Chapter Sixty-Seven: Mr. Lupin

Usually, Remus was gone two days maybe three. By day five in which Remus had succeeded in missing the last three of their exams Sirius' forced calm was no more.

"His mother must have died because he wouldn't miss class, not miss three exams right Lily?" Ever since she had rushed out of the portal crying Lily had been getting a lot better at avoiding James and Sirius both who had taken it upon themselves to hound her.

"Quit following me Potter or I'll hex you again." James reflectively grabbed his nose and grimaced. Two days ago, Lily had sent a well-aimed bat bogey hex at him which he said still left his nose sore. Sirius took a step back too, not wanting to be on the other end of any of Lily's hexes. She was particularly upset with James who had beat her in Transfiguration much to her displeasure. Of course, she had also lost to Remus in History of Magic by one point and Defense Against the Dark Arts by a whole bunch but she didn't seem at all a sore loser about that.

"Come on Lily we're worried about him."

"So am I but you don't see me sulking about. I'm sure he's fine and will be back soon." She replied with much more confidence than she should have had. Sirius suddenly understood his eyes going wide and he pointed at her accusingly raising his tone in outrage.

"You saw him didn't you?"

"I ...no...of course not…... Sirius Black, you're batty...he's at home." She lied very poorly, satisfyingly poorly. After all, it wouldn't be fair if she was insufferably good at everything! Sirius was irritated to no end she had seen Remus without saying anything, but after a few brief moments relief that Remus was at Hogwarts triumphed.

"He's ok then?" Something about either the question or the amount of concern he had made her shoot him an irritated look as if she wanted to go off on him and lecture him about something, though what he wasn't sure about.

"Yes, he's ok. He got sick visiting his mother. I hope she's not contagious, maybe that's why he always seems so ill afterward." She pointed out mildly. But something about her tone, about the way she said it gave Sirius the distinct impression she was covering for Remus and trying to lead them down the wrong path. It wasn't his mother then, whatever it was had absolutely nothing to do with his mother, of that Sirius was certain. In fact, he had a feeling that the night Lily had broken curfew she had gone to the hospital wing to see Remus, that whatever was going on didn't even have to do with Remus going home. But what could be so terrible that Remus would rather let Sirius think he was at home with his abusive father, simply kept evading him.

"Look don't tell us I don't care. All I want to know is if he told you or not." Lily looked surprised then frowned.

"No he didn't and unlike some people, I don't plan to make him. It's his business and if you don't leave him alone you're going to regret it and he probably won't be your friend anymore." Sirius would expect her to sound pleased about this outcome but instead, she sounded worried. As if she really thought their friendship with Remus would end and that would be bad. He couldn't tell if she meant Remus would stop being friends with them or they'd stop being friends with him. It must be the former because the latter was seriously out of the question.

"But he's hurting, he's hurting so bad Lily. Surely if we knew why we could do something to help." He pleaded with her, needing her to tell them what was wrong!

"Yeah." James agreed wholeheartedly, though he sounded more hopeful about it than he had. Because Sirius knew, deep down there probably wasn't anything they could do, and Lily's pitying look confirmed his fears. He'd rather she get mad at them but instead, she just shook her head looking sad.

"Look we have a week left of school so just drop it until next year at least." Sirius knew she was right but it felt like losing and he hated to lose. Still, if it was between losing figuring out the mystery and losing Remus as a friend, well that wasn't a hard choice to make at all.

"Ok." He replied and James gaped at him for a second looking between him and Lily as if they had both gone mad.

"Ok? Sirius really?"

"Yeah, James let's just have a good week. Besides we have other things to think about." He grinned meaningfully at James who realized what he meant and suddenly laughed. Of course, Lily was still there and she did not understand what they were talking about, so she was frustrated once more with them blatantly leaving her out. Just another perk in Sirus's mind.

