Remus slowly came back to consciousness from the absolutely horrible transformation he had had. The previous night, he had locked all the doors of the shack securely so as to keep away one Sirius black. As a result, moony even in his drugged and subdued state had spent the whole night trying to scratch the walls and doors' hoping for a way out to get to his lost pack mate whom he knew was out there somewhere.
He detected that he had a broken rib and several broken bones that needed mending , he also had several scratches and one particularly ugly gash across his chest that was bleeding all over the floor the floor.
He knew he was in no condition to even get up and get to his wand, much less heal himself so he rolled over and pulled a blanket over himself and hopes that Madame Pomfrey will get here soon. He realized with resignation that he is not going to be taking any classes today.
Maybe, this was how Sirius planned to kill him, making his transformations so hard that he died of them.
Hermione granger was the brightest witch of her age but there were some moments when she hoped she could live in ignorance like the rest of the world. Her doubts about professor Lupin kept her awake all night and she just ignored it but when she found herself unable to pay attention in class because of it, she decided that something needs to be done. The problem was, she dint know what to do about it.
She walked to professor Lupin's office and stood in front of it. She still hadn't decided what she was going to do, confront him? What if he was dangerous as the books claimed, but she couldn't imagine professor Lupin being dangerous at all.
She was about to declare the whole thing stupid and turn back when professor Lupin opened the door.
"Miss granger nice to see you here. Is there something you wanted to discuss?" he said with a smile.
"Err… I actually wanted to ask you about something professor."
"What is it miss granger?"
"It's just that I have noticed that you have not been keeping well these past few days."
"Thank you for your concern but I am better now."
"Yes but you have been getting ill almost every month and I was wondering if it was some serious ailment."
"Well that's just the way it is but I always get better" he sighed.
"The thing is that professor Snape gave us an essay on werewolves and I completed it and—."
"What are you trying to imply Hermione?"
"I it's just that harry mentioned that professor Snape gave you some foul portion to drink and we have been keeping track of the lunar phases in astronomy and that was quiet near to the time of the full moon and I—"
"Are you implying I'm a werewolf Miss Granger?"
"It's not like that professor it's just that I have been thinking about it and whenever I get a theory stuck in my head, I just can't think about anything else and I can't stop thinking until I know and—. I'm sorry that was very stupid of me I should be going." She tried to get out of there as soon as her legs would carry her.
"No stop I haven't denied it"
"Oh" she turned back and looked at him.
"So are you going to tell everyone how I am a monster now?"
"No that's not. I would never do that professor, you are the best defense against dark arts professor we have had in years and your really great I'm not going to tell everyone just because—"
"Just because ?"
Just because some people think you are a dangerous monster. Because you are not, they are wrong."
"But I am a dangerous monster aren't I"
"For a few hours every month and with the Wolfsbane, you aren't even really dangerous"
"Thank you Hermione, I really appreciate it. I take it that your friends know?"
"Oh Harry and Ron no, well Ron has rather conservative views on such matters and Harry already has so much going on so I dint want to bother him."
"I used to be like you you know" he said with a smile"
"Huh?"
"If I had formed a theory in my head, I could never rest until it's proved right or wrong"
A little laugh left her lips and Remus suddenly felt very pleased with himself that he made her laugh.
"How are you though, I've noticed that taking so many classes is rather stressing you out" he asked kindly.
"I'm fine actually I can handle it" she said defensively.
"Remember that I know your secret Hermione, just like you know mine so anytime you want to talk, about anything, I'm all ears."
"Yes sir" she said and left the office.
Despite him being a Werewolf, Remus Lupin was one of the only people Hermione felt really safe with. And today's conversation had increased that feeling even more.
The Dementors at the Quidditch match had spooked out Remus more than he could admit. He had been enjoying the match until then, watching harry fly was just like watching James fly. In one second, everything had gone haywire because of the Dementors.
As soon as the Dementors entered the stadium, he had blacked out. He felt like he was flying a broom. Faster. Faster. He had to go faster. He was holding something. The something was a crying baby. The death eaters were gaining in on him. He had to fly faster.
He came back to consciousness to see harry falling straight downwards from his broom.
And whose baby was it? It may have been harry but he doesn't remember anything like that happening. Also, the baby in his vision has brown eyes. Just like the eyes in his dreams. He realized with a jolt.
"Wait a moment, Harry," Remus called. "I'd like a word." He covered the Hikkipunk cage with a cloth.
"I heard about the match," said remus, turning back to his desk and starting to pile books into his briefcase, "and I'm sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?"
"No," said Harry. "The tree smashed it to bits."
Remus sighed.
"They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance."
"Did you hear about the Dementors too?" said Harry with difficulty.
Lupin looked at him quickly.
"Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing restless for some time… furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds… I suppose they were the reason you fell?"
"Yes, Why? Why do they affect me like that? Am I just —?"
"It has nothing to do with weakness, The Dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have."
"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself — soul-less and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."
"When they get near me —" Harry stared at Lupin's desk, his throat tight. "I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum."
"I see some stuff too harry its ok"
"Really? What do you see" he asked. "Well if you don't mind telling me" he added.
"Just some fragments from the war"
"You fought in the war?" he asked ,surprised.
"Yes I did"
"Why did they have to come to the match?" said Harry bitterly.
"They're getting hungry," said Lupin coolly, shutting his briefcase with a snap. "Dumbledore won't let them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried up… I don't think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch field. All that excitement… emotions running high… it was their idea of a feast."
"Azkaban must be terrible," Harry muttered. Lupin nodded grimly.
"The fortress is set on a tiny island, way out to sea, but they don't need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheery thought. Most of them go mad within weeks."
"But Sirius Black escaped from them," Harry said slowly. "He got away…"
Remus bent down and caught his breath.
"Yes," he said, straightening up, "Black must have found a way to fight them. I wouldn't have believed it possible… Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers if he is left with them too long…"
"You made that Dementor on the train back off," said Harry suddenly.
"There are — certain defenses one can use," said Lupin. "But there was only one Dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult it becomes to resist."
"What defenses?" said Harry at once. "Can you teach me?"
"I don't pretend to be an expert at fighting Dementors, Harry — quite the contrary…"
"But if the Dementors come to another Quidditch match, I need to be able to fight them —"
Lupin looked into Harry's determined face, hesitated, then said, "Well… all right. I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait until next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill."
