Order

'It's strange. It's like there is a small gap, a pause between my brain and body. A second where I don't move, although I'm stepping forward. I'm treading through water that nobody can see.'

Albus Dumbledore was a very tired man.

It felt to him, that no matter how many times he sat down and resolved problems, smaller peskier ones simply leapt upwards to take their places. He had soothed squabbles between papers, a few Wizengamot meetings, conferences with the Minister of Magic, discussions with the Britain Committee of Magical Education, and even visited a few homes of struggling muggleborns. No matter how much he did, there would always be more to take its place.

With the spectacular disaster of the Triwizard Tournament, his workload had only since increased. A mixture of pleas and threats arrived by post daily, each sorted with a nifty charm to determine if information was useful.

And yet, despite his precautions over the years, here he was, forced to call together once more the Order of the Phoenix.

Fawkes trilled sadly, his long tail feathers softly brushing against the floor as his familiar perched on the back of his chair.

"I know," Albus sighed, wistfully stroking the crown above Fawkes' brow with one weathered finger, "Dark times are coming, my friend."

Fawkes ducked his head, as if mourning.

The door on the other side of the room opened jerkily, Molly scrambled inside with the chaotic frenzy that she wielded like a sword. "Oh! Albus! Would you like some tea? The others are just arriving! And I'll send little Sky on up with his friends, they can work on cleaning the third floor!" She tittered, scrubbing her fingers into her apron.

Albus found himself smiling at the energetic youth she still displayed, "That would be wonderful, Molly. Perhaps one of those honey cakes as well?"

"Oh! Of course!" She assured, her face tightening into a firm expression, "I'll leave you a plate, and they best be gone before the meeting starts!"

Albus chuckled lightly, humoring her with a small nod. She scampered off, already calling after the Weasley Twins, likely hiding in the stairwell.

Albus folded his hands, running his thumbs over his knucklebones while deep in thought. He barely noticed as Molly returned, delivering him a heaping pile of honey cakes, and a saucer of tea that had spilled slightly on the one side.

Fawkes chirped, and Dumbledore affectionately gave the crisp crust to the large bird.

The door opened once again, and the stilted strides of one of his closest friends staggered through.

"Alastor," Albus greeted fondly, "You look as if something has troubled you?"

Alastor scoffed, heavily settling into the nearest chair, "You can say that again, Albus. That last lead? With the Kimborns? Dead, as dried out as Potter's liquor cabinet."

Albus smiled knowingly, "Skylar is a young boy, it was my advice he empty out that cabinet. Merlin knows I'd have done that at his age."

Moody snorted, "You're spoiling that brat. Give him Dragon Barrel Brandy, see if he ever goes near a cabinet again!"

Albus chuckled fondly as Moody gave a hoarse laugh, grimacing as his magical eye noticeably stuck in its harness. Without asking, he unhooked the magical eye, and plopped it into Albus' tea.

Moody had a slight self satisfied grin, as if he knew all along that he would do that.

"I saw the others stumbling in, any news from Severus?"

Albus nodded slightly, "As much as he could disclose. He will be attending of course, before leaving once more."

Moody grimaced, "Merlin knows what he's doing. Never been that fond of spies, myself."

Albus obeyed Molly's orders and finished the honey cakes, although he was mindful of the tea. The others arrived, a low murmuring buzz through the wall which quickly distorted as they shuffled in, exchanging grins or grimaces.

"Albus," Remus nods, sliding in last and taking the seat closest to the door.

Remus' eyes were dark, the bags under them looked more sickly than before. It almost looked as if the moon was nearing its peak, yet Albus knew it was still a week away.

Moody subtly nudged him, drawing his attention to the other man.

"It's that boy," Moody grumbled low under his breath, only heard by Tonks who was sitting right next. She had enough politeness to not comment, or at least pretend to ignore.

Albus sighed quietly through his nose. He felt horrible for that poor child, the one Remus had taken a liking to so fondly, and yet… the boy seemed sickly. He wondered if their help was unable to truly combat whatever damage Bellatrix Lestrange had inflicted.

