Remus felt as though he could barely keep his eyes open as he gathered his things and prepared to leave for Kings Cross. While he was indescribably excited about returning to Hogwarts to teach, he felt downright lousy. Full moon had been the night before last and he was achy, weak, and exhausted. He was already supposed to be at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore had granted him permission to ride the Hogwarts Express with the students. With one last look around his cottage, he grabbed his tattered old briefcase and a small trunk with his few belongings and headed out the door. He wearily walked down to the village, where Dumbledore had a car waiting for him.
"Good morning Mr. Lupin." The man driving the car said cheerfully. Remus gave him as nice a smile as he could manage. He was just too tired.
Remus was happy to find they had reached King's Cross quite early. It was only 10:45. He still had a good 15 minutes before the train left. After placing his luggage in the train, he took a glance around and saw that Platform 9 ¾ was nearly deserted. He remembered how everyone always waited until the last minute to board the train. He, James, Sirius, and Peter found themselves running through the barrier with less than 2 minutes to spare almost every year. As he boarded the train, countless memories came rushing back to him. He was overwhelmed with a sense of belonging and he half expected to see his friends waiting for him when he reached the last compartment at the very back of the train. Their compartment. He was waiting to hear James asking Lily out for the millionth time, to hear her snap at him to leave her alone, to hear Sirius' obnoxious bark-like laugh as James once again faced rejection, to hear Peter tell James through a full mouth that he'd have better luck next time. In his minds eye, he saw them. James was sitting across from Peter and Sirius, rambling on about Lily and Quidditch. Sirius, who occupied the window seat across from James, looked at him excitedly saying, "Hey Moony, guess what! I finally figured out why Snivellus is so slimy!" Peter, on the other hand, was already stuffing his pudgy cheeks with Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
Remus took his normal seat next to the window and looked around at the empty seats. He was overcome with fatigue. He thought his morning drowsiness had evaporated once he saw the train, but suddenly it was as though someone had force fed him an entire cauldron of Sleeping Potion. He was asleep within seconds.
Hours later, Remus' eyes snapped open, but all he could see was black. Complete, utter darkness.
What is going on? Where am I?
Then there were voices.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
Who are these kids? Wait…Hogwarts…Hogwarts Express…these are my future students!
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron-"
"Come in and sit down-"
"Not here! I'm here!"
"Ouch!"
How many of them are there in here?
"Quiet!" Remus finally found his voice. He summoned all the strength he possessed and held out his hand. Seconds later, the room was illuminated by the flames in his hand. "Stay where you are." He told his students. He stood slowly, his hand outreached in front of him. Before he could reach the door, it slid open to reveal a tall, cloaked figure. A slimy, rotting, gray hand protruded from the robes, but the dementor quickly pulled it back. Remus felt chills shoot down his spine as the dementor took a deep, horrible, rattling breath. He was overcome with a shocking wave of intense cold. As he struggled to stand, he heard the distant howl of a wolf inside his mind.
No! No! NO!
Remus felt something collapse beside him. He looked down and saw a boy with untidy black hair and glasses lying unconscious at his feet.
James! His heart leapt. No, James is dead. Well then who…Harry…
Until this moment, Remus hadn't even thought about how he would be teaching Harry. He had been too preoccupied with thoughts of Sirius.
Sirius…that's why they're here…they're looking for Sirius…
Remus grabbed his wand and, with great effort, stepped in front of Harry.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." He said, sounding much stronger than he felt. The dementor didn't move. Remus looked back at Harry, then back to the dementor. "Expecto Patronum!" He muttered. A silver wolf erupted from his wand, heading straight for the dementor. Finally, the dementor glided away. Breathlessly, Remus turned around to take a look at the kids.
"Is everyone alright?" As soon as the words escaped his mouth, the lights flickered on and the train began moving once more.
"I – I think so." A tall, gangly red-haired boy answered. That's a Weasley if I ever saw one.
"Harry!" A girl with bushy brown hair cried, kneeling down beside Harry. She began slapping his face. "Harry! Are you alright?"
Harry slowly opened his eyes. Remus saw they were as green as they had been when Harry was a baby. The Weasley boy knelt down next to the girl. A boy with a round face stood beside Remus. He looked vaguely familiar, though Remus couldn't quite place him. A young red-haired girl sat occupied Remus' former seat. Harry's friends helped him back onto the seat.
"Are you okay?" Weasley asked.
"Yeah." Harry responded with a quick glance to the door. "What happened? Where's that – that thing? Who screamed?"
"No one screamed." Weasley told him, sounding shaky. Remus took out his enormous slab of back-up chocolate. He had brought it along in case he started feeling ill again. Well, that and he just flat out loved chocolate.
"But I heard screaming-" Harry began to protest as Remus snapped the chocolate into pieces
"Here. Eat it. It'll help." He gave Harry a large piece
"What was that thing?" Harry asked, taking the chocolate.
"A dementor." Remus replied as he distributed the chocolate to the rest of the students. "One of the dementors of Azkaban." Remus felt all eyes on him as he crumpled up the wrapper and stuck it into the pocket of his shabby, well worn robes. He noticed everyone still had their chocolate in their hands. "Eat. It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…" He said stepping out the door. I'd never thought I'd see the day that teenagers had to be told repeatedly to eat chocolate! Especially when one of those teenagers is the child of James Potter!
As soon as Remus reached the front of the train, he whipped out a quill and parchment.
Professor Dumbledore,
Harry Potter has taken ill on the train due to a dementor attack. The dementor came into his compartment and Harry collapsed. I have given him some chocolate, but he may need professional help once he arrives at the castle.
