18 December 1993
There was a soft knock on Remus's office door, and he looked up to see the door creak open and Minerva's face peer through the crack. She was wearing a dark green muffler and earmuffs. Remus smiled at her, gesturing for her to enter.
"Will you be joining us in Hogsmeade today?" she asked, closing the door behind her. "I'm meeting Filius and Hagrid in the Entrance Hall in twenty minutes."
Remus sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I don't think so," he said regretfully. "The full moon's in a week, and my headache refuses to let up, no matter how much pain-relieving potion I pour into my tea." At that moment, a particularly sharp twinge flickered behind his eyes, and he winced. "I might need to see Severus for that Wolfsbane dose sooner rather than later."
Minerva smiled sympathetically. "I hope you feel better," she said. Then, she shook her head. "In any case, you might be dodging a bullet today—I can't imagine drinks with Cornelius Fudge would make your headache any better."
Remus frowned. "Fudge? Why—?"
"Albus was supposed to meet with him this afternoon, but he's been held up with some business in London. He's asked us to entertain the minister until he's back in Scotland," Minerva said, and it was quite clear from the look on her face that she was not at all pleased with the headmaster at the moment.
Remus grinned. "You'll have to tell me how it goes."
"Oh, I will," Minerva said grimly. "You can be assured I have some choice words for the minister about the dementor presence at the Quidditch match in November."
Remus felt a familiar flare of anger at the reminder that Harry had been thrown fifty feet off his broomstick, and he pressed his lips together.
"Anyway," Minerva continued, "the reason I came to see you is because an owl dropped a letter off for you at the staff table during breakfast." She withdrew an envelope from her thick tartan traveling cloak and held it across Remus's desk for him to take. She was quiet for a moment, watching him. Then— "How long have you and Bill Weasley been correspondents?" she asked.
Remus looked up from the envelope, quirking an eyebrow at her.
"I saw his name on the envelope," Minerva said, holding her hands up. "I was merely curious. He was my student, you know."
Remus laughed, setting the envelope aside.
"He wrote to me back in September, when I started teaching," he explained. "He…well, he filled me in on some of what Ginny…experienced…last year. He asked if I might be willing to tutor her outside of regular lessons, since she missed a great deal of her classes her first year and was behind in several subjects." Remus swallowed, remembering how distraught Bill had sounded in describing what his younger sister had undergone. "She's a smart girl," he added quietly. "Unbelievably strong, too, even if she doesn't realize it."
He glanced up to find Minerva gazing at him with an expression that made his cheeks feel suddenly very warm. He cleared his throat. "Speaking of tutoring students outside of classes," he continued, straightening up in his chair, "I've been meaning to run something past you."
Minerva frowned at him over her spectacles. "What is it?"
"The Quidditch match last month…it was the second time, now, that Harry has crumbled around dementors," Remus began slowly. "Obviously, Dumbledore has taken the utmost caution to ensure that the creatures do not get so close to students a second time…but—well, Harry—being Harry—is determined not to let himself feel that way ever again—and, as his teacher, I feel it's my obligation to—"
"Remus," Minerva interrupted gently. "Get to the point."
Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, facing Minerva, he said, "Harry has asked me to give him private lessons on casting the Patronus Charm."
Minerva's eyebrows shot up. She blinked, several times.
"I know it's highly advanced spellwork," Remus continued quickly. "But—well, knowing how terrible the dementors make him feel—"
"Do you believe he's up for it?" Minerva asked, frowning thoughtfully. "Harry is a bright boy, it's undeniable, but—Remus, plenty of fully-grown wizards are incapable of casting a Patronus. In fact, I don't think I can say with certainty that every member of our own staff is capable of it."
Remus had been expecting her to say this; he almost smiled. "I believe," he said slowly, "that what Harry lacks in experience, he makes up for in resolve. I'm confident that, given how—determined he is to achieve the spell, I will be able to teach him to conjure at least an incorporeal shield to protect himself from the dementors."
A small smile twisted Minerva's lips. "Very well," she said. "I trust you completely, Remus. But please, tread carefully. We don't know what repressed trauma dementors bring up for Harry, but it's clear that—"
"His mother," Remus interrupted quietly. "He hears his mother being murdered by Voldemort."
Minerva's face drained of color; she closed her eyes. Remus knew where her mind was, and he felt a pang of guilt for causing it to revisit that dark place. For several long moments, neither of them spoke.
When Minerva finally broke the silence, her tone was even, albeit much heavier than it had been before. "Are you sure you're prepared for this, Remus?" she asked. "I promise you, you would be no lesser wizard if you weren't."
Remus sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms. "Honestly…I don't know," he said in a low voice. "I don't know if I'm prepared." He looked at Minerva. "But it doesn't matter. It doesn't," he repeated before Minerva could interject. "Minerva, I would listen to Harry's account of Lily's death a million times over if it meant he'd never have to hear it again."
Minerva gazed at him, her eyes blazing in a way Remus could only remember seeing once or twice in his life. Then, straightening, she nodded once.
"I shall tell the headmaster of your plan to teach Harry the Patronus Charm," she told him. "You don't need either of our permission, of course, but I imagine Albus will appreciate being kept in the loop."
"Of course," Remus said earnestly. "I'll make sure to update you and Professor Dumbledore as soon as—"
Minerva waved his promises aside, giving him the barest of smiles as she headed for his office door. "Good luck," she told him. She paused in the door frame, her green eyes piercing. "And take care of yourself."
Author's Note:
It is the three-year anniversary of when I first published this story! :') I'm emotional.
I'm hoping to have this story finished by the end of this year!
Ari
