L Y C O P H O B I A

7. Lesson

OOF. It's been so long, I know, I'm sorry.
I have lost motivation to write really. I have 3 options left with this book.

1. I finish it on my own (can take a very long time, with periods of frequent uploading, and periods of no updates).

2. I get a partner to write with. (If you're interested, let me know and we can work something out!)

3. I abandon the book, which is something I absolutely don't want to do so this shouldn't be a possibility.

I'm going to be honest. After this update, it will be a long time until the next since I haven't even written a single word on it. But enjoy this one..

A/N: back to present time. (1080 words)

Remus woke up. He ached all over. Dried blood was under his fingernails and on his neck, and he took a second to remember what had happened. He looked around him, seemingly the hospital wing was empty.

His gaze fell on a few chocolate frogs on his bedside table. He didn't know who placed them there but thanked the person gratefully while eating them.

He took the book that laid next to the now empty wrappers and started reading. He had nothing better to do anyways.
He liked the book, though it was a sad one.
It was about this Jewish girl in the muggle Second World War, who had to hide for the nazi's. The thing that made it even worse was that he already knew what would happen to her. Right at the end she and her family would get caught and be sent to the concentration camps anyway.

He couldn't help but compare it with his life. He too had to hide who - or what - he really was. People looked down on him, said he was inferior. He was just lucky to not have to show to everyone what he was. Not yet, anyways.

All he hoped for was to not get caught at the end. Then everything would be for nothing. It would be easier to decide for himself when 'the end' should happen.

---

Madam Pomfrey walked up to Remus as soon as she saw that he was awake.

"Remus," she started, "are you feeling better?" Her eyes were wide with worry as she readjusted the bandages.

"A bit. Am I well enough to teach again?" All he felt was shame. The students would laugh at him for sure. But he definitely didn't want to leave them longer than necessary in the hands of Snape, especially not Harry and his friends.

"I would like to keep you here for another night, just for safety precautions."

"Oh no.. No, please, I need-"

"You need rest, boy, that's what you need. Sleep, and tomorrow you'll be able to leave."
She allowed no protest.

Remus did as he was told, knowing not to try and argue. Madam Pomfrey knew what was best for her patients.

---

It was a day later, and Harry, Hermione and Ron were again at the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, still being taught by Snape. They all hoped that Lupin would be back soon.
The state of him was still on Harry's mind, and he had been thinking about it all day long.

"Potter!" Snape's irritating voice sent him back to reality. "Not paying attention I see? Maybe you get good grades with Lupin," he sneered, and pronounced Lupin's name with such hate, "But for me your work isn't even worth an F."

Draco and his mates laughed, and even Snape showed a bit of his yellow teeth.
Harry looked down, desperately hoping that dear Professor Lupin would be back soon.

Today's lesson was about werewolves, just like the previous one with Snape. He gave an assignment again, this time on how to kill a werewolf.

"Now," Snape began. "We will end the lesson early," all students cheered, "to discuss werewolves." Less enthusiastic responses from the students. Hermione seemed shocked.

"I don't know if you've heard, but rumor goes that there is a werewolf at the school."
Shocked responses from the pupils, Hermione swallowed loudly, and Harry wondered if she knew something more than the others.

"And I know who it is!" Snape said, and looked proudly around him. "I'll describe the beast in human form, and you guess." The look in his eyes was more evil than ever before. The students were all on the edge of their seats, except for Harry, Hermione and Ron. Hermione sighed. If Lupin's secret got out, he would be sent away from school and she doubted that he would survive for a long time with the limited money that he had.

"The beast is male, and.." Before Snape could continue, the heavy door of the classroom opened. Lupin walked in. Limping, in pain, but he walked.

"I don't know what you are doing, Severus, but I am sure it has nothing to do with the lesson."

He walked slowly, in between rows of students to the front.

"Quite the opposite, Lupin, I was teaching them about werewolves. And before you came in and disturbed my lesson, we were talking about a certain werewolf as well."

"Oh, but they are not meant to see werewolves until the last few weeks of the year."

"Too bad. Now, Lupin, you look terrible. Why don't you go back to your bed and I'll finish the lesson." Snape took a defensive stance and did everything he verbally could to keep Lupin from taking his place.

"That won't be needed, Severus, I feel fine."

Harry admired Lupin's calmness. He himself would have engaged in a shouting fight with the greasy git already,
Snape finally gave way and left the classroom, but not before shooting Lupin another dirty look.

Lupin took Snape's place and retook his teaching position.

"Now, dear students, I take it professor Snape gave you another assignment?"
They nodded.

"You don't have to do it. However, I do want you to write a short assignment on how to recognize a pixie. It really doesn't have to be long."

The students, happy that they don't have to do the 5-page werewolf assignment, cheered. The Slytherins however were still a bit salty that they still have to do something else, and something way more boring instead. They mumbled among themselves.
Harry could hear snippets like "Snape's lessons are way cooler", or "Lupin's teaching methods are even more boring than divination". But Harry didn't care.

Harry was just happy to see his dear professor alive and well.

---

Lupin taught for the remainder of the lesson. It was great to have him back. He looked a bit in pain though, couldn't stand on his feet for long periods of time, but he included the pupils in his lesson, asked them questions about what they already knew about the pixie.

"Next time I'll take one to class." Lupin promised. "It's a shame there's not much time left, or I would have shown it today." With that said, the lesson was over. The students went their way to their next subject, chatting happily. Lupin was left alone in his classroom and sighed deeply. He went back to his dorm and slept the rest of the day.