I love that we've made it to Hogwarts, because now, it's one big PUZZLE I get to piece together from the source material.
Don't look too hard at a calendar if you don't want to get pissed off. Since I'm following canon timelines here, I have the frustrating constraint of the author's dates being wrong and weird. September 1st (train to Hogwarts) is on a Wednesday, yet it's also their first day of classes.
I didn't realize when I started this fic that it would require me to research and put together not only Remus's entire curriculum, but also his class schedule as well.
From the playlist: (this chapter is definitely eclectic hahah)
A Long Time Ago - Polly Carter
BWV 1056 Presto - Bach
Dreams - The Cranberries
Unloveable - The Smiths
Almande Prime Roses NVE 132 - Jacob van Eyck, Erik Bosgraaf
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Ch. 16 - Professor R. J. Lupin
The floral aroma of bergamot took him tenderly by the hand and drew him from slumber so gently that he wondered if it had all been a dream - until he felt the soft bedding under his fingertips.
Remus smiled before his eyelids even had the chance to flutter open. Tucking the duvet up under his chin and stretching beneath the covers, he noticed he was already feeling much better than he did yesterday. Eating an actual meal and getting a good night's sleep on a proper mattress had done wonders, even after the long travel day. The soreness had dulled to something more manageable, the raging migraine had faded to a low hum, and his joints felt only moderately inflamed.
He still winced a bit as he sat up in bed, but the breakfast tray waiting for him on his desk softened the blow. Steam billowed decadently out the spout of an entire pot of English Breakfast.
Fucking finally.
It was just the motivation he needed to shuck the warm embrace of the covers. Gingerly swinging his legs over the side of the mattress, he glanced at the letter on his nightstand. It had kept him up later than he should've let it, but he'd lacked the self-control not to re-read it several times over. He was having a hard time trying not to turn back and read it again as he got up to examine the tray.
A small notecard was tucked next to the teapot.
All professors are to report to the staff room for the start-of-term meeting during the breakfast hour at 8:30am. Please have your breakfast beforehand.
-MM, Deputy Headmistress
Remus doubled back for his watch on the nightstand. 6:49. Plenty of time.
There was something sort of hedonistic about the leisurely pace with which he prepared that first cup for himself. The good stuff from Madam Puddifoot's deserved nothing less. He waited until the tea was fully steeped, poured in a dribble of milk just to get it to that perfect color, and left the sugar cubes in their bowl where they belonged. He even waited patiently for it to cool.
The first sip drew an audible whimper from the base of his throat, and seemed to warm his whole body like a hug from the inside out. Lowering himself into the chair, he stared out the window at the thin, pearly rays of sunlight peaking shyly through the clouds, chastely kissing the highland peaks like you'd kiss someone on the tip of the nose. His lips curved up into a smile as they met the rim of the teacup again.
It was going to be a good day.
…
The allure of attending a meeting in the staff room wasn't quite as illustrious as it had been to sit among the teachers at the Welcome Feast. The room was, by Hogwarts standards, relatively drab: no large windows or magnificent views to speak of, just a long, paneled chamber with several mismatched chairs. Remus sat himself in an odd, polka-dotted one beside Professor Flitwick, and made no attempts to insert himself in anybody's conversations.
McGonagall strode in three minutes ahead of schedule and began levitating stacks of paper onto the table in front of each teacher. "Please take your seats."
Everyone did so; except for Professor Binns, of course…he just sort of floated a bit too close to people's personal space as he often tended to do.
"You'll find your class schedules and accompanying registers in front of you," McGonagall announced, taking her place at the head of the table. Remus began thumbing through his stack as she spoke. "A few announcements: first, I think it goes without saying that any suspicions about the whereabouts of Sirius Black are to be reported to the Headmaster immediately."
"Perhaps you ought to repeat that for our new Defense professor," Snape jeered from the other end of the table.
"No need," Remus returned cheerily, keeping his eyes down on his schedule. "I've had my tea this morning, so I find myself quite awake - though I do appreciate your concern, Severus. You were saying, Minerva?"
