First of all, epic apology for the lateness of this chapter. I'm afraid work is currently taking up all my free time at the moment, I haven't been able to get the creative juices flowing. Not sure how much longer its going to take me to get another chapter up after this once so I won't promise anything. Here is the next chapter, finally the confrontation between Harry and Lupin. Enjoy and please Read and Review!

I don't own any thing Harry Potter related.

Mooney

"Come in," came the voice of the professor from the inside of the office. He opened the door peering into the office, the last time he had been here the wall were occupied by self-portraits of Lockhart (vain bugger). "Harry." He looked up to see the professor stood next to a tank which was holding a sickly green creature with sharp little horns. "I just took a new delivery for our next lesson." Harry nodded.

"It's a Grindylow right?" he asked, remembering reading up about the water demon in one of his DADA books. Lupin's face broke into a big grin.

"You're absolutely right Harry. After the Kappa's I thought that you would have no problem with these." Harry nodded, feeling happy that he had impressed the professor. "I was just thinking of making a cup of tea would you like to join me?" Harry nodded, a cup of tea might make him feel slightly braver. "I'm afraid I haven't really attempted to decorate," he said airily causing Harry to smile. He watched as a small cup and saucer floated over to him and landed on the table in front of him. "So what can I do for you Harry?" he asked sitting down in the chair across the other side of the desk. "I assumed you would be with Ron and Hermione down in Hogsmead." Harry shook his head.

"The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form." Remus gave him a sad smile.

"Well it's probably for the best." Harry nodded, he knew that the man was trying to make him feel better but it wasn't really working. Again he thought of Sirius, if only the man had arrived, he could have gotten some advice on how to talk to the man in front of him. He finally settled on asking him small things to begin with.

"How are you settling in professor?" he asked. Lupin gave him a small warm smile.

"Comfortably. It's like coming home after a very long time away."

"That's how I feel every time I come back after the summer spent at the Dursley's." He saw Lupin frown.

"You do not like living with your aunt and uncle?" Harry snorted.

"It's not like I have much of a choice, but I would rather be any other place then Privet drive. It doesn't hold the fondest of memories." He saw an angry look cross over the professor's face before becoming neutral again, the man had a better mask over his emotions than he himself did, which was pretty impressive. He felt his resolve grow stronger, so the man was worried about him, about his home life. Maybe he really did care about him. Only one way to find out for once and for all, time to drop the truth, and give him a true marauder fashioned welcome back to Hogwarts. When the man wasn't looking he gave a small jerk with his wand, and then a quick silent casting. It was quite a simple spell, and the only one he could manage with silent casting at the moment. Once complete he slowly raised his eyes, trying to contain the snort of laughter that he was trying with all his might to contain. It was quite a juvenile prank, but he hadn't had any chance to prepare anything bigger, shame really because from now on he would expect something. He managed to school his face into being normal.

"Truth is I didn't come here to talk about your lack of decorating skills, or what you have planned for next lesson. I've been trying to get the chance to talk to you since the beginning of the school year, but I've been so busy I haven't had the chance. I'd never be forgiven if I didn't."

"Why is that?" Lupin asked with a small frown marring his face. Harry gave him his best mischievous smile.

"Just wanted to make sure that you had a proper marauder's welcome back to Hogwarts … Mooney." He couldn't help it any more, the way Mooney looked, almost comical with his mouth hanging open in shock, not to mention the little prank that he had played. He started laughing. Lupin started at him stupidly causing Harry to fall into more fits of giggles.

"Oh you should see your face Mooney, man I wish I had a camera. It's a picture perfect moment. In fact why don't you look in the mirror on the desk and have a look for yourself." Lupin's eyes widened before he quickly pulled the small desk mirror towards himself finally seeing the outcome of Harry's prank. He could clearly see why Harry was laughing so much right now. His hair which was usually light brown had become multi-coloured and flashed words and phrases such as 'Snape stinks' and 'Pranked'. He couldn't help it. His mouth started to twitch into a smile, before he was full blown laughing. Laughing like he hadn't in so many years. It was a simple prank but the execution had been perfect. He found himself looking back at Harry who sat there with a victorious smirk across his face. He looked just like his father, hair sticking up in every direction and a mischievous look on his face.

"Did you really think that the son of a marauder would remain ignorant of his heritage? You forget how stubborn we Potter's can be." At his words Lupin found himself laughing again. He gave Harry a wink.

