Harry woke up the next evening, lying on his back, staring up at the bedroom's yellowed ceiling. At first he didn't remember where he was, but after a quick glance around the room, it all came suddenly back; Remus and the Portkey, being in Sirius' house, and the most unexpected, Professor Snape helping him upstairs and giving him healing potions.

Feeling a little warm with all the covers over him, he sat up and stared at the top blanket, lost in thought. He still couldn’t believe Professor Snape was the one who did that for him. He pushed the blanket off him and sat against the headboard. As he sat there, he realized he felt a lot better than he had the night before, but he still felt sick. Knowing that Professor Lupin wouldn't have left him alone in the house, he decided that he would go in search of him and ask to be taken back to the Dursley's. But first, he thought he'd feel a little better after taking a shower. The Dursley's had only allowed him to take a three minute shower yesterday afternoon.

Upon entering the second floor bathroom, Harry gave a small smile. Remus had set out towels and washcloths for him. Turning on the water and making sure it was nice and hot, he then took a twenty minute shower. After dressing in some clean clothes, he took his towel and wiped at the fogged up mirror. After brushing his hair, he looked at himself in the mirror. His face looked a little different; it was paler than it was prior. Shrugging this off to his illness, he left the bathroom and went in search of Remus.

Hearing rattling coming from the kitchen, Harry walked down the stone steps and into the kitchen. Remus was bent down, head in one of the lower cabinets, moving pots around.

"Hi Professor Lupin." Still feeling somewhat tired, Harry sat down at the kitchen table near Remus.

Remus removed his head from the cabinet and stood up, giving his back a crack. "Harry." With concern, he took a long hard look at the boy sitting at the table. That was when he was finally able to tell what was different about his face; what he had noticed at Privet Drive the day before. His face seemed a little longer and paler. But he figured the paleness could be due to his illness. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm still a little tired, but I feel better." He gave a yawn.

"Glad to hear it. You look a little better." He took a cup out of the upper cupboard over the sink, poured Harry a cup of tea from the kettle on the stove, and set it down in front of the boy. He turned back around and got his dinner that had been reheating, out of the oven. "Harry, would you like something to eat? Molly made some stew last night. There is plenty left."

"Sure Professor." Harry slid his chair back to get up and help.

At the sound of wood scraping stone, Remus turned to the table. "Stay put Harry. I'll get it for you."

"Thank you." Harry slid the chair back towards the table and watched Remus get their dinner.

Remus smiled at the boy and pulled out another bowl. He scooped some stew into both bowls and brought them to the table. He placed one in front of Harry and with his in his hand, sat down next to him.

Remus took a few spoonfuls of stew then placed the spoon inside the bowl, turning to Harry. He chuckled at first, and then a sad look came over his face. Harry's face was a foot above his bowl of stew, the rising steam fogging up his glasses. He was shoveling the stew in his mouth, like he hadn't eaten in days, which Remus guessed might have been true, knowing how the Dursley's treated him in the past. He steeled himself, knowing Harry was going through a lot right now, and didn't need to get him any more upset. He cleared his throat. "I hope you didn't have any problems with Professor Snape last night, Harry."

Harry swallowed and put down his spoon, looking into his bowl. "Erm…no." He looked up at Remus. "No problems really, but...," he stammered, not knowing how to continue, and stirred his stew absentmindedly.

Remus saw the uncertainty in the boy's face. "What happened?"

"Well, erm…why did Professor Snape have potions to give me, sir? How did he know I needed them?"

Remus took a spoonful of stew then put his spoon back down. He crossed his arms and leaned on the table. "After I visited you yesterday afternoon, I knew you were in need of some potions. I went to Professor Snape and asked him to make some and to bring them when he came to the meeting last night. I wanted to make sure that if you needed them while we were here, I'd have them to give you."

Harry nodded in understanding.

"Last night when I went to check on you after the Order meeting was over, I met Severus coming down the stairs. In a round about way, he mentioned that something happened and that he had to give you a dose of the potions. Do you mind me asking what happened? Severus wouldn't say."

"Nothing really." Harry took a sip of his tea and continued. "Snape just found me on the floor here in the kitchen after your meeting."

"What?" Remus looked at Harry with an extremely concerned look. "What were you doing on the kitchen floor Harry?"

Harry broke eye contact with Remus and looked at the table top. He really didn’t want to tell him what happened. It was too embarrassing.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up and met Remus' eyes. "I got lightheaded and I didn't have the strength to go up to my room, so I sat on the floor."

"What were you doing in the kitchen with an Order meeting in progress?" his tone becoming stern.

"I know I'm not supposed to be in the kitchen during the meetings," Harry shouted. He was getting angry. How come everyone always thinks he doesn’t know that he shouldn't be in the kitchen when there's an Order meeting in progress? "The meeting was over Professor." He got up from the table and brought his bowl to the kitchen sink. He didn't want to go back to the table. He was getting too angry to talk to Professor Lupin.

Remus observed Harry's change in attitude. "I'm sorry Harry. I didn't mean to assume."

