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After casting a spell onto the door for anyone to hear us, Remus and I share everything that has happen these last past weeks. He told me everything about how Death Eaters eventually found them and how Harry ran away with his two friends. No one knows where they are now. All we know they are trying to destroy all the Horcruxes one by one. What are the good news, Tonks and Ted are doing well and are safe. They did get in the 12 Grimmauld Place after all and are now staying there in Sirius's and the Weasleys protection. They all really thought I was gone since I never get to the Burrow, but after Tonks suddenly appeared, she told them everything she knew so far about my condition. She must've been so afraid.
I told Remus how Alastor Moody really never was the Alastor Moody, and what happened to Sniffy... There was no way I could hold back the tears when I began to tell him what happened to my dear niffler. Remus was really compassionate and consulted me by his best abilities. I'm so grateful to have a friend like him. In middle all of this, I am still very amazed how Snape actually got Remus in Hogwarts. Remus told me how Snape had appeared in 12 Grimmauld Place and how everyone were ready to point their wands at him, but ended up lowering them down when Tonks jumped in, ordering everyone to hear him out first. That must've been quite a shit show. Then, after they had cleared the room, so there was only now Snape, Tonks and Remus, Snape made the offer for Remus to come back in Hogwarts to teach Muggle Studies. Therefor, Alecto will take her brother's place in Dark Arts.
As expected, they were very baffled by this, but Remus agreed. After all, he got his job back to support his family, and get back in touch with me. Not only Snape promised to pay his two month salary beforehand, he promised to keep Death Eaters away from him and his family, so they can go back to their own home. Even he gave the promise, Tonks didn't want to leave Sirius's family home. Because when they asked what about the others? Are they protected as well? Snape had just answered his usual monotonic tone that he can't promise that. So, Tonks felt the need to stay with her friends. If Death Eaters weren't allowed to attack her and Ted, they didn't had the right to barge in the same house they will be staying in. In other words; as long as Tonks stays in the 12 Grimmauld Place, everyone in there should be safe. Luckily, there are plenty of space for each and one of them.
I also told my reasoning why I couldn't leave Hogwarts as soon as I arrived here. The fact there is the change Death Eaters would hunt down Ruby and William... I could never forgive myself. "So we really are in a pickle here." Remus ends up looking down to a mug I gave him to drink tea from. A fade smirk visits on my face:"Yeah...". A small pause comes in to the room. Only the sound of the flame crackling in the fireplace fills up the space. "It was him, wasn't it?" he breaks the silence with soft tone. My head quickly lifts up to him:"What?". Remus has his brown eyes on me:"Severus. He was the one who ended Dumbledore's life?". My eyes widens a bit which shows him he got it right. He looks surprisingly calm as he puts down the mug and leans his elbows on his thighs. "Why didn't you tell anyone about it?" he ask. For a moment we stare each other. I don't know what to say. Feels like there is that ball inside my throat again. Heart beating fast.
Then I glance down before raising my (e/c) eyes on him with defeated expression. "I didn't tell anyone beca..." my voice goes small towards the end. Remus tilts his head a bit and raise his eyebrows, ready to hear me out:"Because?". "I was in love with him." I admit. My heart went somewhere down to my stomach and came back after saying that. There is once again a small pause. Remus then leans back in the sofa and sighs deep:"You are an awfully bad liar, (Y/N).". "Wh..-?! What you mean?!" I frown, confused what he means by that. "You said 'you were'. Clearly you still feel that way about him." he points out. Both of my eyebrows raise and bigger blush creeps up on my face even I try not to.
Then, I look down to my hands that are around the mug I'm holding:"I... I don't know what I'm feeling. Or better yet - what I should feel.". Remus won't say anything. He waits for me to continue what I mean by that. I sigh deep before speaking:"I've done nothing, but went back and forth, wondering how he actually feels about me. There are times I think he do has feelings for me, but then there are times I...". Remus yet again gives me the time to continue as I gather my thoughts into words. I keep the gaze down as I try to explain:"...I wonder if it all just lust on his part? What if I really was just a 'plaything' to him? After everything..-", "They have poisoned your mind, I see." Remus suddenly says. My head lift up to see him:"Huh?". "Death Eaters, I mean." he tells. I stare at him slightly confused for a moment. "The way he always looks at you when you're not watching... It's pretty hard to fake, if you ask me." he wonders out loud. Don't know what to say here, so I just stare at him surprised.
