Give Us Peace

Your call beckons from afar

It echoes deep within me

I hurry to answer it

I find I am not in time

You are gone now

Never again will I see you

Never again will I hold you

Never again....

~*~

Two days later, a familiar-looking tawny owl landed on the table during breakfast, dropped off a pack of letters, and flew off.

"Those will be the book lists then," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Who's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher?" Harry asked. "Anyone's got to be better than Umbridge."

"I think Dumbledore has a woman who used to teach at a magical institute in the States," said Mrs. Weasley.

"That ought to be fun!" Hermione said. "Imagine, she must have a whole different way of teaching!"

"Only you would get this excited about a new teacher," Ron said.

"I just hope she knows her stuff," Harry said. "If we have another shoddy Defense teacher I'm going to be pissed."

"It wouldn't take that to get us pissed," Fred said to Harry with a grin when his mother wasn't looking.

"All we need is a couple of bottles of firewhiskey," said George, with an identical Cheshire Cat-like grin.

"Very funny, you two," said Hermione disapprovingly. She looked at her letter and said, "Wow, I've never heard of this book before!"

Harry looked at his list. When he came down to the book assigned for Defense Against the Dark Arts he saw: How to Defend Yourself When You Don't Know What's Going to Hit You, by A.T. Moody. "Moody?" Harry asked, "The Moody?"

"Looks like it," Hermione said. "That title certainly sounds like him."

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Ginny barked, in a very close imitation of Moody.

Ron jumped. "Ginny, don't do that!" he said.

"Look at his initials," Harry said, "ATM. I bet he got teased about that by the Muggleborns when he was at Hogwarts."

Ron and Ginny looked confused.

"It's a Muggle thing," Hermione said. She thought for a moment, trying to figure out a way that she could explain credit and debit cards so they would understand. "You put in a sort of card, and choose how much money you need. It takes it out of your bank

account."

Ron still looked totally confused.

"Never mind," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "You should have taken Muggle Studies."

"If you all write down what else you need, I can get you what you need in

Diagon Alley today," Mrs. Weasley said.

"What about robes?" Harry asked. "I've grown a bit, so mine need lengthening."

"Just write down how much at the bottom of your list, and I'll see that it gets done," Mrs. Weasley said.

Harry scribbled some things down, and passed the letter on to Mrs. Weasley, while Ron, Hermione, and Ginny did the same.

"I wish I had my broomstick back so we could go play Quidditch somewhere," Harry said with a sigh. "Of course, there isn't anywhere around here where we could fly unseen."

Mrs. Weasley said, "I'll make sure to mention that to Dumbledore. I'm surprised he hasn't already sent it. He must have gotten the Ministry to lift your lifetime ban by now."

This lack of action on Dumbledore's part further convinced Harry that Dumbledore was more concerned with preserving Harry so that he could defeat Voldemort than letting Harry enjoy life.

After breakfast, Harry went to talk to Lupin. He knocked on Lupin's bedroom door and said, "Professor Lupin, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Of course," Lupin responded. "Come in, and feel free to call me Remus. I'm no longer your professor."

Harry came in and saw Lupin sitting at a desk. He walked over and sat down on a soft armchair next to Lupin. "I told Ginny about the prophecy," Harry said quietly. "I don't know whether to tell Ron and Hermione. I feel that I should, since they're my best friends. If I don't tell them, and they somehow find out, I don't know how they're going to take it. Well, Hermione would be even and level headed, but it's Ron that I'm really worried about." Harry stopped for a minute, realizing what he had just implied about Ron. He sighed and continued, "I'm afraid of Voldemort capturing them and torturing them for information if they know the full prophecy."

"Then why did you tell Ginny?" Lupin asked kindly.

"I told Ginny because I felt that she could handle it and I had to tell someone," Harry responded. "She understands more than Ron and Hermione could, because of her experience with the diary."

Lupin thought for several moments about Harry's dilemma.

"I don't know," he said. "I just don't know what to do."

Harry started to get angry. "Lupin is an adult," he thought, "Adults are supposed to know what to do." Harry took a deep breath, and started to whisper his mantra. Lupin watched as Harry visibly calmed down.

"I'm glad that book I sent you helped," Lupin said.

"Oh yeah," said Harry. "Sorry, I forgot to thank you. It's helped loads."

Lupin put his hand on Harry's shoulder then immediately pulled it off. "That was something Sirius used to do," he thought.

Harry looked at him and said, "It's okay, really. S-Sirius used to do that, but I understand."

"He's more perceptive than you give him credit for old dog," Lupin thought. "Old dog. Sirius will never get to be an old dog." Lupin walked quickly out of the room, almost afraid to cry in front of Harry.

Harry walked up to his room, where he found Ron, Ginny and Hermione playing Exploding Snap.

"Want to play, Harry?" Ron asked. "We can deal you in the next hand."

"No thanks," Harry said. "I'll just watch."

"So what do you think about Moody's book?" asked Ron.

