It was just after sunrise on a warm May morning. A small sandy haired boy lay sleeping on a blanket in the corner of an almost empty room. Scattered around the room were bits of fluff, apparently from the ripped pillow whose case was barely recognizable, and strips of colored fabric that had once been his clothes.

His mother, who was standing outside the room, looking in through a window set at eye level on the door, watched as he shifted his body in his sleep. The movement revealed to her the piece of information she'd been wondering about- how many new cuts he had from this month's ordeal. She could see three jagged gashes that were about four inches long, and obviously were claw marks. This didn't surprise her, as Marie Lupin's son, Remus, was a werewolf, and she'd learned to accept that he would claw himself almost every month during the time he was transformed. It did worry her to see him hurt this way, but there was nothing she could do for him except to apply a paste the healers at St. Mungo's Hospital had recommended to her to help heal the cuts.

In the four years since Remus had been bitten, she and her husband, John, had spent a lot of time and energy looking for anything that would help their son. They kept in contact with the healers, they read any new article or book that appeared about his condition, and listened closely to anyone they heard talk about anything that sounded promising. All their efforts so far had only confirmed the one thing they'd known almost from the beginning- lycanthropy was incurable, and all they could really do was keep him otherwise healthy, and limit his exposure to other people while he was in a transformed state.

Unfortunately for them, but for Remus especially, the last piece of advice had been far too easy to follow. In the years since he'd been bitten, he'd lost all his friends, and been unable to make and keep any new ones. Every family they'd encountered had refused to let their children remain in contact with him after they learned of his condition, even though he was a sweet tempered, quiet child when he was himself. Few of them were even interested enough to find out how they managed the condition, that they kept him completely isolated when he was transformed.

To make matters worse, they had been forced to move four times in the years since he'd been bitten. There had been several incidents of vandalism to their home, as well as verbal insults toward them. What ultimately caused each move, though, was a combination of this intolerance and John being fired from his job. He usually tried to keep his son's condition a secret, but sometimes it would get out anyway, and the people he had worked for were no different from those who lived around them, or indeed much of wizard society.

Their luck had changed about a year ago when they'd found their present home. It was a small house on a tree-shaded acre in a rural area with few neighbors. There were no children around for Remus to try to befriend, but that also meant he didn't have to endure the teasing or the process of making friends and then losing them. Remus didn't seem to mind, he'd grown accustomed to spending time alone in the last couple of years and spent his free time reading, drawing or studying. His father had also found a new job that he liked, working for a man who so far seemed very tolerant. He knew of Remus' condition and had not made any negative remarks, nor questioned John when he'd needed time off once because Remus had needed to be in the hospital for a few days following an infection to one of his more severe self inflicted cuts. Therefore, Marie was hopeful that they might have found a place they could truly call home.

Marie forced herself back to the present- she was tired from being up all last night, keeping watch over her son. She didn't stay in the room with him, of course, or even right at the door as she was now, but she did like to be awake and near enough to be able to hear him and look in on him from time to time. She knew there was nothing she could do for him during this time, but he was her only child and she was very protective of him. She looked at the clock on the wall and read the time as 6:00 a.m. She knew, if she let him, Remus would sleep right there on the floor until his body was completely rested, about eight to ten hours. But she also knew he would sleep better in his bed. So she slid the latch on the door back, opened it then walked over to her son.

She touched him gently on his shoulder, and spoke to him.

"Good morning sweetheart."

He opened his bright blue eyes, blinked a few times, then asked

"Is is time to get up already?"

"Only for long enough for you to get to your bed. I'd imagine the floor isn't very comfortable."

"It's not too bad, but my bed will definitely be better." He said, looking around the room. He continued, "I'm sorry I made such a mess in here."

"That's okay; we'll take care of it later. For now, we both need to sleep. You've got some new cuts on your chest- do you want me to put some paste on them now?"

"No, mama, not right now. They do hurt some, but I just want to sleep."

"Okay. I'll take care of them when you get up this afternoon."

He got up and followed her out of the room, then down the hall to his bedroom. He climbed into bed, and she kissed him on the forehead.

