Come and Teach for Me
For the last 3 years since James and Lily died and Sirius went to jail, Remus had no where to go.
Remus got so desperate he thought of going back to Fenrir Greyback and working for him. At least that way he'd get food and shelter, but instead Remus had been squatting.
He sofa surfed from people he got to know over the years, but nevertheless he had to leave.
It was one rainy, cold night in mid-September when he got a call on a phone one of his friends had given him, telling him he could have a pace to stay only if he taught.
"I can't teach," Remus' voice was dry and tired. He had been sitting on a bench Kings Cross Train Station as his phone rang. "I don't have a degree, i never finished college."
"To hell with degrees. A man can have 5 degrees and still be a knobhead." The mans voice on the other side of the phone was old. He sounded good, warm. This was the reason Remus hasn't hung up on him. "You have experience."
"In what? Playing bass guitar?"
"You have experience with people." The man hadn't given his name, so Remus still didn't know who it was. He was apparently a principal of a boarding school on the tip of Scotland. "You can teach whatever you like, we will coach you. I will give you a place to stay, food to eat, and pay you for your teachings."
"Why?" Remus couldn't refuse the offer. He'd pick English as a subject, and scolded himself for getting caught already. For 3 years he had been a waste of space. He had been so consumed with the emptiness after everyone left he didn't know how he was going to survive.
Remus didn't believe he'd make it until next year. He didn't think he'd make it to Sirius' birthday.
But now he was given a chance.
The voice didn't reply straight away.
"You, don't know me, Remus, but like the rest of the world, i know you. I've seen you play, I've seen you lead. I knew James' parents very well, and I unfortunately knew the Black family." The man spoke in one strong tone, but Remus' eyes welled up at names he hadn't been able to say in so long. "I know how you grew up, and i'll never forgive myself for turning a blind eye to a boy who needed a fathers help."
"You're not my father."
"Let me help you now, Remus. Let me help you." The man was quieter now. "There is a train coming to this station at midnight and it goes straight to Scotland. I will send someone to pick you up. It's your choice, Remus, but i can keep you safe here."
And when the man hung up the phone a train pulled into the station. Remus was baffled at the sight of it.
He got on and told the train conductor what the man on the phone told him to say. "I'm going to see Dumbledore in Hogwarts."
The man instantly understood and let Remus sit down. He hadn't even paid for a ticket.
Remus wondered if it was a coded message. Who's actually called Dumbledore?
Remus hadn't a lot of stuff, except the couple thing in a single backpack that he carried around. He set it on his knee, clutching it tightly and fell asleep. When he woke up again he saw the most beautiful view. A wide lake that kept going into the horizon, the hills and mountains where something Remus hadn't seen in a long time. Looking around him, Remus realized no one else was on the train. He relaxed a little and set his backpack beside him.
He fell asleep again and only woke up when the train stopped and the conductor nudged him. Remus' fist flew up, only missing him by inches.
He apologized to the startled man and got off the train.
It was still raining, but now it was around mid-afternoon. The train left Lupin all alone and he silently cursed himself for thinking a random man that phoned him could be safe. The dark clouds covered the hills in front of him. The trees were turning orange in the autumn but not quite falling off yet.
"Mr Lupin?" A woman's voice was off in a distance. He looked to see a tall, thin woman in a long green coat. She was hugging herself, an umbrella in hand and as Remus walked towards her, she walked off in front expecting Remus to keep up.
They walked down a dark lane, trees either side if them until they got to a car. She got in one side and closed the door.
Remus didn't know what to do.
The window wound down and he bent down to look into it.
"Aren't you getting in?" She asked. She wasn't young, but she wasn't old either. Perhaps around 40s. Her gaunt figure probably made her look older too.
"Sorry." Remus got in the other side and the driver in the front took off.
"English?" She asked.
"Huh?"
"Are you going to teach English?" She pointed her nose at him. Her glasses sat lazily beneath her eyes.
"Uh- I- I don't even know where I'm going."
"Hogwarts is a beautiful boarding school for boys and girls ages 11 to 18." I have been teaching history for 25 years."
Remus wanted to say something about her age but he decided to not. "Do all the teachers live out there?"
"Yes, they do. and when summer comes we leaves and come back again in August. I dread the summer when i am away from here." The woman turned to Remus. "I realize i forgot to give you my name. Minerva. Good to meet you."
"Remus." He shook her cold, bony hand.
"Dumbledore wants to meet you and then Hagrid shall show you to your cabin. Us teachers usually stay in the castle but Dumbledore thought you'd appreciate somewhere more secluded. Your years of fame have worn you down, i see."
"You were familiar with The Marauders?" He asked, his eyes gleaming.
"Hm," She only said. "I suspect some of the kids will ask questions but nonetheless, no one will know you are here."
"How?"
"Dumbledore has his ways."
Remus believed it all too good to be true. There had to be some catch. Maybe he'd get to the castle and the Fenrir Greyback will be waiting to kill him. Maybe all this doesn't exist and he has actually gone insane, just like Sirius.
"Wait... castle?!"