"Well I've tried to talk sense into you fools but if you insist on being morons then I can't do any more to help you." She snapped at them giving them both disapproving looks before she stomped off nearly running into Peter who started walking towards them then abruptly turned the other way when he saw her coming.

"Coward," Sirius muttered gesturing to Peter.

"G ...girls are scary." James mocked Peter's high pitched tone and Sirius laughed. They were still laughing when Peter approached though neither of them would tell him at what.

"So did you find out anything from Lily?" He asked trying to act as if the conversation had been a pleasant one and not the bullet he had dodged.

"We are going to the hospital wing," James announced with his authoritative tone that the others knew not to question.

"Now?" Peter asked surprised shooting an envious glance at the lunch spread that was just unfurling across the table.

"Yes now. We can eat later Remus is more important!" James said sharply and they ignored the confused looks they got as the three of them left the Great Hall just at the start of the meal.

"Has Remus been there the whole time?" Peter asked rushing to keep up with Sirius and James who were both already purposely striding towards their intended destination.

"It seems that way but we'll let Remus explain." Sirius cut in and they walked to the hospital wing discussing what different excuses Remus would come up with the lies becoming more exaggerated and ridiculous as they went on.

"Pretty sure he'll say that he was locked in the chamber of secrets and single-handedly defeated a basilisk." Sirius laughed, feeling a bit better after coming up with funny scenarios, most of which included Remus being a hero, saving the day, and being the center of attention, which they all knew he'd hate.

It wasn't long before they ended up behind Professor McGonnagal walking with some other man. The two of them were talking in low voices and if they got any closer to hear they risked being reprimanded by their head of house for not being at lunch. Of course, there was no rule against skipping it but Sirius wouldn't put it past her to act as if it was one to prevent them from prying.

So they walked far enough back and whispered amongst one another who the man could be, not dressed in Hogwarts robes and what he was doing here.

"I think he may be a candidate for a Professor for next year."

"It's awfully early for that James and wouldn't Dumbledore be talking to him then?" James just shrugged.

"Well, maybe Professor Blatvnik got canned so this is his replacement." Sirius grinned at Peter quite appreciating that idea.

"Maybe he's some government bloke checking this place out." He knew Professor McGonnagal and the man couldn't hear them but he lowered his voice anyways. "With all the poisonings and everything."

"Maybe. Or maybe he's her boyfriend."

"Ewwww!" Sirius didn't mean to exclaim so loudly, though Peter had nearly been as loud as him. Besides, if it was anyone's fault they got caught it was James' for coming up with such a disgusting suggestion. It's not like Professors had any lived outside of...well being Professors. Of course, Professor McGonnagal didn't care whose fault it was and was currently giving the three of them an unamused look.

"Potter, Black, and Pettigrew is something the matter?" Sirius looked the man up and down, he looked rather familiar though he seemed far too disheveled to be a Professor here. He had given a start at hearing the last name Black and was looking between James and him trying to figure out who was the Black with a look that made it clear he didn't think one should be in Gryffindor. Of course, this made Sirius instinctively not like him much and he had to look away before the man caught his eyes and he glared at him in response to his dumb prejudices.

"No ma'am we're just walking," James said with far too much politeness, the moron. Professor McGonagall who had been displeased before now looked at them with sharp eyes full of suspicion.

"Very well then you best be off to lunch." Her tone was one in which it was quite clear that going to lunch wasn't a suggestion. So they were forced to retreat and Sirius made sure James knew it was all his fault, all the way back to the Great Hall.

"Well, maybe we could use the invisib…." James began sounding guilty.

"We wouldn't need the invisibility cloak if SOMEONE had only kept their wits about them."

"Golly Sirius enough! I didn't mean to get us caught but it's not a big deal. We'll just go visit Remus when we're done with lunch," James snapped his guilt turning into frustration. Sirius knew he was right but he was still annoyed and before he could think he flung a spoonful of potatoes at James' face to show just how frustrated he was.

