At Azkaban Prison, in the North Sea, a storm raged. Of course, there was nearly always a storm raging around Azkaban Prison. What was different about this storm was that a boat was approaching the prison, with a lone man on it. This man wore a dark cloak, and the rain never touched him. As the boat approached the dock, the man noticed a boat was already moored there. 'That is odd.' Preparing for the unknown, the man readied his wand. He stepped on the dock and started to walk up the steps carved into the rock of Azkaban. Once he got to the door, he froze. The human guards all laid there, dead or dying. One man had enough life in him to say "Run…" before a flash of green slayed him. The man who killed them all walked out of the prison, the prisoners following him and smiled at him as he launched a curse that the man blocked with a shield charm.
"Hello. You must be Nicolas Flamel." With a jab, he launched a curse forward which Nicolas shielded against again, starting a furious duel on Azkaban Island.
Cedric paced the Hospital Wing, unsure where he should sit. Harry, his friend and his advisee laid in a bed that most considered his on one side, while the on the other, one Fleur Delacour lay on a bed. Her skin was slowly losing its rosy tint as she was healed from the horrid burns that forced her transformation. On the far side near the doors, Viktor Krum sat on a bed talking to his fiancé Fredrick in whispers.
He didn't mean to have this conflict of interest, but it seems to be the burden of being a Hufflepuff. Luckily, he swiftly found a solution since both beds were against the back wall. He conjured a small couch between the two and sat down. He wouldn't choose between them.
A large black dog laying on the edge of Harry's bed just gave a breathy chuckle.
Minerva wrote a letter as she sat in her office, a mere three hours after the task. Her charges were all in the castle preparing for classes tomorrow or doing something that the students when they were away from her sight. But the one student that she was ultimately responsible for was laying the hospital wing once again. With a flourish, she signed her name and tapped her wand on the parchment. With a flap, the letter folded itself, and got stamped by a wax seal. She grabbed it before it touched the desk and strode towards the fire place. Tossing in floo powder, she spoke clearly," Lupine Cabin. Passphrase., Happiness is Silver." In a flash of green flames, she was gone.
She strode through the open fireplace, and entered the kitchen to see the resident of the cabin waiting with a cup of tea.
"Hello Minerva." Remus Lupin looked over his own tea cup at his former colleague. As soon as the task ended, he had a suspicion that she would come over. She did after the first task after all. A warming charm to a cup of tea was hardly ever noticeable either. He took a sip as she slid a letter over towards him.
"What is this Minerva?"
"I control any hiring of non-essential studies teachers. Those subjects that are not Transfiguration, Defense, Charms or Potions, I have hiring control over. That is an offer for the History of Magic position, to start immediately. It would have a secondary role as well." Minera spoke crisply.
"You know that I couldn't accept that as I am a werewolf-" Remus tried to deny the position.
"Actually, you resigned before I or Dumbledore could say anything. The fact of the matter is, nothing in the charter of Hogwarts says we cannot employ you, nor does the Board of Governors, or the Ministry of Magic have any say in the matter. You resigned because of your fear." Minerva took a sip as Remus exploded.
"Minerva I resigned because I am a dangerous creature that nearly killed my best friend's son! I resigned because Severus was right that being around children is asking for a disaster! I resigned because-"
"You resigned because you are so used to being fired you decided to take control and quit as soon as the secret was out. Which is humorous because I had no less than 20 students ask me if you were a werewolf and if you were safe to be around. Once I explained every single one said that as long as he was a good teacher, they didn't care." Minerva interjected and glared. "Read the letter Remus. And then try to argue with me."
Remus tore the letter open and furiously started to read. As the outlines of the job was made obvious, he snorted. It was easily ten times his current pay, and provided room and board, all for teaching history which he was fond of personally. It would be a slow transition as well for the teaching position. He would over the course of the rest of year take on more and more of the current professor's workload starting with the Newt and Owl students and working his way down. By next year he would be teaching exclusively, with Binns as a secondary source for the students to work with. It was the secondary role that shook him.
"Minerva, are you sure? You have been Head of Gryffindor for decades. " Remus asked quietly.
