Hey people :)
Thought I had died? Well I am back after a brief period of nothingness.
I am still going to carry on with window kisses I just am taking a break because Scorpius was being really hard to write, so here is some good marauder fun for you all :)
I do ship Remus/Sirius, but I don't know if it will be in this story ;)
The sun had set on Remus Lupin's childhood earlier than most, 12 years earlier to be exact.
When most childhoods were left behind at the age of 16, Remus had had his prematurely ripped from him at the age of 4.
The events of that night often chose to go streaming back to him when he was at his weakest or asleep, creeping forward till they pounced upon him and tearing open old wounds.
~o0O0o~
Shabby though the small stone cottage was, Remus saw it as a wonderful new place to explore and find secrets that only he would know.
His little four year old mind completely forgetting his old home opened up welcoming arms to the new more interesting cottage his father had bought for his mother to live happily in.
"Daddy" Remus squealed "This is amazing!" his brown hair bobbed up and down as he jumped about in excitement, his light hazel eyes gleaming.
"Come on Remus, let's explore" His mother called to him, a similar excitement in her own sweet voice "I'll race you to the door!"
Remus let go of his father's hand and started running towards the house, his chubby legs pounding as a gleeful giggle escaped him lips.
Planting a swift kiss on her husband's lips, Annabelle Lupin chased after her infant son, her dark hair streaming out behind her.
"I won! Mummy I won!" Remus shouted happily from the doorway of the pale stone cottage.
"Oh Remus you clever boy! How shall I ever beat you?" Annabelle cooed into Remus's soft hair as she scooped him up into her arms.
John Lupin walked slowly over, smiling at his wife and son as they started giggling, their voices ringing out across the small grassy glade that their new house sat proudly in the middle of.
~o0O0o~
Remus sat next to his mother in the small stone out-building that was about 20 yards from the back door.
"Remus darling, would you please pass me that bag of black roots please" Annabelle asked him as she busily started cutting and grinding ingredients at the same time.
"here you go mummy" Remus smiled at her, his chubby little hand clasped around a small material bag filled with little knobbly back roots.
Annabelle gave him a hug, before lifting him off the wooden table and placing him on the stone floor.
"Come now, we need to let this brew before I add the rest of the ingredients" Remus took hold of his mother's hand and they walked back towards the squatted backdoor of their little cottage.
Remus knew the cosy rooms of the house fairly well, considering he had only been living there for a week, and had decided without much deliberation that the kitchen was his favourite place.
His mother stood over the old fashioned cooker, her dark hair a wavy mess above her head, and Remus sat snugly on one of the wooden chairs, swaddled by his father's old travelling cloak.
His chubby hands holding a brightly coloured book that his mother had taught him to read, and a small battered blue teddy called Mr. Cloud tucked under his arm.
A load crack from the hall way made Remus squeal in delight and jump off the chair, taking the old robe with him and trialling it across the floor.
"Daddy!" Remus called before hurtling himself at his father, who only just managed to catch the little boy before he crashing to the wooden dresser.
"Hello Little one" Remus's father smiled at him, before untangling his sons flailing arms and legs from the dark robe and placing him on his shoulders.
Remus grabbed handfuls of his father's brown hair and chuckled delightedly as they entered the kitchen.
"Really John, you'll spoil the boy" Annabelle clucked disapprovingly at her husband, but was unable to hide an amused smile.
"Sit" she ordered before placing down three dishes of steaming food onto the scrubbed wood of the kitchen table.
~o0O0o~
Remus sat snuggled up on his father's lap, breathing in the reassuring sent of love and security.
John Lupin was absentmindedly stroking his sons soft hair as he read the Daily prophet, his eyes darting across the page as a worried frown took residence on his already lined face.
"What is it, love?" Annabelle asked as she assembled her equipment ready to go and collect her ingredients from the small wood that backed the house.
"That werewolf Greyback, you know the insane one, it says here he has escaped his high security prison and is on a rampage throughout London." John spoke with a tinge of worry in his voice 2Be careful tonight"
Annabelle laughed, throwing her head back and letting her hair bounce around her plae features that Remus shared.
"We're no were near London John, I'll be fine" Annabelle kissed the top and his head then bent down to ruffle Remus's hair.
"Mummy! I want to go too, you promised!" Remus slipped down of his father's lap and placed his small hands on his hips.
"Remus I don't think its saf….." John Lupin started but his wife interrupted.
"Don't be silly John; of course he can come with me" Annabelle scolded her husband, before picking up Remus and began to pull is little arms through a warm and fluffy cloak.
~o0O0o~
The moon cast long dark shadows across the lawn as Annabelle and Remus walked into the forest hand in hand, a small wicker basket in Remus's small hand to put the collected ingredients in.
As they entered the wood Remus felt fear crawl up into his throat and he clutched at his mother's robes for reassurance.
"Darling don't worry the dark can't hurt you" Annabelle told him softly before hugging his little body to hers.
Eventually they reached the glade where the little white moon flowers grew, there pale flowers turning towards the gentle light of the moon.
Annabelle crouched down and began picking the flowers, while Remus skipped around the clearing, singing songs in his delicate little voice trying to stop his fear of the dark.
A glinting light a little way into the trees caught Remus's attention, and glancing back quickly at his mother, He stepped forward eager to see what made such a pretty light.
Remus let out a frustrated little sigh when he found no pretty shiny object, just more trees.
Glancing up he began walking back to his mother, when he realised he couldn't see her anymore fear took him and a small frightened whimper escaped his lips.
Rustling behind him made Remus's heart beat wildly, and he found little hot tears were running down his face, He had lost his mother and now the darkness was all around him.
The rustling continued and Remus span round to see where it was coming from.
Two glinting eyes peered back at him from the deep shadows cast beneath the trees, and a rumbling growl made him Squeak in terror.
Running madly away from the sound of thumping paws on the ground, Remus dodged trees desperate to reach his mothers soothing arms.
Tripping over a root, he flew forwards and hit the ground, the thumping paws and growls were suddenly upon him.
Screaming, Remus tried to escape the knifelike claws and the tearing teeth that sent bursts of hot crippling pain across his body.
"REMUS!" His mothers terror filled voice screamed before a flash of red light sent the heavy weight and the unstoppable pain flying away from his body.
Remus felt the thuds of the paws as they redirected their attack on his mother who screamed and screamed.
Blood filled his mouth and Remus could feel the tugs of sleep, He didn't want to sleep, he wanted his mother and the pain to go.
The last thing that filled Remus's mind was the heartbreaking sound of his father's voice as he screamed his son's and wife's names.