Hey everyone,
So I decided to postpone Harry's training until next month as I felt I needed to do the dark side of Hermione and Lupin justice one last time and create one last confrontation between those two and those they care about. Not to mention that, thinking back on Fifth year, made me wonder about something, something that is just one word.
Wrong,

Venquine1990


Chapter 18
Final Confrontations

5th of January 1996
Unknown Location, England
Harry's POV

I arrived back at my home and instantly felt like going back to Hogwarts as Granger was actually waiting for me and the look on her face proved that she hasn't changed from when I confronted her weeks ago. But I stick to what I discussed with Ron and before the girl can do more than open her mouth, do I state:
"Do I feel proud that I pulled the same crap you did several times during meetings? No! Did you need to learn how that feel, learn what it feels like to be in my shoes? Yes. Did I believe that you would just try and take over the lesson, even though you voted meleader back in November? Yes. Did others of the DA agree with me. All of them."
The girl looks at me shocked and I say: "Antony Goldstein, someone I consider nothing more than an acquaintance, noticed every last act of mine that proves I have anxiety issues and claustrophobia. He even mentioned them all and when I told him that you just thought it part of me being me, he shook his head and called that wrong.
A complete stranger, someone I only shared a few classes and hardly any words with over the last four and a half years, knows me better and has a better understanding of what should and should not be part of my person and character than the person who was there with me when the entire school turned against me.

What does that say about you and our friendship, Hermione? Other than that I am better off ending it off right here and now. Because there is one factor in all this that makes me doubtful of the genuine strength of our bond. The fact that, even before Umbridge came into the picture, you probably already knew this about me.
So it's not whatever she cursed you with that made you accept these mental, emotional illnesses of mine as part of me; that was you. That was all you and only you. Now you tell me, Hermione Jeanne Granger, what friend accepts it that their friend has mental and/or emotional illnesses and think they are just part of his character.
And yes, Hermione, I am willing to admit that this is partly my fault as I have trouble trusting adults and don't easily open up. But you do not have that same problem and you proved that when you went behind my back – behind my back – to tell McGonagall about my Firebolt." By now I am just angrily frowning at her and say:

"You're considered the smartest witch your age, Hermione, but you never thought to come up with a discussion to convince me that I should get these illnesses and issues fixed. You never thought of a way to trick me into going to the Hospital Wing for it. And you never thought to mention it to Pomfrey when I was in the Wing.
So for all your smarts, you accepted knowledge without using it. And this was knowledge that needed to be used, for your friend's sake. And the fact that you didn't, Hermione, for four years straight, because I will not take the last few months into account due to Umbridge, says a lot about the kind of friend you are.

And until I got Sirius and my siblings back, Hermione, I was okay with that. Not because I wanted to, but because I felt I had no other choice. Because I didn't think anyone outside of you, Ron and the other Weasleys would want me. Because my issues made me complacent and accept people, even if they weren't right for me.
So unless you can, once you've been healed, prove that you care for me and want what's best for me, which does include helping me past my issues instead of just accepting them or treating me like a toddler or a puppet on strings –." And without saying it, do I just turn around, not willing to look at the silently raging girl one more second.
"IF YOU WALK OUT THAT DOOR, HARRY JAMES POTTER, THEN WE ARE THROUGH AND YOU WILL NEVER –!""That's exactly what he meant." Ron snaps at her, silencing her as I walk out of the room, Lily standing on the other side of the door and putting her hand on my shoulder as she says: "Let's train."

In the meantime
Inside the Port Key Room
Ron's POV

The girl looks shocked as I tell her that Harry is doing exactly as she is threatening and the girl snaps: "Harry would never –.""Harry might not have the self-preservation skills to put his own health above the safety of the students, Hermione, but he does have the self-preservation of knowing how to pick his friends.
And you? Well, the longer you have been treating Harry like this. As if you are the Headmistress and he is just a First Year Hufflepuff outcast that only knows how to break the rules. The more you yourself have been burning the bridge that was once the friendship between you and him. You are the one at fault here, Hermione, not Harry.
And the fact that you can't accept that, that you keep on trying to put the blame elsewhere, that you think yourself above fault, that is what Harry can no longer accept. He is no longer able to accept that you don't want him as your friend, but as your scapegoat. And the worst of it all, that makes you no better than everyone else out there!"

The girl looks at me flabbergasted, but I turn my face and say: "Leave us, will you?""We'll be outside." The three chorus, proving that they don't trust the girl enough to head for their own rooms. The three leave and when the door closes behind them, do I just turn to Hermione, showing no anger, but sadness and confusion.
This seems to throw the girl off course and I ask: "Why, Hermione? Why are you repeating my mistake?" The girl looks shocked and I say: "I made this same mistake last year, remember? I've been in your shoes. I had my stupid jealousy to blame, but you? You don't have anything but yourself and your ego to blame.
Harry has nothing you don't have as well. You're both greatly talented, you're both incredibly smart, you're both loved by various teachers and others, you both have your morals and your hearts set on the right path, you both care for the students at large, you both hate bullies. You have so much in common, so why are you so against him?"

