Love Affair

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter...I wish I did but I don‘t. I’m only playing with the characters. Please do not sue me. I don‘t own any money so it will just be a waste of everyone‘s time.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Author: Catium
Rating: NC-13
Word Count:
Genre: Romance, drama.
Status: In progress
Warnings: Fluffy feelings, language, drama, slash.
Summary: The story of Remus and Sirius’s friendship and love affair.
Note: This story is kind of a prequel to There Is a Thin Line Between Hate and Love. In chapter 13 of There Is a Thin Line... Harry comes to Remus for an advice because he thinks he has feelings for Draco. Remus tells Harry that he and Sirius were a couple and after Harry runs out to talk to Draco, Remus starts to think about how he and Sirius became friend and later lovers. This story traces Remus and Sirius story of friendship and later love affair.
Hi everyone. This is the longest chapter so far in the story. And will probably be the longest chapter in the whole story. This was also the most difficult chapter I’ve ever written and it has never taken me such a long time to write one chapter. Harry Potter and the Prisoner from Azkaban has been sitting next to me for reference during this whole ordeal that was writing this chapter. But now I’ve finished this chapter and I’m finally posting it. I think it turned out all right. But I would love your opinions on the matter so when you’re finished reading, please review.
Super thanks to everyone that have read and/or reviewed so far.

Chapter 10 – Reunited

“Name?”

“Remus John Lupin.”

“Age?”

“33”

“Gender?”

Remus glared at the Ministry questioner when she asked him that obvious question, in her sickly sugar sweet voice.

“Well obviously male!” He snapped at her.

The woman gave him a smile as sickly sweet as her voice and then drew up her wand, uttering a hex that gave Remus a small shock. Remus flinched when the shock went through his body.

“Do not talk back at me werewolf.” The woman said a little danger that matched terribly with her sugary voice crept into it. “Well then let’s try that one again shall we hmm? Gender?”

“Male.” Remus said in an expressionless tone.

“Year and date of birth?”

“March 10, 1960”

“Age when infected?”

“Seven years old.”

“Well that’s interesting...” the woman said turning to her fellow questioner that still hadn’t said a word. “...usually they don’t live through puberty if they are infected before it. The transformation during the teenage years become too much for the body and it gives in.” Then she turned to Remus

“Am I not right Mr Lupin?”

“Yes you are Miss Umbridge, that’s usually is what happens. But I’m stronger than I look.”

Umbridge smiled that terrible smile again and went back to her question sheet.

“Do you know the name of the werewolf that infected you?”

“Yes.”

“Name?”

“Fenrir Greyback.” Remus said shuttering to having to say the name out loud.

“Was there a reason that he bit you or was it just random?”

“He had a reason. My father...”

“John Lupin?”

“Yes.”

“Whom died of dragon pox in 1979 along with his wife Alison?”

“Yes.”

“All right then, please, continue.”

Remus nearly growled, feeling irritation creeping up on him over this woman, constant interruptions.

“My father offended him and since Greyback is known for his liking of children, he bit me to get back of my father instead of biting my father.”

“Oh yes Greyback’s liking of children. “Bite them young, and raise them away from their parents, raise them to hate normal wizards."That is what he says right?”

“Yes. Afterwards...after my first full moon he came to my parents, offering to take my off their hands. Thankfully they refused and Greyback, already having plenty of other potential clients laying around, during that time he was “recruiting” werewolves for You-Know-How’s army, so he left it at that.”

“Thankfully?” Umbridge said raising an eyebrow in surprise

“Yes otherwise I would be like him.”

“You are like him, you’re a werewolf.”

“But I’m not the monster like him. I’ve never bitten anyone, killed anyone or hurt anyone...not as a werewolf anyway. But as a normal teenage boy I did get into fights.”

“But you did come close to hurting someone once didn’t you? The incident with Mr. Snape?”

“I admit that I...in my werewolf form, nearly attacked Snape but he got rescued in time...”

“By your friend at the time? Mr. Potter.”

Hearing the name of his friend thrown casually around like that made a lump form in Remus’s throat. He swallowed it down and answered.

“Yes. My other friend at the time...” Remus drew a deep breath knowing he would regret this later “...Sirius Black thought it would be... funny to tell Snape that if he went to the Whopping Willow and pressed it’s trunk with a stick and went into the tunnels he would find out where I went to every month. But he shared the joke with James Potter and James rescued Snape.”

“I see. But if Mr. Potter hadn’t rescued Mr. Snape you would have attacked him probably killing him right?”

“I guess the wolf would have. What I become every month and who I’m right now sitting in front of you is in my opinion not the same thing. After the full moon comes up I’m not in control of what the wolf does until it disappears beyond the horizon again.

