From the Eyes of the Werewolf

Chapter Eight

The Visitor

The weeks were passing quickly. Remus had grown accustomed to the schedule and routine of teaching and had started to truly feel as if he had come home in a way. Most of the staff were pleasant and held him in high regard, as he apparently knew what he was doing...something they weren't used to in a DADA teacher. Snape caused a few problems, mostly based on complaints about the boggart situation. Remus couldn't blame him really, as word of how silly Snape looked in a dress spread rapidly through the castle.

His own classes were going more smoothly as one by one he was able to bring the classes up to speed with where they should be. He was certainly most concerned with the third years, as they had never had anything but bumbling idiots for teachers thus far. Remus was concentrating on teaching them to defend against dark creatures, which was turning out to be successful. Well, except for the Kappa assignment. Neville had been unable to make his Kappa bow, and when it tried to bite him, all the students ran for cover and upset the table holding the Doxy in the jar. With the Doxy free, Remus had to dismiss the class early to avoid them being hurt any further. Fortunately, Doxies, like Vampires, don't like the taste of a werewolf and it did not attempt to bite him when he finally captured it.

But the problem now was that Remus had started running low on appropriate creatures to defend against! Since he had asked Katie to send him the Grindylow from back home in Devon, he hoped she would come through for him. He anxiously awaited the arrival of the creature and looked forward to reading the letter he expected would accompany it, but alas, such was not the case. The Grindylow arrived on Halloween morning and Remus immediately filled a tank with water and let it out to swim. He then searched through the package for a letter from Katie, but all that he was able to find was a slip of parchment with a short scribbled message on it.

Remus -

Hope your class enjoys this, as he was quite a monster to catch. Sorry I can't write more but I will catch up with you later.

Katie

Frowning with disappointment, Remus placed the note carefully in his desk drawer and began fussing over the Grindylow. He had collected a few fish to feed it and was certainly going to need more, as it gulped down the first one with out really swallowing. Its long, scaly fingers reached out from the water for more.

A clatter out in the hallway startled Remus, and he went to see what had caused it. Students were pouring down the stairs obviously filled with excitement over the first Hogsmeade weekend. Remus smiled to himself as he watched them go, the sound dying out with them, and then returned to tend to his new guest.

But another sound halted him from doing so and he glanced back out into the hallway. More students, Remus suspected. And indeed it was. But it wasn't just any student...it was Harry. He was alone and looked as if he'd just lost his best friend. Funny, I know just how he feels.

Remus wanted so much to talk to him privately, to get to know the son of Lily and James as more than just a student, to see how the baby he had barely known but loved so well had fared after...after everything went so wrong for both of them. Should he invite Harry in? Would he even want to chat for a while with a teacher? Remus knew very well Harry didn't remember him, or he would have said something. But how could he have remembered? He was a baby! And...oh stop wondering and do something about it! You'll never get to know him if you don't at least talk to him!

"Harry?" he said, stopping the messy-haired boy in his tracks. "What are you doing?" It wasn't like Harry to be without two certain appendages. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade," Harry said half heartedly.

"Ah," was all that Remus replied. He remembered now that Professor McGonagall had told them all that Harry wasn't allowed in Hogsmeade and figured that was why he was looking so downtrodden. This actually came as a relief to Remus, who worried about Harry being out in the open with any one of Voldemort's servants free to find him. Hoping to cheer him up, Remus invited Harry in to have a look at the Grindylow. He led Harry into the room and over to the tank in the corner. The creature had its face pressed up against the glass, waiting for a chance to wrap its spindly fingers around its fresh prey.

"Water demon. We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong but very brittle."

Oh come now, Remus. Is this why you invited Harry in here; to lecture to him about water demons? Just chat with him without trying to teach!

"Cup of tea?" Remus said out loud. What on earth are you getting at? Tea? Do you even know where you've put the kettle? "I was just thinking of making one." Remus hoped Harry wouldn't see right through his plot to have a chance to small talk with him.

"All right."

Harry didn't seem to want to talk very much, and sat there politely and silently as Remus collected his kettle and tea things. But then, why would he want to talk to Remus? He didn't really know Remus except for the fact that he was his teacher. A hole was opening up in Remus' heart as he contemplated just how little he knew about Harry...and how different things could have been. He wanted more than anything to make sure Harry knew that this wasn't what was supposed to have happened; that Harry knew how much he had been loved. Remus could only imagine what Petunia had said him; he could still hear her bitter and scathing voice himself.

"Sit down," he said after tapping the kettle with his wand, creating a burst of steam. "I've only got teabags, I'm afraid..." Remus suddenly remembered the story Minerva had shared with the teachers over breakfast earlier in the term. She told of how poorly the third years responded to her transformation in light of Trelawney's announcement that Harry's tea leaves foretold his death. "But I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?" He chuckled to himself.

Harry was surprised by this and asked him how he knew about that. Remus explained and handed Harry a cup of hot tea. "You're not worried, are you?" Remus wanted to tell Harry what he thought of the Divination teacher, but bit his tongue at speaking out against a fellow colleague...fraud or not.

"No," was all Harry said. Remus smiled, thinking what a wonderful job he was doing at conversing with Harry as the boy had barely even said five words to him! Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the tea leaves. Something apparently was bothering him, for Remus was quite familiar with that look - a look that says 'I have something to say but don't know how to say it.' Remus was the master of hiding that look from people. "Anything worrying you, Harry?"

"No." Another one word answer. You certainly know how to make him feel comfortable, don't you!

But then Harry suddenly said, "Yes," and set his cup down on the desk. "You know that day we fought the boggart?"

"Yes," Remus replied slowly, hoping that Harry wasn't going to ask about the boggart changing into the moon upon seeing him.

