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sam_storyteller) wrote2005-07-07 01:14 pm
sam_storyteller) wrote2005-07-07 01:14 pm
Entry tags:
Laocoon's Children, Year III, Ch. 23
First Posted 7/18/2007
***
Remus, sitting at his desk, bent his head forward and laced his fingers across the back of his neck, closing his eyes. Harry knew he looked frustrated, but he could sense that part of the reason he was hiding his face was so that the children wouldn't see him smile.
"So we left Divination, and we didn't know where else to come, sir," Hermione said, wiping the tears of laughter off her face. "And Harry said you'd done it..."
"I, Miss Granger, didn't lead an entire insurrection when I left," Remus sighed. "Or announce that I'd been faking my homework all year."
"It was worth it," Harry answered complacently.
"I imagine so. I'm not sure what you expect me to do about it, though."
"Well, we had to go somewhere until class let out," Harry said. "Where d'you keep your tea?"
"Top shelf, I'll get it," Remus said, unbending and rising to reach into the cupboard for a tin of tea. "You're lucky I have Friday afternoon free."
"You really should have seen it."
"I'd better have a word with the Headmaster...and with Sybil as well," Remus continued, pouring a large portion of loose-leaf into a strainer and setting it over the top of his teapot. "Albus will sort out your classes; I don't think any of you need a replacement, do you? Neville?"
"I do, but Professor Sprout said I could do extra Herbology if I ever wanted to," Neville said. Remus tapped his kettle with his wand, cocked his head to listen for the whistle that said it was done, and poured the water.
"Do you really have to go talk to Professor Trelawney?" Hermione asked.
"I think so. She doesn't deserve a termful of humiliation because you lost your patience. I don't pretend to want to be friends with her -- I'll thank you not to repeat that to anyone -- but she's a harmless woman and rather fragile, I think. Who wants sugar?"
He laid out several mugs and poured tea into each, setting a sugar bowl at the edge of his desk as the children took their drinks.
"I'll tell her that people who have no skills with the Inner Eye are often frightened of Divination, and that clearly you children are in awe of her power, and frustrated that you don't have it," he said. Padma opened her mouth to protest, and Remus cocked an eyebrow at her. She closed her mouth and nodded. "Your houses are most well-known for their individual virtues, but gentleness and compassion -- and discretion -- are qualities that everyone should strive for, don't you agree?"
They murmured affirmatives, drinking their tea while Remus walked to his bookshelf and began taking down several volumes from the lower racks.
"In the meantime, I think you'd better have some extracurricular reading to keep you out of trouble," he said.
"Too late," Ron said glumly.
"Ah, Mr. Weasley. Here you are," Remus handed him a softbound book with stains on the cover. "Auror's handbook. Never to early to think about your career, Gryffindor. Neville, something on Herbology for you," Hazardous Magical Plants And Their Handling, "and you two Boadecias will have to share this one."
He offered a copy of Advanced Arithmantic Theory to Hermione and Padma. Hermione took it and opened it immediately, Padma leaning over her shoulder.
"Parvati, you're falling behind in Defence," he said.
"Yes, Professor."
"Won't do; you're far too bright for that. Here we are," he said, shifting the books to place a copy of The Joy of Hex in her hands. "And, for Mr. Harry Potter..."
Harry got two books, even thinner than the others. One had a plain black cover, the other a spartan red one; The Art of War and The Prince. Remus winked at him.
"Off you go to the library. And if I were you, I'd keep quiet about this affair, lest the Headmaster devise a way to keep you quiet without your consent. You are treading a very thin line; this is twice now that some of you have defied Professors who were only doing their best, by their lights, to educate you. Ms. Umbridge and Professor Trelawney aren't villains; they're just misguided. Try to remember that before you stand up and call someone a liar again."
"Yes, Professor," they chorused as they left. Hermione, ahead of Harry, stopped at the doorway.
"Are you all right, sir?" she asked, giving Remus a searching look that Harry didn't like one bit.
"Of course, Hermione. Just a little tired, that's all. Might be a touch of the flu."
"It'll be all right," Hermione said, and to Harry's shock, she hugged Remus around the waist, blushed, and fled. Remus looked after her thoughtfully.
"There's a full moon on Sunday," Harry said conversationally.
"So there is."
"Are you all right?"
Remus smiled reassuringly. "I am. I'll be down in Hogsmeade for it; you'll enjoy Monday's substitute. Go on."
***
On Monday morning, Sirius woke to insistent banging on his front door.
Remus was still asleep, worn out after the moon, and Sirius couldn't think of anyone who would need him this urgently on a Monday morning, but he threw on a dressing-gown and smoothed back his hair as he padded through the house to the front door.
Opening the door on three large, burly members of Magical Law Enforcement was a very thorough way of waking a man up, even better than coffee. Sirius blinked in the early-morning sunlight and cast about for something to say.
"Good morning," he managed.
"Mr. Sirius Black?" asked one of the men. The little silver badge on his robes sparkled.
"That's me -- is it Harry?" Sirius asked, fear leaping into his throat. "What's going on?"
"You're wanted in London, sir. There's been a bit of trouble with your cousin, Ms. Tonks."
"Andi?" The fear began to scratch at his insides, too. "What's happened?"
"Nothing serious, Mr. Black," another said. "Bit of a dust-up, that's all. Mr. Tonks is in St. Mungo's and Ms. Tonks sent us to fetch you. Favour to Auror Tonks, like."
"Is he all right?" Sirius asked, backing away so that the men could enter. "Was anyone else hurt?"
"He's recovering, no permanent damage done. Some vandalism to their home, no other injuries," the first man said, though he looked sidelong at the others as he spoke.
"I'll get dressed -- there's coffee things in the kitchen," Sirius said, bolting down the hallway. He burst into the bedroom and began pulling clothing out of his dresser. Remus pushed himself up on his elbows, shaking hair out of his eyes.
"Ted's been hurt," Sirius said. "Someone broke into the shop or something last night. Stay here -- I've got to go to St. Mungo's."
"Wha...?" Remus asked. Sirius pulled a shirt over his head.
"Stay here and sleep. Nobody else was hurt."
"But Ted -- "
"It'll be all right. Stay here. Floo up to Hogwarts and -- Christ, I'd better fetch Neville -- "
"No, go ahead. I'll call Albus and have someone bring Neville." Remus tottered out of bed and pulled on some pyjama bottoms.
"Then go back to sleep."
"Right-o, I won't mind that. Floo me?" Remus asked. Sirius, shoes in one hand, kissed him.
"Soon as I know anything," he said, leaving Remus to call the school. He stopped in the corridor to put his shoes on, picked up his wallet, and was handed a cup of fresh coffee as he emerged again into the kitchen.
