Chapter 27
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: Thank you for the support PLEASE REVIEW. I know a lot of you have been waiting for what starts at the end of this chapter.
May 30th 1993
It has been almost a month since Hermione has been petrified and ever since Remus has barely left her side, though there has been a few times where he's had to, something which Madam Pomfrey has allowed as she knows how much Remus needs to be near his daughter.
Ever since Hermione was petrified Harry, Neville and Ron have been looking into what is going on which lead them to the forest and after a visit with Hermione during one of the rare times where Remus wasn't by her side the three of them realised exactly what was going on, but not before Ginny was taken to the Chamber and so they went to Lockhart for help, that was only a few hours ago.
Suddenly, feeling to her that she only just saw yellow eyes, Hermione opens her eyes and bolts upright.
"Hermione." Remus says, racing to his daughter and hugging her tightly, "I'm so glad you're okay. I love you so much." Remus tells as he hugs her, placing a kiss on her head.
"It's a Basilisk!" Hermione suddenly says, pushing back from her Papa, "The monster in the Chamber is A Basilisk! I need to tell Albus. It's using the plumbing, that's how no one has seen it." Hermione tells her father, looking panicked.
"It's okay, Hermione, he knows." Remus assures her, "Neville and Ron were just here. They found the piece of paper you had in your hand. The two of them, and Harry, put the pieces together and all three of them went into the chamber, with Lockhart who has no lost his memory. Harry defeated the Basilisk." Remus explains knowing that because Neville and Ron told him before they hurried off to the feast, only because Madam Pomfrey said it would be a little while before Hermione woke.
"Where's Harry? Is he okay?" Hermione asks worried.
"He's still up with Albus, from what Neville and Ron said he's okay." Remus reveals, to tell the truth he desperately wants to see Harry to reassure him for himself that he is okay.
"Good." Hermione says.
"How are you feeling?" Remus asks concerned
"Okay, I think, a little sore like I've used a lot of muscles." Hermione answers, "How long was I petrified for?"
"Almost a month." Remus answers, "I was so scared." He says as he pushes Hermione's hair out of his face, and in response Hermione just hugs her Papa,
"I'm okay, Papa, promise, I love you." Hermione tells him.
"I've you too, Hermione, so much." Remus responds.
"Hermione." Poppy's voice says about a minute later forcing them to break apart, "You need to take this." She says handing her a potion, "It will help with your soreness." She explains.
"And I thought I was finally done with digesting potions." Hermione says, drinking the potion and pulling a face, and once she does the door open and a familiar person walks into the hospital wing, "HARRY." Hermione says, getting up and running towards him.
"HERMIONE." Harry says, running too and the two of them meet in the middle of the room and hug, almost knocking each other to the ground, "I'm so glad you're okay." Harry says as he hugs his friend.
"I'm glad you are." Hermione responds and after about a minute the two of them break apart.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Remus asks, having walked up to the pair as they hugged.
"Yes." Harry answers.
"Good." Remus says before pulling both Harry and Hermione in for a hug, "I love you both so much." Remus says as he hugs his two kids tightly, not even wanting to think about the fact that he almost lost both of them.
"I love you too, Papa." Hermione says.
"I love you too, Remus." Harry says, saying those words for the first time that he can remember, meaning them completely as he does, Remus is the closest thing to a parent he ever remembers having and Hermione is his family.
As the trio hug they don't notice Poppy conjure a camera and take a photo of them, planning on getting three copies printed to give to each of them as she knows that that is something they don't have.
A little while later Harry and Hermione, having been told by Remus that this is something they can't miss, are walking into the Great Hall to join in the special feast that Albus has called.
As they walk in the hall goes silent, but Hermione and Harry don't let that bother them, they just keep walking towards the table, but after a few steps a figure, that Hermione quickly realises is Neville, slams into her, almost knocking her over, and hugs her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Neville says as he hugs his friend, "I was so afraid."
