Where Angels Fear to Tread…

And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
It's a struggle, it's a war
And there's nothing that anyone's giving
One more day, standing about, what is it for?
One day less to be living.
At the end of the day there's another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that'll break any second
There's a hunger in the land
There's a reckoning still to be reckoned
And there's gonna be hell to pay
At the end of the day!

Act I, Les Miserables

Remus Lupin was positively out of his classroom by the end of class. Sure, he was standing there, teaching them about Zombie eating patterns, but he was gone on the train to Whereship already.

"Enjoy your flying lesson everyone," He said mistily.

Harry Potter collected up his notes and tried to leave his second to last class of the day, hoping to make the weekend hurry faster. Draco ran into Ron Weasley knocking his scrolls and quills all over the place.

"Pardon you Draco," Remus said, absently, instead of demanding Draco to apologize.

"Oi look it that mess," Ron said mournfully.

"Watch where I'm going!" Draco said.

Remus lifted Ron up on his feet. "Percy let me help you. Take a spill?"

"Sorry. Where you off to after classes?"

"Just to another class. Then we're just going to you know hang out in the common room for a bit. See if Hermione can pull away from being prefect for a bit. Maybe go out. Hogsmeade maybe."

"That's marvelous," Remus sighed.

"You aren't pregnant again?" Ron asked.[1][1] http://www.schnoogle.com/authors/draqonelle/ - _ftn1

"No. It's the wrong time of year. This is my last class for today. You won't see me here this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it."

"Going to see your parents?" Ron smiled. Harry knew that Remus's dad had a stroke recently. He hoped that he was all right. Remus had been terribly worried at the owl's letter from the Hospital and the worried scrying bowls they sent after (The Lupins had no familiars or pets to send letters)

"Oh no. Mummy and Daddy are fine. Daddy is doing a lot better with his new chair. The Doctors said the stroke could have harmed his long-term memory as well. But he's on the mend, for sure. I'm just visiting the Grieves in Whereship."

Harry nodded. They were a werewolf family that had vacationed at Hogwarts once. Fenrir Grieves was the husband, he was a great wizard werewolf in the Council of Magic. Lupe, his mate, was a muggle werewolf and from America. Lupe taken his picture.They had seemed very strange, but even nicer than they were strange. If it made Remus happier to spend time with his werewolf friends, Harry would be glad. Sirius was unreachable and someone needed to help Remus get through their time apart.

"Well I'm off. Bye Harry. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Bye Remus."

Harry and Ron met up with the twins as they walked to their next class.

"What's with the teach?" Fred looked back towards Remus, "Lupin didn't even give us any major curse homework? He always likes to squeeze it in over the weekend. He's a crafty one, talks all nice to your face, the second your back is turned. 'Write three Scrolls on the History of Balistic Spells.'"

"He's a smoothie. We have the weekend off maybe. What's got him all swirly?"

"He's going to visit werewolf friends," Harry said, "I never seen him so excited."

"You can't believe that Potter. 'Visiting friends.' You're a fourteen year-old man. That is a code word for hot date."

"He's got some chippy over in another town, I'll bet," Fred said.

"Same thing happened with Sinistra, our 1^st year," George said.

"Yeah she took up with some bloke in M__ on J____. She'd have a broom and a carpet bag outside the door so she wouldn't miss a beat," Fred responded.

"Oh yeah right. Why wouldn't he tell us then?" Harry asked

"Our impressionable age. That's very unprofessional corrupting our sweet little ears with that rubbish."

"You two are crazy. Remus is not available."

"He doesn't have a girlfriend does he? Not married? He doesn't even have a familiar."

"You two have no idea hat you are talking about." Harry brushed them off, "Remus is unavailable."

"Oh well Mr. Unavailable seems awfully excited about going to wherever..."

"Not Wharover. Whereship," Harry said.

