Chapter 6

Remus Lupin was very young when Fenrir Greyback bit him as a revenge against his father. Ever since then, he always remembered to be cautious and vigilant about the people around him. After that incident, whenever his transformation used to take place, the next day when his father used to pick him up, he always used to feel tears on his head and knew even in his weakened state that his father is crying. Later on, Remus realised it was guilt but in that moment he used to always feel that his father was ashamed of him. Coming to Hogwarts, was a dream Remus had given up on till Dumbledore arrived in front of his parents and assured them that his condition need not be his burden. Till this day, Remus will always be grateful for Dumbledore's favour. Because of him, Remus was able to get an education. Because of him, he was able to make four friends who became so ingrained into his life that he never realised how much they were a part of him until he lost them.

James, the most persistent and loyal person he ever knew. Since all four of them were dorm mates, James always made sure that they were comfortable with what they had. He used to often appear obnoxious and arrogant to others and often to his four friends also but first sign of trouble he would step right in front without any hesitation. Remus couldn't count the number of times, James was able to hold the Death Eaters back single-handedly giving them time to escape and after they reached to safety and thought he was lost, he used to appear behind them smiling and crowing with victory. In Hogwarts, James used to pray pranks on every house and used to love the challenges thrown by other houses. He never differentiates what student belonged to what house always ready to help someone in need even though his first loyalty was always towards Gryffindor.

Sirius, the Joker. If James was the most persistent and loyal, then Sirius was the most unpredictable. The only person able to stabilise Sirius was James and sometimes not even James could stabilise Sirius. You never know with Sirius, when he might get offended or when he laughs it off. Remus was well aware of the demons lurking behind the smile of Sirius but whenever Sirius was with them, his smile used to become brighter and his eyes used to lose some of their darkness. Among all of them, Sirius was the most vigilant always making sure that none of their conflicts really affected their friendships. If James was the soul, Sirius was the heart. Remus was never jealous of the unique relationship James and Sirius had with each other. Somewhere, he knew even with their unique friendship they both considered him equal to them.

Peter was the most difficult person to describe for Remus. While for the others, Peter seemed to follow the James, Sirius and Remus around because of their popularity, Remus knew that peter could have succeeded on his own also. For many of their pranks, Peter was always resourceful to get their ingredients necessary for the prank. In many ways, Peter's resourcefulness was unique in a manner that even James and Sirius never realised that sometimes they used to follow Peter's ideas for a prank.

When these three became his friends, Remus always thought himself as the luckiest person in the world. When they found out about his secret, his feelings were numb with the thought that they would leave him. However, they surprised him by staying and becoming Animagi to accompany him. His wolf also settled in those years content to have a pack.

When James died, and he found out that Sirius had killed both James and Peter, he felt like he couldn't live anymore. For many days after the death, he could hardly get out of the bed. Even now every year on James and Lily's death anniversary, he used to make sure to visit their graves.

Yet, here he is standing in front of the fireplace in his parent's house feeling almost numb as he heard McGonagall recount what has happened. This was supported by the Pensieve Remus had of his father in which McGonagall showed his memories. His only question after she told everything, "Do they remember Harry?". Seeing, her nod he heaved a sign of relief.

Seating in the opposite seat next to her, he asks "So they don't remember anything about me, Sirius, Peter or the Hogwarts school years?". McGonagall again nodded his head. Remus didn't know whether he should feel relieved or sad. On one side his best friend was alive, on the other side he is not the same person. Yet even Remus wasn't the same after their death and the struggles he faces in his everyday life. Remus looking at McGonagall could note the exhaustion in her face. For him, McGonagall seemed indominatable yet at that moment, she looked vulnerable as if she had no idea what to do.

Remus asks "What do you want me to do?". McGonagall looked at him with surprise and asks "You don't want to meet them?" Remus at that moment would have agreed but instead he asks hesitantly "Are they ready to meet their past? Considering how much they have learned right now, won't it be better to give them sometime? And what about the Ministry? Are they going to announce that they live?". McGonagall shook her head at the barrage of questions and said "they haven't told us anything of what they want to do? Right now, they seem to be content to be sitting in the rooms."

