'Now, my son. You have got to be brave tonight. Can you do that for me?'

He looked at his mother who was bending down the be eye level with him, her hands were grasping his shoulders and her voice was infected with fear he couldn't understand.

'I can be brave!' he said with such pride she almost believed he'd be alright.

'I know you can.' she said smiling a sweet smile at him before standing up straight.

'But, why do I have to be brave?' he wondered aloud.

She looked down at him constantly as she lead him into the garden, what could she tell him? She'd been going over this in her mind for days, but nothing had come to her. He could see that her face wasn't hiding her true feelings well, she was sad - but why she was sad, he didn't know.

'Why do I have to be brave?' he asked again more urgently this time.

His mother once again found herself kneeling to her boy with a fake smile on her face. 'Listen, do-do you .. Err-' she was cut off by her husband calling to her. 'Darling.'

He walked over to them both, wand in his hand which was by his hips. He'd been doing spells .. 'I'll tell him.' he told his wife, looking her in the eyes. His tone was warm and calming. He imitated his wife's position and kneeled to his son. They both watched her go to the other side of the garden with her head in her hands.

'Why do I have to be brave tonight father?' he asked once more.

'Do you remember the accident you hand last month? With the big dog.' he asked with so much effort he was sure his son would see right through him.

'Y-yes, what about it?'

'Well, you see my boy, when he … bit you … let's just say he made - made you a little ill.' said his father, his hands were tight around his waist, if his father held him tighter he was sure he'd explode.

'I'll?' he wanted an answer but this made him even more confused.

'Yes,' said John, 'once a month.'

'Just once?'

'Just once a month. One night a month you'll be ill, be we'll be there for you in the morning.'

'What will happen to me?' he asked. He had been feeling a bit headachy and sweaty lately but … that was just a fever, that's what they told him.

'You'll-you'll … change - but you'll change back to normal come sunrise.' he added hastily after seeing his sons scared look.

The only thing he knew that did that was a werewolf, 'But werewolf's aren't real ..'

'They are son.'

'What? Did-did I?' he was sure he had thought that and not said it aloud. 'So, I'll be a monster? Like in the stories ..' he said, as if stating a fact rather then asking.

'No! No Remus, you will not be a monster.' he said kissing him on the forehead. 'I've built you a place to be once a month. You won't hurt anyone. You'll never be a monster Remus. Believe that.'

He nodded, he didn't know what to say, everything he'd heard about werewolf's was bad, how could he not be too? They both knew this would happen, and they told him the night it would happen. They had a month, did they not think he could handle knowing earlier?

A loud clang of a door being opened and hitting a wall raided his thoughts. His father had lead him to the odd looking shed that he had been building at the bottom of the garden this past month without realising it.

'You will stay in here for the night Remus. We'll come and get you in the morning.' said his father.

His mother came over and gave him a hug, a hug so tight she didn't want to let go. Her tears were trickling down onto the top of his sandy hair.

'Will you stay with me?' he said, talking into her chest.

'I can't Remus, it's not safe for me … You have to do this on your own, son.' she said, pulling away from him and rubbing her eyes dry. 'Be brave.' she whispered as he entered the room. The door was then closed and locked.

Then John raised his wand and charmed the little shed so no sound would escape from it. 'Good luck, my son.' he whispered.