A/N: Merci beaucoup to every one who reviewed! That's always encouraging. I promise that this chapter will be longer, and there will be more to come.
Forgot a disclaimer on the last part, so here it is: All characters, places, etc. belong to J. K. Rowling, her publishers, Warner Bros., etc. (except for those who don't) Not making any money, off of this or anything else for that matter.
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A Little Hope
Chapter 2
He stared at her for a moment. 'Great,' he thought to himself, 'I seem to have some sort of angel right out of It's A Wonderful Life.'
The expression of surprise seemed to be obvious, because his "angel" finished, "Hope McKay."
He looked at her again, now with a faint recognition, like she was someone he used to know and should remember. "That name seems awfully familiar. Did I know you at some point?"
"We were at school together. I was in Ravenclaw, your year. I was also the only Seeker ever to beat the unstoppable James Potter in a Quidditch match."
"Now I remember. How could I forget? James and Sirius spent a month after that trying to get their revenge." He stopped. Talking about them still hurt. He would rather forget, at least now.
No one spoke for a few minutes. Then Hope said, "Would you want to come back to my place, for a cup of tea and something to eat. We can talk without being heard. There's something I need to ask you, but I would rather do it in private."
"Sure. Do you live nearby?"
"Just down the street. We can walk, if you want. I think you're just a little to intoxicated to Apparate."
"Probably. Walking sounds good, if it isn't far." He followed her out the door, and they walked down the street to a bookstore he didn't recognize. She led him around back, and they walked up the stairs to a cozy apartment. Hope lit a fire in the fireplace and it filled the small living room with warmth, a welcome change from the frigid air outside. She set water boiling in the kitchen, and told Remus to sit.
"I hope you like chamomile, all I have is herbal," she called from the kitchen.
"That's fine," he said, glad to have something warm for the first time in a week or so.
"I'm making pasta," she said, walking back into the livingroom with two steaming mugs, handing one to Remus. "I bet you're wondering why I brought you here."
"A little, yes."
"I have a few things to ask you. One is for Hogwarts, one is for the Order, and one is for me."
"Wait. Back up. You know about the Order?"
"Yeah. I was in Paris all last year trying to get support. I popped into Grimmauld Place once or twice, we must have missed each other."
"So what do you want?"
"First, Dumbledore wants you back to teach. He still hasn't found a real D.A.D.A teacher, he has Minerva and Snape covering that and their own classes. He would tell you himself but he wasn't sure where to find you and couldn't get away."
"When did he find you? Why didn't he send someone else to tell me?"
"I've been helping teach, too, but I don't really have time. I have a job at the Ministry, most of the time, but I've been helping."
"What would you teach? I didn't know there were any other jobs open."
"I'm not really teaching. I'm more of a guidance counselor. A lot of kids are losing family, now that You-Know-Who is back, and Dumbledore thought that it would be good if they had someone more objective to talk to, someone they didn't have to see in classes all week. It's only on Saturdays, so that's why I live here instead of at the school." She walked back into the kitchen for a few minutes, leaving Remus to sip the hot tea. He was starting to sober up. He could tell by the weight that seemed to have settled in his heart, a black hole that had been the Marauders.
Hope walked back in carrying two bowls of pasta, covered in tomato sauce and cheese. "Here. He asked me to talk to you because I needed to ask you something else, anyway. He really needs a teacher, and he says you were the best out of the last few."
"That's not really saying much. Of the last five teachers, three were evil and one was an idiot. He really wants me back? Even if . . ." Remus broke off. She wouldn't know he was a werewolf, would she?
"I know you're a werewolf," she said, as if answering his question. "So do most of the parents of students. And almost none of them care. Not enough to force you out."
"Fine. I'll think about it and write to Dumbledore soon. What were the other things you needed?"
"You have a new mission for the Order of the Phoenix, if you choose to accept it."
"Seen 'Mission Impossible' much?"
"Hm, oh yeah." She blushed a little, catching the cliched movie reference. "Anyway, you probably know this, but You-Know-Who is trying to recruit werewolves. Convincing them that the Ministry are enemies, trying to destroy them."
"I did know that. It was the same the last time, remember?" He was still wondering how she knew he was a werewolf, but he didn't ask.
"Right. Anyway, there are a group of werewolves that we know he hasn't gotten to yet, and we are trying to convince them to come over to our side, to take an active role in the Order. They don't trust us, though. We want you to talk to them, try to convince them to take a stand, or at least warn them that what You-Know-Who is going to tell them, so they won't go over to the Dark Side."
