and Harry wondered what he'd just seen. Just as he thought it, Lupin shifted Persephone's cloak aside. Harry heard Ginny muffle a gasp and he had to turn away as he felt a wave of nausea rise. Persephone's wand had been stabbed through her left forearm, and blood dripped from the tip of the wand and down her fingers. Steeling himself, Harry looked back and saw there was some sort of metalwork point attached to the end, presumably to make it sharp enough to act as it had. It made sense to him not to go unarmed into vampire territory, but it had obviously backfired.

Swallowing hard, Lupin said, "Obviously not well."

"No actually, it went quite well. They're willing to talk." When Lupin glanced from her arm back to her face with a meaningful expression, she laughed and then winced. "This was...unrelated."

"Is there anyone you can be in the same room with without starting a fight?" Lupin asked.

She smiled weakly. "You."

He smiled back ruefully. "Lucky me. All right. We have to take care of this. Let's go to St. Mungo's..."

"No!" she tried to straighten. "No, I just need to get back to Hogwarts and I'll be fine."

Lupin seemed to understand something Harry didn't because he said calmly, "All right, no hospital. Let me go try to find someone to let Madame Pomfrey know and make sure you'll make it to the hospital wing. You'll be all right?"

She nodded. As he ran down to the kitchen, she slumped at the bottom of the stairs. Leaning her head on the banister, her eyes drifted shut. Harry felt a sudden stabbing pain and drew in a sharp breath.

Ginny put a hand on his arm, "What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." The pain disappeared as soon as it had come and Harry couldn't really recall where it had been.

The sound of several sets of feet on the stairs from the kitchen seemed to rouse Persephone and she sat up. Harry was surprised to see Snape following Lupin out of the doorway. It seemed Persephone was as well.

Lupin knelt by her, "Someone thought it would be a good idea to host a midnight party and started passing out candy from the twins' Snackboxes. Madame Pomfrey's got her hands full."

"Didn't they have the antidote ends?" Persephone asked.

"Apparently half the fun was hiding the antidotes," Snape said dryly.

Lupin tried to help her sit up, "We'll just go down to the kitchen and Severus will give you something for the pain and we'll try to get it out, all right?"

"No!" Persephone winced when Lupin tried to pull her upright. "Just do it now."

Lupin looked at the bloodied end of her wand. "Nice weapon tip, Seph. How long have you had that?"

"I wasn't going unarmed," she said, her teeth clenched in pain. "There's a latch, just open it and it'll slide off the end and you can pull the wand out."

He looked at Snape hesitantly, but they seemed to silently agree. "Severus, hold her elbow," Lupin directed.

Harry and Ginny shifted slightly so they could see more clearly. Snape knelt awkwardly on the stairs behind Persephone, one hand holding her elbow and the other holding her free hand. Lupin went to unlatch the weapon tip and she drew in a sharp breath.

"Wait!" She breathed out. "Just...give me a second." She took a few deep breaths and Harry saw her grip Snape's hand harder. Turning her head away, into his shoulder, she squeezed her eyes shut. "Okay."

Lupin deftly flicked the tiny latch and slid the metalwork tip free. Then, not giving her a chance to think too much, he gripped the handle of her wand and pulled upwards in one swift motion. She gasped in pain as he pulled it free. Quickly covering the open wound with a tea towel, Lupin wrapped her arm tightly. Snape pressed down hard, in hopes of slowing the bleeding.

"You all right?" Lupin asked.

Harry thought that was a ridiculous question as he could see her shaking from where he and Ginny stood. Still, she nodded even though her eyes were squeezed shut in pain. After a few moments, her breathing sounded more normal. Snape helped her stand.

When he made as if to pick her up, she stopped him. "I can walk."

Lupin looked on skeptically and immediately rushed forward to help catch her when her legs buckled.

"Okay, maybe not," she admitted and allowed Snape to lift her.

Harry and Ginny watched as they disappeared down the kitchen stairs and presumably back to Hogwarts. When all was quiet again, they looked at one another.

"Wow," Ginny said, so quietly Harry almost didn't hear.

"Yeah," he said in reply.

Footsteps in the entry below made them realize Lupin would be coming back up the stairs at any moment. Not wanting to be caught, Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her into his room. They watched through a crack in the door as Lupin, looking a bit worse for wear, continued up the stairs to the third floor.

