Old Friend

Harry cared deeply about what Albert had said. He had never expected Professor Lupin to be his father's good friend, and that Hagrid knew about it too.

Why had neither of them ever mentioned it to him?

Harry hesitated for several days before finally deciding to ask Hagrid about Professor Lupin.

"Hagrid, was Professor Lupin really my father's good friend?"

Hagrid paused in the middle of pouring tea and looked up. "Who told you that?"

"Albert," Hermione answered Hagrid's question for Harry. She noticed that Hagrid did not seem to want to discuss the subject.

"Lupin and James were indeed very close friends when they were at school," Hagrid said slowly. "But..."

"Did they fall out?" Harry asked tentatively.

"No, they didn't." Hagrid placed three cups of strong tea before them and recalled, "They were always very close, inseparable, much like you three."

"But why had Professor Lupin never come to see me while I was growing up?" Harry was deeply puzzled. If Professor Lupin had truly been his father's good friend, surely he could not have ignored his friend's only son after his death.

At least, Harry did not think he would have acted that way himself.

"Professor Lupin hasn't had an easy time these past years. I don't know about anything else. If you've got questions, I'd suggest asking him directly." Hagrid promptly tossed Harry's question back to Lupin and felt rather pleased with his own cleverness.

There were some things Hagrid truly could not tell Harry. Telling him now would do no good; it would only make matters worse.

"All right!"

Knowing he would get nothing out of Hagrid, Harry gave up. He thought he could ask Albert for information, or simply go directly to Professor Lupin.

"Hagrid, what did Albert come to see you for?" Hermione