The students of Hogwarts had never had as much gossip as the last twenty-four hours had brought them. In that short time frame the hated pet of Argus Filch, Mrs Norris, had been attacked and left with the threat of The Chamber of Secrets being opened. Then, The Board of Governors had arrived at the school and sacked Professor Binns, replacing him with Professor Lupin. Harry and Hermione walked to their next class side by side, their friends behind them, they had been rather distracted in their previous class knowing the next lesson was History of Magic. Henry Potter had been declaring rather loudly that 'Uncle Remus would put the dirty snakes in their place' and bragging about how close he was to the man. Draco was doing a scarily accurate impression of the redhead while they were walking past the corridor where Mrs Norris was petrified. Filch was still there futilely trying to clean the words off the wall with 'Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover'. They hurried past hoping to avoid the yelling he was currently giving two first year Hufflepuff girls.
"What do you think the new Professor will be like?" Daphne asked curiously.
"If we can stay awake in his lessons then Professor Lupin will surpass Binns one-hundred percent." Blaise laughed. Harry listened to his friends chattering behind him distractedly, but apparently his agitation didn't go unnoticed.
"You going to be alright Har?" Hermione asked in concern. They had, had Herbology previously and been paired up in two's, this meant he had only managed to find time to tell Hermione about how Remus Lupin and Sirius Black were still looking him.
"I don't know." He replied honestly, would he be alright? It just seemed to much for him to process right now. In Merlin's name, no matter how mature he appeared at times, he was only twelve years old. He had so many emotions swirling around inside of him, it was very overwhelming.
Shock that they had never given up; they had been separated for over ten years, after seven years he could've been legally declared dead. From what Fred had said though, they hadn't even considered giving up, let alone the possibility of him being dead.
Happiness that they still loved him; he could feel his entire feeling warm from the knowledge that these two people who hadn't seen him years still felt that level of love for him. They had no idea of who or what he could be but they still searched.
Sadness that they hadn't found him as a child; he couldn't help imagining about how his life could've been different if they had raised him instead of him being sent to the Dursley's. He wouldn't of thought his name was freak for one thing. He wouldn't of felt the pain of being smacked or being hungry.
Guilt, the most powerful emotion of them all; the guilt he felt that Sirius and Remus had been in pain all these years because of him. But most of all, he felt guilty for imagining how life could've turned out. He loved his parents, he adored his sister, and he truly wouldn't wish it any other way, but it didn't stop the thoughts.
"Harry, you can't blame yourself for them hurting and for wondering what if they had found you." Hermione said with raised eyebrow.
"How..?" Harry stuttered.
"I know you. I know you better than anyone." She said lovingly as she wrapped her hand around his.
"I love you Mione, you are the best sister I could ask for." Harry whispered softly as he gripped her hand back, it reminded him of when they were children and wouldn't go anywhere without holding hands. They even shared a bed until they were nine, to scared to be apart, but their parents were patient and loving. He felt himself grinning, she was right and he knew it. It wasn't his fault, and he wouldn't trade his parents for the wizarding world, but just maybe, he could still have a relationship with Sirius and Remus. Before they knew it they were standing in front of the History of Magic classroom, previously their dullest subject. All second year students, from all four houses were standing outside the room waiting to be let in, Henry Potter was still standing at the front with his bragging. The door swung open and standing there was Professor Lupin.
"Welcome everyone. Stand at the back of the class and wait for me to call you forward." He said briskly. Harry and Hermione shared a confused look before shrugging and moving with the rest of their year group.
"This school needs a reform, and I am starting it in this classroom." Remus said firmly as he looked at all the students before. He had already discussed his plans with The Board of Governors and they had agreed that it would be the best approach to start with.
"You will each be divided up into groups of four, this group will be who you sit with, study with and complete projects with. There is absolutely no swapping or complaining. Is that clear?" He asked, smiling when he got nods of agreement, granted for some, it was reluctantly.
"Another thing, I will not tolerate any name calling. You will not call classmates Mudbloods, Blood Traitors, Death Eaters or anything similar; it will result in detention or loss of points. Continue to do so and you will be asked to leave the lesson." A few students had pinched expressions but most didn't seem bothered by the rules.
