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Chapter Text

Each student acts differently in class depending on who the teacher is. At Hogwarts school, this still rung true.

In Professor McGonagall’s class, a student might be intimidated into silence and perhaps a dry sort of obedience. In Proffesor Binn’s class, you may do one of two things: sleep or goof off. Even Hermione Granger might be caught catching up on her z’s in History of Magic. And, in Professor Snape’s class, if you were any House other than Slytherin, you had better sit tight and shut up or else be at risk of loosing House Points.

This was all well known fact at Hogwarts, of course. It has been so for years. The only class one could never rely on was Defense Against the Dark Arts. The teacher was different every year and the teachers that were hired for the job were almost as eccentric as Dumbledore himself.

Quirrel had been tolerable for most students but it was a bit of a shock to discover he had Lord Voldemort chilling underneath his turban. Lockhart had the heterosexual girls of every age swooning but at the end of the day he was a dumbass. 

Now, it was Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts, and the D.A.D.A. position had been taken up by Professor Remus J. Lupin. By far, he was Harry’s favorite teacher of all time. Professor Lupin was young but knew his stuff, professional but kind, and he tried less to be a teacher and more of a friend. 

Everyone loved Professor Lupin’s classes. There was no other word for it…Professor Lupin was cool.

The third year Gryffindors were at lunch, having just finished double Potions with the Slytherins. Harry say between Hermione and Ron, as always, with Ginny and Neville just opposite them. 

Harry was discussing something with Ron, probably Quidditch, when Hermione’s voice interrupted him.

”Oh, honestly!” She grumbled at him, her eyes fixed on Harry with irritation.

Harry looked at her. “What?”

”Not you,” she snapped. “Them.”

Nodding her head behind her in a manner that suggested she was trying hard to act casually, Hermione directed Harry towards the cause of her annoyance.

A few seats down, Parvarti, Lavender, and Seamus were holding an intense conversation. 

“I think he looks like a Jess to me,” Parvati was saying with a dreamy gaze.

“Nah, those are boring.” Seamus scoffed. “Has to be something uncommon like Journey or Justice or Jenisis.”

”Genesis starts with a G!”

”Not it you spell it with a J it doesn’t!”

Lavender rapped her knuckles on the table to get their attention. “But hear me out; something you could add endearment to. James could be Jamie…”

”Ewwww, Lavender!” Seamus laughed.

”What?! I think it would be sweet.”

Not even remotely interested to find out what they were talking about, Harry went back to his conversation with Ron. Hermione was still starring into his skull. She could not bare to hear whatever verbal assault was happening behind her.

A few moments passed the same as they had been before - 

“JOHN!”

Ron, Ginny, and Harry all jumped at Hermione’s projected voice. Parvati, Seamus, and Lavender all looked at her.

”It’s John, not James, not Jupiter, not Jenisus, it’s John.”

”How do you know?” Seamus asked skeptically. “We’ve been trying for weeks to figure it out.”

”Figure what out? Who are we talking about?” Ron asked, his mouth half full of chicken.

”Professor Lupin,” replied Hermione, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, and Neville all at once.”

Ron pulled a face of confusion but now Harry was invested. If this was worthy of a scene and about Professor Lupin, it was worth seeing to the end.

“How do you know the J is for John, Hermione?” Ginny asked curiously.

”Well, I saw it on his file. On McGonagall’s desk. At the start of term. When Harry and I were late for the feast.”

”Ugh, John is sooooo boring!” Seamus complained. 

“Not if you make it Johnnie instead,” Lavender giggled. Seamus and Harry both cringed.

”Does it really matter much?” Dean Thomas asked, sitting down next to Seamus. “You are talking about his middle name like it’s a cure for dragon pox.”

“Wouldn’t put it past him,” Seamus laughed. “The man is amazing.”

Harry watched most of his friends nod in agreement, including Hermione, who’s face was tinged with red. Sure, he would agree that Professor Lupin was the best teacher they had ever had but…a cure from dragon pox? Harry hadn’t the foggiest what dragon pox was but he was pretty certain that Lupin’s middle name wasn’t the cure for it.

”Wonder what he will reach us next,” Hermione muttered just barely audibly.

”I bet ten sickles he’ll bring in a dragon one of these days!” Dean said.

Neville’s face screwed up in fear. “I hope not!”

”Just joking, Neville, just joking!”

Lavender turned to Parvati, “I got another look at that tattoo the other day.”

Everyone’s eyes went wide, including Ron’s. 

“Whaaaaa?” Ron asked.

Labender seemed quite pleased to have brought up such scandal. “Mhm! Parvati and I saw ink on her forearm when he rolled up his sleeves last week when he was wrestling that grindeylow. We didn’t get a good look but we think it was some paw prints.”