"Thanks Nev. I'm okay." Hermione says, returning the hug and when they break apart Hermione sees that Ron has walked over too.
"I'm glad you're okay too." Ron responds.
"Thanks Ron." Hermione says with a smile.
"Come eat you two, the foods great." Ron says and he, Hermione, Neville and Harry head back over to the table to enjoy the feast that lasts all night long.
June 18th 1993
Almost three weeks after Hermione was petrified the Hogwarts year has come to an end. For the last three weeks of term there were no defence against the Dark Arts lessons, and no final exams, so the foursome of Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville got to relax a lot. Harry, Neville and Hermione spent a lot of time practicing the disarming charm, Ron would have joined them, but decided to watch as he didn't want to hurt someone with his broken wand and Harry and Hermione spent a lot of their spare time trying to find a law or loophole that they could use to get Sirius a trial, but to their disappointment they weren't able to find anything.
It is late afternoon and Harry, Hermione, Remus, Neville and Augusta are walking into Remus, Hermione's and Harry's house.
"It feels good to be home, doesn't it?" Hermione asks Harry.
"Yeah, it does." Harry confirms as while he considers Hogwarts his home this house feels like home too.
"Okay, Hermione, Harry, I want you both to take your trunks upstairs, collect everything that needs to be washed and put it in the laundry then come to the living room." Remus says.
"Yes, Papa."
"Yes, Remus."
The pair say and after saying goodbye to Neville and Augusta they both head upstairs.
"Is this the we're in trouble talk?" Harry asks Hermione in a whisper once they reach the upstairs corridor.
"I'm not sure." Hermione admits as it could be or it might not be, "We'll have to wait and see." She says and the two of them split up and go into their respective bedrooms.
Half an hour later Harry and Hermione both walk into the living room and as they do Harry notices something.
"You put it up." Harry says, pointing to the mantle in amazement as between the various family photos is the photo that Poppy took of him, Remus and Hermione.
"Of course I did." Remus answers, as he never considered not, "Why don't you both sit down." Remus says and they do and once they are sitting Remus walks over and sits on the coffee table in front of them, "So, apart from everything to do with the chamber, that we will get to, how was second year?" Remus asks the pair.
"It was good apart from all that." Hermione answers.
"Yeah, it was." Harry confirms, "Mione beat me in the 'which one of us will get the most detentions from Snape tally' which is kind of impressive when you were in the hospital wing for two months." Harry comments, not seeing Hermione's warning look until it's too late.
"That's not the kind of thing you should make a competition out of." Remus comments, and then he realises what Harry said, "Two months? Hermione was only in the hospital wing for a bit under one." Remus comments, looking confused and as he does both Harry and Hermione both seem to find he ground really fascinating, "Hermione when else were you in the hospital wing and why don't I know?" Remus asks and neither answer him, "Harry James, Hermione Jean Hope, what don't I know?" Remus asks in a stern tone of voice, causing the two to look at each other and as they do Hermione realises that Harry doesn't want to let Remus down so he is going to tell.
"You don't know because I begged Poppy not to tell you." Hermione tells her Papa, turning to look at him, "I was in the hospital wing from Christmas to February."
"What happened?" Remus ask, feeling worried as he knows that you are only kept in the hospital wing for that long if it is a serious problem.
"It's a long story." Hermione says, hoping, though she doubts it, that that will get them out of explaining.
"Then start telling it." Remus tells them.
"Well, when the Chamber was first opened Ron, Neville and I thought that it was Malfoy, and Hermione, quiet rightfully, pointed out that we were judging him by his family, which wasn't fair." Harry explains.
"I thought that there was no way Malfoy could be behind things without boasting about it." Hermione says, "Ron thought that he probably was. So, we realised that we had to get into the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy some questions, or just hear what he was saying, without him knowing it was us." She explains.
"You used the invisibility cloak to sneak into the Slytherin Common room to listen in, didn't you?" Remus asks as to him that seems like the most likely explanation.