"When I call your names you will step forwards and take a desk with your assigned peers. Your parents will be based on your exam results from last year, and from what I've heard from your other teachers about your interactions with classmates." Several students shared looks of worry, hopefully they wouldn't be paired with people they didn't like just 'to learn to get along'.
"Hopefully each group will have one student from each house, and two girls and two boys. But some may not due to number of students vary per house. I will be reading them out in the order of house; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff." Remus said as he looked down at the paper which had all the students names down for him.
"Neville Longbottom. Susan Bones. Lisa Turpin. Hartford Riddle." Harry and Neville sighed in relief at being together, they were friends, getting closer all the time, and the girls were hard workers, in the top twenty students if he remembered correctly.
"Seamus Finnigan. Justin Finch-Fletchley. Padma Patil. Hermione Riddle." Hermione rolled her eyes as she moved, Padma was alright, very studious like herself but quiet which growing up with Harry, Hermione wasn't used to. Justin was okay, a bit of a follower and terrified of anything Slytherin. But Finnigan was a pain, always with Potter parading around.
"Dean Thomas. Hannah Abbott. Michael Corner. Luna Lovegood." Luna grinned happily as she skipped over to Hannah, she liked the shy and sweet girl. Michael was nice too, hopefully Dean would be nicer away from his friends and with nicer people.
"Ronald Weasley. Megan Jones. Morag MacDougal. Vincent Crabbe." Weasley was groaning loudly as he made his way to a table uncaring of where his other partners wanted to sit.
"Lavender Brown. Wayne Hopkins. Terry Boot. Blaise Zabini." Blaise sauntered happily over to his partners, all of whom, miraculously seemed to their own house's gossiper, including himself.
"Parvati Patil. Ernest Macmillan. Anthony Goldstein. Daphne Greengrass." Daphne shrugged, Parvati was alright for a Gryffindor, although she didn't know the boys that well.
"Sophie Roper. Sally-Anne Perks. Stephen Cornfoot. Theodore Nott." Theo grinned happily, none of them were annoying or loud so he could easily get along with them. Although he was shocked Sophie Roper was back. She hadn't come back at the start of the school year due to being in St Mungo's in a breathing bubble while she was treated for pneumonia.
"Fay Dunbar. Kevin Entwhistle. Roger Malone. Pansy Parkinson." Pansy walked gracefully to her seat smiling politely at her partners, from what she had heard from Neville, she would get along with Fay famously.
"Lily Moon. Oliver Rivers. Mandy Brocklehurst. Draco Malfoy." Draco smirked and joined his classmates, he wasn't with Potter and for that he thanked Magic.
"The last group will be a group of five; "Henry Potter. Leanne Clover. Sue Li. Gregory Goyle. Millicent Bulstrode." Potter proceeded to do the same as Weasley, much to his partner's disgust.
"Now, we can move on to our studies." Remus said grinning at the students, he didn't care for those that were unhappy, they wouldn't be swapping.
"Now, from your old Professor's notes, I have gathered you are studying The International Warlock Convention of 1289?" He asked, laughing when he only got groans in response, with a few head's banging on the desks in the background.
"I am kidding. Professor Binns was my teacher when I attended Hogwarts, I understand the torture you have suffered. Thankfully you only had to suffer him for a year and a bit. I suffered all seven of my schooling years." He said smiling when the students looked at him horrified.
"Now, to start you off, I figured we would start with something easy and work our way up. We will be starting with the magical history of our very own school." Remus grinned even wider when the students all looked happy at this news.
"So who can tell me anything about Hogwarts?" He asked curiously, smiling when a number of hands went up.
"So you will have to help me out until I have learnt all your names and faces." Remus said chuckling as he pointed at a student at random. Although he would figure them out rather quickly due to his heightened sense of smell.
"Daphne Greengrass." The blonde offered smiling.
"Hogwarts was founded sometime in the tenth century, no one knows the exact date, it was founded by four witches and wizards; Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. These become the houses in which the students are sorted into. The sorting hat that actually sorts us, belonged to Godric Gryffindor himself. All four founders pushed their pure magic into it, enchanting it with their intelligence. " Although she was smart and precise she didn't come across as a know-it-all or arrogant.
"Well done, five points to Slytherin. Anyone else?" Remus asked looking out.
