A/N:

Sorry for my almost year-long hiatus. I have been struggling with some health issues for the past year. Nothing serious but it is chronic and unpredictable, unfortunately.

A short update for now and I don't know when I will be able to update next as I am busy with university work but hopefully it won't be as long as a year again.

Enjoy :)

Breakfast was a quiet affair, after all Harry's ego had been taking down a fair few pegs already that morning and Remus wasn't particularly in the best of moods as it was a full moon. Harry had kept giving the man small looks just to make sure he was forgiven and Remus had returned them with a reassuring smile.

Remus said a slight wish to Merlin that there wasn't any trouble in Harry's double potions lessons that morning; he wasn't sure he could handle any more arguments if there was. He watched as the child packed up his books from where they were sprawled out on the table and stuffed them in his bag ready for the bell that was going to ring any minute.

"Make sure you've got all your homework and equipment; I don't want you getting into any more trouble today." Remus called as Harry was walking down the hall, likely to grab his wand.

"I have!" Harry called back, a whine entering his tone. One day he would be able to leave the flat without the man nagging him to remember everything and the kitchen sink.

"Spare me the attitude this morning - hey." Remus replied with a raised eyebrow as Harry left his room, his head pounding slightly and his muscles aching as shut a draw behind him.

"Sorry," Harry replied with a small cheeky grin.

Yes, they were back to normal for sure.

"I will see you in the third period then," Remus replied, "Don't make any plans for after school, I want you back down here after your last lesson."

Harry was just about to exit the door before he turned around and stared at his guardian with a frown. He hated being cooped up inside and he knew his guardian knew that too.

"I thought you said I wasn't grounded?"

"You aren't." Remus replied, picking up his tea cup and saucer, turning his back to the child before pulling a face to himself. He didn't want to tell Harry about the meeting with Fudge before his double potions lesson; it would only put the teen in a worse mood than he usually was.

"Then why do I -"

"Just do as I've asked," Remus replied as he placed the cup and saucer in the sink with a little more force than he would've cared to admit, turning around to face Harry. "Please," he said in an exasperated tone.

"Okay, okay" Harry replied. "See you later."

Remus watched as his ward walked out the door, taking a deep sigh as he did so, turning back around to face the sink.

The man placed his hands on the edge of the sink for a few moments before sighing again and heading to the living room where the pain relievers sat on the table. Digesting one of them, Lupin sent the other vials to his cabinet ready for later when his pain inevitably increased.

Gathering his work satchel and slipping on his shoes, Remus headed out of the teachers wing and towards his classroom, ready for the day.

Double potions went by as painful as ever with Snape breathing down Harry's neck as they were brewing a wideye potion that had to be finished before the end of class; Harry knew he would get a P or below, even when he did try so actually putting effort in seemed futile in his opinion.

Hermione on the other hand was working furiously over her potion, eager to get a good grade, despite Snape's usual attitude of marking Harry's friends down alongside him.

Therefore Harry's main aim was to make it through the class without losing any points and getting in trouble as he was sure his guardian would kill him on the spot if he got in more trouble with Snape. Sod the grades on the potions because it was the exam at the end of the year that usually counted.

The final fifteen minutes of double potions slipped by and Snape came round to inspect their vials. Harry saw that his and Rons looked a world away from Hermione's potion, which matched the example potion at the front and, to their surprise she got an E for the day.

Harry had to restrain himself from calling Snape out when he gave Ron a D for a potion that looked exactly the same as Malfoy's A grade; and when Snape got to him, he saw the Professor mark a very distinct T next to his name and Harry couldn't contain himself any longer.

"How is that fair - my potion is no worse than Malfoys!" Harry shouted at the Professor, standing out of his seat, ignoring Hermione's pleading looks to shut it. He usually sit back and took the man's taunting but today it had really gotten to him.

"Oh dear Mr Potter - it seems you just love spending time in my company," Snape sneered. "We can certainly see to that however when you serve detention with me."

Harry wanted to reply and tell the man where to shove his detention but he wasn't suicidal and did plan on seeing Christmas.

"Class dismissed." Snape called. "Potter - stay behind."

Harry watched as Ron and Hermione filed out for break, sending reassuring smiles.

"If you did not already have a guardian here, I would be reporting you to your head of house for your consistent poor behaviour in my class Potter."

