Shy || a Harry Potter fanfic

3

Remus POV

my first day went better than i ever could've imagined, i already taught 3 classes today and the students are showing a lot of promise. It was finally time for 3rd year Gryffindor and Slytherin's, and i could finally see him. I had decided to keep my distance from Harry for now, the last thing i want to do is scare him, especially with Sirius running around. Sirius. My fallen star..

i was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts, crawling out from the emotional pit i had started to fall into during my small 15 minute break. The heavy oak door smacked into the stone walls with a loud bang. Students started to fill into the classroom and take their seats. I saw Harry take a seat near the front next to a rather tall ginger boy. I suspect this would be Ron Weasley. Behind him sat Draco Malfoy and someone i couldn't recognise. Draco's platinum hair and deep scowl gave him away, his glare sharp and cutting.

"Good morning" i started when they all had sat down, many pairs of eyes turned to look at me and i felt my nerves build slightly "My name is Professor Lupin, ill be teaching you DADA this year, in case you wouldn't tell" i winked and a few students chuckled " we will go over a abundance of content this year, such as dark creatures, spells to repel direct attacks, reversing curses and so forth" i explained. A bushy haired girl at the front of the class scribbled furiously in her notebook.

"today, we will be learning how to disarm a opponent, please line up infront of the dummies and i will demonstrate" they all got up and i summoned the dummies towards the front of the class, pushing the desks to the side of the room.

"allow me to demonstrate before you try" i approached the dummy, after checking all eyes were on me, i swiftly disarmed it "expelliarmus" the stick, representing a wand shot out of its hand and clattered to the floor. "give it your best go, when you have completed your turn you may sit on the left half of the room"

Draco Malfoy went first, swiftly casting the spell affectively

followed closely was a student i had learned to be Vincent Crabbe, it took him 3 tries

the bushy haired girl, who i now know to be Hermione Granger, succeeded on her first try

Behind her was Ron Weasley, successful on his second

then Harry, my sweet godson. He may not know who he is to me but i cant ever ignore it. He succeeded on his first try, smiling brightly with triumph as his friends patted him on the back, Hermione scowled at him with slight jealousy, clearly unhappy with the amount of attention he was receiving. He started to curl in on himself slightly, head bowed and ears almost as bright a red as his robes.

My heart hurt watching Harry deflate, how he slowly started to withdraw from the conversation and look off into space. I started to feel a small resentment towards the girl. Despite promising myself to stay professional, it was hard to watch someone make Harry feel like he had to shy away from praise for their own happiness. I looked away and tried to ignore it and watch the other students complete the spell, eventually regaining focus.

Dean Thomas got it on his 3rd try

Neville Longbottom on his 6th. I made a small note of his progress, alongside another reminder to talk to him about a new wand. His was easily recognisable as his fathers.

Followed closely behind was Slytherin student Pansy Parkinson, she completed it on the first try and make it land all the way across the room

as i marked down the students results and ways they could improve, i could hear small snickers behind me, followed by harsh whispering. I tried to focus on them and make out what they were trying to say

"I'm surprised you managed to do it at all Potter, you barely mumbled out the incantation"

"hopefully this class will teach you how to send away the dementors, you might cry and faint like a little baby, did you want to cry to daddy?"

"excited to tell mummy you actually did something right next time you cry at her grave like a bitch?"

i started to feel my blood boil, every bone in my body screaming to do something. If i show favouritism i risk losing my placement here. I took deep breaths and tried to not focus on what was happening behind me. I would simply calm down then handle it professionally, maturely. Like the adult and role model I'm expected to be for these children.

"glasses that thick and you still cant see how ugly you are"

"are you sure wood will let you play quidditch this year? surely there's a weight limit on being a seeker"

i couldn't contain myself anymore and was about to give them detentions until they graduated, but someone else stood up first.

Ron's POV

i saw red when i heard Malfoys comments, i contained myself for as long as i could, leg bouncing and hands shaking. Harry held my hand, silently begging me not to say anything, to let it go. To just be there for him. I only got more irritated when i heard Hermione's voice behind me, stabbing at my brain like nails on a chalk board "you need to stand up for yourself Harry" she whispered harshly, her too abnormally large teeth flashing in her scowl "this is why everyone thinks you are pathetic, you are the most famous teenager in the wizarding world and you cant even stand up to Malfoy" she huffed, leaning backwards and folding her arms. Harrys hands started to shake, his eyes glossing over, evidently overwhelmed.

i grabbed his hands and held them to my chest, letting him feel my heartbeat discretely. Malfoys voice kept droning on and on, until he made 2 final comments, about Harrys looks and weight. I felt Harry tense against me as the dam broke, tears overflowing and silently cascading down his cheeks. I stood quickly, my chair clattering to the floor behind me.

"do you wanna have it the fuck out Malfoy? i swear to fucking god ill rip your stupid blonde hair off your oversized head and shove it so far up your ass you are coughing up hairballs" I got close to him, noses almost touching. The smirk fell of his face quickly, fear suddenly taking over his features.

i heard footsteps approach and moved further back quickly, hoping to avoid a detention. "we don't condone bullying at Hogwarts, Mr Malfoy. Ill be taking 10 points from Slytherin and you will serve detention with me Filch tonight at 8.30" Professor Lupin said, he was eerily calm, despite the anger i could just see shining in his eyes. "but professor! what about weasel bee, it threatened me!" Malfoy started getting annoyed, standing up and slamming his hands on the table. "I'm afraid i cant punish him without witnesses, did anyone see it?" he turned to the class who were all watching now. The only two to agree being Malfoy and Crabbe. The other Slytherins being too occupied with gossiping "then there's nothing i can do Mr Malfoy, however i am taking a further 5 points for name calling and back talk" He said, starting to walk towards the front of the class "we have 20 minutes left, the last of you can come up and try the spell" he announced and the last few lined up. I sat down with Harry half in my lap, much calmer now and quite sleepy from the overload of emotions Hes felt today already.

He had already had a difficult day with Snape's unwarranted cruelty, as well as his lack of sleep last night. He was simultaneously too excited to be back but worried about his first day. I looked up towards the front of the class when i felt eyes on me. I made eye contact with the small, brown eyes of Professor Lupin as he smiled at me and winked. At that moment i decided, me and him would get along well.