"Yes Henry Potter?" He asked when he saw the boy practically leaning out of his seat to get his attention.
"Godric Gryffindor was the most powerful of the four and Salazar Slytherin hated Muggleborns." He said smugly while sending a quick glare at the two Slytherin's in his group, both of whom glared back as they cracked their knuckles.
"Ten points from Gryffindor. I warned you about making comments about other houses in that manner." Remus growled in displeasure, Henry's mouth dropped open in shock, how dare Remus not side with him and take that many points.
"The four founders were equally powerful and knowledgeable. Yes history has made out that Salazar Slytherin hated Muggleborns and did not want them attending Hogwarts. But a reason had never been discovered, all we have are speculations." Remus said firmly, he would not have any student using that against the Slytherins. He may of believed it in his youth, but he had grown up now. Severus Snape was a Slytherin, but a fantastic Potions teacher and Head of House. Lucius Malfoy and Marigold Parkinson were previous Slytherin's but since he had met them in his interview with The Board, he could see that they only cared about their children and their education at Hogwarts. Sirius' favourite cousin's were also past Slytherin students, Andromeda and Cassiopeia, both of whom had become loving mothers and caring women.
"Oh come on! Everyone know's Slytherins are evil! They even opened The Chamber of Secrets last night!" Ron cried out angrily, Henry voicing his agreement.
"Twenty-five points from Gryffindor. If I have to take more points then you will also have detention." Remus snapped.
"That's not fair." Henry whined.
"Detention Mr Potter."
"Uncle Remus!" Henry cried out.
"Do you want to make it a week's detention? You do not address me as such in class, I am your Professor!" Remus snapped. Harry was barely containing his glee watching boy-hero get dressed down so thoroughly, Neville who was sitting next to him was suppressing his own amusement. Although Lisa Turpin and Susan Bones seemed to be torn between giggling at Henry's horrified expression or being angry and disgusted at how he was talking to a Professor.
"Now, unless Mr Potter or Mr Weasley want to interrupt our lesson even more than they already have, we can get back to the lesson." Remus said sternly taking a pause to give them time to speak up, before continuing.
"Does anyone else have anything to add that isn't a derogatory comment?" He asked the class in a gentler voice but still with a warning tone. Smiling when another student raised his hand timidly.
"Yes?"
"Justin Finch-Fletchley." The Hufflepuff said softly.
"Each of the founders had their own subject that they all taught while they were here in Hogwarts, they weren't just Headmaster's or Headmistress's."
"Well done, do you know what they each taught?" He asked with an encouraging smile.
"Helga Hufflepuff taught Herbology and she was also the secondary Healer at the school, the Matron being her younger sister Hetty Hufflepuff. Rowena Ravenclaw was the only one to teach an elective; she taught The Study of Ancient Runes. Godric Gryffindor taught two classes, Defence Against the Dark Arts which was curriculum and Duelling which was optional and only taught three times a week after the last class and before dinner. Salazar Slytherin was the Potion's Professor, and he occasionally helped out in duelling, as he was a formidable opponent in his own right." Most of the class had wide eyes in shock, Justin was a shy boy by nature and very soft-spoken, to hear him speak so much and so confidently left them in awe, perhaps he had been underestimated.
"Very well done Mr Finch-Fletchley! Very impressive. Take fifteen points for Hufflepuff." Remus said grinning widely.
"Anyone else?" Remus asked looking around, surprised when students were shrugging or looking confused, apparently the state of their knowledge was worse than he had thought.
"Nobody?" He asked shaking his head.
"Okay then, now I don't believe in a strict structure in lessons for learning. So keeping Hogwart's History in mind, what would you like to learn?" The class was shocked, never had they been asked what they wanted to know before. A number of hands were raised all over the classroom, all the students were intrigued, even Weasley and Potter who were both still sulking over the telling off.
"Yes?" Remus asked pointing at a student at random.
"Padma Patil." The Ravenclaw said softly.
"I was just wondering, before when you said history tells us that Slytherin hated Muggleborns but it was only speculation, why did you sound disgusted when saying History?"
"Good question." Remus smirked nodding at the girl.
"You can never trust just one source, and occasionally even a few source's. Can anyone tell me why?" He asked looking around at the class.
"Yes?"
