Remus groaned loudly when someone knocked on the door. "Come back later please," he said loudly. He turned away from the light that came flooding into the office as the door opened. "Dear God, close the door. Please," he groaned again.
"Sorry," the person said and shut the door.
"Harry, what are you doing here?"
"Apparently keeping you alive," Harry raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" Remus looked up at the teen who held out a small vial. "What's that?"
"A potion that will put the fire out inside your skull," Harry answered.
"Where'd you get it?"
"Madam Pomfrey. Where else? I'm not the school nurse," Harry grinned and sat on the floor by the professor. "You know, if someone walked in here right now, they'd think you were dead and I had killed you," he added.
"Is it too late to ask Black to kill me?" Remus sighed.
"A bit."
"Give me the potion."
"Only if you go home," Harry bargained.
"Knew there had to be a catch."
"Always."
"I can just go to Madam Pomfrey and get a potion, you know," Remus said.
"You can but you won't. First is because if I open the door a fraction of an inch, your head sears in pain. Why else is everything closed and turned off and you're lying on the floor? Secondly, because you know Madam Pomfrey will send you home because that's where you're supposed to be right now," Harry told him.
"Has anyone told you that you're too smart when it comes to interrogations and investigations?" Remus smiled and very, very slowly sat up, facing Harry.
"No, but I sort of figured it out on my own," Harry shrugged. "Does Dumbledore know you're staying a few more days?"
"Nope, and he's not going to know."
"It might occur to him when he sees you at meals and around the castle."
"There's no way I am leaving this office," Remus stated.
"Go home, Remus. Talk to another professor and Ron and I will do our detentions with them. Just go home. This is mental. You know it is," Harry stared at the lycan.
"If I can get another professor to take you and Ron for three detentions, I'll go home," Remus agreed.
"Thank you. Drink all of it. It'll start working in eight minutes," Harry gave him the potion.
"Thank you. So, why else are you here? That couldn't have been all."
"No, it wasn't. I have two more things," Harry answered.
"Shoot," Remus could already feel the potion helping his migraine.
"I need you to change mine and Ron's detention time because I have Quidditch practice all week at five," Harry explained.
"I'm not changing the time, Harry. When you do something wrong you have to face the consequences. If I change the time to make it so you're able to play Quidditch, I'm giving you a reward not a punishment," Remus shook his head.
"But, Remus. I have to practice. If we don't win this match, we don't go to the Quidditch Final. I can't miss three practices and go for one," Harry pleaded.
"No. The time remains at five o'clock," Remus said. He slowly stood and sat at his desk. His headache was almost completely gone.
"Fine. It's on your head if Wood murders me for missing practice three days in a row."
Remus grinned. "So what's the other thing you wanted to talk about?"
"There's a problem. The match against Slytherin is on January sixteenth at one. The same day of the hearing at the same time. I can't miss either of them. They're both really important, but I can't be in two places at once," Harry answered.
"You can't miss the hearing, Harry. You know you can't," Remus said.
"I know but I can't miss the match either. This could be the first time in years the Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup. We've been practicing for almost three weeks for this match," Harry debated.
"Harry, you either go to the match and we lose the chance of you coming to live with me, or you come to the hearing and leave Quidditch until next year. You have four years to try win the Quidditch Cup," Remus gave Harry the choices that he had.
"I want to live with you but I want to win the Cup as well," Harry crossed his arms.
"I know you want both. Either go for the thing you have four more chances to get, or the one where it's just this one shot. It's your choice, Harry. I can't make it for you," Remus stated.
"I know. Wish you could," Harry sighed.
Remus smiled. "But that would make things easy."
Harry laughed. "No kidding. When is anything easy for me?"
"So where are Hermione and Ron?"
"They went down to dinner. I came here. I might go down, might not. I have practice in forty-five minutes," Harry told him.
"It would have been forty-five minutes when you got here, right?"
"Yeah."
"That was twenty minutes ago. You have about twenty, twenty-five minutes now," Remus said.
