The Twin Who Lived: Secrets of the Serpent - Choosing a Successor

The evening after the Great Hall celebration found the Hogwarts staff gathered once again within the circular comfort of Dumbledore's office. Outside the tall windows, November winds swept across the castle grounds, carrying the promise of winter. Bare branches scratched softly against ancient stone walls, and distant clouds drifted beneath a moon partially veiled by mist. Inside, however, warmth filled the room. Fawkes perched quietly upon his golden stand, his crimson feathers glowing in the firelight. Silver instruments clicked and spun atop delicate tables, filling the silence with soft metallic whispers. The scent of old books, parchment, and lemon drops lingered comfortably in the air. Yet despite the peaceful surroundings, the professors had gathered for a very practical reason. One problem had been solved, but another remained. The Defense Against the Dark Arts position was suddenly vacant.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk with his fingers lightly folded together.

His expression was thoughtful.

Not troubled.

Merely reflective.

Across from him sat McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, and Madam Pomfrey.

Each wore varying expressions of consideration.

The celebration in the Great Hall already felt distant.

Reality had returned.

"The curse has been removed." Dumbledore began quietly.

The words still carried a certain weight.

Even now.

After decades of frustration.

After generations of failed appointments.

The reality seemed almost unbelievable.

"The position can finally become stable."

Flitwick smiled immediately, "I never thought I'd live to hear those words."

Sprout chuckled softly, "Neither did I," She shook her head, "Though I suspect Hogwarts itself is pleased."

McGonagall nodded.

The castle certainly felt different.

Lighter.

Healthier somehow.

As if a lingering illness had finally passed.

"But." Dumbledore continued.

The single word shifted the room's attention.

A practical concern remained.

An unavoidable one.

"We still require a professor."

Silence followed.

Not uncomfortable silence.

Merely thoughtful silence.

The sort that accompanied important decisions.

The school year still had months remaining.

Students needed instruction.

The curriculum could not simply pause.

McGonagall folded her hands atop her lap, "Given the circumstances, perhaps a temporary appointment would suffice until next year."

Her tone was measured.

Reasonable.

The suggestion carried merit.

The term was already well underway.

Finding a qualified replacement would not be simple.

Flitwick nodded, "Most experienced candidates already have positions elsewhere," He sighed, "The best professors are rarely unemployed."

Sprout smiled faintly, "Imagine that."

A few quiet chuckles circled the room.

Even Snape's mouth twitched slightly.

Only slightly.

Then the discussion returned to seriousness.

McGonagall glanced toward Snape, "You know many individuals through your former connections."

The implication was clear.

Former Death Eaters.

Former Dark Arts practitioners.

People familiar with defensive magic.

"Any recommendations?"

Snape leaned back in his chair.

His dark eyes reflected the firelight.

For several moments, he said nothing.

The silence stretched.

Predictably.

Because Severus Snape never answered immediately when he could answer dramatically.

"There is Alaric Silverthorne."

Several heads nodded immediately.

The suggestion made sense.

Perhaps too much sense.

"His credentials are beyond question."

Flitwick sounded impressed merely mentioning them.

"Master duelist. Magizoologist. Auror. Researcher." Snape listed.

Pomfrey added another, "He teaches surprisingly well."

McGonagall smiled faintly, "Mira certainly speaks highly of him."

Snape's expression became complicated.

Not disapproving.

Just realistic.

"No."

The answer surprised several professors.

Snape shook his head, "He's unavailable."

The room quieted.

Dumbledore tilted his head, "Unavailable?"

"Yes," Snape's voice remained calm, "He is currently leading an international operation targeting magical trafficking networks."

The office grew serious.

Everyone knew what that meant.

Human trafficking.

Creature trafficking.

Poaching.

Illegal magical trade.

The ugliest side of the magical world.

Alaric had dedicated years to combating it.

"The operation is active," Snape continued, "And apparently substantial," His tone carried reluctant respect, "Leaving now would compromise months of work."

McGonagall nodded slowly, "Then we cannot ask him to abandon it."

"No," Snape agreed, "Nor would he."

The answer came immediately.

Certain.

Absolute.

Everyone present knew it was true.

A thoughtful silence settled over the office once more.

Outside, the wind rattled the windows.

Inside, the fire crackled softly.

The search continued.

Then Dumbledore smiled.

A very specific smile.

The kind that usually meant he had already reached a conclusion.

Several professors noticed.

McGonagall certainly did, "You have someone in mind."

She stated it rather than asked it.

Dumbledore's smile widened.

Slightly.

"I do."

The Headmaster leaned forward.

His eyes sparkled gently, "There is one candidate I believe would be exceptionally suited."

Flitwick looked curious.

Pomfrey looked interested.

Sprout appeared hopeful.

Snape already looked suspicious.

"Remus Lupin."

The name settled over the room.

Silence followed.

Not because anyone disliked the idea.

Quite the opposite.

