Ok, here's another one for all of you. Once again a bit AU, and I loved the book version of this scene so much that I sort of fused them together =] Hope it came out alright. Enjoy!
Remus was rather pleased with how his defense classes were going.
He had heard from the other teachers that both he and his classes were a favorite amongst the students. He did his best to keep his lessons just as interesting as the first. After boggarts, he had studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin like creatures that lurked wherever there was bloodshed. From redcaps they moved on to kappas, creepy little water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands.
And he had to say, his Gryffindor class was his favorite. His Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and even his Slytherin students(set aside Malfoy and his gang) were excellent and hardworking but something about his Gyffindors made him as a teacher feel good to teach them. And made him as a human being, at peace when he was around them. He had a sort of special bond with them. Everyone in that class was so enthusiastic, and just the grin that would be on each of their faces when they walked into the defense room practically made Remus's day. And in return he made lessons as enjoyable as he possibly could. He noticed that his students(other houses included) particularly loved hands on work so most of his classes turned into practical lessons, aside from a set few where they took exams. And professors would approach him after his exams asking him how he had gotten the students to score so high on practically even single one.
So all in all things were good for Remus.
Except he did notice Snape's glaring at him become a bit more constant, if not a bit more violent as well. After all, news of the boggart lesson and Snape in Neville's grandmother's attire had spread fast, and who better to blame for it than the man that he already hated so much? Remus tried his hardest to either steer clear of Snape or be his nicest when he did run into him. Personally he had nothing against him, but again, being the best friend of James and Sirius and the fact that neither of them where around to blame, it all fell on Remus by default. And he really did want to set things straight, but the way things were going, it didn't look so good. Still Remus tried to be pleasant around Snape(or as pleasant as one could get around someone like him.) After all, Snape was the one that would be brewing the wolfsbane potion for him this year.
Remus was so grateful to Dumbledore who had suggested Snape should brew it for him. Because even though there was a good chance Snape would try to poison Remus with something(well it seemed very likely to him), Snape was also a master potioner. And he was the only one that could make it perfectly.
Plus Remus knew he couldn't afford to take an imperfect wolfsbane. It was he potion that allowed him to keep his human mind while he was a werewolf, and if that went wrong he could end up as even more the monster. And seeing he was on Hogwarts grounds, that would not end nicely.
Remus, who was walking back to his office over the bridge that connected the east and west Hogwarts buildings, was completely engrossed in thinking about all this, and was rudely torn out of his thoughts when he bumped into someone, causing both of them to become very startled.
Remus looked up so quickly that it almost hurt, and apparently by the look on the other's face, he had done the same. "Harry?" Remus raised a brow in confusion "What are you doing here? Where are Ron and Hermione?" he added noting the distant look on the boy's face.
"Hogsmeade" Harry answered in a would-be casual voice.
"Ah" Remus nodded, he figured Harry's uncle and aunt hadn't bothered with it "You look very down about it" he stated.
Harry simply shrugged "Not really..." he walked over to the edge of the bridge. It was more of a corridor than a bridge really, except that it was outdoors. It had a bordering wall and above the bordering walls were decorative glassless windows. Remus remembered hanging out on the very bridge with James, Sirius and Peter all those years ago. Oh the chaos one could cause on a bridge that was suspending hundreds of feet off the ground.
Harry put a hand on either side of one of the windows and looked out into the distance "Professor....can I ask you something...?" he muttered nervously. He looked as though he was debating on whether he should tell his teacher what was on his mind or not.
Remus walked over and put a hand at the window at Harry's right. He leaned on his side as he looked keenly at the boy "You want to know why I stopped you from facing that boggart, yes?" he smiled warmly.
Harry nodded.
"I would have thought the answer was obvious, I assumed it would take the shape, of Voldemort" Remus answered honestly.
"I did think of Voldemort...at first" Harry said softly "But then I remembered that night on the train...the dementor."
Remus looked at him thoughtfully "Well, I'm very impressed. I'd suggest that what you fear the most is fear itself." Of course, leave it to James's kid to go off and do something heroic like fear, fear itself Remus mentally smiled. "This is very wise" he added.
