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Chapter 5

"Albus what?!"

Remus was a little taken aback at what Harry just said.

"You mean he knows?"

Harry nodded. "I don't think anybody else has noticed. Most of them know that you've been helping me study for the NEWTs, and now exams, so I'm not really worried."

"I am!" Remus said. How could Harry take it so casually?

"Remus."

He looked up to see solemn green eyes watching him carefully.

"That doesn't mean that I'm not worried at all. The people that would really look and see what's really going on are the ones that know what we've been doing. Plus, you really have been helping me study."

"But..." Remus wanted to protest but Harry rested a finger on his lips.

"No, Remus." Harry gave an impish grin that lit his eyes. "Besides, the school knows that you are a friend, so most of the students – and the teachers – know that we have a close relationship. They just don't know *how* close."

Remus could see the logic in that. He could work with that explanation, seeing as how they only had three more days of school. Now, if only Harry would tell him what he had been worrying over for the last couple of days, it would be a lot better.

"So, what else did Albus ask you?" he asked casually.

Harry turned startled green eyes at him. "A big question," he answered seriously.

Leaning against the back of the couch the two of them were sitting on, he thought for a moment on what the headmaster would want to talk to Harry about so close to the end of his student career here at Hogwarts. Hogwarts.... He knew what it was.

"He offered you the Transfiguration position, didn't he?" Remus finally asked.

He knew he hit the jackpot when Harry nodded slightly, his face a little closed.

"I don't know if I should take it," Harry said, his voice a shadow of what it normally was.

All of a sudden, Remus knew what was bothering the younger man. "Harry," he started. "If you really want to take it, don't let your feelings for me influence you –"

"But...."

Remus shook his head. "We can still be together, even though it may be longer between times when we can get together physically. My only want for you is to be happy, whether you're here teaching, or doing something not at Hogwarts."

He could tell Harry wasn't convinced.

"What about the offer from the England team for Quidditch?"

Harry shook his head. "I love the game, but I don't want it to be my whole life. I want you to be it."

Shaken, Remus just stared at the man sitting beside him. Harry had said that so solemnly, and his heart had jumped. Whenever Harry said that he loved him, he was half-amazed. But this.... Never in his wildest dreams had he ever thought of this. Looking at Harry, he knew that it was what he wanted, too.

"Harry, I want you to be my life as well. I just think that you should think about what you want to do during the day, such as when I'm teaching. You need to have a part of your life that doesn't totally involve me."

The younger man sat for a while as Remus watched him. Each time that they were together, he wondered what he had done right for this to happen. He'd never expected to find anything *this* wonderful. It didn't matter to him now what Harry's age was, and the teacher/student part of the problem would be solved in just a couple of days.

When he had been a student here at Hogwarts, he had loved that feeling of finally belonging somewhere. Just knowing that he had friends in James, Sirius and Peter had been so good for him, especially when his own parents hadn't really bothered with him after he had been bitten.

Being with Harry was ten times better than even being Moony as a mischief-maker. Harry was his equal. He wasn't a carbon copy of James like others often told him. He was just Harry, and that's all he cared about.

"Remus?"

Harry's question broke his train of thoughts. "What, Harry?"

The younger man met his eyes, determination whirling in them. "I think you're looking at the new Transfiguration professor."

A smile spread across his face, happiness swirling in him. "I think that you will make an excellent teacher." He leaned closer. "I can give you hints, if you want."

Harry scooted closer. "What about hints not related to teaching?"

Remus lifted an eyebrow, definitely willing to flirt with Harry. "Oh, I'm sure I can see about something." He bent his head and gave him a quick kiss, tempted to linger but knew that his control wouldn't let him do much more than that.

Pulling back, he noticed the disappointed look on Harry's face. "Three days," he said to distract the younger man.

It worked as Harry made his way off the couch and towards the door. "Yes. Three days." He stopped when his hand rested on the doorknob. "Thanks, Remus. And we can worry tomorrow." Giving a sweet smile to Remus, Harry left the room.

Sitting back again, Remus nodded. He'd worry until those three days were up, but for tonight, he wanted to dream.

******

Sirius watched Remus and Harry out of the corner of his eye. He was supposed to be reading an article that Remus had given him about the relief efforts still being handed out to survivors, but he was curious to watch the other two men interact. Even though he knew he couldn't change what was going on, that didn't mean he couldn't pay attention and see what was really happening.

