Disclaimer: all JK's...
A/N: I know it's been forever, but I don't want to leave this story unfinished... so here it goes! I'll still update the parallel story from Harry's point of view. Thank you for all your support and kind words, they really mean a lot.
CHAPTER 10
Payback
WhenLupin reached the top of the stairs leading to the staff room, nearly everyone was there already. Most teachers had chosen to remain outside the Professor's room while waiting for everyone to arrive; and Prefects were standing a little away from them, paired by houses.
The Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw prefects were talking together in low voices; not mixing with them, Malfoy and Parkinson stood farther away, staring. There was slight sneer on Malfoy's face that meant quite clearly that he had rather remain alone than take part in their conversation.
Hermione and Harry were nowhere to be seen.
It didn't cross Lupin's mind that they might not come− no, Hermione was too serious not to show up. Besides, he had a feeling they were ready to do anything to help Dumbledore in ensuring security at Hogwarts, especially now that they had learned about what had happened at the Ministry.
So where were they?
The door between the gargoyles opened suddenly and Dumbledore motioned for them all to enter. Lupin couldn't help but observe him for a while. His greying beard was as impeccable as ever and the half-moon spectacles were straight on his nose. He walked with assurance and determination. There was no trace of hesitation in the way he took measured steps, or in the way he turned around before the teachers followed him inside.
But there was still something in his eyes that stood out that evening; something Lupin couldn't help noticing, though he wished he hadn't. There was alsosomething dark and maybe even a bit desperate in the way he walked, something Lupin had never seen before.
Well, actually, he had seen it before. And that was the problem.
The face had grown older; the expression on his face wiser. But the note in the eyes was the exact same as long ago, in darker times. More than fifteen years before. A mixture of deep anxiety, tiredness; a silent wish for it all to be over, for the world to rest in peace.
Teachers sat, one after the other, and Prefects did the same. When the last ones drew a chair, Harry and Hermione arrived.
Hermione's face was puffy− she had probably cried. Harry seemed exhausted. Silently, Hermione went to sit beside Lupin− there weren't many chairs left now− and Harry sat on her right, thus two seats away from Remus. He didn't even glance at him.
As soon as they were all there, the door closed and Dumbledore started talking. "You all are aware of what is going on," he crossed his arms in front of him. "Now it is getting late and I do not wish to hold you long. The Patrols start tonight."
There were a few nods around the table; but most of themremained still. None of them really wanted to hear this, none of them wanted these additional hours of work. They would only add tiredness and stress to the regular, already exhausting days.
"Each Prefect will be paired with a teacher. To ensure each of you some comfortable sleep, there will be three shifts per night, thus making every watch no longer than three to four hours." Dumbledore paused for a while and looked at some parchments he had in front of him.
"Tonight: Harry Potter and Professor Snape will have the first watch. Professor Lupin and Draco Malfoy, you have the second. As for the third, it will be Professors Flitwick and Fawcet."
Lupin glanced sideways to Malfoy. Draco shot him a dark glance, then turned to Harry and looked at him with disgust.
That's right, Draco. You're going with me.
Snape gets to have Harry.
Lupin couldn't help despising the Slytherin boy. He knew he had no right to− as a teacher, he had to be fair and neutral. Impartiality was a duty. But Malfoy had such a way of infuriating him… always trying to provoke everyone…
He gave Dumbledore his full attention again. The Headmaster was giving them the Patrol schedule for the week. "Any questions?" he finished.
No one moved.
"Very well. You shall report to the Staff Room at the beginning of all patrols," he was talking to the Prefects now. "The first one starts in twenty minutes− you can go and warn you classmates you will be leaving at night from time to time." The Headmaster gathered his parchments, gave a tiny nod to conclude it all, and wheeled around.
It was a while before Lupin stood up. He didn't have to wonder why he was only on patrol tonight, and never later in the week− other teachers had to take two, if not three shifts this week.
But the next day, he would be way too tired for that.
Tomorrow was the full moon.
Great he thought. Things are really getting better−
"Lupin," he heard his name called and only then did he realize, once finding himself staring at Snape's greasy face, that everybody else had left the table.
"What?" Remus said without thinking.
A frown formed on Snape's face; as if he were clearly unhappy about something.
Snape wants to be addressed as 'sir', the thought crossed Lupin's mind. He guessed it were Fred and George who had told him that back at Grimmauld place and grimaced at the thought of being back there− an everyday remembrance of Sirius…
But that wasn't the question. Snape had started talking again.
"You see, I suppose you are no more thrilled at the idea of working with Malfoy than I am to work with Potter."
Lupin's eyes narrowed. Did Snape mean what he thought he meant? Was that a proposition to exchange Prefects?
"What do you say we find a compromise?" Snape's face was inches from his own now.
No that's too easy…
Lupin almost started panicking. He knew Snape wanted to trade students because he strongly disliked Harry; but there was more to it. It was a trap.
You just want to know what's going on between Harry and me, don't you?
So what are you going to answer, Remusr?
If he told him he agreed with the exchange, Snape wouldn't know about Harry hating him. But that would mean patrolling with Harry…
And if he refused to trade, Snape would know… And he didn't want that… whatever the cost, he had to avoid giving Snape this private bit of information.
"I suppose Professor Dumbledore has his reasons for pairing us up the way he did," Remus simply replied, avoiding a direct answer.
"Is that a refusal?"
"It just means I see no point in trading," Remus stated.
Snape's expression became colder than ever. He was furious. "Does he have reasons, too−" he whispered malevolently, "For not giving you other shifts this week, Lupin?"
I don't care if you've noticed…
But just stop right there, Snivellus.
One more word and I swear I'll−
"Or maybe−" Snape went on "It has something to do with the fact that you will be occupied with something else?"
Shut up, cold started running down Lupin's spine. Cold, and also something else that rose through him. Anger. Hatred. And, above all, a raw wish for payback.
"Oh, it's the full moon tomorrow, isn't it?"
JUST SHUT UP!
Yes, that was it, payback. All these years, Snape had looked down on him, Snape had hurt him. With comments, gestures, irritating words here and there. With looks that told clearly Lupin was nothing more than a monster, when Lupin had had nothing to do with the way he'd been treated by his classmates at school.
True, Lupin had never stood up for him. But he had never put him down either. And Snape had been annoying, infuriating, terribly provocative and downright horrible to him.
This time he was going too far.
For a second, amemory crossed Lupin's mind.
It had been at Grimmauld place the year before. Arthur Weasley had taken him apart that evening, telling him he needed to talk. Ron's father had walked in the kitchen during the day, along with the entire Weasley family, only to find Snape and Sirius facing each other, wands raised, ready to strike…
Arthur had wanted to know if Sirius would control himself, because he feared the hatred between Sirius and Snape was a threat to the good work of the Order. Lupin had assured him Sirius would behave, just to reassure him.
But you knew he wouldn't, right, Remus?
Of course I knew. That's how Sirius was. Reckless, uncontrolled, irresponsible and immature. Easily angered, foolish and arrogant.
But who cared? He was proud. That's the way he had always been, that's the way he had been our friend, that's the way we wanted him to stay.
HE WAS PROUD!
Now Arthur was dead, Sirius was dead.
And Sirius hadn't finished dealing with Snape. It was the only thing Remus could think about.
He would have his revenge. For all of them who had lost their lives fighting what was probably a lost cause.
Slowly, very slowly, Remus's right hand moved down to his pocket. Never leaving Snape's eyes, he gained inch after inch with a perfectly disinterested expression, as though Snape's words had not the slightest effect on him until, at last, the tip of his fingers met his wand.
