Remus Lupin was excited, he was worried, and he was exhausted. He had spent last night howling at the moon and clawing at his own skin. Hopefully, if Albus' words were to be believed, it would be the last month he had to do so. Albus said that he spoke with Severus who surprisingly agreed to brew the Wolfsbane Potion for him every month from now on. This was an undeniable boon of coming to teach at Hogwarts, as the newly approved Wolfsbane Potion was much too expensive for him to ever afford.
He boarded the Hogwarts Express, a couple of hours before even the earliest students would, and smiled sadly as his own childhood memories came rushing back at him. Since his first year he had never rode the train without James, Peter, and...
Well, this ride would be markedly different anyway.
He chose to ride in a compartment in the back, believing he would be able to sleep more in a student section than with the chatty conductor. He put his briefcase on the storage area above his bench and made himself as comfortable as he could.
In just five hours he would be returning to Hogwarts. Not as a student with his friends, but as a Professor, alone. He would need some rest.
"Who do you suppose that is?" a voice whispered, jerking Remus from his sleep.
"Professor RJ Lupin," a female voice said. "Keep your voice down Ronald, he's sleeping."
Remus would have smiled in amusement if he were not pretending to stay asleep. The wolf inside him could hear perfectly. He was surprised it took the boys whisper to wake him instead of the opening of the compartment door.
"How do you know everything?" the first voice asked, exasperation clear in his tone.
"She read his briefcase, obviously," a posh sounding male said. "Will you sit by me Hermione?"
"Yeah, of course," the girl who identified Remus, Hermione apparently, said softly.
"You think he's the new Defense Professor?" another posh male voice asked quietly.
"He is," yet another male voice said, this one much rougher than the others. "But wait until Luna gets here. I've got to tell you guys something."
"He's got as many scars as you do mate," the first voice said with a laugh.
Remus was curious what child was covered in as many scars as an adult werewolf. Could Dumbledore have brought in a child with lycanthropy again? He inhaled carefully and was both disappointed and relieved not to smell another wolf in the compartment.
He listened as it sounded like at least seven, possibly eight, students made their way in the compartment.
"He's in your spot," a new female voice said. "Want me to wake him up and see if he'll move?"
"Not a chance," the boy who said he was waiting for someone named Luna snorted. "I'll just sit over here."
"It's going to be crowded with him in here," the voice someone had called Ronald grumbled.
"Tough," a boys voice drawled. "Budge up Weasley, let me sit by you."
The students in the compartment whispered and argued and shuffled around until Remus could sense that they had all settled.
"I'm gonna go find Luna, she might not know we want her to sit with us," the boy who had mentioned Luna before said.
"I'll go," the boy that Remus is now sure is Molly Weasley's youngest son, Ronald Weasley, offered immediately. "You stay here Harry."
Remus felt as if his whole body had suddenly perked up. Harry. Surely not Harry Potter? James' son? He had hoped to speak with him when he arrived at Hogwarts. He didn't think he would get so lucky as to ride in the compartment with the son of his best friend.
"He thinks Sirius Black is going to jump out of a compartment and kill me," Harry laughed, his words having the same effect as a bucket of ice water being dumped on Remus. "Him and Snape both apparently. Almost didn't let me ride the train. I had to remind him that I can take care of myself, yeah?"
The other students chuckled lightly in agreement and Remus was glad he had subtly turned his face against the wall to hide it. He couldn't help the grin that came through. Harry sounded so arrogant, so self-assured, and so like James.
Even if James would never have lived with Severus, not even if his life had depended on it. Which, if the Daily Prophet was to be believed, Harry's possibly had.
The compartment door slid open again and Remus could smell that two students came in. One was the returning Ronald Weasley and the other was someone with a light step, probably the Luna that Harry was worried about.
"Hello," the new student said in a soft and dreamy tone. "Thank you for sending Ronald to find me, I was hoping we would all sit together again but I didn't want to be rude."
"Luna you wouldn't be rude," the female who said Remus was in Harry's seat said gently, confirming the identity of the new arrival. "We want you to sit with us, you're our friend."
"Missed you Lue," Harry said. Remus could practically hear the grin that must be accompanying that statement. "C'mon, you can sit by Susan, it's a bit crowded though."
"That's okay," the girl who must be Luna (or Lue apparently) said softly. "I'll just spread out down here."
Remus felt it as Luna came close to him, probably sitting on the floor beneath the windows between him and Harry, who he assumed took the opposite corner seat from him.
"You guys wanna hear something brill?" Harry whispered after Luna had quit shifting around.
