Hey everyone,
Wow, the end is actually getting closer. And to be honest, I feel kind of glad for that. I have so many stories that I want to finish sometime soon, the knowledge that I am only a few more chapters away from finishing this one makes me very, very proud. Like I said previously, it's just the plan for Lupin, the trial period, the rest of the school year and maybe a bit of summer left. After that I can finally put this story to rest.
Let's do this,

Venquine1990

Chapter 39
The Opinion Of The Den

10th of March 1996
Hogwarts Grounds, Scotland
Ron's POV

After I discussed my plan with the House at large and after Professor McGonagall had concluded the meeting, a Sixth year had asked me about the cards that he and a few others had left at Harry's bedside in First year. I had replied that the apology within would have meant something, if he hadn't gone down on Harry three times as badly the following year. The Sixth year had winced and accepted that I made a good point with my argument.
Naturally, just like with the Ravenclaws, Bill and I got a lot of letters from the students, even a few Third years who apologized about Fourth year and how they ignored Harry's claims that he didn't want to be in the Tournament. I had actually been impressed with them about that and explained that I couldn't hold this against them as I had made the same mistake myself. They had argued that I had apologized and now they did too.
Because there wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend and because I'm still under watch, I had to rely on Kreacher and Dobby to tell me how Harry responded. Just like with the other letters, Harry had cried tears of relief and happiness that his peers cared enough to apologize. They told me he was okay with some of their statements of we will never be friends, but I'll never treat you like that again. And this made me think: "Mission accomplished."

A few days after the meeting Professor McGonagall requested Madam Hooch to take over for her for her duties as she and the Headmaster decided to go look for Lupin. When Madam Hooch heard about the plan, she instantly accepted the three titles. What no one expected was that Professor McGonagall asked her to keep the Deputy Headmistress title as McGonagall wanted to return her full focus on her Head of House Duties.
Instead of Madam Hooch, Madam Pince had offered to take the position and both Professor McGonagall, Madam Hooch and the Headmaster had gladly accepted the offer. What annoys me is that it took them almost eight bloody days to find the man. And apparently he annoyed them both so much, they just invited him to Hogwarts and told him that it was official Order of the Phoenix orders for him to show up.
Thankfully Dumbledore had added the words and come alone, no possie or horde of fans to the orders. Dobby had followed the whole exchange and told me that Lupin had actually looked insulted. Yet when I told Bill about this, he told me to await Lupin at the gates. "That arrogance of his might make the wards deny him entrance. I studied Lockhart's behavior and he definitely would have been denied if the wards had been charged back then."

The rest of Gryffindor is right now hiding between the trees on this side of the path that goes through the gates, though Hermione and Neville are standing behind me. And just like them, a small part of me sincerely hopes that my brother might be wrong. Bill is also with us and in sight so he can enchant the wards and show Lupin, if it happens, what ward is the one to deny him entrance. All of us are tensely awaiting the man's arrival.
And while he is indeed alone, the sight of him makes me fail to suppress a groan. A long robe with tail coats that lead all the way down to his ankles and that are clearly made of pure white fabric with golden lions embroidered all over the robe, the shirt and even the silk-made pants. A bright red cape that slides across the floor and has the Lion of Gryffindor embroidered in dark red silk on the inside – and probably something else on the outside.
A huge trimmed hat that, if it wasn't held up by magic I'm sure, would have covered his whole head, neck, shoulders and the top of his upper arms and that is accented with four huge and bright red and golden phoenix feathers. Black leather boots with huge heels that look as if they cost more than the booklist of my entire school year combined. And actual golden galleons as clasps for both the cape and the boots the man is wearing.

Just looking at the man gives me a headache and instantly my hope that Bill might be wrong is dashed as I think: "Let him be denied. Might finally teach that pompous ass a well-earned lesson. For Merlin's sake, even Lockhart didn't dress this obnoxiously and his fashion sense was atrocious." Lupin seems momentarily shocked and surprised to see me, my friends and my brother, but then he smiles widely at us.
And instantly I know that he used magic to whiten his teeth as, even while it's cloudy with a chance of rain, the man's smile makes me wince as it almost temporarily blinds me. And just like when he arrived, the man starts to strut over, which just makes me silently beg the wards to deny him more and more desperately. He spreads his arms open as if he's going to embrace me like a long lost son or something, but then he tries to pass the gates.

