Sitting down, Harry felt eyes on him. He turned and stared straight in the black eyes of his teacher.

"Professor Snape." Harry greeted with a nod.

Snape eyed him with a distasteful look. He seemed to be about to say something when his eyes changed. His expression became a blank slate and his eyes seemed to be burning looking at Harry with their intensity, a fierce piercing look. Harry fidgeted, squirming uncomfortably under the stare. What was going on? Snape eyed him for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes were unreadable. Harry couldn't tell what he was thinking. Snape seemed to be looking right inside him.

After a long moment, Snape returned the greeting. "Potter." He said quietly. His deep voice was strangely soothing. Tension Harry hadn't known he was carrying seemed to sweep out of him. It wasn't until then Harry realized he was expecting a scathing remark. He didn't want that.

Harry had done a lot of thinking over the holidays. Voldemort and Cedric aside, Snape had also been a thought for Harry. He couldn't help but remember the episode in the hospital wing where Snape had exposed his arm to the Minister to convince him of Voldemort's return. He remembered the penseive memory he saw of Snape being mentioned a Death Eater and turning spy at ‘great personal risk'. He recalled Dumbledore asking if Snape was ready to do as he asked. Harry had reflected a lot on these moments and even from previous years and came to one conclusion. Snape had returned to spying on Dumbledore's orders. Thinking back to first year and onward, Harry couldn't help but respect Snape. After seeing his actions from un-blind eyes, Snape, despite having an extremely strong dislike, borderline hatred of him, had always looked out for him.

He did his best to prevent Quirrell from getting the stone; he couldn't forget how Snape got rid of Lockhart from the staff meeting second year after the Chamber of Secrets message or how he tried to protect Harry and his friends from their Professor turned werewolf.

Harry underwent a paradigm shift regarding his long time Professor. Snape had earned a great deal of Harry's respect even though Harry had done little to actually show it. Knowing he was a spy in Voldemort's circle increased his respect more. He decided he would try not to antagonize the Professor. Granted, that was asking for a miracle but Harry felt he owed it to him to try. Though he doesn't say it, Harry was hoping that if he could be respectful, Snape might be more tolerable towards him and see him for whom he is and not his father. Sirius once mentioned pranking Snape into following Lupin on a night of a full moon. Though his father saved his life, Harry couldn't help but get the impression that Sirius and his Dad picked on Snape. He didn't like thinking that as it reminded him of when Dudley and his friends picked on him and ostracized him from everyone.

Dinner was delicious, despite some of the tension Harry felt in the room. There was casserole, chicken, salad, beans and pasta. Harry hadn't felt this full for a while though he had to be careful about how much he ate. He didn't have room for dessert, chocolate truffle cake with ice-cream. The tensions he felt marginally at the beginning of dinner returned tenfold once the dishes were cleared. Sirius, his Godfather took a seat across from him. Harry didn't have much chance to talk to him when arrived or during dinner as he seemed to be deep in discussion with Moody.

"How are you doing Harry?" Sirius asked with a smile, though it didn't seem to reach his eyes.

"I'm ok." He responded. He wasn't sure if he hid the shaky quality of his voice well. He wasn't as angry as before but he was still annoyed at being kept in the dark. He wanted to burst with questions but forced himself to be calm.

"Alright kiddo, I know you have questions so out with it. I'll see what I can answer. I know you have questions about Voldemort."

The atmosphere dropped and all conversations stopped. Harry could literally hear everyone's breath. He considered the situation. He did have questions. He did want to know what Voldemort was doing at the same time; he remembered the isolation from everyone earlier in the summer except the letters from Ron and Hermione saying they couldn't tell him much because Dumbledore said not too and the letters after the Dementor attack. He wondered how much applied to the situation here. After a minute, he spoke.

"From what I can tell," he began slowly, gathering his thoughts, "Fudge is denying he's back despite what he's been told at the end of...last year." He brushed the memories aside. Now was not the time. "There doesn't seem to be any mysterious deaths or disappearances which I find odd. I would have thought he would take advantage of people's ignorance if that's the case. So what exactly is he doing if he's not attacking people and seems to have vanished into thin air? What is he trying to accomplish?"

The next half hour that followed was a fountain of information. Lupin, Sirius, Moody Tonks and Kingsley explained about Voldemort first rise to power, how he recruited his army, the current stand and how he's trying to rebuild his army. Sirius let it slip about Voldemort being after a weapon but before Harry could question that, Mrs. Weasley swooped in and put a halt to that.

"That's enough. You've answered enough of Harry's questions. It's time for him and the rest of the children to go to bed." She spoke in a tone that clearly stated ‘Defy me and pay'.