"No." Harry answers, "That would have been a much simpler way to get the answer." He realises, not being able to believe that he didn't think of that.
"It's also a way that you will never try in the future." Remus says, cursing himself for giving them the idea, "What did you do?"
"Well, a few weeks early Snape talked about a potion in his class, a potion that allowed you to temporarily turn yourself into another person." Hermione explains
"Polyjuice potion." Remus realises, "Please don't tell me you're going where I think you're going with this story." Remus requests
"We are." Hermione and Harry say together.
"We brewed it…." Hermione starts to say.
"Perfectly." Harry adds.
"And used it on Christmas day." Hermione finishes.
"If you brewed it perfectly why were you in the hospital wing?" Remus asks, not seeing how that would happen.
"I accidently added hair that I thought belonged to someone, but was actually cat hair." Hermione reveals, "Harry and Ron's worked perfectly though, they had the right hair."
"I see." Remus says with a sigh, "Do we even need to discuss how dangerous that was? How many rules you broke? Or the fact that I know for a fact that that potion would have required you to break into Snape's personal storage?" Remus asks them.
"No." Harry and Hermione quickly say.
"Look I admire that you both always want to help, and I'm proud of the things you've done the last two years." Remus tells them, and Hermione and Harry both exchange looks, both knowing that there is a but coming, "But you're just kids. Let yourselves have be kids and if you want to investigate things like that then fine." Remus says, knowing now that he wouldn't be able to stop them, "Just go for help once you have your answers."
"We tried that, a lot." Harry says, "Adults don't believe us, or the person we go to, can't help, what else are we supposed to do?" He asks.
"You come to me, you write me, you use a fire to call me." Remus tells Harry and Hermione, moving so that he is right in front of them, "I will always believe you." Remus says, stressing the always, "I will always do whatever I can to help you, no matter what, I promise that you can always count on me." He tells the, "Okay?" he asks and he receives two nods in response, "Good, come here." Remus says and he pulls Harry and Hermione into a hug, and for a few minutes the family of three just stay like that hugging one another, both Harry and Hermione feeling thrilled to be home.
July 4th 1993
It has been two weeks since Harry and Hermione returned home for the Summer Holidays and both of them have loved ever second that they have been home.
It's a Sunday and as the night before was a full moon, Harry and Hermione are on their best behaviour so that they can make things easier on Remus. Even though Emma and Dan stayed with them the night before they have both left leaving Hermione and Harry home with Remus who is unconscious in his bed.
It's a little after lunch and Hermione is sitting in her Papa's study reading while she has one of Sirius's old records playing as ever since she found the records last summer she's been listening to them whenever she can, but so she doesn't wake up Remus she is sure not to play it too loud.
"Mione, can I ask you something?" Harry asks curious as he walks in the room.
"Sure." Hermione answers, putting down her book.
"After a full moon does it help Remus to eat? Or does he just need rest?" Harry ask curious.
"Both." Hermione answers, "Chocolate helps him, and Emma or Minnie sometimes make him something to eat, why?" she asks curious.
"I mean it when is said cooking relaxes me. I kind of feel really useless right now when I know he's up their suffering so I thought I would make something to help him feel better." Harry explains.
"That's really sweet." Hermione says with a smile, "Papa would tell you that you didn't have to." She reveals.
"I know, I want to." Harry answers, "I think I'm going to head up to the store and grab a few things." Harry explains, going to use the muggle money that he has, "Is there anything you need?" he asks.
"No." Hermione answers, "If you're not back in forty minutes I'm coming looking for you." She tells him, her voice being completely serious.
"Noted." Harry says with a grin before leaving, hoping that what he's planning on cooking helps Remus, even if it's just in a little way.
About half an hour after Harry left the door opens and Harry walks back in, carrying shopping bags.
"I'm home." Harry says, sticking his head into the study before heading to the kitchen.
