Come Home + Sirius Black

twenty two: great risk

The emergency meeting that Dumbledore called the day after Charlotte and Sirius took Harry home for good was dragging onto about an hour now, most of which was bitter back and forth about whether or not they had done the right thing. 

"All I'm saying is, you should have consulted the rest of us!" Molly was saying. 

They allowed Harry to join this meeting, but only the one. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, which Charlotte noticed. For the most part, she let everyone say their piece while she sat quietly. It was Sirius who had been defending the decision for most of the meeting, but it was this subtle sign of discomfort from her godson that finally made her snap. 

"That's enough!" she said loudly. "The decision is already done. I know you all want to protect Harry, but sitting here arguing about things we can't change won't help him." 

Everyone fell silent, until eventually Dumbledore, who had also been quiet for most of the meeting, spoke. "There is no telling whether or not Voldemort will know that the magic of 4 Privet Drive has ceased. Even so, he appears to be remaining in the shadows for now, but he is no doubt building his army. I'd like to propose that the three of you relocate. Even with the Fidelus Charm that you have place, the address is on record with the Ministry. If it should fall, you'll be at an even greater risk." 

Charlotte looked at Sirius, who appeared to agree, then at Harry, who nodded. 

"Very well," she said. 

Soon after, Dumbledore ended the meeting so they could begin their preparations, and most of the Order members were already departing. Before Remus could leave, Sirius pulled him aside. 

"You'll be our Secret Keeper?" Sirius asked him. 

Remus looked stunned. "Are you sure?" 

"You've been here for Harry for the last fourteen years when I couldn't have been," he said. "This is how it should have been the first time 'round." 

Remus nodded, and the pair hugged. Charlotte used the chance to slip out and up to Sirius's bedroom. 

With a sigh, she sat quietly on the bed. The events of the last few days seemed to be catching up to her now, and she was exhausted. Before she could settle in, however, the door opened again, and Harry joined her. 

"You okay?" she asked, surprised by his visit. 

He nodded, and moved to sit beside her. "You're right, you know. I will be safer with you. Happier, too." The reassurance made her smile. "I'll be sad to leave the house though... Our house, I mean." 

"Me too. It was my parents' house, you know. They didn't live there very long. After I graduated from Hogwarts, I moved out, and they moved there." 

"What happened to them?" he asked slowly, and she wondered if he had wanted to ask for a long time. 

"During the first war, a lot of Muggleborns went into hiding. I'd heard rumors that some Death Eaters were tracking down their Muggle families and torturing them for sport. So I wiped their memory of me... and they took off shortly after. I have no idea where they went after that. I tried to look for a few times, but it was never successful." 

"Maybe you don't have to get rid of it. The Ministry still needs to think you live somewhere." 

She appreciated the suggestion. "Unfortunately, they don't pay me enough to have two houses."

Harry was quiet for a moment. "Aunt Charlie, my parents left me a lot of money. More than I'll ever need—"

"Don't be ridiculous, Harry. That's yours. You let me worry about this, okay?"