Guess who's here!
THIRTY SIX – The Dementor
Dumbledore
McGonagall
Sprout
Flitwick
Snape
Just a few quiet hours left here in the castle…
Maybe it'll be a quieter year over all. The Weasley twins are, after all, in their OWL year.
I think that's very wishful thinking, Filius. Bright though we know them to be, their records clearly show they haven't got much interest in academics.
Let's have your fit now, Severus. Come on!
What on earth are you talking about, Minerva?
Lupin's going to be here in a few hours. You're sure you don't want to throw one more fit before then?
I do not throw fits, Minerva, which is much more than you could say.
Are you talking about those abominable Dur –
I think this conversation is at its end.
Yes, best not encourage Minerva to lose her temper again.
You don't have to take your sourness out on me, Severus! It's not going to change anything. If it DOES do anything, it'll only make you more miserable.
I am not ta –
Yes you are!
Children, children! If you can't think of anything nice to say, then don't say –
Shut it, Pomona.
This is shaping up to be a fine year already…
Wait until Remus is added to the mix.
Does Potter know why Black's escaped Azkaban?
No, and I see no reason for him to know at present.
…You're joking, right?
I am most serious.
He's going to be told at some point, though!
Of course he does. But what sense is it starting his year off on such a bad note when Hogwarts is perfectly safe?
I wouldn't worry so much about Black breaking Hogwarts security as I would about Potter doing so.
You're going to have to explain that one.
If the boy finds out that Black's after him, he'll doubtless be off to get Black before Black gets him, thinking that he could take him.
You're a lunatic, you know that, Severus?
Really? Is that why my theories have always been proven correct in the past?
Why would Potter go looking for someone trying to kill him?
If Potter finds out why Black's REALLY after him…
That will certainly be kept quiet.
Agreed. I don't care who you are or what your temperament is. If you find out that the man that got your parents killed is out, about, and looking for you, you're going to go find him.
Well, on that happy note, let's get ready for the carriages to arrive, shall we?
Why aren't the students pulling up yet?
I haven't a clue. The train's never been late before, has it?
Albus?
I'm a curious as you are.
This can't be good.
Perhaps the rain's causing the delay. I'm sure there's no need to be concerned.
Not yet at least.
Must you always be so positive, Severus?
Look! There! I can see the carriages! They're far off still, but they're coming!
Then Remus must already be here!
What a joyous thought.
Charming, Severus.
Remus will not be here yet, Minerva.
Surely he didn't take the carriages?
I asked him to.
Oh, for heaven's sake!
Remus has sent an owl ahead. I think you'd want to see it, Minerva.
I'll be up in a moment.
No need. I've just sent it down to you.
NO! FAWKES! Albus! You could have warned me!
What?
Fawkes just set a brand new book of mine on fire!
I apologize. I'll buy you another one. I believe Fawkes is still a bit upset over your insulting him at the end of last term.
I was distraught!
That hardly makes a difference to him.
You and that bird will be the end of me, Albus.
Did Remus happen to mention why the train was late?
Yes, he did.
…And are you going to tell us?
I have a feeling Minerva will shortly explain.
Come on now, Albus!
DEMENTORS ON THE TRAIN? You promised, Albus! You told us they'd stay away from the students!
The dementors were on the train? What's Fudge playing at?
This is absurd! Now they've gotten a taste of what the inside of Hogwarts will be like and –
It will not happen again.
Damn right it won't happen again! If I catch a single dementor on the grounds…
…The carriages are arriving.
"Who on earth are you looking for, Minerva?" Sprout asked as she stood next to her colleague in the entrance hall. "Remus is right over there, you know."
"Clear off, Pomona," McGonagall said rather rudely.
"Well since you asked so nicely I'll hang around for a while," Sprout huffed, crossing her arms.
"I need to get Granger the you-know-what and have Poppy check Potter over," McGonagall snapped. "You happy?"
"No. What's Potter done now that he needs to be checked over for?"
"He fainted because of the dementors."
Sprout gasped. "He didn't!"
"After all he's been through you're surprised?"
