An hour earlier, Dumbledore had failed to find Will at the Behrens residence, so he had gone straight to 12 Grimmauld Place.
Dumbledore walked down the corridor toward the meeting room at the end. Inside, several people were discussing something.
Lupin, Sirius, Hagrid, Moody, and Diggle were gathered around the table.
"Professor Dumbledore, you're back." Lupin rose in delight.
He looked even more worn than before. Handling affairs would do that to a person, especially when his boss liked leaving everything to him and Professor McGonagall.
"I thought you'd settled down in France," Sirius said, sounding flippant.
"Albus, you were gone too long this time." Moody shook his head. That was no way for a leader to behave, especially during a war.
"Professor Dumbledore, you're finally back." Hagrid looked close to tears.
"Remus." Dumbledore nodded to Lupin. "How is the Werewolf Mutual Aid Association coming along?"
Lupin smiled. "It's been going well. With Sirius's financial support, the association is doing better and better.
As long as someone casts the Werewolf Venom Curse for the Werewolves in the association, they don't have any problems.
We've had a good response from many people, and we're attracting more Werewolves all the time. The only problem is that we have to keep expanding the association's meeting place."
"Good. Keep it up." Dumbledore turned to Hagrid, who sat in the corner holding an enormous teacup. "Rubeus, how are the preparations for Grawp coming along?
The new term will be here soon. You need to get him settled back there."
Hagrid set down his teacup and said in his booming voice, "I was planning to take him back in the next couple of days, Professor."
Dumbledore nodded. "When are you going? I'll help."
"Oh, thank you so much, Professor Dumbledore." Hagrid looked ready to cry.
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