"Once again, I don't mean to cause trouble, I—"

"Now now, Remus," Dumbledore calmly interrupted the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, "like we've established already, this isn't going to be a problem."

Remus couldn't bring himself to meet Minerva's eyes, and even less Severus'. Even if the Headmaster had convinced Remus it wouldn't be that hard to convince him, it was still his opinion that it would have been best to tell Severus about his presence and the need for his potion before the beginning of the school year. While Snape would still have been against his presence in the castle, they might have had more time to convince him. Yet, Dumbledore, just like McGonagall, looked oddly confident about this.

"You have already been making the potion for a couple of years now, Severus," Dumbledore insisted. "Would you care to explain why this would become a problem now?"

Lupin's curiosity was picked and he finally looked at the Headmaster before he met Minerva's gaze. But he didn't say anything just yet, he knew better than to interrupt this exchange.

Snape shot a glance at the shabby professor. His nonchalant posture, his hands in his pockets and his well too aware look were downright unnerving. Remus knew exactly why he didn't want him there. And as the man was learning that he wasn't the only werewolf in the castle, he could be certain it had nothing to do with his secret.

"Or perhaps you have decided you didn't need to make it for him anymore?" Minerva continued.

"Of course not."

"It seems to be a done deal, then," Dumbledore concluded. Lupin glanced at his colleague, who wasn't looking at anyone anymore. He seemed lost in thoughts, upset, or maybe concerned?

"I'm sorry", Lupin finally spoke, "am I to understand that I am not the only…"

"He doesn't even know…" Snape mumbled with incredulity. And how would he break the news to Draco? Well, he would find out soon enough. Regaining his cold composure, Severus met Dumbledore's gaze. "Fine," he said coolly. He turned to Lupin and looked him up and down. "Now if you don't mind, I have arrangements to make. Someone to warn."

"Why don't you bring him here, Severus?" Dumbledore proposed. "I am sure young Mister Malfoy will want to meet Professor Lupin."

"Remus almost chocked on his saliva but was yet able to contain any noise. He could feel his heart pounding furiously in his chest and his body becoming numb with this sudden rise of emotions. He tried to not let anything betray his shock or break the eye contact with Snape. While he didn't plan on retaliating, he wasn't going to let Severus push him around either. He waited for his former classmate to leave the room without another word before he turned to Dumbledore.

"Perhaps I heard you wrong. Did you say Malfoy? As in Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black's son?"

Dumbledore brushed his own ear with his index finger, a small smile appearing on his face. "Sharp sense of hearing, don't you worry."

Lupin didn't even know what to say anymore. He then felt Dumbledore's hand on his shoulder. The man seemed in a particularly good mood.

"I'll leave you to it."

Both Minerva and Remus waited for Dumbledore to leave the room before they turned to each other once more. They stared for a moment before McGonagall joined her hands, impatient.

"Quit looking at me like that, would you." Lupin immediately looked away, disoriented. "I don't have much details to give you. The boy was attacked before he came to Hogwarts. Just like you, I learned about it on this very day, two years ago."

"Dumbledore's always been one for surprises," Remus mumbled to himself, but he caught a glimpse of McGonagall's expression and he kept his gaze on the desk behind her. "So, what's his situation?"

McGonagall breathed deeply as she detailed her former student. Oh, the emotions she kept inside. "The Headmaster, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Snape and myself are in the known. It should only be revealed to the rest of the teaching staff as a last resort. For his absences, we have only explained that he is sick and cannot attend some of his classes, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had it all figured out. Professor Snape has been making the Wolfsbane potion for him ever since his attack. He is, after all, his godfather,"—Lupin shot her a glance—"and it is my understanding he is to teach him how to make the potion when he will be ready to do so. For the cycles, he is using the Shrieking Shack and the passage under the Whomping Willow, just like you used to do."

Lupin was nodding along, but he was still pondering. "This is not what I… I was wondering about his situation at home, actually."

McGonagall didn't give anything away. "Whatever do you mean?"

Hesitant, Lupin did continue with his train of thought, "Is Severus taking care of him outside of school as well?"

"Apart from the potion, Mister Malfoy is still under his parents' care, if this is what you are asking."

"So they didn't—"

"No."

