Remus was summoned to Dumbledore's office after the assembly in the Great Hall. He stood in the corridor by the stone gargoyles, nervously fidgeting from foot to foot. "Why am I so bloody scared of going up there?" he asked, looking about at James, Lily, and Sirius, who had accompanied him to the Headmaster's door.

"It'll be alright, mate," James said encouragingly.

Remus sighed. He wasn't so sure. In the past, being summoned to Dumbledore's office had typically not been for anything good, and given all that had happened with Ned and Garm and the werewolves of Fallengunder... well.

"Sour jelly slugs," his voice shook as he spoke, and the gargoyle obediently leaped aside, revealing the moving stone staircase beyond. Remus looked at the others.

"I'll be right here," Sirius promised, planting himself on the carpet.

James nodded, "And if anything's the matter, Sirius will use the mirror to get us right away," he said, holding up the two-way mirror with one hand, and Lily's hand with the other. "We've got to do rounds." Then, before Sirius could say anything, he added, "Actual rounds, not snogging."

Remus smiled a little because he adored his friends and it was hard not to smile about them. He looked back at the stone steps, then drew a deep breath, "Alright. Wish me luck."

"Luck," Sirius sang.

"We love you, Rey," Lily called.

Remus stepped onto the stairs and they began carrying him away, up into the dark of the tower. "Love you lot, too," he said shakily, and the gargoyle jumped back in place as the door closed, sealing him in and them out. He turned to face forward, scared and feeling a bit like Peter for trembling as the staircase climbed up... up... up...

He started to worry more and more, now that his friends weren't there to distract him from the nerves coursing through him. What if something had happened to Ned Veigler after all? The rumors going through the castle were not kind to Professor Veigler and Remus had been worrying for him already, before Dumbledore had summoned him... but now... well, what if Dumbledore had wanted to tell Remus the news of whatever was happening in private? He thought of Ned's smiling face and his promise that Remus could one day work for him at Fallengunder when the time came, and he felt his stomach twist. What if that dream could never become a reality because of what had happened during the full moon? What if that was what Dumbledore had summoned him for?

Immediately, Remus felt ashamed for being so selfish and thinking only of how it might affect him, and not about Ned.

He reached the top of the spiraling staircase and stepped onto the landing before the door. On the landing was the usual pair of wellies and an umbrella, and there was some comfort in the fact that some things never changed, at least. He knocked on the door nervously, his belly twisting up in knots.

"Come in, Remus," called Dumbledore's voice from within.

Remus pushed opened the door, and stepped inside. Sitting across from Dumbledore's desk was Professor McGonagall and a witch that he had never met before - a plump woman in dark purple robes. She had kind eyes and her small mouth parted into a smile the moment she saw him as she turned in her chair. "So this is Remus Lupin!" she exclaimed ad she excitedly stuck out a hand to him, "It is so very nice to meet you!"

Remus stepped up quickly and shook her hand back, "Hullo," he said, his mind racing to try at catching up. 

Dumbledore smiled encouragingly, "Remus, this is Professor Dorothy Kesselman, and she is the head of the department of Magical Education Training at the University of Wizardry in London."

"Oh," Remus said, still rather unsure what to say. "Nice to meet you as well, Professor Kesselman."

Dorothy Kesselman beamed and turned to look at Dumbledore and McGonagall, "What a very well mannered young man he is!" She looked back at Remus.

"We are very, very proud of Remus," McGonagall confirmed. Her eyes were still bloodshot from crying in the Great Hall, and she clutched her handkerchief firmly in her fist, but her expression was a tearful one of pride as she smiled stiffly at Remus. "He is quite the gifted young man."

"I should say so!" Dorothy Kesselman answered, and she lifted a folio of parchment from a bag at her feet and looked it over, raising a pair of spectacles that hung about her neck on a chain. Peering through the lenses, she read, "Prefect. Highest grades in the school. Capable of producing  corporeal patronus. Started a study group for younger students in your house. Is that true, Remus?"

Remus flushed. "Yes, m'am."

She smiled and said, "And you enjoy working with the younger students?"

"I love it," he answered. "I love seeing them succeed and learn things that they didn't think they could do." Remus's voice grew in excitement as he spoke, "Like just the other day, Maddox Webb, he changed a tea cup into a mouse for the first time and he was so proud of himself. And Mae Swann, she showed Marium Noor how to change the colours of her hijab and Marium's been wearing a different coloured one every day since." He's eyes were glowing by now, "It's just so cool, watching them become more experienced and becoming like real witches and wizards as they're learning their lessons and getting to help them and to be a part of that is just so... rewarding... and... and awesome..." His voice petered out and he flushed. "Sorry."

