Hello all! Here is yet another chapter. It would have been up last night but my computer decided it didn't want to do anything. Thank you so much for all the reviews. It makes me feel good that people are actually reading and liking the story. Thank you again.

I have a question about getting a beta. I write and read many, many, many different fandoms and pairings. Do I try to find someone that will read anything or will my beta probably change depending on the fandom I'm writing? I've always just gone it alone but I've been told having a beta is a good idea. Any help is great. Thanks in advance.

Now, on to the story!

Untitled - ch. 9

A few weeks later, Remus, Harry and Ron were all at the train station seeing Hermione off for another term of University. She gave all three of them a hug, then moved to get on the train, turning just before getting on.

"You boys behave and I'll see you at Hogwarts in a month," she said, waving.

"We will," Ron said as the three of them waved back.

"Owl us once you get there," Remus called.

"I will," Hermione said, waving one more time, then climbing on the train. She found a window just as the train started moving. She opened it and leaned out to wave at them again and could easily see them waving back at her.

"Sure am gonna miss her," Ron said once the train was out of sight.

"Could've fooled me," Harry said as they turned to leave the station. "You barely spoke two words to her the whole summer."

"That's because she always started fighting with me."

"Have you ever thought that maybe if you supported her ideas and interests then maybe she wouldn't argue with you so much?" Remus asked as they stepped out into the sunshine.

"I support her!"

"Not to her face. You always criticize her love for learning and reading and you always make it sound like her interests aren't important just because your's aren't the same as hers."

"I do? Wow. I never meant it to sound like that."

"I know you don't, Ron, and I think deep down Hermione does too," Harry said. "But there's only so much someone can take. Even if it is unintentional. That's why she didn't talk to you much this summer. Every time she did, you'd end up fighting about something."

"I didn't know," Ron said, looking at the floor. "What can I do? I don't want her mad at me for the rest of my life."

"Apologize to her," Remus said, as they started walking again. "In person, not with a letter. And then try to do better. Make her feel important to you. She want's to have feelings for you. She's just afraid to."

"Thanks guys," Ron said as they headed for home.

The month until the show flew by with Remus and Harry getting closer and closer. Neither seemed willing to take the next step, but they were quite content at the place they were for the moment.

Ron spent most of the month in his room, trying to figure out exactly what to say to try to make things better with Hermione. He'd written on and balled up more parchment in the last month than he had the whole seven years he was at Hogwarts, but he thought he'd finally gotten it right. Now if only he could say it and not screw it up.

"C'mon Ron!" Harry called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming," Ron called back as he ran down the stairs. "Why are going two days early again?"

"Because Dumbledore wants the extra time to try to convince Harry to come and teach," Remus said, smiling. Harry and Ron both smiled back, knowing he was probably right.

"Well, let's go," Harry said, picking up his small back and walking out the door. Remus and Ron did the same, following Harry out the door.

The apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and walked up to the door where Dumbledore was waiting for them.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore said, shaking hands with each man. "Glad you could make it."

"Thank you for inviting us," Remus said as they started walking up the steps and into the building.

"It's no problem, no problem at all. I actually have underlying motives. I would like to speak to you all once you've settled in and had a chance to rest."

"Sure thing," Ron said as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Headmaster?" Harry said after a little while of walking in silence. "Isn't this the way to Gryffindor Tower?"

"Yes it is," Dumbledore said. "But we won't be going that far. There is a suite of rooms that have not been used for some time that are not far from Gryffindor Tower. There is enough room for the three of you."

"What about Hermione?" Ron asked as they turned down a hallway they (or at least Harry and Ron) had never been down before.

"She will be arriving tomorrow and staying in a room across the hall from you. Ah, here we are."

They stopped outside a portrait of a sleeping bear.

"This looks familiar," Remus said.

"Yes. It used to be on the second floor but he kept scaring the other paintings on the walls around him. So we moved him here where his only company is the unicorn over there." He motioned to the painting across the hall of a unicorn watching them closely. "And she doesn't scare easily."

"So Hermione will be over there?" Ron asked.

"Yes," Dumbledore said.

"That figures," Harry said. "A strong-willed portrait has the same personality as her. They should get along brilliantly."

They all smiled as Dumbledore turned back to the bear.

"The password is Quidditch," Dumbledore said, half to the guys, half to the painting. The bear slowly woke up and opened his eyes. He groaned, yawned and finally got up and allowed the painting to open. "He can be a bit temperamental."

