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After the last students of the day had sidled out of his classroom, Remus sat behind his desk and just stared out at nothing.
He felt drained. Even halfway between full moons he should have more energy than this. Remus rolled his shoulders and yawned.
So many things plagued his mind.
Teaching masses of students every day.
Developing lesson plans and reading essays.
The forced proximity to so many people.
Excepting help from Severus.
All the nightmares that started after Padfoot broke out of Azkaban.
And seeing James’s son…
The likeness was breathtaking.
It brought on a rush of memories, not only the joyous ones, but also the shameful and painful ones.
And those eyes.
No one, who had met Lily, would ever forget those eyes.
Remus shook his head and got to his feet. It was dinner soon and he wanted to freshen up first.
As he walked through his classroom, he heard the very distinctive sound of Peeves’ voice ringing out in the hallway.
No friends’zees, all tears’zees,
Peeves’ help you, lill witch,
With splish-splash and splatter,
You’ll soon you be of matter,
Be careful of that of you wish!
Weeeeeeeee!
Remus turned on his heals, ran to the doors and wrenched it open, just in time to see the poltergeist water bombing Miss Granger.
He raised his wand and shot a langlock spell at Peeves. Its effect was immediate. The sound of gleeful mocking was stopped in its track. Peeves looked outraged but could only make rude suggestions with his fist.
Remus ignored him and focused his attention on the very wet and miserable looking student on the floor.
“Are you all right, Miss Granger?” he asked kindly.
She looked up at him, tears filling her eyes. Lip trembling. She didn’t answer, just shook her head.
“It’s all right, we’ll get you dry in no time.”
With a series of wand movement and incantations she, and her belongings, was all dry. She gingerly clambered on to her feet.
Peeves, who Remus made a point ignoring, finally gave up and zoomed away. Leaving them standing alone in the hallway.
“Thanks, Professor Lupin,” she said in a timid voice, not meeting his gaze.
“My pleasure, Miss Granger.”
Remus hesitated for a bit before adding.
“Are there anything else that is bothering you?”
He observed her closely. She looked sad, and tired. Her eyebrows knitted together in a frown as if she decided on how truthful she could be.
Remus hid a smile. It brought on memories from his own childhood.
“I’ll be OK,” she whispered.
“Come now, Miss Granger,” he continued good naturally, “let’s have a cup of tea and you can tell me. Sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to.”
Without waiting for her reply, he walked back into the classroom and through a set of doors. With a swish of his wand the kettle boiled, and he reached for two cups and his tin of teabags.
When he turned, the Granger girl stood in the doorway looking around.
“Not to worry, I don’t have any creatures in here right now,” he kept his voice light, “although I am considering enquiring about a Grindylow, so you all can get more hands-on experience.”
The change in her face was immediate.
“Oh. That’s a sort of water demon, isn’t it? They live at the bottom of lakes and are quite aggressive.”
Her voiced had turned into her answer the teacher tone he so often heard in his class, and he suppressed a smile.
They chatted about different water creature before she talked about how her cat had tried to attack the youngest Weasley-boy’s pet rat and now they all were angry at her for questioning Professor Trelawney predictions.
When she ran out of words she sank back in the chair, she was sitting and looked miserable again.
“Sometimes,” Remus started, weighing his words carefully, “our friends do say and do stupid things.”
She looked at him.
“Ron always finds a way to be mad at me or stop talking to me and tells me it’s my own fault. I’m almost starting to believe that it is.”
“Of course it’s not,” Remus said in a harsher tone that he intended. Miss Granger jumped in her chair and looked at him with wide eyes.
“You are a kind, intelligent and most capable witch. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. No one should be allowed to talk down to other, specially not your friends.”
He raised an eyebrow and looked at her. Hoping his words hit home. This young witch was way ahead of her classmates and her ability to wield magic was extraordinary. She was often a subject between the professors at Hogwarts.
She nodded and tried so smile. It did not reach her eyes.
“Before you leave for dinner,” his voice was gentler again, “I’ll wonder if you like me to teach you a charm that will keep your books and belonging water-repellent, in case Peeves tries again?”
Miss Granger whole face lit up in a genuine smile. Learning something seemed to be her love language. He had seen it. Both when she learned something new but also when she helps others learn. She would make a wonderful Professor one day.
“The incantations are im-pur-vious,” he said and picked up his wand.
Miss Granger took out her own, ready to mimic the wand movements required. Her brain had shifted into learning mode. All her worries temporary forgotten.
Remus smiled, knowingly.