Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine…yadayada….belongs to J.K. Rowling….blahblahblah….don't sue me.
Chapter 3
To Know More
Harry slipped into the feast unnoticed while the sorting was going on. He slipped into an empty seat by Ron and Hermione. They gave him questioning looks but he mouthed that he would tell them later.
They all watched the rest of the sorting clapping whenever someone was sorted into Gryffindor.
Harry stared into space occasionally thinking of the meeting he had had with Professor Lupin. He seemed nice. It would be really nice to hear about his parents. All he had ever been told was that his parents were drunks who died in a car crash. That was clearly wrong.
Now he knew that they were magical, and that they were Hogwarts students good at charms and transfiguration. He knew what they looked like too, but still, he had a longing within him, to know more. To know more is all he wanted. So then, when he imagined his parents and himself it would seem proper. So it would seem right. It seemed to good to be true that Professor Lupin had been friends with his parents. The closest person to his parents that he had ever met was his aunt and uncle. It wasn't like he could go ask them what his dad's favorite color had been or whether or not his mum liked flying. The little things that mattered.
He stopped his musings when Ron elbowed him. He flinched without meaning to.
"What?" he questioned.
"Lost you there for a minute, mate. What did Lupin want?" Ron said with food in his mouth.
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh at Ron's manners… or lack thereof.
Harry glanced over, "Sorry," he apologized. "He wanted Pomfrey to look me over because of the dementors, and he wanted to talk to me about some stuff."
"Are you okay? You don't need to go to the hospital wing do you?" Hermione babbled.
"'Mione, I'm fine. Really."
"So what else did he really want to talk to you about?" Ron questioned curiously.
"He… he knew my parents. He wanted to know if I'd like to hear about them from him," Harry said with a soft smile.
Hermione gave a quiet squeal. "That's so sweet. Isn't that great Harry?" she said hugging him.
Harry started slightly and then smiled. "Yeah, it's great. Professor Lupin seems nice."
The next morning Harry and Ron rose from the dorm rooms. They scrambled off the DADA. It was their first lesson of the year and they were excited. DADA would be their favorite subject if they had a competent professor for once.
They met with Hermione in the common room and ran off to the third floor for their lesson. [A/N, I have no idea where the classroom actually is, so just pretend that's where it is. They entered the room and sat in the second row. All the students pulled out their books and quills as Professor Lupin entered the room.
"Hello class. My name is Professor Lupin and I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. This year we will be studying various dark creatures," he continued. "Any questions?"
And so the lesson went on. He told them about different dark creatures and touched briefly on what they would be learning throughout the year. They read the first chapter of the book and Professor Lupin assigned an essay for homework. He promised they would do some practical work soon, before dismissing them.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry walked into the hallway with the rest of the Gryffindors all chattering excitedly about the lesson they had just had. They may not have done any practical work yet, but it was still the best lesson they had ever had in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lockhart had been a complete git, teaching them his personal (fake) life story. Professor Quirrel [A/N Sorry I think I spelt his name wrong had been okay, but he was so nervous, so his classes had been average. Plus there was the unfortunate trait of having Lord Voldermort sticking out of the back of his head. Oh yes, Professor Lupin was a much better professor indeed.
The next week or so of school was average. Every day they went to lessons. They were tortured by Snape in Potions. They had fun lessons in Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, and all the other classes.
Harry was pleased because his injuries from the previous summer had been healing well beneath the glamours. He could once more breathe regularly, and when he took on the glamours in privacy, he could see the diminishment of the bruises. The only concerning part were the scars on his back from his uncle's belt. They just weren't healing on their own. It wouldn't be that big of a deal were it not for the fact that they had been spotted. Harry remembered the night clearly.
He had been changing in the dorm room when Neville suddenly walked in. Unfortunately for him, Neville walked in while his belt lashed back was still exposed.
"Harry?" Neville said pointing to his back with a shocked expression on his plump face.
Harry felt his heart beat increase dramatically, but he played it cool. "Yes?"
"Harry, what are those from?"
"Oh, I got into an accident over the summer. Fell into a glass table, I'm such a klutz. Been healing up nicely though, right?"
Neville hesitated, but then seemed to accept his explanation. "Shouldn't you go to Madam Pomfrey so she can heal them?"
Harry smiled inwardly at the quick acceptance. "Neville, you of all people know I spend way to much time in the infirmary. They're nearly healed by now, but if I went into the hospital wing, she'd hold me hostage for ages." He chuckled.
Neville seemed concerned, but said "If you say so Harry," nonetheless.
Truth be told, that close call had scared him immensely. He wasn't exactly sure why he had lied, expect, they are his family. The Dursley's that is. The only family he ever had. Sure they beat him, but it wasn't that bad. If the truth got out, it would be terrible. The entire wizarding world would know he couldn't stand up to a muggle. His last living family would hate him…even more. He would have to go to an orphanage. He supposed the Weasley's would want to take him in, but they already had a huge person family. They didn't have room. It wasn't like he was family in need. He was just their kid's stupid friend.
