Head Boy
For the first time in what felt like a very long time, Albus Dumbledore felt the empty echo of surprise rattling through his rather clever (he humbly admitted) brain.
This certainly was not what he had been expecting.
Rereading the missive in front of him, he pushed himself away from his mahogany desk and did what he generally did when making decisions regarding the students under his care.
"Minerva," he called through the floo, demonstrating an agility that belied his years, "would you come through for a minute?"
"Momentarily, headmaster," he heard rather than saw his trusted deputy call from another room.
Stepping up from the floor, Dumbledore wandered past his many curios, collected over the years and set himself up to wait in what he liked to call his thinking spot (a rather glorious window over looking a small portion of the Hogwarts grounds) and continued to ponder this interesting turn of events.
At the familiar whoosh of the floo Dumbledore began, "I wish to discuss our head boy candidates if you have some minutes to spare".
"I thought that we had agreed upon Remus Lupin, Headmaster. He has made a fine prefect and received 9 O.W.L.S. All the while managing his affliction with maturity and stoicism. He will work diligently with our head girl. I'm sure, I can think of no better candidate."
"He doesn't want to, Minerva".
"He doesn't want to?" Minerva repeated in confusion; taking the proffered letter, she moved about the room muttering the words on the page to herself. "While I'm honored…. Have great respect for… I cannot see how… I respectfully decline… sincerely, Remus Lupin." Looking to the Headmaster she exclaimed, "What can the boy be thinking? Surely you're not going to accept this Headmaster?"
"I must admit, this is the last thing I was expecting. Grateful acceptance is the response I've become accustomed to when making offers of Head Boy. But I see no reason to not accept it. Can you think of any?"
"Many reasons! The boy cannot be thinking straight, I'm sure. This will be some nonsense, relating to concerns about his friends or his, his condition." Minerva exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "I'll straighten this out," she continued, building steam. "I shall head to the Lupins now, if you'd care to join me?"
"Lead on, Professor."
As Albus Dumbledore gestured to the stairwell, preparing to follow Minerva out into the grounds in order to apparate, he thought to himself, well, never let it be said that Albus Dumbledore was one to turn down an adventure.
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Lupin Lodge was situated in the lush green countryside of the Shropshire Hills. Far enough from the bustle of the local village to be peaceful and nestled in such a way as to seclude the cottage from local thoroughfares; the Lupins rarely received unexpected guests.
"Remus!" Hope Lupin called from the kitchen window, "Dearest, go and see who that is walking down the lane. Your father has nipped into town and I'm elbow deep in suds here."
The loping form of her mostly grown son swept passed the kitchen doorway. Hope smiled to herself, thinking what a handsome and helpful boy she and Lyall had managed to raise. To her surprise, an agitated Remus quickly reappeared.
"It's Professor McGonagall, mum, and Professor Dumbledore."
Hope's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Now what can they want, I wonder?" She hadn't seen Professor Dumbledore since he came to invite Remus to Hogwarts, what felt like a lifetime ago. It hadn't been that long since she had seen Professor McGonagall, having been called to Hogwarts by her after that nasty incident with Sirius and the boy of Snape last year. But for the two of them to come together…
"I have an idea," Remus cringed, looking decidedly abashed. "Just promise me you won't be angry," he said hurriedly as they heard the expected knock at the door. Without waiting for a reply, the boy was gone again and inviting his professors into their sitting room.
Flicking the kettle on, Hope made her way through to the sitting room to greet their guests.
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, what a pleasant surprise." She began as she walked through the door.
"Mrs Lupin, we do apologise for dropping in unexpectedly." Dumbledore's charming and conversational tone really was a wonder. "We have some urgent Hogwarts business that needs to be discussed with your young man. And as you know, the quickest discussion is the one that happens face to face."
"Indeed?" Hope replied, shooting a questioning look at her son. He had an odd expression on his face, a mixture of embarrassment and grim determination. "And what might that be, Professor?"
Professor McGonagall cut in, "the business of who will be our Head Boy next year, Mrs Lupin. We had hopes that Remus would fill that role for us-"
"Oh, Remus!" Hope exclaimed, looking back to her son and clasping her hands together, "that's wonderful dearest!"
"-However, young Mr Lupin has declined the position."
"What? I don't think I understand." Confusion evident on Mrs Lupin's face.
"No, nor do we. Hence our visit." Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze seemed to pin Remus to the spot.
"Remus?" His mother asked, "what is this about?"
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With a pained look, Remus turned to his mum. Her sweet face looking back with nothing but concern for him. "Can you give us a minute, mum?"
Hope took a long look at her son, a wish to stay evidently warring with whether or not to give her son the privacy he wanted. "Alright, if you wish. I'll go make us a tray".
McGonagall pounced as soon as Mrs Lupin left the room. "I urge you to reconsider Mr Lupin. We have no illusions that putting you in the position of Head Boy will affect any change in those of your friends who seem to have a penchant for trouble."
At this Remus let out a surprised laugh, "nor do I, Professor."
"And surely after years of friendship you cannot be concerned that they would distance themselves from you because of your new role," She continued, brows furrowing in an effort to read the young man.
"I'm not concerned about that at all either, Professor."
