Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J. Ro does. I'm merely playing with her characters.
Chapter one: Homecoming
30th July, 1992
When Remus stepped down from the Knight Bus at Hogsmead station it was 11 in the morning. It was late July, so the weather was relatively sunny. Warm breeze was blowing, ruffling his light summer robe that he wore over his cotton trousers and t-shirt. Remus started walking on the long winded path towards Hogwarts in a medium pace, enjoying the view and breeze. He wasn't in any hurry. His appointment with the headmaster was at 11.30, so there was plenty of time. Besides he hasn't been in Hogsmead in over a decade so he wanted to see what has changed. Though if my meeting went in my favor I will have plenty of time to explore here in near future, he thought. His upcoming meeting, though, technically is an interview for the post of the new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry in coming fall term.
As Remus neared the castle he felt nostalgic seeing it sprawled regally, surrounded by the Forbidden Forest and Black Lake. It reminded of him of times long-gone, of times when he was a student himself not soon-to-be a teacher, of when he had close friends not just mere acquaintances. As he reached the gate, Remus let a sigh fall from his lips and checked his watch for time. It was 11.25 a.m. Remus waited there for his escort to arrive as he was instructed in his letter. He could easily find the headmaster's office himself but the people here didn't know him by his name so he was told to wait. His name was given for this job by an old acquaintance of the headmaster with whom both the headmaster and Remus had talked about their problems of needing a teacher next term and a job respectively. Remus looked up hearing approaching footfall to see that his escort was Professor McGonagall and wondered if she and the others will recognize him. He simultaneously hoped they will and prayed they won't. Because if they, did then all the work he had done in the past decade to distance himself from the scrawny, Gryffindor prefect with a marauder side he was in his school days will feel like a waste. But at the same time, if they did, then it will feel like he had been able to leave a mark here. In the time it took the Professor to reach him he had already decided it will be good if they didn't recognize him right away, it will give him a chance to start anew with a new impression. He can't hide himself, but he can start with changing their preconceived notions about himself. Besides he was pretty sure he has changed a lot, so chances are that he won't be recognized right away are pretty high.
"Mr. Soleil?", questioned professor as he reached him. When he nodded in affirmative, she curtly told him to follow and started towards the castle. Business as always, huh professor? Remus thought fondly. He noted that the change in his last name also adds to the chances of them not recognizing him right away. The walk towards the school and to the headmaster's office was spent in silence. Remus studied his former Professor from the corner of his eyes and found that she hasn't changed much, a few more wrinkles, laugh lines on her face and some grey hairs in her bun aside. He could feel her checking him out as well. He mentally categorized that in the last decade he has grown some muscles, as well as developed a light tan, and his light brown hair is now a dirty blond. But to her the biggest change would be that he had grown into a confident man comfortable in his skin from the awkward, unsure young man just reaching adulthood that she had last seen a decade ago.
"Here we are", she said reaching the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office, "Acid Pops. Follow through the stairs, please. The headmaster is waiting for you." With a nod towards his direction she left. As he stepped on the staircases, it started moving as usual and in no time he was in front of the office door. Remus knocked on the door and entered when given permission.
His first impression of the headmaster and his office was that it hadn't changed a bit in the last decade. But slowly he realized it was a bit more cluttered than he remembered and Professor Dumbledore was a bit older and wrinkly as well, but both are still as welcoming as they were.
"Ah, Mr. Soleil, please come in." Dumbledore's warm welcome broke him out of his reminiscing. "Have a seat."As he took his seat opposite the headmaster, "Thank you for meeting me headmaster Dumbledore" Remus said with a nod. But Dumbledore dismissed it saying, "Oh, but you are the one who should be thanked Mr. Soleil. You would be saving me the trouble of finding of a teacher this close to term." Then he clapped his hands together, "on to the interview now", and started taking the credentials Remus offered him to check. "You know Mr. Soleil, you remind me of someone, but I cannot seem to recall who-", he broke of midsentence when read the name on top of the O.W.L.s results he was given to look over and looked up to see Remus's face. He rechecked the name he was seeing and half-questioned, half-affirmed, "Remus? Remus Lupin?"
