Hey everyone,
So apparently I have portrayed Lupin a little too negatively. I really need to remind you all once again, Remus is in my Top 10 favorite HP characters and this IS A REDEMPTION STORY! Remus is going to be a dick for a few more chapters, but he WILL have redeemed himself by the end of the story. And when it comes to my little hint, Harry will KEEP the OPTION to return to the Shack, he won't leave it and then permanently return.
All clear?

Venquine1990

Chapter 28
Sirius, Remus, Albus

28th of December 1995
Shrieking Shack, Scotland
Sirius' POV

Christmas and Boxing Day were absolutely brilliant. Harry and I watched the Lion King on Boxing Day and Dobby actually turned the ground floor hallway into a huge winter wonderland. We had a few snowball fights and Harry laughed to the point that his sides hurt while watching Snuffles play in the snow. In my Animagus form I rolled around, got snow stuck in my fur, tried to dig a tunnel into a snowy mountain and got covered in the mountain as the snow collapsed upon my cave. Harry was still laughing as he pulled me out.
Dobby also provided us all three meals and even with a few cakes and some chicken that had obviously been made by Molly. We had happily devoured the whole thing together and talked about everything and nothing while we did so. Dobby had also brought us all the gifts from the others and I had been shocked that there had been several Order members who had thought to buy me something, even Kingsley who was still being stubborn when I left London.
Molly had gotten me some of her usual pastries and even a sweater with stags and dogs sewn into the fabric, the sweater had a light blue color and the stags being pure white while the dogs were pure black. The colors are beautiful, yet I loved the symbolism behind the colors even more and I had put the sweater on with tears running down my eyes. I had also looked at Harry and said: "This makes what you did for me the other day even more special."

We had done all of this on Boxing Day and after I had decided that I would just stay here until the break was over. "After all, Ron's at London, so it's not like he can pick me up. And without him doing so, it won't take anyone long to figure out where I came from." Yet while I had jokingly used this as an excuse, Harry had easily understood that I was staying just to spend more time with him. And my new son had thanked me with a warm hug.
Yet at the same time I hadn't been able to help myself. Both nights I had waited till Harry was fast asleep and then watched him sleep for a few hours. The sight of my new son lying under the cover I had Molly make for him had been a sight that I considered more precious and beautiful than anything else I had seen or any gift I had gotten. After an hour or so each night, I had gone to bed myself, as Dobby had set up a bed for me in the other room.

By now its breakfast time and Harry and I are enjoying ourselves. We seem to have made it a bit of a tradition to have small-talk over meals as Harry is telling me about a few of his DADA classes over the past four years, though he's skipping on Umbridge for obvious reasons. I definitely hadn't been happy when I saw the scars on his hand, but I hadn't been able to do anything about it either, so I had let it rest for the time being.
Then suddenly Harry halts again as he looks outside. He frowns at whatever he sees and after moment, he asks: "What the heck is going on over there?" I gaze out myself and I feel confusion filling me from within as I notice Remus standing just on the edge of the forest that separates the Shack from Hogsmeade village. The man, unlike the other day, isn't alone and he is strangely enough having a couple of young women talk to him with looks of utter adoration and excitement on their faces. And then realization hits me.

"Ugh, I get it. A few days before they took Riddle down, Lupin and Umbridge agreed to work together. They agreed that Lupin would use his werewolf strength to keep Umbridge safe and hold Riddle down so Umbridge could have a clear shot. With Umbridge now gone, probably arrested for crimes like that quill of hers, Lupin gets to call full dibs on the death. And it looks like he now has a reason to like his illness instead of hating it."
"So he's basically pulling a Lockhart while still having done some of the work?" Harry asks and then suddenly I feel something appearing in my hand. I look down and spot it to be a long, flesh colored string that leads out of the shack. "One of Fred and George's Extendable Ears. Dobby must have put the other end with Lupin." Harry exclaims and I quickly split the cord and hand him a bit. He sticks it in his ear and I follow his example.

