Hey, y'all! Here I am, back again. Be sure to check out the poll on my profile. Hope you all are alright, wherever you are. So, I want to kind of express the fact that even though Remus can't be a Hogwarts professor, he's still Harry's favorite teacher. I really have no idea how long this story will be, so we'll just have to wait and see where this takes us. Any questions? Thoughts? Concerns? No? Then enjoy!
Chapter 9
"You have to think of your happiest memory, Harry. A memory so strong, you can't help but feel happy when you recall it." Remus repeated patiently.
Harry huffed in frustration. "I can't think of anything stronger. I've tried the first time I rode a broom, my first Quidditch match, even when Sirius finally told me I was a wizard! Nothing's working."
Remus looked thoughtful. "Perhaps not a memory, then. It can be a thought, a fact, a belief- anything that makes you happy."
Harry frowned. "What do you think of, when you cast a Patronus?"
Remus bit his lip. He wasn't as thin anymore, but he still had looked entirely too excited to see the food Harry had brought him. Harry wished the man didn't have to hide anymore. "I haven't cast a Patronus in many years- not a corporeal one, anyway."
This didn't answer his question. "Why don't you cast a corporeal one?"
Remus hesitated. "I don't like the form it takes." he admitted. "It's a painful reminder- it's a wolf."
Harry winced sympathetically. "How do you know what form it will take?"
"Your Patronus corresponds with your strongest traits," Remus explained. "Mine for example- wolves are very loyal creatures, and pack animals. They watch out for each other, but they can hold their own in a fight. My being a werewolf is just a coincidence. Sirius Patronus is a dog- like his Animagus form. Dogs are also notoriously loyal, but also playful and spirited. Although, they can be terrifying when threatened. That's Sirius- fierce and loyal, strong and stubborn."
Harry considered this, deciding to ignore the new information that Sirius was an Animagus for now- but he and his godfather would be discussing it. "You and Sirius are a lot alike, then."
Remus smiled. "I never thought of it like that," he mused. "I suppose we are, in some aspects. I've just never been as... wild."
Harry grinned. A little awkwardly, he asked, "What about my parents?"
Remus' face brightened as he recalled the good memories. "Your father's Patronus, and Animagus form was a stag. A majestic, noble creature. Strong and brave, one that knows when to fight and when not to- although, your father didn't always know the difference. Your mother's, I believe, was a doe- gentle and protective, and known for being a beautiful creature. Lily was uncommonly kind, and a very protective of her friends..." Remus smiled kindly at Harry. "You remind me of them both."
Harry smiled, a warm feeling blossoming in his chest. He loved to hear about his parents. Remus showed him a different side of them then Sirius did. Sirius always told him about the mischief that James got up to, and the fiery temper Lily had- Remus told him about James' unwavering loyalty, and Lily's genuine kindness. And with that thought, Harry readied his wand and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
Silvery light that wasn't quite a liquid or a solid burst from the tip of Harry's wand, then quickly dissipated. Harry lowered his arm, disappointed, but when he glanced at Remus, he saw the werewolf beaming like he never had before. "Excellent, Harry! Brilliant!"
Harry was doubtful. "But- it was just a bunch of silver light."
Remus still looked as though Christmas had come early. "Yes, Harry, but considering your circumstances- meaning, your inexperience with more advanced magic, and your limited practice- this is tremendous! You're very talented, Harry. You've just proven that."
Harry glowed from the praise. "Really?"
Remus nodded eagerly. "Yes. I'm proud of you."
Harry grinned.
Remus glanced up at the setting sun. "You'd best be off, Harry- we don't want you out past curfew. McGonagall would have a conniption. You've made excellent progress. You'll be back next Hogsmeade weekend, I presume?"
Harry nodded, his glasses glinting from the sunlight. "Yeah. Thanks, Remus!" As he headed towards the castle, he almost missed Remus' soft response. "You're very welcome, Harry."
Tonks, scowling, sat across from Sirius in the Leaky Cauldron. She grumpily ordered a drink while Sirius sat there like the prat he was, watching her amusedly. Finally, when she had finished most of her drink, Sirius asked smugly, "Bad day?"
Tonks glowered at him. "The worst." She threw her hands up in the air. "All I want is to help an innocent man gain his freedom! Is that too much to ask? Apparently, because today's search got me nowhere! Absolutely nowhere! This is awful. It could take weeks at this rate."
