The next morning at breakfast, Remus glanced towards the Gryffindor table in time to see Draco Malfoy making his way towards Harry with a smug expression. Remus narrowed his eyes at the twit of a boy, wondering what the foul little Slytherin had up his sleeve when he caught sight of a small piece of glossy paper in the boy�s hand. Lupin�s heart dropped into his stomach as he realized what it was. He sucked in a breath of air, choking on the bite of food he had in his mouth, and gaining the attention of the professors around him.
A large hand struck him on the back until he stopped choking and Remus looked over at Hagrid. �All righ� there, Professor?�
�Yes, fine, thank you, Hagrid.� By the time Remus looked back up Harry was staring hard at the picture, his mouth open, aghast. He turned and looked up at Remus with hatred burning in his eyes. Lupin felt like dying at that moment in time, and a silky voice sounded amused next to him.
�My, my, my, what on earth could Potter have there in his hand?� Severus Snape pondered in obvious delight.
�You bastard,� Remus glowered, turning to look at Snape. �You did this didn�t you?�
Snape�s black eyes glittered manically, but he said nothing. Remus could feel himself shaking with anger, and had the entire student body and staff not surrounded him, he might have actually killed the other man. Lupin watched as Harry stormed out of the Great Hall, and he could feel Dumbledore�s piercing gaze upon him. He didn�t doubt that the Headmaster knew exactly what was going on, but didn�t dare to look over. Instead, Remus got up, not meeting anyone�s eyes and headed out of the Great Hall to find Harry.
The corridors were empty by the time Remus had gotten there, but he knew Harry would be in the DADA classroom, waiting to confront his professor. As it turned out, he was right and his stomach churned at seeing the tense boy leaning heavily against his desk.
�Harry��
�Why didn�t you tell me?!� Harry demanded, slamming the picture on the desk in anger. �All this time, you never told me!�
�I�m sorry, Harry,� Remus stated softly, moving over to the desk and picking up the picture. �I should have told you, but�I couldn�t.�
�You couldn�t, or you wouldn�t?� Harry asked gruffly.
Remus looked up at him with tired eyes. �Both.� When Harry said nothing, Remus continued. �I promised Dumbledore not to tell you about your mother and I�at least not until I thought you were ready to hear it.�
Lupin sat on the edge of his desk and motioned for Harry to sit in his chair. �I didn�t feel like you need this right now. You�re only just learning about James and Lily and it wasn�t the right time.�
�Last night, when I said I heard my father, you acted very... strange.� Harry stated slowly. �It was like there was something you weren�t telling me.�
Remus stared at him for a long moment. Harry had a right to know, but a discussion like this would take longer than both of them had time for at that moment. �You�re right, Harry. There is something no one�s told you about the night your parents died, but I�m afraid we don�t have time to discuss this right now.�
�You will tell me, though, won�t you?� Harry pressed.
�Yes. Meet me here at eight o�clock tonight. I will tell you everything you want to know.�
Harry looked at him with an unreadable expression and wordlessly got up, heading for the door. Remus sighed, dropping his head to his chest, when he heard Harry pause at the door.
�Professor Lupin?� Remus looked at him wearily. �Did you love her? My mum that is.�
A lump formed in Remus� throat and his voice was hoarse as he answered a simple, �Yes.�
Chapter Three
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