Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter or any of its characters. Just the plot. : )

Chapter 1 The Gates

Remus Lupin had always considered himself a bachelor. He never intended to marry. It wasn't because of his furry monthly visitor that had made him so hesitant, though it was always a concern. No, the main problem was that he'd just never met the right one. The one who made him weak at the knees with just a smile or a woman who loved him enough TO deal with his furry friend or his insecurities about it.

That doesn't mean he hadn't tried. He'd had steady girlfriends as a student at Hogwarts and even spent 6 months with Nymphadora Tonks. But he wasn't ever in love with her as more than an amazing friend. And he had tried very hard to fall in love with her.

As it was, when Dumbledore came to him after the final battle and asked him to fill the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts again, he hadn't hesitated. In Harry's third year, he had very much enjoyed teaching the future witches and wizards how to save themselves from the Dark.

Slughorn had again gone into retirement ("To stay, Dumbledore!" were his words.) and Professor Snape had decided that maybe he really did love Potions. So with nothing tying him down, he headed off to Hogwarts.

When Voldemort was defeated by Harry, after much digging around for diadems and cups, his wand had done something quite extraordinary. It burst into flames and a phoenix had shot out in its place. And then in a burst of flames was returned to its scrawny chick form to reveal a tall and very old wizard standing next to it.

Eyes twinkling and popping a Lemon Drop into his mouth, Albus Dumbledore re-entered the world. And with plenty of tricks up his sleeve to go along with it. Remus of course had no idea how the wizard had come back, but was thankful for it nonetheless.

One of the best tricks up Dumbledore's sleeve happened to be that he knew the outstanding secret that The Veil in the Department of Mysteries held. The unfortunate that fell through The Veil were transported not to heaven or hell, but to a purgatory. It was a kind of hell in it's own way though. The unfortunate were in spiritual limbo, never being judged by God, just watching as others who had passed, were judged upon their acts on earth.

Sirius Black could be brought back. And he was. And in the most awe inspiring way.

Those who had truly loved him, and there were many. Had gathered in a circle around the gaping doorway and literally cast their love for him into it. He could never duplicate what his wand had done. All Dumbledore had said was that they just needed to let their love for Sirius overwhelm their being. Memories of him fill their minds. And just let it go. So pointing his wand with the many others he had let Padfoot, member of the famed Marauders, best friend, and Godfather to Harry; flood his being. And then his love seemed to pour out of his wand with the twenty or so others in a beam aimed at The Veil. And then…there he was. A huge, shaggy, black dog running out of a black abyss, pink tongue hanging out of his mouth. The look in that dog's eyes could never have it mistaken for the Grim.

So the merry man that he had thought had been lost forever returned. Remus was no longer the lone Marauder. Two now walked again.

Pettigrew was killed at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange for being an 'insufferable rodent.' For once Lupin agreed with her, though the painful death that was dealt to Peter may not have been how he personally would have dealt with it. He was confident in his thinking that Peter was not in a purgatory or heaven. No, there was only one place that that rat deserved to be. Hell for an eternity would do dear Peter some good.

There were a few things that Remus definitely didn't understand that the wizened man had done in his return. He had vouched for Severus again, and even the Malfoy family. He had no idea, and Dumbledore wouldn't explain to anyone his reasons except the Golden Trio.

He detested the name, but it was easier than saying Harry, Ron, and Hermione. That always got tiring. The three of them made up a singular person, really. Hermione was the brains and feelings, Harry the logical one, and Ron more than made up the temper of them. So the Golden Trio they became, in his thoughts at least.

So, with an open mind, Remus Lupin became Professor Lupin again. He eagerly awaited September First. He also didn't feel a loss at leaving Number Twelve Grimmauld Place behind, because Sirius was coming with him to Hogwarts. It was still a mystery to him why, though. No positions were open at the infamous school and there wasn't any reason now that he couldn't get a job. He was a free man now. He'd even been allotted First Class of Merlin status for the mistakes of the Ministry and the compassion he had shown through his acts to save The-Boy-Who-Never-Seemed-To-Die. That was how Remus thought of Harry at least. He had come face to face with death countless numbers of times, and yet he miraculously was still alive. Not that he was complaining, he loved the boy dearly.

Unlike the first time he had taught at the school, Remus opted out of the Hogwarts Express method of travel. No, the first time had been fun enough for the werewolf; he much preferred the route of apparation. So, taking a last look at the space between 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place, he 'popped' into Hogsmeade.

He was pleasantly surprised that the little wizard town had come so far in a month. The village had been devastated by the power of the Dark. It was left as rubble. Now glistening in the sun, were the new storefronts and charming little roads that ran through it. Looking up to the hill though, he saw that his shack hadn't quite gone through the revamp. It hadn't been harmed by Death Eaters, which he thought was hilarious. They were too scared by the haunted place, and had left it alone. So the Shrieking Shack still looked as pitifully 'down' as it had always looked. It put a damper on the glittering town below it in his mind. He was pretty positive that most people barely even noticed the doomed house, but it stuck out to him like always. He didn't look forward to spending time there, the last time he'd transformed there, and Peter had gotten away. In fact, that may have been the exact start of the end for Voldemort. The moment his servant was freed, and returned to him. Yet, he still didn't like the memory. It wasn't that pleasant, waking up in that morning remembering that he'd tried to kill Harry Potter and one of his best friends.

He shook his head slightly to stop his reminiscing. It would do no good now, and he was already running late. It was only an hour until dark, when the students would arrive. He still had to go and meet with Dumbledore and get settled into his quarters before the feast. So, banishing the thoughts of that fateful night, he headed towards the gates that were proudly guarded by the menacing boars.

A loud crack near him and a yell of his name stopped him though. Turning around, he saw a rather ruffled looked Sirius Black jogging towards him. He broke into a smile. He wondered when the grungy mutt was supposed to report to the school. Now, seemed to be good.

"Hello Moony! You didn't even say good-bye to old Kreacher! You should have seen how sad he became. Then there's the fact that you didn't even say farewell to me either! It could make a canine feel unloved, which couldn't be true! That very lacking love brought me out of limbo!"

"Well, I knew you would show up eventually. A farewell would have seemed final, like I was really being separated from you. Which I'm not! I knew you were coming you loveless puppy!"

The lycanthrope was soon patted on the back as his friend passed him on his way to the gates of Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He took his time to catch up, though. Sirius didn't know how to get past the gates. In fact, Black was looking at him right now with a question quite evident on his face.

Walking smugly past the other Marauder, he walked up to one of the boars. He began scratching behind his ears and instantly the statue became animated. The smug look became even bigger when he heard Sirius gasp behind him.

"Who wishes entry into these sacred learning grounds?"

"I, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black wish entrance to the marvelous and wonderful school."

"Now, no need to get carried away there, young man! Flattery doesn't work on us, it is only because you were expected that you are allowed to pass through these enchanted gates." And with that the gates swung silently open and the boar stilled back into a statue.

The two handsome men walked through the ancient gates and headed up the unpaved road that led to the entrance of Hogwarts.