The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 2

2

"Master Harry Sir?"

"Master Harry Sir!"

The tone, if not the words, pierced the haze that Harry was caught in and lifted his head. Prolific blinking of his eyes brought Dobby into focus standing in front of him, looking down upon him worriedly.

"Dobby?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Master Harry Sir," Dobby replied, looking relieved.

"How did I get here? I thought that I was, that I was .... Hermione!" he finished in a panic.

This was definitely not King's Cross Station where he was the last time that he remembered anything. Right where Hermione'd ... Lifting his hand, he placed it on his cheek as though to feel her lips once more.

"How long have I been here?" he asked, unfolding himself off of the floor.

"Only a few minutes. Dobby came as soon as you arrived home only to find yous on the floor," Dobby related.

"Oh, she's going to think that ... Actually, I don't know what she's going to be thinking," his face fell into his hands. Suddenly, his head snapped up. "I need to explain. Somehow. Is the journal in my room still?"

"As far as Dobby knows, Master Harry Sir," the elf replied.

Wide eyed, Harry started for the door that led from the Receiving Room of the Potter Haven manor.

"Master Harry Sir?" Dobby said tentatively, pausing Harry with his hand on the door.

Harry looked around to see Dobby looking at the top of his head. With a frown, Harry reached up and patted his head. Then, with a soft "oh", he screwed up his eyes and concentrated for a moment.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yes, Master Harry Sir," Dobby nodded, making his great ears flap. "And Master Harry should also know that Mister Wolfie is in the library."

"Remus is here?" Harry asked excitedly.

"Lord Blackie brought him, but Lord Blackie had to go and said to tell Master Harry Sir that he'd be back in time for dinner."

"Thanks, Dobby," Harry replied before ducking out of the room.

-oOoOo-

Harry found Remus standing alongside one of the shelves, a book open in his hands. As usual, Remus looked shabby. His old threadbare cardigan was tossed over a nearby chair, while his shirtsleeves were rolled up to the elbow. His head was bowed allowing his slightly greying ginger hair, obviously in need a trim, to fall across his face.

"Remus!" Harry called as he crossed the room.

At his voice, Remus snapped the book closed and swivelled around, a broad smile on his face.

"How are you, Cub?" Remus asked, crossing the room to give Harry a hug.

"I thought that you'd still be at Hogwarts," Harry stated as they parted.

Remus' hand went to the back of his neck momentarily.

"Ordinarily, I would have been. However, I found it necessary to quit at the end of last week," he related.

Harry frowned. "But you loved that job."

"Very true, Harry, but it's a bit hard to teach when your students are afraid of you."

"They found out about your 'furry little problem'," he said. It was obviously a statement rather than a question.

Remus sighed. "Unfortunately."