I'm trying out something different with this story, I hope you like it! All rights go to JK Rowling.
Remus Lupin arrived at Hogwarts and was met at the entrance by none other than Albus Dumbledore. He proved to look no older than the time Remus had seen him last or from the time he was once a student himself. His white beard was as long as his hair, they were carefully billowing against his robes as he walked towards him with opens arms.
"Remus, you look like the moon has gotten the best of you." Albus' eyes analyzed him from head to toe. He could see the lined scars upon his face, aging him beyond his years. His shabby clothing patched up and wrinkled.
"The moon always gets the best of me Headmaster," he lowered his head in embarrassment, staring at his worn shoes, "You wished to see me before the feast, sir?" Dumbledore grasped him by the shoulder and led him to the stone gargoyle.
"Lemon Drops." Dumbledore murmured. It opened a passageway which had a narrow spiral staircase leading up to the top floor. Dumbledore silently walked up grasping hold of the railing as Lupin trailed behind him. "I do care for my Lemon Drops, I'd offer you some but I'm afraid I ate the last of them." Dumbledore added, finally making it up the steps.
"That's quite alright Headmaster, no need to worry." Lupin looked up at the room that he had seen only once before. Professor Dumbledore had spoken to him in here once as a child, to explain to him about the process of getting by as a werewolf in Hogwarts. He, being the one who stood up for him, when nobody else had bothered to care, he owed Dumbledore his life.
"Sit, sit, my son." Dumbledore ushered him to the seat opposite his.
Lupin obeyed and scanned the room; it looked very much the same as it did, those many years ago. It was a large circular room with many windows and portraits of old Headmaster and Headmistresses. He had an immense collection of books which stacked its way up to the ceiling. He noticed in the corner of his eye, his phoenix was perched up and stared at him intently.
"Remus, we don't have much time before the first-years arrive but I wanted to make a few things clear." Dumbledore's light blue eyes bore into his amber ones.
"Of course." Remus replied softly.
"Since you will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, I trust you to actually teach them to your full capacity, unlike our teacher of the previous year." Remus sat in silence and waited for him to continue. "Also, on another note, one of your students will be quite familiar. His name is Harry Potter and I'm sure you have already been acquainted." Dumbledore smiled serenely with a slight twinkle in his eye. "He, however, is no James Potter. His actions might get him in trouble but he is usually not the cause of it. I am therefore obliging you to keep a good eye on him. His safety is necessary along with every student in the school and I trust you that you will do your best."
Remus slightly smiled and his eyebrows raised. "I can promise that I will do my best to ensure the students' safety. I will also treat Harry as a regular student in my classroom and will show no favouritism." He slightly leaned forward in his seat.
"You have already shown tonight that you seek nothing but the care of your students. Your presence in the Hogwarts Express was instrumental and I'm very glad you were on board at the time. The students have obviously no experience in dealing with Dementors." A small smile appeared from the corner of Dumbledore's mouth. "Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban as you may have found out. I believe that extra precautions are necessary, especially since the both of you are here at Hogwarts. However the Dementors going into the train was a whole-hearted mistake by the Ministry." Dumbledore stared into Remus' eyes as if he were peering into his soul from his half-moon spectacles.
"Undoubtedly we must be vigilant of Sirius' presence as I believe he may try and reach out to Harry." Remus put his hands on the Headmaster's desk and began to twiddle his thumbs.
"I agree very much with you, Remus. Regarding your transformations every month, I believe you are well acquainted with the Shrieking Shack, you may transform there once again for the full moon. This time however, Professor Snape will be brewing you the Wolfsbane potion every month. You will retain your control over your actions but will still transform into your werewolf form. It is necessary to start drinking the potion seven days before the full moon."
"Thank you very much Headmaster, it means a lot to me." Remus smiled widely, accentuating his scars.
"Oh no, no, no, my dear man, you must thank Severus, I am just relaying the message onto you. I am also hoping your high-school grudge will come to an end because of these events." Dumbledore looked quite sombre.
"I have never had a grudge against Severus, Headmaster. I was just merely on the sidelines; I would never humiliate someone especially when I could easily be humiliated myself." Remus looked out the window, wishing some things in his past were different.
"Nevertheless, Severus may hold a grudge against you. Do your best in being amicable towards one another," Dumbledore stood up from his seat and Lupin instinctively reacted and stood up instantly, "I believe that we must head back to the feast." Dumbledore smiled and hummed his way down the steps and into the Great Hall.
