Harry and Hermione were a bit surprised when Dumbledore introduced a middle aged woman named Professor Amelia Howard who would be taking potions. They thought Dumbledore would get Horace Slughorn. They weren't surprised when he introduced Remus Lupin who was also sitting at the staff table. They would slip through the cabinet's later that night to inform Sirius. Then Harry reminded Hermione that Dobby could take the message about Lupin to Sirius.
As the students began to leave the great hall, Remus hurried after Harry, 'I would like to speak with you Harry.'
'Hermione comes as well.'
'This is private.'
'Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of the girl I will marry one day.'
'You're only eleven.'
'What has age got to do with anything when you find your soul mate?'
'Soul mate.'
'Yes, we found out we're soul mates, and we found out just how rare soul mates are in the magical world. So you can say anything in front of Hermione.'
'Alright, let's go to my office.'
Harry and Hermione stayed quiet as they followed lupin towards his office. He gestured for them to sit, but both decided to stand.
'So, you wanted to talk to me.'
'Yes, I wanted you to know that I was close friends with your parent's.'
'I know, Sirius told me. He also told me just how much he and my father sacrificed for during the full moon yet you left after my parents were murdered. Sirius is not very happy with you right now, neither am I for that matter.'
'I was informed that Sirius was guilty, I was hurt that he would betray our friends.'
'Yet you never bothered to find out if it was true.'
'No, I admit I believed everyone. I thought he finally gave in to the Black curse. But in regards to you, I was told you were safe, protected and…due to my problem, I could not approach the wards.'
'Did you try?'
'No, I was told they would react badly if I tried to get near the house.'
'The wards that were supposedly keep me safe didn't work. I was abused for years before Hermione's parent's rescued me, then adopted me. But from what I found out, the wards were supposed to be based on me being blood related to that bitch. My mother was adopted when she was three months olds, so that was a lie. Yet you didn't even bother to find out. Alright, it might have stopped you, but you didn't write, you didn't even send me a birthday card. Do you know what it's like to grow up believing you're responsible for your parent's deaths, that you're not wanted? They would say often that no one wanted me that's why I never got letters or cards. I would have to watch my fat cousin open forty gifts, yet I got nothing. I was there slave, I was treated worse than Malfoy's house elf.'
Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry, 'You didn't want anything to do with Harry then, so he wants nothing to do with you now. If that's why you're here then you might as well leave. Come on love, let's go.'
Harry glared at Lupin before he left with Hermione. They wondered what Lupin would do now, whether he would stay or leave. They also wondered what the headmaster would do now he found out bringing Lupin here wasn't going to work.
Harry wrote a letter to Sirius then had Dobby take it to him, but to see if Sirius wanted to respond and if he did, not to return to Harry until everyone was asleep. Once Dobby left Harry grabbed his books then joined Hermione and Neville ready to do their homework.
When Harry, Hermione and Neville headed to the great hall for dinner they saw Sirius leaning against the wall.
'Hey Paddy,' Harry grinned making Sirius laugh.
'Hey pup, how were classes?'
'Alright, what brought you to Hogwarts?'
'I decided to have a little chat with my old friend.'
'Hermione and I went off at him. He told us he had been friends with my parent's. So I finally mentioned how I was abused and how I never received a letter from him. I basically told him to leave me alone.'
'I made it official Harry. Apart from teaching, he cannot have anything to do with you. I also had words with Dumbledore. He knows not to interfere in your life, if he does then you and Hermione will be out of here and transferred to another school.'
'Good, because I have a feeling that Dumbledore and that Weasley prat have some plans that involve me.'
'Ron keeps trying to intimidate Neville and me. He is trying to get Harry to be his friend but when Harry hexes him or tells him off, he always looks at Professor Dumbledore. He won't give up even though he's ended up in detention every week because he just won't leave us alone,' Hermione said.
'Then I will go speak with Arthur. As head of the family Arthur can order his son to stay away from you. Since I am here, have you had any trouble with the Slytherin's, like Malfoy?'