Remus wondered about Harry's accent. It was the most easily identifiable out of the mix of the students. It had a... twang... to it that wasn't unlike the ones he frequently heard in the rougher parts of London. But it also had a drawling tone that Remus thought must mean Harry has spent quite a bit of time around Severus.
"What is it?" the female who someone had called Hermione said.
"You guys have to swear not to tell anyone," Harry said, harsher than Remus imagined a boy his age could sound. "I mean it. Snape said not to tell you guys but I didn't want anyone to take any chances and I told him that. So swear it, or get out."
Bossy thing, isn't he? Remus thought with a fond grin as he thought of Lily herself.
He listened to what he was now fairly confident were eight students swearing to keep whatever secret Harry had to themselves.
"Okay but if I find out you told anyone at all, I'll kill you," Harry said.
And that sounds quite a bit like...
Remus cut that thought off immediately. Sirius had gone on to actually kill multiple people while Harry was probably just a sweet kid trying to sound tough.
"Lupin is the new Defense Teacher, and he's a werewolf. But if Lupin or Dumbledore find out you know and they ask how just say you figured it out yourself cause he's always sick during the full moon or something."
How... Why... Who...
Merlin damn you Severus!
Remus couldn't believe that Severus would tell Harry that. Well, yes he could. Severus was a petty, grudge holding, immature-
"That's so dangerous!" Hermione cried quietly. Remus could feel the person seated next to him inching away quickly. "He could kill us, or infect us, or anything!"
"Don't be stupid," the girl seated by Harry, probably Susan as that was the only female name left that Remus had yet to identify, said calmly. "He's not dangerous."
"Well, he did nearly kill Snape when they were students," Harry said. "But Snape's making him take Wolfsbane while he's here, so he'll be safe enough during the full moon. Snape says he's a git even without being a werewolf though, so I dunno."
Was there anything that Severus didn't tell him? Remus fumed. He mentally scoffed at Harry saying Severus was 'making him' take the Wolfsbane potion. As if Remus wouldn't give up any one of his limbs for the opportunity to have constant access to the potion.
'Snape says he's a git'. Because Severus had been such a pleasant ray of sunshine as a student. He clearly hadn't changed a bit.
Why would Severus tell Harry these things? No student needed to know that their teacher was a monster, and now there were at least nine of them fully aware.
"You said this news would be 'brill'," one of the posh sounding boys situated near Hermione's voice said tightly. "What part of our Defense Professor being a werewolf is 'brill'?"
"The part where Harry is a complete lunatic," a boy near the door mumbled.
"Don't call him that," Luna said. Remus almost didn't recognize her voice, she sounded much colder than her previously soft and airy tone had been.
"Sorry," the boy mumbled.
"It's brill, Theo, because it means that maybe he'll talk to me about how to get werewolves more rights," Harry said in a tone that made Remus imagine he was rolling his eyes. "And it's fine Neville, don't let Luna scare you," he added happily.
Neville Longbottom? Now that Harry had pointed it out, the boy that called him a lunatic did sound a bit like Frank had.
"But Harry, werewolves are dangerous," the boy who told Ronald to 'budge up' said, sounding panicky. "I'm sure my father has no idea that Dumbeldore has hired a werewolf."
"I'll tell him myself and he won't do a fuckin' thing about it," Harry said confidently. "Lupin'll be on the Wolfsbane Potion and this is a prime chance to find out more about how to improve the lives of werewolves."
Remus let himself smile at that. Harry had clearly inherited his mother's kind heart, even if he had an obvious penchant for vulgar language.
Probably got it from Severus, he thought uncharitably. Thankfully Severus' views on werewolves hadn't rubbed off on Harry.
Though, Remus felt uncomfortable as he realized that Severus probably wouldn't be so anti-werewolf if Sirius hadn't used Remus' wolf to nearly kill him. He was sure it must have been quite traumatic for a sixteen year old to come that close to death for the sake of a prank.
"I thought you were all about dangerous creatures Draco," Ronald Weasley said with a laugh. "Weren't you talking about 'sweet dragons' last year?"
"He's not a 'creature' Ronald," Susan sniffed. "For Gods sake you can see he's a human being right there!"
Someone giggled lightly, Remus was fairly sure it was the girl by the window, Luna.
The boy who mentioned his father, Draco, probably Lucius Malfoy's son Draco, sounded incredibly nervous. Remus could imagine the looks he was currently being given.
"Harry just said he tried to kill Uncle Sev," Draco said. "He's not a puppy."
