Tears (Sirius Black's daughter) Book 2

Chapter 2

"Sit down, Harry," said Sirius. "You've met Mundungus, haven't you?"The thing Harry had taken to be a pile of rags gave a prolonged, grunting snore, then jerked awake. 

'Some'n say my name?' Mundungus mumbled sleepily. "I 'gree with Sirius..." He raised a very grubby hand in the air as though voting, his droopy, bloodshot eyes unfocused. Ginny giggled. 

"The meeting's over, Dung," said Sirius, as they all sat down around him at the table. "Harry'sarrived." 

"Eh?" said Mundungus, peering balefully at Harry through his matted ginger hair. "Blimey, so 'e' as. Yeah... you all right, 'Arry?" 

"Yeah," said Harry. Mundungus fumbled nervously in his pockets, still staring at Harry, and pulled out a grimy black pipe. He stuck it in his mouth, ignited the end of it with his wand and took a deep pull on it. Great billowing clouds of greenish smoke obscured him within seconds."Owe you an apology," grunted a voice from the middle of the smelly cloud. 

"For the last time, Mundungus," called Mrs Weasley, "will you please not smoke that thing in the kitchen, especially not when we're about to eat!" 

"Ah," said Mundungus. "Right. Sorry, Molly."The cloud of smoke vanished as Mundungus stowed his pipe back in his pocket, but an acrid smell of burning socks lingered. 

"And if you want dinner before midnight I'll need a hand," Mrs Weasley said to the room at large. "No, you can stay where you are, Harry dear, you've had a long journey." 

 "What can I do, Molly?" said Tonks enthusiastically, bounding forwards. rs Weasley hesitated, looking apprehensive."Er - no, it's all right, Tonks, you have a rest too, you've done enough today." 

"No, no, I want to help!" said Tonks brightly, knocking over a chair as she hurried towards the dresser, from which Ginny was collecting cutlery. 

"I'll help!" Clara says walking into the room. She immediately goes over to the knives and started to cut up the vegetables.  Mrs Weasley stirred a cauldron dangling over the fire and the others took out plates, more goblets and food from the pantry. Harry was left at the table with Sirius and Mundungus, who was still blinking at him mournfully." Seen old Figgy since?" He asked. "No," said Harry. "I haven't seen anyone."

"See, I wouldn't 'ave left," said Mundungus, leaning forward, a pleading note in his voice, "but I'd a business opportunity -"Harry felt something brush against his knees and started, but it was only Crookshanks, Hermione's bandy-legged ginger cat, who wound himself once around Harry's legs, purring, hen jumped on to Sirius's lap and curled up. Sirius scratched him absent-mindedly behind the ears as he turned, still grim-faced, to Harry."Had a good summer so far?" 

"No, it's been lousy," said Harry. or the first time, something like a grin flitted across Sirius's face. "Don't know what you're complaining about, myself."

"What?" said Harry incredulously. 

"Personally, I'd have welcomed a Dementor attack. A deadly struggle for my soul would havebroken the monotony nicely. You think you've had it bad, at least you've been able to get outand about, stretch your legs, get into a few fights... I've been stuck inside for a month." 

"How come?" asked Harry, frowning. 

"Because the Ministry of Magic's still after me, and Voldemort will know all about me being anAnimagus by now, Wormtail will have told him, so my big disguise is useless. There's not muchI can do for the Order of the Phoenix... or so Dumbledore feels."

"You can help fight though. You can hold the valuable information," Clara says setting the salad bowl on the table. There was something about the slightly flattened tone of voice in which Sirius utteredDumbledore's name that told Harry that Sirius, too, was not very happy with the Headmaster.Harry felt a sudden upsurge of affection for his godfather."At least you've known what's been going on," he said bracingly."Oh yeah," said Sirius sarcastically. "Listening to Snape's reports, having to take all his snidehints that he's out there risking his life while I'm sat on my backside here having a nicecomfortable time... asking me how the cleanings going -"