Chapter 44
Remus could not help but feel overwhelmed as he stepped off the Hogwarts express onto the platform. It felt odd to be back at Hogwarts after all these years and to now be entering it as a teacher. He was warmly welcomed back by Professors McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick. Others who had come to the school since he'd graduated welcomed him and wished him luck. The only one to show disdain was, not surprisingly, Snape.
"I must say Remus," Professor Sprout said to him, "I was most thrilled when Dumbledore informed us you had taken the position."
"Thank you Professor Sprout," he said warmly to his old Herbology teacher as they made their way to the Great Hall for start of term feast.
"Oh please dear, it's Pomona now," she said with a warm smile. "You're one of us after all."
"Yes, of course," he said. Calling the woman who had taught him for seven years when he was a boy by her first name was going to take some getting used to. As was sitting at the high table in the Great Hall.
"How does Meredith feel about you being one of her teachers?" Sprout asked him.
"Fine," Remus said. "She was more eager for me to take the job than I was."
"She's such a sweet girl," Sprout said. "One of my best students." Remus couldn't help but grin with pride.
"She takes after you in so many ways. It's hard to believe she's adopted." Remus kept his grin in place even though the reminder that Meredith was not truly his was always a bit painful. He glanced up as the students filled the hall. He spotted Meredith sitting with her friends. She glanced up at him and he gave her a warm smile. He noticed that Harry and Hermione were absent from the table. No doubt McGonagall was having the school nurse look over Harry. The behavior of the dementor on the train concerned him greatly. It was not normal for a dementor to fixate on just one person. Then on the other hand with the horrors in Harry's past the dementors would find him particularly tempting. He wondered if that was why Dumbledore had wanted him to come on the Hogwarts Express. Had he suspected the dementors would search the train? He would have to ask the Headmaster as well as let him know his concerns. Flitwick entered at that moment followed by a group of nervous first years. They all looked about the same. Timid, anxious and very very young. He glanced over at Meredith. She welcomed each new Gryffindor with a warm smile and a friendly pat on the shoulder. Merlin, it seemed like only yesterday he was sending her off to her first year at Hogwarts. Not much longer that he was standing in an orphanage staring at a little girl with big brown eyes and messy pigtails. How had twelve years flown by so fast? Not long after the sorting was over and the feast began the doors opened and Harry entered. He had been astonished how much the boy looked like James. He'd seen him from a distance but he'd never noticed his eyes before. They were Lily's eyes.
"Hey Potter," a boy who no doubt was Draco Malfoy shouted across the hall. "Is it true you fainted?" Several of the boy's friends chuckled.
"At least he didn't run through the train shrieking like a banshee, Malfoy," Meredith said in a loud voice. Several of the Gryffindors howled with laughter as Malfoy's face turned red.
"Like her mother," Remus thought. "Won't tolerate bullying. You try it and she'll smack you down hard." Dumbledore stood up then to make his normal beginning of term address.
"Just a few brief announcements. One of which is rather serious. As you will be aware by their presence on the Hogwarts Express, Hogwarts will be playing host to some Dementors who are here on Ministry business." Remus could not help but notice the tension in Dumbledore's face. It was no secret that Dumbledore did not like the Dementors. Remus was a bit surprised the headmaster had allowed their presence.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the school. While they are here let me be clear that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by disguises, tricks, or invisibility cloaks." Remus noticed that the headmaster's gaze fell on Harry on the last part. So Dumbledore had passed on James's invisibility cloak. Interesting.
"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I warn each and everyone of you to give them no reason to harm you," Dumbledore continued. "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks. Firstly, Professor Lupin who will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was a small amount of applause, the majority coming from Meredith, her friends, and those who had been sharing his compartment on the train. He was used to this. He knew with his shabby second hand robes he did not look all that impressive.
"Secondly," Dumbledore continued. "It saddens me to announce that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, has decided to retire to enjoy time with his remaining limbs. Taking his place shall be our very own Rubeus Hagrid." The applause for Hagrid was much more fervent .
"And with that let us all get a good night's sleep," he dismissed them. Remus watched as Meredith and Percy stood to lead the first years to the common room.
"Remus," the head master addressed him now. "If I could have a few moments."
"Of course Headmaster," he said. He followed the man to his office.