“You’re lying!” Ginny gasped, not in accusation but in impressed awe. She was gaining even more respect for this man.

Hemione looked stunned. “A tattoo…on a teacher?!”

Parvati nudged Lavender and whispered loud enough for everyone else to hear, “I wonder where else he has them…”

Hermione’s tinge of red became a full on blush. Seamus burst into a full cackle. Neville’s eyes were bulging in their sockets.

”What the bloody hell?!” Ron almost yelled.

”What?” Parvati asked innocently. “Don’t tell me you aren’t curious. Especially you, Hermione.”

”Ans what is that supposed to mean?” Hermione asked.

Parvarti imitated Hermione in D.A.D.A. class. “Oh Professor! Professor! Pick me! Please! Look at this essay I did two feet extra on! May I stay after class to ask you some more questions on the lesson?”

”I - I - I do not! I…!” 

It was rare to see Hermione so flustered. Harry hadn’t seen her like this since Professor Lockhart. Was Professor Lupin turning out to have the same affect on the girls that Lockhart had?

“As if you’re any better,” Seamus pointed out to Parvati. “You’d kiss the patches on his robes if he’d let you.”

”At least I don’t hide my affection.” Parvati defended. “I’m in love with him.”

”That’s dumb,” Dean rolled his eyes.

”Seamus actually draws Professor Lupin in class!” Lavender piped up. “You should see his spare parchment.”

Maybe not just the girls then, Harry thought, feeling a smirk spread on his face. 

Seamus just shrugged. “He’s an interesting subject. Never seen a bloke so young with grey hair. And that many scars. I mean, blimey.”

”I wonder how he got them?” Ron said aloud.

”Dunno.” Parvati said.

”Bet he fought some dark creature,” Seamus imagined.

”Better not be a skin condition,” Lavender muttered.

“He told me.” 

Everyone looked at little Ginny.

”What? I was curious so I asked him. He said it was a childhood accident. I think I upset him so I dropped it.”

A still silence calmed down their table. Harry had been wondering about Lupin’s scars. It was hard not to. They weren’t difficult to see, quite the opposite.

”Poor Professor Lupin,” Hermione said.

“At least he’s okay.” Neville reassured them. “I mean he is alright now, right? Enough to teach us so that counts for something.”

”Professor Lupin doesn’t strike me as the guy who’s want us to pity him.” Dean said.

They all nodded in affirmation.

Harry, who’s plate had gone cold from all this needless talk, turned back to eat his food. The conversation seemed over. Parvati and Lavender were still going on about Lupin (they were saying something about his shoelaces now) but Seamus has become engaged with Dean and was no longer participating. Ginny left to go talk to a girl at the Ravenclaw table.

Hermione was silent for the rest of the meal. Her blush has subsided but it was obvious something was still buzzing in her brain.

To be completely honest, Harry had t noticed the D.A.D.A. teacher’s affect in his classmates before now. Yeah, he was a great teacher but now that Harry actually put some thought into the matter he saw their point. 

Professor Lupin wasn’t conventionally handsome but there was something to his features that made you trust him. His scars, grey hair, and eyes were evidence that he had gone through hell and come out the other side and one couldn’t help respect him for that. Lupin was always clean…shabby, yes, but not careless. And his fashion choices weren’t bad. He usually wore neutrals with an air of coziness. 

If Harry had to say what Lupin reminded him of, it would be the Honeydukes chocolate that Ron and Hermione had brought him back from Hogsmead. The warm silky kind that melted in his mouth, with just a hint of dark bitterness underneath the smooth mallow and dash of salt.

”I’m gonna kiss him.”

Surprise shook the Gryffindors. To no one’s amazement, however, it was Lavender Brown who had spoken.

”Don’t be stupid…” Dean said warily.

”Nope. I’m going to kiss him. I’m going to kiss Remus John Lupin.”

Chapter Text

No one was late for that afternoon’s D.A.D.A. lesson. There were no stranglers or late comers. The whole Gryffindor third year class was there before Professor Lupin was.

No one was quite sure how serious Lavender was about her proclamation only a few hours earlier. Parvati had tried desperately to talk to Lavender about it but Lavender did not respond. She only stuck her chin in the air with a knowing smile on her lips.

Most were torn between amusement and fascination.

”You don’t reckon she’ll actually do it, do you?” Ron asked Harry, an eyebrow raised.

Harry shrugged. She didn’t look it but Lavender Brown could be a wild card. Unpredictable.

”Of course not!” Hermione rolled her eyes. “I mean, she’d get detention wouldn’t she?”

Ron chuckled. “I don’t think she’d mind a detention with Professor Lupin.”

Only vaguely aware of Hermione’s exasperated “Ron!” and a soft whack sound, Harry looked around the classroom absently. 

Before Ron could get hit too badly on the head by Hermione’s Arithmancy textbook, Professor Lupin came in.

