Arthur Kirkland And the Job

Chapter Two

Remus Lupin had been wallowing in indecision for the past hour and a half. Not even his complete shame at being a disappointment to the name of Godric Gryffindor could force him to go through with it. Looking at the entrance to Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters rather mournfully Remus wondered if he would ever get up the nerve to continue.

He wasn't truly surprised in his behavior. He'd just spent the past few months deciding to accept Dumbledore's offer only to change his mind an hour later. He'd thought he'd finished with the horrible torn feelings two weeks ago when he'd forced himself to agree to position after Dumbledore had informed him of this 'student-teacher'. This Arthur Kirkland had freed Remus from the guilt of knowing that even if he did decide it was too dangerous to stay on he could leave whenever he felt without leaving Dumbledore with the difficulty of having to find a teacher half way through the year. Kirkland was an insurance necessary for Remus to even slightly contemplate the position with any seriousness. What Remus hadn't foreseen was his feelings of panic and longing actually increasing now that he'd promised Dumbledore he'd come. He'd been up until four this morning unpacking and repacking. Halfway to the King's Cross he'd decided that he'd go to tell Dumbledore face-to-face that he would surrender the position, only to start changing his mind now.

Remus moaned and buried his face in his hands. He would have to do something soon. The guard had started to give him concerned looks that just told Remus he'd have to explain his presence or do something soon. Sighing Remus looked at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Rather he accepted the position or quit, Dumbledore deserved to be told face to face, so Remus would get on the train. The decision made Remus casually began to walk near the barrier keeping an eye on the loud group of travelers to his right. As soon as the group was shielding the guard's view Remus slipped in. He literally felt the anxiety leave him as he took in the familiar scarlet train. Despite the pang at the sight of a place so cloaked with memories, both joyous and heartbreaking Remus finally felt certain of a decision and wasn't split.

He would go to Hogwarts and inform Dumbledore he'd stay on until Christmas as a test to see how it would work out. If he felt it was too dangerous he would leave and if things were working out he'd stay the remainder of the year. Almost the instant he came to this conclusion he sensed something behind him and watched as an albino stepped onto the platform muttering in what Remus vaguely remembered as German from a brief visit to Berlin during his youth. Without a moments hesitation Remus drew his wand and pointed it at the man. The albino didn't seem to see him at first too busy muttering to himself.

"Dummes Englisch, dumme Engländer, dummes Wetter, verdammter großer Augenbrauen Bastard." The albino said furiously, stopping and freezing when he realized Remus was there. His red eyes bore into Remus with an intensity that surprised him and his clear youth was just as shocking.

"What are you doing on the platform?" Remus questioned allowing a growl to slip into his voice. It was too early for parents to bring the students and this man, though young, clearly wasn't a student himself. Remus was a bit surprised the man simply pouted a little in his direction rather than answer him. Who in their right mind was so casual about having a wand pointed into his face. Unless he was a Muggle that is. Remus frowned, there was a Muggle repelling spell on the barrier, but he supposed accidents could happen. The complete calm the man showed only further proved this assumption. After all who would be scared of a stick being pointed in his face.

Remus sighed and lowered his wand. "Do you speak Eng-" Was all Remus managed before the albino suddenly had a wand in hand, making it apper from its arm holster with a flick of his wrist. Remus didn't have a chance to react and his wand was quickly jerked from his hands with a silent Expelliarmus. The German lazily pointed his wand at Remus's throat, while the werewolf cursed himself for his stupidity.

"What are you doing here?" the German questioned, red eyes gleaming as he took in Remus's furious features. The accent was very strong, but at least Remus could understand clear enough. "I was told no teachers rode the train."

Remus glared and wondered if he would be able to physically over power the smaller man quickly enough to take his wand back. Looking over his ready stance Remus realized that it wasn't likely. The young German held himself as an experienced soldier, the same ease and alertness only Senior Aurors could manage while looking completely relaxed. Remus felt a fool for not recognizing the ready stance of a soldier before.

"Well," the man questioned, raising a pale eyebrow. "Are you deaf or something?"

Remus glared but decided it would do no harm to answer the question and the more he delayed the more likely it was someone would walk in on them. "The Headmaster thought it would be wise to have an adult considering the current climate."

The German actually looked confused, shocking Remus to his core. Surely he had to know. But judging by the thoughtful look and drawing in of his brows he had no idea what Remus was speaking of.

"Surely you know of Sirius Black." Remus said indignantly. The German simply stared at him, causing Remus to splutter with shock and odd amusement. He'd been entertaining the idea that the albino was Sirius in disguise, but he didn't think anyone could fake that blank look to the name Sirius Black.

"An escaped criminal." Remus suggested delicately wondering, why he suddenly felt like laughing instead of worrying what the stranger's motives were. Recognition dawned on his pale face.

"The one none of you British will shut up about." The German said ndding to himself and clearly pleased he remembered. Remus was surprisingly and painfully reminded of Lily when she figured out something difficult. "I began tuning the name out after the first seventeen times I heard it. It was older than Toni's crush on the little Italian brat."

Remus couldn't help, but gape at him. A dangerous criminal who'd murdered thirteen people at once and was rumored to be Voldemort's heir apparent had escaped from Azkaban. The same Azkaban that no one had ever escaped from. And the man had tuned it out, because he was bored with the repeativeness of conversation revolving around one of the most feared and hated Death Eaters to ever serve a certain bald psychopath.