Closing the door, Harry turned to Ginny. "What was that on the end of her wand?"

Ginny sat on the edge of his bed, still looking a bit distressed. "Weapon tip. It's a sort of point you can attach to make it sharp, like a knife. It makes sense if she was going to see vampires she'd have one. It makes it strong enough to use a wand as a stake if things went bad."

"I wonder why she didn't want to go to St. Mungo's," Harry mused aloud as he sat next to her.

"Well, technically, weapon tips are illegal," Ginny said, after a moment of thinking. "Here at least, I don't know about the States."

The image of it stabbed through her arm was still sharp in his mind. Harry fell back, covering his eyes. "That had to hurt."

He didn't see Ginny's expression of disgust as she lay back as well. "Yeah, that was pretty nasty. Ugh, I'm going to have nightmares."

With the sudden excitement over, Harry felt intensely sleepy. Though Ginny was still next to him and he was facing the wrong way on the bed, he let his eyes drift shut. He'd move to sleep properly when she got up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny's eyes opened slowly and she blinked a few times, trying to place the unfamiliar room she was in. Slowly, she started to get up, but something held her in place. Turning her head cautiously, her heart nearly stopped when she realized she had fallen asleep in Harry's room. On his bed. Next to him. His arm draped over her side was what had prevented her from getting up. Holding her breath, Ginny gingerly placed her hand on his wrist and tried to lift his arm. Harry mumbled something and pulled her closer. Swallowing the squeak that wanted to escape, she tugged a bit harder and finally managed to move his arm enough that she could slip off the bed.

Glancing toward the window, Ginny hoped the pale light showing around the shade meant it was still early enough no one would catch her leaving Harry's room. Stealing a quick glance back, she saw Harry's brow furrowed in a little frown and squashed the thought that he looked awfully cute when he was asleep. Telling herself to get a grip, she gently placed the blanket from the armchair over him and silently slipped out the door.

Sometime later, Harry awoke with the odd feeling something was missing. Blearily looking around, he realized he was lying diagonally across the bed with his head pointing toward the footboard. The crick in his neck suggested what was missing was a pillow. Turning himself right ways around, he grabbed for his watch on the nightstand and held it an inch from his eyes. After a moment of squinting blankly the time, Harry decided it was obviously too early to get up, crawled under the covers properly, and promptly fell back to sleep.

Something jabbing him in the arm made him roll over. When that didn't stop the poking, Harry, eyes still closed, swatted at it. "Go 'way."

"Now you know how it feels," a voice claimed triumphantly.

Grudgingly opening his eyes, Harry glared at Ron.

"Come on," Ron said, poking him again. "Time to get up."

"Why? We don't have anywhere to be," Harry grumbled and pulled the covers up higher. With Persephone's late-night return, waking up facing the wrong way, followed by a slew of odd and slightly disturbing dreams he couldn't remember, he'd had a somewhat restless night.

Ron tugged the covers. "Yeah, but if Mum finds out we let you sleep past noon-"

Sitting up in surprise, Harry said, "What? What time is it?"

"After noon," Ron replied. "If you want lunch, you have to get up. You missed breakfast by a few hours."

Shaking off the last bits of drowsiness, Harry got up. A quick glance at his watch confirmed Ron was telling the truth. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ron watching him with a sort of hesitant, worried look. "What?"

"Rough night?" Ron asked.

Realizing Ron thought he was having nightmares again, Harry scrambled to think of a reason for him being so tired that didn't involve hanging out with his sister in the hallway in the middle of the night. Considering how she had reacted when she'd found them talking about her with Tonks, he didn't think telling Ron or Hermione about Persephone's injury was a good idea, either.

Trying to seem unconcerned, he shrugged. "Not really. With the Order, Occlumency, homework, and everything, I was just tired, I guess."

Relieved, Ron accepted Harry's explanation readily. Once dressed, Harry made his way down to the kitchen, suddenly realizing he was starving. Ron stopped in the drawing room to get Hermione while Harry continued down the stairs. Entering the kitchen he saw Lupin arranging lunch and Ginny sitting at the table, a half-drunk cup of tea in front of her. She was so absorbed in the book she was reading, Harry had to call her name twice before she looked up.

"So you finally decided to join us," Lupin said, smiling as he set the makings for sandwiches down on the table.