'At first no, then he began to call Hermione and Neville names. He also was rude to a lot of other kids. Then one day he was found hanging by his ankles from one of the towers. Since that happened he hasn't said a word to any of us, but neither have any of the other Slytherin's. Someone didn't like the way he acted and decided to give him a scare.'
'Good, hopefully he will realise that he doesn't have his godfather to protect him. I also made sure that his father has no say at Hogwarts anymore.'
'How did you manage that?'
'The Potters always held a seat on the board of governors. Since I am your magical guardian I took the Potter seat. Lucius Malfoy was only given that seat after your grandfather died. Your dad would have taken it once he was old enough, you have to be thirty before you can take your seat. So he was told to leave since I was legally allowed to take the seat. The others seemed relieved he was gone. I would say he used his money and influence on them to get what he wanted. I wouldn't put it passed him to use threats. Anyway, I'll let you have dinner. If you have any type of trouble or get suspicious about anything, let me know. I am going to make sure things change in this place, especially anything to do with the way some students believed they are allowed to get away with anything just because they are purebloods.'
Sirius hugged Harry, then Hermione, he shook Neville's hand making the boy blush before giving Remus a look. Sirius nodded to Harry then left the castle. The three friends walked into the great hall and took a seat at the opposite end to where Ron was sitting.
Harry and Hermione knew that since some things had changed, it was time to make friends with students from the other houses. They had no proof but they believed that Dumbledore, with Ron helping, kept Harry from becoming friends with other students. If Harry only had Ron as a friend then it would make it easier to manipulate. That was their belief. Hopefully now it would show Ron that he was going to be left alone, and it would show the old man that he couldn't get anyone to spy on Harry.
The following morning Sirius went straight to the ministry. He headed to the misuse of muggle artifacts office. After introducing himself to Arthur Weasley, he explained about what his son was doing and how he was trying to force his godson, Harry, to be his friend but Ron was also becoming abusive towards Harry's friends or anyone that tried to be his friend. Sirius wanted Arthur to know that unless he did something about his son, then Sirius would get more involved. Arthur explained that he had already spoken with his wife who wrote to Ron. It seems that letter didn't work, so Arthur was going to visit his son on the weekend. He gave Sirius his word as head of the Weasley family that he would deal with his son. Sirius liked Arthur, so after they got through the difficult part of the conversation, he asked the red head about his job. Sirius explained that he knew a lot about muggle things since Lily was a muggleborn. She would take James and Sirius into muggle towns and explain. She had a muggle home, but she had used runes on the electricity and items to stop the magic from causing problems. Even though Sirius wanted Ron away from Harry, Sirius liked Arthur and Harry did say the twins were good friends in their other life. Harry hoped the twins would be friends again in this life.
Even though Lupin remained as the defence against the dark arts teacher, Harry and Hermione ignored him unless he asked them a question. At one time they did discuss letting the information out about Lupin being a werewolf. They decided they would only do that if he tried to interfere with Harry, or Hermione. They both believed that since Lupin would tell Dumbledore what Harry and Hermione said to him, and how they knew he was a werewolf, that the two men believed it was safer if Lupin stayed away from Harry. Dumbledore would have no choice but to sack Lupin if word got out about his condition, then he would need to find another teacher. Harry and Hermione were just pleased that the man was leaving them alone.
Ron ended up suspended for a week when he was caught trying to hex Hermione as he called her a disgusting mudblood who was using Harry Potter for his fame and money. The twins caught him, they bound him then took him to McGonagall but Harry and Hermione followed. They said if he wasn't suspended then they would transfer to another school. McGonagall knew what Ron did was enough for him to be suspended even if she knew the headmaster would try to stop it. So Minerva contacted Arthur Weasley instead of Molly, she explained what Ron had doing and saying, she also explained that he would be suspended for a week but if he kept acting the way he had been, he would end up expelled. Arthur arrived instantly, he apologised to Hermione for what his son had said, then gave his word that Ron would never bother them again. He grabbed his son's arm then left the castle.
Harry and Hermione hoped this would be the last time they had to deal with Ron. They knew the headmaster was not happy, but it seems he realised he could not get anyone close to Harry Potter. Harry and Hermione knew the old man would not give up, but they would keep their eyes open so they were ready for whatever Dumbledore planned.