"Why didn't you let me fight it?" The question was said with a touch of anger and it startled Remus.

"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry." Of course it was obvious!

"Why?"

"Well, I assumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort." Remus noticed that Harry didn't flinch at the sound of the name, but rather looked up at him in wonder. "Clearly, I was wrong." Remus was starting to feel very guilty for not allowing Harry the chance to face the boggart, as it seemed to have affected him deeply. Hoping to ease Harry's mind, Remus explained, "But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staff room. I imagined that people would panic."

Hesitantly, but honestly, Harry said, "I did think of Voldemort first, but then I - I remembered those dementors."

This surprised Remus and smiled at the thought. "I see. Well, well...I'm impressed." And he was. But he wouldn't have expected less of the son of James and Lily Potter! "That suggests that what you fear most of all is - fear. Very wise, Harry."

Remus watched him in awe as he drank some of his tea. Maybe that was why Harry wasn't warming up to him. Harry probably thinks you think he isn't very brave! "So you've been thinking that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the boggart?"

"Well...yeah." Remus noticed that he seemed a bit happier now. "Professor Lupin, you know the dementors..."

But Harry never finished the question as there was a knock at the door that interrupted him.

"Come in."

It was Snape. Of all the people....

But then Remus noticed what he was holding; it was the Wolfsbane Potion. Remus frowned slightly at the reminder that the full moon was only days away. Hopefully Harry wouldn't suspect anything. "Ah, Severus. Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?"

Snape was looking from Harry to Remus suspiciously. No, Severus. I am NOT telling him nasty stories about you! Although I could very well do so, but that would be stooping to your level. "I was just showing Harry my Grindylow."

"Fascinating. You should drink that directly, Lupin." Snape eyed Remus again as if to warn him of something.

"Yes, yes, I will." Does he honestly think I don't know the consequences of not taking the potion?

"I made an entire cauldron full. If you need more."

Of course I'll need more, you git! "I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus."

"Not at all." But he said it in a way that told Remus he was only doing this because Dumbledore had asked him to. His eyes told the truth of his feelings, not his words, but then he nodded and left the room.

An uncomfortable pause filled the air and Remus saw Harry looking at him peculiarly. "Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me," he offered as an explanation. So what if it wasn't the full truth? "I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex."

Picking up the goblet, the stench filled Remus' nostrils. How awful it smelled, not to mention the taste! It was just his luck that something as foul-tasting would be the only think to help him - a werewolf with heightened senses. "Pity sugar makes it useless." Forcing the goblet to his lips, Remus took his first sip.

"Why..."

This wasn't good. Harry was going to ask too many question now and Remus wasn't ready to explain. "I've been feeling a bit off-color. This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it." Maybe making everything sound pleasant would stop Harry from asking anything else, Remus thought as he sipped at the potion again.

"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," Harry blurted out quickly, giving him an earnest look. It wasn't a question, but Harry had said it very matter-of-factly. Remus had the impression that Harry was trying to tell him something.

"Really?" Oh, Harry...if you only knew just HOW interested he was!

"Some people reckon...some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job."

Harry was hinting at something that Remus didn't want to discuss. Remus finished off the potion and said, "Disgusting." Unfortunately, he would have to end his chat early as he didn't think it wise to continue from this point. He would certainly let something slip that Harry wasn't supposed to know. "Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you at the feast later."

Harry looked concerned as he left the room with a simple, "Right."

Now alone in his room, Remus sighed heavily. Harry was such a smart boy. James and Lily would be very proud...if only they were here.

***

The Halloween Feast that evening was spectacular, as always. This wasn't just due to the food and the décor, but also to the company. Remus had found the staff to be much more entertaining than he had suspected, as it seemed there was a new story everyday about something silly a student had done in class. McGonagall and even Dumbledore had pointedly looked Remus in the eye once or twice during such tellings and asked him in amused tones if anything sounded familiar. Today it was Flitwick's turn to bring the teachers into chuckles as he told them of the silencing charm and how several students couldn't work the reversal spell. His class had never been so quiet in all his life!

Remus enjoyed himself immensely. It would have been a perfect evening if Snape hadn't been giving him the evil eye throughout the feast. What ever Severus was thinking, Remus didn't like it. Trying his best to ignore him, Remus wandered over to the other end of the staff table to chat with Hagrid about how classes had been going for him this year.

After a rather comical display of Nearly Headless Nick's botched beheading, the pangs of sleepiness started to set in and students moved towards their common rooms. Remus and the rest of the staff departed for their own rooms, but they didn't get too far.

A Gryffindor fourth year came running up to Dumbledore in hysterics and Remus could just make out that there was something wrong with the Fat Lady who guarded the common room entrance. Concerned, he followed McGonagall and Snape up to the portrait. Once there, he peered over the heads of students, trying to see what all the commotion was about.

Professor Dumbledore was giving instructions to McGonagall to go and get Filch as Remus arrived. He still couldn't see the actual painting, though. It seemed to Remus that the Fat Lady had run off somewhere...which wasn't like her. He did see Peeves, however, floating above them and grinning from ear to ear.

"You'll be lucky!" he said in response to Dumbledore's suggestion that they try to find her.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" the Headmaster asked, causing Peeves to drop his smile.

"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between trees. Crying something dreadful. Poor thing."

As the crowd began to shift, Remus could now make out what all the fuss was about. The painting had been slashed so violently that bits of it were scattered on the floor. The Fat Lady was nowhere to be seen. Even Snape scowled at the idea of someone damaging a portrait so viciously. Who would do such a thing?

"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore wanted to know the same thing that Remus did, it appeared.

"Oh yes, Professorhead. He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see. Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

Snape's head turned with a jerk toward Remus and his look shot daggers at him. Remus stood frozen to the spot, stunned.