Perhaps it should be better to convince Remus to leave him in more qualified hands, yet he knew the other man would protest vehemently.

"We're all here, Albus." Arthur Weasley nervously started, sitting at the table quietly.

"We are," Albus agreed, waving his wand to gently close the door and activate the silencing wards. With those Weasley twins, he knew they'd be trying all they could to listen in.

"Shall we start with stating our basic information?" He offered, looking at Moody who seemed ready to take the wheel.

"Alright," Moody grumbled rising and slamming one hand on the table loudly, "So we know You-Know-Who is back and we've got no bloody idea where he's holed up. We've checked every graveyard and nearby castles or manors from here to Cardiff, and nothing."

"Also checked some of the names Skylar pulled off the stones!" Tonks excitedly threw in, "Still nothing, but we checked."

"Which means, that bastard probably wiped the entire area out, a few miles worth of spellwork."

"Couldn't we detect that large of a ward?" Bill Weasley asked gently, working as a Curse Breaker and now more than ever, ready to join the Order.

"If it was any other wizard, you sure could. The Dark Lord? He'd have you strung up by your thumbs spitting out your entrails before you got close."

James Potter huffed something that could be a laugh, tiredly rubbing his eyes, "What about...the ah, the old Death Eaters we brought in that got off? Anyone tailing them?"

"Already tried that," Moody grimaced, "They haven't been seen coming or going."

"What about Bellatrix the Bitch?" Sirius asked, his voice dark and sing song as he stared at a wall, "You all check out the Lestrange and Black houses?"

Albus smiled sadly, "Everything has been untouched."

Remus flinched slightly and glared with something dark in his eyes.

"At this point," Moody grumbled loudly, "I'd say we're looking for a galleon in Merlin's Arse."

"Alastor!" Lily Potter protested at the words.

"What! It's true! We have nothing to run on but shite!"

Sirius worried his lip, rubbing his face tiredly, "Alright, so, what...what if we just follow all of the older Death Eaters. Old Luci has got to be doing something-"

"Best cease your rambling, mutt." Snape drawled out, voice sharp as he watched Sirius freeze and glare.

"Oi, off his back Sniv-" James started, only for Lily to pull on his arm and shake her head.

"What about you? You go crawling back to your master?" Sirius sneered, hands clenching into fists.

Oh dear.

Albus stood, demanding attention by nature. He smiled and shook his head gently, "Sirius, Severus is a close friend and he has not betrayed the Order. He plays a very important role in all of this…"

"He's a spy!" Sirius complained pointedly.

"Sometimes I am too!" Tonks protested, pouting and crossing her arms, "That mean you don't like me?"

"No no, I love you Tonks," Sirius confessed, looking rather annoyed with the situation, "I'm just...I'm just a bit tired is all."

Remus huffed a small laugh, but didn't say anything.

"Speaking of tired, you look rather rubbish, Lupin." Moody grunted, craning his one human eye to peer at the werewolf, "Moon's not until a week now."

"Er, no." Remus blinked, looking surprised but not at all defensive, "No, I haven't been sleeping well is all. It's nothing."

Sirius frowned, looking at the table as he muttered out, "It's because of that rabid kid, Moony."

Remus shot him a look.

"He's right, Remus." Lily quietly spoke. Her own admittance seemed to make everyone in the room freeze.

Except Remus.

"No, no Adrian is just struggling." Remus defended, shifting his jaw the slightest amount, "He's doing alright."

"Moony, I've practically sworn the kids to staying out of your rooms, I even got the Twins to agree to it." James sighed, removing his glasses and cleaning them on his robe, "Mate, I think he needs different help."

Remus' nostrils flared, "Adrian is doing fine."

"He's not, I saw him attack the portrait of my mother the other day with a butter knife. Not that I'm complaining, but that's not normal, Moony." Sirius pointed out.