"Sleep well, Remus."

"You too, mama."

She went to her own bedroom, where John was already asleep, then climbed into bed. Soon, she too was sound asleep.

She slept soundly for several hours, and when she woke up, she realized John was already up. She lay in bed a few more minutes, thinking about the letter she'd receive the previous day, and how to share the news it contained with Remus. Several weeks ago, she had written to Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, to inquire about the possibility of Remus attending school there in the fall. He had turned eleven in March, so he was eligible to go, but because of his condition, she was not sure if he would be allowed to attend.

He really hoped he would be able to go, but she and John were less than optimistic about it. However, she had agreed to write, just in case she was wrong.

To her surprise, Professor Dumbledore had sent her a letter stating that he would like to meet with them next week concerning Remus' education, if they felt he would be up to it. He had not given any further details in his letter, so she did not know whether the news would be good or bad.

She wanted to tell Remus about the letter so he would be prepared for the visit. But she didn't want him to get his hopes up when the possibility of disappointment was so great.

She decided to discuss her concerns with her husband over "breakfast"- it was her first meal of the day, even though it was 2:00 p.m.

Within a few minutes, she was out of bed and in the kitchen, pouring coffee for herself and thinking about what she wanted to eat. John had made coffee and prepared a small meal for himself, but, as he did not know how long she would sleep, he hadn't made anything for her. She made some toast, deciding to wait to cook until Remus got up. She sat down across the table from her husband, and addressed him.

"Good morning…well, afternoon really. Have you been up long?"

"Good afternoon. I've only been up about a half hour. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I did. And you?"

"I slept okay. Is Remus alright?"

"He seems to be fine. He's still asleep. He does have some new gashes on his chest, but he was too tired to want them tended this morning, so I'll do it when he gets up."

"From what he's told us, this first morning he's always extremely tired. I guess it's because he doesn't sleep at all during his cycle usually, and I'm sure the pain of the transformation itself is hard on the body too. So, I'm glad he's resting now." he replied.

"Me, too. While he is, I wanted to ask you if you think I should tell him about the letter from Dumbledore. I want him to know, but I'd hate for him to get disappointed if the news is bad."

"Probably the best thing to do is just be honest. Tell him we've heard from Professor Dumbledore, and that he wants to meet us, but we don't know what he wants to tell us. Explain that the news could be good or bad, and he just wants to tell us in person. Remus is a smart boy, he'll understand. Whether you tell him ahead of time or not, if the news is bad, he will be disappointed, there's really no way around that. But he will deal with it better if we're honest than if we try to hide it from him."

"You're right. I just hate to take the chance of him being hurt- he's been through so much already. But at least if we're honest with him, it won't be us causing the disappointment." she agreed.

"It's normal to want to protect him, but you do need to remember that if he goes to Hogwarts, he will be on his own. The staff will protect him some from bullying, but not from every unkind word or gesture…that would be an impossible task and not really help him in the long run. He needs to learn how to handle the comments and teasing that's bound to come his way. I'm not saying it's right, or that he should just accept it, but he can't let every little word affect him. Honestly, though, I think you have a harder time with it than he does."

"I probably do, but that's just me. He's probably a lot stronger than I give him credit for being. He's our only child, and I guess I tend to overprotect him. But you're right; he will have to learn to deal with society's prejudices himself. There will be a time when we won't be there to protect him. I guess if he is able to go to school, I will relax when I see that he's okay."

"So did Professor Dumbledore say when and where he wanted to meet us?" he asked.

"No, he didn't. So, I was going to write him today with a suggested time and place. How would 5:00 p.m. Friday, here, work out for you?"

"That should be okay. I should be able to get off work a few minutes early to have time to get home and put away my things before he gets here."

"Okay, that's what I'll suggest to him. We'll see what he thinks of that arrangement."

She got some parchment and a quill, wrote out the note, then took it to the barn where their owl, Artemis, was sleeping. She gently roused him, then stroked his head as she attached the letter to his ankle. She gave him instructions, and he took off into the clear blue sky.

