12 Grimmauld Place
Number 12 Grimmauld place was a respectable pureblood family household. At least it was.
After the first wizarding war the members of the house of Black, the owners of the prestige home, started to die off. Orion Black during the midst of the war saw a rapid decline in health that took his life far too soon for a pureblood. Regulus Black, was the youngest of the Black family who inherited the title of heir upon his older brothers disownment. Sadly, at some point during the war he had disappeared,only the changing of the Black family tapestry confirming the truth of his death. The news,which came just two years before the end of the war, brought the last Black family member to the brink of insanity. Walburga Black, the mother of one Sirius Black soon died, having neglected herself and her needs so harshly she suffered a slow and painful death.
As the war came to an end with Sirius Black as the last true Black standing, despite his disownment, he inherited everything. The vaults, family ring and most importantly the family house were all turned over in his name. Much to Dumbledore's joy.
It was because of his incredibly warded ancient house and the main fact that the purebloods on the dark lord's side would rather gouge out their own eyes then keep up with the disgraced heirs movements that made 12 Grimmauld place the best and only option to house Dumbledore's order of the phoenix. Far away from prying eyes.
That was where they all resided, the walls of the house being deceptively large, after the tragedy of the tri wizard tournament.
For possibly the first time in the house's history, the walls were filled with loud, playful and obnoxious Gryffindors. The Weasleys and their many children had taken over the house in full force along with Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom himself, Dumbledore having convinced his grandmother that it was the safest place for the boy.
Order members were in and out of the house as if it was a muggle train station, none of this mattered to Black though, who regaled in the idea of how such a thing would truly piss off his mothers portrait.
Remus Lupin however was painfully aware of how many people had moved into what was technically his house.
During the war, Remus Lupin had spent his time speaking to packs across England as a favor for Dumbledore. He had been alone for far longer than he would have liked, only returning a few months after the declared victory. Sirius and his relationship had been rocky during the fight to say the least, luckily though they had managed to repair what had bloomed during their time at Hogwarts and were now living together. At Least they were. Remus was now contemplating a stay at the leaky cauldron as to get away from the huge crowd of people that seemed to always be under his feet.
12 Grimmauld Place was the place for all meetings now, as it was right now. The tri wizard tournament had brought a true shock to them all. They had somewhat anticipated The Dark Lord's return, of course they had, Dumbledore had nearly suffocated them all with his constant reminders. Now though, it was all too real. As were the facts that they now had to face. The topic of the most recent meeting, being held just shy of five days before they were to return to Hogwarts, was Neville Longbottom himself.
Over the years,Neville had been somewhat trained, Dumbledore wanting him to be prepared to fulfill his destiny as easily as possible. They were all confident that Neville was a bright young man, well nearly everyone. During his terms at Hogwarts, Remus was starting to doubt that fact. Dumbledore had all but flaunted Neville's achievements over the years, from Quirrel to the basilisk but having taught the boy, Remus was losing his hope and it was tearing him up inside.
It seems that over the last year however, he wasn't the only one who began to doubt Neville’s ability. That was what they were discussing now, a privacy ward had been placed so as to not have any chance of the children hearing.
Alastor Moody who had finally recovered from his stint inside a box for the last year was in attendance as was Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Sonks, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Remus and Sirius and surprisingly Snape and Mcgonagall had turned up for this meeting as well. The meeting had already been in session for over thirty minutes before Dumbledore finally let the topic be brought up, the rest of the members in the house just outside trying to listen in just to become annoyed to realize they couldn't.
“Albus, we really need to talk about this problem.” Minerva chimed in, she was fed up and happily showed in in her voice, her hands tensing on the table in front of her.
“And what problem would that be Minerva?” Dumbledore said, trying to feign some sort of innocence to the subject.
Snape let out a small snort, “Albus surely you are not blind or senile enough to not see what is right in front of you.” He said, a laugh making its way into his tone, as if not believing he was having to be the one to say it.
Sirius grew annoyed, as he always did over the littlest things Snape did, “And what would that be huh Snevillus?enlighten us with your marvelous brain.” The childish taunting of his made a few people look away as to not say something.
“Yes Severus, what are you speaking about?” Mr Weasley chimed in, the only one who seemed to actually be confused.