"He…" Tonks looked unsure, her eyes glazing over as if she was about to cry, "I heard him talking to nobody, Mr. Lupin. Just walking around talking to nobody."

"He was talking to his familiar!" Remus snapped out, hands curling into fists, "I'm not abandoning him, and that's final."

"Remus," Albus spoke softly, smiling gently at the werewolf. "I do not mean for you to feel threatened. I've had Madam Pomfrey check him at Hogwarts before the year ended, perhaps it would be possible to arrange something again? He is rather secretive."

Snape's lip twitched and he huffed quietly, "The brat gets in more fights and is almost as attention seeking as Potter's."

"Say that to my face, Snivellus," James growled, drawing his wand, "And I'll make you puke slugs."

"Remus," Albus asked, his voice silencing the argument that was starting to brew.

Remus twitched unsure, "He...he's told me that he doesn't want to see any sort of Mediwitch, or Madam Pomfrey unless he has to. He says that he...he knows healing spells, Albus. He's rather good at them too, from what I've seen at Hogwarts."

Lily's hand drifted to her mouth in horror,

"I can make the boy squeal." Moody offered, causing Remus to shake his head quickly.

"No, no I...he's unlike anything you've ever seen, Alastor. He laughs at it, I think perhaps the cursed scar has damaged him beyond help, Albus."

Albus inhaled, and exhaled slowly, "It's alright, Remus. May I talk with the boy?"

Remus worried his lip, "He...he doesn't want to talk with you. He smells sick, Albus. He smells like something's rotting but he doesn't have any wounds."

Snape shifted, "I can provide a healing remedy for you to dose him with, if you believe he is idiotically hiding an injury."

Remus looked exhausted, "He already has a supply of potions from Madam Pomfrey, although if you're willing to spare one or two, I'm sure he'll see reason."

James stepped forward sharply, "The kid was raised by Bellatrix, right? Why doesn't he just tell us where he was living?"

Sirius rubbed his face, "because we've already checked all of the places, Mate."

James' brow furrowed, "Well, yeah, but we haven't found the right one."

"Oh cease your idiocy, or I may catch it," Snape mumbled under his breath.

Alastor stood sharply, tilting his head in thought, "You're right. Albus, those houses for the Lestrange's, none of them had anything for a kid, right?"

Albus thought quickly, he wasn't sure although he hadn't visited all of the houses himself, "I am not sure, although I will gather my thoughts on it."

"I'll go search again!" Tonks volunteered enthusiastically, "I can sneak in and out easy!"

"Be safe, dear," Molly fretted, "I know how clumsy you can be when you're distracted."

Tonks flushed bright red, traveling all the way up to the roots of her hair before traveling along the root and staining her hair cardamon.

"Remus, perhaps I can still speak to the boy? He may confess something to me which will help us greatly." Albus offered gently.

Snape scoffed, "As if. His mind is clouded and any sort of occlumency barrier is pathetically dismal, he likely has tried to forget everything of use."

Remus looked thoughtful, "Back...back when I first met him, when I was teaching. He told me that he could help, or that he had information we could use."

The room grew silent.

"Like what?" Arthur Weasley breathed dreadfully.

Alastor's lip twitched into a lopsided grin, "For starters, he may know where Bellatrix likes to hide."

Adrian lay on his bed, his eyes closed and hands loosely interlocked over his stomach.

Lutain was sleeping, over near the window where Hedwig preened her feathers near the window frame.

It was calm, relaxing, and Adrian hadn't ever felt so tense.

'Why so tense?' He thought to himself, rhythmically flexing his fingers into a fist before relaxing them once more.

There was a clock in his room, the steady ticking was grounding.

He heard a low grumbling, the shift of furniture across hardwood flooring. So what Remus had said earlier was true. He wondered if the Potters were going to show, or stay in one of the many well hidden houses they had.

Adrian righted himself, wincing as his knees throbbed faintly. He slid to the floor, socks scuffing over the polished wood as he walked towards his bedroom door.

