One.
A/N: Okay, so this is my first ever HP fanfic I've ever written, so apologies if this is OOC in places and if I haven't quite got some bits right. Also, just a quick warning that there might be long periods between updates, as I have two other fics on the go too!
Remus slowly began to make his way down the packed corridor towards his classroom. Crowds of students were flowing past him in all kinds of directions, dressed in their black robes and house coloured ties, wands and books clutched in their hands. He smiled to himself, looking around to admire the sight of the inside of the castle around him as he walked. Nope, this place hasn't changed a bit, he thought to himself cheerfully. It was early evening, so all of the students and teachers were heading down to the hall to get seats at their tables for the welcoming feat and before the sorting began, where afterwards they'd head to their offices and common rooms. Personally, Remus had thought it a good idea to familiarise himself with his surroundings, (not that he really needed it much, he noted to himself) starting off with his office and the classroom that he'd be using to teach in. He'd already got his belongings sorted out in his office, as that was the first place he'd been to after he'd arrived at Hogwarts and been addressed by Dumbledore.
Carefully shifting one half his small pile of belongings that he didn't need in his office from one arm into the other, Remus pulled his wand out of his pocket, pointed it at the doorknob and muttered 'Alohomora'. The door unlocked with a click and Remus quickly slid his wand back into his pocket again. He pushed the door open and stepped inside what was now his classroom, clutching onto his possessions tightly to prevent them from falling out of his grip and onto the floor. He strolled over his desk and put them down, smiling. It felt incredibly weird to him that the very room that he'd taken Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons in when he used to be a student himself, was now his. Everything about the room had only changed the slightest bit, a small remainder of Gilderoy Lockheart's layout left over from when he'd been there in June.
Remus sat down on the chair behind his desk, pulling his wand out again and waving it. His belongings placed themselves in various spots around the room, making him smile even more. Even after all these years, Hogwarts still felt like home to him. As he looked around his classroom, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He could remember the lessons he'd had in here as a student with James, Sirius and Peter. The four of them together seemed to attract trouble like a magnet, and Remus couldn't help but laugh at some of the memories that flooded his brain at that moment. He felt the wave of sadness come over him again, as these memories just reminded him of the painful period after Lily, James and Peter had died. He'd lost three of his best friends that day, and he'd been betrayed by another one. In a way, he was glad that he'd managed to share a carriage with Harry on the train, as he was so similar to his parents that Remus felt as if parts of their spirits were living on in their thirteen year old son.
No, now isn't the time to get all nostalgic, he reminded himself. Sighing deeply, Remus stood up and walked out of the classroom, locking the door behind him. He made his way down the corridors, where students were still heading down to the Great Hall. He walked at a slight distance between a pack of three girls, who were excitedly giggling and chatting, gesturing wildly with their hands, quite clearly talking about what they'd been up to over the summer. The girl in the middle was rather tall, with poker straight, bright blonde hair that hung just below her waist. On her left was a girl who had short, bright red hair, and was about a head shorter than the blonde girl. She was currently speaking, and had a thick Irish accent. The third girl, walking on the blonde haired one's right, was slightly taller than the redhead and had long, shiny dark brown hair. Remus couldn't help laughing silently to himself, as this group of girls reminded him of the jokes that Muggles frequently told about blondes, redheads and brunettes together.
A few seconds later, they reached the double doors that lead them inside the Great Hall. Remus couldn't help but feel nervous, and he tried to neaten himself up a little bit before the girls in front of him pushed the doors open. When the girls had gone inside, Remus pushed the doors open himself and stepped into the Great Hall, slightly surprised that each of the long tables were only just over half filled with students sat in their seats. Nervously, he walked up the aisle in the middle towards the table where the staff were sat. His eyes flickered around the hall, but he couldn't help his attention being caught by that same bright blonde haired girl who had been walking in front of him mere moments ago, who was sat at the Hufflepuff table. Trying to keep a serious, yet friendly expression on his face, he averted his eyes away and eventually reached the staff table. He was greeted firstly by Dumbledore shaking his hand and smiling, then the rest of the staff politely saying their hellos.
Remus sat himself down on the empty chair between Flitwick and Hagrid, relaxing a little bit. Flitwick gave Remus a pleasant smile when he sat down, and they began to happily catch up over what had happened to them over the past seventeen years. There was a moment of sadness between the two men when the subject of Lily and James came up, but the subject was quickly changed. Soon, their conversation was interrupted by the new First Years entering the Great Hall and lining up to be sorted. Both students and teachers fell into a hushed silence as the Sorting Hat was placed on top of the small, wooden stool and all eyes turned to the crowd of incredibly nervous-looking First Years. Moments later, the Hat burst into song. When it had finished, everyone in the hall erupted into applause.
The Sorting then began, and the long line soon dwindled down to a small cluster of new students whose surnames were at the end of the alphabet. Just after the last student had been Sorted, the doors opened again. Almost everyone turned around to get a look at who was late, and Remus wasn't surprised to find that it was Harry Potter and the bushy-haired girl who was sat in the compartment on the train with them, closely followed by Minerva McGonagall. Embarrassed, Harry and the girl sat down at the Gryffindor table next to the youngest of the Weasley boys and Minerva made her way up to the staff table, where she sat down at an empty seat next to Dumbledore.
When everyone seemed to have settled down again, Dumbledore stood up, clearing his throat. 'Welcome!' He exclaimed. 'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you all become befuddled by our excellent feast..' He looked around the hall and cleared his throat again. 'As you all will be aware,' he continued, '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.' He paused for a moment, clearly not very happy about having Dementors on school grounds. 'They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody leaves school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibilty Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors.' Dumbledore paused again, looking around the hall with a serious expression on his face.
'On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.' He smiled. 'Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.' He gestured to Remus, who stood up slightly and smiled at the four tables full of teenagers in front of him. He had a warm, pleasant feeling of happiness in his stomach when he received a small amount of applause, until he turned his head slightly where he saw Severus Snape giving him a look of pure hatred that made Remus' blood run cold. He decided not to give Severus the satisfaction of returning the look, but instead looked away and politely clapped along with everyone else as Dumbledore announced Rubeus Hagrid as the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher.
Thankfully, the food then appeared and everyone tucked in. Even as Remus was eating his own food, he couldn't help his eyes wondering multiple times over to the Hufflepuff table where the blonde-haired girl was sat, deep in conversation with her two friends that she'd been with earlier on. One of them must've seen him looking, as they whispered something to her and she looked up, making eye contact with him. Remus smiled awkwardly at her, before looking away and down at his plate. For some odd reason, he didn't know why he felt so drawn to her.