DISCLAIMER - own nothing, want everything
Chapter 2
Remus stormed back through Hogsmeade. He was angry with Hermione, with Sirius, even with Harry. But the thing that angered him the most was the fact that he had absolutely no idea what he was angry about. He couldn't even remember why he'd stormed out of the carriage in the first place.
He marched through Zonko's door and tripped over the shifting doormat. He stood up, regained his composure and continued to trudge miserably upstairs to his flat. He took his keys in his shaking hand, put them in the lock, and fell straight through the door.
"Oh sorry Remus I left it open because it was too hot."
Remus jumped out of his skin. "Who the Hell - TONKS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THIS IS MY HOUSE! YOU SEE? MY THINGS!"
Tonks folded her arms and glared at Lupin. "Well Remus, I don't know what put you in that mood but if you don't snap out of it pretty soon, you wont get any tea."
"Bu-bu-but-"
"And don't 'but' you're not a goat."
"Sorry Molly." He flopped in a nearby chair. Tonks grinned and morphed into Molly Weasley "Come to think of it why are you in a Molly-mood?"
"Oh Remus I've had an awful day." She flumped into the chair next to him. "First I burnt my kitchen down, then the ceiling collapsed, and now I've got no where to live."
"You can stay here for a while."
She smiled. "Thanks."
"And then, while you were gone, SHE sent me a letter." Her face was colouring. "Can you believe - SHE invited me to dinner. WHAT KIND OF SICK, TWISTED PERSON INVITES PEOPLE TO DINNER?"
Remus shrugged, trying not to laugh.
Tears were desperately trying not to form in her eyes. "Just so she can peer down her nose at me. She was always like that - stuck-up. We - my dad always used to invite her over for Christmas dinner. She's sit there, and not say anything to anyone - you know - as if she's too good to dine with us. And she's always hated my power - you know? God, she was horrible."
Remus put his arm round her. "My day's as bad. I just completely lost my rag with Hermione and I can't, for the life of me remember what it was all about. And - I also feel a little - it was err. full moon last night."
Tonks clapped her hand over her mouth; in any other situation it would have been quite funny as she still looked like Mrs Weasley. "Oh, drat, I completely forgot. I'm so sorry."
Remus' eyes lowered and his voice deepened. "And it-umm-it was the first time I'd done it without-you know-for a-a year. I know it's stupid - I lasted thirteen years but-" He broke off.
Tonks shook her head. "It's not stupid." She could tell that he was trying not to cry. "I'll make some more tea, shall I?"
She got up and when she was safely out of the room, Remus wiped his eyes on the back of his sleeve. He looked opposite him. There, on the wall, hung an enormous picture with a huge, grand frame, the only thing Remus had that was expensive and in good condition. In the picture sat the marauders on a sofa. Sirius and himself sat there waving and James had his arm around Lily who was holding Harry, all three of them were smiling. Peter wasn't there, he had been ill when the photo was taken. He'd had the image blown up recently. It was the marauders. The marauders as they should be. The doorbell went, startling him out of his dream world. He heaved himself out of his chair and wrestled with the stiff door.
"Hi Professor!" Said George inviting himself in.
"How are you?" Asked Fred, not looking too bothered and following his brother.
"Umm-why are you here?"
"Oh that's nice." Said Fred.
"Here we are-" Began George.
"-Two poor, innocent young men-"
"-Trying to find our way in the world."
"Only to be crushed by certain, heartless werewolves."
Remus forced a grin. "Why are you here?" He repeated.
"Product marketing and testing."
Remus frowned. That did not sound good.
"Look." Said George, rummaging around in his pocket. "Allow me to demonstrate." He pulled out a pair of clip-on earrings. "These are anti- hearrings."
"Or hear-ring aids." Said Fred.
