An update!

I do apologize for the long wait. This chapter has been ready for a while, but I didn't get to write a lot during the last weeks and didn't want to lose my head start, so I've been postponing posting it.

katmom: It was indeed Kreacher who delivered the letter. He can apparate in and out of Grimmauld Place and also take Remus with him when he does, so the food crisis has been resolved.

alix33: Given that at that point they were running out of food, Harry's pudding consisted of something that can be stored over a long time, probably ice cream.

E.R Man: I know Thatcher's been divisive and has lots of fans despite everything, but I always saw Remus as a left-wing liberal (Guardian reader, in short), and thus he would not be fond of her. It has also been documented that he's from the North, where Thatcher was generally disliked a great deal more.

Guest: That "back to normal" was more in regard to their relationships. Harry's overcome his shock at finding out Sirius is Kreacher's master, and he's back to trusting him.

The Parting of the Ways

It was a wonderfully bright June morning when Remus walked through the school gates on Monday morning. Not a single cloud obscured the azure blue sky, the lake shone in the sun and even the Forbidden Forest looked green and fresh. Despite the early hours there were quite a few students strewn around the grounds, sitting in little groups or walking along the shore.

Remus felt an unexpected pang at this idyllic picture, remembering the time when he himself had sat under that beech tree with his friends, laughing and joking, their only worries a potion essay and how to sneak past Filch the next full moon.

He must've looked a little lost, because the next thing he knew a voice tore him from his memories, and he found himself staring in a curious face framed by startlingly blue curls. "Looking for something?"

He flinched, realizing that he had inadvertently stopped next to a group of Hufflepuff students, who were now all scrutinizing him with the same intense curiosity.

"Erm, I...I'm...I'm here for a meeting with the headmaster," he managed to overcome his surprise, and, remembering his cover story, quickly continued, "To interview for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position."

Now it was the Hufflepuffs who looked surprised. Remus could hardly blame him – in his shabby coat and heavily mended robes he probably didn't look very capable of defending himself, let alone anyone else.

The girl who had spoken to him recovered first. "Cool!" she said brightly, her smile never wavering, "D'you want us to show you the way? I've been called to his office loads of times; I could probably find it in my sleep by now."

Remus managed to supress a chuckle, thinking that surely she could have nothing on him and the Marauders, and merely shook his head politely. "Very generous, but I do know the way. I better go now. Good day to you all."

He quickly set off again, now noticing the several heads turning in his direction as he brusquely walked across the path up to the castle. He supposed that it was only natural for the students to be curious about any strangers, in a place so secluded from the outside world as Hogwarts was.

Back in his own school days, unfamiliar adults coming up to the castle had rarely been good news – more often than not it had been parents or relatives collecting a student whose family members had been killed.

He shook off the dark thoughts, focusing instead on the mission at hand.

It had taken him days to convince Sirius that they could not go on like this, even after Harry and Kreacher had solved their food crisis.

House elf magic was powerful, and Kreacher was indeed able to apparate them in and out of the house, despite the wards. But he was not all-powerful, and despite the curious friendship between him and Harry, Remus was all but convinced of Kreacher's loyalty. One falsely-worded order and they could lose that advantage.

Reaching the entrance hall, Remus looked around carefully. The ministry wasn't looking for him, so he hadn't bothered to come in disguise, and he assumed that Dumbledore had told those staff members who were in the Order that he was coming, but he'd still rather not run into any of them. Or any of the other teachers, he mused, as he remembered that Severus Snape was now working at Hogwarts as well.

Wondering if the Map was still in Filch's office where they had left it at the end of their seventh year, and wishing he had it with him now, Remus quickly climbed the first set of stairs and headed towards a secret passage behind a tapestry that would bring him straight to the fifth floor. It was a longer route, but it meant less chance of running into anybody.

