Chapter 2
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter.
When Remus walks into his class room for his first class, he's nervous, very nervous.
Then, he notices a charm on his chair that would have had the legs turn to jelly the moment he sat down. He wordlessly banishes the charm before he sits down, noticing the looks of surprise on the Weasley Twins' faces. He'd been warned about them.
Of course, ten minutes in and he's thwarted six attempts to pull one over on him, that seems a bit excessive, even for what he's heard of them.
After everything they've set up is gone, they move on to trying to subtly set new things up or hit him with jinxes and hexes directly. All in good fun of course, he's actually enjoying seeing their growing determined expressions each time he catches something.
By the end of the lesson, the large majority of his students seem happy to have him teaching them.
"Fred, George, would you mind staying behind please," Remus requests lightly, they exchange looks and walk up, classmates muttering as they try to guess what the twins could have possibly already done.
"Yes Professor?"
"I must give you credit for your perseverance, thirty-six unique attempts to haze me, I'm impressed."
"We don't know what you mean, Sir."
"Of course not." Fred and George exchange looks.
"In fact, we solemnly swear that were not up to no good," Fred says, Remus' eyes widen slightly and the twins know they have the right man.
"Well, then I suppose no mischief was managed." They all share a secret smile before Remus nods, "You may go."
"How were your first lessons Remus?" Minerva asks him at lunch, he smiles.
"Well, I met Fred and George," He says, looking amused, the other teachers look intrigued and exasperated.
"What did they do to 'welcome you to the school'?" Filius asks.
"I can assure you that no such nonsense was pulled in my class."
"Thwarted them at every turn?" McGonagall guesses, he nods.
"Somehow, I am not surprised you were able to notice and anticipate them," Dumbledore tells him, Remus gives him a sheepish look.
"I do hope I don't have to remind you that you are an adult and Professor now."
"Honestly Minerva, I'm not going to get them back," Remus replies, sounding rather affronted.
"I had to be sure." Remus sighs, conceding the point. Of course, now that she's mentioned it all these ideas are going through his head.
Don't be an idiot, don't be an idiot, don't be an idiot.
Later in the week he teaches the third years for the first time. Harry and his friends are looking forward to it, especially after receiving glowing endorsements from everyone Remus had taught so far, and the look of respect the Twins gave him. Remus, though…Remus is nervous. He wants more than anything to do well and is nervous about stuffing up. What if he does terribly? He's surprised about how much he wants Harry to like him. Besides, he's still trying to win over Ron. He couldn't help but overhear the conversation between Hermione and Ron in the compartment on the train thanks to his lycanthropic hearing. He's actually really glad and appreciative of Ron's suspicions, it means he genuinely cares for Harry and will look out for him. But it's left him with an inexplicable need to prove himself and gain the approval of Harry's friends. It seems pretty pathetic to him, trying to prove he deserves a place in his nephew's life. Not that I do. Escaped murderer coming to kill said nephew and I haven't even told Dumbledore about his Animagus form. Remus sighs to himself before realising he's running late.
The lesson goes well, though Snivellus is just as unpleasant as he remembers. To be so cruel to a student though, Remus tuts to himself as he sorts through his desk a bit. He's never been the tidiest of creatures, but this is ridiculous, even for him. Then McGonagall walks in.
"What is this I hear about you blowing Peeves up?" Remus frowns as he looks up in confusion.
"I can assure you, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Well, some idea, well…the rumour mill blowing an encounter I had with Peeves grossly out of proportion." She raises an eyebrow at him.
"Then what did happen?"
"I was merely trying to stop him from sticking chewing gum in a keyhole." She doesn't look convinced, "All right, I sent it flying into his nostril, but it worked all the same."
"Professor Lupin, you are meant to be setting an example to your class."
"With all due respect, Minerva, I'm not sure it's my example you should be concerned about."
"So you deny conjuring Severus in Mr Longbottom's clothing?"
"I do indeed, technically speaking Neville did." Minerva's face twitches, "We were working with Boggarts, it had to be something he'd find amusing based off of the boggart."
"What on Earth was his boggart?"
"Severus Snape." Minerva's eyes widen a fraction, "Which brings me back to my point. I'm not sure I'm the one you should be worrying about. You know he threatened to poison Trevor? Insulted Neville in front of the entire class, bad-mouthing him to another Professor in front of everyone, and the poor kid looked resigned to it all." McGonagall sighs.
"Remus, I am well aware the two of you don't get along, but –"
"That has nothing to do with this. My only concern here is the welfare of my students. Neville, of all people, should not be more afraid of his Potions' Master than anything else." Minerva sighs again, nodding.
"I will speak with Severus. You will take more care in what you say and do in front of your students. If I see one instance of flying chewing gum you'll be in detention, am I understood?" Remus sighs, nodding.
"Yes Professor."
"Good." With that she leaves, Remus pinches the bridge of his nose.
"She doesn't seem to trust you very much," A voice says from the doorway, Remus looks up to see Ginny Weasley.
"Ginny, can I help you wish something?" He asks kindly, she shakes her head.
"No, I just wanted to thank you. No one's ever stood up to Snape before except Harry, and even then it was in defence of himself. Neville's a nervous bloke, it's good to have someone else watching out for him too." Remus smiles at her.
"You seem like exactly the kind of friend he needs."
"I like to think so. I have a question, now that I think about it."
"Yes?"
"Why don't you and Snape get along?"
"Professor Snape, Ginny."
"Right, him." Remus bits back the smirk, he's not sure he succeeds if the look on her face is anything to go by.
"Severus and I went to school here together, we were in the same year. I'm afraid we never really got along. But we're adults now, we'll learn to work together." Ginny frowns.
"I don't think he's bitter," She says suddenly, he raises his eyebrows, "Everyone says he's a bitter old bully but, I don't think he's bitter. I think he's just sad and short-tempered. It's not the same as being bitter, not really. If I'm right, then maybe all he needs is a friend." Remus smiles at her.
"I'm not sure I'm really the right person to try and befriend him, Ginny." She shrugs.
"He's not going to get more irritable if you try." Remus nods.
"Very true."
"So, want to tell me why I just did that?" Ginny asks her older brother, Ron frowns thoughtfully as he looks out of a window in the abandoned classroom they are in.
"Don't mention this to anyone Gin." She shrugs.
"Okay, but don't forget you're getting Hermione to do my transfiguration essay." He nods dismissively, "And you promised Harry wouldn't be hurt by this."
"I'm not going to hurt my own best mate Ginny." She holds her hands up placatingly.
"Okay, okay. But whatever you're doing…be careful. There's more than one way to hurt someone."
Note:
Shorter chapter than I intended, but now I have some idea of where this is going, next chapter should be easier.
Hope it came out okay 😊