Most were simply considering it.

McGonagall's expression softened immediately, "Oh."

The single word carried understanding.

Then approval.

Flitwick nodded, "An excellent choice."

"Very," Sprout agreed, "He understands Dark creatures exceptionally well."

Pomfrey smiled warmly, "And he has an approachable presence for students to trust him."

A valuable quality.

Perhaps an undervalued one.

Teaching required more than knowledge.

It required connection.

Dumbledore folded his hands, "Remus possesses practical experience," His voice remained calm, "He understands defensive magic. He understands Dark magic and most importantly..."

The Headmaster smiled, "He understands people."

The room considered that.

It was difficult to argue.

Remus had spent much of his life navigating fear, prejudice, and hardship.

Empathy came naturally to him.

"His knowledge rivals most experts," Flitwick added, "Perhaps not quite Alaric's."

A small chuckle followed.

Very few people rivaled Alaric Silverthorne.

Dumbledore nodded, "Almost as good."

The statement carried significant praise.

Coming from Dumbledore, it carried even more.

Everyone turned toward Snape.

Predictably.

Because everyone knew the history.

The Marauders.

Old wounds.

Old grudges.

Old memories.

Snape's expression became unreadable.

The fire reflected in his dark eyes.

For several moments, he remained silent.

The room waited.

Patiently.

Finally, he exhaled.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Reluctantly.

"Academically."

The words sounded as though they physically pained him.

"Remus Lupin is qualified."

McGonagall immediately hid a smile.

Flitwick looked impressed.

Sprout nearly laughed.

Snape narrowed his eyes, "I am not complimenting him."

"Of course not." McGonagall replied.

Entirely too quickly.

More amusement flickered through the room.

Even Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

Snape looked vaguely betrayed.

"Nevertheless," Snape continued, "I see no better candidate."

The admission finally came.

Reluctant.

Honest.

Unavoidable.

That settled it.

Everyone knew.

If Severus Snape had agreed, the discussion was effectively over.

Dumbledore smiled warmly.

Then rose from his chair.

Decision made.

Problem solved.

"Excellent," His voice carried quiet satisfaction, "I shall contact Remus immediately."

The Headmaster moved toward his desk.

Already reaching for parchment.

Already preparing a letter.

As the professors began discussing lesson plans and logistics, Dumbledore found himself smiling.

The curse was gone.

Lockhart was gone.

A capable teacher was about to arrive.

For the first time in many years, the future of Defense Against the Dark Arts looked remarkably promising.

And somewhere far from Hogwarts, entirely unaware that his life was about to change, Remus Lupin was about to receive a letter that would bring him home.

The Auror Office was unusually lively that afternoon. Sunlight streamed through the tall, enchanted windows, painting long golden rectangles across polished wooden floors and stacks of paperwork. Owls occasionally fluttered overhead carrying reports from various departments, while enchanted message scrolls drifted from desk to desk under their own power. Conversations rose and fell throughout the room in a steady rhythm. Some Aurors discussed ongoing investigations. Others sorted through evidence from recent raids. The atmosphere carried a sense of purpose that had become increasingly common over the past year. The trafficking operations led by Alaric Silverthorne had resulted in numerous victories, and morale remained high despite the difficult work. At one corner desk sat Remus Lupin, quietly reviewing a report while absently turning the silver Moonstone Ring on his finger. The ring glimmered softly whenever it caught the light, a reminder of the burden Mira and Isolde had helped ease. For the first time in decades, the approaching full moon no longer filled him with dread.

A tawny owl suddenly swooped through one of the open windows.

Several Aurors glanced upward.

The bird flew directly toward Remus.

Its destination was unmistakable.

Remus blinked in surprise as the owl landed neatly atop a stack of reports.

A familiar seal decorated the parchment attached to its leg.

His stomach immediately tightened.

Hogwarts.

Nearby, Sirius Black noticed the seal first.

A grin spread across his face, "Oh, this should be interesting."

Remus sighed.

Whenever Sirius sounded excited, trouble usually followed.

Or embarrassment.

Often both.

"What is it?" Tonks asked from across the room.

Sirius pointed dramatically, "Hogwarts."

Immediately several heads turned.

Kingsley looked curious.

Amelia Bones raised an eyebrow.

Nagini glanced up from her paperwork.

Even Moody looked interested.

Remus carefully untied the parchment.

The familiar handwriting immediately caught his attention.

Albus Dumbledore.

A mixture of nostalgia and uncertainty stirred within him.

He had not received many personal letters from his former Headmaster over the years.

Certainly not unexpected ones.

The office gradually quieted.

Everyone was watching.

Remus noticed.

And hated it.

"Well?" Tonks asked impatiently, "You can't just stare at it forever."

Remus rubbed his forehead.

Then unfolded the letter.

His eyes moved slowly across the page.

The room waited.

Several moments passed.

Then several more.

A complicated expression appeared on his face.