Remus looks at her bemused. "Content. We are talking about James and Lily Potter, the most energetic people, we have ever seen. They never could sit in one place. James always used to move around or had something in his hands. Lily's thirst for knowledge never stopped. She always had to see the next book, hear about the next news. This is both of them we are talking about." McGonagall hears about his comments with a smile. After hearing his rant, she said "They may not be the same people they were before. Who they are right now is something that has to be seen." Remus hears the double meaning and asks "You don't trust them?".

McGonagall looks at his confused expression and sighs. She said "something about them is different. Its like they are observing, analysing, assessing us. They are something different. Something which we may never have encountered before. And this makes me feel that they may not be suitable for Harry. Harry is young, and the moment I told him about his parents, his eyes lit up with a light that I never seen till now. What I am most afraid of is whether these people will be harmful for him?" Remus asks "Does Professor Dumbledore knows about your impressions?"

Professor McGonagall nods her head "He suggested that I spend sometime in their company as companion to Harry. But I think me being a companion to Harry would make Harry too suspicious and awkward with them. However, a friend of his parents, Harry may feel comfortable opening up to. And the Ministry cannot protest against your visitation with Harry because it is happening on safer grounds which is Hogwarts. So, would you please keep an eye a Harry for me?"

A gust of wind blew through the window, ruffling through his sense and bringing a smell that was both familiar and unfamiliar to him. He ignored the stiffening of his muscles poised to attack and simply nodded his head. Professor McGonagall gave him a smile and he ushered her towards his fireplace. After seeing her off, he immediately pulled his wand which was in his arm sheath and turning around shot a blast of power towards the wall. The vase broke and nothing was revealed. His instincts still on high alert, he cautiously approached the wall near the window and peered out of it.

"I must admit, you are the first person who has almost caught me. Well fourth actually, because the first was my brother in law, the second was my husband and the third again was my brother in law. But then again your reaction time is quite impressive." Jumping quickly at the voice, Remus turned around with his wand raised and stiffens seeing the person in front of him. Messy hair, a smirk on his face and his eyes gleaming behind his glasses, he looked exactly like his best friend. Remus could easily picture Sirius smirking beside him as so many times both of them have broken into his home just to ruffle his feathers. Remus raised his wand even higher. He said "James."

Raising his hands and setting the cup on the table, the James look alike said "The name is Jameson now. And I really am not here to harm you." Remus still not lowering the wand said "Then why are you here?". Jameson replied "To ask you to accept Professor McGonagall's offer." This time Remus lowered his wand and the confusion is clearly present on his face. Jameson said "I heard everything and I agree with her reasoning. We are different. Something they cannot comprehend yet. And we do not trust them. They may have showed some of their hands but there are still hiding many things from us. Harry may get caught up in the conflict between us and them and we don't want that." Remus took a seat opposite Jameson and asks "So then, why are you trusting me then? How do you know that I am not like them?"

Jameson replies "I don't. In these 11 years, other than my family, the only thing I have trusted is my instincts. They have guided me through tough times. And right now, my instincts tell me that you won't betray me." Remus stated "there is something else also. Even now you are hiding something." Jameson smiles "you must know me really well then to catch my slips now. Yes, I am hiding something. The only thing I can tell you now is that there is a darkness residing in Hogwarts. Something whose aim is to destroy something. And I need your help. Knowing my son, he will face this darkness head on. And I need your help to stop him from doing that. I need you to protect him." Remus looked at Jameson and saw the sincerity in his expression. He nodded his head and said "Okay, I will accept Professor McGonagall's offer on one condition." Jameson slight stiffness was noticed by Remus but he didn't comment. He said "what you shared with me right now, you will share with Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Trust has to start from somewhere and it can only be initiated if one side takes that step to build trust. As for Harry, remember one thing. If I feel or find that you are a danger to Harry or you are using him, then I will protect Harry from you. I won't stop hunting you until you are in Azkaban or I kill you myself. Do we have a deal?" Jameson smirks and sticks his hand out. Remus shakes Jameson's hand and a deal is struck.

Sorry for posting so late. I can only say that real life has been a confused conundrum. Hope you like the chapter. Do comment.