When she got back inside, Remus had just made it to the kitchen. He was wearing a pair of loose denim shorts and a slightly sleepy expression. He smiled at his mom when she entered the room, then he asked her

"Can we take care of these cuts now? Since I woke up a few minutes ago, they've really started hurting."

"Sure, sweetheart. Come to the bathroom with me."

He followed her to the bathroom, and sat down on the edge of the bathtub while she got the jar of paste from the cabinet. She cleaned the wounds with a piece of fresh, moist gauze as the healers had instructed her to do. The wounds were cursed, and would not heal quickly, but it was best to clean them to prevent infection from any foreign material that might be in them. Once they were clean, she applied the paste, and then covered the wounds with some dry gauze.

"Does that feel a little better?"

"Yes, ma'am. But it won't really start helping until it's been on there a few minutes. And these cuts don't really stop hurting for a few days."

"I know. I wish it helped more, but at least it's better than nothing."

"Yeah, it really is. I remember how bad they were before we got this stuff. I'm not complaining." he replied.

"I know you weren't. Are you ready for something to eat now?"

"Yes ma'am. I'm really hungry."

"Well, let's go see what we can find for you to eat."

They went back to the kitchen, and she offered Remus a handful of choices for his meal. He decided on sausage, eggs and toast. While she cooked, she decided to tell him about the letter.

"Remember a few weeks ago, I told you I was going to write to Hogwarts to see about getting you into school this year?"

"Yes ma'am."

"We got a letter yesterday from Professor Dumbledore, the new Headmaster. He wants to meet us next week."

Remus' eyes brightened and he smiled as he said

"Really? Does this mean I'm gonna go to Hogwarts?"

"We don't know yet. He didn't say what he wanted to tell us, only that he wanted to meet with us. It could be good news, or bad news. We won't know until we meet with him."

"So when and where are we gonna meet him?"

"I'm not sure yet, but hopefully this Friday- five days from now- here at home. I'll know for sure when he sends me a letter back. Do you think you'll feel up to meeting him that soon?"

"I'm sure I will; I usually feel pretty good by three days after the full moon, so I think I'll be alright."

"Good, because he wants to meet you too, not just your dad and me. I don't know what he wants to tell or ask you, be he did specifically say he wanted to meet you."

"I sure hope he's got good news for me. But if he doesn't, at least you tried."

"That's true, son, we did try. I'm glad we did, no matter what happens."

She had finished cooking by this time, and handed Remus a plate. She fixed her own, and offered John some food as well. Since he'd eaten earlier, he declined. After a few silent moments, Remus spoke up.

"I was just thinking; Professor Dumbledore must be at least a little curious or concerned about me to want to meet me. If all he had in mind was to reject me, he could do that in a letter. I'm not saying he's for sure gonna accept me, but maybe he hasn't made up his mind yet, or maybe he wants to help me in some other way if he has already decided not to let me in."

"You could be right, son. But we won't know for sure for a few more days." his father said.

Remus finished his meal, then asked to be excused. He went to his room, found a light shirt to wear, then went to the room he stayed in when he transformed. Using this special room had actually been his idea just a few months after he'd been bitten. They'd tried putting him in his bedroom a few times, but he always ended up tearing up something and being really upset to find it that way when he regained his human form. So, he had suggested, after having ripped up a favorite shirt beyond repair, that they put him in an empty room before he transformed and just leave him there until it was over. At first, his parents weren't sure about the idea, because they didn't want to make him feel as if he were being punished or make him feel ashamed of what he was. After some discussion, they decided this was the best option. It isolated him from them so he couldn't bite them, and it kept his possessions in one piece. Since they started doing this, he hadn't destroyed a single toy, or other favorite item, and there had been no near misses as far as anyone being bitten or scratched.

Though his mother had never asked him to clean the room himself, it had become his habit to do as much as he could to help her. So he started picking up the pieces of fluff and fabric that were scattered around the room and sorting it into piles according to what it had been. He didn't know any spells yet, and didn't have a wand, so he couldn't do anything else to help.