“So the...wolf...” Umbridge paused like to show that in her opinion Remus’s opinion was bullshit “...would’ve killed Snape.”

“Most likely yes.”

“Hmm...” Umbridge said sceptical.

“Miss Umbridge. I admit that sometimes I’ve issues controlling my anger. I admit that I get irritated. I admit that sometimes I’ve been known to yell at people even throw things around and hit things...dead things...furniture and stuff like that. I’ll even admit that there has been times I’ve wanted to hurt people...even kill it. But the difference between me and Greyback is that I’ve never acted upon this wanting. I’ve never hurt, bitten or killed anyone. And that’s the different between Greyback and my. I don’t act upon my desires. When the moon isn’t full I’ve got the werewolf in a leash...a very, very short leash. I don’t allow it to run around freely all the time like Greyback does.”

Umbridge scrambled something on her paper.

“I see. But you’re still a monster Mr. Lupin.”

Remus got so angry at these words that, for the first time since Hogwart’s being taunted by Snape, he wanted to kill someone and was seriously thinking about acting on it. He drew a calming breath.

“You don’t have to tell my Miss Umbridge. I’m aware of that fact every second of every day.”

“Let’s continue with the question list. Do you have access to the Wolfsbane potion?”

“No?”

“What do you do then during the full moon?”

“I have an accommodation in the basement of the cottage that I own. And to answer your question.” Remus passed Umbridge a paper across the table.
“Here is the lease to the house when I bought it after graduating from Hogwarts’. I had some money saved and used them to buy the house. I have an accommodation in the basement of the cottage. It’s concrete and steel clad. I made it myself and I know my strength. I made Merlin damned sure it would hold. I’ve shackles in the wall. A friend of mine helps me, she puts the shackles on me and locks me in and I stay in this room during the three days and nights the moon is full. I’ve got a bed in there too where I sleep during the day. Afterward this friend of mine helps to fix me up.”

“Very well that sounds reasonable. We’ll check out the accommodation and if it passes our inspection you can keep staying there during the full moon. Otherwise you’ll have to report here every full moon and stay in the Moonchambers.

Remus got nauseated when hearing about the Moonchambers. The prison chambers that the Minstry used to hold those werewolves that didn’t have a save place on their own to stay during full moon.

“And the name of the friend that helps you during and after full moon?”

“Madam Pomfrey.”

Umbride didn’t seem at all surprised to find out that the Hogwarts’ school nurse was helping a werewolf in her free time.

“There are only few questions left. Do you have a job?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“In a second hand bookstore in Muggle London.”

“Muggle London?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Lupin but you’ll have to quit your job there. According to the new werewolf registration laws, passed by Dolores Umbridge the February 28’th 1993, the exposure of werewolves to muggles must be diminished in order to reduce the risk of infection in Muggles. Do you understand that?”

Remus sighed in defeat. Not only was he being forced to be register as a werewolf making it possible for the Ministry to keep track of him anywhere he was, giving them the right to tell anyone they wanted that he’s a werewolf. He was also going to be forced to quit his job, which he loved. Remus knew he would never get a job in the Wizarding world now when everyone would be able to know for sure what he was. It had been impossible even when people just suspected what he was.

“Yes I understand. I will resign tomorrow.”

Very well then Mr. Lupin. That will be all for now. Before the next full moon we’ll need you to come in and stay in the Moonchambers during the full moon. We need to make a report on your behaviour in wolf form. You get that?”

Remus nearly snarled. The way that woman talked to him it might think he was stupid as well as a lycanthropy.

“I get you loud and clear Miss Umbridge. Good day to you.” He said as he stood up and swept out of the doors.
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July 2 1993

“Remus my dear boy. How are you?

I was sorry to hear that the werewolf registration laws had been passed. I believe everyone is entitled to their privacy not matter who they are. I’m sorry that you were forced to quit your job. I know that this job was your life. I’m assuming you’ve heard the news from yesterday. Sirius Black managed to escape from Azkaban. But what the press was not told was that the days before his escape he had been muttering the same thing from his sleep. “He’s in Hogwarts’, he’s in Hogwarts’.” That has the Ministry and my concerned that he’s planning to go after Harry. To finish the job that Voldemort couldn’t finish. I’m however concerned that he’ll come after you too before he comes after Harry. He didn’t trouble himself over killing one of his friends directly. I don’t think he will have any trouble killing you.

You’ve got quite the trouble heading your way. In the meantime I’m finding myself in a spot of trouble. Yet again a school year ends and I don’t have and Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for the next year. I just don’t seem to be able to keep them for longer than one year at a time. Also I’m worried for Harry this year. I don’t have the resources to keep him under surveillance all the time. Which is something that is going to be necessary to do this upcoming year.