"Wish I had a dog," Harry grumbled abruptly. "Met one this summer, didn't I? But Snape said 'one annoying owl, irritating elf, and moody teenager is enough for our house'," he drawled, sounding remarkably similar to Severus himself.
Remus felt clammy at the mention of Harry meeting a dog over the summer. Surely it was an ill-timed coincidence. If Harry had the misfortune to find a certain large black dog this summer, he wouldn't have been able to return home safely to Severus.
Which was an altogether odd thought to have.
"Snape wouldn't let you get a dog? I thought it was your house," Susan said.
Harry's house?
Remus was sure Albus told him that Harry lived at Spinners End with Severus.
"He said if I could find a way around the Hogwarts rulebook to adopt the dog then I could, but I can't get a dog that I'd have to leave behind."
Remus could hear the pout in Harry's voice. He thought that if he was Harry's guardian he'd probably cave and let Harry get as many pets as he wanted.
It was just as well that he wasn't.
"The rulebook doesn't say Ron can have a rat but he's got Scabbers, doesn't he?" Draco said.
Remus cringed at the new ache in his chest at the reminder of yet another dead friend. Perhaps coming back to Hogwarts would bring more pain than it would hope to his life.
"Piss off," Ronald said. "Scabbers is sick and doesn't need any of your trash talk."
"Hermione tried to adopt a mad cat this summer," Theo said, interrupting Draco insulting Ronald's pet rat again.
"That cat was not mad," Hermione sniffed. "And if you weren't allergic then I would have brought that poor baby home."
"What does Theo's allergies have to do with Mione getting a cat?" Harry whispered softly to someone.
"Because Theo and Mione have been meeting up in secret all summer, haven't they?" Susan whispered back. "I told you, Theo's in loveeee."
Harry huffed, sounding much like the thirteen year old boy he is, and Susan giggled lightly.
"If he takes his Wolfsbane on time then I think he'll be safe enough, right?" Neville said, unfortunately bringing the conversation back to Remus.
"Right," Hermione said, sounding much more confident now. "Professor Snape wouldn't let Harry come to Hogwarts if he thought he'd be attacked by a rabid werewolf."
"He almost didn't anyway," Harry said irritably. "Tried to send me to Italy with Blaise's mum, didn't he?"
"Mother was over the moon hoping you'd accept," a new voice, probably Blaise judging by the context, drawled. "She was so disappointed that her 'Meraviglia' wouldn't come stay with her that she went to stay in France instead. She says the Villa is lonely without us."
Harry chuckled lightly.
"Your mums the best," he said fondly. "She said that if I'd come hide from Sirius Black with her that she'd buy me a Firebolt and take me on a tour around the world."
"Why didn't you?" Susan asked quietly. "I'm glad you're here, of course, but Harry... Auntie Amelia said that Sirius Black is after you. You would be safer in Italy, or France, or anywhere but Hogwarts."
Aah, Susan must be Susan Bones. Amelia's orphaned niece.
Remus could see how her and Harry would have became friends. Two magical children orphaned by a war they had no real role in. Kindred spirits.
"'He's at Hogwarts, he's at Hogwarts,'" Ronald said. "That's what Dad said Black kept repeating in his sleep. He's definitely coming after you mate."
"Let him," Harry said coldly. "Tried to find him myself, didn't I? Snape thinks I've lost the plot, but I hope Sirius Black does find me. Because when he does, I'm going to kill him."
None of the students laughed, or made any noise at all at Harry's dark proclamation.
"I'll help you," Susan eventually said, sounding just as cold as Harry. "If he comes within fifty feet of you, I'll kill him myself."
Is Albus creating a castle of magical assassins? Remus was partially amused at the thought, but mostly terrified picturing Sirius Black coming anywhere near James' son.
"Harry won't kill him," Luna said, sounding as airy as she had when she first entered the compartment.
"Of course he won't," Hermione said, sounding rather pompous in Remus' opinion. "But not because of any ridiculous 'nargles' but because Professor Snape wouldn't let Black anywhere near Harry."
Is Severus... protective?... of James' son? Remus could hardly imagine such a scenario but The Daily Prophet announced Severus' guardianship of Harry and Albus confirmed it during their meeting over the summer. Plus, this was about the third reference to Severus protecting Harry that the children had made since entering the compartment.
"That sounded an awful lot like you making fun of Luna," Harry said lightly. "Suppose you should probably apologize."
Remus would have given anything to see the expression on Harry's face that caused Hermione to swallow and quickly apologize to Luna.
"Thank you Harry," Luna whispered quietly to Harry.
