Anything recognizable is the property of J.K. Rowling. I do not make any claim to ownership, nor do I make any money from this.

Please do not read if you are not of legal age in your country. There are adult scenes, however short and to the point.

Afflictions

Remus Lupin lifted his case onto the rack near the ceiling and wedged himself into the corner by the window. It had been 21 years since he had ridden the train to Hogwarts, but he still remembered exactly which compartment he always rode in with his best friends. He pulled his thin cloak closer around his shoulders and watched the students beginning to arrive on the platform. However, the excitement of returning to the castle as a professor wasn't enough to keep him awake.

The effects of the full moon on the previous night made him sleep deeply despite the hustle of students outside the compartment. Even when the door opened and 3 teens entered, he didn't stir. Nor did the whistle and jerk of the train starting reach his sleeping mind. For the first time in years, he dreamed of a figure with large black wings and a midnight black cloak.

Lupin would have slept through the train grinding to a halt before reaching Hogwarts and the temperature dropping drastically if it hadn't been for a gentle tickle on his brow, like a feather being drawn across his skin. His eyes shot open and quickly took in the other members of the compartment. For a brief moment, the professor thought he saw huge black wings, arched high in the cramped compartment as the Dementor tasted the air. But as soon as he blinked, there was nothing in the frigid air but their steaming breath. Casting the Patronus charm quickly sapped his remaining strength, but the Dementor fled.

He was unnerved by the effect of the prison guard and meeting his best friend's son, and he soon made an excuse to exit the compartment. What bothered him most about the encounter, however, was being faced with something out of his dreams. As Lupin made his way towards the conductor's box, he pushed it out of his mind as a trick of the light.

Hours later, once everyone had made their way into the Great Hall, he surveyed the sea of students in black robes. He easily spotted Harry and the Weasleys surrounding him, but his eyes almost swept past the brunette girl next to him. Harry was obviously talking to a blond Slytherin who was miming a fainting spell when the girl grabbed Potter's shoulder and turned him back towards their table. Great black wings seemed to sprout out of her shoulders and flare wide before settling around Harry as if protecting him.

Remus blinked and the feathery appendages vanished. He shook his head to clear it, sure he was imagining things. The new professor almost missed the headmaster introducing him to the staff and students, but he stood and bowed cordially before looking towards the Gryffindor table again. So engrossed was he in the third year group, he completely missed Severus Snape glowering from his right.

From the first night back in the castle, he watched the young brunette closely. Usually there was no sign of her ethereal wings, but when she was angry or felt threatened, he caught sight of them. No one else ever seemed to notice when it happened, especially her closest friends, Ron and Harry. The professor knew he couldn't really be imagining it, but the hours he spent pouring over books in his office did not reveal anything about the third year's mysterious wings.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder as she left the castle with Harry and Ron. She had the feeling that she was being watched, had felt eyes on her almost constantly since the welcoming feast. Only, she never saw who it was. Ignoring the feeling of eyes boring into her back, she shrugged her jumper up closer around her neck and followed Ron and Harry.

Remus leaned against the balcony and watched the trio cross the courtyard. The cold stung his face and made his joints ache, but he remained motionless until they were out of sight. An aged hand settled next to his own and the professor glanced at the headmaster.

"Good evening Sir."

"Remus." Dumbledore nodded before looking after the three Gryffindors. "You've been watching them closely."

"Harry just reminds me so much of James."

"And Miss Granger?"

"Sir?"

"It's not Mr Potter that you've been really watching, is it?"

Lupin looked away. "No Sir."

"You can see a change in her when she's upset, can't you?"

"What is she?" He was nervous as he voiced the question that had been bouncing around his head for months.

"A seraph."

"I've never heard of them before."

"Not many have. They are extremely rare, but very powerful."

"Does she know?"

"Miss Granger is unaware of her full role in coming events."

"How do you mean?"

"Seraphs are guardians of a sort. She will always place herself in harms way without a second thought."