"I didn't realize I'd slept so late," Harry said. If he was honest about it, he still felt as though he could easily crawl back in bed and sleep away the rest of the day.

Ron and Hermione clambered down the stairs and sat across from Harry and Ginny. Harry noticed Hermione's concerned glance but didn't acknowledge it.

To his surprise, Lupin didn't seem concerned at all. With a knowing smile, Lupin said, "James was the same way." When Harry looked back at him, intrigued, Lupin explained, "Every break, James would be in full gear for the first few days, quidditch practice every day, running around with Sirius nonstop It was as if he was trying to cram all the fun he could in as soon as possible. After a couple of days, he'd completely crash and sleep for two or three days straight. Then he'd start again."

Harry laughed. He loved hearing about his dad at school. "What about you?"

"I was in on some of it, but I couldn't always keep up," Lupin replied. "Moderation was never your father's strong suit. Sirius' either, for that matter."

Smiling to himself, Harry began assembling his sandwich. A sudden thought struck him. "I'll be right back."

The others exchanged looks as he dashed up the stairs and waited expectantly until he came back down a few minutes later.

Setting the stationery box down, Harry laid the bird jewelry box and deteriorating book aside. "I found this the other day."

"What's this?" Lupin asked as he took the cover off the box. A sort of surprised, yet poignant expression settled on his face when he saw the pictures. "Where did you find these?"

"In the attic," wincing as he said it, Harry caught Ron's hurt look.

Lupin looked up. "When did you go up there?"

"The other night," Harry said. "Christmas. I couldn't sleep."

"Oh." Lupin looked relieved and Harry shot a hasty glance at Ginny. "Find anything else?"

Harry pointed to the trinket box and the book. "Just that. I didn't look through much. Oh, and I looked at the furniture. Some of it's okay."

Placing the pictures to the side, Lupin picked up the little bird. "Did you open it?"

Shaking his head, Harry said, "No. We tried, but we can't get it open. Here." Harry took the box and showed Lupin the little bird's bow and whistle.

"Hmmm." Lupin pondered the box. "Maybe it's just locked. Molly might know how to open it."

"That's what I said," Ron interjected.

"You don't think it's hexed, do you?" Hermione asked, worried.

Having never thought of that, Harry frowned. It was completely possible, considering the people who had lived in the house previously. The box was after all, probably Sirius' mother's.

Examining the small bird again, Lupin said, "I don't think so. Maybe we should have Moody take a look, though. What's the book?"

Gently picking it up, Harry replied, "I don't know, I can't read it. It's falling apart so I only looked at a few of the pages."

Carefully, Lupin opened it and squinted at the spiky writing. "Looks like runes."

Interested, Hermione asked if she could take a look. After skimming the page that was open and gingerly turning the delicate paper, she 'hmmed'. "This seems very old, though the damp attic wasn't really the best place to keep it so it's hard to tell. I recognize some of these, but not all of them. Maybe Professor Thorsson would know."

As they ate, Lupin explained some of the pictures to Harry, laughing as he remembered long-forgotten Marauder adventures. Wisely, Hermione edged Ron and Ginny toward the stairs before Harry was done eating, leaving him and Lupin to have a moment alone.

Noting their departure out of the corner of his eye, Lupin hid a small smile. Looking to Harry, he said, "Thank you, Harry. It was good to see those."

Harry pushed the box toward him. "You keep them."

His eyebrows rising in surprise, Lupin asked, "Don't you want them?"

"I kept one," Harry admitted. "You three were on a wall and my dad pushed you off, then laughed so hard he fell off backwards."

Shaking his head, Lupin laughed to himself. "I remember that." He glanced back down at the pictures. "You're sure?"

"Keep them," Harry insisted, then added, "but I may want to look at them again sometime."

"Anytime, Harry," Lupin said.

Just as Harry was about to get up, he noted the others were gone and stopped himself. This was his chance to find out more about the Order meeting. "Who are the Vlasceanus?" When Lupin raised his eyebrows in surprise, Harry added, "Well, vampires, obviously."

"You've been studying the Clan Wars in History of Magic, haven't you?" Lupin asked. When Harry nodded, Lupin seemed to think for a moment.

As Lupin gathered his thoughts, Harry said, "Binns mostly just rattles off names and dates, he never really says anything interesting."