"Does Poppy know that you're planning on her checking over Potter?" Sprout asked.
"No, not yet," McGonagall admitted.
"I'll get her for you," Sprout volunteered.
Sprout left, and only after she was out of ear shot did a thought strike McGonagall. Luckily, Flitwick walked by just at the moment. "Professor Flitwick!" she called.
Flitwick looked at the woman who had called him, was nearly trampled by a sixth year, and hurried over. "Professor McGonagall?" he asked with the proper amount of professionalism.
"I've got to speak to a couple of students, and as such I won't be there for the Sorting Ceremony. Would you mind?"
Flitwick smiled widely. "What an utterly ridiculous question! Have you gotten the Hat yet?"
McGonagall shook her head.
"I'll be off, then!" Flitwick said cheerily.
McGonagall looked across the sea of students, finally spotting her query. "Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!" Her two students elbowed their way over along with Ron. All three looked rather nervous, as though they already thought themselves in trouble. "There's no need to look so worried – I just want a word in my office. Move along there, Weasley."
McGonagall led her students to her office; Pomfrey arrived just moments later. Potter was most definitely not pleased about being checked over, and after Pomfrey cleared him McGonagall sent him outside, leaving just Granger across her desk.
"You've taken on quite the class load, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, looking at Hermione's schedule.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione said, wringing her hands slightly. "I just don't want to miss out on anything."
"Including Muggle Studies?" McGonagall asked. Confused, she leaned forward slightly on her elbows. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't your parents both dentists?"
Hermione nodded.
"Might I ask why you wish to take that class, then?"
"I just thought it'd be interesting to study it from a wizard's point of view," Hermione said nervously.
"And Diviniation? I don't think it's a class you'd much appreciate," McGonagall continued to try to sway her student.
Hermione looked down at her hands and shifted slightly.
"You're sure you want to take all these classes, Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked with a raised eyebrow.
Hermione nodded firmly. "If it's at all possible, yes."
"Very well," McGonagall said with a sigh. She opened one of her desk drawers and pulled out a black bag with gold thread spreading all over it and withdrew a necklace with a silver hourglass on it out. "Do you know what this is, Miss Granger?"
Hermione looked at the necklace quizzically. "A Time-Turner?" she asked. "But how did you ever get one, Professor? I thought – "
"Oh, good," McGonagall said. "You know how difficult it is to procure one. I spent the better half of my summer writing letters trying to get it. You know that this is not a mere trinket or plaything? Meddling with time's a very dangerous thing, Miss Granger. Awful things can happen to those that do mess with it."
Hermione scooted forward in her seat a couple of inches. "Do you mean to say that the Time-Turner's for me, Professor?"
"It is for use of getting to your classes only," McGonagall said seriously. "You are not permitted to use it in order to gain more time to do homework, to study, or to sleep, nor are you allowed to tell anyone that you have it. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor," Hermione said eagerly.
"Swear to me you won't tell anyone about the Time-Turner," McGonagall demanded. "Not Potter, not Weasley, not your roommates, no one."
"I swear," Hermione promised.
"Alright, then. One turn of the hourglass will take you back one hour," McGonagall said. "If I were you I'd keep an eye out for places you can use to time-turn and not be found out by your classmates." And she handed the Time-Turner over to a beaming Hermione.
"Thank you, Professor!" Hermione said, throwing the Time-Turner around her neck. "It couldn't have been easy to get it, especially for something like classes. I mean, it would have been far easier to tell me I had to drop some – "
"I think Mr. Potter will be hungry, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, cutting the girl off. "We best get down to the feast."
"Will there be more Grangers than ought to be roaming around the castle now?" Snape asked as McGonagall took her seat at the staff table.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Severus," McGonagall said airily.
"Oh, please," Snape muttered. "As though you didn't scramble around half the summer trying to get your hands on a Time-Turner!"
"Not when there are students around, I didn't," McGonagall said sharply.
Before Snape could make a rebuttal, Dumbledore rose from his seat and began his annual speech, effectively silencing his quarreling staff members.
