"So—you're a professor now, Moony!"
Inside the dim, gloomy Shrieking Shack, three middle-aged men were sitting in a loose circle, legs crossed or knees hugged to their chests. Yet every one of them wore the same silly, wide-mouthed grin you'd expect from teenagers. Sirius in particular was beaming like an idiot. "What's it like, being a professor?"
"Fantastic."
Lupin looked at that long-missed smile breathing life back into Sirius's gaunt face, and his own originally restrained smile began drifting irreversibly back toward the carefree days of more than a decade ago. "I teach Defence Against the Dark Arts now. Honestly, it's not that different from being a prefect back then—looking after students, keeping an eye on them so nothing goes wrong… Though I suppose the one real perk is that I can wander the castle at night openly."
"Ha! That was a privilege we used to dream about! You've really made it, Moony!"
Sirius burst out laughing, and Lupin and Peter joined him in that unrestrained, roaring laughter.
"And I don't have to be nearly as guarded about my werewolf problem anymore," Lupin went on, chuckling like he'd had a bit too much to drink. "Things are different for werewolves now than they were back then. As long as I take the Wolfsbane Potion, I won't hurt anyone. I can live at Hogwarts like a normal person…"
"You are a normal person, Moony," Peter added earnestly.
"Well… all right. Still, it's thanks to Snape being willing to put old grudges aside and brew the potion for me. I couldn't manage that brew on my own…"
"Hmph, that bloke."
The moment Snape's name came up, Sirius bristled. "I read about him even when I was in prison. Even as a professor, he's still just as unpopular as ever, isn't he? The papers even hinted that he deliberately targets Harry. Is that true, Moony?"
"He, uh…"
Lupin hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Rather than 'targeting,' it's probably more accurate to say… 'indifference'? I've chatted with Harry a few times and mentioned Snape. According to him, Snape did pick on him for a while when he first arrived at school. But after Harry completely sealed Voldemort away, Snape's attitude improved somewhat…"
"Hah! He's scared, that's all."
Sirius scoffed mercilessly. "His old master got taken down by Harry himself—how would he dare keep going after him?"
"I really envy you, Moony…"
Peter smoothly steered the conversation away from Snape. "You can talk to Harry anytime you want. Unlike me—three years watching over him, and I never once got the chance to properly look after him… Come to think of it, Padfoot, you're Harry's godfather, aren't you?"
"That's right!"
Sirius grinned again, all dopey pride. "I've read all about him in the papers… Brilliant, isn't he?"
"He's just like James. The first time I saw Harry's picture in the paper, I felt dazed for a moment. And his flying's incredible too—just like his father's…"
Somehow, as he spoke, his voice caught. Laughing and crying at the same time, he raised a hand to wipe his eyes, looking utterly ridiculous.
"His personality's like Lily's," Peter said with a smile. "Much steadier than James ever was at that age."
"And his eyes," Lupin added softly. "Exactly like Lily's."
"So what do you think his Animagus form would be?" Sirius sniffed, excitement lighting up his face again. "Think it'd be like James's? Should we teach him to become an Animagus? He's already in third year—about the age we were when we started…"
"No."
Lupin shook his head firmly, his expression sobering as he realized Sirius had gotten a bit carried away by sheer happiness. "Harry's not like we were back then, carefree and unburdened. He's defeated Voldemort three times already. He lives under everyone's gaze and has to guard himself against the malice of pure-blood families. Learning Animagus magic allows no room for mistakes."
Truth be told, Lupin hated to dampen Sirius's spirits. This night meant too much to him—everything he'd lost seemed to have returned all at once: freedom, friendship, and Harry, his godson…
"Oh—right, that reminds me," Lupin said suddenly. "When are you two planning to see Harry? Should I let him know in advance?"
"We…"
Sirius and Peter exchanged a glance, both hesitating.
"I… I'm still a fugitive, Moony."
The excitement vanished from Sirius's face as if hit by a Vanishing Spell. He scratched his head awkwardly, looking like a student caught red-handed breaking the rules. "Harry… he might get quite a shock if he sees me."
"And I doubt I could explain things very well either," Peter said with a wry smile. "Ron probably wouldn't take it well—finding out the pet he's slept beside for years was actually a greasy middle-aged man…"
"We… we should follow Dumbledore's arrangements, Moony…"
Sirius shook his head blankly. "It's probably not the right time yet. Not quite…"
"…Then wait until you're both ready," Lupin said, rolling his eyes at the two men who suddenly turned shy at the thought of family.
"But maybe we can get him some presents in advance!"
Sirius instantly bounced back to life. "At least let him know his godfather cares about him. Christmas is coming up, right? Let's give them to him then! But what should we get…"
"Any new broom models out lately, Moony?" Sirius asked eagerly. "I read in the paper that his Nimbus is getting a bit outdated—doesn't give much of an edge in matches…"
"There actually is one—even I know about it," Peter chimed in before Lupin could answer. "It's called the Firebolt. I heard Harry and his friends talking about it for ages. He'd be over the moon to get one!"
"Then I'll buy it for him!"
Sirius snickered. "I think there's still a private vault over at Grimmauld Place. Should be enough gold for a broom, right? Let me think… how many Galleons were in there? Four zeros? Five? Bah, can't count that high. I'll have to ask Kreacher—he's still alive, right?"
"He should be," Lupin nodded.
"Good. Bloody hell—if it weren't for buying Harry a broom, I wouldn't go anywhere near that old elf…" Sirius muttered.
"You'll have to put up with him for a while," Peter said lightly. "Don't forget—you still can't show your face in public. So where do you think Dumbledore's going to put you?"
He watched with amusement as Sirius's face instantly fell.
"You'd better come visit me often," Sirius grumbled.
"Moony can come see you," Peter replied quietly. "But I won't be able to stay with you for long."
The joy in his eyes slowly faded as he spoke. "You remember, don't you? My mission."
"James and Lily's deaths… haven't been avenged yet."
(End of Chapter)