The hallway was silent, isolated from the other rooms mostly for Adrian's sake. Remus too, liked isolation on occasion. Being around so many people likely made him nervous.

Adrian made his way to the main stairwell, peering over the banister curiously.

"What are you doing?" Adrian asked dryly, arching his eyebrows at the large group of people leaning over the railing with flesh coloured strings attached to their ears.

They jumped, both twins perking up and grinning at Adrian. "He awakens!"

Adrian huffed, and observed the newest addition to the group.

Skylar looked surprised, "You're here too?"

Adrian's lip curled in annoyance, "I didn't have a choice."

Skylar paused, then flushed in embarrassment when he realized that Adrian truly didn't.

"Hi Adrian!" Hermione beamed, waving friendly as Ron just shifted uncomfortably, "I haven't seen you today!"

Adrian stared. Hermione visibly wilted.

"Uh-oh," Fred mumbled, yanking upwards on the string and apparating instantly alongside George with a loud crack. They appeared only halfway up the stairs, directly between the group and Adrian.

Mrs. Weasley appeared at the very bottom of the stairs. "The meeting's over, you can come down and have dinner now. Everyone is dying to see you, Skylar! Oh! Adrian! You're welcome to join us!"

Adrian leant on the banister and sighed heavily.

"Now, don't forget to keep your voices down in the hall…"

'I should set Lutain on the portrait, maybe he'll get the horrid thing to stop screaming.'

The meeting filed out, filling the hallway below. Almost on cue, the twins lowered another one of the flesh colored strings, trying to hear a word. A moment later however, the mass below began to move toward the front door and out of sight.

The golden trio hurried down the stairs, keeping quiet. The twins paused on the stairwell near Adrian, offering their arms politely.

"Any chance I can just sneak back to my room?" Adrian asked rhetorically.

"None!" George chirped, "Mum would bloody kill us for letting you starve."

"And Kreacher would poison the leftovers before he gave you any!" Fred cheerfully added.

Adrian looped his arms through the provided elbows, and descended the steps with the older boys.

They were nearly to the bottom of the stairs when there was a loud crash.

Then, the most horrid earsplitting screech.

Fred and George groaned, Adrian mentally cursed Tonks.

"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers-"

Adrian tensed, his jaw clenching and his molars ground together. He hated that portrait.

He stomped down the steps, past the scandalized Skylar and directly towards the hideous portrait. Remus and Mrs. Weasley were battling with the velvet moth eaten curtains, trying to drag them shut.

"Shut up!" Adrian hissed, drawing back his leg and kicking with dragonhide boots into the spelled canvas. He knew it wouldn't hurt her, although the rattling bang of his foot smacking into her painted stomach was enough to have her gasp and recoil. With stupendous effort, Remus and Mrs. Weasley yanked the curtains closed again. The screeches died and an echoing silence fell.

Sirius Black ran out from a nearby room, looking guiltily at the painting while also having the smallest smear of chocolate icing on one cheek, "Shite, Moony you got her-"

"Yeah, all good." Remus smiled, looking as if the shrieking had busted one of his eardrums.

"What…" Skylar trailed off, still looking dazed.

"My mum," Sirius offered with a wince, "We've been trying to get her down for a month but we think she put a Permanent Sticking Charm on the back. Nothing hurts her, spells or curses or Adrian here going at her with a butter knife a week ago. Scared her right but didn't do anything." Sirius huffed, pausing and looking at Adrian with gratitude, "thanks anyways."

Adrian gave a small nod back.

"What's a portrait of your mother doing here?" Skylar asked, bewildered as they went through the door from the hall that led the way down a flight of narrow stone steps, the others just behind them.

"Hasn't anyone told you? This was my parents' house, but I'm the last Black left, so it's mine now. I offered it to Dumbledore."

Remus shuffled behind Adrian, keeping a protective lookout on his back. They reached the bottom of the stairs, heading through a door leading into the basement kitchen.