Kingsley covered one of the Prewetts mouths, he could never tell which, instinctively before they could yell food fight in a manner that suggested they had done so before. Before James could retaliate the older Gryffindor was shooting a disapproving look at them and calmly but sharply stating they should put their food in their mouths only.

"He'd be a right bossy Professor one day he'd be." He muttered though was a bit relieved as James set down the spoonful of peas he was about to chuck at him.

"Why would he be a Professor when he could be anything, like an Auror." Sirius rolled his eyes at his friend who often seemed to think that was the only thing people would become.

"Because anyone whose a perfect becomes a Professor that's just common knowledge." He explained to him as if he was a daft four-year-old. James stuck his tongue out at him and Peter looked between the two of them and frowned.

"But there's not that many Professors at Hogwarts."

"There are other schools besides Hogwarts but I wasn't being literal Peter." James snickered as Peter blushed and turned his attention back to his food still looking rather confused.

"Hogwarts is the best school though," James said around a mouthful of peas a few minutes later.

"There's no contest." Peter quickly added brightening as James nodded to him. Sirius stayed quiet preoccupied with the worrying notion that he could still be sent to one of the other wizarding schools next year by his mother out of spite.

It would be just the sort of nasty thing she'd do to hurt him but Regulus had assured him that she decided it was best to simply ignore him, and worse it almost sounded as if Regulus agreed with her. Sirius both dreaded going back home and couldn't wait, because at least then he could make sure his brother whose regular letters had been dwindling hadn't been completely brainwashed without him around.

"Oi Sirius, what are you spacing out at?"

"Just thinking what a great Professor bossy Evans would make." he lied and grinned as James laughed, perhaps a little too hard at that. He glanced at Lily who no doubt would one day be a bossy Professor and noticed Lily down the table glancing at the Great Hall doors. That wouldn't be so weird only after a few seconds she did it again as if hoping someone would come through them.

With a quick glance, he realized Severus was in the Great Hall with all the other slimy Slytherins which meant she was waiting for Remus. Realizing this he dug into his food quicker and urged the other two to do so as well. When they had finished, with considerably more time to spare than what normally would have been the case, they took off for the hospital ward again.

This time they were silent keeping their eyes peeled for McGonagall with the strange man, sure that she would be more than a little irked if she caught them seemingly snooping again. But part of Sirius wanted to know more about whoever it was, there was a nagging familiarity that he couldn't quite place.

"Yes, that is correct." They all stopped walking and glanced at each other recognizing that voice immediately. They weren't near the hospital wing but that was unmistakably Madam Pomfrey talking to someone. Someone else responded to her and as soon as Sirius heard the voice from earlier he dragged his friends behind a statue motioning for them to be quiet. They shot him confused looks but luckily both kept their mouths shut.

"Good. Well... I am very glad you have been taking care of him."

"Of course that is my job after all. There was a cool edge to Madam Pomfrey's voice which signified whoever she was walking with she disapproved.

"Probably won't be a Professor after all." He whispered to James who just shrugged. It's not like the matron had any official sway in the hiring of Professors but Sirius wouldn't put it past ol Dumbledore to take into account everyone's thoughts.

"Sorry I did not mean to offend." The odd pair were almost in eyesight now, walking slowly down the hall. The man sounded unsure as if he didn't understand why the matron didn't seem to like him. As they came into view Sirius wasn't surprised to see her all but bristling, walking as far apart from the man as she could without losing him in the occasional throng of students that rushed past not even sparing them a glance.

"And you are sure he hasn't been giving you any trouble?"

"Quite sure." Madam Pomfrey said through pursed lips avoiding looking at the older man who was awkwardly looking around not wanting to look at the matron anymore than she wanted to look at him.

"Whose he?" Peter whispered and Sirius shrugged and pushed the boy back his breath having tickled his neck. He peered closer at the man trying to figure out why he looked strangely familiar, something about the facial structure, the awkward way his eyes darted about despite him outwardly looking calm.