Even though Harry had been thinking about Lupin in a different light due to his peer’s infatuation, he had to admit that his D.A.D.A. teacher still wasn’t the most brilliant sight. Lupin looked especially sickly today. His face was hollow and pale and Harry spied a cut underneath his collar. Did he have regular surgeries or something? Despite his haggard appearance, Lupin’s eyes were as bright and enthusiastic as ever. 

Lupin set his briefcase on his desk and the class watched silently. This made the teacher turn around and face them in suspicion.

”You know, I was once a young Gryffindor myself and I know a unanimously quiet class is never a good sign.”

Harry sat up at this and momentarily forgot his preoccupation with Lavender. Lupin was Gryffindor?! Harry smiled and noticed too that Seamus’s mouth had dropped open.

”So?” Lupin asked. “Did someone hide a Fanged Frisbee in my top drawer or hex my ink to misspell?”

Everyone shifted in their seats or avoided Professor Lupin’s gaze.

Lupin gave them an amused smile. “No one? Right, well, I guess I’ll find out then and take away points from all of you-“

”Wait!” 

Neville had spoken up at the threat of loosing House Points. Lavender turned her head sharply to look at him. He recoiled at her death stare.

”Yes, Neville?” Lupin asked, expectantly.

Neville bit his lip. “Er…nothing…sir.”

Lupin shook his head. “Nothing? Alright, if that’s how you all want it. Anyway onto the lesson.”

Lavender let out a breath of relief and ceased killing Neville with her eyes. She turned back to Professor Lupin with a dreamy expression. Parvati was starting to seem annoyed.

”Now, we will not be having a practical lesson today-“

Lupin was interrupted by the Gryffindor’s sigh of disappointment.

He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t expect me to wrestle a magical creature three times a day. You’re not my only class, you know. As I was saying, we won’t be having a practical but we will still be going ahead in the textbook. I’ll be introducing you to a Erklings. The reason I’m not bringing them into the classroom is because you shouldn’t really be learning about them till fourth year. However, I think you all have advanced enough to at least know the head knowledge of dealing with them.”

”But before we get started I have a test for you. Don’t worry,” he added at their shocked faces, “It won’t be graded. I just want to know how much you have retained.”

”Could I get a volunteer to hand out the test sheets?” Lupin asked.

Hermione’s hand shot up.

”Hermione, of course. Come on up.”

Hermione obeyed and retrieved the stack of papers. When she passed them out and eventually made her way to Harry and Ron, they gave her equally teasing faces. She ignored them.

“Take your time on these, there is no time limit. Skip any you don’t know.” Lupin told them.

Silence again fell on the class. Most of them were focusing on filling out their tests. Some on the other hand…

Seamus sent a minuscule flying paper crane to Dean.

He is a Gryffindor. When will he STOP being so PERFECT 💕

Dean smirked at Seamus but crumpled up the note and tossed it over his back humorously. It hit Neville in the face.

”Ow!”

Dean and Seamus both laughed. “Sorry, mate!” Dean whispered.

”No talking, please.” Lupin had been pacing the aisles and walked over to the boys. “Even if you aren’t cheating, you don’t want to distract others, do you?”

Seamus and Dean shook their heads and turned back to their tests. Lupin took a step back to his desk but stepped on Seamus’s crumpled crane.

He leaned down to pick it up. Seamus’s eyes went wide and started ahead, fully aware that their teacher knew his handwriting by now. 

Lupin opened the note and read it. His face did not change at all. He merely folded it up and placed it on Seamus’s desk.

”Mr. Finnigan.”

”Y-yes, Professor?”

“Don’t forget to put your name and the date in your test.”

”Yes, Professor.”

Harry finished his test easily and sneakily assisted Ron with his, much to Hermione’s disapproval. By now, most assumed that Lavender’s words were just that…words. That was dispelled when…

Lavender raised her hand. “Professor Lupin, I need help.”

Lupin looked at her patiently. Her classmates looked at her warily. 

“This isn’t graded, Miss Brown. Just do your best.”

”I just don’t understand the question, sir.” She implored, innocently.

Lupin nodded and headed her way. As he passed Hermione, she muttered, “Wait, Professor…”

”One at a time, Miss Granger. I’ll help you after Miss Brown.”

He passed her and Harry watched her cringe.

Trying to not distract the rest of his students, Lupin leaned down to look at Lavender’s paper. “Was it the Grindeylow question you needed help with? I might not have worded it the be-!”

As soon as Lupin had leaned down within her reach, Lavender took her chance. She quickly grabbed the front of his shabby brown robes and pushed herself up from her seat. She forced her lips to meet his.

Lavender Brown kissed Professor Remus John Lupin.