Hearing that Hermione puts her book down, lifts the needle on the record player and heads to the kitchen too.
"What did you get?" Hermione asks curious, as she walks into the kitchen.
"What I need to make chicken noddle soup, because I thought it would be best, some tea to help with relaxation and what I need to make chocolate pudding because I know how much Remus likes chocolate." Harry explains and Hermione just stands and looks at him in shock, "What?"
"You know how to make all that stuff?" Hermione asks surprised.
"Yeah, the Dursley's forced me to cook a lot, and I had to be perfect…" Harry says leaving off the 'or else', "But the joke was on them because I really love cooking." Harry reveals, "So, do you think Remus will like what I'm going to make?" he asks curious.
"He's going to love it, Harry." Hermione says with a smile, "Can I help? I promise I'll listen to all of your instructions." She tells him.
"Sure." Harry says with a smile, "First up, wash your hands." Harry says and Hermione heads straight over to the sink.
About a minute later Hermione has washed her hands and she walks over to Harry.
"Okay, just tell me what to do." Hermione tells Harry and after exchanging smiles Harry starts to explain what needs to be done and together Harry and Hermione cook for Remus.
About forty minutes later Remus is waking from his sleep and as he does he realises that there is something that smells really amazing.
Thinking that this is something he should go check out Remus forces himself to stand up, and grabbing a jacket, Remus starts the, what feels like, a long journey downstairs.
For the next few minutes Remus makes his way downstairs, needing to hold onto walls for support, until he finally reaches the kitchen where he finds Harry and Hermione putting a bowls, a cup and teapot onto a tray.
"What's all this?" Remus asks as he leans against the doorway.
"Papa."
"Remus."
The two teenagers say, both surprised.
"You should be resting." Hermione tells her Papa as he makes his way over to one of the chairs, almost falling over as he goes.
"I woke to the amazing smell. Did you two make all this?" Remus asks, looking between the food and the two of them.
"Harry did, I just helped a little." Hermione explains.
"You helped more than a little." Harry tells her, "I know that recovering from the full moon is hard so I wanted to do something to help." Harry explains.
"Thank you, Harry." Remus says amazed, "That is very nice of you."
"I really hope you like it." Harry says, moving the tray so that it is in front of Remus.
"We were going to bring it upstairs, but you came down before we could." Hermione explains.
"I see." Remus says, "You two did make enough for yourselves didn't you?" he asks.
"Yes." Harry and Hermione say together.
"Good." Remus says before trying the soup, "Wow, this is incredible." He says, looking at them.
"Really, you really think so?" Harry asks, sounding nervous
"Yeah, I do." Remus confirms, smiling at him, "And I think you both should try it to." He says and both Harry and Hermione dish up some food of their own and together the three of them eat the food that Harry, with Hermione helping, made.
July 11th 1993
It has been a week since the full moon and after Remus spent a few days recovering he, Harry and Hermione continued to do enjoy their holidays together.
It is a hot summer Sunday and Harry, Hermione and Remus are out in the yard, having a water balloon fight.
"I never knew this could be so fun." Harry says as he dives on the grass, which became mud a while ago, to avoid the balloon that Hermione has thrown at him.
"It is fun, isn't it?" Hermione says, not moving quick enough to avoid the balloon her father threw, knowing that there are a lot of people who wouldn't believe she was doing this if they saw it.
"It really is." Remus says as his back gets hit by a balloon that was thrown by Harry.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." A voice says and the three turn towards the back door to see Albus.
"Albus, is something wrong?" Remus asks concerned.
"No, there is just a matter that I would like to discuss with you." Albus explains.
"Okay, I'll be right in." Remus tells him then turns to Harry and Hermione, "You two continue." Remus says before heading to the back door, using his wand to clean and dry himself before heading inside.
"Good or bad?" Harry asks Hermione, being truly curious.
"I couldn't say." Hermione answers.
