Harry Potter and The Third Party

Chapter 2: Remus Lupin Returns

Beep! Beep! Beep! The blaring of the alarm woke Harry with a start. He turned his head to see the time: 06:00 AM. Stretching his arms, he let out a loud yawn. Then, remembering what the day's events would bring, he became somber. He jumped into the shower to wake himself up. Under the hot water he reflected why Dumbledore had said it had taken so long to find the body of his godfather Sirius Black. Dumbledore had said that the curtains that Sirius had fallen behind were some kind of portal that the living could not pass through, and a special means had to be taken to bring the body back through. It had taken awhile, but at long last, by saying the proper incantations and using a bewitched rope, they were able to bring the body back across to the side of the living. Dumbledore had told Harry that he could not explain the meaning of the curtains, although Harry sometimes wondered if he just wouldn't explain it. Dumbledore seemed to like keeping Harry in the dark.

After his shower, Harry made his way into the kitchen, and saw Dudley waiting with his plate of eggs, toast, and jam. As he sat down he looked over at the fearful expression of anticipation on Dudley's face. Often Harry would find something wrong with the plate and have Dudley remake the entire meal. But not today. Today he was not in the mood to torment anyone, and even managed a vague, "Thanks." Dudley's face flushed with relief, and he sat down to eat his own meal. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had not yet entered the kitchen and were not likely to until well after eight, especially with the prospect of an Order member coming through the Floo Network to fetch Harry for the funeral.

At around seven thirty, Harry sat down to read the Muggle news in a chair on the side of the cleared out living room. He looked over at Dudley in the kitchen, who was fidgeting in his seat nervously. Harry decided to cut him some slack.

"You can go upstairs if you want, Dudley. My friends will be here soon," he said casually.

"Thanks, Harry!" shouted Dudley, who was only happy to take the stairs three at a time to escape any arrival of a wizard coming through the fireplace.

Harry went back to his paper, and wondered who the Order would be sending to pick him up. "Most likely Mr. Weasley," he thought.

At three minutes to eight, a rush of green flames lit up the Dursleys' fireplace. A well-dressed but somber-looking man with light brown hair stepped through the fireplace, and Harry recognized him at once.

"Lupin." Harry ran to hug his former Defence against Dark Arts teacher.

"Hello, Harry, how have you been holding up?" he asked weakly.

"Oh, as well as can be expected, I suppose," Harry replied.

Patting Harry on the back, Lupin sat down on one knee until he was at eye level with Harry. "Listen, Harry." Lupin had the beginnings of tears in his eyes, but he wiped them away before they had time to develop. "I... I just wanted to say again that Sirius... he was my best friend. My very best friend and I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in how you're feeling today. If you need to talk to me about anything, I'm here for you." A single tear escaped his right eye. *sniff*

Harry looked at Lupin's somber face. He knew that Lupin was truly feeling as bad as he was. Lupin was the one person that Harry could write to from time to time about Sirius's death. He was the only one close enough to Sirius to know how Harry felt.

"Thanks," said Harry. "It really means a lot to me, knowing you're here."

Lupin gave a forced smile, stood up, and looked around the room. "Where are your relatives? Didn't they want to see you off?" Lupin asked, slightly puzzled.

"Ha! No, they wanted to avoid meeting an Order member at all cost,'" Harry replied, slightly amused at the idea of the Dursleys giving him a warm send off.

"Why?" asked Lupin, a little suspicious. "They haven't been mistreating you, have they?"

Harry smiled inside. "Oh, if you only knew," he thought to himself. "No, they've been okay. Just don't like wizards," he replied.

"I see," Lupin replied, slightly offended.

"Well, are you ready, Harry?" Lupin asked.

"Okay, sure, just one question. Where did you get the nice robes?" Harry asked with wonder.

Remus Lupin looked himself over, embarrassed. "Oh... I... Sirius had some money that he left me, as well as you, in his will. I just wanted to look good on the day we honour him. You'll find out about your inheritance later, too."

"Oh," said Harry, not caring about the money, but a bit curious to know why he wasn't at the reading. "I guess I'm ready."

"Good, I'll lead the way." And Lupin handed Harry a handful of Floo Powder from his pocket. He then took some more from his pocket and threw it into the fireplace, which lit up brighter.

"Now, repeat after me, Harry, clearly: Benedictions Georgious, Funeral Home!" Lupin shouted as he stepped into the green fire, and was swept away.

Harry threw his own Floo Powder in and was himself transported out of the Dursleys' and into another fireplace that opened into a large study, where Lupin, Tonks, and Mundungus were waiting for him.