Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it. Don't really own my OC either, she seems to have a mind of her own as well.
A/N: Spoilers for Book Five!! Please don't continue unless you have read it or don't care if its spoiled for you!! :P Just ram this right on the end of OotP, its set up only hours after the book ends. And on a completely different note, MAJOR props to Rowling for the Snape character development in Bk. 5. I'm totally thrilled.
A/N 2: Lycurgus is the latinized form of an Ancient Greek name. Means "deed of a wolf" from Greek lycou "of a wolf" and ergon "deed, work". (www.behindthename.com)
~*Lycurgus*~
Chapter 1: Starting Over
Remus Lupin collapsed in a squishy armchair in front of the fire in Headmaster Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He felt as if a dragon had been sleeping on his already not-in-perfect-health-body for a year.
Sirius was dead. Dead. Remus let his had fall into his hands as he waited for the appearance of Dumbledore.
Dead. Remus winced and let out a shuddering sigh.
It was only hours after he, Tonks, and Mad-Eye had given Harry their last goodbyes and given the Dursleys a friendly warning. Now alone, slumped in a chair in Dumbledore's office, the truth was really starting to hit him. At least when Harry was still at school and in the days after the incident at the Ministry there was enough hustle and bustle going on to keep his mind off of things. But now...
Remus didn't get out his second sigh before Dumbledore walked gracefully out of the fireplace, leaving behind swirling green flames.
Without a word he sat dawn at his desk, folding his hands onto the smooth wood surface and looking at Remus with eyes of pure compassion and sympathy.
Remus winced at that as well, not really wishing to get a pity lecture right now from the older wizard. What he really wanted to do was go to sleep. For a couple months.
"I have arranged a room for you off of the Gryffindor Common Room, behind the portrait of Godric and his sword. The password is Pumpkin Pasties." Dumbledore smiled softly at Remus, who just nodded.
After the death of his best friend, Remus could no longer stand to be in that house on Grimmauld Place, even if much of it was the antithesis of who Sirius really was. Besides, his work would be no easier to do from the castle than from the Order's Headquarters.
"Thank you, Albus." He said softly, looking into his lap.
"Of course." The Headmaster said, voice soft and comforting. "Is there anything else I can do for you Remus? Anything at all?"
Remus looked up and shook his head, eyes rather devoid of feeling. He didn't want to be alone, but who else was he supposed to turn to?
He stood and made his way for the door out of the office. His hand was on the knob when Dumbledore called to him once more.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. There is a new caretaker for the library as Madam Pince has taken a well needed vacation from those musty old tomes. Perhaps you should go up and visit her sometime?" Dumbledore's voice ended in a rather hopeful twinkle of a question.
Remus looked over his shoulder, raised a thin eyebrow, and nodded once before continuing out and down towards his new home.