Chapter 3
Remus stood facing the black door of the grubby little pub. He opened the door and it squeaked open. Looking inside, he saw that it hadn't changed at all since he was last visited. The tables and chairs were at exactly the same place, they wax candles hovered over lanterns, creating a dim light, the usual witches and wizards sat, talking with friends and drinking and good old Tom still worked merrily behind the bar.
As Remus took his first step into the pub, the floorboard squeaked and he noticed how the pub suddenly went silent and they all sat staring at him. There were one or two Ministry Workers about, and they had a grim look to their faces. Whether it was because of him being a werewolf or the stress of trying to find Sirius, Remus didn't know. Either way, he didn't like the look they had. He gave a small smile to a few that stared and they continued talking to friends, this time I hushed whispers. 'I never knew that that many people knew about my lycanthropy' Remus though as he walked towards the bar.
"Remus Lupin. Well, this is a surprise; it's been a long time since anyone last saw you!" Tom commented giving him a quick grin.
"Yeah, it has, so how've you been Tom?" Remus asked smiling at him. Remus liked Tom the innkeeper. He knew about Remus' lycanthropy and was one of the few people that accepted him for him and didn't flinch away because of the werewolf inside of him. Then again, it might've also been for the fact that his sister was also a werewolf.
"I'm fine. Business is doing fine. Actually, me pub's become a bit of a place for solace lately, you know with that bugger, Sirius Black about." Tom said the last part quietly. Remus flinched a little at the mention of Sirius' name.
"Well, I was wondering if I could possibly stay for a night here. I know you might not be willing to do that…it being a full moon tonight…" Remus nearly whispered.
"Nonsense Remus my boy! You're welcome here! I'll just show you to your room!" Tom said with his usual grin on his face. With that, he led Remus downstairs, to a basement room. No one went for basement rooms usually, and they had many locks to keep people out. Most of it was made from stone, so sound didn't travel that far.
"You know the drill Remus. I'll come down at dawn to see if you need anything." Tom told Remus.
"Thank you Tom," Remus replied. Tom grinned and made his way back upstairs.
That night, no one heard the howls, the snarls, the clawing, and the cries of pain, the whimpering or the silent pleas of help. Remus lay on the floor, panting slightly from the transformation. His robes were ripped and he could feel old wounds opening, along with some new ones. He winced slightly as he tried to lift himself up, and he held onto a wound on his left arm, which turned out to be bleeding heavily. The only advantage of being a werewolf was the power of accelerated healing, it was the only reason that Remus hadn't died due to lack of blood. Twenty minutes later, Tom climbed down the stair case holding some potions and remedies, with gauzes and bandages. He stifled a yawn and gave a sleepy smile at Remus.
"Good morning sunshine, hope it wasn't too bad," he asked as a way of a greeting. Remus gave a small smile himself and just remained silent. He didn't like to talk too much after transformations. Tom started to work on Remus' wounds silently, opening potion bottle after potion bottle, and dabbing them on cuts and gashes that Remus had. He then bandaged Remus' wounds. Slowly, the sun rose, and a little window at the top of the basement let the light pore in.
"I'll bring some breakfast down for you." Tom said and headed back upstairs. Remus was grateful for all the help he was receiving from Tom. As the morning bore on, Remus was now ready and set to make his way back out. Tom had given him some chocolate. It was a good remedy for exhaustion after transformation. Remus packed it into his briefcase. He paid Tom for the nights stay and made his way to Kings Cross station.
Running through the barrier between platforms nine and ten brought back many memories of his days at Hogwarts. And seeing the bright red steam engine train brought a smile to his face. Some of the children attending the school were already there; ready to step in the train. Remus hastily made his way to the back of the train and snuck into an empty compartment.
He sighed as he sat down and looked out the window. His hearing abilities as a werewolf helped him pick up conversations from parents on the other side of the platform. He tried to shut them out; he wasn't going to let his werewolf abilities get the better of him on the train. He yawned slightly and wrapped his shabby robes around him to keep him warm. 'I haven't had any sleep.' He thought as he closed his eyes.
Just as he was about to doze off…he picked up something. A smell. A familiar smell. 'That smell, it's familiar.' Remus thought, or more appropriately, Moony the werewolf thought. Remus' eyes snapped open and he sniffed more. The smell was intoxicating. It was an aroma of something he had known before. Remus looked out the window once again as it mainly cam from that direction. His eyes scanned the platform, nut he couldn't link the smell to anyone on it. He sat back down and frowned. 'It must have been my imagination.' He thought. Sleep swept through him again and he fell into a light slumber.
But looming in the shadows - practically invisible to anyone who passed - stood a big but thin black dog. Slightly rigid from shock, on seeing a past best friend.
***
Remus slept soundly, blissfully unaware of the three students that had been seat at the other side of the compartment. He stirred once in a while when he felt a minute but familiar presence in the forma of a minute creature. Ignoring it, he continued slumbering.
But his sleep was being disturbed. He felt the whole train shudder to a stop and a very unwelcoming feeling spread over him. He opened his eyes, only to find darkness. He heard the voices of children around him.
"Who's that?'
"Who's that?'
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you dong?"
"I was looking for Ron…"
"Come in and sit down…"
"Not here!...I'm here!"
"Ouch!"
Remus had just about enough!
"Quiet!" he said in a hoarse voice.
The whole compartment too heed of his demand. He muttered an incantation under his breath and flames started to appear out of his hand, illuminating the small compartment. He saw five student's faces as the light glowed. Two were redheads and looked slightly alike. They must be siblings. There was a girl with bushy brown hair, near the door. A small pale shuddering boy was beside him, looking up at him nervously. And the last boy…looked just like his best friend, except the eyes, just like his mother's.
