Chapter 45
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter
A few days after they find out about Sirius' escape, Severus and Blaise are playing chess, Benoit is scribbling away in a notebook beside them, Jamie reading a book in preparation for her next school year in her room, when there's a knock at the door. Remus goes to answer it despite having done his best to avoid all contact with people besides his husband, Jamie, Benni, and Blaise, though even around them he's drawn in and quiet. Remus opens the door, greeted by a smiling face.
"Tonks, what are you doing here? Wow, I just realised how much you look like your Father," Remus comments, she frowns.
"Um, thanks?"
"Sorry, um, what can I do for you Miss Tonks?" The girl seems to remember why she's here and straightens up.
"Auror Tonks, actually. I'm here to speak with you and your husband regarding the Azkaban escapee, Sirius Black," She says, slipping into a more professional setting, Remus nods.
"Right, of course. Please, come in." Remus leads the young woman through the house.
"Dora?" Severus asks as the two walk in.
"Good Morning Professor," She says, then looks to Remus, "And you, Professor." Remus rolls his eyes, "I'm the Auror here to speak with you about Mr Black's escape."
"You're an Auror? Drom must love that," Severus comments dryly, the girl smirks.
"Why does an Auror want to speak with you about Sirius Black?" Blaise asks in confusion, then he notices the tremor in Remus' hand that always means reminders of bad things, "I think I'll go hang out with Pansy for a while," He says, "Come on Benni." Benoit looks up, only now realising someone else is in the room. He grabs his notebook and follows Blaise without bothering to catch up on the situation.
"Be back by five," Severus tells him sternly, Blaise always seems to delight in having an adult show concern for his safety and so never fights them on it, he nods and walks through the floo, "Would you like a drink? Cup of tea or something?" He offers, Tonks shakes her head.
"No, thank you."
"Here, have a seat, let's get this out of the way," He suggests, seeing his Husband not doing too well.
"Right, thank you. Um, have either of you heard from Sirius Black since his escape?"
"No," Severus replies, Remus shakes his head.
"Do you have any idea how he was able to escape?" Severus frowns.
"You don't know? I mean, no, I have no idea, I just assumed your lot would have worked it out."
"Azkaban is supposed to be inescapable to humans," Tonks replies, "Mr Lupin, any ideas?" Remus debates for a moment whether to mention that Sirius is an illegal Animagus. He wouldn't even think it important if not for her specifically adding the humans and making it occur to him, but something keeps him from saying it. He shakes his head again, Tonks sighs as though she were really hoping they'd be able to shed some light on it, "Do you have any idea where he may have gone to hide? Somewhere he'll believe is safe?"
"Sirius Black is a lot of things, but he's not an idiot. He's not going to be anywhere we'd know about," Severus tells her, she sighs.
"He's been in Azkaban for twelve years, that's enough to damage anyone's faculties. Besides, he may be under the impression you won't sell him out," She adds, looking to Remus who hasn't said a word since the questioning began. Severus was beginning to have his own doubts about his husband being truthful, but he wasn't about to let her know that.
"Auror Tonks the reason you are here is because we were his friends, that means we were the ones he betrayed. We aren't about to be protecting him."
"I'm not trying to make any accusations, I'm just trying to make sure no one gets hurt, that's my job," Tonks tells him strongly, Remus sighs, he wants Sirius to be free, he really does, but this isn't the way.
"The Potter Estate, it's been abandoned. It'll be Harry's when he comes of age, but until then no one can touch it. He's always felt safe there," Remus tells her, she looks relieved and nods once in thanks.
"If you see him or hear from him or think of anything else, shoot me a letter at the Aurors' department," Tonks requests, he nods, as does Severus.
"We will."
"Thank you, well, I'll get out of your hair. Thank you for your help." Remus nods again.
"Say hi to your parents for us." She smiles and nods, and then she's gone.
"I miss that estate," Severus comments, Remus hums his agreement, "Think he's really gone there?"
