The.old.woman.was.drooling,.her.eyes.were.rolling,.the.yellowing.skin.of.her.face.stretched.taut.as.she.screamed;.and.all.along.the.hall.behind.them,.the.other.portraits.awoke.and.began.to.yell,.too,.so.that.Harry.actually.screwed.up.his.eyes.at.the.noise.and.clapped.his.hands.over.his.ears..
Lupin.and.Mrs.Weasley.darted.forward.and.tried.to.tug.the.curtains.shut.over.the.old.woman,.but.they.would.not.close.and.she.screeched.louder.than.ever,
.brandishing.clawed.hands.as.though.trying.to.tear.at.their.faces..
.Filth!.Scum!.By‐products.of.dirt.and.vileness!.Half‐breeds,.mutants,.freaks,.begone.from.this.place!.How.dare.you.befoul.the.house.of.my.fathers.‐.
Tonks.apologised.over.and.over.again,.dragging.the.huge,.heavy.troll.s.leg.back.off.the.floor;.Mrs.Weasley.abandoned.the.attempt.to.close.the.curtains.and.hurried.up.and.down.the.hall,.stunning.all.the.other.portraits.with.her.wand;
.and.a.man.with.long.black.hair.came.charging.out.of.a.door.facing.Harry..
.Shut.up,.you.horrible.old.hag,.shut.UP!..he.roared,.seizing.the.curtain.Mrs.Weasley.had.abandoned..
The.old.woman.s.face.blanched..
.Yoooou!..she.howled,.her.eyes.popping.at.the.sight.of.the.man...Blood.traitor,
.abomination,.shame.of.my.flesh!..
.I.said.‐.shut.‐.UP!..roared.the.man,.and.with.a.stupendous.effort.he.and.Lupin.managed.to.force.the.curtains.closed.again..
The.old.woman.s.screeches.died.and.an.echoing.silence.fell..Panting.slightly.and.sweeping.his.long.dark.hair.out.of.his.eyes,.Harry.s.godfather.Sirius.turned.to.face.him..
.Hello,.Harry,..he.said.grimly,..I.see.you.ve.met.my.mother...
CHAPTER.FIVE.—.
The.Order.of.the.Phoenix
.Your.‐?..
.My.dear.old.mum,.yeah,..said.Sirius...We.ve.been.trying.to.get.her.down.for.a.month.but.we.think.she.put.a.Permanent.Sticking.Charm.on.the.back.of.the.canvas..Let.s.get.downstairs,.quick,.before.they.all.wake.up.again...
.But.what.s.a.portrait.of.your.mother.doing.here?..Harry.asked,.bewildered,.as.they.went.through.the.door.from.the.hall.and.led.the.way.down.a.flight.of.narrow.stone.steps,.the.others.just.behind.them..
.Hasn.t.anyone.told.you?.This.was.my.parents..house,..said.Sirius...But.I.m.the.last.Black.left,.so.it.s.mine.now..I.offered.it.to.Dumbledore.for.Headquarters.‐
.about.the.only.useful.thing.I.ve.been.able.to.do...
Harry,.who.had.expected.a.better.welcome,.noted.how.hard.and.bitter.Sirius.s.voice.sounded..He.followed.his.godfather.to.the.bottom.of.the.steps.and.through.a.door.leading.into.the.basement.kitchen..
It.was.scarcely.less.gloomy.than.the.hall.above,.a.cavernous.room.with.rough.stone.walls..Most.of.the.light.was.coming.from.a.large.fire.at.the.far.end.of.the.room..A.haze.of.pipe.smoke.hung.in.the.air.like.battle.fumes,.through.which.loomed.the.menacing.shapes.of.heavy.iron.pots.and.pans.hanging.from.the.dark.ceiling..Many.chairs.had.been.crammed.into.the.room.for.the.meeting.and.a.long.wooden.table.stood.in.the.middle.of.them,.littered.with.rolls.of.parchment,
.goblets,.empty.wine.bottles,.and.a.heap.of.what.appeared.to.be.rags..Mr.Weasley.and.his.eldest.son.Bill.were.talking.quietly.with.their.heads.together.at.the.end.of.the.table..