"Stay where you are," Remus told them, and he made his way to the door way. But the door opened before he put his hand on it. Revealing what may perhaps be the foulest creatures on the planet. Dementors.
Remus saw Harry, went rigid and then collapsed on to the floor. Twitching a little as his friends surrounded him. Remus glared at the creatures. He stepped over Harry and pulled out his wand.
"None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our robes. Go." He said warningly his wand raised. They didn't move and were about to advance.
"Expecto Patronum." Remus muttered under his breath. A silvery white wispy figure shot out of his wand and the dementors fled.
Soon enough, the lights came back on, and Remus saw Harry starting to stir. He went over to his bag and pulled out a bar of chocolate. He listened as Harry said he had heard screaming. It must have been horrible for him. Remus broke off a slab of the chocolate and handed the large piece to Harry.
"Here. Eat it, it'll help." Remus said. Harry took it but didn't eat it. Instead he asked.
"What was that thing?"
"A Dementor. A Dementor of Azkaban." Remus told them whilst handing out piece of chocolate to everyone. He crumpled up the wrapped and put it in his pocket.
"Eat. It'll help. I need to speak with the driver, excuse me…" Remus told them and headed out of the compartment down to the front of the train. He asked the driver how long it would take them to reach Hogwarts, and whether it was really necessary for them to allow dementors on board. He also sent an owl out to Hogwarts, telling them that Harry had been taken ill. The witch with the food cart was up front too and she gave him some chocolate, as Remus was rather pale himself. He thanks her and made his way back down to the compartment. He paused as he entered and smiled at the students.
"I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know…" Remus smiled at them. His smile grew as he saw there pale faces return with colour.
"We'll be I Hogwarts in ten minutes. Are you all right Harry?" he asked the black haired boy, who looked so much like James and had Lily's eyes.
"Fine," Harry muttered, with slight embarrassment.
The rest of the journey was spent in silence, with the odd meow from the cat he learnt was called Crookshanks, and hoots from Hedwig, Harry's owl. There were also some silent snores from the rat that also resided in Ron's pocket. The boy Neville kept his toad in his hands, and it was suspiciously quiet.
Remus' thought wandered during the journey. They didn't actually need to bring Dementors on board. Then why did they come. Dumbledore was right when he said that Dementors were the worst. And now that the dolt, Cornelius Fudge had allowed them to wander freely, it was horrible. It reminded him of the dark times, when Voldemort had still been around.
Soon enough, the train stopped at the station. Remus let the students get off the train before he gathered his things. He grabbed his old briefcase and headed out of the train. As he stepped off t train, he noticed Harry seeming to have an argument with someone who was the spitting image of Lucius Malfoy. Remus would have burst out laughing at the continuing rivalry between the Potter's and the Malfoy's, but he controlled himself and headed over to them.
"Is there a problem?" he asked mildly as he stepped behind Harry, Ron and Hermione. The Malfoy, seemed to be slightly taken aback by Remus' sudden arrival.
"Oh no – er – Professor." He replied and backed off with two bulky boys.
Remus smiled to himself and headed off to Hogwarts, away from the rest of the pupils.
***
Remus was greeted by Albus Dumbledore, and he handed Remus a timetable of which year he'd be taking on which day. He smiled as they headed back to the Great Hall and sat down at the Teacher's Table.
"Welcome Back Remus." Said a few teachers who had known the man as a boy at Hogwarts. Remus gave them a smile and greeted them, talking to them. Remus also saw a very familiar figure at the other end of the table, with that familiar expression of hate…no…loathing.
"Hello Severus." Remus said maybe a little coldly.
"Always a pleasure Remus." He spat back, just as coldly.
The Sorting ceremony ended quickly and the feast began. Remus filled his plate with a modest amount of everything and ate. It was good to have Hogwarts food again. He didn't think he'd had a decent meal since he left Hogwarts when he was 17. When the feast finished, Dumbledore made his usual announcements. And added the fact about the dementors guarding every gate and opening to the school.
"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin,, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore said. There was a scattered applause from here and there. Remus wasn't put off by the lack of applause, he had suffered from rejection for most of his life, so he didn't mind that not many people applauded. He was thankful to the few who did whoever. He was particularly happy to see Harry, Ron and Hermione doing so. Hagrid received a bigger applause for his role as Care of Magical Creatures teacher.
Remus headed towards his own room at Hogwarts. It wasn't that much different to the Gryffindor room that he had when he came. He had a four-poster bed, a desk for work, a fireplace, a cupboard, and the room was full of secret passage ways to the bathrooms, the kitchens and to his own office. Remus knew of this place because of the Marauder's Map. James and Sirius had had fun taunting the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers during their stay at Hogwarts.
That night Remus slept soundly, but little did he know that certain black dog sat by the Forbidden Forest.
***
A/N: Hey! Sorry about the double spacing. Halfway through writing this, it just went like that, and I couldn't stop it, so it's stuck like this. I tried to fix it! I honestly did, but I'm not good with this sort of thing! Anyways, hope you liked this chapter! It took me ages to write as I took EXACT' quotes from PoA! Plus, I tried to make this chapter happyish…but watching a very angsty movie before writing this chapter didn't help! So, I hoped you all liked it!
Arra: YAY! You reviewed!!!!! WOW! It's been ages!!!!! I'll talk to you later! And everyone, go read her stuff NOW! She is a kickass and immensely ace author! Especially with slashy RL/SB stuff! It's really cool!