After the eventful train ride to Hogwarts, all Remus wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep. He wasn't all that hungry, and felt he'd benefit more from a bit of seclusion. Unfortunately for him, that would not be the case. He had to attend the beginning of term feast. Remus limped a bit over to the empty chair by charms professor Filius Flitwick. He felt the stares of other professors: not angry or hateful, mostly just curious and kind. That is, except for one Severus Snape, who simply glared at Remus.

"Severus," Remus nodded kindly. Snape pressed his lips firmly together in a grown, not responding. Remus simply sighed and stared at his plate. Why would he have expected anything else. He existed, which was bad enough for Snape, but he also had the job Snape always wanted. He only hoped his monthly potion wouldn't be poisoned as a result. Remus had hoped for a moment that maybe he could patch things up with his old classmate—it wasn't as if either of them had many friends. It wouldn't hurt to be friends with each other.

"Remus!" Flitwick exclaimed: "It's great to see you. And a professor! I am unsurprised; you were always an excellent student."

Remus smiled. "Thank you, prof—Filius," he corrected, still trying to get over the fact that he was now a peer of the people he once considered so far above him. "I'm happy to be here."

"I heard it took some convincing," Flitwick said. Remus smiled sheepishly. "None of us mind, Remus. In fact, it makes me prouder to have had you as a student, all you've gone through…Welcome back," Flitwick smiled as the feast began. Remus stared out into the crowd of students, trying to find Harry to give him a light smile. Albus then introduced him to the school, Remus standing up rather shakily and feeling Snape's cold glare on him. Then, it was time to eat. The new professor was still not quite hungry, but he attempted to eat some mashed potatoes, about to put the spoon to his mouth when—

"A shabby reception for a shabbier half-man…Will only get worse, I'm afraid. Sooner or later they'll know what you are—and how close you were to…him," Snape drawled. Remus narrowed his eyes, dropping his spoon to his plate. Several of the other professors turned to watch the two. Remus looked down the table to Severus, doing his best to force out a smile.

"I have an uncanny knack for putting my trust in the wrong people, yes. I wouldn't think that would be too foreign a concept for you," Remus quipped. Severus pursed his lips. Remus simply smiled and turned back to his food, playing with the potatoes as he tried his best to hold back his emotion. He knew Snivellus couldn't tell anyone outright, but that didn't mean he wouldn't do his best to let it slip. It was the comment on Sirius Black that hurt him the most. Flitwick seemed to sense this.

"I wouldn't worry about Severus. Besides, none of us saw the boy as a killer. If love is blinding, I suppose we all had a soft spot for him."

Not Severus, Remus thought darkly. Perhaps if Remus had paid more attention to the near expulsion of his friend in fifth year, he would have seen Sirius' true character. Severus had never liked the Marauders, but after that it just got worse. Maybe for good reason.

"Thank you, Filius," Remus smiled. But he had lost the slight appetite he had.

After the feast had ended, Remus was planning on going into his office to hide. He could read, go over lesson plans, and sleep the whole night away. He got up, and was about to slink away when:

"Remus!"

The young professor smiled. He knew that voice anywhere.

"Hello, Minerva," he began, turning around to see her. "It's wonderful to see you again."

"I wasn't sure you'd come," She said matter-of-factly. "We've spent years trying to get you back here."

"I had my reasons—good ones," Remus insisted. "Though I must say, Yorkshire was not keeping me busy. Some of my best memories take place in this castle—I am glad to be back," He said truthfully. Minerva smiled.

"However long we have you, we are thankful. The past two professors in your position have been horrible, to put it mildly." Remus snorted.

"Yes, I heard. Well, I can't promise I'll be much better…but I had to come this year. Harry needs to be able to protect himself for when he comes. James would've been furious with me if I didn't teach his son everything I could. I don't trust Snivellus to take care of Harry, but if Dumbledore does..." He trailed off. Dumbledore's judgement meant everything to Remus.

Minerva looked at Remus sadly. "James wouldn't have liked any of this—and neither do I, frankly. I can assure you Harry is well protected, but if there is anything you think I should know…" Minerva looked at Remus knowingly. He gulped but shook his head.

"No, nothing in particular I can think of that's important," Remus lied. He's an unregistered animagus and somewhere in the castle is a map where he can find Harry at any given moment.

"Then, that is settled. I know you don't trust Severus—frankly, he doesn't trust you either."

