Chapter 31

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: So, because I am having a hard time deciding between a few options, though I definitely know what I'm not doing, I was wondering what people's opinions of parings are for Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron, just so I can get an idea of what people would like.

AN2: Thank you for the support. PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW.


September 9th 1993

After what only feels like a few minutes to the others, but to Hermione is over an hour, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville have lunch together before heading to class early as it is time for their first lesson with Remus.

As they get to the class Hermione leads the others to the front and they sit in the front row, Hermione hoping that the class like her father's teaching. Usurpingly the foursome are the first ones to class, even beating Remus, and as the rest of the class files in and pulls out their books, quills and parchment Remus still doesn't arrive, causing Hermione to be surprised as her father isn't often late.

A few minutes after the rest of the class joins them Remus walks in and places his tatty briefcase on the teaches desk, smiling at the students and Hermione realises that he looks glad to see her, Harry, Neville and Ron in the front row.

"Good afternoon." Remus greats, "Would you please put all your books back into your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands." Remus reveals and he class does as asked, exchanging curious looks as they do as it is clear that they're remembering the shambles that was the practical lesson with Lockhart the year before.

"Right then." Remus says once everyone is ready, "If you'd follow me." He says, and puzzled, but interested the class gets up and follows Remus out of the classroom.

"Any idea what's going on?" Ron whispers to Harry and Hermione.

"None." The respond, both of them interested in seeing what Remus is going to do.

Leading them out of the class room Remus leads them along a deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they see is Peeves the Poltergeist, who is floating upside down in mid-air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with Chewing gum.

As they have both heard more than enough stories to know that Remus knows how to handle Peeves, and been given a few tips on how to do that themselves, Harry and Hermione exchange grins, both looking forward to what Remus is going to do.

Once Remus is about two feet away from Peeves he finally looks up, wiggles his curly-toed feet and breaks into song;

"Loony, loopy Lupin." Peeves sings, "Loony, loopy Lupin, Loony, loopy Lupin."

In a second it becomes clear to Harry and Hermione that the class is shocked by Peeve's treatment, as he usually shows some level of respect to teaches, and they all quickly turn to Remus to see how he would take Peeves treatment, but to the surprise of everyone but Hermione, Harry and Neville, including Ron, he is still smiling.

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves." Remus says, pleasantly, "Mr Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms." Remus says and Peeves pays no attention to Remus's words, all he does is blow a loud wet raspberry.

Knowing what he has to do Remus gives a small sigh and takes out is wand, "This is a useful little spell," Remus informs the class over his shoulder "Please watch closely." Remus says before raising his wand to shoulder height and saying, "Waddiwasi!" as he points it to Peeves.

With a force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shoots out of the keyhole and straight down Peeve's left nostril; causing him to whirl upright and zoom away, cursing Remus with words that he is pretty sure James and Sirius taught the poltergeist.

"Cool, Sir." Dean says in amazement.

"Thank you, Dean." Remus says as he puts his wand away again, "Shall we proceed?" he says and the class sets off again, looking at Remus with increased respect as they go, something which makes Hermione, and Harry and Neville, very happy.

"Hermione, your Papa is awesome." Ron informs her, in a whisper, it being clear that he believes that.

"I know." Hermione responds as Remus leads them down another corridor before stopping, right outside the staffroom door.

"Inside, please." Remus says opening it and standing back and the class enters. As they do Hermione gives her Papa a half smile.

"Oh no." Hermione mutters to Harry when she notices Snape in the staff room, him being the only person who is.

"Oh no is right." Harry whisper back, not seeing this ending well.

"Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." Snape says with a nasty sneer a she walks past the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway he turns on his heel, looks at Remus and says,

"Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you no to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear. Though of course she may be too busy earning herself detentions to do that." Snape says, causing Neville to go scarlet and Harry and Hermione to glare at Snape.

Forcing down a frown Remus's eyebrows raise at that and he gives his daughter a brief look, "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of this operation." Remus says "I'm sure he will perform it admirably." He comments, causing Neville's face to go even redder and Snape's lip to curl before he leaves, closing the door with a snap.

"Now, then." Remus says beckoning the class towards the end of the room, where there is nothing but an old wardrobe. As Remus goes to stand next to it, the wardrobe gives a sudden wobble banging off the wall "Nothing to worry about." Remus says, sounding clam as a few people jump backwards in alarm, "There's a Boggart in there." He explains.

