"I am not in the mood for you today. Get lost, fatty." Remus growled as he swatted Monty from his desk, making his class of first years laugh.
"Professor, I thought pets weren't allowed in classrooms?" A young Hufflepuff ask, his face nervous. The boy's dark eyes searched the room, as if he was in fear for whichever classmate had dared break the rules.
Remus looked and realized which student had spoken up, a young wizard named Thomas Elders. The boy in question was muggleborn, and had been a nervous wreck for his entire time at Hogwarts thus far. Remus gave the child a warm smile, and even a small laugh to try and relax him.
"Unfortunately Monty is my wife's cat. So we're stuck together; It is a hate-hate relationship though. He has an equal distaste for me as I have for him." Remus explained, and he watched as the young wizard's shoulders relaxed. He couldn't help the amusement it brought him, the thought of a first year being so upset over such a simple rule as a misplaced pet. Satisfied with the answer he'd be given, Thomas sank back into his seat.
"Now- Who can tell me, correctly, about the creatures I assigned for last night's reading, hmm?" Remus said, making his way over to the chalk board. He did not wait for them to raise their hands, nor did he look to see who volunteered before he called a name. "Ms. Thortan?"
"Sir." Eliza Thortan nodded, her dark curls bouncing with her movements. "The Erumpent, a magical beast from Africa, and are a category four beast."
"Perfect, five points to Ravenclaw." Remus smiled. "Who can tell me..." Remus snapped his fingers and pointed to another student, another Hufflepuff. "Mr. Bernard. What does a category four placement mean for the Erumpent?"
"Sir?" Gerald Bernard squeaked. Remus smiled warmly.
"Next to the creature in your books, the Ministry saw fit to give our friend the erumpent a Category 4, or Category XXXX..." Remus clarified, writing both versions on the board, "What does this tell us about an erumpent?"
"Er..." The young wizard stammered back. Remus smiled, looking around the class.
"No matter, Mr. Bernard. No matter. It is my job to tell you, no?" Remus returned to the board and wrote a few more words.
DANGEROUS
ENDANGERED
TRAINED
"These are our keywords when dealing with... basically anything in the dark arts realm of study. This is what you must as yourself for every single matter in this subject. Is it Dangerous? Has this lead to the creature or, object for that matter, being rare or endangered? And lastly, can this creature or object be properly handled by someone who is trained to do so? This is how we are going to approach everything in this class this year, and I dare say this is how you should view this field your whole life. So this week, and due next Monday, I want you to take sometime and answer these things about the erumpent. Some of this will be opinion based, so I want you all to do your best when considering this topic. If anyone-" Remus was interrupted with a thud and a huff when Monty reappeared and jumped from the corner of his desk to Remus' shoulder, digging his claws in and purring self satisfactory.
The children in the room all sat fighting back giggles as Remus struggled to free himself from the grasp of the large cat, cursing under his breath. Monty thudded on the floor, all four paws landing at once, and he sauntered away to sit on the windowsill, where he began to bathe himself.
"If anyone has any questions, or advice on cats, you all have my office hours. Don't be shy." Remus grinned again, satisfied at the laugh the joke about Monty got from his students as they dismissed themselves after the bell for lunch tolled. The first years filed out and Remus went to close the classroom door behind them, when he had to catch it to keep it from slamming in a very unsure looking Harry Potter.
"Harry." Remus greeted warmly.
"Sir." Harry replied, his large green eyes fixed on the floor.
"Did you need something?" Remus ask, stepping back, holding the large classroom door open long enough for Harry to squeak inside before he let it fall shut behind him.
"I was sort of-" Harry scratched at his neck nervously, looking ever the image of James. "I was wanting to apologize. And maybe talk to you, if that's okay?"
Remus looked his nephew over for a moment. They boy had not yet looked up, and he held one arm across his body, closing himself off. It made him wonder what his home life was like.
"Harry?" He said gently. Harry gave a hummed 'hmm?' in response, but did not look up. "Hey, Harry?" Remus reached and put a hand on the young man's shoulder, and Harry very slightly flinched. Had Remus not been watching for it, he may not have caught it. After a moment, Harry finally met his eyes. "You don't have to apologize. Is this your lunch hour?"
"Yes, sir." Harry nodded.
"Have you ate?"
"Yes." Harry nodded again.
"Good. Lets have some air then?" Remus suggested, leading Harry out of the classroom and toward the grounds.