"It is necessary. I can't train Harry as much as I need to with all my roles. I barely sleep Remus. If it isn't the First or Second years having breakdowns about homesickness, it's the fifth or seventh years having breakdowns about OWLs or NEWTs. Or it's the prefects reporting something that is going on, or it's the twins or something. If it's none of those things, I have paperwork I have to do as Deputy, or papers I must grade for my classes. While I have gotten Cedric's help with papers, and sometimes Harry helps, that is not what they should be doing. If I was helping him train, he wouldn't be unconscious in the Hospital Wing." Minerva took a deep gulp of her warm tea before she broke down infront of her former pupil.
"I'll do it on one condition." Remus spoke after a moment of silence.
"What is it?" Minerva asked as she prepared to leave.
"I control Gryffindor house as I want it be controlled. I don't want to be a figurehead for you or Albus. Also, I will help Harry out. He is a lion and that falls in my domain I believe." Remus smiled as he held out his hand. With a victorious smile Minerva shook it. "Let's go to my office to do the paperwork, and you can get started tomorrow if you wish."
Remus smiled and gathered his coat. "I'm certain I can do that."
Albus Dumbledore smiled as he felt a familiar person enter Minerva's office from the Floo. It appeared that Minerva's gambit paid off. Sadly, it meant he had a new Head of House and Severus would likely be furious. But, if he caused issues again- Albus shook those thoughts from his head. He knew Severus wouldn't cause issues anymore. The last time Albus told him that if he did, he would be removed from the castle. The only reason it didn't happen last year was Albus protecting him. Minerva would not tolerate a second block.
Albus straightened his desk as a knock arrived at his door. "Enter!"
The door swung open on well-oiled hinges and Perenelle Flamel walked in, her cane softly tapping on the flag stones. "Ah Albus. Or should I call you Brian like my husband?" Her voice lightened into a laugh as the man smiled.
"You, my dear, can call me whatever you may like. After all, you are one of my dearest friends."
"Good answer! I suppose I should get straight to it then. Have you heard from Nicolas?" Penny asked seriously. While she had her own methods of communication with her husband, Albus was known to have means that she may not.
"I am afraid not. I was meaning to send him a message with Fawkes but every time I think about it, he is out hunting." Albus' eyed the empty perch on his desk, its occupant not actually out hunting. Though hunting would be done on the voyage, thus it wasn't a lie.
"Lie to people younger than you Albus. You could never hide it from me or Nicolas. Your bird is likely sending a message of frivolous word play to that wizard in China that you were flirting with during the last Alchemical Ball." Penny laughed heartedly as Albus blushed and didn't deny it. "Its fine, I was just wondering if you had attempted. He was supposed to contact me hours ago now. I have a way of asking for him and he won't deny-"
With a rush the fireplace in Albus' office turned green and a new guest stumbled through.
Fleur woke up slowly, the fluffy mattress she was on incredibly warm. When she opened her eyes, a handsome face greeted her bedside, a couch behind him.
"Welcome to the land of the living beautiful." Cedric smiled at Fleur warmly. She smiled gently back and pulled him down. Wrapping her arms around his neck she gently kissed him.
"Thank you for being here… though you should shave. You are prickly." She whispered softly to him after they broke apart.
"Wow Ced, a veela. Sirius is gonna be jealous." Harry called from his bed over the couch.
"Shut it you! I don't wanna hear it!" Cedric called back.
"Now now boys, don't fight because of me. I'd hate to have to end the dispute." Fleur giggled softly as Cedric set on her bedside.
"We aren't fighting Fleur, Harry over there loves to ruin my moment!" Cedric raised his voice at the end, so that the fourth year could hear him.
"Its not ruining your moments! Im adding character to them!" Harry slowly walked over and flicked his wand at the couch. It fluidly transfigured into a comfortable lounge chair for him to sit in.
Fleur watched in awe at the casual display of transfiguration. Cedric merely shook his head. "What a couch not good enough?" He asked sarcastically as he gently leaned against the headboard of Fleur's bed.
"I don't know how to tell you this but, Cedric, your couch was lumpy. I fixed it." Harry countered as he conjured a foot rest to prop his feet on.
Cedric snorted,"Lumpy? The only lump in the room is you."
"If you two wanna take pot shots, you can do it in a duel." Sirius said as he strode over after jumping off of the bed as Padfoot and transforming. Looking at Harry in a cushy lounge chair with a foot rest he merely raised an eyebrow, "Comfy kid?" Harry merely nodded and settled deeper into the furniture.
Fleur rolled her eyes, grabbed her wand and transfigured the lounge chair into a couch with a soft pop. "Seriously, not even going to offer him a seat." She huffed.