"Ta," he said, sipping it. "I can Apparate -- "
"No need; we'll go by portkey," the apparent leader said, unsheathing a short, thick stick that had been clipped to his belt. The other officers grasped it, so Sirius did too; at a tap from his wand, the world began to spin.
Sirius stumbled and fetched up against a wall as they arrived, turning to find himself in the lobby of St. Mungo's. Andromeda, with a black eye and blood crusting around one corner of her mouth, was standing nearby.
"Oh, Andi," he said, as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "What in hell happened?"
"There were people," she said, shaking. "Outside the shop, in Diagon -- they broke all the windows -- "
"Shh, it's just glass. Is Ted okay? Are you okay? Where's Dora?"
"Home looking after things," she said, stepping back and wiping her eyes. "I'm fine, it looks worse than it is. Ted ran out to stop them and they kicked him..."
"Can we see him?"
Andromeda nodded, tugging him along down the hallway. Inside one of the rooms, Ted was lying on a hospital bed looking pale and drawn, one of the few times Sirius had ever seen the normally unflappable Ted Tonks upset.
"Merlin," he said. Ted's face was covered in small cuts, and one of his arms was a solid mass of swelling bruises.
"Sons of bitches," Ted replied. "Came after our people."
Sirius turned to Andi. "Wait..."
"It's because of the Werewolf Support Network," she said. "There was a little article about them in the paper yesterday, it wasn't anything really and they didn't mention us..."
"Mary got the worst of it," Ted said.
"Who the hell is Mary?"
"The woman who runs the Network," Andi said, taking her husband's hand and rubbing her thumb across his knuckles lovingly. "They broke into her office -- our address was in her notebook. I think they would have been satisfied just to break the windows, but we didn't know. Ted thought it was thieves..."
Ted laughed a little, then sighed. "I picked up that big cast-iron skillet from the kitchen and we went down to smash some heads in..."
"And got your face kicked about," Sirius finished. "Where are the werewolves?"
"Safe -- Dora's got Anne with her and the rest never come home until the afternoon," Andi said.
"All right, I'll handle things from here. You stay with Ted. Neville's coming, I had Remus call up to Hogwarts."
"Sirius -- "
"What?" he asked, hesitating.
"Mary was hurt worse than we were. We can't find out anything. Find her?"
"Course," he said, and ran out of the room.
He nearly collided in the hallway with Severus Snape. For a second he almost snarled, but he saw Snape had one guiding hand on Neville's shoulder, and the boy was trembling visibly.
"They're in there," he said. "They're both fine. Go on, Neville."
Neville pushed the door open fearfully and ran inside. Sirius circled Snape warily.
"You handle the Healers," he said. "I'll take the MLE."
Snape nodded once, curtly, and followed Neville inside. Sirius paused again, looking down the hall, and then made for the Mediwitch's station. Two of the MLE men had disappeared; the third was talking to one of the mediwitches.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Officer Nick Molsen, Mr. Black," the man said. "I'm at your disposal until further notice."
"O-kay. I need to find the woman who was beat up, Mary, and -- "
"Sir, if I can..." the man hesitated. "There's a lot you don't know, Mr. Black."
"Then tell me," Sirius said impatiently.
"Auror Tonks is at the shop, and she said to inform you that workmen have been sent to board it up and not to worry about the...ah...other tenants," Molsen said. "Investigations are being pursued regarding the assailants -- "
"You haven't caught them?"
"We're very short-handed this morning, Mr. Black. There were targeted attacks all over London. Three in Glasgow as well. They all appear to be much the same as what happened to Mr. and Ms. Tonks -- vandalism that got out of hand. We've had to send more men to the more serious ones."
"More serious?" he asked.
"Two werewolves dead, sir. And one woman has been killed by a werewolf."
Sirius felt his legs starting to go and leaned heavily on the desk. "Three dead?"
"Yes, sir."
***
"Wonder where Neville is," Draco said, as they sat at breakfast that morning. Even Neville, not known for being a morning person, was usually there by the time Denbigh brought their food.
"Probably still sleeping," Padma said. "I'll go wake him up before class. I like it when his hair sticks out," she added, touching her hands to her head and splaying her fingers. "He looks like a dazed hedgehog."
"I don't see why that's attractive," Draco replied, looking annoyed.
"It's not attractive, it's funny," she said.
"Speaking of sleeping in," Harry said around a mouthful of toast. "Easter hol is coming. We all going home?"
"I am," Padma said. "Mum and Dad said they'd take us to the seaside but Dad's annoyed at Parvati and me about the Divs thing, so we might not go."
"Staying here," Draco muttered. "Thank Merlin. Mum thinks it's some kind of punishment."
"Well, she left off torturing your elves, she's got to do something," Harry said.
"I'd rather be here anyway, even if it's boring."
"Won't be boring," Harry replied. "I'll be in Hogsmeade, we'll come up to see you. Sirius can teach us tricks on our broomsticks. "You'll need it," he added, poking Draco in the shoulder. "Hufflepuff's playing Slytherin in three weeks."
"Don't remind me," Draco moaned over his oatmeal. A few fellow students trickled in; Harry gave a quick nod to Hermione Granger, who waved in reply. Behind her, Ron ducked through the door and made a beeline for their table.
"You heard yet?" he asked, standing next to the bench.
"Heard what?" Harry asked. "Trelawney finally have a breakdown?"
"No, about Neville."
"What about him?" Padma asked, alarmed.
"Don't exactly know. Professor Snape came in this morning, right into our dormitory, and took him out. Dean says he heard him say something about London."
The trio of children exchanged looks, as if Ron had been nothing more than a messenger and now had ceased to exist.
"Well?" Ron asked. "Any idea why they'd need him in London?"
"Couple," Draco said guardedly. "Not many reasons why they'd send Snape to fetch him, though."
"Unless it's something to do with Andromeda and Ted," Harry added. "Professor Snape's marrying his sister, maybe it's some kind of..."
He hesitated, because saying "Snape" and "surprise vacation" in the same sentence didn't really go.
"Anyway, thanks," he said to Ron. "For telling us, I mean. I'll find out what's going on and let you know."
"Right, then," Ron said, looking awkward. "See you in Defence."
"We'd better split up," Harry announced, as more students began to pour into the Great Hall. "I'll see you -- "
"Harry, wait," Padma said, grabbing his sleeve. The Daily Prophet had just arrived, and she was holding it, her knuckles white. It looked odd somehow; there was a single blank-backed sheet of newspaper covering the front page. "You should see this."
She turned it around. Harry took the paper, Draco peering around his arm.
DAILY PROPHET UPDATE read the title, and below that a screaming headline: RIOTS ROCK LONDON.