When Remus gave a nod to confirm, Dumbledore's face broke into a smile and "Oh, Remus, my boy, it is wonderful to see you after so long. And knowing that you have done well in your life. We would be happy if you would join our staff here at Hogwarts." Here he started checking the credentials, "And you have gotten your masteries as well, and with such high marks too." he put the file down and looked directly at Remus and told "My boy, I am happy to welcome you to Hogwarts as our newest staff member." Remus was happy to have his job confirmed. And he could also see that his old teacher was genuinely happy to see him. So he gave a wide smile, "I'm honored, headmaster."
Just as Dumbledore was about to open his mouth, which Remus was sure to enquire about his whereabouts of last decade an alarm went off. Saved by the bell, How cliché, Remus thought, because no doubt that Dumbledore was as curios as ever. And sure, "Alas, my boy, we have to end our chat now. That was the alarm for lunch being served at great hall." But unfortunately for Remus, he invited him to lunch, so that Remus can in his words 'get to know his new colleagues' and discuss the terms of employment after lunch. But Remus was sure it was just to keep him here to grill him about his history and probably hoping to have his former professors as his backup as well. But Remus knew he have to go over it at some point and he was sure none of them meant him ill, so he agreed. Better now with everyone together than later separately, he thought.
The great hall was as splendid as ever. And as was custom during holidays, there was only one table in the middle of the hall for everyone staying at the castle. As they entered everyone looked up to see and judging by their faces they knew a teacher was to be interviewed today. Taking seat next to the headmaster, Remus looked around to avoid other's enquiring gazes and saw one seat was still empty at the table. Someone is still left in the castle to have yet to come to lunch. Seeing the direction of his eyes, the headmaster satisfied his curiosity, "that is for our resident potions master. But he sometimes is late due to being in a delicate stage of brewing. Other times he misses lunch altogether. So you may or may not meet him today." When Remus nodded his head in understanding, a voice spoke from his right, "Is he the new DADA teacher Albus? Because if he is he needs to come to the infirmary to submit a record of his medical history." Remus recognized her as the resident mediwitch Poppy Pomfrey. His lips twitched seeing her, Same old Poppy. Always eager to have medical history of everyone who she knows at hand. The headmaster chuckled and said, "Let's get the introductions out of the way, shall we?" turning towards Remus, "Mr. Soleil, I'm sure you recognize our Transfiguration Mistress Minerva McGonagall, Herbology Professor Pamona Sprout, Charms Professor Filius Flitwick, COMC teacher Professor Kettleburn and Mediwitch Poppy Pomfrey. The others are Astronomy Professor Aurora Sinistra and Runes Professor Septima Vector. Our Arithmancy and Muggle Studies Professors are on leave as is our Wizarding Culture Professor. And our Potions Professor is busy in his lab." Remus nodded in return when everyone nodded as they were introduced by the headmaster. He could see they were curios why the headmaster said that he ought to remember some of them, because none of them remembers him. "And professors this is our new DADA professor Remus Lupin Soleil."
His introduction was met by cheery welcomes of the two new professors and shocked silence of recognition of the old ones. It was thankfully broken, when Madam Pomfrey muttered, "I don't need to do a full medical scan after all." Everybody laughed at her joke and the face she made when Remus retorted that she still needed to do the last ten years worth. Each of his old professors exclaimed their happiness at his return, pride at his attaining the masteries he did and his general well being. The rest of the meal was spent with happy conversations between everyone. Remus spent some time reminiscing with old professors and getting to know the new ones. He and Professor Vector especially hit it off nicely when she learned that he also holds mastery in Runes. Having a meal full of joy, here at Hogwarts, which was a large part of his life before and soon will be once again when Remus joins the staff come fall made Remus feel like this was his Homecoming.
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After the meal when they were having coffee with chocolate éclairs and the conversations were winding down, finally professor Flitwick asked what was on most of their mind, "so Remus, what's with adding the name Soleil? And where were you last 13 years?"
Now although he knew these questions were coming, Remus took a sip of his coffee to savor a few minutes to gather himself before giving his explanation. Automatically his mind went to that fateful December day, 13 years before, that became the turning point of his life.
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please read and review. it's my first story.
MgP