The Remus Lupin Files Chapter 2: A Fateful Encounter, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter Summary: Takes place sometime in late spring of 1994 (PoA).

Remus Lupin said the new password to the gargoyle and entered Dumbledore's office right after the end of dinner. He passed the time eyeing all the curious objects lying on the shelves, but careful not to touch any of them, just in case. He had been in here several times before as a student, being something of a personal protege of Dumbledore, and recognized several of the objects; but he also noticed many that were new.

Finally he gave in and sat down to await Dumbledore's return. He was here because in class today, Hermione had asked him if he would set aside a period to talk about his experiences in the Order of the Phoenix and answer students' questions. Somewhat taken aback, he had told her that it sounded like an excellent idea to him - after all, it was a personal story that was highly relevant to the class - but he would have to ask Dumbledore first, as the headmaster might wish certain things to remain confidential. It was no secret that Lupin as well as other Hogwarts staff members had been in the Order; but he nevertheless worried about what would happen if things he said to a class full of Gryffindors found their way to Slytherin ears, and he was sure Dumbledore would worry too. Not that the Gryffindors and Slytherins talked to each other if they could help it, but Lupin knew better than to trust a roomful of thirteen-year-olds to keep a secret; and it just didn't seem fair to exclude members of one House from valuable knowledge because of perceived untrustworthiness. Yet it was rumored that Voldemort was still out there, that he was trying to regain his body and make a comeback with a new army of Death Eaters, many of whom would be parents of Slytherin students. If the rumors were true, hearing some of the techniques used by the Order would be far more important than learning how to tackle Dark creatures like grindylows.

"Remus Lupin," said the Sorting Hat smoothly, causing the young professor to jump in surprise. "Ah yes, I remember you. You were particularly difficult... but I believe I made the right decision."

"Is it your custom to comment on the Sorting of every current or former Hogwarts student who ever comes in here?" asked Lupin irritably, looking up at the hat resting on the lowest shelf. He remembered his Sorting with a cringe of embarrassment; he had been under the Hat almost a minute, which had felt like an eternity. It wasn't normal to take so long. Nothing about him was normal. It had been bad enough that he was going to school where he had to constantly live in fear of his condition being discovered; he did not need to be the subject of so much unwanted attention right away. He had hoped to just lay low, and hated how everyone had stared at him waiting for him to get on. He had wanted to disappear into any of the tables; he hadn't cared which one. Now, twenty-two years later, he still had the uncomfortable feeling that the hat could see into him, even though he hadn't put it on. He supposed he should be grateful to it, for had he not been in Gryffindor, he might not have befriended the Marauders, and his life would be completely different. For better or for worse... well, the jury was still out on that.

"Why yes, it is," said the hat matter-of-factly. "With you, I couldn't resist. In fact, that Potter boy came in here just last year. I told him he would have done well in Slytherin, but he didn't seem to believe me. Bright lad, that one, lots of potential, but sometimes I think that it goes to waste in Gryffindor. On the other hand, both his parents were in Gryffindor, while the wizard who killed them was in Slytherin, so I suppose there was never really any doubt where he would be. And then when he drew Gryffindor's sword from me that June, well, you know the legend - only a true Gryffindor can draw that sword - it doesn't seem entirely fair to me, but I didn't make the rule... "

"If you don't mind," said Lupin, trying to conceal his impatience, "I'm waiting for Dumbledore to return from dinner so we can have a meeting."

"Dumbledore speaks very highly of you," the hat remarked. "Your bravery in the Order caused him to finally see you as an adult. It took a great deal of courage to become the Defense teacher here, when everyone says the job is jinxed. Did it not?"

"Only physical things can be jinxed," said Lupin, eyeing the books on the shelves. "Something metaphysical like a job, no."

The hat smiled wryly. "Ah, well, I suppose you would know. So you don't believe the rumors? Despite the evidence of all the Defense teachers who came before you since 1955?"

"I don't particularly care if something horrible happens to me or not," Lupin said honestly. "Just being back here has made me the happiest I've been since the war ended."

"That is not bravery, that is simply recklessness," said the hat. Lupin looked away; he clearly couldn't have cared less what the hat had to say about his actions.

"Yes, you were a challenge," the hat continued, as if Lupin had not spoken the whole time. "I remember it like it was yesterday. I was very close to putting you in Ravenclaw, and I even briefly considered Hufflepuff... the only House I could rule out immediately was Slytherin. A Slytherin would have taken advantage of his condition, joined his fellow werewolves instead of trying to fit into a community that shunned him. But you despised your condition and sought to work against it. Admirable, taking the path of greatest resistance. Yet, your friends were much easier. Even Peter was much easier."

At this, Lupin finally showed some interest. This was the first he had heard about his friends since he arrived; everyone else seemed to abide by the unspoken rule that they must not mention the Marauders in Lupin's presence. He raised an eyebrow and stared quizzically up at the hat. "What do you mean, 'even' Peter?" he asked. "Don't you know that he died a hero's death?"