Harry began to lose some of his anger but didn't want to face Remus just yet. "I came down to the kitchen to find you and ask for a blanket and something to make me feel a little better."

"I never saw you come in."

"You were too busy arguing with the Headmaster and Mrs. Weasley. I tried to get the attention of all of you, but no one noticed." He turned around and faced Remus. "That's when Professor Snape found me. He helped me up the stairs to my room, gave me the potions, and gave me another blanket."

"That doesn't sound like Professor Snape at all. I wonder what came over him." Remus watched the emotions Harry was feeling flash across his face.

Harry was a little hurt by Remus' comment. It sounded like he wasn’t really worth much to have any one care about him or help him. But then he wasn't sure why he was getting upset at the comment considering he really couldn't stand the potions master. Not wanting to think about it or anything that happened last night, he decided to head back up to his room, instead of asking to be taken back to the Dursley's. He was too tired to have an argument with Remus, which he knew would happen if he stayed downstairs. "I'm going up to my room. Thanks for dinner, Professor." Without waiting for a response, Harry went up to his room.

Remus watched Harry leave and sighed, not knowing what changed the boy's attitude and knowing Harry wouldn't talk about it. He finished his dinner in silence, and then went to the drawing room.

An hour later, Severus arrived at Grimmauld Place and headed straight up to the drawing room to pick up his vials from Harry's potions. He walked in the room and found Remus sitting in the dark green arm chair reading. Not saying a word to the man, Severus walked to the writing desk and picked up the cardboard box. Looking at the contents, he discovered Harry hadn't been given the other dose of potions like he instructed Remus the day before.

Severus dropped the box back down on the desk causing the vials inside to rattle, and whirled around to face Remus. "You really do find it hard to following instructions don't you?" he hissed.

Remus looked up from his book and watched as Severus' face contorted with fury and, if possible, concern. "The one dose I gave Mr. Potter yesterday was only half of what he needed. The potions will not heal Potter properly if he was not given the other dose as I instructed. You made me waste my time and work on those potions for nothing," he spat. Irritated, Severus walked to the doorway. "I'll be back early tomorrow to pick up my vials. Be sure they're empty and clean." He swept out of the room and a few seconds later Remus heard the front door slam closed.

Confused at Severus' reaction to finding the potions still there, Remus picked up the cardboard box from the writing desk and headed upstairs to the second floor. Upon reaching the bedroom, he knocked twice on the closed wooden door. Not hearing anything, he tried again. "Harry, can I come in?"

"Yeah," Harry responded quietly from inside the bedroom.

Remus opened the door and stood in the doorway. Harry was sitting on his bed with his broom polishing kit spread out on the floor and his broom lying on his lap. "Professor Snape came by a little while ago. I have your final dose of potions. But before I give them to you, we need to talk."

"Ok,” he said reluctantly. It seemed there was no getting out of the dreaded conversation now. But maybe he could still convince Professor Lupin to take him back to the Dursley's tonight. Harry laid his broom against the wardrobe and put his rag and polish down on the floor with the other polishing items.

Remus walked over and sat down next to Harry on the bed, putting the box beside him. He looked over at Harry, deciding best how to begin. He knew Harry was emotionally unstable and didn't want to make matters worse.

"Harry, I know you don't want to be in this house. I don't blame you. Neither do I," he admitted.

"Really?" Harry asked a little surprised.

"Yes. Harry, I know you'd rather be anywhere but here, and according to Severus, said you'd rather…" Remus broke off, laughing slightly. He continued with a smile. "He said you'd rather live with him than be here."

"He heard that?"

"Yes."

They both made eye contact and busted up laughing. After a few seconds, Remus became a little more serious. He looked at Harry, making sure he had the boy's attention. "Before our meeting, Severus told me everything that happened yesterday afternoon after I left you in the entrance hall."

The smile disappeared from Harry's face and he looked down at his lap and started playing with a thread on the blanket.

"I'm sorry you don't feel comfortable in this house Harry, but you will have to stay here until I take you to Kings Cross in two more days."

"But Professor…"

"Believe me, if there were other options, I would take them. I know you could go back to the Dursley's, but I will not let you go back there."

Harry sighed in defeat. Now knowing he was stuck in the horrible house.

"One of the reasons is because of Sirius."

At his godfather's name, Harry took a deep breath and pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around his knees.

Remus watched Harry pull in on himself and gave him a sad look. "Being at the Dursley's hasn't helped you with Sirius' death. Harry, I know that the state I found you in yesterday afternoon was partially because of his death."

"I thought I was doing fine, better than I had been." He lifted his head and met Remus' concerned eyes. "Then when you stopped by and mentioned him, it felt like that day at the Ministry all over again."

Remus could see the sorrow in Harry's eyes. "I'm sorry Harry," his voice soft. "If you ever need or want to talk, please come to me. Even at Hogwarts. You may not think so, but it does help a great deal to talk about it."

"Thanks Professor. I'll remember that." He shifted his gaze from Remus to his knees.

"Good." He patted Harry's arm. "Now why don't you take the last dose of your potions." He watched Harry nod then grabbed the box next to him and gave him the final dose of potions.