Harry knew for a fact that Remus only had one love, as true as the ring on his finger (course the ring had an odd inscription to a woman named Iphegenia, but still it was gold.) He knew Remus and his godfather, were more then just friends. He had been so happy to have Remus be a part of his family, he didn't even mind that it wasn't normal. What was normal anyway? The Dursley's were some of the most unhappy family he knew and they were very normal. He would rather be with strange people who cared about him than anyone else. Maybe that's because he was so odd himself. He loved the idea that he could be most happy with people who were different... no people who were special.

He had grown to think on it. Dream about it. He wondered what it would be like when they could all live together with nothing to worry about. He already knew what it was like to live in the same place with Remus. He sometimes dreamed that Remus and Sirius would have a cozy little house, he'd live there too. Well not in their room... that was for sure. His own nice little room with a window and porch and a perch. He'd seen houses like that. And having a room with a balcony was much better than having a room with a lot of stuff inside.

He had quiet little dreams like that. He hoped that everyone in the world could look forward to a lazy fun weekend.

***

The faculty lounge remained in its usual state. Severus Snape, the Potions master, was sitting in the back in the corner, with an unconscious drooling look on his face, flipping through the latest "Alchemist's Journal."

"Does he realize he has class in ten minutes?"

"9 minutes and 13 seconds," Snape said crisply, not even looking up.

"Oh Snape," Sprout-Mossberry startled.

"It's an article on Gillywater by Arssenus Jigger."

"But he's been dead for 120 years."

"You see why it's so fascinating," Snape turned the page, "Well at least I'm not Suite case. Blundering around all day like Remus Lupin. I'll make it."

"Remus Lupin? A suite case? Not Remus." Flitwick said.

"It's evidently clear to me. He's a suite case." Dumbledore said. "I've seen this a thousand times." Dumbledore shook his head. He smirked.

A suite case wasn't a kind of bag. It was what the professors called any other professor who had a girlfriend or boyfriend off campus, hence the double pun.

"Would it be a young lady or... gentleman?" McGonagall said.

"McGonagall." Dumbledore shook his head "He is a happy young man and it is spring. Ha. Such a marvelous day. You could fall in love with the world today." Dumbledore smiled and left the Faculty Lounge.

"Hello Remus. Have fun this weekend." Dumbledore winked.

The signs of a suite case were obvious. The last minutes of class were hurried as he seemed to outrun the students out of door. The dopey look. The vacant eyes the nonsense spewing out his mouth. Teachers were only human after all, and most Hogwarts teachers were bachelors and bachelorettes.

Remus had lifted a mug of warm dark coffee, with the plastic spoon between his teeth. He added a some cream, then opened the jar humming. He heaped the freeze-dried coffee into his already dark sludgy glass. He spun the spoon around in almost a dance. He took a swig of his brewed coffee with instant coffee in it, he sputtered and winced.

"Like some coffee with your coffee, Lupin?" Snape continued to read.

"Next he'll be dancing with the umbrella stand," Mrs. Sprout-Mossberry whispered to McGonagall. She began humming the "My Little Rump roast" song, looking at Flitwick. They all remembered last time Flitwick became a suite case 1990, she left him for someone smaller.

Flitwick frowned at the pointed comment towards him, "Or driving over a house elf in a pickup truck," He whispered to McGonagall louder.

"You take that back, Phinneas Flitwick. It was only a gargoyle. The falling gargoyle startled it. The poor dear was just shook up. You act like I mowed it down. That story gets worse and more of a lie every year," Mrs. Sprout-Mossberry said

"This coffee awful strong today. Triple strength," Lupin put down his coffee.

The teachers all smiled at him eager to plumb the depths of his mind. Except for Snape who rolled his eyes so far back it looked like he was possessed.

"Oh hurry up and get out of here. You might as well cancel class if you're going to moon about all day," Snape walked out the door to his class.

"What is everyone smiling at?" Remus smiled at them, trying to shrug off the comment.

"You look happy. You have plans this weekend?"

"I am happy. I've been a little absent minded," Lupin said, "I'm looking forward to my trip this weekend."

"Where you off to this weekend?" McGonagall nodded.

'The Grieves offered to put me up. Lovely folk. At Whereship it's only about three hours away actually."