"Ginger Snap," he gave the password to the Gargoyle. Remus felt a little wistful as he stepped into the Headmaster's office. There were a few more knick knacks and trinkets adorning various surfaces but other than that the office looked just as he remembered it.
"Tea?" Dumbledore offered.
"Please," Remus said. Dumbledore waved his wand and brought over a steaming tea pot and two cups.
"I was very happy that you decided to take this position Remus."
"I was honored to be asked Headmaster. Meredith was very eager for me to accept."
"You've always been the cool parent Remus," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure you may have surmised that my reasons for offering you the job were more than just my belief in your skills as a teacher." Remus nodded.
"I had a hunch sir," Remus said.
"Sirius's escape is causing me great concern," Dumbledore said.
"Sir," Remus said. "Do you think Meredith is in danger?" Dumbledore did not speak.
"I am not sure," Dumbledore said. "I cannot imagine that Sirius would mean to harm his own daughter, but I can be sure of nothing. The immediate concern, however is not Meredith. Harry is the one in danger."
"Harry?" Remus asked.
"You know of course that there are many who believe Voldemort to be gone. However I do not believe he is. I have many sources across the world. I have heard reports, most rather far fetched however there is just enough credibility to warrant the need for caution. There are those amongst Voldemort's followers who believe that Sirius may have been acting as a triple agent. Voldemort went to the Potter's house on Sirius's advice and it was there he met his downfall. Should he attempt to rejoin his master, he would not be welcomed back with open arms."
"Unless he first destroyed the boy who brought down the Dark Lord. Who would say he had betrayed Voldemort after he killed Harry. His own godson." The very idea made Remus sick to his stomach.
"So you'll keep an eye on Harry?" Dumbledore asked. Remus nodded.
"I'll look after him," Remus said. "That bastard won't get near him as long as I draw breath."
"Thank you Remus," Dumbledore said with a smile. "I certainly trust you more than I do those Dementors. Particularly after that little incident on the train."
"Ah yes," Remus said clearing his throat. "I wanted to speak with you about that sir. The behavior of the dementor on the train has me greatly concerned."
"I too," Dumbledore said. "I have already sent a very angry letter to Cornelius reminding him that they are not to come in the school and if they become a disruption they will have to be removed."
"Considering your disdain for the things I'm surprised you allowed them on the grounds at all."
"Believe me Cornelius and I went several rounds before I had to acquiesce. Fortunately I got him to agree to them staying at the gate."
"He didn't want them inside the school?" The look on the headmaster's face said that he did.
"Around the students? Is he mad?"
"Fortunately enough members of the Wizengamot have children so voting him down wasn't that hard. But you needn't concern yourself for the moment Remus. The Dementors are my problem not yours. Let us discuss your plans for this semester." Remus sat forward and folded his hands.
"For the first years I plan to have them all write me an essay the first day on what they know, or think they know about magic in general. I shall base my lessons from that."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said. "In the past I know that muggleborns were expected to know nothing while those coming from wizard families would be ahead of the curve. You will quickly find this is not the case." Remus nodded. One only had to look at Patricia to know that having magical parents was not a guarantee of success.
"My second years will learn the basic defensive spells. Expelliarmus and such. I believe fourth year is when students are introduced to the unforgiveable curses."
"The theory," Dumbledore said. "Not the actual curses. Yet another battle I have been unable to get Cornelius to negotiate on."
"The fifth years lessons will focus on those spells and hexes that normally appear on their OWL's and the seventh years the NEWTs. For the sixth years I'll be teaching non-verbal spells."
"You did not mention the third years," Dumbledore said. Remus scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"What I would like to do with my third years is show them some different dark creatures. Red Caps, Hinky Punks and that sort. But I don't know where I could acquire such things. Merely studying them in books isn't really the same as practicing on the real thing." Dumbledore pressed the tips of his long fingers together, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"I have an acquaintance who has dealings in such things. I shall see if he can assist you in procuring such creatures. For your sake Remus it is probably best that he remain anonymous." Remus thought he knew who Dumbledore was speaking of and agreed that the less he knew the better.
"In the meantime," Dumbledore said. "May I suggest you start with a boggart for your first lesson. There is one currently residing in the cupboard in the staffroom."
