Author's Note: Hello! Wow! People like my story? WOW! Hehe, sorry, I just
hope I found something I'm good at for once!! Well---For all you people who
loathe seeing so much Snape (I agree, I just think it would help the plot
development!) I have a little surprise for you. This chapter contains
SPOILERS, so if you haven't read the 3rd book the whole way through---WHY
NOT!? IT'S WONDERFUL!! READ IT NOW, or suffer a death I like to call
"Ferrets and hot wax". You can guess what it is. Also--Thanks to EVERYONE
who reviewed me! I really needed it! I love you guys! *saultes* And now,
for more of Remus's Diary!
DISCLAIMER:I can't believe I forgot this! IDIOT=ZIA!! Okay, all of these characters and some of the plot is J.K.Rowlings, who IS your god. None of these characters are mine, although I sorely wish Remmie and Sirius were all my own. *smiles evilly* That'd be fun.
Dear Diary,
I was walking down the hall after I left Lunch today and a hand grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me into what seemed to be an empty dungeon. There was no light and I, stupidly enough, didn't reach for my wand to illuminate the room. The hand let go of me but I didn't move. I was frozen.
"Gave up on me, Remus?" said a hoarse and dead voice of someone I used to know. My ears perked up in alarm as he pulled my wand out of my belt and lit a lamp---SIRIUS! I looked at him, the frail, ghostlike shell of the exuberant and strong Padfoot I once knew. I could feel a shout of joy/confusion/dispair/hope rising in my throat, but it had suddenly dried up. I just looked at him. "Oh, don't look at me like that Remus! You hafta know it wasn--You probably don't, huh? Well, listen, I got more important matters to discuss with you, Remus J. Lupin. What's with this--this SEVERU--"
I suddenly found my voice. "SIRIUS WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?!?! DON'T YOU KNOW THA--"
"Shut UP, Remus!! You're gonna get us caught." He shut me up with his hand and slowly moved to the edge of the room, listening for anyone who was coming. He came back and put a silencing spell around us, making our voices only heard by us. He started to pace. "Gods, I wish James gave us the Invisibilty cloak....''
I stared at him for a while, letting the whole thing pass over me until I once again was able to speak, this time in more of a whisper. "Sirius...What are yo--"
"Okay! I'll admit it! I was spying on you. Yeah, okay, that's a load off my concience--"
"SPYING ON M--"
"Yeah! Remus! I couldn't help it! I read the papers and saw that you were gonna be the new Professor and.....Remus, I am undeniably proud of you, but- --" He walked up to me and stood directly above me, his face a split between menacing and worried. Why was he--"SEVERUS? I mean---I saw you near the Lake and at first I denied that you kissed HIM, but then I saw you and him and--"
"Sirius!"
"I mean, literally, how could you fall for--"
"SIRIUS!!"
"Yeah, what!? Oh, listen, Remus, don't call me ridiculous and all that shi-- "
"Sirius, why are you even here? I shouldn't be talking to you! The dementors will find you and---Sirius, how could you even do all that? And Harry---" I stood up, still shorter than he, but trying to look as mean as I could "--You. Leave. Harry. Alone."
"Harry? This has nothing to do with Harry! This is between me, you, and the Mop. Moony...I thought that even though I was gone that you wouldn't--I mean, my attempts weren't hopeless, were they?"I heard footsteps approaching. I turned around, both out of fury, sadness, and worry. Sirius was here....He was in front of me and I couldn't say everything I had wanted to say so badly. That he had screwed all of us just so he could have a name on the Dark Side. That he killed James. That it was all his fault, and if he dared touch a hair on Harry's head (no pun intended) that I would have hesitation in sending him back to Azkaban or even to the Dementors. That he killed me just like he killed James and Peter. And that...and that I still loved him...."Remus....Remus, please---talk to me. You don't believe---you don't believe them, do you? It wasn't ME----Remus? Remus, listen! I can explain it all!"
I turned back to him. "What do you mean, Sirius...?"
"I mean that it wasn't me! I mean that it was Peter! Wormtail screwed us all over, not me! I left at the last minute because I thought that Wormtail's supreme love for James would prove strong, that even thought they'd come looking for me they wouldn't find out anything. And Peter-- Peter told them--"
I shook my head. "Dammit, Sirius..."
"I'm telling the truth! Please! Remus, please, PLEASE believe me!"
"Okay, Sirius, then WHY ARE YOU HERE? You AREN'T just here to see me, that was never the case."
