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Chapter 29 – Remus Lupin

In late October Harry finally discovered why he thought he recognized Professor Lupin. He had been tidying his trunk at Dobby's insistence – the elf taking to heart Harry's own insistence that Dobby not do everything for him – when under a dirty quidditch jersey that really should have been put into the laundry and not back in his trunk, he found the photo album of his parents. It was one of his most prized possessions and so for most of the year it was stored safely in his trunk, Harry only taking it out to look at when he came across it again like he did just now. Seeing the first photo of James and Lily Potter cradling a baby Harry brought a smile to his face, as inevitably every photo that followed did as well. It was when he got to a photo of his parents' wedding that Harry's eyes were drawn not to his parents, but to a figure standing behind them, cheering alongside the other wedding guests in the background. Harry's eyes widened and he jumped up, running out into the common room.

"This is why I recognized Professor Lupin!" He said to Hermione, Ginny and Ron who had nabbed spots by the fire. The three looked at the photo and saw quickly who he was pointing to.

"Blimey, he was at your parents' wedding?" Ron murmured.

"I have to go talk to him!" Harry's excitement grew. He'd heard several stories over the years from people that had met his parents at one time or another, but he'd never met any friends of his parents, had never spoken with someone who had actually known them, aside from Snape, whom he didn't count given the animosity between the potions master and his dad. Taking the photo album back, Harry all but ran out of the common room, determined to speak to Lupin right away. He found the professor in his office and couldn't contain his excitement as he showed him the photo.

"You knew them, didn't you? My parents?" Lupin was smiling sadly at the photo and took his time to answer.

"Yes, I knew them." He said finally. "Your father was there for me at a time when no one else was. He was my very first friend. While your mother…not only was she a singularly gifted witch, but she was also an uncommonly kind woman." He turned the page and looked at the other photos, smiling at a few and chuckling at others; clearly he recognized many of the moments that were captured. "I remember this day." He pointed to a photo of a baby Harry zooming around on a broomstick, laughing his head off while a pair of legs chased after him, their owner unseen out of frame. "That was your first broom. It didn't go very fast, or far off the ground, but James was so proud. He was a Gryffindor seeker, you know, just like you, and he was so excited to buy you your first broom, so of course Padfoot had to beat him to it and buy you one first." He seemed to have spoken without thinking and though Harry wanted to ask who Padfoot was, he didn't want to stop Lupin from speaking. "Lily, on the other hand, was terrified and made James place cushioning charms around the entire room and promise never to let you ride it alone." He ended the story there, his tone indicating he'd go no further on that story, but that didn't stop Harry from asking questions.

"So, you knew them well, then?" Lupin's sad smile returned.

"James and I, along with two other boys in our year, were inseparable. The four of us were the best of friends. I stood at your father's side when he and Lily married, and was one of the first people to hold you when you were born." Harry started to smile, a million questions entering his head, but he was brought up short when the meaning of what Lupin had just said sank in.

"Wait…but if you knew them that well, were one of their best friends, why haven't I met you before?" He asked. "Why didn't you visit, or fight for me when Dumbledore unilaterally decided to send me to my aunt's? Which was against my parents' wishes. Surely as one of their best friends you knew that. They may have died before they could name a guardian for me, but Cornelius said their will specifically mentioned that I wasn't to go to Petunia. What, did you believe in Dumbledore's crap? Or maybe you cared for the parents, but not enough for the child? What-"

"Harry, Harry!" Lupin stopped him as he began to rant. "Of course I cared, but things are not that simple." Harry stared him down and Lupin sighed. "The night Voldemort killed your parents, I not only lost someone I considered a brother, I lost two brothers. Peter Pettigrew was another friend of mine and your father's, and he was killed the very next morning by Sirius Black. I was barely twenty-one years old and the grief consumed me. By the time I came round you were already with your aunt, and yes I believed in Dumbledore. We all did, your parents included. With Death Eaters still on the loose and the wizarding world in chaos such as it was in the first months after Voldemort fell, your safety was the most important thing. So yes, I believed Dumbledore when he said that even though it may not be the most loving home for you, it would be the safest."

"Well it wasn't." Harry spat. "And you never thought to check up on me? Not even when Cornelius and Aldora took me in?" Again Lupin sighed.

"I did try to check on you once, about a year afterwards. I thought Petunia would remember me, and she did. But her hatred of our kind saw the door slammed in my face before I could even get a glimpse of you."

"And after I wasn't with the Dursleys anymore?"

"I knew you were safe then, and well cared for." He was clearly hedging around the truth. "The Boy-Who-Lived returning to our world, and as the Minister's ward no less, meant there was a great deal of press coverage, so I could keep an eye on you that way."

"But you didn't want to see me?" Harry couldn't help the disappointment that laced his voice.