"But why would he be a threat to the children?" The German asked him curiously. "Surely any man who had just escaped would be fleeing the country. There are quite a few Western European countries who would shelter a criminal just to spit your government."

The reasonableness of the assumption and the innocence of the question gave Remus pause. Did this man know nothing? The man waited calmly looking completely placid, but Remus noted he stance did not relax for a second. Young and uninformed or not this man was clearly skilled and likely dangerous.

"Harry Potter." Remus offered easily, not wanting to go into detail, but knowing that the man's reaction to Harry's name would tell him more than anything else.

The albino blinked his pretty red eyes at him, but seemed to recognize the name a few minutes later. "Oh, is that the one who Lord Moldysnort tried to AK?"

Remus had to close his eyes against the innocent expression and bite his tongue to stop from laughing loudly at the name for Voldemort. The man was clearly out of touch with everything. Remus opened his eyes and examined the man intently. His lack of knowledge hinted at being a Muggle, but he held himself too confidently and what he did know was too in depth for him to not be a wizard. What was he? Seeming to sense his confusion the man smirked and appeared to come to his conclusion.

Remus almost didn't catch his wand as the German carelesly threw it towards him. The man further shocked him by stepping foreward and throwing an arm around Remus's shoulders. "Come on whoever the hell you are, you are clearly awesome enough for my presence and I should probably tell you why I'm here. Otherwise you might think I'm some creepy pedo like Toni or Francis."

...

England smiled to himself looking over his office with the air of someone deeply satisfied with himself. And quite frankly he was. England was basking in the glow of a job well done and certainty that there was no way in hell that Prussian Bastard would be able to track him down. His knowledge of the Wolf's Howl aside, no one, but those who had attended Hogwarts were aware of its location or how to travel there. England hummed happily to himself and straightened a picture frame absently. As long as he could get through the school year everything would be fine and his life could return to normal.

Besides it wasn't that horrific to get to work at Hogwarts. England loved children and would be more than happy to teach them there was the added bonus of keeping a close eye and finally coming into contact with Harry Potter. England knew quite well the boy would be the one to save him during Tom Riddle's next rising as he had the last. He'd left his care up to Dumbledore until now, but he really should meet his potential savior even if he didn't fully introduce himself. Besides he wanted to see how the Soul Magic Lily Potter had used had worked out. It could have unexpected consequences on children, especially at such a young age. It had been powerful too. England had felt it that night.

He'd been in one of his private homes recovering form one of Tom's massacres and felt something happening. Before he'd known what was happening the heady golden magic had consumed him. He'd recognized it as an ancient and powerful magic and realized someone had discovered the ancient teachings and mastered them enough to use them properly. It had vanished, but not before England had felt the tiny fluttering life the magic had attached itself too. At that moment England had felt the entire brutal force of a mother's deep love and need to protect her child even at the cost of her own life.

It had taken England an hour to stop sobbing at such an intense experience and he'd quickly followed the trail to Gordric's Hollow. England had found the child crying in the rubble and wrapped him up in his own cloak. After getting him to sleep England had waited holding the child. Once he felt the presence of Rubeus Hagrid he'd laid the child done (But not before covering him in intense and strong protective charms) and waited in the shadows for the half giant to find him. England hadn't left until after the young Sirius Black had found the bodies contained in the house and broken done. His keening and shattered pain still dug its way into England's dreams sometimes. Even now England couldn't quite believe how someone could have faked such intense pain and agony at the sight of the bodies of the friends he'd betrayed.

England had even been there the next morning when Petunia Dursley had discovered the baby on her door step. He'd followed the lingering traces of powerful magic on the boy and watched as Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid left his future savior laying in the cold in the middle of the night. England had been so furious at such treatment he'd almost gone straight to Hogwarts to hex Albus himself, but managed to reign it in and walk over to the child. He'd sat on the Dursleys doorstep holding the baby and keeping him warm until the spells he'd cast alerted him that Petunia Dursley had woken up and was heading towards him. He'd quickly cloaked himself and watched as the woman opened the door. It had been his spell that stopped the milk bottles Petunia had dropped from hurting the child and only after making sure the child was perfectly safe inside did he leave to get some sleep.

The noise of his door opening caused England to turn in time to see Severus Snape walk in, his face smooth, but eyes hard. Severus Snape was definitely of interest to England. He could feel the magic of a Life Debt radiating off the man and sensed through the Soul Magic cast around Harry who exactly it was connected to. The Death Eater turned spy had a Life Debt for Harry Potter and he had been the same man England had seen slip to Lily Potter's grave directly after the Potters funeral had ended. England had watched the man sob and apologize through the moans of agony.

"It seems the Headmaster has a problem he needs your assistance with dealing with." Severus told him smoothly, black eyes causually taking in the rather Spartan room and pausing at the few photographs lovingly lain on England's desk.

"Problem?" England questioned, causally turning the photograph of Alfred and Matthew away from the Potions Masters curious gaze. The man seemed a little embarrassed at showing any interest, but it didn't last long. His dark eyes glimmered knowingly and he said in a characteristically silky voice something that sent England running out of the room with a curse.

"A Gilbert Beilschmidt appears to have snuck onto the Hogwarts Express and collapsed when he encountered the Dementors. He woke up, but was so weakened by the meeting he fainted as soon he entered Hogwarts. The Headmaster believes he would be of interest to you."