Old Friend

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

Why had neither of them ever told him? Harry hesitated for several days before finally deciding to ask Hagrid about Professor Lupin.

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

Hagrid paused while pouring tea and looked up. "Who told you that?"

"Albert," Hermione answered 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 set three cups of strong tea before them and recalled, "They were always very close, inseparable, much like the three of you."

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

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

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

There were some things Hagrid really could not tell Harry. Telling him now would not do any good; it would only make matters worse.

"Fine!"

Realizing he could not get anything out of Hagrid, Harry gave up. He thought he could ask Albert for information, or simply go straight to Professor Lupin.

"Hagrid, what did Albert come to see you for?" Hermione changed the subject.

When