Author's Note: Thanks for reading. Chapter Five will be posted on Friday.

Chapter Four

Lupin had slept restlessly the night before. After Harry had gone to sleep, Lupin remained awake thinking about how things had gone. He was relieved to see Harry sleeping peacefully under the effects of Pomfrey's potion. Lupin decided to recommend the potion be given nightly. He could not stand to see the teenager looking so worn.

He had hoped that Harry would have opened up to him about Sirius. He could imagine the pain that Harry was in, and to hear him speak of Sirius would have meant more to Lupin than he could have said. With a sigh, he remembered 3 years ago when he had met up with Sirius in the Shrieking Shack. They were both vindicated and had embraced like brothers. What had happened since then?

Lupin's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Harry stirring in the next room. He checked on the time – late morning. Mrs. Figg was out at the store and Lupin wanted a word with the boy before she returned.

Eventually Harry wandered out dressed and looking well-rested. Lupin's eyes however, were drawn to Harry's scar, half-visible beneath his unruly hair. There was something different about it that made it stand out today. Was it darker? Larger? A different hue? Lupin could not say for certain, but was quite concerned. He rose to his feet.

"Oh no Harry! How are you feeling?" He exclaimed.

Harry looked surprised. "I'm fine Professor."

"Your scar – does it hurt very badly?"

Harry put his hand up absently to his forehead. "No," he answered in a puzzled tone. He traced it gingerly with his finger. "In fact it doesn't hurt at all."

Lupin was instantly relieved. "Good. I just thought…well anyway – Did you sleep well?" Had it been his imagination? Lupin tried deliberately to never notice Harry's scar. He wanted to avoid the memories it might bring up. With that in mind, it was possible that the scar had not changed appearance at all. He contemplated asking Harry about it, but decided not to. It would probably frighten Harry and he seemed relatively happy this morning. Lupin startled as he realized that Harry had been speaking to him as he had been considering the matter. He missed most of what Harry said, but caught the last bit – a question.

"So do you think I could take that potion every night?"

"Well clearly you can't take it while you are staying with your relations, but it may not be a bad idea during the school term, if you feel it's helpful."

Harry nodded eagerly.

"Provided its okay with Professor Dumbledore." He qualified. "I'll check with him. I'm glad you got some rest. Lupin's earlier worriment about the scar soon vanished. Harry appeared well, the circles under his eyes lightened.

Harry pushed aside a pile of ginger cuts and slouched on the couch casually inquiring about the whereabouts of Mrs. Figg.

After he answered Harry's question, Lupin drew up a chair and indicated that he wanted to speak with Harry before her return. Harry sat up straight and faced his teacher. Lupin felt apprehensive about talking to the teenager in this context, but had resolved to do it. He started slowly but clearly. "Actually Harry, I wanted to speak to you about this last year. I felt somebody needed to, but I didn't think I had the right to. However, things are a bit different now as you well know. Your godfather is no longer here, nor are your parents, and I feel I have a responsibility to them and to you. I feel I have no right not to speak."

"Did I do something wrong Professor?" Harry asked.

"No Harry…" Lupin started automatically then stopped himself. "I want you to think about how you've been treating people lately, especially the ones that care about you, then maybe you can answer that question for yourself."

Harry did not respond. He kicked the heel of his shoe into the floor.

Lupin hoped he had made an impression. The boy seemed irritated and the last thing Lupin wanted to do was alienate Harry. Yet he knew that if James were alive he would not like the person Harry was growing into. He was relieved when Mrs. Figg came bounding in the door. They said their good-byes and started on the short walk back to the Dursley's.

When they reached Harry's house, Lupin put a hand out to stop him. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small photograph which he presented to Harry. "This was found in the clean up. I saved it for you."

Harry reached out and took the picture. It was a portrait of Sirius Black taken when he was a teenager. He was handsome in the way that Lupin remembered him, before Azkaban. Harry studied it carefully and thanked him.

"I'll be seeing you at Hogwart's soon" Lupin said clasping him on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself." Something drew his gaze away from Harry. Petunia was watching him from inside the screen door. "Harry, why don't you go right upstairs? I need to have a word with your aunt."

Harry looked at him quizzically, but nodded and walked towards the house. When he reached the entrance, he turned and waved with a smile.

Lupin returned the smile weakly. He began to walk slowly towards the doorway. There was nothing he wanted to do less than approach Petunia, but he felt somehow compelled to. It seemed as though the driveway were 100 miles long, as he made his weary way up the path. When he finally reached the door, Petunia did not greet him but stood with her hands on her hips. He looked at the ground miserably.

"Petunia, I just wanted to say – erm – about Sirius – I'm, I'm really sorry."