"Great. Maybe I should go. Wood's probably looking for me," Harry sighed.
"Choose what you believe should get the chance, Harry," Remus advised.
"Not making it easy, Remus. Will you come down to watch?" Harry replied.
"I'll see if I can make it. Try to eat something. Don't skip meals. See you after."
"Bye. I'll try," Harry walked out and went to get ready for practice. Remus sat for a while, trying to think of a professor to take Harry and Ron for detention.
McGonagall maybe. No, she has to give Fred and George detention. Binns. No. Flitwick. Detention for Seamus Finnegan. Trelawney. No. Too strange. Sprout. Detention for Ernie Macmillian. This is crazy. It leaves Snape because Hagrid is giving Neville Longbottom detention. Ron and Harry will hate me for this if Snape agrees, Remus thought through everyone. He stood and went to find the Potions Master. Remus caught up to Snape who was heading to the dungeons.
"Severus! Severus, I have to talk to you," Remus called.
"Lupin. Why are you here? You should be gone by now," Snape growled.
"Severus, I have a favour to ask. I need you to take over a few detentions I have for the next three days."
"Which kids?"
"Ron Weasley and Harry…"
"Potter," Snape spat. "Three detentions?"
"Yes, and they start at five."
"I'll take them. Go home, Lupin. The moon's getting full. Walks around the castle are dangerous," Snape sneered. Remus glared at him and left the dungeons. He looked at his watch.
I'm not going to make it to Harry's practice. I have to go to the meeting in ten minutes, he sighed and started for the headmaster's office. By the time he got to the office, the meeting was about to begin.
"Hello, Remus," Dumbledore greeted. He stared Remus down with McGonagall, both knowing Remus should be at home. No matter how much older he got, Remus was still terrified when the two professors stared him down.
"Albus. Minerva," Remus avoided their gaze and especially the gaze of Madam Pomfrey. Soon, all the staff had arrived and the meeting began.
"I have called you all here to discuss the matter of Sirius Black. It has been twice that he has found his way into the castle. I do not know, nor do I believe, that anyone who is residing inside the castle is helping Black to enter. If he enters the castle one more time, I will be forced to send the students home. I will emphasize this now. Though I do not believe anyone in this staff is doing this, I must say that if you are in touch with Black, I will have no choice but to inform the Ministry," Dumbledore explained.
"Black has only been inside this castle once, Albus. Not twice," McGonagall frowned.
"Was he not in the Gryffindor boys' dormitory, holding a knife, standing over Mr. Ronald Weasley?" Dumbledore said.
"Yes, he was," Remus nodded. "I was there. I saw him."
"And yet, you did nothing to capture him. He was right in front of you, ran right past you, and you did nothing," Snape sneered.
"I…I…" Remus stuttered. He didn't know how to defend himself.
"Is this true, Remus?" Dumbledore looked at him over his half-moon glasses. Snape smirked.
"Well, I…he…I…yes, it's true, sir," Remus sighed. There was no point trying to save himself with an excuse he didn't even have.
"Stay after the meeting, Remus. I want to talk to you," Dumbledore said and got back to the meeting. Remus groaned quietly and looked out the window. He could see the Quidditch pitch and could see the Gryffindor team flying around. He frowned when he saw a black dog sitting near the stands, watching the practice. "You may all go. Remus," Dumbledore motioned for the werewolf to sit in a chair right in front of him.
"Yes, sir?"
"Why are you still here? You should have been gone about an hour ago."
"I couldn't leave because I gave Harry and Ron three days detention for skipping class. I couldn't leave, so I was just going to stay a few more days. Harry convinced me to go home. I got Severus to take the detentions for me," Remus told him.
"Why didn't you act when Black was in Gryffindor Tower?"
"I don't know. I never even thought of catching him. I…I don't know. I honestly don't," Remus sighed.
"You're in contact with Black," Dumbledore said. Remus was frightened. Dumbledore's eyes didn't have their usual twinkle.
"No…no, I'm not," Remus answered quickly.
