A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

Chapter 13

Remus looks at the ground and takes a sigh. Its being a long time since he remembered when he had a proper meal and a proper roof over his head. He looks down at the book and closes it no longer able to concentrate on his reading. He walks to the window and looks at the ground near the forest and the presence of the Whopping Willow. And the memories assail him. His memory of the bite that destroyed his life, the curse that was now his to bear, the friends that made it seem like a fun past time that shows a new perspective, the night times they used to roam around, the green eyes that just twinkled when he revealed his secret in a stuttering voice and the trust that the hug following immediately afterward conveyed him, the heartbreak that took his breath when he heard the news and the destruction of that first night of the shift that immediately followed the aftermath. He had four life changing friendships for his seven years of Hogwarts and for the 3 years of his adult life and yet now he doesn't know what to make of those friendships. A friend who was always following them is dead in a manner too horrifying to speak, A friend whom he would swore would jumped in front of him at the moment of attack, yet in the end symbolized everything that his family stood for and A friend who is not his friend yet in so many similar manner reminds him so much of him.

His musings broke as the knock on the door sounded. Giving the permission to enter, he turns to see the Pompous butt in the head as he calls it enter the door. Gilderoy Lockhart looks about and smirks as he sees everything to his satisfaction. At first he was doubtful, when Dumbledore assigned to him this man stating how Lockhart is busy with his new book and signing autographs and this man will take care of the class but now as he sees the class set to order with his book present on every table, he knew that now he can count on the man as a fan of his.

Lockhart stated "Remus (Remus winced. He would rather prefer to be called Lupin by this man. But this was the closest that Dumbledore could get him to his subject and he appreciates it.) I see you are already prepared for the class taking place. Good, Good. Which class is it again?" Remus said "the 2nd year Gryffindor and Slytherin class." Seeing the glint, in Lockhart's eyes Remus immediately regretted it. Lockhart then stated a glee in his voice "Ha, Harry Potter's class, Is that Right Remus?". Remus reluctantly nodded. Lockhart rubbed his hands in glee and said "Well, I should provide the boy my knowledge against the Dark Arts don't you think Remus? After all the boy-who-lived should be mentored by the man who is proficient in defeating the Dark Arts creatures." Remus silently apologised to Harry and hoped the boy wasn't too fond of Lockhart. He crossed his fingers for the class not to be an epic disaster.

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The class wasn't an epic disaster. It was a mega epic disaster. Idiotic Lockhart decided to introduce Cornish pixies without even knowing how to control them. He left, him, Ron, Harry and Hermione to deal with this mess as the whole class evacuated. Remus tries to control the pixies but even he couldn't remember the spell to bring them under control. Turning after hearing the door open, he tried to warn the person that the pixies will try to make it out of the door, but the next second the pixies froze. Turning he saw Jam uhh, Jameson walk in and shut the door calmly as if he was just strolling. His hands then moved back and all the pixies went immediately into the cages and the cage door shut. Lupin could make out a small aura of magic around Jameson almost purple in color which disappeared as soon as the pixies were back into the cages. The next second, Jameson smirks and said "Well this looked like a fun class." Ron, Hermione and Harry simultaneously groaned and Lupin moved towards the cages intending to carry them upstairs but the next second, the cages disappear. Looking at Jameson in shock, Jameson just shrugs and said "You wanted them upstairs. I just put them where they belong. By the way what are the children doing here? Shouldn't this be clean up be the teacher's responsibility since this idea doesn't seem to belong to the any of you." Hermione just squeaks and said "He had some work, so he trusted us to clean this up." Remus sighs hearing the clear hero worship in Hermione voice which was confirmed by Ron's next words who said in an exasperated voice "Bloody Hell Hermione, stop the bloody hero worship. The idiot didn't know how to handle the pixies that's why he left us with the work." Ron felt a slap on the back of the head and he turns to see Jameson just shrug helplessly and he said with no remorse in his voice, "Sorry Ron, but if my wife and husband heard the voice you would have definitely got a spanking and well they would have definitely grounded you for what you said. My husband and his best friend is big on respect. Always with Mam or Sir." Ron rubbing the back of his head said "But did you have to hit me for that?". Jameson raised his hands said "Hey, I didn't hit you. My wife and husband here. The hand was just mine."

Ron said "Are they both so old fashioned?" Jameson sat on the table and said "Well my husband will be 104 years old in the month of Jan next month and my wife will be 300 yrs old in the next Feb." Harry, Hermione, Ron and Lupin's mouth dropped open in wide shock. No words came out of their mouth. Remus opens and shut his mouth but no words come out. Lily sorry Layla is 300 yrs old, how is that possible?

