"You're doing well," Remi intoned, even as Harry parried one of her spells with his own, an impressive feat he had begun to incorporate into his dueling, before launching a counterattack.
"Not well enough apparently."
The woman sighed, lowering her wand, and thus signaling the end of the duel, "Harry, I… understand what you are going through. I know what it feels like to be left out, to be treated differently because of something you can't control, to know there is nothing wrong with you but others acting as if this weren't the case. It sucks, I get it, but moping isn't going to fix anything, I can promise you that."
Running his hand over his face, he nodded. "Yeah, I know it just… infuriates me. It shouldn't, I know it shouldn't. I've been treated like this before, when I first arrived up until now there are students who look at me like I'm never going to be good enough, like I don't belong here. It was never this way with Riddle and Dumbledore though, not really. They didn't act like I was some inferior boy who couldn't hold a wand correctly and was only at Hogwarts because it made me more valuable or whatever bullshit. They saw me as a person, as someone to respect for their achievements and abilities rather than what I was born as."
"But now it feels like they aren't," she correctly guessed, "and I take it any conversations since then haven't inspired much confidence in you."
"Not really. They explained themselves, sure, but it just feels like they say one thing but do another."
Remi nodding in understanding, it was certainly something she had experienced many times before. "Sometimes adults do things which don't seem right at the time but are for your best interests. It isn't fair, and a lot of times you won't like it but it is how life works."
"You're saying I should just grin and bear it?"
But the witch quickly shook her head, "No, but compromising isn't the worst thing in the world even if it can be a bitter pill at times. You've already done enough for one year, maybe even for the rest of your time at Hogwarts. Maybe for once you can just… settle for being a normal teenager?"
Looking back Remi Lupin would admit it was not the best worded advice and would more than once blame herself for inadvertently putting ideas into the young boy's head.
****
She stormed through the hallway, students practically jumping from her path the moment they saw her. If she had been in a better mood she might have pondered if this was what Snape felt like when she was angry.
But the thought never occurred, because the woman was so furious, she could barely think straight. The doors to the library burst open with such force that it sounded like a clap of thunder, earning the librarian's ire, which quickly melted away into fright as she beheld the woman scanning those present.
Grace Riddle didn't see her target, but she did see those who might point her in the right direction. Stomping up, she slammed her hands onto the table shaking the papers and ink bottles before leaning in, voice dropping low as she nearly hissed out her question, "Where is he?"
Hermione Granger, naturally, leaned backwards, eyes wide while the other two Gryffindors stared directly back.
She had to hand it to them, reluctantly, the twin Potters certainly had courage.
"We haven't seen him." Harriet answered, her redheaded sibling crossing her arms in silent agreement. "And even if we had we wouldn't be answering you when you're acting like this."
A snarl quickly formed on her face, and she appeared ready to give an answer before straightening back up, turning, and leaving the way she came.
She found him a short while later, talking and laughing with Lovegood and the youngest Weasley as if nothing were amiss, as if he were completely innocent. "Leave, now" she demanded, earning a frightened squeak from the redhead who promptly grabbed her friend's arm and practically pulled her away, leaving just Harry and her in the hallway.
"You know, I was having a conversation, you didn't need to be..."
"Do you think this is a joke!?" she forcibly interrupted, earning a frown for her efforts. "We did this to protect you!"
His eyes narrowed, "And I did it to protect them. Because I'm not the only student foolish enough to go looking for trouble you know."
"You are the only one repeatedly hospitalized because of it!"
"And yet I'm still here, must be doing something right."
She pushed into his personal space, teeth shining white as she loomed in closer to him, "And what do you think your parents will say?"
He had the gall to look as though he were deeply pondering the question, letting moments tick by in which her blood continued boiling, before giving his answer, "Well, I would imagine they will be rather upset and yell at me or even ground me. Considering there isn't much they can ground me from while I'm at Hogwarts though it isn't really that important. Besides, when they ask for my explanation, I think anger will simmer into angry understanding."
"Understanding..." The professor repeated, "you honestly think your parents will 'understand' the fact their son is once again trying to get himself seriously hurt!?"
"I'm not trying to get hurt!" He almost shouted in response, "I'm trying to make sure no one else does, because once again all the 'adults' in the situation are uselessly standing around or making everything worse. So yes, professor, I offered a date to the winner of your tournament so that on the off chance something bad happens I can stop a teenager from being mauled by a damn werewolf!"
He turned and stormed off, and this time Riddle only just held herself back from going after him.
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