"Before I fainted...I heard something" Harry said, sounding even more hesitant now "A woman...screaming."
"Well, dementors force us to relive our very worst memories. Our pain becomes their power" Remus answered with a sigh. It really, does, believe me I know.
And then all of a sudden Harry stated "I think it was my mother."
Remus fought very hard to keep his jaw from falling open, and his heart from shattering into a million pieces. He did not, see that coming. Not one bit. His mother...Lily screaming? Could he have relived the memory of when Lily and James gave their lived for him?
"...The night she was murdered" Harry added, confirming Remus's suspicions.
Remus suddenly felt like he was 22 again and Dumbledore had just given him the news of James and Lily's deaths and he felt just as he did when he broke down in front of Dumbledore all those years ago. He now put both his hands on the edges of the window and leaned against it, staring out into the distance in a much more thoughtful way than Harry had been.
"You know the very first time I saw you Harry, I recognized you immediately" Remus stated. He turned his head to see the boy's reaction. And found Harry looking down with an expression that said "Of course you recognized me, everyone recognizes me."
"Not by your scar, by your eyes. Their your mother, Lily's" he added, speaking his mind.
He smiled almost undetectably at the look Harry gave him. A very curious look, the look every other 13 year old wore when they were interested. Except Harry's was so serious and yet so innocent at the same time. Remus felt as though he was finally staring at 13 year old school boy Harry Potter, not The-Boy-Who-Lived.
"Yes, oh yes, I knew her" Remus said as he took his hands off the window and walked to the other side of the bridge. Maybe it was to hide the emotion that overpowered him at the thought of Lily. Maybe it was so he wouldn't have to stare at her eyes as he spoke of her. Which ever it was, it caused Remus to put his hands onto the window across from Harry, and look out into the distance once more. "Your mother was there for me at a time when no one else was"
"Hey Remus!" the voice of 21 year old Lily Potter came to Remus Lupin's ears. He looked up as she came over and sat on the park bench next to him "How's it going?"
"Ok...I guess..." Remus muttered "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, me?" Lily said, the smile still plastered to her beautiful face "I'm here with James and Sirius, they're over on that side somewhere" she gestured wildly over Remus's shoulder "I saw you and decided to say hi!"
Remus simply sighed.
"What's wrong Remus?" Lily asked in a concerned voice.
"Nothing...I...it's just that..." Remus struggled with his words "James and Sirius have been a bit distant lately...I mean it's the height of the war Lily! What would they want to distance themselves now of all times?"
"Oh, don't worry about them" Lily said putting a hand on his shoulder "You of all the people should know not to mind them. They'll get over it eventually...believe me."
"Really?' Remus raised a brow sceptically.
"They will, hang on-JAMES!" Lily called over Remus's shoulder. And despite being half way across the park, James immediately turned to the sound of his wife's voice. Lily gestured for him to come. She noticed him say something to Sirius, and then Sirius say something back before they began to walk over.
"What is it Lily-er...oh hey Remus..." James said as he approached them.
"Hey Moony" Sirius greeted as well.
"Hey..." Remus said barely looking up at his friends.
"So...um....when the next moon?" Sirius asked breaking a rather awkward silence.
"The moon comes out every day you nitwit" Remus muttered out of instinct. He gasped a little as soon as he realized what he had said however.
Sirius gave a dry laugh "Oh...right."
"What he means is, full moon is tonight isn't it?" James corrected.
Remus nodded.
"So...we'll meet at the usual place?" Sirius offered.
"Yeah...yeah we will" Remus smiled.
"You boys do that, I'm going to head home" Lily smiled "I'm beat."
"You sure you don't want to hang around?" Sirius asked.
Lily just nodded "You guys need some time" she smiled "I'll see you all tomorrow morning then. And Remus better be with you, I don't care if he's a half beaten up werewolf, he's still coming over for breakfast."
"Got it" James nodded with a smile.