Sirius immediately noticed, "Oh, that's definitely something important."

Remus lowered the parchment, "He wants me to teach."

The room blinked.

"Teach what?" Kingsley asked.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Silence followed.

Then immediate understanding.

"The position?" Amelia asked.

Remus nodded, "The position."

Several Aurors exchanged surprised glances.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts job was infamous.

Everybody knew about the curse.

Everybody.

Remus continued reading.

His eyes moved over the final paragraphs.

Then something unexpected happened.

A small smile appeared.

"What?" Sirius asked, "What is it?"

Remus looked up, "Dumbledore says the curse is gone."

The room went completely silent.

Even Moody paused.

That alone was impressive.

"Gone?" Kingsley repeated, "As in..."

"As in broken," Remus sounded just as surprised, "He says Mira Silverthorne removed it."

That statement produced a different kind of silence.

One filled with disbelief.

Followed immediately by acceptance.

Because if anyone could accomplish something ridiculous, it was probably Mira.

Nagini laughed softly, "That sounds exactly like her."

Several people nodded.

"Actually," Tonks leaned back in her chair, "That sounds terrifyingly like her."

More nodding followed.

Remus looked back at the letter.

The words felt strangely unreal.

The curse was gone.

The position was safe.

After all these years.

Yet uncertainty lingered.

A familiar uncertainty.

One he had carried for most of his life.

"I don't know."

The admission came quietly.

The room settled.

The joking faded.

Everyone understood the real concern.

Remus looked down at the Moonstone Ring on his finger.

Its pale surface reflected the sunlight.

A simple object.

Yet one that had changed everything.

"What if parents object?"

His voice remained calm.

But old pain lingered beneath it.

"What if they learn what I am?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Not because they lacked answers.

Because they understood the weight of the question.

Across the room sat Korrin Silverthorne.

The young werewolf adjusted his own Moonstone Ring thoughtfully.

His olive-green eyes softened, "Then they're wrong."

The statement was simple.

Direct.

Honest.

Everyone turned toward him.

Korrin leaned forward, "When I was younger, people looked at me and saw a monster," His voice remained steady, "But Hogwarts would've been different if someone like you had been there."

Remus listened silently.

"You understand what it's like," Korrin continued. "You know how frightening it can be. You know how lonely it can be," A pause followed, "You'd help students who feel alone."

The room grew quieter.

Remus found himself staring at the younger werewolf.

A strange warmth settled in his chest.

Nyx Silverthorne spoke next.

Sunlight reflected off the elegant Sunstone Ring on his hand.

Unlike ordinary vampires, he sat comfortably beneath the daylight streaming through the windows.

Another miracle Mira and Isolde had created.

"When people hear the word 'vampire'..." Nyx began softly, "They assume the worst."

A familiar bitterness lingered beneath his calm tone.

"I spent years hiding." His amethyst emerald eyes met Remus's, "You taught me not to."

The statement surprised him.

Nyx smiled faintly, "You probably don't remember. But you did." A pause followed, "You're good at helping people remember they're more than what others fear."

Remus looked away.

Emotion tightened his throat.

Nagini leaned against a nearby desk.

Her smile carried quiet encouragement, "I spent years trapped."

The office grew silent.

Everyone knew her story.

The trafficking ring.

The curse.

The suffering.

"Then Mira saved me." Nagini continued, "After that, people helped me become myself again."

She folded her arms, "You've done the same thing for others for years." Her smile widened, "So stop pretending you wouldn't be brilliant at teaching."

Several Aurors laughed.

Even Amelia Bones nodded, "I agree."

The Head of Magical Law Enforcement rarely spoke casually.

Which made her opinion carry weight.

"Hogwarts would benefit from someone with practical experience." She folded her hands, "You possess plenty."

Kingsley nodded, "So do patience."

Tonks grinned, "And Merlin knows you'll be better than Lockhart."

The entire office burst into laughter.

Even Remus laughed.

A genuine laugh.

One he hadn't expected.

The tension slowly faded.

The doubts remained.

But they felt smaller now.

Manageable.

He looked down at Dumbledore's letter one final time.

The invitation.

The opportunity.

The chance to return home.

Home.

The word lingered in his thoughts.

Hogwarts had always been that.

Even after graduation.

Even after hardship.

Even after loss.

Slowly, a decision formed.

Remus reached for parchment.

The room immediately noticed.

Sirius grinned, "Oh, that's a yes."

Remus rolled his eyes.

Then smiled, "Yes."

He dipped his quill into ink.

The familiar scratching sound filled the air.

Outside, sunlight continued shining through the windows.

Inside, friends watched quietly.

Dear Albus,

I would be honored to accept the position.

As he wrote the words, a strange feeling settled over him.

Hope.

Simple.

Warm.

Unexpected.

For the first time in many years, Remus Lupin found himself looking forward to the future.

And far away at Hogwarts, a newly restored classroom awaited its next professor.

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