"No, no, not at all. That's precisely the response I was hoping for!" Dorothy Kesselman said.

And suddenly Remus's heart began to beat in his chest harder than ever before and he felt his mouth go quite dry as an inkling... a small hint of an idea of what might be happening. But certainly it couldn't be - and if he even thought it, if he even completed the sentence in his head, then his hopes would get up and he'd be shattered all over when it turned out he was wrong...

"We received your academic resume that you sent with your letter for request to enrollment in the Magical Education Training program," Dorothy Kesselman was saying, "And my, my - what a very impressive collection of recommendation letters you've included." She flicked through them, "The headmaster of Hogwarts School, the Deputy Headmistress, Newt Scamander!" She looked up at him, "You must be a very talented and accomplished young man."

Remus's flush only deepened as McGonagall nodded her agreement.

Dorothy Kesselman continued, "We have given your application full and absolute consideration and we would like to invite you to attend the Magical Education Training full time program at the University of Wizardry in the fall."

Remus nearly fell over. He felt a thrill go through him, but even as he did, he paused and a look of panic went through him. "But I don't have the money. I haven't got a job. I -- I was planning at getting a job and attending part time if I got in and --"

"Yes, Dumbledore mentioned that there might be some financial concerns," Dorothy Kesselman replied, "But, given your impressive resume, an anonymous sponsor has pledged for you and you are invited to attend the program free of all expenses."

This time, he really did lose his footing. He stumbled back and Dumbledore magicked a chair behind him only just in time so that he fell into the seat, his eyes wide. "I... really? You're not joking?"

"I'm not joking," Dorothy Kesselman said, smiling. "Does this mean that you'll accept our offer?"

"Bloody hell! I'll say I do!" he cried, dizzy with excitement. "Oh my gods. Oh my gods, thank you. THANK YOU!" his eyes were wild. "I - I can't believe this. Oh my gods."

Dorothy Kesselman laughed, and McGonagall's eyes were tearing up again and she swept the handkerchief across them, beaming with pride at Remus as he shook from his excitement.

"At least one good thing has come of this week," Dumbledore said, smiling, too, as Remus reacted.

Remus was trembling, "I haven't got any words except just -- I -- Thank you."

"Here you are," Dorothy Kesselman reached into her bag and pulled out a package, which she handed to Remus. "Inside, you'll find some forms, just fill those out and return them by owl to my office by the end of the year and we'll get everything put together and made official."

"Yes m'am," Remus was near to tears and he clutched the package tightly to his chest. "Thank you, thank you so much. With all of my heart."

Dorothy Kesselman smiled and stood up, as did McGonagall and Dumbledore. Dumbledore said, "Well, Mr. Lupin, please excuse me while I see Professors McGonagall and Kesselman downstairs and I will return - there are additional matters I need to speak to you about."

"Yes sir," Remus said, still hugging the package in disbelief.

"It was very nice to meet you Remus, and I look forward to seeing you again in the autumn," Dorothy Kesselman said.

"Thank you, I'll see you in Autumn."

McGonagall touched Remus's shoulder and gave him a little squeeze as she followed Professor Kesselman and Dumbledore out of the room, and she winked and gave him a small smile, then disappeared out the door with them.

The silence behind them was absolute for only a moment before Remus burst into happy tears, laughing dizzily as he lowered the package from his chest to look at it. Sure enough, in the top left there was the university's logo, and the address in London... and there in the middle was his own name in sweeping letters. Remus Lupin.

He felt a thrill go through him and he turned it over and ripped opened the package. Inside there was a sheath of papers, forms and such, and a handbook of student rules. There were two badges that had the school's logo in bright purple and white. He shook as he turned them over excitedly. Sirius was certainly going to take one, he thought, laughing to himself and imagining Sirius's reaction...

Suddenly, as though he'd summoned him, the door burst open and Sirius came through. "Dumbledore told me I ought to come up here while he was seeing that woman to the door," Sirius explained, worried, "What's happened? Are you alright? Why are you crying?"

"They're happy tears, Sirius," Remus breathed, "Look." He held up the badges and the package and Sirius crossed the room to look. "I've been accepted at university in the Magical Education program! And I'm sponsored!"

Sirius stared at the package, his eyes wide with delight, and tears sprang into his eyes and he suddenly flung himself at Remus, "Holy fuck, holy fuck, holy fuck!" he cried, and he hugged Remus tightly about the neck. "I'm so fucking proud of you! Oh my gods, I'm so proud! Moony! My Moony! A professor! Professor Moonpie!"

"I think I'll go by Lupin professionally, though," Remus teased, laughing and hugging Sirius back as tightly as he could.