"Say hello to the Grieves on my behalf. I have company this weekend," McGonagall said, "It's a bit of a reunion."

"Oh your sisters," Remus smiled, "That's nice."

"Yes. It was easier for them to come down to Hogwarts. The strange thing is Headmaster Dumbledore agreed. We are all alums, I suppose. He said it might be fun to get us all down here," Minerva said, "He has such an odd sense of humor, Dumbledore."

Remus laughed, "I hope you have a good time."

"Dahh," Minerva motioned to the wind. "Anything is possible."

The scrying bowl in the faculty lounge chimed.

"Oh no."

"Who are you getting a scrying bowl from? Why didn't they just owl?"

"Mum. She wants to see my face. I don't come down enough to Dorsett," Remus grumbled, "No. Cor. I'll miss my train, if I have to talk to her."

"You have time to pick it up," Flitwick said.

"I'm not doing it. Pretend I'm not here," Remus said, "I left already."

"Remus, It's Mummy. I know you're there. Don't try to sneak out of the room."

"Oh no." Remus placed down his bag, "Why can't we just have those muggles things you can hang up?" Remus rolled his eyes. Good thing Snape wasn't here. Strangely, the Potions Master had made close friends with Mrs. Kay Lupin, and always told her exactly where Remus was. Remus did not appreciate their alliance.

"Well just let it ring," Sprout-Mossberry suggested.

"No, My mother would know I was avoiding her. Somehow she always figures out.Then next time she'll call she'll ask me for twenty minutes 'Why are you avoiding me? Are you avoiding me?' It's better to get it over with. Like a tetanus shot."

"I tried to reach your room. You weren't in there." The bowl piped.
Remus picked up the scrying bowl. A pudgy white haired woman with plastic spectacles appeared. She was wearing a blue cotton robe and a pink turban made out of daisy printed cloth. From the bowl wafted an aroma of garlic and mincemeat pie. Kay's kitchen had easy access to garlic. One couldn't be too careful with a growing werewolf in the house. Of course mostly they used garlic to wake her up after she fainted with shock. But most normal people really didn't believe a grown woman could faint that much without faking it.

"Remus. My buddy. I thought you didn't want to talk."

"Well I just... I was about to leave. I'm going away for the weekend." Remus tried not to let the expression of pained annoyance shine through as he smiled.

"Why do you have to go all shabby? Look at that old robe. You should buy a new one."

"It's perfectly fine," Remus said

"Its' brocade on the edge there, is worn off. And that sleeve is ragged."
"It's brocade on the edge?" Remus looked at it.

"I patched that hole last time you came to visit, " Mrs. Lupin pointed.

"Yes you fixed it. So..."

"Buddy, I don't understand you. Your dark robes fade so fast, your velvet frays. I never understood it how you could be so neat and tidy and go through so many clothes. Every year, I've been telling you the same thing since you were 4 years old. You should present yourself better. Keep your clothes nice."

Remus continued smiling.

The teachers began to snigger. Remus glared at them.

McGonagall closed the door to leave the rest of the conversation private.

***

Harry was silently walking down the hall. Neville was reading an owl message. Neville was looking white looking at a letter.

"Neville you okay."

"They didn't let me see my mum this weekend. They said she's sick."

"Well what does she have? Maybe you can get her some flow..." Ron asked "Oh I mean... Well," Neville's mum lived in the Sanitarium at St. Mungos. Ron had forgotten for a second. He kicked himself, "Sorry Neville. I thought she was catatonic or in a coma, how can you get any worse?"

"She won't be able to fight if off if she's sleeping..." Neville shook his head "They still don't know what happened to her. She's not exactly in a coma. But no one can... You probably don't care."

"The human mind is a mysterious place," Hermione said.

The Slytherins slowed down nudging each other. Draco laughed "Oh I'm sure your plans this weekend are ruined. She has a date? Hair appointment? Maybe she's taking a trip to Spain."

Neville clenched up his fists. He stood up "Shut up."

Draco actually turned around. He looked straight at Neville.

Neville gulped "You... you heard me Draco."