"How could I ever forget, the amount of times he got us into trouble, even when we weren't at school."

Harry nodded. Happy that he had gotten through to the professor. It would make talking to the man much easier.

"How long have you known about the Marauders?" he asked, generally interested.

"About the Marauders, since first year. That I was related to one, since this summer. My mum had left some stuff to my aunt Petunia to give to me after my first year here, she mentioned you guys a lot. Something about wanting to hex the lot of you."

Lupin laughed. "Yeah that sounds like Lily alright, a kind word for anyone that needed it, but a whirlwind devil when you irritated her."

Harry grinned and ruffled his hair. "I assume that you guys irritated her more than anyone then."

"Your father more than the others. As soon as he saw her he was in love with her, proclaimed that he was going to marry her. Of course we all thought he was crazy because she clearly hated his guts. Thing with your father, he tended to get a bit big-headed. We were just kids, a bit boisterous but kids none the less. However when your mother was around he had this thing about showing off in front of her, she did not appreciate it. It wasn't until seventh year when your fathers head had considerably shrunk that Lily actually came to love him. Do you know that she was the actual first one to make a move?" Harry blinked.

"Really?" Lupin nodded his head.

"Your father had been in love with Lily for a few years but I think he had given up on ever getting her to like him. Once his parents had been killed by deatheaters at the beginning of seventh year he changed, he was still James Potter, Marauder. But something within him had given up. He went through the motions of life, giving comfort to those who needed it, but kept none for himself. It was during this time that Lily's parents died in a car crash. Lily was grieving the loss of her parents and James was there for her as a good friend, he had no further motives. A month later she had wanted to get something from Hogsmead to go on their graves, and James agreed to take her. It was there that they were confronted with Voldemort for the first time. See a deatheater attack had been planned to occur and the village was under siege. We were all trying to protect the younger students, trying to get them back to the castle. James and Lily were fighting together, both giving it their all, beating down deatheaters as they came at them. They were doing well until he came. He wanted them to join him. Well you can imagine how well they took that, your mother stated that she would rather die than join a madman. Well he got angry at the rejection and started duelling your parents, your mother got thrown back and almost got hit by a severing charm. Only your father got there first. He protected her, battling against Voldemort until he was hit with a Cruciatous curse. He was held under it for a few minutes until Dumbledore arrived. As soon as he did, Voldemort did a runner. Your father was badly hurt and had to be taken to the hospital wing. Your mother was so distraught. We were all there, waiting for him to wake up. Praying that he would be ok. Lily, she was the worst out of all us. She kept blaming herself, saying that she was so stupid. She was afraid that she was going to lose him, like she had lost her parents and she hadn't even told him. Somewhere along the way she had found herself falling in love with the boy that she always claimed to hate. She seemed to think that he didn't feel the same way though, that she had pushed him away for so long that it was too late. Of course we all told her that she was crazy. That James had loved her for so long that he had given up on asking her because she always rejected him. As soon as he woke up he was asking where she was, trying to make sure that she was ok. Of course Lily being who she was went up to him and kissed him. I don't think I'd ever seen James so shocked. Of course after that the whole school knew and bets were being collected by the winners," he smirked victoriously.

"You bet that my parents would get together?" Lupin laughed.

"Of course. They fought too much for them to not." Harry laughed.

"I can think of two people who match that description to a T." Lupin smirked.

"Would that by any chance be Mr Weasley and Miss Granger?" Harry nodded his head.

"They are constantly ate each other's throats, they are the cause of most of my headaches. We started a bet on them on the train with the twins."

"When did you choose?" he asked curiously. Harry grinned.

"I chose seventh year in a life or death situation. That's the only time they would reveal their feelings." Lupin looked a bit worried.

"Life or death Situation?" Harry laughed nervously.

"Well my years at Hogwarts haven't exactly been without trouble, of the death defying kind. I seems to be setting a trend." He saw Lupin rise in eyebrow questioningly. "I don't go looking for trouble, I promise. Trouble usually finds me."

Lupin smirked and went to say something in return when there was a knock at the door. He quickly removed the prank spell that Harry had cast on him before answering the knocker with a 'come in'.

The door opened and in came, Snape. Harry frowned seeing the greasy haired git walk into the office. He was carrying a goblet which was smoking, he seemed to narrow his eyes at seeing Harry's presence in the office.

"Ah Severus, thanks very much," he said to the man as he placed the goblet on the desk.

