A/N: Hey, y'all! How's it going? What'd you think of the last chapter? Thanks to everyone who followed/favorited/reviewed! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I hope you like this chapter. It wasn't easy to write.

Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Remus stood up swiftly, before Harry had time to answer. "Now, Harry- I assume you came for more lessons?"

Harry nodded hesitantly. "Yes."

Remus clapped his hands together. "Then let's get started."

Harry bit his lip. "Are you feeling well enough?"

Remus gave him a slightly embarrassed smile. "I'm fine, Harry. Tougher than I look."

Harry had to admit that he had a point. This frail-looking man had survived (and escaped) Azkaban, after all. With a jolt, Harry remembered the bag he had brought.

He grabbed it and held it out to Remus. "For you."

Remus took it, looking at Harry curiously. He opened it, revealing a few chicken legs, a hunk of bread, and a flask of pumpkin juice leftover from dinner that night. Remus quickly sat on the bed, carefully taking the meal out.

"Thank you, Harry," murmured Remus, picking up the chicken and beginning to eat hungrily.

Harry grinned, and, under the ever-watchful eye of Remus Lupin, began practicing the Patronus Charm. Just as he was about to try again for the third time, Remus stood abruptly.

"Wait, Harry! I almost forgot- I've got something that will help with lessons, I think." he strode over to an old wardrobe that Harry hadn't noticed earlier, and slowly dragged it over to Harry, grunting with the effort.

Harry stared at it. It was... rattling. "What is it?"

Remus smiled. "A boggart. It managed to crawl its way in here- I saved it for your lessons. A boggart, you see, takes the shape of the thing you fear the most. I'm willing to wager, after seeing how hard you're working to overcome this obstacle, that what you fear most are the Dementors- fear itself.

"Now, to overcome a boggart, you must visualize something humorous, point your wand at the boggart, and say 'Riddikulus'. So, if you are unable to defeat the Dementor with the Patronus, defeat the boggart. Got it, Harry?"

Harry nodded, heart pounding. This was the closest he could get to facing a real Dementor.

Remus released the boggart.

The air grew cold. Harry could feel the happiness leaking out of him. He raised his wand. "Expec- expecto..." Harry swayed on the spot. "Expecto patro..." Harry heard a woman scream, and everything went black... and a new voice joined the fray, one he recognized...

"Harry? Harry? Are you alright?"

Harry opened his eyes. Remus loomed over him, looking worried.

Harry struggled to sit up. "Told you I faint when they come by." he mumbled.

Remus helped him sit up all the way, and asked him the oddest question Harry had heard in a long time. "Do you have any chocolate?"

Harry gave him a strange look. "Er... in my robe pocket, I think. Why?"

"Take it out and eat some," Remus advised. "Chocolate helps against Dementor attacks."

Harry quickly dug some out of his pocket and took a bite, testing Remus' theory- which proved to be correct. Warmth filled his bones. "You're right."

Remus smiled. He put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You look shaken."

Harry nodded sadly. "When that happens- I can hear- I can hear my mum. This time- this time I heard my dad, too. When Voldemort came... the night they died."

Remus stilled, his face cast in shadows. "You... you heard James?"

Harry nodded. "I think so." he whispered.

Remus grabbed a threadbare blanket from the bed, and draped it comfortingly over Harry's shoulders. "They'd be very proud of you," his teacher murmured softly. "Very proud indeed. You remind me of them. I," he paused. "I am glad that I got to know the young man you've become."

Harry smiled gratefully, his heart warming at the words. "I'm glad I got to know you, too."

Remus smiled again, and helped him stand up. "Do you want to try again?"

Harry nodded eagerly. "Yes, please."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Don't overdo it, now." he warned. "It doesn't do to overwork yourself."

"I won't." Harry promised. "Just one more go?"

Remus nodded reluctantly. "Alright, then."

Harry practiced, and Remus returned to his dinner. They both conveniently forgot to call it a night, and worked until nearly one in the morning, when Remus suddenly realized the time.

"Goodness, Harry, we've been working much too long. Better hurry back before Filch catches you out of bed, or someone realizes you're missing."