"Secondly," McGonagall continued, seemingly untroubled. "As you may have guessed, the presence of the dementors is expected to negatively affect the students. Madam Pomfrey has stockpiled enough chocolate to satisfy the cravings of a giant - no offense, Rubeus."
"None taken."
"So I encourage you all not to hesitate if you feel a student should visit the hospital wing for a pick-me-up. It's a matter that Professor Dumbledore and I wish to be taken very seriously."
"How long must we endure the presence of those contemptible wretches?" Professor Sinistra wondered aloud. "Their mists are fogging up our view of Delphinus leaping from the Milky Way - most unfortunate for my second years."
"And most unfortunate for Quidditch," added Madam Hooch. Professor Trelawney made some foreboding humming noise in agreement.
"Believe me Aurora, nobody is less thrilled about it than Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall assured her. "But the Ministry feels it is the best way to protect the students given the circumstances."
"Seems to me Fudge is one sandwich short of a picnic these days," humphed Professor Sprout.
"Not half," Hagrid chimed in.
"Differing opinions in methods aside, we are all in agreement that our priority must be the safety of the students," McGonagall concluded with impressive restraint and diplomacy.
"Do they really think Black is headed for Hogwarts?" Professor Burbage asked with wide eyes.
"I'm afraid the Aurors have determined that, yes."
Remus's thoughts drifted to Emmeline almost without him realizing, and he wondered how her morning was going.
"Not to worry, Charity. He never was the clever type. I expect the dementors will make quick work of him," Snape voiced - rather like a boy wishing for a bicycle on Christmas.
"Are there any other orders of business at this time?" McGonagall pivoted.
"Oh, er," Remus piped up, humbly raising his hand. "If anybody happens to catch wind of a boggart, I'd appreciate a lead. Being able to practice on one would be helpful for my third year classes over the next week."
A few people muttered their compliance.
"If that is all, we can conclude our meeting and you may head to your classrooms."
With their registers in hand, the staff all stood and shuffled out of the room, still whinging about the dementors. Making sure to let everyone else exit first, Remus remained seated.
Hagrid hung back to wait for him. "Can y'believe it? Me first day of school!"
"How do you feel?" Remus asked, standing to join him as they strolled back into the corridor.
"Nervous as all hell - but I just think how proud little third year Rubeus would be if I could go back an' tell 'im," he beamed, rocking back and forth on his gargantuan feet.
Remus seriously doubted that "little" had ever been an accurate descriptor for Hagrid, but in a way, it made his enthusiasm all the more charming. "That just about sums it up, doesn't it?" he mused with a smile.
…
As the bell rang out, Remus gathered the notes he'd been reviewing and stashed them in a drawer, then came around to lean against the front of the desk.
The fourth year Ravenclaws would be his first pupils of the day, and he could already hear their footsteps approaching down the hall. The quirks of certain Hogwarts subjects meant that many of his lessons would be taught one house at a time, so he expected the same content might need to be catered a little differently to each group.
But Remus knew Ravenclaws.
"Good morning," he bid the students trickling in to take their seats.
Only one or two unenthusiastic greetings came back in response.
"…Right," he muttered, trying not to let it spook him. Drawing his wand, he charmed the chalk to scribble his name in the corner of the blackboard. "Let's begin, shall we?"
Instinctively, the students began reaching for their rucksacks.
"Oh- no need for that just yet." Another turn of his wand compelled chalk to delineate 3 columns on the board: JINX, HEX, and CURSE. "Now - Can anyone tell me what classifies a spell as a jinx?"
After a moment or two, three people raised their hands.
"Eddie?"
"Jinxes are a type of Dark Charm," declared Eddie Carmichael, looking around at his classmates as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and Remus was a hack for even asking.
So Remus flicked his wand toward the chalk again, scribbling "Dark Charms" over all three of the columns. "Correct - however, hexes and curses also fall into that category, so let's just put it at the top of the table, shall we?"
Eddie turned a bit pink.
"What else?" Remus proceeded, scanning the next bunch of hands. "Cho?"
