Light in the Darkness

Chapter 10: 12 Grimmauld Place

When Dumbledore asked, Remus said "yes" without hesitation. He believed Harry completely and as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, it was his job to fight against the dark. It was strange seeing all the old friends he'd made from long ago, saddening to realize all those missing from their numbers.

He had joined originally because of James. James was full of bravery and courage. He had told his friends that if they had to take sides, they needed to take the right one. James had hope for his family, hope they would see an end to You-Know-Who's rule. But at the end of the war, it was just him. All alone.

Remus Lupin didn't think much of the pink haired young woman that Mad-Eye introduced him to. If anything, he only depicted her to be the clumsiest woman he had ever encountered. On some level, he wondered how she could possibly be an Auror with her lack of grace. "This is Nymphadora Tonks," Mad-Eye said.

She gave him a kind smile and held her hand out to him. "I'm Tonks," she said. He wondered for a brief moment if she knew about him. If she knew what he was. Surely, Mad-Eye had told her? He took her hand.

"Remus," he answered. "Remus Lupin."

"Tonks?" Sirius inquired. He entered the dining room, almost ecstatic for the company he had been craving. "You're not related to Andromeda, are you?"

"She's my mum," explained the girl. Sirius eyed her for a moment before holding his hand out to her.

"I guess that makes us cousins." Tonks smiled at him.

"She always thought you were innocent. Said you were the most noble of anyone in the house of Black." Sirius said nothing to her. Remus knew Sirius didn't see it that way. He blamed himself for James and Lily's death, his fault for telling Wormtail where to find them.

"Shall we?" Mad-Eye said moodily, gesturing for everyone to sit down. "We don't have all day." Slowly, the members took their seats.

"Are Molly and Arthur coming?" Remus asked Moody. "Surely, they would have-"

"They will be joining us in a few weeks with their children. In the meantime, we have very important things to discuss. Voldemort is back. Now, Fudge, the fool, doesn't believe he has returned, he's going to do anything to keep Potter from spreading the truth. Therefore, I am going to be assigning each of you a shift to watch Potter at his aunt and uncle's this summer. Hopefully, we can get the boy to Hogwarts in September without any incidents."

Sirius looked up anxiously at the last bit, hopeful to finally leave the house that had destroyed his childhood. But Remus already knew that his friend would only be disappointed. Sirius couldn't leave the house without fear of being sent back to Azkaban.

As the meeting progressed, Lupin looked at the people around him. His eyes falling on Tonks periodically as she spoke her mind. The woman seemed to be fearless. There was nothing initially drawing about Nymphadora Tonks, other than the fact that she seemed to be the most unique person to have ever lived. But Remus Lupin was only just beginning to learn this.

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Hermione Granger stepped through to the Grimmauld fireplace in early July. Still covered in soot, she was hastily rushed off by Dumbledore to promise that she wouldn't breathe a word of the Order of the Phoenix to anyone outside of Grimmauld Place, especially Harry. She made the promise, like each of the Weasley children before her had.

"You'll be sleeping in Ginny's room," Mrs. Weasley informed her kindly. "Ginny, will you-"

"We can help with Granger's bags," Fred interjected.

"Yeah, it's no problem," finished Georged. Together, they grabbed Hermione's belongings before Apparating up the stairs to Ginny's room, much to the annoyance of Mrs. Weasley.