"I doubt it, but I can't think of anywhere else he'd go."
"Are you hoping they find him?" Remus sighs, slumping against the door frame.
"I really don't know."
"Dad…Sirius Black is my Uncle Padfoot…isn't he?" Jamie asks nervously from the doorway, Remus closes his eyes, nodding, "I've seen the photo in the paper, he looks deranged."
Remus doesn't respond, doesn't know how to.
Two days later, Jamie is in a park near her house drawing when she hears a bark close behind her, she turns around and sees a big black dog.
"Hi there pup," She says, looking around for an owner, the dog walks over, sniffing at her. She scratches behind the dog's ears, "Where are your humans?" It barks in her face, nosing at her, she frowns, looking at the dog, "Do I know you? Been around the neighbourhood long?" The dog seems to grow restless, it turns and runs back into the bushes, she goes after it, "Hey, wait!" When she enters the bushes, she doesn't find a dog, she finds a man. Her eyes widen, she steps back.
"Jamie," Sirius says, looking half mad, Jamie gulps, trying to think of how to get away.
"U-Uncle," She stutters, he smiles.
"You remember me?"
"Vaguely." His smiles falls.
"I suppose he wouldn't have told you about me…" Jamie frowns at him.
"You killed people." Sirius shakes his head, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes.
"No, no I didn't!" He tells her angrily, snapping his head up to look at her again, she flinches, his voice turns pleading, "I didn't Jamie, I didn't, you have to believe me!" Jamie bites at her lip, Sirius chuckles, the distress fading from his face in a matter of moments, "Your Dad used to do that all the time."
"Don't you dare talk about my Dad! You're a murderer, a traitor, you think I don't know what you did?! I was there when Dumbledore told my Dad what happened, I was there when what you did broke my Daddle, I was there to watch my parents try desperately to pick up the pieces you smashed them into. So don't you dare talk about my Dad like he's your friend." Sirius drops to his knees, head hung.
"I didn't do it, I didn't, I would never have…" Jamie frowns, unsure why he's even denying it.
"Well if you didn't do it then who did?"
"Peter did it, that rat," Sirius spits out bitterly.
"Uncle Wormy? He's dead, Black."
"No, no, he isn't. He's with him, he's so close, I have to stop him have to kill him."
"You aren't doing much to convince me you're innocent here," Jamie comments dryly, Sirius giggles manically.
"Got your Dad's sense of humour too."
"My Dad doesn't really have a sense of humour. He's not one for much laughter." Sirius' face looks utterly devastated and Jamie finds it hard to keep up with his changing moods.
"Jamie please. I didn't do it. Help me prove it, imagine how much that would help your Dad." Jamie bites her lip.
"I'm not saying I believe you," She begins, "But if I were to help you, what is it you need me to do?"
"I need to know where my Son is." Jamie frowns.
"I don't remember you having a Son."
"Harrison," Sirius tells her desperately.
"Harry's Uncle Prongs and Aunt Lily's son."
"No, no, he's not, he's not. We told people he was to protect him, he was after him, we had to hide him, had to keep him safe."
"Okay, okay," Jamie says slowly, thinking it all through and trying to remember anything that would support his story.
"So, Del and Sirius asked me to be the baby's god-father, alongside you of course," Severus tells him, Remus nods.
"That'll be two god-children we have in common then."
"They also asked me to be Harry's god-father now that Sirius is really more of an actual parent, both said that should things be as they were, Tom would have wanted it that way," He adds, Remus smiles.
"He did have a profound respect for you." Severus sighs.
"I miss him, I miss all of them."
"Me too."
"You're his step-father," Jamie realises, Sirius shakes his head.
"I adopted him, he's mine, I have to protect him," He tells her, "Please let me protect him." She nods.
"I don't know where he is, but I think I can find out. Just meet me here at Midnight," Jamie tells him, he frowns.
"You shouldn't be out at Midnight."
