Time passed and it seemed to do it exceedingly slowly. Remus, Rhia, and
Annie resumed their daily routines of going to work, going home, and going
to sleep, repeating these routines until their lives seemed monotonous.
Very little changed from their daily schedule. Remus broke the boredom by
disappearing for hours at a time, Annie visited little Mira's grave at
least once a week, and Rhia spent her free time in the study, pouring over
books and pictures.
She had figured out a few more parts of that prophecy. The Stag and the Flower were obviously James and Lily...but why was he called the Stag? Harry was known as the Boy Who Lived throughout the countryside, so there was no mistaking that. And Sirius had to be the Accused, no doubt.
Even with the prophecy, their lives seemed tedious and trite. Until one day....
~*~
Remus swallowed hard as they took the ferry across the black waters. The tall, dark Dementor that rowed to boat stared blankly ahead and Remus clutched his wand, ready to mutter a spell should anything happen. He felt the body next to him shiver and he put his arm around it.
"Don't worry." He whispered. "I'm sure he's fine."
"You don't know." Rhia whispered back. "I know Sirius. Sometimes.he's not as strong as he seems."
"Yes, he is." Remus assured her as the other figure next to him laced her fingers into his, pressing tightly.
"She's going to be alright.isn't she?" Rhia asked in a soft voice only he could hear.
"I hope so." He replied. The boat hit the edge of the island with a bump and Remus helped the two girls off. They walked to the front of Azkaban's fortress where two Dementors waited. As if they knew what the three were there for, they opened the doors, where two more Dementors waited to lead them through the jail.
"Just don't look at them." Remus advised, watching Rhia shake and Annie's eyes grow wide with fear. Rhia nodded and Annie squeezed his hand tightly as the Dementors lead them past cells filled with muttering, screaming, and silent inmates. Remus could hardly feel his hand as they passed a cell where a Dementor was removing a body. Finally, after walking through the great dank maze that was Azkaban, they stopped in front of a heavy oak door equipped with a shiny, silver lock. Remus watched as one of the Dementors removed a key from their robe and unlocked the door, pushing it open with a long, low creak that sounded as if the door were hardly ever opened. Inside the stone room was a wall of bars, separating them from the skeleton-like human that sat inside.
"Oh, God." Rhia murmured, letting go of Remus's hand to hold onto the bars. "Sirius?"
The skeleton looked towards them and she gasped. It was Sirius.the same twinkling eyes, though now their twinkle was gone, the same mouth that was always twitching into a smile, though now it was set in a strange twisted grin.
"Look.it's Moony." He grinned widely as he stood and walked towards the bars. He stared blankly at Remus for a few silent minutes before he began hitting the bars furiously, pounding them over and over. "I thought it was you! I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU!"
"Sirius!" Rhia shrieked but to no avail. Sirius kept screaming and shouting and hitting the bars as if his life depended on it.
"I thought it was you, Moony!" He pounded the bars one final time and grew silent, his gaunt shoulders heaving as he breathed.
"Sirius." Remus called softly.
"No, wasn't Moony." Sirius muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Gonna kill Peter.I've got to kill Peter."
"He's mad." Rhia whispered, tears coming to her eyes. Indeed, he did seem to be insane, muttering to himself over and over, ignoring all his surroundings.
"Sirius?" Annie murmured. It was the first time she had spoken since they had begun their trip to Azkaban. She stepped forward, reaching her hand through the bars and touching his face.
"I've got to kill him.kill Peter.kill Wormtail." he kept muttering, ignoring the shaking, white hand on his cheek. Annie trembled and removed her hand, silent tears slipping down.
"Oh, God." Rhia cried, burying her face in Remus's shoulder.
"Perhaps we should go." Remus touched his sister's arm.
"No!" Annie shouted, throwing herself against the bars. "Please, Sirius! You've got to remember, please!"
"Annie!" Remus grabbed her and held her away, his protective animal instincts not wanting her anywhere near this.killer. With two young women sobbing into his shoulders, Remus led them out of the jail and to the boat, back home to hopefully never see Sirius again.
~*~
It had been nearly seven months since Sirius's trial and eight months since Voldemort's defeat on that fateful October night. Life was still monotonous, though Annie had followed Remus's suit and had taken to disappearing at nighttide. Rhia still locked herself in the study, pouring over her books and things whenever she wasn't half-heartedly writing articles for the Daily Prophet.
Rhia had again closed the study door to the world and was scribbling away at an article on St. Mungo's emergency ward when a draft from the window sent her loose hair flying. She put down her quill and walked to the open window, shutting it with a bang.
"Hello, Rhiannon."
Rhia whipped about, recognizing the voice from the past that came from behind her.
"Simeon," she murmured, her eyes wide. The tall, fair-haired man stood against the wall behind her desk, looking sinfully handsome and devilishly charming in a new set of silver robes. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that your way of greeting me?" Simeon asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"No, I...hello." she murmured, watching him walk around the desk towards her.
"I heard about your friends." He said casually. "Pity, really."
"Yes." She nodded. "It is. Is there a...a reason you're here?"
"I've been watching you, Rhiannon." Simeon announced, stepping ever closer to her side. "Watching you and your lover. Why is it that he leaves you to go to the pub? Not manly enough to disclose his problems to you? Is that it?"
"Don't you dare insult him!" Rhia cried.
"Aha...he's one too. Just like you, isn't he? Is that why you're with him, because you're both such beasts?"
Rhia gathered her strength and slapped Simeon hard across the face.
"Get out of here, you complete git!" she screamed, pointing at the door.
"Oh, my dear little Rhiannon." Simeon said, clucking his tongue. "I can't leave without you."
"I won't go." She refused.
"You see, I have orders to take you away. So you really have no other choice, love."
Simeon smirked, and raised his wand high.
Twenty minutes later, Remus opened the front door and walked inside, taking off his shoes and cloak before calling out Rhia's name, looking around for her.
"Rhia?" he called again. He had searched every room in the house so far, with no sign of her. Remus returned to the kitchen to check the table, where she always left him a note when she went anywhere. The table was bare.
Thinking she had just gone to check on Annie, he moved over to the fireplace and called to Annie at their parents' house. She had agreed to go back home for a bit after their trip to Azkaban.
"Annie, have you seen Rhia?" Remus asked when her head appeared in the fire.
"No, why?"
"She's not here. There's no sign of her, no note, and her divination books are spread out on the desk as if she left in a hurry with no time to put it away. It's not like her. I have no idea where she is."
"Don't worry, she probably remembered something she needed at the store and skived off to pick it up. I'm sure she's fine. Give her a few hours."
But Rhia had not returned the next day. Or the day after that. After four days, they told Dumbledore. After a week, Remus had made himself physically sick on more than one occasion and Annie had moved back in with him. After two weeks, they still had no idea where Rhia had disappeared to or who had taken her.
"I don't know what else we can do, Remus," Dumbledore told him gravely in his office one day a few weeks later. "We have no leads, no evidence of break in or kidnap... it seems as if Rhia just disappeared. Things were going okay with you two, right? She didn't leave on her own?"
"No, never!" Remus shouted, and Annie put a hand on his shoulder. "She was taken, she had to have been."
"It can't be You-Know-Who, can it, sir?" Annie asked.
"We have sufficient proof that he was as good as destroyed that fateful night. It could be one of his Death Eaters, but most were taken into custody after he disappeared. There's no reason to believe there is Dark magic afoot here. As I've told you, we have nothing to go on. We can't keep looking much longer; as much as I want to find her as well, it just isn't feasible anymore."