"I did. I thought it was the wind." Crabbe and Goyle laughed. It was almost worse that they were laughing.

"Don't listen to him," Harry said

"Alright, whatever," Draco rolled his eyes, "Can you believe this idjit?"

"You are full of garbage Malfoy. You think you're so bloody smart, you pin head."

Harry stepped between them. "Neville take it easy."

"Oh. You look a little under the weather. Perhaps you're not getting enough... vegetables." Draco drooled to one side, imitating a corpse.

Neville glared at him "You shut up."

"Or what?"

Neville tightened his gaze and grabbed Draco's prefect badge. In a coughing tear he ripped Draco's robe right down the front.

Malfoy looked surprised at that.

"You know I think such an expensive robe wouldn't tear like that," Neville slammed the scrap of robe on the floor.

"You've gone bonkers!" Draco squeaked.

"Neville Longbottom!" Snape appeared.

Neville didn't even realize it was Snape. No cowering and simpering and gulping. Harry pulled him back.

"He was making fun of my mum."

"I can't really. She's dead. I'd rather be dead than on some machine."

"She's not dead." Neville one pink arm thrust out at Draco, which Harry could not hold back.

Already Remus Lupin had joined the fray in front of Draco.

"Back off Neville!"

"Mr. Longbottom, your actions are very inappropriate." Lupin said caustically, "75 points from Gryfindor for this shocking display. Neville you will take detention with me next week," Lupin said.

Harry furrowed his brow. Neville wiped his face.

Snape said, "Denise Longbottom is not someone you can joke about. She is one of the great martyrs in the war."

Lupin walked away looking at Draco, "I'm not taking points of for speaking his bilious little mind, but you should know better, Draco. I am very disappointed. I will chalk it up to ignorance. Obviously you have no idea who you are insulting."

"She isn't anybody anymore," Draco said, "When you're dead you're dead. And she might as well be."

"She sacrificed herself to fight against You-know-who. Neville's mum is a great hero." Harry said. Snape glared him silent. Harry clammed up.

"Many people are alive today because she decided to risk her life for them. So Voldemort would not be resurrected. She is the greatest kind of hero," Lupin said.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine."

A cool look slipped over Snape's face "My young man, I wish you would think about what you are saying," Snape said. Draco closed himself off.

"Draco, you are out of uniform." Snape looked down, "Five points from Slytherin for carelessness."

Draco gasped, "But Professor Snape!"

"You can always tell your father that you lost Slytherin points, if you think I'm being capricious."

Draco headed off down the hall.

The Gryffindor students stared. How could the darling Draco Malfoy get points taken away? They looked at Snape suspiciously.

"3 points from Harry Potter for instigating and participating in the fight. Hello Potter. See you in Double Potions on Monday."

"I was just trying to..." Harry piped up.

Snape walked away.

"He's unbelievable," Hermione said.

"You didn't even have class today with him and you got points taken off." Ron shook his head,

"He had an excuse to take off points," Harry said.

"Why is Snape such a git?" Ron continued walking to lunch.

Neville was slumped against the wall.

"Ron. Why don't you go ahead back?"

"Alright. We'll wait for you."

Harry sat down next to him on the wall.

"Neville."

"Hey Potter."

"Draco was tipped a bit. I think if you had slugged him he would have less surprised."

"I was too cowardly in front of his goons."

"Nah. What's he going to do?"

Neville smiled "I like that though. Oh my pretty custom fit linen all teared up."

"He looks like he's gonna cry." Harry laughed, "Snape's "All 'you're not in uniform, 5 points from Slytherin.'" Harry said in an icy exaggeration of Snape's voice.

"I always thought Snape hated me," Neville said.

"I guess he does... He hates everyone."

Soon the boys were rolling on the floor.

"You tell it better Harry."

"I'll never forget that look on Draco's face. And then he took off mine." Harry laughed, "Three points from Potter." Harry did an accurate Snape impersonation.

Neville began toppling.

"That Snape is going to kill me," Harry said toppling over.

Ron smiled like the cat when Draco walked in. A healthy patch had been stitched delicately into Draco's robe.