"That would be most excellent sir," Remus said.
"Good," Dumbledore said. "I shall ask the staff to allow you to deal with it then. Also, in regards to your seventh years there are two lessons that I would like you to add. One is Patronuses. I'm sure you can understand my reasons."
"Yes sir," Remus said.
"The other," Dumbledore's voice suddenly became very slow and soft. "is Occlumency." The room suddenly became so quiet that the soft ticking of the grandfather clock had suddenly become deafening.
"There are very few wizards who are skilled in both Patronuses and Occlumency Remus. As I said it is as much for your skills as other reasons that I offered you this position."
"Sir," Remus said. "I have not practiced Occlumency in years."
"One never forgets it though," Dumbledore said.
"It's risky," Remus said. "There's the reverse effect to think of. If one of them saw my mind, my memories. Not even Meredith's friends know about my condition and they'll all be in that class. That's not a position I want to put Meredith in."
"There are precautions that can be taken," Dumbledore said. "Remus, if what my sources tell me is true it shall be very important that the students be able to protect themselves from a mental attack." Remus had a million questions and asked none of them. He knew it would do no good to question the Headmaster's motives.
"I have serious misgivings about this," Remus said. "But if you think it is necessary, it will be done."
"Thank you Remus," Dumbledore said. "I understand that delving into the minds of your daughter and her friends may be a bit awkward, but I trust that you will handle it." Remus frowned. How comfortable would Meredith be with this he wondered? Having her father see her friends' thoughts, dreams, and memories. How would she feel about him seeing her own thoughts? This was going to be incredibly difficult. Well, best not to think about that now.
"Now then," Dumbledore said his voice dictating the matter to be closed, "about your condition. I know that you do not let Meredith stay with you during the full moon."
"I thought about it," Remus said. "I believe it might be best for the students if I were to use my old hiding place for my transformations."
"The shrieking shack?" Dumbledore said. "I see no reason for that Remus. Things have changed since you were a student here. You are able to retain your mind when you transform as long as you take the Wolfsbane Potion, am I correct?"
"Yes but…"
"And there have been no incidents since that one time?"
"No sir but…"
"Then there is no reason why you should not be able to remain in your office, a harmless werewolf until the moon wanes."
"Sir…"
"I insist," Dumbledore said. "I shall hear no more on the matter." Remus sighed. It was useless to argue.
"Now as for the day after your transformation while you are recovering, someone will have to take over teaching your classes. I've spoken to Severus and he has agreed to step in for your third through seventh years." Remus gritted his teeth. Severus. No doubt his old enemy would be lording this over his head till the end of time.
"I understand how you feel," Dumbledore said sympathetically. "But Severus is very knowledgeable on the subject."
"Then why haven't you given the position to him? It's no secret he's been after it since he began teaching."
"I have my reasons," Dumbledore said his eyes suddenly very far away. Remus cleared his throat.
"You said third through seventh. Whose going to take on my first and second years?"
"I thought I might ask Meredith to teach those classes." Remus looked at the Headmaster in surprise.
"Meredith?"
"I know it is not common practice to have students teach classes, and certainly with her prefect duties as well as preparing for her NEWTs it will not be easy on her. But I believe Meredith is up to the task, and fully qualified."
"She's certainly no stranger to teaching," Remus said thoughtfully stroking his chin. "She's been tutoring Patricia for years."
"And she definitely knows the subject. The only one in her year to receive an Outstanding on her OWL."
"Really?" Remus said with astonishment and more than a touch of pride. "I knew she'd done better than her friends, but the only one?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "I admit I was quite astonished. With talent like hers she would make a fine Auror, and yet it is not a life she has ever desired."
"Yes," Remus said. "She's never desired to do anything but healing. She's becomes more like her mother everyday."
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "But I can still see a great deal of her father as well." Remus winced.
"The famous Black temper," he said with a sigh. "She's never been able to completely get rid of it."
"There is quite a bit of Sirius in her but when I say her father I was referring to you." Remus glanced up a bit startled. Dumbledore smiled.
"Well, tomorrow is a big day I think it would be best if we both got some sleep." Knowing himself to be dismissed Remus set his cup down and stood up.
"Good night Headmaster," he said.
"Good night Remus."