Dean let out a loud whoop. Most everyone else gasped, including Parvati. Harry just facepalmed himself and hid his face with his hand. He didn’t stop watching the scene though.

Just as quickly as Lavender had initiated the kiss, Professor Lupin ended it. He stepped back - staggered back, actually - and started at Lavender in pure disbelief and surprise. 

Everyone waited for his reaction. Lavender was biting back a big grin and looking up at him with batting eyelashes.

It was Lupin’s turn to surprise them.

He smiled.

It wasn’t his usual soft smile. He himself was amused at these antics. 

“I’m afraid I’ll have to see you after class, Miss Brown.” He tried to tone his voice with sternness but Harry was sure he wanted to burst out laughing. Lavender’s grin widened. “And not in a good way, so don’t get any ideas. Professor McGonagall will be present.”

Lavender’s face fell slightly but she looked pleased with herself.

Lupin shook his head and looked at the Gryffindors. “Well? Have you all finished?”

Sounds of shifting seats and hastily scratching quills filled the D.A.D.A. classroom.  

Chapter Text

“I’d bet ten galleons that there will never be a more eventful Defense Against the Dark Arts class in the whole history of Hogwarts,” Ron chuckled wildly, shoving bits of cauldron cake he had stolen from Ginny into his mouth.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were lounging in the Common Room although that wording could be debated since Hermione was anything but relaxed, furiously attacking parchment with her quill, hunched over her task. Other Gryffindors of various ages and years were also present, all doing their homework or ignoring it. Either way, they were all chattering about the latest piece of gossip: Lavender Brown, a silly third year with a childish crush, has kissed the newest teacher at Hogwarts, Professor Lupin during the middle of class.

Fred and George Weasley were highly amused at the news and once they established that the rumors were true were quick to crack many jokes and Lavender and Lupin’s expense.

“Wanna bet, Ron?” Fred elbowed his little brother hard, giving George the chance to snatch the half eaten cauldron cake away and throw it back to a disgruntled Ginny. “ first off you haven’t got 10 gallons. Second it would be twice as shocking if I were to kiss him.

Ron’s eyes blue wide at the prospect while Harry laughed heartily at the joke.

George continued after Fred’s example. “Yeah why not? He’s not a bad looking bloke and neither am I if I do say so myself.” George ran a hand through his shockingly red hair. “Bet he is a real romantic. Likes the domestic life. We’d make beautiful children.“

Fred and Harry howled with laughter while Ron cringed. Hermione threw down her quill and rounded on them.

“You shouldn’t talk about him like that!” She exclaimed with a piece of her own hair stuck to the side of her mouth.

“Why not?” Fred inquired with a grin. “Not as bad as what Lavender did.”

“They’re just playing around, Hermione,” Harry said. Fred and George were always joking; why did she have to take them so seriously? “You know that.”

“I’m with Hermione,” Ron said. “Thinking about Lupin that way is…I dunno…just weird.”

“Little Miss Know-It-All just wants the handsome and mysterious teacher all to herself,” Fred poked at Hermione who quickly shoved him away.

“I do not! You don’t see me mooning over him like I have nothing better to do.”

“Don’t see you, no,” Fred insisted. “But your verbal tirade is practically throttling us with your devoted love for him.”

“Come off it, Fred,” George said. “It ain’t funny any more.”

“I just asked her a question and I want an answer; why so defensive for the professor if she is innocent of affections. Should we be expecting you to pop the question on Lupin any day now, aye, Hermione?”

Hermione’s mouth was pursed into a very thin line. No one else involved was smiling save for Fred.

“No.” Hermione said firmly. “I don’t think we should talk about him like that, kiss him, or ‘pop the question’ because Professor Lupin is a married man and that’s unfair to him!”

Her voice had raised higher than she had meant it. The Common Room stilled and almost every head turned to look at the frustrated brunette.

“Come off it,” Ron muttered. “He doesn’t wear a ring.”

“No, but he is married,” Hermione said just as bluntly. “I saw his file at the beginning of the year, remember? ‘Remus John Lupin, he/him/they/them, thirty-three, married!’”

Fred wasn’t too taken aback but he had fallen into silence. Parvati who was still waiting for Lavender to return from detention, eyed Hermione suspiciously.

“How do we know you aren’t lying?” She asked.

Hermione grabbed at her books and work and stood up. “Ask him yourself,” she snapped. “I’m going to bed.”

“Hermione…” Harry implored halfheartedly after her but she didn’t give him a glance.

Once Hermione had left everyone returned to their previous occupation.

“She’s lying about the file,” Ron said. “Bet his middle name isn’t even what she said it was. She’s just trying to turn all those Lavender and Seamus off.”