Remus dropped his head into his hands and sobbed. Annie rubbed his back, but looked up into Dumbledore's eyes. "Sir," she whispered, "what are we going to do? Remus and I... we're the only ones left..."
Dumbledore sighed.
"There is nothing to do, Annie. All we can do now is move on."
~*~
THREE MONTHS LATER
~*~
Remus stared into his empty glass, trying to drown out the noises and sights of the busy pub around him. Muggle liquor was intoxicating, yes, but it didn't have the extra kick magical drinks had.
"Sir?"
The barkeep poked his elbow.
"We're near closin', you'd best be gettin' home." He advised. "You'll be wantin' to 'pologize to the missus."
"No missus." Remus replied, getting up from his stool and walking out the door and down the street, alone with his thoughts.
So much had changed in the last year! All but two of their number were gone. Three dead...one missing...one jailed. Even he and Annie had changed from normal human beings to lifeless shells roaming through their days without feeling or emotion. The nights of the full moon were even worse, especially now that Rhia was gone.
But no matter. He had arrived at the flat, and he had to put on a happy- or at least tolerable- face for Annie. He pushed open the door- and blanched.
A dark-haired man was standing next to the kitchen table that Annie sat on, her legs wrapped around his torso and her fingers running through his jet- black hair as he laughed. For a moment, Remus thought it might have been Sirius, he had so often caught them in such compromising positions, but he soon came back to his senses and cleared his throat to let them know of his presence.
Annie and the raven-haired gentleman sprung apart, the man looking embarrassed and Annie looking extremely ashamed. It was then that Remus recognized his sister's companion; Jerrold Moore, a pale Ravenclaw in their year who had shared their table in Herbology and excelled in Transfiguration, being only one mark behind Rhia.
"Lupin, old chum," Jerrold said as he clapped Remus's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"Jerrold." Remus replied, watching Annie grow redder and redder by the minute.
"Ahem...well, I'd best be going." Jerrold murmured casually. He leaned over to kiss Annie. "I'll owl you tomorrow, Ann."
"Sure." She nodded and he disapparated, leaving Remus and Annie in uncomfortable silence.
"So," Remus began, "how long have you and he...erm..."
"A month." Annie answered and he nodded.
It wasn't that he wanted his sister to be with Sirius Black longer, no! It was just...he wasn't sure if he could handle her being with anyone else but him, just as he couldn't handle himself being with anyone but Rhia.
"You don't have a problem with it, do you?" she asked.
"A problem? No." he lied. "But...Jerrold Moore?"
"I'll pick my gentlemen, not you, thank you very much." She snapped haughtily.
"Don't have such an attitude, Annabelle." Remus snapped back.
"Attitude! You're one to talk!" she retorted.
"Are you saying I have an attitude?" he asked quietly.
"Ever since Rhia disappeared, you've hardly said three words to me!" she exclaimed. "You're moody and morose and you do nothing!"
"It's better than throwing myself at Jerrold Moore!" he cried.
"I did not throw myself at him!"
"You looked awfully friendly at the table!"
"At least I'm not pining frigidly!"
"Pining...!"
"Yes, pining!" Annie had stopped shouting and her voice became low and cold. "Rhia's gone. Get over it."
The shock of the words hit Remus like a tonne of bricks.
"Now you're gone too far." He muttered.
"Fine, then. I'll leave." Annie stalked out the door, slamming it behind her. Remus stared at the closed portal, feeling an awful sense of abandonment seep over him before he threw himself on his bed, crying himself to sleep as he had done so often lately.
And when he woke, all of Annie's things had disappeared.
~*~
TWO MONTHS LATER
~*~
"You look as though you haven't had a wink of sleep, Remus." Mrs. Lupin said, holding her son's chin firmly in one hand and giving him a critical look. He had dark circles under his eyes and he hadn't moved briskly since she had arrived for tea.
"I haven't, Mother." Remus replied quietly. He didn't sleep now. Didn't eat. Didn't do anything but work half-heartedly and mope. Why should he do anything else? There was no one to go home to, no one to live for but himself. Annie had been his last stronghold, but she had been gone for months now.
"When is the last time you had a decent meal?" she asked.
"Er...about six months ago." He replied.
Mrs. Lupin clasped a hand to her chest.
"Well, then, we'll have to fix that." She rose and bustled towards the kitchen and, with a sigh, Remus followed her.
Mrs. Lupin had thrown open the pantry doors and was rummaging about, pulling out various foodstuffs and piling them on the counter.
"A nice mince pie would be lovely, don't you think?" she asked, preparing a pan.
"Whatever you think, Mum." He answered, sitting at the counter, drumming his fingertips on the tiles.
"Honestly, Remus, you mustn't be so down and out." She advised. "Things will brighten up, you'll see."
"They won't, Mum." He muttered dejectedly.
"Yes, they will." She insisted. "You've got that job offer, haven't you?"
"Teaching seven-year-olds." He objected.
"At least they're not muggles." She added.
"Mum, it's not my job that's the trouble." He cried. "I haven't anyone on my side anymore! Everyone's gone!"
"Nonsense." Mrs. Lupin rolled her eyes. "You've got your father and I. And Annie."
"I haven't seen, much less talked to Annie in months." Remus murmured.
"Perhaps it's best that you haven't." Mrs. Lupin advised. "She doesn't seem too happy with you these days. Says you fought or something of the sort."
"We did." He replied.
"Well, she isn't being rational either." She tutted. "What with her running off and marrying that Moore boy, and-"
"Marrying?" Remus stuttered. Since when had Annie been married?
"She didn't say a word to us," she murmured, "just came waltzing in one day with Jerrold on her arm, saying that they were married."
Remus's eyes grew to the size of saucers at the shock of this announcement and he buried his face in his hands as the last shred of his old life slipped from his hands.
~*~
SEVEN YEARS LATER
~*~
And so many years passed, each one more solemn than the last. People died and people were born, and even despite that, nothing seemed to happen to Remus Lupin, who lived alone in a small cottage on the edge of a small half- muggle, half-wizarding town called Edrick, still teaching small children of magical heritage their letters and numbers.
It was a rainy day in November and Remus had locked himself in his study to pour over the bills that seemed to keep piling up. He had almost finished sorting them out when someone knocked on his door, pulling him from the papers. He stood, walked to the door, and opened it. On the stoop in the falling rain stood someone he had not imagined would be there in years.
"Annie." He said in shock. He hadn't seen his sister in nearly seven years, and here she was, appearing on his doorstep as if by magic. The slim, blonde girl who had left his flat so long ago had matured into a woman, and it nearly scared him. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed a place to stay." Annie replied, fumbling with a large bundle held beneath her robes.
"Come in." he opened the door wider and she stepped inside hesitantly, as if she wasn't sure this was the best idea.
"Thanks." She said quietly, still shuffling with her bundle. He ushered her into the parlor.
"Where's Jerrold?" Remus asked, looking outside the window as if expecting to see Annie's husband apparating in at any moment. After all, they would have been married nearly eight years now...if they still were together, that is.
"He...he isn't coming." She answered staunchly. "We've decided we're taking a...a break."
"A break?" he furrowed his brow. "But why?"
At this, Annie pulled the bundle from her robes, unwrapping it slowly to reveal a small baby, only a few months old.
"This is Emma." She said simply.
"Emma?" he repeated.
Annie nodded, and sat down. "I only found out about two months before she arrived. Jerrold was... less than thrilled. We've been arguing for a while now... and I just couldn't take it anymore. I left."
"Oh, Annie..." Remus sat down on the couch next to Annie. "You can stay here as long as you need to."
