Please read and review! Thanks, cecelle, I love having a reader!

The castle looked just as he remembered: wild, other-wordly, welcoming. He walked up the familiar steps to see a still more familiar figure waiting to greet him.

"Professor McGonagall."

"Mr Lupin." The stern features relaxed into a smile. "Remus. How are you keeping?"

"Oh, can't complain."

"Really?" She cocked her head to one side and looked shrewdly at him. "I would be complaining. That absurd Ministry ruling!" She shook her head in disgust. "Come in, then. You are the last candidate we are seeing, you know, and you will find everyone in a filthy mood. Still, perhaps you can do something about that. Follow me."

She turned and walked briskly into the Entrance Hall, and Lupin trailed more slowly after her, gazing all about him at the familiar architecture. It was years since he had been at Hogwarts, but the castle was exactly as he remembered. Or not quite, because then there had been his friends, and now… Stop it, Remus, he told himself angrily. Don't think about it, not now! Later, he would remember. After he had done his best to get this job, which he wanted more than anything, which he needed.

McGonagall was taking him into her office – the same tidy, functional, yet pleasant room it had been when he had visited it as a student. With one quick flick of her wand she lit the lamps that unobtrusively adorned each wall, pulled up a chair for him, and divested him of his coat, which then neatly levitated itself onto a stand. Flash, he thought to himself, and raised an eyebrow at her. She frowned and pretended not to notice, then reluctantly gave way to one of her rare unrestrained smiles.

"You haven't changed at all. It seems you can still enjoy a sly joke at your elders' expense." Lupin began a riposte – he could think of several – then stopped when he noticed her expectant look. He instead shut his mouth smartly and sat down, arms folded.

"Good idea. It would perhaps be better not to antagonise the interview panel."

"Indeed. And don't tell me the word 'elders' wasn't bait, Minerva. You should know better."

"Perhaps. Now. You may wait in here until we are ready for you, in around fifteen minutes. Your interview will be conducted by the Headmaster, with the four Heads of Houses present to ask any additional questions they deem relevant. After the interview, you are free to have a look around the castle with the other candidates whilst we come to a decision. This should take an hour at most. The successful candidate will then talk with the Headmaster, and perhaps with other members of staff, before returning home. Is there anything you would like to ask me?"

"No. No, thank you. That's very clear."

"Alright then. Good luck." She gave him a curt nod, and left.

Exactly fifteen minutes later, following McGonagall into the Transfiguration classroom where, she had explained, the interview was to take place, Lupin wished he had thought to ask who exactly the Heads of Houses now were. As it was, he had to conceal his shock at seeing Severus Snape there, as well as Flitwick and Sprout, who he knew of old. He had obviously not concealed his reaction well enough, for Snape gave a nasty smirk at his discomfort. He dreaded to think what questions his old schoolfellow might 'deem relevant' but at least there was Dumbledore to keep some sort of control of proceedings. There was the Headmaster now, gesturing at him to take a seat facing the panel, which Lupin apprehensively did.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Mr Lupin. Welcome back," Dumbledore beamed.

"Thank you, Professor."

"I hope you will not find this experience too arduous," the old man twinkled, "though I am sure my colleagues will do their best to make it so."

Lupin carefully avoided looking at Snape as he made a polite reply. Looking at the other teachers, however, did not fill him with cheer, either. Sprout certainly did appear in a 'filthy mood' and Flitwick, though he had a naturally jolly expression, seemed tired and fed-up. Great.

Things improved, though, as time went on. The interview was not particularly difficult and he was, after all, well-qualified for the job. Dumbledore's smiling countenance gave nothing away, but Flitwick and Sprout had begun to look more hopeful, and McGonagall was now observing him with a quiet sort of satisfaction. Snape's face was black as thunder, but Lupin simply assumed this meant he was doing well.

Everything, in fact, was just peachy, and Lupin was just starting get into his stride and show off a little, when Fawkes swooped in and landed on Dumbledore's shoulder, obviously to the Headmaster's surprise and, it appeared, apprehension. He stood and, calming the bird, took the letter it was proffering, a slight frown on his face.

"I am terribly sorry. Would you excuse me for a moment, please?" To murmurs of polite assent he strode out of the room, Fawkes gliding after.