The next morning at breakfast, he stumbled in late. He had had a long night filled with nightmares involving his uncle, a belt, and a whole lot of booze. Enough said.
He walked over to Gryffindor table and sat with a yawn next to Ron and Hermione. Neville, on the other side of the table, gave him a weary look, remembering their last encounter, but smiled anyway. Ron immediately began to talk about the first Hogsmede trip of the year. Apparently, it had been announced early this morning.
Harry was groaning at Ron's behavior.
Hermione seemed to pick up on attitude, because she motioned to Ron to be quiet.
"Harry…?" she encouraged him to speak up.
"I didn't get permission to go. Sorry you guys," he said. Truth be told, he hadn't even asked. To request to have a form signed for his (GASP) magic school would have been near sin in the Dursley's house. When he got the notice and permission slip with his form, he had groaned that he wouldn't be able to go, but had thrown the paper in the trash. No point in whining over the what ifs… right?
Ron on the other hand was gapping at him. "You can't go???"
Harry sadly shook his head.
"But, Harry, you HAVE to go there's going to be- oof" Ron said.
Hermione interrupted him, smacking him over the head. "Ronald, don't make him feel bad!!!"
Hermione turned to Harry smiling sympathetically. "It's absolutely terrible that you can't go Harry, but we'll be sure to buy you some stuff."
"Thanks 'Mione. I figure I might visit Professor Lupin while you all are off. He did say he'd like talking to me," 'I wonder why?' Harry replied.
So, that is what he did. As Ron and Hermione headed off for a day of fun, he wandered off to Professor Lupin's office. He felt rather stupid, but he had offered. So that must mean it was okay.
Nevertheless, he stood in front of the office door hesitant to knock. It seemed his presence was noted, because suddenly Professor Lupin came up from behind him.
"Hello, Harry. I was just coming back from the library," he said kindly, while thinking, 'liar! you were getting Wolfsbane from Severus.'
Harry seemed to be debating something with himself, so Remus nudged, "You wanted to see me."
"Yes, well, I didn't have permission to go to Hogsmede today, so….well….you," he struggled. "YouhadmentionedabouttellingmeaboutmyparentsandIwaswonderingifyoucouldtellme aboutthem?" he said impossibly fast. "I mean, if that's okay?" he said with a hard to describe look in his eyes.
"Harry, come in. I'm free today also, so I'd love to tell you about them," Remus replied gently. 'Why is he so nervous around me?' he wondered.
So, Harry went into the office of the werewolf professor. Remus began to fulfill a gaping hole within Harry as he began to tell him all about his parents.
"I was very close with your father and a boy named Peter by the 1st day. We met on the train," Professor Lupin began, purposefully leaving Sirius out. He had no desire to mislead the boy, but telling him about the betrayal of his parents by his godfather, the recent Azkaban escapee would lead to nothing but heartbreak. So he told a very revised version of the year. The mauraders were 3 students in his imaginary world. It should have been that way in the first place.
Professor Lupin spent many hours telling Harry everything from James's Quidditch success ("He became a seeker in his 2nd year. He was so nervous for the try-outs. Didn't eat almost anything for a week) parents to his parent's relationship. ("Lily couldn't stand James for the longest time. They finally went out in 7th year. He nearly cried when she said yes. He had been asking her out for over 3 years, mind you.)
It was just as the day changed to night that they realized how long they had been there.
"Well, Harry, you should probably get back to your common room now. Ron and Hermione should be returning soon," Professor Lupin said indicating to the clock.
Harry smiled brightly, and replied, "Thanks Professor Lupin. I liked hearing about my parents."
"I enjoyed telling you about them Harry. Didn't your aunt ever tell you about them, though?"
Harry's face paled significantly at the seemingly innocent question however. "Ermm…. A little… but….my aunt is a Muggle you see… and she doesn't know much about my mum's time at Hogwarts," Harry replied, lying poorly. His aunt hadn't told him a little. She hadn't told him anything, unless you count lies.
Remus' face seemed to cloud by the response, but he replied, "That makes sense then. If you ever have any questions about them, come to me."
Harry got up from his seat and went to the door. Before he left however, he said, "Thank you so much Professor Lupin for telling me about my parents. It's nice to know more…." he said letting his thoughts drift off.
[Author's Note Not a very eventful chapter, but I enjoyed writing it. Plus it had a lot of character building I think. I'm dreadfully sorry it took me so long to update, but I had a nasty bit of writer's block. (Must have been the Nargles.) And I wanted the chapter to sound better before I posted it, so I spent an extra week on it. I mostly only type on the weekends though. I'll try and update within the next two weeks. For those of you who are wondering, the boggart scene will either be in the next chapter or the one after that. I haven't decided yet. It depends on what I dream up.