"Anytime Lue," Harry said.
Just as fiercely loyal as you were James, Remus thought fondly. Harry seemed to have inherited the best of both of his parents.
Though he wished he could see Harry's reactions to Susan and Luna both... It sounded like he was rather close to both girls. James had fallen in love with Lily at eleven years old, had Harry fallen for one of these girls?
Like father, like son, he grinned.
He would keep his eyes peeled for the girls once they entered the Great Hall tonight.
"Why did Snape tell you about Lupin anyway?" Neville asked quietly. "I doubt Lupin'll be happy if he knew."
"He told me ages ago," Harry said. "He didn't know that fuckin' Dumbledore would hire the 'big bad werewolf' to replace Lockhart though, did he? Plus he warned me to stay away from Lupin, said he used to be best friends with my Dad and Black. They were arses in school, acted like big shot bullies, didn't they? And Snape reckons Lupin and Black were in love, so Lupin might be trying to help him stay out of prison."
Remus was incredibly grateful his face was out of view as he could feel his cheeks burning. Had he just been outed by a thirteen year old to a compartment full of students?
For the love of Merlin Severus, was there nothing you didn't tell the boy?!
He was equally furious at Severus' implication that he would be assisting Sirius as he was embarrassed that Severus was spreading tales about schoolyard tiffs and silly crushes. He wondered how Harry would react if he knew of Severus' obsession with his own mother.
"And you won't be staying away from Lupin at all, will you?" Draco sighed.
"Nope. Gotta find out more about werewolves, don't I?" Harry said cheerily, drawing a new smile from Remus.
"Bets on Harry killing Lupin this year then?" Blaise said, causing the other students to laugh, although a few laughs sounded rather hysterical.
"1 galleon he goes the same way as Lockhart," Theo said.
"Ever going to tell us the truth about Lockhart?" Susan asked, her voice sounding suspicious.
"Gilderoy Lockhart tried to save me from the basilisk," Harry said in a dry tone. "He died from the bite, what a brave man."
Basilisk? Remus had followed the news closely last year, panicked when he read about Harry being expelled and going missing. How had he not pieced together the information that it had been a basilisk attacking the students and ultimately killing Gilderoy Lockhart?
"Suuure," Theo drawled. "And we all definitely believe you."
"Drop it, now," Harry said, his voice sounding as cold as the train window Remus was laying against.
"Anyone want to play poker?" Blaise said, easing the tension that Remus could feel filling the now silent compartment.
"Yes please," Theo agreed, sounding eager. "Wanna be my partner Hermione?"
"Thought she already was," Susan giggled.
"Shut up," Hermione and Theo said simultaneously.
Remus settled in for a quiet remainder of the trip as it sounded like the kids paired off to play poker, with only Neville abstaining saying he didn't understand it and didn't care to learn.
"It's all strategy," Ronald Weasley muttered.
"Strategy and cut throat bluffing tactics," Theo said. "Suppose that's why you and Draco are partners."
"Weasley wouldn't last two rounds without me," Draco drawled, sounding just as self-important as Lucius had when he was a fifth year Slytherin prefect in Remus' first year.
"Piss off," Ronald said.
"We arguing or playing cards?" Harry laughed. "C'mon Lue, come be on my team and get the nargles to help us."
"No cheating!" Hermione cried.
"Thought you didn't believe in nargles?" Susan asked sweetly. "If they aren't real then Harry isn't cheating. Scoot over Blaise, apparently I've been replaced as Harry's best friend."
"I do love being a second choice," Blaise drawled. Remus imagined that Blaise winked at Susan if her giggle was anything to go by.
"I haven't replaced you," Harry said. "But Luna won't play unless we're partners, right Lue?"
"I always choose the winning side," Luna said in her easily identifiable voice. "And Harry's going to win."
Remus wished he could go back to his teenage years at Hogwarts. Playing games, arguing, making plans, and flirting had all seemed so vitally important at the time. He would give anything for one more train ride with his own friends.
But they were gone. Two dead at the direct hands of the third.
It was... unbearable... to consider that Sirius had deceived them, deceived Remus, so thoroughly. He had fallen for it. Fallen hard for the 'rebellious playboy who despised the dark arts' act. They should have known when Sirius nearly killed Severus, using Remus' own affliction to do so, that he wasn't worth being their friend. Wasn't worth ever being more than a friend.
But it was too late now. Now all Remus could do was listen as it sounded like Harry and Luna won their round of poker and plan for the future. Help make sure Sirius received the Dementors Kiss that he deserved and make sure Harry didn't go anywhere near him.