It takes a second, but then the man is shot back and lands a good five feet back – in the middle of a puddle of mud that wasn't there before. I stare astounded and actually hear Hermione slap herself on the forehead behind me. Bill quickly swishes, flicks and moves his wand and says: "Just like I expected. The intent ward denied him entrance. It would have done the same to Slughorn if he had left Hogwarts these last few weeks."
Lupin has gotten up and removed the stains from his robe by this point, all the while grumbling under his breath about potentially needing to get himself a new robe. He moves back over to the gates and tries to pass again. And yet again, he gets flung back a second after his left foot steps across the gate line. Though this time there's no puddle for him to land in. Instantly I realize where the puddle came from; Dobby or Kreacher.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! ALBUS INVITED ME! WHY ARE THE WARDS DENYING ME?" Lupin yells, loud enough I'm quite sure a few pedestrians in Hogsmeade have probably heard him. I groan at the notion that we might get a crowd if this keeps up, but then I realize that that might just help our situation. Bill speaks up and says: "The Intent ward is what's going on. You have a negative intent to the students, thus you are denied entrance."
The man growls and asks if this is because of Moony. But Bill keeps using his wand and two lights shine in the sky above the gates. First a soft orange curtain of lights show themselves and they are followed by a similar curtain, but then bright purple. The latter also seems to pulse twice every few seconds and Bill explains this. "The first is the Dark Creature ward. As you can see it registered your lycanthropy, nothing more.
As soon as your foot passed the wards, the ward acknowledged your presence and sent a message to the second ward, the Intent Ward. As you can see, that has been activated twice in the last ten minutes. And going by what I can read, it detected that you want to force your will and opinion onto the headmaster and the students. It considers that a negative intent, so it denied you entrance." Then Bill fells Lupin with a stare and says:

"Also, the Dark Creature would have done more than register your presence if Moony had a negative intent upon the students or even a negative thought towards any of them. The ward would have been dark orange, not light. So you can't hide behind your little problem for your thoughts, they are your own. You are the one being denied entrance, not Moony. If you two were two separate entities, he would have been allowed in.
And don't even think of arguing with me about this, Lupin. Unlike you, I have four different Ward Certificates and two Ancient Runes Masteries under my belt. And with me too in case you thought of accusing me of being a liar." The two stare each other down for a moment and then Lupin growls that we can inform Albus that he can't come to meet him. The fact that the man sounds like a petulant child just disgusts me.
I step up and say: "The reason the Headmaster wanted to see you is standing right in front of you, Lupin. And don't go getting any ideas, because no, I am still not willing to tell you where Harry's hiding. If anything, I have something for you." Hermione hands me the book, the one Bill told me he got the information from when it comes to the sentient power of the Fidelius Charm and I throw it to the man, who summons it to himself.

I tell him to read the part about the power of a Fidelius Charm if it has Seven Keepers or more and while the man glares at me, as if he feels offended that I ordered him to do something, he complies. I notice that we have indeed drawn a bit of a crowd as there are a few pedestrians from Hogsmeade standing behind the man. Thankfully they don't seem willing to fawn over him and Madam Rosmerta even rolls her eyes as she sees him.
I smile at this as it might help us accomplish our goal if there really are people outside of Hogwarts who are now of the same opinion about Lupin as my friends and me. Lupin states that the book explains about the charm being sentient and actually asks So what? Neville groans and I growl: "So it's capable of determining for itself what is a valid reason to keep itself going and what isn't. It can even determine new reasons.
It's also like a whisper in the ears of the Keepers. And let me tell you, Lupin, right now it's only whispering one damned word in my ear. Your name. Lupin … Lupin …. Lupin…. I've been hearing that name like a mantra in my head for the past almost five months now. I'm sick of it. And I'm not alone in that. Look behind you, hero." I sneer the last word with as much hatred, disgust and derision as I can manage.

The man turns around and looks straight at Madam Rosmerta, who sends him a look that speaks a thousand words yet she still voices her stare at the same time. "I liked you better when you were still humble and kind to those who felt like you mattered for the right reasons. And yes, I am grateful that you saved us all from an impending war, but that doesn't mean I have to tolerate one of my former favorite customers acting like a prick.
Even James didn't have this much of an ego back when he was young and everyone knows I thought he was unbearable until he turned sixteen. So imagine how low you're currently sinking, Mr. Hero." Like me, the woman sneers the words and to my relief, they seem to hit home. For a moment Lupin looks hesitant and doubtful and instantly I give the signal with my hand. Lupin hears the footsteps and he turns around.

