A/N
This is a shorter chapter today but I am certain that the next chapter will more than make up for it!
Class was over for the day, much to Harry's delight. After the nightmare he'd had the night before, he was able to fall asleep rather quickly with the aid of the potions his guardian had provided; however, his eyes were certainly itching from crying two days in a row.
His classes that day had thankfully gone without too much of an issue. Despite the absolute torture of having Snape first thing on a Monday morning, the Professor had, for whatever reason, decided that Harry did not exist and left him alone for the most part. Double charms went well and the teen had managed to master the lumos maxima charm; unlike Ron who continued to struggle for the entire two hours. He had then had Herbology and his first Care of Magical creatures lesson with Hagrid. The groundskeeper had gotten off to a nervous start but he soon relaxed and presented, what Harry believed to be, a very enjoyable lesson. The boy had just trailed back to the main part of the school from divination and was looking forward to having a relaxing evening in the common room without being told he was on the brink of death.
Ron was also much happier seeing as his rat, Scabbers, has reappeared earlier that morning in his room. Harry smirked slightly at feeble apology Ron had offered Hermione.
The teen had managed to avoid his guardian all day. He was of course, grateful for what the man had done for him the night before, but the more the teen had to see his guardian, the more the guilt was eating him up. Every time the man asked if he was okay, Harry felt his stomach twist when he forced himself to reply that he was. But, while part of him felt guilty, the other half of him felt excited. He wasn't exactly doing anything dangerous; so what if he'd borrowed the map from Lupin. Harry attempted to rationalise that borrowing was all he was doing, he did intend to give it back if it wasn't anything important…
Harry followed behind Ron and Hermione into the common room as they took their usual seat at the round table by the large windows. They had been set an essay in Charms and Potions today that Harry wanted to get out of the way; Ron on the other hand, seemed to have other ideas.
"Get the map out," The Redhead called.
"Not here, it's too busy right now." Harry whispered back, anxiously watching Ron's older twin brothers who seemed to be staring at the trio intently.
Ron seemed to notice Harry's glances, "it's not like they are going to snitch on us. They get into enough trouble on their own."
"If you want to look at the map, then fine; just please don't do it here." Harry replied as he caught eye contact with George Weasley who was smirking at him; his twin brother doing the same.
"Fine, let's go to the library." Hermione replied as she quickly packed up the few books, she had gotten out in the short amount of time they'd spent sitting in the common room.
"I thought you wanted nothing to do with it Hermione?" Harry raised his eyebrows at her.
"I don't, particularly. I want to see what the map is, prove to you that it's nothing important and get you to give it back to Professor Lupin." Hermione replied matter of factly.
"That's not bloody likely Hermione," Ron scoffed back as he followed his mates out of the common room and down to the library.
Hermione glared at the red head but realised that he was likely right; a map of any kind was going to fuel Harry's curiosity, it was unlikely he would be returning it any time soon.
"You are going to give it back - aren't you Harry?" Hermione questioned as the trio neared the library.
"Yeah - well, if it turns out to be nothing important." Harry replied as he itched the back of his head.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and held his glare for a moment, "I will help you solve the clues, but do not come crying to me when Professor Lupin realises it's missing and you get into trouble.
Harry nodded at the young witch as he felt his stomach twist with guilt. He wished she wouldn't keep reminding him of the fact that he was lying to his guardian. "I won't."
Hermione turned quickly around and walked into the library, sitting at a table in the back corner where they were at no risk of being overheard.
Harry and Ron took a seat either side of her as Harry pulled out the map and placed it on the table.
"The clue they gave was just the number nine, correct?" Hermione questioned.
"Yeah, that was it. Why?" Harry watched as the witch stood and disappeared down one of the isles before returning with a thick and rather large book.
"I've been wanting to look up these ancient codes for a while; I think one might be the answer. Just giving us the code of the number nine is too cryptic."
"Okay," Harry replied as he gave Ron a confused look.
"Well, while you do that, we'll be working on those essays." Ron replied, "We probably won't be much use to you anyway."
