Hello! So its been a bit since I last updated…real life intruding again, in three months I can actually call myself a Journalist and not just a student Journalist. Its all very exiting. So this chapter, as promised will be full of Lupin goodness not to mention a certain dark haired man with tendencies to turn into a dog. It will be moving forward quite a bit, after all we all know what happens in POA so I don't think we need to rehash every moment. Right? That being said I have borrowed quite a bit for this chapter. So without any more rambling, here is the fore mentioned chap. Hope you like it. :D
"Hello?" Remus called, feeling slightly amused that he felt like he should announce himself in his own home. He had, after much deliberation decided that his time would be much better spent visiting his wife instead of staying at Hogwarts for the holidays. He knew he was not alone in wanting to escape the castle, especially after what had happened at Halloween…
There was a resounding thud from the kitchen area, followed by what sounded like china breaking and then a familiar, "Bollocks!"
Remus ceased his dark musings and with a shake of his head strode to the kitchen to be greeted with the sight of Tonks furiously pointing her wand at the floor where what looked to be half the tea set lay, broken in many little shards. China did so have a tendency of getting everywhere when it broke.
Remus extracted his wand and pointed it at the mess, causing it to return to its whole and original state. He then levitated it to the counter and turned just into time to find her suddenly very close to him. It was all he could do to steady himself as all five foot four and pink hair was launched at him.
"I didn't think you were coming home," she said into his chest. "Thought I was going to have to pry you away from that place."
He laughed, "Hardly. I just needed to find the right moment. And with everything that's been going on I doubt my absence will seem odd."
She hummed her agreement and leaned up to kiss him briefly. "I missed you," she breathed softly, smiling.
"Yes it has been rather quite without you around. I was just getting used to not hearing something break every other minute."
She scowled and hit him upside the head lightly. "Oi, watch yourself Lupin. I'm not above hurting you." She moved away from him and back to the counter. "I was just making tea, as you can obviously tell from my rather flattering performance a moment ago. You want?"
"Sure."
They spent a quiet Christmas eve together, catching up on what had been going on whilst they were away from one another. Of course they had written to each other, almost daily it seemed, but it wasn't the same as actually being able to talk face to face and see instead of imagine the reaction of the other.
"So," she said, somewhere around 10 o'clock, "tell me about what happened at Halloween." They were lying on the couch, her head resting on his chest and so she felt the slight change in his relaxed mood.
"I'm sure you've heard most of what happened. He tried to get into Gryffindor tower, presumably to get at Harry."
She sat up slightly to better see his face and looked at him shrewdly. "But you don't think that was his aim?" It didn't escape her attention that neither of them had used his name yet, as if it was as taboo as saying Voldemort. Perhaps for them it was.
Remus sighed. "If it had been, then why did he go to the tower when he knew we would all be in the great hall? Maybe he is mad like they say and didn't realize what day it was, but…"
Tonks considered this. "Would have been poetic, wouldn't it? In a sick and twisted way. Killing Harry on the anniversary of the night James and Lily died. On the night he stopped Voldemort."
"Oh believe me," he said darkly, "I've considered that as well. It just doesn't add up completely Dora. But I suppose there really isn't anything to be done but keep a close eye on Harry and hope that he's caught soon."
It was her turn to sigh. "Nothing new on that front. Half the Auror department is out there everyday but so far not even the slightest hint of him. Not that there would be. However much he may have changed, some things remain the same." She said, remembering her conversation with Kingsley months ago now.
"So," she asked trying to lighten the mood, "What's Harry like?"
A slight smile touched Remus's lips. "He's…he's so much like them Dora. It caught me off guard at first. But at the same time he's different from them, especially his father. Which in itself is a good thing, I don't think the world could handle another James."
She smiled. "Now that would be a disaster."
"The Dementors have been giving him trouble, they seem particularly drawn to him. After the holiday's I'm going to teach him how to conjure a Patronus."
She raised one pink brow. "A Patronus? Do you think he's ready for that? I know grown wizards who couldn't master that."
Remus shrugged. "I don't know what else to do. He's determined to defend himself against them and I can't just not help him. Besides, I think he just might be able to surprise us."+++
Remus sat in his office, staring at the fifth year essays in front of him, hand poised as if to begin writing a comment, but his mind was far away from the task at hand. For the past few days all that had consumed his free wakeful moments had been the latest "incident" involving his one time friend.
He blinked, gazed at the page in front of him and began writing on the bottom. "Well written, but…."