So here we are.

You are without a job, in need of a safe place to stay while Sirius Black is on the loose.

I’m in a need of employee and an extra pair of eyes to keep an eye on Harry.
As I recall you were very talented in the Defence Against the Dark Arts during your school years. I always imagined you would’ve become an Auror if it hasn’t been for you lycanthropy. With these talents in mind I would like to offer you the job as a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. In addition I would like you to keep an eye on Harry.

I know what you’re going to say in your letter and before you say it. I read the Hogwarts’ rules carefully despite knowing them all by heart. There is no mention anywhere that a werewolf is not allowed to become a part of the staff. No one except the staff will have to know you’re a werewolf. The werewolf registration laws don’t allow public to know about your condition. It’s only for the benefit of the Ministry. But I guess you knew that. The laws also do not say anything about where you’re allowed or not allowed to work within the Wizarding society. So you coming to work for me will not only be completely legal but the student populations won’t know about that part of who you are. What do you say Remus?
With hopes that you’ll give your reply soon.

Yours sincerely

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.”

Remus finished the letter from Dumbledore thinking about it contents for a while. Could Sirius really be coming for him as well as Harry? Would he really kill him? Remus thought that maybe in his crazy mind Sirius would find it fitting to kill the last one of his old friends. Like he’d directly or impliedly killed his other friends. Remus realised that like always Dumbledore was right. He snorted a bit remembering that once he’d been the one who was always right. Now he knew why his friends had found it so irritating. Remus found a parchment and a quill and wrote Dumbledore back.

July 3 1993

“Dumbledore.

I’m good under the circumstances thank you. I think that Sirius might come after me too. I need a safe place to stay while he’s on the loose and I definitely need a job. Working at a second hand bookstore didn’t make me a lot of money. I’ve been out a job since February and I was already broke in a little over a month after I was force to quit my job. So you can imagine how my financial status is right now. I will gladly accept your offer to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and I’ll be honoured to keep an eye on Harry. I’ll start planning my lessons as soon as possible if you would kindly send me a summary of what you’re students have been learning so far so I can know what to teach them. I won’t be arriving on the school grounds until on September 1 since only two nights before, is the last night of the full moon that month and I’ll need time to recover. I’ll take the Hogwarts’ express I’m not capable of magical transportation so shortly after the full moon.
Thank you so much for this Dumbledore. I’m in your debt.

Sincerely

Remus J. Lupin.
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The day before 1’st of September arrived way too soon in Remus’s opinion. He was nervous as hell. Nervous that the students wouldn’t like his as a teacher. Nervous that the staff wouldn’t like him becoming the DADA teacher.
But especially he was nervous over going back to Hogwarts’ where memories of his Marauders years were on every corner, every corridor and every classroom.

Remus woke up on the morning of September 1’st. He’d packed everything he would need for the upcoming school year days before. Now he took his trunk downstairs and his little suitcase. A case Sirius had given him on his 18’th birthday “Because you need something better than the trunk when you’re taking short trips.” Sirius had told him really meaning that this was on overnight bag for him to keep his stuff when he came to stay over nights at Sirius’s place. The bag was not in a great condition. It was made out of black leather but the leather was tattered, the fastenings had caved years ago. Remus had used a string to close it together. On one of the corners his name had been printed but the letters were falling off.

Remus drew up the only cloak he had. A black one that was just as ragged as his bag. It was even ripped in some places. Remus frowned. He really would have wanted a new suitcase and a new cloak but he’d barely been able to afford enough food for the last few months to keep him alive, let alone clothes. He drew up his wand and did a sewing spell to fix the rips on it. Then he put it in his suitcase intending to put it on as soon as he was on board the Hogwarts’ express. He went outside where a taxi was waiting for him. A complete waste of money but he couldn’t travel with magic only two days after full moon. Remus locked his house both with a key and magic. Then he put up some protection spell so that the cottage wouldn’t be robbed while he was away. He climbed into the taxi.

“The King’s Cross station thank you.”

Once inside the King’s Cross, heading for barrier between platform 9 and 10 Remus realised he’d been right worrying over the memories.

He watched the solid metal barrier and in his mind he could see four teenage boys each pushing a trolley with huge trunks on them, walking casually towards the metal barrier and disappearing through it on to Platform 9 and ¾.

Remus started mentally kicking himself for ever being foolish enough to accept this job. But he needed a job and
a place to stay.

“So tough it up Lupin and get your ass on that Platform and into that train right now.” He thought and walked towards the barrier. He walked a bit faster once approaching the barrier and for a minute was worried that the gate hadn’t been open yet. He was there a bit early it was only 10:15, but he had wanted to be the before the crowd. But before he could crash the barrier he was through, staring at the familiar scarlet steam train. Only two or three families were around. He had managed to beat the crowd with a lot of time to spare.