"It's the only chance I have to get out, do you want my help or not?"
"Fine, but if we get caught, I'm blaming that particular detail on you." Jamie rolls her eyes.
"Yes, because that is totally going to be our biggest problem if we get caught."
"Jamie," Sirius says seriously, pun not intended but ridiculously hard to avoid, "Thank you, for believing me."
"No parent would turn their own child over to a madman," Jamie replies, Sirius doesn't think it would help him to point out that some would, he's also glad that she's grown up in such a way that she believes that. Then he hears a door shut and transforms into Padfoot in a panic, "Shh, shh, don't worry, it's just a car, everything's fine." The dog whimpers, she kneels down in front of it, "Everything is going to be okay Uncle Padfoot, I promise. I will do everything I can to bring you home. First, let's make sure your Son is safe." The dog transforms back into a person.
"Sorry." Jamie leans forward and hugs the man closely, he hugs her back, breaking down into her shoulder, she lets him, stroking his back comfortingly.
When Jamie gets home, the first thing she does is shower really well. Everything is over if her Werewolf Father smells him on her. No way he's forgotten his scent.
She goes into her Daddle's study, looking through the desk, trying to find any information on her cousin, a child she has vague memories of. Well, in her memories there are two children, she doesn't know which is Harry and which is Nev, only even knowing that name from a faint memory of calling him that herself.
She finds nothing.
"Dad," Jamie begins cautiously at dinner that night, Blaise and Severus exchange nervous looks at her tone of voice as Remus raises an eyebrow at her, "What happened to Harry?"
"What do you mean?"
"After Aunt Lily and Uncle Prongs died, what happened to him?" Remus blinks at her in surprise, "It's just, Daddle is his God-Father, so why isn't he here with us?"
"How did you know that?" Severus asks her, Blaise looking between the three in confusion.
"Well I was in the room when you told him, you know, I heard the conversation." Severus and Remus look to each other in surprise, "He's my cousin, I just wanted to know where he ended up."
"With his Aunt and Uncle," Remus says eventually, "Lily's sister and brother-in-law." Jamie frowns.
"I don't remember them."
"No, you wouldn't."
"Where do they live?" She asks in a calmly curious tone, under normal circumstances it wouldn't have been questioned, but her Dad doesn't want to talk about this and when he doesn't want to talk about something, he does his best to shut down the conversation. Usually by questioning things that wouldn't normally be questioned.
"Why are you asking?" Jamie frowns at him.
"I'm just curious," She replies defensively, Remus sighs.
"Sorry. They uh, live in England, Surrey, I think."
"That's kind of near Grandma and Grandpa, isn't it?" Remus nods.
"A bit, yes."
"Cool. Looking forward to school Blaise?"
Later that night, Jamie climbs out of the window she'd purposefully left open earlier so that she wouldn't have to open it now. She silently lowers herself to the ground before breaking off into a sprint back to the park.
When she gets to the bushes though, there's no man nor dog around.
"Dammit Pads, where are you?" She groans in frustration.
"You sound like your Dad." She spins around with a yelp.
"God damn don't do that!"
"Sorry."
"He's in Surrey, living with Aunt Lily's sister and brother-in-law."
"What? But Vernon's dreadful! I have to get over there."
"Uncle Padfoot, wait!" Sirius turns around to face her, still looking half-mad, "I seriously doubt Harry knows you're his Dad. More than likely he believes Aunt Lily and Uncle Prongs are his parents. More importantly, he's not going to have heard of you as anything but a deranged killer."
"What's your point?"
"My point is, whoever it is you mentioned killing earlier, don't do it. Show Harry he's wrong, don't prove him right. If this Vernon really is dreadful, he needs you." Sirius hesitates before nodding, she's not completely convinced he even understood her, "And take this," She adds, handing over an old jacket of her Father's. He takes it, putting it on. It's old, it's too big for him, and it's almost threadbare. But given what else he's wearing, she doesn't think he'll care about any of that.