"You should drink it directly Lupin," he said ignoring Harry's look of horror.

"Yes I will. Thankyou Severus. Your help is greatly appreciated."

Snape backed out of the room. Glaring at Harry before closing the door. Harry looked back at Lupin who was wrinkling his nose at the potion.

"Pity sugar makes it useless," he muttered. "To your good health Harry," he raised the Goblet and Harry watched as the man drained it, he watched a shudder of disgust run through Lupin's body as he swallowed.

"You actually trust Snape enough to make that for you?" he said incredulously.

"Professor Snape, Harry." Lupin corrected him. "I'm lucky that Severus agreed to make it at all, not many people are able to produce such a complex potion."

Harry grimaced. Although he was proficient at brewing up to sixth year potions, the Wolfsbane was incredibly hard and complex to brew. Not that Snape knew he was good at potions, after his first meeting with the potions professor in first year he took great pleasure in purposefully failing his potions, clearly irritating the older man. He had reviewed the brewing process of the potion though, maybe he could have a go at brewing it. If Snape decided to be his usual greasy self then Lupin might need it if he decided to stop making it for him. He promised that he would at least try.

"I suppose it's better than the alternative." He said, causing Lupin to look up sharply, observing Harry carefully. Harry smiled. "Oh come on Mooney, I'm not going to run out the door as soon as you turn your back, have more faith in me," he joked. "Your furry little problem is safe with me!"

Lupin laughed.

"James used to call it that when we were in school. Everyone used to think I had a rabid rabbit back at home." He looked closely at Harry, looking for the usual signs of fear or mistrust, but saw nothing but compassion and acceptance. "You're not bothered by it?"

Harry shook his head, feeling particularly angry about prejudice in the wizarding world.

"You are a victim, a victim of Fenrir Greyback, you are not a monster. You just have an illness which pops up once a month. He tried to make you into a copy of him, but it didn't work. He didn't create a monster, but a good man."

Lupin looked at him in shock, touched by the words that Harry had just spoken to him. He gave Harry a watery smile.

"You really are your parent's son; that sounded exactly like something they would both come out with." Harry grinned unashamedly.

"Pure Potter wisdom, so you'd better listen!"

Lupin laughed again, and wiped the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. He already looked years younger than he did when Harry had first met him on the train.

"I don't think I've laughed this much for twelve years. Those were good times. I must apologise for my behaviour Harry, I hope you can forgive me." Harry looked at him questioningly. "After your parents died, I was grieving the loss of all my friends, I struggled to keep myself sane. When Dumbledore suggested that I not see you I agreed, I was in a bad place but I never should have agreed to it. You deserved to have someone there for you who knew both your parents. I guess I believed what Dumbledore told me, about you needing to grow up in a neutral environment." Harry snorted, the Dursley's was hardly a neutral environment, he had always had to look out for flying fists, swinging frying pans and Dudley (he had a whole subsection to himself!). Harry frowned at the guilty look that covered Lupin's face.

"It's not your fault professor, I've done a lot of thinking about that night, blamed myself so much. But it all comes down to the fact that it was neither of our faults. It was Voldemort's. He killed my parents, he tried to kill me. You couldn't of stopped him, and if you had been there you'd most likely be dead too." A silence fell over the room at Harry's last words, only broken by the Grindylow swimming in the tank.

"You blamed yourself?" Harry nodded.

"For a long time I blamed myself, first when I thought it was the car crash, and then even worse after I found out that Voldemort murdered them. But I've faced him twice since then, and he may have wanted to kill me but he couldn't and he still hasn't. He made the decision to come after me, and that was his choice. I can't blame myself for something he did. My parents wouldn't want me to."

Lupin nodded, they most defiantly would not want them to wallow in self-pity. He looked up at Harry, who was still deep in thought. As if sensing the professor's stare he looked up and gave a small smile. He wanted to just confront the professor with the truth, that he wasn't alone. That his best friend was innocent, but too much had already been said. He couldn't drop that bomb on him as well. No, he'd wait for Sirius to arrive and discuss their options from there.

"Thanks for talking to me professor. It's nice to be able to talk to someone who see's past the boy-who-lived." Lupin gave him a sad smile.

"My door is always open Harry, I'm always glad to speak to you, doesn't have to be about school work, we can talk about your parents if you'd like." Harry smiled in thanks, seeing the professor's opening for what it was.

"I will Professor," Harry replied before exiting the office, leaving a happier, but confused Lupin behind him.