Annie smiled up at him. "Thanks."
Annie moved her things in later that week; it seemed like the best thing for them both. Annie felt loved again, and she had a caring family for Emma. Remus perked up too. He saw Emma as something to live for again. They didn't have much, but it got them through.
* * *
A few years later
* * *
"Annie, Emma's three years old now, I think its okay if you go out and get a job."
"You bring in a steady income..."
Remus let out a cry of exasperation. "Annie, I deliver the Daily Prophet to the nearest wizarding town! That's not enough to support a growing girl on! Especially one you raise!"
Annie and Remus had been arguing for a good half an hour now. Still living in the same cottage, Remus had been picking up odd jobs for the past three years to support Annie, who had stayed home to raise Emma. But now Emma was getting older, and Remus thought it was time Annie got out into the world again.
"Can't you find a new job?"
"You know I can't find a new job, I barely got this one! I'm not exactly popular... I think you just want to stay home because you can't take the world anymore! I've gotten over Rhia, you have to get over Sirius!"
Annie was quiet for a minute; Remus' words had stung. Before she could say something back, little Emma came toddling into the room. Having Remus for an uncle, she had turned out very articulate, speaking with comprehension at only 11 months. She walked up to Annie now, dragging a tattered paper behind her.
"Mummy?" she squeaked. Annie glanced down and smiled; Emma had that effect on people.
"Yes baby?"
"Who's Sirius?"
Annie glanced sharply at Remus, as if to say See what you've done? ""Sirius Black was an old friend of Mummy's and Uncle Remus'... but he's gone now. We haven't seen him for a very long time."
Emma considered, then looked back up at Annie. "Does he look like this?" She held up the newest version of the Daily Prophet. Annie gasped as she caught sight of the picture. He had aged, he was thin, but it was him... Sirius.
"Where did you find this?" Remus asked, snatching the paper from the girl.
"It was by the door." She said simply.
"Emma, please go outside." Annie commanded in a steady voice. Emma pursed her lips but obeyed, toddling out to the garden. As she left, both stared silently at the paper, watching Sirius's face scowl back at them. Remus picked it up and scanned the article.
"What does it say?" asked Annie.
"He's out." He answered. "They don't know how, but he's out."
"But...why?"
"You're asking me to comprehend his mind?" Remus muttered angrily. "I don't even understand how he got to be so sick and twisted and-"
"Stop!" Annie shouted.
"He killed them, Annie." He whispered. "There's nothing we can do to change that, but you have to face facts."
Annie bit her lip and left the room, going out to the gardens where Emma was.
"Emma, darling, where are you?" she called out.
"Over here!"
Annie turned towards the sound of her daughter's voice and saw the raven- haired girl sitting on the grass, petting a large dog with shaggy black hair and odd-looking eyes. Something about them seemed to be more human than canine.
"Emma, leave that dog alone." She commanded. "You don't know where it's been."
"It's friendly!" Emma insisted. "It let me pet him."
"Are you lost, boy?" she murmured, scratching behind his ear. The dog licked her hand gently and turned it's human-like eyes towards Emma.
"Can we keep him, Mummy?" she asked excitedly and, quite suddenly, the dog whined pitifully and ran off into the distance. Annie furrowed her brow and led Emma inside to where Remus was sifting through the morning mail.
"Uncle Remus!" Emma cried. "We found this big black dog, and he-"
"What?" Remus's voice rang with a steely tone that he only used when angry.
"A dog, we found a dog outside." Emma repeated.
"What's wrong, Remus?" asked Annie.
"Stay here." He commanded and left the room, shutting the door behind him and locking it with his wand. Annie and Emma spent a few tense moments before he returned.
"What was it?" Annie whispered as he locked the door again.
"Nothing." Remus murmured, shaking his head. He hadn't seen any sign of a dog, but just to be sure, he was going to put extra enchantments on the door that night.
~*~
"Please, Emma, eat your porridge for Mummy." Annie enticed her daughter, holding a spoon in front of her as Remus walked into the kitchen a few days later.
"She won't eat again?" Remus asked, watching as the grumpy girl pushed away the bowl, slopping porridge onto the floor.
"It's your fault." Annie replied quietly so only her brother could hear. "When you make it for her, you put mounds of treacle on top."
"Treacle!" Emma cried. "Oooh, Mummy, can I have treacle on top?"
"See, she likes it!" Remus took the bowl and spoon from the table and sat down, pouring liberal amounts of treacle on the porridge.
"Uncle Remus makes it best!" Emma cried happily, eagerly taking the treacle- covered bowl from him.
"There's a good girl." Remus grinned as she began to swallow her breakfast.
"Post's here." Annie opened the window as a large brown owl flew in, dropped a letter on the table, and flew out again. She picked up the envelope and glanced over it.
"Who's it from?" Remus asked, finishing his toast.
"Hogwarts." She replied.
"Hogwarts?" he repeated. "But Emma's not going for eight years!"
"Uncle Remus, where's Hogwarts?" Emma asked as she casually licked her spoon clean.
"It's for you." Annie handed him the envelope and he took it with a puzzled look, breaking the seal and reading it.
Dear Mr. Lupin, I assume since you are now over thirty years old, you do not wish to be called Remus anymore. As you might have heard, we have lost our last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and are in need of a replacement. Knowing that you were trained in this field, I as that you consider filling this position. Please send your reply with a return owl. Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore
Remus's jaw dropped.
"What is it?" Annie asked.
"Dumbledore wants me to teach there." He said in disbelief.
"Who's Dumbledore?" asked Emma.
"Really?" Annie's eyes widened and she threw the dishes in the sink and hurried to his side, completely ignoring her daughter's questions.
"Remember how they lost Gilderoy Lockhart last term?" he asked and she nodded. "Seems he wants me to replace him."
"Who's Gilderoy Lockhart?"
"Then answer right away!" Annie thrust a new piece of parchment under his nose.
"But after what happened at my last job.Annie, what if they find out again?" Remus led her into the parlor where Emma's prying ears wouldn't be listening. "Some clever student is bound to notice."
"They won't."
"They might."
"Dumbledore wouldn't ask for you without good reason."
"But why?"
"Maybe because Sirius is out."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Annie began, "everyone thinks he's out to...to find Harry. Maybe he wants you there to help, in case it's true."
"Perhaps." Remus said stiffly.
"And if you take the job, I could go and find my own place. Try and get my job at the Ad Agency back." She suggested. "Moving out would be quite an adventure for Emma and I."
"There's no point, Ann." He replied. "If I'm going to teach, the house will be empty. You can stay and live here."
"And who will watch Emma?" she asked. "You worked at home and could do that for me. I can't afford a nanny and don't know of anyone who would watch her for such little pay."
"Call up Mum." He suggested. "She can Apparate here every morning and watch her for no charge." He leaned over to clasp his sister's hand. "Listen, I don't want you alone in an unknown neighborhood. Not with him out. We don't know what he's up to.I don't even want to know. But we can put enchantments on the house and-"
"Remus, do you really think he'd-"
"I do! I think he would!" Remus's voice rose with the anger he usually kept bottled up. "He killed both of them in cold blood, Annie! And then Peter and all those Muggles! And if he comes after you and-"
"Remus!" Annie interrupted. "Please, I don't want to talk about that. Not now. Just go to Dumbledore. Listen to what he has to say."
Remus found himself standing outside Dumbledore's office door the very next day, wondering whether to knock or run screaming back home. Its not that he wasn't grateful for the job, it's just that... he wasn't sure he could do it. This was Hogwarts, after all. He grew up here. With him.