"To cast a jinx, you have to maintain eye contact."
"Excellent. Perhaps a demonstration?" He leaned up off the desk and pointed his wand at a skeleton model in the corner to his right. "Geminio."
A second, identical skeleton appeared next to the first.
"The Doubling charm isn't a jinx," someone scoffed, loud enough for Remus to hear.
"Right you are, Marcus. And neither is this next spell; I'm merely sorting out something for us to practice on. Piertotum Locomotor."
The next thing they knew, the duplicate skeleton had hopped off its stand and was casually strolling to the front of the room, summoning a mixture of laughs and shocked gasps from the class.
"Cho, would you please join me?"
Cho Chang rose from her seat, but eyed the skeleton warily as she passed it.
"Can you think of a jinx? Preferably one you already know how to cast."
"…I could do a Leek jinx?"
Remus let out a chuckle. "Excellent choice. Whenever you're ready, you may cast a Leek jinx on our friend here."
"But sir, it er…doesn't have eyes…"
"I think you'll be alright if you just look where they're supposed to be."
With a stroke of Cho's wand, leeks sprouted out of where the skeleton might have had ears, summoning more laughter from the class.
"Cho's picked a perfect example for us," Remus praised her. "Jinxes are often somewhat amusing in nature, and not much more serious than a vexing inconvenience to the person on the receiving end," he explained as he relived the skeleton of the leeks. "Thank you, Cho. Five points to Ravenclaw for your participation. You may head back to your seat."
"Thank you, sir."
"Moving right along. How about hexes?"
About seven hands shot up.
"Saskia."
"...Sir, may I ask how you know all our names?"
"You weren't the only ones who did your summer homework," he said with a smile in one corner of his mouth. "What can you tell us about hexes, Saskia?"
"Well, they usually do a bit more harm, don't they?"
"Indeed. Care to show us?"
"Sure!"
"Step right up," he invited her. "Which hex are you going to demonstrate for us?"
"I've learned the Knee-Reversal hex," she informed him as she approached the skeleton.
"Excellent. Off you go."
Sakia drew her wand and gave it a great wave, and suddenly, the skeleton's knees and shins whirled around to the wrong side. The class was split between laughter, and sympathetic grunts of discomfort.
"Well done! Anyone who's ever been on the receiving end of a Knee-Reversal hex can tell you: hexes are less benign than a jinx. Another five points to Ravenclaw." Once again, Remus set the skeleton straight. "Finally: curses. Who'd like to give us an example of a curse?"
This time, every hand shot up.
"Marcus?"
"The Entrail-Expelling curse?"
The students erupted in a chorus of laughter, Remus among them. "Yes, well aside from the er…sanitary implications, I don't think our friend here possesses the equipment necessary to demonstrate that. Perhaps another? I saw Arman's hand."
"What about the Blasting curse?"
"I think we can probably manage that one. Just as a precaution, I'll go ahead and cast it for us. Would you all stand back, please?"
As the class stood and moved towards the back of the chamber, Remus charmed the desks to scoot to the sides of the room. He moved back a few paces as well, but took care to cast a strong Shield charm around himself and the skeleton before proceeding.
"Thank you for your service today," he bid the skeleton farewell before readying his arm to cover his eyes. "Confringo."
With a fiery crack, the skeleton burst apart, scattering shards of bone around the perimeter of the shield. Remus dusted himself off, and to his surprise and delight, the class applauded raucously.
"That was wicked!"
"Thank you, Arman. Would you kindly help me to wrap up our demonstration today?"
"Yeah, what do you need me to do?"
"I trust you've learned the Mending charm?"
"Yes, sir."
"Would you please put our friend back together?"
"Reparo." Armand pointed his wand straight at the grouping of shards, but they didn't so much as wobble. "...It isn't working."
"I assure you, that has nothing to do with your abilities." Remus vanished the shards, moved the desks back, and sent the chalk scribbling on the board again as he strode back to the front of the classroom. "While there are exceptions, overall, curses usually cause significant damage that either must run its course, requires a specific counter-curse to un-do, or, in many cases, cannot be undone at all. If you wish to take notes now, you may do so."
