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Chapter Fourteen—The First Familiar Face

"I should have known!" I cringed the moment George pulled me into the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was chiding Fred for something (probably interrogating him for the whereabouts of his twin), and her eyes narrowed into thin slits the moment she saw him. He instinctively stepped in front of me, as though to protect me from his raging mum, but I doubted she even noticed that I was there.

Georgie scratched his head, far too used to being scolded for my liking. No wonder yelling at the twins never worked when they got in trouble at school. "Mum, let me explain—"

"You can explain to your father when he gets back from searching for you! Do you not realize the times we're living in? We come home for only a moment, and then you're gone! What on earth were you thinking?"

"Please, Mrs. Weasley, it's my fault." I quickly dove into the conversation so as to avoid George's imminent demise (after all, I was quite fond of him). Her eyes flickered to me, as though wondering when I'd gotten there, then why I was even interfering. I had to wonder myself if I was setting myself up for trouble, but Mrs. Weasley was a reasonable woman, and she'd never had any reason to dislike me before; I hoped that affection carried over. "I sent him an owl today because I don't have anywhere else to go."

The Weasley mother softened immediately, her full attention on me now. George sighed with relief, but I didn't relax just yet. We still weren't off the hook, and so much more still needed brought to the surface. I almost didn't want to talk about it. "Crim, dear, what do you mean? Did something happen to your parents?"

"Not exactly… We decided that it was best for us to go our separate ways. I couldn't listen to them side with Fudge any longer; they couldn't listen to me claim that You-Know-Who has returned." I looked away, and George's hand in mine tightened. Across the room, Fred's eyes darkened, and I thought I saw him clench his fists. I was glad to have the two of them back in my life, silently cursing my stupidity once again for all those years I let go to waste.

She was quiet for a long moment, and I could see her internal debate going on as she furrowed her brow and knitted her mouth. I couldn't imagine what she might be thinking about; I was surprised she didn't just invite me to stay immediately like George seemed to think she would. After a moment, with a loud sigh, she crossed her arms. "You three stay here. Let me go have a word with some of the others."

And off she popped. I nervously glanced around the kitchen at the Burrow, trying to remember the last time I'd been there. The house was a bit messier, but nobody had been living there, from what I could tell. With all the Weasleys that crammed themselves into the place, I didn't think it could be this quiet. Where were the rest of them? Ron, Ginny, Percy? I was about to ask when Fred suddenly picked me up and spun me around.

"Look at our little Slytherin Prefect Prankster! All grown up, picking fights with her parents and making excuses for us. I couldn't be more proud."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Georgie agreed, grinning identically with his twin.

I tried to squirm, giggling. "Put me down already, before I hex you!"

"Nah, you would never."

"Could never."

"You'd feel horrible afterward."

"Hexing an unarmed man when he's giving you a compliment!"

"Can't say I'd approve of my brother's girl if she started hexing me, anyways."

"Can't say I'd approve of it most of the time, myself."

"You sod! Most of the time!"

"Got that right!"

For the first time in two weeks, I let myself laugh. I couldn't believe how much I'd missed them and their constant bickering.

All we had to do now was wait for their mum to return to the Burrow with whatever verdict she needed to reach. Fred disappeared for a moment and returned with a worn deck of cards, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. We played some Exploding Snap while we waited, reminiscing about how horrible Holly was at the game. The cards always exploded on her.

They wouldn't let me in their room for whatever reason (Georgie swore he didn't want me to see their dirty skivvies, but I knew they had other reasons that probably involved their dangerous sweets). I didn't even want to think about what they'd been planning since school let out. The sun had started to set some when Mrs. Weasley returned with a man I knew all too well.

"Why, hello, Crimson. Still keeping everyone in line, I see?" Our former professor Remus Lupin smiled at me, and I noticed how he still looked tired and even more ill than the last time I saw him. His shabby robes were even more frayed and tattered, and the scars from his werewolf encounter stood out unnaturally against his pale skin, even in the orange light from the dimming sun. Could it only have been a little over a year since I last saw him? Our final conversation drifted to my mind.

"Professor, really, I don't think you should go. You're one of the best teachers here!" I pounded on the door to his office, clutching my Defense Against the Dark Arts book tightly against my breasts. Good teachers for that subject were difficult to come by; Professor Merrythought had been satisfactory enough, but her retirement had led to the inability to keep a decent teacher. I had quite liked Professor Quirrell (I loved his stutter and serious approach to the subject). I didn't even want to think about Lockhart, who didn't even deserve the title of professor. Lupin was the best we had come across; how could he just leave like that?

"Please, sir, won't you open the door? It doesn't matter what they're saying at breakfast. Really, it doesn't. Don't you see? Nobody minds that you're a—"

Professor Lupin opened the door, a spare bit of parchment in his hand, looking weathered and weary, but his eyes held the hint of a soft smile. "Miss Rehfate, you're making an awfully lot amount of noise out here to get my attention. Just what is it you want to say?"

I pursed my lips for a minute, avoiding his eyes. I hadn't seen him since I heard the news, since I knew for sure what he was. Of course I'd known for about half the year now; Professor Snape had dropped too many hints during class for me not to pick up on it, and how proud he was when I asked him one day after Potions. I'd been hoping I was wrong, so much more than I'd ever hoped anything in my life because I loved having Lupin as a teacher. Once the word spread, though, after the escape of the convict Sirius Black, I knew it would only be a matter of time before he left.