" What else!? For Peter! He's here, Moony. He's not in his human form, you know. He may be an idiot, but he's got a good thing going for him right now...I'm sure I can change tha---"
"You've gone insane, just like all the prisoners. And I won't try to trust you any more. I won't lie to myself..." I started to cry again. God, I am pathetic...Sirius saw me and I quickly turned away. He came around to me and wrapped and arm around me, bringing another, embracing me. I opened my eyes and tried to get away, I couldn't stand it anymore. I stopped and dropped my head on his shoulder, sobbing.
"Remus....Please, I beg of you...trust me...believe me... Just this once..." he whispered to me, making me feel so mixed.
"I still love you, Remus....even if you don't love me."
He seemed to disappear and I was left hugging air. He apparated....to where? I don't know... Probably somewhere he could transfigure himself into that big, black dog he always liked....
A very mixed Remus.
Dear Diary,
I can't get my mind off everything Sirius spoke about. He seemed rather angry with me and yet...so comforting. So...yeilding. He...he can't be telling the truth. Peter is dead, dammit....But it brought a question to my mind...
"Why would Siri ever do this...."
I guess the answer lies in the future...in evidence unfound, lies to be broken...And...And hopefully I can learn the truth about all this?....Hopefully...
On an even heavier note, the full moon is within 1 days...On Christmas night....What a terrible time to have this event take place...Severus promised me he'd get me a present as long as I make him one. "Make him one"? I have no idea what he likes!!....A pet, maybe? ....He'd hate me forever if I gave him more responsiblity :) But then again....it might soften him up, having a little animal in his arms during the many nights he spent alone....
I stood up from my chair and strode out of my office. Since it was the Winter Holidays I figured I could get away with going to Hogsmeade and trying to buy him a furry companion. My head filled with little notions about what to buy him and how he'd react. So many thoughts popped into my head, each as humorous as the next. I finally came to the store, a large stone one with the hanging sign "Frankinsence's Magical Animal Shop" that had a small picture of a dog carved into it's reddish wood. I entered through the door, a small bell chiming as I did so and walked around the store. I spotted many creatures. Small mice and rats with sleek coats, little puppies with all kinds of color fur, owls with shimmering feathers and a rather regal look about them, toads and frogs happily croaking in a small pond at the back, along with many mystical animals I never considered as pets, but looked extremely domestic. I smiled and walked past all these, considering them, but discarding the ideas of Severus having one of each. I at last came to the kittens.
I looked at them, a orange tabby, a white persian, a grey shorthaired, a little rag-doll cat, a British Blue-cream (which looks rather uptight) and at last my eyes rested on one that stood apart from the others. Sitting on the windowsill was a tiny black kitten with forest-green eyes. I smiled at it, and walked up to it, petting it soothingly and looking at it. It seemed perfect! Sevvy would love it! I picked it up and walked to the counter, setting it down. The young witch looked at me.
"Ah, that's Leviathan. He's a cutie, huh?" I nodded, looking affectionately at the small kitten. Leviathan? A sea serpent...Good!!! "Christmas gift?" I nodded once again, smiling. "Ah, well, that'll be 12 Galleons, please." I put the money on the counter and picked up the cat, walking out of the store. When I came back to Hogwarts I sneaked into Severus's chamber and looked around to see if anyone was there, and when it was confirmed that the room was empty I tied a ribbon around the cat's green collar and set it underneath his Christmas tree with a little note on the ribbon stating "To Severus, from your secret admirer", hoping he'd get the joke. I left the room and went back to my own. Merry Christmas Eve!! Remus
Dear ???,
I dunno what to call you. "Diary" seems a bit...I dunno, feminine. I'll think of something.
Anyway, today's the day after Christmas, what James used to call the gloomiest day of the year, since no fun holidays came until Easter. I found it rather exciting, though. Today Severus would come to me and tell me how he liked his present!!
I sneaked around the hallways, trying to keep out of sight in case Severus came by--or, even more on my mind, Sirius still spying on me. I half crawled, half sprinted to Severus's office and turned the handle slowly, creeping into the seemingly abandoned room, searching about for anyone when something small rubbed against my leg. I looked down to find Leviathan. I smiled and picked him up as he purred in my arms.
"He likes you, Secret Admirer," said a voice in my ear. I smiled and closed my eyes as Severus guided me over to the Christmas Tree he kept in the corner of his room. I sat down beside him, next to the fire and garland filled pine tree. I kept my eyes closed as he pushed a medium package into my hands.
"What is i---"
"Open it up and see, Remus."
I grinned and opened my eyes to see a bright red box with little Santas all over it. My grin became even broader as I unwrapped the package, saving the paper as a little memory. ( It was too cute to waste ) I pulled off the top of the lid to find---
New robes and a briefcase. I looked at them and down at my frayed and patched clothes, realising how completely strange I looked. I looked at Severus and he smiled.
