Chapter Two: The Grimmauld Place

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Disclaimer: I Own None of this Content – Original Characters and Places Belongs to J.K Rowling.

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Twenty year old Harry Potter slowly pulled up at front of his house, which was left behind to him by his Godfather Sirius Black. It's been exactly three years since Harry defeated Voldemort once and for all but it came with the cost, the cost of losing few people that were very close to him including his godfather Sirius Black. Many things have happened over these past three years, which includes Harry and Hermione getting work in the Ministry of Magic, which was plunged in chaos after the great battle, seeing even people from ministry of Magic were siding with Voldemort, including the Dementors. Those who survived were lost of what to do, as they no longer had their job, some were sent to Prison, where the Dementors were put back in place.

The seventh year, Harry, Hermione and Ron should've been taking their N.E., but the battle between Voldemort and Hogwartarians kind of came in the way for them to graduate. However Professor McGonagall passed not just the Trio but the entire class seeing as how they all stood up against Dark Lord to help him get defeated was considered more of a test than they could sit in Hogwarts.

Harry got out of the car and made his way towards the house, which still stood invisible to prying eyes, other than the secret keepers. Although the location was revealed when Yaxley hitchhiked a trip with Hermione when they were trying to escape from Ministry of Magic, after Voldemort perished and Yaxley died, it seemed like there is no reason why they shouldn't return to the house. Harry wasn't keen on returning back to Grimmauld, especially it reminded him so much of his deceased godfather but under the request of Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall, he returned and made home in the Ancient Wizarding Place. Harry walked up the stairs, glancing around as he took out his wand from his pocket and with a quick of three taps on the door, it swung open.

Harry briskly entered and closed the door behind him, before removing his jacket and throwing it on the coat rack that stood by the door. Although the Mansion was once used to stand empty and damp, has now been restored to its rightful state with help from Hermione and Kreacher. The old fashioned gas lamps that lit the lengthy hallway into the mansion were replaced with new electronic muggle versions, which were more bright and friendly than the old version. Although muggle versions of lights tend to run in electricity, Harry's versions runs in Magic, so it saves him lots on electricity bill, especially when Mr Weasley comes over to Visit. The Heads of House-Elves that once used to cast odd shadows upon the stairways were removed and in their place were portraits – portraits of Harry, Ron, Hermione, their friends from Hogwarts and unforgettable dobby, who smiles sheepishly from his portrait whenever you pass him by – he often bosses Kreacher around for slacking but that's another story.

The Old chandeliers gleamed and looked new, the old carpets been replaced with brand new ones – Which Harry replaced specially for Teddy, when he started crawling all over the place, so not wanting his godson to trample over dirty carpets that's baked with generations of dirt, Harry replaced it. Harry was first worried about not having enough money to get Grimmauld place back to its normal state, but he soon learned through Dumbledore that in Sirius' Will, he has left him everything, from the house to generations worth of Black's gold in Gringotts and just to think, that his god father cared about him so much, only made Harry sad and miserable.

He often wishes that Sirius was around as free man in a world where they no longer have to fear Voldemort but Harry knew Sirius was watching over him like his parents, if he is not much mistaken, Sirius is probably have a lot of fun in afterlife, seeing the old gang was back together, padfoot, moony and prongs.

The stained wall papers have been also replaced with smooth scarlet wall papers, the old chairs stood gleaming as if they were brand new in their allocated places within the Mansion. All in All, in took two years for Harry to bring the Mansion up-to-date, yet keeping the old ancient look about the place, since it was the house his godfather grew up in and he wanted to keep it just like that, but with little changes here and there, making it more comfortable, just like Hogwarts.

The Portrait of Mrs Black have also been removed finally and in her place, another portrait was placed, which now to Harry's surprise stood empty, so the person in the portrait has gone walk about. Although the permanent sticking charm made it quite a difficult challenge for Harry and Hermione to remove, Harry made sure before he put the Wand of Destiny away, it did its bit for Harry by removing the charm. Kreacher wasn't pleased to find Harry removing the portrait of Mrs Black, however the little house elf fainted with happiness when Harry offered the Portrait to the house elf to safe guard it in his little cupboard and Harry's only demand was to keep Mrs Black curtain shut, which Kreacher happily obliged.

Harry made his way into the drawing room on the first floor; where he sat down to take some weight off his feet, after the long day at the Ministry; he can no longer wait for the weekend to start. He threw his legs on the footstool just as the door swung open and Hermione bustled in, looking equally exhausted as him.

Hermione like Ron moved in with Harry to Grimmauld Place. Harry was the first person to move in, seeing as he had no other place to go, he didn't want to go to the Dursley's nor they wanted him back anyway. He could've gone to the Burrow but the sting of losing Fred still haunted him whenever he saw George sitting on his own drifted off in his own little world. Although George tried to act normal around everyone, Harry knew George still hasn't let Fred go and seeing George like that made everyone else miserable, so the longer Harry stayed in Burrow, the more guilt ridden he got, so he decided the best place he can go, where he can be alone was Grimmauld Place.

Ron on the other hand surprised Harry by moving in within a week and he was under strict order from Mrs Weasley that any trouble to take place, both to return to Burrow right away. Hermione joined them under the same year, when she found out that Harry and Ron moved to Grimmauld Place, so she moved out of her parents place and appeared at the doorstep with nothing but her beady bag. Harry was happy to have his friends back with him since living alone wasn't great, especially in a house where Mrs Black screamed and everything looked scary.

