Alright then, here is the third chapter. This one mainly surrounds the feast and Remus's thoughts about returning to Hogwarts =] Once again, AU to fill in the blanks. So Enjoy!!
Through the infernal downpour of rain, Remus approached one of the stagecoaches up in front of the line of the many of it's kind. Seeing nothing was in front of them, he assumed they were going to be pulled by thestrals. Remus, as much pain as he had suffered in his years, was fortunate enough to have never actually seen someone die before his eyes. Therefore thestrals were completely invisible to him.
He climbed into the first empty coach that he found and cast a quick spell on himself to dry off. He noted, as he climbed into it, that the coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. He sat down onto the lumpy seat and stared out into the distance to analyze his surroundings.
The first thing he saw was Hagrid towering above a whole lot of 1st years, leading them towards their traditional boat ride. Remus chuckled to himself upon seeing this, as he remembered his own boat ride. He then looked behind him and saw the rest of the students climbing into the student coaches with all their friends.
"Remus?" A voice snapped the young man out of his thoughts. He turned towards the door only to see Minerva McGonagall standing in front of the coach.
At first Remus's eyes just widened and his voice died out. He couldn't believe he was staring into the eyes of his once Transfiguration teacher. She looked just the same as she had 17 years ago; her hair was was in a tight bun and her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. She had coddled and looked after him back in his days as a student when he had his transformations. To make things short she was practically his mother in school.
"Minnie!" he managed to stutter out. And barely managed to keep a straight face. Minnie was the nickname that he, James and Sirius had given her back in their 3rd year. It was one that used to annoy her to no end, making the boys call her by that name all the more.
She visibly twitched "You haven't changed a bit have you?" she said trying to suppress a grin "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all Professor, please" Remus said hurriedly as he gestured towards the seat across from him.
She stepped in and out of the rain as she gladly took the seat "No need to call me Professor Remus. We are colleagues now, you may call me Minerva."
"Or Minnie" Remus coughed.
"Or Minnie" she sighed playfully. Remus laughed.
They spent the rest of the journey catching up, talking of old times and the new ones to come until finally they approached the masterpiece called Hogwarts.
Minerva and Remus both stepped out of the carriage when a voice suddenly caught the latter's attention.
"Shove off, Malfoy!" Remus spun around and saw, stepping out from the coach behind him was Hermione. In front of her stood Harry and Ron, the red head being the one that had spoken.
"Did you faint as well Weasley?" the swarmy voice of Draco Malfoy made Remus frown. He watched as the young Malfoy clad in all back stepped a bit too close to Ron "Did the scary old dementor frighten you Weasley?"
"Is there a problem?" Remus called out in the calmest voice he could sum up. Malfoy jerked back to look at him, then gave him an insolent smirk "Oh, no-er-Professor..." he said as he took off.
The trio turned to him with smiles before Minerva stepped up "Potter, Granger, if I may have a word with both of you" the as if having a second thought, she added "There's no need to be worried-I just want a word in my office.....move along there Weasley."
Ron nodded and said a quick goodbye to his friends before he left towards the school. Harry and Hermione on the other hand followed as Minerva led them away; smiling up at Remus as they walked past him.
"Er-Remus, you might want to meet up with Hagrid and he'll show you to your seat at the staff table in the great hall" Minerva said to him before she left.
Remus nodded and walked away to find a certain hairy giant.
HP
HP*****HP
HP
"You must be thrilled, eh?" Hagrid said as he led the much smaller Remus through the Great Hall.
"Well it is a pleasure to be back in Hogwarts, I can tell you that" Remus replied. He looked around the flocked hall to all the different students and subconsciously began searching for none other than the golden trio. But as he scanned the Gryffindor table, he only found Ron. The other two were no where to be seen.
For a moment Remus considered asking Ron where his friends were, but then decided against it.
He continued to follow Hagrid, who quickly led him to his seat at the staff table. Remus frowned a bit as he realized it was right next to the place of Severus Snape, the potions professor and his long time. Well sort of.
Remus didn't really have anything against him but back in their school days James and Sirius had a thing with picking on Snape, and Remus being both James and Sirius's best friend, earned Snape's hate by default.
Remus was a bit relieved when Snape didn't even turn to look at him when he sat down.
As soon as everyone was seated, the sorting of the first years began. The sorting hat was brought out and like every year, it began to sing:
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Griffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
Remus smiled to himself. Ah, sorting, the most terrifying time of a first year's life. Remus remembered expecting to be sorted into Ravenclaw, being the bookworm that he was. It came as a bit of a surprise when he was put in Gryffindor. But thinking back he really wouldn't have had it any other way. After all, if it wasn't for Gryffindor he wouldn't have know Sirius or James.....or Peter.
Remus turned his attention back to the sorting and watched as the nervous first years stepped forward to the sorting hat.
He watched children of all different races and heights get sorted, some in Gryffindor, others in Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. And after the longest time, the last child darted off to his house and the school choir stepped up to the front of the hall.
Each person held a large gruesome looking toad in their hands and with a flick from the wand of Professor Filtwik they began:
Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Something wicked this way comes.
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and owlet's wing.
Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Something wicked this way comes.
In the cauldron boil and bake,
Fillet of a fenny snake,
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf.
Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Something wicked this way comes!
The toads gave a mighty ribbit and an applause rose for the choir. They neatly stepped aside, revealing a podium behind them, which none other than Albus Dumbledore approached.
It was at this point that Remus looked out into the Gryffindor table(past all the crowded first years) and spotted Harry and Hermione along with Ron. He vaguely wondered when they had arrived, but his thoughts were cut short as Dumbeldore began to speak:
"Welcome!" he beamed, the candlelight shimmering on his beard "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued "As you will all be aware after the search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is the presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business" he paused briefly "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises-or even Invisibility cloaks" he added blandly. Remus noticed Harry, Ron and Hermione glance at one another. He barely suppressed a laugh; so Dumbledore had given Harry James's old cloak eh? Remus smiled remembering the millions of times that he, James, Sirius and Peter had used that invisibility cloak without being caught a single time. Ah, good times.
But Remus returned his attention to the headmaster as he continued, "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects , and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors" Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
"On a happier note," he continued "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some scattered applause as Remus stood and took a rather awkward bow. Dumbledore continued as he took his seat once more.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore spoke "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
There was a rather loud applause at this(in which Remus took part, as Hagrid was one of his favorite people during his time as a student) which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Remus chuckled as Mcgonagall nudged the giant on the side and made him stand to take a bow. As Hagrid sat down, Dumbledore spoke again:
"Well. I think that is all of importance. Let the feast begin!"
The golden plates and goblets before everyone suddenly filled with food and drinks. Remus, suddenly ravenous, helped himself and began to eat.
It was a delicious feast; the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks.
But at long last when the last morsel of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters, Dumbledore gave word that it was time for them all to go to bed.
Dumbeldore had then stepped aside to Remus and told the younger that he would personally show him where he would be staying, as well as his curriculum. Remus simply smiled broadly and followed.
And at the end of the day, when Remus collapsed onto the oh so familiar four poster beds that were tradition in Hogwarts, looking around, felt he was home at last.
HP
HP*****HP
HP
Well, there you go. The last part was taken almost completely from the book, replacing Harry, with Remus =] Because I'm sure they both had the same feelings about being back at Hogwarts.
Once again I am so grateful for those of you that are reading this and have put an alert on it. I also really appreciate your reviews, and I hope you continue to give me feedback on how this is =]