Gathering herself up she pushed ahead, " well then I can only assume that you do not think yourself worthy of the position because of your-"
"Professor McGonagall," interrupted the Headmaster, with a gentle hand to his deputy's arm. "I believe that perhaps we should allow Mr Lupin the chance to explain himself." Turning to Remus, the Headmaster continued, "we seek only to understand your decision Mr Lupin, if you would be so kind as to explain it to us." And with a flourish, Dumbledore made a show of taking a seat on one of the Lupin's simple but comfortable chairs and arms poised with fingers steepled in front of his chin, was ready to listen.
McGonagall followed suit, as a serious Remus Lupin began a gentle pace around the room. "I can imagine what you must have been going to say next, Professor McGonagall," began the young werewolf in a voice that betrayed his nervousness over being at odds with his two favourite professors. "To be fair, you're not entirely wrong. Being a werewolf-"
"Oh, Remus!" Cut in Professor McGonagal, but at a warning look from the Headmaster, she paused and gestured for Remus to continue.
"Being a werewolf has certain ramifications on my life, whether you care to acknowledge it or not. And I'm thinking more ahead to the future here, rather than my current circumstances. I'm aware of how difficult it is for werewolves to remain gainfully employed, even those businesses who are unprejudiced find it difficult to keep faith in an employee who goes off sick for nearly a week in every month. I want to make it just as hard for people to let me go than it will be for me to stay employed. The best way I can think of to prepare myself is to put in the hard work now and gain as many N.E.W.T.s as I can. I can't do that AND be Head Boy. It's too much." A slow flush started to creep up Remus' cheeks as he finished.
"Have you considered that being Head Boy will help you with this, Remus? It is the highest recommendation I can give you, my boy, for future employment especially."
"I have considered it, Headmaster. And I appreciate it, I really do. But when I take sick leave for the third month in a row, any employee will wonder 'What can Dumbledore have been thinking', or worse, 'this man has certainly changed since Hogwarts'. And then the value of such a recommendation is quickly gone." Moving to the window, Remus added quietly, "I can barely stand the shame it will bring to myself, let alone…" clearing his throat, the boy continued, "resting on my laurels won't keep me employed, but hard work, exemplary work, just might."
Dumbledore could see how this speech hurt the young man. And perhaps it hurt a little more because he could only acknowledge the sound judgement of it. "As usual, Remus, you demonstrate a wisdom that is well beyond your years."
"Thank you, sir." Remus bowed his head in reply.
"True, however I still feel you're being foolish Remus Lupin!"
"And not completely honest with us either, Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore's eyes seemed to pierce Remus' very being. "As I said, your reasoning is sound, showing, as usual, your ability to think out and argue a problem clearly and succinctly.
But sometimes, it is what is in our hearts that has the most weight in serious matters. What does your heart tell you, Remus?"
Remus really didn't know how or where to look, other than sheepishly and at his toes. Everything he had written or said so far on the matter, he truly believed. He had thought he'd done enough. However, as per Dumbledore's usual style, he saw through the bullshit to the heart of the matter.
Sitting down, across from his professors, he looked them squarely in the eye deciding to lay all his cards on the table. They wouldn't be able to change his mind but he respected them enough and owed them so much more, to be as straightforward as they seemed to want him to be.
"I'm not a leader," he began.
Seeing McGonagall ready to fire, he rushed on, "don't get me wrong, I reckon I've been a good prefect. I'm good at helping others with school work and getting around the castle. It feels bloody amazing to be able to help someone 'get it' when they're stuck on a charm or spell. Although to be fair, I'm pants at potions. I'm a good listening ear, give pretty good advice. I know my strong points, Professors. But I'm not a leader. I'm not charismatic. I don't enjoy extra attention. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm going grey just from the stress of the idea of extra attention." Remus huffed embarrassedly.
Rubbing his face, he continued, "we may be young, but we're not silly. We can see that there is a war coming. People have already started picking sides."
McGonagal thought back to all of the behavior slips she'd received from her prefects last year. After hours meetings, seemingly 'accidental' attacks in the hallways that appeared to target a certain demographic of students. Looking to Albus, she saw his brows furrowed in concentration and knew he was thinking the same.
"Your Head Boy needs to be someone who will bring people together, not divide them. My very nature divides people, as you saw by what happened with Snape last year. Your Head Boy needs to be someone in whom everyone can find something to respect. Whether they're a sportsman, straight O student or the class clown. Your Head Boy needs to be someone who is passionate about what is right and is dogged in their pursuit of it; someone whom people will flock to in times of trouble."
"Good Merlin, help us," McGonagal responded, seeing where Remus was headed. The twinkle in Dumbledore's eye told Remus that he too, understood to whom Remus was referring. "Our head boy needs to be Potter?"
At this startling epiphany, Remus thanked his stars for the impeccable timing of his mother. Hope Lupin backed her way into the room carrying a tray laden with delicious sweets from her kitchen and a steaming pot of fragrant tea.
"I can rely on your discretion?" Albus quickly asked his young student.
"Wholeheartedly, Professor." Remus replied.
With a nod (and a sigh of relief from Lupin) the matter was settled. "Ah Mrs Lupin, are those lemon bars I see? You do know how to make an old man deliriously happy".
Yes, it wasn't often that Albus Dumbledore experienced the feeling of surprise, although his head was no longer the empty echo he experienced this morning.
Mentally compiling the letter he would later pen to Mr Potter, he observed the young man across from him. Remus Lupin surprised him today and he looked forward to seeing the surprises to come from the young man in the future.