"Remus I am confident that in a few months time I will be seeing Harry step off that train."

It was the spring of 1991. The two old friends sat in the Three Broomsticks sipping Butterbeers. Remus, realizing that his old friend's son was almost of school attending age, wanted to make sure that his old professor had ensured Harry would be able to attend Hogwarts. He didn't want Harry to miss out on a magical education just because he was living with those people. Petunia Evans, er, Dursley was just about as close minded, stubborn and prejudiced as they come. He chuckled to himself at the thought of telling her exactly what he was. Just to see the look that would cross her face. But he didn't want to think of Petunia Evans and how she was treating Harry.

"How exactly do you plan on explaining everything to Harry? Will you go yourself?"

"Actually Remus, that's what I wanted to talk to you about today. I was hoping that you could go fetch Harry. You were Lily and James' best friend. And since you have met Petunia once before, she may not be as wary about letting him go with you, I worry that she won't trust us."

Remus scoffed. Albus surely knew what Petunia Evans Dursley was like. The stories Lily had told them, about her hate for anything magical. She would probably throw the child into their hands.

"But Professor, doesn't a Hogwarts employee have to fetch muggleborn and muggle raised children? I'm not a member of the staff and especially in Harry's case because you know the Ministry will want to be involved, it would be best to follow protocol."

"You know, there is an opening for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and you are an excellent candidate."

The two ment were silent. Remus knew that Dumbledore had wanted him in this position for years. Everytime they saw each other he tried to persuade him to take the post. And each time, Remus refused. He had seen entirely too much of the Dark Arts in his life, and thought it would be beneficial to teach the magical youth how to protect themselves against such magic, he felt inadiquate to do so. He himself was a product of what was considered Dark Magic, and knew that once people got wind of his condition, they wouldn't want their children exposed to him.

"Albus, you know the many reasons why I must yet again refuse."

"You know Remus, one day you will say yes to my offer. Hogwarts was once your home, it could be once more."

"No Remus, not now. So Harry will be taken care of?"

The old man sighed, looking at the man in front of him. Remus Lupin had never been one to take chances. But he was extremely loyal and dedicated, this was shown by the concern he showed for his dead friend's son, eleven years later.

"Harry will be taken care of. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of wizard he becomes. Now, I must take my leave. There is much business up at the castle that needs to be attended to. "

"It was good seeing you Albus."

Remus threw a few coins down on the table and followed the headmaster out. The parted at the door, Albus heading back towards the castle and Remus heading down the street. He was feeling what could only be described as nostalgia as he walked towards the Shrieking Shack. The fact was, there hadn't been a single shriek in that shack in thirteen years. He stood in front of the property, wistfully remembering all the full moons he had spent their, his friends at his side when he was his most unhuman.

"You know, I don't believe its really haunted."

He turned to see a girl standing behind him. Her hair was straight and black with streaks of pink in it. She had the most curious expression on her face, as if she was studying him. She looked so familiar, but he couldn't place where he had met her.

"What makes you say that?"

"I've gone to Hogwarts for seven years now, and not once have I ever heard any shrieking from that shack." I would think that a haunted building named the Shrieking Shack would, you know shriek. Unless."

"Unless what?"

"Unless the building was never haunted at all. My cousin used to tell me stories of a house in Hogsmede that he and his friends used to go to at night. He said that they used to laugh and howl so loud, that people in town thought they were hearing the lamentations of spirits. I think that it was this house , and people named it the Shrieking Shack."

Remus said nothing. How could this girl who looked so familiar know so much about the antics of Remus and his friends, which had ended nearly thirteen years ago?

"Mr. Moony, is that you?"

Remus started at the use of his old nickname. He looked at the girl and realized her identity: Sirius' cousin. Nymphadora Tonks, the little girl whose birthday party he had gone to so long ago. The girl who he saw in the Leaky Cauldron the day he lost everything.

"Dora Tonks?"

"Yes its me, Mr. Moony. How have you been? Its been a very long time since we've last spoken."

"A long time? Dora, I haven't seen you since you were eight! And you must be..."

"Eighteen. Its my eighteenth birthday today. Ten years since you first walked into my garden with my cousin Sirius."

"You remember that I was there?"

"Yes, and I remember how that awful Mrs. Hurgle treated you. I also remember seeing you the day Sirius was sent to Azkaban."

"Yes, I remember that day too."

"I'm going into Auror training you know. Alastor Moody himself has accepted me into his training class. I start a week after term ends."

"That's great Dora."

"You know why I want to become an Auror? Ten years ago a man told me that I could make a difference. So I'm going to make a difference, I'm going to fight for justice. And one day, I'm going to prove that Sirius is innocent. I'm going to get him out of Azkaban, because I know that he didn't betray the Potters. And I know that you know the same Mr. Moony."

"Remus."

"Excuse me?"

"My name is Remus. Remus Lupin"

"Well Remus Lupin, its been nice seeing you. And it was good to finally tell you all that after all this time. I just hope that one day I can make a difference, like you said I would. Goodbye Mr. Moony."

She turned and walked away. He stared after her, watching her hair change from black and pink to neon green as she walked. He thought about what she said, about wanting Sirius to go free. Something they had in common. He had never shared his ideas with anyone, his musings of alternative scenarios, all which ended with Sirius' innocence.

Remus saw something in Nymphadora Tonks. Seeing her made him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time, not in nearly ten years. He felt hope. He remembered how walking into her garden all those years ago had made him feel, the bright colors acting as beacons of hope. Today, he felt the same thing, as if all the hope in the world had been restored. And all because of the same girl's birthday, ten years later. Today, he saw Dora Tonks. Today, he saw hope.