"One moment Molly, there is one more matter to discuss." This time it was Lupin who spoke up, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Sirius and everyone else seemed so as well. Harry felt weary and alert at the same time. He had a feeling he was not going to like this. Not one bit.

"Have you unpacked Harry?" Lupin asked after a pause.

This threw Harry in a loop. He had not been expecting that. "Yeah," he replied hesitantly. Wasn't he supposed to unpack?

A sigh was heard. This time it was from Sirius. He seemed to ponder for a moment before he spoke.

"Harry," he began "There's no easy way to say this but...Dumbledore doesn't seem to think it's a good idea for you to be out so much. Headquarters are well and good but even under the Fidelius Charm while the location can't be revealed by anyone other than the Secret-Keeper, the surrounding muggles can still notice odd happenings like people popping out of nowhere and disappearing between two houses where one supposedly doesn't exist." He paused to gather his thoughts before he continued.

"Too many people can't be seen coming and going; yet for someone needing a safe place, this is safest as Dumbledore is Secret-Keeper. For a mass murderer to be seen will raise the alarm and jeopardize everything," he said with a bitter smile.

Harry was trying to wrap his head around Sirius' words. He seemed to be beating around the bush which was only increasing his dread.

"What are you trying to tell me Sirius?" he asked looking apprehensive.

Sirius gazed at him with something similar to a grimace before speaking again. "I'm saying that Dumbledore wants you to stay in Grimmauld place until you're hearing and then if-" he cleared his throat but Harry caught the slip "- when you're cleared of all charges until September 1st."

Harry froze. He did not just hear that. There was no way he was back in the same distasteful situation as he was at the Dursleys. He was going to be locked up? His face must have betrayed some of his thoughts because Sirius began speaking again. "It's for your own good Harry," he said with a look of utmost patience. "While Voldemort isn't making any flashy moves out in the open, that doesn't change the fact that he's aware of who you associate with and could have someone tail them and that can risk leading them here, the general area."

"It'll only be for a while Harry," Lupin added "With the Ministry out to get you as well, it'll be safer if you keep a low profile. There will of course be Order members around to check in on you and ensure you have everything you need."

"Like they were around when I was attacked by the Dementors?" the acid response escaped him before he could bite his tongue.

Lupin and the others cringed at the vitriol in the question. The only one not showing any response was Snape who was oddly quiet, throughout the whole time.

Sirius spoke up "Granted you're angry, I get that but that was a mistake Harry."

"A mistake for which I'm paying the price for; a mistake for which I'm facing a trial where I might get expelled from school for defending myself and my cousin," Harry spat out coldly.

His Godfather opened his mouth to respond but Harry didn't care at the moment. His anger from before came back with a full force of cold fury. "If it wasn't for that mistake, exactly how long would it have been before I got an actual answer from any of you," he addressed the room in general, "about what was going on? How much longer would I have had to stay before I actually got out? Or did you plan to leave me there till September?" he asked angrily.

The question was meant to be hypothetical but one look at his godfather's face left Harry drained. He couldn't stay in here any longer. He needed to get out before he said something he would regret later. Abruptly, he stood up from his seat. "Dinner was delicious Mrs. Weasley. Thank you. Goodnight." He spoke cordially, trying to keep hold of his composure and made a bee line towards the door.

"Harry get back here, we haven't finished this discussion." Sirius snapped getting up from his seat as well.

"What is there to discuss Sirius?" Harry snapped turning to his Godfather from the door. "You've already made the decision and are simply telling me for formality's sake. I'm going to be stuck here just like I was in Little Whinging and what I say makes no difference." Opening the door, Hedwig flew out and Harry made to follow her.

"Potter," a deep baritone voice spoke.

Harry turned towards Snape. His face was unreadable while his black eyes glistened with...something, he couldn't tell what.

"Further instructions will follow in the morning. Make an attempt to actually come on time and show some decorum." The last bit was sneered but it seemed to lack the usual volatile tone he was used too. Harry nodded in acknowledgement after a moment and then left. He didn't notice the onyx eyes that seemed to watch him as the door closed behind him.

Harry headed up to his room and slammed the door shut. Locking it, Harry threw himself on the bed. This summer was getting worse by the minute. Hedwig hooted from her perch.

"I'll be fine Hedwig," he paused "I hope."

Harry sighed. The shadows in the room seemed to be mocking him. It did little to improve his mood. Harry hated the gloom he could feel in this house. Even with the lights on, it didn't improve the depressing darkness that the house seemed to be bathed in.