He was almost finished by the time his mom entered the room. She waved her wand and conjured them each a chair, then sat down on one. She looked at what he'd gathered to see if it was all the pieces of anything. It wasn't, so she started picking up pieces from around her. It always surprised them both how much stuffing was in a relatively small pillow, and how many pieces his clothes always ended up being torn into. Once all the pieces were gathered, Remus sat down on the chair beside her, and watched as she magically repaired his pillow and clothing.

Once she was finished, he said

"Thank you mama. I sure hope I can learn to do this myself so I can help sometimes."

"You will learn them, and a lot of others, soon. I intend to teach you the things you need to know whether you go to Hogwarts or not. In fact, your dad and I have decided to get you a wand as soon as we can. I don't know for sure when, but it won't be a really long time."

"That will be great! Then I can help you with all kinds of things."

"Yes, you can. And I'll teach you some fun things too. I think you will really enjoy learning magic."

"I think so too. Is there anything else I need to help you do?" he said, glancing around the room.

"No, that's all there is to do. How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. The cuts feel a lot better, even though they still hurt some. Can I go outside in the garden to draw? There are a couple of your roses I want to sketch."

"Sure, you can go outside if you feel up to it. But if you get tired, come back inside."

"Okay mama, I will."

He left the room and went to his bedroom to gather his sketchpad and pencil set. Then he went out to the garden and began to sketch a particularly pretty blossom on his mom's favorite pink rose bush.

Meanwhile, Marie gathered up the items she'd repaired. She put the pillow in the corner of the room, along with the blanket, and then put his clothes in with some other items to wash.

The rest of that day was uneventful. They did receive Professor Dumbledore's response that their proposed arrangement would be fine with him, and that he looked forward to meeting them.

The next morning, Marie gave Remus a light load of schoolwork to do, and she began to clean the house. For the rest of the week, this was their pattern. By Friday afternoon, their little home was clean and 'presentable', as Marie deemed it. It had not been terribly dirty to begin with, for Marie was a diligent housekeeper, but she had felt it needed attention before they had company.

From lunchtime onward that Friday, Remus had trouble concentrating on his schoolwork. He had been talking all week about meeting Professor Dumbledore. He was a bit more excited about it than Marie would have liked, but she did understand. In spite of being somewhat shy, Remus was a happy child with a mostly optimistic outlook that had not been really dampened by his experiences with life. He was always eager to make friends, especially when someone showed a little interest in him. So it did not really surprise her that he was as curious and excited about just meeting Dumbledore as he was about whatever news the headmaster might be bringing.

By 2:00 p.m., she felt he wasn't really paying attention to his lesson, so she told him to put his work aside for the day, and they would finish it next week. He put his books in the cabinet in his bedroom, then came back into the kitchen with his colored pencils and the sketch he'd made of her rose. She offered him some cookies and milk, which he accepted. While he nibbled on the cookies, he asked a question that apparently concerned him greatly, for he had a serious expression on his face.

"Mama, if Professor Dumbledore says I can go to Hogwarts, will you and Daddy let me? Or do you think it will cost too much?"

"I don't know how much it might cost for you to go to Hogwarts. But if he says you can, we will do everything we can to pay for it. We want you to have a good education, because that will be very important when you're grown up."

Remus smiled at her response. He clearly had expected to be told it might be too expensive for him to go. She and John rarely discussed money around Remus, but he was a smart boy, and realized that they had to be very careful with the little money his dad earned. He didn't know the particulars of his dad's salary, but he knew there had been times when each of them had given up something they'd wanted, to make sure they had enough for things they needed.

After a brief silence, he said

"I've tried not to get too excited, but I really hope he's bringing good news. I would love to go to Hogwarts."

"I know you would, and I really hope he's coming to tell us you can go. But you do need to remember that your condition makes it dangerous for other people to be around you. We've come up with a good way to avoid that risk, but in a school, it could be much harder. However, from what I know about Professor Dumbledore, if there's anyone who can come up with a way to make it possible, it would be him. Whatever news he's bringing, we can be sure he has tried his best to help you."