"Really? The Order wants me to do that? I'm not sure I'm the best person to do this," he tried to say, but she interrupted him.
"You are the only person for the job. We can't ask anyone else, because there isn't anyone else to ask. If you don't want to, it's understandable, but . . ."
"No, I'll do it, but I was just making sure you all know that I might not be too successful."
"Dumbledore has complete faith in you, and if he has faith in you, I do, and so does the rest of the Order.
"Fine, anything to help." He sighed. At least this would take his mind off of Sirius. "What was the third thing you wanted? Something for you?"
"Not really for me, more for a project I'm working on. Do you know you are the only werewolf to attend Hogwarts as a werewolf? Any that were bit at school were expelled, any before were simply barred from any education. That is the argument to support that law that keeps werewolves out of the Ministry and most other jobs, the one passed by Dolores Umbridge two years ago."
"Right," Remus said. "But that argument has always been faulty, because most werewolves receive the bite after school, as adults, so they would have been able to attend school. That just an excuse for that bigoted law."
"That's exactly what I'm trying to prove. I've been trying to have that law repealed since it was first passed. Sort of my 'X-Files.'" He gave her a blank look. "Muggle television show. Anyway, I want your help."
"Again I'm going to ask why me. I hope you don't think I'm becoming redundant."
"Not at all. Someone you don't really know is asking you three big favors. It's understandable to be confused."
"You sound just like a by the book psychologist, but that's not why I'm confused. I really mean, why me? I'm sure there are other people out their that could argue more eloquently than me, that are better with this sort of thing. I really don't like speaking in front of crowds, especially a crowed of Ministry officials who would probably want to see me killed."
"Because you would be good at this. You're good with people, and with planning. I remember the reputation the four of you got at school. James and Sirius would come up with the pranks, and they would usually be the ones to actually pull them off, but you would be the research man, the one who figured out the risks and how to get around them. You think cautiously, and know how to do something sneaky without getting caught, differing all suspicion to someone else or no one at all. That's how the Marauders worked. I remember." She looked at him, and saw that he was looking away. Then, as if suddenly realizing memories hurt, she added, "I'm sorry. About them. You're the last one left, aren't you? I forgot. It seems like just yesterday they were exploding cauldrons in Potions or working spiders into every plate at the Slytherin table."
"Like yesterday," Remus murmured. He looked out the window of the apartment to the falling snow and cringed. He would have to stay somewhere tonight, couldn't wander between bars and taverns, shouldn't walk in the snow. He would freeze.
Hope had stood up rather abruptly and looked at the time. "Oh my," she said. "You would want to get home. It's late."
He continued staring out the window, then looked at her, deciding to do something a little bold. "Would you mind if . . . would it be imposing of me to ask . . . if I could . . . if it would be possible if I could stay here tonight?" He looked away again, preparing for rejection.
Hope was a little taken aback. "Sure," she replied apprehensively, "but would it be presumptuous of me to ask why?"
"I was evicted from my apartment a few days ago, and I just ran out of the little money I had to pay for a room at the inn. If it's a problem, there's a place I could go, but I would rather not."
"You can sleep on the couch. I don't mind at all. I've been a little lonely here, living by myself. I'm used to staying with my sister and her husband. They have three children, so the house is never quiet. It'll be nice to have some company for a change." She paused, then began again, "That's how I knew. That you were a werewolf. My nephew had you for a teacher, and I found out from him. Said you were the best teacher he had though. Wished you would come back." With that, she smiled and began to leave the room.
"Do you have an owl I could use?" Remus asked, hoping he wouldn't ware out his welcome. "I want to write to Dumbedore straight away, to tell him I'll take the job. If parents don't want their children taught by a werewolf, they can pull them out of school." Hope smiled again, and whistled. A large brown owl flew into the hall and perched on her shoulder.
Remus quickly wrote the note and sent it off. Hope walked into her bedroom silently, leaving him alone on the couch. He discovered a knit blanket on a chair, and soon fell asleep, warm and almost happy.
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A/N 2: Hope (no pun intended) you liked, lots more to come, if you review. And regarding my other fic, "I Am Not My Father," I'm thinking of turning that into a complete sixth year fic with that as one of it's chapters. Not anytime soon, but eventually. Once again, please review. Feedback is like chocolate, it is enjoyed but gone to soon, leaving you wanting more!
