Hello, hello, my lovely readers! Here is a new chap, hot off the presses, as it were. Hope you like the chap.: D Oh, and Standard disclaimer, especially since I borrowed dialogue and the like for this chap.

Tonks tried her best to hold back the beaming smile that was threatening to break out.

Remus watched her closely, searching for any reaction to what he had just told her. He hadn't been able to speak to her until that morning and when she had come in, yawning and looking drawn out, he had almost just let her head up to bed. Almost.

"Well? What do you think?" he asked, almost anxiously. Usually he could keep his feelings from being shown, but in this situation he didn't feel that it was necessary. They needed to consider carefully.

"Hmm?" Tonks took a sip of the coffee he had just made her. "What do I think?" she looked at him, her grey eyes bright and couldn't hold back the smile that was breaking out anymore.

"I think that it's bloody fantastic. I think that if you turn Dumbledore down you'd be a fool and I'd have to knock some sense into you. This is what you've always wanted Remus."

He still didn't seem convinced though and she sighed in affectionate exasperation. "What's got you hesitating?"

"What if something goes wrong? What if the potion doesn't work; I'd be putting everyone in danger. Not to mention that the parents won't want their children being taught by a werewolf."

She gave him a shrewd look, and raised a brow. "Who says they ever have to find out. No one really knows about your condition, and the six people that do would never turn on you. Sides, Dumbledore would never offer you the job if he didn't have faith that you'd be able to handle it and Snape may have been a slimy git when we were at school, but you have to admit he is a fab potions brewer. If he says he can brew it perfectly then I'm sure he can."

She could see that her arguments were working, deconstructing his logical assessment with equal logic. She always could get to him; she knew it drove him crazy sometimes.

"You really think this is a good idea?" there was a dawning brightness coming in to his expression that matched her own mood.

She smiled. "Love, this job was practically designed for you. Course I think you can do it," she raised a brow, "And just think, that if what they say about the job being cursed is true, at least you'll be out of there in a year."

He laughed, as she meant for him too, and she settled back into her chair satisfied.+++

"You're sure you've got everything? Got your case?"

Remus resisted the urge to reply, yes mum, and bit back a laugh, only smiling slightly.

Tonks was looking around the deserted platform, as if the afore mentioned case would appear.

Remus raised it to eye level and raised both brows. She smiled sheepishly.

"Merlin, I'm sounding like my mum," she muttered shaking her head. "Course you've got everything, and it's not like you can't just pop home if you forget a tie or something…"

Remus sighed, set his luggage down and held out his hands to her, which she took, automatically wrapping her arms around him and leaning her head against his chest. She was glad that it was so early and no one was around to see them. She felt like an idiot, but she was going to miss him.

"I'll miss you too Dora" he said into her hair and she realized that she spoken her thoughts aloud.

They stood there for a few minutes and eventually she leaned up and kissed him, smiling brightly when they pulled apart. "Right, well I guess you better get going. Try to sleep a bit, I know you're still feeling like shit, don't even try and deny it Lupin!" she warned. "I've been married to you for 10 years mister, I know what you're thinking."

He didn't argue, just shook his head, smiling at her mock stern expression.

"Let me know how the Wolfsbane works and please, for me, try and not worry too much about people finding out. Just…" she paused, as if measuring what she wanted to say, something that she was rarely found to do. "Just look out for Harry yeah? I know its been years and he won't even know who you are, but…"

"I know." He interrupted her, his tone reassuring.

She nodded. "Now, go, get on the train. Share your brilliant mind and skills with the impressionable youth."

He kissed her briefly again, murmuring, "Love you." And then he was on the train and she had to get to work if she didn't want to be late and get yelled at by Robbards, who was acting supervisor. Not that she cared, as far as she was concerned Robbards could sit on his wand and…well, still it was better not to be late.

"Love you too." She breathed, smiling before she turned on the spot and disapearated with a loud "crack."

He was going to be fantastic. She just knew it.+++

He had stored his belongings and then found a compartment; the same one that he had always sat in while riding the train, as it happens and then he had promptly fell asleep.

It was a bit strange to be on the Hogwarts express once more, especially in his new capacity, but Dumbledore had been adamant that he travelled where he could keep an ear out for any trouble. He was leaving nothing to chance when it came to Sirius possibly attacking Harry and Remus found he didn't disagree.

When he woke, although only momentarily, it was to the gentle rocking of the train and the soft low tones of young voices. There were evidently a few people in the compartment with him, not that he really minded. He could hear someone admonishing another. Without really paying attention to the conversation around him he turned his head to the side and drifted off again.

When he next woke it was again to the sound of young voices, but this time he had no trouble picking up on what was going on. There was some sort of altercation occurring. Not really wanting to reveal he was awake, Merlin knows he wouldn't want a teacher interceding in personal matters, as was clearly going on, he moved a bit and pretended to stir and let out a snort when someone dropped something. Instantly the conversation turned and he heard the compartment door being closed.

With an internal sigh, he again allowed himself to drift off; he really was feeling exhausted, although his nap had helped.

When he awoke for the final time, it was due to the train coming to a jolting stop. Distant thuds could only signify luggage falling.

Remus opened his eyes and blinked. The compartment and evidently the whole train was dark.

"Think someone's coming aboard…" a voice close to him said.

