𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 ━ Golden Trio Era

━chapter 3

Chapter 3
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REMUS COULDN'T SAY THAT HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE REASSEMBLY OF THE ORDER PHOENIX. And he didn't suppose that Sirius was very pleased, either. It wasn't because the meetings were held in his childhood home – though that did affect him if the sudden bouts of silence, or if the general fidgeting was anything to say by — but because he knew what this new era of the Order would hold.

He saw new faces in the meeting — Tonks, Bill, Charlie — looking brave, and eager, and firm yet hopeful. Remus remembered seeing those same expressions on his friends, once. He remembered how that optimism had slowly turned to grief and betrayal. He remembered how it felt, how although they thought Voldemort was gone, it still didn't feel like a win because they had lost too much, too many along the way.

He saw older faces, faces who knew what exactly this reunion meant, what exactly the war had in store. Faces who knew that war brought out the worst in people, how it can quickly turn savage and tear apart the bestest of friends.

Sirius and he lost two friends because of the war. James was the obvious one, who's death still weighed heavily on them both. Sirius, convinced that he was at fault, for suggesting the switch. Remus, for falling into the trap of feeling indebted to Dumbledore, and forgoing his friends in their time of need.

But there was also Peter, of whom they don't speak about anymore. The one who betrayed them, the one who chose his own safety at the cost of his friends'. But he was also the one who went through seven years of Hogwarts with them, the one who snuck away with Remus when they both needed a break from Sirius and James' unruliness. He was still Peter, the one who went through the ordeal of becoming an animagus for Remus, Peter who never made feel like a monster for being a werewolf. Remus still couldn't believe that this Peter, and the Peter who betrayed Lily and James, were the same.

And yet, they were.

Dumbledore, Alastor, Molly, Arthur, McGonagall, Sirius, and he knew better. They simply hoped and this time, it truly was the end.

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Sirius listened, fists clenched, mouth snapped shut. For once, he was grateful for how his mother had taught him to stay quiet. He never really simply listened. Sirius was the type to lash out. He most probably won't remain quiet until the end of the meeting. But for now, he listened.

He listened to Dumbledore heed warnings about Voldemort, about Harry; give suggestions the man wrote to Remus and him about multiples times by now, and even showed to Grimmauld (late at night, after the kids were in bed) several times to make them think it over.

"Harry would be much safer somewhere where Voldemort cannot touch him."

And the Dursleys? Precautions will be taken, the man had answered.

Yeah, right. Over my dead body.

"Harry should not be told everything."

Why? Only Dumbledore knew.

When someone voiced the question — Tonks — and said how it would be smarter if they all knew the answer to the question — obviously raised by Andy, that one — Dumbledore surreptitiously glanced at the door, and cast a privacy ward.

Which fell only seconds after putting it up.

"My apologies. The house doesn't listen to outsiders," explained Sirius.

Dumbledore didn't react to that. But if Sirius had learned anything with having Regulus as a brother and Adhara a niece, it was that, sometimes, a non-reaction revealed more than a reaction.