"Well? Aren't you going to put them on, Remus? That's what they're meant for, you know.." he said, making me quickly lose that stupid look on my face and forced me to stand up. I wrapped the robe around me, tying the first two knots and leaving the rest untied. I walked to the mirror in his bedroom and turned around, looking at myself. I finally looked like a real Professor, not some raggedy old werewolf. I turned back to face the mirror and saw Severus standing at the doorway. "Lovely, Remus."
I smiled softly and walked to him for a hug.
"So, how did you like your present, Severus?
"Leviathan? He's sweet...and very small. He'll grow right? I keep getting the feeling I'm going to step on him."
I laughed. "Yes, he'll grow. Do you want some cookies? I made some...." and with that we spent the rest of the day together...:)
Remus
Author's Note: Well, thanks to my friend I realized how terribly sappy this story is. Please forgive me. I just...I hate really sappy stories, and I made one...Eerrgh. Anyhow, I'm gonna try to make the next chapter more REALISTIC...And, about the Lucius thing later---I THINK he was at Hogwarts with the Marauders. If I was mistaken, then--woops! Just fill in the blank, k?
DISCLAIMER: Okay, all of these characters and some of the plot is J.K.Rowlings, who IS your god. None of these characters are mine, although I sorely wish Remmie and Sirius were all my own. *smiles evilly* That'd be fun.
Dear...Frank?
I still cannot think of a name. Ah well, I promise next time I will name you.
ANYWAY, the anti-dementor lessons had begun earlier this evening. As I believe I told you, I promised Harry I would teach him how to use the Patronus incantation so he could ward them off. I asked Professor Dumbledore if it'd be alright for me to teach extracirricular lessons to Harry.
"Well, Remus, I am not so positive I want any dementors within these walls," he told me, his face hardening into a hatred I had not seen before.
"Nor I, sir. I was trying to think of some kind of...er-replacement? Another boggart, prehaps?"
"If you can find one, you are welcome to use it. Maybe you can bring it into whatever classoom you are using? Search hard, though. Those creatures are hard to find."
I nodded, smiling at his acceptance of my idea. I exited his cheerful office and marched past the statue guarding it. When I had reached my first stop, the Staffroom, I immediately set out in search of the Boggart. No luck, even in the dusty old cupboards they never used. I searched everywhere, even daring to sneak into Professor Trelawny's room and ask her, never quite getting an answer from her. I finally came to the office all of us Maruaders feared....
Filch's office.
I snuck in and looked around, noticing that nobody was there. Creeping over to the wardrobe I opened it and looked up and down, searching for any replica of the Full Moon. I saw none, so I moved to the next possible hiding spot. I searched practically everywhere until I came to the filing cabinet. I was close to opening it when a hand lay upon my shoulder. I turned around to see the man himself, Argus Filch. Oh, he and I go way back.
We knew eachother pretty well, not as well as Sirius and he, but still pretty well considering the amount of times I was caught with James and Padfoot. Somehow they always managed to get away with Peter before I got the chance... So he and I er-- came across each other quite often.
Anyhow, I looked up at Filch, who looked down at me. I felt so small under his glare.
"Back for more pranks, Professor?" he spat.
"N-No, sir. I just was looking for--"
"A likely story, you haven't changed since those days you ran around with your little devilish friends, blowing up the kitchens with your fireworks, placing stink pellets in the Great Hall, trying to--"
"Mr.Filch, sir, I was just looking for--"
" Setting fire to the Slytherin's common room--"
"That was a mistake!!" I interrupted, since it really was.
"WHICH YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"..." True, we belonged in Griffindor. But one time James got really angry at Severus and Lucius for making fun of Peter and cursing his books to bite him, not to mention the Slytherins cheating on the last Quidditch game. So, naturally Sirius came up with the idea to do something to them. It took about a week for me to find the password into Slytherin Tower (Beelzebub feet) and on a Friday night we slipped in during Dinner. James had brought some Filibuster Fireworks and a couple of Wizzing Worms into the common room and set some of them under each chair, attached a close-to-bursting packet of water to each Filibuster and set a spell on the Wizzing Worms to be ignited if pressure was applied. Peter arrived late and burst through the portrait-hole, panting from running. He sat down on a chair and...well, you can imagine. Sparks exploding everywhere, a chain reaction of all the fireworks, fire caught the chairs and the room and the wallpaper. We screamed, trying in vain to put it out as the Slytherins entered.... We were immediately sent to Dumbledore who had Filch by his side. We were punished severly for our act, but it was well worth it at the time.
"Sir, I was given permission to look for a boggart to teach one of my 3rd years how to--"
"How to what?"