"I can see that," Remus said as they walked into their rooms. All talk, however, stopped as Remus, Harry and Ron stared at their surroundings.

The portrait opened into a large sitting room with a huge fireplace. There was a sofa in front of the fireplace with an overstuffed chair on each side. Off to the left, there was a large, open kitchen and two closed doors that they figured were bedrooms. To the right were two more doors that were one more bedroom and the bathroom. Everything was Gryffindor red with a little of the gold spread around. It was really very beautiful.

"That one's mine," Remus said, pointing to the bedroom on the right.

"You just don't want us to keep you awake when you go to bed early," Harry said.

"Ha, ha," Remus said, smacking him on the back of the head.

"Hey!"

"That's okay," Ron said, laughing. "That means we can be closer to the kitchen."

"I knew there was a good reason," Remus said.

"Now," Dumbledore said when they finished chuckling. "Rest and get settled in and I'll will see you all at dinner."

They all said good bye and Dumbledore closed the painting behind himself.

"Well," Remus said. "I'm going to take a nap before dinner."

"Alright," Harry said. "I think I am too. Ron, do you care which room I take?"

"Nah. They're both the same distance from the kitchen."

"Alright," Harry said, picking up his bag and walking towards a door. "I'm gonna grab this one then. See you guys at dinner."

"See you," Ron said.

"Are you going to be able to entertain yourself without getting into trouble?" Remus asked.

"Me? Trouble?" Ron said, trying to pull off either innocent or offended. Remus couldn't decide which he was going for but he was doing a horrible job. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll find something to do."

"Alright. See you at dinner."

"See ya."

Remus went into his room and shut the door leaving Ron to find something to do.

Dinner was nothing special. They all got strange looks and some of the students flat out stared at Harry. They tried not to notice as they ate their dinner up at the teacher's table but some of the students were making that difficult.

Most all the professors managed to survive the war. Professors Sinistra and Flitwick were the only ones killed, but many more were scared for life. Snape had been hit by a spell that paralyzed him from the waist down. Healers said there was no way to reverse the curse. To this day no one was sure which side it came from. Snape's was the worst injury but many teachers were still in therapy. Remus himself had been touched by Wormtail's silver hand and had a 50/50 chance for a few days. Peter was the only person Remus had ever and will ever kill.

"Could I talk to you three in my office?" Dumbledore asked after dinner had ended.

"Sure," Remus said as the others nodded.

"Splendid. Just let me speak to Professor McGonagall and I will meet you there."

They all agreed and Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall as the three guys left the Great Hall.

"What d'ya suppose he wants to talk to us about?" Ron asked as they walked.

"I don't know," Remus said, then thought a moment and smiled. "Well, we know what he wants to talk to Harry about."

"Shut-up," Harry said, playfully hitting Remus' arm as Ron snickered behind them. "Maybe he wants something else this time."

"Right," Ron said as they reached the statue to Dumbledore's office. "And he's going to ask me to teach potions."

They all chuckled as they turned to the statue.

"So..." Harry said after they had stood there for a few quiet seconds. "Does anyone know the password?"

Ron and Remus shook their heads.

"Well, it's always some kind of candy, right?" Ron said.

"Do you know how many different kinds of candies there are in the world, Ron?" Remus asked. "And remember, he likes muggle candy too."

"Right," Ron said.

"Should we try to guess or just wait for him?" Harry asked.

"Well, since they'll both end in him letting us in, why don't we just wait."

"Good idea," Ron said and Harry agreed.

It wasn't long before Dumbledore showed up. Harry and Ron, who had both been sitting on the floor, stood up as he approached.

"Licorice Wands," he said to the statue, which jumped out of the way immediately. "Shall we?"

Remus, Harry and Ron went up the winding stairs with Dumbledore following behind. All three had been in the office at some point or another, but they couldn't help feeling they were back in school.

"Please, have a seat," Dumbledore said, motioning toward the chairs in front of the desk.

"I've had many detentions begin with those words," Remus said and Dumbledore chuckled.

"No detention ths time," he said as he walked behind his desk. "Lemon drop?"

"No, thank you," Remus and Harry said in unison while Ron just shook his head. Dumbledore took one and popped it into his mouth as he sat down.

"Now then," he said around the candy. "I need to ask something of you."

"Okay," Ron said and Dumbledore took a deep breath.

"I need teachers," he said simply.

"Teachers?" Remus said. "As in more than Harry?"

"Oh, Merlin, you want me to teach potions don't you?" Ron said, almost in a whine.