"Remus, I know you're there, please come in." Dumbledore called from inside the room. Remus smiled and opened the door. Doesn't miss a trick, he thought.
"Headmaster, its wonderful to see you!" All of Remus' worries melted away when he stepped foot inside the familiar office.
"Ah, Mr. Lupin, always a pleasure."
"Please sir, Remus is fine."
Dumbledore smiled. "Remus, then. Have a seat. I must say, I'm glad you came. I didn't think you would."
"I almost didn't. Annie talked me into it."
"Annie. Oh, its glad to see that nothing pulled you two apart all these years." Remus fidgeted uncomfortably. "Anyway, straight to business, as I'm sure you'd want to be getting back to that bright little niece of yours?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Sir, how did you know about Emma?"
"Surely you don't think I haven't been keeping tabs on you two? I know you stopped talking for a while, and I know all about Annie's escapades. Plus, Emma went down onto the list immediately after she was born. Such an intelligent girl, she is."
Remus smiled dimly. "Yes, very."
"Anyway, Remus, I want you to take up the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher here. Our last Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, had a rather misfortunate accident."
"Ah, the position still jinxed?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I suppose one would think so. But Remus, I must warn you... I thought of you first, simply because of Sirius Black's escape."
"I figured as much," Remus nodded.
"And you know, with Harry here at Hogwarts and all, I feel the need to protect him as much as I can."
"As do we all, sir," Remus replied, glancing off. "How is little Harry?"
"Well, little Harry isn't so little anymore. He's thirteen, Remus." Remus glanced back at Dumbledore sharply.
"Heavens to Betsy, has it been that long?"
"Seems like yesterday..." Dumbledore coughed suddenly, and Remus inspected a picture behind him with his head turned away. After a minute of composure, Dumbledore spoke up.
"I won't force you to tell Harry anything about the past, and I would suggest you don't. I don't think he needs to know anything yet. But he is a clever boy, and if he somehow finds out - which I do not doubt in the least - you don't have to lie to him. Just..."
"I know, sir. Protect him."
~*~
"Uncle Remus, must you go?" Emma asked, tugging on his hand at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
"I told you, Emma, I have to help the other little girls at Hogwarts." Remus answered, kneeling down to her height.
"I'm a little girl!" Emma cried. "Won't you stay?"
"I wish I could, gosling." He kissed her forehead. "But I'll send you a present, how's that?"
Emma debated the idea for a moment, then nodded. Remus grinned and stood to face Annie.
"You know, you really should've had children, Remie." She murmured.
"Ah, but who with?" Remus replied softly, and both were lost in thought for a few moments.
"You'd best get on the train." Annie suggested with a sigh, interrupting their reverie. "You don't want to be late for this, do you?"
"No," He shook his head and pulled her in for a tight hug, hearing her sniffle as she leaned against his patched robes. "Don't cry, Ann, I can't stand it."
"I'm not crying." Annie insisted, though her eyes were red when they parted.
"'Bye, Uncle Remus!" Emma cried as he boarded the train. "Send me a present!"
Remus grinned and found himself an empty compartment, preparing for a few good winks before term began. He had almost fallen asleep when some students entered, startling him from his rest. Keeping his eyes almost all the way closed, he tried to make out who they were just as they tried to make out who he was.
"Who d'you reckon he is?"
He peeked open his eye. A ginger-haired boy was talking to a young girl with brown hair. Their companion, a skinny boy with black hair, was keeping post at the door, his back towards Remus.
"Professor R. J. Lupin."
Remus cursed his labeled briefcase for giving him away.
"How d'you know that?"
"It's on his case."
"Wonder what he teaches?"
"That's obvious. There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against The Dark Arts."
Whoever the girl was, she seemed to have more intellect than her friends.
"Well, I hope he's up to it. He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he?"
Remus bit his lip to keep from laughing just as the jet-haired boy turned around. Again, Remus bit his lip, but this time it was to keep his jaw from dropping. For a second, Remus could've sworn he was staring into the face of James Potter, but a sparkle in the boy's emerald-green eyes gave him away. It wasn't James, oh, no. It was Harry.
He had been looking forward to meeting Harry, to talking to him and telling him how wonderful his parents had been, but Dumbledore had advised against any close contact with him unless necessary. Still wanting to feast on James and Lily staring out of Harry's face, Remus denied himself this pleasure and closed his eyes all the way, listening to their conversations.
They talked about everything, from Sirius Black (apparently Harry knew about the rumors of who he was after) to Hogsmede (the boy seemed interested in Honeydukes, the girl in the history of the town, and Harry in finding a way to get there without his guardians' permission.) He learned their names as well. The redhead was Ron and the girl Hermione.
Later on in the day, the food cart witch showed up at the door and the three eagerly ordered some treats.
"D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked. "He looks like he could do with some food."
"Er- Professor?" Remus felt Hermione's presence over him and he lay very still. There was no need for food, and he shouldn't waste his money when there was Annie and Emma back home. He could send it to them for bills. "Excuse me- Professor?"
"Don't worry, dear." The witch said. "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."
"I suppose he is asleep?" Ron asked. "I mean- he hasn't died, has he?"
Remus made an effort to breathe heavily.
"No, no, he's breathing." Hermione replied practically.
A little later, Remus heard the door swish open and a smooth, lazy voice call in.
"Well, look who it is. Potty and the Weasel."
With a cracked eye, Remus saw the spitting image of a third-year Lucius Malfoy stare back at him. He quickly closed his eye, listening to the taunts the young doppelganger made.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?"
The nerve! Remus snorted in his pretend sleep, hoping to scare off the pale boy and his cronies.
"Who's that?"
Young Malfoy's voice now had a tone of fright in it.
"New teacher." Harry responded. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"
"C'mon." Malfoy nodded to his friends and they left.
It started to rain soon after, and the train stopped, the lights went out, and havoc insued.
"What's going on?"
"Ouch! Ron, that was my foot!"
"D'you think we've broken down?"
"Dunno..."
"There's something moving out there. I think people are coming aboard."
The compartment door slid open and a new voice came in.
"Sorry- d'you know what's going on? Ouch- sorry-"
"Hullo, Neville."
Neville...didn't the Longbottoms have a boy named Neville?
Another voice was heard soon afterwards.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron-"
"Come in and sit down-"
"Not here! I'm here!"
"Ouch!"
"Quiet!" Remus commanded hoarsely. Silence enveloped the compartment as he conjured up a small fire, holding it in his hands. "Stay where you are."
He moved towards the door, but it opened before he got there and a tall Dementor entered, making the room cold and unfriendly. The flames in his hands went out as the Dementor stepped ever closer, taking a long, rattling breath.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." Remus muttered, brandishing his wand. The Dementor shook it's hooded head and he raised his wand, hissing, "Expecto Patronum!"
A silvery protector the shape of a dog shielded Remus and the children and the Dementor glided away. The lights came back on a few seconds later and the train began moving.
"Harry!" Hermione cried, kneeling next to her friend and slapping his face. "Harry, are you all right?"
"W-what?" Harry murmured as he came to.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked.
"Yeah." Harry nodded, looking nervously about him. "What happened? Where's that- that thing? Who screamed?"
"No one screamed." Ron insisted.
"But I heard screaming-" Harry replied.
Remus snapped a giant piece of chocolate into pieces and everyone jumped at the noise.
"Here." He handed a large piece to Harry. "Eat it. It'll help."
"What was that thing?" he asked as he took the piece, not eating it.
"A dementor." He answered, giving chocolate to everyone. "One of the dementors of Azkaban."
He crumpled up the chocolate wrapper as everyone stared at him, holding their pieces of chocolate tightly.
