I didn't want to see this girl. I didn't want to scare the poor girl.

It would've been better if we had let Andromeda see the kid. I was a mess. Lonely, depressed, and of course, a werewolf. It was April 17th, 1986, I believe. A rainy, messy, foggy, cold day. The Muggle newspaper had just posted a, what they thought, was a cute little article about a little orphan girl with a big imagination. This little girl claimed that she could magically get out of stressful situations, make funny things happen to bad people unintentionally, and so on.

Those were all the signs of a young wizard. And, the Order having nothing much to do after the downfall of Voldemort, decided maybe they could take the girl in, and one of us would raise her.

Why did they choose me? They said, "Oh, Remus, you need a little fun in your life. You're still only 28, you can easily raise a kid." I tried to protest that I'd be a huge threat to her once a month, and would cause her to become an outcast. "I can babysit, you know. It's not like I don't have seven other children. What's one more?" Molly reasoned. I was so reluctant. I always have wanted to raise children of my own, they're so fun, and sweet, and didn't have a care in the world. I never got that chance to have that childhood. But I wasn't going to subject another kid to that torture. The torture of being a werewolf. I've considered adoption, but like now, I believe it's way too dangerous. But somehow, someway, they convinced me to go see her in the rich orphanage she lived in. Maybe I could pass her onto Andromeda.

"Hello," acknowledged the director of the orphanage. "I'm Linda Smith, and you are?" "Remus Lupin."

"Like Remus from the Roman myth?"

"Yes, it's the same name."

Linda smiled. "And you're here about... hmm, Miranda Williams?" I nodded. She continued with, "Miranda's quite a peculiar little girl. Shy, anxious, humble, but very imaginative. She believes she can do magic. Silly little girl," Linda chuckled. "Would you like me to call her in here?" Once again, I nodded. "Mrs. Reed? Can you bring in Miranda?" A low-pitched voice responded, "Sure. I'll be right back."

A few moments later, a plump woman came in, followed by a small, black-haired girl, clutching a tattered stuffed animal that looked like a Siberian Husky. She had brown, almost black, eyes, and pale skin. "Miranda," whispered Linda as she knelt down, "Can you tell Mr. Lupin here how old you are?" With an anxious nod, the girl turned to me and held up four fingers. "And can you tell him your birthday?" A small voice squeaked out "March 5th." To be honest, the kid reminded me of myself at that age. Afraid to say too much. I gave a tired smile. "That's close to my own. Mine's March 10th," I said. Surprisingly, she walked over to where I was sitting and plopped down to where my feet were, becoming immensely interested in my scars. She ran one little hand over a scar on my ankle. I could only think of when Harry used to do that. We sat in silence for a few moments, while I had a little kid examining my ankle, pulling my socks down over my shoes to see all of the scars. The other adults looked exasperated and embarrassed, but I thought it was funny.

"Miranda, can you go back to your room now?" The plump woman held her hand, and as she was being led back, Miranda looked back at me with hopeful eyes, and a small, almost invisible smile on her lips. "So, Remus, what do you think?" Linda asked me. I wasn't honestly sure. "May I speak to her, alone, please?" I asked. A grinning girl opened the door, nodding, while Mrs. Reed was desperately trying to get her back to her room. "Miranda! You know it's bad to eavesdrop!" she exclaimed, face red as a beet. I stifled a laugh, something I hadn't had to do in over five years. The two annoyed adults left the room, shaking her head. As soon as they left, Miranda whispered, "I've got a secret. I never ever told anyone else. Everyone else I just try to run away once a month. I turn into a wolf at the full moon, and I hurt people. And I don't wanna do that, like the wolf who bit me. He stayed with me until morning, just so he could tell me his name. It was Fenrir Greyback."

I couldn't believe my ears. "Can you do magic?" I whispered. "Yeah. But I can't control it," she answered, almost ashamed. "No, it's OK, really. I can do magic too, look. Lumos," I told her, pulling out my wand and illuminating the tip. "Are you a werewolf, too?" she asked. "Yes, I actually am, but people are afraid of us. You mustn't tell anyone of your condition, alright? They can hurt you." Miranda looked up at me with fearful eyes. I gulped- maybe I had scared her beyond belief. Oh, this is why I shouldn't be a father. As I turned to leave and tell them I wasn't interested, she asked, "Will you protect me from the bad people? Are you gonna be my father?"

"I'll take her- she needs a home, doesn't she?" I immediately told Linda.

"Oh, well, we'll have to do background checks on you, find out information, make sure you don't have a criminal record, it's a long process. Even if you are deemed able to be her legal guardian, it will be at least six weeks before she can live with you-"

"Do what you have to."