"Bye then" she said before she disaparated. She managed to give Remus an enormous smile before she left.
And Remus was so grateful that all he could do was return it.
"Not only was she a singularly gifted witch, she was also uncommonly kind"
"Remus?" 15 year old Lily Evans said as she came up behind Remus Lupin. She had just entered the library and saw her friend sitting at a table, studying.
"Oh, hi Lily" Remus smiled looking up from his textbook.
"What are you doing here so late?" Lily asked a she sat down next to him.
"Oh you know....studying...my potions O.W.L is in a few days and I'm loosing it" Remus sighed "It's the only subject that I'm below perfect in."
"Oh, well I'm pretty good in potions..." Lily said "Why don't I tutor you?"
"That sounds pretty good" Remus smiled.
"Good, why don't we start tomorrow after class?" Lily asked "For now, you look like you need some sleep."
"Yeah, I do" Remus laughed drowsily.
"She had a way of seeing the beauty in others, even and perhaps most especially when that person couldn't see it themselves"
"Remus! There you are! James and Sirius have been going crazy looking for you!" 14 year old Lily Evans cried as she ran up to Remus. He sat at the edge of a lake, simply staring down at it. Lily sat down next to him.
"Remus?"
"I'm sorry if I...caused you to worry" Remus said softly, not taking his eyes off the running water.
"Remus, what's wrong? Why did you run off like that?" Lily asked in a concerned tone.
"I just...I don't know Lily...I...when Peter told me I'd killed that fox last night..." Remus trailed off.
"Oh come on Remus, it was just a fox. And you weren't even in your right mind!" Lily protested.
"So? I still killed it! I mean if I can kill that fox then it's a matter of time before I attack one of you guys" Remus sighed pathetically "I'm a monster."
"Remus, don't say that!" Lily cried "You are not a monster! The wolf is, not you! And don' t you tell me it's the same thing because it's not! You're no monster Remus, you are a kind caring, brilliant person. And I don't think I know a single soul purer than yours!"
Remus took a minute to allow the rant of compliments to sink "You really mean all that?"
"Of course I do!" Lily nodded "You are such a good person, Remus that I can't describe it in words, and you have to believe me on that one."
Remus opened his mouth to speak but was cut off as Lily gave him a comforting sisterly hug.
"You are an amazing person and don't you ever forget it."
Remus could only smile.
"And your father...James on the other hand..." Remus trailed off as his pensive expression was replaced by a grin. He chuckled, oh how to describe, James....Hilarious...
"JAMES POTTER I AM GOING TO BRUTALLY AND PAINFULLY MURDER YOU!" the sound of 13 year old Sirius Black's voice screamed from the boy's dormitory.
From the Gryffindor common room, James broke out in sudden laughter.
"Do I want to know what you did to him?" Remus asked trying to suppress a grin.
"Just watch" James grinned " He should be here in 5....4...3...2...and-"
"POTTER!" Sirius burst through the common room entrance his face red with rage and his hair....blue?
Remus immediately cracked up at the sight of his friend.
"Ok, not funny Lupin!" Sirius growled.
"Oh...so...funny!" James shouted through his own laughter.
"Ah, but you just watch Prongs, I'm gonna get you for this. You just watch" Sirius warned, a sly smile coming over his own face.
"Alright, whatever you say blue hair" James laughed.
And as Sirius growled once more, Remus broke into even more laughter.
Embarrassing...
"Oh, come on Moony, just tell her!" 15 year old James Potter cried.
"No! She is way out of my league....way" Remus sighed, glancing down the Gryffindor table to a certain young lady for about the tenth time in the past minute.
"Aw, lookit Moony the love sick puppy" Sirius taunted playfully.
"Shut up Padfoot" Remus muttered.
"If you want me to shut up you'll have to go ask her out" Sirius grinned.
Remus groaned "I just can't. I'm too-"
"If you say dangerous I'm going to force Peter to transform and eat you alive" Sirius threatened.
Remus sighed and buried his face in his arms.
"Ok, that's it. I can't stand watching you sulk over her any more. I'm going to do something about this. Now" James said slamming his palms on the table.