"Then what are these?" Dumbledore dropped some of the letters on the desk.
"They're letters from Black, but I've been ignoring them. Seriously, I haven't answered a single one," Remus stated. "I'll start packing my things."
"Why?"
"I'm getting fired."
"Not today, Remus," Dumbledore smiled. The twinkle had returned. "I hope Harry chooses to go to the hearing and not the Quidditch match."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "And Harry thinks I'm scary for knowing obvious things. Anyways, I hope he chooses the hearing as well," he nodded.
"Well, I think you should get down to the pitch. A Seeker is looking for you," Dumbledore stated. Remus looked out the window again and saw a Gryffindor hovering out of the way of everyone, looking everywhere but around the pitch for the Snitch.
"Thank you, sir. I'll see you at the hearing, hopefully with Harry. Bye," Remus stood and left. He walked down to the Entrance Hall and went outside, heading for the pitch.
"Hey, Professor," Ron and Hermione greeted as Remus sat with them in the Gryffindor stands.
"Hi. How's the practice going?"
"Wood's mad because they're not doing well. He's making them practice for an extra hour," Ron replied.
"Time-out!" Wood called and the team flew to the ground. "I don't know what's going on with all of you, but this is not a team. If you don't start working together, we'll never get into the final. Take five and come back here. We have a lot of work to do," Wood said angrily and the team split up. Wood went to the change rooms, the twins and Angelina Johnson sat in the stands and talked, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell flew up again and threw the Quaffle back and forth.
Harry flew to the stands and sat with Remus, Ron, and Hermione. "Hey."
"Hey, mate. How is it going?" Ron asked.
"You three might as well go inside. I'm going to be here all night pretty much," Harry sighed, taking a drink of the water he had brought and left with his friends.
"We'll stay, Harry. If we get tired or anything, we'll go inside," Hermione said.
"Thanks. Hello, Professor," Harry raised an eyebrow at Remus.
"Hi, Harry," Remus nodded his head. Harry shook his head, saying Remus should be home.
"Here comes Wood. I'll talk to you later," Harry stated and flew off, the rest of the team following.
"I hope you're ready because we get the pitch for the rest of the night. I convinced Snape to let us. Let's go," Wood said and flew to his posts. The team looked at each other then flew away, getting ready for practice. Practice began. "Pass it, Alicia, pass it! Katie's open! Pass it! Not to Angelina! What are you doing, Alicia?" Wood yelled.
"I passed it like you told me to," Alicia Spinnet replied.
"I said pass it to Katie! Angelina had a Bludger going after her! She couldn't get it!" Wood shouted. "Which reminds me. Fred! George! What are you two doing? Angelina has a Bludger after her! Help her! Harry! Get down here so you can see the Snitch!"
"We were getting a Bludger away from the stands where it almost hit Lupin, Ron, and Hermione," Fred replied irritably.
"If I get any closer, I'll be in the way of the game. I can see the Snitch fine from here. I always have," Harry defended himself.
"Stop!" Wood yelled. "Fred and George, who cares about the Bludger in the stands? Get the Bludger away from Angelina! Alicia, pass to people who are open! Don't just randomly throw the Quaffle in the air and hope someone catches it! Harry, at least act like you're interested in this! Catch the Snitch!"
"We happen to care about the Bludger in the stands because that's our brother," George said.
"I always catch the Snitch, Wood, you know that. I care about that Bludger too because those are my best friends and the best Defence teacher we've had," Harry added.
"I passed to Angelina because she was calling for it. Katie wasn't paying attention," Alicia crossed her arms.
"Let's go. Try to go it right," Wood flew off again. Everyone glared at him then flew off as well.
This is ridiculous. Wood's losing it, Harry thought as he searched for the Snitch. He saw it flying around the opposite goal posts and flew after it. He quickly caught the ball and the practice stopped.
"Happy? I caught the Snitch," Harry said to his captain.
"You're all getting better. Keep working as a team," Wood said and flew away.