It was scarcely less gloomy than the hall above; a cavernous room with rough stone walls. Most of the light was coming from a large fire at the far end of the room. A haze of pipe smoke hung in the air like battle fumes. A long table had been littered with rolls of parchment, goblets, empty wine bottles, and heaps of rags. A large amount of the chairs had been removed to be placed in the meeting room upstairs, although a large collection did remain scattered around the table.

"Skylar!" Mr. Weasley shouted in surprise, hurrying over when he finally saw Skylar.

"Have you met Mundungus?" Sirius asked Skylar, pointing to one short man passed out and drooling over the kitchen table.

Adrian snorted sourly, the sound was harsh enough to jolt the man awake

"Eh?" Mundungus asked, peering around and brightening up when he spotted Skylar, "Skylar Potter! A pleasure!"

"Don't shake his hand, it's coated in grime." Adrian advised lowly, skirting past Skylar towards the kitchen area.

"Oi! You have a bone to pick with me, brat?" Mundungus growled, standing up and revealing his very unimpressive height.

Adrian curled his lip, "As many as in my body."

Mundungus cursed, fumbling in his oversized pockets to grab his wand. Adrian snorted loudly, and rudely before turning away.

"Uh…" Skylar smartly added.

"Ignore them," Sirius muttered, thinking that Adrian likely couldn't hear, "We think it's a rivalry thing. Mundungus is a ah...a merchant, business with a few people we want to know about."

Skylar blinked in surprise, "But…"

Adrian pointedly grabbed a potato from a basket, and began scrubbing it vigorously under a running tap.

Lupin leaned inwards, pitching his voice low enough Adrian actually couldn't hear, "Adrian's been having some trouble. We think that with You-Know-Who returning, the increase of dark magic has been irritating his scar more. He's been...a bit more aggressive. Be patient with him."

Skylar nodded silently, although looked still confused.

"Can I help?" Tonks asked energetically, hurrying over towards a dresser from where she collected cutlery.

Soon, a series of heavy knives were chopping meat and vegetables on their own, while Adrian quickly washed them by hand (magic never quite cleaned them, according to Mrs. Weasley).

Then Fred and George appeared, brandishing wands and magically levitating a pot of stew, a flagon of butterbeer, and a heavy wooden breadboard and a knife through the air.

The occupants of the table leapt away as Mrs. Weasley began shrieking. Adrian felt his mouth twitch upwards as the knife pinwheeled three times before stabbing into the table.

Skylar and Sirius were both laughing. Mundungus was swearing as he stumbled to his feet- Adrian casually tripped the man once more and sent him to the ground.

"Boys," Mr. Weasley said, lifting the stew towards its proper place in the middle of the table, "You're supposed to show a sense of responsibility now that you've come of age-"

Someone entered the room, giving a loud laugh at the statement. "Nonsense boys! Enjoy it, just be a bit safer, eh?"

James Potter patted each of the twins on their shoulders, skirting around to take a seat nearest Sirius while Lily sat on his other side. Mr. Weasley gave a small huff of annoyance, yet seemed alright with the intrusion. Merlin knew that after years of scolding the boys, James tended to break through a little better, likely due to to the infamous prank stories. The twins beamed, giving quick nods as they accepted James' words without second thought. Ah, the age of teenage rebellion.

"Hello, Adrian," Lily Potter smiled gently, shifting the conversation around, "Would you like a Butterbeer?"

Adrian shook his head, ignoring her in favor of pouring himself a large bowl of stew with a ladle.

For a few minutes there was silence but for the chink of plates and cutlery and the scraping of chairs as everyone settled down to their food. Then Mrs. Weasley turned to Sirius and said, "I've been meaning to tell you, there's something trapped in the writing desk in the drawing room, it keeps rattling and shaking. Of course, it could just be a boggart, but I thought we ought to ask Alastor to have a look at it."

"Oh, we can take a look at it, Molly." Sirius assured, "Trained Aurors here, I'll take Moony if it could be anything else."