"Of course I did!" Lupin insisted. "But I knew that Cornelius Fudge would not welcome someone…well, someone like me on his doorstep." He motioned to his shabby robes as if Fudge's snobbery was the reason, and while Harry could well believe that, he suddenly realized what Lupin was leaving unsaid.

"You mean because you're a werewolf." It wasn't a question. Harry knew well Fudge's prejudice against other magical beings, including supposedly dangerous creatures and knew then that even if Remus Lupin had come to visit him he likely would have gotten no better a reception than he had at the Dursleys.

"What-I-" Lupin couldn't hide his shock. "How did you know?" Harry smiled wryly.

"Being sick during one full moon is nothing, twice can be a coincidence, by three times? Then of course there's all the hints Snape's been dropping, and the fact that one of my best friends is the brightest witch of her age. I suspected, but Hermione confirmed it." Lupin actually chuckled.

"Yes, Miss Granger is indeed one of the brightest students, even people, that I've ever met. And Severus has been going out of his way in his efforts to get people to realize the truth. The essay he assigned during the last full moon with emphasis on recognizing werewolves was particularly brilliant."

"Don't worry, no one but Hermione actually did the essay. I'm sure no one else knows." Harry tried to assure him.

"And…you're ok with this?" It was said so hesitantly and Harry knew instantly that Lupin was used to people shying away from him, or blatantly rejecting him, when they found out the truth.

"Yeah." He said. "Being a werewolf doesn't automatically make you evil or dangerous. From what I've seen you're far from it." Lupin blushed under the compliment. "Besides, I'm sure Snape's been brewing you the Wolfsbane Potion, and even though I'm not Dumbledore's biggest fan, he wouldn't have offered you the job if he thought you'd just go around biting students every full moon." That actually gained a chuckle. "I know not everyone will think like I do, but I'm sure they won't find out. I wouldn't have without Hermione. I also know about my dad and Snape's history when they were at school. Since you're one of dad's friends it makes sense why Snape really doesn't seem to like you. No one else will have that context."

"I will not lie to you, Harry, and say that your father was a saint." Said Lupin. "During his first few years at Hogwarts he could be particularly mean, especially to Severus, and our little group could have given the Misters Weasley a run for their money." Harry smiled.

"Really?"

"Oh yes. I daresay no students, not even Fred and George Weasley, have earned Professor McGonagall's ire such as we did." He laughed, seemingly lost in a memory. "I remember one time Prongs got caught giving some dungbombs to Peeves and McGonagall assigned both him and Padfoot detention. She said that even though he hadn't been involved this time there was no doubt something else he'd done she just wasn't aware of yet. Padfoot just shrugged and accepted the detention, because of course she was absolutely right." Again he'd mentioned Padfoot, and this time someone named Prongs as well. Harry now suspected these were nicknames they had given each other in school and that his dad was Prongs. Padfoot was likely Peter Pettigrew, though it could also be the fourth friend. Harry hadn't missed that Lupin never again mentioned that fourth friend after saying he existed. Something must have happened to that friend, something horrible if Lupin didn't even want to reference him, and Harry found that he wasn't courageous enough to ask about it just yet.

"At any rate," Lupin came out of his reverie. "Yes, Professor Snape has reason to hate your father, and even myself, but do not let his hate colour your opinion of your father, Harry. James was a good man. It took time for him to grow up, yes, and in fact it was because of your mother that he did grow up. Lily wouldn't have anything to do with James until our sixth year, though he'd been pining after her since our second. James realized that if he wanted Lily to look at him as more than a schoolyard bully then he'd have to straighten up. And he did, so much so that he was named Head Boy alongside Lily in our seventh year. The two of them got together before Halloween that year and never looked back." These little details meant the world to Harry, a fact Lupin could clearly see. "Dear Merlin, look at the time!" He suddenly exclaimed, catching a glimpse of the clock on the wall. "It's nearly curfew. You'd better be off." Harry nodded and picked up his photo album.

"Professor," He stopped in the doorway and turned to look back at Lupin. "Thank you for telling me all this. Can I…that is, can I come see you again? I'm sure you've got loads more stories to tell."

"Of course, Harry." Lupin smiled softly. "As your teacher, you can visit me anytime during my office hours. Or, if you so choose…you can visit your 'Unca Moo' anytime at all."

" 'Unca Moo?' " That made no sense to Harry and Lupin waved him off embarrassedly.

"What you used to call me when you first began to speak." He explained away rapidly. "But that's a story for another time." While he still didn't understand why he'd call Lupin 'Unca Moo' – though from how close Lupin and his dad apparently were he suspected 'Unca' was meant to be baby talk for uncle – the defense professor's meaning was clear: it was up to Harry to decide how much he let Lupin into his life, and in what capacity. If Harry chose to only see him as a teacher, then he'd accept that, but if Harry wanted, then he would be the uncle he was always meant to be.

"Thanks…'Unca Moo.' " Harry said and left with a smile.

A/N - Review please!