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Hidden Family	By : vinsmouse Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > General - Misc Views: 17507 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Biggles, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

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Chapter XLII

8th November, 1993

Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom

Harry smiled to see Professor Lupin returned, though he didn’t look as if he were entirely well just yet. Draco’s father had done a wonderful job as substitute during the Professor’s illness but all of the students had become quite fond of the soft spoken Lupin and had been quite worried about him. This was the second time their teacher had been taken ill; perhaps he had a chronic condition? It was none of Harry’s business of course but he resolved to keep a close eye on the man in case he became ill during class.

“Good morning class,” Remus greeted his class of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor third years. He smiled softly as the students returned the greeting. “I have a bit of an unusual class planned for today. If you will all gather your things and follow me please.”

After the students were lined up Remus led them from the classroom and through the corridors to another room; opening the door he motioned them inside what was clearly the staff room. “I’m sure you’re all wondering why we are in the staff room today.” A chorus of yeses confirmed his supposition. “During the weekend Mr. Filch discovered a creature that can be quite difficult to defeat. The creature I speak of is classified as dark and coincidentally prefers to live in dark spaces. They are difficult to defeat because they feed on fear and will take on the appearance of your greatest fear providing it with the food it prefers. Many people in fact simply move house rather than continue dealing with the creatures. Now can anybody guess what creature I am speaking of?”

Several hands went up, not surprising most of them belonged to Ravenclaw students. The Professor called upon Hermione for the answer.

“Given the description you provided Professor I think it most likely that you refer to a Boggart,” Hermione confidently replied.

“Very good Miss Granger, take 5 points for Ravenclaw,” Remus praised the girl. “Now does anybody know the spell to render a Boggart harmless?” This time no hands were raised. “No? Well then I shall tell you shall I? The trick is to transform your Boggart into something amusing rather than frightening. We do this by imagining it in a humorous form while incanting the spell Riddikulus.” Showing them the wand movement he had the class repeat the spell several times until he was certain they had it.

Very good, now who would like to go first?” Remus wasn’t surprised that there were no takers. He randomly chose Ron Weasley to try the spell first. Standing the boy in front of the cabinet from which could be heard many thumps and bumps as the Boggart tried to free itself, Remus quietly repeated the spell and stood back.

With a swish of his wand Remus opened the cabinet and in the next instant a giant spider emerged from the confines of its prison, advancing towards the Weasley boy in a menacing manner. Remus waited, ready to cast the spell himself should it become necessary. Just when he thought he would have to do so Ron seemed to find his courage.

“Riddikulus!” Ron shouted and the menacing spider now wore tap shoes upon its many feet. The moment the shoes appeared the Boggart spider began to tap dance, its legs becoming tangled with one another until the thing fell to the floor, bringing shouts of laughter from the children.

“Next,” Remus called and another child stepped forward. Having seen for themselves how easy it was to defeat the creature the students were eager to have a try. In each instance Remus was prepared to take over should it become needed but so far each child had managed to defeat the Boggart on his or her own. As Harry neared the front of the line Remus tensed. He couldn’t guess, of course, what Harry’s fear might be but he thought it could well be Voldemort himself. It would certainly make sense. He readied himself to step in.

As Harry stepped to the front of the line the Boggart morphed into his grandfather, but this was a version of the man seen only in nightmares. Sneering down at him, Ginger looked at Harry with such revulsion and hatred that the child felt physically ill. He knew it wasn’t his grandfather but only a creature taking his shape and Harry tried to cast the spell that would end the Boggart’s power. Before he could it began to speak. “I don’t know why I ever took you in. You’re nothing but a worthless freak that should have been drowned at birth. I should take you back to the Dursley’s, they know how to deal with worthless freaks.”

“No, no, please no,” Harry pleaded tears falling from his eyes. Though the nightmare hadn’t occurred in years still it had the power to paralyze him with fear. For it was Harry’s greatest fear that one day his grandfather would reject him just as his other relatives had done. It was a fear that lived deep inside the boy, so deeply he himself hadn’t realized it still held power over him.

Remus shook himself from his shocked state and rushed forward. As he did the Boggart morphed into some sort of round object but before anybody could identify it Remus had cast the spell and the Boggart turned into a rapidly deflating balloon. Forcing it back into the cabinet, Remus locked the doors, once more containing the creature. “Class dismissed.”

As the children began to file out, several looking back at Harry with obvious concern, Remus led the boy to the staff table and sat him down. “Alright Harry?” he gently asked.

Harry nodded stiffly, more through instinct than any real understanding of the question.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Harry shuddered. “There isn’t anything to talk about Professor.”

“No? That man is your grandfather?”

“Yes.”