Below that was an enormous photograph of Tonks&Tonks, with boarded-up windows. Dora stood in the foreground, speaking urgently to a pair of men. Harry strained, trying to read her lips.
"Harry," Draco said, pointing to the subheading.
Diagon Alley reels under violent onslaught of anti-werewolf protests.
"Guess we know where Neville went," Padma said, as Harry skimmed the article. Several hurt; three deaths; Werewolf Support Network --
"Ah!" he said, finding what he was looking for. "Ted Tonks is listed in stable and improving condition after attempting to do battle with vandals attacking the storefront of popular clothier Tonks&Tonks. Nothing about Andromeda; she can't have been hurt too bad."
"What about Professor Lupin?" Draco asked in an undertone. Cold fear grabbed Harry and paralysed him; Remus and Sirius ran wild at the full moon, he knew that, and if someone had caught them -- if he had attacked someone, or been hurt...
There was a flash of white from above as Hedwig soared into the Great Hall, landing neatly on the table and dropping a letter from her beak. Harry released the newspaper and snatched up the letter, opening it almost feverishly; he nearly collapsed with relief when he read what it said.
In untidy handwriting unlike Remus' usually neat scribble, it read:
We are all well here. Sirius has gone to London. Neville and Severus as well. Ted and Andromeda are fine. Do not fret.
"Neville's gone to London to see Ted," he said, folding the letter up and shoving it into the very bottom of his book bag. Hedwig took flight, hooting cheerfully, and soared out again through the high windows of the Great Hall. "Sirius too. They'll probably send word when they know more."
"It's terrible," Padma said, now studying the article with Draco bent over one shoulder. "Why would anyone do something like this?"
"About time too," Harry heard a voice drawl nearby. He turned to see one of the Slytherin sevenths, an older cousin of Crabbe's named Eric, in conversation with several seventh-year girls. "It'll show them that they can't -- "
Harry moved before he thought, which in retrospect was a stupid idea. He remembered only the feeling of his wand sliding out of his sleeve, a flash of purple light, and the comical expression of Eric Crabbe as he sprouted enormous yellow pustules all over his face and shoulders.
"MISTER POTTER!" roared a voice, and Harry found his ear held firmly by Professor McGonagall. The Slytherins were scrambling out of their seats, some arrowing towards Harry while others bolted for the door or hid under tables. Eric simply sat there, eyes wide, staring at Harry.
They were closest to the Hufflepuff table, and a cadre of large students with Hufflepuff badges stood slowly and with a remarkable amount of menace, stopping both the Slytherins' headlong attack on Harry and the Gryffindors, behind him, who were surging forward to see what the fun was.
McGonagall jerked him through the crowds, leaving a pair of just-arrived Prefects to get everyone back to their seats, and pulled him into the hallway.
"Hexing a fellow student! In the Great Hall!" she said, releasing him and walking quickly along the hallway. Harry ran to catch up. "What were you thinking?"
"He was talking about the riots," Harry said. "He said it was about time someone did it to werewolves."
"And that gave you the right to mete out punishment, did it?" McGonagall demanded. Harry lapsed into humiliated silence, partly because she was now climbing a staircase and he had to save his breath just to keep up. She swept up the stairs as if they were nothing, while Harry began to pant and clutch a stitch in his side. When they finally reached her office, she gestured him into a chair and went to her desk, taking out a sheet of parchment and dipping her quill into the inkpot nearby.
"I am going to give you a quite unusual punishment, Harry," she said, speaking as she wrote. Harry watched in fascination; he wished he could do that. "In the absence of your own Head of House, who I am certain will agree with me, you fall under my authority. I am going to send you to Nymphadora, who is no doubt in need of a helping hand right now, and you are to do precisely as she says. You will remain with her until this evening, assisting her in any way possible. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry said meekly.
McGonagall folded the letter, sealed it with wax, and came around the desk again, holding it out. Harry stood to accept it, but when he grasped the parchment she didn't immediately release it.
"Listen carefully to me," she said, her face no longer angry but very grave. "You are very much like James, Harry; he was clever and powerful and loyal to his friends, but he also had a temper and he could be arrogant when he wished."
Harry bit his tongue to kill the protest of this slander that was fighting its way out.
"Three times now, this year alone, you have acted in ways which, under other circumstances, would have called for a meeting with your godfather and the possibility of expulsion," she continued. "Far worse, they are actions which concern me because they assume a superiority over others which you do not in fact possess. Severus, who has a unique link to you, may feel it is best to be lenient; I disagree."
Harry stared at her, wondering how much worse this could possibly get.
"I want you to think before you act, Harry, and learn to control your temper. You're acting like a bully; be careful you don't become one."
"A bully!" Harry burst out, unable to contain himself any longer. "I'm not a bully!"
"Not yet. I'd like it to remain that way. But Harry, you cannot justify actions above the law with the excuse that your victim had it coming. You must learn subtlety, and to choose your battles. If your other teachers won't tell you this, I will."
Harry bowed his head. McGonagall released the letter, and he tucked it shamefaced into his pocket. He waited to be dismissed; when he looked up, she was studying him curiously.
"I often think of your father when I see you," she said. "I wonder very much what kind of Gryffindor you would have been."
"Probably a pretty shoddy one," he answered.
"I wonder. Well, in you go..."
Harry took down a pinch of floo powder from her mantelpiece and threw it into the fire. Stepping inside, he turned around and said "Tonks and Tonks, Diagon Alley!"
As the floo network began to spin him around, he caught one last glimpse of McGonagall's face. It was tired, careworn, and seemed much older than it had two minutes before; he felt a stab of regret, and also a stab of surprise for the realisation that Minerva McGonagall was human and fallible, and very concerned about Harry.
***
When Sirius returned from St. Mungo's after a quick check-in with Dora to make sure everything was all right, he found a vat of stew bubbling on the stove and a note saying that Remus had gone upstairs to sleep. He greedily spooned an enormous portion into a bowl, noting that the dishes had even been washed, and took two butterbeers from the antique Muggle refrigerator he'd found and charmed to function normally again.
He climbed the stairs with a little trepidation; Remus must have worn himself out cooking, but at least it showed that he'd been able to get up and about. He wasn't sure if he ought to carry all his news and woes to him first thing.
The small bedroom at the top of the stairs, down the narrow hall from Harry's room, was well-lit and the window was open to let in the cool evening air. Remus lay in the bed, eyes shut, feathery hair drifting upwards occasionally in the breeze. Sirius sat on the edge of the bed, the butterbeer bottles clinking as he set them on the bedside table. He reached out and stroked his hair quickly, almost embarrassed at the show of affection, before taking a bite of the stew. It had been a long day, and the food was more than welcome. Remus yawned and stretched, one hand drifting out to touch Sirius' back.