Remus pushed his trolley towards the back of the train. When nearly in the back of the train he found the cabin he’d been looking for. The one where he and the other Marauders had occupied on their every trip to or from Hogwarts’. He hauled the trunk inside the cabin and seated himself in the right window seat. He put his suitcase in the compartment above the seat.

Once seated Remus realised that this had been the worst idea in a series of bad ideas that day. Not only were the memories in this cabin overwhelming but he was literally started to hear voices. He could hear the voices of 11 years old Sirius and James introducing themselves.

“We haven’t introduced ourselves. How rude of us. His name...” Sirius pointed with his thumb to James sitting next to him “...is James Potter. And I am Sirius...Sirius Black.”

Remus shook his head trying to get that voice to stop.

“Oh Merlin I’m going to go crazy before the train ride even begins.” He muttered to himself. “Unless...” he thought and decided that was an good idea, he was exhausted from the transformations two nights ago and last night he hadn’t been able to sleep due to nerves. He knew if he didn’t get some sleep he would look like a zombie. He’d caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror this morning and seen that he looked like he had just been through serious illness. He didn’t want to scare his soon-to-be students. So Remus put on his cloak quickly and draped it around himself tightly as he could. Then he got himself comfortable in his seat and after few minutes he fell fast asleep.

Despite his wolfsenses that usually never left him not at all oblivious when he slept, he was so exhausted that he slept soundly for the next hours, never hearing when three students entered the cabin and were talking to each other. But then something happened. Remus felt the train slowing, eventually stopping he stirred slightly some part of him telling him it was too soon. Then the small beam of light that he’d been aware off through his sleep became pitch blackness. Then he heard voices.

“What’s going on?” A boy’s voice in the cabin said.

“Ouch. Ron, that’s my foot.” An annoyed girl’s voice said.

“Do you think the train broke down?” The boy asked again

“Don’t know.” Another boy answered and somehow Remus found that voice familiar.

He heard a low squeal. That caught his curiosity and he opened his eyes. His wolfsenses made it easier for him to see in the dark than normal humans and he saw a tall, redheaded boy, standing by the window peering out.

“There’s something moving out there.” The boy said. “It looks like more passengers are coming on board.”

The doors to the cabin opened and a short, chubby boy came inside. There was something about him that stirred some memory in Remus, despite he couldn’t see him clearly.

“I’ve seen that boy.” He thought.

Remus watched as the boy tripped over another boy standing close to the doors. He watched the four children interacting with each other saying something that he didn’t quit catch. He was too busy looking at the boy the short boy had tripped over. That boy was also short but not as short as the other one. He had black, untidy hair and wore glasses. That sight didn’t only stir a memory in Remus. It was more like he’d seen a ghost.

“James? It can’t be.” Then Remus remembered what his other job this winter was going to be. “This is Harry. He looks just like his father. Dumbledore should have warned me they were so alike.”

Now Remus started to feel cold. Not just physically cold but like the cold was coming from the inside. He’d read about this kind of cold dozens of time but only experienced it once. When he went to visit Sirius in Azkaban.

There were Dementors on board the train.

“They must be looking for Sirius. Again, why didn’t Dumbledore warn me?” Remus thought getting irritated. Harry
and his...friends, another girl had joined the group kept talking. But Remus needed to hear.

“Silence.” He said out loud his voice even more hoarse because he hadn’t spoken since 10 o’clock this morning. Remus moved and said a spell in a low voice, too low for Harry and his friends to hear, giving him some light.

The cabin got lit up with the light that came from his wand and he was now holding it in the palm of his hand.

He looked at the five children in the cabin. He didn’t give himself time to study their faces. He felt the Dementors approaching.

“Stay where you are.” He ordered them and stood up slowly, not sure he wanted to be doing this.

He walked towards the cabin door but before he could reach them, they slide aside slowly.

There was no question about it. A Dementor

Then the dark creature started to breath and intense cold settled in the cabin.

In about half a second it was freezing.

Remus heard a thump as Harry feel in the floor looking like he was having a seizure. Remus had read about that
too. That happened to those that had so bad memories that they couldn’t handle them.

Remus stepped over Harry quickly, feeling the cold getting worse in his body, hearing a low voice in his head. Dumbledore’s voice telling him that James and Lily were dead. He walked towards the Dementor.

“None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Leave.”

The Dementor didn’t move. The voice was getting louder. Remus pointed his wand at it muttering “Expecto Patronum.” His Patronus, still shaped like a big dog after all these years and attempts on Remus’s behave to change it, charged at the Dementor driving it a away.