“Hope it works,” Harry said and then changed the subject to something he found more enjoyable.

x x x

Hermione hadn’t actually gone to sleep after leaving the common room; she had homework to finish. It felt so much better to escape the chaos and idle talk and have some peace. Hanging out with Ron and Harry was fun and she liked them both a lot but they attracted the kind of attention she generally wanted to avoid. She’d make it up to Harry tomorrow. Now, she needed to study up for her next Ancient Rune’s module.

As she did her work, she couldn’t help but thinking about Professor Lupin and what she had seen on his file at the beginning of the year.

She shouldn’t have looked, she knew that. But she had been curious about the newest teacher McGonagall had mentioned to her. The last two defense against the dark arts teachers had been either evil or incompetent and she just wanted to know if this one had a chance of being different. Now, of course, she knew Lupin personally and respected him but at the beginning of the term he could’ve been any sociopath or wannabe that Dumbledore had thought worthy of a job. So when McGonagall had left her office to retrieve the time turner time, Hermione had taken a quick peek at Lupin’s file. Yes, she had seen his middle name like she had told the others and yes, she had seen that he was married as she had just exposed. But what she hadn’t shared-would never share-was that she had also seen the nature of his so called “condition.” The students hadn’t failed to notice how ill he seemed he always brushed it off when they asked. But Hermione knew the truth

Professor Lupin was a lycanthope.

Poor Professor Lupin , she thought as she scribbled her notes. I hope that’s not why he doesn’t wear his wedding ring-would a person leave their spouse because of something they can’t help, like being a werewolf?

Hermione supposed it all depended. Lupin’s many scars were most likely from the lycanthropy though she couldn’t be sure. Nowhere in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them did it mention how a werewolf might suffer from an injury of its own kind. Humans could heal werewolf injuries with silver but logically a werewolf themselves could not use silver without even more damage being caused. So Lupin’s scars could have been there from childhood as he had told Ginny. If he had married but kept his secret hidden from his spouse then that would be reasonable grounds for separation. But if the scars had happened after matrimony…well, Hermione hated to think of how hard it would be for someone you loved to leave you because of something you couldn’t control.

Time passed as Hermione worked diligently, alone with her books and thoughts. The peace could not last forever however.

Lavender and Parvarti came up to the dorm at the same time. Hermione wanted to curse as she heard the door open and giggles follow. She quickly grabbed the curtains of her four poster and wrenched them shut before they saw she was still awake.

“Soooooooo?” Parvarti asked.

“Soooooooo what?” Lavender teased.

“Soooooooo what was it like? I want details!”

Springs of a bed crunching under the weight of the two friends told Hermione that they were sitting close on one of their beds.

“Not much, honestly,” Lavemder sighed. “It was very quick-he pulled away so soon. Less than a peck really. Not worth that detention. I had to write lines, Parvarti…lines! ‘I will respect teachers and have self control during class.’ No less than two hundred times! And even worse! I’m suspended from Defense Against the Dark Arts for a week!”

Hermione gasped but the two didn’t hear her because Parvarti had done the same.

“What?! You’ll miss the next practical!”

“I knooooooow!” Lavemder cried. “And his lips weren’t even soft! They were chapped!”

“Ewwww!”

“I know! Someone should give him lip balm this Christmas. I might do it myself.”

“Merlin, Lavender, no! That’d be awful!” Parvarti’s giggle gave away that she actually thought the idea to be delightful.

“Anyway,” Lavender’s voice chirped back to its usual self quickly. “I got a good look at his tattoo.”

“Ooooooh?!”

“It’s three or four paw prints and a little crescent moon beside them with a constellation…I dunno which one though. I’ll look it up in Astronomy next class.”

Hermione decided she had heard enough. She called out in a voice that she hoped sounded like she had just awoken. “Sh! I’m trying to sleep!”

Lavender and Parvarti both laughed an unapologetic “Sorry!” in unison and continued their discussion in whispers.

x x x

Lavender Brown was absent the next D.A.D.A. class and the third years didn’t have to ask why. As usual they were there before their teacher but they were once again silent but for entirely different reasons.

Hermione fidgeted in her desk. She leaned over to Harry and whispered, “They won’t actually ask him will they? I didn’t mean-”

Harry shrugged but answered, “Seamus might…I wouldn’t worry,” he added as Hermione’s eyes widened. “Lupin doesn’t mind about this stuff. Probably be glad to tell everyone he’s taken and then be done with it.”

Hermione nodded, agreeing with Harry’s assessment but did not cease her fidgeting.

It did not take Lupin long to make his entrance. With all eyes on him as soon as he stepped in the classroom he paused and held up an arm. He smiled but there was little amusement in his eyes.

“I want an uninterrupted lesson today, please. I haven’t been feeling quite well of late and don’t have the energy to dance around the inevitable. So, let me put my things away, and then I will dispel a few rumors. Thank you.”