"All settled?" he asked, not opening his eyes.
"As much as they can be. You didn't have to cook."
"I wanted to. Knew you'd be hungry. You say Ted's okay?"
"Everyone's okay, more or less, though Ted'll be stiff for a few days, I reckon. Neville's back to Hogwarts. Andi's a bit worried about her guests, though. She asked if we thought we could keep one or two up here for a bit. And I gave Julian about fifty Galleons."
"Mmh? For what?"
"Well, he's working for Madam Schaeffer now, he had nearly enough saved up for a place of his own, and I thought it might be better. He'll pay it back."
"Don't care if he does. Good job."
"Ta. Once we got everyone sorted it was a bit boring, really. But Andi seemed to want me around, so I stayed. I had an idea, too," he added. Remus opened one eye and regarded him cautiously.
"That's so worrying," he replied, inching closer. Sirius offered him a piece of potato from the stew with his fingers and he sat up to eat it, leaning on Sirius' shoulder.
"I'll forget you said that," Sirius said. "Do you want to hear about it?"
"Of course."
"Magical refrigerator magnets."
Remus cocked his head to study him. "Magical what?"
"Charmed refrigerator magnets. You buy two sets, right, and you stick one on your fridge and your friend or whatnot sticks the other set on theirs. But when you rearrange yours, theirs rearranges too. Instant messages."
"Ministry'd never stand for it," Remus mumbled.
"We'll charm them so that Muggles can't see them or something. That's details." Sirius waved a hand. "Think about it. If I had a set and Andi had a set, yesterday she could have just made a single word, like...I don't know, some codeword for trouble, and we wouldn't have had the MLE show up on our doorstep."
"This is what you've been thinking about."
"Keeps the mind off other things. Besides, I'm an inventor, aren't I? It's what I do. Invent things."
"You invent toys."
"This is a kind of toy. You could send all kinds of messages."
Remus yawned. "Well, my brilliant one, go to. As you say, it'll keep your mind off things."
"There's a few other things, too," Sirius said reluctantly, offering him a piece of stew beef. Remus licked his fingers playfully after accepting it.
"Like what?"
"Well, Harry saw the Prophet this morning, and Dora says he hexed some boy who said they had it coming. I've got a letter from McGonagall to Dora about it. Guess she didn't want to get him in hot water with me just yet."
"Why'd she write to Dora, then?"
"He did it in the middle of the Great Hall. Harry spent the day in London doing chores for Dora, I guess, as punishment."
Remus sighed against Sirius' shoulder. "That seems fair. He's gotten into quite a few pickles this year, hasn't he?"
"Yeah."
"Are you worried?" Remus asked, as Sirius set down the nearly-empty bowl.
"McGonagall is. I guess I should be, but I remember what we were like at school. I'm more..."
He fell silent, trying to figure out how to articulate it. Harry was an amazing child and had done things men ten years older might have been afraid of; he'd thrown rocks at Peter Pettigrew when he had no other ammunition to hand, faced him down years later when he broke into Hogwarts, and helped to kill a Basilisk before it killed Padma. He'd taken a chance on little Draco Malfoy when nobody else wanted to. He'd faced down seventh-years when they bullied Neville and thoroughly routed that horrible Umbridge woman. He was a brave, strong boy.
But still in Sirius' heart of hearts, Harry was the little baby he'd held the day he was born, one of the few times he'd ever seen James cry. Harry was the big-eyed, hollow-cheeked child he'd saved from the Dursleys when he was eight, who had clutched his cheap little stuffed frog as Sirius carried him away.
"Come back," Remus said gently.
"Sorry," he answered. "What kind of world is this for Harry? Really? Andi was just trying to make things a little better, she just wants to take in strays and make them happy. Peter's still out there, Draco's father is hunting him like prey, and these stupid little people with their stupid little ideas think firebombing my family home is the way to change the world."
Remus was quiet, his face pressed into Sirius' shoulder, his body a warm presence against his back.
"When we were young men," Remus said finally, "we were fighting for the world we have now. Dumbledore never promised us it would be perfect. But it's better now than it was twelve years ago. It's better now than it was a year ago, just because of what Andi and Ted are doing. We fought, Sirius. We won because of Harry, but we fought for years just to make sure that Harry had a chance to grow up happy."
"Is he?"
"Reasonably," Remus replied. "I think so. He has friends, he plays games, he skives off on his homework. I'm sure he's not the happiest of children tonight, but I bet you he's not gnashing his teeth over the way the world is."
Sirius smiled. "Is that a subtle hint that I'm moping?"
"Just a little."
"What do you suppose he's up to?"
"Probably plotting something with the others. Don't worry about it." Remus kissed the side of his throat. "You've had a long day. Rest a bit before you decide to start cleaning up the world for our son."
To the Next Part
***
Remus, sitting at his desk, bent his head forward and laced his fingers across the back of his neck, closing his eyes. Harry knew he looked frustrated, but he could sense that part of the reason he was hiding his face was so that the children wouldn't see him smile.
"So we left Divination, and we didn't know where else to come, sir," Hermione said, wiping the tears of laughter off her face. "And Harry said you'd done it..."
"I, Miss Granger, didn't lead an entire insurrection when I left," Remus sighed. "Or announce that I'd been faking my homework all year."
"It was worth it," Harry answered complacently.
"I imagine so. I'm not sure what you expect me to do about it, though."
"Well, we had to go somewhere until class let out," Harry said. "Where d'you keep your tea?"
"Top shelf, I'll get it," Remus said, unbending and rising to reach into the cupboard for a tin of tea. "You're lucky I have Friday afternoon free."
"You really should have seen it."
"I'd better have a word with the Headmaster...and with Sybil as well," Remus continued, pouring a large portion of loose-leaf into a strainer and setting it over the top of his teapot. "Albus will sort out your classes; I don't think any of you need a replacement, do you? Neville?"
"I do, but Professor Sprout said I could do extra Herbology if I ever wanted to," Neville said. Remus tapped his kettle with his wand, cocked his head to listen for the whistle that said it was done, and poured the water.
"Do you really have to go talk to Professor Trelawney?" Hermione asked.
"I think so. She doesn't deserve a termful of humiliation because you lost your patience. I don't pretend to want to be friends with her -- I'll thank you not to repeat that to anyone -- but she's a harmless woman and rather fragile, I think. Who wants sugar?"
He laid out several mugs and poured tea into each, setting a sugar bowl at the edge of his desk as the children took their drinks.