"The name is, as yet, undecided. Here." He handed them to Lupin. "Now, Remus Lupin." He put on a fake Molly voice. "How DARE you wear anything given by Fred and George. If your father-" Remus clipped on the earrings and immediately the sound was changed so that the sound he could hear didn't match the sound coming out of George's lips. "-sausages. My mother is a goose. I like green wheelbarrows. The baby is alight. The train to Gloucester is arriving at platform three-" Remus grinned and pulled off an earring so that he could hear what George was really saying. "-So that when our mother is screaming her head off at us all, which is, let's be honest, a common occurrence-"
"GEORGE WEASLEY."
The twins' faces paled as they spun around to face their mother.
"HOW DARE YOU TALK LIKE THAT! YOU'VE HURT ME DEEPLY GEORGE. IN FACT - I'VE A GOOD MIND TO TELL REMUS HERE WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE FIVE-"
"You-you wouldn't!"
"OH WOULDN'T I GEORGE?"
Fred came to the rescue. "We-we were just here to tell R-Remus th- that Dumbledore w-wants to see him. Tomorrow."
"AND HOW EXACTLY DOES DELIVERING THAT MESSAGE INVOLVE INSULTING YOUR OWN MOTHER?"
"W-we're sorry, mum- but - what the-?"
Remus and 'Mrs Weasley' burst out laughing, and with a 'pop' Tonks turned back into what was usually her usual self.
"You-" Started Fred.
"-You evil-"
"-That prank-"
"-Was bloody brilliant." George saluted Tonks. And with that the twins marched out of the flat, looking extremely impressed.
Tonks giggled some more.
"By the way - what did Fred and George do when they were five?"
Tonks shrugged. "I have no idea. I just made it all- is that an earring?"
Remus went scarlet and pulled it off his ear.
------
A banging at the door woke Remus. "We're baaaaaaaaaack!" He groaned and heaved himself out of bed. He walked past Tonks who was lying on the settee grunting. And pulled open the door. Fred and George stood there once more, as smug as ever.
"Proh-fess-hor Dumbledore requests a meeting with you and Harry!" Said George cheerfully.
"What time is it?"
"Just gone seven."
"He wants to meet me this early in the morning?"
Fred nodded. "Before lessons start."
Remus looked into a mirror that was perched on a pile of books. "My hair." He moaned.
"It always looks bad, anyway." Shrugged Fred. "Here, take this." He threw him a comb.
Remus pulled it through his matted hair once, then rubbed his head. Everyone snorted. "What?" He asked, confused.
"Nothing." Replied Tonks in an unusually high-pitched voice.
Fearing the worst, Remus turned back to the mirror, and there, where he'd pulled the comb was a green stripe.
The room burst out laughing. "I-" Moaned Lupin, "I can't meet Dumbledore like this."
"You're gonna have to." Said Fred in hysterics. "And pretty soon!"
Remus grunted, picked up his cloak and stormed out of the flat.
------
Ron and Hermione were talking in low whispers in the entrance hall. They looked unusually close, although maybe that was because he was used to seeing them with an inch thick wall of tension between them thought Lupin. "Hi you two."
They immediately shot a metre apart from each other. "Hi-" Began Ron. "We were just umm - doing - nothing."
"Nothing?" Asked Lupin. "Right."
"So are you here to see Dumbledore with Harry?" Said Hermione changing the subject rapidly.
"Yeah." Nodded Lupin, deciding not to take the 'nothing' matter any further. "How's he been?"
"Oh-ok, I suppose. Personally my advice is to be firm but loving."
Lupin could hardly suppress a grin. "Firm but loving? Right, I'll remember that."
"Because of course, 'nothing is so aggravating as calmness.' I-"
"She read that somewhere." Finished Ron.
"Yeah," Said Hermione. "I - wait, how did you know that?"
Ron shrugged. "Must be psychic."
Hermione glared at him. The old tension was back again. "Good luck Lupin."
He nodded.
"And be-" One eyebrow raised. "Your hair's-"
"Green!" Grinned Ron.
"Well-" Started Hermione again. "It's not - it's not all green."
"What happened?" Asked Ron, mid-laughter.
"Fred and George happened. Now I've really got to go. Oh, and Hermione, I'm sorry about the other day - it was just after the full moon and-"
"It's OK."