Remus turned around seeing the dark figures, through the window, moving beside the train and then disappearing.

Soon the lights turned on and the train started to move. Remus now looked at the five children. In the light Remus realised that the chubby, short boy must be Neville Longbottom. The sad fate of the Longbottoms were known to him. Tortured to insanity by Death Eaters. A fate worse than death. And Neville had been raised by his grandmother, probably the most ghastly witch he’d ever met. That poor boy.

The red head boy and the brown, frizzled hair girl were kneeling next to Harry on the floor, just managing to wake him up. Neville and a red haired girl that looked maybe a year younger than the others stood watching them.

Remus moved to his suitcase and took it from the compartment. He started to look for the Honeyduke finest chocolate he’d spent obscene amount of his food money in buying for this train trip. Glad for the first time that his craving for chocolate that he got before every full moon made him keep chocolate around all the time. Also it was usually the only thing he could eat the first day or so after full moon...and...well excuses aside...he just really liked chocolate. He pulled the big plate of chocolate from his bag and started to brake it down. He watched amused as Harry and his friends, who had been telling him what happened, got startled by the noise. Remus took the biggest piece.

“Here.” He said as he handed the chocolate to Harry. “Eat this it helps.”

Harry accepted the chocolate but didn’t eat it.

“What was that creature?” Harry asked him staring at him with big, not hazel eyes like his father had had, but emerald eyes. Eyes just like Lily’s. Remus’s mouth dried up, he’d never expected to see Lily’s one of the kind eyes looking at him from a face that could have, had it not been for the eyes, just as easily belonged to James. Remus pulled himself together. Hugging Harry without explanation and starting to cry would definitely scare him. So Remus settled for answering his question instead.

“A Dementor. One of the Dementors from Azkaban.” All five of the children stared at him with a blank face. Remus felt something in his hand. He was still holding the empty chocolate wrappings in his hand. He crumpled it into a ball and put it in his pocket. When he looked up they were still staring at him. Their gaze were making him uncomfortable. Remus knew he should talk to the train driver. Confirm his suspicion the Dementors had in fact been looking for Sirius.

“Eat this.” He told them again. “It helps. I need to talk to the train driver. Excuse me.”

He walked quickly passed Harry and into the hallway.

Remus felt relived once away from the gazes of Harry and his friend. He went to the front of the train having a word with the train driver. Confirming his suspicions and getting to know how long they had left to Hogwart’s.

Then he returned to the cabin where the five children were still talking about what had happend “Was I ever that young?” Remus thought, when he paused in the doorway, noticing how little they all looked also noticing that none of them had touched the chocolate. He smiled a little, these kids had clearly been told never to accept candy from strangers. Harry and the other boy saw him looking at them and Remus said.

“I didn’t poison the chocolate...”

Harry took a bite.

“We’ll be arriving to Hogwarts’ in ten minutes. How are you feeling Harry?” He asked Harry, wondering why he didn’t ask him how he knew his name. Then he knew why. He glanced at Harry’s forehead without him noticing.

Remus saw “that” scar through the hair and knew why Harry hadn’t asked him how he knew his name. “That” scar was like a name tag on Harry’s forehead.

“I’m fine.” Harry muttered

The rest of the train ride was uneventful and quiet. They arrived at the Hogsmeade station. Remus used his wand to levitate his trunk outside, holding his suitcase. It was pouring rain. Remus found a wagon and put his trunk inside. He sat back as the wagon started to move. He tried not to look at the Thestrasl, finding them ugly. He’d not been able to see them during his years at Hogwarts’ as a student. If he hadn’t seen his parents die of Dragon Pox he still wouldn’t be able to see them. The wagon stopped in front of Hogwarts’ and Remus steeped in the doorway, looking up Hogwarts’ magnificent walls. Then he looked around for Harry, remembering that he was supposed to keep an eye for him.

He saw him standing with the red haired boy and brown haired girl. Another boy was standing close to them, two others boys, big ones, standing behind him on either side like bodyguards. The boy, who had blond hair, was saying something to Harry and his friends. And judging by their expression it was not something nice. Remus didn’t need to know the name of the boy to know who it was. Silver blond hair, light blue, sometimes silver eyes, pointy cheek and manners that only came from being a spoiled, rich pureblood. He’d read the birth announcement in the Prophet social pages over 13 years ago and he still remembered the ridiculously funny name, Sirius had laughed his arse off, Draco Malfoy, Lucius’s Malfoy and Narcissa’s Malfoy (former Black) son.

Remus heard the boy raise his drawling voice.

“Did you pass out too Ron? Did the old, creepy Dementor scare you too, Ron?”

