𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝐼𝑋.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

HARRY AND HERMIONE walked into the hospital wing as their past selves disappeared, and Caroline knew they had done it. Right away, she jumped up from her place on Ron's bed and lunged for Harry, jumping into his arms, hugging him tightly with her uninjured arm wrapped around his neck. It felt right, and Caroline didn't know why.

      "Did you do it?" she asked a minute later, pulling away awkwardly.

      Harry nodded, patting Caroline's shoulder, giving her an awkward smile. "Yeah. Sirius and Buckbeak are both safe."

      "Harry conjured his patronus, Caroline! It was amazing!" Hermione said, and Caroline turned to her, giving her a hug.

      "How did you get there?" said Ron. Caroline turned around, seeing him pointing. "I was talking to you there. And now you're there." he whimpered, and Caroline chuckled, facing her two friends.

      "What's he talking about, guys?" Hermione asked Harry and Caroline.

      "I don't know." Harry answered, shrugging his shoulders.

      "Honestly, Ronald. How can anybody be in two places at once?" Caroline smiled.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

CAROLINE AND HARRY walked through Professor Lupin's classroom, climbing the small staircase to his office. He was packing. Caroline didn't know why he was packing. "Hello, Harry, Caroline," Professor Lupin greeted them before they had a chance to knock, his back turned to the two. He turned around, putting books in his trunk. "I saw you two coming," Professor Lupin pointed his wand at some of his belongings, and they folded up neatly. Caroline frowned at her godfather's appearance. "I've looked worse, darling, believe me."

      Harry and Caroline glanced at each other, stepping further into the office. "You've been sacked." Harry said.

      "No. No, I resigned actually." Professor Lupin answered, packing more of his things away.

      "Resigned? But why?" Caroline asked as she stepped up to his desk.

      "Well, it seems that somebody let slip the nature of my condition. This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving. Parents will not want a, um... well, someone like me teaching their children. Your mother included, Caroline."

      "But, Dumbledore..." Harry trailed off, feeling even worse when he saw Caroline's frown.

      "Dumbledore has already risked enough on my behalf. Besides, people like me are... well let's just say I'm used to it by now," With a wave of his wand, the final things belonging to Professor Lupin were all packed up. "Why do you two look so miserable? Especially you, Caroline."

      Harry spoke first. "None of it made any difference. Pettigrew escaped." he said.

      "Yeah, and now that my mother knows what happened, she'll never let me see you. Dad might, but Mum'll convince him otherwise." Caroline pouted.

      "Didn't make any difference? Children, it made all the difference in the world. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate. And Caroline, your mother will calm down sooner or later. And if she doesn't... we'll find a way. Everything made a great deal of difference." Professor Lupin said, picking up his bag, winking at Caroline.