"Yes and no. Severus is still able to teach potions. However, we've had some of our professors retire. You all know I've been asking Harry for some time, but I need a few more teachers. That's where you come in."

"You want Ron and I to teach too?"

"Yes. You know I have asked Harry to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but I also need a flying instructor and a Muggle Studies teacher."

"What about my being a werewolf?"

"They lifted the ban and threw out many of the laws against you. We should have no problem."

All three looked at each other.

"Can we have some time to think about it?" Ron asked.

Remus and Harry looked at him like he'd grown another head.

"That's probably the most intelligent thing you've said all day, Ron," Harry said and Remus tried very hard not to laugh out loud.

"Shut-up."

"Yes, you can think about it," Dumbledore said once he himself had finished chuckling. "But, please do consider it."

"We will," Remus said as they stood to leave.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said, standing up with them. "I would appreciate your help. I am also going to extend the offer to Miss Granger when she arrives tomorrow."

"What time is she supposed to get here?" Ron asked, perking up at hearing Hermione's name.

"The train arrives in Hogsmeade at 2pm. She'll take a carriage up here and we'll meet her at the gate."

"Can we go meet her at the train?"

"I don't see why not."

"Cool."

"We'll see you tomorrow," Remus said as they left.

"See you tomorrow," Dumbledore said as the door shut behind them.

"Who d'ya suppose he wants to teach what?" Ron asked as they made their way back to their rooms.

"Well, we know he wants Harry to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," Remus said. "And seeing as you know almost nothing about muggles, I would imagine he wants you as the flying instructor and me for Muggle Studies."

"But why you for Muggle Studies and not Harry?"

"Because Harry has more experience against the Dark Arts. He is, by far, the best choice. That leaves me."

"I think I'm going to do it," Harry said suddenly.

"What made you change your mind?" Remus asked.

"I've just been thinking about it, and I don't think he'd have asked just to ask. He needs someone and maybe he doesn't trust anyone else."

Remus and Ron thought for a moment before nodding.

"You're right," Remus said. "He wouldn't ask if he didn't need us. I'm going to tell him that I will also. Besides, I enjoyed teaching before."

"You did?" Ron asked.

"Sure," he said as they turned the corner towards their rooms. "Most of the students I taught your third year were very easy to work with and seemed to enjoy learning."

"And those that didn't?"

"They did their work and kept their mouths shut. Draco Malfoy did enough talking for everyone back then."

"Yeah," Ron said as they agreed with him. "But it was okay, yeah?"

"Well, you'll always have your Draco Malfoys, but yeah. I enjoyed it. Sometimes it was even fun."

"Okay," Ron said after thinking a moment. "I'm in too. Besides, I get to be outside all day flying. Can't get much better than that."

"Excellent," Harry said as they reached their portrait. We'll talk to him tomorrow. Quidditch."

The portrait opened up and they walked in.

"So what is anyone going to do now?" Ron asked.

"I was thinking about taking a walk. You?" Remus said as Harry shrugged.

"I think I'm going to take a bath and relax. Maybe turn in early."

"Alright," Remus said, walking into their kitchen area. "Goodnight if you decided to go to bed early."

"G'night," Ron said, making his way to his room.

"Do you want anything to drink, Harry?" Remus asked from the kitchen.

"What's in there?"

"Milk, pumpkin juice, butterbeer. Wow."

"What?" Harry asked, walking into the kitchen.

"They keep this thing well stocked with everything," Remus said, holding up a bottle of butterbeer and the jug of pumpkin juice for Harry to pick from.

"Guess they want us well looked after," Harry said, tapping the butterbeer. Remus gave him the bottle before putting the juice back and getting a bottle for himself.

"I think Dobby knew you were here and wanted to take good care of you."

"Yeah," Harry said, smiling at the memories. "I'm going to have to go and visit him before we leave."

"I'm sure you'll have to go raid the kitchen at least once before we go," Remus said, after drinking some of his drink.

"What do you mean me? You know you won't be able to resist. You were a marauder after all."

"I suppose so," Remus said laughing. "It is hard to be here and not start thinking of things to do."

"Troublemaker at heart," Harry said, smiling. "I always knew it."

"Yeah," Remus said, thinking of James and Sirius.

"Hey," Harry said, walking over to Remus and putting his hand on his shoulder. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Remus said, looking into Harry's eyes and taking a deep breath. "Just remembering."

"Are the memories good?"

"Yes. The best ones I have."