"Eat." He repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me."
And he stepped outside, leaving the five alone inside the compartment and wondering if the rest of the term would be as hectic as this.
Little did he know.
She had figured out a few more parts of that prophecy. The Stag and the Flower were obviously James and Lily...but why was he called the Stag? Harry was known as the Boy Who Lived throughout the countryside, so there was no mistaking that. And Sirius had to be the Accused, no doubt.
Even with the prophecy, their lives seemed tedious and trite. Until one day....
~*~
Remus swallowed hard as they took the ferry across the black waters. The tall, dark Dementor that rowed to boat stared blankly ahead and Remus clutched his wand, ready to mutter a spell should anything happen. He felt the body next to him shiver and he put his arm around it.
"Don't worry." He whispered. "I'm sure he's fine."
"You don't know." Rhia whispered back. "I know Sirius. Sometimes.he's not as strong as he seems."
"Yes, he is." Remus assured her as the other figure next to him laced her fingers into his, pressing tightly.
"She's going to be alright.isn't she?" Rhia asked in a soft voice only he could hear.
"I hope so." He replied. The boat hit the edge of the island with a bump and Remus helped the two girls off. They walked to the front of Azkaban's fortress where two Dementors waited. As if they knew what the three were there for, they opened the doors, where two more Dementors waited to lead them through the jail.
"Just don't look at them." Remus advised, watching Rhia shake and Annie's eyes grow wide with fear. Rhia nodded and Annie squeezed his hand tightly as the Dementors lead them past cells filled with muttering, screaming, and silent inmates. Remus could hardly feel his hand as they passed a cell where a Dementor was removing a body. Finally, after walking through the great dank maze that was Azkaban, they stopped in front of a heavy oak door equipped with a shiny, silver lock. Remus watched as one of the Dementors removed a key from their robe and unlocked the door, pushing it open with a long, low creak that sounded as if the door were hardly ever opened. Inside the stone room was a wall of bars, separating them from the skeleton-like human that sat inside.
"Oh, God." Rhia murmured, letting go of Remus's hand to hold onto the bars. "Sirius?"
The skeleton looked towards them and she gasped. It was Sirius.the same twinkling eyes, though now their twinkle was gone, the same mouth that was always twitching into a smile, though now it was set in a strange twisted grin.
"Look.it's Moony." He grinned widely as he stood and walked towards the bars. He stared blankly at Remus for a few silent minutes before he began hitting the bars furiously, pounding them over and over. "I thought it was you! I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU!"
"Sirius!" Rhia shrieked but to no avail. Sirius kept screaming and shouting and hitting the bars as if his life depended on it.
"I thought it was you, Moony!" He pounded the bars one final time and grew silent, his gaunt shoulders heaving as he breathed.
"Sirius." Remus called softly.
"No, wasn't Moony." Sirius muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Gonna kill Peter.I've got to kill Peter."
"He's mad." Rhia whispered, tears coming to her eyes. Indeed, he did seem to be insane, muttering to himself over and over, ignoring all his surroundings.
"Sirius?" Annie murmured. It was the first time she had spoken since they had begun their trip to Azkaban. She stepped forward, reaching her hand through the bars and touching his face.
"I've got to kill him.kill Peter.kill Wormtail." he kept muttering, ignoring the shaking, white hand on his cheek. Annie trembled and removed her hand, silent tears slipping down.
"Oh, God." Rhia cried, burying her face in Remus's shoulder.
"Perhaps we should go." Remus touched his sister's arm.
"No!" Annie shouted, throwing herself against the bars. "Please, Sirius! You've got to remember, please!"
"Annie!" Remus grabbed her and held her away, his protective animal instincts not wanting her anywhere near this.killer. With two young women sobbing into his shoulders, Remus led them out of the jail and to the boat, back home to hopefully never see Sirius again.
~*~
It had been nearly seven months since Sirius's trial and eight months since Voldemort's defeat on that fateful October night. Life was still monotonous, though Annie had followed Remus's suit and had taken to disappearing at nighttide. Rhia still locked herself in the study, pouring over her books and things whenever she wasn't half-heartedly writing articles for the Daily Prophet.
Rhia had again closed the study door to the world and was scribbling away at an article on St. Mungo's emergency ward when a draft from the window sent her loose hair flying. She put down her quill and walked to the open window, shutting it with a bang.
"Hello, Rhiannon."
Rhia whipped about, recognizing the voice from the past that came from behind her.
"Simeon," she murmured, her eyes wide. The tall, fair-haired man stood against the wall behind her desk, looking sinfully handsome and devilishly charming in a new set of silver robes. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that your way of greeting me?" Simeon asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"No, I...hello." she murmured, watching him walk around the desk towards her.
"I heard about your friends." He said casually. "Pity, really."
"Yes." She nodded. "It is. Is there a...a reason you're here?"
"I've been watching you, Rhiannon." Simeon announced, stepping ever closer to her side. "Watching you and your lover. Why is it that he leaves you to go to the pub? Not manly enough to disclose his problems to you? Is that it?"
"Don't you dare insult him!" Rhia cried.
"Aha...he's one too. Just like you, isn't he? Is that why you're with him, because you're both such beasts?"
Rhia gathered her strength and slapped Simeon hard across the face.
"Get out of here, you complete git!" she screamed, pointing at the door.
"Oh, my dear little Rhiannon." Simeon said, clucking his tongue. "I can't leave without you."
"I won't go." She refused.
"You see, I have orders to take you away. So you really have no other choice, love."
Simeon smirked, and raised his wand high.
Twenty minutes later, Remus opened the front door and walked inside, taking off his shoes and cloak before calling out Rhia's name, looking around for her.
"Rhia?" he called again. He had searched every room in the house so far, with no sign of her. Remus returned to the kitchen to check the table, where she always left him a note when she went anywhere. The table was bare.
Thinking she had just gone to check on Annie, he moved over to the fireplace and called to Annie at their parents' house. She had agreed to go back home for a bit after their trip to Azkaban.
"Annie, have you seen Rhia?" Remus asked when her head appeared in the fire.
"No, why?"
"She's not here. There's no sign of her, no note, and her divination books are spread out on the desk as if she left in a hurry with no time to put it away. It's not like her. I have no idea where she is."
"Don't worry, she probably remembered something she needed at the store and skived off to pick it up. I'm sure she's fine. Give her a few hours."
But Rhia had not returned the next day. Or the day after that. After four days, they told Dumbledore. After a week, Remus had made himself physically sick on more than one occasion and Annie had moved back in with him. After two weeks, they still had no idea where Rhia had disappeared to or who had taken her.
"I don't know what else we can do, Remus," Dumbledore told him gravely in his office one day a few weeks later. "We have no leads, no evidence of break in or kidnap... it seems as if Rhia just disappeared. Things were going okay with you two, right? She didn't leave on her own?"
"No, never!" Remus shouted, and Annie put a hand on his shoulder. "She was taken, she had to have been."
"It can't be You-Know-Who, can it, sir?" Annie asked.
"We have sufficient proof that he was as good as destroyed that fateful night. It could be one of his Death Eaters, but most were taken into custody after he disappeared. There's no reason to believe there is Dark magic afoot here. As I've told you, we have nothing to go on. We can't keep looking much longer; as much as I want to find her as well, it just isn't feasible anymore."
Remus dropped his head into his hands and sobbed. Annie rubbed his back, but looked up into Dumbledore's eyes. "Sir," she whispered, "what are we going to do? Remus and I... we're the only ones left..."
Dumbledore sighed.