He hated this. It was if he were back in school. How many times had he had to apologize for Sirius? How many times had he stood in front of some girl – wringing his hands and mumbling awkward apologies in Sirius' wake? Not that Sirius had ever asked him to or ever even thought it necessary. No, it had always been Lupin, watching from the outside and feeling badly about how Sirius had acted – hating to see anyone hurt – as if he were responsible for the way Sirius treated people. As if anyone could have any effect on the way he behaved.

Lupin looked up to see Petunia purse her lips. Her eyes glinted almost imperceptively and she started to shut the door.

"Wait! You do know." Lupin called out – desperate that she know – "he wasn't their secret keeper!"

Petunia paused ever so slightly, said nothing, and slammed the door in Lupin's face.

Stepping back, Lupin looked up to see Harry's head disappearing from the second story window. Lupin felt a responsibility to that boy he had never felt before. He lingered in front of the house for a moment, then softly disappeared, late already for his meeting with Dumbledore.

When he finally reached his Headmaster's office, Dumbledore greeted him cordially. Lupin sat down, suddenly quite weary.

Dumbledore watched him closely. "So how is Harry?"

"He's managing as well as can be expected. I think he'll be better when he gets to school."

"Did you have any problems with his aunt?"

"She wouldn't let me in, but that was not unexpected. She did let me speak to him though. We went down to Arabella's as you may know."

Dumbledore nodded and looked at Lupin intently. "Does he still grieve for Sirius?"

"He's devastated," Lupin answered instantly. He wondered idly if he were speaking more for himself than Harry. "I mean, he's coping, but you can see the toll it's had on him."

Dumbledore moved behind his desk and sat down heavily. "The closest thing to a parent he's ever known. It's a terrible loss. I hate to see him suffer this, especially now."

"I would like to be there for him, like Sirius was." Lupin declared quietly. "I hope he knows that."

"I'm sure he does, Remus" Dumbledore muttered. "So he's looking poorly?"

Here Lupin smiled. "He looks more and more like James every time I see him. But he does look exhausted – he's thinner now." He considered bringing up his scar, but dismissed the idea. There were enough concerns already. "There's a reason he's not sleeping, but I'm worried he's not eating. Arabella fixed us a lovely supper, but Harry barely touched it."

Dumbledore stifled a smile. "Well I'm sure there are reasons for that. Why isn't he sleeping?"

"He's afraid to," Lupin replied sadly. "He thinks Voldemort will force his way into his mind. He did sleep last night when he took Pomfrey's potion. I think he should take it every night."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair tapping his fingers in careful consideration. When he finally spoke, it was hesitantly. "I'm not inclined to think that that is the best course of action at present. Unless I'm mistaken, Harry's best defense is Occlumency. His only hope is to master it. My fear is that he will attempt to use the potion instead of arming his mind against assault."

Lupin got the impression that Dumbledore had another reason that he was keeping to himself. He wondered what it might be, but did not ask about it. Finally Lupin told Dumbledore about the discussion he and Harry had had about the Prophecy.

Dumbledore suddenly looked very old. He put his head wearily in his hands, his long silver hair draping around him like a veil, hiding his face. He sighed deeply. "I hid it from him for fifteen years, Remus. I couldn't keep it from him any longer. He's nearly a man."

Up until now, Lupin had allowed himself to think that Harry was mistaken about the terms of the prophecy as he had been about Dumbledore's motives. All hope of that vanished with the sound of Dumbledore's voice. Sitting numbly in his chair, Lupin stared at the curtain of silver hair – silently willing it to give him some gesture or word that could ease the sinking sensation which now gripped him. But there would be no word of consolation from Dumbledore. He sat unmoving in his chair, silenced Lupin suspected, by his own despair.

Soundlessly, the two men sat absorbed in their own dark thoughts – apart and alone "The moment, may come," thought Lupin. "When I have to deal with the knowledge that all my friend's strife, their losses, their sacrifices, have only led to a future in which Harry must face a terrible fate." But he could not think of that now. He waited for Dumbledore to compose himself. Finally he withdrew his head from his hands.

"The Hall is full of prophecies that have never come to pass, Dumbledore."

"Let's hope this will be another one" Dumbledore responded with little apparent conviction.

A tapping at the window turned their attention. There was a white owl outside on the ledge. It was Hedwig. Dumbledore opened the window and took the envelope from the owl. He unsealed it and glanced over it quickly, smiling at Lupin. "Well it seems you have managed to make an impression on young Mr. Potter. He's finally answered my owl." Then his eyes twinkled. "That reminds me, Remus. An owl arrived for you earlier today." He handed him an envelope. "It's from Miss Tonks. She's in Hogsmeade on Ministry business." When Lupin made no response, Dumbledore continued jovially. "A drink at the Three Broomsticks with good company could be a refreshing end to what's surely been a troubling day."

