Prologue


The past few years of Remus Lupin's life had contained not too much to be proud of. Some time had been spent abroad, living with his equals in disguise. He'd later moved to Ireland for a year, staying at his uncle's. Furthermore, most of his time had been spent on the run, hiding from those who still remained loyal to The Dark Lord. Remus knew for a fact that there were still Death Eaters out there, searching for him, wishing to have as big a group as possible for Voldemort to return to.

Wherever Remus had been for the past twelve years, he'd never felt at home. Not properly. Thus it came as quite the shock when he recieved a letter from Dumbledore, begging him to teach at Hogwarts. Remus had gotten the letter only a day after the alarming news of the Azkaban Breakout had reached him. This was the crucial factor making him answer Dumbledore's letter at once, with the response that he would indeed be taking the vacant post as a Hogwarts Professor. Remus felt a strong urge to protect the one thing that Sirius could possibly be after.

Harry Potter.

The poor boy was only thirteen years old, yet had been through enough trouble for a lifetime. If only the boy had known what was up for him next. Not that Remus doubted Harry's abilities. It was just that he wanted a normal life for the boy. This was the reason for why he had never dared to dream of becoming Harry's guardian. No one should have a monster as a parent. Remus was well aware of the fact that he could never be a father. He just was not suitable for that job. Hence he focused on the job which was now ahead of him.

Think - to become a Hogwarts Professor. It was just the sort of thing that James Potter would suggest for Remus as a joke while they were kids. James, however, could never have understood. Hogwarts was the one place where Remus felt accepted for who he was. The one place at which he actually felt welcome. He was heading back home this Autumn, and in spite of the circumstances, he was utterly excited about it.

Remus was enjoying a hot drink at The Leaky Cauldron. There were still a dozen of days to go until the start of the semester, thus he spent most of his time reading up on the stuff he would be teaching his students. Although he was good at his subject, it was a fairly difficult task to remember every single thing that you are supposed to have learned during your seven years at Hogwarts.

Remus took a deep sip of his drink as he turned the page over in The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. He was currently reading up on the topic in which he most definitely knew the most about, yet also loathed the most.

Werewolf bites should be thoroughly and magically cleaned, as the werewolf's fangs are venomous. However, there is no cure once you have become a werewolf, so try and avoid being bitten at all costs.

Remus snorted loudly. The waitress – whom had just now showed up to take his lunch order – jumped and dropped her pen. Remus sighed as he paid for his drink; he wasn't really up for a meal. He then closed his book gently and squeezed it back into his briefcase. Since he was in desperate need of a Gringotts visit, he rose from his chair and started strolling towards the rear courtyard that would lead the way to Diagon Alley.

The sun was hovering over the crowded Alley. Children were running around in shorts and skirts, making an effort to enjoy their ice cream before the heat took the best of it. Remus did a quick search for familiar faces. He greeted a few shop owners and some Aurors before he continued walking down towards Gringotts. But after only a couple of steps, he was stopped by a tall, black, bald-headed man in a long, blue cloak.

'Remus,' the man greeted him in his deep voice.

'Hello, Kingsley. I didn't see you there,' Remus smiled. He briefly checked his wristwatch, which now showed half past one. He did have time for a chat, but he was still very tired from last month's full moon.

'I won't keep you up for long,' assured Kingsley, who seemed to have noticed the slight hesitation from Remus. 'I do want to know, though, what it was that tempted you into a teaching post. Was it Potter?'

'Well,' Remus thought for a second, 'yes, partly at least. I'm also in great need of the money, you see. To be perfectly honest, it's not looking very good for me economically these days. I'm at this moment heading down to Gringotts to pick up some of my last Galleons. Now, what lured you here?'

'Oh – you know – just the daily search for Black. Fudge wants to invade this place with Dementors, as if it ain't enough with Aurors at every corner. I'm speaking on behalf of most people when I say that he is not one to make the wisest choices. Black got past the Dementors before, did he not? I believe it would be a waste to put them here, among people who have enough worries as it is. I think Fudge does know that too, but he is embarrassed,' said Kingsley.

'Embarrassed?'

'Well, he suspects that people will start to think of him as a lousy Minister for Magic, if Black is not caught soon. The truth, as we all know, is that Fudge is in fact clueless when it comes to this situation. If he now starts asking for help, it will look as though he is losing it – which he obviously is. So in stead he chooses to do these silly things. He believes it creates an illusion of control,' Kingsley explained, 'which of course only makes him look like even bigger of a fool.'

Remus faked a short laugh. If it was true what he suspected – that Sirius had made it past the Dementors by turning into Padfoot – then Kingsley would be very right indeed. The Dementors wouldn't have the slightest effect on him whatsoever.

Although Remus knew very well that it was selfish, he could not make himself reveal the secret of the Marauders. It was the single piece of information that they had all promised each other to keep a secret forever. It would probably – no, definitely – have helped the Ministry more than a little with their search for Sirius. Still, it was something inside of Remus that made him swear to himself that whatever happened, he would not reveal that detail. As if something snapped inside of him every time he even tried to think the thought of disclosure. Was he a bad person for it? He liked to think not.

'I do most certainly agree,' said Remus finally.

'Very well, then. I'll have to get back to my student. She is originally Alastor's, but he hasn't been doing very well lately,' Kingsley said and nodded his head in the direction of a young woman whom was standing fifteen feet farther up the Alley. From Remus's judging, she seemed to be in her early twenties. Her face was framed in by long, bubblegum pink hair, matched by a dark purple cloak. She smiled at Remus when she noticed him looking at her. He smiled back briefly, before he turned to Kingsley and nodded.

'I'll be seeing you then,' he said.

'Yes. Good luck, Professor,' smirked Kingsley as he passed Remus and walked up to the woman whom was waiting for him. Remus instantly started his journey towards Gringotts again. He had not gotten very far, though, when his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

There, at a table at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, sat James Potter. He was writing something on a bit of parchment. His glasses, his untidy black hair, pale skin and lanky body. Yes, it was definitely James. Yet, it couldn't be. It was just not a possibility in the world.

James looked up from the parchment – not directly at Remus, but at something not too far away. His glance was glued to something just close enough for Remus to get a glimpse of his sparkling, green eyes behind the glasses. A glimpse of Lily.

Remus felt as though he was looking into the past while looking at this thirteen-year-old boy, whom he now knew to be Harry Potter. He had not seen the boy in twelve years, but at this very moment it felt as though it was yesterday that Lily had been boasting about Harry's first steps.

Remus felt frozen to the ground as he kept staring at Harry for second after second. Finally, after something that must have been ages, reality struck him. He released his eyes from the boy and started walking quickly towards Gringotts once more. Remus did not want Harry to notice him now. He was not prepared for this, and did not know what to say to the boy just yet. He would wait until they got to Hogwarts. Still with his heart in his throat, Remus entered the Wizarding Bank, which he'd reached at last.


Disclaimer: The magical world of Harry Potter does not belong to me, but to the wonderful J. K. Rowling. I'm just a fan.