The girl seems unable to find an answer and I say: "The only reason I can think of, other than the curses that are surely on you as Umbridge confessed to this under Veritaserum, is that you think you're losing your friend to either the upcoming war or even everyone else that has now come to be part of Harry's life.
And if that's the case, Hermione, then in case of the first, you have all rights to be afraid. Harry is Voldemort's main target and now, probably Pitch's too. But when it comes to the latter, you just prove Harry right again and that you really don't know him. Because I might not be like him, Hermione, like you are, but I know one thing about him.
Harry's heart, while scarred and hurt and sometimes emotionally bleeding, is huge. It's large enough he'd be able to be friends with everyone in Hogwarts – and never have anyone feel left out. And my family proves that, Hermione. I mean, look at how different we all are. And yet Harry accepts each of us for who we are and is friendly with us.
It's not Harry who is ending your friendship with him, because he might die in this upcoming war or because he now has others that are growing close to him. It's you that is ending the friendship, because you'd rather be selfish and keep the one person who is so like you – to yourself. But you answer me this one question, Hermione."

The girl is now biting her lip, tears showing in her eyes and yet the look in her eyes proving she doesn't want to let them spill and I ask: "After everything Harry's been through, various traumas for saving the school, almost dying three times over in three years, being witness to murder and dark magic – does he really deserve that?
Or does he deserve for everyone he ever cared for – to care for him as well?" And with that do I leave the girl in the room, hoping beyond hope that she will think this one through and that she will come to the right conclusion. "It's the only way she might have a chance of getting back to being friends with Harry, once she gets healed, that is."

I then spot the twins and Ginny standing with Lupin on the other side, the man frowning in anger and concern for Hermione as he sees me come out and yet the twins beat him to what I just know would have been a rant and ask: "How'd it go?" I shrug and answer: "I gave her a heart to heart and asked her the one question she needs to answer – to herself."
"And what would that be?" Lupin snaps and I glare at him as I repeat myself. "After everything Harry's been through, various traumas for saving the school, almost dying three times over in three years, being witness to murder and Dark Magic – does he really deserve you treating him like this? or does he deserve the support – of those he cares for?
Because like Hermione with both her rational and irrational fears, you're letting your fears of being a werewolf and of your friends thinking Harry more important than you or Harry not wanting you because there was never any real contact between you two get the better of you and create this even bigger gap between you all.

But here's the truth, Lupin, like when you were a student and made friends, there are more people who give less than a Knut about your illness. You're just so used listening to the big people that you've made yourself deaf to the rest of them, the ones that matter. The ones became Animagi for you and the ones that loved your teaching.
As for James, Lily or Sirius thinking Harry more important than you, I'll tell you the same thing I told Hermione, because what applies to Harry obviously applies to them as well. Lily and James and Sirius could befriend the entirety of the Order and the Ministry and still make sure no one feels left out – and their son/brother is no other.
You know this as well as I do, you're just so stuck in your own little pity party that you think everyone else has it better than you and that no one else deserves to complain about things. But for Merlin's sake. You remember what you yelled at him when you two had your argument? Because I sure do and I wasn't even there.
I heard you, Lupin, I heard you right through that door. But like you, I once made the mistake of looking at Harry and only seeing the wrong things about him. Like me, you don't see an orphan longing for love after having been abused for the better part of his young life. You see an inheritance -you yourself never told him about."

By now Lupin has taken several steps away from my family, who have come to stand behind me, yet the way that we are now standing disgusts me as it almost seems as if Lupin and I are on opposite sides. "When it comes to morals and Harry and his rights, I guess we are." I think, hating the thought with a searing passion.
"You're the problem, Lupin, and so is the better part of this bloody magical society. You all love it so much to put the blame of your own action – or in your case, inaction – on an innocent teenager, just because you got your wands so high up your asses, you're no longer able to reach for them anymore – and then I'm saying it friendly."
This shocks both my mum who had come to see what was going on, Lupin and the twins. Yet I glare at him as I decide to put the final nail down onto his coffin as I say: "And the worst? You have had the picture perfect chance to finally get together with a vital part of the past you love so much, and you just kept blowing it.
You've had the chance to grow close to Harry every time you were on guard duty this last year and –." But then suddenly I realize what I am saying and remember. Remember the fireplace talk with Sirius after Umbridge attacked Hedwig. Remember what was being said about our meeting at the Hogs Head. About Harry still being watched.
"That didn't stop after, it couldn't have. But Harry and my siblings and I have been using the Map for weeks now. So how –?" And then I remember it and it pisses me off. I glare at Lupin with pure hatred and hiss: "You filthy, no-good hypocrite. You really care less than nothing about Harry." The man looks shocked and confused.