"Thank you, Jamie, it's good to see you again." Jamie nods.
"Don't make me regret this Black." Sirius nods, then transforms into a dog and he's off.
Jamie watches him go before taking a deep breath, hoping she hasn't just condemned her cousin to death.
"Uncle Lu, hi, is Draco around?" Jamie asks as she steps out of the floo, Lucius looks surprised before nodding.
"In the music room I believe.
"Brilliant, thank you." With that she leaves the room, Lucius is bewildered by the abrupt interaction before deciding Lupins are just weird sometimes.
"Hey, Dragon, gotta talk to you," Jamie says as she walks into the music room, Draco looks up from the piano, turning to face her.
"What is it?" He asks, frowning.
"So, you remember that time Uncle Lucius tried to murder a third of the population of Hogwarts and you told me and I helped you without telling anyone?"
"Vaguely rings a bell, yes."
"I told Sirius Black where to find Harry Potter." Draco blinks at her, nonplussed. He walks over, grabbing her arm and dragging her to his room, shutting the door, pulling her into the closet, and shutting that door too.
"What the bloody hell?!"
"He's my Uncle!"
"He's a murderer!"
"He's innocent!"
"Did he tell you that?"
"Well…yes…but he was telling the truth."
"How can you possibly know that?"
"Family secret, but I remember the truth and it verifies everything he said and no one out of a very select group of people, only four of which are left, could possibly know. He's innocent Dragon, I swear it." Draco looks at her before groaning in frustration.
"All right, fine, he's innocent. Or, he's not, and Potter dies."
"He is innocent."
"Why are you telling me any of this anyway?"
"Because he's also a little bit deranged, probably from the twelve years in Azkaban. I think he's going to go to Hogwarts to protect Harry from the real murderer, Peter Pettigrew. If he does, he's going to hide somewhere he feels safe." Draco frowns.
"You want me to help him?"
"Dumbledore will keep an eye on me because of his escape, but he's got no reason to think you'd get involved. I want you to make sure no one goes anywhere near where he's hidden."
"Well where will that be?" Jamie frowns.
"I don't know." The two think back on all the stories they've heard.
"The Whomping Willow, didn't Uncle Remus say it hides the place young Lycanthropes go? Surely Black will know about this?" Jamie nods, "Well there you go, the tree will keep everyone away."
"Look there's something else, something you cannot tell anyone."
"What?"
"Uncle Padfoot is an Animagus." Draco sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Of course he is, that's probably how he got out of Azkaban, right?" Jamie shrugs.
"I don't know."
"What animal?"
"Really big black dog." Draco raises an eyebrow.
"Your supposedly innocent Uncle is the grim?"
"An unfortunate coincidence, nothing more." Draco sighs again.
"If someone dies because I helped hide him, I will murder you myself." Jamie nods, "Okay then, I guess I'm helping a fugitive."
Remus,
I'm concerned about the presence of Dementors around Hogwarts, as I recall you have quite the powerful Patronus.
Would you mind taking the train with the students, just in case something goes wrong?
Yours Thankfully,
Albus Dumbledore
Remus sighs, reading the letter as the order it actually is. First Minerva 'requests' he get a wand so as not to encourage students to do exactly what he did, now this. Remus is almost regretting taking the position, almost. He supposes the trip over will allow him some rest, it'll only be a day after the full moon after all.
"I'll see you at the feast then?" Severus asks his Husband who nods, he smiles at him, leaning in to kiss him good bye.
"Must you do this?" Blaise asks, disgusted looks on his and Pansy's faces, Remus chuckles, kissing Severus once more before sending him through the floo.
"Right then, a week to go. What do you want to do?"
"Plot ways to make Dumbledore's life difficult?" Pansy offers, Blaise nods.
"I like that plan," He says, pointing at her and nodding approvingly.
"Agreed," Jamie adds. Remus nods too for a moment before shaking his head.
