When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 126: Settled Past

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 126: Settled Past

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.

October 1998

He only half listened to his fellow teachers as they conversed about the month's progress reports. He recognized the names of a few stand out students and some who caused the most trouble. There were two students in particular, Miss Dutchess, and Miss Bastel, that fit both categories. They'd been a pain in the arse to Flitwick and Slughorn, and a small source of amusement for him. He hadn't paid them great attention during his time as headmaster. Now, he was always listening when they were brought up, and he tended to turn a blind eye when they were doing something semi-harmless just so he could see what would come of it.

The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had given quite a few Death Eaters a bad case of "unappeasable defecation," as the Ravenclaw worded it, and the medical teams still hadn't sorted out how to cure them. The two students refused to tell them how. He was curious. If... No, when he had them for detention again, he'd bribe them into answering. Maybe with some potions or with the prospect of getting out of detention early.

They should've been in Slytherin with all the mischief they caused. Yet, they never hurt anyone that didn't deserve it and even one incident created a breakthrough in some medical magic.

He looked over at Minerva. Whenever someone would mention something about the duo, she would let a small smirk flash on her lips. However, through most of the meeting, she looked bored. He attended very few of these when he was headmaster, instead delegating them to Minerva. He wondered if she were as bored then as she appeared to be now.

There were no words to express how thankful he was to give up that job. He felt eyes on him and looked over at Lupin. For the entire meeting, the werewolf had been casting periodic glances at him and smirking a bit.

Hermione had offered some insight on Lupin and a suggestion regarding him. He'd willfully listened as she told him to drop his armor and let Lupin get closer. Her words made it seem like a simple task, and in a way, he supposed it was. He'd let go of his love for Lily, he no longer hated the elder Potter or Sirius, and the younger Potter annoyed him but there was no hate for that boy either.

And Lupin never really took part in the bullying, though he never stopped the Marauders when he could have. The bitterness was still there, but after everything that happened, he shouldn't hold things in the past against Lupin. He was no saint and it would be hypocritical of him to do so.

And he hesitantly admitted it would be nice to have a few conversations with him since he was one of the few people from his school year still around that he knew. The rest were Death Eaters that were either dead or being punished. Either in Azkaban or in the hospital with flaming diarrhea bestowed upon them. Perhaps they'd even be friends someday. Though the thought of that happening was odd.

He ignored Lupin's staring and forced himself to focus on the meeting. Soon, it was over and the teachers rose from their seats. Some chose to leave immediately, other professors lingered near the door to talk a bit before leaving. He stood, intending to go back to his dungeon where Hermione was residing, likely reading more of the medical texts she'd been immersed in lately. She spent most of her Saturday afternoons with him in his quarters.