"Michael Corner." A long dark-haired Ravenclaw boy spoke.
"Well they can be written by people who are biased to certain events, like all the books on the Goblin Wars are written by Wizards not Goblins." He said stumbling over his words as he realized everyone was watching and listening to him intently.
"Exactly!" Remus cried delighted.
"Five points to Ravenclaw. I like the phrase; 'History books are written by the Victors' if you keep this in mind, you will be able to read between the lines and see the truth below. Anyone else?" He asked grinning when hands went up all over the classroom again.
"Yes?"
"Lavender Brown Professor." The Gryffindor girl said smiling at him.
"Could you tell us The History of the Chamber of Secrets?" She asked hesitantly. Remus looked like he wanted to tell her off, much like he had her house mates, but she seemed genuinely curious. His pale green eyes scanning the class and finding many looking interested, he let out a sigh before nodding.
"You are aware, that what we do know about The Chamber of Secrets is Myth not History right? It has never been confirmed, let alone actually found." When the students nodded their heads in understanding Remus began to pace in front of them as he started the tale.
"Most Myth or Legends start with a basis of truth. Many Magical Historians and Mythologists, have said that Slytherin built a Chamber in secret, this not accurate. What we do know from the founder's own journals is that each of them built their own Secret Chambers that they hid within the walls of Hogwarts. Each Chamber can only be accessed by their own Heirs. No one has any idea of where they could be, except maybe their descendants. A lot of History reports that Salazar Slytherin didn't want those of impure-blood tainting Hogwarts, Muggleborns. He argued about it with his fellow founders, and they say that eventually it drove a wedge between Godric and Salazar, who were best friends. Salazar left the school, but before he did, he closed his Chamber, it is said that it would remain closed until his true Heir returned and opened it, and by doing so would release the horror within." Potter and Weasley were looking smug, but kept quiet after a glare from their Professor.
"Professor, Sir, do you believe that is the truth?" A Ravenclaw asked softly.
"I don't know umm?"
"Terry Boot." The boy stated quickly gaining a smile and nod from Remus.
"Salazar Slytherin didn't have any books published since he left Hogwarts, never once explaining what had happened or his true thoughts. Almost everything we know are just people's opinions on him and his beliefs."
"What did they mean by the horror within?" Hannah Abbott asked fearfully.
"Legend has it, that the Chamber, was home to a monster. A monster to purge Hogwarts of the impure-blood." Remus sighed reluctantly, all his Slytherin students were keeping themselves impassive, but he knew that it must be difficult for them during such a time.
"Of course that was part of the Myth, the only thing we know for sure is that each of the founders had their own Chambers hidden here for their descendants." Remus said, soothing the students nerves more than he had thought he could.
"Professor?" A voice called out with a hand raising to accompany it.
"Yes?"
"Wayne Hopkins." The student supplied.
"Hasn't the Chamber been opened before?" Remus looked startled.
"I don't know, I do not recall anything of the sort being announced." He said shaking his head. Something like this couldn't be hidden, could it? Surely everyone would've heard about it.
"Well, that is all we have time for today. I want an essay on any part of Hogwart's History to be handed in next lesson." The class groaned, but it was light hearted, they had all enjoyed the lesson much more than any other previous class that had been taught by Binns. The students all stood together gathering up their bags and leaving, all talking to their friends about their new Professor and his class. Harry was joined by Hermione and their friends grinning before heading for lunch in the Great Hall.
"That was pretty good for a first lesson." Hermione said happily.
"If his lessons continue on like today's then we may actually learn enough to pass the class." Theo agreed, nodding his head quickly.
"The best part was him yelling at Weasley and Potter." Harry grinned dreamily as he replayed it in his mind.
"Mr and Miss Riddle!" They all turned at Severus' voice.
"You two are coming with me." He said authoritatively.
"Your friends can go to lunch without you." He dismissed them easily, smirking when they hurried to comply.
"What's going on Uncle Sev?" Harry whispered.
"Your Father is in my office waiting for you." Severus murmured without breaking his stride.
Hey everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter =) let me know in reviews, sorry this chapter wasn't much but you got a taste of Remus teaching and being around Harry.
I can't believe how quickly I finished this chapter, that being said I am sorry for any mistakes.
See you lovelies next update.