Disclaimer: All characters belong solely to JK Rowling. If you recognize a scene or a name, it is hers.
Previously:
Entering his bedroom, he sat on his bed and poured himself a glass, setting the bottle beside a photograph of two boys.
One had long black hair, pale skin, and black eyes. He was glaring at the camera. The other had longish brown hair, tanned skin, and bright amber eyes. In one arm, he held a few books. The other arm was draped lazily around the dark-haired boy. Every minute or so, the boys would share a glance, one with a mischievous grin, the other with a small smile.
The photo was of himself and Remus Lupin.
Chapter fifteen: The Feast
Remus snatched up his wand, which was ringing quite loudly, signaling the time to get up. It was September first, the day of his return to Hogwarts. He had requested to ride the Hogwarts Express to the castle with the students, claiming to want to reminisce about his own time at school.
In reality, he wanted to avoid his first meeting with Severus.
He barely managed to arrive before the students. He entered the train just in time to see the first of the students step through the barrier. He found a compartment at the end of the train and slid his luggage into the racks, using a spell to lift the heavy suitcase.
Sitting down, he planned to rest until the train took off, but soon fell sound asleep. The full moon was in two days, and he was exhausted.
Severus Snape flicked his wand, causing the alarm to stop ringing. He hadn't slept more than three hours the night before, as he had to finish with the Wolfsbane potion for Remus. And now he had to be up to attend the meeting, which he was supposed to bring the potion to, but heard at the last moment that Lupin was riding the train with the students.
With a huff, he placed a stasis charm over the smoking goblet and left his chambers to attend the meeting.
Turns out that Hagrid was now going to be a teacher as well. Severus could think of nothing but Remus' return, however, and missed out on the majority of the content of the meeting.
There was a loud whistling sound suddenly which snapped Remus out of his sleep. A female voice said, "Is that a Sneakoscope?"
He realized suddenly as the students spoke that he had been sleeping. He thanked whatever gods that be that he was facing the window, because he flushed quite badly.
"… send it to Harry."
Remus began to listen intently, as the mentioned 'Harry,' could quite possibly be his late best friend's son.
"… how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?"
"Stick it back in the trunk, or it'll wake him up." Remus stiffened. That voice. It was as if James Potter was in the compartment with him, as he had been nearly every time Remus had travelled on this train. He had even chosen the same compartment as he had always done with the marauders.
He listened to the other boy and girl discuss Hogsmeade, realizing with a pang that Harry Potter was nearly thirteen and he had no idea that he was seated with his father's one remaining best friend from school.
"I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either."
"… or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle…" Not every passage, Remus thought to himself. The shrieking shack passage wouldn't be known.
"Ron! I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of school with Black on the loose…" Remus stiffened at the mention of his old friend. The others seemed to notice, so he turned his head, and pretended to have continued with his sleep.
"D'you think we should wake him up?" the boy named Ron asked. "He looks like he could do with some food." Remus smiled inwardly. James and Sirius always used to say the same thing about him.
"Er – Professor? Excuse me – Professor?" the girl said timidly. He didn't move.
"I suppose he is asleep? I mean – he hasn't died, has he?" It was all he could take not to jump to his feet and leave at that comment, but he had to hear more about Harry Potter.
"No, no, he's breathing," the girl whispered. He hoped someone said her name soon, because he was sick of calling her 'the girl,' even in his own mind.
A new voice joined the mix. "Well, look who it is," the voice said. "Potty and the Weasel. I hear your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?"
Remus snorted, allowing him to be noticed by the new voice. The boy reminded him too much of Lucius Malfoy for his comfort.
"Who's that?"
"New teacher. What were you saying, Malfoy?" Harry's voice startled Remus again.
The train was slowing.
"We can't be there yet," the girl said.
"So why're we stopping," Ron asked. The train stopped with a jolt and the lights went out.
"There's something moving out there. I think people are coming aboard."
Two new voices were added to the din. "Sorry – d'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry."
"Hullo, Neville," Harry said.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?"
"No idea. Sit down."
"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on." There were two squeals of pain. "Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?" Finally he knew the girl's name.
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron."
"Come in and sit down."
"Not here! I'm here!"
"Ouch!"
"Quiet!" Remus said, realizing that this darkness and coldness was the sign of only one thing: Dementors. "Stay where you are."
Before he could reach the door, it slid open. The Dementor stood in the doorway. Harry went rigid, flailing around in his seat. He fell to the ground.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." He whispered "Expecto Patronum," the image of himself and Severus in their fifth year implanted firmly in his mind. The silver wolf shot at the Dementor, and it glided away.
After handing out the chocolate and answering their questions, he slipped out of the compartment, leaning on the wall in the hallway.
He had a brief conversation with the driver and sent off a letter to Hogwarts telling Professor McGonagall (Minerva, he reminded himself) about Harry's response to the Dementor, and then returned to the compartment.
"I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know. We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. Are you alright, Harry?"
Harry muttered a simple, "Fine," and looked away, so Remus let it go.
Upon their arrival, Remus immediately sought out Dumbledore. He had been told to go into a small room to the side of the Great Hall in order to take the Wolfsbane Potion. Secretly, he hoped that it would be Severus who brought it, but he was disappointed.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Remus," Dumbledore said as Remus walked in.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Remus said, bowing his head slightly as he had always done in the Headmaster's presence.
"None of that, Remus. You are a professor now. My name is Albus."
"That'll take some getting used to, sir… erm… Albus."
The two professors made their way into the Great Hall and to the staff table. Remus' eyes found Severus' immediately, and the onyx eyes held nothing but contempt for the werewolf. Remus swallowed hard and looked around the hall, his eyes seeking out the Gryffindor table where Ron was sitting with Neville and Ginny, and Harry and Hermione were nowhere to be seen.
Just after the sorting, taken over by Professor Flitwick, Harry entered at last with Hermione and Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore stood.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even invisibility cloaks. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I look to the prefects and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors."
He paused.
"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." The applause made Remus blush slightly as he rose and inclined his head to the students.
Severus was looking at Remus again, the loathing look returning to his face. Remus stared into the crowd again, refusing to meet his ex-lover's eyes.
As to our second new appointment. Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to tell you that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
The applause was thunderous, much louder this time.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the feast begin!"
Throughout the feast, Remus could feel the heated glare being sent his way from the potions master. The feast couldn't get over soon enough.
A special shout out to my two most dedicated reviewers, green24 and virus-of-blossoms. You've been following for a long time now, even with my constant delays.
I will be more reliable in writing from now on, I hope, as I've written out a few chapters of my other story, The Chance, so I can no longer let that one get in the way of my work on this one.