And sleep if he could. Merlin he was tired.
Remus spent an hour or so dozing as he listened to the students in the compartment whispering, playing games, and laughing.
It was an enjoyable enough way to spend the ride, particularly as he kept an ear out for Harry.
"We can't possibly be there already," Hermione whispered, pulling Remus to attention of the slowing train.
"Why are we stopping?" Susan asked.
The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told him that luggage had fallen out of the racks.
"What's going on?"
"I can't see!"
"D'you think we've broken down?"
"Dunno..."
"Isn't it a magic train?"
Remus listened to the students whisper different theories as he tried to remember the train ever stopping before reaching Hogwarts before.
There was a squeaking sound, and Remus could sense Luna was shifting around.
"There's something moving out there," she said. "I think more people are coming on..."
More people?
Lupin sat up quickly and saw that the lights had been extinguished on the train. He looked around and was able to perfectly see eight faces looking confused, nervous, and in the case of the boy who surely must be Frank's progeny; frightened. Lupin couldn't help studying James' son, who was seated directly across from him, safe in the knowledge that the students couldn't hope to see him as clearly as he could them with his clear vision.
Harry was not one of the students who was worried about the stopped train. Harry was sitting calmly, twirling something that smelled like silver and copper in one of his hands, and had his lips quirked in amusement.
Merlin he looked like James.
Well, no. That wasn't quite true. Remus could pick out features of James that the two shared; his lips, the cut of his jaw, and the color and texture of his hair. And he had some of Lily's features; the exact same color eyes, similar eye shapes, and Harry had inherited her delicate nose. But Harry also had a look that was uniquely him. His hair was longer than James ever wore his, his eyes were harder behind his silver framed glasses than Remus had ever seen Lily's look, but the most distinct part about Harry was his scars.
Harry had enough scars that the wolf in Remus was nearly cringing away from the sight. There was a long one down the right side of his face that looked at least five years old. He had two faint ones on his lips. One on his neck. And Remus was sure that the scars didn't just end where his clothing began.
Harry had an almost animalistic aura that easily screamed 'predator'.
Who is this kid?
"Quiet please," Remus said, his voice raspy from disuse.
A few of the kids jumped slightly at hearing him, probably nervous that they were unable to see in the dark when their werewolf Professor suddenly started talking.
"Lumos," Remus said softly, lighting his wand to put the children at ease. "Stay where you are please."
"Don't suppose we have to though, right?" Harry said, causing a few of the kids to chuckle even as they continued shooting nervous glances in Remus' direction.
Remus was both amused at the disdain for authority that Harry inherited from James and irritated that he was being challenged by a thirteen year old before he'd ever officially began teaching.
"I will return momentarily," Remus said calmly, deciding to ignore Harry's cheek for now. He got to his feet and inched around the ridiculously packed compartment to get to the door. He would go and make sure the train hadn't actually broken down and find out who authorized additional passengers when there was an escaped convict on the loose.
But the door slid slowly open before Remus could reach it.
Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the golden light coming from Remus' wand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood.
Dementors. Dementors on a train full of students.
The dementor beneath its hood drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.
Remus felt the cold wash over him and had to swallow down the intensity of it he could feel in his chest.
And then a scream shattered the compartment. It was a scream of pain Remus had never heard so intensely before.
His eyes flew around and watched as Harry slid on to the floor, after having let out the scream, his eyes rolling back in to his head, and was now rigidly halfway curled up in to himself, unmoving.
"Help him!" the blonde boy by the door (Lucius' son, Draco) yelled accusingly towards Remus.
Remus turned to the dementor in the doorway, the one torturing James' son by feeding off his emotions;
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."
The dementor inhaled again, driving another fresh wail of agony from Harry and a few cries from Neville and the other brunette boy seated beside the witch with bushy brown hair.
Remus briefly thought of summer skies, flying through the air on the back of a motorcycle, his arms wrapped around a leather clad chest-
"Expecto Patronum!"
He watched with satisfaction as his silver wolf chased the dementor out of the train before turning his attention back to the students.
The majority of the students looked frightened, but unharmed. A couple of the boys were trembling slightly. Only Harry looked to have such a strong reaction- he was now on his side with his knees drawn up to his chest, his head bent down to them, and he wasn't moving.
"Harry, Harry, you're okay, you're okay," a petite blonde, Remus recognized her voice as Luna, was whispering softly, stroking Harry's hair. "Wake up, wake up now."
The train gave a small lurch as it began moving again, the lights flickering back to life.
"Allow me," Remus said kneeling in front of Harry's curled up body.