"I am honored dear. I am Sirius Black, Godfather of this one here." He pointed towards Harry as he sat down beside him.
"I know who you are. I know exactly who you are." Fleur met his eyes steadily.
Cedric looked between them and coughed gently. "Um, I think I am missing something."
"You likely are Cedric. I wouldn't be surprised that I am in history books. A lot of the heroes of the last war are." Sirius calmly replied as he kept staring in the eyes of Fleur Delacour.
"Heroes? More like butchers. How does it feel knowing you killed so many?" Fleur spat.
"It feels pretty good actually. I can walk around unlike others I can mention." Sirius retorted.
"Both of you, shut up." Harry's voice cut across Fleur's response. "The war was nearly two decades ago. Sirius you spent most of that in hell. Fleur you only read about it in history books. Don't pretend otherwise. You were 4 when the war ended. You remember none of it."
Cedric continued, "Fleur you were likely taught the war had no heroes because it was about blood purity, a trait France doesn't have an issue with. But the fact is, it was war, and Sirius fought in it for the side that we ultimately both believe in. Blood doesn't matter."
Fluer sighed as she thought back to her history lessons. Monsieur Raudu was a French Canadian man who had a low tolerance for the First Blood War as it was labelled in history. He taught often that both sides were fighting for a corrupt system, that one wanted harsher blood purity based laws while the other wanted to keep the status quo, already based upon the blood purity model. She explained as much to the three males and was surprised when Harry started laughing.
"I'm sorry Fleur. Its just obvious that your history professor had never met a dark wizard with any power." Harry laughed a little more and slowly got a sad look on his face. "Voldemort doesn't give a damn about purity of blood."
Sirius' eyebrows raised as he heard that line. Cedric merely smirked, having already heard it once.
"Look at who he targeted. Anyone who stood against him, regardless of blood status. Look at the laws his supporters pushed through under his orders. If you notice most gave his supporters something they needed, while weakening the ministry's capabilities. And finally look at his rhetoric and his actions. He claimed to be against any creature that threatened pureblood wizards. But he worked directly with Fenrir Greyback. He claimed that he wanted to solidify and uphold the statue of security but it was he who initiated every muggle attack of the first war. And if you want more evidence, Voldemort himself isn't a pureblood."
Fluer's eyes widened and Sirius barked out a laugh.
"I like that kid. The fact that he is a hypocrite is hilarious. But moving on to lighter and better subjects. How about you and that Luna girl Harry? Whatever happened with that?" Sirius prodded.
"We are only friends." Harry shrugged. In truth, Luna herself said she would rather be friends as it was what she always wanted. When he asked about the kiss Luna just giggled and said," You always kiss your date for a ball Harry Potter. Even I know that."
"Obviously he is much too young to date anyone." Fleur playfully shot at Sirius. Sirius nodded seriously.
"She is right of course. No dating boys until you are sixteen. Wait… wrong godfather line."
Harry just sighed and pressed a hand against his forehead as the rest of the room laughed.
Albus hurried around the desk as Penny trained her wand on the man in the blacked and smoking cloak. "Who are you?"
"I'm offended Penny that you don't recognize your own husband!" Nicholas used his left arm to push his hood back, exposing his face and the stylized F of his tattoo. With a his he held his right arm. Revealing he lacked anything below the elbow.
"Oh Nicholas…" Penny rushed forward, her prop cane forgotten. She knelt beside him, and started to fuss with him.
"Enough Penny, I love you, but I am fine. I already took some Elixir." Nicolas looked at Albus. "I don't have long until the Elixir puts me to sleep until I am fully healed. I was doing a job for the Ministry that they hired my company to do. I was supposed to check the wards over the Dementors as is done every two years, by law. I had just arrived at the prison when I encountered all the human guards dead or dying. I don't remember who did it. I know we dueled, and it wasn't one sided. He took off my arm and as I was about to counter, the prisoners all apparated out. At that point I knew I had to get away. I apparated, and as I did I think I got hit by a memory Charm. I took the Elixir, and floo'd here because you are the only man I trust to check."
Albus looked into Nicolas' golden eyes and slipped into the man's mind. Filled with clock work, the he moved swiftly towards where a light illuminated a door, not unlike what would be found in a submarine. Going through it, Albus saw a pit, filled with chains, with every link having dozens of different links attaching to it, in a mind numbing infinite knot. Standing on the chains, in the middle of the pit Nicolas stood, both arms whole and a frown on his face. "Hurry Brian. You cannot be in here when I go to sleep. Come swiftly." When Albus reached him, Nicolas grabbed his arm and they dropped through the chains as if they were smoke. When they finally stopped, Nicolas pointed at the door in front of him. "I can go no further Brian. Figure out why please."