That produced a small laugh. "Yes, the Vlasceanus are one of the vampire clans. One of the oldest, incidentally, and one of the few that had enough survivors of the Clan Wars to regain fairly strong numbers." Harry listened with interest as Lupin went on. "Unlike most of the others, the Vlasceanu Clan is headed by two people- brothers, in fact. Typical vampire families are run by a single matriarch or patriarch but the Vlasceanus have always been a bit...unusual. Dorian and Damien Vlasceanu have been the heads of the family for centuries. Long enough I don't know who came before them."

"Those are the twins Persephone mentioned?" Harry asked.

Lupin smiled with a shake of his head. "Yes. There's a sister as well. Younger, but to them I doubt that matters anymore. Selene, I think her name is." Lupin seemed to know Harry was going to ask and so continued, "The Vlasceanu twins are known for their..." he trailed off as if trying to find the right words, "particular tastes. I knew Seph had spent some time with vampires after she left AIMS, but she never said which Clan."

Harry took a moment to digest this new information. There were only a few reasons he could think of why vampires would keep humans around, even fewer that a human would choose to stay, and none of them he wanted discuss with Lupin. Or anyone for that matter. Fighting a rising blush, Harry asked, "So why did she leave?"

Lupin gave him a look. "I wasn't foolish enough to ask. Though I would guess mortals and vampires can only coexist for so long."

"Have you heard from her?" Harry asked, hoping it sounded innocent.

A frown flickered across Lupin's face. "No. Professor Snape did tell me she had returned safely early this morning."

Harry knew that wasn't quite the truth, but resisted the urge to ask more. It was possible Snape had contacted Lupin to tell him Persephone was doing all right after he'd gotten her back to Hogwarts. "When's the next Order meeting?"

Grateful for the subject change, Lupin replied, "Tomorrow night." Before Harry could ask, Lupin said, "Yes, you are invited. It may be more difficult for you to attend after you go back to Hogwarts, though."

Nodding in understanding, Harry made his way to the stairs. Once back in the drawing room, he faced several inquiring gazes. Knowing they were going to ask how many times he'd been to the attic, Harry tried to distract them. "Hermione, do you remember hearing anything about the Vlasceanu Clan in Binns' class?"

Startled by the sudden question, it took her a moment to answer. "Vampires, right? Professor Binns mentioned them, I think. Nothing stands out in my mind." Distractedly, she started flipping through pages of notes. "Why do you ask?"

He'd told them about the Order meeting the day before, but had omitted some details. "They were the vampires Persephone went to see."

"Last night?" Ron asked. "Did she come back yet?"

Ginny and Harry exchanged a glance. Harry answered, "Lupin said that according to Snape she got back to Hogwarts all right."

Harry saw Ginny's brows rise and tried to give her a look saying he'd talk to her later. Catching Ron watching them with a suspicious look, Harry cleared his throat and hastily looked away.

Seeing his chance, Ron asked, "Is there a lot left up in the attic?"

Hermione's expression was a mixture of exasperation and admiration at Ron's deft subject change. Even Harry had to admit it was pretty smooth. Knowing they wouldn't stop until he answered, he said, "Just a few boxes and furniture. I haven't really looked through much. I found those things on a bookshelf. It was the only-" Harry stopped himself.

"What?" Hermione prompted.

Lost in thought, it took a moment for Harry to realize she'd asked him something. "What? Oh, I was just thinking, that wasn't the only thing on the bookshelf. There was another book, too. Looked worse than the runes one."

"Why didn't you bring it down?" Ginny asked.

Shrugging, Harry replied, "I just forgot about it."

"Here it is!" Hermione held up a page of notes triumphantly. She rattled off some names and dates. "Does that help?"

"Not really. Not that I expected anything," he added quickly. "It's all right. Lupin told me a bit. If it's really important later on, we can always look them up in the library or the Room of Requirement."

"Do you think you should get that other book?" Ron asked. "I mean, the attic doesn't seem to be the best place to store things like that. Who knows, it might be important."

He knew the others wanted to help him sort through the attic to give support foremost, but also for more selfish, curious reasons. Swallowing a small sigh, Harry said, "I'd rather be up there by myself."

While Ron was the most obvious in his disappointment, Harry noted the others were as well. Admittedly, if he were in their place he'd want to root through potentially interesting Dark wizarding things in the attic as well, but he held fast to the desire to do it alone.

"We understand," Hermione said quietly.