"Harry," he called, reaching out to lightly shake him-
"Don't touch him," the red haired witch on the other side of Harry (Susan, he reminded himself, recognizing the voice) snapped, slapping his hand away.
Had he really just been smacked by a thirteen year old girl?
He shouldn't have been surprised, this was the same girl he heard threatening Sirius' life easier. Despite her defense of werewolves to the others, she obviously didn't want a monster like him to touch her best friend.
"I'm only trying to wake him," Remus assured her, feeling the weight of eight sets of eyes on him. "He's just fainted from the exposure to the dementor. My name is Professor Lupin, I'm your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and I can help him," he said gently. "If you could all back away."
"Does he look like he's fainted?" a female voice (Hermione he thought) scoffed behind Remus. "He needs a Healer."
"He needs Professor Snape," Luna said softly, still gently stroking Harry's hair.
Remus looked at the rest of the students and saw that they were all staring at Harry, though none of them looked very well at all. He tapered down his fury that a dementor was allowed on the train and was able to cause the children to all feel its effects.
"Here," he said, standing up to grab a couple large Honeydukes bars out of his briefcase and tossing them to the ginger freckled boy that could only be Ronald Weasley. "Divide these up between you all, please. The chocolate will help with the effects."
He looked back down at Harry as Ronald began distributing the chocolate and hesitated. Hermione was incredibly rude, but she was not wrong. Harry's muscles looked tense and rigid, though with a slight tremble to them, not exactly how someone who was still entirely unconscious would look.
He actually didn't think he'd ever seen someone respond like this to the dementors.
What did they cause him to relive?
"Harry- can you hear me?" he said clearly. "The dementor is gone."
He sighed as Harry didn't respond. He may not still be unconscious, but he was clearly not alert or oriented to his surroundings.
"I'm going to go see how far from Hogwarts we are," he told the other students. "I can take Harry to the Hospital Wing when we arrive."
None of them responded, still staring at their friend with large, frightened eyes.
Remus excited to the train corridor and summoned his Patronus quickly.
"At least one dementor was on the train and caused a student to faint, he is now awake but is having some type of fit from the expose. I will bring him directly to you when we arrive." He hesitated, still irritated with Severus, before he sighed and added, "Alert Severus that it is his ward."
After sending it off, he quickly made his way to the front of the train, checking on students as he went.
When he returned to the compartment he was concerned to see that James' son was still in the same position and the other children looked just as worried as he himself was.
"How far are we?" a dark skinned boy, the one who said his mother would miss Harry, Blaise, demanded immediately, his golden eyes fixed on Harry in the corner.
"We should be arriving any minute," Remus said.
He took a moment to study the odd assortment of children crowding the compartment. Five of the boys, Harry included, had on Slytherin green robes. Frank's son, Neville, wore the Gryffindor crest on his chest. Susan, who was now rubbing gentle circles on Harry's unresponsive back, seemed to be the only student in Hufflepuff yellow. The thin blonde, Luna, who was on Harry's other side still whispering soothing sentiments in his ear and stroking his hair, was wearing the Ravenclaw uniform, as was Hermione who was clutching the hand of the brunette Slytherin boy.
They all seemed fairly close, if the way they were huddling together was any indicator, but Remus couldn't imagine what drew together such a queer assortment of children.
He felt the train beginning to descend to a stop and stepped towards Harry.
"Harry," he tried again. "We're at Hogwarts, can you hear me?"
When there was still no response Remus sighed, resigned to having to carry him up to the Hospital Wing.
"Ladies, if you would please back up. I'm going to carry Harry up to see Madame Pomfrey. She'll get him fixed up quickly," he said kindly.
"I don't think so," Susan said in a scathing voice. "You aren't carrying him anywhere."
Remus liked children, he thought they were refreshing to be around and brought hope to the world. But Harry's friends were beginning to give him a headache.
"I don't think he's in any condition to walk," he pointed out, as patiently as he could.
"Madame Pomfrey can come to Harry," Blaise said from behind him.
"I already informed Madame Pomfrey that I would bring Harry to her," Remus said, unintentionally clenching his jaw in annoyance.
"Now you'll need to tell her there's been a change in plans," Draco said. Remus imagined if he turned his head to look he would see the sneer that coated his tone.
"Or I'll just take Harry up to the Hospital Wing and you all will go to the feast," he said, perhaps a little curtly but Merlin, these children were obstinate.
"No thank you," Luna murmured softly. "We'll wait here for Professor Snape."