Lupin stowed the unopened owl into his robes – self-conscious under his Headmaster's gaze. He rose to leave, but stopped short as he caught sight of a dark figure in the doorway. It was Severus Snape on his way in to see Dumbledore.

"Ah Severus," Dumbledore called in greeting.

Lupin began to extend his hand reluctantly, but changed his mind. There were many people who refused to shake his hand because of his werewolfism, but Snape looked as if he might just hex it off if Lupin offered it. He decided to nod politely instead.

Snape glared at him and strode past him towards Dumbledore's desk. He folded his arms and looked at the Headmaster expectantly. Lupin tried to keep a pleasant expression on his face, but began inching his way towards the door.

Looking from one man to the other, Dumbledore frowned. He motioned for them to sit down.

Snape remained standing and glowered down at Dumbledore. Reluctantly, Lupin returned to his seat.

"Gentlemen, while I have you both here," Dumbledore started in a falsely cheerful tone. "I wanted to have a word about Harry Potter's Occlumency."

Stiffening involuntarily, Lupin stole a glance at Snape. His expression was inscrutable.

"You can confirm Potter's schedule with Minerva," Dumbledore told Snape. "When you have found a convenient time for lessons, let Remus know. He will make sure Harry is in attendance and well-prepared."

Knowing Harry as he did, Lupin groaned inwardly. It would not be easy to get him in the classroom with Snape.

Snape opened his mouth as if to argue, but Dumbledore cut him off. "After what occurred last term – I am certain that all parties will be able to lay aside any personal differences for the greater good."

Lupin thought Dumbledore was overestimating both Snape and Harry. Based on what Harry had described to Sirius and him last year, it seemed impossible that Snape would be able to stand in the same room with Harry, let alone teach him anything. Harry's intense dislike of Snape would not help matters.

"If Potter is permitted to break into my Pensieve, as he did last year, Occlumency with me will be nearly as dangerous as if he took from you." Snape said silkily, arching his eyebrows.

"You know perfectly well that Potter is not allowed to access your Pensieve, Severus. He was fifteen. He made a mistake." Lupin asserted.

Snape wheeled around on him so suddenly, he knocked a book off the Headmaster's desk. His eyes were wide and his teeth clenched. Lupin leaned back in his chair as far as he could. Snape leaned forward, his eyes lit up.

"Did he tell you what he saw in the Pensieve?" he demanded. "Did he?"

Before Lupin could think of a response, an even uglier look twisted Snape's features. He bent down and shook the arms of Lupin's chair. "Did he tell Black?!" he spat. "Tell me!"

Lupin's jaw dropped. He stared at Snape speechless. "Enough!" thundered Dumbledore from behind his desk.

Snape curled his lip at Lupin and stalked over to the other side of the room.

"Severus, you will instruct Harry as discussed. Remus, you will insure that a similar incident will not occur in the future." Dumbledore looked at Lupin hard as if to impress upon him the importance of his role in this.

Lupin leaned over to retrieve the book that Snape had knocked over. He wanted desperately to get out of Dumbledore's office and eliminate himself from this scene, but Lupin knew that he had to speak out about the proposed arrangements. He felt certain it could not succeed. "My only concern," he began mildly, "is that Harry sometimes has difficulty responding to Professor Snape's…erm – teaching style."

"Ah" Dumbledore nodded slowly. Again he tapped his fingertips together. "You may have a point. Perhaps if Harry took lessons with another student – he might not find it so…intense." He looked at Snape as he proposed it, but Snape stood rigidly, muttering to himself, apparently unable to take in anything further.

Lupin thought that Dumbledore's idea was brilliant. Adding another student would likely depersonalize things.

"Who could we get?" Dumbledore mused. "Someone from a trusted family. It's a pity Fred and George Weasley are out of school – they would certainly lighten up the atmosphere."

Lupin smiled.

"Seriously though, the Weasley family is already in the Order. It would have been perfect. I'm not inclined to ask Ronald. He's too close to Harry and I fear he would find the skills rather difficult."

"I agree" said Lupin. "Ron would probably aggravate the situation. A shame though, a Weasley would have been perfect."

Dumbledore knitted his eyebrows thoughtfully. "What about the youngest, Ginny Weasley? She's not in Harry's class, but is old enough and clever enough to study Occlumency." Without waiting for Lupin's approval, Dumbledore nodded. "I'll set it up with Minerva."

Sensing that his presence was no longer required, Lupin rose and excused himself. He passed by Snape who stood rigidly by a corner of Dumbledore's desk – pulling on his greasy black hair. Just as Lupin reached for the doorknob, there was a rap from the other side of the door. He pulled it open. On the threshold, lime green bowler hat in hand, stood an abashed Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic.