Nah, She Didn't

~ Part 87 ~ Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, Where My Friends Will Sing No More ~

"Who's that?" One voice asked.

"Who's that?" Another went.

"Ginny?"

"Hermione?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was looking for Ron-"

"Come on and sit down-"

"Not here! I'm here!"

"Ouch!"

Realizing that he had authority in this situation, and was no longer a student but a Professor, Remus felt the need to calm and quiet everyone down.

"Quiet!" He barked, voice hoarse from sleep, and most everyone in the compartment stopped speaking at once. He charmed a fire, and suddenly there was a little spark in his hand, lighting up the whole place. He looked around at everyone, his eyes quickly scanning the small crowd of students packed in.

There was a sort of chubby, blond haired boy, a brown, bushy haired girl, a lanky, freckled, red haired boy, another freckled red head-this one a girl, and-

The next boy's messy, raven hair made Remus do a double take.

So many thoughts shooting through his mind-can't be James; raven hair, though; green eyes; Lily's eyes; 1993-would be his third year at Hogwarts...

Sweet Merlin, it was Harry.

Speechless, Remus stared at Harry. He looked strikingly like his father, the resemblance almost seemed impossible. The obvious similar features were his messy black hair and his tall figure. But Remus, having known that boy's father for 10 years, could see that even Harry's sharp jawline was the same; the way his glasses were barely hanging onto his face due to the fact that they were right on the tip of his nose was the same; Harry's left eyebrow was also just slightly higher than his right. They were uncannily identical.

Except for his eyes. And lord, if Lily was put right next to Harry, he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between those evergreen eyes. Not only were they simply the same color, though. They had that same deep, meaningful appearance that Lily's had had-as if they were staring into your soul. As if they could tell exactly what you were thinking, and knew exactly what they could do to fix it.

All these thoughts had taken but a minute to rush through Remus's mind, and he quickly recovered, reluctantly looking away from Harry.

"Stay where you are," Remus told them all. But before he could do anything, the door slid open to reveal-Remus's breath slowed-a Dementor.

Now, of course, Remus knew how to deal with one. He'd been producing a Patronus since his own years at Hogwarts, something even many adult wizards were not able to do.

It was just the fact that this dark creature's presence increased all the feelings of devastation that had been brewing inside Remus for so long.

Remus's eyes fell to Harry, who'd went rigid and fallen off his seat. Remus stepped over to the Dementor with his wand in his hand and his eyes narrowed.

"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go," Remus told the Dementor roughly, though pain seared through his heart as he spoke these words.

When no response was given from the Dementor, Remus sent out his Patronus to do the bidding. The Dementor left in a hurry.

And minutes later, Harry awoke, Lily's green eyes opening as his did.

Everyone bombarded him with questions along the line of 'Are you okay?'.

"Yeah," Harry answered. "Where's that-that thing? Who screamed?"

"No one screamed," said the red haired boy nervously.

Harry looked confusedly around the compartment. "But I heard screaming-"

Remus broke the chocolate in his hand in half, making them all jump. "Here," he told Harry, handing him a piece of chocolate. "Eat it. It'll help."

Harry took the chocolate, but didn't eat it.

"What was that thing?" He asked.

"A dementor," Remus answered, handing chocolate out to everyone else. "One of the dementors of Azkaban."

Ignoring everyone's stares, Remus gestured towards Harry's chocolate. "Eat it," He repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me..."

And Remus strolled past Harry and out of the compartment, sliding the door closed behind him.

Remus decided against lingering outside the compartment, and just went straight for the front of the train.

It's Harry.

Remus walked down the aisle.

It's Harry Potter.

Remus passed compartment after compartment.

It's Lily and James's son.

Remus reached the front train car, glad to have something to keep his thoughts away.

"Excuse me," Remus said. The conductor at the front jumped, and turned to him. "Will the train get going soon? When will we be to Hogwarts?"

"Should be near ten minutes," the conductor said gruffly. "I haven't seen you around, you the new Darks Arts Professor?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, yes," Remus corrected.

"Well good luck, then," the conductor replied. "Last one went to St. Mungos, one before that died. Seems like the position's cursed."

"Lovely," Remus muttered, making sure the conductor didn't hear. "You are wonderful at welcoming people. Really, you should be the Professor recruiter."

Remus made his way back to the compartment quickly, wanting to see Harry again and make sure that this wasn't just a figment of his imagination.

Entering the compartment, Remus felt a smile ghost his lips, something that hadn't happened in a while. "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know..."

Harry took a bite, and it was obvious that this made him feel at least somewhat better by the way his shoulders untensed just slightly. That shoulder tense action was yet another element of James that Remus saw in Harry.

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," Remus said, pushing away the thoughts. "Are you all right, Harry?"

Harry nodded, muttering an embarrassed "Fine."

There was no more conversation the rest of the ride, and practically the whole time Remus felt himself watching Harry as subtly as he could.

Remus saw Harry's eyes scanning up and down the walls, as if just now seeing the carvings.

And Remus's expression turned yet again somber as he saw a sad realization dawn in Harry's eyes as the Boy Who Lived stared at one particular carving.

Remus remembered this one particularly. It had formerly been JP+LE, but on the train ride back after their seventh year, Lily-Fiancé of James-herself had crossed out the E with a pocketknife and replaced it with a P in her curly handwriting.

And here Harry was, staring at it.

JP + LP

~ ~ ~
NOTES: X

-Amelia