"Minerva, will you show Remus to his office after the feast?" Dumbledore asked as he buttered a roll after making his speech.
"Certainly!" McGonagall answered happily. "Unless, of course, Severus would like to," she said, looking at the man on her other side.
"Charming, Minerva," Snape bit back.
"You'll play nicely, won't you, Severus? Or can you not be in the same sandbox with Remus?" McGonagall asked.
"I'm surprised you're not a bit more suspicious of him, Minerva," Snape said coldly.
McGonagall fixed Snape with a harsh glare. "If you're referring to Black, Severus – I may have lost three of my students because of him, but Remus lost his family. I have every confidence in him, and that's that."
The Heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin stared each other down another moment before turning their backs and beginning conversations with whoever was on their other side.
At the end of the feast, McGonagall found Lupin and shook his hand with a smile. "Remus!" she warmly greeted. Her smile faltered as she took in the beaten down and shabby appearance of her former student. She was quite discouraged to see that he had more gray hair than she did.
"Professor McGonagall," Lupin said with a grin. "How are you?"
"I've seen better days," McGonagall admitted. "What with the dementors and - Well, we've had happier years."
"Well, well, well," said a cold, sneering voice. "If it isn't Remus Lupin."
"Severus!" Lupin said pleasantly. He extended his hand. "Come on, now. We're colleagues! I'd like to get along."
Snape shook Lupin's hand with an extremely displeased look on his face. "You must be thrilled to be back here. It must remind you so much of your old friends."
Lupin's smile faltered. "I figured you'd be suspicious. Allow me to assure you most sincerely that I wish Sirius be caught and thrown back in Azkaban where he belongs."
"Doubtless," Snape said with cold sarcasm.
"You must be tired, Remus," McGonagall said, breaking the stare-off between Lupin and Snape. "I'll show you to your office."
"Thank you," Lupin said, looking away from Snape, his smile returning full force. He followed McGonagall out of the hall and up a flight of stairs while Snape went downstairs. "I trust he'll be suspicious of me all year?"
"I think that's a safe assumption," McGonagall said, the corners of her mouth pulling down slightly, "but enough of that. How have you been?"
"I've seen better days," Lupin repeated McGonagall's own answer. He gestured to his tattered robes.
McGonagall frowned. "Yes, well, you'll be able to fix yourself up soon, I'm sure, and Severus has agreed to brew Wolfsbane for you."
"How much convincing did that take?"
"I'm not sure. I didn't do the convincing. Here we are!" McGonagall said, opening an ordinary door.
"Ah, I remember this room. James gave a marvelous fireworks display here once," Lupin said as he looked around his new office. He then turned back to McGonagall. She held out a black notebook to him.
"I trust you know what this is," she said, raising a knowing eyebrow.
"That note made it to you after all, did it?" Lupin asked with a faint smile.
"It did," McGonagall confirmed.
"Lily's spellwork," Lupin said. "I'm sure she'd be happy to know…" He stopped short and cleared his throat.
"If any of the other staff find out that you stole my Notebook and read it for the better part of your school career," McGonagall began sternly, "I'll have the most marvelous time paying you back for all the wonderful 'gifts' you and your mates left me over the years."
Lupin took the black notebook with a laugh. "It was James that stole the book in the first place," he said.
"And who duplicated it, might I ask?"
"In my defense, I didn't think it'd work," Lupin said.
McGonagall snorted in disbelief. "It's just as you left it," she said before walking out of the room.
Lupin stood alone in his new office, slightly confused. Shaking his head a bit, he turned the notebook over in his hands, then grinned widely. A chunk of the back cover was missing. McGonagall had given him the duplicate he and his friends had made so many years ago. Lupin remembered all too well the night James had accidentally ripped the cover while trying to pry the book open. Sirius had chased him around the common room for a good forty five minutes.
Lupin sighed and his face fell as a terrible ache clawed at his insides. He tossed the notebook aside on his desk and turned his attention to his suitcase sitting in the corner of the room.
Author's Note
There. I give you Lupin. Are you happy now? Hey, you should let me know in a review! ;)