Harry gave the man a peculiar look at the man's words. He was expecting some sarcastic comment about him being a dunderhead and informed of what his detention would be.

"Luckily for you however, you do have a guardian here and you can take this letter to him informing him of your persistent misbehaviour." Snape whipped out the note from the inside of his cloak and handed it to the boy.

"Report to my office this evening at 7pm sharp." Snape gave the child a knowing look. "Now get out of my sight."

Harry didn't need telling twice as he turned and rushed out of the dungeon doors and headed to look for Hermione and Ron.

What was Snape playing at? He hadn't said a sarcastic comment to him when they were alone but had given him detention over someone minor, that he would usually take away house points for.

Perhaps the man was just having a bad day. But then again, this was a man who wore black everyday. Wasn't everyday a bad day?

Harry had to leg it to defence against the dark arts to make it there on time as all his daydreaming had left him running late. Slipping into his seat and earning a warning look for his guardian, Harry received a smile from Ron and another from Hermione who both just seemed pleased that Harry had calmed down some.

Lupin started talking about the plan for the lesson when the doors to the classroom opened and Cornelius Fudge strolled in.

Harry's heart sunk slightly at the sight.

"I hope you received my notice of coming today." Fudge smiled but in a way that didn't seem friendly to Harry.

"I knew you would be coming today, however I did not realise it would be during my lesson times Mr Fudge." Remus replied, anxious that there were more than a dozen thirteen year olds watching their conversation. "Perhaps after the school day has finished would be a much better time to continue this conversation?"

"No matter, I will observe your lesson and then we will meet after the school day has ended."

Hushed whispers began spreading around the classroom about what the minister of magic could possibly want with their defence teacher and Harry didn't miss the second warning look Remus gave him, that unspokenly said 'behave'. Harry felt a small anger boil inside him at this, swearing quietly as he had made several blots on his parchment due to lack of concentration.

Not only did Remus not trust him to behave, he also hadn't told him about the meeting with Fudge tonight either.

Scrunching the piece of parchment up that he had been using, Harry started again, copying down the title and date that Lupin had written on the board.

"Today you will be writing an essay on Pixies and Imps. Copy the question down from the board and then bring me your essay once you are finished. Any unfinished essays will be homework, due next lesson. - you may begin." Remus finished as he winced while taking a seat behind his desk. He cursed himself as he should have really taken the day off work but with Cornelius visiting today, he knew that wouldn't be an option.

Remus eyed his son as Harry attentively began copying the question on the board. Remus hoped that his late arrival with his friends hadn't been due to misbehaviour in his last class and that he had just stopped for the loo but Remus almost knew from the child's forlorn facial expression that that was unlikely to be the case.

Keeping a close eye on Harry but also on Fudge, Lupin felt his heart rate quicken at the thought of the meeting to come. He was sure Harry's behaviour would be brought up, as would his condition and now there would be speculation as to why the minister of magic wanted to see him! It was all a blasted mess.

The hour-long lesson seemed to tick by quickly as Lupin watched the class tentatively for any talkers. Hermione had, expectedly, finished first and from a quick glance at her essay, to a high standard at that. Lupin had set her some more short answer questions and reminded the class that if they did not finish it would be homework.

He noticed Harry was looking increasingly upset as the class went on and Remus was anxious to speak with the child at the end of the lesson. Unfortunately for them both, there was someone who likely wanted to speak to them more…

Harry watched the clock, praying for the defence class to be over and nearly shouted a praise to Merlin when Remus dismissed the class.

Harry knew Lupin was in pain today but that was without a doubt the worst defence class he had had yet and the man picked a day to do it…

Harry was just about to file out the doors, alongside his friends when a sharp corner of the note pinned his chest, abruptly reminding him of what Snape had told him to do.

He turned around and saw Remus and Fudge in conversation, both seemed irate but not quite enough to raise their voices. Harry wanted the ground to swallow him up as he didn't want to give the man the note but he wasn't sure if there was supposed to be a time frame and what kind of nasty hexes Snape might have placed on it.

"I look forward to seeing you both later then - Harry." Fudge replied, turning to Harry who had made his way back down the isles as he nodded at the child.

"Sir," Harry acknowledged, his eyebrows pinched.

"I will see myself out." Fudge spoke as he turned and closed the door to the classroom leaving guardian and son in silence.