"Ooh I like that. Newest trend from Bulgaria."

"Ooh you've been a head of the times. Ron, always wearing hand me downs." Seamus punched him the arm.

"My new robes are coming this weekend." Draco pulled his arms across his body.

"Oh. Now, it's all right. Clothes don't make the wizard." Lee Jordan smiled.

"Sure thing Patch." Ron said

"What are you then?" Draco said

"Patchy Malfoy. Sounds like an American Gangster."

"Patches."

"I won't tolerate this. My robes probably cost more than your house. Damnit." Draco slammed his fist in front of Ron.

"Patches."

Harry and Neville sat on the stairs not really moving. They just sat talking to each other in the echoing cool stone halls. Harry didn't feel much like going to lunch right now. Neville was too upset and he couldn't let him stay like that. Besides Harry didn't feel much like looking at Draco's face right now.

Harry sat up, "Your mum is not dead. But it must be harder that way."

"Your Mum is," Neville said, "I wouldn't know what to do if my Mum died. I can't even imagine it."

"Just cause I got this everyone looks to me like I'm a poor little waif," Harry flipped up his bangs showing the scar.

"But you are Harry Potter. I mean you're a stand up chap. But you are... The Boy that Lived."

"There's two boys that lived," Harry said. "People like Ron, and Hermione they don't know what it's like to come out of no where, to come out of the sky. They don't know what it's like not to have anybody, or parents."

"Well I have Granny. You just have those nasty Muggles who cage up your owl and put you in the basement."

"Cupboard."

Neville still made himself distant, he didn't want to think about it.

"And I have a Godfather left in the world. But still," Harry looked up on it. "If my mum was in the hospital even if she couldn't talk or move or anything I'd see her too. If I could give up everything I'd want to see her. I'm stupid too."

"I'm lucky." Neville teared up.

"Neville tell me about your Mum."

"I was so little when it happened. But she is pretty. She has long blond hair. Not like mine and pretty blue eyes. Not like mine. My dad has curly black hair he's grown a moustache. I bet if you saw them you wonder how I could be their kid."

"I know that my Dad is not right. He kind of woke up. He talks to himself mostly. Sometimes I'll go in and we'll just sit. He doesn't talk to me. He'll look at me and be happy I'm there to call on him. Sometimes I feel like I'm petting a dog. My mum is so different. I don't know what happened to her. But they don't call her a vegetable. They call her a Sleeping Beauty. She just lies there, Sleeping. Her eyes are open sometimes. It's like all her troubles are erased in her head. I like to be by her."

Neville smiled ironically, "Harry they say it's not good for that type. They can't metabolize or oxidize or...They don't live too long. What if she's going to die?"

"It's alright Neville."

"It's stupid. It's not like I can talk to her or hug her. She's slept my whole life away."

"It's not stupid to love someone," Harry said, "Your mum was a great lady I'll bet. Your parents gave everything to fight Voldemort, Neville. That makes them heroes. I might have lived but only a hero would do that. I never did anything great like that."

"And only standup chap like you would recognize that. Everybody else seems to forget who they were," Neville said, "I hate this. I hate Him."

"Do you want to get something to eat?"

Neville nodded.

Draco exited the dining hall early with a chorus of Patches.

"They fixed it up." Harry grinned, "You look sharp. I wouldn't even know. Neville ripped your robe."

"Sorry." Neville said. "I'll be happy to buy you a new robe."

Draco snarled and left the cafeteria.

Ron stood up.

"On behalf of the esteemed Mr. Longbottom. I'd like to thank him for the joke of the month.To Neville and old Patches Malfoy." He clinked his milk "Lesee if Draco feels so high and mighty in his robe."

"That's almost worth the Howler Granny is going to send me." Neville said.

"I thought his dad would send him more right away. The way he goes on about his dad," Ron said.

"Yeah. He can buy a raven but he can't send his kid a new robe." Hermione shook her head, "Disturbing trend."

"Snape called him out. It was marvelous he took off 5 points because his robe was ripped."

"We are in the presence of a Master." Fred and George said.