Chapter One.
September 1st, 1993. The Hogwarts Express.
Remus Lupin's eyes flew open at the sound of his compartment door opening, though due to the angle of his head against the window, the three teens who entered did not notice. Quickly closing his eyes again Remus tried to focus on the conversation the teens were having and not on the dream he had. Again. At least it wasn't a nightmare this time Remus thought. Ever since Sirius escaped Azkaban, Remus had been having the same dream about the night they found out Marlene was pregnant. After they all made their promise to one another the dream turned into a horrible nightmare about Halloween 1981 and the broken promise regarding Harry and having to give Lyra away. James was telling him how much he hated him for not trying harder to find Harry, Peter was screaming while Sirius laughed at him and Lyra crying as he tried to walk away from her. This dream was the reason he had accepted the job offer at Hogwarts, well that and he needed the steady income. Remus hadn't seen Harry since his first birthday, Dumbledore made sure of that by refusing to tell him where Harry was so Remus couldn't even write to him and it had been three years since he last saw Lyra just after her eleventh birthday. He had to see them even if they would only know him as Professor Lupin and not Uncle Moony.
"Who d'you reckon that is?" A male voice hissed, as he sat down as far away from the stranger as possible.
"Professor R. J. Lupin." A familiar girls voice responded. Where had he heard that voice? Before he could contemplate the voice any longer the first voice spoke again.
"How the bloody hell could you possibly know that?"
"It's on his suitcase Ronald." It was lucky there was a laugh just as Remus snorted at the response the girl made, otherwise they would have known he was listening.
"Oh." Remus could hear by the tone of his voice the Ronald boy was quite embarrassed "anyway, what was it you wanted to tell us Harry?"
Remus' eyes opened just a sliver at the name Harry, wondering if it could possibly be James and Lily's boy but the only thing he could see was a lanky red headed boy who must be Ronald.
"I overheard an argument between your parents last night Ron. It was about Sirius Black, and me." At that Remus stopped breathing for a minute so he could hear everything being said. "Your dad was saying that Fudge and them know why he escaped Azkaban. Your dad thinks I have a right to know because Black wants to kill me. Your mum was completely against me knowing anything saying I'm too young and that it's going to terrify me or some such rubbish. But I'll be safe at Hogwarts, Dumbledore will be there and if Voldemort is scared of him then I doubt Black would even have a chance."
"But mate, Black is the only person in history to escape Azkaban and he was in the high-risk cells! The normal inmate cells are supposed to be impossible to escape let alone the high-risk ones. Well, that's what dad says anyway."
"Well maybe he had help Ron, anyway, your dad just tried to tell me about it, but I told him that I already know because I overheard him and Mrs. Weasley talking last night. He tried making me promise not to go looking for Black, but I would have missed the damn train if I stuck around any longer."
"Sirius Black escaped the Wizard prison with the highest security level on the planet to come and kill you?" The girl squeaked. "Oh, Harry please be really really careful. Don't go looking for trouble."
"Harry would need to be as thick as Crabbe and Goyle to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him." Ronald said, his voice shaking slightly.
"Besides," Harry started defensively "Trouble usually finds me Hermione. I'm not the one who looks for it."
Remus didn't even notice the conversation had changed to a much lighter topic after that. He was instead focusing on the fact that two of his best friends kids, no matter their circumstances, had somehow managed to become remarkably close friends even without their parents input and were sitting in this very compartment with him. The very same compartment that the Marauders themselves met each other in.
XxxX
The hours went past, and Remus was lulled to sleep by the motion of the train. It was mid-afternoon when rain started falling heavily. The teens looked out the window in surprise as the storm came out of nowhere, but they found they couldn't see anything but grey mist. It was as if the train was passing through a thick cloud. The lights in the cabin flickered just as the door slid open to reveal Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley.
"Hullo Neville, Ginny" Harry smiled at them. "Come on in and take a seat." As the two newcomers moved into the compartment the train started slowing down very quickly.
"What is happening?" Neville asked.
"Great we're there. I'm starving!" Ron responded as he stood up.
"No." Hermione was looking at her watch. "We can't be there yet, it's only 4 o'clock."
"Then why are we stopping?"
Before anyone could respond to Ron the train stopped suddenly causing Neville and Ron to both fall onto the floor of the compartment. As they hit the floor the lights throughout the train flickered off plunging all compartments into total darkness.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Ron's voice came from the section of floor closest to the window. He must have pulled himself up and looked out the window when he spoke again because his voice had a slight shake to it "there's something moving out there. I think someone is coming onto the train."
Hermione looked towards where Ron's voice was coming from and could see nothing but her friends silhouette.
"Ouch! That was my foot!"
"Sorry. What's happening?"
"Sit down. Oi, not here; I'm here."
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"Who is that?"