When Remus walks in he finds Albus standing in the living room,
"What's going on Albus?" Remus asks, "I'd like to get back to having fun with my kids." Remus says and Albus can't help but smile at his choice of words.
"I am sorry that it took me so long to see that here was the best place for Harry, because it is." Albus says, knowing that his and Remus's friendship has suffered since it became clear that Albus was wrong for ten years when he said that Harry was safe at his relatives.
"Yes, it is." Remus says, "But I take it that that's no why you're here."
"No, it's not." Albus confirms, "I have an offer for you." Albus says and Remus looks mildly interested at that, "I once again find myself in need of a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and I'd like you to take the position." Albus reveals.
"Me…..?" Remus says, sounding shocked as he would never have thought that would be possible, "Why?"
"You were one of the top students in your year, and after what you did after Hogwarts you know more than most about Defending Against the Dark Arts." Albus tells him, "I want you for this job Remus, because you're the best person for it, and after the last few teaches the students deserve someone who completely knows the subject he is teaching."
"What about my problem?" Remus asks, "With the laws that are about to be passed it will be a problem." He says as with the anti-Werewolf laws that are about to be passed even his job at the bookshop is in danger.
"The ministry has no say in who I decide to hire." Albus tells him, "And there are going to be protocols in place, one of which is that Severus will make the Wolfsbane potion for you every month." Albus explains.
"Has he agreed to that?" Remus asks, as he very much doubts it, though that simple thing makes the offer even more tempting.
"Yes." Albus confirms, deciding to leave out that it wasn't exactly willingly as Remus would have guessed that.
"I need to talk to Hermione and Harry, make sure that they would be okay with it." Remus says, knowing that it would make things complicated for them if he were to teach at Hogwarts, "I'll let you know as soon as I talk to them." Remus reveals.
"Of course." Albus says, understanding that, "I do hope you accept." He says before heading towards the fireplace.
"Albus." Remus says and the older man turns around, "Augusta, Neville, Dan, Emma and Minerva are coming over for a barbecue at about five, why don't you join us." He offers.
"Thank you, I'd like that." Albus says and he heads to the fireplace while Remus heads out the back.
The second Remus walks outside he finds himself being hit with two water balloons.
"What did Albus want?" Hermione asks curious as Remus pushes his wet hair back.
"He has an offer for me." Remus reveals.
"What kind of offer?" Harry asks curious.
"The kind that I have to talk to both of you about." Remus explains as he walks over to where Harry and Hermione are standing, "Albus has offered me the job of Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher." He reveals.
"Papa, that's great! You'll be great at that." Hermione says with a grin.
"I haven't accepted it yet." Remus reveals.
"Why not?" Harry and Hermione ask together as even Harry, who is newer to the details of Werewolf prejudice, know how much of an amazing opportunity it is for him.
"This affects the two of you as well, I will be your teacher, and because of that it may be best for you to continue to keep your identity a secret so you're not accused of favouritism." Remus says, looking at Hermione, "It will make things complicated for all three of us." Remus explains, "So before I give Albus an answer I want to make sure that the two of you are both okay, and comfortable with the idea if I were to accept it." He explains.
"I'm fine with it, I want you to say yes." Hermione says, knowing her Papa will be an amazing teacher.
"Same." Harry says, with a grin, "You'll be great." He says.
"Thank you." Remus says, smiling at the two and before he can react they are both hugging him.
"I'm so happy for you, Papa." Hermione informs him.
"Thank you, Mione." Remus says with a smile as they break apart.
"But, what about the full moon?" Hermione asks, frowning a little.
"Snape is going to make the Wolfsbane potion." Remus reveals and both Harry and Hermione frown at that, "The potion will help me more than anything, it will allow me to keep my mind, and Professor Snape is doing so because Albus asked, he will make it correctly." Remus explain, causing Harry and Hermione to look slightly better though no completely, and as they are distracted Remus reaches down into the large bucket that is on the ground and picks out two balloons and throw them at Harry and Hermione and just like that the water balloon fight breaks out.
