Dysfunctional

34 - The Feeling of Home

Tuesday, November 5

Harry had Side-Along Apparated with Tonks to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place and had found themselves in the midst of a handful of Order members - Bill Weasley, Mad-Eye Moody, Dedalus Diggle and for some reason, Alicia Spinnet and Oliver Wood.

They had been enthusiastically welcomed and Harry came to know that they were part of the Order.

"Our entire Quidditch team is in the Order, save for you and Katie," explained Oliver, beaming as he shook Harry's hand.

Alicia, however, looked sad. "How is Katie? I heard she had been cursed!"

"She's still in St. Mungo's," said Harry. "It's been a headache trying to find a replacement for her."

They spent the next few minutes discussing Harry's woes in regards to his Quidditch team and their first win of the season.

Kreacher had been serving breakfast, looking like it took a great deal of control to stop the insults from slipping out of him. Harry knew that Sirius and Kreacher had struck a deal of sorts, thanks to Remus. Sirius would be civil (or at least, try to be) and Kreacher would stop insulting the people who passed through the doors of the house of Black and actually take on the duties of a house-elf. It seemed to be working as Harry didn't hear a single comment, veiled or otherwise, escape from the house-elf.

After breakfast, Harry went up to the room he had shared with Ron to find his belongings already there.

"Professor Dumbledore sends his regards," came the lazy drawl from the portrait of Phineas Nigellus.

Harry looked at the wizard in the portrait, who stared back looking bored. "Has he come back to Hogwarts then?"

"I'm afraid that doesn't concern you," he said coolly, leaning against the frame.

"So, he is back," snapped Harry. "Thanks for answering my question."

Before the wizard in the portrait could mutter more than, "Insolent dolt," Harry quickly pulled out his muggle clothes and dashed to the bathroom for a shower.

oOo

Well-fed and dressed, Harry was taken back to St. Mungo's by Bill Weasley as Tonks had left to get some sleep.

Bill was surprised that Harry was unfazed by Side-Along Apparition and was talking to him amiably as they went up to the first floor of St. Mungo's. When they reached the end of the corridor, both Bill and Harry froze in their tracks.

Standing just outside the door to Sirius' private ward was none other than Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister for Magic, along with a couple of Aurors.

Bill gripped Harry's shoulder as he led them both forward and said in a clipped voice, "Good morning, Minister."

Scrimgeour glanced once at Bill, before fixing his eyes on Harry. "Good morning, gentlemen. May I request a private word with Mr. Potter here?"

Bill's hand on Harry's shoulder, tightened. "I hardly think-"

"It's fine," said Harry. Bill looked worriedly at Harry, then glanced at the closed door to Sirius' ward. Harry knew he was thinking of asking Sirius, but Harry assured him, "Really, It's okay."