Harry felt strange. At Professor Lupin's request Sunday afternoon they had tea, Harry quickly discovered that while the Professor could tell him stories about his father but he had relatively few about his mother.
"Lily was wonderful. She was smart. She excelled at Potions and Charms. She loved James very much. She- they loved you very much, I think the day you were born was the happiest day of their lives."
Harry wanted to say, 'Well, duh she married him.' And he already knew that she excelled at Potions and Charms from her journals. Subconsciously though it was very reassuring to hear from someone who had known them that they loved him very much.
"Professor.."
"Yes, Harry?"
"I've been wondering if… never mind it's stupid."
""What Harry? I very much doubt if anything you could ask would be dumb."
Harry mentally cheered, he wanted extra defense tutelage. "I just, well… Last year, Lord Voldemort tried to return. He tried to kill me once before, he did kill my family. He doesn't strike me as the type to worry about collateral damage. He took Neville to force me to do what he wanted. I was wondering if you would be willing to teach me and my friends extra defense. Last year Quirell wasn't really very good and Lockhart was a danger to himself and others."
"I'm flattered. But what about your other classes?"
"We're all top students. I just somehow know that being my friends is going to one day put them in danger. If not from Voldemort, then from his followers."
"You would think about his followers, given you're in Slytherin."
"Are you one of those people that think if you're in Slytherin you're automatically Dark?"
"What? No! I know better, that's like people who say werewolves are automatically evil. I could never do that, not with what I am. I just meant that a lot of the families in Slytherin were followers."
"Yeah, I suppose. Most of the students in the house are okay with my being there but there are a few… Professor Snape kind of laid down the law after Draco Malfoy attacked me last year. The dark ones pretty much act like I don't exist. Which is fine."
"Draco Malfoy attacked you?"
'Yes. I kind of provoked him into it though."
"Why? How?"
"Why? Because the git was messing with my grades trying to get me in trouble with the teachers. I figured if I got him in hot water they would back off. It worked. He almost got expelled, if his father hadn't stepped in and used his influence he would have been. How? Well… That was a thing of beauty, see I said…"
Remus listened to the story and was enthralled. He laughed loudly when he heard what Harry said about Lucius Malfoy. It was obvious that Harry did have a prankster streak and he understood human nature very well. The whole thing was well done, it definitely showed that Harry understood the political side of life as well, something Lily had understood but that had escaped James completely until after seventh year. It was also sad, because while Harry's eyes sparkled with delight as he told the story, as the story ended Harry's mask came back over his face.
"So you can see why I think it would be good if my friends got some extra defense training." Harry concluded.
"Yes, yes I can see that. I'll have to discuss it with the Headmaster, to see if I can open up a defense practical to allow students to expand their knowledge."
"Oh, but-"
"Harry I could teach you alone because I was good friends with your father but as soon as I open that teaching up to your friends I have to open it to the student body or it becomes grounds for accusations of favoritism and it could get me fired."
Harry's expression clouded. "I see. I'm sorry. I didn't think about that." Harry thought carefully. He supposed it was possible for him to learn from Lupin, and turn right back around and teach his friends. "I'll have to think about it then."
"Okay. I wanted to talk to you about your godfather." Remus was astonished at how fast Harry shut down.
"What about him?"
"I don't know what he said to you, but I know he didn't really mean it. He's still… confused because of Azkaban."
"Maybe but in my mind that makes it more, not less, likely that he would say what he really thinks. He despises me for being a snake rather than a lion. His prerogative, just as it's mine to have nothing to do with him."
Remus winced. He could now see that less than forgiving side that Severus Snape said Harry had. "Sirius has issues, he spent so much time in-"
"Save it. Yes, he has issues, serious ones if you'll pardon the pun, not the least of which is a puny mind. Leave it, Professor."
Remus debated saying more but decided not to risk the fragile rapport that he was establishing with Harry.