Harry agreed, elated at the progress he had made. "Yes, Professor. See you next time!"

Harry turned and ran back to the castle. He hadn't meant to call Remus professor, but the smile that graced Remus' face at the title had been worth any future awkwardness.

Padfoot sat in a pumpkin patch, ignoring the strange looks he was getting from the occasional student. He was waiting for a certain student-in-disguise to come out of Hagrid's Hut. Honestly, Hogwarts needed to up their security.

Padfoot whined, and stretched. Tonks was taking forever.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, a sunflower-yellow head exited Hagrid's Hut. Padfoot yipped happily, bounding over to the young woman disguised as a twelve-year-old. Padfoot put his front paws on the girl's shoulder, and she giggled before pushing him off. They began walking towards the castle.

Once they were a safe distance away from Hagrid's, Tonks glared at him. "I told you not to put your filthy paws on me."

Looking around to make sure that they were alone, Padfoot transformed. "Aw, you know you love it," he teased. "You gonna drop the disguise, or what?"

Tonks sighed, and began changing. Her yellow hair was traded in for her usual bubblegum pink, she grew taller, and finally fit the image of his twenty-year-old cousin.

Tonks turned to him, holding a squirming something in her hand. "Found the little bugger."

Sirius whipped around to face her. His heart was pounding. "You did?" He hadn't yet told her about the letter's message and his hot chocolate revelation. He glared at the rat, noting that it had a toe missing. White-hot anger coursed through him. If this was truly Peter, then justice could finally be served.

Sirius growled. "If that's really Peter, then Remus is innocent. The Ministry will see how much they've messed up, he'll be able to come back- oh, and as compensation, they'll repeal those ridiculous werewolf laws-"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Tonks warned him. "The Ministry might let him go, they might apologize- they'd better apologize- but they'd never repeal the werewolf laws. They're too proud for that. It will take more than false imprisonment for them to admit that they were wrong about the werewolves."

Sirius sighed. "I know you're right, but... I've seen what those laws have done to him. Hell, they didn't even give give him a trial because of his condition. Maybe if they had, Peter'd be behind bars, and Remus would have helped me raise Harry. We'd have worked together against werewolf prejudices... We'd have made the world more tolerant, safer."

Tonks raised a pink eyebrow. "You could have done all that without Remus."

Sirius shook his head. "No. You don't know Remus like I do. He has a way with words, and he's insanely patient- I'd have strangled the Ministry employees a month into my petition or whatever I'd have done to try to change the law. You'd like him."

"He's sounds like a good bloke." Tonks said casually.

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "I know that look."

Tonks frowned. "What look?"

Sirius crossed his arms. "That 'I have a secret that I don't want you to know, and we're getting dangerously close to it' look."

Tonks stared at him. "That exists?"

"Don't you try to change the subject! Spill. And I'll know if you're lying." Sirius glared at her.

Tonks bit her lip, looking guilty. "Oh, alright. I... may have found Lupin before this whole operation. And, y'know, given him a wand and a fresh change of clothes."

Sirius stared at her. "Are you trying to tell me that you were reunited with my best mate before I was?"

Tonks shrugged. "Maybe?"

Sirius pouted. "This is so unfair! I'm the one who didn't judge him for being a werewolf! I'm the one who bothered to become an Animagus so he wouldn't have to be alone! But no, the universe decided that you, the little girl he'd seen only, like, twice before, got to see him before me. I hate the universe."

Tonks rolled her eyes. "This is why you're still single."

Sirius frowned. "No, I'm still single because I don't want Harry to be traumatized for life."

Tonks held up her hands. "I'm going to stop you right there."

Sirius laughed. Then, he sobered. "How is he?" he asked softly.

Tonks blew the hair out of her eyes. "Honestly? Not well. He's too thin, and I think he has some sort of leg injury." She paused, looking at Sirius sympathetically. "And... I'm not entirely sure that he's completely sane."

Sirius' blood froze. Remus, not sane? But he was the smartest wizard that Sirius had ever known- except maybe for Dumbledore. Remus was funny, and sarcastic, and brave- the thought that Remus might have lost those things to something to something out of his control made Sirius' heart break for his old friend.