This left an awkward silence. The teachers were obviously confused as to what was going on, and McGonagall looked downright scared. Obviously this was not a usual occurrence. It must be very unusual, in fact, for Fawkes to deign to play messenger – usually the phoenix would engage himself only with more important tasks. It was a mystery, and one unlikely to be explained, it seemed, for Dumbledore said nothing when he returned to resume the interview. The Headmaster was again focused and genial, but Lupin noticed that McGonagall kept giving him worried glances, whilst he steadfastly avoided her beady gaze.

Meanwhile, the questioning continued, and Lupin felt he was acquitting himself well. As they drew to a close, however, his cautious relief was punctured by the interposition of a dreaded silky voice which had up until now been mercifully silent.

"Mr Lupin, may I ask a question?"

"Of course, Professor Snape."

"As we are all aware, but, apparently, too refined to mention, you, Mr Lupin, are a werewolf. Do you think it wise, therefore, to apply for a job in a school? How do you plan to deal with your…problem? What I mean by that is, how will you stop yourself from, every month, savagely attacking children in your care?"

A horrible silence. Lupin sighed. He had been expecting something like this. Sprout looked embarrassed, Flitwick disapproving and McGonagall furious. Snape alone seemed comfortable, satisfied and contemptuous. As for Dumbledore…

"I would not consider it necessary for you to answer that question, Mr Lupin."

"Thank you, Professor, but…" But what? But he wanted to prove to Severus Snape that he could? But he wanted to get the job without having taken advantage of Dumbledore's protection? But he wanted, childishly, to impress them all? Whatever the reason, he had now committed himself to saying something.

"…but I think I can try to answer Professor Snape."

"Of course." Dumbledore signalled him to go on.

"I agree, Professor, that your point is valid. My condition would cause the school certain difficulties, were I to be appointed. However, I was invited to apply for this position when, as you say, all here are aware of what I am. I infer, from this, that the school would be willing to accommodate me with these difficulties. For this, I am profoundly grateful."

He looked straight at Dumbledore, who shook his head slightly as if to acknowledge no need for gratitude. Lupin raised his eyebrows pointedly, then continued.

"As you are all aware, I was a pupil here, and measures were put in place to stop me from being a danger to others." Seeing Snape's face, he blanched and almost stopped but, impelled by the wish to prove himself, and to deserve the look of fierce encouragement that Minerva McGonagall was directing at him, he continued.

"I see no reason why I should not be able to teach here with my lycanthropy under control."

Dumbledore nodded. "You would not have been asked to interview were I not convinced of the same. I can assure you that your condition will not be considered in our decision. Now, I believe that is all, and I know that Sir Cadogan is looking forward to giving his tour of Hogwarts, so please enjoy it, and we will see you again soon. Thank you, Mr Lupin."

"Thank you."

The job was his, of course, and, having seen the other candidates, Lupin was not in the least surprised. One was a disreputable-looking character covered in tattoos and with no qualifications other than a spell in Azkaban for Grievous Magical Harm. Another was what Lupin recognised as a hag, whilst one terrified-looking man was obviously one of Cornelius Fudge's lackeys. There was a woman who looked about twelve and skulked around sulkily talking to no-one, and, perhaps the most unlikely of them all, Stan Shunpike. Snape had also, as usual, applied, but, being also on the panel and presumably already familiar with the layout of the school, he had been spared the tour. He did, however, look suitably furious at Lupin's success, and disappeared quickly, to the new teacher's relief, leaving him to talk to Dumbledore alone.

"Happily, Remus, there will be no need for the sort of precautions we were forced to take during your student days. The Shrieking Shack was, unfortunately, necessary, but still a most unpleasant solution."

"I could have coped with far worse if it meant I could attend Hogwarts."

"Oh, I know. I know. Still, there is no need for that now."

"What do you suggest?"

"You have heard of the Wolfsbane Potion?"

"Of course, but…well, it's very difficult to get hold of, isn't it? And expensive."

"Hogwarts is blessed in having an extremely adept Potions Master, who will be only to happy to brew Wolfsbane for you."

Lupin could not speak for a long minute. "Severus will do that?"

"He will."

"Perhaps, Professor, you will let him know how grateful I am."

"Of course."

It was not until Lupin reached home, and bought the special late edition of The Daily Prophet, that he discovered what news had so worried Dumbledore.

Sirius Black had escaped Azkaban.