"Go ahead, this year I refuse to give you so much help with your homework anyway, it's time you started doing it on your own." Said Hermione, unable to keep the smirk of her face as a hurt look spread across Ron's.
The trio spent well over an hour in the library; every so often Hermione would mumble potential answers and sigh when they failed each and every time.
Harry, on the other hand, was feeling rather content; he had managed to finish his charms essay and had written almost half for potions. He decided to call it a day as the library began to grow ever darker from the evening pulling in. The three of them were among the last to leave the library for dinner time.
"It's given me another clue." Hermione replied, shock laced in her voice as she placed the map down on the table in front of her.
Harry grabbed the map and read the words that had begun appearing on the front, "Well, now that we've played you like a fiddle, I think it's time we gave you a riddle -" Harry paused as he looked up at his friends.
"Well go on then." Ron urged feeling excited about the prospect of a new mystery.
"Clue number two is Renames Slowly." Harry replied as Hermione's face turned to one of confusion.
"I don't think the clues are anything to do with ancient codes or spells Hermione," Ron suggested as he put his quill down and closed the charms book he had been using.
"No, I think you are right. Maybe we've been over complicating it?" The witch replied as she closed the paving slab of a book that she'd been studying for the past hour or so, looking rather defeated.
Ron grabbed the map and stared intently at it. "The number nine huh?"
The redhead grabbed a scrap piece of parchment and began drawing a table; drawing, what seemed to Harry to be, the alphabet.
"Ron what are you -"
"Wait a moment Hermione." Ron interjected as Hermione looked rather taken aback.
Harry watched as he continued to scribble down letters and numbers with his quill.
"What if the number nine is just referring to the ninth letter in the alphabet." Ron replied rather proudly.
Hermione seemed lost for words. "That's brilliant Ronald. Why didn't I think of that."
Ron sat back in his chair looking smug; Harry picked up the map and asked it whether the first clue was the letter 'I'. Much to Harry and Hermione's surprise the map wrote that they were correct and erased the clue from the page.
"That was brilliant Ron." Harry smiled.
"It's been known to happen," Ron smirked back as the clock chimed at six o'clock, signaling that it was time for dinner.
The trio packed up their belongings and walked out of the library, acutely unaware that someone was watching their every move.
"You can't avoid him forever you know." Hermione replied as she watched Harry repeatedly looking over at his guardian.
"I know," Harry replied as he quickly looked away from the man, "but I have a right to be annoyed at him."
The guilt had been eating him alive all day; he wished he'd just got it over and done with yesterday when he built up the courage to tell the man. Sure, Remus would have been upset, angry even, that he'd been rummaging through his things; especially after Snape caught him the last time and he'd been told that the office was strictly off limits. But he knew, that he would never punish him unfairly or get too angry, the man was a more passive kind of person.
In the same breath however, he was upset with his gaurdian for lying about knowing Sirius Black. The teen rationalised that he could just find out what the map does and then sneak it back into the drawer without the man being any the wiser. To Harry, that sounded like a much better idea than telling the man outright about what he'd done...
"You did go searching through his things Harry, he probably would have told you later in the year."
"Well I'm glad I did." Harry replied firmly, "who's side are you on anyway?"
"Yours, of course I am; I always am, but I don't want you to get yourself in trouble because of all this."
"Harry knows what he's doing, don't you mate." Ron contributed as he took a bite from his full plate.
"Yeah, I'm not avoiding him, just - staying out of his way," Harry attempted to persuade himself.
"Well, judging by way he keeps looking over, I don't think you are doing a great job at fooling him." Hermione replied as she continued to take anxious glances at the man. Her new Professor, like Harry, had facial expressions that could be read like a book. The man looked concerned and Hermione was absolutely positive she knew why.
Harry's stomach dropped. "Thanks Hermione, you are making me feel a whole load better," The teen responded sarcastically, as he forced himself to take another bite of his meal.
Ron glared at Hermione, "let the man live. He isn't going to get in trouble and I am sure Lupin isn't going to notice that that old piece of parchment is missing."