“Fine i'll be the one to say it, Neville Longbottom is nowhere near as competent as he should be. The boy is insanely normal to say the least. I highly doubt he could take on a hippogriff, let alone a dark lord.” Snape spared a glance across the room settling on Dumbledore's face before turning to Sirius who let out a huff at Snape's words.
“He's a far better wizard than you, Snevillus!” he spat, receiving an eye roll from even Minerva.
“Sirius, please show some respect, Snape isn't exactly wrong. I myself have noticed Mr Longbottoms apparent struggle in most of his classes. By the looks of it it’ll be nothing less than a miracle he gets even close to an O in any subject on his owls. The truth of the matter is simple, Neville Longbottom has so far obviously gotten by on pure luck and the help of others. But that won't last forever.” Mineva said her words met with silence and shocked looks from certain members of the order. “You can't deny it Albus, Myself and Snape have noticed and i'm sure other teachers have, Lupin included.”
Dumbledore was silent, Sirius was seeping with anger.
“Not you too Minnie. Neville is a wonderful and brilliant boy, he's practically my own at this point, don't fall for snevillus’ words. Right Dumbledore?” Sirius by the end of his speech had moved to stand, arms clenched at his side. Remus couldnt surpress his grimace at what Sirius had just said.
Dumbledore looked down and sighed. Kingsley Shacklebot turned to address him.
“Well Dumbledore. what do you say about this?”
Slowly Dumbledore turned to look at them all from the head of the table.
“I’m afraid I may have to agree with Minerva and Severus. The boy is not at the level he should be at by now, in some respects he's even below average.” Dumbledore moved to rub at his face before clasping his hands, resting his elbows on the table as he spoke. “Sirius, I know you have grown to care for the boy deeply but the truth is the truth.”
Everyone had been stunned into silence. Had they heard him right? Minerva and Snape were unaffected, knowing they were right. Lupin could only rub at his face, his head beginning to pound at the knowledge of how badly this was going to blow up. Sirius Black's jaw practically sat on the old floorboards in disbelief. Quickly he scrammed to sit in the seat beside Dumbledore, turning his body to face him disbelief on his face.
“What are you saying Dumbledore?” Sirius almost whispered.
The room was silent.
“I’m saying that perhaps Mr. Longbottom is not the one we can trust to vanquish voldemort.”
Sirius all but jumped back, his face turning pale.
The order members seemed to have the air kicked out of them, shock was the only emotion in the room.
Mrs Weasley shook her head before turning to face Dumbledore, not knowing how to feel.
“What do we do now Dumbledore?”
Dumbledore thought for a moment, “What of the Potter boy? How has he been getting on?”
Everyone stayed silent, Sirius had on the expression of someone who had been sucker punched, turning away from everyone's eyes.
“Well sirius? He’s your godson right? And you've been at Hogwarts with him for two years. So what's he like?” Tonks chimed in, a hopeful and kind glint in her eyes directed at Sirius as she spoke.
If it were possible for Sirius to turn paler then he would have. “I- um” He couldnt speak, Guilt clawing at his throat. He didn't know who to look at, he didn't know what to say.
Noticing Black was far out of his depth as usual, Snape pitied the man enough to stop the pathetic show he was giving them.
“I believe that question should be given to me Nymphadora.” Snape said calmly, everyone turning to face him, their own versions of confusion on their faces as clear as day. Dumbledores face the only blank one in the room, although Snape knew he was just as curious. Did these people know nothing about the boy at all?
“Don't call me Nymphadora. But why do you say that Snape?” To give it to Tonks she had genuinely no idea what was happening.
“I am the boy's head of house after all.” Silence.
“What? But you're head of Slytherin,” Tonks said, glancing at everyone else as she said so, as if doubting her own words.
“Hadrian Potter is a member of Slytherin house and has been for nearly five years now.” Minerva chimed in, insulted by the fact that the boy's own godfather who had been teaching him didn't seem to know such a simple piece of information about the boy.
“Potter is a bright child, Not more than adequate in potions but rather proficient in his other subjects or so i've heard.” Snape spoke, sitting up straight, arrogant with the fact that he knew more than Black did about his best friend's son. Sirius had all but curled into his seat.
“He’s rather talented at transfiguration but I feel he's more skeptical at it all then most. I’m sure he’s still getting used to the wizarding world after all, he hasn't been in it too long or surrounded by magic.” Minerva was rather satisfied with the Potter boys abilities in her class.
Everyone remained silent, most still shocked that Black hadn't chimed in.
“He’s also quite proficient in Defense too. I'm not sure how he got on with Crouch in disguise last year but he was more than good when I taught him. His history of magic is good too.” Remus spoke quietly, not looking up so as to avoid the betrayal in Sirius’ eyes that he could feel being stared into his head.
Dumbledore did nothing but nod along, taking in the room.
“It seems the potter boy is doing well. I’ll speak to Flitwick and the other teachers and see their opinions on the boy. In the meantime I suggest we subtly find out as much about the boy as we can. What does he like Sirius? Maybe we can tempt him to talk with an interest of his.” Dumbledore said, his opinions met with nods of agreement. His attention solely on Sirius as he finished.
Sirius gulped, not able to open his mouth. The guilt of his actions makeing him sick to his stomach. No one could do anything but stare, the gravity of his actions screaming volumes.
“You haven't spoken to him before, have you Black?” Snape said, with a hint of arrogance in his tone, he never would have thought this of Black the man had been all but obsessed with the boy's father after all.
“No that's not true, is it Sirius?” Arthur Weasley all but laughed out, his face dropping at the expression of dread on Blacks face. “Dear merlin.” Athur weasley himself gulped.
“I-” Sirius felt so small with all the eyes on him. “You have to understand, Dumbledore said it was best I didn't raise him. Plus the last few years I've had to focus on helping Neville. You know that, I didn't mean-” Sirius didn't know what to say, afterall he didn't have a decent excuse.
“My boy, i said you couldn't raise him yes but i thought with your position in hogwarts you would take it upon yourself to speak to James’ son.” And with that the final blow hit him. He had ignored and practically avoided his last connection to James, his brother. Sirius gripped his hair in a painful grip..
The order had looks of sadness on their faces, they had all forgotten about the son of one of their old members. All these years they had focused on Neville, sympathetic to the prophecy and his insane parents, supporting him during his trips to see them that they had forgotten another child had lost his parents and with it his connection to the wizarding world. They stayed silent.
Snape felt a sort of arrogance, He knew about the boys home life to a small extent now aware he knew more then his fellow members.
“The boy is quiet, he is academically motivated. He isn’t shy but is far from outgoing, preferring to stay in his own shell. He accepts help from older years and helps younger years if he's needed. From our few meetings outside of school for our trips to gethis supplies he is rather able to hold his own. That is all I know, His housemates know him far better than I do for me to comment anymore.” Snape almost proudly spoke, over the years he had been more civil with the boy then he thought he ever could be. Sure he still berated him but nowhere near as much as he had before. Everyone gave their full attention to Snape, soaking in the information he had.
“He seems like a nice boy.” Nymphadora chimed in with a smile, trying to lighten the mood as much as she could.
“Yes he does.” Offered Mr Weasley.
“Fifth year is quickly approaching for the students, we can do no more than sit and wait for it to come and go about our normal lives. Us inside the school walls will keep a watchful eye on the Potter boy and take as much information about him as we can, we cannot let slip of our interest in the boy to anyone. Are we in agreement?” Dumbledore spoke with confidence, doing his part to reassure everyone. He of course was met with unanimous agreement.
“Wonderful, I must ensure that the children cannot learn of this yet. Now I must be going. Good day to you all.” Dumbledore stood and vacated the room in a quick flush of robes, the barrier on the door breaking in his exit.
The order moved in their own efforts at getting back to normal. The children,who had been eagerly waiting to come in, all but ran in as they noticed Dumbledore leaving.
“So what did he say?” “What was that meeting about?” “That was longer than usual” was among the large amount of curious questions thrown their way.
“That had nothing to do with you children, no off with you. I need to start on dinner and I can't do that with you lot running around, can i?” Mrs Weasley spoke, ushering the horde of children out of the room, all of them still shouting questions as she did so.
Snape took his leave, Mcgonagall quickly following suit with Tonks and shacklebolt following a second after.
“Remus?” Sirius spoke softly trying to find some sort of comfort in the man. Remus could do nothing but leave, the pit in his stomach too much to handle and not wanting to be close to Sirius, leaving Sirius shocked and stuck in place as he did so
.
“It's ok dear, He’s just overwhelmed is all.” Mrs Weasley assured him with a rub on his arm as she passed.
And with one meeting, before fifth year had even truly began, things were starting to turn upside down.