Heads nodded and lips sealed as Lupin made his way to his desk and sat down his briefcase. Instead of going to the chalkboard or sitting in his chair, he walked in front of his desk and sat on it, legs folded neatly, to face them.

“It’s good to see you again,” he said sincerely. “Miss Brown will be back in our class next week but has been temporarily suspended for her inappropriate disruption during the previous class. Such behavior will not be tolerated, as you know.”

“Now…where to start?” He scratched his head in thought. “Right. Well, I suppose the first order of business is to show you this.”

Lupin raised his left hand, palm facing away from his students.

An intake of breath and some scattered words erupted from the Gryffindors at the sight of a thin golden band with a white stone wrapped comfortably around Lupin’s ring finger.

“So you are married?” Seamus asked, fascinated.

Lupin allowed himself a smile but Harry could see that it did not reach his eyes. “Yes, Mr. Finnigan, I am and have been for fourteen years now.” He eyed his class. “Id appreciate it if from now on no one where to compromise or question my position. I am a teacher and I am married. You are my students. I hope we can continue to have fun and learn in this class.”

Several affirmations could be heard, some coming from Harry, Ron, and Hermione themselves. Seamus however did not contribute. Instead he asked, “How come your a teacher then? Why don’t you wear your ring?”

Lupin’s already pale complexion lightened even more as the blood ran away from his face. He inhaled and then faced Seamus.

“As I have said…I want to uphold the teacher-student relation valued here at Hogwarts. I’m doing so, I do believe that information is unnecessary for me to share.”

“Means stay out of his business,” Ron muttered. “Bloody hell, Seamus.”

Seamus looked at Lupin for a second before he shrugged. “Eh. Fair enough. You got a creature in your case this time?”

The tension broke and Harry and Lupin both were able to bask in their relief.

“I’m no Newt Scamander,” Lupin chuckled, hopping down lightly from his desk, color returning to his face. “But I’ll see what I can do.”

x x x

It was lunchtime and the events were all but forgotten. News was only news for so long at Hogwarts. Gossip slipped away when replaced by even greater distractions. The only remnants of the latest Lupin question was Lavender Brown asking her her classmates to borrow their notes to try and keep up while he was absent.

Harry was eating in peace again, beside Ron and Hermione, across from Neville, as usual, and behind him-

“Can you believe they let someone with a husband like that teach here?” Draco Malfoy’s too loud to be true drawl met Harry’s ears.

Harry’s grip on his fork tightened. Alright, so maybe all the gossip hadn’t quite settled yet. Hermione was already muttering beside him repeatedly “Ignore him, just ignore him, Harry-”

He didn’t need her to tell him twice. Hand going numb from his grip, he took another bite of his potatoes and gravy trying hard to block out Draco’s raised and condescending tones.

“I mean honestly it’s a sign of the times…Lupin is practically guilty by association my father says. Should be in jail right alongside his husband…wonder what the teachers are going to do now to keep precious Potter safe from his own teacher…”

Harry dropped his fork and whittled around. One reason, that’s all he needed to show Malfoy up and here it was.

Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder. “Harry, no!”

“What is that supposed to mean, Malfoy? What’s all this about Lupin’s husband?”

Malfoy’s delighted gaze swept onto Harry calmly. “Oh. Potter. Didn’t see you there.”

“Explain, Malfoy, or don’t. I don’t care but you’ve got two seconds to make up your mind before I hex you.”

“Go ahead, Potter. Prove to everyone here what a deranged lunatic you are.”

“What’s going on here?”

Lupin had arrived late for the feast as usual and stood between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables, glancing inquisitively between Harry and Draco.

Harry glared daggers at his rival. “Malfoy’s mouthing off about your husband, sir.”

Hermione added hastily, “And you said to respect your privacy, sir, so we-I mean, Harry thought-”

“We’d make him,” Harry finished.

Malfoy looked at Lupin contemptuously. “I was merely voicing my concerns . I don’t feel safe and I don’t think Potter would either of he knew the truth, sir.”

For the second time that day, color drained from Lupin’s face. “…I see. Would the two of you mind coming to my office after the feast? Perhaps we could clear this up there-”

“I don’t feel safe being alone with you, er, professor ,” Malfoy said in a rush. “Not while you are married to Sirius Black .”

“Ha!” Ron laughed allowed, finally joining the scene he had been watching as he ate. “Nice try, Malfoy! As if we’d ever believe…Professor Lupin?”

Harry tore his eyes from Malfoy to look at Lupin and see why Ron had stopped. It was evident.

Lupin was staring, not at Harry or Malfoy, but somewhere far off in the distance: past the teacher’s table, past the walls and grounds of Hogwarts. He seemed as white and thin as a ghost. He was not smiling. He wasn’t even giving his usual pretense of a smile. Harry had never seen him like this before. He didn’t like it.

