Not mine.

Chapter 23- Tough Choice

Thankfully nobody mentioned what form the boggart took for Remus or how Harry hadn't faced it. That was the type of thing that usually was the talk of Hogwarts for days, but everyone seemed too excited by all they were learning. Nobody except Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle cared about the way Remus dressed anymore. Of course, not all of the teachers were as happy as the students, or at least one of them wasn't. Snape was sending Remus glares every time they saw each other, even worse than usual. Apparently he had heard about Neville's boggart. Since his dad needed the potion, Harry made sure to pay attention to every word Snape said and try extra hard in potions class.

Between classes and Quidditch practice it was Halloween almost before Harry realized it. Not that he ever looked forward to Halloween. This year it as even worse seeing all his friends leave for their first Hogsmead weekend, although they promised to bring him back plenty of sweets and joke items. After they left he decided he'd head to his dad's office, and found Remus making some tea.

"Harry? Where are the others?"

"Hogsmead," Harry answered simply.

"Oh. I am sorry, Cub."

"It's all right. I understand," he said quickly. As much as he wished he could go, he thought of his dad's boggart and how worried his dad was about him.

"Has anything besides Hogsmead been bothering you? You've seemed troubled ever since the boggart lesson."

"No-well, I have been wondering why you didn't let me face it. I could have handled it."

Remus looked surprised.

"I never had any idea you couldn't. I thought your boggart would take the shape of Voldemort after all you've been through. I didn't want there to be a panic."

"He did cross my mind, but then I thought of how I felt when that Dementor came on the train."

For some reason that seemed to please Remus.

"I'm impressed, son. That shows what you fear most is fear. That's very wise."

Harry wasn't sure what to say to that. Just then Snape came into the room holding a smoking goblet.

"Thank you Severus," Remus said kindly. Snape reminded him to drink the potion right away and that he'd have to drink another goblet full the next day, and once he had gone Remus started to drink it. Harry watched nervously as his dad made a face, knowing Snape could still be angry about the boggart. But then he thought of how Snape had kept him from being thrown from his broom and had gone to help him when he came out of the Chamber. As if reading his thoughts Remus said

"It's just the Wolfsbane potion. It tastes disgusting, but nothing to worry about. In fact I should be able to recover faster after this full moon."

Harry nodded. Even though he and the potions master still didn't exactly care for each other's company, he felt he could at least trust him. And if Snape could make things easier on his dad, add that to the list of things he owed him for.

The feast that year was wonderful. Not only was the food delicious, but the entertainment from the ghosts was the best anyone could remember. After the feast and some sweets from Hogsmead, it looked like just once Harry might have a happy Halloween. He headed up to Gryffindor tower with his friends only to find every other Gryffindor gathered outside the portrait of the Fat Lady. Those in back couldn't see what was happening and those in front looked unnerved by what they saw.

"How come nobody's going in?" someone asked.

"The Fat Lady's gone. It looks like someone attacked her portrait."

There was a general gasp, and Percy called for Dumbledore. The headmaster was about to ask Filch to search the paintings when Peeves started laughing.

"Do you know anything about this Peeves?" he asked. Besides the Bloody Baron, Dumbledore was the only one Peeves had any respect for, so the poltergeist answered.

"Saw her running through one of the landscapes, Your Headship. Ashamed to show herself. Messed up, she is."

"And who is responsible for this?"

"The one they all talk about. Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

The students had to spend the night in the Great Hall, even those from the other houses. There was plenty of talk about whether or not Black was still in the castle and how exactly he got in to begin with. Some were wondering if he'd Apparated, or flown in, but Hermione pointed out those theories were highly unlikely. Harry couldn't help wondering if Black had gotten in using his Animagus form. Would it take more than that to get past the Dementors? Probably not, or he couldn't have escaped from Azkaban.

He tried to remember what his dad had told him about the different passages from the school. He wasn't sure how many of them Filch knew about. One of them led to Honeydukes, which meant Black would be running a high risk of being caught if he used that one. His dad rarely mentioned Black, but from the little he'd heard of him Harry knew he was a risk taker. However, he also knew Black wasn't stupid. Harry highly doubted Black would take a chance that big.

The tunnel from the Shrieking shack was a possibility. Harry knew the Marauders had often used that one, but would Black dare to use a place anyone knew had been a sort of Marauder headquarters? Only Remus knew how the shack had been used years ago. Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey, and Snape knew Remus had used it of course, but as far as Harry knew they had no idea anyone else had ever been inside. He hoped it stayed that way. He didn't want his dad to get in trouble for what had happened all those years ago.

In his office, Remus was thinking almost the exact same things as his son. He couldn't shake the feeling Black had been using the talent he'd learned because of him. Remus knew he and Harry were the only ones alive who knew about Black being an Animagus, and Harry would never tell. He'd want to protect him and keep him out of trouble.

"But it's my job to protect him," he thought.

He'd been trying all day to convince himself Black had learned tricks from Voldemort, and that's what had let him get into the castle. Maybe that was the truth. Maybe Black was getting in even without transforming. But did he want to take that chance? If Harry had been inside the common room when Black had come and if the Fat Lady wouldn't have stood up to him and he'd gotten inside Harry could be either dead or kidnapped right now. And if Black got into the castle again, Remus knew he could never live with himself if he didn't do everything he could to prevent it. It wouldn't be easy. It would mean admitting he'd betrayed Dumbledore's trust for years. But he had to do it. He stepped out of his office and went looking for the headmaster. Crookshanks was prowling the halls and stopped to give Remus a dirty look.

"Don't look at me that way," Remus scolded the cat halfheartedly. "It's like you know I haven't done everything I could to protect Harry, but I'm on my way to solve that problem now."

Why was Crookshanks glaring at him with even more disapproval? He decided to ignore the cat, who went off probably looking for mice. Remus hoped he wasn't after Ron's pet Scabbers again. Remus hadn't looked properly at a rat ever since Peter died. Or a dog or a stag either for that matter. Too many memories.

In the Great Hall, he heard Dumbledore and Snape talking.

"What about the Astronomy Tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?"

Snape nodded. "They've all been searched."

"I don't think any of us expected Black to linger long."

Snape seemed to hesitate before he spoke again.

"Have you given any thought to what I said earlier in the term? About Black having help getting into the castle?"

"I don't think you honestly believe anyone here would willingly put Harry in danger, Severus."

"Perhaps someone here is still mistaking in thinking he's who they thought he was when he was at school. You know that someone here was his friend, the same as Potter was. Perhaps he hasn't told you everything he knows."

Dumbledore's voice remained patient, but there was something in it almost like a warning as he said "And that same person cared deeply for Harry. He has trusted you and asks nothing more than the same in return. As for myself, I have complete trust in him."

That made Remus feel even worse. He had done nothing to earn that trust.

"Maybe you shouldn't have so much faith in me," Remus said quietly so he wouldn't wake any of the students. Both Dumbledore and Snape looked at him. Even Snape didn't seem to believe what Remus was saying, or maybe he just hadn't believed Remus would speak up if there were any secrets he did know.

"You have something to tell us Remus?"

Remus swallowed. "Yes, and I'll understand if you don't want me teaching anymore after what I have to say.

"Very well Remus. We can speak in my office, although you needn't fear about it costing you your position."

"Thank you sir."

They headed towards the headmaster's office.