"There is nothing to do, Annie. All we can do now is move on."
~*~
THREE MONTHS LATER
~*~
Remus stared into his empty glass, trying to drown out the noises and sights of the busy pub around him. Muggle liquor was intoxicating, yes, but it didn't have the extra kick magical drinks had.
"Sir?"
The barkeep poked his elbow.
"We're near closin', you'd best be gettin' home." He advised. "You'll be wantin' to 'pologize to the missus."
"No missus." Remus replied, getting up from his stool and walking out the door and down the street, alone with his thoughts.
So much had changed in the last year! All but two of their number were gone. Three dead...one missing...one jailed. Even he and Annie had changed from normal human beings to lifeless shells roaming through their days without feeling or emotion. The nights of the full moon were even worse, especially now that Rhia was gone.
But no matter. He had arrived at the flat, and he had to put on a happy- or at least tolerable- face for Annie. He pushed open the door- and blanched.
A dark-haired man was standing next to the kitchen table that Annie sat on, her legs wrapped around his torso and her fingers running through his jet- black hair as he laughed. For a moment, Remus thought it might have been Sirius, he had so often caught them in such compromising positions, but he soon came back to his senses and cleared his throat to let them know of his presence.
Annie and the raven-haired gentleman sprung apart, the man looking embarrassed and Annie looking extremely ashamed. It was then that Remus recognized his sister's companion; Jerrold Moore, a pale Ravenclaw in their year who had shared their table in Herbology and excelled in Transfiguration, being only one mark behind Rhia.
"Lupin, old chum," Jerrold said as he clapped Remus's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"Jerrold." Remus replied, watching Annie grow redder and redder by the minute.
"Ahem...well, I'd best be going." Jerrold murmured casually. He leaned over to kiss Annie. "I'll owl you tomorrow, Ann."
"Sure." She nodded and he disapparated, leaving Remus and Annie in uncomfortable silence.
"So," Remus began, "how long have you and he...erm..."
"A month." Annie answered and he nodded.
It wasn't that he wanted his sister to be with Sirius Black longer, no! It was just...he wasn't sure if he could handle her being with anyone else but him, just as he couldn't handle himself being with anyone but Rhia.
"You don't have a problem with it, do you?" she asked.
"A problem? No." he lied. "But...Jerrold Moore?"
"I'll pick my gentlemen, not you, thank you very much." She snapped haughtily.
"Don't have such an attitude, Annabelle." Remus snapped back.
"Attitude! You're one to talk!" she retorted.
"Are you saying I have an attitude?" he asked quietly.
"Ever since Rhia disappeared, you've hardly said three words to me!" she exclaimed. "You're moody and morose and you do nothing!"
"It's better than throwing myself at Jerrold Moore!" he cried.
"I did not throw myself at him!"
"You looked awfully friendly at the table!"
"At least I'm not pining frigidly!"
"Pining...!"
"Yes, pining!" Annie had stopped shouting and her voice became low and cold. "Rhia's gone. Get over it."
The shock of the words hit Remus like a tonne of bricks.
"Now you're gone too far." He muttered.
"Fine, then. I'll leave." Annie stalked out the door, slamming it behind her. Remus stared at the closed portal, feeling an awful sense of abandonment seep over him before he threw himself on his bed, crying himself to sleep as he had done so often lately.
And when he woke, all of Annie's things had disappeared.
~*~
TWO MONTHS LATER
~*~
"You look as though you haven't had a wink of sleep, Remus." Mrs. Lupin said, holding her son's chin firmly in one hand and giving him a critical look. He had dark circles under his eyes and he hadn't moved briskly since she had arrived for tea.
"I haven't, Mother." Remus replied quietly. He didn't sleep now. Didn't eat. Didn't do anything but work half-heartedly and mope. Why should he do anything else? There was no one to go home to, no one to live for but himself. Annie had been his last stronghold, but she had been gone for months now.
"When is the last time you had a decent meal?" she asked.
"Er...about six months ago." He replied.
Mrs. Lupin clasped a hand to her chest.
"Well, then, we'll have to fix that." She rose and bustled towards the kitchen and, with a sigh, Remus followed her.
Mrs. Lupin had thrown open the pantry doors and was rummaging about, pulling out various foodstuffs and piling them on the counter.
"A nice mince pie would be lovely, don't you think?" she asked, preparing a pan.
"Whatever you think, Mum." He answered, sitting at the counter, drumming his fingertips on the tiles.
"Honestly, Remus, you mustn't be so down and out." She advised. "Things will brighten up, you'll see."
"They won't, Mum." He muttered dejectedly.
"Yes, they will." She insisted. "You've got that job offer, haven't you?"
"Teaching seven-year-olds." He objected.
"At least they're not muggles." She added.
"Mum, it's not my job that's the trouble." He cried. "I haven't anyone on my side anymore! Everyone's gone!"
"Nonsense." Mrs. Lupin rolled her eyes. "You've got your father and I. And Annie."
"I haven't seen, much less talked to Annie in months." Remus murmured.
"Perhaps it's best that you haven't." Mrs. Lupin advised. "She doesn't seem too happy with you these days. Says you fought or something of the sort."
"We did." He replied.
"Well, she isn't being rational either." She tutted. "What with her running off and marrying that Moore boy, and-"
"Marrying?" Remus stuttered. Since when had Annie been married?
"She didn't say a word to us," she murmured, "just came waltzing in one day with Jerrold on her arm, saying that they were married."
Remus's eyes grew to the size of saucers at the shock of this announcement and he buried his face in his hands as the last shred of his old life slipped from his hands.
~*~
SEVEN YEARS LATER
~*~
And so many years passed, each one more solemn than the last. People died and people were born, and even despite that, nothing seemed to happen to Remus Lupin, who lived alone in a small cottage on the edge of a small half- muggle, half-wizarding town called Edrick, still teaching small children of magical heritage their letters and numbers.
It was a rainy day in November and Remus had locked himself in his study to pour over the bills that seemed to keep piling up. He had almost finished sorting them out when someone knocked on his door, pulling him from the papers. He stood, walked to the door, and opened it. On the stoop in the falling rain stood someone he had not imagined would be there in years.
"Annie." He said in shock. He hadn't seen his sister in nearly seven years, and here she was, appearing on his doorstep as if by magic. The slim, blonde girl who had left his flat so long ago had matured into a woman, and it nearly scared him. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed a place to stay." Annie replied, fumbling with a large bundle held beneath her robes.
"Come in." he opened the door wider and she stepped inside hesitantly, as if she wasn't sure this was the best idea.
"Thanks." She said quietly, still shuffling with her bundle. He ushered her into the parlor.
"Where's Jerrold?" Remus asked, looking outside the window as if expecting to see Annie's husband apparating in at any moment. After all, they would have been married nearly eight years now...if they still were together, that is.
"He...he isn't coming." She answered staunchly. "We've decided we're taking a...a break."
"A break?" he furrowed his brow. "But why?"
At this, Annie pulled the bundle from her robes, unwrapping it slowly to reveal a small baby, only a few months old.
"This is Emma." She said simply.
"Emma?" he repeated.
Annie nodded, and sat down. "I only found out about two months before she arrived. Jerrold was... less than thrilled. We've been arguing for a while now... and I just couldn't take it anymore. I left."
"Oh, Annie..." Remus sat down on the couch next to Annie. "You can stay here as long as you need to."
Annie smiled up at him. "Thanks."
Annie moved her things in later that week; it seemed like the best thing for them both. Annie felt loved again, and she had a caring family for Emma. Remus perked up too. He saw Emma as something to live for again. They didn't have much, but it got them through.