"What, no! You can't, I'm a teacher now, don't get me in trouble!" The three kids laugh at their caretaker/Father, Remus leaves the room, shaking his head in exasperation. Difficult though they may be, he's still glad Pansy is staying over until school starts up. Blaise seems worried about his Mother, something that has never happened before, and Remus isn't quite sure what to do about it. Jamie's tried talking to him, but he won't say much. Everyone's been so careful with the family since the trial, and sure, Remus can understand why, but if it means he can be there for Blaise then he'll make himself okay for a conversation about whatever it is really bothering him. Remus sighs, he supposes he'll just have to keep an eye on his charge throughout the year. He smiles to himself, glad he can actually do so, even if he's going to miss Benni something terrible. Still, his parents are looking forward to having him with them, and Benoit has always loved his grand-parents.
Come to join the game Papa?... Remus spins, trying to spot the voice. It's everywhere, everything is everywhere, he can't get away.
…I was only trying to drain it… No, no not again, not again, he can't do this again, DON'T MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN NOT AGAIN!
…YOU'RE THE MONSTER!... no noooo no please no, not a monster, not a monster, I AM NOT A MONSTER not a monster no no nooo.
…start with the skin… NO! GET AWAY FROM HIM, NOO!
"NOOO!" Remus bolts up in his bed, tears on his face, trembling harshly. He looks to the side, but his husband isn't laying there reading as he usually does over night. It takes Remus a moment to remember why. He focuses on trying to get his breathing under control.
Dammit this is a terrible idea, He thinks, I can't even deal with the night how am I meant to deal with a class. I'm so easily triggered, I can't drink, I lose my shit, what do I do if I have a panic attack, I can't do this I can't!
Remus doesn't hear the door open, the blood rushing in his ears as he grips his hair, yanking on it and curling in on himself as he sits on the bed.
"Come on Remus, breathe with me, that's it, just breathe…" Remus isn't sure who's speaking, but he tries to follow the voice's instructions. Eventually he's calmed enough to look up and see Lucius sitting before him.
"Lucius I can't do it, I can't go." Lucius rubs his back soothingly as he holds him close.
"It's going to be okay Rem. You won't be alone." Remus buries his face in his best friend's neck, trying to calm down some more.
"He was my son," Remus whispers a while later. The arms around him tighten.
"I know."
A week later, Remus and the three Hogwarts bound children go to the train station and immediately head onto the train.
"Are you going to sit with us?" Pansy asks Remus, Blaise looks mildly alarmed at the idea while she seems hopeful, he smiles but shakes his head.
"No, I think you'll all see me enough this year, you two go and have fun with your friends." Jamie kisses her father on the cheek and then heads off to find the twins and Lee.
"Don't let Draco hear you call us that," Blaise warns jokingly, though he seems relieved by the words.
"Right, off with you, I'll see you both at the feast."
As they run off, he heads in the other direction, hoping to find a free compartment. Pretty much as soon as he's comfortably settled, he's asleep.
Something is very very wrong. Remus opens his eyes and finds a small group of panicking students, "Quiet!" he says, they all fall silent. Remus, momentarily forgetting about his wand, lights a ball of flame in his hand to light the room. Perhaps everyone had been right about he and fire, "Stay where you are." He gets to his feet and heads towards the door, but it slides open before he gets there.
Before him, a dementor stands, or floats as it were, and breathes in. An intense cold sweeps over the room, or perhaps just the occupants. Remus feels the cold chill his very soul, then Harry slides to the ground and it jolts Remus into action.
He steps over his Nephew, walking out to the dementor, finally pulling out his wand and pointing it at the creature.
"None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." Only it doesn't leave, Remus shoots Harry a nervous look out of the corner of his eye before focusing himself on the memory he has always used to power his Patronus.
"They are a menace and they will be punished for this. Their peers is one thing but Mr Potter and Mr Black need to learn that pranking a teacher is too far." Remus allows his hearing to fade into the background as he laughs harder.