And both his eyes and those of the other pedestrians widen when they see all of Gryffindor has come to stand behind me. I had one last discussion with most of them last night and reminded them of something. "You don't have to like Harry, you just need to be there so Lupin can see that Gryffindor is truly a united front. That, whether you like Harry or not, you don't accept that Lupin is keeping him from having a normal life."
And even a few of the lions who admitted that if they never have to speak to Harry it won't matter to them agreed to these terms, though McLaggen did so reluctantly. I assured him that, outside of sharing a House and common room, this would be the last time we'd ever interact again. The lad had been grateful about this and I had silently agreed with him. And because I know it can help our cause are some of them standing near my friends.

Lupin and the others behind him look truly astounded at how we all stand defiantly before him and I say: "Your House is like your family. Not everyone here might really like or care for Harry like a sibling like my friends and I, but we share one thing in common. We are sick and tired of the fact that you and your need to use your fame to order others around is keeping our cub from our den. No more, Lupin, it ends now."
The man seems almost unable to understand what I'm saying and he tries to argue that he saved us all. At this, to even my own surprise, McLaggen is actually the one to snort and say: "So what? According to our beliefs of the last decade, Potter did the same fourteen years ago. We spent the last almost five years growing up with a famous hero. But personally I like Potter better than you and Lockhart. And I don't even care for the kid."

I spare a small glance behind me and notice that quite a few students are nodding, some in agreement to McLaggen's words as a whole, others with just the last bit. Then one of the latter group adds that, even when he was famous, Harry never flaunted his fame and that the person in question always respected Harry over that. And the fact that his family often feuded with the Potter House really drives his point about respect home.
Then Bill, surprisingly, deals a shocking blow and says: "Lupin, when I was two years into my career, even before I earned one Mastery or Certificate, I saved an expedition that could have ended 4 dozen Curse Breakers and endangered a whole group of visiting wizarding tourists. I've been famous in all of Magical Egypt over that ever since. Have you ever seen me flaunt or gloat about this fact since I returned to England?"

Everyone looks at Bill in shock at this and someone whispers behind me that my brother is bloody awesome. I turn from him to Lupin and something in his eyes spurs me on. Instantly I start to speak: "Listen – Remus – we don't mind that you're famous. If anything, we're happy for you. We know how hard you've always struggled because of Moony and that it now did the opposite of what it's done for years is great.
But you're overdoing it. You're even, as proven by Bill's analysis of the wards, daring to go as far as to believe that we should obey your every order, as if we're your House Elves, instead of your friends and students who once respected you. You are looking and talking down on people who once liked you, defended you and fought alongside you. We don't care if you flaunt and enjoy your fame, we care that you're forcing it on us.

And that one word on is where the problem lies. Even if you tried to force us to share your fame with us, we would have been begrudgingly fine with that. But you're not and that's the problem. That's the reason you're not being allowed in. And that's the reason we're all so upset with you these past few months, when we want to celebrate your victory with you. I mean, for goodness sake, you used a silver sword to kill the guy.
Do you really think we're not grateful for the fact that your gloves protected you from that back then? Of course we are. But before we had you as our DADA teacher, we had Lockhart. And right now your behavior is making most of us – or at least the fourth to seventh years, think did Lockhart die and did his ego get reincarnated? And I know a way we can find out. Tell me, Remus Lupin, do you think your fame exceeds the Potters'?"
And instantly I know that my question hit home as Lupin looks ready to faint with shock. The man instantly realizes that, back then, Lockhart thought this of his own fame and thankfully the man is still able to realize that this was never the case. Lupin is shocked, yet even while shocked, he still shakes his head. I sigh in relief at this and I'm already sure that a few others behind me are doing the same. Then Hermione steps up.

"We want to be with you, Lupin. We would have loved it if you had been our DADA teacher for the rest of the year, instead of Jones, no matter how good she is. But you can't expect us to treat you the same way your fans do. You need to realize that there is a difference between your friends and your fans. And you need to realize that we still have a right to form an opinion about you. And that you can affect that opinion negatively.
Your fame, like Harry's, doesn't have to change you – unless you let it. You can still be Remus Lupin the hero who killed Voldemort to the people who only know this story about you and worship you for it. But you can also be Remus Lupin, the friend who is also a great mentor to those who have cared for you and liked you even before that happened. If you can do that, you won't constantly have us annoyed with you."

I really don't know if Lupin is really listening, but then someone else steps up. A seventh year girl with long curly reddish brown hair and strong almond colored eyes. "Lupin, look at us. We're one Den. We stand united. But you're making us stand against one of our own. Why are you doing that? Why are you choosing people who, five months ago, wouldn't even give you the light of day, over those who knew?
Who knew what you were long before Snape and Malfoy made it public? Most of us knew about your lycanthropy by Christmas. We could have easily reported you as soon as we came back from the break. But we didn't. Because we liked who you were as a teacher and as a person. But now, it almost looks as if the person we saw back then regressed inside the world and the monster that everyone claims a werewolf is – took his place."

