Harry walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts room and up to Remus' study. He raised his hand to knock but Remus spoke. "Hello, Harry. I saw you coming." The Marauders' Map lay open on his desk. "I've looked worse, believe me." Remus' face was all scratched up and he was pale. He was also packing.

Harry looked around in disbelief. "You've been sacked."

Remus smiled blandly. "No. No. I resigned actually."

Harry stood there completely dumbfounded. "Resigned? Why?"

Remus sighed. "Well, it seems that someone let slip the nature of my condition. This time tomorrow owls will start arriving and parents will not want a…uh well, someone like me teaching their children."

Harry looked away for a moment thinking about everything he would like to do to Snape. "But Dumbledore-"

Remus interrupted. "Dumbledore has already risked enough on my behalf. Besides, people like me are-well, let's just say I'm used to it by now. Why do you look so miserable, Harry?"

Harry shrugged looking depressed. "None of it made any difference. Pettigrew escaped."

Remus looked surprised and just a little agitated. "Didn't make any difference? Harry, it made all the difference in the world. You helped uncover the truth! You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate. It made a great deal of difference." He paused and went over to Harry putting his hands on Harry's shoulder. "If I am proud of anything it is of how much you have learned this year. Now, since I am no longer your teacher, I feel no guilt whatsoever about giving this back to you." He indicated the map. "So now I'll say goodbye, Harry. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. Until then: mischief managed." He tapped it with his wand.

Harry paused taking the map as it was offered. "Are you going to see Erin before you go?"

Remus chuckled and leaned against his cane. "Yes, she'd likely transform and kill me if I didn't." Harry watched him walked down the stairs and out of the room.

Erin was sitting outside on the steps in front of the castle staring glumly into space. She hated all the stares and all the whispered comments that people were making about her. She wondered where Harry was...he had been let out of the hospital wing before her...Hermione had elected to stay and help Ron out, so she was on her own for a while.

The clack of his walking cane was the first sign of his approach as Remus Lupin made his way out of Hogwarts. His year as a teacher now over and his progress was slow, but luckily, thanks to magic, he had the problem to transporting his luggage solved. It followed quietly behind him. "Why, Erin…" He said gently, in that good-natured voice of his. "Whatever are you doing out here all by yourself?" He asked.

Erin smiled. "Well, Hermione and Ron are still in the hospital wing and Harry is...well I don't know where Harry is." She looked away smiling. "Sorry, about that." She looked back nodding toward his facial wounds.

Remus smiled largely. "Ah, it's quite alright. I've dealt with worse, believe me." He said. "And the last I saw of Harry I believe he was headed towards the Great Hall after we said our goodbyes." Lupin explained, carefully taking a seat down beside her.

Erin looked at him surprised. "Goodbyes? Where are you going?"

He rested both hands over his cane and cleared his throat a bit. "It seems word of my condition has been spreading around the school." He explained to her gently. "So I sent in my resignation...as I already explained to Harry enough has been risked on my behalf just in order to teach here and I shall risk no more. I don't wish to be a burden, nor do I want to worry about how this information will be received by others. Don't worry, dear girl, it's nothing I'm not used to by now."

Erin sighed. "Remus, I just thought that you would be here...I thought you would just be here for us and…I don't know how I am going to get through this summer..." She tapered off.

His warm smile lessened a little. "I would more than love to be here for you and remain, but there is little to be done. You know as well as I that as soon as Lucius Malfoy gets word of me there will be no end to the trouble and indirectly that would be even more trouble for you." He said thoughtfully. "So unfortunately I can not be there for you here at Hogwarts...but…perhaps I could assist you in surviving your summer?" He offered, a vague smile lifting his face.

Erin stared at him wondering if he was saying what she hoped he was saying. She swallowed and could barely speak. "Do you mean...?"

Remus nodded happily. "I've recently purchased a small country home." He said. "Small, but far too big for someone like me to take care of alone...I could use a hand if someone were interested in helping. "

Erin threw her arms around him. "YES! YES!" She kissed him on the cheek a few times. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Oh!" Her enthusiasm nearly knocked him clean over. Which was not the most comfortable thing presently, but he was too happy to mind the slight aches and pains. "There is no need to thank me, dear. I am just thrilled you accepted." He said with laughter.

"You have no idea!" Erin said. "That orphanage you took me to was awful, you know." She grinned. "So technically, you owe me."

"Yes, well I shall have to do my best to pay you back." Remus said. "I shall have word sent immediately to make all the necessary arrangements for your move. Everything will be in order by the time you're ready to leave for the summer."

"Yeah!" Erin said. "And don't worry, you can repay me by telling me everything about mum and dad that you know. Which I have the feeling is an awful lot." Erin grinned.

"An awful lot." He agreed with a nod. "And a lot of it is truly awful." He joked.

"Only when you accidentally walked into the common room one time and found them making out on the couch...Oh, um, I mean..." Erin looked around trying to think of an excuse.

Remus could only laugh. "And wherever did you get such a story from?" He asked.

"There's something I never told you,"Erin said. "I'm a Legilimenist..."

Remus laughter fell short; he cleared his throat a bit less comfortably. "I don't think anyone would have told you something like...especially not me." He said studying her, his eyes twinkling. But she needed explain herself. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me. But let us never speak of that particular event again." He said with another large grin.

Erin giggled. "Don't worry, but can we discuss a certain Miss Eugenia Mulflower?" Erin laughed even more when she saw the blush creep on his cheeks.

"I wouldn't uh...press my luck if I were you." He said, both just a bit embarrassed, though still merry about the whole thing.

Erin managed to stop laughing. "Ok, you'll just have to become a pretty good Occlumenist." Erin's heart fell slightly when she saw his carriage pull up, but nothing could dampen her mood too much.

"Yes, I suppose I shall." Remus replied, smiling down at the girl, slight dismay on his part too, when the carriage did arrive, but hopeful too. Soon enough they would be seeing each other again. "Well, my dear..."Lupin allowed her to help him back to his feet. Once standing again, he leaned on his cane. He looked at her as his luggage was carefully loaded onto the carriage. "I suppose this is goodbye for now." He said kindly.

"Yeah, but I definitely have a summer to look forward to." She smiled and hugged him. "You're the greatest godfather I could have had."

He gratefully hugged her back. "Well I'm only half as good as my goddaughter." He replied, smiling as well. He kissed the girl on her brow before pulling away. "I look very forward to our first summer together." He said. "Until then I expect you'll be good and look after your friends? Harry needs all the help he can get staying out of trouble." He said with a mischievous look.

"Believe me." Erin said rolling her eyes. "You've the heard the stories, you know I try. But..." She said with a glint in her eyes. "I am the daughter of Sirius and Xenia..."

"That you most certainly are." He agreed with a grin. "Well then..." Remus looked to the waiting carriage. "I best be off. I've quite the trip ahead of me."

"Bye." She said. "And if you aren't at the Platform when I get off you are going to have one mad she-wolf on your hands."

Remus laughed as he climbed into the carriage and the door was shut behind him. "I wouldn't dream of being late." He said, leaning out the window as the carriage started down the path. "Goodbye!"

Erin waved as the carriage rolled of sight. Then she turned and walked into the castle. She looked around and noticed there was some excitement going on inside the Great Hall.