He had to find Remus.

He had to turn Peter in.

He had to protect Harry.

No matter what the cost.

Ron flopped onto his bed, munching on a chocolate frog. "So," he said, mouth full. "What's got you in such a good mood?"

Harry shrugged, grinning. It had been a week since Harry had first begun practicing the Patronus Charm with a boggart, and the previous night, Remus had agreed to teach Harry the things he was suppose to be learning in Defense Against the Dark Arts. In summary, Remus had become Harry's Defense teacher- and so far, he was doing a much better job of it than any of Harry's other Defense teachers. All Remus had needed was a copy of the third years' textbook. "Just happy I finally understand my Defense homework, I guess."

Ron sat up quickly. "You do?" he asked eagerly. "Can you help me? Hermione's tried to explain it, but she makes everything seem so complicated, and I suspect that she doesn't understand everything either."

Harry nodded. "Sure."

The two boys went down to the common room and began working on their Defense homework. When Hermione walked through the portrait hole, she stopped dead at the sight of them doing their work without her prompting.

Ron grinned at her. "Shocking, isn't it? Us being responsible."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but joined them. "Need any help?"

"Nope," said Ron happily. "Harry explained Defense already."

Hermione frowned. "You understood Professor Kennedy today, Harry?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope. I couldn't make heads or tails of what she was saying."

Hermione and Ron turned to stare at him. "Then," said Hermione. "How are you helping Ron?"

Harry cursed himself silently. He wasn't used to keeping secrets from Ron and Hermione, and he had forgotten for a second that they most likely wouldn't be supportive of the fact that escaped Azkaban inmate Remus Lupin was teaching him Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Harry battled with himself for a moment, before sighing. He looked at his friends and lowered his voice, despite the fact that they were the only people in the common room. "You guys have to swear that you won't try to talk me out of it. It's been happening for a while, and nothing bad's happened yet."

Hermione bit her lip, looking worried. "And this has to do with your sudden knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

"Yeah." Harry took a deep breath. "I met Remus Lupin in Hogsmeade. He's been teaching me how to cast a Patronus, and other Defense stuff."

Ron's eyes were the size of marbles, and Hermione uttered a soft shriek. "Harry! Oh, Harry, that's so dangerous-"

Harry crossed his arms. "No, it's not, Hermione. Remus is innocent. He hasn't tried to hurt me once. Not once! See, this is the problem- no one is willing to listen to him, just because he's a werewolf."

Hermione bristled. "I don't care that he's a werewolf-"

"He's really helping you?" Ron interrupted. "I mean, his lessons work?"

Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. He's a brilliant teacher. Learned more with him than with any of the others."

Ron looked at Harry hopefully. "Can I come to the next one?"

"Ron!" gasped Hermione.

"I'll ask him," Harry promised, ignoring Hermione. "He's a fantastic bloke. I'm learning loads."

Hermione huffed. "I think you're both forgetting that he's a murderer."

Ron frowned. "Harry said he wasn't. Besides, if Lupin were really a killer, don't you think that he'd have offed Harry already? Harry said he'd been going to these lessons for a while."

Hermione bit her lip. "He could just be biding his time. Or-"

"Hermione," Harry interrupted softly. "I trust him. He's a good person."

Hermione found herself unable to argue with that.

Remus bit the inside of his cheek, and blew out some air. "I'm not sure, Harry. It's one thing having you know that I'm here- I admit that I'm a little worried about your friends knowing my location."

Harry shifted nervously. "You're not mad? That I told them?"

Remus gave him a small smile. "I know what it's like to have persistent friends. And how hard it is to keep secrets from them."

Harry grinned, relieved. "So, if they promise to keep it a secret- can they come?"

Remus pondered it for a moment. "Are your friends trustworthy, Harry?"

Harry nodded solemnly. "I'd trust them with my life."

Remus' amber eyes bore into Harry's green ones. Harry refused to look away. Remus had once had friends he thought he could trust with his life- and it had imprisoned him and killed Harry's parents. But- Harry trusted Remus. He trusted his friends. And Remus truly believed that every child who wanted a chance to learn should receive that opportunity. Just like Dumbledore had given him that chance.

