Growing Up

Part 27.

Student by student, the room continued to fill with children from all walks of life. Reserved, confident, passionate, withdrawn, it seemed like there was at least one of each trait a human could be. Some had put their head down, some had been at attention before the class even started, some had just gotten their books out. The variety was a sight to behold.

Remus watched Sirius pace behind one of the walls, wiping his palms on his pants or picking at his fingers. Remus grabbed his hands with one when he was in reach.

"You're overthinking it."

"What do I do if they don't like me?" He asked, turning his head to see the room beyond.

"Well, you might not be popular among the Slytherin crowd, but you'll get there. The rest is a-" He paused, shrugging. "Judge of character, I guess."

He checked his watch on his wrist, smiling and glancing back up. Sirius' face twisted nervously.

"Can't back out now. Go on, then."

Remus gave him a loving push out to the crowd who was waiting patiently, the chattering coming to a halt as he walked out. Sirius felt like he was on a stage, the impersonal eyes waiting on a mistake.

They're just kids, it'll be fine.

"Good morning."

Remus watched as some tilted their head, some whispered to the people next to them, others stared at him blankly and others with undivided attention.

"I'm your professor for this year, I- um-" Sirius mumbled and looked back at Remus, who was smiling. He nodded and went on.

"I'm Professor Black, Im the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher,"

Before he could finish his sentence and carry out his newfound confidence, a hand shot in the air from the middle of the room. Sirius nodded and pointed, acknowledging him as the first year came into view. He was a mousy boy with fiery red hair that mimicked the cap of the sun at dusk. His face was splattered with freckles, and his nervous smile reflected someone they knew.

"A Weasley, are you?" Remus chimed in, half of him showing to the classroom. He leaned against the table and looked out. Now the whole class had looked at him and turned back to the boy with the red hair.

"Ye-yes, sir. Bill Weasley, sir."

"Knew it," Remus mumbled and smiled to himself.

"Uh-" Bill continued, his naturally pale face glowing pink. "Professor Black? As in Sirius Black?"

Remus could see his shoulders rise and tense up like a shockwave through rubber. They had spoken of this concern and what he would say when it was brought up inevitably. His first reaction was to look over to the young Slytherins. The name had caught their attention, and Bill's question was the embedded footprints towards the focus. Sirius practiced what he would say, and Remus highly doubted he would go through with it.

"Yes. That's all you'll get out of me today on that subject," Sirius pointed to the other hand raised in the air, stifling a long and dramatic sigh.

"Who's that?" A young girl poked through the crowded room and pointed at the tall figure in the corner. Remus hopped off the table, recognizing his cue.

"This is Mr. Lupin." Sirius smiled, winking at him with the eye that faced away from the crowd.
"You'll see him around here and in the hospital wing. For now, he's making sure I don't screw things up."

Remus gave a smile and then sat back down on the table, his legs moving back and forth as they dangled off childishly. This was his job, this was where he would be for the better parts of his life. Grimmauld place was a storage unit, this was his home. He prayed to whatever God out there that Harry would find this as his second home.

***
Sirius quickly adapted to teaching, the law of comprehension in children was almost second nature to him. Maybe it was Harry, maybe it was Regulus, but he had a knack for patience and knowledge in the little ones. It was the students above fourth year he struggled with. It was like a teenage mental block, like he couldn't recognize his own authority in front of them. He stuttered and cowered away from them as though they comically threw objects at the podium he stood behind. For now, he busied himself with the first years that concentrated intently on familiarizing themselves with their new textbooks.

Remus raised his hand halfway and leaned forward from behind the wall that hid the small empty corner, whispering.
"Professor Black?"

Sirius instinctually turned his head around, chuckled, and scanned the room to check the quiet students.

"What's up, Moons?"

"I'm gonna go check on Harry."

"What? No, he's fine. You should stay."

"I've hardly said a word the entire time. You're doing great."

Sirius pouted and pushed his bottom lip out like a child, tilting his head.

"Nope, won't work this time. Save it for Harry, Professor."

Sirius' pout faded into a smile. "I like this 'professor' thing."

Word count: 835