Albus walked forward and examined the door. Like the door above, however around the edge was a line of bulging metal, of a different color. "I see. It seems that it is an incredibly strong memory charm. But even now, the Elixir is slowly eating away at it…" He was right, the line of bulging metal, slowly seemed to be cracking. Looking back he nodded to Nicolas and with a heave he was thrown from the Alchemist's mind.
"How long will it take?" Nicolas asked softly
"I suspect you will have the knowledge by summer. If not faster if the elixir has an exponential effect of healing after your arm is dealt with." Albus replied.
Nicolas nodded firmly. "I guess I don't have much time. I will likely be out until the final task at the earliest. Brian, you still require a Defense teacher next year yes?"
Albus' eyes widened and he nodded.
"You have one. Penny, I am going home." Nicolas stood and walked to the fireplace, flooing back to the home he shared with his wife.
"Did he just?" Albus asked Perenelle in shock.
"Yes he did. Nicolas must have a reason to finally say yes after all these years of denying you. You realize of course that as soon as he signs the contract that curse over the position will end correct?" Penny asked a question in return.
"Oh? How so?" Albus asked. He has had the post looked at from every angle, by every expert in the field. He knew exactly when the curse occurred, and he knew who did it. He just didn't know how it worked. Which was the most important aspect.
"Because Nicolas is running out of time, and due to the Elixir, we are not considered a lot of things by magic. It is extremely hard to curse us Albus because our bodies are so magically incorporated. So difficult in fact that it is astounding to me that he even lost an arm. This curse on the position, I have felt it as I toured the castle, and it is weakening even now. Mad Eye is paranoid enough that it has to work extremely hard to even get him to only teach a year. By the time it is Nicolas' turn, the curse won't be strong enough to affect him." She calmly explained the effect of the Elixir of Life.
"But will he stay longer than a year?" Albus asked with a small smile.
"He watched the first task. It depends entirely on who wins the Tournament Albus. He has always wanted another Pupil." Penny smiled and slowly stood, grabbed her cane from the floor and walked out of the office.
Remus smiled as he finished setting up an office for himself. He then slowly moved towards the Hospital wing. As he passed the Great Hall, Severus Snape stepped out of a passage that led towards his office. He froze as Remus entered his sight. "Lupin. What pray tell are you doing here?"
"I am a professor here Severus. Just accepted the job." Remus kept his hands in his pockets, one curled around his wand. He trusted that Severus wouldn't harm him in front of or around others, but here they were alone.
"Indeed. Fine. As long as you keep the mutt in line we will be fine. Walk with me Lupin." Severus started to walk in the direction of the Hospital wing. Remus fell in step beside him.
"I will be blunt. I don't like you. I don't like Sirius. However, I happen to enjoy the wit of Harry. He is a complete dunderhead in Potions, but otherwise, not a terrible child." Severus explained softly. "I am also tired of pretending to have to hate people that I don't actively hate." They passed several students studying notes.
"Why do you pretend anyway?" Remus asked.
"Why do you pretend to be afraid of your inner wolf Lupin?." Severus softly answered as they arrived at the hospital wing. He slipped into Poppy's area of the wing before Sirius looked up.
When Sirius looked up to see Remus Lupin standing there , he instantly transformed and ran towards his best friend. His running was occupied by Harry yelling "Professor Lupin!"
Remus was home.
AN: Well, for Christmas, I gave you all a double feature. The second task, and the immediate after math all done. So I have alot of plot here, and some interesting world building. For the first time we see how far Harry is pushed in combat with a cup that would like to kill him but isnt pulling out all the stops yet... thats soon.
Last chapter I also gave a soft fix to an error I made about dates... Thanks Cedric.
But Anyway, I finally got to add one of my favorite characters, Remus Lupin. Also, Snape is acting nice, and if you notice, he never answered why.
Final thing for this AN... this fic is not going to die. I work literal 50 hour weeks. Most of the month is over 400 hours of work. I get home exhausted and this is just a hobby for me. Dont expect constant updates. But I will have at least 3-10 a year, they just may not be monthly or whatever.
-Zero