Hi everyone, I know its been a horrendously long time. This chapter has been a long time coming and here it finally is. I hope it will be the start of many more to come. I would like to thank all of you who have kept reading and reviewing this, and a special thank you to Jackalin Friday13 whose message convinced me to finally do something about it, and Laurenke1 whose amazing stories have reinspired my love of Harry Potter.
Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter Ten: In Which Remus Finally Makes an Appearance.
As soon as Remus opened the door he pulled Harry into a bone crushing hug. When he finally let him go, he smiled, gesturing them in. His tiredness was obvious in every move and he waited until they were all seated before he said anything.
"So how is everyone?" Remus asked with a tired smile.
"We're good," Hermione replied looking around, "Professor Lupin do you have any animate portraits? It's the only way we can talk to Harry."
"Just a moment, I have one in my office. And what have I told you about calling me that in private?" He went to fetch the portrait and came back with a rather large portrait of a stuffy looking old man, he hung it on a spare wall space and stood back.
They all blinked when the old man was shoved out of the way and replaced with Salazar Slytherin.
"Ah of course, welcome sir. I'm Remus Lupin, this year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Remus greeted him taking a seat once more.
"Nice to meet you Professor Lupin," Sal grinned, "Aren't you one of the boys who used to play tricks on Severus?"
Remus blushed and cleared his throat, "Ah yes sir, I really must apologise for that. We did some truly horrible things to him."
"And some bloody hilarious things if I remember correctly," Salazar smirked, "Severus really is such a prude sometimes. In that way the two of you compliment each other perfectly."
"What the hell are you talking about? Who compliments each other perfectly?" Harry just looked confused, "Are you going to translate or what?"
"Of course Harry, just getting to know Remus," Sal smirked, "He's getting a little impatient, what were you wanting to discuss?"
Remus looked uncomfortable, "I am assuming nothing will leave this room?"
Sal nodded tolerantly.
"Good, well I am guessing you have already seen Sirius," Remus gave a small smile.
Hermione and Ron nodded, "He said you've seen someone called Sirius?"
Harry nodded, "Sirius Black, my godfather I ran into him during Care of Magical Creatures."
"Yes he said he saw him during Care of Magical Creatures," Sal relayed, "May I ask why this seems to be so strange?"
"Because Sirius is a wanted criminal sir, he was falsely imprisoned and escaped but unfortunately we have not yet been able to clear his name," Hermione explained.
"So he took on his animagus form and I dyed his fur just in case and asked Hagrid to look after him, its actually part of my teaching contract that my pet dog "Paddy" will be looked after and kept safe," Remus smirked.
The founder looked at the man for a moment before he burst out laughing, "Well done, I assume the headmaster was in on this?"
"He decided on the wording himself," Remus grinned, "It's the last place anyone will look."
Noting the look of impatience Sal quickly explained everything and Harry joined in the laughter.
"The name Marauders was well earned," Sal chuckled.
"Don't tell me that, tell Remus," Harry grinned, "You Slytherins think you have the monopoly on cunning…"
"Yes but Gryffindor's are downright tricksters. I think its because you seem so bloody honourable but I could tell you some stories about Godric-"
"I don't want to hear any more of your stories!" Harry glared.
Sal laughed, "Sorry, just a little banter, argumentative lad isn't he?"
They sat and chatted until curfew, as Harry went to leave Remus pulled him over to the occupied portrait.
"Harry, please visit Siri as often as you can, I know it would mean a lot to him," Remus said softly.
Sal repeated him word for word for once, Harry patted him on the shoulder.
"Of course Remus, You just make sure you do too, it'd look strange if a professor didn't spend much time with his own pet," the boy grinned.
Remus blushed slightly at the pet comment and Harry and Sal exchanged knowing glances.
"Don't worry Remus, if what I've heard is true Harry has an invisibility cloak which I'm sure you could borrow," Sal winked and left his frame.
oooooo
Harry made sure his silencing charms were firmly in place before he slept that night. If he had any dreams at all by the morning they were forgotten.
Even so, he couldn't help glancing at the head table and a particular man seated there.
Greasy git! He reminded himself, but it didn't help, still he tried. At least he wouldn't have him for classes until the next week. Hopefully by then he would have forgotten it all.
He felt the glare upon him and looked around in confusion, who had he upset recently? As he looked to the head table he saw Snape glaring and saw the small pot cleaning gesture that had come to symbolise detention.