"I dreamed of her." The younger wizard looked over at the headmaster. "When I was young."

"That is interesting."

It looked as if Dumbledore wanted to say more, but he remained silent before leaving the balcony. The sun was quickly lowering in the sky and Lupin returned to his office, reminding himself to look up more about Seraphs.

That night turned into a wild blur for the professor. He flipped open the map of Hogwarts and scanned its pages before spotting the name Peter Pettigrew very close to Ron Weasley and Sirius Black. He sprinted for the Whomping Willow after the teens and burst into the Shrieking Shack. He spelled open the door and hurdled through it, quickly taking in Ron's injury and Harry pointing his wand at Sirius Black's chest.

From there, he remembered Hermione spreading her wings wide, protecting Harry and Ron when Snape appeared in the room. Lupin had vague flashes of leaving the Shrieking Shack and transforming, approaching the teens and then Snape getting in his way. Last thing he remembered was loping through the forest towards something, but he wasn't sure what. He just had the impression of huge black wings between the trees.

Morning brought clarity as he brushed leaves and dirt from his battered body and as the memories of the night before washed over him, Lupin cringed. He wracked his brain for any sign that he had hurt anyone, but came up empty. Thankful for small blessings, he made his way back to the castle and prepared himself to deal with the consequences of his forgetfulness.

In the end, it was easier to say goodbye to Harry than he had thought. Remus was soon on his way to the carriage waiting for him at the end of the drive but he stopped halfway across the courtyard and looked back. On the balcony he had watched the trio from the previous evening stood a lone figure. For a moment the former professor assumed it was only a curious teacher watching his departure and then he saw a pair of wings stretch open on either side of the figure. Hermione watched the older man limp across the courtyard and disappear across the grounds.

The train rocked side to side as he stared at the parchment in his lap. Words did not come to him as he fingered his quill but he could not leave things the way they were between him and the brunette Gryffindor. She had been so devastated when he had embraced Sirius Black like a brother, so clearly affected by his apparent betrayal. And even though she eventually understood, he knew it wasn't quite enough.

Miss Granger,

I wish to apologize for the events of last evening. You truly are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met and I do not deserve the confidence you put in me. It was never my intention for anyone else to know about my furry little problem and I thank you for your discretion through the year. It was a pleasure to be your teacher and I look forward to seeing what you can do.

Yours,
R.J. Lupin

It wasn't what he truly wanted to say, but it was an adequate olive branch considering he wasn't sure he would ever see the vivacious witch again. Remus tucked the letter into his cloak pocket and leaned back in his seat. As much as he wished for the opportunity to converse at length with the brunette, he quite looked forward to seeing his old friend, Sirius Black again.

Hermione wasn't expecting the owl that showed up on her windowsill the day after returning to her parents house. And she was even more surprised to find the letter was from her former professor. She stared at the piece of parchment, trying to decide if she should open it or throw it out and pretend it had never arrived.

The brunette was still conflicted about the whole event prior to the end of term. She quite liked Professor Lupin. His classes were always exciting and informative. But the fact that he missed a few days a month because of his 'furry little problem' still bothered the Gryffindor.

And despite hearing the full story from Lupin and Black, she wasn't quite ready to pretend everything was alright. The way that Harry trusted Sirius Black implicitly the moment Peter Pettigrew was revealed and was ready to move in with his godfather an hour later left a slightly nauseous feeling in Hermione's stomach. She couldn't blame him for wanting to get away from his muggle family, but it all seemed too strange, even in the wizarding world.

Suddenly, the Gryffindor realized she still held the letter in her hands and broke the seal before she could have second thoughts. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but the letter was short and apologetic. The older man didn't attempt to explain or make excuses for the events of that year, and it made her feel slightly better. Lupin could have left it all the way it was, but he took the chance to apologize even though it was likely they would never meet again. Smiling, she put the letter on her desk and joined her parents downstairs for dinner.