Harry’s stomach fell through the floor. Malfoy had said Sirius Black . That was Lupin’s husband. That was why Lupin never wore his wedding ring. Lupin was married to the same insane man who had escaped from an inescapable prison for the sole purpose to kill him, Harry.

It was a betrayal the likes of which Harry had never felt before. Lupin was his friend…why would…how could…?

Hermione’s mouth was covered with her hands at this new revelation and Malfoy looked entirely too pleased with himself but Harry ignored them both.

“Tell me it’s a lie,” he demanded, standing up from his seat and taking a step towards Lupin. He forgot that he was in the middle of the Great Hall, forgot anyone else was present, didn’t care what may happen to him because Lupin was a teacher. He wanted the truth.

Lupin’s pained expression switched from the floor and met his student’s gaze. He made the familiar motion of thinking about touching Harry’s shoulder but then thinking better of it. “Harry…”

“Deny it!” Harry yelled.

Someone’s hand touched his own but he slapped them away. People were now looking at the scene but their states and voices faded into the background.

He looked at Lupin expectantly. “It’s a yes or no, Professor .” He imitated Malfoy’s sarcasm on the last word.

Lupin said nothing, just stood there and stared, brows creased, frown deep, and eyes sad.

His silence spoke volumes.

Without another word, Harry marched past his teacher who he had once trusted and knocked against him on his way out of the Great Hall. People were calling after him, maybe Ron and Hermione, maybe Lupin, he didn’t care.

x x x

Turns out it was McGonagall who had called his name and it was a big mistake to ignore one’s Head of House when they beckoned. So here he was in McGonagall’s office. At least he was alone for now; she had left him there with a sterner expression than usual and a curt “wait here, Potter.”

Harry sat down on one of the too-cushy chairs opposite McGonagall’s desk Unsync his head into his hands. Sometimes his anger would situate into his mind but not to take the form of pure thought. Rage was overwhelming for him but the need to deny reality also took its toll. He didn’t want to think about what he had just discovered he just wanted to forget it, really, and deal with it later.

That privilege was obviously not an option when the door opened behind him and mechanical returned this time followed by another.

“Potter,” McGonagall’s voice came from behind him. “You owe Professor Lupin an apology. Several apologies, by my count but I think he’ll settle for one.”

Harry did not stir.

“No, Minerva,” came the always timid but even more so than usual voice of the current D.A.D.A. teacher. “I owe Harry an apology.” Footfalls approached Harry but he refused to look up. “Harry. I’m sorry. I…didn’t tell you the whole truth. I hope you understand why.”

“What are you talking about, Remus?” McGonagall asked.

“I’ve been giving Harry private lessons in Dementor defense and…well, we got to talking about James and Lily.”

“Remus!”

“I know what Dumbledore told me at the beginning of term but I couldn’t help it - I don’t regret my choice in telling Harry I knew his parents. I do regret hiding some facts when he asked if I knew Siriu-“ his voice cut short and he had to take a soothing intake of breath before continuing, “…if I knew Black .”

Harry’s head suddenly snapped up so he could look at Lupin. “He killed my parents! He sold them to Voldemort!”

McGonagall’s eyes grew wide. “How do you know-“

“I know a lot more than you think!”

“Harry,” Lupin interjected, kneeling down so he was at Harry’s level. “Please don’t take this out on Minerva. I’m the one you are angry at. Rightly so. But I didn’t lie to you…I did know Black. I thought I knew him. I…I thought I loved him. Had he shown his true colors earlier I never would have agreed to marry him, of course not.”

Harry stared at Lupin and felt a stab of guilt at his impulsive responses. Lupin looked just as broken as Harry felt.

Lupin continued. “Believe me…I hate Black. I hate him. If I could undo what I did so foolishly in my youth, I would. But I can’t. And I have to live with tha-“

“Why cant you?!” Harry asked, his inner fire starting up again. “How can you stand to still…?! Why don’t you divorce him?! If you really hated him, that’s what you should have done!”

Lupin bit his bottom lip as his eyes implored with Harry. “I wish I could.”

“Why cant you?!”

“I’ll admit I have thought about it and nearly-“

McGonagall interrupted. “Potter, having been raised in a Muggle family, you may not know that while it is uncommon it is not unheard of to create an Unbreakable Vow upon matrimony. If Professor Lupin were to divorce his husband it would have severe consequences.”

Harry didn’t understand. “Consequences?”

McGonagall’s left eyebrow arched. “ Permanent consequences.”

Harry still didn’t understand but he was past trying on the subject. He looked back at Lupin. “Why?”

Lupin’s brows creased. “Why?”

“Why’d you do it? Why would you think you loved him?”

“Potter…” McGonagall warned.

“It’s alright,” Lupin waved a hand her way. He swallowed. “It’s complicated…”

“Try me.”