Remus allowed Harry to start the conversation. It took some time, but eventually, he began to ask questions. Simple things- How they'd met first year, when they became friends. How close friends they were- and Remus could see a bit of the anger from before flair up to know Remus' been so close with them he'd been a groomsmen in their wedding. They walked and talked for a while, when Harry finally ask-
"Why didn't you say something?" He finally ask, this time with less anger and more hurt.
"Because I couldn't initiate contact with you." Remus answered honestly.
"Why?"
"Ministry Order. Similar to a Muggle Order of No Contact- Are you familiar with those?" Remus ask, and Harry nodded. "Its similar, but if you find me first, then I could speak to you. A small loophole they didn't think would be an issue, because why would you be looking to speak to me?"
"Well, why do you have that?" Harry ask. Remus gave a huff of humorless laughter.
"Petunia."
"I should've known." Harry replied in a similar tone. "You know her too?"
"I used to, unfortunately. Vernon too." Remus laughed.
"Gross." Harry wrinkled his nose.
"Yeah, yeah..." Remus nodded. "I'm really sorry, Harry. I just... I didn't know what to say. I still don't. There is so much more to everything but I just can't..." Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I can't find the words."
"Well- What's the biggest thing?" Harry ask, an eyebrow raised. "Start with that, work down. Then it'll turn into trivial conversation."
"The biggest thing?" Remus ask, propping on the railing of the bridge they'd found themselves on as they walked. Harry nodded. "Has Petunia ever spoke about her family?"
"No." Harry shook his head. "I heard her tell Dudley about our grandparents a couple times, but that's all. They're all dead, apparently. And I guess she had a sister that died when she was a teenager, but I have only heard my Uncle Vernon's sister talk about that. She just got quiet about it. Said something about a drug overdose? She also talks about how my dad was drunk, and Hagrid told me that isn't true, so I didn't know what to believe there..."
Remus' face turned red, and Harry took a step back, waiting for an answer. He watched as the older wizard's jaw clinched in anger, and for a second Harry thought he might have seen his warm hazel eyes grow dark. Remus shook his head a few times and looked over.
"She didn't die." Remus replied in a quiet voice.
"What?" Harry ask, genuine confusion in his voice.
"Jasmine didn't die. Never done hard drugs either, to my knowledge. Maybe a little pot as a teen, but didn't we all in that era?"
"WHAT?!" Harry repeated now, the top of his voice. "Jasmine? As in?"
"Jasmine." Remus nodded, holding up his left hand, alluding to his wedding ring. His face was a mix of embarrassment and sorrow. "Again, We wanted to say something..."
Harry had began pacing back and forth before him, repeatedly pushing one hand through his unruly hair.
"So you're my uncle." Harry stated, and Remus nodded.
"You're wife, is my mother's "dead" baby sister." Harry's voice continued to carry loudly, and Remus was glad he'd lead him so far away from the other students.
"I am sorry Harry, really." Remus sighed.
"Can I meet her?" Harry ask, halting his pacing and stepping toward Remus, who blinked at him for a second.
"Of course you can." He smiled warmly. "I was just promising her the same thing. That I'd find a way. But then you started asking me questions, widening our loophole from the No Contact charm we spoke about earlier. Kind of fixed it yourself, really."
"I- I don't know what to-" Harry stammered. "I feel dizzy."
Remus stepped forward and gently took Harry by one arm, leading him to lean on the bridge rail.
"Are you okay?"
"I have no idea. It's like... This is the second time in three years I have been presented with world shattering information about my family. It makes me question everything, you know?"
"Understandable." Remus nodded. "If you don't mind, it is okay if you don't want to talk about it... But if they said that about Jasmine, what did the Dursley's say happened to Lily and James?"
"Car crash." Harry replied, still looking confused and pale.
"Well, that's better than an overdose." Remus shrugged.
Harry sat for a moment with that comment, then snorted. Before they knew it, both wizards had broke out into laughter. Remus helped Harry back to his feet and they made their way back to the castle mostly silently. Remus had mentioned not spreading the new information around to his friends just yet, and he ask Harry to give him time to work something out about meeting Jasmine. Harry had agreed, understanding how something like this could spread and cause him issues, especially since his time as the suspected 'Heir of Slytherin' from the year prior.
Just before the gate, Harry stopped short. Remus turned back and raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you, Professor." He smiled. Remus smiled back.
"Anytime, Mr. Potter."
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