The next thing he head was the compartment door opening and a young boy apologizing, obviously having run into someone. What followed next was one of the most ludicrous exchanges he had ever had the chance to experience, as people kept coming into the compartment, tripping, bumping and sitting on each other, whilst trying to figure out what was going on and who was where. Just as someone exclaimed in pain, Remus decided that this really had gone on long enough.

"Quiet!" he hissed, his voice coming out more hoarse then usual. With a silent spell he brought light into his hand and peered around the compartment. It was full of confused looking teenagers.

"Stay where you are," he warned them as he lurched to his feet, cursing his tired bones. Before he reached the door, it opened and he instantly felt like curling up in a ball, despair threatening to take over. In front of him stood a Dementor in all its disparaging glory.

Suddenly one of the boys collapsed to the floor, twitching. Only sparing him a momentary glance Remus calmly stepped over him and approached the Dementor, pulling out his wand.

"None of us," he said to it in an even voice "is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."

The Dementor did not move though.

Retaining a calmness only born from years of dealing with this sort of thing, Remus muttered quickly, "Expecto Patronum."

As the familiar silvery figure shot out of his wand the Dementor turned and glided away. Once he was sure it was gone Remus turned his attention to the young man on the floor. And received a surprise when he looked down upon a face he had not seen in 12 years. Of all the compartments on the train, somehow Harry had ended up in this one.

"Is he going to be ok?" a boy and a girl were kneeling beside his prone body. The lights came back on causing everyone to blink and the train began moving once again.

"He will be, once he's woken." Remus said gravely, not wanting them to worry.

"Harry! Harry!" the girl slapped his face and Remus was relieved to see that Harry was opening his eyes.

Soon he was heaved back into his seat and was looking around, questioning what had just occurred.

Remus reached into his pocket, trying and succeeding greatly at not staring at Harry, although he did take him in covertly. Dumbledore had been right. He looked like James. Merlin, even his voice sounded like his fathers at that age.

He extracted some chocolate and broke off a chunk causing everyone to jump at the noise.

"Here," he said to Harry, voice and expression controlled as he had become master of over the years. "Eat it. It'll help."

Harry took the chocolate, but instead of eating it, looked at Remus, who found himself looking into very familiar green eyes for a moment, and asked, "What was that thing?"

Remus busied himself with distributing chocolate to the other children. "A Dementor. One of the Dementors of Azkaban."

Now they were all staring at him. He crumpled up the now empty chocolate wrapper and shoved it into his pocket. "Eat," he told them again, making his way past Harry. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…"

He made his way down the train passing shaken looking students, most of which were huddled in groups, probably for comfort. He knew the feeling all too well. After his first encounter with a Dementor, when he was fifteen, he had thrown up.

"Excuse me." He entered the front of the train to find a very shaken looking wizard. "Why did you stop the train?"

The man let out a long breath. "Had to, didn't I? Ministry orders. I hope…" he gulped and stopped, perhaps not knowing what else to say, or maybe he was still affected by the Dementors.

Remus repressed the frustrated sigh that wanted to bubble forth; again it wasn't hard after years of practice. "Can I borrow your owl?"

The driver nodded, still shaken and Remus wrote a quick note to Dumbledore about what had occurred, quickly sending it off to the school with the owl.

"How much longer until we reach the school?"

The man seemed to relax slightly. "Ten Minutes."

Remus nodded and turned to leave. Before he exited he told him, "If you have any chocolate on hand, eat it. It'll make you feel better." The man gave him a bemused look as he left.

Once back in the compartment he paused and smiled slightly at seeing that they had yet to eat the chocolate he had given them.

"I haven't poisoned that chocolate you know…" If anyone who knew him had been there, they would have been able to tell that he was highly amused at the very idea.

They ate the confection and he was glad to see colour returning to the young faces.

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. Are you all right Harry?" he queried turning his attention to the boy, again reminding himself not to give in and look at him like a starving man. That would really go well and the poor boy probably had enough people staring at him as it was.

"Fine," came the embarrassed mutter, again so much like something James would have done, that it caused him to have to look away. He could be objective, he knew, he simply needed to get to know Harry in this new situation and put the past, the one where this boy had been almost like his own child, behind him.

The rest of the evening went by quickly, although he did not miss the looks of pure loathing that Severus Snape sent his way throughout dinner, and especially when Dumbledore announced his appointment.

"Remus," Dumbledore addressed him as the staff stood to leave, "I wish to speak with you briefly in my offices."

Remus nodded. "Of course."

They left together, the mass of students having thinned out considerably and made their way to the office. Once inside Dumbledore sat and gestured for him to do the same.

"Please tell me what occurred when the Dementors boarded the train."

Remus filled him in, describing how the train had stopped, his confrontation with the Dementor after Harry passed out, how he had questioned the driver and how the man had told him it was ministry ordered.

Dumbledore nodded, his blue eyes not holding their usual twinkle. "I will be having a word with Cornelius. I am glad you were near by to assist Harry, I shudder to think what could have happened to him and those with him if you had not been."

He seemed to be thinking then, tenting his fingers, pondering in the silence. The silence did not bother Remus, or make him uncomfortable as it did for many others who were faced with this man. He had been on the receiving end of it too many times.

Dumbledore seemed to rouse himself then and he smiled at the younger man. "Well, I'll let you get settled in. I myself am feeling particularly tired after the marvelous feast prepared for us tonight." His eyes twinkled again and Remus returned his smile, if only slightly.

As he was leaving Dumbledore spoke again. "I am glad you decided to reconsider my offer Remus. I believe we are in for an interesting year."