"He needs to work on his encouragement," George sighed and everyone agreed. The Gryffindor team practiced for another two and a half hours. By that time, it had begun to rain and was now pouring. Remus, Ron, and Hermione had also returned to the school when it started raining.
"All right. Good work, guys. You really pulled it together. See you all tomorrow at five," Wood told them as they walked into the change room. They all rolled their eyes behind Wood's back. Harry continued to hover in the air, watching his team disappear. He didn't want to go into the school yet. Instead, he stayed outside and continued flying around the field. He flew in and out of the goal posts, around them, and around the stands. After ten minutes, Harry flew to the Gryffindor stands and sat down. He didn't even care that he was drenched to the skin in rain. He couldn't stop thinking about how he might finally get to leave Privet Drive only if he missed the Quidditch match.
What do I do? If I miss the hearing, I never get to live with Remus and leave Privet Drive. If I miss the match, we lose the Cup for another year, Harry thought. He ran a hand through his soaked hair.
"Harry, what are you still doing out here?" Harry heard Remus call.
"Hey, Remus," Harry said as Remus walked into the stands. He had a jacket on and had an umbrella.
"Why are you sitting in the rain? Look at you. You're soaked," Remus shook his head at Harry.
"I know. I didn't want to go in yet though. I was thinking things over," Harry shrugged.
"You couldn't have done your thinking inside where it's dry and warm and you won't get sick?" Remus raised an eyebrow. Harry shrugged again, chuckling. "Come on. Let's get you inside. I am not letting you get sick."
"Okay," Harry nodded and walked into the change room with Remus. Harry changed and dried his hair with a towel.
"So, what was so important to think about to make you sit in the pouring rain?" Remus asked as they walked around the castle together.
"I was thinking about January sixteenth."
"And?"
"Screw the Quidditch match."
"Watch your language," Remus scolded.
"It wasn't that bad of language," Harry stated. Remus stared at him. "Okay, okay. Sorry, but I'm not going to the Quidditch match. I'm going to the hearing."
"That's great!" Remus smiled. He wanted to hug the boy, but knew Harry didn't like being touched. "Thank you so much, Harry."
Harry laughed. "Believe me. I should be thanking you. You're getting me out of Privet Drive." Harry smiled. "You should be at home, Remus. You found another professor to take me and Ron, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did," Remus nodded.
"Who is it? McGonagall? Flitwick? Hagrid?"
"Snape."
"What?" Harry stopped walking. "Please tell me you're kidding?"
"Sorry, but no. Snape was the only one who was free."
"He won't give us detention. He'll torture us!" Harry threw his hands up in the air.
"I'm sorry, Harry. You have to go and do what he says," Remus replied.
"Fine. Ugh, this is horrible," Harry groaned.
Remus smiled. "You should get to the common room. You need to tell Ron about detention. It's also late. You need to do homework and get to bed."
"Well, you need to go home," Harry said.
"I know. I'm going. I'll see you in a few days. Bye, Harry," Remus walked in the direction of the Defence class. Harry went to Gryffindor Tower. He walked in and saw Ron and Hermione by the fire.
"Hey, mate. How was the rest of practice?" Ron asked as Harry sat down.
"All right. Ron, our detentions are with Snape."
"What? Why?" Ron gasped.
"Lupin's leaving for a few days and Snape was the only free one," Harry replied.
"Where is he going?" Hermione wondered.
Harry's eyes grew wide. "Oh…umm…his mother is very ill. He's going to see her for a few days," he lied.
"Oh. Okay. I guess we have detention with Snape for three days," Ron sighed. "I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow, guys."
"Night, mate."
"Night, Ron," Hermione said, heading for the girls' dorm. "Night, Harry."
"G'night, you two," Harry replied.
"Aren't you coming?" Ron asked.
"I have lots of homework. I'll be up later," Harry said, taking out History of Magic, Transfiguration, Divination, and Herbology homework.
"Okay. See ya, mate," Ron left. Harry breathed deeply and started his homework. It wasn't until three in the morning that he finished and went to bed.