I turn away from him and ask: "Harry and his family training in his room?" Mum still seems shocked at hearing me curse and yet holding it back and just nods. I nod back and move over to where Harry's room is, knocking and waiting for his word before I come in. Harry stops what he is doing the minute he sees the look on my face.
"Lupin?" He asks and I answer: "In ways that make me hope to Salazar Slytherin himself that I'm wrong." And this seems to really concern my best friend. "Remember the second and Third of September, mate? How you were checking your trunk to see if Seamus hadn't done something and were missing your Map?
How you found it again, in the exact same spot you always put it on the Third?" Harry nods, yet seems confused as to why I'm asking this. Unlike Sirius, who growls: "That no-good stinking bastard better not have.""It's the only way I can explain us not knowing Harry was being watched this last year. After all –."

Here I turn to the twins and they too look furious, yet they comply. "It shows everyone.""Where they are.""What they're doing.""Every minute.""Of every day." I turn back and say: "And yet, for all the times that we used it to get the DA safely in and out of the RoR, we never spotted anyone. Now I will admit that can have two reasons.
Reason #1, the Order was smart enough not to watch Harry when he was teaching, so they'd have an alibi against knowing what he was up to in case either they or he would be caught in the act. However, reason #2, which works with the fact that Harry's map was missing for a whole day, is that Lupin stole and enchanted it."
"And if I know that no-good werewolf, he's going to use the excuse that he made the map to pardon his actions." Sirius growls and Lily snaps: "Too bad that doesn't excuse him from breaking into my brother's trunk or taking something out of it without my brother's permission. He may have made it, but Harry now owns it."

"Is there a way we can check this?" Harry asks and I can tell that he seems to have some kind of underlying reason behind his question. "Hand us the map." James says and Harry does as said, moving over to his trunk and plucking it out of the same spot he always puts it, which just further confirms my beliefs on what happened to it.
By now Lupin and mum have also joined us up here and I can tell that Lupin is working very hard not to blanch or show fright. "The bastard did. I don't believe this." I think and Lupin tries to call out to the other two Potters. "It was in Harry's trunk – and you never asked if you could go into that trunk, Lupin, so don't even bother."
James growls, showing that he is on the verge of changing into his Animagus form and that he is working his hardest not to do this. Yet Lupin seems in the belief that he can still get a chance and walks even closer, his eyes still beseeching James and Sirius to see things his way. And then I suddenly notice it.

Harry is looking between James, Sirius and Lupin and anguish, pain and regret is growing in his eyes. "I'm sorry." He whispers at them and suddenly steps forward, putting himself between Lupin and the other two. The man steps back at this and looks like he's about to get angry, yet Harry just looks at him as if he's looking right through him.
"You will hurt and betray my family no more, Lupin, or attempt to break them from me. They cared for you, but you grew to only care for yourself and your own desires. I – I cannot allow you to corrupt them." Harry says and he crosses his arms, his hands flat to the sides before stretching them wide – and instantly I respond.
I grab the twins by the arms and dash to stand behind Harry just as his arms get spread wide and a huge barrier that is in the same colors as Harry's new cloths appears from his hands, spreading room width and creating a magical wall between the Guardian and those he desires to protect with the same strength they did all those years ago.

Lupin looks at this shocked and then glares at Harry, yet I turn to James, who has the Map in his hands and his palm on the front as he says: "Uncover your mysteries, reveal your secrets, report your findings, show your results." And these seem to be the magic words that actually cause for a different feature of the Map to appear.
Instead of the many, many thin lines of a quill that cross and flow across the paper, creating walls, floors and other parts of the majestic castle that is Hogwarts, does a list appear from the top left that goes down, numbers at the front of the line that show a date and letters behind it, showing what happened to it on that date.
Most of the lines describe all of the times Harry and the rest of us opened and closed the Map for the sake of the DA, but then we reach the last time and a gap appears before September and the date of the second gets shown, together with two simple sentences that I now, after the last few weeks, recognize to be in James' handwriting.
Cursed to be of inconvenience to my son. Cursed to hide those my son has a right, as my son, to trust. James reads this out loud and glares at Lupin, who looks shocked as he says: "I didn't curse –." But James holds up the Map, showing his handwriting for the werewolf to see. And this seems to indeed be the final nail on the coffin.