------
"Belgian seashells." A set of golden staircases appeared and Remus followed them upwards. Not bothering to knock he opened the door and entered the room.
Harry sat in front of the headmaster's desk and smiled slightly as he entered. "Hi." Muttered Lupin. He threw his cloak around the back of the empty chair and sat down.
"So." Began Dumbledore. "I want to talk to you both about the arrangements for this year. Remus is staying in the flat above Zonko's. The owners know about the arrangement and will let him up anytime. Regarding visiting hours. Harry, you may visit Remus at any time as long as it is before seven o'clock, not during lesson time and as long as you are accompanied by someone else." They both nodded. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
"No." They said simultaneously.
"Then that's-"
"Yes," Said Harry suddenly. "What if Sirius isn't dead? What if he just-" "He's dead." Said Lupin, a sudden edge to his voice.
"SHUT UP! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM ANYWAY? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID HE KNEW HIM THEN THOUGHT HE WAS A BLOODY MURDERER FOR TWELVE YEARS!"
"I knew him for nine years, you knew him for two so don't give me tha-"
"YES WELL I STILL MANAGED TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HIM! NOT LIKE YOU, YOU SHUT HIM UP IN THAT HOUSE-"
"YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO MISSES SIRIUS YOU KNOW!"
"HE WASN'T YOUR DAD!"
"HE WASN'T YOURS EITHER!"
"HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN - HE'S THE ONLY DAD WHO'S EVER BEEN THERE!"
"WHAT ABOUT THE ONE WHO DIED TO SAVE YOU?"
"SHUT UP!" And with that, Harry stormed out of the classroom.
Pink in the face, Remus picked up his cloak and followed suit.
------
Hermione and Ron watched as first Harry stormed past them into the hall closely followed by Lupin who stormed past them outside.
"Isn't that good, Ron? They've bonded!"
"Bonded? They look like they bloody hate each other!"
"Well it's a START." Said Hermione, defensively.
**--------**
So what do you think? Review! (nothing nasty though!)
Chapter 2
Remus stormed back through Hogsmeade. He was angry with Hermione, with Sirius, even with Harry. But the thing that angered him the most was the fact that he had absolutely no idea what he was angry about. He couldn't even remember why he'd stormed out of the carriage in the first place.
He marched through Zonko's door and tripped over the shifting doormat. He stood up, regained his composure and continued to trudge miserably upstairs to his flat. He took his keys in his shaking hand, put them in the lock, and fell straight through the door.
"Oh sorry Remus I left it open because it was too hot."
Remus jumped out of his skin. "Who the Hell - TONKS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THIS IS MY HOUSE! YOU SEE? MY THINGS!"
Tonks folded her arms and glared at Lupin. "Well Remus, I don't know what put you in that mood but if you don't snap out of it pretty soon, you wont get any tea."
"Bu-bu-but-"
"And don't 'but' you're not a goat."
"Sorry Molly." He flopped in a nearby chair. Tonks grinned and morphed into Molly Weasley "Come to think of it why are you in a Molly-mood?"
"Oh Remus I've had an awful day." She flumped into the chair next to him. "First I burnt my kitchen down, then the ceiling collapsed, and now I've got no where to live."
"You can stay here for a while."
She smiled. "Thanks."
"And then, while you were gone, SHE sent me a letter." Her face was colouring. "Can you believe - SHE invited me to dinner. WHAT KIND OF SICK, TWISTED PERSON INVITES PEOPLE TO DINNER?"
Remus shrugged, trying not to laugh.
Tears were desperately trying not to form in her eyes. "Just so she can peer down her nose at me. She was always like that - stuck-up. We - my dad always used to invite her over for Christmas dinner. She's sit there, and not say anything to anyone - you know - as if she's too good to dine with us. And she's always hated my power - you know? God, she was horrible."
Remus put his arm round her. "My day's as bad. I just completely lost my rag with Hermione and I can't, for the life of me remember what it was all about. And - I also feel a little - it was err. full moon last night."