"If you'll let me finish--" a sudden bang came from the hallway outside and Filch gave me an evil glance before marching out. I sighed and opened the file cabinet. A sudden flash and I saw the full moon hanging in front of me. I performed the normal spell and it turned into a cockroach, one of the things I fear least. Picking up the insect, I sat it in a packaging case I found in his office as well. I walked nonchalantly out of the room and walked to my room, 5 minutes late for my lesson with Harry. I set it unto Professor Binn's desk and begane to take off my cloak.
"What's that?"
"Another boggart," I replied, smiling slightly that I had finally found one. " I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr.Filch's filing cabinet. it's the nearest we'll get to a real dementor. The boggart will turn into a dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to practice on him. I can store him in my office when we're not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like."
"Okay," he said, seeming a bit apprehensive.
"So..." I began to explain to Harry the procedure and how hard it might be, but how I had confidence in him.
"Concentrating hard on your happy memory?"
"Oh--yeah---....Expecto patrono--no, patronum--sorry--expecto patronum, expecto patronum..." he said, a small wisp of a Patronus coming out of his wand. "Did you see that!? Something happened!" he said, grinning, making it impossible for me to refuse a smile as well.
"Very good. Right, then--ready to try it on a dementor?"
"Yes..." he said, looking determined as he moved closer to the box. I opened it and a dementor slowly rose from it's abode, making the room dark, the lamps flickering out and causing the classroom to become undeniably cold. Harry's recollection of the dementor was more precise than I thought, causing me to as well have bad memories flood into my mind. "Expecto patronum! Expecto patronum! Expecto---" He stopped suddenly and I saw his eyes cloud and close, Harry began to fall. I rushed and caught him, trying to bring him back to conciousness.
"Harry!"
"...Sorry" he said, opening his eyes as the lamps lit themselves again.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes..." he pulled himself up as he said this and leaned against a desk wearily. He must have heard Lily again...
"Here--" I said, giving him a Chocolate Frog, having them ready knowing he might react like this. "Eat this before we try again. I didn't expect you to do it your first time; in fact, I would have been astounded if you had."
"It's getting worse...I could hear her louder this time....and him-- Voldemort--"
"Harry, if you don't want to continue, I will more than understand--"
"I do!" he said, jumping to his feet and swallowing the rest of the Chocolate Frog, barely chewing it. "I've got to! What if the dementors turn up at our match Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the Quidditch Cup!"
I looked at him, and hesitated. He really wanted this..."All right then... You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate on...That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough..." I waited, sitting on a desk, and gazed at the box. Harry opened his eyes and walked towards the middle of the room again. I jumped up and gripped the lid. "Ready?"
"Ready."
"Go!" I pulled off the lid, the room immediately grew dark and a chill swept over it again. I watched as much as I could in the pitch black all except a small cloud of silver. "Come on Harry, it's working! It's--- Harry!!" Harry had fainted again. I sighed and walked over to him, the light back on and the room warm once more. I woke him up with a couple of taps. "Harry..wake up..."
He sat there for a while and looked up, tears streaming down his face, when he had regained his sense of self he muttered,"I heard my dad...That's the first time I've ever heard him--he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it..." Harry bent down, tying his shoe. It took a while for me to catch that he had heard my deceased friend and his own father....
"You heard James?" I asked, I KNOW that my voice cracked at "James".
"Yeah...Why--you didn't know my dad, did you?"
Eep, deathblow. "I--I did, as a mtter of fact," I said nervously, my voice still cracking. "We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen--Harry--perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced ...I shouldn't have suggested puting you through this..."
"No!" Harry exclaimed, making me jump as he rose to his feet. " I'll have one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what it is....hang on..." I leaned against the desk, hoping he would at last find his very happy memory...I couldn't bear having Harry tortured like this. A minute went by and he came into the spot he had stood in before.
"Ready? Concentrating hard? All right--go!" I pulled off the lid for the 3rd time and watched as Harry stepped forwards.
" EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A large silver Patronus erupted from his wand, illuminating the room and making the dementor slowly back away. I grinned and looked back at Harry, whose eyes started to lid and he looked as if he should fall any second. I leaped forwards, allowed myself to produce the Full Moon Boggart and stuffed it back into the packaging case. When is was gone, I looked over at Harry, who sat in a desk wearily.
"Excellent Harry! That was definitely a start!!"
"Can we have another go? Just one more go!?" he asked. I can't believe he wanted to!
"Not now, you've had enough for one night. Here---" I handed him a bar of chocolate. "Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?"
'Okay," Harry replied, smiling slightly. He started to walk out, eating the chocolate while I extinguished the lamps, but turned around as he reached the door. "Professor Lupin? If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well."
My ears perked up and I turned around. "What gives you that idea?"
"Nothing---I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too..."