Mrs Norris found him as he stepped out into the corridor, but after one short second of hesitation she merely bristled her fur and raced off. Remus couldn't help but grin, remembering that eventful night in their sixth year when Sirius, as Padfoot, had chased the cat through the castle for hours – Filch having been taken care of by James and a rather powerful sleeping charm beforehand – after which she had never bothered any of them ever again, and fled in terror whenever Sirius came in sight. It was nice to see that Mrs Norris remembered as well.

Remus wasn't surprised when the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office merely nodded at his approach, and opened up without so much as asking for a password. Yet he couldn't help but feel nervous as he stepped onto the moving stairs.

This would be the first time he faced the headmaster since his betrayal, and he had no idea how the meeting would go. Was Dumbledore angry? Disappointed? Would he understand?

There was only one way to find out.

The first thing Albus noticed was how much healthier Remus looked. Not physically – in fact, with the full moon just one week away, his skin was already rather pale. But he radiated a strength and confidence that Dumbledore had not seen in him for many years, his eyes having lost almost completely the dull haze that had covered them whenever they had met after the war. For the first time in almost seven years, Remus Lupin looked happy.

"Good morning, headmaster."

Quickly pulling himself out of his musings, Albus smiled. "Good morning, Remus. Please do sit down."

The werewolf nodded wordlessly, shuffling over to a chair and sitting down like a student waiting to be reprimanded.

"Thank you for meeting me. I am aware that things have been...difficult."

Remus nodded again, finally raising his head to meet Albus' gaze. "They have. But it's not really me who wants to talk to you. I'm simply the messenger." He fished in his pocket and revealed a small, rectangular object that turned out to be a mirror. "Padfoot?"

Almost immediately, the surface of the mirror blurred like water ripples, and when Remus turned it towards Albus the face staring up at him wasn't his own, but...

"Sirius..."

"Dumbledore. Heard you were looking for me?"

Albus quickly managed to hide his surprise. "A two-way mirror?" he asked, nodding to himself. "Very useful. And rather rare."

"Yeah, well, it's not for sale," Sirius snapped, looking impatient, "And we're not here to talk about magical curiosities."

"No," Albus agreed, his gaze flickering over to Remus, who was holding the mirror with a blank expression that could not quite hide his tension. "Though if I might ask, why are you here? I was under the impression that you had rejected my offer of help."

"We don't need your help," Sirius spat, and even in the small mirror Albus could see the fury burn in his grey eyes.

Innocent. He's not the Death Eater you thought him. Still,you have done nothing to make him like you during the past months.

"We've come to ask you to call off the hunt," Remus cut in, obviously not trusting his friend's restraint. "You know neither me nor Sirius intent to harm Harry. He is safe with us, happy. There is no need to waste the Order's time in chasing after us."

"You won't find us anyway," Sirius added.

Albus sighed. Time for the truth.

"We are not after you because we think you intend to hurt him. I know both of you would do anything for the boy, would rather die than let Harry come to harm. But we all know that even that is not always enough. Voldemort's power-"

"He's gone," Sirius snapped, "And even if he'll come back, you can't honestly think that keeping him with those muggles is a better preparation than having him in the know, train him maybe-"

"Frank and Alice Longbottom had excellent training," Albus cut in. "Caradoc Dearborn was the undisputed British duelling champion for six years. Whatever we do, there is only one place where Harry will be safe, completely safe."

"With Petunia and Dursley?" Remus asked, incredulously. "Why?"

"Because it is the one place where Lily Potter's blood still flows," Dumbledore explained slowly, carefully watching their faces to see how the other two would react. "The protection she gave Harry the night she died, the protection that kept Voldemort from killing him – as long as he calls that place his home, it will hold. Voldemort could not touch him there even if he attacked with all his Death Eaters. Harry will be safe."

Silence followed his words. Remus was the first to break it. "That's why you sent him there," he said slowly, frowning, "I always wondered..." He looked shaken and uncertain, and Albus felt hope rise in him. Maybe if I can convince him...

Sirius was quiet for longer, but when he spoke the defiance had not left his voice. "So you condemned him to a life in hell just so he would be a little bit safer?"