Tonks clapped her hand over her mouth; in any other situation it would have been quite funny as she still looked like Mrs Weasley. "Oh, drat, I completely forgot. I'm so sorry."
Remus' eyes lowered and his voice deepened. "And it-umm-it was the first time I'd done it without-you know-for a-a year. I know it's stupid - I lasted thirteen years but-" He broke off.
Tonks shook her head. "It's not stupid." She could tell that he was trying not to cry. "I'll make some more tea, shall I?"
She got up and when she was safely out of the room, Remus wiped his eyes on the back of his sleeve. He looked opposite him. There, on the wall, hung an enormous picture with a huge, grand frame, the only thing Remus had that was expensive and in good condition. In the picture sat the marauders on a sofa. Sirius and himself sat there waving and James had his arm around Lily who was holding Harry, all three of them were smiling. Peter wasn't there, he had been ill when the photo was taken. He'd had the image blown up recently. It was the marauders. The marauders as they should be. The doorbell went, startling him out of his dream world. He heaved himself out of his chair and wrestled with the stiff door.
"Hi Professor!" Said George inviting himself in.
"How are you?" Asked Fred, not looking too bothered and following his brother.
"Umm-why are you here?"
"Oh that's nice." Said Fred.
"Here we are-" Began George.
"-Two poor, innocent young men-"
"-Trying to find our way in the world."
"Only to be crushed by certain, heartless werewolves."
Remus forced a grin. "Why are you here?" He repeated.
"Product marketing and testing."
Remus frowned. That did not sound good.
"Look." Said George, rummaging around in his pocket. "Allow me to demonstrate." He pulled out a pair of clip-on earrings. "These are anti- hearrings."
"Or hear-ring aids." Said Fred.
"The name is, as yet, undecided. Here." He handed them to Lupin. "Now, Remus Lupin." He put on a fake Molly voice. "How DARE you wear anything given by Fred and George. If your father-" Remus clipped on the earrings and immediately the sound was changed so that the sound he could hear didn't match the sound coming out of George's lips. "-sausages. My mother is a goose. I like green wheelbarrows. The baby is alight. The train to Gloucester is arriving at platform three-" Remus grinned and pulled off an earring so that he could hear what George was really saying. "-So that when our mother is screaming her head off at us all, which is, let's be honest, a common occurrence-"
"GEORGE WEASLEY."
The twins' faces paled as they spun around to face their mother.
"HOW DARE YOU TALK LIKE THAT! YOU'VE HURT ME DEEPLY GEORGE. IN FACT - I'VE A GOOD MIND TO TELL REMUS HERE WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE FIVE-"
"You-you wouldn't!"
"OH WOULDN'T I GEORGE?"
Fred came to the rescue. "We-we were just here to tell R-Remus th- that Dumbledore w-wants to see him. Tomorrow."
"AND HOW EXACTLY DOES DELIVERING THAT MESSAGE INVOLVE INSULTING YOUR OWN MOTHER?"
"W-we're sorry, mum- but - what the-?"
Remus and 'Mrs Weasley' burst out laughing, and with a 'pop' Tonks turned back into what was usually her usual self.
"You-" Started Fred.
"-You evil-"
"-That prank-"
"-Was bloody brilliant." George saluted Tonks. And with that the twins marched out of the flat, looking extremely impressed.
Tonks giggled some more.
"By the way - what did Fred and George do when they were five?"
Tonks shrugged. "I have no idea. I just made it all- is that an earring?"
Remus went scarlet and pulled it off his ear.
------
A banging at the door woke Remus. "We're baaaaaaaaaack!" He groaned and heaved himself out of bed. He walked past Tonks who was lying on the settee grunting. And pulled open the door. Fred and George stood there once more, as smug as ever.
"Proh-fess-hor Dumbledore requests a meeting with you and Harry!" Said George cheerfully.
"What time is it?"
"Just gone seven."
"He wants to meet me this early in the morning?"
Fred nodded. "Before lessons start."
Remus looked into a mirror that was perched on a pile of books. "My hair." He moaned.
