Disclaimer: I don't own any characters, places, etc. Anything Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Prologue
The tireless, young boy sat outside on the grass just as the sun began to sink below the horizon. A stray cat had wandered into the garden, and the boy had been entertained by it for a few moments. The boy's brown hair was blown by a soft, warm breeze, a harbinger of summer.
Just as the he reached out to pet the cat again, it darted out of the garden. The boy looked confused for a moment. Why had the cat run? But then he heard it, too. A low growl came from --- from where? He looked around, but the next moment the boy was pinned down to the ground. His face was buried in the grass; he could hear rasping breath. Something had taken over the boy's body: extreme fear. He meant to yell out, call his father, but suddenly there was a white-hot pain in his shoulder, in his arm, in his leg.
The boy's father came running out of the house. Did he hear the boy scream? Did the boy even scream? He couldn't remember his actions. He felt the pressure leave his body, but it didn't matter. The pain had carried him into blackness.
Chapter One
Remus Lupin could remember that night as if it happened only minutes ago, yet he knew it was so far away. It had been nearly eight years since he had been bitten by a werewolf. And yet, despite that setback, he was here, now, halfway through his fifth year at Hogwarts.
Remus remembered the months following the attack. He saw doctor after doctor. His parents had tried to find some way to get rid of his "furry little problem" (as James liked to call it). Whether it was because they were really concerned about how Remus would be treated because of the universal werewolf prejudice, or if they felt the need to redeem themselves since it was their own prejudice toward werewolves that sparked the attack, Remus would never know. All he knew was that he had been lucky thus far, even though the doctors told him nothing could be done.
Luck came in many forms, even death. Had the previous headmaster not died and Professor Dumbledore succeeded him, Remus doubted whether he would have been able to go to school at all. Dumbledore was merciful and accepting with every person and creature. Remus could remember his first meeting with Dumbledore.
It was the summer before his first year at the school. His parents had set up a meeting with the headmaster to discuss Remus' "problem". They were to meet at the Three Broomsticks, in a private room above the bar. The Lupins arrived precisely on time. The bartender led them upstairs and knocked on a door before opening it.
When Remus peered in, he could see a tall man with long reddish-brown hair, wearing midnight blue robes, standing beside a table.
"It's nice to meet you." Dumbledore said, holding out his hand. His father shook it.
They assembled themselves around the table.
"Now, as I am aware, Remus was bitten by a werewolf many years ago and has all signs and symptoms of one. Is that correct?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, when the full moon comes around...well, he's not quite himself." Mrs. Lupin replied.
"Understandable. And you think he might not be able to handle school?"
"No, no. We're quite sure he can handle it. It's just... we were concerned with his welfare and the welfare of the other students during the full moons." Remus' father replied.
"Well, I see no problem with this. Why should a boy not be able to attend school simply because he has an affliction? I think we can work something out." Dumbledore had winked at Remus. He smiled. He couldn't remember ever being that happy. It was hope for him, hope for a normal life.
Dumbledore had a shack built in Hogsmeade. It contained a secret passage leading into the school grounds. No one had to know he was a werewolf. Remus could simply make up an excuse to be out of bed, and Madam Pomfrey would bring him down to the Whomping Willow, through which he would escape to the shack and spend his night. Suddenly being a werewolf seemed so simple. Luck was on his side.
Remus could remember his first day, and his first trip on the Hogwarts Express, where he met a girl with long red hair and bright green eyes. Her name was Lily. A friend. Something Remus never had up until then. Lily Potter was his first friend. She was pretty, generous, and comforting.
He also sat with a young boy whose black hair fell into his eyes. Severus Snape seemed a strange boy to Remus. He was clearly shy, but seemed to overflow with energy and enthusiasm in Lily's presence. He had a strange sense of humor, but was intelligent nonetheless.
So many things have changed since then, Remus thought to himself. He was still friends with Lily, but James had been inclined to have her. Consequently, he often made a fool of himself around her, which made Lily avoid conversation in James' presence.
His relationship with Snape had changed. James and Sirius' hated Snape. Remus avoided him simply because he didn't much like Snape either, and valued James and Sirius friendship. Peter hated Snape simply because everyone else did.
"Hey, Moony." Sirius said, sitting down on the red couch next to him, throwing him out of his thoughts.
"Where have you been?" Remus asked.
"Ohh, James and I just slipped a little surprise into Snape's book bag." Sirius said smirking. Remus opened his mouth to ask what the 'surprise' was, but realized that he'd rather not know.
"Hey, Remus, did Sirius tell you?" James asked, sitting down across from the pair in the Gryffindor common room.
"Tell me what?" Lupin looked at Sirius questioningly.
"Obviously not, then." James said. "Let's go upstairs."
The three of them, followed as always by Peter, walked up to their dormitory.
They entered the small circular room. James walked into the middle of it and signaled for everyone to give him space.
"Ready?" he asked. Remus, not knowing what to expect, just nodded.
For a moment, nothing happened. James seemed to be concentrating hard. Suddenly, James disappeared, and instead, a large deer stood in front of him.
"Impressive, huh?" asked Sirius, smiling at the accomplishment.
"When did you figure out how to transfigure?" Remus asked, concern flooding his mind.
"We finally got the hang of it a few days ago." Sirius said.
" 'We', as in, all of you?" Remus asked, astonished.
"Well, Peter hasn't done it yet." James said, now himself again. " He only grows a tail and furry ears. We think he's some sort of gerbil."
"And you?" Remus asked Sirius. Sirius transformed into a large scruffy dog. "Cute."
Remus was amazed that they had worked out how to do this. He was proud of his friends. They did this all for him. He couldn't stop smiling, even though he knew he couldn't allow them to come with him on the full moons. He had told them that long ago, but they eternally disregarded his warnings. He couldn't in good conscience ruin the happiness that exuded from everyone in the room. He was so lucky to have friends like this.