Remus' expression had changed a little at the mention of his illness. They didn't discuss it often in front of him, or with him, other than to make sure he was okay. Over the years since he'd been bitten, they had taught him the things he needed to know about his condition, and he'd learned a lot on his own. But once they were sure he understood what he needed to about it, they didn't bring it up as often, to avoid making him feel bad about himself. However, she wanted him to understand that because of his condition and its risks, it might be too dangerous for him to be in such a large group of people. She hoped she hadn't hurt his feelings by bringing it up, though.

He spoke again, with a bit less enthusiasm in his voice.

"I hope you're right about Professor Dumbledore being so smart and willing to try to help. But I'm afraid that you might be right, that I might be too dangerous to be around other kids. I really hate being a werewolf." he said, sighing deeply in frustration.

She stepped over to him, and hugged him.

"I know you hate it, I do too. You didn't ask for this, and you've done nothing to deserve it. You're a bright, sweet boy who deserves a normal life, and I'd do anything in the world to give it to you. That's why your dad and I are always looking for anything that might help you. But there's just nothing that can be done right now. So, we just have to do the best we can with what we have and what we know. I know saying that doesn't make your life any easier, because it doesn't change anything. But hopefully knowing how much I love you helps some."

He smiled faintly at her, then said

"It does help some to know you and Dad love me, and to know you're trying. But I just get so lonely sometimes. I haven't had a friend in a long time, and I miss that. I want someone to play with, to talk to and study with. I think if I manage to get in at Hogwarts, I'm not gonna let anybody know I'm a werewolf unless I really have to. Maybe that way I'll at least have a little chance of making a friend."

"That would probably be a good idea. It's not really lying, you're just leaving something out, keeping it private, and that's okay. But for now, don't worry so much, we've still got to find out what Professor Dumbledore has to say. I do have some good news to tell you that I had almost forgotten about. Your dad and I decided to take you shopping for a wand next weekend. We might get one or two of the basic schoolbooks you would use at Hogwarts too, so you can learn magic even if you don't get in."

That news cheered Remus up.

"Really? I knew you said we'd do it soon, but I wasn't expecting it to be this quick. That will be great, I can start reading and learning right away."

"You sure can, and you'll be able to practice as much as you want."

"In case I haven't told you, thanks for trying so hard to get me in at Hogwarts and for all you both have done to help me."

She kissed him on the cheek and said

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

Then she picked up the plate and glass he'd used for his snack, put them in the sink and left the room. He opened his sketchbook to the rose he'd been working on for the last week. He finally felt he had all the details like he wanted; all he needed to do was add the colors. He was quickly immersed in his work, and barely noticed when his mom returned to the kitchen. He loved to draw. He'd picked up the habit a couple of years ago, before they moved here. They had just moved into a different house, and his mom bought him an instructional book to give him something to do when he had free time. Soon, he'd mastered the techniques in the book and was learning to draw things he saw. Now he often lost track of time when he was working on a drawing. He worked on the rose sketch for the next three hours, blending, shading, and erasing until he had the rose just the way he wanted it- almost lifelike.

Around 4:00 p.m., he heard a knock on the door. His mom was in the living room, nearer to the door than he, so she answered it. His dad had managed to get off work earlier than he'd thought he could and so had arrived home early. They came into the kitchen for a snack, and they talked for a while. Remus had begun working on another picture of their owl. He was trying to get the details just right on his feathers. He stayed focused on his work, not really listening to the conversation around him.

After what seemed to him like only a few minutes, his mom spoke to him.

"Remus, you need to pick up your things and take them to your room. Professor Dumbledore should be here very soon."

"Yes, ma'am." he replied.

He then gathered his pencils and sketchbook, and took them to his room. When he came out of his room, he joined his parents in the living room to wait for Professor Dumbledore.

They did not wait long. Within five minutes, they heard a knock on the door. John opened the door, revealing a tall, thin wizard with long white hair, a long beard, and half-moon spectacles perched on a crooked nose. Remus watched attentively as his father spoke to the man.

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yes, sir. Are you Mr. John Lupin?"

"Yes, sir, I am. Good evening, please come in."