And while Remus is standing several feet away, I feel like he is standing right next to me as I hear his voice over the cord. "And then Fawkes appeared with the Legendary Sword of Gryffindor and I roared as I slashed it through his neck. He was already dying, but I didn't want to risk the chance that, if I left him to die, he would use dark magic to regain his health or something. The decapitation prevented that." The man boasts and the young women squeal.
"But what about Umbridge?" Harry whispers, yet I look at him worried. The boy shakes his head and whispers: "Only work one way, don't worry. We can hear him, he can't hear us." I nod in relief and mutter: "I'm guessing we just missed out on that bit of the story. She probably cast a spell from a distance, but the spell would only kill him slowly, so this happened. And then William's little plan went into effect, Umbridge got dethroned and Lupin is now taking full credit."

"I'm not sure I'm entirely okay with that." Harry mumbles as he pulls the string from his ear and I do the same with a grimace on my own face. Instantly the string disappears and I look back out the window. I feel determination grow within me and I mutter: "I think it's best if I head out for a bit. See if I can do some damage control before we lose our furry little friend to his own ego." Harry stares out the window himself and his look speaks volumes.
The boy already considers it potentially too late for that. I put my hand on his shoulder and say: "Lupin is acting a lot like how your dad used to act when he was popular at Hogwarts. He eventually grew out of that and he was still in his teens when he did so. Trust me, the Remus we know is still in there. We just need to work hard to find him and bring him back to the surface." Harry stares from me to out the window and then back. And to my relief, he gives me a nod of acceptance.

I smile at him and whisper: "Dobby get me to the other side of the forest, but out of Remus' senses range." I feel the crazy experience that happens when you use Elf travel and notice that I am in between a couple of shops at the far edge of town. I quickly change my cloths to be a bit more casual and take a quick look around to see if anyone's around. I don't spot anyone on the streets or looking out their windows and so I just leave the alleyway.
I head through the forest and just as I reach the other end, I hear Remus continue his boasting. "Oh yes, Harry was one of my best students, a personal prize even. I taught him the Patronus charm and it saved his life on several occasions. I would even dare to say that I saved his life on those occasions." And this just pushes the wrong buttons with me and I snap: "And yet I have him and Hermione to thank for my escape from Hogwarts, not you."

The trio turns to me and Remus shouts: "Sirius, what are you doing here? Where's Harry?" And I calmly answer: "We needed some snacks and I know Harry loves his Honeydukes' chocolate. So I had his help, a House Elf, take me here. Ron already told me the secret so I can return whenever I want. And naturally I can have the elf take me there as well if I feel like it." The lot looks at me shocked for a few moments and then something unexpected happens.
Lupin roars and grabs me by the arms as he snarls: "TELL ME! TELL ME THIS INSTANT! TELL ME THE SECRET! TELL ME WHERE HARRY IS!" But while I strangely enough feel like I am talking to Moony and not Remus, I use the strength I have managed to regain over the past year to push the man off of me. I glare at him and snarl: "A godfather's first and main priority is to protect his godchild from threats and assailants."

The man steps back and I notice it again. Even though the next full moon isn't for a few more weeks, there is a feral need in his eyes that the man then suddenly forcefully seems to suppress. I also notice that the young women are now watching us warily. Lupin seems to realize the same and amazingly enough the man's whole demeanor changes in the blink of an eye. Gone is the wild beast that had some strange need to be close to his cub and back is the suave hero.
"Forgive me, ladies. But, you know how it is. It's just past Christmas and all I wanted was to spend it with my friends, my pack. But unfortunately Ronald Weasley and the others just won't grant me my Christmas wish and my inner Lycan had really missed Sirius over Christmas. I'm usually able to control him but, sometimes, his needs just align with mine so well that I let him get what we both want. Sometimes it works, sometimes it – well, doesn't, I guess."

The two women again start to gush, just like I saw them do earlier, yet I can only cross my arms and raise an eyebrow as I know just fine that the man is just spewing general information to appease them. But I have known the man long enough to know that he is only telling half-truths and this actually intrigues me and my mind analyzes and processes what hasn't been said. And suddenly a very interesting theory strikes me.
I smirk as I feel my inner Marauder come up within me and I move over to where the man is standing. I do make sure to turn my face so that only the left side is visible to Harry and blink expressively, just to make sure that Harry thinks I am winking at him. I then wrap my arm around Remus' shoulder, yet at the same time I suddenly spot that same fleshy string lying hidden in the snow. And because of this, I raise my voice a slight bit and say:
"Remus, you old mutt. What do you say you and I go and pick out Harry's chocolate together? Catch up on last Christmas and good times, huh?" Remus grins, but then I turn to the ladies and say: "Excuse us, ladies, but we have a good fourteen years to catch up on. You understand, right?" And the two ladies actually giggle before they nod and dash off, still giggling wildly. Remus does sigh, as if disappointed that I got rid of the two and says:

