Due to monthly circumstances Remus hadn't the strength to apparate to Hogsmeade. He made himself comfortable on the Hogwarts Express and couldn't help but think about his own days as a student. The werewolf began to drift off as he thought about the Marauders in these compartments.
Sirius ran his hands through the werewolf's hair as the four Marauders planned beginning of the year pranks. "I was thinking we replace Snivellus's pumpkin juice with Skelegrow." Peter sniggered as James looked around for approval. "I've already mastered the Switching Spell so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Then why just stop with Snape?" The other three boys looked at Remus in shock. It wasn't often the werewolf offered up prank ideas, but when he did they were brilliant.
"How devious of you Rem." Sirius gently nibbled on his boyfriend's ear. "You're always full of surprises."
Remus was jolted from the memory with bittersweet feelings. His wolfish ears had heard his own name; it appeared he was no longer alone in the compartment. He was about to properly introduce himself when he heard a voice right from his dream. It sounded like James Potter was right across from him in the tiny compartment. Remus's heart stopped for a moment and his mind went back to his memory. Maybe his whole life had just been one bad dream. Maybe he'd open his eyes and all his friends would be smiling at him. But then the girl spoke again, and Remus knew it was a silly thing to hope for.
The werewolf spent the rest of the journey feigning sleep—or at least until he felt cold. Remus felt like he'd never be warm again. He also felt the lights shut off and more bodies enter his compartment. They were all muttering as the coldness got closer. He finally chose this moment to stand up. "Quiet!" The muttering finally died down as conjured some flames. "Stay where you are." A dementor entered their compartment and then he heard Harry scream. He worriedly glanced at the boy, who had seemed to collapse, before turning his gaze back to the dementor. "None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." The dementor ignored him and reached out towards Harry. With a bit of guilt Remus thought back to Sirius stroking his hair and held up his wand. "Expecto patronum!" The magic felt his guilt and his patronus came out only as a shadow of its usual self. But it did the job. The dementor left and the lights came back on soon after. He looked around at the shaken children before searching around for some chocolate. Remus only looked at them again once his heard Harry.
"W-what?" The werewolf's heart clenched. The boy not only sounded like James, but he looked exactly like him. Well except for the emerald eyes that turned his way; those were Lily's. Remus answered all the children's questions and handed out the chocolate before leaving. He had no idea why dementors would search the Hogwarts Express. Did it mean that Sirius had been sighted around here? He knew it would be too much to hope that Sirius wasn't aiming for Hogwarts. After all these years the pureblood was still out to ruin his life.
Professor Remus Lupin collapsed onto his new bed after the feast. He had never been more exhausted in his life. He had to deal with a full moon, dementors, and Severus Snape staring him down all dinner. It was a lot for the werewolf to deal with. Someone knocked at his door and he sighed. His worst fears were confirmed when he found Severus at the other side of the door. "Hello Severus, what can I help you with?" The head of the Slytherin house sneered and pushed his way inside.
"Well Remus I just came back to make sure you're all settled in." The malice in his voice told Remus that Severus very much wished he were anywhere else.
"How kind of you." He sneered again. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" The black-haired man narrowed his eyes.
"I don't trust you Lupin." The werewolf did not miss the emphasis placed on his surname. "I don't care what Dumbledore says, I know you're helping him." Remus's heart stopped for the second time that day.
"Well you're wrong. I would never help a traitor." Severus laughed harshly.
"Then why is there still love in your eyes? That bastard took everything away from me, and you still love him!" Now it was Remus's turn to narrow his eyes.
"You think he ruined your life? I have absolutely no one left. He lied to me, killed our friends, and broke my heart. So don't you dare accuse me of having anything to do with him." By the end Remus's voice came out as a growl. Severus scowled and left in a huff. Remus hit the bed once again. This was turning out to be a very eventful first day back at Hogwarts.
The dog kept its belly close to the ground as it slinked through the night. It had taken weeks with the detour to reach Hogwarts. He had been thoroughly disappointed to find their old flat empty and the amber man was nowhere in sight. But he should have expected it. He should have known that he'd move on. The dog gave a whimper, but continued moving towards the familiar tree. The willow was uncharacteristically still. He did his best not to stir it as he crawled to the trunk. The dog crawled through the tunnel and through the battered house before collapsing from exhaustion. His body became one of a tattered man before drifting into sleep.