He sighed again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Moving to his trunk, Harry retrieved his pajamas and went to the adjoining bathroom. Ten minutes later, Harry sat on the bed, not wanting to sleep as it was only ten-thirty but not wanting to go back down either. He moved to the desk and after some deliberating, opened up the sketchbook and just drew. He was halfway through his sketch, a grassy hillside with mountains in the distance when a knock sounded at his door. He paused wondering if he should really answer it or not.

"Harry?" a voice whispered quietly, "Can we come in?" an identical voice asked.

Harry got up quietly and opened the door to Fred and George. He opened the door wider in a silent invitation to come in. They stepped through quickly and closed the door behind them. Making themselves comfortable, they flopped down on the bed. Fred turned to Harry.

"Are you ok Harry?" he asked quietly. George also looked at Harry with the same concern and serious look. It wasn't often Harry saw the twins so serious. He considered simply saying ‘I'm fine' but his voice wouldn't cooperate. He looked at them again. Both red-heads were genuinely concerned for him; their blue eyes searching for any signs of distress, trying to see what they could do to help. Harry couldn't lie to them. Fred and George always looked out for him like he was their little brother. He felt close to them as he did to Ron out of all of the Weasleys.

"I really don't know how to answer that." Harry said quietly. Fred and George scooted aside making room for Harry to sit between them on the bed. Harry moved to sit down and was promptly pulled in a head ruffle and tickle fight.

Harry laughed hysterically as Fred and George relentlessly attacked him. "Stop...stop..." he gasped "you win..." he laughed.

Finally, Fred and George released him and sat up. Harry slowly sat up clutching his sides. He looked up to see the twins with identical grins on their faces.  "I hate you." Harry groused good naturedly.

"Why dear ity bity -" George started

"Little Harrykins -" Fred continued

"We love you too." They chorused

Conflicted, Harry gave into the first childish impulse and stuck out his tongue to the twins. They laughed as they sprawled on the bed besides him. Turning serious, Harry asked, "How bad did I make things?"

Exchanging a look, they turned to him. "You didn't do a thing." Fred stated

Looking at them questioningly, George patted Harry's shoulder. "After you left, Sirius started to move to follow you but Lupin stopped him. He said you should be left alone for now since you needed to process things."

"He didn't listen really well, kept moving towards the door. They got in an argument and Mum started putting her piece in," Fred continued "Ron, Ginny and Hermione joined in. Don't ask us what they said, too loud even by our standards."

"Probably would have gone on longer if it wasn't for Snape."  George commented.

"SNAPE?" Harry asked incredulously

"Yup. Was a surprise to us too that he defended you. Though everyone else didn't see it as that." Fred said airily.

Harry made no effort to hide his confusion and incredulity at the turn of events. Snape defended him? The bane of his existence? The son of his school rival, his enemy? Sure, the man saved his life but only if he had to right? Harry pondered. Maybe, there was more to Snape then he gave him credit for but surely, that didn't mean he cared about Harry right?

Hell would freeze over before that happened surely.

Yes, Harry had said he would try and treat Snape with more respect but he never once thought Snape might reciprocate in kind.

Lost to his musings, Harry almost missed what Fred said next. "He said," he paused to do his best imitation "The one time Potter decides not be a dunderhead and use what little sense his pitiful brain conjures, curbing his reckless impulsiveness, more dunderheads feel the need to show their own stupidity and undo it. How quaint." Fred drawled with his best sneer.

Harry scowled, "That helped?" indignant.

"Don't you see Harry?" George asked. Harry shook his head. "Snape may have been his usual snarky self but Fred and I were watching him. He may not have shown it but from what we could see, he was getting annoyed at how everyone was disregarding what you needed or wanted for the matter."

"You sure he wasn't getting annoyed simply because the topic was me?" Harry asked disbelievingly.

"Right after he said that, he caught our eye and moved his head to the door, subtly, I tell you." Fred said "Anyway, somehow, I'm not sure how but he seemed to know we wanted to check up on you and cheer you up if necessary. So as soon as Sirius started up with him Snape, we snuck out and came here."

"Snape can be a git and a bastard when he wants to be, no doubt about that but he does care even if he doesn't show it." George said quietly. "We should know, he caught us making one of our potions and gave us detention. When we went to the dungeons that night; he lectured us on the dangers of creating experimental potions and demanded we hand over our formulas and notes. Then he had us dissect toad and goat's spleen for two hours. When our time was up, he handed back our formulas and notes but he made comments on how to improve it and basically gave us the OK. Though he said that if he ever caught us experimenting again and use our stuff in his class; he'd make us regret coming to Hogwarts."

"Then he kicked us out after taking 20 points from Gryffindor." Fred finished with a dramatic sigh.