* * *
A few years later
* * *
"Annie, Emma's three years old now, I think its okay if you go out and get a job."
"You bring in a steady income..."
Remus let out a cry of exasperation. "Annie, I deliver the Daily Prophet to the nearest wizarding town! That's not enough to support a growing girl on! Especially one you raise!"
Annie and Remus had been arguing for a good half an hour now. Still living in the same cottage, Remus had been picking up odd jobs for the past three years to support Annie, who had stayed home to raise Emma. But now Emma was getting older, and Remus thought it was time Annie got out into the world again.
"Can't you find a new job?"
"You know I can't find a new job, I barely got this one! I'm not exactly popular... I think you just want to stay home because you can't take the world anymore! I've gotten over Rhia, you have to get over Sirius!"
Annie was quiet for a minute; Remus' words had stung. Before she could say something back, little Emma came toddling into the room. Having Remus for an uncle, she had turned out very articulate, speaking with comprehension at only 11 months. She walked up to Annie now, dragging a tattered paper behind her.
"Mummy?" she squeaked. Annie glanced down and smiled; Emma had that effect on people.
"Yes baby?"
"Who's Sirius?"
Annie glanced sharply at Remus, as if to say See what you've done? ""Sirius Black was an old friend of Mummy's and Uncle Remus'... but he's gone now. We haven't seen him for a very long time."
Emma considered, then looked back up at Annie. "Does he look like this?" She held up the newest version of the Daily Prophet. Annie gasped as she caught sight of the picture. He had aged, he was thin, but it was him... Sirius.
"Where did you find this?" Remus asked, snatching the paper from the girl.
"It was by the door." She said simply.
"Emma, please go outside." Annie commanded in a steady voice. Emma pursed her lips but obeyed, toddling out to the garden. As she left, both stared silently at the paper, watching Sirius's face scowl back at them. Remus picked it up and scanned the article.
"What does it say?" asked Annie.
"He's out." He answered. "They don't know how, but he's out."
"But...why?"
"You're asking me to comprehend his mind?" Remus muttered angrily. "I don't even understand how he got to be so sick and twisted and-"
"Stop!" Annie shouted.
"He killed them, Annie." He whispered. "There's nothing we can do to change that, but you have to face facts."
Annie bit her lip and left the room, going out to the gardens where Emma was.
"Emma, darling, where are you?" she called out.
"Over here!"
Annie turned towards the sound of her daughter's voice and saw the raven- haired girl sitting on the grass, petting a large dog with shaggy black hair and odd-looking eyes. Something about them seemed to be more human than canine.
"Emma, leave that dog alone." She commanded. "You don't know where it's been."
"It's friendly!" Emma insisted. "It let me pet him."
"Are you lost, boy?" she murmured, scratching behind his ear. The dog licked her hand gently and turned it's human-like eyes towards Emma.
"Can we keep him, Mummy?" she asked excitedly and, quite suddenly, the dog whined pitifully and ran off into the distance. Annie furrowed her brow and led Emma inside to where Remus was sifting through the morning mail.
"Uncle Remus!" Emma cried. "We found this big black dog, and he-"
"What?" Remus's voice rang with a steely tone that he only used when angry.
"A dog, we found a dog outside." Emma repeated.
"What's wrong, Remus?" asked Annie.
"Stay here." He commanded and left the room, shutting the door behind him and locking it with his wand. Annie and Emma spent a few tense moments before he returned.
"What was it?" Annie whispered as he locked the door again.
"Nothing." Remus murmured, shaking his head. He hadn't seen any sign of a dog, but just to be sure, he was going to put extra enchantments on the door that night.
~*~
"Please, Emma, eat your porridge for Mummy." Annie enticed her daughter, holding a spoon in front of her as Remus walked into the kitchen a few days later.
"She won't eat again?" Remus asked, watching as the grumpy girl pushed away the bowl, slopping porridge onto the floor.
"It's your fault." Annie replied quietly so only her brother could hear. "When you make it for her, you put mounds of treacle on top."
"Treacle!" Emma cried. "Oooh, Mummy, can I have treacle on top?"
"See, she likes it!" Remus took the bowl and spoon from the table and sat down, pouring liberal amounts of treacle on the porridge.
"Uncle Remus makes it best!" Emma cried happily, eagerly taking the treacle- covered bowl from him.
"There's a good girl." Remus grinned as she began to swallow her breakfast.
"Post's here." Annie opened the window as a large brown owl flew in, dropped a letter on the table, and flew out again. She picked up the envelope and glanced over it.
"Who's it from?" Remus asked, finishing his toast.
"Hogwarts." She replied.
"Hogwarts?" he repeated. "But Emma's not going for eight years!"
"Uncle Remus, where's Hogwarts?" Emma asked as she casually licked her spoon clean.
"It's for you." Annie handed him the envelope and he took it with a puzzled look, breaking the seal and reading it.
Dear Mr. Lupin, I assume since you are now over thirty years old, you do not wish to be called Remus anymore. As you might have heard, we have lost our last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and are in need of a replacement. Knowing that you were trained in this field, I as that you consider filling this position. Please send your reply with a return owl. Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore
Remus's jaw dropped.
"What is it?" Annie asked.
"Dumbledore wants me to teach there." He said in disbelief.
"Who's Dumbledore?" asked Emma.
"Really?" Annie's eyes widened and she threw the dishes in the sink and hurried to his side, completely ignoring her daughter's questions.
"Remember how they lost Gilderoy Lockhart last term?" he asked and she nodded. "Seems he wants me to replace him."
"Who's Gilderoy Lockhart?"
"Then answer right away!" Annie thrust a new piece of parchment under his nose.
"But after what happened at my last job.Annie, what if they find out again?" Remus led her into the parlor where Emma's prying ears wouldn't be listening. "Some clever student is bound to notice."
"They won't."
"They might."
"Dumbledore wouldn't ask for you without good reason."
"But why?"
"Maybe because Sirius is out."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Annie began, "everyone thinks he's out to...to find Harry. Maybe he wants you there to help, in case it's true."
"Perhaps." Remus said stiffly.
"And if you take the job, I could go and find my own place. Try and get my job at the Ad Agency back." She suggested. "Moving out would be quite an adventure for Emma and I."
"There's no point, Ann." He replied. "If I'm going to teach, the house will be empty. You can stay and live here."
"And who will watch Emma?" she asked. "You worked at home and could do that for me. I can't afford a nanny and don't know of anyone who would watch her for such little pay."
"Call up Mum." He suggested. "She can Apparate here every morning and watch her for no charge." He leaned over to clasp his sister's hand. "Listen, I don't want you alone in an unknown neighborhood. Not with him out. We don't know what he's up to.I don't even want to know. But we can put enchantments on the house and-"
"Remus, do you really think he'd-"
"I do! I think he would!" Remus's voice rose with the anger he usually kept bottled up. "He killed both of them in cold blood, Annie! And then Peter and all those Muggles! And if he comes after you and-"
"Remus!" Annie interrupted. "Please, I don't want to talk about that. Not now. Just go to Dumbledore. Listen to what he has to say."
Remus found himself standing outside Dumbledore's office door the very next day, wondering whether to knock or run screaming back home. Its not that he wasn't grateful for the job, it's just that... he wasn't sure he could do it. This was Hogwarts, after all. He grew up here. With him.
"Remus, I know you're there, please come in." Dumbledore called from inside the room. Remus smiled and opened the door. Doesn't miss a trick, he thought.
"Headmaster, its wonderful to see you!" All of Remus' worries melted away when he stepped foot inside the familiar office.