"I don't know what he hates more—the fact that I nearly killed him, the fact that I was in love with the man who tried to kill him, or the fact that he's making me that new potion—which, I don't need, by the way—"

"Nonsense," Minerva interjected. "You're getting that potion—and that's final. I can see it's helped. You can't blame yourself for that still," She insisted. "We've been over this."

"I know," Remus said a bit hoarsely. "But that doesn't make it hurt any less."

Minerva sighed. "Come with me, Mr. Lupin. We should talk somewhere…private."

Remus followed his former professor out of the Great Hall and over to the west wing of the castle. The two passed McGonagall's office, and Remus nearly opened his mouth to ask where they were going. Minerva sensed this and chuckled.

"You aren't in trouble, Remus. We can meet in your office—as colleagues, and dare I say as friends." Remus simply nodded. My office…Merlin, if the boys could see me now. It felt odd to him that he had an office in this beloved institution. Minerva led Remus to a door, took out a key, and opened it up. The office was certainly not what he expected—it was already furnished, and even had a few personal touches.

"I took the liberty of searching through Argus' office to find some of your old things. I hope you don't mind…"

"It's brilliant," Remus said, eyes twinkling. The office wasn't much, but it had some old Zonko's things and a couple of confiscated notes, as well as some of James' and Sirius' belongings. The office looked a bit more like a lost and found, but Remus supposed that he fit in. Lost and found…and perhaps still lost, he mused.

"Er, shall we sit?" Remus asked, running his fingers across what he supposed was his desk. Minerva smiled tightly.

"Indeed."

Both professors took their seats—Remus behind his desk, and his old professor facing him. It was weird, to be sure, but somehow fitting. Remus looked like he was about to speak, but Minerva cut him off before he could start.

"I know that Sirius Black is an animagus."

Remus' jaw dropped. How did she…

"Albus and I saw you boys…practicing during fifth year. We saw no harm in it, and it seemed to be helping all of you stay out of trouble, so we let it slide. I had been hoping you would come clean, Remus. I expected you to," Minerva said, a bit like she was reprimanding her former student. Remus gulped.

"Professor…I…"

"Minerva, please," McGonagall quipped. "I'm not your professor anymore. I assume that's part of why you came back, yes? You are clever—I assume you know that's how Sirius Black escaped Azkaban." Remus nodded.

"Minerva…I'm sorry," Remus said rather sadly. "I never asked them to do it—and I know I should have said something. That was never my strong suit—I couldn't quite tell my friends no." Minerva chuckled darkly. She knew that to be true. "I do believe that's how he escaped, and I'm sure that's how he will get into the castle—when he inevitably does. There's…something else," Remus added, looking a bit ashamed.

"Remus, if you have any information, I implore you—"

"It's a map," Remus spat. "We made a map—the Marauder's Map, we called it—and it shows the location of everyone in Hogwarts at all times. It got nicked from us some time seventh year, and I haven't seen it since. While I am responsible for most of the charms on it, Sirius knows exactly how to use it. He's going to use it to find Harry—I'm sure of it."

Minerva pursed her lips in thought. "This is grave indeed. And this map…you have no idea where it could be?" Remus shook his head.

"Filch—Argus," He corrected, "Took it from us. If it's in his office, I can help you find it. But I worry after all these years it's gotten into someone else's hands. There's an incantation you have to say to get it to work, otherwise the map insults you, but for a select few…" Remus sighed. "Sirius begged me to add some sort of a clause: if the map thinks you are worthy, it will help you open it. A certain Mr. Moony writes in a scrawl nearly identical to my own and tells the next generation of troublemakers how to use the map. I think the plan was that our children, or any sort of heirs to our misfortunes, would be able to find it and pick up where we left off."

Minerva's eyes widened. This was certainly not the most dangerous thing the boys had done, but it was definitely up there.

"So, Sirius Black could have a map of exactly how to find Harry and avoid being seen doing so. I suppose there's no chance that Harry has found this map first?" Minerva asked. Remus simply shrugged.

"He seems like an honest boy…but I can't exactly find out how to ask him if he's seen it. While I'm sure he would be happy to know I was a good friend of his father's, I don't think it's wise to tell him just how close Sirius and I were. I want him to trust me," Remus added, "As pathetic as that sounds."

"It's not pathetic," Minerva assured him. "But, have you ever thought…and I mean this only as something I myself have been thinking about…Could it be possible that Sirius didn't do what we think he did?" Remus froze.

"Don't," He said testily. "Don't try and defend him. He murdered, what, 13 people? And Peter?" Remus asked breathlessly.

