Remus had passed the December full moon relatively calmly. That wasn't to say it was pleasant, it never was, but this time, the moon hadn't been too cruel to him. He returned with only a few minor wounds and no lingering sense that his body was on the verge of collapse. Small mercies, he supposed.
Aurora encountered him as she walked toward the library early the next morning. The pale winter light was just beginning to stretch across the grounds, but the sun had yet to rise fully, leaving the castle bathed in a cold, gray hue. Full moons in the winter were relentless, their long nights dragging on endlessly, and Remus didn't make it back to the castle until well after seven.
As he passed her, Aurora immediately noticed the exhaustion etched into his face. His usual warm, albeit tired, expression was replaced with something muted, almost distant. Still, he managed a faint, weak smile. It wasn't the kind of smile meant to reassure her, it was more of a reflex, a silent acknowledgment of her presence.
He didn't stop to exchange words, didn't even slow his pace. He kept walking briskly, his shoulders hunched against the cold and something more intangible, perhaps shame or stubborn pride. Aurora didn't try to stop him. She knew better. She knew he didn't want her pity.
By the time classes resumed after the Christmas break, the castle was buzzing with life again, the students' chatter filling the corridors and the Great Hall. Among the returning crowd was Harry Potter, who seemed to carry an invisible weight of his own. Aurora hadn't yet crossed paths with him; her first lesson with the boy wasn't until after the weekend.
Remus, however, found Harry just before Sunday breakfast in the Great Hall. Aurora happened to catch sight of them from across the room as Remus leaned down slightly to speak with him. She couldn't hear the conversation, but she noticed the way Harry's expression shifted. His eyes brightened ever so slightly, a spark of hope breaking through the tiredness that had seemed to cling to him since term started.
Remus had arranged for their lesson on the Patronus Charm. Wednesday, five o'clock in the afternoon, in the History of Magic classroom. It was a plan they'd both carefully discussed, knowing how critical it was for Harry to learn to defend himself against the Dementors.
When Wednesday arrived, Remus entered the History of Magic classroom an hour before Harry was due to arrive. The air was still and quiet, the kind of silence only found in a room steeped in centuries of stories and forgotten voices. Moonridge was already there, waiting for him.
"Good evening," Aurora greeted, stepping away from the desk where she'd been organizing her notes.
"Hello, Aurora. Ready for tonight?" Remus asked, his voice calm but tinged with a quiet energy. His wand was outstretched, guiding a large chest that floated awkwardly in the air behind him.
Aurora raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Are you moving in with me or something, Remus? I don't remember discussing this."
Remus chuckled, a low, soft sound that briefly broke through the tension in the room. With a flick of his wand, the chest dropped gently to the floor beside Aurora's desk, landing with a dull thud.
"I found it in Filch's storage room," he explained casually.
Aurora leaned forward, her eyes narrowing at the chest. But as soon as she noticed it twitch slightly, her heart leapt. "A dementor?!" she gasped, her voice rising in panic. She instinctively took a step back.
"No, no," Remus assured her quickly, raising a hand to calm her. "It's a boggart."
Aurora exhaled in relief, though her pulse still raced. "A boggart?"
Remus nodded. "Harry's greatest fear is a dementor."
"Merlin," Aurora whispered, shaking her head. "Poor kid."
"Yes," Remus agreed, his expression turning solemn. He sat down heavily on the edge of one of the benches, his usual calm demeanor now clouded with thought.
For a moment, the room was quiet. The flickering torchlight danced across the walls, casting long shadows over the worn desks and dusty bookshelves. Aurora watched him closely, her heart softening at the sight of him so deep in thought.
"So," Remus said finally, his voice breaking the silence, "what's your plan? You'll just hide in your office and peek through the door?"
Aurora grinned, the teasing spark in her eyes returning. "That's right. I'll sit as quiet as a mouse so Harry doesn't know I'm there."
Remus smiled faintly, but the tension lingered in his features. "Good," he said after a pause. "It's important he feels safe."
"And you'll make sure he does," Aurora replied gently. She stepped closer, her gaze steady on his. "You're the right person to teach him this, Remus. He trusts you."
Remus looked up at her, his expression softening slightly. "I hope you're right," he said quietly, though his tone carried the weight of his doubt.
A while later, Aurora was already seated in her office, hidden in complete darkness. Not a single candle was lit, the shadows cloaking her in anonymity. She didn't want to risk Harry discovering she was there, not even by accident. The faint murmur of voices from the corridor drifted through the heavy wooden door, growing louder until the unmistakable sound of footsteps entered the History of Magic classroom.
"Professor," Harry's voice broke the stillness.
"Hello, Harry!" Remus greeted warmly. "Come in, feel free to come in!"
Harry stepped into the room, his movements hesitant but eager to appear confident. He looked around briefly, his gaze lingering on the large chest resting at the front of the room. "I hope our lesson didn't interfere with Professor Moonridge's plans," Harry said politely, his tone careful.
"No, Harry. Professor Moonridge is just preparing for her lessons in the library tomorrow," Remus replied smoothly, a reassuring smile on his face.
In her hidden corner, Aurora smiled to herself. They hadn't planned this cover story, but Remus had thought quickly on his feet. He always had a way of keeping things steady.
"I've prepared this for us today," Lupin said, gesturing to the large chest.
Harry approached slowly, his curiosity mixed with an undertone of apprehension. "What's this?" he asked, though the slight quaver in his voice betrayed him.
"A boggart," Remus replied simply.
"Okay," Harry said, his tone wavering just enough for Aurora, hidden as she was, to catch it.
The boy's green eyes remained fixed on the chest, a mix of curiosity and dread evident in his expression. Everyone in Hogwarts had heard about what happened on the train on September 1st. Harry had encountered Dementors before, and he knew how they made him feel, weak, powerless, like he might break apart from the inside. The chest before him might only contain a boggart, but the idea that it would transform into one of those soul-sucking creatures was enough to make his stomach twist uncomfortably.