Just as Harry was about to ask what they had planned for the day, Lupin leaned in the doorway. Everyone looked up expectantly, but Lupin looked to Harry and silently indicated for him step into the hallway. Ignoring the other three's quizzical looks, Lupin said, "Don't leave the house."

Confused at this pronouncement, they watched as Lupin and Harry turned and left. Following Lupin confusedly, Harry asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Lupin replied. "It's just something someone should have done a long time ago."

When Lupin handed Harry his coat in the entryway, it only added to his puzzlement. "Where are we going?"

Lupin didn't answer and Harry thought he looked rather preoccupied and pensive. They walked out the front door of Number Twelve into the icy winter air. The sky was a solemn grey and the grubby street did nothing to lighten the somber mood. While he wished he knew what was going on, Harry trusted Lupin and followed him without question.

Once they reached the end of the block, Lupin threw out his wand arm and the violently purple Knight Bus instantly appeared. Still not understanding, Harry dutifully followed Lupin on board. Surprisingly, Stan Shunpike was not the one who took the coins Lupin held out. Rather, it was a petite brown-haired witch who smiled cheekily at Harry as he passed. He attempted to smile back but, judging by her expression, hadn't quite achieved her sunny expression.

Harry had missed whatever address Lupin had given and silently settled in the adjacent armchair and joined Lupin in staring broodingly out the window. Thinking asking where they were going would be fruitless, Harry merely practiced calming his thoughts and waited patiently.

Even the typical bumps and jolts of the ride didn't dispel the subdued mood surrounding the two of them. When the witch announced an address Harry didn't recognize, Lupin stood and indicated Harry should follow. Glancing out the window, Harry saw what looked like a large park, though it was colored in depressing shades of dead brown grass and grayish gritty snow. Wondering where they were, Harry followed Lupin as they exited the bus.

Lupin led the way through a wide-open ironwork gate. They passed through, and Harry began to wonder if Lupin was ever going to tell him what they were doing. As they followed the gravel path up a small hill, Harry saw stones set at regular intervals and slowed his pace a fraction. As soon as he realized they were in a cemetery, an odd, closed-in feeling overcame him.

He must have made some sort of noise he was unaware of, because Lupin turned with a concerned look and asked, "Are you all right, Harry?"

Taking a deep breath, Harry reminded himself Lupin would never do anything to harm him and the terror of Voldemort's return in the other cemetery was years gone. "Fine. I'm fine."

Silent once again, Harry followed until Lupin crested the small hill. Stopping under a leafless tree, Lupin gazed at the pair of stones marking two sets of graves. As soon as Harry saw them, he understood where Lupin had brought him and why.

Swallowing a sudden lump in his throat, Harry read his parent's names carved side by side into the larger of the two markers. To his surprise, a second, smaller stone had been built in the space beside them. Fighting back tears, Harry saw Sirius' name had been etched into the stone. Obviously there had been no body to bury, but Harry wondered when the grave had been marked and by whom.

"There was no service," Lupin said, his voice hollow. "With everything that was happening..." Harry nodded. Lupin must have known what he was thinking, because Harry didn't have to ask. "Dumbledore arranged it. He suggested we have a memorial but agreed it should perhaps wait."

"Maybe when..." Harry started. He wanted to say, 'when it's all over' but he honestly didn't know when that would be or even if they would succeed in their war against Voldemort, so he trailed off.

"Yeah," Lupin said, understanding. He put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Take your time."

He walked away, leaving Harry alone.

Standing there, facing the final resting place of his parents and godfather, Harry felt as if he ought to... He didn't know. Say something? Feel something? There were so many questions he'd pondered and asked them silently in his mind in the darkest moments of night. So many things he'd wanted to know, say to them if he could. But standing there, his mind went blank and he could only stare silently at cold stone and unfeeling letters.

He wished he felt something more that the odd thought that this was the closest he'd ever been, physically, to his parents since he was a baby. Somewhere below him they lay, fifteen years of decay ravaged. It was a disturbing thought and not at all what Harry believed he should be imagining. Briefly he closed his eyes and pictured them as they were, laughing and smiling in the collection of pictures Hagrid had given him. Those memories seemed far more appropriate and Harry held them in his mind as he looked down once again at the dry, brittle grass that covered the ground.