"I'll tell her that people who have no skills with the Inner Eye are often frightened of Divination, and that clearly you children are in awe of her power, and frustrated that you don't have it," he said. Padma opened her mouth to protest, and Remus cocked an eyebrow at her. She closed her mouth and nodded. "Your houses are most well-known for their individual virtues, but gentleness and compassion -- and discretion -- are qualities that everyone should strive for, don't you agree?"
They murmured affirmatives, drinking their tea while Remus walked to his bookshelf and began taking down several volumes from the lower racks.
"In the meantime, I think you'd better have some extracurricular reading to keep you out of trouble," he said.
"Too late," Ron said glumly.
"Ah, Mr. Weasley. Here you are," Remus handed him a softbound book with stains on the cover. "Auror's handbook. Never to early to think about your career, Gryffindor. Neville, something on Herbology for you," Hazardous Magical Plants And Their Handling, "and you two Boadecias will have to share this one."
He offered a copy of Advanced Arithmantic Theory to Hermione and Padma. Hermione took it and opened it immediately, Padma leaning over her shoulder.
"Parvati, you're falling behind in Defence," he said.
"Yes, Professor."
"Won't do; you're far too bright for that. Here we are," he said, shifting the books to place a copy of The Joy of Hex in her hands. "And, for Mr. Harry Potter..."
Harry got two books, even thinner than the others. One had a plain black cover, the other a spartan red one; The Art of War and The Prince. Remus winked at him.
"Off you go to the library. And if I were you, I'd keep quiet about this affair, lest the Headmaster devise a way to keep you quiet without your consent. You are treading a very thin line; this is twice now that some of you have defied Professors who were only doing their best, by their lights, to educate you. Ms. Umbridge and Professor Trelawney aren't villains; they're just misguided. Try to remember that before you stand up and call someone a liar again."
"Yes, Professor," they chorused as they left. Hermione, ahead of Harry, stopped at the doorway.
"Are you all right, sir?" she asked, giving Remus a searching look that Harry didn't like one bit.
"Of course, Hermione. Just a little tired, that's all. Might be a touch of the flu."
"It'll be all right," Hermione said, and to Harry's shock, she hugged Remus around the waist, blushed, and fled. Remus looked after her thoughtfully.
"There's a full moon on Sunday," Harry said conversationally.
"So there is."
"Are you all right?"
Remus smiled reassuringly. "I am. I'll be down in Hogsmeade for it; you'll enjoy Monday's substitute. Go on."
***
On Monday morning, Sirius woke to insistent banging on his front door.
Remus was still asleep, worn out after the moon, and Sirius couldn't think of anyone who would need him this urgently on a Monday morning, but he threw on a dressing-gown and smoothed back his hair as he padded through the house to the front door.
Opening the door on three large, burly members of Magical Law Enforcement was a very thorough way of waking a man up, even better than coffee. Sirius blinked in the early-morning sunlight and cast about for something to say.
"Good morning," he managed.
"Mr. Sirius Black?" asked one of the men. The little silver badge on his robes sparkled.
"That's me -- is it Harry?" Sirius asked, fear leaping into his throat. "What's going on?"
"You're wanted in London, sir. There's been a bit of trouble with your cousin, Ms. Tonks."
"Andi?" The fear began to scratch at his insides, too. "What's happened?"
"Nothing serious, Mr. Black," another said. "Bit of a dust-up, that's all. Mr. Tonks is in St. Mungo's and Ms. Tonks sent us to fetch you. Favour to Auror Tonks, like."
"Is he all right?" Sirius asked, backing away so that the men could enter. "Was anyone else hurt?"
"He's recovering, no permanent damage done. Some vandalism to their home, no other injuries," the first man said, though he looked sidelong at the others as he spoke.
"I'll get dressed -- there's coffee things in the kitchen," Sirius said, bolting down the hallway. He burst into the bedroom and began pulling clothing out of his dresser. Remus pushed himself up on his elbows, shaking hair out of his eyes.
"Ted's been hurt," Sirius said. "Someone broke into the shop or something last night. Stay here -- I've got to go to St. Mungo's."
"Wha...?" Remus asked. Sirius pulled a shirt over his head.
"Stay here and sleep. Nobody else was hurt."
"But Ted -- "
"It'll be all right. Stay here. Floo up to Hogwarts and -- Christ, I'd better fetch Neville -- "
"No, go ahead. I'll call Albus and have someone bring Neville." Remus tottered out of bed and pulled on some pyjama bottoms.
"Then go back to sleep."
"Right-o, I won't mind that. Floo me?" Remus asked. Sirius, shoes in one hand, kissed him.
"Soon as I know anything," he said, leaving Remus to call the school. He stopped in the corridor to put his shoes on, picked up his wallet, and was handed a cup of fresh coffee as he emerged again into the kitchen.
"Ta," he said, sipping it. "I can Apparate -- "
"No need; we'll go by portkey," the apparent leader said, unsheathing a short, thick stick that had been clipped to his belt. The other officers grasped it, so Sirius did too; at a tap from his wand, the world began to spin.
Sirius stumbled and fetched up against a wall as they arrived, turning to find himself in the lobby of St. Mungo's. Andromeda, with a black eye and blood crusting around one corner of her mouth, was standing nearby.
"Oh, Andi," he said, as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "What in hell happened?"
"There were people," she said, shaking. "Outside the shop, in Diagon -- they broke all the windows -- "
"Shh, it's just glass. Is Ted okay? Are you okay? Where's Dora?"
"Home looking after things," she said, stepping back and wiping her eyes. "I'm fine, it looks worse than it is. Ted ran out to stop them and they kicked him..."
"Can we see him?"
Andromeda nodded, tugging him along down the hallway. Inside one of the rooms, Ted was lying on a hospital bed looking pale and drawn, one of the few times Sirius had ever seen the normally unflappable Ted Tonks upset.
"Merlin," he said. Ted's face was covered in small cuts, and one of his arms was a solid mass of swelling bruises.
"Sons of bitches," Ted replied. "Came after our people."
Sirius turned to Andi. "Wait..."
"It's because of the Werewolf Support Network," she said. "There was a little article about them in the paper yesterday, it wasn't anything really and they didn't mention us..."
"Mary got the worst of it," Ted said.
"Who the hell is Mary?"
"The woman who runs the Network," Andi said, taking her husband's hand and rubbing her thumb across his knuckles lovingly. "They broke into her office -- our address was in her notebook. I think they would have been satisfied just to break the windows, but we didn't know. Ted thought it was thieves..."
Ted laughed a little, then sighed. "I picked up that big cast-iron skillet from the kitchen and we went down to smash some heads in..."
"And got your face kicked about," Sirius finished. "Where are the werewolves?"
"Safe -- Dora's got Anne with her and the rest never come home until the afternoon," Andi said.
