From the author: This story is set two years after the war has ended. Remus Lupin did not die during the final battle, and is now a grieving widower, once again teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Hermione has accepted the Transfiguration job, as Professor McGonagall is now the headmistress.

I have never written a Harry Potter fan-fiction before, or least never finished one and posted it. And Hermione has never been a main character, as I prefer to dwell more in the Marauder era, so this is really my first attempt writing her.

Remus Lupin, however, is just behind Sirius Black as my favorite character in the entire series. I always delight in getting to explore him, extend him and bring him more into the limelight, as I'm afraid he never got enough recognition in the original books.

Little Teddy will appear in later chapters. He's staying with his grandmother Andromeda while Remus is teaching.

I do not own the series, or any of the characters, as I'm sure you all are entirely aware.

Remus Lupin's eyes swept wearily over the familiar office. He sat behind his large oak desk, slumping slightly in his chair. Running pale, long fingers through his coarse hair, he sighed heavily. He felt as though he had come home from a very long journey to a place that could never again quite be how he'd always remembered it. There was something different in the air at Hogwarts, a slightly somber tone. So many had lost those they loved in the Great War—he closed his eyes painfully. He knew all too well. Standing, he walked to the large windows on the opposite wall and swept the curtains aside, staring down onto the grounds. He could almost see them as he'd seen them that night, the cries and flashes of light in the dark.

"Where is Nymphadora?" he shouted as Kingsley darted past him in pursuit of a hulking Death Eater unidentifiable in the darkness.

"She's fighting inside the castle," Kingsley had answered, calling over his shoulder before he was out of earshot. "She's a big girl, she can take care of herself, Remus."

Turning on his heel, he had shoved his way past bodies friend or foe, he didn't stop to check. He tore across the grounds, something frantic leaping in his chest.

He was startled from his reverie by a timid knocking at his door.

"Yes?" he called and Hermione appeared in the doorway, smiling brightly at him. He willed the corners of his mouth to turn up tightly in a small smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "Professor Granger," he said in what he hoped was a cheerful voice. "All settled in?"

"I've only just managed to get my trunk unpacked and all my lesson plans together for tomorrow." He gestured to the set of chairs near the window and she sank gratefully into one, while he poured two glasses of elf-made wine and handed one to her. She swirled the crimson drink in the glass before sipping at it.

"It's okay to be nervous," he said quietly, watching her. She looked up quickly, as though to deny it, and then ran a hand over her thick curls.

"I have no idea what I'm doing," she admitted. "I've seen it all done; I've witnessed every teaching method you might imagine. I've spent more than half my life in a classroom but I've never been the one…" she faltered, gazing out the window.

"I felt similar when I first came to Hogwarts to teach," he said, lifting his glass to his lips and tasting the sweetness against his tongue. "Everyone's scared their first time. You just have to go in there and act like you know what you're doing, and pray no one figures out you're clueless." She laughed quietly and leaned more comfortably back in her chair, crossing her legs at the knee.

"How is Harry?" he asked and she smiled into her glass.

"He's quite well, you know, madly in love, happily married."

"I hear he's working for the Ministry as an auror."

She sighed. "Well, he's thinking about it. Of course, it's a difficult thing to consider, knowing what we know about the way things are run there. But Professor McGonagall seems to think they've changed their tune."

"There will always be traces of darkness and corruption in politics," he stated, setting his nearly empty wine glass on the table between them. "I think all we can do now is get as many of the good guys in there as we can and try to maintain control over the situation."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall said the same. The world is in a vulnerable place these days; with Voldemort gone there's the room for a new power of evil to move in, but there's also a chance for us all to live in harmony." Lupin nodded.

"How's Teddy?" asked Hermione with a smile, changing the heavy subject before it brought them both down. The first genuine smile she'd seen from him in some time crossed his face as he thought about his son.

"He's staying with Andromeda over the school year. He was rather upset with me for leaving him there. He loves his grandmother, of course, but I'm afraid he's beginning to show signs of separation anxiety." A frown creased Lupin's forehead and Hermione reached out to place a comforting hand on his knee. He sighed. "Sometimes I think he remembers her, but others I'm not so sure…"

He couldn't stop the words from spilling out. He'd been holding in so much grief and pain and worry. As Hermione gazed at him with those sad, brown eyes he heard himself talking about Nymphadora more than he had since her death.

"She used to sing him this lullaby," he said in a hoarse voice. "And I still sing it to him some nights, when he won't go to sleep. It always calms him down." There was tightness in his throat. "He's so like her—his hair color changes with his mood. I haven't figured out whether or not he has control of it yet. I suspect he does."

"He's going to be a very smart wizard," said Hermione. Lupin laid his hand over hers and closed his eyes briefly.

"I'm sorry to be burdening you with my own trials, Hermione," he apologized quietly and she watched him.

"You are not burdening me. We've all been worried about you for some time. There are things you need to talk about, and you've been so reserved."

Pulling himself together, he cleared his throat. He hated that they'd discussed him, worried over him, talked about what was best for him.

Standing he held his hand out for her glass.

"More wine?" he asked but she shook her head and he took both goblets, casting a cleaning charm before putting them away.

"I have to get ready for tomorrow," he said and she nodded, standing quickly.

"Oh, certainly," she said, but her eyes still searched his. "I'll see you at dinner then