Apprehensively, Remus looked around the busy platform. Students dashed past, or stood in groups talking about their holidays, but he could not see Harry anywhere. Perhaps he would not see him until classes began, and he could blend into his classmates a little. At least that was the hope. His heart sank the next second however; clearly standing out from a sea of redheads came an all too familiar sight. Harry was laughing and talking to one of the boys and a bushy haired girl, completely at ease. Remus leapt onto the train and into the first empty compartment he could find, heart pounding wildly. It was true; Harry did look exactly like his father. Quickly Remus stowed his suitcase and sat down, trying to appear calmer than he felt. Just as he closed his eyes to calm himself, he heard voices outside the compartment.
"Hey Harry, everywhere else is full, but there is only one person in this one…hope he doesn't mind sharing. Come on," a girl's voice was saying.
Frozen in shock for a brief second, Remus did the only thing he could under the circumstances; feign sleep.
'Stupid! Stupid!' Remus thought berating himself, but it was too late to try any other tactic.
"Who's that, d'yer reckon?" A boy's voice asked.
"Professor R.J Lupin," the girl answered stiffly.
"Blimey, do you know everything?" the boy replied incredulously.
'It's written on his suitcase, Ronald," she sounded amused, and another boy laughed.
The sound, rich and full, seemed like an echo through time. It was not that long ago that James had laughed like that, at Peter. He listened to their innocent conversion, wincing when Harry mentioned that he thought Sirius Black was after him. As far as he knew, no one had ever told Harry that Sirius Black was his godfather and parent's trusted friend. He had no idea what had caused his parents to be targeted by Voldemort. It was not Remus' place to tell him either; Harry could be content without that knowledge. Even if it ever came to that, someone close to Harry could tell him; his Aunt or Dumbledore perhaps. He had no part in Harry's life, and that was from choice rather than orders. Since the day the Potters died, he had been haunted with guilt.
As the day wore on, Remus found it harder and harder to merely feign sleep; he was tired from his lack of sleep the night before. He did not realize when his sham became reality and he fell asleep.
He awoke terrified and instinctively pulled his wand from his pocket. He knew this feeling; it was utterly familiar.
"Quiet!" he said over the babble of the students in his carriage. "Lumos!"
The dementors were searching the train, just as Dumbledore said they might. Harry was collapsed beside him, and a red haired girl looked close to fainting.
Remus sent his Patronus against the dementor outside, vanquishing it. As he turned, Harry was coming around.
"Who screamed?" gasped Harry, hand searching for his glasses.
"No one screamed, Harry," The bushy haired girl was beside him, looking worried.
"I heard a woman scream," Harry insisted.
Feeling sick, Remus began handing out chocolate.
"Here, eat this. It helps. I'm going up front for a word with the driver,"
As he made his way up the train, handing out chocolate occasionally and reassuring students, Remus mentally cursed his stupidity in falling asleep. Dumbledore had placed his trust in him, and he had failed miserably. This was not proving to be the start of term he hoped for.
"Yes, Headmaster. Harry had an adverse reaction to the dementors as expected. I believe…" Remus paused, glancing significantly at Severus, who was also in the room.
"I believe he heard Lily die,"
"The boy was far too young to remember anything like that," interrupted Severus, whose face had gone rigid.
"On the contrary, Severus, I believe Harry does have memories of that night. He has been complaining of strange nightmares for years. There is no doubt he has some residual memories,"
Severus' face seemed more pale than usual, and he could not bring himself to refute the Headmaster.
"Remus," Albus said turning to the other man. "I want to thank you for timely handling of this incident. Evidently, it was not easy for you,"
Remus blushed a brilliant scarlet.
"I was asleep when the dementors entered the train," he admitted.
Severus glared at him.
"All you had to do was stay awake, Lupin, and you could not even manage that," he sneered.
"I did not sleep well last night. Being back at Hogwarts is not as I expected. I make no excuses however; I should not have fallen asleep,"
Albus was staring at him intently, but Severus seemed to find any area Remus was in beneath his notice.
"I should go and review my boggart lesson before I….err…teach it," Remus said, excusing himself.
After he left, Severus rounded on Albus.
"Why is he teaching here, Albus? Do you forget we have a mass murderer on the run, most likely heading straight for Hogwarts, and you hire his old best friend? He is not to be trusted," Severus said bluntly.
"He is an expert in defensive magic, and I do not think he is a traitor. He is also an innovative and patient teacher," Albus replied serenely.
"And I am not?" Severus snarled.
"Not with inexperienced first years, I am afraid. Remus is firm yet approachable," Dumbledore answered.
With the mood he was in, Severus did not want to hear about Remus' firmness. At the mere thought he blushed red and turned away before Albus could notice it. The last thing he wanted was the fact he thought the DADA teacher was attractive broadcast over the school. Even if he did look sexy in tight jeans and shabby jumpers…MERLIN! He was not going to have these thoughts in front of Dumbledore, a skilled Legilems. With a muttered excuse, Severus fled the room, leaving Albus to chuckle over his parting sentence.
"I'm going to be checking out Remus Lupin this year, Albus, so watch out!"