A cold wind gusted by and Harry drew his coat closer. He felt as if he should have brought something, flowers perhaps, but as he hadn't known where they were going, forgave himself that oversight. In the hopes of finding inspiration as to what to say or do, Harry gazed out over the rest of the cemetery. It was vast and empty. Winter had leeched all color from the landscape. A few trees stood, dormant and leafless, as cold and grey as the stones that marked the graves. Some headstones had been adorned with flowers for Christmas, but even they bore the signs of being left in the cold too long.

A bit down the hill from where he stood, Harry saw Lupin facing away, staring out into the distance. How often had he come here? Had he been alone? Had he known what to say to the silent stones in front of Harry?

In the distance, a dark-robed figure moved slowly and deliberately toward them. Lupin tensed slightly and Harry's hand slid into his pocket. However, the figure didn't seem to notice them at all. As it approached, Harry saw it was a woman, clad all in black. Some of the tension faded from Lupin's posture and Harry wondered if he had recognized her. Did he know her, or had they only seen each other across the empty distance of quiet stillness? Harry watched as she bent down and laid a single white flower in front of a tombstone. He looked away as she stood, feeling as though he were intruding.

Though he still felt as if there were something he ought to do, Harry turned away from his parents' and Sirius' graves and took a few slow, hesitant steps toward Lupin. Just as he was about to call out and say he was ready to go, he turned for one last look.

"I miss you."

Wiping away the tears that had escaped, Harry joined Lupin looking over the vista of gently rolling hills.

"Someone should have brought you sooner," Lupin said, his words sounding strange in the deferential hush that blanketed the cemetery.

"How many times have you been here?" Harry asked.

There was a slight hollow smile. "I haven't counted. At least twice a year since."

Harry figured the other day Lupin came was most likely Halloween. He didn't ask. As they began their walk back to the road, Harry caught one last look at the woman who had arrived after them. She stood exactly as she had after she'd placed the flower and Harry wondered if she felt a connection to her lost loved ones or if she, like he, still wondered what it was he needed to say.

The Knight Bus ride back was silent.

Once they arrived back at Number Twelve and were once again inside the familiar foyer, Harry turned to Lupin. "Thank you."

He wasn't sure what Lupin had hoped he would gain from the visit, nor did he know himself what he ought to have felt. Still, Harry was glad they had gone. Perhaps in time, he would find the peace the calm solitude of the cemetery had promised. Watching as Lupin went back down to the kitchen, Harry hoped Lupin would as well.

Three identical looks met him as he reentered the drawing room. Harry said nothing in response and merely sat on the couch next to Ginny. Hermione and Ron abandoned their writing and squeezed next to him. Placing one hand on Harry's arm, Hermione raised her eyebrows in silent question. Harry looked at his lap, currently being kneaded by a purring Pest.

Knowing they were trying to be supportive, he said quietly, "He took me to see my parents."

Ginny placed her hand over his and gave a gentle squeeze. Suddenly feeling very tired, Harry sagged a bit toward her, resting his head on the back of the couch. Hermione gave him a hug around one shoulder and a sympathetic look. With an appreciative smile, Harry silently thanked her and Ron who looked sympathetically at him from his position next to Hermione.

Understanding he wasn't in the mood to talk, Ron and Hermione returned to their papers scattered over the coffee table, though they sat side by side, facing the couch, so they could occasionally look up to check on Harry. Ginny still held the book she'd been reading and when Harry's head drooped in weariness, she took the pillow she'd tossed to the ground and placed it between his head and her shoulder.

Several hours later, Lupin looked into the drawing room to find everyone in the house but he had fallen asleep, cats included. Harry and Ginny had eventually slid to drape lengthwise across the couch, Pest an unseen but warm fuzzy ball curled up between them. Ginny's head rested on the couch arm but Harry, lying in front of her, had managed to keep his head on the actual pillow Ginny had provided. Hermione, once she had seen Ron fall asleep on his notes yet again, had coaxed him to curl on the floor in front of the fire with a throw pillow under his head instead. Crookshanks, seeing an excellent opportunity, had stretched out between Ron and the crackling warmth to maximize his absorption of the radiant heat. Having seen the others give in to weariness, Hermione had admitted that given the past few weeks of unrest, she also needed a well-deserved nap. For once ignoring the lure of her books, Hermione had found another pillow and a blanket and, after assuring that Ron hadn't sprawled too close to the fire, curled up next to him and drifted off.

None of them heard the quiet click of a camera.