Lupin only nodded, still as confused as he was before his enquiries.

.

"Mister Malfoy," Snape called, covering the voices of the students gathering in the entrance. Snape directly found Draco in the crowd, his white blond hair sticking out like a sore thumb. The brouhaha coming from the students stopped and the Slytherins around Draco also stopped laughing. Busy imitating Harry fainting, Draco shot Potter one last dirty look before he turned towards his Head of House, his sneer fading as well. Snape observed the boy as he turned. He was getting taller every year but it was even more noticeable now that he was surrounded by people his age. "Follow me."

It wasn't a suggestion so Draco didn't let his surprise hold him back. He left Pansy's side and directly made his way through the crowd under the Gryffindor trio's gaze. When Draco walked past his teacher, Snaped glanced at them before he disappeared in the hallway with his godson, closing the door behind him with a snap of his fingers.

"Do you think he's already in trouble?" Hermione asked, eyes still riveted onto the door. Harry smiled and Ron gleamed.

"I certainly do hope so," he said.

They didn't get to talk about it further; another door opened and this time, McGonagall appeared to call Harry and Hermione to her office.

.

Snape led Draco to the room he had left a few minutes ago. Lupin was still standing there, lost in his thoughts, but he was now alone. He turned to the duo but didn't dare speak first. Instead, he watched as the boy walked in, he watched as he recognised himself. The bags under his eyes, the paleness, the breathing, the posture right after a cycle; they were all details drawing a spitting image of his teenage years.

"Mister Malfoy, let me introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin."

Lupin took in the way Severus didn't refer to him as "Professor Lupin", and then the way Draco was looking at him from head to toe, visibly unimpressed. Draco couldn't help but smirk, and Snape's lips curled up at the sight. Lupin didn't mind, he wasn't exactly surprised. He even gave Draco a kind smile. He already knew that if he wanted things to work out, he would have to make numerous first moves.

"I know him alright," Draco commented. He had seen him in Harry's compartment in the Hogwarts Express and had briefly met him outside the castle already, while he was busy mocking Potter. "So what of it?"

Snape slowly turned his head to look at Lupin.

"There are… special circumstances surrounding you two, do you know those?" He asked, approaching Lupin. Draco noticed the way his godfather was eyeing his new teacher. Clearly, there was animosity. It was a wonder that his eyes hadn't caught fire yet. "Your professor here is like you, Draco."

The teenager raised an eyebrow, skeptical. He stopped the sarcastic comment that threatened to come out to pay more attention. The dots weren't that hard to connect, and the scars on Lupin's face had caught his attention earlier that evening. But still, it couldn't be… or could it?

"Surely not," Draco said.

Lupin was still silent, still smiling through his uncomfortableness. Draco had lost his smile. He had lost the mischievous glow animating his eyes and he helped himself. He approached the man to study him, to notice what was betraying him the same way Lupin had done when Draco had entered the room. So what could Lupin say, really? He kept quiet and glanced at Snape while Draco walked in a circle around him. Severus' nasty little smile was infuriating, but again, he reminded himself of the baby steps he would have to take.

When Draco regained his spot in front of Lupin, the boy tilted his head and met his professor's eyes, his curiosity almost palpable. Lupin cleared his throat.

"It's nice to meet you again, Mister Malfoy. I heard a lot about you from your Transfiguration teacher," he said, talking as if to fill a blank, talking to avoid the normally inevitable remarks that were probably crossing Draco's mind. He held out his hand, hoping for the first sign of compromise.

"If that's all you wanted to tell me, I'm gonna get going," Draco said coldly before he turned around, ready to walk out. He knew what it meant. Snape didn't want him to make a new friend, to meet someone like him. He knew exactly what it meant and he didn't want to hear it.

"Not so fast," Snape interjected, "you don't have a choice here. You will have to make some concessions, whether you want to or not." Draco closed his eyes and sighed before he faced his teachers again. "Believe me, it wasn't my idea."

They let Snape's words sink in, they gave him time to react, to get the words out.

"Why should I have to agree to anything?" Draco then asked a bit too agressively. Lupin could recognise the state of mind of a werewolf after a full moon, and he almost felt like he needed to apologize again.

"Look, I really don't mean to imp—"

"I didn't ask you," Malfoy spat. This time, Lupin let out a heavy sigh, seriously getting annoyed.