Hearing that most people in the room seem to find that that is something to worry about, Neville gives Remus a look of pure terror as Seamus eyes the now rattling doorknob apprehensively.

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces." Remus explains, "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks. I've ever met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock." He explains, "This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to me to give my third years some practice." Remus explains.

"So, the first question we must ask ourselves is what is a Boggart?" Remus asks the class, and to the surprise of no one Hermione puts up her hand, "Hermione?" Remus asks his daughter.

"It's a shape-shifter." Hermione answers, "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most." Hermione quotes.

"Couldn't have put it better myself." Remus says, with a smile, one that Hermione can bride below.

"So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has no yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears." Remus explains, choosing to ignore Neville's splutter of terror as he knows that Neville will do well, "This means that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?" Remus asks curious, as Hermione continues to bobble up and down on the balls of her feet, with her hand in the air.

"Er, because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?" Harry guesses.

"Precisely." Remus answers, "It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening." Remus explains, causing Harry and Hermione to exchange looks, both wondering which of their fathers Remus is talking about, "The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mid. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing." Remus tells the class. "We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please, Riddikulus."

"Riddiulus." The class says together.

"Good." Remus says, "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville." Remus says, smiling at the boy who Remus has watched grow up.

The wardrobe shakes again, though not as much as Neville, who walks forward as though he is heading to the gallows.

"Right, Neville." Remus says, giving him a supportive smile, "First thing first: what would you say is this thing that frightens you the most?" he asks Remus moves his lips but no noise comes out.

"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry." Remus says, sounding cheerful, causing Neville to look around the room, to look towards Hermione for help, before finally saying, "Professor Snape." In barely above a whisper.

Hearing that most of the class laugh, Hermione and Harry frown, Neville grins apologetically, and Remus looks thoughtful.

"Professor Snape, hmmm, Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?" Remus asks, making It seem like a question as he's not supposed to know that.

"Er, yes." Neville says, not understanding what Remus is doing, "But, I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either." Neville explains, knowing that Remus should know that.

"No, no, you misunderstand me." Remus says, now smiling as he gets an idea, "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?" he asks causing Harry and Hermione to exchange looks as they both know what Augusta usually wears and can't see where Remus would be going with this.

Hearing the question Neville looks surprised as he knows that Remus knows the answer but he explains anyway, "Well, always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress, green, normally, and sometimes a fox-fur scarf." Neville explains.

"And a handbag?" Remus prompts.

"A big one."

"Right then." Remus says, "Can you picture these close very clearly, Neville? Can you see him in your mind's eye?" he asks.

"Yes." Neville says, sounding uncertain as he can't imagine where Remus would be going with this.

"When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape." Remus explains, "And you will raise your wand, thus, and cry 'Riddikulus' and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress with that big red handbag." Remus explains to Neville, causing the class to laugh and the wardrobe to wobble more violently, "If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to shift his attention to each of us in turn." Remus says, "I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you the most and imagine how you might force it to look comical." Remus says.

"What scares me the most?" Hermione asks herself and in less than a second the answer comes to her, "Papa dying." She says, "Papa killing himself on a full moon." She realises more specifically, "But how can I make that comical?" she asks herself and even though she tries to think of it Hermione realises that there may not be any way to do that.

"Everyone ready?" Remus asks about a minute later, but as she looks around the room Hermione realises that with the exception of Harry, everyone else looks ready as they are nodding and rolling up their sleeves, so she really doesn't want to ask for more time.

"Neville, we're going to back away." Remus says, "Let you have a clear field, all right? I'll call the next person forward. Everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot….."

At Remus's words everyone retreats, backs against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside the wardrobe. Even though Neville is pale and frightened he pushes up his sleeves of his robes and is holding his wand ready.

"On the count of three, Neville." Remus says, as he points his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe, "One, two, three, now!" Remus says and a jet of sparks shoot from the end of Remus's wand and hits the doorknob and as it does the wardrobe bursts open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape steps out his eyes flashing at Neville.

As Snape walks out Neville backs away, raising his wand as he mouths wordlessly. Baring down upon him reaching inside his robes.

"R….r…..riddikulus." Neville squeaks and as he does there is a noise like a whip crack. Snape stumbles, he is wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering ha topped with a moth-eaten vulture, swinging a huge crimson handbag.

Suddenly there is a roar of laughter, causing the Boggart to pause, confused and Remus shouts, "Parvati! Forward." And she steps forward.