There was a collective rusting noise that settled over the room as the students reached for their bags with much more gusto than before.
"So, here's the rub: Jinxes, hexes, and curses can all be differentiated by…anyone?…Daisy."
"Varying levels of severity?"
"Outstanding. Another five points to Daisy, and ten points to Arman for being a good sport with the trick question." The chalk etched MILD, MODERATE, and SEVERE in each respective column, as well as some other notes. "It's worth noting that the boundaries between these three are often flexible - for example, the Stinging hex is sometimes referred to as the Stinging jinx, and the Jelly-Legs jinx is sometimes instead called the Jelly-Legs curse, so on and so forth." He noticed a hand raised in his periphery. "Yes, Dennis?"
"Forgive me Professor, but our last Defense teacher didn't know his arse from his elbow-"
"So I heard. Mind your language, please."
"Sorry, sir. I was just wondering: do you think you could teach us some of what we missed last year as well?"
"Please?" Marietta chimed in.
"Maybe we could plan a few review sessions?" Helen suggested.
He glanced around, and couldn't help but feel inspired by what was kindling in their eyes.
"...I think that could be arranged."
…
The next few class periods progressed similarly. Across the board - from the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw second years to the fourth year Hufflepuffs - the students seemed to be enjoying the hands-on education. Even the fifth year Slytherins had seemed moderately engaged in their lesson, which was a pleasant surprise. It gave him a boost of confidence before heading into the class he'd been dreading the most that day.
"The Wand-Lighting charm can also be used to repel spirits: ghosts, poltergeists, banshees, etcetera," he explained as he walked among the students. "I think you'll find it to be a helpful spell in your arsenal for some of the material we're going to cover this year." With a swish of his wand, curtains drew themselves over the windows and darkened the classroom. "Let's practice once more. Wands at the ready."
In the dim light, he could make out twenty or so small arms raising.
"On the count of three. One…two…three."
"Lumos," the class recited in unison, illuminating the once dimmed chamber with a lucent glow.
"Excellent work! I think that was everyone this time," Remus rejoiced, surveying each student's progress. "Now for the Wand-Extinguishing charm. On three. One…two…three."
"Nox," they chanted in a similar fashion. Every light went out with volley-like precision.
"Nicely done, everyone." He opened the curtains, inviting the sunlight back in. "Five points to Gryffindor and Slytherin each. You may take your seats."
As the class scurried back to their desks with excited chatter, Remus pulled his desk chair around to sit before them.
"We're nearing the end of our time together, so I'll leave you with this: there's a reason I've taught you The Wand-Lighting charm before we've even started talking about spirits. For many of you, that was probably your first time ever getting to use your wand. I know there must be a number of you for whom the existence of magic is entirely new, as is the possibility of having to defend yourself with it. I want you to know that the things you will learn in this class are not meant to frighten you. It is my hope that, by the end of the term, you will instead feel like you've been equipped with some tools to face your fears head on. Now, even when you feel you're surrounded by darkness, you'll be able to create a bit of light." He glanced around at (mostly) everyone's faces. "Are there any questions?...Michael."
"Does this mean I'll never have to buy another torch?"
Remus chuckled. "That is entirely up to you." With perfect timing, the bell rang out. "If there are no further questions, you're all dismissed. Thank you for your attention today."
The students leapt up and funneled into the corridor, and Remus returned his chair to its proper spot behind his desk. He'd made it. That wasn't nearly as disastrous-
"Professor Lupin?"
He spun around. He'd hardly looked at her during class, except to check that she was progressing like the others, and now, even after his motivational diatribe, he wished to disappear into himself like a faint-hearted hedgehog.
Go d, she looks like her mother. But that nose-
"I don't know if you remember me," she started, adjusting her rucksack. "We met this summer."
"How can I help you, Lucy?"
The girl looked happy to know she hadn't been forgotten (despite Remus's best efforts). "I have a question, but it's not about class…"
I don't like the sound of that.