Remus decided it was time to step in, he stepped out of the wagon that had been pretty close to where Harry and the others were standing.

“What’s going on here?” He asked in a soft voice.

He saw Draco’s shameless stare and knew that he was eyeing his tattered robe and shaggy suitcase.

“Oh...nothing, nothing ehh...professor.” the Malfoy boy said with a hint of irony in his voice. Then he smiled to his two companions and walked to the castle. Harry, Ron and the girl went soon joining the student population up the stairs.

Remus walked up the stairs slowly, each step making him feel more like he was about to meet his doom. His hallucinations came back to him full force and he saw himself and Sirius in their 7’th year, quickly after they had gotten together, rushing past him down the steps towards the lake. They didn’t touch each other but Remus remembered that when they had been far enough from the castle so they couldn’t be spotted they’d had an intense snogging session that had ended with Sirius giving him a blow job for the first time. Remus turned scarlet at this memory. He pushed it out and walked up the stairs thinking to himself.

“This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.”

Despite that thought the begging-of-term feast was better than Remus thought imaginable. He stood up a bit, bowing, when Dumbledore called his name, feeling uncomfortable over the attention but knowing this had been unavoidable. Then he watched as the first years were sorted into their houses. Clapping politely at as each student was sorted. Then the dinner began and for the first time since, Remus couldn’t remember when, he ate his fill.

When the feast was over McGonagall showed him to his chambers. Remus got settled quickly, not bringing that much stuff with him from the cottage. He went to bed falling asleep exhausted after the intense emotions that afternoon, seeing his dead friend son and getting back more memories than he’d wanted had left him drained.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remus’s first day as a teacher went even better than he’d hoped. The children seemed interested and keen to learn what he had to teach them.

With exceptions though. The Malfoy boy clearly controlled everything in Slytherin like his father before him. The Slytherins’ started out their classes with sneers in place and were as disrespecting as they could. Remus knew that ignoring this behaviour would only make it worse. The Marauder in him surfaced full force and in the first classes with the Slytherins Remus became to them like professor Snape was to every student that wasn’t in his house. The disrespect was down to minimum after the first week. Then he slowly, too slowly for the Slytherins’ to notice he turned to his normally nice self. But the Slytherins’ didn’t return to their disrespecting behaviour, knowing what would happen then.

The school year passed on.

At Halloween Remus ran into Harry who wasn’t allowed to go to Hogsmeade. He invited him to come and see the dark creature he’d gotten for their next lesson. Then he offered Harry some tee. Harry stayed for a while. During Harry’s visit Snape came with the Wolfsbane potion, Dumbledore had asked Snape to make it for Remus every month so the wolf be harmless during the full moon. Trying to reduce the risk that was involved in having a grown up werewolf in the school as much as possible. Remus saw as Harry noticed the tension between himself and Snape and became rather amused when he tried to warn him indirectly about Snape. Remus ignored it and asked Harry to excuse him. Harry left and Remus got back to work.

Soon after that Remus offered Harry to teach him how to produce a Patronus. After Harry had fallen off his broom during a Quidditch match. The Dementors, that were stationed at every entrance to Hogwarts’ had showed up at the game drawn to the intense emotions that were displayed there. Harry had accepted that offer and after that he trained with Harry regularly, which gave him opportunity to meet Harry outside normal school time. Remus had promised himself he would tell Harry he’d known his parents, that they’d been friends. But when the time came Remus couldn’t. He knew it would race questions from Harry that he would have to answer and those answers would bring back memories he didn’t want.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The end of the school year approached. Remus watched from afar when Harry, Ron and Hermione fought for keeping Buckbeak alive and loosing.

When the night of Buckbeak execution came Remus had a suspicion that the trio would go to Hagrid’s to be there for him. He watched them on the Marauders map. Which he’d taken from Harry after Snape had caught Harry with it. Harry had used it to leave the school grounds during an Hogsmeade weekend. Remus didn’t know how it had found its way to Harry’s hands but he wasn’t going to let Harry use it to break the rules set for his protection. He wasn’t going to allow Harry to make the same mistakes he himself had done during his youth.

He watched them going to Hagrid’s and when they left Hagrid’s cottage. Then he saw that close to the dot marked Ronald Weasley, there was another dot.

Marked Peter Pettigrew.

“Peter?” Remus asked surprised. “That can’t be the map must be broken” He thought. Then he remembered a spell that he himself had done on the map. Everyone would appear on the map as they were. No matter if they were using Polyjuice potion or any kind of spell that alter the appearance. In short the spell made it impossible for people to trick it and therefore.

“The map is never wrong. Peter’s alive!”