Albus hadn't expected him to agree, remembering very well the headstrong boy from ten years ago. "You know Voldemort's power. He can break wards, he can break the Fidelius – "

"It was Peter who broke it, not him," Sirius snapped, and hearing the fresh anger Albus knew mentioning the Charm had been a mistake. "He can't get to Harry, even if he had his power back. Which he doesn't."

"He will come ba-"

"And when he will, we will fight him again. But I will not let you make my godson's life miserable out of fear. We fought that war so we could live our lives in peace and happiness, not locked away in a cupboard. Did you know they kept him in a fucking cupboard, Dumbledore? Did you?"

"Padfoot-"

"I didn't," Albus said quickly, when the first portraits started to wake up from the raised voice, "though I had my suspicions they were not treating him well."

"And you still want to send him back there?"

"It's for his own good, Sirius! We can talk to them, see to it that he is treated better this time."

"Over my dead body," Sirius snarled. "He's not setting foot there ever again."

"But...what if he's right, Padfoot?" Remus, who had kept out of the discussion so far, suddenly spoke up. "The protection...it's powerful magic, very powerful. Throwing it away just like that-"

"Not just like that," Sirius spat, interrupting his friend. Albus was rather amazed how he managed to be such a powerful presence in the room despite speaking from inside a tiny mirror. "You saw what he was like when we got him out of there. Do you think any sort of charm is worth that? I promised him he would never have to go back there again. I'm not going to break that promise."

He was stating a fact, not making a demand. Albus knew that there was no way of convincing him. He sighed. "Can I talk to Harry?"

Sirius stiffened immediately. "No," he snapped at once. "You're not getting near him."

"I'm not near him. If you are where I think you are there's half a country between me and Harry," Albus said calmly. "I just want to talk to him," he continued more urgently when Sirius merely scowled, "I am not going to try and trick him into going back to the Dursleys."

The man in the mirror snorted. "Yeah right. When was the last time you held a conversation with someone who you weren't trying to manipulate?"

That stung, more than Albus liked to admit to himself. "I understand you don't trust me," he conceded. "And I cannot blame you. But you must believe me that I only have-"

"Sirius?"

All three men paused at the fourth voice, sounding distantly from the mirror. Albus felt his pulse quicken. It had been a boy's voice, his-

"Not now, Prongslet" Sirius voice sounded muffled, and instead of his face Dumbledore could now only see the wooden texture of a table. "Remember that mission Moony's going on? I'm helping him."

"Oh," the voice made, barely audible. "When is he coming home?"

"Soon. So you better get your homework done, or he'll be cross. And you know how terrible dinner is when he's cross."

Albus barely registered Sirius' answer, staring at the dark mirror in shock.

When is he coming home?

He felt the calm façade slip of his face as the realization hit him.

Home. Not back, not here...home.

It was too late.

"Professor?" Remus' voice made him look up, and he found the younger man looking at him in confusion and worry.

"I- that was Harry?" Albus asked weakly, desperately clinging to the last sliver of hope.

Remus frowned. "Yes, of course. Why- oh." From the way his face paled Albus gathered that he had understood as well. "Merlin..."

"Can we wrap this up now, Moony?" Sirius had returned to the mirror. "He's not going back, and that's it. Now unless you want to go back on your word and actually hold him in your office, Dumbledore, I-"

"I won't," Albus heard himself say, voice rather mechanical. "I won't stop Remus, and I won't come after you. The Order will no longer trouble you, and the apparition ward will be removed."

Sirius seemed surprised. "And how come-"

"The Charm," Remus supplied quietly. "It's already broken. Harry doesn't think of Privet Drive as his home anymore – hasn't for quite a while, I think. There's no point in sending him back."

Sirius was silent for a bit. "Oh," he finally made, sounding rather perplexed. "That's...good, I guess?"

"It makes things easier," Remus muttered. "Whether it's good..."

"Let me help you," Albus interrupted, finally having pulled himself out of his shock.

It was just one plan. There are others. Maybe they are right, maybe they can keep him safe.