"Quiet all of you!" A deep sleep addled voice came from the far end of the compartment. It seemed like the sleeping professor had finally woken up, most likely because of all the noise the teenagers had been making. The shock of hearing the strangers voice shut them all up immediately. A crackling could be heard just before the compartment lit up. Coming into view was the professors scarred face and in his hand was a ball of flames. He slowly stood from his sitting position and turned towards the door of the compartment with a frown as if he had heard something the rest could not; only the small brown eyed witch had noticed the deep inhale the scarred man did seemingly trying to sniff the air. Not even five seconds passed before the door slowly slid open. In the doorway was a huge figure, the top of their black hooded head was brushing the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden deep inside the hood; the only part visible was what looked like a decaying hand covered in slime that was still holding onto the frame of the door it had pushed open.
The creature took a deep breath in Harry's direction and the compartment felt as if the temperature dropped at least ten degrees. Remus moved his eyes to Harry for the first time since he was a one-year-old, he watched as Harry's eyes rolled back into his head and he lost consciousness. Everyone was so busy looking at the downed boy in shock, no one noticed that Remus' eyes were no longer green, but a vibrant shade of melted gold and his wand was in his hand not even a second later, "He is not here, Expecto Patronum!" A huge silver wolf launched itself out of the wands tip at the hooded creature causing it to flee. Once he was sure the Azkaban guard was gone he looked down at his friends son.
"Excuse me young lady please move out of the way" when she didn't move and only spared Remus a glance before looking back down to Harry he only smiled at her rudeness "I am just going to wake him up. I promise I won't hurt him." A few more moments passed as the bushy haired teen looked up at the man and watched him as if searching for something before she moved out of his way. Ha! Just as stubborn and loyal as Sirius was, I wonder if she has the same temper Remus thought to himself before sitting on the floor next to Harry's form "Rennervate." Remus moved back to his original seat as Harry started waking up.
"Harry? Harry, Harry!" Hermione decided to give him a few good smacks across the face hoping it would wake him up faster.
"Why are you hitting me 'Mione? What happened?" Harry opened his eyes to see his four friends faces looking down at him.
"You collapsed and started shaking. You alright mate?" Ron pulled Harry up into a sitting position.
"Who was screaming?"
"What? No one was screaming Harry." The other teens all looked at each other in confusion.
"But I heard a woman screaming. She was begging for mercy." As the teens spoke about the screaming woman none of them noticed that Remus' already pale face had drained of colour completely. Connecting the dots Remus realised that Harry had just relived the night his parents died, and that he actually remembers it, remembers his mother's screams as she was begging Voldemort to spare her son before he killed her too. Absentmindedly Remus fished out a giant block of chocolate from the pocket of his shabby robes and snapped it in half. Dragging his mind away from that shitty train of thought he cleared his throat and held out the bigger half to Harry "eat it. You'll feel better." Harry took the chocolate from the man but instead of eating it right away he asked, "what was that thing?"
"It's called a Dementor. It's one of the guards from Azkaban prison looking for Sirius Black. Now, make sure you eat all of that I'm just going to have a chat with the driver." Remus stepped past all five teens and exited the compartment.
"Harry? Are you sure you're alright?" Harry looked over at his brown-haired best friend he opened his mouth to speak but all he could do was nod. Harry had been looking out the train window lost in his own thoughts about why he was the only one who was affected so much by the Dementor, when the door slid open, and the professor made his way back to his seat.
"Alright, the driver said we will be there in about fifteen minutes. You should all change into your robes now."
The remainder of the journey was a quiet affair and Harry slowly nibbled on the hunk of chocolate the stranger had given him. At last, the train slowed and stopped at Hogsmeade station and there was a mad rush as almost every student tried being the first onto the platform. The trio said goodbye to Ginny and Neville as they stopped to have a quick chat with Hagrid before making their way to the carriages. After making a time for tea in a few days, Hagrid went back to calling the first years and the trio followed the crowd towards the carriages. Rounding the final corner Harry stopped in his tracks at the sight before him. In front of every carriage was what looked like a big black skeletal bat-winged horse with milky white eyes.
"Oookaay" Harry dragged the word out. "They are creepy. What are they?" Hermione and Ron looked at each other, they seemed to be doing that a lot today, then they looked at the empty spot Harry was pointing to.
"What is what Harry? There is nothing there." Hermione's face was clouded with confusion.
"The giant black horse-bird things pulling the carriages."
"There is nothing pulling the carriage." Ron was looking at Harry as though he had grown a second head.
"Oh! I read about this! In Hogwarts: A History, they ar-" before Hermione could finish, she was pushed out of the way and a snooty Draco Malfoy stood in front of them along with his two fat henchmen Crabbe and Goyle.
"You fainted Potty? Seriously is Fatbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted!" Malfoy and his two lackeys started laughing.
"Piss off Malfoy!" Ron shoved the blonde out of the way and dragged Harry and Hermione to the next available carriage while Malfoy shouted at their backs "you should know not to lay your hands on your betters Weasel. You will infect us with your poor germs" from inside the carriage Ron, for once not rising to the bait, flipped the forks at the other pureblood then slammed the door shut. The carriage started making its way to the castle when Hermione spoke, "just ignore Malfoy. He is an idiot and just wants a reaction from you. He is not worth wasting your time on."
"Yeah." Harry turned his head to look out the window.
After another ten minutes the carriage came to a stop in front of the steps leading up to the giant oak front doors and the trio climbed out of the carriage and followed the crowd into the entrance hall of the castle.