The man takes on a completely new and different stance, one that instantly sets me on edge and makes me glad we are so well-protected, not just by Harry, but by the defenses of the manor itself. The amber in his eyes also starts to darken, yet it stands out more as it seems as if a wild sense of determination has taken over the man.
"Fine then, if that's how you see it, then I guess this is it. I am done fighting this useless, pointless battle. I'd say it's time I rejoin my master; the mentor that came to me when I was about to lose myself to my grief." This really doesn't sound right to me and I take on the stance Harry taught us at one of the DA meetings as I ask:
"And who would that be?" The man grins at me and snarks: "Who else? The one person who understands what true fear feels like. Master Pitch Black." This shocks us all, even Harry though he instantly seems to put even more power behind the shield, his need to see his family safe from this traitor only too understandable.

Especially seeing as how Lupin is now smirking at both Lily and James and says: "A shame, really, we could have made the greatest team yet. The ideas that Pitch gave me for the Marauders if Voldemort hadn't taken you from me, trust me, you would have loved them." And the look in his eyes makes me think:
"This isn't Lupin anymore. Pitch hit him when he was at his weakest and now he's nothing but a puppet. He told him sweet little tricks and little white lies, just to exchange his grief and pain for empty emotions that he could use to control the guy. Heck, seeing his fear for the world knowing of his illness; that must've been a feast for Pitch."
But then I notice it. Harry's not looking at Lupin, he's looking at my brothers and me. Or better said, the spots in his barrier that we are right in front of. I look at these parts closely and notice it. At the parts where we have our wands and arms, the wall is thicker, to the point that I can't even see the other side. Instantly I get it.

"You're standing with the very reason you were taken from me and you don't even care. Well, fine, have it your way. I know you three well enough, especially now. Pitch – and probably Voldemort too – will be only too happy –.""STUPEFY!""EXPELLIARMUS!""INCARCEOUS!" My brothers and I shout as one.
And the minute the first syllable of my spell leaves my lips, does Harry react, lowering his arms and dropping the shield. And this combination of shouts and sudden freedom shocks Lupin so much, he is only able to block my spell and dodge Fred's, but George's rope tying spell hits him dead on, tying him up head to foot.
The man struggles and growls, sounding like a werewolf more than he did when he transformed several years ago and at the same time I can't help but think: "Talk about déjà vu." As this feels very much like when Snape did the same to him in the Shack. And Harry seems to think the same, if going by the look he sends me.
"Sandman? Tooth?" He suddenly asks, which confuses me, but the two do come in, looking shocked and yet on attention a second later. Harry looks first at Sandman and then motions for Lupin with his eyes and then turns to Tooth and asks one question I never even thought of: "How much can you influence a child's memories?"

An hour later
In some Alley
Remus' POV

Alone. I'm – I'm all alone. I've always been alone. I got the chance to go to Hogwarts and study, but even there I was alone. Even though I shared a dorm with three incredible people, it was always them and never me. I was always alone, never part of their group, of their activities. I shared a dorm with them, but never knew a thing about them.
And now I wander the streets, feeling lost in the fact that I am so alone, my inner wolf craving for a pack I just cannot form. I feel like going to someone, someone who – at one point – seemed able to defy my sense of loneliness, but for some reason I don't feel like that's a good idea, as if bad things will happen if I do.

"What are you doing here, my precious little wolf?" I then hear that familiar voice ask, the one voice that ever made me not feel alone and I turn to him, dressed in his long black robe that makes him blend in with the shadows to the point it's near impossible to see where they end and where he begins and I say:
"The same thing I always am, looking for a way not to feel lonely." The man seems confused by this and asks: "What about your friend Sirius? Or the Order of the Phoenix? Don't tell me they kicked you out?" Yet I feel nothing but confused as I ask: "What are you talking about? The Order doesn't want me, no one does."
The man glares and says: "Stand still." Which confuses me, but I comply. The man goes to stand face to face with me, his long nose almost touching mine and his eyes beseeching my own, as if he's looking for something. I feel his magic within me and then the man jumps back, cursing in a language I can't understand.
"That no-good fairy. How did she find out about me?" He growls and I ask: "Fairy? What? What do you mean?" But the man seems not to care for me as he says: "Oh Remus, my poor, poor puppy. You best look up, this will be the last moon you will ever see." And while it confuses me, do I do as said – never seeing the green light shot my way.

Poor Remus,
So yeah, that happened. Remus is – well dead – and now Pitch knows that he is without spies in the Order, that there is no way he can influence anyone within the Order anymore as he knows Tooth Fairy will use her control over their memories to erase any vital information. But how will the order respond to Remus having been murdered?
They'll fight, that's how,

Venquine1990
PS. Please know that Lupin WILL be back, just not for long. His death HAS a purpose, I promise.