They stood, silent and unmoving, for a while. Then Harry let go of him and slung his arm around Remus' shoulders.

"C'mon. Let's go take that walk. That is, if you don't mind the company."

"Never. I'd like for you to join me."

"Let's go then."

"Lead the way," Remus said as Harry ushered him out the door.

They walked in silence down to the lake, each in their own thoughts. They stood on a foot pier looking out at the lake. Birds flew close to the water in hopes of catching some food, but fear of the squid kept them from landing. Neither knew how long they had been standing there when Harry spoke.

"What was it like? Growing up with them?"

"It was always entertaining," Remus said, smiling. "We met on the train over. James and Sirius were already running all over the train, terrorizing everyone. They found my carriage and invited themselves in and we've been friends ever since. I was so closed off but they refused to let me be alone. It took me about two weeks and then I was one of them."

Harry smiled at the image of a young James and Sirius hovering around a shy young Remus.

"It must have been fun."

"It was. Never a dull moment. Well, except when Lily made them sit down and do their work."

"Them? Not you?"

"No. I actually enjoyed doing my work. See, where Lily was all work and no play, James and Sirius were all play and no work. But I was right in the middle. I loved pulling pranks as much as them, but I also loved learning."

"My mother sounds a lot like Hermione."

"Yes, she does. One time, we were all sitting right around here, under that tree right there actually. Lily and I were reading and James and Sirius were planning the next prank. Lily started fussing at them because they hadn't even started their work. She wasn't looking at them because, somehow, she had mastered the art of reading and fussing at the same time. James and Sirius snuck up on her, grabbed her by the arms and legs and threw her into the lake from right here. She didn't speak to any of us for a week."

"Why not you?"

"She said I should have said something to her and said something about me always being on their side or something like that. Sirius always said she deserved it and, sometimes, I fully agreed with him."

"You loved him, didn't you?" Harry said after a long pause, seeing the dreamy, far away look on Remus' face.

"Yes, I did," Remus said, looking down at the lake. "Very much."

"For how long?" Harry asked quietly and it took Remus a few minutes to answer.

"Since I was fifteen. We moved in together when we got out of school. We lived together for almost four years," he said, then his eyes started to mist over. "I actually...I can't believe I..."

"Believed he was guilty?" Harry finished for him and Remus nodded.

"I watched them arrest him on the muggle telly with...I felt betrayed and stupid and I couldn't believe I'd let him fool me for so long."

"You didn't know what Pettigrew was doing," Harry said, putting his hand on Remus' shoulder.

"But I should've know better," Remus said forcefully, turning towards Harry. "Out of all the years we four were together, Sirius never once gave us reason to distrust him. But I believed so easily, right along with the rest of them. He just..."

"Seemed like the one more likely to be lying to you."

"Yeah. Peter couldn't lie to save his life, or so I thought. Sirius was just so good at it... a pro. But I still should have known better."

"You couldn't have known, Remus. They had everyone fooled, even teachers..."

"But they shouldn't have fooled me," Remus said, cutting him off. "We knew everything about each other, Harry, inside and out."

"Maybe, deep down, you weren't fooled," Harry said, cupping Remus' face and making them lock eyes. "Deep down, you knew he was innocent."

All Remus could do was nod as tears sprang to his eyes. Harry pulled him into a hug and held him while he cried softly.

"I needed him," Remus said into Harry's shoulder. "I needed him and he wasn't there."

"I know," Harry said softly.

"I needed someone to blame and it was easy to blame him," Remus said, pulling back. "Everyone else was."

"I understand," Harry said, cupping his face again. "You lost everyone close to you in the space of three days. No one blames you for needing some kind of justification."

"Thank you," Remus said, bringing his hand up to Harry's. "For everything."

"No problem," Harry said, gently rubbing his face with his thumb. "I'm always here for you. No matter what."

Remus smiled a small smile and finally stepped out of Harry's reach, looking around. Harry returned the smile and let him go. He watched as Remus walked to the edge of the pier and turned around.

"It's getting late," Remus said finally and Harry nodded. "We should be getting back."

"Alright."

Remus stood there for another few moments with his hands in his pockets before he started walking toward Harry. When he reached Harry he stopped, taking a long look around.

"C'mon, Remus," Harry said, holding his hand out to Remus. "Let's go."

Remus cautiously took Harry's hand and nodded. They quietly walked back to the castle hand in hand, each man in his own thoughts and neither willing to drop their hands.

So...What do you think? Remember, reviews are love. Thanks again, guys.