"All right, I'll handle things from here. You stay with Ted. Neville's coming, I had Remus call up to Hogwarts."
"Sirius -- "
"What?" he asked, hesitating.
"Mary was hurt worse than we were. We can't find out anything. Find her?"
"Course," he said, and ran out of the room.
He nearly collided in the hallway with Severus Snape. For a second he almost snarled, but he saw Snape had one guiding hand on Neville's shoulder, and the boy was trembling visibly.
"They're in there," he said. "They're both fine. Go on, Neville."
Neville pushed the door open fearfully and ran inside. Sirius circled Snape warily.
"You handle the Healers," he said. "I'll take the MLE."
Snape nodded once, curtly, and followed Neville inside. Sirius paused again, looking down the hall, and then made for the Mediwitch's station. Two of the MLE men had disappeared; the third was talking to one of the mediwitches.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Officer Nick Molsen, Mr. Black," the man said. "I'm at your disposal until further notice."
"O-kay. I need to find the woman who was beat up, Mary, and -- "
"Sir, if I can..." the man hesitated. "There's a lot you don't know, Mr. Black."
"Then tell me," Sirius said impatiently.
"Auror Tonks is at the shop, and she said to inform you that workmen have been sent to board it up and not to worry about the...ah...other tenants," Molsen said. "Investigations are being pursued regarding the assailants -- "
"You haven't caught them?"
"We're very short-handed this morning, Mr. Black. There were targeted attacks all over London. Three in Glasgow as well. They all appear to be much the same as what happened to Mr. and Ms. Tonks -- vandalism that got out of hand. We've had to send more men to the more serious ones."
"More serious?" he asked.
"Two werewolves dead, sir. And one woman has been killed by a werewolf."
Sirius felt his legs starting to go and leaned heavily on the desk. "Three dead?"
"Yes, sir."
***
"Wonder where Neville is," Draco said, as they sat at breakfast that morning. Even Neville, not known for being a morning person, was usually there by the time Denbigh brought their food.
"Probably still sleeping," Padma said. "I'll go wake him up before class. I like it when his hair sticks out," she added, touching her hands to her head and splaying her fingers. "He looks like a dazed hedgehog."
"I don't see why that's attractive," Draco replied, looking annoyed.
"It's not attractive, it's funny," she said.
"Speaking of sleeping in," Harry said around a mouthful of toast. "Easter hol is coming. We all going home?"
"I am," Padma said. "Mum and Dad said they'd take us to the seaside but Dad's annoyed at Parvati and me about the Divs thing, so we might not go."
"Staying here," Draco muttered. "Thank Merlin. Mum thinks it's some kind of punishment."
"Well, she left off torturing your elves, she's got to do something," Harry said.
"I'd rather be here anyway, even if it's boring."
"Won't be boring," Harry replied. "I'll be in Hogsmeade, we'll come up to see you. Sirius can teach us tricks on our broomsticks. "You'll need it," he added, poking Draco in the shoulder. "Hufflepuff's playing Slytherin in three weeks."
"Don't remind me," Draco moaned over his oatmeal. A few fellow students trickled in; Harry gave a quick nod to Hermione Granger, who waved in reply. Behind her, Ron ducked through the door and made a beeline for their table.
"You heard yet?" he asked, standing next to the bench.
"Heard what?" Harry asked. "Trelawney finally have a breakdown?"
"No, about Neville."
"What about him?" Padma asked, alarmed.
"Don't exactly know. Professor Snape came in this morning, right into our dormitory, and took him out. Dean says he heard him say something about London."
The trio of children exchanged looks, as if Ron had been nothing more than a messenger and now had ceased to exist.
"Well?" Ron asked. "Any idea why they'd need him in London?"
"Couple," Draco said guardedly. "Not many reasons why they'd send Snape to fetch him, though."
"Unless it's something to do with Andromeda and Ted," Harry added. "Professor Snape's marrying his sister, maybe it's some kind of..."
He hesitated, because saying "Snape" and "surprise vacation" in the same sentence didn't really go.
"Anyway, thanks," he said to Ron. "For telling us, I mean. I'll find out what's going on and let you know."
"Right, then," Ron said, looking awkward. "See you in Defence."
"We'd better split up," Harry announced, as more students began to pour into the Great Hall. "I'll see you -- "
"Harry, wait," Padma said, grabbing his sleeve. The Daily Prophet had just arrived, and she was holding it, her knuckles white. It looked odd somehow; there was a single blank-backed sheet of newspaper covering the front page. "You should see this."
She turned it around. Harry took the paper, Draco peering around his arm.
DAILY PROPHET UPDATE read the title, and below that a screaming headline: RIOTS ROCK LONDON.
Below that was an enormous photograph of Tonks&Tonks, with boarded-up windows. Dora stood in the foreground, speaking urgently to a pair of men. Harry strained, trying to read her lips.
"Harry," Draco said, pointing to the subheading.
Diagon Alley reels under violent onslaught of anti-werewolf protests.
"Guess we know where Neville went," Padma said, as Harry skimmed the article. Several hurt; three deaths; Werewolf Support Network --
"Ah!" he said, finding what he was looking for. "Ted Tonks is listed in stable and improving condition after attempting to do battle with vandals attacking the storefront of popular clothier Tonks&Tonks. Nothing about Andromeda; she can't have been hurt too bad."
"What about Professor Lupin?" Draco asked in an undertone. Cold fear grabbed Harry and paralysed him; Remus and Sirius ran wild at the full moon, he knew that, and if someone had caught them -- if he had attacked someone, or been hurt...
There was a flash of white from above as Hedwig soared into the Great Hall, landing neatly on the table and dropping a letter from her beak. Harry released the newspaper and snatched up the letter, opening it almost feverishly; he nearly collapsed with relief when he read what it said.
In untidy handwriting unlike Remus' usually neat scribble, it read:
We are all well here. Sirius has gone to London. Neville and Severus as well. Ted and Andromeda are fine. Do not fret.
"Neville's gone to London to see Ted," he said, folding the letter up and shoving it into the very bottom of his book bag. Hedwig took flight, hooting cheerfully, and soared out again through the high windows of the Great Hall. "Sirius too. They'll probably send word when they know more."
"It's terrible," Padma said, now studying the article with Draco bent over one shoulder. "Why would anyone do something like this?"
"About time too," Harry heard a voice drawl nearby. He turned to see one of the Slytherin sevenths, an older cousin of Crabbe's named Eric, in conversation with several seventh-year girls. "It'll show them that they can't -- "
Harry moved before he thought, which in retrospect was a stupid idea. He remembered only the feeling of his wand sliding out of his sleeve, a flash of purple light, and the comical expression of Eric Crabbe as he sprouted enormous yellow pustules all over his face and shoulders.
