Seventeen.
As soon as the cupboard door had closed, Remus stood there for a moment, stunned. He could still taste Aurelia's lips on his and just thinking about how far they'd got in here sent a ripple of tingles through him and made his cheeks grow hot. Mentally shaking himself out of his trance and doing his shirt back up and putting his tie back on, he too checked that there wasn't anybody lurking outside in the corridor and exited through the door. He briskly walked back down to his office, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. He passed several clusters of students on his way and he sent a warm, yet friendly smile in their directions. Once he'd reached the door he breathed a sigh of relief, unlocking it then safely shutting himself inside. He wasn't exactly sure why he'd brought himself back there. However, there was a huge stack of marking that he'd managed to fall behind on, but when he sat down at his desk and attempted to make a start on it, he still couldn't get Aurelia off of his mind. It was clear to him that he'd really liked what had happened between them in that cupboard. It wasn't purely the thrill of potentially getting caught in that rather compromising position that he'd liked, but the the way he felt when her body was pressed right up against his and the way that she'd kissed his Adam's apple and the spot right in between his collarbones.
It wasn't just those things that he really liked about her. She was caring, hardworking and incredibly sweet. He really, really didn't deserve her, not with what he was. He felt as if he didn't deserve anybody for that matter and he honestly didn't understand what she saw in him. She deserved someone her own age, not some old fool like him. But you still want to be with her, don't you? His mind whispered back to him.
Remus returned to teaching has classes as usual on Monday. All of his classes seemed incredibly pleased to have him back, which made him smile. They also spent the first ten minutes complaining how Severus had been assigned as his cover teacher for both of the days that he was off, because he'd set them all extremely long essays to complete. However, what worried Remus the most was that Severus had given his Third Years a lesson on werewolves, setting them an essay on how people recognise and kill them. It was pretty easy for him to realise that at least one of his students would pick up on the fact that those so called 'symptoms' matched up perfectly to him. He hastily changed the subject, wanting to get them started on a lesson about Hinkypunks.
Overall, the lesson went well. The Third Years seemed fascinated by the Hinkypunks, like they had done with every other creature that he'd introduced to them so far. Despite being his usual enthusiastic self, Harry seemed to be a bit upset. Remus guessed that it might be because his broomstick had been smashed into pieces by the Whomping Willow during the Quidditch match at the weekend, meaning that he'd have to use one of the school's brooms. This didn't stop Remus being keen to go and watch Gryffindor's next match against Ravenclaw. He'd heard from the rest of the staff that Harry was an excellent flier, obviously inheriting this from James. Remus also felt that he ought to have a bit of a chat with Harry at some point, because he'd also been told that the Dementors at the match were responsible for the fact that Harry had fallen off of his broom in the first place. Remus was starting to become a bit worried about how the Dementors seemed to have an effect on Harry, so he thought it best to talk to him about this after the lesson.
Once he'd finished teaching, the class started to head off to their next lessons. 'Wait a moment, Harry. Can I have a word?' Remus called just as Harry had reached the door. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, hesitating for a moment. 'Yeah, sure,' he eventually replied, walking back towards where Remus was stood, covering over the Hinkypunk's tank with a cloth. 'I heard about the match,' Remus said sympathetically. He turned back around again, starting to gather up his books and put them into his suitcase. 'And I'm sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?' Harry shook his head. 'No, the tree smashed it to bits.' He sounded completely gutted, and Remus really did feel sorry for him. 'They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts,' he sighed. 'People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance.'
'Did you hear about the Dementors?' Harry asked shyly. 'Yes, I did,' Remus replied, looking at Harry quickly. 'I don't think any of us have ever never seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They've been growing restless for some time.. Furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds.. I suppose they were the reason why you fell?' 'Yes,' Harry nodded. He paused for a moment, as if he was thinking something over. 'Why? Why do the Dementors affect me like that? Am I just-?' Remus shook his head, knowing exactly how Harry was going to finish that sentence. 'It has nothing to do with weakness,' he said sharply. 'The Dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have. Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles can feel their presence, though they can't see them. Go too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself - soulless and evil. You'll be left with the worst experiences of your life.'
Remus stopped speaking for a moment, looking at Harry meaningfully. 'And the worst that has happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall of their broom. You have nothing to be ashamed of.' Harry looked down at Remus' desk. 'When they get near me..' His voice cracked and he swallowed hard. 'I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.' An overwhelming sadness swept over Remus and he felt his throat close up. Oh, Lily. She'd been there for him at a time that nobody else was, and she was the very first person who knew about his condition other than his family. She'd been so kind to him, so accepting. 'Don't let it consume you,' she'd told him. 'It doesn't change who you really are in any way.' He felt so much sympathy towards Harry, as he'd completely missed out on what wonderful, loving people both of his parents were. They would've been so proud of him for growing up to be the brave young man that was stood in front of him right then. He reached out to grab Harry's shoulder, but then decided against it.
They both stood there in silence for a few seconds, but then; 'Why did they have to come to the match?' Harry spat out, sounding incredibly bitter. 'They're getting hungry,' Remus replied coolly, closing his briefcase. 'Dumbledore won't let them into school, so their supply of human prey has dried up.. I don't think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch pitch. All that excitement.. Emotions running high.. It was their idea of a feast.' 'Azkaban must be terrible,' Harry muttered. Remus nodded. 'The fortress is set on a tiny island, way out to sea, but they don't need water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheerful thought. Most go mad within weeks.'
'But Sirius Black escaped them,' Harry said slowly. 'He got away.' As soon as those words had left Harry's mouth, Remus felt a bitter chill sweep through him. He couldn't even stand the thought of Sirius after what he'd done to Lily and James. All of those years of friendship, just to go and kill two of his best friends without a care in the world? Remus was so fuming inside, that he only just noticed in time that his briefcase was slipping off his desk. Clearing his mind of anger, he stood back up and looked back at Harry again. 'Yes. Black must have found a way to fight them. I wouldn't have believed it possible.. Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers if he is left with them too long..'
'You made that Dementor on the train back off,' Harry said suddenly. 'There are - certain defenses one can use,' Remus replied. 'But there was only one Dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult it becomes to resist.' 'What defenses?' Harry asked immediately. 'Can you teach me?' 'I don't pretend to be an expert at fighting Dementors, Harry - quite the contrary..' Remus said seriously. 'But if the Dementors come to a Quidditch match, I need to be able to fight them!' Harry protested. Remus hesitated for a moment, looking at Harry's determined face. He believed in Harry, he really did, but would a thirteen-year-old wizard be able to conjure a Patronus charm? He could always try. Harry clearly had a talent for Defense Against the Dark Arts. 'Well.. Alright. I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait until next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill.'