A few hours later Neville, Augusta, Dan, Emma, Minerva and Albus are all at the Lupin-Black/Potter house enjoying the amazing summer's day.
As the others are out the back Remus is in the kitchen, getting more drinks for everyone.
"Remus, Dan said to inform you that they need more oil." Albus says, walking into the kitchen.
"Okay." Remus says heading over to the cabinet, "Did he need anything else?"
"No." Albus answers, walking over, "I believe Hermione, Harry and Neville are about to get the water balloons out again."
"Of course they are." Remus says with an amused look on his face, "Can you help me bring out the drinks."
"Of course." Albus says and they both pick up some of the various drinks.
"My answers is yes." Remus says as they walk into the backyard, "I'll teach at Hogwarts."
"Good, I'm glad." Albus says with a smile and the two of them head outside so that they can join the others in enjoying the summers night, something that goes on until well after nightfall.
July 22rd 1993
Eleven days after Remus accepted the Position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, not that he knows that with where he is, Sirius is sitting in his cell in Azkaban, in his human form.
Even though spending time in his human form is something that Sirius has been doing a lot less frequently he is doing so now as the minister for Magic, Fudge, and his personal assistant are doing an inspection of the prison and Sirius knows that he can't be Padfoot for that.
"Who's next?" Fudge's voice asks from the down the corridor.
"Black." Another voice responds.
"Of course." Fudge says with a frown.
"Sir, is Lupin still sending requests to visit with him?" The second voice asks, causing Sirius to be completely shocked as he thought that Remus would never want to see him again.
"Yes, once a month like clockwork, though he didn't send one in May, but that probably had something to do with the fact that he barely moved from a seat in the Hogwarts hospital wing next to one of the girls who had been petrified." Fudge's voice says and Sirius has to fight to hold in a gasp at that as he knows exactly who would cause Remus to do that.
"Hermione." Sirius mutters, saying his daughters name out loud in Azkaban for the first time ever, his voice full of pain, hoping that his daughter is okay and so he moves a little closer to the entrance to his cell so that he can hopefully get some answers about whether his daughter, his baby girl, is okay.
"Why would he do that?" the assistant asks.
"I don't know, Albus and McGonagall wouldn't explain, but in June, like clockwork he sent another visitation request. Probably because the girl was okay." Fudge reveals, and Sirius feels a little bit of relief at that, as Fudge and his assistant come into Sirius's view.
"Hello, Minister." Sirius greats.
"Black." Fudge responds, clearly unnerved and as he does Sirius notices something he is holding.
"Is there any chance I could have your paper? I miss doing the crosswords." Sirius comments and in a second it becomes clear that Fudge is completely shocked by the request.
"Um, okay." Fudge says, throwing the paper between the bars before leaving.
"Petrified? How could she have been petrified?" Sirius thinks to himself, feeling confused and worried, "Remus." He thinks knowing his mate would have been in so much pain when their daughter was in that state, "I'm sorry." He mutters out loud, talking to both his daughter and mate even though he knows that neither can hear him.
For a few minutes Sirius just sits, his mind on the two people he loves more than anything and hoping that they are okay. After a few minutes Sirius realises that he needs to distract himself before the dementors take his memories of the people he loves from him too and so he reaches out and takes the paper, but as he looks on the front page, and reads the caption, Sirius feels his blood run cold in a way that has nothing to do with the Dementors.
"He's at Hogwarts." Sirius says as he stares at the picture of a very familiar rat on a red-haired boy's shoulder, "I have to protect her." Sirius says, knowing that with Wormtail being so close to his daughter he has to do something, because Remus wouldn't even think to be on the lookout for him, "Harry too." He thinks, about a minute later, realising that he just can't sit in a cell anymore, he has to make sure his daughter is okay, he has to kill Peter, he has to talk to Remus, and he has to do whatever he has to do to protect his little girl, and his godson.
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