Once there, Remus realized that there was one seat available left on the teacher's table, apart from the Headmaster's. He quickly made his way and sat down on the empty seat. To his right was a man clad in black, he had a hooked nose and a pale, sullen face.
The man dressed in black never moved his head and stared straight ahead, "Well, well, Lupin, fancy seeing you here. Are you here for another round?"
"How have you been Severus?" Remus inched closer to him, trying to look at his face.
"I've been...wonderful." Severus said sarcastically. "My life has never been better Lupin, not only do I have to deal with another year of intellectually incapable students, I must also deal with you getting the position I've wanted for years. Fantastic."
Remus ignored his comment and watched the Sorting Ceremony finish. Dumbledore stood up from his seat, for his usual beginning of term announcements.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..." He stared at the groans of the house tables.
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.
They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors." His face went from serious, to being jovial. "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Lupin stood up and bowed politely to the claps. Severus beside him gave a small, ostensive clap which Lupin thought was better than nothing.
"As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties." Some students from the Gryffindor table erupted in jeers. Remus noticed that Harry and his two friends were among them.
"Well, I think that is everything of importance. Let the feast begin!" Dumbledore swiftly sat down, his cloak tucked neatly into his chair.
Dozens of plates appeared in front of the teachers filled with delicious food and which Remus could remember of as a child. He hadn't had a good meal in a while and was stuffing his plate with anything that was in reach.
"Big appetite, Lupin?" Snape sneered from the corner of his mouth. His plate was empty and was staring at Lupin disgustingly.
"Why yes, I do have a pretty big appetite, especially in the presence of this wonderful food. Here, take some steak, you need a bit of colour, you look a bit pale Severus." He grabbed a piece of steak from the plate in front of him and dropped it onto Severus'.
"Just watching you eat like a vicious animal, puts me in no mood to put a fork in my mouth." He pushed his plate away, with a sour look.
"Would you like me to feed you then Severus?" Lupin had stuffed a piece of chicken in his mouth and turned his head to Snape.
Severus arched an eyebrow and pulled his food back in silence, cutting the steak into pieces and shoving it slowly into his mouth.
"I want to thank you, by the way." Lupin silently said, inaudible to the other teachers.
Severus now chewing, turned his head and looked into Remus' eyes. It was an expression in which Remus couldn't read.
"To what do I owe the complete pleasure of being thanked?" He snarled.
Remus inched closer and whispered into Severus' ear, his black shoulder-length hair parting slightly. Remus didn't even think his hair was even greasy; it probably just appeared that way to others. It smelled of earth and fumes, no doubt from the potions he brewed, yet it was quite pleasant. "For the Wolfsbane potion. I am forever indebted to you."
Snape fidgeted in his seat and pulled away from Remus. He was now focusing intently on his plate which had nothing on it. Remus, took some potatoes and poured some into his plate, along with a piece of chicken.
"Lupin! I do not need someone to constantly watch over me while I am eating!" Snape yelled under his breath, trying to not cause a scene.
"My apologies," Lupin murmured "you can take care of yourself, I know."
"Now, now, Severus," Dumbledore's head appeared next to Snape's and peered at the both of them. "He is trying to be civil."
Lupin bowed his head apologetically to the Headmaster and Snape forked a potato into his mouth. "What do you want from me Lupin?" His eyes never wandered from his plate.
Lupin ignored his question and continued onto desserts hoping that the feast would finally end so he could lock himself in his office. When Dumbledore gave his final words of the night, the students scurried off into their dorms and Severus was the first at the teacher's table to get up and leave, bidding a good night to them. He stopped at Lupin's chair and put his hands at the ends and stooped low.
"You've always ignored me Lupin, let them take advantage of me and humiliate me. Why should now be any different?" He spat. "Is it because your friends are now gone? When you have your answer, it is then you may talk to me. Goodnight." Severus quickly paced out of the Great Hall, his black cloak following perfectly behind him, riding the wind.
Lupin stared off into the nothingness of his thoughts. Severus had been right, he thought, of course he would still hold a grudge. Lupin stood up and wished the other teachers and the headmaster a pleasant night. He went to his new office to unpack and plan for his classes the next day, Severus never leaving his mind.
Snape being a complex character and Lupin being particularly good at hiding his feelings most of the time make this an interesting pairing. I hope you guys enjoy it.