"Ah, Mr. Lupin, always a pleasure."
"Please sir, Remus is fine."
Dumbledore smiled. "Remus, then. Have a seat. I must say, I'm glad you came. I didn't think you would."
"I almost didn't. Annie talked me into it."
"Annie. Oh, its glad to see that nothing pulled you two apart all these years." Remus fidgeted uncomfortably. "Anyway, straight to business, as I'm sure you'd want to be getting back to that bright little niece of yours?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Sir, how did you know about Emma?"
"Surely you don't think I haven't been keeping tabs on you two? I know you stopped talking for a while, and I know all about Annie's escapades. Plus, Emma went down onto the list immediately after she was born. Such an intelligent girl, she is."
Remus smiled dimly. "Yes, very."
"Anyway, Remus, I want you to take up the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher here. Our last Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, had a rather misfortunate accident."
"Ah, the position still jinxed?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I suppose one would think so. But Remus, I must warn you... I thought of you first, simply because of Sirius Black's escape."
"I figured as much," Remus nodded.
"And you know, with Harry here at Hogwarts and all, I feel the need to protect him as much as I can."
"As do we all, sir," Remus replied, glancing off. "How is little Harry?"
"Well, little Harry isn't so little anymore. He's thirteen, Remus." Remus glanced back at Dumbledore sharply.
"Heavens to Betsy, has it been that long?"
"Seems like yesterday..." Dumbledore coughed suddenly, and Remus inspected a picture behind him with his head turned away. After a minute of composure, Dumbledore spoke up.
"I won't force you to tell Harry anything about the past, and I would suggest you don't. I don't think he needs to know anything yet. But he is a clever boy, and if he somehow finds out - which I do not doubt in the least - you don't have to lie to him. Just..."
"I know, sir. Protect him."
~*~
"Uncle Remus, must you go?" Emma asked, tugging on his hand at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
"I told you, Emma, I have to help the other little girls at Hogwarts." Remus answered, kneeling down to her height.
"I'm a little girl!" Emma cried. "Won't you stay?"
"I wish I could, gosling." He kissed her forehead. "But I'll send you a present, how's that?"
Emma debated the idea for a moment, then nodded. Remus grinned and stood to face Annie.
"You know, you really should've had children, Remie." She murmured.
"Ah, but who with?" Remus replied softly, and both were lost in thought for a few moments.
"You'd best get on the train." Annie suggested with a sigh, interrupting their reverie. "You don't want to be late for this, do you?"
"No," He shook his head and pulled her in for a tight hug, hearing her sniffle as she leaned against his patched robes. "Don't cry, Ann, I can't stand it."
"I'm not crying." Annie insisted, though her eyes were red when they parted.
"'Bye, Uncle Remus!" Emma cried as he boarded the train. "Send me a present!"
Remus grinned and found himself an empty compartment, preparing for a few good winks before term began. He had almost fallen asleep when some students entered, startling him from his rest. Keeping his eyes almost all the way closed, he tried to make out who they were just as they tried to make out who he was.
"Who d'you reckon he is?"
He peeked open his eye. A ginger-haired boy was talking to a young girl with brown hair. Their companion, a skinny boy with black hair, was keeping post at the door, his back towards Remus.
"Professor R. J. Lupin."
Remus cursed his labeled briefcase for giving him away.
"How d'you know that?"
"It's on his case."
"Wonder what he teaches?"
"That's obvious. There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against The Dark Arts."
Whoever the girl was, she seemed to have more intellect than her friends.
"Well, I hope he's up to it. He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he?"
Remus bit his lip to keep from laughing just as the jet-haired boy turned around. Again, Remus bit his lip, but this time it was to keep his jaw from dropping. For a second, Remus could've sworn he was staring into the face of James Potter, but a sparkle in the boy's emerald-green eyes gave him away. It wasn't James, oh, no. It was Harry.
He had been looking forward to meeting Harry, to talking to him and telling him how wonderful his parents had been, but Dumbledore had advised against any close contact with him unless necessary. Still wanting to feast on James and Lily staring out of Harry's face, Remus denied himself this pleasure and closed his eyes all the way, listening to their conversations.
They talked about everything, from Sirius Black (apparently Harry knew about the rumors of who he was after) to Hogsmede (the boy seemed interested in Honeydukes, the girl in the history of the town, and Harry in finding a way to get there without his guardians' permission.) He learned their names as well. The redhead was Ron and the girl Hermione.
Later on in the day, the food cart witch showed up at the door and the three eagerly ordered some treats.
"D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked. "He looks like he could do with some food."
"Er- Professor?" Remus felt Hermione's presence over him and he lay very still. There was no need for food, and he shouldn't waste his money when there was Annie and Emma back home. He could send it to them for bills. "Excuse me- Professor?"
"Don't worry, dear." The witch said. "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."
"I suppose he is asleep?" Ron asked. "I mean- he hasn't died, has he?"
Remus made an effort to breathe heavily.
"No, no, he's breathing." Hermione replied practically.
A little later, Remus heard the door swish open and a smooth, lazy voice call in.
"Well, look who it is. Potty and the Weasel."
With a cracked eye, Remus saw the spitting image of a third-year Lucius Malfoy stare back at him. He quickly closed his eye, listening to the taunts the young doppelganger made.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?"
The nerve! Remus snorted in his pretend sleep, hoping to scare off the pale boy and his cronies.
"Who's that?"
Young Malfoy's voice now had a tone of fright in it.
"New teacher." Harry responded. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"
"C'mon." Malfoy nodded to his friends and they left.
It started to rain soon after, and the train stopped, the lights went out, and havoc insued.
"What's going on?"
"Ouch! Ron, that was my foot!"
"D'you think we've broken down?"
"Dunno..."
"There's something moving out there. I think people are coming aboard."
The compartment door slid open and a new voice came in.
"Sorry- d'you know what's going on? Ouch- sorry-"
"Hullo, Neville."
Neville...didn't the Longbottoms have a boy named Neville?
Another voice was heard soon afterwards.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron-"
"Come in and sit down-"
"Not here! I'm here!"
"Ouch!"
"Quiet!" Remus commanded hoarsely. Silence enveloped the compartment as he conjured up a small fire, holding it in his hands. "Stay where you are."
He moved towards the door, but it opened before he got there and a tall Dementor entered, making the room cold and unfriendly. The flames in his hands went out as the Dementor stepped ever closer, taking a long, rattling breath.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." Remus muttered, brandishing his wand. The Dementor shook it's hooded head and he raised his wand, hissing, "Expecto Patronum!"
A silvery protector the shape of a dog shielded Remus and the children and the Dementor glided away. The lights came back on a few seconds later and the train began moving.
"Harry!" Hermione cried, kneeling next to her friend and slapping his face. "Harry, are you all right?"
"W-what?" Harry murmured as he came to.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked.
"Yeah." Harry nodded, looking nervously about him. "What happened? Where's that- that thing? Who screamed?"
"No one screamed." Ron insisted.
"But I heard screaming-" Harry replied.
Remus snapped a giant piece of chocolate into pieces and everyone jumped at the noise.
"Here." He handed a large piece to Harry. "Eat it. It'll help."
"What was that thing?" he asked as he took the piece, not eating it.
"A dementor." He answered, giving chocolate to everyone. "One of the dementors of Azkaban."
He crumpled up the chocolate wrapper as everyone stared at him, holding their pieces of chocolate tightly.
"Eat." He repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me."
And he stepped outside, leaving the five alone inside the compartment and wondering if the rest of the term would be as hectic as this.
Little did he know.