It's like he had seen that before. Had seen him before or someone...someone related…. When Sirius realized it he flung himself back in an unconscious gesture to put more distance between him and the man.

James gave a soft grunt Sirius' head having made contact with his nose. Luckily his muffled sound of pain and irritation was masked by two students racing each other down the hall.

"Walk don't run." Madam Promfrey shouted after them shaking her head.

"Ah I remember those days." The man chuckled slightly still seeming rather uncomfortable. For some reason, his comment made Madam Pomfrey freeze.

"Well, Mr. Lupin I do believe you can find your way back from here." Her voice was ice. James swore softly under his breath as he now understood and the two adults paused trying to locate the sound. Sirius had half a mind to fling a well-aimed curse at the man, something painful. Maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part but it looked like the matron did as well.

"You don't like me. I suppose I know why." Sirius hated that he could see Remus' small self deprecating smile on the man now. He wanted to erase any physical similarities, it would make it easier to hate this man. He didn't seem like the sort of father to beat his child, then again Sirius realized, his parents didn't exactly look it either.

"No, I do not. Your son is very likable and the way I have seen you fail him this year...well you should be ashamed." Mr, Lupin seemed shocked, as if he had figured she didn't like him for another reason entirely. Then the shock turned into a defensive anger, and Sirius could just imagine the same look directed at Remus over and over. Why couldn't either of them just be good enough for their dumb families!

"You try having him for a son. It's not easy."

"I would be honored." Madam Pomfrey snapped and whatever else Mr. Lupin had been about to say died in his mouth. He gave her a stiff nod instead and muttered a cold polite goodbye before taking off down the hall at a considerably faster pace than before. Sirius silently cheered Madam Pomfrey, she had chased off that horrible man. He was very glad Mr. Lupin hadn't threatened the matron, no doubt what his family would have done, but then he wasn't entirely sure Mr. Lupin had enough sway to threaten her even if he did know the Prime Minister according to Remus.

Madam Pomfrey left muttering under her breath so low Sirius couldn't hear what she was saying. He thought he heard 'poor dear' but she was walking just as briskly back down the way she came.

"Blimey, that was ..., blimey…" Peter stammered his beady eyes wide with shock.

"Not what I would have expected." James said quietly and Sirius had to agree.

"Do you think Remus' mum is contagious he ...well his dad didn't look all that healthy." James pointed out and Sirius shrugged again.

"You going to say anything mate?"

"I should have hexed him,"

"Hex an adult! Sirius that's mental." Sirius ignored Peter and stepped out from behind the large statue.

"Well let's go see him." He said impatiently. Surely Mr. Lupin hadn't been left alone with Remus, then again why not? He all but ran down the halls, only James pointing out detention would prevent them getting there fast, stopping him from full out sprinting.

He really wanted to see what sort of condition Remus would be in after his father left, if he looked hurt at all Sirius was going to chase down the man and hex him into next week adult or no. No one messed with his friends!

He was relieved that James seemed to have the same thought because Sirius heard him say under his breath something about being able to get away with it because they were children, and he'd have to agree. Peter just looked terrified that James and Sirius would murder Mr. Lupin, well it certianly made a tempting prospect.

They took off once more towards the hospital ward and Sirius felt his heart leap in his chest as they turned the corner and saw Remus walking towards them. Sure he was walking slow. Looking sick, and looking at them with bloodshot eyes, but he was alive. As soon as Remus saw them, clutching his books tightly to his chest as he walked with his head bent, his eyes widened and one of his small nervous smiles spread out across his face. Sirius wanted to laugh, he hadn't realized a small part of him was worried Remus would be in a coma again after seeing his father until he saw him well enough to be up and walking around.

"You've got some serious catching up to do on exams Remus." James laughed sounding relieved to. Then Peter gave a shout of joy and was rushing towards Remus whose smile grew. Sirius almost told Peter to stop, worried he'd injure the boy. But he was too busy running towards Remus himself to bother.