"I really do hope you are right." Hermione responded, "it's not like I want Harry to get into trouble."
"I know you don't," Harry said as he stole another glance at his guardian who, to Harry, seemed to look worried or exhausted, probably both. Harry thought to himself that it could be due to the upcoming full moon but he knew that was likely untrue. With his reactions to the dementor attacks, taking on a new teaching job and Sirius Black's escape; Harry was sure the man was feeling more than overwhelmed which continued to make him feel even worse.
The trio watched in synchrony as Professor Lupin stood from the teachers table and walked out of the backdoor behind him. Harry breathed a small sigh of relief and felt like he didn't have all eyes looking at the back of his head any longer.
The three of them ate in silence for a little while longer as Hermione continued to shoot anxious looks at Harry. Ron knew Hermione was just worrying for Harry's safety but was beginning to find her comments rather irritating.
"Let's go back to the common room, it's far too noisy here." Hermione said as she noticed that both boys had also finished their meals.
The trio all stood and walked to the end of the long tables and out of the large doors as the Great Hall began to grow empty.
"Harry," A voice behind them called; Harry instantly recognised it to be his guardians as he scrunched his nose up.
"I'll meet you in the common room," Harry reassured his friends as they nodded and walked off without him.
"I was actually going to ask them to wait for you as I don't want you walking around the Castle alone; what am I going to have to do to get you to remember that." The man spoke in a light hearted tone as he smirked at his ward patting his back lightly. He was beginning to get a bit frustrated at Harry's constant disregard for walking around the castle alone despite how much the man tried to remind him. He decide to take a jokey tone with it for now but if the teen continued to do so, he was sure he was going to have to get much more serious about it.
Harry merely shrugged his shoulders in reply.
"No matter, I'll walk you back myself. I actually just wanted to remind you of that meeting I have with Professor Dumbledore tonight so I will not be in our quarters should you need me."
"Okay, I'll be fine." Harry responded quietly, anxious to get out of the man's company as quickly as possible. The pair began to walk, following his best friends a couple of minutes behind.
"Is there something you want to tell me Harry?" Remus asked as his look of concern never left his face. He had asked the boy multiple times, only yesterday whether he was okay and that he could share what was bothering him without judgment. Lupin was sure this time would be the same.
Harry shook his head as he didn't trust himself to speak. He would be back in the common room in a few minutes; he wasn't going to spill it all out now.
"Well there's certainly something that is making you upset or nervous; I know you don't want to share it with me but it might make you feel better?" Remus encouraged kindly. He knew he could be harsh with the child and demand to know the answers to his questions but that would not get them anywhere, it would be like taking one step forward and two steps back.
"I guess -" Harry paused, he'd started talking now and he wasn't quite sure where he was going with this, "I suppose I'm just frustrated with the dementors and all the restrictions being placed on me because of Sirius Black." It wasn't a complete lie…
"Oh cub," Lupin responded sympathetically as they rounded one of the last corners to the Gryffindor Common room. "We are working on repelling the dementors and I will definitely be speaking with Professor Dumbledore about them this evening. As for the restrictions, I only want to keep you safe; if walking you back to your common room after you basically told your friends to go away is what it takes, then so be it." The man smiled warmly at the last part.
Harry couldn't help the smirk that filled his face. His guardian always had a way of making things seem lighthearted and minor, for the most part. It was something the teen greatly admired as he knew he struggled to do so the majority of the time.
"We will get everything sorted, you'll see." Lupin winked at his teen as they stood in front of the portrait. "I will see you tomorrow okay. Any trouble, no matter how minor, let Professor McGonagall know and she can inform me, okay?"
"I will do." Harry answered as he took one step into the common room.
"Oh and Harry, show me your wand please."
Hardy knew Remus and said he would be testing him, so was able to grab it from the inside of his robe and held it out to the man. "Here."
"Good man," Lupin smiled at his teen. "Make sure you always have it; I'd hate to have to be much sterner on this particular issue."
"I will," Harry replied as he turned and stepped into the common room as he waved at his guardian.