Yours sincerely, Remus
Remus had to admit, it was not one of his more brilliant letters, but it would have to do. He found an owl and sent his letter.
"How much longer do we have?" Remus asked the driver.
"About ten minutes mate." The driver replied.
"Thank you."
Once Remus arrived back at the compartment, he found that no one had yet taken a bite out of their chocolate. "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know…" He said with a small smile. He was pleased when Harry took a bite. He looked better immediately. "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. Are you all right Harry?"
"Fine." He replied, going slightly pink. Remus hoped he hadn't embarrassed him by knowing his name automatically. He assumed Harry got that all the time.
When they finally stepped off the train, a familiar voice greeted them.
"Firs' years this way!" Remus' heart leapt once again. Hagrid!
Remus saw the terrified first years being led to the boats. He remembered all too well what that journey was like. He desperately wanted to run up to the giant and say, "Hi Hagrid! Remember me? Your favorite werewolf?" But he didn't. Hagrid had always taken a liking to Remus. Being half giant, Remus felt that Hagrid understood what Remus had gone through. Remus climbed into a carriage, which he had discovered in his fifth year to be drawn by Thestrals. Remus still couldn't see the Thestrals and was quite thankful for that indeed. As the carriages made their way along the path, Remus spotted even more dementors gliding along the grounds. He gave an involuntary shudder.
Finally, they passed the gates and Remus beheld a sight he had longed to see for fifteen years. Hogwarts Castle. Once again, chills shot down his spine, but for a completely different reason. He felt a sudden rush of joy and excitement as he marveled at the countless towers and turrets. It was as though he were seeing Hogwarts for the very first time.
As the carriages stopped, a new voice reached Remus' sharp ears.
"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Longbottom…that's why that boy looked so familiar! He's Frank and Alice's son! Remus could tell automatically that this would not be one of his favorite students. He was willing to bet ten galleons (not that he had that kind of money) that the drawling, malicious voice belonged to a Slytherin.
"Shove off, Malfoy." The Weasley boy snapped. Oh, a Malfoy. Spawn of Lucius...joy.
"Did you faint as well, Weasley? Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?" He is a Weasley.
"Is there a problem?" Remus asked mildly, stepping out of his carriage. Malfoy stared at him as though he were a piece of rubbish. How'd you like to see me during the full moon you little…wait…this is my student…be nice Remus…nice…
"Oh no – er – Professor." He replied, somewhat sarcastically. He then turned to two large, rather stupid looking boys and with a smirk, led the way to the front doors. Remus fought with all his might to keep from rolling his eyes as he too made his way up the steps to the magnificent castle. He supposed he needed to get to the Great Hall. Sure enough, Professor Dumbledore was waiting to great him.
"Hello there Remus." He shook his hand with a smile.
"Hello Professor." Remus grinned.
"I received your owl. How is Harry?"
"He seems much better. I gave him some-" Remus stopped dead. His eyes widened. A man had appeared at Dumbledore's side. A man Remus had not seen for 15 years. "Snivellus?" Remus gasped without thinking. "I mean – er…" He could feel his cheeks burning at his rude outburst. Severus Snape scowled at him.
"Lupin." He said coldly. In Snape's eyes, Remus could see utmost revulsion and loathing.
"What are you doing here?" Remus asked, his heart pounding.
"I should think the answer to that question to be quite obvious you filthy little half-breed."
"That's enough. Out of both of you." Dumbledore said sharply, as though they were a couple of bickering first years. Snape was now eyeing Remus' patched, shabby robes with a sort of cruel satisfaction.
"Nice outfit." He sneered. "I see life has treated you well."
Before Remus could think of a remark, Dumbledore said, "Severus is the Potion's Master, Remus. He will be concocting the Wolfsbane Potion for you."
"What!" Remus yelped. I am drinking nothing that git has prepared for me. It'll kill me!
As though Snape could read Remus' thoughts, he said, "Let me assure you I was not leaping for joy when the Headmaster gave me this assignment."
"But you will do it." Dumbledore looked at Snape.
"Indeed." Snape said with a final icy stare at Remus before sweeping off into the Great Hall.
"Professor…" Remus said. "Are you sure there is no one else who could prepare the Potion for me?"
"He is the finest Potions Master we have ever had Remus, and this is a very complex Potion. There are not many wizards skilled enough to brew it properly." Dumbledore told him.
"I don't doubt his Potions skills. I doubt his conscience." Remus muttered.
"What does that mean?" Dumbledore asked with a small grin of amusement.
"He's going to poison me!" Remus cried out. Dumbledore laughed. "It's not funny! You saw the way he looked at me! He hates me! Ever since Sirius-" He stopped abruptly and could feel the color draining from his face.
"It's alright, Remus. Why don't we go and watch the Sorting?"
The Sorting. Remus remembered how terrifying that whole experience had been. He was sure he would be placed in Slytherin or sent home. Of course, neither had happened. Then he remembered the glorious moment that the cry, "GRYFFINDOR!" rang through the hall. The Gryffindor table had erupted with applause. In the midst of the students sitting at the table, one face stood out in the crowd. His newest friend. Shoulder-length black hair, dark gray eyes, a smile that would melt even the frostiest of hearts…
Stop it! Stop thinking about him! He was never your friend! He's a traitor and you know it!
"I'd like that, Professor." Remus smiled. He turned and followed the great wizard into the Great Hall, all the while trying to repress countless memories of the sound of his friends' lost laughter.
