***
. If you hadn't noticed, Draezyc is slightly sadistic… and didn't like Sumpservius much…
***
Nobody spoke during the portkey journey back to Hogsmeade. Draezyc was covered in blood stained robes and Remus was too shocked to speak. Waiting at the portkey station in Hogsmeade was a black dog.
"I see you managed to get your old hair colour back." Anna scratched Padfoot's ears. He barked in approval, taking a moment to sniff Draezyc's robes, then, tail held high, bounded off down the road to Hogsmeade station.
"What's going on down there?" Anna pointed at a scarlet train, with hundreds of children pouring out onto the platform.
"September the first, it's the start of the term. The Hogwarts Express. Harry and his friends will be on it… hopefully… I heard that one year they thought it'd be good to ride a flying car to school." Remus explained
"Oh bloody hell." Draezyc groaned. "A hoard of children see me looking like death's incarnate, this is going to be so wonderful." She started briskly walking towards the Hogwarts School gates, which were wide, open in wait for the children's arrival.
"I still can't believe she was laughing…" Remus stared after her. "She just tore him to pieces…. Right there…"
"Maybe she just doesn't care." Anna muttered. "It was so sudden… surely that's not what they all do… those Death Eaters?"
"It's her trademark, you see." Remus glanced at Hagrid ushering the first years towards the boats. "She was notorious for ripping her victims to pieces, but back then, nobody knew it was her. It's a sign she's leaving, telling them not to get on the wrong side of her, I can bet you that if Voldemort questions her she'll simply tell him that Sumpservius was acting out of position, and that she had warned him."
"But will he believe her?"
"Not after what Malfoy saw earlier. To clear herself she'd have to silence Lucius Malfoy before he gets back to the Dark Lord, which he probably has done already." Remus shuddered slightly. "In all honesty, I was very glad she was there, even if she did tear that man into chunks. She knows what she's doing, Draezyc does."
They walked up the steps into the castle where the preparations for the sorting were being held. McGonagall was busy brushing the dust off the sorting hat and a few elves were setting the tables. "This will be a big feast, after the students are sorted into their houses, well the first years I mean. It's that hat; it chooses the house for them… It almost put me in Ravenclaw… I was surprised but incredibly relieved to be placed in Gryffindor."
"And the others? Sirius and people?"
"Sirius was naturally a Gryffindor, no questions asked about that. Edea, was also a Gryffindor, Snape as you know was a Slytherin, his wife too. Same with the Malfoys and Sumpservius didn't even come here… he went to a different school, Durmstrang I think…"
"I'm not going to get sorted though…"
"No no." Remus smiled. "You're Gryffindor material, you don't need to be sorted, and plus you're a professor now."
"Me… a professor, honestly… I can't teach."
"Then be a teacher for aesthetic purposes." Remus squeezed her hand. "We have seats at the high table this year. We should join it before it gets too crowded."
~*~
Remus had noticed Harry and his friends wave at him briefly after the ceremony, but now all eyes were fixed on Dumbledore who had stood up and was rattling off about the forbidden forest living up to it's name, but had added a small anecdote about Lord Voldemort. And now, he was on new staff.
"And for those who take Muggle Studies, we have a new assistant this year, along with a familiar face from a few years ago. Professor Lupin has returned to jointly teach Defence against the Dark arts with our new teacher Professor DuCruet when she is absent due to Auror duty, Professor Lupin will take your lessons. Professor Snape would like to remind students that the dungeons are out of bounds after lesson time to anybody who is not serving a detention, and anybody found will be suitably punished."
Draezyc Snape and Pytheus were not at the table. Probably for their own safety, especially as Lucius Malfoy's son was sitting near the teacher's end of the house tables. It would be slightly difficult if Lucius had told Draco about the troubles and Draco recognised Draezyc. Draco was shooting a menacing look at Remus.
They all know what I am. I wonder how many students and parents will cause problems over my lycanthropy. Yes, a few did like my lessons, but it's the parents with influence that I worry about. Draco especially. His father can bring anybody down if he so wishes. The students seem to like Anna; I must talk with Padfoot about his roaming round the great hall like some rabid psychodog. I suppose it's the nostalgia. I felt like that when I first came back, but then the bad memories started coming back.