"Goodnight Harry," Lupin called but he was just short of a verbal reply as the portrait swung closed.
"Sirius Black has been spotted again Remus; this time at Hogsmeade. I wanted to tell you before it was published in the daily prophet tomorrow evening."
Lupin felt his face turn a cool shade of white. His child was in far more danger than he knew and that alone was enough to make the man want to keep the boy inside until Black was caught. The teens' sheer lack of awareness of the trouble he gets himself into only added to Remus's concern.
"Surely if this was the case, the dementors would have seen this and caught him?" Remus questioned. "That is what they are there for correct?"
"Yes; that was precisely the reason I had to decline your request for a meeting last night. I met with Cornelius to discuss the dementors' necessity at Hogsmeade and on the castle grounds.
"And I assume he rejected your request to have them removed?"
"He did, yes." Dumbledore replied as he placed a hand on his temple, rubbing it slightly.
Lupin moved from sitting forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees to leaning backwards, arms clasped in front of him.
"The creatures are not doing their job, targeting my child at every chance they get and Cornelius still fails to remove them. Harry faints every time he goes near them and when he comes round always says that he hears a woman screaming." Lupin paused, staring at his old professor intently, "as much as I hope I'm wrong, I believe he is hearing his mother's screams from that night and -"
The man stopped himself as he felt his throat clog for some reason. It had been years since James and Lily passed and he thought he was able to talk freely about them without feeling the need to get emotional; clearly grief worked in mysterious ways…
"There is every possibility that it could be; the connection between Voldemort and Harry through his scar is evident as it burns whenever he is around. However, I sincerely hope for Harry's sake that he does not put two and two together."
"Do you not believe the child has a right to know what he is hearing Albus?" Remus asked despite not having made up his mind whether he was going to tell his teen.
"I believe that it may cause Harry's suppressed memories to surface and I am unsure whether, at his age, he would be able to cope with that. I am not, however, his guardian and I recognise that this decision ultimately rests with yourself."
"I think I may give it some more thought over the coming days. Hopefully, if we continue to work on his patronus charm he will not faint anymore and therefore will not be subjected to it."
"Harry will master the charm soon, he is certainly gifted in Defence just like his parents were." Dumbledore spoke as he sat forward and leaned his arms on the desk. "Yesterday, Cornelius also expressed his desire to meet with yourself and Harry to discuss things since Black's escape. I trust that this will not be a problem?"
Lupin hesitated. He knew how much he despised the man for not removing the dementors from the castle which in turn had shifted Harry's opinion of the man. "I don't believe I have much choice do I? Should I reject the offer, I cannot forsee that going down well with the ministry."
"Well, yes; I suppose that is true. From what I gather, the minister would just like to have an informal meeting to discuss Harry's progress; I can request for it to happen here as well as ask for myself to be present, if you would like?"
Remus sighed, "I will discuss this with Harry in the tomorrow evening, as well as other parts of the meeting; I will let you know by a note. I am nearly positive though that Harry will agree to having the meeting here."
"Let me know; I will owl Cornelius whenever you are ready." Dumbledore replied. "You are doing a wonderful job with the boy Remus; I hope you realise that."
"I'm not so sure" Lupin replied to the Professor's kind words. "Harry has taken it upon himself to avoid me just lately; I can't help but wonder if he no longer wishes to be under my care."
"I am sure it has much more to do with the fact that he is growing quickly into a mature young man who would feel rather embarrassed to be seen around with his parents; I am yet to meet a teenager who would not react the same." Dumbledore chuckled.
"I suppose you are correct." Remus replied; he hadn't particularly thought about him being seen as Harry's parent and felt a light weight being lifted off his shoulders for the first time in days.
"He will come round, you will see."
Lupin smiled in reply as he went to stand, "well, I must be off as it's getting late but I will be meeting yourself tomorrow afternoon at Hogsmeade, correct?"
"Yes, I will send a note round to other professors tonight." Dumbledore replied as he too, stood from behind his desk.
"Thank you for this evening. Goodnight Albus," Remus said as he moved towards the door.
"Goodnight Remus."