Unfortunately, they were acting just the same as they had before they night they had going on their forest adventure. Neither of them looked totally comfortable sitting next to each other, but Sirius supposed that it was partly because he was in the room with them. Well, he didn't mind that, since he had never liked to be that close to any of his dates and not be able to do anything about it.

But, they were dating. Not really, anyway, since the bite of a werewolf tended to make dating not that important anymore.

Sighing, he put down the article and stood, stretching a little. When Remus and Harry looked up from the book they were discussing, Sirius smiled. "I think I'm going to take a walk. I really can't concentrate on that story."

The other two men gave their own smile in answer.

"Sirius?" Harry asked. "If you're going to go anywhere near the kitchens, do you think you could bring back a snack?"

Sirius gave a wicked grin. "Sure! I haven't been to the kitchen in a long time. Sounds good, but I won't be back for a little bit."

"I don't mind," his godson said back. "I just figure that by then I'll be hungry. Ron dragged me off before I could finish dinner, so all I really got to eat was half my meat and an apple."

"Poor baby," crooned Sirius, before he gave a small laugh. "We'll have to make sure he eats a lot, won't we Remy?"

Remus smiled again. "Yes. He's a little too skinny," he said, poking Harry in the side.

Harry swatted at him and pouted. "I am not. I just don't eat as much as Ron does."

Sirius snorted as Remus said, "nobody could eat as much as Ron does."

Harry opened his mouth to retort the statement but Sirius shook his head. "I'll leave the two of you to argue over that. I'll see you in a bit."

Waving at them, Sirius stood on the other side of the portrait guarding Remus' private rooms for a moment. It was strange, sometimes, how things ended up. For a minute there he could have sworn it was James sitting there, before he realized what he had been thinking. It was his son, though, and no amount of wishing would ever change that fact.

Still, he wished he could speak with James just one more time. He wanted to ask if James would forgive him about trusting Peter, about how he thought Harry had done in the war, what he would think of his son and Remus being together.

He knew the answer to the last question, or at least, knew how James would have responded.

"Remy would be the perfect partner for someone. He's patient, gently, fierce, loving, gifted. If he and Harry really love each other, who am I to say they can't? Really, love is love. Besides, Remy could use a little loving."

"Black." Snape's voice brought him out of his reverie.

Sirius looked around and found that he had made his way to the little garden behind the teacher's lounge. Snape sat in his wheelchair, looking much more presentable than he had before the accident. Sirius wondered if that was because of Madam Pomfrey, or if Snape had finally gotten a clue as to washing his hair.

Stopping himself from thinking about that anymore, he just looked at Snape for a moment before turning to watch the sunset over the grounds. "Snape," he finally said. "What are you going to do after the school year ends?"

The silence stretched for a couple minutes before Sirius turned to look at the Potions Master. The other man was watching him carefully. "Why would you want to know, Black?"

Sirius could hear the exhaustion in his voice. Looking again, he could see how tired the other man really was. Still, he didn't know how to answer the question. "I'm not sure."

"Probably want to taunt me?" This time there was some vitriol in Snape's voice. "I'm sure that now I make such an easy target that it will be easier for you to come up with more stupid –"

"Shut up, Snape."

Sirius' voice was just above a whisper.

"That wasn't what I was asking it for."

Snape shut his mouth with an audible click before he looked down at his hands as they twisted in his lap. "I don't know," he said as he turned his head to the side away from Sirius. "Albus has suggested I go to St. Mungo's, but..."

"They can't do much," Sirius finished. "I see." He could understand. Even if he had never liked the Slytherin, he had worked with him over the years enough to know that for the first time in Snape's life he couldn't do what he wanted to. Three years had passed since Dumbledore had made them shake hands in the hospital wing, and it had taken Sirius all of those years to realize that Snape was actually a good guy. Tortured by what he had done when he was younger, and fenced in by the role that the headmaster wanted him to play, but somewhere in there had been a man who had only wanted to make friends. Once he had known this, Sirius had made it a point to talk to Snape. Usually, though, their 'discussions' evolved into screaming matches. Even when Snape had been recovering under Madam Pomfrey's tender care the previous year.

Suddenly he got a crazy idea. He would have to check with Albus to see if it was feasible, but he'd see if it would work. Leaving Snape confused by his friendly 'good-bye,' he set his feet towards the headmaster's office.