Could he really have been trying to hurt Ron Weasley? Many thought that it had been a mistake; he'd gotten the wrong bed. Others were more sure that he had simply been ready to kill everyone in the dormitory, he was so mad. Remus didn't know what to think. This was a man who he thought he knew well, and as Dora had pointed out while some things changed, others didn't. A person no matter what path their life took would be at their root the same. And what about that Broom at Christmas. Despite not finding anything wrong with it, Remus was almost perfectly positive he knew whom the broom was from. Which lead him to the question, what kind of game was he playing?
Suddenly there was a sound from the fireplace, "Lupin! I want a word!"
Remus stood; he would know that voice anywhere. Quickly, curiosity piquing, he strode to the fire, threw in some powder and stepped in, seconds later stepping into Severus Snape's office. The first thing he registered, aside from the anger on his colleagues face was that Harry was there as well.
"You called Severus?" he asked mildly.
"I certainly did. I have just asked Potter to empty his pockets. He was carrying this," His tone held fury as he pointed at the offending object. Remus looked at it and quickly found that he had to work to keep his expression neutral, for sitting on the desk looking as innocuous as it always had was the Marauders map. The piece of parchment he had spent many nights slaving over. And Harry had it?
He vaguely realized that Snape was talking to him, demanding an answer.
"Well? This parchment is plainly full of dark magic. This is supposed to be your area of expertise Lupin. Where do you imagine Potter got such a thing?"
He did not miss the meaning behind Snape's words and so with a quick look at Harry, warning him not to say anything, he said mildly, knowing it would annoy the other man that he didn't seemed fazed, "Full of dark magic? Do you really think so Severus? It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment that insults anyone who tries to read it. Childish, but surely not dangerous? I imagine Harry got it from a joke-shop…"
He could see that Snape was now livid. "You don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers?"
Remus pretended not to know whom he spoke of. He questioned Harry who assured that he knew none of the men who were mentioned on the parchment.
Ron burst in then, declaring he had given Harry all the things found in his pockets and as far as Remus was concerned that was his que to get them out of there.
"Well!" he said looking around cheerfully, although he felt far from it, "that seems to clear that up. Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" he took the map and folded it away. "Harry, Ron, come with me. I need a word about my Vampire essay. Excuse us Severus." He ushered the boys out of the office.
"Professor I…"
"I don't want to hear any explanations," he cut him off shortly. He looked around, saw they were alone and lowered his voice, "I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map," he added at the boys' looks, "I don't want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however, astounded you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And I can't let you have it back Harry." he finished, ignoring the feeling building inside him. Part of him was disappointed in Harry, but he was also curious how he had gotten the map.
"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?" Harry was questioning him.
"Because…" oh how to answer? "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of the school. They'd think it extremely entertaining." There was bad taste in his mouth.
"Do you know them?"
"We've met." He eyed Harry very seriously. "Don't expect me to cover up for you again Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought what you have heard when the Dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them-gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks."
He walked away then, despairing at the failings of youth, weather it was his own folly or Harry's he wasn't sure.+++
Remus could once again be found in his office, although this time he stood at his desk looking down at a blank piece of parchment. Taking up his wand he murmured, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The parchment immediately filled, the familiarity of it causing him a slight pang, and he leaned close, peering at it in the dying evening light. His eyes caught a dot labeled "Harry Potter" and he watched as it moved along with those labeled Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, moved to Hagrid's house. He had thought they would try and sneak out to be with their friend in his hour of need.
Remus sat at his desk and twirled his wand through his fingers idly. He still felt conflicted although he was no longer angry with Harry. If he was honest with himself he had not been Angry, more disappointed. At the same time part of him wanted to pass the map back to the boy and make him promise to keep it safe. He'd tried ignoring the map himself, too afraid of the memories and feelings its presence invoked. In the end it had been futile.
His eyes drifted to the object again, how much time had passed while he was lost in thought he wasn't sure, and he again saw the three dots, this time moving away from Hagrid's. And their number seemed to have increased by one…
Remus picked up the map, almost roughly, and looked at it very closely. Surely, he thought, he was seeing things. Or the map was after all these years malfunctioning. But no, he knew that it didn't lie. It couldn't. So that could only mean that yes he was in fact seeing…
With disbelieving eyes Remus watched as another dot rushed toward Harry and his friends. It collided with them and then it was pulling Ron and the other, the one who couldn't be there and yet was, into the Whomping willow.
"Sirius."
With the name hardly leaving his lips, Remus palmed his wand and rushed out of the room and into the grounds, forgetting for the first time in 28 years that tonight was not the best for him to be outside.