But before Lupin could say anything, Hermione suddenly shrieked and said "Oh My God! Your husband is Captain America." Jameson chuckles and said "Nice try Hermione but don't let Tony hear this. He is already possessive over the Captain." And Hermione face became frozen as if she is in a permanent state of shock as she bumbles over the words. Jameson looks at his watch and said to all 3 of them, "You might want to hurry, your next class is in ten minutes." And now all of them are in shock because of the time passed. Gathering the books, they hurriedly said goodbye. Hearing the door closed, Jameson turns to see Remus gather the material on the front desk and on the other tables left hurriedly by the students. He stood awkward as he didn't know how to talk to Remus. Somewhere Jameson knew that this person in front of his friend and he could familiarity resonating within his most secret place that this is the truth. However, there was another truth present, he might not be the person this friend of his is expecting, he has changed but he could see that time passed has affected his friend also.

His friend, Remus Lupin seems older more tired yet a wise manner seems to be present in his appearance. He knew his friend has kept his distance so that Harry can spent time with them uninterrupted but he also wants to know this friend of his. Who he was, How he is now, What are his likes, dislikes, favourite memories, everything. So taking a deep breath, Jameson opens his mouth to ask something but Remus turns and blurts out "Really Lily is a living mummy?" And hearing the sentence out of his mouth, Jameson bit his lips but the seeing Remus's expression he burst out into laughter. And seeing Jameson's laughter Remus also started chuckling as he imagines Lily in bandages and the chuckles turns into full blown laughter. Both stop laughing after a few minutes. Still chuckling, Jameson said "Don't let Layla hear you say that or she will make you all wrapped up in bandages." Remus chuckles and said "I would like to see her do that." Jameson shakes his head and said "Oh you do not want to mess with her. One time, Clint and Tony decided to play a prank which had made Layla's face become painted in purple colour. The next day, Clint and Tony woke up to find that their whole body turned purple. Not only that their clothes were purple, food turned purple as soon as they touched. Clint and Tony had to apologize to Layla but even then she made them wait for a week before turning them back to normal." Remus chuckles, and asks "So how did the food taste when it turned purple?" Jameson said "they never said. It became the event that shall never be mentioned. After that no one messed with Layla. I think till now the only people who had never had pranks done to them is Layla and Natasha. But well Natasha is Natasha. You never mess with her." Remus asks "Why, is she dangerous?" Jameson just shrugs his shoulder and said "She's Natasha."

Remus chuckles and said "Reminds me of the prank you had accidentally pulled on Lily sorry Layla. The prank was originally intended for the Slytherins but Layla came in at the last minute and the balloon burst on her. She became full green from top to bottom. That too not normal green colour. You and Sirius had enchanted the green to roam around the individual like a snake and yell out insults at every Slytherin. And when you saw Lily was caught in the prank you pulled out almost your hair trying to undo it. But Lily was also smart. In the potions, she substituted your ingredients with some similar ingredients and when you and Sirius made the potion it ended up colouring you both in orange from top to bottom. So you both had detention for one month and on top of that Slughorn made you all walk around in orange colour for one week. I think that was the only detention you both had because of Lily." Remus suddenly felt his cheeks redden as he realized he had started calling Layla Lily again. Before he could apologize, Jameson said with understanding "I like hearing stories what we did. And I know you are making the effort to recognize Lily as Layla and me as Jameson. So take your time, and maybe we can talk to each other like friends do?". Remus smiles at the awkwardness in Jameson's voice and he said "I would like that." So they both sat on the benches and started telling stories about the lives they had lived and the lives they are leading now.

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He roams around frustrated, trapped in this goddamn prison. She hasn't written a long time in him, and he is starting to feel weakened. He could sense her roaming, arranging the things in her 4 poster bed and he increases his power, trying to make her tempt to write in him. Yet, the will power of hers was stronger than he anticipated. She just ignores him, and continues to arrange the four poster bed and walks out of the room. If he had a body write now, He would have just killed her. Unfortunately he is dependent upon her until he conquers her soul. But he feels his grim satisfaction as he knows that the moment he does, no one can stop him from removing that pestilent Potter from existence.

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Harry bursts through the door without knocking and seeing Layla immediately blurts out the question "You are really 300 years old?". Layla turns and glares at Jameson who grins back sheepishly. She turns to Harry and said "Its an approximate guess." Layla could see Harry, make a frown on his face and anticipates the question but something different came out of Harry's mouth as he asks "Did you suffer for all those years? Wasn't there no one to take care of you?". Layla and Jameson's eyes soften hearing the concerned tone in Harry's voice. Layla brings Harry to sit beside her and said "It wasn't all bad. There was someone who took care of me." Harry asks "Is that person also with you now?". Layla puts her head on Harry's hair and said "No, she escaped along with me. And now I don't know where she is?" Harry asks "Do you miss her?" Layla said "Every day."