A knock at the door seized all chatter around the kitchen table of Grimmauld Place. Remus looks around confused. Everyone's already here, and the Order was expecting no one else. The rest of the occupants look as confused as Remus, with the exception of Albus. Albus and his damn twinkly eyes. The white bearded man stands up, and states, "I shall get the door, shan't I?"

Albus leaves the room with a bounce in his step and without another look at the people residing around the table. Remus looks at Sirius, who is sitting right next to him, and shrugs noncommittally. Whispers start around the table when Albus does not immediately come back to the meeting, and while Sirius joins right into conversation with Tonks, Remus does not. The two separate smells from the next room should have startled him, but both were calm, so he remains so also, trusting Albus to take care of it.

That's why, a few minutes later, when Albus came back in with a tall, rather intimidating man dressed in a three piece muggle suit, the majority of the room is surprised, but Remus is not. The room quickly quiets. Remus takes the few moments of silence to observe the man.

The suit is obviously of a pricier make than the average muggle wore. His hair is short and deep brown, along with his eyes. He's a little heavier around the middle, but not so much as to call him fat or unattractive. The man gives them all a small, emotionless smile. Remus shudders.

"This is Mycroft Holmes. He will be joining us for a few minutes while Harry finishes up," Albus says. This has Remus confused. Why is Holmes waiting for Harry? Molly Weasley voices his concerns. And, well, probably everyone else's as well.

"Harry? What has Harry have to do with any of this, Albus? The kids should be upstairs talking with each other and getting ready for dinner." Her face heats up red a bit as she talks more, and Remus does not envy Albus one bit.

Albus says nothing, but does sit down in his original chair while Holmes moves toward the wall and stands there, seemingly disinterested, leaning his one hand onto his black umbrella. Minerva groans next to Albus, and Remus cracks a smile at her, agreeing with the sentiment.

Albus then begins the meeting asking Severus for any new intel he has gotten from Voldemort, and Severus goes on a long spiel of information he has both gained and given. Remus does not listen to any of it, knowing it is not pertinent to his assignment. Instead, he studies the man standing near the wall, wondering what he wants with Harry, and why Albus refuses to tell them all.

When Remus suddenly doesn't register any words entering his ear, he zones back in and realizes footsteps were banging down the steps. That has to be Harry.

Harry appears quite suddenly, and it's all Remus can do not to gasp in surprise. It's clear no one else has the same mannerisms from the number of gasps from around the room. Harry looks impressive in his three piece muggle suit (like Holmes). His hair has been styled back with a gel, but is not caked in it. Harry's glasses have vanished, so his bright green eyes shine brightly giving him an intimidating yet sophisticated look.

"Mycroft." Harry's voice is warm and inviting. "Sorry I'm late; I was helping Hermione with something."

"Not a problem, Harry. I was early after all." Mycroft stands up completely straight now and walks toward Harry. They clasp hands and exchange polite smiles. It seems like an uncomfortable affair, but Remus could tell they were very familiar with each other. "Shall we go?"

"Of course," Harry says looking at Mycroft. He then turns to the Order and says, "Sorry for interrupting." His voice is sincere, but his face expressionless. Across the table, Remus catches Severus's sneer and rolls his eyes. That man will never get over his hatred of the Potters.

Harry and Holmes turn to head toward the door when Molly suddenly finds her voice again to call out, "Wait a minute, young man! Where do you think you're going, and with this man no less?!"

Remus sighs and throws his head into his hands. Why couldn't they just finish the meeting? It wasn't to say Remus isn't concerned over what Harry is doing, it's that the two seemed to know each other already, and Albus definitely knows what they are doing. Otherwise he would not let them out of his sight. Why couldn't the others (Molly) understand that?

"Mrs. Weasley, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. Professor Dumbledore knows, and that is the best I can do right now."

With that, they left. Molly was left with her mouth hanging open like a fish. Minerva and Remus locked eyes and shared a quiet snicker at the matron's expense.

"The audacity of that boy!" Mrs. Weasley finally exclaims. "Albus, what is the meaning of this?"

Remus straightens up as he awaits Albus' answer. He glances around the room to see every head turned toward Albus in communal curiosity and anger. Albus pauses for a moment, so quick Remus can barely comprehend it in time, before he says, "Harry is doing…training of a sort. I don't believe I can say any more than that. The information can be given in a need-to-know basis, in which, I'm sorry to say, none of you are eligible."

"So, precious little Potter gets special privileges now?" Remus looks over to the source of the vicious muttering. Severus' black eyes narrow and shimmer darkly. Remus opens his mouth to retort, but Tonks beats him to the punch.

"Do you want He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to die? Because it's not going to happen at the rate this is going. Harry needs to train a little harder than the average Hogwarts student if that's going to happen. Or maybe you don't want that to happen, like the Death Eater you are?" Tonks sneers at the potion's professor. Remus' eyebrows shoot up in surprise. It wasn't like Tonks for her to speak that way—to anyone. Perhaps Severus had gotten on one too many of her nerves.

Remus sees Sirius smirking next to him. He shoves his elbow into the man's side when he blows out a low whistle at Tonks' rebuttal.

"Sirius, not the time."

"You're no fun, Remi. It's getting to the good part!" the overgrown mutt pouts, his lower lip sticking out. Remus rolls his eyes and tunes back into the conversation around him.

"—for one think this is a good idea," Remus hears Kingsley say to the general Order. Remus grins at him in silent support.

It says silent for a few moments after Kingsley's appraisal until Albus once again makes himself known by saying, "It is a nonnegotiable matter, and we shan't discuss it any longer. Otherwise, I believe this meeting to be over. We shall reconvene next week, yes?" Albus asks. "Good," he says without receiving an answer from anyone. With that, Albus sweeps out of the room leaving Remus and the Order staring mindlessly after him and listening to the echoes of his footsteps fade.