"I didn't call for Severus I told Poppy that I would be bringing her a student," Remus grit out from a clenched jaw.
"Well now you'll need to tell Madame Pomfrey that Harry Potter is injured on the train and will need her to meet you here," said Theo.
"And if I were you I would inform Harry's guardian and Head of House as well," Hermione added in a saccharine tone.
That's what must have brought them all together- poor attitudes, Remus thought.
"Expecto Patronum," Remus murmured under the noise of the rest of the train compartments exiting the train.
"Course it's a wolf," Ronald snorted quietly behind him.
Remus ignored the now snickering students, aside from Susan and Luna who were entirely focused on Harry, in favor of composing a new message to Poppy.
"Would you kindly meet me on the train," he said. He glanced around at the snickering students and mentally rolled his eyes as he said, "There's been a complication with bringing the student, Harry Potter, to you."
"And bring Professor Snape," Neville said.
"For the love of..." Remus muttered. "And bring Severus if you will," he added.
He flicked his wand and sent the silver wolf on its way.
"That wasn't so hard was it?" Blaise said brightly.
Remus decided to ignore him lest he get fired before he actually started.
"Susan, Luna, if you would please back up now, I'd like to check Harry over before Madame Pomfrey arrives. Perhaps you all would rather wait for Harry in the Great Hall?"
"Perhaps not," Susan said politely. "Thank you though."
"I'm afraid that I-"
"What is going on here?"
Remus turned and saw that Severus was standing in the doorway, wand in hand, quickly assessing the room.
Was he already waiting on the platform?
"Lovegood, Bones, step back," he said sharply. "Granger, immediately and without sparing the details, inform me of the events that happened."
Remus clenched his jaw both at being so quickly dismissed by Severus as a source of information and at the children who immediately began complying with Severus' demands.
"The train stopped and a dementor entered opened our compartment door," Hermione quickly said as Severus crouched down beside Harry. "It drew in a breath and it went freezing cold in here. Harry screamed, and it was awful sir, he fainted and fell to the floor. Then Professor Lupin said 'none of us are hiding Sirius Black'-" Severus scoffed which made Lupin clench his jaw harder.
Did Severus truly believe he would be aiding Sirius after how he tore the Mauraders apart?
"- but the dementor did the breathing thing again and Harry cried out and then curled up like he is now. Professor Lupin sent a spell at the dementor, a patronus I think, and it left. Then he tried to shake Harry and Susan smacked him."
Severus gave Susan an approving look as he waved his wand over Harry a few times, quickly reading over what Lupin assumed was a diagnostic report.
"He said he was going to carry Harry up to the castle and we told him to bring you and Madame Pomfrey to us instead," Hermione finished quickly.
"Excellent work," Severus murmured. "10 points to each house."
Remus thought it was a bit biased of Severus to award the students for arguing against his every word.
Severus might be making the Wolfsbane but he's going to do his best to make this job miserable, Remus thought. Typical.
Severus flicked his wand, casting a non verbal patronus, and Remus was shocked to see its form.
He could have sworn it was a doe when he had seen it before during Order meetings.
"Poppy I have Potter, your expertise is unneeded. Though you may wish to inform the elves to serve hot cocoa with dinner as there was a dementor entering compartments."
After sending off the fox, Severus turned to the huddled group of students.
"I would appreciate you all going to the feast." Severus held a hand up for silence as the children began to argue, which the students immediately complied with much to Remus' annoyance.
"Give Potter privacy, I will ensure he is at the feast shortly. Someone will need to make his excuses to the rest of the Slytherins," Severus said with a pointed look towards Draco.
"What should we say happened?" Draco asked.
"We say Harry got in a fight and Lupin is yelling at him," Susan said, getting to her feet. "Nobody'll question that."
Does Harry get in a lot of fights? Remus wondered, bemused when the rest of the students, and Severus, muttered their agreement.
"Go, now," Severus ordered them. "We shall be there shortly."
Remus shook his head as the eight students obediently left the compartment. Though he was slightly mollified by the glare Susan gave Severus.
"Harry will be fine," she hissed. "Or else."
She stormed from the compartment and Remus was shocked to see that Severus snorted in amusement.
Susan Bones did not inherit her mother's sweetness, Remus thought with a disappointed frown as he remembered Amelia's sister, the sweet Hufflepuff who had been a year behind him in school.
"You can go Lupin," Severus sneered. "I do not require assistance nor an audience."
"I'll stay," Remus said coolly. "I'd like to make sure James' son is safe."
Severus looked up at him and his sneer quickly shifted in to a smirk of amusement.