I relaxed. "Yes...I knew him. Or I thought I did. You'd better be off, Harry, it's getting late." I turned back around and continued extinguishing the lamps, thinking about the "good ol' days", occasionally looking out the window to see if Sirius was spying on me again, that bastard...
And then I came to write in you, "Frank".
Remus Lupin
DISCLAIMER:I can't believe I forgot this! IDIOT=ZIA!! Okay, all of these characters and some of the plot is J.K.Rowlings, who IS your god. None of these characters are mine, although I sorely wish Remmie and Sirius were all my own. *smiles evilly* That'd be fun.
Dear Diary,
I was walking down the hall after I left Lunch today and a hand grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me into what seemed to be an empty dungeon. There was no light and I, stupidly enough, didn't reach for my wand to illuminate the room. The hand let go of me but I didn't move. I was frozen.
"Gave up on me, Remus?" said a hoarse and dead voice of someone I used to know. My ears perked up in alarm as he pulled my wand out of my belt and lit a lamp---SIRIUS! I looked at him, the frail, ghostlike shell of the exuberant and strong Padfoot I once knew. I could feel a shout of joy/confusion/dispair/hope rising in my throat, but it had suddenly dried up. I just looked at him. "Oh, don't look at me like that Remus! You hafta know it wasn--You probably don't, huh? Well, listen, I got more important matters to discuss with you, Remus J. Lupin. What's with this--this SEVERU--"
I suddenly found my voice. "SIRIUS WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?!?! DON'T YOU KNOW THA--"
"Shut UP, Remus!! You're gonna get us caught." He shut me up with his hand and slowly moved to the edge of the room, listening for anyone who was coming. He came back and put a silencing spell around us, making our voices only heard by us. He started to pace. "Gods, I wish James gave us the Invisibilty cloak....''
I stared at him for a while, letting the whole thing pass over me until I once again was able to speak, this time in more of a whisper. "Sirius...What are yo--"
"Okay! I'll admit it! I was spying on you. Yeah, okay, that's a load off my concience--"
"SPYING ON M--"
"Yeah! Remus! I couldn't help it! I read the papers and saw that you were gonna be the new Professor and.....Remus, I am undeniably proud of you, but- --" He walked up to me and stood directly above me, his face a split between menacing and worried. Why was he--"SEVERUS? I mean---I saw you near the Lake and at first I denied that you kissed HIM, but then I saw you and him and--"
"Sirius!"
"I mean, literally, how could you fall for--"
"SIRIUS!!"
"Yeah, what!? Oh, listen, Remus, don't call me ridiculous and all that shi-- "
"Sirius, why are you even here? I shouldn't be talking to you! The dementors will find you and---Sirius, how could you even do all that? And Harry---" I stood up, still shorter than he, but trying to look as mean as I could "--You. Leave. Harry. Alone."
"Harry? This has nothing to do with Harry! This is between me, you, and the Mop. Moony...I thought that even though I was gone that you wouldn't--I mean, my attempts weren't hopeless, were they?"I heard footsteps approaching. I turned around, both out of fury, sadness, and worry. Sirius was here....He was in front of me and I couldn't say everything I had wanted to say so badly. That he had screwed all of us just so he could have a name on the Dark Side. That he killed James. That it was all his fault, and if he dared touch a hair on Harry's head (no pun intended) that I would have hesitation in sending him back to Azkaban or even to the Dementors. That he killed me just like he killed James and Peter. And that...and that I still loved him...."Remus....Remus, please---talk to me. You don't believe---you don't believe them, do you? It wasn't ME----Remus? Remus, listen! I can explain it all!"
I turned back to him. "What do you mean, Sirius...?"
"I mean that it wasn't me! I mean that it was Peter! Wormtail screwed us all over, not me! I left at the last minute because I thought that Wormtail's supreme love for James would prove strong, that even thought they'd come looking for me they wouldn't find out anything. And Peter-- Peter told them--"
I shook my head. "Dammit, Sirius..."
"I'm telling the truth! Please! Remus, please, PLEASE believe me!"
"Okay, Sirius, then WHY ARE YOU HERE? You AREN'T just here to see me, that was never the case."
" What else!? For Peter! He's here, Moony. He's not in his human form, you know. He may be an idiot, but he's got a good thing going for him right now...I'm sure I can change tha---"
"You've gone insane, just like all the prisoners. And I won't try to trust you any more. I won't lie to myself..." I started to cry again. God, I am pathetic...Sirius saw me and I quickly turned away. He came around to me and wrapped and arm around me, bringing another, embracing me. I opened my eyes and tried to get away, I couldn't stand it anymore. I stopped and dropped my head on his shoulder, sobbing.