Remus didn’t have time to register how Peter was alive or why he had allowed everyone to think he was dead before he saw another dot. This one was marked Sirius Black. He watched as he collided with the dots marked Ron and Peter. Then as Sirius dragged them towards the Whopping Willow, into the tunnels and out of the maps sight. Shortly after that he saw the dots marked Harry Potter and Hermione Granger trying to get through the Whopping Willow. Then a small dot marked Crookshanks came towards them and soon the Willow stopped moving. Crookshanks went through the hole first, quickly followed by Harry and Hermione and soon they too disappeared from the map.
Remus stood up as soon as they were out of side. He grabbed his wand and stood up abruptly

“I have to go to the Shrieking Shack right now.” He thought and ran out of his chambers. To busy thinking about getting to the Shack to think about what was going on.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remus came up through the tunnels and walked a few steps. Trying to hear any noise that would tell where Harry and the others were inside the Shack. Then he heard a voice from above...from the bedroom.

“We’re up here! We’re up here – Sirius Black – Hurry!”

“That was Hermione’s voice. Sirius got them.” Remus thought and strode up the stairs. He came bursting through the doors, holding his wand up high and the sight that greeted him was absurd.

Ron was lying on the floor his leg was in a weird angle and Remus saw it was broken. Hermione was sitting in a bundle next to the door with a terrified expression on her face. Harry was standing over Sirius, who was laying on the floor. Harry had his wand pointed at Sirius’s chest and across his chest Hermione’s cat...Crookshanks was laying.

Remus reacted without thinking.

“Expelliarmus” he said and Harry’s wand flew out of his hand and Remus caught it not really paying attention to it. He scanned the room looking for Peter. But there was no sign of him. Where was he?

“Where is he Sirius?” Remus asked Sirius knowing that he would know how he was talking about.

For a while Sirius just lay there expressionless looking at Remus.

Remus didn’t understand at first why Sirius was staring at him like this. Then it hit him. Sirius was seeing him for the first time in eleven years. Maybe twelve. Remus wasn’t sure if Sirius had really seen him when he came to visit him in Azkaban. And Remus knew he’d changed a lot from the 22 year old young man to the 33 year old, and oh boy right now he felt old, he was now. When Sirius seemed to have looked enough, he raised his hand.

Pointing at Ron.

“Ron? Why is he pointing at Ron?” Remus thought confused. Then he saw what Ron was holding in his hand. A rat. “Why is Peter in his rat form?” He looked back at Sirius and muttered his question out loud. He knew Sirius would be able to hear his mutter. His canine transformation had improved his hearing.

“But...” He started to ask, staring intensely at Sirius trying to read his thoughts through his expressions like he had been able to do once. “Why hasn’t he shown himself until now?” then he remembered something. “Unless...”

When he’d visited Sirius, Sirius had been talking to himself about treachery, and death...that they were all dead. And explosion. The rat... the bloody rat. He’d said that most often and the word switch. Remus remembered that then the answer hit him like a lighting his eyes widened at the realisation. They’d all gotten it wrong. It had been the exact opposite.

“...unless it was him...unless you switched...without telling me.”

“Of course they didn’t tell me they didn’t trust me.” Remus thought, Dumbledore had told him that rumours had been going around the Order before the end of the war that he was the traitor. Like there had been rumours about Sirius being the traitor. And now Remus knew how’d been spreading the rumours. The real traitor, Peter.

Sirius slowly nodded his head, not breaking their eye contact, like he’d been seeing Remus’s thought as clearly as he’d thought them.

“Sirius wasn’t the traitor, he was innocent.” Remus thought and his heart swelled up in joy. He wasn’t paying any attention to the rest of the room anymore. Harry, whom was trying to ask him what was going on, and Ron and Hermione didn’t exist anymore. Only Sirius. Remus lowered his wand, still staring at Sirius, ignoring Harry’s question all together. He walked up to Sirius reaching out his hand. Sirius reached out his hand back and Remus took it, pulling Sirius from the floor, he was vaguely aware of the cat falling of Sirius chest hissing at them.

Then Sirius was in his arms and Remus was hugging him tightly. It was like finally being home.

“I can’t believe it!” Remus heard Hermione’s piercing voice screaming this and broke his and Sirius’s embrace looking at her.

Hermione had stood up and was pointing at him with a maddening look in her eyes...which amusingly reminded Remus of Sirius’s cousin Bellatrix. Remus then figured it was nothing amusing about this situation, at least not how it must look like in Hermione’s and the other’s eyes.

“You...you...” Hermione started to sputter.

“Hermione....” Remus started to say but he didn’t get far. He listened to Hermione’s incoherent yelling and knew that the time for some explanation was coming.

“Hermione, listen to me now!” He yelled at her back trying to get her to listen. “I can explain this...”