"What?" James asks as he wipes tears from his eyes, Remus debates how to explain before realising the answer is simple.
"I was reading Professor McGonagall's lips as she spoke to Slughorn," He tells them, somehow they don't seem surprised he can do so.
"What did Minnie have to say?" Sirius asks, Remus straight up grins more cheekily than they've ever seen and gives his best McGonagall impersonation.
"They're a menace, Mr Potter and Mr Black need to learn that pranking a teacher is too far, they'll be punished for this."
"What?! Us?! It was your idea!" Sirius says, outraged, Peter laughs harder. "Why would she blame us?"
"Maybe she's met you," Marlene says from beside him, "I can't believe you'd try to blame Remus for this, he'd never do it, let alone have it be his idea," She tells him sternly, Sirius splutters.
"Yeah, quit blaming me," Remus tells him, Sirius glares at him.
"Traitor," He tells him, James laughs, clapping Remus on the shoulder.
"Perhaps Albus was right after all," He mutters to himself as the creature finally floats away. He turns back to the worried students, now recognising Ginny and who he thinks must be Ron, "He's all right, he'll wake up shortly," Remus assures them. The girl with bushy hair sinks down beside Harry, shortly followed by probably-Ron.
"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?" The girl asks as she slaps his Nephew's face lightly.
"W-what?" The boy blinks his eyes open slowly. Remus immediately stops thinking Severus is wrong about Harry's eyes being charmed, there's no mistaking those are of Lily Evans' genetics.
Probably-Ron and bushy-haired girl help Harry back onto his seat, Ginny sits huddled in a corner while a boy who seems frightfully familiar watches on in panic.
"Are you okay?" Probably-Ron asks Harry who nods slightly.
"Yeah," He says, looking at the door anxiously, he seems both relieved and confused that the Dementor is no longer there, "What happened? Where's that-that thing? Who screamed?" Probably-Ron gives his friend a worried look.
"No one screamed," He tells him, looking to grow more nervous. Harry looks around, hovering over Ginny and Neville who return the gaze, still pale and shaky. Remus realises they need a bit of help to get over this and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a block of chocolate, "But I heard screaming…" They all startle at the noise of the chocolate snapping, it's all Remus can do not to laugh at them. He feels like he's not shaping up to be a great teacher but, anything's better than Severus? He feels like he's not shaping up to be a great husband either…wow, maybe he needs some chocolate after that dementor as well.
"Here, eat it. It'll help," He says, handing a large piece to Harry who takes it but makes no move to eat it.
"What was that thing?" Harry asks, Remus answers as he hands some chocolate to everyone.
"A Dementor, one of the Dementors of Azkaban." All the students stare at him, looking very frightened, as he crumples the empty wrapper and puts it in his pocket, "Eat, it'll help," He repeats, "I need to speak to the driver, excuse me." He walks past Harry with as much calm as he can muster before walking to the front of the train. On the way he passes through the 'Slytherin Carriage' and finds some nervous looking students.
"Remus!" Theo calls, relieved when he sees him, those who know him crowed around him while other merely recognise his name from tutoring letters or overheard discussions simply pay attention.
"Calm down, everything's all right. Dementors came aboard to look for him, they've gone now. I'm just on my way to speak to the driver, but everything is all right. We'll be at Hogwarts shortly," He tells them all, they calm instantly. Remus smiles reassuringly at his lot before continuing on his journey.
He spends a few minutes questioning the driver on what the hell just happened, apparently the man hadn't stopped the train, it had just stopped moving. He'd started it again as soon as he was capable, Remus sighs but nods and excuses himself. Remus goes to return to the cabin he had been in and check on the children again, but Draco stops him as he walks through.
"Why do you sit with them but didn't sit with us?" He asks him quietly, Remus briefly wonders how he even knows who Remus sat with but doesn't bother to question that right now. The fact that he's asked so quietly shows Remus that he doesn't want to make a scene but is actually hurt, Remus smiles at him kindly.
