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Draco hurried out of Dumbledore's office. It couldn't be true. Lupin couldn't do this. He couldn't just resign.
Lupin's office door was open. He had already packed most of his things. The grindylow's empty tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk and looked up only when Draco stormed in.
"I saw you coming," said Lupin, smiling. He pointed to the parchment he had been poring over. It was the map Snape had had confiscated from Potter. He must have given it to Lupin after their confrontation, probably believing it to be dark magic. Or maybe he just knew that Lupin had been one of the Marauders.
"You can't do this-" Draco started, but was startled by a knock on the door. Harry Potter walked into the room.
Draco and Harry looked at each other. Potter looked quite surprised, but then he turned towards Lupin and said, "I just saw Hagrid and he said you resigned. It's not true, is it?"
"I am afraid it is," said Lupin. He started opening his desk drawers and taking out the contents.
"No," Draco yelled. If Lupin left, then he hadn't changed much at all. Moody would again turn him into a ferret, Umbridge would terrorize the school with her absurd decrees, the Carrows would force him to torture his peers and Snape would die. "You can't do that."
"I am sorry, Draco. But my decision is final."
"Why?" asked Harry. "The Ministry of Magic don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?"
Draco pointed his wand at the door and it closed immediately. Lupin nodded appreciatively in his direction.
"No. They believe that Severus and I saved you and captured Sirius."
"Is it because of what happened?" Draco asked. "We aren't blaming you for anything that happened."
Lupin looked wistful. "I could have bitten any of you… That must never happen again. But it is also not the reason I am leaving. Sirius will have his trial at the end of August. If he loses, I need to be there to lodge an appeal. And if he wins, I will need to help him start a new life."
"Can't you do that and teach at Hogwarts?" Potter asked.
Lupin shook his head.
"Did Dumbledore tell you to do this?" asked Draco.
"No," Lupin smiled. "This is my own decision and one I fully stand behind."
"You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had!" said Harry and Draco found himself nodding in agreement. As much as he loved his godfather, the man was clearly not meant to be a teacher. "Don't go!"
"I'm truly sorry, boys. But I have always expected that my time here would come to an end sooner or later."
"Why?" asked Draco.
"Have you ever had a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for longer than a year?" he asked.
They both shook their heads.
"Well, neither had I during my time at Hogwarts. It is quite curious. I am just glad I did not end up like some of my predecessors have."
Draco had heard rumors that the Dark Lord had cursed the position, but he never gave it much merit.
Lupin continued packing his things. "I am quite proud of you two and your friends. You worked together to save an innocent man. You uncovered the truth. You overlooked the prejudices of the different houses to do what is right. You have learned so much…" Lupin looked proudly at Harry, "you learnt how to conjure a Patronus."
"What?" asked Draco. "I want to see."
Harry looked unsure but Lupin nodded reassuringly.
"Expecto Patronum!" A brilliant white stag jumped from the tip of Potter's wand, galloping around the three.
Draco looked at it, mesmerized. "Wow," he whispered, trying to touch the animal but as soon as his fingers met the silvery light, it disappeared. "That was really awesome."
"Your father's was a stag, too," Lupin mused. "I would say, by learning to conjure a Patronus, you found some of your father inside of yourself."
Harry smiled proudly, but then his face faltered. "It didn't make any difference, though. Pettigrew got away."
Lupin looked sullen. "That's my fault, I am afraid."
"It's just as much your fault as it is mine," Draco muttered. "I stopped you from killing him. If He comes back, it will be my fault-"
"Stop," interrupted Lupin. "You did a very noble thing. He owes you his life. If You-Know-Who returns, and it would be no fault of either of us, he would have a servant indebted to you. There will be a day you'll be very glad you saved his life."
Draco gave this some thought. If Potter was right and this would have happened anyways, then having the treacherous little rat indebted to him was probably the best possible outcome. And he was not only owing his life to Draco, but also to Astoria, Daphne and Neville. Neville more so than the others, as he had saved him again when he had stopped Draco from attacking him.
"Here," Lupin handed Harry the Marauder's Map. "I am no longer your teacher, so I don't feel guilty about giving this back to you. It's of no use to me but I daresay you will find uses for it."
Harry took the map and grinned.
"Your father would be proud of you," he said.
There was a knock on the door and Harry hastily stuffed the Marauder's Map into his pocket.
It was Professor Dumbledore. He didn't look surprised to see either of the two boys standing there.
"Your carriage is at the gates, Remus," he said.
"Thank you, Headmaster."
Lupin picked up his old suitcase and the empty grindylow tank.
"Well – good-bye, boys," he said, smiling. "It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I am sure we'll meet again soon. Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage…"
Draco had the impression that Lupin wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
"Good-bye then, Remus," said Dumbledore soberly. They shook hands and with a smile and a nod into their direction, Remus Lupin was gone.
Draco sighed.
"Why so sullen?" Dumbledore asked them.
"Lupin's gone," Harry complained. "And who knows who'll be our Defense teacher next year. Probably a vampire or something."
Draco chuckled. "Would probably still be better than Quirrel and Lockhart combined."
That made Potter laugh.
"Now boys, I am sure you will be most pleased with my choice for a Defense Professor," said Dumbledore.
"Who will it be?" asked Draco, hoping it wasn't Moody or Umbridge. But Dumbledore wouldn't say, only twinkled at them.
Harry and Draco left the office soon after.
"So, how long have you known about Sirius?" Harry asked him.
"Since a bit before Christmas," Draco admitted. "Neville and I were- ehm- serving detention in the Forbidden Forest, when we found him by accident. We tried to catch the rat, but it didn't really work out that well," he laughed. "He sent you the Firebolt for Christmas, by the way."
"Oh, that was him? Got to tell Hermione that she was right. She turned it in to McGonagall and I didn't get it back for quite some time."
Draco chuckled, "Sounds like her."
Harry stopped and looked at Draco warily. He probably still didn't know what to make of him.
"Bye, Draco," he finally said.
"Bye – Harry."
TBC
Third year is coming to an end. I am quite excited for their fourth year because 1) it has always been my favorite book and 2) I have tons of ideas on what to with it. It's gonna be quite the year.
As always, I would like to hear what your thoughts are :)