For a moment I wonder if this girl might be Muggleborn and she seems to notice my question as she gives me a very short nod. I grin at her and decide to just get this all over with. I turn to the man and tell him that we're willing to compromise if he is. Instantly I have the man's full attention and I tell him: "We will take you, blindfolded and floated above ground, to a room in Harry's hide out. there you will perform a test.
If you pass, you'll be able to leave the room and see Harry. If you fail, the elf that has been helping us these past five months will drop you who knows where and the knowledge of the room will escape you. Remember that both Bill and Sirius were able to be brought into the hiding place back in December and when they left, their knowledge of where they had been had become unreachable. The same will happen if you fail."

Lupin actually seems to feel a sense of disbelief as he asks me if I'm really willing to bring him to Harry. The fact that he thinks I'm lying makes me growl and glare at him and I snarl that it's only because Harry's under the right kind of magic for this test to work. The man thinks this over for a moment and then, to my silent relief, he nods his consent. Instantly Fred has him blindfolded and George lifts him off the ground.
The man yells and tries to argue against this, but I remind him of my terms. The man stops and I turn around. I thank my House for their unity and tell them that Harry will probably come back soon if this all works out. Bill quickly explains about the wards that he is feeding into the place of Harry's hiding and that they need him present while they settle. When he explains that that's why Harry won't return right away, they nod in acceptance.
I turn to the villagers and thank them for coming as well as their presence helped me prove my point about Lupin, fame and acceptance. Madam Rosmerta grins at me and says: "Get me my favorite mutt back, will you? You and your family already helped me get my puppy back and now I want the other back too. I missed both of them having fun and joking around my tavern way too much these past few years." I grin at her over her words.

The whole lot leaves, the Gryffindors back to the castle or to spread around on the grounds and the villagers back to the village. Only Bill, Fred and George stay with me and I nod at them. I know that the other Keepers are going with the rest of the Lions to keep their identities secret and I know that none of us care that the twins are now going to be revealed as fellow Keepers. "It's not as if people didn't already suspect them."
And with this thought I join Fred, George and Bill as we cross the gates and move Lupin through the forest on the right of the path. We move just deep enough that we're all sure no one can see us and then I whisper one word. Now. A second later the uncomfortable sensation of House Elf travel overwhelms us all and we end up in Harry's movie room. I notice a shimmer of light next to the large couch and know Harry's here.

Lupin ends up on said large couch and while I hear Harry manning the tv and other equipment behind me, I turn to him and say: "Alright, you're in the room. You're going to watch a movie. Yes, the strength of the Fidelius allows for electronics to work here. It's only with weak wards that electricity doesn't work, apparently. Either way, you will see two very important characters in this movie. One embodies 1993 Lupin and one embodies present day Lupin.
Once you've seen the movie and seen the kind of person we see when we see you these days, you need to ask yourself one vital question. Do I really want to be seen like that by my friends? If your answer is no, like we're hoping it will be, you pass and you're free to see Harry again. If your answer is yes, which I won't deny I fear it might be and I hate myself for that fear, you will be transported away instantly by our elf friend."
And while he's still invisible and obviously moving very cautiously, a fact that really bugs me, Harry puts the remote for the DVD player – as it's apparently called – on the couch and then lets it slide over to Lupin. The man is still blindfolded, yet amazingly enough he doesn't attempt to remove the blindfold just yet. We both hear Harry head for the left and when he's at the door he speaks: "Press the button when you're ready."
Right after this he closes the door behind himself, just in time for Lupin to indeed undo his blindfold and turn to the closed door. And it's the look in his eyes that does it. A desperate, heartfelt desire to see Harry again, that clearly has nothing to do with either of them now being famous, shines in the man's eyes. I repress a sigh of relief at the sight and say: "You heard the kid and you know the terms. Good luck." And the four of us leave.

Good luck indeed!
So, what movie do you think that the team is letting Lupin watch? Please let me know, because I would love to know how well my readers know me. I almost feel like posting this story right now, at the start of the month, instead of at the end as is my new schedule. But I want to finish and complete this story first and we're still a few chapters away from that. So I guess I'll just have to keep working and be patient afterwards.
Greetings,

Venquine1990
PS. I didn't manage to finish the story, but I am definitely about 75 to 80% of the way there.