Then Harry yelled at him.

“I trusted you. And all this time you’ve been his friend.”

“That’s wrong.” Lupin tried to explain. “I haven’t been Sirius’s friend, but I am now.” He was aware of the look
Sirius gave him at these words but ignored him “...let me explain..” Again Hermione interrupted him.

“NO! She yelled. “Harry, do not trust him.” She then said to Harry and Remus knew where this was heading. “He’s been helping Sirius getting into the castle. He wants you dead...he’s a werewolf.”

The silence that settled over the room at these words was so intense that it was worse than all the yelling that had been going on.

Remus felt himself pale at Hermione’s words but couldn’t help but think...

“Clever girl”

He then sighed softly and thought to himself...

“Yes the time for explanation has definitely arrived.” before opening his mouth to explain...everything.
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“Remus, Remus can you hear me?”

Someone was talking to him.

Remus opened his eyes and looked up looking into the face of Madam Pomfrey. He was in the hospital wing.

“How the bloody Merlin did I get here?” Remus thought trying to remember.

He remembered talking to Hermione, Harry and Ron along with Sirius, explaining everything to them, and hearing the whole story from the horse’s mouth, but getting interrupted by Snape. Who’d suddenly appeared in the Shrieking Shack, planning to hand him and Sirius over to the Dementors, Harry blocking Snape’s path, defying him. Snape yelling and trying to force Harry to step aside. Then Harry, Ron and Hermione disarming him, all at the same time. The force of the spell knocking Snape out cold. Afterwards he and Sirius had kept on explaining, forcing Peter to transform back out of his rat form. Listening to Peter trying to lie his way out of the situation. Listening to Sirius explaining his side, asking Harry to believe him. Harry finally believing him and Peter’s extreme reaction. But when he and Sirius had been getting ready to kill Peter, Harry had stopped them asking them not to kill him but to hand him over to the Dementors. He and Sirius had agreed, and they had bound Peter, helped Ron, put wrappings on his broken leg and finally levitated Snape unconscious body, so they could take him out of the Shrieking Shack with them. They’d all left the Shack heading through the tunnels. Remus had listened when Sirius had told Harry what this would mean. That he would be freed of all charges. That he
wouldn’t be a prisoner anymore That Harry would be able to come and live with him.

Remus remembered, wondering briefly but pushing that thought away just as fast, if he would be allowed to live with them. If he and Sirius would be able to go back to the way they were. They had all come out of the tunnels. He’d told Peter not to dare try anything. They’d kept walking and then...the clouds had moved away from the moon...the full moon. Remus had realised he’d forgotten, for the first time in his life, that there was a full moon that night. And also that he hadn’t taken the Wolfsbane potion.

Then all he remembered was pain and darkness. He couldn’t remember anything from his transformation or what had happened after he’d been transformed into his werewolf form.

“Remus?” Madam Pomfrey asked him again looking at him concerned. Clearly she’d been trying to talk to him all through his remembering.

“Are you all right?” She asked him.

“I’m fine.” Remus said sitting up and winching slightly at the stiffness and injuries he must have received the night before. “Well...under the circumstances.”

“That’s good dear because you’ve a visitor.” Madam Pomfrey told him and stepped aside. Behind her Dumbledore was standing and just by looking at his face Remus knew he knew everything that had happened the night before.

“Remus my dear boy.” Dumbledore said his voice sounding grave. “You’re finally up.”

“Finally?” Remus asked

“Yes you’ve been out cold for two days. We were getting worried.”

“Two days?” Remus thought “No wonder I’m stiff.”

“I’m awake now and pretty fine.” Remus told him then asked. “You know everything that happened two nights ago?”

“Yes I do.”

“Could you tell me what happened after I... because I don’t remember anything afterwards. I completely blacked out.”

Dumbledore told him what had happened and Remus couldn’t help but getting furious when he told him Snape had revealed his Werewolf identity. But at the same time he was happy. Happy that Sirius was O.K. On the run sure, but O.K.

Remus knew that he wouldn’t be allowed to continue his job at Hogwarts’. It was only a matter of time until the parents would start sending angry letters, demanding that he would be fired.

He decided to beat them to it.

“Dumbledore.” He said determinedly. He was not going to allow Dumbledore to talk him out of this. “I’m giving you my resignation.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A few days later Remus left Hogwarts returning to his cottage. He‘d managed to save up some money so he wouldn‘t have to worry about food for the next months. After that he would have to try and find a job. He knew it would be hopeless but he‘d try never the less. Try pretending that the events a litte over week before hadn‘t changed the life he‘d become used to. He knew Sirius was on the run and that he might never see him again. But that didn‘t stop him from hoping.

TBC.

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