"Sirius, they could have been potential girlfriend material. Help us settle down and all that." But to this I roll my eyes, my smile leaving my face and I say: "Please, that youngest isn't even a decade older than Harry and that other one looked only two years older. I am not dating someone who, if you skip a few years, could have been my daughter and neither should you. Won't do that new famous reputation of yours any good, you know?"

The man sighs and mumbles: "No, I guess not." Then he smirks at me and asks: "So where is Harry?" But I raise my eyebrow at him and say: "I said we'd buy chocolate, Lupin. I didn't invite you to join me in seeing him." The man stops startled and he says: "But – but I saved his skin! I saved us all! I –." But I turn around to glare at him and snarl: "I did what the Potters did. But they did it for Harry, not for themselves. And you can stop lying to me, Lupin. I'm not buying that crap for one second."
"FOR GOODNESS SAKE, SIRIUS! DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR GODSON FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" The man yells, but I just coldly retort: "I don't need you to see him. All you're doing is restricting how often I can." The man fumes and glares at me and then I decide two things. One, that I am not going to buy chocolate with him in my company. And two, to deliver a striking blow to his ego and person.

I turn to stare into the trees that are still surrounding us as we only just started to pass through the trees before Lupin stopped walking. "Speaking of that Patronus you taught my boy, Harry actually kept practicing it. He even found a way to cast two Patroni at the same time and he got them to merge into one. And guess what? Remember whose form that Patronus represents?" Lupin's rage has vanished and his complexion has whitened.
I smirk and say: "That's right, Lupin. I didn't just spend Christmas with my boy, but with the man that was taken from us so long ago. I finally got to really say goodbye, just like you got your chance years ago. And do you know what James, without words, asked me before he vanished? To take in his son, to make Harry my own. And Harry accepted. To him, I am no longer his godfather, I am his parent. And because of that, I am now twice as protective of him."

"So what are you saying?" The man asks and while I do notice the hurt tone in his voice, I also notice something else. The man might try to suppress it, but a growl of elation sounds through his voice. "I was right." I think to myself, but I don't let this thought show. Instead I step as close to the man as I feel comfortable to and growl: "What I'm saying, Remus John Lupin, is that if you push me, I will do the same thing Lily and James did, die for my son.
But that choice is yours and yours alone. From this moment on, it is entirely up to you – well, you and Moony, I guess I should say – what kind of man you want to be. A hero who has more fans than friends. Or man who has a surrogate family. Who works together with them to keep every aspect of their life safe and pleasant." The man glares at me furiously but before he can do anything, even though I do spot the need in his eyes, I feel that same uncomfortable experience.

I arrive back at the Shack and instantly Harry is in my arms. I pull him close and he says: "I was still able to see you guys. You were still visible through the trees. He was about to pull it. Sirius, he still has Gryffindor's sword and he was about to pull it on you." My eyes widen at this and I turn my head to gaze through the window. And I feel my shock increase when I see that Harry is right as Lupin storms off, the silver sword firm within his grip.
Instantly I pull Harry close against my form and walk him over to the bed. And while he is fifteen years old, I still just sit him down in my lap. I rub one of my hands comfortingly up and down his arm and across his back and say: "It's okay, Harry. I'm sorry I got so close to him without spotting this, but I had Dobby to protect me all the way through. He wouldn't have let Remus hurt me, you saw that. I'm fine, my son."

I keep muttering words of comfort and reassurance as I hold my boy. But while I do so and while I feel Harry relaxing his tense form slowly but surely, my mind is still busy analyzing what I found out. "So Remus isn't just fighting us, he's fighting Moony as well. He may be stubborn and against us fighting his arrogant behavior like this, but Moony is okay with it. Moony must have wanted to help Harry from the moment he smelled his blood."
And again I stare out the window, this time into an empty forest void of life. Yet I only need to look up to know where the man is most likely heading off to. And while I know that he probably won't find what he wants there, as I have no doubt that Ron and the other Weasleys left for London for Christmas, I can't help but wonder what else the man might try when there. I also wonder if I will be the only one to realize what I did and whether or not I should report it later on.