"Now, Mister Malfoy, I think we both know it would be wise of you to show a professor some respect," Snape stepped in. "So, why don't you stop acting like a brat and listen to what you have to do?"

The words seemed enough to get him to shut up. Or was it just because Draco was obedient to Severus? Because the boy looked like he was about to throw the biggest tantrum that had ever been thrown, and yet he kept it all in his clenched fists and jaw. He couldn't look at his teachers anymore, he couldn't say anything anymore.

Draco's mind was working fast. He knew that Snape was probably always on his side, especially in this situation since he didn't seem to like Lupin very much at all. And he knew he couldn't say no, and that Snape probably couldn't say no. It was probably Dumbledore's brilliant idea. Probably. How would it be like? During the cycle. During the year. What would it be like?

He managed to listen to the instructions without saying another word, even if he had already figured out the situation with the Shrieking Shack. He waited for Snape to be done to finally speak his mind once again.
"Can't he go in the Forest?" He heard himself ask. He wondered how bitter he sounded.

Snape glanced at Lupin.

"I'd rather not," Remus said, "I want to make sure everyone is safe."

"There was another silence. Draco's professors were looking at him, and he wasn't looking at anything, really. He was trying to sort out all the new information.

"Of course, if this… cohabitation doesn't work out, you don't have to worry. I'll leave you alone," he said.

They heard some exclamations coming from the other side of.a door leading directly into the Great Hall and Lupin cleared his throat.

"Draco," Snape said, still waiting for him to say something else. It was a few seconds before Draco licked his dry lips and nodded.

"Yeah. Alright then. Ok," he quickly said, gaze shifty still.

After another awkward silence, Lupin decided that it was time to join the feast. He would have other occasions to talk with Draco if they needed to do so. He actually thought it was a good opportunity for them both. Draco probably had to face all of this alone. He doubted his friends had trained to become Animagi and keep him company during full moons. He also had been bitten at a young age, and he knew the trauma, he knew how difficult it all was. He just hoped Draco could come around.

After Lupin had joined the feast, closing the door behind him, Snape approached Draco.

"You will report everything to me," he told the boy who frowned, taken aback. They locked eyes and Draco felt the urge to argue with him. "Being angry isn't going to change anything."

Draco gave Snape a very strained smile before he turned around to leave. He burst out the door into the Great Hall, catching everyone's attention. He didn't look at anyone. He got down the steps and hurried towards the seat Pansy had saved next to her. While everyone had their eyes on him, Minerva and Lupin were the only ones sharing the same concerned look. Snape also walked out of the room to go and sit next to the new professor, a satisfied expression painted on his face. As he exchanged a look with Lupin, the latter noticed that he was delighted.

Dumbledore, who was about to let the students eat, waited for everyone to be seated before he clapped twice. The food appeared on the large tables and almost everyone soon forgot about what had just happened.

At the table, Pansy moved towards Draco, wondering what might have happened. What was he doing with Lupin and Snape in that room, and was it the reason he was visibly so worked up? He wasn't even touching the food.

"Draco," she said, a hand on his arm, "is everything alright?"

"'Fine," Draco said through gritted teeth, trying not to shout at her either. His cheeks were burning, he felt like his head was fuming, his heart pumping so hard he might as well have fainted.

"Are you sure?" She asked, leaning closer as Draco closed his eyes. "D'you want to talk about it later?"

Draco suddenly pulled his arm out of her grip and she almost knocked her drink over.

"What about you mind your own damn business?" He said, vehement. He could see the salty pearls filling her eyes but it was too late, and he was too tired. She slowly moved away from him to give him some space as she held back her tears. She knew he happened to be very irritable, even terrible to be around sometimes, but he had never spoken to her this way before. Still, she held back her tears and smiled at her girl friends as she tried to look natural.

Draco wasn't even hungry anymore, he was sick of the noise around him, sick of being back in this castle. He looked up for just a second and caught Harry's gaze on him. He noticed that Granger, who was sitting next to him, was staring as well, and he didn't try to change his attitude, he didn't have the heart to do so. Frankly, he knew he looked miserable and he didn't care. He looked down at his empty plate and stayed silent for the rest of the feast.