"You are taking all of this remarkably well, Remus." I eventually point out. Somehow I thought he would have more negative of emotion when he got the confirmation Severus was the one who raised his wand to end our beloved Headmaster's life. "Well, who am I to say... I got my past on my own. As you already got to be part of. Unfortunately." he goes more pensive as the memory what happened in the Forbidden Forest couple years ago creeps in his mind. That witch's dreadful scream still echoes in my head time to time if I start really remember the night. I nod:"Yes. That might be true. But... The difference is, you didn't have the free will..-", Remus shift his eyes from the fire on me:"Are you sure Severus had that option? To do it willingly?". Huh?
Little bit taken aback by his words now. Frowning a bit at him:"A..- Are you sure you got sorted in the right house? You don't sound nothing like Gryffindor.". That makes a soft chuckle come out of him:"Who knows. Then again, The Hat never lies.". We share this smile which makes us feel better about ourselves. Then, we start talking and planing what we can do to help the school and the students. And more importantly; is there anything we can do to help Harry and his friends? All we know so far that we can't do this on our own. "If anything happens... We need to make sure the children are ready, and be sure who to trust." Remus reminds. I start slowly nodding my head while thinking and smile comes up on my face:"Yeah... And I think just the right people for that.".
"Neville!" I call out when I see the boy other side of the hallway the next day. Neville gets off guard and jumps a bit:"Y-yes?". But when he turns and sees it's only me and there is nothing to be scared, he relaxes. I walk beside him, but won't stop my movement:"Walk with me, would you?". Hesitatingly, he starts following me. "Is... Is everything alright, Professor? Do you need help with something?" he asks confused as he tries to keep up. I stay quiet and keep on walking. Just when we are about to walk thru one of the big doors, I glance over my shoulder to check the coast is clear. Good. "You know how to get into the Room of Requirement, yes?" I ask while keeping my eyes on ahead and walk casually beside him. Both of his eyebrows raise and he whispers:"Ho-How did you know?".
Some of the students walks past by us, having no idea what we are talking about. I keep glancing over the shoulder here and there, just in case any of the Death Eaters happens to be nearby. "Ouhw, back when Umbridge was in control of this school, us Professors knew you kids had a place to go." I tell him. "Oh..." he lets out. Well, Minerva was the one who eventually told me about it back then. I had no clue how there were students trying to learn spells on their own when Umbridge didn't agreed to teach them. "What I need you to do, Neville, is to gather the most trust worthy people and let us meet in the Room of Requirement after the dinner without anyone's notice. You just need to tell me where it is. Understood?" I finally raise my eyes on him. "Most trust worthy?" he frowns to think. "I trust you." I nod. Neville ended up telling me that the room is in the seventh floor's corridor, and it will only appeared when a person was in great need of it. And that's what we are.
After the dinner, Remus and I came to the right floor without anyone's notice. "Are you sure this is the right place?" Remus asks unconvinced. "Yes. This is where he said it supposed to be." I look around. "Are you really sure about that, (Y/N)? After all, your memory can be quite bad." he teases. My head snaps right at him:"Alright! You listen here..-", we hear how the wall next to us makes a sound. Huh? Slowly, a door with double doors appears before us. Big smile appears on my face:"Told you!". Remus sighs:"Alright... My apologies.". One of the doors opens. It's Neville. "Evening, Professors." the boy nods with shy smile and lets us in.
Right away, when we enter the big room, we see the people he has brought with him. "Good evening, Professor (Y/L). Professor Lupin." familiar Ravenclaw student smiles politely. "Evening, Luna." I smile back to her. All the others got up from the sofa in the corner to greet us as well. There are Luna Lovegood, Cedric Diggory, Cho Chang and Vivian Wallnut. And of course Neville Longbottom. Remus puts his hand inside his pocket while watching the kids in front of us:"So... This is our army.". "Yep." I nod with proud look on my face. I can just tell Remus isn't entirely convinced, even he tries to hide it. But I am. I know they all can be trusted. "We are ready to help as much as we can." Vivian smiles. "That's good to hear, my dear. Now, let's gather around. We got plenty things to go thru here." I inform and a long table with seven chairs appears near us.