When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 124: A Lesser "Dark Hero"

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 124: A Lesser "Dark Hero"

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

September, 1998

He was surprised at his reaction to seeing the man at the table. He was chatting amicably and laughing with the teachers next to him. Before, he would have a hard time resisting the urge to murder him. Everything the man did in the past would've bombarded his mind, creating bitterness and hatred. Now that urge to murder . . . wasn't there.

He felt nothing toward Lupin, and his indifference was yet another testament of how much he'd grown since his relationship with Hermione. He'd also realized how bloody exhausting it was hanging onto hate. He wouldn't become Lupin's best friend, but they could be civil. Someday.

And the man was more of a sit back and watch type than the type that bullied. He didn't recall Lupin saying or doing much of anything to him. Some say that not doing anything to stop something was the same as being guilty. He might have agreed a short time ago, but now he wasn't so sure.

He forced his eyes to go back to his breakfast. He'd eaten quite a bit and found himself still hungry. He took a bite of sausage, and drowned out the chattering from the students. He paid a bit attention to the teachers' conversations but only snippets.

"What's with the new look, Severus?" Lupin asked. "I almost didn't recognize you."

The main table went silent and Severus looked up at the werewolf. When he'd once been annoyed at being called by his first name by the man, it was now yet another thing he didn't care about. He finished chewing his food, swallowed, and studied him for a few seconds. "I considered going into modeling before I got a letter from Minerva."

He heard a chuckle from Minerva and Pomfrey and then Lupin smiled and laughed. Soon the other teachers joined in. After a minute or two, they went back to talking.

He glanced at the Gryffindor table and saw Hermione looking at him. She smiled brightly and then turned away when Miss Weasley tapped her on the shoulder.

He redirected his attentions back to his meal. It'd been a while since he'd seen her other than mealtime and the occasional brief encounters in the library. Both had been busy.

He missed her.

Today would be the first day she'd be in one of his classes. After their relationship became official as a romantic one, it would be odd to teach her. Though, it shouldn't have been considering she was always asking him questions about things she'd read about.

He was looking forward to seeing her but he was also looking forward to teaching again. He still loathed most of the students since they rarely ever put moderate effort into their assignments, but he didn't hate teaching.

Even he thought he disliked it, but with the past few classes he taught, he realized that while some students annoyed him, the brilliant ones amazed him. Even the less intelligent ones weren't as disrespectful as they had been in the past. The students in Ravenclaw were excelling, proving themselves as being the most intelligent house overall, even though the other houses obviously had students that were very intelligent.