“Harry, I was young-“

“You already said that.”

“Right. I suppose it’s no excuse, is it?” Lupin shook his head and sighed. “I grew up with him. He was my best friend, besides your parents. He was everything I wasn’t. You know how a person like that can turn one’s head…”

“No, I don’t,” Harry crossed his arms, waiting for an answer that would satisfy him.

“Why don’t we all sit properly,” McGonagall suggested, stepping behind her desk. “Then we can be civil about this.”

Thankful for some respite, Lupin stood and brushed himself off some. “Yes, yes. That’s…yes.” He took the seat beside Harry who was still waiting. All parties seated, Lupin continued. “Black wasn’t like how he is now; we all trusted him then. Imagining his betrayal would be like…like imagining Ron o Hermione betraying you.”

“They would never-“

“I’m not saying they would! I’m only making a comparison so you understand.“

“But you weren’t just his friend.” Harry objected. “I get my dad and mum…but you married him. That’s…a completely different thing.”

Lupin nodded. “Yes. It is. Um…I…I don’t know what to say…he…he…” He glanced around the room, searching for a justifiable reason he may have tucked away somewhere. “He…was everything…I’m not.”

As Lupin ran a hand over his mouth, mulling his next words over in his mind, Harry allowed some of his defenses to fall. He was ready to listen.

“He was adventurous and…exciting. Charming. Funny.” Lupin blushed. “And I have to admit he was handsome. I was attracted to him for a long time. I’m sorry, Harry.”

The image Harry had seen of Sirius Black as a young man at his parents wedding floated in his mind’s eye. Black had been attractive. Now that Harry was making the connection, he remembered another man, half cut out of the picture who had been hanging onto Black’s arm like a brother…or a lover. Had that been Lupin?

Silence permeated the office. McGonagall broke it.

“No one is to blame for this, Potter. Remus here is as much of a victim of Black as you are.”

It took Harry a moment to nod his agreement.

Seeing this, Lupin began to object. “It’s not the same. I-“

“You’re funny.” Harry muttered.

Both Lupin and McGonagall turned to stare at Harry. “Excuse me?” They asked simultaneously.

“You said Black was everything you aren’t. But you are funny. And charming. And handsome.” Harry explained. “You stuck gun up Peeve’s nose. You’re the best teacher we’ve had. Lavender kissed you for Merlin’s sake.”

“That’s not-“

McGonagall snorted a laugh. “You did what with Peeve’s nose?”

Lupin blushed again. “…long story.” He leaned forward so that he was able to see Harry’s full face in better lighting. “You have every right to resent me. But I ask your forgiveness. You’re a very important student to me.”

Harry took a deep breath and then exhaled his anger and confusion with Lupin. After that he could rightly say. “Yeah. I forgive you.”

Both Lupin’s eyebrows jumped high. “Harry, don’t feel that you have to-“

“He accepts your apology, Remus!” McGonagall rolled her eyes. “Perhaps it’s about time you forgive yourself as well.”

Lupin glanced from Harry to McGonagall and back again, unmoving.

Guilt welled up inside Harry for the things he had said to his teacher and…well, friend.

“My parents would have forgiven you.” He said simply.

Mouth dropping open the slightest bit, Lupin sat frozen. Then he smiled the smallest of smiles.

“I…suppose they may have. Lily always overlooked my shortcomings.” His smile free a bit. “And James wouldn’t have cared for long…not after he had a few laughs at my expense.”

Harry felt himself smile too. He loved hearing Lupin talk about his parents, these glimpses into the kind of people they had been.

Harry stood at the same time Lupin and McGonagall did. Before Harry could pass Lupin and start for the door, however, McGonagall caught his shoulder.

“Wait a minute, Potter.”

“What?” He asked.

She glared her worst glare. Harry didn’t need telling twice.

“Oh…right. I’m sorry for blowing up at you. And, er, everything else.”

Lupin bowed his head in acceptance. “It is quite alright.”

“Now,” McGonagall said, back to her usual business like self. “To avoid any more mishaps such as recent events have led to and to enforce some discipline here; Potter-as reparation you will alert me if you have any suspicion that a student has such irrational fancies for a teacher or member of staff again. And Lupin-stop being so charming.” For the third time, Lupin turned pink. McGonagall smirked. “Now off with the two of you before I give you both detention.”

Lupin and Harry exchanged glances and then at the same time said a hurried, “Yes ma’am.”

McGonagall watched the two, both boys in her opinion, scurry away with an ever growing smile.

That smile disappeared as she turned back to her desk and remembered she needed to write to Lavender Brown’s parents. But there were so many other things she had to do…

Waltzing towards the fireplace, she snatched a pinch of dark powder from a pot and threw it into the dying flames. “Severus…yes…I have a task for you if you don’t mind…”