"It always looks bad, anyway." Shrugged Fred. "Here, take this." He threw him a comb.
Remus pulled it through his matted hair once, then rubbed his head. Everyone snorted. "What?" He asked, confused.
"Nothing." Replied Tonks in an unusually high-pitched voice.
Fearing the worst, Remus turned back to the mirror, and there, where he'd pulled the comb was a green stripe.
The room burst out laughing. "I-" Moaned Lupin, "I can't meet Dumbledore like this."
"You're gonna have to." Said Fred in hysterics. "And pretty soon!"
Remus grunted, picked up his cloak and stormed out of the flat.
------
Ron and Hermione were talking in low whispers in the entrance hall. They looked unusually close, although maybe that was because he was used to seeing them with an inch thick wall of tension between them thought Lupin. "Hi you two."
They immediately shot a metre apart from each other. "Hi-" Began Ron. "We were just umm - doing - nothing."
"Nothing?" Asked Lupin. "Right."
"So are you here to see Dumbledore with Harry?" Said Hermione changing the subject rapidly.
"Yeah." Nodded Lupin, deciding not to take the 'nothing' matter any further. "How's he been?"
"Oh-ok, I suppose. Personally my advice is to be firm but loving."
Lupin could hardly suppress a grin. "Firm but loving? Right, I'll remember that."
"Because of course, 'nothing is so aggravating as calmness.' I-"
"She read that somewhere." Finished Ron.
"Yeah," Said Hermione. "I - wait, how did you know that?"
Ron shrugged. "Must be psychic."
Hermione glared at him. The old tension was back again. "Good luck Lupin."
He nodded.
"And be-" One eyebrow raised. "Your hair's-"
"Green!" Grinned Ron.
"Well-" Started Hermione again. "It's not - it's not all green."
"What happened?" Asked Ron, mid-laughter.
"Fred and George happened. Now I've really got to go. Oh, and Hermione, I'm sorry about the other day - it was just after the full moon and-"
"It's OK."
------
"Belgian seashells." A set of golden staircases appeared and Remus followed them upwards. Not bothering to knock he opened the door and entered the room.
Harry sat in front of the headmaster's desk and smiled slightly as he entered. "Hi." Muttered Lupin. He threw his cloak around the back of the empty chair and sat down.
"So." Began Dumbledore. "I want to talk to you both about the arrangements for this year. Remus is staying in the flat above Zonko's. The owners know about the arrangement and will let him up anytime. Regarding visiting hours. Harry, you may visit Remus at any time as long as it is before seven o'clock, not during lesson time and as long as you are accompanied by someone else." They both nodded. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
"No." They said simultaneously.
"Then that's-"
"Yes," Said Harry suddenly. "What if Sirius isn't dead? What if he just-" "He's dead." Said Lupin, a sudden edge to his voice.
"SHUT UP! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM ANYWAY? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID HE KNEW HIM THEN THOUGHT HE WAS A BLOODY MURDERER FOR TWELVE YEARS!"
"I knew him for nine years, you knew him for two so don't give me tha-"
"YES WELL I STILL MANAGED TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HIM! NOT LIKE YOU, YOU SHUT HIM UP IN THAT HOUSE-"
"YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO MISSES SIRIUS YOU KNOW!"
"HE WASN'T YOUR DAD!"
"HE WASN'T YOURS EITHER!"
"HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN - HE'S THE ONLY DAD WHO'S EVER BEEN THERE!"
"WHAT ABOUT THE ONE WHO DIED TO SAVE YOU?"
"SHUT UP!" And with that, Harry stormed out of the classroom.
Pink in the face, Remus picked up his cloak and followed suit.
------
Hermione and Ron watched as first Harry stormed past them into the hall closely followed by Lupin who stormed past them outside.
"Isn't that good, Ron? They've bonded!"
"Bonded? They look like they bloody hate each other!"
"Well it's a START." Said Hermione, defensively.
**--------**
So what do you think? Review! (nothing nasty though!)