"I hope that his paranoia didn't affect the book too much," said Hermione. "I think his experience will make it a very interesting book, as long as it doesn't teach us to be that paranoid."

"What's your Defense Against the Dark Arts book?" Harry asked Ginny.

"Practical Defense for the Student," she said, "By Josephus Finelli."

"What a boring title," Ron remarked. "Hopefully it will actually prepare you for your O.W.L.s."

"Speaking of preparing for O.W.L.s," Hermione said, "Have you thought about continuing the DA?"

"Not really," Harry responded. "We're going to have a competent teacher this year, from what your mum said Ron, so we probably won't need it. But I suppose it would be good to learn spells we won't learn in class, and to reinforce the ones we do. I suppose we won't have to use the Room of Requirement this year, although I liked that because it had Defense Against the Dark Arts books on the shelves."

"Well then," Hermione said, "We'll have to go to McGonagall to get official permission."

"What?" Ron asked confused.

"If a person wants to form a group or club, they have to get permission from their Head of House," Hermione said. "Last year, I didn't bother to ask, because McGonagall would have had to tell Umbridge, and of course, Umbridge would have said no."

"Oh," Ron said.

"You two have got to pack today," Hermione reminded Harry and Ron.

"Why?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed and said, "Honestly. Today is August 31st. We go back to school tomorrow. If I were you, well, if I were you, I'd have already packed, but, seeing as you haven't, you should start today, instead of leaving it all for early tomorrow morning."

"Yes, mum," Ron said with a grin.

"Wow," said Harry, "The days have really flown."

At dinner that night, Harry noticed that Lupin was gone. "Where is he?" Harry asked.

"Oh, off on some mission of some kind," Mrs. Weasley replied evasively.

"When will he be back?" Harry asked.

"Oh, probably in time to see you four to King's Cross," Mrs. Weasley said. "Why?"

"Just wondering," Harry responded. He wanted to know because he wanted to ask Lupin if he had Sirius's mirror, and if he could repair Harry's. "I should have used it last year," he inwardly berated himself. "Get over it," he thought. "Nothing you can say will make him come back."

There were four bags sitting in the hallway. Mrs. Weasley pointed to them and said, "Those are your things that I got in Diagon Alley. Make sure you take them upstairs and pack them."

"Thank you very much Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said.

"Yes, thank you," Harry echoed.

********

Lupin returned the next afternoon. Harry came downstairs with the remnants of his mirror in a paper bag, and walked over to Lupin, who was having a discussion with Mr. Weasley about Muggle automobiles.

"They have some new ones that run off eckletricity!" Mr. Weasley said excitedly. He looked over, saw Harry, and said, "Oh, hello Harry!"

"Can I talk to Professor Lupin for a moment Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked.

"Of course," Mr. Weasley responded, and left the room.

"Please Harry, call me Remus," Lupin said.

Harry placed the bag on the table and said, "This is the mirror that Sirius gave me last year. I-I broke it in my rage. I wondered if you knew how to fix it. I also wanted to know if you had Sirius's mirror. I tried Reparo at school, but it didn't work."

"There was a lot more than glass that went into the mirror, so it takes more complicated spells to repair it. Place the pieces of the mirror on the table," Lupin said. "As for your other inquiry, yes I do have Sirius's mirror."

Harry carefully placed the pieces of the mirror on the table. Lupin muttered a charm, and the pieces arranged themselves back into the mirror. He muttered a couple more charms, and pronounced it fixed. He looked at Harry, softened then said, "If you ever need to talk to me during the school year, you can contact me through the mirror. If I'm on a mission, then I can't exactly take it with me, but I'll try to leave it with someone if I can."

"I wish I had used it last year," Harry said, looking sad.

Harry could see Lupin struggling with his thoughts before he said, "Looking back, you can see that that was the thing to do, but such is the way with the past Harry. It does not do to dwell on it and forget to live."

Harry was so surprised at this very Dumbledore-like piece of wisdom, that he was silent. Finally he quietly said, "Thank you," picked up the mirror, and left.

Harry walked upstairs to finish packing. Ron was in the middle of his packing, and was just throwing socks and clothes in. "Hermione wouldn't like it if she saw you doing that," Harry said.

"Yeah," Ron said, "Well, she's not in here right now is she?"

Harry took a couple of books from a pile on his bed and neatly lay them in his trunk. He picked up a couple of pairs of socks, folded them, and threw them across the room into his trunk.

Ron watched this and said, "Mate, you could be a good Chaser."

"I'd rather stay as a Seeker," Harry replied. "Where else would I get to go head to head with Malfoy and not get points taken away?" He grinned.

"You should be a Beater then," Ron said. "Then you'd get to hit Bludgers at him."

"I'll just have to remind the Beaters to pay special attention to him during matches," Harry said. "Do you know who's going to be Quidditch captain?"

"McGonagall probably hasn't decided yet," Ron said. "I mean, we are the only surviving team members, and it isn't one of us, so I suppose she hasn't decided."