As she does Snape rounds on her, there is another crack and where he stood was a bloodstained, bandaged mummy; it's sightless face is looking at Parvati and it begins to walk towards her, very slowly, dragging its feet, its stiff arms rising,

"Riddikulus." Parvati yells and a bandage unravels at the mummy's feet; it becomes entangled, it's face falls forward, and its head rolls off.

"Seamus!" Remus calls and Seamus darts past Parvati and Crack! Where the Mummy has been is a woman with floor-length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face, a banshee. She opens her mouth wide and an unearthly sound fills the room, a long wailing shriek that makes the hair on Harry's head stand on end 'Riddikulus' Seamus shouts and the banshee makes a rasping noise and clutches her throat, her voice is gone.

Crack! The banshee turns into a rat, which chases its tail in a circle, then, crack! It becomes a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhes before, crack, and it becomes a single, bloody eyeball.

"It's confused." Remus shouts, "We're getting there! Dean!" he says and dean hurries forward. CRACK! The eyeball becomes a severed hand, which flips over and begins to creep along the floor like a crab.

"Riddikulus." Dean yells and there is a snap and the hand becomes trapped in a mousetrap.

"Excellent! Ron, you're next." Remus says and Ron leaps forward. CRACK. Quite a few people scream as a giant spider six feet tall and covered in hair, starts to advance on Ron, clicking it's pincers menacingly. For a moment, Harry thought Ron had frozen. Then,

"Riddikulus." Ron yells and the spider's leg vanish it rolls over and over; Lavender Brown squeals and runs out of it's way causing it to come to a halt at Harry's feet. He raises his wand, ready, but,

"HERE!" Remus shouts, hurrying forward. CRACK! And the legless spider vanishes. For a second, everyone looks around, trying to see where it was. Then they see a silver-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, knowing exactly what it is Hermione tenses, hoping that no one else realises.

"Riddikulus." Remus says, almost lazily, crack.

"Forward, Neville, finish him off!" Remus says as the Boggart lands on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape is back and this time Neville charges forward, looking determined.

"Riddikulus." He shouts and they have a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville lets out a great, "Ha" of laughter, and the Boggart explodes, bursting into thousand tiny wisps of smoke and then he is gone.

"Excellent." Remus cries as the class breaks into applause, "Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone. Let me see… five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the Boggart, ten to Neville as he did it twice, and five each to Harry and Hermione."

"But I didn't do anything." Harry objects, and seeing the look on his face Remus makes a note to talk to Harry at some point about why he didn't let him face the Boggart.

"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry." Remus says, lightly, "Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarize it for me, to be handed in on Monday that will be all." Remus says and the class starts to leave, "Hold on, Hermione, I'd like quick word." Remus says and Hermione stops walking why the rest of the class leave Harry being sure to close the door behind him.

"May be too busy earning herself detentions to do that?" Remus asks his daughter, "What happened in potions today?" he asks her curious.

"Gryffindor lost thirty points and I got two detentions." Hermione explains to her father, looking a little guilty.

"Why?" Remus asks with a sigh.

"Trying to stop Snape from bullying Neville, helping Neville and….. putting potion ingredients in Malfoy's hair." Hermione explains, "That's also what I got the detentions for." Hermione admits and Remus takes a deep breath, before running his hand through his hair.

"Hermione, why did you put potion ingredients in Malfoy's hair?" Remus asks, keeping his voice calm and without judgement.

"He was talking about Dad, and Harry, and Me, I just couldn't take it." Hermione admits.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm sorry." Remus tells his daughter, hating that things are so hard for her, "If he keeps it up come tell me, I'll deal with it."

"No, I can't! Papa if I go running to my Father just because Malfoy's making things difficult. If I did I'd be him." Hermione tells her Papa, "I can handle Malfoy, he's not going to be a problem, and not because of what I did, but because I did what I said. It's will be okay, Papa." Hermione explains to her father.

"Okay." Remus says, understanding his daughter's reasons, "I do want you to come to me if it gets too much." Remus explains.

"I will."

"When's your first detention?"

"Six."

"Okay, you better go and collect your stuff and have some dinner." Remus tells his daughter.

"Okay." Hermione says with a nod, "It was a great lesson, Professor." Hermione says with a smile before she hurries out of the room.

As she wants to catch up with the others Hermione runs from the staff room and she gets there just in time to hear Lavender ask.