******

Harry fidgeted as he sat at the long Gryffindor table. It was his last meal as an official student, and he couldn't help feeling sad. There were so many memories that were trying to make themselves seen as he looked across the Great Hall. His eyes rested briefly at each of the other three House tables, seeing who was there, and remembering who should have been there.

"Harry?"

He looked over to see Ron looking at him strangely.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I was just thinking."

Ron snorted. "And that's always dangerous."

Harry gave him a playful swat as he watched Hermione take the seat across from Ron.

"So," Hermione began. "Have you figured out what you're going to do this summer, Harry?"

Sighing, Harry shook his head. "Not sure. I'm going to Sirius' house for a couple of weeks. Remus and the two of us are then going to go on a vacation to that little island Sirius stayed at during fourth year."

"Remus?"

Trust Hermione to pick that up. Well, Harry could bluff his way through it until he told them tomorrow. He had deliberately held off telling Ron and Hermione about him and Remus until after school, knowing Hermione's penchant for disliking breaking the rules. And this definitely broke a big one.

"Yes. Remus, as in he's no longer my Professor as of tonight," Harry retorted.

Hermione gave him a look as Ron laughed.

"Mione," the red head started. "I don't think Harry will want to call him Professor Lupin if he's going on vacation with the man."

Harry nodded, relieved that Ron had saved him, even if he didn't know it.

Hermione gave them both a disgruntled look before turning in her seat as Dumbledore tapped his glass to get the students' attention.

"I would like to remind all Seventh Years that they are to report here to the Great Hall at 2:30 for the presentation ceremony. All students are invited to attend. Just let your Head of House know before lunch is over." With that brief announcement, Dumbledore sat down and started talking to Snape, who had actually showed up for a meal for the first time in a week.

Harry watched them for a moment before he realized that Ron and Hermione were watching him. "What?" he asked, a little irritated at them for doing so.

"What is Dumbledore going to say about what you are planning to do, Harry?" Hermione asked as she filled her plate.

Ron looked up from where he was already eating and nodded. He swallowed hurriedly before saying, "Yeah, Harry. You have told us what you're thinking about."

Harry looked at his plate. He would have to tell them something or he wouldn't get any peace until the ceremony. "I've been talking with Dumbledore about what he thinks I would be good at –" which he had been doing, only it had been planning what textbook would work for him to teach from, "– so..."

Hermione nodded. "That's what I thought. What did Sirius and Professor Lupin say about it? I know that you were in Professor Lupin's rooms last night."

Harry was glad he didn't blush. "We were talking about it –" which wasn't a lie. Sirius had been teasing him, calling him Professor Potter all night. He shrugged, not willing to say anymore that would incriminate him later.

Hermione gave him one last look before she turned to Ron and started talking about when she would be going to the Burrow to help Molly with setting up their engagement party. Ron had asked the minute Hermione had walked out of her last NEWT, but they hadn't announced it to most of the world. Only the rest of the Weasleys, Harry, Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore knew. The rest of Gryffindor had still been unnerved by their exams, so they hadn't noticed and just thought that it was nice of Ron's mom to throw the trio a graduation party.

Harry hid a snicker as he remembered Seamus coming up and asking him if he needed a date. He had been startled, since he had thought that Seamus had been going out with Terry Boot of Ravenclaw, but obviously he was wrong. Besides that, he hadn't shown any interest in dating anyone – excepting fourth year, when he was required to have a date for the Yule Ball. It had turned out there was a sizable pool on who he would take to the party, which Seamus had explained to him after Harry gently turned him down, saying that he already had a date.

When he had told Remus later that evening, both of them had gotten a kick out of it. They had already decided the party would be when they would tell everybody that they were together. The next day Seamus had told him that the pool had changed slightly, since nobody would admit they were going with Harry, so now the pool would go to the person who would find out who he was going with.

Harry held in another chuckle as he finished his lunch and excused himself from the table, telling Hermione and Ron that he would be in his room, resting for a bit. In reality, he would be working on the papers he needed to register himself with the Animagus Office. He had started the process before he told Dumbledore his decision, but hadn't realized just how long or how much *parchment* it would take.

After finishing his task, he went to his cupboard and pulled out the dress robe Sirius had bought him for the ceremony. Remus hadn't seen them, and Harry wanted to see his reaction. The fabric was a dark green, but when the light hit it just right it seemed streaked with gold and red. Sirius had winked at him when he handed it over, making Harry wish he could fall through the floor. Once the ceremony was over, Remus and Harry wouldn't be constrained by the rules of teacher/student relations.