"So be it, wolf," he muttered.
"Harry, I'm going to raise my wand to blow wind in your face," Severus said loudly and slowly, with the ease of someone who has done this before. "Ventus." "Harry." Severus slowly placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Come now, you're quite safe. It's time to go terrorize your classmates."
"G-get off m-me."
Remus felt relief flood him as Harry stammered at Severus. He had never seen such a person have what he could see now was some sort of panic attack after fainting from dementor exposure. He had been rather worried about him.
"Do you know where you are?" Severus asked, in what Remus was dumbstruck to hear was a gentle tone.
"It's cold," Harry said.
"That wasn't the question brat."
"P-probably the f-fuckin' train," Harry stuttered quietly, finally lifting his head from his knees. "What happened?"
"Language," Severus said, though not unkindly nor as if he actually cared. "What do you recall?"
"Got cold, then-" Harry abruptly cut himself off and stared at the floor.
"A dementor opened your compartment door," Severus said calmly. "They oftentimes pull up your worst experiences to feed off those negative emotions. I would be surprised if you did not hear or relive some type of terrible moment from your life, as all perfectly sound minded people do."
Remus thought it was awfully kind of Severus to immediately assure Harry that his reaction had been normal. Even if Harry had one of the most extreme reactions Remus had personally ever seen.
In what world is Severus Snape kind to James Potter's son?
Remus must have looked as surprised as he felt because as Harry glanced around the compartment, his eyes red rimmed and flickering quickly, he stopped on Remus and curled a lip in his direction.
"What's he doing here?" Harry said to Snape, though glaring at Remus with his bloodshot eyes.
"Being incredibly annoying," Severus muttered, giving Remus his own cool look of dislike.
"Hello Harry, my name is-"
"Lupin, I know," Harry said coolly, shakily getting to his feet.
Remus pulled a chocolate bar out of his suitcase and offered it to Harry with what he hoped was a kind smile.
"Here, this will make you feel better."
"Not a chance," Harry said flatly, eyeing the chocolate as if Remus had put poison in his face.
"It's not poisoned," Remus chuckled. "I swear."
"Not poisoned or charmed to make my skin sparkle or any other daft 'prank'?" Harry asked with another narrow eyed look.
Damn you Severus, Remus thought for the tenth time since boarding the train. Remus and his friends had pulled that exact prank on the Slytherin table before, charmed all their food to cause their skin to sparkle brightly for 24 hours.
Clearly Harry was aware of it, if the withering look he was giving Remus was any indicator.
"It's not," Remus said, clinging to his last bits of patience. "It's just chocolate. Your friends all had a piece and are perfectly fine."
"You let them eat something from him?" Harry cried, giving Severus an accusing look.
"I did not," Severus said calmly, rising to his feet and gesturing to the door. "I believe they must have decided to be idiots all on their own. Shall you go check on their welfare or would you like to spend the night in the Hospital Wing, terrorizing Poppy with your insolence?"
"Check on them, sir," Harry said, quickly grabbing his bag and making for the compartment door.
"Severus you know that I didn't poison any students," Remus growled, offended at the mere thought.
Harry spun around quickly, and took a small step closer to Remus.
"Don't talk to him like that," he said. "He's not the stranger handing out candy to kids, is he?"
"I do not require your defense Potter," Snape drawled with a smug look towards Remus. "Go find your friends and reassure yourself of their continued good health."
Harry glared at a completely stunned Lupin for a few tense seconds before he turned on his heel stepped out of the compartment.
What did I do to deserve such distrust? he wondered sadly. Can I fix it?
"See you at the feast," Harry called back over his shoulder.
Remus didn't need it spelled out for him that Harry was very much not talking to him when he said that.
"Severus- what- what the hell?" Remus said quietly, holding the other man back before he made to follow Harry. "You told him about my problem?"
Severus gave Remus a bored look as he answered.
"I told Potter about my own school days ages ago Lupin. I had no idea at the time that Albus would ever consider you for a position here amongst the staff."
"Harry's told half the third years!" Remus said. "How are any of them going to trust me knowing that?!"
Severus gave Remus a terrifyingly amused smile.
"You mean Potter, right? You want Potter to trust you?" Severus snorted, "Join the queue."
Remus followed behind Severus up to the castle and his joy at returning to Hogwarts was clouded by a continuous disappointing thought in his head;
Harry isn't much like James after all.
Though, maybe Harry would give him a chance to get to know him and Remus would discover who exactly James' son is.
Surely if Harry built some sort of relationship with Severus, then he could build one with Remus.
Simple.