When the crowd of students began to stream out towards the large doors up to their house dormitories, Remus took a hold of Padfoot's collar. "You listen to me Paddy…" Remus knelt down so he was eye line with the black dog. "No funny business in the prefects bathroom, alright? I remember very well what you were like in your seventh year…"
Padfoot wagged his tail, and then shot after the crowd, weaving in between people to locate Harry Ron and Hermione. It seemed to Remus that Hermione and Ron had become pretty close since the last time he had seen them both. Harry looked even more like James now he was in his fifth year. He sighed quietly; this was going to be a long year.
~*~
"Alright, for next lesson I want you to each write me a foot of parchment on Azkaban and the rise of the Dementors, this is to be handed in to Professor Lupin's lesson as I will not be here on Friday and he will be covering for you all." Edea DuCruet straightened out her pieces of parchment, and screwed the top on her bottle of red ink. Standing next to her, Remus smiled as Hermione put up her hand, itching to ask a question.
"Yes?"
"I've already finished it." Hermione waved a piece of parchment in the air. Remus grinned slightly at the disbelieving expressions she received from Ron and Harry.
"Then I will take it in now." Remus answered, "Or you can take it and write a more in depth essay, including specific case studies."
Padfoot barked from his place beside Harry. Remus raised an eyebrow. "Harry, perhaps we should have a talk about your dog, and bringing him to future lessons, after the bell goes."
Harry blushed sheepishly as Padfoot let out a loud whine.
"Go on, out, I want you all out so I can prepare for my next class." Edea was getting tetchy.
"Perhaps at lunch then." Remus smiled at Harry who nodded and followed Ron and Hermione to the door.
"She did it again?" Edea asked, nervously glancing at the retreating class.
"Yes, Edmus Sumpservius, another Pyrrus-styled mess." Remus nodded, shuddering slightly.
"Oh." Edea muttered, "Oh. Right… and she was laughing about it?"
"Like it was a comedy sketch." Remus sighed, picking up a stray piece of crumpled parchment from the classroom floor and dropping it into the wastepaper bin.
Edea gulped. "Back with a vengeance then."
"I'd really not like to comment."
"Hence the rather happy mood she's in?"
"Probably." Remus shrugged, picking up his bag, tucking a spare piece of chalk into his pocket. "You're worried about her? Let sleeping serpents lie, she's not going to dismember you as well. Killing Sumpservius was one thing, trying to kill you is totally different."
"She hates me." Edea pulled her cloak over her shoulders. "She's got no qualms about murdering people." A scowl formed on her face. "She's the most adept user of the scelestus curse I've ever seen, and believe me I've seen a few. I'm surprised it hasn't been classified as an unforgivable curse."
"I put her adeptness down to practise."
"Yes, but you're alright she likes you and Anna. You're not in any danger of being found in pieces."
"That's because he doesn't keep trying to kill me." Draezyc announced from the doorway. "Unlike yourself."
Edea's mouth was moving, but no sound was coming out.
"What's wrong DuCruet? Snake got your tongue?"
Edea blinked. "You're going to try to kill me aren't you."
It was more of a statement than a question.
"Uhm… no." Draezyc grinned. "Beating the hell out of you will suffice."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Perhaps it would be wise to get some lunch? Before we miss desert?"
"I'll have you in Azkaban before the year is out, Snape." Edea pushed past Draezyc snarling.
Draezyc smiled and merely nodded "You get to try."
~*~
"So Ron asked Hermione on a date during the summer?" Remus asked Harry, as they were out for a walk in the Hogwarts grounds, after Harry's Quidditch practise.
"Yeah, they've been all over each other all summer… Knew he was after her, you should have seen how jealous he was around her and Krum during the TriWizard Tournament last year… It was pretty obvious to everyone except himself." Harry laughed. "It's good to see you again Professor."
"You can call me Remus you know, outside the classroom of course." Remus smiled. "And I'm sure your new dog is entertaining you well?"
"Oh you should have seen him and Snape in Potions." Harry snickered. "Snape went astronomical, refused to let him in the class. He came in anyway, kept trying to sabotage Malfoy's cauldron."