Remus took a step back probably a bit overwhelmed at seeing the three of them run at him as if he'd been gone a month, not less than a week. But surely he could see the relief and concern in all their eyes because he accepted their rather tight group hug without complaint.

"If you don't let go soon you'll send me back to the hospital wing." He teased them sounding relieved as they did for some reason. They then proceeded to, of course, bombard him with questions about where he had been and why he was gone so long. He admitted almost too quickly that he had been home then gotten sick and so returned. It made sense, but the fact that that's what Lily wanted them to believe convinced Sirius it was anything about that.

When Peter asked about his mother though Remus frowned and whispered she was doing a bit worse. They had stopped walking at this point, Remus seeming to be dead tired on his feet, and were sitting on the ledges that opened up to a little courtyard. It was nice out and Remus really did seem like he needed some sun. Sirius made a note to drag him outside during the week, he could study for exams on the grounds, even if he would rather be cooped up in the stuffy library.

"It's because you don't eat enough and you don't get enough sleep." He scolded Remus who he swore rolled his eyes at him before looking back out over the courtyard.

"It's fine Sirius. I'm fine." He said quietly as if convincing himself of that fact as well. Sirius exchanged a worried look with James and was once more unbelievably grateful his uncle had given him those joined mirrors. He was sure Remus wouldn't even try to talk to them over the summer without them.

Sirius stopped Peter from saying something, he didn't know what he prevented him from saying but he needed Remus to get that far off look in his eyes. They sat there in silence for a few minutes, Sirius watching Remus very carefully as he stared at the sunny sky. He'd only get one chance at this, but he had gotten pretty good at noticing when Remus was only half paying attention. James must have known what Sirius was going to ask because he stopped Peter, who was clearly oblivious to Sirius' genius idea, the next time he tried to open his mouth.

Finally, Remus seemed to sag slightly as if the weight of the world was on his shoulder, normally Sirius would do anything to avoid that look from him, but it was then that Remus' eyes would get distant, which they did.

"It was nice of your dad to finally visit though." He said as casually as he could muster and almost kicked Peter as he gasped, finally catching on. But Remus didn't notice just nodded slightly.

"Yeah, I guess." Immediately he realized his mistake and straightened turning towards Sirius with a look of panic.

"I mean…."

"To late you admitted it!" Sirius shouted victoriously hopping to his feet and gesturing at Remus exaggeratingly. He wanted to ask what caused Remus' dad to visit this time when he didn't visit when Remus was in a comma. But his friend looked ready to bolt so he convinced himself to just be satisfied he got Remus to admit it. He'd remember this technique for next year and save the questions until then, even if it pained him to do so. James, however, didn't seem to have any qualms about asking questions.

"Will you be staying with him over the summer? Not your uncle, you said he was worse right?" Sirius' victory soured and he sat back down ashamed he had forgotten such an important detail.

"Yes but my dad said he would do better." Remus' reply sounded honest though he wasn't looking at them. Maybe he felt bad that his dad would try to do better when Sirius' family never would, but he doubted that was the reason he was avoiding their eyes. He really wished he could believe Remus. Because while he would be a bit hurt that Remus' dad could try to do better when his parents didn't even want to, he'd mostly just be relieved. Instead, he didn't believe Remus but wanting to help ease Peter and James' fears, no doubt the reason Remus lied in the first place, played along feeling sad.

"That's great Remus!"

"Yeah that's awesome."

"Way to go mate. I hope your summer is great."

"Does that mean you can visit?"

"Oh yeah, good point Peter!" Sirius sighed his own exclamations of relief sounding false even to him. Either James or Peter thought he was just being a sore loser or didn't notice his tone though because they didn't call him out on it. Remus noticed thought, Sirius could feel his eyes on him as they all discussed, argued really, whose place they'd visit first and when. It was mostly an argument between James and Peter whose homes would no doubt be the only ones available but he realized towards the end that maybe they could all visit him when he was at his uncle's which cheered him up considerably.