The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter 2- The New Neighbors

Harry was standing at his window watching the movers move everything from the truck into the house, not really interested in what they were doing, but trying to keep his mind off things. He knew Aunt Petunia was watching them too downstairs, trying to catch a glimpse of their new neighbors. Harry was about to turn away from the window, but thought he saw somebody he recognized and turned his attention back to the person. But it couldn't be. Why in the world would he be moving in next door? As it turned out it was who Harry thought it was. Remus Lupin was telling one of the movers where to put the lamp he was holding. He was moving in.

Harry didn't have long to think about it before his aunt and uncle came barging into his bedroom and his uncle said, "Why in the world is one of those people that was at the train station be moving in next door? Boy, what have you been telling them?" Harry's uncle hissed.

"I didn't tell them anything! I said you were treating my like you always do. I don't know why he's here," Harry said quietly. Though, if he was true to himself, he was glad that Lupin was here. Maybe somebody really did care about him. But if they really cared about me why didn't they ever offer some type of sympathy over Sirius' death? None of them ever said everything would be all right in the end or that they cared or anything. They just said it was good that I was checking in every few days so they knew that I wasn't in bad physical shape. Well he's here so I might as well make the best of it.

His aunt and uncle left his room seeing that they weren't going to get any answers from him and Harry turned his full attention to the movers and watching Lupin intently. He was debating going over there and asking if they could use any help but decided against it. If Lupin wanted to see him he would come and if didn't he wouldn't. He wasn't going to force his presence on him. Harry watched them until they had finished their job and drove off, which was about two hours later. As Lupin went to his new house he looked over at Number 4 Privet Drive toward the second story window hoping to see a certain raven haired teenager looking out of it but Harry moved out of view before he could see him. Well, I guess I won't be able to walk at night anymore, even though they were probably following me then.

He tried to occupy himself with the album but it wasn't helping him to take his mind off things very much anymore. He had tried his schoolbooks again but they didn't help anymore than they had at the beginning of the summer. Trying to find anything that might possibly help, he saw the old books of Dudley's, fictional Muggle books, and was about to look for something else but decided to give them a try. Maybe since they weren't magic books they might allow him to slip off into some fantasy world where someone's problems were worse than his and make him appreciate what little he had, even though he couldn't find anything good about his life at the moment.

He looked through the books and pulled down one called Gooseberry Park and started to read it. Amazingly it did help him take his mind off things. The book was short and he had finished it in about one and half-hours. He looked through the shelves for a bigger book. He found one called The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman that was a lot longer and started to read. To his surprise it turned out to be interesting when he had thought it was going to be boring.

He read solid until dinnertime and was intending to stay in his room and not go down but his uncle yelled for him to come down. He sighed, marked his place in the book and proceeded downstairs.

The Dursleys were seated around the table and he was about to sit down but he stayed frozen at the bottom of the stairs. Along with the Dursleys, Remus Lupin was sitting at the table. He stood there trying to take in what he was seeing but Lupin said, "Harry, come on sit." Harry did as he was told. There was a tense silence and the only sounds were the clink of forks as they ate. Harry wasn't eating. He was watching Lupin.

Not able to stand the silence any longer Harry said, "Professor," but Lupin cut him off.

"Call me Remus, Harry."

He nodded and started again. "Remus, why are you here?" he gave Harry odd look and said, "Well isn't it obvious? I came here to check up on you, too make sure that you are okay, like you said in your letters. Also the Order wants someone here that can make sure that you're safe, someone that can do magic," he added when Harry opened his mouth going to that Mrs. Figg was there.

"But, I am okay. Why did you visual conformation that I was even though I said was in my letters?" he asked puzzled.

"Harry, physically you're okay. But you're not mentally or emotionally. Neither of us are. Not after what happened at Department of Mysteries. It will be a long time before either of us will be truly okay after that." Harry was looking at his untouched food unable to look at Remus anymore. There was a burning sensation at the back of his throat and in his eyes. "Harry, you need to eat. Molly would have a fit if she saw how skinny you were." Harry didn't want to eat. Eating would keep him alive. Without looking at Remus, holding back tears, he picked up his spoon and started to eat his mashed potatoes.

It was after dinner and Harry was showing Remus to the door. He was about to leave but turned to Harry and said "If you ever need me or want to talk or even if you're just bored come on over, even if it's in the middle of the night. That's the real reason why I'm here. His death wasn't your fault. It was Bellatrix Lestrange and Voldemort's. Not yours. In no way was it your fault. You must remember that. It wasn't your fault, all right?" Harry nodded even though he was thinking exactly the opposite. Remus gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze before turning and leaving.

Harry closed the door quietly and was about to go back to his room but his uncle stopped him and said, "Boy, what was the all about? Why does that thing think that he can in my home and run my house and terrify my family?"

"FIRST OF ALL MY NAME ISN'T BOY, IT'S HARRY. SECOND OF ALL HE ISN'T A THING HE'S A HUMAN BEING! THIRD OF ALL WHAT DO YOU MEAN RUN YOUR HOUSE AND TERRIFY YOUR FAMILY? FOURTH OF ALL I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT!'' After saying that he ran up to his room, slammed the door, and flung himself on his bed, fuming. Remus' words echoes in his head, if you ever want to talk, need me, or you're bored come on over... that's what I 'm here for. Someone does care about me after all.