A little while later
Dumbledore's office
Dumbledore's POV

Aberforth had actually Floo-called me a few minutes ago and told me: "That rapid mutt who is ever so famous now is heading your way, Albus. I had my back window open and I heard him have some kind of conversation with Black. I won't tell you what was being said, that's up to either of them, but I did notice that it was just Lupin that left. I also saw him have Gryffindor's sword, but there was no blood on it, so I don't think he got the chance to use it on Black."
My brother's words had really worried me as I can't imagine why Remus would draw the sword on his own friend. "How far gone in your own fame and ego have you fallen, my friend?" I can't help but wonder and then a familiar knock is heard on my door. I sincerely pray for the strength to help the man see the light once again and call him in. Yet the man doesn't seem to feel the same rage Aberforth reported to me earlier.

Instead he has a grin on his face, a look in his eyes and a strut to his step that makes my stomach churn as I think: "Did Gilderoy die and his ego get reincarnated into the gentlest werewolf I have ever met?" The man sits down and before I can offer him my usual Lemon drops, he speaks up and asks: "Albus, I had a realization while I was in Hogsmeade to see how they were taking the news of Riddle's defeat. You're missing a DADA teacher, right?"
Instantly the man's plan becomes clear to me, but I also remember the conversation I had with Ronald on the day the train left for London. And so I decide to just play along with the man. I smile at him like I usually do and say: "That is indeed true, yes. But, as you know from when you first applied, there are conditions and restrictions that I need to apply to each position respectively." The man snickers and nods as he says:

"Naturally, naturally. Don't you worry, Albus. I'll be a good wolf. I'll take my Wolfsbane whenever Severus has it ready for me." Yet at this I grimace as I say: "Severus won't be the one to brew the potion, Remus. He left earlier this morning. He resigned and he told me that he is seeking his fortune away from the British Isles." The man's eyes widen, but then he shrugs and says: "Well, I'm pretty sure you have plenty enough talented brewers amongst the students.
Maybe even the Weasley twins? They did invent a few potions for their Skiving Snackboxes, after all." I frown at how easily the man suggests this and shortly answer: "I'll see who I can find. However, considering the situation at large, I do need to put one other restriction on you, Remus. One I intend to put on all other staff members as well, at least for the time being." The man looks at me curiously and I boldly state: "Leave Ronald Weasley alone, when outside of class."

For a moment the man frowns, even though I also hear him suppress a growl of strange satisfaction, an emotion that doesn't at all mix with the rage I see in his eyes. But then the anger dissipates and a smirk appears on his face instead. "And what if I decide to take the Fifth Years out on an excursion? To visit powerful magical locations and study the spellwork? What if I decide that I want to cover, say, the Fidelius Charm and how powerful it can be?"
I stare the man down and I feel actually insulted at the tone of his voice. The man is talking about this as if it's his right to decide this. As if my condition isn't even a hurdle in the road of whatever plan he might have. Yet again I wonder about Lockhart and his ego and health, yet at the same time I think: "I have never let anyone take me for a fool, especially not those I consider my friends." And so I growl: "That is entirely up to you and young Ronald, Remus."
"I'M HIS TEACHER." The man yells, but while I think: "Not yet, you're not." I simply retort: "And I have been his Headmaster for the past two months. And Minerva is even closer; she's his Head of House. Yet so far William and Sirius are the only ones Ronald and the other Keepers have trusted to let into wherever Harry is hiding." At this Remus growls: "He's somewhere close. He has to be." But while I wonder this myself, I say:

"We can't be sure of that, Remus. A House Elf is helping them. He could have taken Harry halfway across the country and then popped back to Ronald to give him the sign to activate the spell." But Remus shakes his head and says: "No, I met Sirius in Hogsmeade. I –." But instead of letting the man continue, I glare at him and snarl: "Almost attacked him with the sword of Gryffindor. Yes, I've heard. You were near Abe's pub, his window was open."
"THAT BROTHER OF YOURS WAS SPYING ON ME?" Remus shouts and suddenly a burst of inspiration hits me. And while I am well aware of how hypocritical this might sound, I can't help but smirk and say: "Not at all, Remus. He knew of your struggles with Sirius and of how important Sirius is to Harry. He wasn't spying on you, he was protecting your friend." The man gapes at me and I can't help but quip: "Yes, I know. I'm a hypocrite. I admit it."