"What about Katie?" Harry asked.

"Apparently she thought that Quidditch on top of all the stress of N.E.W.T.s would be too much," Ron said. "It's a shame, really. She was quite a good Chaser." He looked longingly at his chess set, which was sitting on his bed. "One more game before I pack it?" he asked.

"Sure!" said Harry.

They sat down and played for the next hour. It was a well played game by both Harry and Ron, which ended in an exciting checkmate of Harry's king by one of Ron's knights.

Ginny came in to the room and said, "A bunch of Order people are coming over, and mum's having a party celebrating everyone's O.W.L. scores."

"'Course you know it's only to celebrate Hermione's scores," Ron said. "She probably got some of the highest ones in Hogwarts history."

"I'm sure it would tell you in Hogwarts, A History," Harry said with a grin.

Ron groaned at the mention of that book. "I suppose I should read that sometime," he said. "Hermione keeps telling me to, and it's getting quite annoying."

Ginny turned to Harry and said, "I think you deserve a reward for your OWL scores." She winked and walked out of the room.

"Erm, can you handle putting the chess set away?" Harry asked.

"If I can't, I can always ask Hermione to help," Ron said, giving Harry a quick grin.

"That's as much information as I ever want to know about your relationship," Harry said, and walked out after Ginny.

Harry found Ginny in the library. He still couldn't believe that Sirius's house had a library. "Well, the Black family was rich enough," Harry thought.

Ginny had a large leather-bound book open, and was looking something up. When she saw Harry coming, she quickly closed the book.

"Have I come to the right place to receive my reward?" Harry asked, pretending that he knew nothing about what his reward was going to be.

"Maybe," Ginny said flirtatiously. "Depends on what you want your reward to be."

Harry stepped closer, and whispered, "I think I've got a pretty good idea of what you've got in mind."

Ginny leaned in to Harry and kissed him. Harry put his arms around her, and kissed her back. "How's that for a reward?" she asked, coming up for air.

"I hope I'm not going to have to do something good every time I want to kiss you," Harry said.

"I see I'm going to have to keep an eye on you two at school," Ron said, stepping out from behind a shelf.

Ginny sighed. Why did Ron have to interrupt. "What do you want Ron?" Ginny asked annoyed. "I assume you didn't come just to spy on us."

"It's dinnertime," Ron said. "Or party time, whatever you want to call it." He turned around and headed down to the kitchen.

"I suppose we've got to go," Harry said.

"Yeah," Ginny said, "Maybe we can get away later."

"Maybe," Harry said, and headed down to the kitchen with Ginny.

When they got down there, Tonks was entertaining the crowd by changing her features. She screwed up her eyes for a moment; then Harry saw his least favorite professor staring back at him.

"Come on, Tonks," Ron said. "That's not funny."

Tonks got up, and started to do an ungainly jig to music coming from a magical wireless. It was very odd to see someone who looked like Snape dancing.

"Tonks dear," Mrs. Weasley said, aware of the damage a dancing Tonks could do, "I think that's enough. Severus will arrive soon."

"Snape's coming?" Harry asked shocked. "I'd have thought that he would rather be nice to Gryffindors than come to this celebratory dinner, especially considering why we're having it in the first place."

"Dumbledore thought it best if whoever was not on a mission was here tonight," said Mrs. Weasley. "The Order needs a rest and something to celebrate."

"As much as you and many other people may think otherwise," said Mr. Weasley, "Professor Snape does have feelings."

About an hour and a half into the party there was a knock at the door. Moody swiveled his eye around, and said, "It's all right. It's only Severus. Somebody get the door." Nobody moved, and Moody said, "Don't all jump for the chance at once," before rising to answer the door himself.

Snape walked in, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. Snape glared at Harry, then walked off to get himself a drink.

"Yeesh," Fred said, watching Snape walk away, "What's he got shoved up his-"

Before he could finish, there was a loud explosion, and a very irate Snape walked back into the room, his hair, which had turned a shocking lime green, dripping with some sort of liquid. "Who is responsible for this?" he asked, glaring at the twins.

"Fred, George," Mrs. Weasley said, "How many times have I told you not to test your products in this house?"

"Sorry, M um," said George sincerely, "We didn't mean for Snape to run into that one. We must have just left it lying around by accident. Honest."

Snape glared once more at the twins, and left the house.

"See what I mean?" Mr. Weasley said, "He does have feelings."

"Yeah, anger, anger, and anger," Ron whispered to Harry.

"On a lighter tone," Fred said, his voice magically magnified a touch, "We are pleased to announce a new product, Bursting Butterbeers!"

"A very good deal!" continued George, "Only seven sickles a piece, and two galleons for six!"

Mrs. Weasley looked up at the clock, then at Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione, and said, "My, my, look at the time. We'd best get you four up to bed. You don't want to oversleep tomorrow and miss the train."

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione headed upstairs content, peaceful, and ready to meet the new term head on the next day.