“Does he,” Remus hesitated. He wasn’t certain he should continue but he had failed his old friends once in allowing Harry to be taken away. He had believed Dumbledore when he told him that Harry was safer in the muggle world and that it would be better if Remus had no contact with him. Knowing now that Harry had been treated badly by his relatives the Professor was determined not to make the same mistakes again. It had been this determination that allowed him to accept the position at Hogwarts in spite of his distrust of the elder Malfoy.

Remembering his vow to do right by Harry, he ploughed ahead. “Does he often yell at you? Or harm you in any way?”

“What?” Harry jumped up from his seat, backing away from his teacher. “Grandfather is the best man in the world. He saved me from the Dursleys, he would never hurt me.”

“So you don’t fear the man?”

“No, of course not.” Harry could hardly believe a Professor he had looked up to, thought to be intelligent, could prove to be so incredibly stupid. “Boggarts manifest our fears, correct?”

Remus nodded.

“I didn’t realize the fear was still there but I used to have nightmares when I first came to live with Grandfather. I thought he would tire of me or decide I really was a freak and would send me away. He wouldn’t of course but I was only a little boy and I didn’t know that,” Harry explained.

Remus couldn’t hold back the deep sigh of relief. “I am very glad to hear that Harry. Not that you had such a fear of course but that it is only a fear connected to the Dursleys and not due to something your Grandfather has done.” Remus offered the boy a small smile, he couldn’t help being glad when Harry returned it. “I suppose I should explain my reaction.”

“You don’t have to.”

“But I do Harry.” Remus paused, gathering his thoughts. “You see I was a friend of your parents, we went to school together you see.”

Harry tilted his head. “You’re Remy?”

Remus was surprised. “Where did you hear that name?”

“I found journals my parents kept shortly before I began Hogwarts. Both mentioned their friends and I remember the name Remy. That is you, isn’t it?”

“Yes Harry, that is me,” Remus confirmed with a smile.

In their journals they made you out to be a great friend so why haven’t I ever heard from you before?” Harry crossed his arms over his chest staring sternly at the Professor, his stance making clear he would not be put off with excuses or platitudes.

“I made a mistake Harry,” Remus admitted. He went on to explain his great grief and his fear for the small child left an orphan. When Dumbledore told him it would be best for the child’s safety if he were to stay away he believed him.

“But it has been known for a while now that the Dursley’s mistreated me, clearly Dumbledore was wrong.”

“Yes and I should probably, no I definitely should have attempted contact once I was aware of that.” Remus dropped his head, his face colouring with shame and embarrassment. “I can only say Harry that children aren’t the only ones with fears.”

Harry considered the man’s words carefully. He seemed sincerely remorseful and he had been friends with his parents. “Could you tell me about them, my parents I mean?”

Remus smiled, “I’d be happy to Harry.”

9th November, 1993

Remus Lupin’s office

Remus sat at his desk grading papers. He and Harry had enjoyed a lovely conversation yesterday, talking until both were forced to stop; one had a class to attend, the other a class to teach. They had arranged to spend some time together on the weekend, getting to know one another again. A tentative knock on his office door drew his attention. “Come in.”

Professor, do you have a minute?” Ronald Weasley asked from just inside the door.

“Of course Mr. Weasley, what can I do for you?”

Ron wasn’t used to speaking to Professors outside of class, unless he was in trouble, and was therefore understandably nervous. But his pet was sick and needed help, Scabbers might not be much but he was the only pet Ron had. “I was wondering, you know about a lot of creatures, don’t you?”

“Are you having a problem with a homework assignment Mr. Weasley?”

“No, it’s not homework. Maybe I should go to Professor Hagrid; I mean I guess it’s more of something for a care of magical creatures Professor.” Truthfully though the very large teacher, no matter how nice he seemed, scared him a little.

“Well since you’re already here why don’t you tell me what the problem is? Perhaps I’ll be able to help.”

“It’s Scabbers,” Ron blurted out.

“Scabbers?”

Ron nodded. “He’s my pet rat and he’s been sick since we came home from Egypt. I thought maybe he caught something there but if he did I don’t know why he didn’t get sick when we were in Egypt. He is awfully old, maybe that’s all it is. Percy, that’s one of my brothers found him twelve years ago and he’s lived with us ever since. He was Percy’s until Mum and Dad got him an owl for making prefect and Percy gave me Scabbers.” Ron was blushing as red as his hair by the time he had finished.

“Do you have Scabbers with you?” Remus was quite curious about this rat. It was very long lived, even for a magical rat. He therefore thought it likely that the rat was finally reaching the end of its life.

“Yes sir,” Ron replied, drawing a small cage from behind his back. “I’ve had to keep him in his cage. Don’t want him running off and getting into something that might make him worse do I?”

“Very wise Mr. Weasley,” Remus agreed. As he approached the cage he couldn’t help noticing the rat becoming more agitated.

TBC...
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Hidden Family