"Take Adrian! He's a magical creature expert!" Skylar added.

Mundungus sniggered into a speared carrot. Adrian kicked him under the table.

"Take Sky, it'll give him a chance to practice his Patronus." Lily included thoughtfully, glaring at Sirius sharply, "Under supervision."

"Of course," Sirius blinked rapidly, "they'll be safe in my hands."

The dinner time discussion evolved. James, Sirius, and Remus were all chatting with the Twins, regaling the two with various stories. Lily and Hermione were energetically watching Tonks as she transformed her face between mouthfuls into strange shapes, alternating between a pig snout or a button nose. Ron and Skylar were practically rolling in their seats as they listened to Mundungus explain one lucrative story, tears cascading down his cheeks. Adrian only interjected snidely when he could, leaving Mundungus verbalizing just how lucky he was that he wasn't allowed to hex him. Mrs. Weasley glared at Mundungus often, before she rose to her feet to fetch a large rhubarb crumble for pudding. Skylar looked at Sirius curiously.

"Molly doesn't approve of Mundungus," said Sirius in an undertone.

"Nobody does," Adrian sniped.

"How come he's in the Order?" Skylar asked, very quietly.

"He's useful," James muttered. "Knows all the crooks- well, he would, seeing as he's one himself. But he's also very loyal to Dumbledore, who helped him out in a tight spot once. It pays to have someone like Dung around, he hears things others don't. But Molly thinks inviting him to stay for dinner is going too far."

"He's also gotten into a few spats with Adrian there, as far as we know Adrian doesn't like Mundungus' ways of business but you know how those shady deals of his turned out."

Three helpings of rhubarb crumble and custard later, as well as the three bowls of stew just before, Adrian was by far demolishing everything set in front of him. Skylar slid him small tarts, watching out of fascination as the boy didn't slow down in the slightest.

"You alright, dear?" Lily asked concerned, bracing her chin with one hand. Adrian paused, glancing around the table with his usual level of paranoia.

"Hah! Keep going, maybe we'll be lucky and you'll pop," Mundungus sniggered, sliding over his half eaten bowl of stew, "You sure you didn't bite him, Lupin?"

The atmosphere chilled instantly.

Adrian set down his spoon before snatching up one of the small silver knives set beside his platter. It was speckled with grease from the large bits of meat in the stew, yet that didn't stop Adrian from flipping it and slamming it downwards into Mundungus' outstretched hand.

Dungus yowled, rocking upwards and tripping over Crookshanks in one fell swoop.

James jumped up, grabbing the man as Tonks herself scrambled upwards to grab Adrian's chair and drag him away. Adrian sat still, watching bemused from his seating position as Mundungus rolled on the floor yowling, clutching his right hand to his chest.

"Adrian!" Tonks yelped, spinning herself to stand between the table and Adrian, "That was, er...don't-"

"Adrian Selwyn!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, relieving Tonks of her duty. She flushed angrily, hands landing on his shoulders as she roughly manhandled him up and towards the exit, "That is not proper behaviour- you are not allowed to act in such a way!"

Skylar and Ron looked dumbfounded, glancing at Adrian. The boy in question looked bemused.

Remus sighed through his nose, rubbing the bridge of it tiredly.

"Don't worry, mate," James assured, guiding the sniveling Mundungus out of the room as well, "Lily, if you will…?"

"Oh! Yes!" She leapt upwards, kindly relieving Mrs. Weasley of the younger troublemaker, "How about I take you back up to your room to get you freshened up for bed?"

Adrian looked unhappy, "I'm not a child."

Nonetheless, she gently steered him out, leaving behind an uncomfortable atmosphere.

"Well, nearly time for bed, I think," Mrs. Weasley awkwardly added, forcing a yawn.

"Not just yet, Molly," said Sirius, "I didn't want to say this infront of James, but I guess now is better than later. I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here would be to start asking questions about Voldemort."

