"It's great to be back." Came the soft voice of Remus Lupin. He was leaning on his walking stick, smiling and nodding to Dumbledore as they conversed. He looked tired honestly, and his face was a bit pale, so that the scars on his cheek stood out.

"How long has it been?" Dumbledore asked.

Remus thought a moment, "Well I've taken the potion recently, if that's what you are implying. But it has been difficult lately getting ahold of the necessary ingredients."

Dumbledore nodded in understanding, "I shall have to ask Severus if he has some extra supplies."

Remus rubbed at the back of his neck a bit uncomfortably. "Do you think he'd be willing to help?"

By that time, the boys had already caught tidbits of the conversation from their position behind the door. They couldn't go in of course, because that would mean trouble. But while they were in the midsts of deciding what to do, a firm hand clamped on each of their shoulders. Ron turned around slowly and whimpered.

Behind them stood a smug looking Meredith Banes. Her lips quirked into a smirk and her golden eyes flashed for a moment. "Well, well, well... two nosey Gryffindors seem to have misplaced themselves."

Harry reached for his wand that he had brought along, but Meredith made a "tut tut" sort of noise and pushed them backwards. The two collided with the door and it swung open, leaving them sprawled on the ground in the room at Meredith's feet.

Dumbledore and Lupin turned around in alarm at the sudden noise. "Harry!" Remus started after recgonizing the boy who had fallen into the room along with his comrade.

Dumbledore looked at the three inquiringly, asking in a calm voice, "Mr. Potter? Mr. Weasley? Miss Banes?"

Meredith gave a half grin, "They were listening in sir."

Dumbledore frowned lightly, "I know your intentions were good Miss Banes, but your method is a bit unorthodox."

Remus stepped over to help the boys up and stared at the girl. "Banes?"

She glowered at the older man, staring him straight in the eyes almost challengingly. "Yes."

Remus pulled the boys up and his smile was gone. "Fenrir.." He murmered.

Meredith flicked a bit of tan colored hair away from her face. "He was my grandfather."

Remus forced a smile, "Well.. um.. it was nice to meet you Miss Banes.. Good to see you as well boys.. Perhaps its best if these boys get back to bed?"

Dumbledore smiled lightly, "Yes, it is rather late. Perhaps you'd like to escort them Remus? We can continue our conversation in the morning."

Remus nodded, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, who at this moment was utterly confused. "Come on then boys, off to the dorms.." He started out of the room, giving a brief nod to Meredith who let out a sniff of displeasure as she stepped away from them.

"Miss Banes.. please continue your shift and then return to the dorms. We shall be talking as well in the morning." Dumbledore said calmly.

"Yes sir.." Meredith said flatly, leaving the room and walking opposite to where the other three had gone.

Remus smiled gently, speaking to the boys as he walked them back to the Gryffindor dorms. "How have you two been?"

Harry was silent so Ron chimed in. "We've been good..."

After a bit of an uncomfortable pause, Harry asked, "What brings you back Professor?"

"No need to call me Professor, Harry, I'm not teaching. At least I don't think I'm going to be. I hear you have a new DADA Professor. Is he teaching you well?" Remus answered.

"Yeah.. he's alright, not as interesting though. I think he knows about the job's reputation." Harry answered.

"That no faculty member lasts more than a year?" Remus asked with a chuckle.

"It's true though." Ron chimed in.

Harry looked at Remus, asking a question that had been on his mind since they left Dumbledore, "Professor Lupin, who's Fenrir?"

Remus lightly clapped Harry on the back, even though the gesture was in play, his face didn't show it. "Fenrir was... well as she said, her grandfather, I knew him only briefly, but it was a lasting impression." He spoke uneasily, not finishing his sentances fully. "Fenrir Banes.. it has been quite a while.."

Harry frowned and wanted to ask more, but a lantern shone in their eyes from a figure ahead. It was Hermione and she seemed quite flustered. "Harry! Ron! I told you not to come out tonight!"

Remus chuckled and gave a greeting to her. "Aren't you out a bit late yourself Miss Granger?"

Hermione stopped, "Professor Lupin! How wonderful to see you again! Oh, about being out late, well.. I have to be.." She pointed to her Prefect's badge.

Remus leaned foreward, looking at the badge with a smile. "Impressive. I myself once wore a badge just like that, though I didn't keep it quite as shiny." He commented.

Hermione smiled at the compliment, but her expression returned back to concern when she saw her friends. "You haven't gotten in any trouble have you?"

"Naw, not tonight, Dumbledore just wants us to be returning to the dorms, is all." Ron answered with a playful smile.

"You're lucky that's it! If you had been caught by someone else, you would've been in detention or worse, expelled!" Hermione scolded.

Professor Lupin lightly nudged the boy's shoulders again, "Come on, if I don't return you to the dorms, then I'll be getting in trouble as well."

Hermione gave a flustered sigh and marched off, "Behave yourselves, next time you might not be so lucky!"

Ron made a face back over his shoulder to the retreating Hermione's back.