Professor Dumbledore stepped into the living room and followed John to where Remus and his mother were now standing in front of the sofa. John spoke

"Professor Dumbledore, this is my wife, Marie, and our son, Remus."

Professor Dumbledore shook hands with both of them.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you."

Before she sat down, Marie asked

"Would you care for some tea, or coffee, Professor?"

"Some tea would be nice if you don't mind."

"It's no trouble at all, sir. I'll be back in a few minutes."

She left the room, and Professor Dumbledore spoke to John.

"I received your wife's letter about Remus' desire to attend Hogwarts several weeks ago, and had intended to write back sooner, but I have been quite busy."

"We guessed that you were, and knew you would answer when you could."

"Unfortunately, because of Remus' condition, I could not make a decision as quickly as I would have liked. I had to consider several different things, then discuss it with my staff and of course the school's board of governors. Before I tell you the decision I came to, I would like to ask how you manage his transformations here at home."

"Before I tell you what we do, let me first say that the routine we now have was Remus' own idea, one he proposed just a few months after he'd been bitten. At that time, we simply tried to keep him in his bedroom, and he always tore up something. After that happened a few times, and he lost a couple of special things, he had an idea. He suggested that we use a spare room in the house that was empty, and just shut him in it before he changed. He'd stay in there until it was over and he was normal again, then we would let him out. We tried it, and it worked. So, we've been doing it that way since then. We now have a spare bedroom that is empty except for a couple of pillows and blankets that he can sleep on if he wants. Actually, he doesn't usually use them until he changes back. One of us usually tries to be awake most of the time he's changed and get him into his real bed as soon as he's normal again, but sometimes we doze off, and the blankets and pillows give him something to curl up on."

Marie walked back into the room with the tea tray, and each of the adults poured a cup of tea. Professor Dumbledore sipped his, then said

"Thank you, this is good. So you keep Remus isolated during the full moon. Then what would you think of this idea? As you probably remember, the school property runs alongside Hogsmeade village. There is a forested area there, away from the main village, near our campus, which I was thinking of clearing and building a small cottage for Remus' use. It would be just a few rooms, and it would be connected to the campus by a tunnel. The tunnel would be guarded- I am thinking of using a species of tree that you may not have heard of- a 'whomping willow' as it's commonly called. These trees grow very quickly and will thrash about viciously if anyone gets too near. There is a way to control them, they all have a sensitive spot that can be touched to immobilize them, or they can be stopped by any of a handful of spells. But it would be effective enough to keep most people out of the tunnel. Once this is in place, and it would be before fall, Remus would be led out of the castle before nightfall, where he would go through the tunnel and into the house. He would spend his transformation in the house, and one of the staff, probably me or the nurse would retrieve him when it's over. He would then be brought to the hospital wing for the remainder of that day to rest, and return to classes as soon as he felt able, whether that required one or more days. Would this arrangement be agreeable to you?"

"Just to make sure I understand right, the house would be apart from the village and he wouldn't be able to get out once he's changed? And no one else could come in either?" John asked.

"He wouldn't be able to get out until he returns to human form. And while I won't say it would be impossible for someone to come in on him, I will make that as difficult as I can. I know none of us wants him to hurt anyone accidentally."

There was a brief pause, and Remus took advantage of it. He asked

"You said the house would be new. I almost always tear something up while I'm changed. What if I tear up something important?"

"You won't. The house will be mostly empty. Anything I put in there won't be valuable, and will only be there to make it seem as though someone could live there. Even if you tear up everything inside, it won't matter at all."

Remus then smiled and said

"Good, I was kinda worried there for a minute. So does this mean I can go?"

"That's up to your parents, and you. If you agree to my suggestion, or have a better idea so that you won't be a danger to the other students, you are welcome to attend school at Hogwarts."

His dad then spoke

"Marie, is this okay with you? He's right that it's very similar to what we do here. I think it would work too."

She smiled at her son and replied

"Yes, that's fine with me. That arrangement should keep everyone safe."

"But before we say for sure you're going, we need to have some idea of how much it will cost." said his father.