"Help?" Sirius snorted. "Why'd we need your help?"

"Because you are a wanted criminal, you live in hiding and Harry needs a proper home. I can help you-"

"A proper home? Didn't care about that so much when you sent him to Mr and Mrs Pigshit, did you?" Sirius snarled. "I've had enough of your help Dumbledore. Just leave us alone and find someone else to manipulate."

"Padfoot-"

"No. He's not offering his help because he cares, but so he can keep an eye on Harry. You saw him just now. If not the Dursleys, he'd find something else to torture him with. I'm not letting that vulture near him. Good day, Dumbledore."

The mirror clouded over, and Albus saw his own face looking up at him. It didn't look very happy.

"I apologize," Remus said, putting the mirror back in his pocket and looking rather embarrassed. "He's...frustrated."

"Understandably so," Albus said, scrutinizing a quill on his desk before raising his eyes to meet Remus'. "I'm assuming you will stand behind his decision?"

The younger man looked deeply uncomfortable, but he held his gaze. "I will stick with Sirius," he said, his voice firm. "If we decide to contact you, we will do so together." His tone was friendly, but the message was clear.

I will not be your spy.

Albus hadn't expected him to take up the offer, anyway.

"In that case, I shall hope to hear from both of you at some point," he said, standing and holding out his hand to his former student. "And you might not believe me, but I am happy for you, Remus. I wish you all the very best."

Remus shook his hand, looking as if he wanted to say something. But in the end he just nodded. "And you, Professor."

As he watched the younger man descend the stairs, Albus wondered just how soon they would meet again, and under what circumstances. But he knew that he hadn't been lying when he had wished Remus happiness.

Maybe they were right, and you were wrong. Maybe a happy childhood really is worth the risk of death.

But the doubt stayed.

His own death, maybe. But how many others will perish should he not be there to fulfil the prophecy?

As he walked back through the almost empty halls, Remus felt oddly light-hearted. The meeting hadn't exactly gone the way he had hoped – they were still hiding, and Sirius was still as far away from trusting Dumbledore as he had been before.

But for what it mattered, they were free.

No more Order members lurking in front of their house, no more nightmares for Harry. The ministry still hunted Sirius, but they had no idea where he was, or who he was with. As long as they were careful, they could live their life in peace.

Of course, there remained the glum feeling about the protection charm... it was hard to forget the horror that had marred Dumbledore's face when he had realized it was gone. Was it justified? Had they really brought Harry into mortal danger trough their recklessness?

Maybe he was just annoyed because you destroyed his plan. Harry would've been a lot easier to influence if he had grown up with the Dursleys.

The thought made him uncomfortable. He wanted to brush it off, to convince himself that Dumbledore had just been worried about Harry... but somehow he couldn't. Remus admired Albus Dumbledore to no end, and betraying him in the way he had was still filling him with regret and guilt, but he could not without lying claim that the old wizard never had an ulterior motive, even when helping people.

It doesn't matter now. The charm is gone, and Dumbledore won't get Harry.

He managed to push the thoughts aside, returning to his previous cheerfulness. He had reached the grounds now, and marvelled at the warm sun shining on his face. His step felt light and energetic, despite the stiffness that still pained his leg.

"How'd it go, Sir?"

He looked up, realizing that he had reached the Hufflepuffs again.

"I don't think I got the job, sadly," he said, trying to make his voice sound convincingly disappointed.

It didn't appear to work, because as he walked away he could hear the blue-haired girl mutter to her friends: "Didn't look very sad, did he?"

He couldn't help but grin at that. No, he mused, as he stepped through the large iron gates and cast one last look back at the castle, he really didn't feel very sad at all.

The End

Fear not! This is not actually the end (I just liked writing that), as there will be a full-length epilogue to wrap things up.

Once that's through, I will probably take a short break in posting, as I only just started writing the sequel. The general plot for this story is however already worked out, so it's just a matter of actually writing it down. I'll tell you a bit more about it in the next update.

In the meantime, why not leave a review? ;)