Remus cleared his throat. "...Let's hear it, then."
"Is it true you and my mum went to Hogwarts together?"
Oh.
"Oh."
Well-
"Well, yes. As a matter of fact, it is."
How much did she tell you?
Lucy started talking with her hands, which was admittedly sort of cute. "I'm only asking because…she says most of her friends passed away when she was young. I didn't know she still had friends out there..."
Friends was a strong word that was simultaneously not strong enough. But the implications of the statement made his heart sink.
Remus doubled back for his briefcase and cane. "…Do you know what, Lucy? I've actually got to go return something to Professor Dumbledore, and I believe you're supposed to be on your way to your next class. Might we speak another time?"
Lucy pivoted towards the door, but when she saw that her classmates had gone, she looked very concerned.
"...Do you remember how to get to your next class?"
She shook her head.
"…I suppose I could point you in the right direction…just until we run into some other students, then I must go." He'd gotten lost that first week, too.
"Okay - thank you."
"Sure."
"I loved class today," she mentioned as they walked into the corridor together.
"Did you?"
"It's been my favorite so far."
"Well that's nice to hear…What else have you had today?"
"Herbology, which was alright. We just went over how to wear our gloves properly." Then her mouth scrunched up like she'd smelled something unpleasant. "And erm…right before lunch, I had History of Magic…"
"Ah." Remus smiled knowingly. Binns was not the most… lively educator. He appreciated the compliment, but knew that, by comparison, he hadn't accomplished some great pedagogical feat. "And where am I directing you to next?"
"Potions!" she peeped exuberantly.
Don't get your hopes up. Doesn't run in the family.
He banished the thought almost as soon as it arose. "Well fortunately, we're headed in the same direction." Was it fortunate?
"So did you take classes with my mum?"
Strike that.
"Erm, a few."
"You must've been in the same year, then."
"I think so," he pretended not to recall as they passed a corridor he very vividly remembered stealing away to snog in.
"Were you a Gryffindor as well?"
Walk faster.
He made longer strides with the cane. "I was, yes."
"...Did you like it?"
At that, his pace slowed a little. Tipped off by the way her tone had flattened, he ventured to ask: "...Did your first evening at school go alright?"
"...It was fine…" But she'd directed her response down to her shoes.
Huh.
Mercifully, some of her classmates were around the next corner. "Now: make your way down the stairs until you can't go down anymore, and you should be able to find the dungeons. It's where Professor Snape teaches Potions class."
"Thanks, Professor Lupin!" she effused, trotting to join the others.
"Oh, and Lucy?"
She glanced back over her shoulder.
"...While you're there, maybe don't mention how much you enjoyed our class, alright?"
Her brow furrowed perplexedly. "Okay," she agreed before disappearing down the staircase.
Unaware of himself, he stared after her for a moment, only managing to snap out of it when another group of students passed. He followed them to the staircase.
The day hadn't felt quite as long as he'd anticipated when looking at his schedule that morning, and if he was being perfectly honest, he was astonished by how well it was going. Not necessarily because he'd expected to do poorly…it was just that things didn't often go this well for him. But his preparation over the summer had paid off, and now, he was finally seeing the fruits of his labor. Only two more classes to go.
Speaking of summer preparation, it was probably time for him to return Dumbledore's book. He'd had the foresight to pack it in his briefcase, so he might as well get the trip over with on his break, he thought.
On his way up the stairs, he passed Professor Flitwick and paid him a nod.
"Oh- Lupin! I nearly forgot," Flitwick suddenly spouted, bringing Remus to a halt. "I've found you a boggart."
"Fantastic! Where's it at?"
"Staff room wardrobe. Must've moved in sometime during lunch."
"Thank you," he said joyfully, turning around and heading the other direction. Everything was coming together splendidly; though he wasn't thrilled to be detouring back to the ground floor before trekking to the Headmaster's tower.
When he had the staff room in his sights, he could hear McGonagall and Snape going back and forth within the chamber.
"All I am suggesting is that someone with more experience review his curriculum."