Sirius was all for them disappearing from the room and showing up disheveled tomorrow morning in time for the Leaving Feast. Harry and Remus, on the other hand, had each shot him an intense and threatening look to not mention it again. Harry had been personally torn by the suggestion. He wanted to do more with Remus, but he also knew that he wasn't ready. Hell, he didn't think that he would do much more than kiss before he would explode, and he didn't want to ruin such a special night.

Sighing as he looked in the mirror as he took in the chaos that was his hair, Harry doused the candles and went to meet up with Hermione and Ron.

******

Remus almost choked on his words when he saw Harry enter the Great Hall. Luckily he was talking to Dumbledore, whose eyes were dancing and wore a small smile.

"Yes, he does look rather well," the headmaster stated dryly.

Trying to get his brain to work enough to respond, Remus nodded. "Yes. He looks perfect."

Distantly he heard Dumbledore chuckle as a hand rested briefly on his shoulder. "You don't have long now, Remus. Take a couple of breaths and you can last three more hours."

Remus felt more than saw the headmaster leave. Three more hours. Three more hours. The words were quickly becoming his mantra. Hopefully he wouldn't embarrass himself.

"Remy!"

For once he was glad that Sirius had interrupted his Harry watching.

"So, you sure you don't want to make use of my suggestion?"

Or maybe not. That question hadn't been good for his hormones, which were really racing now. It was really bad, especially since the full moon was in a couple more days. The wolf really liked looking at Harry.

"Ok, lover boy," Sirius whispered in his ear. "You need to cool down or you won't make it through the ceremony."

Remus blindly followed his friend outside, where he was promptly hit with some rather cold water.

"Padfoot!"

Sirius shot him an unrepentant grin. "I told you that you needed to cool down, Moony."

Remus shot him an evil glare. "Just remember I *will* get you back." Waving his wand down at his robes, he cast a quick drying charm before pointing his wand at his friend.

"Whatever." Sirius didn't look too worried by the threat. "Just don't stare at Harry so much and it'll be find. Think of him dressed up like an Eskimo."

One light brown brow rose slightly. "Any other suggestion?"

"Dumbledore naked?"

That did the trick.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry twitched his robes slightly as he sat in his chair. It was almost time for Dumbledore to announce what each of the graduates was going to do now that they were no longer students. As Head Boy, he would be last in the list.

"Mr. Ronald Weasley," Dumbledore was saying, "will be training as an Auror starting October 1^st. Until that time, he will be helping Messers. Fred and George Weasley in their shop in Hogsmeade."

Harry held back a grin as several teachers groaned at the prospect.

"And last, but certainly not least, is Mr. Blaise Zabini, who will be joining the Nimbus Company as a broom designer."

The audience finished their clapping as Dumbledore moved onto the last two students.

"Ms. Hermione Granger, our Head Girl, will be working for the Ministry as well, as a Ministry-Muggle Relations clerk." Dumbledore gave a small smile.

Harry knew that Hermione had been offered the Potions position back in December, but had turned it down right away. He wondered why Dumbledore had waited so long to ask him about the Transfiguration position, but didn't dig too deep. Dumbledore had his reasons, and they were usually too complex for Harry to figure out.

"Mr. Harry Potter, our Head Boy," the headmaster finally announced, "has consented to be the Transfiguration Professor starting September 1^st."

Harry blushed as the audience clapped harder than it had for anybody else. His defeat of Voldemort the past Spring had earned him many more fans than he had before. As the Seventh years had entered the Great Hall for the ceremony, his name had been called out several times, as Ron made humorous remarks about the people. It had been hard for the Gryffindor boys to hold back their laughter as they sat together with the girls from their house.

Looking over at Ron and Hermione, he saw that their faces wore expressions torn between shock and happiness. Harry was surprised that neither of them had actually noticed the clues he had left, but then again, he was being subtle and both of them were not used to him doing that. Just wait until they hear about Remus and me.

"Now, as you all know, I announced that this would be my last year as Headmaster."

Harry sat up straight. He, and the rest of the school, had been waiting for Dumbledore to tell them who would be the next Headmaster or Headmistress since he had told them he would be resigning at the end of the year.

"The board of governors and I have finally agreed on my replacement, as Professor Minerva McGonagall is no longer with us."

A sharp pang went through Harry at this.

"I would like to announce that my replacement is...."

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