The atmosphere in the room changed with the rapidity Skylar associated with dementors. Where seconds before it had been tensed, even forced relaxed, it was now uncomfortable. A frisson of fear had gone around the table at the mention of Voldemort. Lupin, who had been drinking a generous portion of his wine in light of recent events, lowered his goblet with an exhaustedly wary expression.

"I did!" said Skylar indignantly, "I asked Ron and Hermione but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so-"

"And they're quite right. You're all too young." said Mrs. Weasley.

Remus snorted sourly, as if that was horribly ironic.

"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenix to ask questions?" Sirius asked bitterly, "Skylar's been trapped with James and Lily for months now. As much as I love them, Skylar's got the right to know what's been happen-"

"Hang on!" George interrupted loudly.

"How come Skylar gets his questions answered?" said Fred angrily.

"We've been trying to get stuff out of you for a month and you haven't told us a single stinking thing!"

"You're too young, you're not in the Order." Fred in a high-pitched voice, "You aren't even telling us about Selwyn and we're the ones who see him the most!"

"It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's been doing, that's Molly's decision. Information about Adrian is up to Remus. Skylar on the other hand-"

"It's not down to you to decide what's good for Skylar!" Mrs. Weasley sharply stated. Her normally kindly face looked dangerous. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said!"

Sirius shifted, as if in preparation for a fight, "Which bit?"

"The bit about not telling Skylar more than he needs to know."

Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George's head turned from Sirius to Mrs. Weasley as though following an intense tennis rally. Skylar was watching the conversation with his mouth slightly open. Lupin's eyes were fixed on Sirius.

"I don't intend to tell him more than he needs to know, Molly," said Sirius. "But he was the one who saw Voldemort come back, and he has more right than most to-"

"He's not a member of the Order of the Phoenix! He's only fifteen and-"

"-and he's dealt with as much as most in the Order! And more than some-"

"No one's denying what he's done! But he's still-"

"He's not a child!"

"He's not an adult either!"

"Molly, he's the one who has fought Death Eater's face to face!"

"By that logic, you're saying Adrian should be in the Order too!"

Remus' body shifted, just enough to draw attention from all of those watching. "Remus?" Tonks asked quietly, worrying her bottom lip as her hair shifted to a sollum blue.

Remus rubbed his eye socket with one hand. Skylar noticed for the first time just how tired the other man looked. "Personally, I think it's better that Skylar gets the facts- not all the facts, Molly, but the general picture from us, rather than a garbled version from...others."

His expression was mild, but Skylar felt sure that Lupin, at least, knew that some Extendable Ears had survived the Weasley purge.

"Have you been telling Adrian then?" She snapped out quickly.

"I have," Remus said calmly, "as I feel he is justified in knowing information pertinent to himself."

"Well," said Mrs. Weasley, breathing deeply and looking around the table for support that did not come, "well...I can see I'm going to be overruled. I'll just say this: Dumbledore must have had his reasons for not wanting Skylar to know much, and speaking as someone who has got Skylar and Adrian's best interests at heart-"

"Adrian isn't under your care." said Sirius quietly.

"He's as good as," said Mrs. Weasley fiercely, "Who else has he got?"

"He's got me." Remus protested with a frown.

"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley, her lip curling in displaced aggression, "the thing is, it's rather difficult for you to look after him while you're ill four days every month, isn't it?"

Remus started to rise from his chair with a blank expression.

"Molly, you're not the only person at this table who cares about Adrian," said Sirius sharply, "Remus, sit down."

Mrs. Weasley's lower lip was trembling. Remus sank slowly back into his chair, face white.

"Very well," said Mrs. Weasley, her voice cracking, "Ron, Hermione, Fred, George- I want you out of this kitchen, now."

There was uproar, and Skylar shook his head with a small sigh, "I'll just tell them anyways."

"Fine!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, "But I want no part in this!"

She then stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

There was a pause, "James is going to kill me. Bollocks, alright Sky...what do you want to know?"