Remus found his resolve wavering. Finally, he sighed, smiled at Harry, and said, "You're friends are welcome here, Harry. Don't get caught."

The smile that lit up Harry's face was worth any doubts Remus still had.

The next week, Remus found himself face-to-face with a smiling Harry, a skeptical Hermione, and a strangely excited Ron.

"Professor," Harry began, using the name he had come to call Remus. "These are my friends- Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Guys, this is Professor Lupin. He'll tell you to call him Remus, but he is our Defense teacher, so..."

Remus gave them a nervous smile. "Hello," he said softly. "I've heard a lot about the two of you."

Ron grinned suddenly. "All good things, I hope."

Remus laughed. "Oh, definitely."

His laughter seemed to make Hermione feel more at ease. "Professor?" she asked timidly.

Remus turned to her. "Yes?"

"So- so you're going to teach us what Professor Kennedy was trying to? We'll learn about boggarts, and dementors, vampires, and were-" She stopped herself, turning pink.

He nodded at her. "And werewolves. It's alright. You can say it. I don't mind." His smile grew wider. "I'm happy to answer any werewolf questions you might have. After all, ignorance is a large contributor to intolerance."

As it turned out, Hermione didn't have many werewolf questions- but Ron did. Remus tried his best to answer them all ("No, werewolves are not unnaturally strong.", "Well, I do like rare meat, but I'm not sure if it's a werewolf thing or a Remus thing. Probably a werewolf thing."), much to Ron's delight.

All throughout that week, Remus taught the three teenagers everything they had missed out on in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione treated it like a regular class, bringing her copy of the textbook, and wrote notes. She requested homework, which Remus insisted to the boys was optional- whether Hermione made them do it or not, Remus didn't know, but he always had three essays to grade. They treated him like he was actually their professor, even calling him "Professor Lupin". Remus wouldn't lie- it made him feel valued, important, even, and that was something he hadn't felt for a very long time. He grew incredibly fond of the three Gryffindors, and reminded them after each lesson not to come during the full moon.

He very much liked teaching them. They were devoted students, staying late into the night on weekends, and paying rapt attention to whatever he said. They were a welcome distraction from the fact that the Aurors were still out for his blood, and he found himself slipping into the past less since they began seeing him.

He thanked Merlin for them everyday.

"Professor Lupin's bloody brilliant, isn't he?" Rona asked, beaming, as the trio made their way back to the Gryffindor common room after one of Remus' lessons.

Harry grinned widely. "Yeah."

Hermione bit her lip, looking worried but determined. "Actually, Ron, I wanted to talk to you about Professor Lupin."

Ron frowned. "Still hung up on the fact that he's a werewolf, are you? Or is it that he's an escaped fugitive?"

Hermione looked hurt. "That's not true! I was just going to say that you need to be careful-"

Ron scowled. "He's not going to hurt anyone-"

Hermione smacked his arm crossly. "Let me finish!" When Ron kept his mouth closed, Hermione continued. "You need to be careful not to hurt his feelings."

Ron and Harry looked at her, confused. "Huh?"

Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes. "You keep asking all these questions about werewolves- and it seems a bit insensitive."

"I just want to know what's fact and what's fiction!" Ron protested.

"I know that, Ronald. But when you're asking him if he eats his meat raw, well, don't you think that would make him feel less than human? Like the animal most of society thinks of when they think of the word 'werewolf'?"

Ron opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked sheepish.

Hermione sighed again. "I'm just saying, I think he'd appreciate it more if you stopped treating this like you were being taught by a werewolf, and started treating this like you were being taught by Remus Lupin."

Ron nodded. "You're right. But I don't think of him as inhuman. I just want to know if what been said about werewolves is true."

Hermione's eyes softened. "I know. But Professor Lupin doesn't."

Harry smiled as they continued to their dorms. The fact that they were having this conversation meant that they had accepted Remus, and trusted him- liked him, even.

Harry knew that any prejudice could be overcome, if one was only willing to listen.

Tonight was proof of that.