The hat chuckled wryly. "I highly doubt that," it said. "With James there was no question, and Sirius absolutely insisted that he be placed as far away from his family as possible. But Peter - well, he practically begged to be in Gryffindor. It was no use trying to refuse him."

"Why didn't you put Sirius in Slytherin?" Lupin demanded, ignoring this jibe against Peter for the moment. "Why didn't you put him with the rest of his rotten blood-supremacist family?"

"I told you already," said the hat patiently. "He simply would not hear of being in Slytherin. Although he certainly was cunning - and as you know, had a strong disregard for the rules - his bravery and fierce loyalty to his friends were what defined him the most. So, Gryffindor it was."

"'Fierce loyalty to his friends'?" Lupin scoffed drily. "I think you must have missed something."

"I have never been wrong, Lupin," said the hat firmly.

"Didn't you know that dementors are surrounding the school, to guard it?" asked Lupin harshly. "Guarding it from Sirius Black, an escaped convict from Azkaban! Dumbledore hired me, in part, because Sirius used to be my friend and I knew his methods, so I would be able to better protect the school from him if he somehow managed to get past the dementors."

"I was aware of the dementors, yes," the hat said. "I know of virtually everything that goes on at Hogwarts, thanks to Dumbledore. I know that Dumbledore resents their presence, that he thinks the Ministry is wrong to trust them with this vital task. And I can tell you, Lupin - " the hat lowered its voice - "that Dumbledore is not convinced of Sirius' guilt in the crime of which he was convicted."

"And what about Peter?" Lupin asked confusedly, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, his trust in Dumbledore battling his own long-held assumptions. "I don't see how he could have been anything but a Gryffindor. He became an Animagus for me - I think that's pretty damn brave. And later on, he died trying to stand up to that dirty traitor Sirius before he killed him and took all those Muggles with him. And if Dumbledore thinks otherwise - " he swallowed hard - "then Dumbledore is wrong."

"Your loyalty to your friend is admirable, but I fear not entirely reciprocated," the hat said. "As I hinted before, had Peter not expressed a preference for Gryffindor, my inclination would have been to put him in Slytherin. You see, he was a very nervous, insecure boy - "

"Of course he was nervous," Lupin interjected. "He was an eleven-year-old boy attending school for the first time. Being nervous doesn't make you cowardly."

"No, of course not," said the hat. "You were quite nervous too, I remember, and for good reason. But you didn't let me finish. Peter wanted to be surrounded by those he thought would protect him. He was afraid that the Slytherins would have bullied him, and I expect he was right. His strongest instinct was self-preservation, a very Slytherin inclination."

"Well, he grew out of that phase, obviously," said Lupin defensively. "He tried to make sure that Sirius was caught and punished, and Sirius killed him for it. He died for James and Lily."

"You forget, Remus, that I can see potential as well as present characteristics," the hat said. "In Peter I saw no capacity for bravery at all. I know it sounds harsh, but it's true. He simply latched on to whoever he thought would help him stay alive, not caring if they themselves did or not. I saw this clearly in his friendship with you so-called 'Marauders', a friendship which you largely initiated. I can only venture a guess that when he realized the Order was no longer the most powerful confederation of wizards, he quickly changed his affiliation to avoid the torture and death he knew Voldemort would inflict upon him."

"Why are you telling me this?" Lupin asked, just to buy some time.

"It is my obligation to tell the truth to anyone my master deems worthy," the hat said simply.

"But it was all over the Daily Prophet," Lupin protested, sinking down into a chair. "The murder... the Muggle witnesses... there's no way he could still be alive." Suddenly he gasped in horror. "Unless... "

Lupin's eyes widened with realization, closely followed by incredulity, and the sudden knowledge that he would have to reassess everything he thought he knew about his friends. He held his face in his hands. "Oh, Merlin, this is all my fault," he whispered to himself. "All this time Sirius has been in this hell on earth, and I blamed him for it! I've been a terrible friend, I can't believe I was so foolish... I have to make this right! I have to go!"

Lupin knew exactly what he had to do. There was only one object in the world that could tell him if the hat's implications were correct, and it was in a drawer inside his desk back in his office. He had to go. Now.

When Dumbledore returned up the spiral staircase to his office, he saw Lupin breezing past him at top speed. "My boy, the full moon is not due quite yet," he said calmly. "Your potion can wait, and besides, Professor Snape is preoccupied at the moment."

Lupin briefly considered whether he should stop and explain everything to Dumbledore, who, after all, would know what to do. But he needed time alone, time to think about whether the hat was to be believed and he had had it wrong, backwards, this whole time. So he kept running, until he reached his office. On his way down, he thought he saw a knowing twinkle in Dumbledore's eye. But he supposed it was just an illusion.