The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter Three: Kirsten and Dustin

Harry didn't wake up till noon the next day, glad that he had finally had a peaceful sleep. At first he was confused as to why he was in Remus' house but then last night's events came back to him. He had an older brother and sister. He couldn't believe it. He got out of bed and went downstairs, having fallen asleep in his clothes. When he got downstairs Remus, Dustin, Kirsten, and a woman that he didn't recognize were sitting around talking. Seeing that Harry was awake, Remus went into the kitchen and brought back some food for Harry.

After he finished eating he turned to Dustin and Kirsten and said, "What do you do for a living?"

"I work for the ministry and Kirsten doesn't have a job at the moment," Dustin said.

Harry nodded and said, "What do you do in the Order?" hoping to get an answer but not really expecting one.

"Well, right now we're just considered to be part of the guard protecting you and sometimes little stuff for Dumbledore," Kirsten said.

The questioning continued for a while and Harry found out that Kirsten had a boyfriend, that Dustin had been the trouble maker at his school just like their dad had been and if anyone asked him why he did it he would say, "Just carrying on the family tradition," and that they both loved a lot of Muggle candy and food among other things.

"That's enough about us. We want to hear all about you," Kirsten said smiling.

Harry took a deep breath and gave a very short explanation of what his life was like before he went to Hogwarts and then told them all about Hogwarts and what he had done there. He pretty much skipped third year since most of that involved Sirius and he didn't want to think about that. The only thing he told was that Remus was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and that Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. He told about fourth year and the Triwizard Tournament and surprised even himself by telling what happened at the third task when Kirsten asked. Fifth year took the longest. When he had to talk about Umbridge he called her "It" saying that she was too horrible to have a proper name.

Once he was finished with the school years he had to tell about his summers having left them out but they ate dinner first since it was now in the evening. Once they finished he told about his summers starting with the one after first year. After hearing that the Durlsyes had starved him they all had considered going over to the Dursleys and hexing them into next year but wanted to hear the stories and stayed. They all laughed until they were crying when he told about blowing up Aunt Marge. He spent about an hour alone describing the Quidditch World Cup. When he got to last summer he just said that he stayed at Order Headquarters and the trial.

After he was done it was eleven and he was about to go into the kitchen but an owl flew through the open window with a letter attached to its leg. He could see the Hogwart's crest on it. It flew to Harry and he untied the letter and the owl flew off. He opened the letter and it said:

Dear Mr. Potter,

School will start on September 1 and the train will leave from King Cross at 11 am. Enclosed is a list of the books you'll need for the next school year and your O.W.L results.

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry pulled out a sheet of paper that had the list of books and then pulled out the sheet with his O.W.L results on it.

Charms: Exceeds Expectations

Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding

Potions: Outstanding

Divination: Dreadful

Astronomy: Poor

Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding

Herbology: Exceeds Expectations

History of Magic: Poor

I know that Remus Lupin is moving in across the street from your relatives and he will be teaching DADA this year and will tell you now what classes you will be taking and when school starts all the teachers will be there for advice.

Harry stared at his results thinking that they might have made a mistake and sent him someone else's. There was no way he could have got and Outstanding in Potions. Three Outstandings, 3 Exceeds Expectations, 2 Poors, and 1 Dreadful. Harry looked over it again and realized that he had gotten all the grades he needed to be an Auror.

"What do you have there?" Dustin asked.

"My O.W.L results," Harry said still dazed at his scores.

"O.W.L results let me see!!!" Kirsten said excited.

Harry numbly handed them over to her and sat down in a chair. He had got 6 O.W.Ls. I wonder how many Hermione got. Probably the highest you can. Ron's are probably are about the same as mine. Kirsten giving him a hug brought him out of his thoughts. She pulled back and said, "Harry, you did wonderful!!! 6 out of 9 are really good!! You should be very proud, especially that O in Potions after what you've told us and what Amanda has told us about him," she said grinning broadly at him. Dustin was reading them and after he finished he gave them to Remus and gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze and said almost the same thing as Kirsten. Harry looked at Remus waiting for his reaction. He looked up at Harry and smiled. Harry then remembered the letter had said that Remus was going to be teaching DADA at school.

"Remus, are you really going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Harry asked. Remus nodded and for the first time that summer he actually grinned. This time it was a real grin not because he was greeting someone. don't know about since I wasn't told that I was supposed to," he said smiling slightly.

"Yes, I will be teaching this year. It appears I am supposed to inform you about something but I have no clue what it is since I wasn't told," he said smiling slightly.

"It said you're supposed to tell me what classes I will be taking next year," he said.

"Well I guess you'll be taking Charms, Transfiguration, Potion, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures judging form your grades. There will be more classes specially designed to help in what career you chose added on. What career did you tell McGonagall?" Remus said.

"I told her I wanted to be an Auror," Harry said.

"Auror huh? Well that's a difficult career path but if anyone can become an Auror it's you. You've already proven that you do well in situations where you have very little time to come up with a plan and you have no choice but to react fast and efficiently or pretty much die. So there'll probably be someone to come up to the school every week or so, or at least that's how they did it when I went," he said.

"I can't believe I got an Outstanding in Potions. I was pretty sure I had got Outstanding in DADA but not Potions. That was the last I expected. I was thinking I would get Acceptable I would have been ecstatic with Exceeds Expectations but..." he trailed off.

"Harry, don't say another word about it. You got it and that's all that matters so now you can become an Auror, just like you wanted," Kirsten said.

Harry nodded, turning to Remus said, "Can I write a letter to Ron and Hermione saying how I did?"

At Remus' affirmative nod he went to his room and got some parchment out his trunk that Remus had brought over earlier. Harry was going to be staying with Remus for the rest of the summer for which he was very happy.

Dear Ron and Hermione,

I hope you're having a good summer. Mine is actually starting to turn for the better. I wish I could tell you but I can't in case it gets intercepted. I got my O.W.L results to day and here's what I got: Transfiguration: Exceeds Exception, Potions: Outstanding (can you believe it!!), Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding, Herbology: Exceeds Expectation, History of Magic: Poor, Astronomy: Poor, Divination: Dreadful, DADA: Outstanding. How did you do?? I can't believe my scores!! I only failed three and now I have the grades I need to become an Auror!! Hope your ok and are having a good time.

Harry

Harry read it and let Remus read it to make sure that it was all right before he sent it with Remus' owl saying that Hedwig would attract too much attention. He let the owl out the window and it flew toward The Order of the Phoenix Headquarters where Hermione, her parents, and the Weasleys were staying. It was now about 1:30 in the morning and Harry was now very sleepy. They all said good night and headed upstairs to their rooms. Remus came into Harry's room after about five minutes with a Dreamless Sleep potion. Harry took the potion and fell into a deep sleep.