"Remus....Please, I beg of you...trust me...believe me... Just this once..." he whispered to me, making me feel so mixed.
"I still love you, Remus....even if you don't love me."
He seemed to disappear and I was left hugging air. He apparated....to where? I don't know... Probably somewhere he could transfigure himself into that big, black dog he always liked....
A very mixed Remus.
Dear Diary,
I can't get my mind off everything Sirius spoke about. He seemed rather angry with me and yet...so comforting. So...yeilding. He...he can't be telling the truth. Peter is dead, dammit....But it brought a question to my mind...
"Why would Siri ever do this...."
I guess the answer lies in the future...in evidence unfound, lies to be broken...And...And hopefully I can learn the truth about all this?....Hopefully...
On an even heavier note, the full moon is within 1 days...On Christmas night....What a terrible time to have this event take place...Severus promised me he'd get me a present as long as I make him one. "Make him one"? I have no idea what he likes!!....A pet, maybe? ....He'd hate me forever if I gave him more responsiblity :) But then again....it might soften him up, having a little animal in his arms during the many nights he spent alone....
I stood up from my chair and strode out of my office. Since it was the Winter Holidays I figured I could get away with going to Hogsmeade and trying to buy him a furry companion. My head filled with little notions about what to buy him and how he'd react. So many thoughts popped into my head, each as humorous as the next. I finally came to the store, a large stone one with the hanging sign "Frankinsence's Magical Animal Shop" that had a small picture of a dog carved into it's reddish wood. I entered through the door, a small bell chiming as I did so and walked around the store. I spotted many creatures. Small mice and rats with sleek coats, little puppies with all kinds of color fur, owls with shimmering feathers and a rather regal look about them, toads and frogs happily croaking in a small pond at the back, along with many mystical animals I never considered as pets, but looked extremely domestic. I smiled and walked past all these, considering them, but discarding the ideas of Severus having one of each. I at last came to the kittens.
I looked at them, a orange tabby, a white persian, a grey shorthaired, a little rag-doll cat, a British Blue-cream (which looks rather uptight) and at last my eyes rested on one that stood apart from the others. Sitting on the windowsill was a tiny black kitten with forest-green eyes. I smiled at it, and walked up to it, petting it soothingly and looking at it. It seemed perfect! Sevvy would love it! I picked it up and walked to the counter, setting it down. The young witch looked at me.
"Ah, that's Leviathan. He's a cutie, huh?" I nodded, looking affectionately at the small kitten. Leviathan? A sea serpent...Good!!! "Christmas gift?" I nodded once again, smiling. "Ah, well, that'll be 12 Galleons, please." I put the money on the counter and picked up the cat, walking out of the store. When I came back to Hogwarts I sneaked into Severus's chamber and looked around to see if anyone was there, and when it was confirmed that the room was empty I tied a ribbon around the cat's green collar and set it underneath his Christmas tree with a little note on the ribbon stating "To Severus, from your secret admirer", hoping he'd get the joke. I left the room and went back to my own. Merry Christmas Eve!! Remus
Dear ???,
I dunno what to call you. "Diary" seems a bit...I dunno, feminine. I'll think of something.
Anyway, today's the day after Christmas, what James used to call the gloomiest day of the year, since no fun holidays came until Easter. I found it rather exciting, though. Today Severus would come to me and tell me how he liked his present!!
I sneaked around the hallways, trying to keep out of sight in case Severus came by--or, even more on my mind, Sirius still spying on me. I half crawled, half sprinted to Severus's office and turned the handle slowly, creeping into the seemingly abandoned room, searching about for anyone when something small rubbed against my leg. I looked down to find Leviathan. I smiled and picked him up as he purred in my arms.
"He likes you, Secret Admirer," said a voice in my ear. I smiled and closed my eyes as Severus guided me over to the Christmas Tree he kept in the corner of his room. I sat down beside him, next to the fire and garland filled pine tree. I kept my eyes closed as he pushed a medium package into my hands.
"What is i---"
"Open it up and see, Remus."
I grinned and opened my eyes to see a bright red box with little Santas all over it. My grin became even broader as I unwrapped the package, saving the paper as a little memory. ( It was too cute to waste ) I pulled off the top of the lid to find---
New robes and a briefcase. I looked at them and down at my frayed and patched clothes, realising how completely strange I looked. I looked at Severus and he smiled.
"Well? Aren't you going to put them on, Remus? That's what they're meant for, you know.." he said, making me quickly lose that stupid look on my face and forced me to stand up. I wrapped the robe around me, tying the first two knots and leaving the rest untied. I walked to the mirror in his bedroom and turned around, looking at myself. I finally looked like a real Professor, not some raggedy old werewolf. I turned back to face the mirror and saw Severus standing at the doorway. "Lovely, Remus."