"I wonder why Professor Lupin's frightened of Crystal Balls?"

"Maybe he didn't like divination." Hermione suggests, wanting to distract people from realising what it really was, and Lavender looks insulted at the mere thought of someone not liking Divination.

"That was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" Ron asks, sounding excited.

"It really was." Hermione says with a proud smile, "It could have been interesting to face the Boggart." Hermione comments, although she still has no idea what she would have done.

"What would it have been for you?" Ron asks, trying not to laugh, "A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?" he asks.

"No." Hermione answers, simply.

"Hey, Hermione, you know you look a lot like Professor Lupin." Dean comments, causing Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron to all tense.

"I honestly don't know what to say to that." Hermione says, trying to cover in the best way she can.

"It's just something I noticed." Dean comments as the group arrives back at the classroom to collect their stuff, Hermione hoping she can distract everyone from asking too many questions about either Remus's boggart or why Hermione looks a lot like their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.


As she knows better than risking even the possibility of being late to a detention with Snape Hermione arrives at Snape's office several minutes early.

"Miss Granger, I'd be hoping for a bit longer than a week before I was granted the misfortune of your company." Snape comments, upon seeing Hermione.

"Well, you know, you only have yourself to blame. You're the one who keeps giving me detention." Hermione comments.

"And that's another five points." Snape tells her, walking towards her, "Be warned, the fact that your father is here changes nothing, you will get no special treatment and If I get the hint I that you are I will rectify it. The fact that your other father is out also doesn't change anything, though if I find out you know anything about where he is or what he is doing you'll get a lot more than detention." Snape says angrily.

"Why would I not say anything if I knew? He betrayed my Godparents, killed people." Hermione says, sounding angry, focusing on the anger she felt before she had doubts, and for a second something Hermione can't explain flashes in Snape's eyes.

"Tonight you're going to sort through the animal parts, sorting fresh from expired." Snape reveals.

"Let me guess, without gloves?" Hermione ask.

"Get to work." Snape says Hermione does just that.


One more Hermione finds herself being in Snape's office handling disgusting things until just before curfew so once more, something she has done before, Hermione has to run back towards the Common Room and as she gets closer Hermione realises that she isn't going to get to the Common Room in time Hermione turns down to a corridor and runs towards her father's office.

"Hermione?" Remus asks from his desk when Hermione runs in.

"Hi, sorry, but It's curfew and thanks to Snape I'm not going make it back to the common room without being caught by Filch." Hermione explains, "Which is what Snape is hoping for."

"Does he always keep you until curfew?" Remus asks with a frown.

"All the time." Hermione confirms, "And worse of all I'm running with dead animal parts on my hands." Hermione explains, pulling a face as what Snape makes her do is never pleasant.

"Go use my bathroom to clean up and then I'll walk you up to the tower." Remus tells his daughter, "That way you can't get in trouble from Filch."

"Thanks, Papa." Hermione says, heading to the other door.

"Damn it, Severus." Remus mutters to himself as he watches his daughter going, trying to figure out if there is way to make up for the way Snape treats his daughter without making him treat her worse.


September 19th 1993

It has been ten days since Remus got Neville to turn a boggart into Snape with his grandmother's clothes on and ever since Snape has been treating both Hermione and Neville worse than ever.

It is Hermione's fourteenth birthday and because of that Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville are in Remus's room celebrating It.

"Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Dear Hermione,

Happy birthday to you." Remus, Harry, Neville and Ron sing,

"Hip, hip." Remus says.

"Hooray." Harry, Neville and Ron say.

"Hip, hip."

"Hooray."

"Hip, hip."

"Hooray."

They all yell and then Hermione blows out the candles on the large chocolate cake that has, 'Happy Birthday, Hermione' and fourteen candles on the top.

"Thank you, Papa." Hermione says, and Remus bends down and places a kiss on his daughter's head, "It's double chocolate, right?" Hermione asks.

"Triple chocolate actually." Remus corrects causing Hermione to smile, "Here, cut the first piece." Remus tells his daughter, handing her the knife.

"Okay." Hermione says and she starts to cut the pieces.

A few minutes later Hermione has cut the pieces and the group are all eating them, all of them sitting around the coffee table in Remus's living area.

"How many pieces do you think you're going to get to enjoy before having to run off to Snape's detention?" Harry asks Hermione curious.

"I don't know. All I know is that I'm not going to go to dinner." Hermione comments, causing Remus to frown.