He had been reading for about five hours when he heard four loud pops and recognized the sound of someone apparting or disapparating. He got out of his bed and went over to the window looking down into the street. They went up to Remus' door and from what little light was shining down from the light bulb above Remus' door, he saw that it was Tonks, Mad Eye, a girl with red hair, and a boy with messy black hair. His eyes stopped on the boy. He had the exact same type of hair Harry had. It was jet black and messy and even stuck up in the back same as his did. He didn't have any more time to look at him because Remus opened the door and they went in.

Harry went back to his bed, lay back down, and pulled the book toward him, though his mind was still focused on the boy. Why did he the same hair as he had? It could be a coincidence. Plenty of people have messy hair. Maybe he juts doesn't like to brush it. He pushed these thoughts aside and started to read. He managed to read for about an hour before he fell into a troubled sleep.

He was looking through the veil, screaming Sirius' name. All he could see was darkness. He saw something move. It was coming toward him. When it got closer he saw it was Sirius but not the Sirius he remembered. He was pale as a ghost and a thin trail of blood running down his face. Harry tried to run but couldn't move. Sirius came as close as possible without actually coming out of the veil. Harry could feel his breath on his face. YOU KILLED ME!!! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!! YOU'RE THE REASON I'M DEAD!! YOU KILLED ME!!! Harry was shaking his head saying no under his breath getting louder each time. NO!!!!

"NO!" he yelled, as he became dimly aware of someone shaking him. He sat straight up in bed and came face to face with a concerned Remus. Harry was breathing hard and was drenched in sweat. He looked wildly around his room trying to figure out what happened. As he realized that it was just a dream his breathing slowed down and he started to relax. "Remus, why are you here? When did you get here?" he asked.

"My bedroom is right across from yours and since we both had the window open I heard you yelling and decided to come and see what was wrong," he said concern showing in his eyes. Harry nodded numbly holding back tears. "Come on, get dressed and come over to my house," he said offering a hand to help him get entangled from the covers. Harry left the shirt he had on and pulled on a pair of pants and was about to leave his room but Remus motioned him over to the window. When he looked out he saw a bridge connecting his room to Remus'.

Harry cautiously stepped out of his window and onto the bridge closely followed by

Remus, Remus nudged him in the back to get him moving. It only took about a minute to get across and Harry found himself in a medium sized bedroom. Remus stepped in front of him and motioned for him to follow. Remus led him down a flight of stairs into the living room where Tonks, Mad Eye, the boy and girl that Harry didn't know, but had saw, were sitting.

The girl had long red hair and bright green eyes. Weird, her eyes are just like mine. The girl gave him a nervous smile. He returned the favor. Remus motioned him into a chair while he went to make tea. No one was talking, which Harry thought was weird and the boy and girl were looking at him and he sifted, uncomfortable.

Remus came back in with the tea on a tray, gave one to everyone and sat down. "Harry, you're probably wondering who these people are. This is Kirsten," he said motioning to the girl, "and this is Dustin," he said motioning to the boy. Harry nodded at them. "They just joined the Order, though that's not why they're here tonight. The reason they are here is you. Harry, I don't really know how to say this, since I can barely believe it myself, but Kirsten and Dustin are your older brother and sister."

Harry stared at Remus. He looked over at Kirsten and Dustin then back at Remus. "I'm sure your wondering how they are your brother and sister, so if you'll just be patient I'll explain everything. When Voldemort came to your house your parents were getting ready to go to one of your mother's friends. Kirsten and Dustin were already there having gone just a few minutes before. You weren't ready to leave yet and since Kirsten and Dustin were ready your mother's friend, Amanda, took then on ahead. Not long after she left Voldemort came and killed your parents and then tried to kill you. When you and your parents didn't come Amanda went to check to see what was wrong and found Lily and James dead. Since your mother's body was shielding you from view she didn't see that you were alive and left. When she got back home she got Dustin and Amanda ready and went into hiding, not knowing at the moment that Voldemort was gone and wouldn't be coming after her. We all thought she and Kirsten and Dustin were dead. When aurors got to the house it was torn apart. It looked like Death Eaters had attacked it. After they had left some of them came and ransacked the house looking for any clue of where they had gone. As it turns out they had went to America where they went into hiding. We didn't know at the time and assumed that Death Eaters had killed them. That's why no one told you. We figured that you were better off not knowing. Amanda heard that Voldemort had gone about a year after she had been in America but couldn't bear to come back. She didn't want to and didn't see any reason to. Since Voldemort didn't really do any attacks in America you're not famous over there so Amanda didn't know that you were alive. But about two weeks ago the news of Voldemort's return had spread over there and the story about you. So Amanda wrote to Professor Dumbledore and he arranged it so that they could come over here. Amanda didn't come tonight since Kirsten and Dustin wanted to see you on by them selves first. Harry, I know this came as a shock but do you have any questions?" Remus finished.

Before Harry could say anything Kirsten said, "Remus, you left out one detail. You forgot to say that we're twins."

"I knew there was something that I was forgetting. Yes, and they are twins as you just heard. Do have any questions?" Remus repeated.

There was a million questions running through his head but he finally settled on, "How old are you?"

"We just turned eighteen," Dustin replied, to which Harry nodded.

"Harry, I know you've probably have a ton more questions but I think you should get to bed. We can talk more in the morning," Remus said.

Harry nodded, told everyone goodnight, and followed Remus up the stairs into a room. Sitting on the bedside table was a potion that Harry recognized as a Dreamless Sleep potion. He lay down on the bed, took the potion, and fell into a deep sleep.

Author's Note: So sorry for the delay. The site wouldn't accept the chapter and I had to find a beta reader and then wait for them to get back to me. So sorry for the delay again and next update will not take almost a month. Thanks you so much for the reviews I got more than I expected and please do it again.