I smiled softly and walked to him for a hug.
"So, how did you like your present, Severus?
"Leviathan? He's sweet...and very small. He'll grow right? I keep getting the feeling I'm going to step on him."
I laughed. "Yes, he'll grow. Do you want some cookies? I made some...." and with that we spent the rest of the day together...:)
Remus
Author's Note: Well, thanks to my friend I realized how terribly sappy this story is. Please forgive me. I just...I hate really sappy stories, and I made one...Eerrgh. Anyhow, I'm gonna try to make the next chapter more REALISTIC...And, about the Lucius thing later---I THINK he was at Hogwarts with the Marauders. If I was mistaken, then--woops! Just fill in the blank, k?
DISCLAIMER: Okay, all of these characters and some of the plot is J.K.Rowlings, who IS your god. None of these characters are mine, although I sorely wish Remmie and Sirius were all my own. *smiles evilly* That'd be fun.
Dear...Frank?
I still cannot think of a name. Ah well, I promise next time I will name you.
ANYWAY, the anti-dementor lessons had begun earlier this evening. As I believe I told you, I promised Harry I would teach him how to use the Patronus incantation so he could ward them off. I asked Professor Dumbledore if it'd be alright for me to teach extracirricular lessons to Harry.
"Well, Remus, I am not so positive I want any dementors within these walls," he told me, his face hardening into a hatred I had not seen before.
"Nor I, sir. I was trying to think of some kind of...er-replacement? Another boggart, prehaps?"
"If you can find one, you are welcome to use it. Maybe you can bring it into whatever classoom you are using? Search hard, though. Those creatures are hard to find."
I nodded, smiling at his acceptance of my idea. I exited his cheerful office and marched past the statue guarding it. When I had reached my first stop, the Staffroom, I immediately set out in search of the Boggart. No luck, even in the dusty old cupboards they never used. I searched everywhere, even daring to sneak into Professor Trelawny's room and ask her, never quite getting an answer from her. I finally came to the office all of us Maruaders feared....
Filch's office.
I snuck in and looked around, noticing that nobody was there. Creeping over to the wardrobe I opened it and looked up and down, searching for any replica of the Full Moon. I saw none, so I moved to the next possible hiding spot. I searched practically everywhere until I came to the filing cabinet. I was close to opening it when a hand lay upon my shoulder. I turned around to see the man himself, Argus Filch. Oh, he and I go way back.
We knew eachother pretty well, not as well as Sirius and he, but still pretty well considering the amount of times I was caught with James and Padfoot. Somehow they always managed to get away with Peter before I got the chance... So he and I er-- came across each other quite often.
Anyhow, I looked up at Filch, who looked down at me. I felt so small under his glare.
"Back for more pranks, Professor?" he spat.
"N-No, sir. I just was looking for--"
"A likely story, you haven't changed since those days you ran around with your little devilish friends, blowing up the kitchens with your fireworks, placing stink pellets in the Great Hall, trying to--"
"Mr.Filch, sir, I was just looking for--"
" Setting fire to the Slytherin's common room--"
"That was a mistake!!" I interrupted, since it really was.
"WHICH YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"..." True, we belonged in Griffindor. But one time James got really angry at Severus and Lucius for making fun of Peter and cursing his books to bite him, not to mention the Slytherins cheating on the last Quidditch game. So, naturally Sirius came up with the idea to do something to them. It took about a week for me to find the password into Slytherin Tower (Beelzebub feet) and on a Friday night we slipped in during Dinner. James had brought some Filibuster Fireworks and a couple of Wizzing Worms into the common room and set some of them under each chair, attached a close-to-bursting packet of water to each Filibuster and set a spell on the Wizzing Worms to be ignited if pressure was applied. Peter arrived late and burst through the portrait-hole, panting from running. He sat down on a chair and...well, you can imagine. Sparks exploding everywhere, a chain reaction of all the fireworks, fire caught the chairs and the room and the wallpaper. We screamed, trying in vain to put it out as the Slytherins entered.... We were immediately sent to Dumbledore who had Filch by his side. We were punished severly for our act, but it was well worth it at the time.
"Sir, I was given permission to look for a boggart to teach one of my 3rd years how to--"
"How to what?"
"If you'll let me finish--" a sudden bang came from the hallway outside and Filch gave me an evil glance before marching out. I sighed and opened the file cabinet. A sudden flash and I saw the full moon hanging in front of me. I performed the normal spell and it turned into a cockroach, one of the things I fear least. Picking up the insect, I sat it in a packaging case I found in his office as well. I walked nonchalantly out of the room and walked to my room, 5 minutes late for my lesson with Harry. I set it unto Professor Binn's desk and begane to take off my cloak.