"JAMES IS BACK!" The man suddenly roars and these words fill me with pure shock and utter confusion. "What on earth makes you say that?" I ask flabbergasted. The man shakes his head and says: "Well, not back-back, but – Harry. While he is – wherever he is – he's been training with the Patronus. Sirius told me that he taught himself to cast two Patroni at the same time." My eyes widen at this as I always knew that Harry was gifted with this spell, but never that gifted.
"Apparently he taught himself to merge the two together and that – that somehow – Sirius got to see James. He came back – in Patroni form, I guess or something. And – and – I just don't get it, but Sirius – he told me that – that James asked him to be Harry's dad now. And then – then that – that mutt put me on some kind of ultimatum and I – I just snapped!" And while he stutters, falters and halts in his speech, he shouts at the end.

Yet I feel no remorse or sympathy for the man as I coldly state: "And you almost did to him what you did to Riddle! You would have lost your fame within seconds and been put down like an animal for killing a Lord of an Ancient House. Especially now that Cornelius used Sirius' example as a reason to promote better administration and treatment of the Azkaban prisoners." The man sighs and pulls the sword from his back.
Instantly Fawkes flies up and plucks the sword from the man's hand. And the bird even emulates my own anger with the man as he caws furiously at him before flying off, his tail feathers only missing Remus by an inch. I sigh, cover my right hand with my left and say: "Remus, if you are that dangerous with a weapon – and I consider a wand as much a weapon as a sword – I can't hire you. I have endangered the students with Dolores more than enough."
"YOU'RE COMPARING ME TO THAT HATER OF EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVER FOUGHT FOR?" The man yells and I say: "I am comparing your inability to control your temper to hers, nothing more. You do have very different personalities and beliefs, but you are equally volatile. And I am honestly just done sacrificing my students' health for the sake of ending Riddle. I always knew I was asking much of them, but I only just recently realized that I was truly sacrificing them for the sake of my goals.

No more, Remus. I'm getting older and older and – I want to repent before I meet those I have wronged. James and Lily more than anyone else.""Except for you, Arianna." I think to myself, yet I don't voice this. Remus is still up on his feet, his hands fisted and a furious look on his face. Yet I notice it again as I stare at him and I raise my eyebrow as I ask: "Remus, forgive me if I'm wrong, but – are you fighting an internal battle? With Moony, perhaps?"
The man's face whitens instantly and I mutter: "How intriguing. So Moony doesn't agree with your anger, does he? And am I right to assume that, when you were doing the job I asked you and Moony smelled Harry's blood being spilled, that Moony wanted to barge into that office and protect him? That he has wanted to do exactly what Ron and the others were expecting us to do? And that you didn't let him?"

"You told me not to risk the Order!" The man yells, yet I retort: "And I will say to you what I said to the Wizengamot yesterday when Wildebeast used that same excuse against me. That I ended every report meeting with the words: Whatever you do, do what you feel is right, for yourself and for the Order too. I can understand that you took that portion of the Order to heart quite deeply, Remus, but it almost seems like Moony took the other bits to heart."
The man is glaring at me, yet I now have a good look in his eyes and I can easily see that the man is trying his best to suppress an underlying sense of glee. "YOU'RE WRONG!" The man almost roars, yet there is no beast-like tone to his roar and he storms out of my room. And as he slams the door closed, I also notice that it lacks the usual strength Remus shows when he lets Moony out to help him express his emotions. I lean back in my seat and mutter: "I don't believe I am."

Ooooooh, interesting,
So part of Remus being like he is, is because he is battling the beast within him. Because he doesn't want to see Moony as anything other than the monster he thought him for all those years, the monster he described to Harry when they first met Sirius in the Shrieking Shack. He doesn't want to acknowledge that Moony is the better half of them and so he seeks acceptance and agreement wherever possible. And now that he's famous,
Uh-oh,

Venquine1990
Next chapter: Bill meets with Dumbledore, not just about his new appointment, but also about the one thing about Hogwarts that is most important to him; the wards.