"Slightly dangerous of him." Remus chuckled. "But that's Padfoot for you. I assume he enjoys being petted by the female population of Gryffindor in the common rooms?"
"Oh yeah… I knew he used to be a ladies man, but he's like…" Harry trailed off.
"You didn't have to see his teenage years, be thankful for that." Remus grinned remembering just how many girls Sirius went through in as many weeks. "he defines the word promiscuous."
"Thanks…. I think." Harry frowned. "Snape seems odd lately, acting really edgy around Malfoy, I mean, I know he favours his own house and everything, but this year, he just seems to be like… Malfoy central."
"Ah." Remus nodded, "Harry, how much do you really know about Snape's situation at the moment?"
"Not much, I take it he's acting as a spy for Dumbledore?" Harry whispered, sitting down next to Remus on one of the benches near the lake. "Nobody really told me much about him, I know he's bitter and twisted and must be really sexually frustrated or something…"
"Erm… no that's one thing he's definitely not."
"No? How so… Who would want him of all people…" Harry was watching Remus with interest now. "Trelawney? Perhaps he get a kick out of her telling him he's going to die every so often…. No wait… Professor Sprout… that's how he gets so much fresh herbs and stuff for his potions!"
"Not quite Harry. You, just like your father, have one very sick and twisted mind." Remus groaned. "Trelawney… honestly…"
"Who then?"
"He's married." Remus explained, trying not to join Harry in his burst of laughter. "No seriously, he is. I only found out a few weeks ago as well. He's very private about this sort of thing."
"Who is it?"
"Have you seen that think dark haired lady who has those glowing blue eyes wander round the dungeons?" Remus asked,
"What the one who's always talking to that kid? The little black haired kid who's too young to be at Hogwarts?" Harry suddenly froze… "You're kidding me! She's like… no… you're kidding me… And that kid… that's his SON?"
Remus nodded.
"Poor Neville, he's going to be heartbroken." Harry giggled. "Snape… oh my god… Snape's got a family… that anally retentive ex death eater has a wife… and kids… oh please tell me this is a joke."
"He's not the only ex death eater, although I lie to think that I'm not quite as anally retentive."
Both Remus and Harry jumped, Remus let out an effeminate shriek of surprise. "Do you always have to sneak up on people like that?"
"All part of the service, and I couldn't help it, you were discussing my husband. But I agree, he can be a bit grouchy, it's just how he is." Draezyc smiled slyly. "I'll remember to tell him he has competition from the Longbottom boy I hear so much about."
"Oh no!" Harry shook his head. "Snape'll kill him in potions, he's already scaring the hell out of Neville… If he keeps on doing that Neville'll fail his Potions OWL"
"I'll talk to him, no promises, we've got to hate Neville, his father was an Auror. A particularly good one too. So to keep up appearances Severus takes every opportunity to verbally strike out. It's all for show, you understand?"
Harry nodded. "I'd sort of worked that out."
"Good, well. I have some work to attend to, I shall see you soon no doubt." Draezyc turned and walked briskly up to the side entrance to the castle.
"She's alright." Harry shrugged. "Does she always creep about silently?"
"Snape trait I'm afraid, they all know how to act stealthily." Remus laughed. "Gets them out of many difficult situations, it's a very enviable asset."
"Tell me about it, the number of times he's caught me and Ron and Hermione wandering round the corridors and taken point off for no reason…"
"Oh well. Just try not to be too smart in his holy presence, he doesn't like people taking away his spotlight."
"Yeah." Harry snorted. "Some spotlight that is..."
Ron and Hermione appeared in the distance, waving at Harry, who stood up. "I'll see you with Padfoot later, yeah?"
"Most definitely. Oh and tell him to stop looking like he has worms… It's very distracting when you're trying to teach a lesson to have a large back dog drag his rear across the floor."
"He's just too lazy to move his legs, I'll tell him."
"Thank you Harry." Remus watched Harry run across the grass to meet his friends
I wish I could say the right words to lead you through this land. You've dealt with so much and yet you still stand tall, I should have been there for you all those years ago. I wish I could play the father and take you by the hand, but that's Sirius' job. I just take a watch from the sidelines, why is the path unclear for me. Will I ever really understand why James trusted me so little?
TBC