"What's that?"
"Another boggart," I replied, smiling slightly that I had finally found one. " I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr.Filch's filing cabinet. it's the nearest we'll get to a real dementor. The boggart will turn into a dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to practice on him. I can store him in my office when we're not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like."
"Okay," he said, seeming a bit apprehensive.
"So..." I began to explain to Harry the procedure and how hard it might be, but how I had confidence in him.
"Concentrating hard on your happy memory?"
"Oh--yeah---....Expecto patrono--no, patronum--sorry--expecto patronum, expecto patronum..." he said, a small wisp of a Patronus coming out of his wand. "Did you see that!? Something happened!" he said, grinning, making it impossible for me to refuse a smile as well.
"Very good. Right, then--ready to try it on a dementor?"
"Yes..." he said, looking determined as he moved closer to the box. I opened it and a dementor slowly rose from it's abode, making the room dark, the lamps flickering out and causing the classroom to become undeniably cold. Harry's recollection of the dementor was more precise than I thought, causing me to as well have bad memories flood into my mind. "Expecto patronum! Expecto patronum! Expecto---" He stopped suddenly and I saw his eyes cloud and close, Harry began to fall. I rushed and caught him, trying to bring him back to conciousness.
"Harry!"
"...Sorry" he said, opening his eyes as the lamps lit themselves again.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes..." he pulled himself up as he said this and leaned against a desk wearily. He must have heard Lily again...
"Here--" I said, giving him a Chocolate Frog, having them ready knowing he might react like this. "Eat this before we try again. I didn't expect you to do it your first time; in fact, I would have been astounded if you had."
"It's getting worse...I could hear her louder this time....and him-- Voldemort--"
"Harry, if you don't want to continue, I will more than understand--"
"I do!" he said, jumping to his feet and swallowing the rest of the Chocolate Frog, barely chewing it. "I've got to! What if the dementors turn up at our match Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the Quidditch Cup!"
I looked at him, and hesitated. He really wanted this..."All right then... You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate on...That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough..." I waited, sitting on a desk, and gazed at the box. Harry opened his eyes and walked towards the middle of the room again. I jumped up and gripped the lid. "Ready?"
"Ready."
"Go!" I pulled off the lid, the room immediately grew dark and a chill swept over it again. I watched as much as I could in the pitch black all except a small cloud of silver. "Come on Harry, it's working! It's--- Harry!!" Harry had fainted again. I sighed and walked over to him, the light back on and the room warm once more. I woke him up with a couple of taps. "Harry..wake up..."
He sat there for a while and looked up, tears streaming down his face, when he had regained his sense of self he muttered,"I heard my dad...That's the first time I've ever heard him--he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it..." Harry bent down, tying his shoe. It took a while for me to catch that he had heard my deceased friend and his own father....
"You heard James?" I asked, I KNOW that my voice cracked at "James".
"Yeah...Why--you didn't know my dad, did you?"
Eep, deathblow. "I--I did, as a mtter of fact," I said nervously, my voice still cracking. "We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen--Harry--perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced ...I shouldn't have suggested puting you through this..."
"No!" Harry exclaimed, making me jump as he rose to his feet. " I'll have one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what it is....hang on..." I leaned against the desk, hoping he would at last find his very happy memory...I couldn't bear having Harry tortured like this. A minute went by and he came into the spot he had stood in before.
"Ready? Concentrating hard? All right--go!" I pulled off the lid for the 3rd time and watched as Harry stepped forwards.
" EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A large silver Patronus erupted from his wand, illuminating the room and making the dementor slowly back away. I grinned and looked back at Harry, whose eyes started to lid and he looked as if he should fall any second. I leaped forwards, allowed myself to produce the Full Moon Boggart and stuffed it back into the packaging case. When is was gone, I looked over at Harry, who sat in a desk wearily.
"Excellent Harry! That was definitely a start!!"
"Can we have another go? Just one more go!?" he asked. I can't believe he wanted to!
"Not now, you've had enough for one night. Here---" I handed him a bar of chocolate. "Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?"
'Okay," Harry replied, smiling slightly. He started to walk out, eating the chocolate while I extinguished the lamps, but turned around as he reached the door. "Professor Lupin? If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well."
My ears perked up and I turned around. "What gives you that idea?"
"Nothing---I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too..."
I relaxed. "Yes...I knew him. Or I thought I did. You'd better be off, Harry, it's getting late." I turned back around and continued extinguishing the lamps, thinking about the "good ol' days", occasionally looking out the window to see if Sirius was spying on me again, that bastard...
And then I came to write in you, "Frank".
Remus Lupin