"MISTER POTTER!" roared a voice, and Harry found his ear held firmly by Professor McGonagall. The Slytherins were scrambling out of their seats, some arrowing towards Harry while others bolted for the door or hid under tables. Eric simply sat there, eyes wide, staring at Harry.
They were closest to the Hufflepuff table, and a cadre of large students with Hufflepuff badges stood slowly and with a remarkable amount of menace, stopping both the Slytherins' headlong attack on Harry and the Gryffindors, behind him, who were surging forward to see what the fun was.
McGonagall jerked him through the crowds, leaving a pair of just-arrived Prefects to get everyone back to their seats, and pulled him into the hallway.
"Hexing a fellow student! In the Great Hall!" she said, releasing him and walking quickly along the hallway. Harry ran to catch up. "What were you thinking?"
"He was talking about the riots," Harry said. "He said it was about time someone did it to werewolves."
"And that gave you the right to mete out punishment, did it?" McGonagall demanded. Harry lapsed into humiliated silence, partly because she was now climbing a staircase and he had to save his breath just to keep up. She swept up the stairs as if they were nothing, while Harry began to pant and clutch a stitch in his side. When they finally reached her office, she gestured him into a chair and went to her desk, taking out a sheet of parchment and dipping her quill into the inkpot nearby.
"I am going to give you a quite unusual punishment, Harry," she said, speaking as she wrote. Harry watched in fascination; he wished he could do that. "In the absence of your own Head of House, who I am certain will agree with me, you fall under my authority. I am going to send you to Nymphadora, who is no doubt in need of a helping hand right now, and you are to do precisely as she says. You will remain with her until this evening, assisting her in any way possible. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry said meekly.
McGonagall folded the letter, sealed it with wax, and came around the desk again, holding it out. Harry stood to accept it, but when he grasped the parchment she didn't immediately release it.
"Listen carefully to me," she said, her face no longer angry but very grave. "You are very much like James, Harry; he was clever and powerful and loyal to his friends, but he also had a temper and he could be arrogant when he wished."
Harry bit his tongue to kill the protest of this slander that was fighting its way out.
"Three times now, this year alone, you have acted in ways which, under other circumstances, would have called for a meeting with your godfather and the possibility of expulsion," she continued. "Far worse, they are actions which concern me because they assume a superiority over others which you do not in fact possess. Severus, who has a unique link to you, may feel it is best to be lenient; I disagree."
Harry stared at her, wondering how much worse this could possibly get.
"I want you to think before you act, Harry, and learn to control your temper. You're acting like a bully; be careful you don't become one."
"A bully!" Harry burst out, unable to contain himself any longer. "I'm not a bully!"
"Not yet. I'd like it to remain that way. But Harry, you cannot justify actions above the law with the excuse that your victim had it coming. You must learn subtlety, and to choose your battles. If your other teachers won't tell you this, I will."
Harry bowed his head. McGonagall released the letter, and he tucked it shamefaced into his pocket. He waited to be dismissed; when he looked up, she was studying him curiously.
"I often think of your father when I see you," she said. "I wonder very much what kind of Gryffindor you would have been."
"Probably a pretty shoddy one," he answered.
"I wonder. Well, in you go..."
Harry took down a pinch of floo powder from her mantelpiece and threw it into the fire. Stepping inside, he turned around and said "Tonks and Tonks, Diagon Alley!"
As the floo network began to spin him around, he caught one last glimpse of McGonagall's face. It was tired, careworn, and seemed much older than it had two minutes before; he felt a stab of regret, and also a stab of surprise for the realisation that Minerva McGonagall was human and fallible, and very concerned about Harry.
***
When Sirius returned from St. Mungo's after a quick check-in with Dora to make sure everything was all right, he found a vat of stew bubbling on the stove and a note saying that Remus had gone upstairs to sleep. He greedily spooned an enormous portion into a bowl, noting that the dishes had even been washed, and took two butterbeers from the antique Muggle refrigerator he'd found and charmed to function normally again.
He climbed the stairs with a little trepidation; Remus must have worn himself out cooking, but at least it showed that he'd been able to get up and about. He wasn't sure if he ought to carry all his news and woes to him first thing.
The small bedroom at the top of the stairs, down the narrow hall from Harry's room, was well-lit and the window was open to let in the cool evening air. Remus lay in the bed, eyes shut, feathery hair drifting upwards occasionally in the breeze. Sirius sat on the edge of the bed, the butterbeer bottles clinking as he set them on the bedside table. He reached out and stroked his hair quickly, almost embarrassed at the show of affection, before taking a bite of the stew. It had been a long day, and the food was more than welcome. Remus yawned and stretched, one hand drifting out to touch Sirius' back.
"All settled?" he asked, not opening his eyes.
"As much as they can be. You didn't have to cook."
"I wanted to. Knew you'd be hungry. You say Ted's okay?"
"Everyone's okay, more or less, though Ted'll be stiff for a few days, I reckon. Neville's back to Hogwarts. Andi's a bit worried about her guests, though. She asked if we thought we could keep one or two up here for a bit. And I gave Julian about fifty Galleons."
"Mmh? For what?"
"Well, he's working for Madam Schaeffer now, he had nearly enough saved up for a place of his own, and I thought it might be better. He'll pay it back."
"Don't care if he does. Good job."
"Ta. Once we got everyone sorted it was a bit boring, really. But Andi seemed to want me around, so I stayed. I had an idea, too," he added. Remus opened one eye and regarded him cautiously.
"That's so worrying," he replied, inching closer. Sirius offered him a piece of potato from the stew with his fingers and he sat up to eat it, leaning on Sirius' shoulder.
"I'll forget you said that," Sirius said. "Do you want to hear about it?"
"Of course."
"Magical refrigerator magnets."
Remus cocked his head to study him. "Magical what?"
"Charmed refrigerator magnets. You buy two sets, right, and you stick one on your fridge and your friend or whatnot sticks the other set on theirs. But when you rearrange yours, theirs rearranges too. Instant messages."
"Ministry'd never stand for it," Remus mumbled.
"We'll charm them so that Muggles can't see them or something. That's details." Sirius waved a hand. "Think about it. If I had a set and Andi had a set, yesterday she could have just made a single word, like...I don't know, some codeword for trouble, and we wouldn't have had the MLE show up on our doorstep."
"This is what you've been thinking about."
"Keeps the mind off other things. Besides, I'm an inventor, aren't I? It's what I do. Invent things."
"You invent toys."
"This is a kind of toy. You could send all kinds of messages."
Remus yawned. "Well, my brilliant one, go to. As you say, it'll keep your mind off things."