Harry paled, he had completely forgotten about detention, he'd gotten so caught up in talking to Remus that he hadn't even given it a second thought.
Snape stood with a loud screeching noise of his chair sliding backwards. It was an ominous sign for all, only Harry knew where the Slytherin's rage was soon to be aimed.
The black robed man swept down to the Gryffindor table and dragged Harry away by the collar. He made his way to the nearest portrait.
"Get Salazar Slytherin immediately or I shall get the paint stripper and dissolve you permanently," Snape ordered furiously.
He let go of Harry's collar and stood there impatiently while they waited for the founder.
"Goodness me Severus, already angry so early in the day? You really need to watch your blood pressure," Sal said in amusement.
"Tell Potter that I do not appreciate it when students skip detention," Snape growled.
Salazar sighed, "Harry, you really shouldn't skip detention you know."
"I honestly didn't mean to, I guess I'm just not into the swing of detentions yet. I completely forgot about it," Harry said quickly.
"You completely forgot you were supposed to spend time alone with Severus?" Sal raised an eyebrow.
Harry fought down his blush, "Not now Sal."
"Why? Its not like he understands any of it," Sal sniffed.
"Yeah but I know what you're saying," Harry hissed.
"Oh fine," he shook his head, "Harry asked me to apologise, he completely forgot about it. But he'll make it up to you any way you like."
Snape rolled his eyes, "Salazar please just stick to the actual translation. Tell Potter his detention will last an extra two days next week to make up for skipping detention, next time there will be more."
Snape whirled around dramatically and headed for the dungeons.
oooooo
Harry was feeling quite happy and relaxed after an afternoon double of Playing With Sirius, as he now called Care of Magical Creatures.
He was smiling when he arrived at the potions classroom for this detention, Snape was sitting behind his desk marking as usual. However in the middle of the room a rather ornate chess set was set up.
"I see you've decided to actually turn up today Mr Potter," Snape said acidly looking up from his papers.
Harry flinched and closed the door behind him, he couldn't understand the man's words but the tone was unmistakeable.
"Sorry you greasy old bat, I was busy… well not being here basically," Harry kept his tone conciliatory, "Next time you want an autograph maybe I should just come to your rooms, make things easier."
Snape rolled his eyes and stood, "Potter I am sure even with your minimal intellect you have realised by now that I cannot understand a word you are saying," he walked over to the chess set and sat down.
"Sorry sir, I don't think you would really be welcome in the tower, I really think we would be better off in your rooms," Harry said with a smile as he sat opposite the potion's master.
"All right Potter, dazzle me with your pathetic strategy skills and non existent patience," Snape drawled.
"Are you always this forward professor?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow, "And that's not really any of your business is it?"
"Just make your move Potter," he growled.
"Professor," Harry said making his first move, "No need to get upset, I didn't mean it, I'm just not very good at flirting. Neither are you I imagine."
Severus was glad there was a table between them. Harry's hissing was doing something to his anatomy that his student shouldn't know about, not if he wanted to keep his job.
"Potter, if you had any brains at all you would stop talking, it's really not appropriate, hissing like that, especially to a Slytherin. You're playing with fire boy," Snape growled lowly.
Harry held back his shiver, "Fine I take it back Sevvie poo, your talking IS flirting. I swear, your voice should be illegal, I'm sure it counts as an illegal substance, aphrodisiac or something," he fought as hard as he could to keep his tone casual.
If the man actually realised what he was saying he would be in huge trouble.
Severus just sighed resignedly as Harry hissed away for the entire game, it was a wonder he still managed to win even with his…distraction.
Snape moved his final piece into place, smirking slightly as Harry groaned in realisation, "Check mate Mr Potter," Perhaps it was shallow but he found he quite enjoyed crushing his student so thoroughly.
Without a word the game packed itself away and the potions master stood with a flourish, "Good night Potter, I shall see you again tomorrow for your next detention," he made the gesture for detention and swirled out, his cloak billowing behind him as he left to take care of a rather pressing need.
Harry was left in his chair, he ran a hand through messy dark hair and grinned, if this was detention, bring it on. He could handle listening to Snape while they played a surprisingly civil game of chess, the trick was, he just had to keep the man talking.
Harry Potter smirked, that, he could do.