Written in the Stars

IT had to be done. Resigning from your position as Muggle Studies professor was easily one of the easiest decisions you’ve ever made. You really did love the subject but as the news of Remus being a werewolf circulated around, you and your partner decided it was best to leave the castle behind. 

After you have packed away everything from your office and quarters, you said goodbye to your classroom. You enchanted your luggage to follow you as you made your way through the Hogwarts corridors to Remus’s office. 

You lightly knock on the door and it opens with a soft creak. Remus is packing away his things when he turns around to look at you. 

“Are you going to miss it?” you ask, your head tilted to the side. 

Remus looks around his office. The stone walls dusted with dirt and the candles that flicker on the wall all smile sadly at Remus who was by far Hogwart's best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. 

“Yes and no,” he said, “I’m sad that I have to give up the opportunity to teach and work, but I’m happy that’ll get to spend more time with you and Sirius once he’s cleared.” 

“We know the truth but the rest of the world doesn’t,” you shrug. Sirius’s case was complicated and with Peter Pettigrew nowhere to be found, there was a 0.001 percent chance that Sirius would be a free man anytime soon. 

Remus sighs and continues to pack his things into his tattered trunk. You’ve offered to buy him a new one every time you see it but he refuses every single time. You walk over and sit on his desk chair. You start to spin in, over and over and over again, making yourself dizzy. Remus pays no attention to you and continues to pack his things. He’s almost finished when your nephew walks in. 

“Hello, Harry,” Remus says without looking at who entered. Harry doesn’t say anything, started by the fact that Remus knew that he was there without looking back. Remus turns around and smiles, “Saw you coming,” and he points to the Marauder’s Map open on his desk. 

Harry’s a bit taken aback by Remus’s appearance. The after-effect that the full moon has on Remus isn’t such a nice one. He’s littered with more ghastly red scars that’ll heal just alright with magic and a little bit of love. 

“He’s looked worse, believe me,” you smile at Harry’s reaction. Remus laughs and claps you on the back. He slides his hand up your back and places it on your shoulder. 

“You've been sacked,” Harry said as he looks around the bare office that used to house one of his favorite professor's things. 

“Resigned, actually. We both did,” Remus smiled at Harry whose eyes snapped back to the both of you. 

“Resigned! But why!” Harry exclaimed. He didn’t want you or Remus to leave. You were his family, his real family, and he didn’t want you to leave him just like everyone else had. 

“It seems that someone has let slip the nature of his,” you pointed at Remus, “condition.”

“Snape,” Harry sighs. This is another reason why Harry thinks that Snape is an evil git. 

“Whoever. It was bound to get out. This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving. Parents will not want a - someone like me - teaching their children,” you smiled sadly at Remus. 

“But Dumbledore-” Harry tried to reason. 

“Has already risked enough on my behalf. Besides, people like me, well... let's just say I'm used to this by now. But before I go, tell me about your Patrons.”

“Well. At first, I thought it was a horse, or perhaps a unicorn, but I think it was -”

“A stag,” you smiled at Harry.  

“Yes,” he nodded and smiled back at you.

“Your father used to transform into one. That's how he was able to keep me company when I became...sick. He was a great friend James,” Remus looks into the distance, the memories flooding back into his mind, “There are stories about him and your mother, you know. Some are even true. But I think it's safe to say, in the end, you'll know them best by getting to know yourself.” Remus gathers his things. You stand up from the chair, your trunks following behind you. 
 
“Wait,” Harry suddenly says. He points at you, “Why are you resigning?” 

“The whole reason why I accepted this teaching position was to be closer to Remus and if he’s gone, so am I.”

“Am I going to see you again?” 

“Of course,” you smiled, “You can visit us whenever you’d like just owl us before.”

Harry runs up and hugs you. You’re a bit startled by this gesture but you wrap your arms around him and hold him close to you. “Your parents would be so proud of you,” you whisper into his ear. You pull away from the hug and look into Harry’s familiar green eyes, “I so am proud of you Harry. You are such a smart, caring, and talented wizard. I am honored to call you my nephew.” 

You walk out of the room without looking back. Remus whispered the simple incantation that he and his friends used many times, “Mischief Managed.” 

Harry watched as the Map went black. Harry looks up and you and Remus are gone.