"All right, be sure to read chapters 1-5. They will be on your exams, so study hard and best of luck." Remus dismissed his class with a warm smile but his body was screaming in agony. The full moon was tonight and he was dreading it with all he had. His transformations had taken a turn for the worse since the end of the war, it was times like this where he missed his friend Padfoot. At the thought of his old friend he returned to his desk to grade the recent essays he assigned on Boggarts. It had been only five minutes when he was suddenly interrupted by Severus bursting through the door.
"Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?!" His furiosity hadn't changed after the battle, in fact Remus believed it had gotten worse over time. "What do you mean? Has something happened?" Remus asked, still grading his papers but recognizing his colleague still.
"There was a unknown presence here in the castle," Snape looked disheveled his hair wild in some places on his head. "In my investigation I came across a troublesome creature and I was wondering if it had graced itself with your presence. Seeming as you two would get along nicely."
Remus ignored the jab at his lycanthropy and simply smiled, "For someone who has faced the darkest wizard known to us, I'm surprised to see you so frazzled." Snape only snarled and left the room with his black cloak billowing behind him.
Remus chuckled at the sight and went back to grading papers. Some time passed before he picked up on an unfamiliar scent, he raised his gaze up to look about the classroom. Everything seemed to be in order, it wasn't till his eyes froze on a white fox sitting in the doorway. It's eyes a vibrant green and clearly fixed on him.
"You must be the troublesome presence," he chuckled.
The fox's ears perked up at the sound of his laughter and made its way towards him. Remus however,didn't like how bold the creature had become.
"You need to leave before Severus finds you," he warned.
The fox paid no mind to his words and jumped onto his desk with absolute grace, making itself at home. "I mean it, he will hex that precious fur right off your hide."
The fox had a mischievous glint in its eyes, it was almost human. Red flags were going up in Remus' head, but he reached forward to pet it right behind the ears. It quickly pushed itself into his palm and enjoyed the attention it was receiving.
"I guess we do get along nicely," he commented. The wolf inside him growled with satisfaction and a sense of calm. He hadn't felt Moony this at ease since Padfoot was around, and the thought of this had his mood take a sour turn.
"Leave, now." He removed his hand and went back to grading papers. The fox refused to budge and began to paw at his hands, its claws leaving scratches on his pale skin.
"Stop that," he mumbled. His patience was beginning to leave him. Again the fox persisted in getting his attention and took ahold of his sleeve.
"Let go!" He thrust his arm forward tossing the creature across the room. A yelp of pain accompanied the sound of a chair falling over. Remus had lost his temper and now he had hurt the poor creature. Guilt instantly set in. As if things couldn't have gotten worse, Snape bursts in with his wand drawn. "Where is it?!"
A small growl echoed in the room, but there was no indication of where it could be hiding. Snape turned to see the knocked over chair and found the fox baring its teeth. He sent a stinging jinx at the animal only for it to duck beneath it and run straight through Snape's legs.
The fox was light on its feet and made sure to bite at Snape's ankles before sprinting through the door. "Why you miserable," his face was red with fury and Remus couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll have you stuffed!" Snape sprint out the door and was shouting curses as he went.
Remus couldn't control his laughter, his sides were aching to the point of bursting.
"Maybe it won't be such a bad day after all," he said between chuckles. Remus then took his leave of the room and off into the same direction as Severus.
The halls were empty as lunch was in process. Remus used his heightened senses to pick up on anything which could lead him towards the fox at the end of Severus' rage. Though it seemed that the fox took great pride in infuriating the bat of the dungeons. When he came to turn down towards the great hall he picked up the scent of blood, instant panic set in.
Taking off towards the metallic fumes he came across crimson paw prints, "No," his heart was racing uncontrollably and it only made the situation worse. He ran along the trail and found it leading into Minerva's office, he wasted no time bursting in.
"Remus Lupin!" Minerva shouted.
"Headmistress! Is there a fox in here? It's hurt!" He was about to run past the poor woman when he caught sight of Severus. His hand wrapped in a handkerchief, blood seeping through the fabric.
"She isn't hurt," Minerva stated.
"She?" Remus asked stunned.
"Yes, she is just fine." Minerva stepped aside revealing the fox whom was now licking her paws clean. There were even pieces of food stuck in her fur in several places.
"It seems as you two have taken the time to greet our new friend with hostility." Minerva was furious and glaring at the two men before her.
"She bit me!" Snape snarled.
"Shut it Severus," she growled. "If you had merely come to me when the castle alerted you to her presence, maybe you wouldn't have made such a scene!"
"What happened?" Remus asked as he was having a staring contest with those piercing emerald eyes across the room.
"This man chased Mira into the Great Hall, in front of all the students. Not only throwing spells left and right, but resulting in a food fight amongst the children. The hall is a mess!"
"Mira? She has a name?" Remus and Snape replied at the same time.
"Yes, meet Mira Desandre, our new Professor of Muggle Studies."
The fox stood and bowed her head.