So when McGonagall found out they moved to Grimmauld place, she asked Kinsley to remove the Jinx that's been cast on the Grimmauld Place, so ghost of Dumbledore no longer rose from the dusty carpet. Then the three worked on getting the place back together, seeing as they can perform more complicated spells, using magic became second nature to Harry and soon the Grimmauld became their house. Even Mrs Weasley was surprised by the amount of changes the place went through since they weren't able to do much the last time, where they were cleaning to get the place sorted for the Order.

'I just can't wait for the weekend to begin," Hermione said as she parked herself in the second couch, facing Harry, who looked surprised.

"Am I hearing you right, you are actually looking forward to the weekend?" Harry asked as Hermione gave a short nod.

"Of Course"

"What happened to, Oh God, Working in the Department of Magical law Enforcement was so great?" Harry said as he mimicked Hermione.

"Well, it's great! But it's too much work!" Hermione said grabbing a throw pillow from the couch to lay down with her head resting on the pillow.

"Tell me about it," Harry said looking at his friend. "Knockturn Alley is becoming more famous for selling the belongings of Voldemort, or so they say – Had to arrest three wizards."

"It's better than running around dealing with issues over every department, from Magical law enforcement squad to Misuse of Muggle Artefacts….even your head Auror Fern Mryth was down our office, trying to get us reinstate the old law" Hermione said with a shake of her head.

"The Old law?" Harry asked looking totally zoinked yet looking curious all the while.

"God, it wouldn't kill you to read the history of Magic once in a while. It's the old law for Aurors, where they are free to perform unforgivable curses on suspecting death eaters," Hermione said looking at Harry, who gave a short nod as he glanced around the room. The tapestry which holds the Black family tree has been renewed, all because Harry wanted to see his Godfather's name back on that line, seeing as in the old one, his name was magically removed, so they couldn't put it back, so Harry had another Tapestry made through the Ministry of Magic. It's similar to the old one, Gold Tree, with its branches stretching outwards with beautiful emerald coloured leaves and within each leaves there were names of the Black.

"Yeah I think that would be quite helpful Hermione, if you can get that approved through Minister," Harry said looking at his friend, who gave him a stern glare. "I was just kidding….I need a drink…Kreacher!" There was a loud crack and Kreacher appeared before him, looking awful as always.

Kreacher gave a full bow to Harry and short Curt nod to Hermione, which was an improvement over the years than the dirty looks.

"Hello, Kreacher how are you today?" Hermione asked as Kreacher winched as if he was pricked by pin. For a minute his mouth wavered, his eyes darting back to Harry and then to Hermione.

Harry saw Kreacher is trying hard to respond back to Hermione.

"Is everything Alright Kreacher?" Harry asked as Kreacher gave an enthusiastic nod that his bat ears flopped.

"Yes Master Harry, Kreacher is very well," Kreacher said with a bow.

"How is Winky Doing?" Hermione asked as Kreacher once again winched as his eyes darted towards her. Hermione looked at Harry, who rolled his eyes. Winky moved to Grimmauld Place shortly after the return of Kreacher. Winky, who grew so fond of Kreacher, was devastated when the house elf moved back to Grimmauld place. With Dobby's death and now loss of Kreacher's comfort; she cried and cried creating rivers of tears each day, setting the Hogwarts kitchen swimming underwater. Professor McGonagall got sick and tired of eating food that stained with bitterness and saltiness of Winky's tears that she shipped the little house elf to Harry, not wanting anything to do with her.

Harry thought Winky would be pleased to be with Kreacher, but boy was he wrong. She only cried on for days and days, eventually after a year she got used to living in the Grimmauld Place, she and Kreacher were now happy to work in the company of each other.

"Is Winky Alright?" Harry asked as Kreacher gave another enthusiastic nod.

Just then Ron barged into the room, looking as if he was out of breath. Kreacher gave another bow to Ron.

"Can we have three butterbeers please," Harry asked as Kreacher gave another bow and disapparated with a loud crack.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked Ron, who gasped for air as he held on to his sides.

"F-F-Fred…is back!" Ron panted as Harry and Hermione looked at their red hair friend little confused.

"You mean George?" Hermione asked as Ron shook his head, just as Kreacher appeared in a loud crack, carrying tray of three butterbeers and some Cauldron cake. Ron grabbed a mug before Kreacher even set it down on the table and drained the cup.

"Thank You Kreacher," Hermione asked as Kreacher gave another curt nod.

"Thank you Kreacher," Harry said as Kreacher gave a full bow with a smile.

"Thank you," Ron gasped as Kreacher once again gave another bow.

"Does Master require anything else?" Kreacher asked with a smile.

"Oh! That all for now Kreacher!" Harry replied as Kreacher bowed until his nose touched the carpet before disappearing with a loud crack. It's been number one rule that House Elves are to be treated with respect – which Hermione made, not just in the Grimmauld Household but also everywhere else through the Ministry during her time in Department of Magical Creatures and Welfare.

"No!" Ron said getting the mug down as he looked at his friends. "Fred is back!" he replied sounding half shocked and happy, while Hermione and Harry exchanged a glance of worry, for the sake of their friend's mental health.

"Oh he is not crazy!" Said a voice as Harry, Hermione and Ron turned towards the large portrait that hung above the fire mantle, where a friendly and familiar face stared back from it.

20 year old Sirius Black gazed back from his portrait with a smile.

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