Sirius drew back and stared at the package with the tears falling over his cheeks. His voice shook, "I knew you'd make it, of course, I never doubted a moment... I'm just... I fucking love you so much, I'm so proud of you, I'm so happy, I've never been happier in my entire life, I'll bet."

Remus smiled, "Excluding my memories with you, I doubt I have been either." He took the package back and stared at it, shaking his head in disbelief. "I never dreamed it would actually happen. I wanted it too much. I thought --" Remus looked up at Sirius. "Pinch me, to be sure I'm not dreaming?" He held out his arm.

Sirius punched - gently.

Remus grinned, "Bloody hell."

It went on like that until Dumbledore returned several minutes later, apologizing for having taken so long. Sirius assured him that they'd stayed busy until he returned and Dumbledore smiled and said, "Not too busy, I hope." Then, before either could fully register what he'd said - or question if he'd meant what it sounded like - Dumbledore continued, "I am very pleased, Remus, you've done well to justify my choice to bring you into Hogwarts school, and I appreciate the efforts that you've put in over the year to your education, and the work that you have done has rewarded you well. You will do very well, I am sure, at the University, and I look forward to hearing about all of your future endeavors, wherever they may lead you."

"Thank you sir," Remus answered, "None of this would've happened if it wasn't for you, and I owe you quite a lot for believing in me. You were the first to believe I could ever be more than just... a werewolf."

Dumbledore smiled sadly, "As I said this morning, you deserve a chance as equally as anyone else. And, clearly, given your offer of enrollment, you're quite a bit more deserving than many others."

Remus flushed as Sirius nodded vigorously. "Moony deserves everything in the world," he said proudly.

Dumbledore drew a deep breath. "Now, for the other matters I needed to speak to you about, Mr. Lupin. About the situation at Fallengunder, and the fact that the notorious Fenrir Greyback is still at large... I have given the matter much thought and have decided to recommend that you stay here at Hogwarts during the holidays."

Remus looked up from the package in his hands. "What?"

"Here, at Hogwarts, we can keep you protected far better than if you return home. I do not know what Fenrir Greyback's plans are now that he has dismantled the program at Fallengunder for the time being, but --"

"Dismantled it?"

Dumbledore sighed. "The Wolfsbane testing program has been suspended until a review board can determine if the incident was isolated or if there's a possibility of a repeated offense. Although the potion itself is up for approval, based on the results already gleaned, at the beginning of the year."

Remus looked disappointed, "But that means Ned and the other participants won't be getting their potion?"

Dumbledore hesitated, "Well. We will see."

"Is Ned alright?" Remus asked.

Dumbledore hesitated again. "He has seen better days, that is for sure. Emotionally, he has been through quite a lot. He is of course being carefully watched by the Ministry until his case comes up on trial, but I have consulted with a legal advocate that assures me the law is firmly and entirely on Mr. Veigler's side. He is not to blame for Garm Tyr's death, it was an accident, and the direct result of the attack from Greyback entirely. However, as an unregistered werewolf, he's been heavily fined."

Remus sighed, "So it's true, then. He is the one who killed Garm Tyr."

"Yes," Dumbledore replied point blank.

Sirius frowned and hung his head. He knew the pain that Professor Veigler was suffering - the guilt of an accidental murder... And he felt his stomach knot up a bit at the thought of it.

Dumbledore drew a long breath, and he asked, "Mr. Lupin, you are, of course, welcome to disregard my request should not not wish to stay, but I do hope that you will consider it carefully."

"Yes, sir," Remus replied. "I will."

Dumbledore nodded. "Very good."

Remus and Sirius stood up and started toward the door. As they were about to step out, Dumbledore cleared his throat and they looked back. "Do try to keep the celebratory activities to an acceptable volume... Professor McGonagall mentioned that she's received a number of complaints about the... noise level... in the boys' dormitory."

Sirius grinned wildly. "Can't promise anything tonight, sir," Sirius grinned, "My boyfriend's just made it into University, see, and I've got plans to congratulate the living daylights out of him." He winked and hurried out the door.

Remus looked at Dumbledore, red as crimson. "I'm sorry about Sirius he's --"

"Passionate," Dumbledore supplied.

Remus turned to look at Sirius's head as the staircase descended, carrying Sirius off. "I s'pose that's one word for it," Remus laughed. He hugged the package to his chest once more time. "Thank you again, sir. I don't believe I've said it enough, or that I ever could, even if I said it a hundred million times a day."

Dumbledore smiled, "You've made me proud, Remus. You've made all of us proud."

With that, Remus sniffed and turned, his eyes pouring over tears as he hurried down after Sirius.

The door closed behind him and Dumbledore looked at Fawkes the phoenix, smiling, as he stood up,  brushing aside his copy of the paperwork that would allow him to pay the tuition for Remus's education at the University.