After a deep breath, I looked right up into his eyes. "It doesn't matter that you're a werewolf, sir. You're still one of the best professors we have here. Can't you stay?"

He sighed exhaustedly, grimacing. I patiently waited, fingernails digging into the hardback book. When he finally did speak, he sounded weary and a little pleased. "It means a great deal, Crimson, knowing that there are still students willing to be taught by me after hearing about my, er… Condition. Not everyone is as open-minded as you are. Unfortunately, others would disagree with you and argue that my being a werewolf does, in fact, matter. My resignation is the simplest and best solution for all involved parties. I can say that I will miss having you in class. I'll sleep well knowing that such a bright, young girl holds me in such high regard. Thank you, Crim.

"Now, aren't you late for Potions? I know you're Professor Snape's favorite, but he might not be so kind if he knew you were lingering around my office during his class time. Run along now. I'm sure we'll see each other again some time." He said it then like he didn't think it was true, and I half believed him that day. I never expected to see him again; I always imagined him vanishing from the public, living in solitude despite people still caring about him, and I hated to think that. Professor Lupin was the last person I expected to see at the Burrow, but he was definitely the one I was happiest to see.

"Professor Lupin!" I didn't even think about it; I hugged him properly, too excited to contain my enthusiasm.

He laughed and patted me on the back. "Not professor anymore, actually. It's good to see you as well, Crim. I'd forgotten how accepting you are."

"Sorry! I just wasn't expecting to see you." I backed away from him, beaming, while George brooded behind me.

"Why don't I ever get hugs like that?" he grumbled.

Fred leaned over and whispered loudly. "She must have a thing for teachers, mate. Remember how much she and Snape get along!"

I glared at them over my shoulder, and they snickered into silence. Curiously, I returned my attention to Lupin, whose kind smile had not waned. "Sir, I don't mean to sound rude, but what are you doing here exactly?"

"It appears you don't know much yet, which is good. I'd rather you hear it from me instead of from somebody less informed. Let's all have a seat, shall we?"

Once the five of us were seated in the living room, Lupin seriously looked me over. "So Molly tells me that you and your parents have gone your separate ways. Care to enlighten me?"

I exhaled heavily. Again, I had to recount it. I'd be happy when no one asked me about my parents anymore. "I believe for certain that You-Know-Who has returned. What else would clarify the events of last year? Why would Dumbledore lie like the Prophet is claiming he has? Why would Harry Potter fabricate such a gruesome story to explain Cedric's death? I knew Cedric, and I know the truth. There's no other justification for what happened at the end of the tournament.

"My mum and dad, you might know, both work at the Ministry and are quite close to Cornelius Fudge. They believe the lies that the Prophet and Fudge have been publishing. I couldn't stand to listen to it any longer. I don't understand why this temporary peace is so important to them when so much danger is looming right over our heads," I replied, clutching my wand tightly in my hands to keep them from shaking too much. With Lupin watching me so closely, I found the events a bit more difficult to recall. It was like being back in class; I was so afraid to give the wrong answer and disappoint him, but he, as always, would find a way to lead me to the correct response. I liked him quite a bit more than Moody (or, the fake Moody, to be more precise).

Lupin nodded thoughtfully, and I was reminded of how often he would assess my responses in class in the exact same manner. "So you left home? Where were you planning on going?"

"I didn't really have an idea, quite honestly. I thought I might rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron until school starts. After my last year, well… I'll figure something out." I shrugged a little; the details weren't the important thing, not when so much more was happening at the same time.

"The Leaky Cauldron?" Lupin smiled, a soft chuckle on his face, and he shook his head. "No, we can't have that. Not when you can be of help to us." I sat up, unable to believe my ears. Was he really saying what I thought he might be? He regarded me sternly, as though imparting some important knowledge or wisdom, and I was prepared to hang onto his every word.

"Crim, we're putting quite a bit of faith in you. These are serious times, and we need to bound together in order to survive. A war could be coming. Are you ready for this?"

Still grasping my wand, I nodded without even a second thought. "Absolutely, sir."

And so Lupin delved into an explanation of what had been going on the past two weeks. He told me about the Order of the Phoenix and about Sirius Black (who I was to believe had been framed, so I shouldn't be alarmed when I met him). I would see many familiar faces, apparently, though he refused to disclose any names until we were in safer cover, and I wouldn't be a full member of the Order. Not yet, at least until I had finished school. Then if I wished to continue aiding them, I was more than welcome.

Then he asked me again if I was sure. I merely asked when we were leaving. As a piece of paper was passed to me, George reached over to grip my hand. I scanned the looping letters, recognizing the familiar handwriting of Professor Dumbledore, and my heart leapt up into my throat. If Dumbledore was involved, then there was no doubt that this was the right thing to join. The Order was what I'd been hoping for all summer: a group of believers who wanted to stop the threat before You-Know-Who could become any more powerful.

Once I read those words, there was no going back. I was involved now, involved in something much bigger than I might ever imagine. I could only hope I was ready for the consequences.

Thank you for reading! I'll have the next chapter out soon, I promise! Hope you like it.