"Miss Granger!" The trio turned in surprise towards the voice, there stood their strict Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonagall "I would like a quick word with you before the feast. No need to look so worried, it's just regarding your timetable." Hermione's eyes widened in understanding.
"It's fine. I'll meet you before the sorting." She smiled at her boys and turned to follow McGonagall to her office.
As the office door closed Hermione could no longer hold back her excitement.
"Did they agree? Do you have it?" Before Hermione could get more than two questions out of her mouth Professor McGonagall raised her hand to stop the flow of endless questions she knew would be coming.
"Hermione please contain yourself and have a seat."
"Oh, sorry Professor." Hermione sat on the sofa that the older woman transfigured for her, knowing the younger preferred the sofa to the chair that normally sat on the other side of the desk.
"The ministry has approved your request to use it, and yes I have it here for you. Now, you have read all of the laws. No one can know about this, and it can only be used for your classes and of course, sleep but nothing more. I will show you the designated room in which you can use it. It is an old classroom that a group of students used for planning pranks but there was a bit of an accident, and the damage cannot be removed so it has not been in use since the late seventies. This is the only room you will be able to use the time-turner nowhere else. Do you understand?"
"Of course, professor" Hermione said seriously, fully understanding the importance of what the other woman was saying. McGonagall unlocked a hidden compartment in her desk and pulled out what looked like a small jewellery box made entirely of silver and handed it to her favourite student. With lightly shaking hands Hermione took the small box, opened it, and peered inside. Hanging on a long thin gold chain was what looked like a small glass jar that had runes scratched lightly into the surface; inside the jar was an hourglass that had black pearl coloured sand sitting at the bottom of it. Hermione took the time-turner out of the box and hung the long chain around her neck.
"Thank you so much professor. I know you didn't need to do this for me or get the headmaster to help." Hermione was so busy looking down at the hourglass in her hand she didn't notice the professor had moved until she sat down beside her on the sofa.
"My dear, you are most welcome, but I have two requests of you."
"Anything professor!"
"First, when we are alone you will stop calling me professor. Minnie will do just fine."
"But prof-" Hermione stopped her objection when she took one look at McGonagall's face. "But why?"
"We have been having tea together since you first came to Hogwarts Hermione. I think it's been long enough that we can forgo such formalities, and I find a kindred spirit in you. Plus, and if you repeat this to anyone I'll deny it, you are my favourite student in many years."
"Who was your last favourite?" Hermione was curious.
"A young man who was here in the seventies. He was extremely loyal to his friends and like you, was particularly gifted in transfiguration. Now secondly, I do not want you stressing and over working yourself so much this year. If it becomes too much you must tell me. I expect you for tea at least once a fortnight. Agreed?" Hermione was too preoccupied with the change of subject back to McGonagall's terms she didn't even notice her teacher never said the students name. "Agreed, Minnie." No longer able to help herself Hermione lent forward and hugged her favourite teacher.
"Alright dear," McGonagall said after another minute "I think we have been gone far too long."
XxxX
Back in the Great Hall Harry was getting worried, both Hermione and McGonagall had missed the sorting.
"She's fine mate" Ron said looking more worried that his plate was empty and that he may starve than he was about his friend.
Harry frowned at him. "She said she would be back before the sorting." Another five minutes had gone by when the great hall doors opened to let in the missing professor and student. The entire hall went silent to watch the professor escort her student down the hall to where her friends were sitting. "Don't forget Miss Granger. I'll see you in two weeks."
"Yes professor" Hermione responded with a smile and sat down across from her two best friends.
"What was that about?"
"What took so long?"
The boys spoke at once one with a look of concern and the other with mild frustration. "My timetable. I wanted to do more subjects than was allowed. Professor McGonagall was just explaining why I couldn't." There was an ahem from the front of the hall and the trio turned to see the headmaster standing up and looking in their direction.
"Now that we are all accounted for I would like to say a few words before we begin our excellent feast. Firstly, welcome to the first years and welcome back to our older students. Secondly, I would like you all to join me in welcoming our new professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Remus Lupin. Good luck professor." He paused while everyone gave a round of applause for the new teacher. "As most of you would have seen upon entering the grounds, we will be playing host for the guards of Azkaban until such a time Sirius Black is captured. Do not give them any reason to harm you, they do not care for who gets in the way of who they hunt. The Ministry has ordered this for your protection. Next the older students are already aware, the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden to all students, no exceptions." Five students throughout the hall all had the same thought – except when you are forced to have detention with Hagrid. "Lastly there are a total of four hundred and twenty-six banned objects, please see the office door of Mr Filch for the full list. Now, let the feast begin."
A couple of hours later in the Gryffindor tower the three teens sat in their favourite spots in front of the unlit fireplace.
"Welcome home guys" Harry spoke after a while of just sitting there staring at nothing. "I have a feeling that this year is going to be just as wild as the last two." Both Hermione and Ron snorted while nodding their agreement.
Across the castle in his teacher's quarters Remus Lupin was sitting with a glass of firewhisky, thinking along the same lines as Harry.