"The usual tuition is 250 galleons a year, plus supplies and uniforms. However, I don't turn anyone away if they can't pay. The school has a scholarship fund for such circumstances. It can be used to pay his tuition, supplies, or both. There are also used books and some supplies like potion ingredients, scales and cauldrons he could borrow from the school once he's there. Flourish and Blots' often sells used books or has them on sale near the beginning of the school year. A wand costs about five galleons at Ollivander's, and a typical supply of first year robes is about 30. If you don't like the idea of us simply paying for his needs, you can repay all or part of the money whenever you have it. We can work with this part however suits you best."

His dad didn't say anything for a few moments, and seemed to be concentrating on the information he'd just been given. Remus was really worried- even though he didn't know much about the family budget that sounded like a lot of money. He was sure his dad would say no, they couldn't do it, then his father spoke again.

"If the school pays his tuition each year, I think we can manage the rest. The uniforms don't change much from year to year, do they? He could wear the same ones until he outgrows them or wears them out?"

"Most likely. We don't generally change them much. It's a simple outfit: gray pants, a white shirt and tie, and a gray sweater vest trimmed with the house colors, also a black robe for use in cooler weather. As for the tuition, we will happily take care of it each of the seven years he attends. If at any point new arrangements need to be made, simply write to me and we will take care of it."

"That sounds good. Can we get a list of supplies from you now so that we can buy them over the summer? When does term start?" asked John.

Professor Dumbledore took out his wand and waved it, then caught three sheets of paper in his hand. He handed them to Remus' father.

"Here are the instructions you will need, his complete supply list for this year, and a train ticket for the Hogwarts Express. The train leaves at 11:00 a.m. on September 1st. It arrives that evening in Hogsmeade Station, usually around 6:00 p.m. Classes start on September 2nd."

He then addressed Remus

"Just to be sure we are adding the correct information to our records, what is your full name and when is your birthday?"

"Remus John Lupin is my full name. My birthday is March 10, 1960. I just turned eleven years old." he replied, smiling brightly.

"Good. Is there anything else special we need to know?" Professor Dumbledore, asked, addressing all three of them.

"Nothing I can think of at the moment, but I wanted to ask if he should bring some of the paste we use on his cuts each month from home with him?" asked Marie

"No, keep that for summers. We always have some at school. We don't have any other werewolves at school, but that same paste is useful for many types of cuts."

"Good."

Then Remus asked

"So the whole staff already knows I'm coming?"

"They know that I'm meeting you tonight to see if you want to come. I will tell them you've accepted once I return to school tonight. None of them will reveal to the students that you are a werewolf, and you won't have any reason to mention it to anyone unless you want to do so. They have all agreed to help you in whatever way needed to keep you, and everyone else, safe."

Remus didn't know what to say. He could hardly believe what he'd heard. This group of people who didn't even know him, had agreed to work together to allow him to be able to attend school in spite of the risks it posed. They'd even gone a step further and agreed to keep his condition a secret from the students.

"Thank you sir, for everything you've done. I wanted to go to Hogwarts, that's why mom wrote to you. But I wasn't sure if there would be a way that I would be able to go. I'm glad you were able to come up with a plan."

"You're welcome, Remus. We look forward to having you at school in a few months."

Marie then asked

"Is there anything special I need to teach him before he goes to school? He reads and writes very well, and he's pretty good at math. I've covered some other subjects with him too- history, geography, and a little science."

"Actually, it sounds like he will be ahead of some of his classmates. A few of the students might have read their books early or their parents might have taught them a little magic, but it's not required. We generally start everyone out at the same place. Knowing how to read, write and do math will be a big help. The other subjects you've covered won't necessarily relate to anything we teach, but it's good that he's familiar with them. A person can never learn too much. So I'd say give him some time off, or if you buy some of his new schoolbooks early, he can read in them if he wants. But there's no reason to feel he has to; we'll start at the beginning on September 2nd."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate a little break. I know you've answered all of my questions. I feel everything will work out well, and that Remus will learn a lot at school. I thank you too, sir, from the three of us, for the effort you put in to make this happen." She said.