"I seriously doubt that Hagrid has taken the time to write out lesson plans."
"Then there must be some oversight. The school governors will not abide this."
"The boy's father will demand that and more."
"Albus, I'm sure it was an honest mistake, and I'm not oblivious to the Malfoy boy's temperament, but-"
The wardrobe rattled.
"It appears we are in the company of a boggart," Dumbledore observed.
Not wishing to eavesdrop, Remus made himself known and entered the room. "Oh," he stopped Snape as he was striding back towards the wardrobe. "Would you mind leaving it for my class tomorrow? That is, if it's alright with you, Professor Dumbledore."
Begrudgingly, Snape stashed his wand.
"I do not forsee any members of staff needing a spare robe desperately enough before tomorrow for me to say otherwise," Dumbledore quipped; though he didn't look all that mirthful.
"Thank you, that'll be…very helpful…" Remus muttered, noting how grave they all looked. "...Sorry, have I missed something?"
…
Knock knock knock.
Remus waited a few seconds.
…Knock knock knock.
"Hagrid, it's Remus. May I come in? I was wondering if we might-"
The door swung open, but Hagrid was already sulking back towards the table. Remus took it as his cue to enter the hut. The rustic space was endearingly very Hagrid, but he suspected it was not the time to tell him so.
"...I'm sorry your first day didn't go according to plan…" he murmured sympathetically, closing the door behind himself.
Ruddy-faced and teary-eyed, Hagrid plopped back into his seat with a ker-plunk. "One day. One day was all it took for me to screw it all up…"
Remus joined him at the table, leaning over the back of one of the chairs. "Sounded to me like maybe it wasn't so cut and dry."
"But that's how they're going to see it. They'll say I got too big for my britches with me first lesson, and that I'm unfit fer teachin'. Then Dumbledore'll have to sack me."
"...I doubt anyone thinks- hah-" He was startled by something wet on the back of his hand, and peered down to find a large boarhound slobbering on his pant leg as he sniffed him. "I doubt anyone thinks you're unfit for teaching. Especially Dumbledore," he heartened him, wiping his hand on his robes before giving the dog a pat on the head.
Hagrid was unconvinced.
"...I actually came down for some advice about something else," Remus professed, rerouting the conversation.
Puzzlement replaced his melancholy. "...Advice? From me?"
"Yes. My third year classes will be covering a lot of magical creatures, and seeing as you're the expert, I thought I'd ask you."
Hagrid sat up in his seat a little. "Advice about what?"
"Well, I'd like to find a few species to bring into class for demonstrations and such, but I don't know the first thing about how to collect them." Which wasn't entirely true; but that wasn't the point.
"Whadda y'need?"
"I'll need to get my hands on a Red Cap soon. Do you know how-?"
"I can get you a Red Cap," Hagrid offered.
"Really? You wouldn't mind?"
"'Course not. Thas' easy. There's a brood of em' that hang 'round the dungeons."
"You'd be helping me out a lot."
Remus didn't expect him to feel any better about the situation, or to even smile; but he hoped he'd given Hagrid reason to believe there was at least one person who didn't think he was a failure.
Not wanting to overstay his welcome, Remus straightened up and began moseying towards the door. "I don't suppose you'd care to join me up at the castle for dinner?"
Returning to his melancholy, Hargid shook his head and raised his tankard. "I've got dinner sorted."
"Ah, liquid dinner. Excellent choice."
"I'll get you your Red Cap," he promised.
"Thanks, Hagrid." Remus flashed him a heartfelt smile on his way out the door. "I feel very fortunate to get to work with you."
…
He couldn't remember ever feeling so delighted to be so exhausted. Once dinner had concluded, he hobbled straight up to his office then straight back to his bed, kicking off his shoes and flopping onto the mattress with a grunt. He knew he ought to have at least hung up his robes first, but as soon as he felt the pillow under his cheek, he couldn't be bothered to part with it.
It had been a good day.
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Remus talking to the nephew of Damocles Belby makes me lol and also makes me want to spoon my eyes out