"Remus…you knew him better than anyone—"

"And even I couldn't tell. Merlin, don't you think I've played this over and over in my head? He can't be innocent," Remus insisted. "If he's innocent…It means I abandoned him. My best friend, my boyfriend—we never technically got the chance to break up, though I can assure you," Remus said seriously, "That in my mind, we are thoroughly done. I've had this conversation a million times with my father—if he's innocent, I failed the man I love. I let him rot in a cell for 13 years. How could I live with myself if that were true?" Remus asked, not exactly expecting a response.

"He wouldn't blame you. I can assure you—Black and the Potters suspected—"

"I know what they suspected," Remus spat, turning his gaze angrily. "I can't lie to you, what he was offering to us…to werewolves, it was tempting. Not to an educated werewolf such as myself, but most of us aren't. I don't blame my friends for that—I was deeply undercover, it was hard to separate myself at times," He admitted. "But to leave an innocent man stranded?"

"He wouldn't blame you," Minerva assured Remus. "Look at me. I don't know what to think—by all accounts, Sirius does seem as guilty as can be. But I have learned that things are often not what they seem."

"What," Remus scoffed, "You think Peter could have done it, and then offed himself in the process? Merlin, the boy was never good at magic—you know this."

"All I'm saying," Minerva began, "Is that things are not always as they seem. You loved Sirius—do you think he could be capable of something like this?"

"I loved Sirius fifth year, and you know what he did to me then," Remus said darkly. "Snivellus—Severus," he corrected, "Won't let me ever forget that. The man I thought I knew could never do something like this. But maybe I didn't know him all that well," Remus said quietly.

"You still love him," Minerva said simply. "The way you talk about him—"

"I love the Sirius Black I knew," Remus said, upset. "I can't stop, no matter how hard I try. Part of me believes I'll never stop. But I must, don't you see? And thinking—knowing—he's guilty is the only way to do that."

"There might be another way," Minerva said calmly. "Just…think about it. And if you find that map—do let me know. You do enjoy being here, don't you?"

Remus chuckled darkly. "Of course I enjoy it here—all my best memories were made right in these very halls. They're just…What's the word…"

"Bittersweet?" Minerva suggested. "It's how I feel—I see the Weasley twins and see the Prewetts. I see Harry and see James." Remus nodded.

"Exactly. Bittersweet. A reminder of what we had…and what we have no longer. Still, I think it will do me loads of good being here," Remus added. "Certainly better than Yorkshire."

"I was surprised that you chose to live there," Minerva said. "After all, Lyall is in Surrey…How is he, by the way?"

"He's good, I suppose. Lonely. I visit…monthly. But I don't want to be a burden—Mum is gone, his siblings deserted him long ago…I know he wants to see me," Remus insisted. "It's just difficult to imagine living with my father into my thirties. It's not what I want, and I can't imagine it's what he wants either. He talks about you fondly, though," Remus said with a smile. "His 'dear Minnie,' is what he calls you." Minerva smiled.

"Lyall was, and still is, I assume, a unique man. And a great father. He would never say no to you, as I'm sure you know."

"I do," Remus said quietly. "But he's barely making ends meet as is—another mouth to feed, healers to pay for…It's nothing he wouldn't agree to, but nothing I would want to impose." Minerva rolled her eyes.

"You Lupin men...always worried about imposing. Your father insisted that he was imposing when it was I who begged him to let you come here. Dumbledore was of course as eager as I was, but we both thought it best for a family friend to convince Lyall. I suppose he never told you that?" Remus shook his head.

"No…He seemed to leave that part out," He said, smiling softly. "Yet it sounds very Dad. He was, of course, thrilled when I took this job. His own son—a professor," Remus scoffed. "Seemingly impossible."

"But you're here now," Minerva interjected. "And we at Hogwarts would have it no other way." The professor got up from her chair and straightened out her robes. "I should be going—it is getting late, and I must assume you are exhausted." Remus shrugged, which Minerva took as her cue to go.

"It's always wonderful to see you, Remus," She said kindly.

"And you too, Professor."

Remus watched his old professor leave, and slumped into his chair, thinking. He was happy to be here. It would just take some adjustments. He glanced at a picture on his desk that Minerva had set out for him—it was a picture of young Sirius rustling Remus' hair, smiling and looking right into the camera as Remus blushed. It caused the new professor to smile. Innocent or not, Sirius black would always have a place in his heart. Too tired to move to his bed, Remus slumped into his chair further and at least could think of one thing he would be able to do to help: find the map. And he knew just which twins it may have found.