Still, Harry forced a smile and tried to keep his voice even, injecting a note of false excitement. He didn't want Lupin to see his fear, to sense the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.
"Well," Lupin began, "The spell I'm going to teach you, Harry, is a very advanced spell... far beyond the average wizarding knowledge. It's called the Patronus Charm."
"How does it work?" Harry asked anxiously.
"When it works properly, it creates a Patronus, a sort of anti-Dementor, a guardian that will act as a shield between you and the Dementor," Remus explained. "A Patronus is a kind of positive force. It's a projection of what a Dementor feeds on... hope, happiness, the will to survive... but it can't feel despair like a real human, so a Dementor can't do anything to it. I must warn you, though, Harry, that this spell may be too complicated for you. Many skilled wizards have difficulty with it.
Aurora listened as Remus passionately told Harry about the Patronus, what it was, what it looked like, until he finally gave Harry the right spell that could scare away a Dementor.Expecto Patronum.
Aurora, of course, had come across this spell in her life. She was sure that she must have read about it in one of the books she so often devoured. However, she had never made an attempt to learn it, honestly, it had never even occurred to her.
Aurora watched as Harry made his first attempt to cast the spell, practicing without the boggart for now. His determination was evident, even if his wand movements lacked the confidence of mastery. After that initial try, however, it was time to face the creature hiding in the large chest beside her desk.
Lupin released the boggart from the chest, and it immediately morphed into a dementor. The room seemed to grow colder, a heavy silence descending as Harry stood, trying to gather himself. His wand shook slightly in his hand as he repeated the incantation, each attempt more strained than the last.
Aurora's breath caught in her throat as she watched Harry struggle, her heart heavy with concern. She could see the effort in his every movement, his face pale with the strain of facing his worst fear.
Then, it happened.
Harry started to rock from side to side, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His eyelids fluttered closed, his body swaying on unsteady legs. Before anyone could react, he collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a sickening thud.
Remus moved quickly, the dementor being locked back into the chest with a swift flick of his wand. But his attention was already on Harry, who lay unconscious on the floor. Without thinking, Aurora rushed out of her office, her pulse pounding in her ears as she joined Remus.
Minutes passed before Harry began to stir. His eyelids fluttered, and his breath deepened, though he seemed disoriented, as though he wasn't fully aware of what had happened.
"Professor Moonridge?" Harry's voice was weak, his eyes glassy as they focused on Aurora. "What are you doing here?"
"Aurora was just coming back from the library, Harry," Remus explained, his voice calm but tinged with worry. "Your boggart knocked you out."
"Are you in pain, Harry?" Aurora asked gently, her brow furrowed in concern.
"I'm fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, the words quiet and unconvincing.
Aurora studied him, her eyes lingering on his pale face. He had just fainted, falling hard against the floorboards. She could still see the lingering tension in his body, the aftershocks of the terrifying encounter.
"Harry, if you're in pain, it's better to say so now than to let it get worse later," Lupin warned, his tone firm but kind.
Harry was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"My right arm just hurts a little, but it's nothing, really," he confessed, his words soft, as if he was trying to downplay the pain.
Aurora's gaze softened, but her concern was still evident. "Can we see it, Harry?" she asked gently, her tone careful.
Harry hesitated, his eyes flickering with reluctance and something close to fear. But after a long pause, he nodded, though it seemed more out of obligation than willingness.
"Can you roll up the sleeve of your sweatshirt?" Aurora asked again, her voice quiet and reassuring.
Reluctantly, Harry obeyed, rolling up his sleeve with a trembling hand. His movements were slow, his eyes locked on the floor as if he were afraid of what they might find. Aurora and Remus exchanged a quick glance, both of them already suspecting what was to come.
When Harry's arm finally came into view, the truth was undeniable. Bruises, large and dark, marred his skin. They were already starting to heal, but it was clear they were fresh. The boy's injuries were far from accidental. The realization hit Aurora like a wave. Harry Potter, the boy who had already lost so much, was suffering more than they had ever imagined.
"You hurt it pretty badly, Harry," Aurora said, her voice tight with restrained fury. She kept her gaze steady, not letting her own emotions get the better of her. "You must have fallen on it." She wasn't sure if she could keep the disgust from creeping into her words, but she did her best.
Harry nodded but didn't meet their eyes. He flexed his hand a few times, though it was clear the effort was painful.
"I think we should end the lesson for today, Harry," Remus spoke up, his voice thick with emotion. "You need to rest. Don't worry, I'll let you know when we can meet again. Okay?"
Harry nodded again, a faint and hollow gesture. Slowly, he stood up, his movements sluggish and weighed down by more than just the pain in his hand.
"Goodbye, Professor Lupin, Professor Moonridge," he murmured, his voice barely audible. Without another word, he turned and left the classroom, the door clicking softly behind him.
Aurora sank to the floor, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her face. She wanted to scream, to deny the reality that was settling around her. It couldn't be true. Not Harry. Not after everything he had already been through.
Tears started to fall, slowly at first, then more urgently. A quiet sob broke free from her chest as she sat there, unable to stop the flood of emotion that overwhelmed her.
Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrap around her, pulling her close. Remus, too, was shaken, his breath ragged as he held her tightly.
"Remus..." Aurora whispered, her voice barely a breath.
"I know," he murmured, his voice thick with the weight of their shared grief. "I know."
They sat there in silence, both of them crying quietly, because it couldn't be true. Not the boy who had already lost so much. The son of James and Lily Potter, the one who had saved them all. He could never deserve to suffer like this. It wasn't fair. And it was a truth neither of them could bear.