"I wanted you all to be able to have fun without your God-Father and whatever it is the others consider me to be hovering over you. I fell asleep in an empty compartment and woke up in one with multiple students and a Dementor. That's all there is to it Little Dragon, I promise." He seems shifty still but nods and steps out of the way, Remus claps him on the shoulder lightly before continuing towards his compartment.
As he enters, he looks amused, noticing they haven't eaten the chocolate, "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know…" They all seem to look rather embarrassed as they eat the sweet, colour returning to their faces instantly, "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," Remus tells them, "Are you all right, Harry?"
"Fine," The boy replies, clearly embarrassed, Remus decides to leave it alone as he retakes his seat.
"Dad!" Remus turns to the door, standing as Jamie walks in with the twins and throws herself at him.
"Are you all right?" Remus asks her, sitting her down beside him. The twins squeeze in as well.
"She passed out-"
"-but she seems okay now," The twins tell him, he looks at her in concern.
"I ate some chocolate and gave some to Knucklehead and Chucklhead over here, don't worry," Jamie promises Remus, her Father sighs, nodding. Remus looks up to see Ginny looking at him in confusion before a light fills her eyes and she smiles.
"I know you, you're the friend of my parents I met at the train station when Ron started Hogwarts." Remus smiles and nods.
"It's nice to see you again Miss Weasley," He tells her, ignoring the confused looks on everyone else's faces.
"You know, your husband is still giving Percy nightmares," She tells him, he sighs.
"I meant to talk to him, but then he started talking about three-headed dogs and the like and I found myself worrying about other things," He replies, she chuckles, though still seems shaken. Harry, Probably-Ron, and Bushy-Haired Girl exchange surprised looks at his words, no doubt remembering their first year and wondering who on Earth had told him.
"I think Percy's just a wimp, I rather like his class. So do Fred and George, but honestly I think they just like how much it annoys him they're friends with his daughter," She says, sending an amused look to the three in question, all three smirk, "Oh, you must be her father too?" Remus nods, Jamie leaning into her Father's side. She still doesn't like being separated from him but has gotten used to it thanks to being at school. Still, when stuff happens, she can be quite clingy again, and it's obvious to him that the Dementors had quite the affect on her as well, "Hang on, did you say three-headed dog?"
"Yes, apparently there was a Cerberus in the school, I never did find out exactly why, only that it bit my husband's leg." Ginny winces.
"Ouch."
"Your husband is Severus Snape?" Harry asks, voice filled with disbelief. Remus looks around at the students in the compartment and isn't all that surprised to see rather horrified looks on most of their faces, he just nods calmly.
"Why?" Probably-Ron asks, bushy-haired girl stamps on his foot, "Ow!"
"That's Ron, by the way. I'm assuming you've met before? Mum said she was still pregnant with me, so he'd have been born, right?" Ginny asks, Remus nods.
"Yes, I think I may have met him when he was a baby. In any case, it's nice to meet you Ron, I'm Remus Lupin," Remus introduces, holding a hand out to the boy who warily shakes it.
"How can you have married Snape but been friends with my parents?" He asks after retracting his hand.
"Honestly Ron, you're being rude!" Bushy-haired girl admonishes, then turns to him, holding out a hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Professor Lupin, I'm Hermione Granger." Remus understands what Severus meant when he said the girl before him reminds him of Narcissa, he ignores the pang that thought creates as he takes the girl's hand, pointedly ignoring her first name,
"A pleasure to meet you as well Miss Granger, I've heard a lot about you." She winces slightly, looking rather panicked and he realises how that must sound given the obvious source of information. He decides to…help his Husband out with being nice, "Sev tells me you're one of the brightest students in your year." The occupants of the carriage look at him in surprise, except Jamie who grins at the thought of her Daddle hearing about this.
"He-He does?" Remus nods, and he's not lying either, Severus had in fact told him that, "I sort of…was under the impression Professor Snape hated me." Remus chuckles.