"No!" Remus's eyes widened "No,no, no James, please don't-"
But it was too late, James had already gotten up and stood up on his seat. He then looked down the table straight to Nicole Anthos and screamed off the top of his lungs the following:
"YO NICKI ! YEAH! OVER HERE! LISTEN, YOU KNOW REMUS LUPIN FROM ASTRONOMY?! HE THINKS YOU HAVE NICE EYES!"
That was as far as James got before Remus grabbed his leg and pulled him down "James, I am going to kill you!"
But Remus was cut off as Nicole Anthos came up behind him and cleared her throat nervously...
Despicable...
"Remus, move your arm dammit!" James growled as he leaned further towards Remus.
"For Merlin's sake Prongs, just do your own worksheet! It's not that hard!" Remus sighed "At this rate you're going to fail right out of your history classes!"
"Yeah, yeah, as long as you'll be my best friend forever and ever I'll never have to worry" James said hurriedly as he took down the answer for number nine.
Remus simply rolled his eyes.
Caring...
"Hey Moony, how's it going" 17 year old James Potter said as he entered the empty dormitory, set aside Remus. The latter sat on the window sill, leags curled close to his body.
When Remus failed to answer James's question, he frowned. "Hey, Moony!"
Remus jerked out of his thoughts and turned to his friend "Oh...hey James..."
"What's wrong Remus?" James frowned as he approached his friend.
"Nothing..." Remus sighed.
"Come on, I know something's wrong. What is it?" James asked softly as he sat on the window sill across from his friend, just so their feet touched.
"I...well I got an owl this morning" Remus muttered peering out the window "My uncle's passed away. Some crazed dementor attack got to him."
"Aw, Moony, I'm sorry" James looked apologetic "Was she your mum's brother?"
Remus simply nodded.
"Have you talked to her about it?" James asked carefully.
Remus shook his head.
"I think you should owl her back. I'm sure she's just as bad as you are right now, if not worse" James advised "I mean, I know she's got your dad-mind he is the first person I'd want if I needed comforting
Remus remained silent for a long time, and James allowed him time alone to his thoughts.
"I feel terrible" Remus stated plainly.
"I know Moony.." with that, James gently reached over and pulled his friend into a brotherly hug "I know."
Remus could have thought of a million and one things to describe James....however he decided simply to go with "He had a certain, shall we say, talent for trouble."
"A talent..." Remus turned to face Harry and saw the boy doing the same "Rumor has it, he passed on to you" he said as he walked back to Harry's side.
He felt a sort of happiness spill over inside of him as he saw Harry look down and smile. Remus looked down as well, wearing almost the same smile.
He sighed as he saw Harry reach over and rubbed the back of his neck slowly. Just like James. James used to do that all the time whenever he was feeling particularly light or happy.
"You're more like them than you know" Remus said softly, returning his gaze to the horizon "In time you'll come to see just how much."
The two stood in silence for a long time. Remus drowning in his fondest memories and Harry wondering about the things his professor had told him.
After a while however Remus spoke up "Well, Harry, if you're not doing anything, then why don't you come with me to my office? Have nice cup of tea? Examine the new shipment of grindylows maybe?"
Harry smiled up at him "I think I'd like that."
Remus returned the smile and together they set off to his office. Though most of the trip was in silence, it was a comfortable one. Not awkward in the least...an Remus liked it that way. He got the feeling he was finally getting somewhere with Harry.
Once they had reached Remus's office, he pulled out an old kettle and tapped it with his wand, making some instant tea. Meanwhile Harry examined the large tank at the corner of the office. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns, had it's face pressed against the glass. It pulled faces at Harry and flexed it's long spindly fingers.
"Water demon" Remus said as he began to pour the tea "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him. Not after the kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong but very brittle."
The grindylow bared it's green teeth at Harry and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner of the tank.
"Here is your tea, Harry" Remus said holding out a cup. Harry walked over and took the cup. He seated himself in front of Remus's desk where Remus sat down himself.