"Detention on your birthday, that sucks." Ron says, looking at Hermione sympathetically, "Especially when Snape didn't even give a reason this time."

"What?" Remus asks shocked, "He didn't?" He asks, looking angry.

"Nope, but that's not surprising. Snape has been so much crueller to Hermione and Neville since the Boggart." Harry says, without even thinking.

"What?" Remus asks, turning to look at them in shock, "Why didn't you tell me?" he asks.

"It's okay, Remus." Neville says, trying to be reassuring.

"Has Professor Snape been treating you worse?" Remus asks, looking between Hermione and Neville.

"A little, but it's not your fault, Papa." Hermione tells him.

"Excuse me." Remus says, getting up and heading out of the room.

"PAPA." Hermione calls after him, "Oh this is going to be so bad." She says worried.

"Crap, should we do something?" Harry asks, feeling bad as he is the reason why Remus now knows about Snape's treatment of Neville and Hermione.

"I don't think there is anything we can do." Hermione admits, looking worried.


After leaving his quarters Remus makes his way down to Snape's office where unsurprisingly he finds the potion maker sitting alone.

"Lupin, what do I owe this…... pleasure." Snape says with a sneer.

"You hate me; we both know that, I probably deserve that." Remus admits, "Hermione and Neville, and even Harry, on the other hand don't. Be an adult, Severus, stop taking an old schoolboy's grudge out on innocent children." He says angrily, "Take it out on me!"

"Gladly." Snape says with a sneer, "And Lupin, if you even think about bursting into my office again and tell me how I should behave, you're going to regret it."

"Treat people like a human being and I won't have to." Remus says before turning and leaving.

"LUPIN." Snape once more yells, "We both know that you're the only one of us who isn't human." He says angrily, "Now, get out of my sight and tell your dear daughter that I don't want to see her either." He says and Remus just leaves.


Up in Remus's quarters Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron are all waiting, all becoming worried, all of them wondering where Remus is and what is going on.

About ten minutes after Remus left the door opens and he one more walks in.

"Papa." Hermione says worried and she rushes forward and hugs her father.

"I'm okay." Remus assures her, "You don't have detention tonight." Remus says to his daughter as they break apart.

"What happened?" Neville asks curious.

"I just reminded Severus of a few things." Remus reveals, "Now, I want you all to keep me informed of the way he treats you all." Remus says, looking at them all individually.

"Yes, Papa."

"Yes, Remus."

"Yes, Professor."

The four students respond.

"Now, I believe you have presents to open and cake to eat." Remus tells his daughter, leading her back over to the coffee table with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Hermione says and she sits down on the floor and her Papa sits down next to her.

"This is from me." Neville says handing over a gift.

"Thanks Nev…." Hermione says with a smile and she starts to open her presents, and starts to enjoy the rest of her birthday with her father and her three best friends.


A few hours later Hermione has opened all her presents and while the others are enjoying themselves Remus and Harry are cleaning up the dishes.

"How are you doing Harry?" Remus asks curious.

"I'm okay." Harry answers, "Remus, why….." he starts to ask.

"Didn't I let you face the Boggart?" Remus asks and Harry nods.

"I was worried it would take the form of Voldemort." Remus reveals, "I thought it would cause people to panic."

"I did think of Voldemort, at first." Harry admits, "But then I remember that day on the train, and The Dementors." He explains.

"Well, I'm impressed." Remus says, causing Harry to look at him, "Harry, that means that what you fear the most is fear, very wise." He explains.

"Remus…." Harry starts to say, but before he can say anymore they hear,

"PAPA, HARRY." Being called by Hermione, "COME ON." She calls.

"We better go join her." Remus says.

"Yeah, we should." Harry confirms and the two of them head back into the lounge area so that they can celebrate Hermione's birthday with her.


Out on the grounds, just inside the forest a large Black Dog is sitting, staring up at the castle. After doing his best to make sure that he is alone the black dog becomes a man.

"Happy Birthday, Princess." Sirius says out loud, wishing that he was there celebrating it with her as he has missed way too many off her birthday's, he's missed way too much of his life and once he deals with The Rat he hopes to be able to try to make it up to her, though he knows that there may be no way for him to do that.

For a few minutes Sirius stares at the castle before turning back into Padfoot and makes himself comfortable, hoping to get a glimpse of his daughter, as he figures out what he is going to do next.


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