Harry looked up at the man, "I gotta tell you something. - well, give you something"

Remus swallowed deeply. "Tell me why I have the strangest feeling that it is a note signed by a certain potions professor." Lupin frowned deeply at the child as he watched Harry squirm under his watch.

"I really didn't do anything that bad this time. I swear Remus." Harry sighed, handing the man the note.

Lupin scanned the note quickly, glanding over it every once in a while to give the child a serious look before cursing himself as he realised his error.

"I must apologise to you Harry."

"I know I messed up and -" Harry paused, "What? Apologise?"

"Yes, I forgot to inform you of this before and I meant to tell you late night before your late night wander." Remus gave the child a knowing look before walking round his desk and sitting at his chair. "I asked Snape to watch you this full moon as I am worried that you may do something foolish. He could not simply ask you down to the teachers wing and so he had to give you detention in order to not raise suspicion."

Harry gave the man a surprised look. "Hold on - I don't have detention but I have to spend the evening with Snape?"

"Yes, like you have done before."

Harry shook his head at the man's words, "No way - I won't do it Remus. You know how he treats me."

"It isn't up for negotiation Harry."

"There's loads of teachers you could have asked me to sit with if you insist on treating me like a baby." Harry glared at the man. "What about Dumbledore?"

"Professor Dumbledore will be away from the castle this evening." Remus replied, forcing himself to keep a level tone despite his wolfish traits wanting to burst out.

"McGonagall then?"

"As Dumbledore is away, she will be in charge for the evening and so won't have time to watch you."

"Hagrid then!" Harry was growing increasingly frustrated at the man's answers for everything. Sod the fact that they were both missing lunch right now.

"Hagrid has to stay near the willow and the shack should anything go wrong tonight due to his charm with magical creatures."

Harry made a frustrated noise as he kicked the table leg behind him. "I can't believe you didn't even tell me about this. I don't need babysitting."

"Take some deep breaths." Remus instructed; he refused to have this conversation with the teen that irated.

"This is so bloody stupid - and you didn't tell me about this meeting with Fudge." Harry muttered angrily as he yanked the bag higher on his shoulder and turned to walk to the door in frustration.

Remus almost let him go. Almost.

"Harry."

He knew that tone was only reserved for when he was in serious trouble as he turned abruptly at the call.

"This attitude is not acceptable in the least. I did not keep the meeting from you maliciously and, while you think you are too old to be babysat, there have been a few instances lately where your age hasn't seemed to affect your childish behaviour. But, having someone watch over you is also due to the fact that your head of house has other duties tonight and therefore cannot be available to watch the Gryffindors tonight. I apologise for the way this happened but I will not tolerate any more disrespect. Am I understood?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably under the man's gaze. He wanted to stay annoyed at him but as usual, Remus had an answer and an explanation for everything and Harry, annoyingly, could understand his guardian's concerns with his track record. "Yes." he finally replied stiffly.

"Okay, and like I've said Harry, I apologise for not telling you myself." Remus picked up a pile of papers from his desk, moving them to the middle. "Go and grab some lunch and I will see you back in our quarters after lessons."

"Bye," Harry called in a quieter, more hostile tone than usual but Remus accepted it and saw it as an improvement on the teens tone before. If Harry maintained that attitude however, Lupin wasn't quite sure how he would survive Harry's teen years…

Harry swore at himself as he angrily slammed his door and threw his head back on his pillow; angry tears leaking through his eyes. He was so angry and he wasn't sure exactly why but the meeting he had just been kicked out of with Fudge was hardly his fault in his opinion.

They had met outside Dumbledore's office after lessons; Harry giving his guardian a stiff hello as Remus knocked on the large door.

After some quick greetings, Fudge had wasted no time in delving into Harry's disciplinary record so far that year, Hogsmeade and his detentions with Snape seemed to be highly debated topics between the two men as Harry sat there feeling like they had both forgotten he was in the room.

Harry could tell that Remus was growing more and more irate at the conversation as he kept brushing his hands over his thighs and glancing over to Harry with warning glares which Harry didn't think were justified at all seeing as he hadn't yet contributed to the conversation.

Then Fudge started on Remus's class that he observed that day, implying that Remus certainly should not be teaching so close to a full moon and the man's teaching methods were not up to standard to which Harry couldn't help but shout "That's a lie!"

Remus had turned to Harry and scolded him sterner than Harry had heard him in a long time.

