JULIET {remus lupin}

ONE HUNDRED AND THREE

News of dementors on the train spread fast before any students arrived at Hogwarts, Minerva and Sybil was whispering about it and Severus was trying to speak to the dark haired witch beside him, not wanting to miss out on an opportunity to remind Juliet just how wrong she had been about Sirius Black. The witch however, was distracted, she heard Snape's voice, but didn't care to listen to what he was saying. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the door to the currently empty great hall. When it opened, Professor Dumbledore walked in, Remus Lupin at his side, smiling apprehensively. Juliet stood up at the sight of him and Severus scoffed from beside her, Minerve smiling as she looked between the pair.

"This is," Albus began, "Remus Lupin, our new Defence professor. I'm sure you'll all be good friends," he said, smiling at Juliet and taking his seat at the centre of the staff table. Remus shook the hands of the other professor's politely, accepting a surprising hug from Professor Mcgonagall, who was holding back tears at the sight of the marauder. When he reached Snape, he hesitantly put a hand out, the man did nothing until Juliet Romilly elbowed him in the ribs. After reluctantly shaking the hand of his school nemesis, Juliet smiled at him and cocked her head to the spare seat beside her, the only one on the staff table, he wondered if she had sat there on purpose.

"Professor Blair," she smiled, her eyes shining as she took his hand.

"It's a pleasure, professor," he grinned back, shaking it and sitting down beside her as students began to make their way into the great hall. With the familiar witch beside him, none of it felt as intimidating or sad as he had imagined. "I already met Harry," he said to her in a low voice, leaning in a little.

"Yes, I heard," she said, smiling a little wider as she noticed Draco speaking to Astoria Greengrass, Arballa's niece. "He fainted at the dementors?"

Remus nodded grimly, "said he heard a woman screaming."

"That doesn't sound good," she sighed. "Dementors on the Hogwarts express, it's awful."

"I think everyone's panicking that he still hasn't been found."

Juliet hummed in agreement, "James and Tonks seemed to suggest he'd be caught the same day he escaped," she shook her head in bewilderment, "Salazar knows how he managed it."

"I've had some thoughts on that," he said quietly. "I'll tell you another time."

Juliet nodded at him and clapped along as the sorting began, grinning at how Severus scowled whenever was put into Gryffindor and how Remus clapped a little harder. Afterwards, Professor Lupin was introduced to the school, Juliet smiled and clapped, noticing how Harry, Ron and Hermione all clapped hard for him, but also not missing the snickers that were coming from where Draco Malfoy was sitting. She rolled her eyes, supposing that she too was that stuck up and prejudiced when she was his age.

Following the students out of the great hall, she heard Harry whispering to Ron about how Remus was the man in the photograph that he had given her, and then she heard Draco laughing with his friends about how poor the new professor looked.

"Malfoy," she snapped. The blonde wizard turned around, his features relaxing when he saw Professor Blair, who generally seemed to like him. "Twenty points from Slytherin for speaking like that about a teacher."

"Professor," he said, putting on a simpering voice, "it wasn't me, it was Crabbe, honestly..."

His friend stared at him in shock and Juliet rolled her eyes, "and another five for lying. Bed, now."

Harry, Ron and Hermione were giggling behind the professor, Juliet gave them a sharp look and the three went off towards Gryffindor tower, Ron clutching his rat and a huge cat following Hermione. Harry lagged behind the pair, falling into step beside Juliet, the witch inwardly rolled her eyes, whenever Harry wanted to speak to her it was usually about her past.

"Professor," he began. "Professor Lupin, he's the man in the photograph with you, isn't he?"

When Juliet said nothing the boy persisted, "I recognised him from his scars, that's Professor Lupin."

"Go to bed, Potter," she said, yawning.

"I'll just ask Professor Lupin, then."

Juliet stared at him incredulously, "be my guest. Bed, now."

Remus' first week at Hogwarts went, in his opinion, exceedingly well. He supposed that the disaster of Hagrid's first lesson hugely distracted from any mistakes he may have made, but in general, he felt everyone enjoyed his lessons. His boggart lesson in particular, was a success, with students talking about it excitedly for days, making fun of each other for their fears. Juliet spoke to him on the Saturday of the first week, finding him sat alone in the grounds. 

"Heard your boggart lesson was a success," she said, sitting beside him. 

He grinned, "yeah, think they all liked it."

"I had third year astronomy same day, even at midnight, it's all they could talk about. Well done, haven't seen another professor make such an impact."

He smiled, pulling grass out of the ground, before pausing, "did you hear about Harry?"

She shook her head and he spoke again, "was a dementor, I went in front of him before he could face it. Everyone saw that mine was the moon," he sighed.

"No one's going to work it out," she said. "Probably some worse things it could have been."

"I thought Harry's was going to somehow manifest as Voldemort."

She nodded, "I'd have thought the same. It's good that you pre-empted it. A real teacher."

He laughed, "doesn't really feel real."

"I still feel like that."

"It's weird, the irony that I have this major life change as Sirius escapes."

Juliet sighed, "Snape thinks we're going to sneak him into the castle, apparently. Keeps alluding to it."

Remus sighed, "I don't know how you're so civil with him."

"I didn't really have much of a choice up until now."

"Now?"

She nudged him slightly, "well, I have you now, don't I?"

He smiled and watched Harry, Ron and Hermione going down to Hagrid's.

"Think I'm going to go back to Nathaniel's at Christmas," she said.

He nodded, remembering that she planned to move back there.

"Slightly terrified," she said, "but it needs to be done."

Remus paused, "I can come, if you want. Help you move."

She grinned, "yeah, alright Remus."

A/Nreally short filler chapter sorry!

Also keep thinking this chapt would be when remus and athene met!!! havent read athene in soooo long might have to re read it