"Yes, I find myself under that impression sometimes. He's not really the most emotive person, and has little patience, but he's always had a profound respect for those enjoy the simple act of learning." Granger blushes slightly, looking quite pleased with herself, "Maybe don't tell him I said any of that though," He requests, she nods.
"And you're their kid?" Ginny asks Jamie who nods.
"Jamie Lupin," She introduces, Harry's eyes snap to her briefly before he looks away.
"This may be a weird question, but is there any chance Hermione is the only one Snape's mentioned?" Harry asks, Jamie fiddles with a bracelet she's wearing, cursing her cowardice for saying nothing to her cousin yet again.
"Professor Snape," Remus corrects, Harry nods, rather dismissively, "And no, no chance at all."
"Well, this year ought to be interesting," Miss Granger concludes, Ginny chuckles, nodding.
"Can't be worse than last year, erm, no offence Professor," Neville tells him, Remus shakes his head.
"None taken. Though really, if I have to put in any effort to be better than Gilderoy I'll be rather disappointed in myself." The group laughs at that, looking far better than they did a few minutes ago.
"Do you know him, Sir?"
"We went to school together, he and I…didn't exactly get along," Remus tells them, thinking of Sirius punching him in the face.
"Quite the understatement from the story Aunt Drom tells," Jamie says, Remus rolls his eyes.
"Could tell you a few stories about Andromeda too," Remus mutters, his students seem highly amused and approving, probably because he's a teacher they are finding things they can relate to, "In any case, we weren't exactly friends."
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me. I can't really imagine anyone getting on with him," Harry tells him, Remus nods.
"Yes, as I recall he had a knack for knowing the most…disturbing and random things."
"What do you mean Professor?" Granger asks, Remus smiles in mild amusement.
"Long ago there was an old tradition amongst Wizards. The third Friday of every month, wizarding families would get together, strengthen the bonds of blood. Following an incident, I decided it would be fun to start those dinners at Hogwarts. Part of the night you're supposed to play games or do an activity chosen by the elders of the family, but for the first of our dinners I decided them myself with a bit of input from my friends' parents. One such game was called factoid," Remus tells them, Neville's face lights up.
"My Gran's told me about this, you have to say a weird fact and if no one's heard it before you win, right?" Remus nods, "Gran said my Dad loved that game."
"Quite right Neville, and yes he did, however he was never particularly good at it. I think he just liked hearing the other facts and wondering where on Earth people heard these things."
"You knew my father?" Remus nods.
"And your mother, Frank and Alice were very close friends of mine, and the god-parents of Jamie," He tells the boy, looking marginally sad for a moment, Jamie subtly takes her father's hand, "Anyway, the first dinner we did, we played factoid, and old Gilly Lockhart won. Something about a Dutch president who had been eaten by an angry mob," Remus says, the others look disturbed.
"Eaten?" Granger asks, Remus nods, face screwed up.
"Like I said, he knew disturbing and random things."
"Well, he certainly doesn't anymore," Ron comments, Granger rolls her eyes as he and Harry chuckle.
After that, the ice had been broken and the students freely spoke about their summers, well, everyone but Harry did. He mostly just questioned them or spoke about Quidditch and such. Ginny spent most of the train ride trying to pry more knowledge about Severus out of Remus, it didn't work well, but Jamie found it hilarious.
Remus can only hope the year continues this way.
NOTE:
So, Remus' mental state is seesawing a bit in this chapter. If that's bothering anyone I thought I'd just explain the reason I've written it like that. Right now he's got no idea how to deal with what happened, still unable to imagine his little boy did as he did. It came from seemingly no where and then it was gone and he has no idea what to do so he's trying to ignore it, trying to force it away so that he doesn't have to work out how to deal with it, but it doesn't work like that. Sometimes, like when he's asleep, he can't push it away.
So yeah, that's my thinking on this.