Sirius grinned cheekily at her. "Patience is a virtue, my dear cousin."
Tonks threw a napkin at him, which didn't even hit him before it floated back down onto the table. Sirius barked out a laugh.
Tonks crossed her arms. Then, seriously, she said, "But Remus has waited too long already."
Sirius too became sober. "If Remus is innocent... because this investigation is to prove whether or not Peter's dead... he won't mind waiting. He was always annoyingly patient, with everybody."
Tonks huffed, blowing the bubble-gum pink hair out of her eyes. "Yes, well, doesn't mean he'll wait forever."
Sirius shrugged. "You never know. The man, whether he's insane at the moment or not, is a genius. He's brilliant. Never known anyone smarter. He knows how to play his cards right." Sirius' eyes widened. "Merlin... he could be insane. I didn't even think..." Sirius looked deeply unsettled. "I didn't even think that they could have broken him."
Tonks so badly wanted to tell Sirius that Remus was sane. She didn't know why she hadn't told him about finding the werewolf. Part of her thought she was selfish, obviously causing her cousin unnecessary pain. But the other part of her, the larger part, knew that if Sirius knew that she knew the location of Remus Lupin, he might do something rash that could jeopardize everything.
Tonks sighed. Things would be so much easier if they could just tell people. But, everyone- including Dumbledore- thought that Remus was guilty. Also, if the Auror office got wind of what she was doing, she'd be fired for sure. She had worked too hard to lose this job now.
And Sirius, she knew, had his own reasons for keeping silent.
Tonks leaned back in her chair, propping her feet on the table. She regarded Sirius curiously, and dared to ask a question she had always been too afraid to ask. "If it were he in your situation... What would James do?"
Sirius looked up, shocked and caught by surprise. He was usually so guarded, it was odd to see him so... full of emotion. Tonks wondered if maybe, once upon a time, he hadn't been like that.
"James. James. If- if I had died. If there was a chance Remus was innocent. Uh- first James would check on Lily." Sirius babbled.
Tonks blinked. "That's not what I-"
"Then," Sirius gave no sign that he had heard her. Perhaps he needed to say this. "James would have grabbed Harry, and would have been terrified of letting either of them go, even though Voldemort had gone after me. He'd hold them close. He'd mourn me. He'd mourn Peter. He'd mourn the Remus he'd known. But if Remus could be innocent-" Sirius' voice dropped to a whisper. "-he'd take any chance he had to get him back."
Tonks nodded slowly. "Now, if I was having this conversation with James- what would he say Sirius would do?"
Sirius' brow furrowed in realization. "He'd say that I'd take any chance to get him back."
Tonks smiled. "So. What are you going to do?"
"Try harder to find him."
Tonks ordered another drink for them both. "Right. Anyway, I went undercover as a student today-"
Sirius looked up, interestedly.
"-and found absolutely nothing. There isn't a rat in that whole castle."
"Yes, there is. You just haven't looked hard enough. Remember, Ron Weasley has a rat. He's a Gryffindor third year."
"See, that's the thing. I followed that kid all day- as different people, of course- and I never once saw a rat." Tonks frowned.
"I'll... I'll ask Harry in my next letter," Sirius promised. "Or I'll meet up with him at his next Hogsmeade weekend."
Tonks nodded. "Gosh. This is exhausting."
Sirius snorted. "Everything about Remus is exhausting. Always has been. Stubborn as hell, prideful, and too smart for his own good. I- I'd give almost anything to tease him about his cleaning habits again. Or those jumpers he used to wear constantly. Or his obsession with chocolate." Sirius smiled fondly at the old memories. "Merlin, I just can't reconcile that bookish teenager with the ruthless Death Eater he became."
Maybe, thought Tonks, you don't have to.
"Well," Sirius stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I've got to go- I'll write Harry soon. Take care of yourself, little cousin."
Tonks pouted at being called 'little'. "Call me that again, and I'll hex you."
Sirius grinned. "I believe it. Bye, Nymphadora."
Tonks fumed as Sirius sauntered out of the pub. Then she gave her own grin. Aiming her wand carefully, she walked over to a Disapparation point.
Sirius' squeal of surprise was music to her ears.
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. Next one will be longer.
