Number 4, Privet Drive
12/07/1996 (03:05 AM)
Kreacher apparates them to Black's room and heads back to remove all traces of their presense from the library. They all try to listen to any sound suggesting anything. The new arrival goes to the kitchen after shutting the curtains on the shrieking portrait. Then the stairs creak and a door shuts on the second floor landing.
They all sigh in relief.
Kreacher pops in then. Black puts a strong silencing charm so that no noise leaves the room.
"It is the halfbreed." He sneers as if disgusted.
Oh so its Lupin. What is he doing at this hour. Harry had last seen Lupin on that day in the ministry.
Ron has informed him that he had listened on Aurther telling Molly that Lupin has returned unsuccessfully after trying to gather the support of Werewolf community. And now he will be focusing on other business of the Order.
"Who Kreacher ?" Black asks.
"Traitor master's werewolf friend Lupin. He must be here to hide in the celler from the full moon tommorow." The elf croaks.
"Ohh okay. Kreacher, could you please silently apparate Potter and weasely to the park in the next row. Be carefull and make sure no one sees you." Black says and then motions for Hermione to hold his hand for apparition, to the astonishment of the trio who thought he like Malfoy would be disgusted at the thought of touching a muggleborn.
They reached the park and thankfully no one was there.
Harry stares at Black in shock, awaiting his response on learning that Lupin is a werewolf. The other two also looks at Black, wide eyed.
"What ? " Black states, appearing confused at their reaction.
"You are not going to say anything?." Hermione prompts him.
"About what?"
"About Lupin ..."
"About Lupin being in the house. What can I say, my idiot brother has invited the whole merry band of vigilante in the house as if it were a shelter for all poors and lost, why should I comment on this one in particular.?" Still appearing confused.
"No, about him being a werewolf". Ron hints.
"Ohh, so are you guys umm scared that he his a werewolf ?. Today he is no danger to any of us... tommorrow is the full moon...." He explains them softly, still not understanding.
"No, we know he is a werewolf and understand how that works in detail, trust me. (thinking about the traumatic encounter with the said werewolf in their third year) (at which Ron and Hermione nod, remembring the same scary night.) But we thought you might be,,, I don't know, scared? Surprised? Disgusted? shocked? appaled ? anything ?, learning that one of your brother's friend is a werewolf.? " Harry says .
"Ohhh that, I knew he was a werewolf from my second year itself. You see in those initial years, me and Sirius had a silent understanding to keep away but we also used to obseve from afar, you know to step up incase the other was in any danger or such. So I knew from Lupin's monthly disappearance that something was fishy and the new scratches on his hands and face also pointed towards it. So I had my theory. Later on my brother and his friends started calling him Moony, which all but confirmed my theories. And I was'nt alone, It was an open secret among us slytherins. "
Hermione gasps, "People knew he was a werewolf even back then.?". Shocked like the other two.
"Like I said it was an open secret among most slytherins but also some purebloods from other houses. Purebloods have their education started on very early on in life, also all the prejudices are not born within us, they are taught to us. So the people smart enough to look for signs knew what they were searching for. Also it did'nt help that my brother and Potter were two of the most famous and celebrated students. Pettigrew and Lupin used to follow those two around like lost puppies, so anyone associated with them was automatically in the limelight. Also their pranking which was borderline bullying did'nt help the matter. Lupin caught the eyes of others who wished to be with Potter and Sirius or wanted to be their friends or simply be like them. Both their enemies also wanted to learn all details there is about their foe and them being friends with a werewolf was an important detail. "
"Wow, and here we thought it was a highly guarded secret." Ron comments.
"Only those four thought it was highly guarded. Anyone who had two brain cells to rub together could have found out. Hell I even think that once the other students (muggleborn and halfbloods) learned about werewolves they might have started having their own suspicion and doubts. Nobody just outright spoke it, it is such a taboo matter in our soceity, that its not discussed. But people knew."
"Right, He was our DADA professor in third year and Hermione also figured it out pretty quickly." Ron says causing Hermione to blush.
"But none of the other students found anything suspicious as for as I know...." Harry says, still not believing that people knew in those times.
"Maybe its beacuse he was there only for a 10 months, while we saw for seven years of Lupin being sick or visiting someone on every full moon. Here he was just a professor who might have other commitment and emergencies as an adult. At that time he was the only student given benifit of missing classes every month due to some reason or other or leaving school grounds regularly, when not even pureblood student had such advantages. So obviously children in their curosity did wonder why he was given special treatment. He being best friend with the Heirs of two of the most influencial purebloods from both the supposed light and dark sides also led to him being noticed."
Harry thinks that Black has put all the right arguments and he can see how a member of a famous group of school will be observed by the masses.
"So my father and Sirius did'nt know that the others knew or atleast doubted ?"
"As far as I know. Sirius and Potter thought themselves as infalliable being and thought they are the most smart and cool and moral individuals. This led to them hurting many fellow student in there arrogancy and narcicism." Black replies quitely making Harry wonder if he was also one of the target of their bullying.
"So Lupin is going to stay atleast 2 days in the House, What will you do Black? " Ron asks him
"I can stay in my room and ask Kreacher to ward the room off." He answers.
"Don't be ridiculous Black. There is no way of knowing how long Lupin is going to stay here, you will get cranky, locked in that room alone." Hermione states.
"Its not like I have'nt experienced it before." Black mutters, which the other two does'nt listen but Harry definately does. And finds this information very disturbing.
"I would have invited you to my home but explaining who you are to my family might prove a little difficult." Ron says apologetically.
"I can change my appearance and stay in leaky cauldron for the time being." Black proposes.
"That is acceptable option but lodging right now in the middle of night will be suspicious, I would have invited you to my house but again your sudden appearance over the night will shock my parents and you being a boy will also upset them." Hermione says, unhappy for not able to find a solution.
"You can come with me. Aunt petunia and Uncle Vernon just leave me alone and ignore my existence as it is. " Harry offers.
Black agrees reluctantly. Kreacher takes Hermione and Ron to their home one by one.
"Please just don't make much noise. If my uncle comes, immediately call Kreacher and leave before they can hurt you and you will have to stay in my room as their is no other empty room in the house." Harry explains him anxiously. Not having any experience of sleepover or any friend visiting him in general. The unpleasant personalities of his relatives also did'nt help much.
Kreacher takes them to Privet Drive and he wisper requests the elf to put a one way silencing charm on the room.
Harry tries to look at the smallest bedroom in 4 Privet Drive from a stranger's point of view and find it lackluster. At least in Black's room there was a constant theme of Slytherin house and had a class to it, here Harry's room has no taste, but it was'nt as though Harry had any love for this place. But even then Black in his aristocratic glory felt out of place in here.
Harry lends a pair of pajamas to Black and they change in the adjoining small bathroom.
"How did you change fitting of the clothes.?" Harry asks.
"Magic." Black deadpans.
Harry snorts. "No shit sherlock. I was asking why is there no owl from the ministry for underage use of magic ."
"Oh. Maybe because I was dead like almost three weeks ago and ministry records are not changed or maybe because my mental age is 18 years even though physically I am only 15 or maybe beacuse I am not a Hogwarts student , take your pick."
Harry wishes that by some miracle he can also use his wand outside of Hogwarts like Black without waiting till next year.
After turning the lights off they lay on the bed on their backs and keep as much distance between them as possible.
"Ummm if you don't mind me asking,,,,," Harry starts, not able to digest the thought swirling in his head, "what did you meant earlier umm that is to say...... uuuh were you ,,,, I mean are you.........."
"Spit is out Potter." Black mumbles tiredly.
Harry takes a deep breath and asks "Were you ever kept locked up in your room ?."
Harry feels rather than sees Black stiffen beside him. A minute passes in absolute silence, Harry thinks Black has fallen asleep when he murmurs in a cold, detached voice. "Its none of your concern Potter. Don't you dare start sprouting your Gryffindor heroism at me. We just have two common goals, to bring my brother back and to kill Voldemort. Other than that you don't know me and I don't know you, neither care for what happens to you thereafter. Don't poke into my matters. We are not friends. After this is all over I will go my way and you your own merry way. We are just acquentece with a buiness to share. Do try and keep personal questions and details to yourself."
After that he turns to the other side leaving Harry stunned at the sudden change in Black's temprament and curses his habbit of speaking without thinking. Of course he will shut down when such a personal question is asked by a practical stranger and that also in such a close proximity with him laying on the same bed and Black being uncomfortable by different setting in a muggle house.
Now he understands why house elf start banging their heads when they had upset their masters, he is feeling the same at this moment.
"I am sorry". He murmers in the dead of the night. And as expected there was no reply from Black who was acting to be fallen asleep.