"There's a few other things, too," Sirius said reluctantly, offering him a piece of stew beef. Remus licked his fingers playfully after accepting it.
"Like what?"
"Well, Harry saw the Prophet this morning, and Dora says he hexed some boy who said they had it coming. I've got a letter from McGonagall to Dora about it. Guess she didn't want to get him in hot water with me just yet."
"Why'd she write to Dora, then?"
"He did it in the middle of the Great Hall. Harry spent the day in London doing chores for Dora, I guess, as punishment."
Remus sighed against Sirius' shoulder. "That seems fair. He's gotten into quite a few pickles this year, hasn't he?"
"Yeah."
"Are you worried?" Remus asked, as Sirius set down the nearly-empty bowl.
"McGonagall is. I guess I should be, but I remember what we were like at school. I'm more..."
He fell silent, trying to figure out how to articulate it. Harry was an amazing child and had done things men ten years older might have been afraid of; he'd thrown rocks at Peter Pettigrew when he had no other ammunition to hand, faced him down years later when he broke into Hogwarts, and helped to kill a Basilisk before it killed Padma. He'd taken a chance on little Draco Malfoy when nobody else wanted to. He'd faced down seventh-years when they bullied Neville and thoroughly routed that horrible Umbridge woman. He was a brave, strong boy.
But still in Sirius' heart of hearts, Harry was the little baby he'd held the day he was born, one of the few times he'd ever seen James cry. Harry was the big-eyed, hollow-cheeked child he'd saved from the Dursleys when he was eight, who had clutched his cheap little stuffed frog as Sirius carried him away.
"Come back," Remus said gently.
"Sorry," he answered. "What kind of world is this for Harry? Really? Andi was just trying to make things a little better, she just wants to take in strays and make them happy. Peter's still out there, Draco's father is hunting him like prey, and these stupid little people with their stupid little ideas think firebombing my family home is the way to change the world."
Remus was quiet, his face pressed into Sirius' shoulder, his body a warm presence against his back.
"When we were young men," Remus said finally, "we were fighting for the world we have now. Dumbledore never promised us it would be perfect. But it's better now than it was twelve years ago. It's better now than it was a year ago, just because of what Andi and Ted are doing. We fought, Sirius. We won because of Harry, but we fought for years just to make sure that Harry had a chance to grow up happy."
"Is he?"
"Reasonably," Remus replied. "I think so. He has friends, he plays games, he skives off on his homework. I'm sure he's not the happiest of children tonight, but I bet you he's not gnashing his teeth over the way the world is."
Sirius smiled. "Is that a subtle hint that I'm moping?"
"Just a little."
"What do you suppose he's up to?"
"Probably plotting something with the others. Don't worry about it." Remus kissed the side of his throat. "You've had a long day. Rest a bit before you decide to start cleaning up the world for our son."
To the Next Part
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The Joy of Hex. Hahaahah.
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Me too. Actually, I don't even consider myself in Harry Potter fandom any more, this is the only HP fic I'm still following.
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(Anonymous) 2007-07-19 03:47 am (UTC)(link)You, Sam, are breaking land speed shamelessness records :D
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Even if it was riots and trouble and people getting hurt (oh my!) this chapter, I don't care. LC -- well, really, it's your writing, Sam -- always makes me feel better, and that's just what I needed after I opened my e-mail.
Next chapter will just have to wait 'til tomorrow, though, I need sleep.
Thanks again and good night!
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Another great update, and off I go to read the next!
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You've made these characters your own, Sam, and I love them.
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"You've had a long day. Rest a bit before you decide to start cleaning up the world for our son."
This just melted me, absolutely melted me. Brilliant, as per usual.
<3
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Gothic Author
YOU ARE EVIL!
As usual, I happened to be drinking a mug of tea while I surfed the net. Then I read that particular line, and a struggle of cosmic proportions commenced to prevent said tea from splattering all over my moniter and keyboard. The end result was that it came out of my nose and dribbled all down my nice clean shirt instead.
You'd think I would have learned by now not to drink while I read... ^_-
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On to the next chapter...
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Just a quick note: Sirius can teach us tricks on our broomsticks. "You'll--
One " too many. *g*
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*giggles* I do that! It's not that complicated, you know? *g*
"Probably plotting something with the others. Don't worry about it." Remus kissed the side of his throat. "You've had a long day. Rest a bit before you decide to start cleaning up the world for our son."
It was the "our son" bit that did me in. Really. As far as I remember, Remus has never called him our son. He said something like parents live for their child's thriumps, to Snape, but not that direct. *sniff* I love it! Off to read the next one!
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He hesitated, because saying "Snape" and "surprise vacation" in the same sentence didn't really go.
Brilliant!
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I loved this chapter. It's really interesting this whole thing about werewolf-hate, since it is such a dificult thing to deal with. And Harry becoming a bully? Well, we kinda saw that coming, didn't we? Canon!Harry is not a bully because he suffered bullies all his childhood, now this one had a happier childhood and knows his own strenght a lot better. I really like the way you're going with this story.
Well, I'm off to read the next one!
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Also, I was going to read more Deathly Hallows last night, until you updated LC, at which point I actually realized that I was more excited about you updating your fic than I was about finishing canon. You are just that awesome. I thought you should know.
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"Your houses are most well-known for their individual virtues, but gentleness and compassion -- and discretion -- are qualities that everyone should strive for, don't you agree?"
I love your SH/LC!Remus -- he is my favorite of all of the Remuses in fandom. Your McGonagall scene in this chapter was brilliant as well.
Thank you for loving these characters and making them so vivid.
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Joy indeed
Ha!
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There is so much about this chapter that I love. I'll start with McGonagall. So much love for her. I think she works better as a mentor for Harry when she's not his Head of House, so for her to say what she said was just perfect.
Then there's the aftermath of the Diviniation Insurrection. Trust Remus to give punishments by making that lot read. And points for his saying Parvati is too bright to fall behind.
And finally, Remus' last little speech there, about fighting for the world as it is is amazing. And of course, this line: "You've had a long day. Rest a bit before you decide to start cleaning up the world for our son." killed me. So, so perfect. Beyond perfect really.
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our son
*squee & happy dance*
JKR's version, may be canon, but I know which 'verse I prefer. And that, up there, just about sums up why. :)
Laocoon's Children Year 3 Ch. 23
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Awwww. I like when they went to Remus.
hmm
(Anonymous) 2008-01-31 02:41 am (UTC)(link)No one else would, certainly.
Love these stories by the way. I'm re-reading them, yet they still had me up until 3 last night, with homework unfinished.
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What do you suppose Lavender must thought about her best friend walking out of her favourite class?
**bouncing with glee**
(Anonymous) 2008-07-15 08:10 am (UTC)(link)