Harry's mind was in a whirl. This...was a lot to take in a short span of hours. Hell must definitely be frozen over or cold at the very least. He was going to have to think about this.

"Which reminds me," Fred suddenly stated, taking his wand out. He flicked it and a box appeared before his outstretched hand. "Here you go Harry." He placed the box in Harry's hands.

"What's this?" he asked wearily. Years of knowing the twins had taught him to be careful with anything they gave him. You never know what you might get.

"Why Harry," George said with a cheerful smile "Would we ever trick you?"

"Yes." Harry said deadpanned without hesitation.

"Harry, Harry, Harry," Fred said with mocking chiding, "So young, so untrusting."

"This Harrykins," George said pointing at the box in Harry's hands "is our gift to you. Skiving Snackboxes. Consider it a birthday present."

Harry blinked. His birthday had come and gone and for the first time, Harry hadn't received any gifts from his friends. That had hurt more than he wanted to admit.

Feeling his eyes tearing, Harry choked out; "I thought..." he started, clearing his throat, "I thought you guys forgot." He didn't think he was able to keep the hurt out of his voice. Fred and George enveloped him in a hug.

"We didn't forget Harry," Fred said from his left. "We never forgot."

"Dumbledore was stingy with post and put a lockdown on all outgoing post when one Order post was intercepted." George explained. "Turned out to be by accident because the owl got confused but he wasn't taking any chances. When it was alright again, a week had passed and we weren't able to send it to you before Mum roped us into getting the house to be liveable for you and the meetings. Then the whole fiasco with the Dementors happened."

"Please forgive us Harry. We tried to get Dumbledore to let us go to you but he was adamant you remain with them. Said it was for your safety and no amount of bargaining from us was making him budge." Fred said rubbing circles on Harry's back.

Releasing him, the twins asked, "Are we ok Harry?"

Hearing the sincerity, Harry smiled at the twins and nodded. Receiving two smiles in return, they nodded towards the box. Harry slowly opened it. Harry recognized the extendable ears and the Ton-Tongue Toffee but the rest were foreign to him. The twins explained some of their candy assortment. Each candy was color coded to they wouldn't be mixed up. The candy was such that you would eat one half of the candy that would make you feel the effect of the candy as its name and the other half would reverse the effects. There were Puking Pastilles, Nosebleed Nougat, Fainting Frizzbees, Canary Creams, Fainting Fancy and Fever Fudge worked the same. Among the candy were some of their fake wands as well.

"We're still developing more products but these we've tested ourselves and worked out all the kinks. We're gonna sell these once we get back to Hogwarts and we want you to have your own set." Fred told Harry. "Since you gave us our start, a third of all our profits go to you. Even when we open our own shop."

"I can't take that. It's your money." Harry argued.

"You're our silent partner Harry. We want you to have this. We're not taking no for an answer." George insisted.

It took another ten minutes before Harry gave in. The twins were insistent on this so Harry finally accepted.

Fred sighed after a while of companionable silence. "It sucks that we're leaving tomorrow."

"You're leaving?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Yeah, Dumbledore's orders. Doesn't want to take a chance someone might question where we are."

"Don't worry Harry," George added. "Fred and I are of age, so we'll make sure to drop by."

Harry smiled. It would be nice if Fred and George were at least able to visit. It wouldn't be so lonely in this dark house. "What time are you guys leaving?"

"Probably around mid-morning. We're gonna have breakfast with you before we leave though."

Harry nodded. At least he'd be able to enjoy that with the Weasleys and Hermione. Pushing his hair back, Harry looked at the time. 11:45pm. Letting out a sigh, Harry mulled again on everything that he learned in the past twenty-four hours.

"Harry did you make this?" George voice broke through his musings. He didn't even notice him getting up. Looking at what George was holding, Harry felt his face flush red. In his hands was Harry's sketchbook opened at Hedwig's drawings. Fred moved to join his brother and see for himself.

"Umm..." he stuttered. "Y...Yea...Yeah, I did." He didn't know why he was stuttering. It was just the twins.

"It's BRILLANT!" They exclaimed in awe going over the rest of the drawings Harry had done so far. Like Tonks, they got a promise out of him for some drawings for them. The twins left at midnight when they heard the footsteps of their mother on the landing.

Putting his sketchbook on the table and tidying up, Harry slipped under the covers of his bed. This whole day had been exhausting. The Order, the hearing, everything was becoming too much. Harry didn't even want to start thinking of what he would do if he got expelled.

‘At least I got something to work on to keep my mind of things,' Harry thought thinking of how Tonks, Fred and George wanted him to make something for them. With that thought, Harry smiled and finally went to sleep.

Even though his nightmares would wake him before the dawn.