They both sipped at their tea a bit before Remus noticed a rather distressed look come over Harry's face. "Anything worrying you, Harry?" he asked gently.
"No..." Harry muttered and then quickly said "Yes." He put his tea down on Remus's desk. "Professor...why do the dementors affect me so?" he blurted out "I mean more than everyone else?"
"Listen, the dementors are among the foulest creatures to walk this earth" Remus said setting his tea down as well "They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory until the person is left with absolutely nothing but his worst experiences."
"You are not weak" he stated strongly "The dementors affect you most of all because there are true horrors in your past. Horrors that most can scarcely imagine. You have nothing to be ashamed of" Remus said looking away.
Harry looked up and tried to meet his teacher's gaze "I'm scared, Professor."
"Well I'd consider you a fool if you weren't" Remus chuckled.
"I need to know how to fight them" said Harry "You could teach me...you made that dementor on the train go away...!"
"It was only one that night..." Remus protested, knowing where this was going. Harry was asking to teach him the Patronus Charm. But that was a very advanced piece of magic, a bit dangerous for a third year(Remus himself had learned it in his third year and he knew the effects it had.)
"But you made it go away..." Harry insisted. The look on his face was unbearable. He was truly afraid of these dementors...they made him suffer. And Remus simply couldn't allow Harry to go through that...
"Well, I don't pretend to be...an expert, Harry..." Remus sighed "But as the dementors have developed a particular interest in you..." he chuckled softly "Perhaps I should teach you."
Harry smiled broadly.
At that moment there was a knock on the door.
"Come in" Remus called.
The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carried a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing.
"Ah, Severus" Remus said smiling, relieved that his wolfsbane was finally complete for the month. Full moon was in a single night's time and he always liked to be safe. "Thanks very much. Could you leave it over here on the desk for me?"
Snape set the goblet down, his eyes wandering between Remus and Harry.
"I was just showing Harry my grindylow" Remus said pleasantly, pointing at the tank.
"Fascinating" Snape said without even looking at it "You should drink that immediately, Lupin."
"Yes, yes I will" said Remus.
"I made an entire cauldron full" Snape continued "Should you need more."
"I probably will tomorrow. Thanks very much Severus."
"Not at all" Snape said, but there was a certain look in his eyes that neither Remus nor Harry seemed to like very much. But Snape simply backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful.
Remus noticed Harry look curiously at the goblet. He smiled "Professor Lupin has kindly concocted a potion for me" he said, trying to sound as normal as possible. He knew Harry was wondering what the potion was for, and Remus was bound to do his best to make it look like anything but a potion for werewolves.
"I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex" he picked up the goblet and sniffed it "Pity...sugar makes it useless" he added taking a sip and shuddering. Pity indeed. The wolfsbane potion tasted so disgusting it was almost as bad as the transformation itself.
"Why-?" Harry began. Remus simply looked at him and answered the unfinished question.
"I've been feeling a bit off-color" he said "This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't very many wizards who are up to making it." And as Remus took another sip, he vaguely wondered why Harry looked as though he was about to jump up and knock the goblet out of his hand.
"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts" Harry blurted out.
"Really?" Remus said as though he had never heard that one before.
"Some people reckon-" Harry hesitated, then plunged recklessly on "Some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defense Against The Dark Arts Job."
Remus mentally laughed. Why did he get the impression that Harry thought Snape was trying to poison him? He drained the goblet and pulled a face. Well it tasted terrible so it had to be normal.
"Disgusting" he thought out loud "Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you at the feast later" he said trying to avoid a conversation as awkward as Snape trying to kill him.
"Right" Harry said, putting down his empty teacup. He stood up "Thanks again, Professor."
And the enormous smile he gave Remus just before he walked out of the office was enough to light up his entire day.
HP
HP******HP
HP
So, how was that? I hope the flashbacks where ok =] Actually if you guys could do me a favor if you review, can you tell me if the flashbacks where good? Because I like writing things like that and I'll stop if they don't flow with the story.
Please Review! =]