Harry had shrunk back in his seat and folded his arms over his front - deciding to ignore the conversation all together.

Remus and Fudge continued to have a heated conversation for the next 10 minutes and during this time Harry had decided to glance around the room at Dumbledore's fast amount of artefacts and wizarding items, glancing at the sorting hat and remembering back to his first year when he had asked the hat whether he should have been sorted into slytherin. The sword of Gryffindor was on a stand just behind the hat, bringing back memories to last year when he had nearly died in the chamber.

So engrossed in his trip down memory lane, Harry had completely missed Fudge ask him about whether he was happy living with Remus. Remus spoke his name sharply to which Harry snapped back "What" to his guardian.

The child's response was so sharp and harsh that Remus sat up straighter in his chair, eyebrows furrowed and ordered Harry to leave the meeting at once.

Harry, realising his mistake almost instantly, tried to apologise and stay in the meeting but Remus was having none of it.

Harry had stood up from his chair, almost tipping it backwards and stormed out of the meeting, leaving the door open, and back to their quarters. Why he didn't go back to the tower he wasn't sure but part of him new Remus would send for him anyway and the other part of him wanted to finish the argument with Lupin.

Cursing himself for the way he had acted in the meeting, knowing it would have done more harm than good, he sulked back in his bed and waited for his guardian's inevitable return.

Remus closed the door to Dumbledore's office, which his child had failed to do when he was told to leave the meeting, wincing as his wrist pulled the handle shut.

The man walked down the corridors, pleading with himself to calm down and hoping that his son would do the same.

The meeting with Fudge had been disastrous, to say the least, and Fudge had been sceptical of the guardianship ever working.

Remus was used to prejudice due to his condition but this attack felt much more like an attack on his character rather than his furry little problem.

Reaching the door to his quarters without even realising it, he took a deep breath and pushed the door open, surprised to find that Harry wasn't in the living room curled up on the sofa like he had expected him to be.

Hoping the child had obeyed him and actually come back to their quarters and not the tower, Remus took a short walk down the corridor and knocked on the child's door as he always did.

Harry lifted his head off the pillow at the knock, realising his guardian was back and his stomach sank slightly.

"Yeah," he replied quietly, hoping the man heard him.

Remus paused, hoping he had heard correctly that the child answered him. Pushing the door open he saw the child curled up on the bed, looking more upset than angry thankfully.

"What happened in there Harry?"

"You weren't being fair." He replied, sitting up and putting his legs in front of him.

"I think we are both having a bad day, huh?" Remus replied, wanting to sit on the bed next to the child and give him a big hug just because of the look on his face. However, he needed to make sure he got to the bottom of his child's bad attitude. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

Harry began picking at his nails and shrugged, not really knowing what to reply to the man. "I guess everything, I don't know."

"You've had a lot going on at the moment, I will give you that - but Harry, this attitude is not good enough."

"I know - I'm sorry," Harry muttered.

"Do you need to be grounded this weekend to get that through to you?" Remus asked, slightly agitated by the child's lack of responses.

"No," Harry responded quickly, "I guess I just let everything get to me and I was angry with you for not telling me about the meeting or that I have to spend tonight with Snape."

"Then tell me that Harry - don't let your attitude do the talking because I hate this -" Remus emphasised, gesturing with his hands at the distance between the pair of them. "I want us to be sitting around the fire having long chats about your day while your doing homework or spending a meal together while we talk about your parents."

"I do too. I'll try harder - I promise."

"That's all I ask." Remus responded, giving a warm smile to the child and when Harry returned, he moved to sit on the bed next to the small boy and wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders, squeezing him tightly.

"I'm sorry you've had a tough time of it lately - but we will make up for it when Black is caught and especially when this full moon is over."

Remus placed a kiss on the top of Harry's head before letting him go.

"Are you going back to the tower or staying down here?"

"Well you'll be going soon anyway so I'll go back to the tower I guess." Harry responded, standing up from the bed as Remus did the same.

"Okay - well remember to be at Snape's office for 7 o'clock then and for merlin's sake don't be late because the last thing I want after a full moon is a fuming Professor Snape at my door." Remus smirked.

"I won't. Promise" Harry replied as he slipped his shoes on and tied his cloak around his neck.

"I will see you in the morning then."

"Yeah, see you." Harry replied as Remus brought him in for another tight hug. "Good luck," the child whispered.

"You too Cub."