"You're welcome. It was no problem, really. Now, if there are no other questions, I will take my leave of you. If you think of anything before school starts, send me a letter at the school."

"I think that's all we need to know." replied John as he stood up.

Professor Dumbledore stood as well, shook hands with everyone, then followed John to the door.

"Good bye, and have a good evening." He said as he left.

"Good bye, Professor. Have a good evening." said John.

John opened the door for him, then closed it behind him once he was gone.

Marie then asked Remus

"Well son, what do you think? You're really going to be able to go to Hogwarts."

Remus was smiling, the excitement apparent on his face.

"I'm so happy I don't really know what to say. Even though I'd hoped the news would be good, I was afraid it wouldn't be. I was really nervous that even if he said I had been accepted, it would be too expensive. I'm so glad that everything worked out. I almost can't believe it's really happened- that I'll be a Hogwarts student in four months."

"I'm glad you're so excited and that we were able to get you in. Did you hear what he said about your schoolwork, that you're ahead?"

"Yes ma'am, I did. He also said you could give me some time off. So, will you? At least until I get my new magic books?"

"Sure, we can take some time off. Actually, there's no reason for me to teach you any more unless you want me to. You know the things you need to handle the work at Hogwarts, and they'll teach you the rest when you get there. If you want to look at your new books, you can, but you don't have to. You could just get an early start on summer vacation."

"Thanks, mom. When I do get some of my new books, I would like you to look at them with me."

"I will. It'll be fun for me- I haven't seen those books in a while. It will be interesting to see what changes they've made." She replied, and then glanced at the clock on the wall. It was a few minutes after 6:00 p.m. "I'm sure both of you are hungry, so I'm going to make dinner." She said.

She got up and went into the kitchen. Then Remus' father spoke to him.

"How would you like to go shopping for some of your school things tomorrow?"

"That would be great, Dad. Could we?"

"I think we could get your wand and maybe a couple of your books. Then in a week or two, we could go back and get something else- maybe your potions kit or some other books. If we do it a bit at a time, it'll be easier to have everything you need before school starts."

"That sounds good to me. I just thought of something; how am I supposed to carry all of that? It won't fit in a backpack or a suitcase."

"No, son, it won't. You'll need a trunk. I've got one out in the barn that I used until a few years ago. If it's still in decent shape, you can use it. If not, we'll get you a new one."

"Okay, I didn't think of that. As long as it holds everything and works like it should, I don't mind. But if it's so much stuff I need a trunk to hold it all, how am I gonna get it on the train? And how am I gonna manage it at school?"

"It won't be as difficult as it seems. I'll load it onto the train for you at the station when you get on, and there will be someone there at Hogsmeade station that will unload it and take it to school for you. Once you get there, they send your trunk up to your dorm, and all you need to do from there is take out the stuff you need for the day. You won't need every book every day, and you'll have a book bag to carry stuff in around school. Some of it may be a little clumsy, but you'll get used to it, just like everyone else does."

"That doesn't sound so bad. I was thinking I'd be carrying this huge pile of books around every day. Since I'm asking questions, what did Professor Dumbledore mean when he mentioned 'houses'?" asked Remus.

"The students are grouped into four houses, named after the two witches and two wizards that founded the school a long time ago. According to history, each founder chose students to teach based on traits that the founder preferred. For example, it's said that Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the witches, preferred students who were clever and studious. So she chose the students the felt were the cleverest among the group. That's not to say the other students weren't clever, just that she felt the ones she chose seemed to her to be cleverer than the others. Now, when the founders have been dead for centuries, the school uses a different method. They have an enchanted hat, which, at the beginning of each school year, is used in a special sorting ceremony. All of the first year students are gathered in front of the rest of the school and one by one, they sit on a stool and wear the hat for a few minutes. The hat analyzes each student's personality and sorts you into the house it feels you belong in. You then do everything with the other students in that house. Each has their own dorms, their own dining tables, and a common room where anyone in that house can go to read, relax, or visit with friends. You'll take classes with the first year students of your house- though they often combine two houses for lessons. Everything good you do earns your house points; anything bad you do takes points away. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a trophy for their common room. Each house has a mascot, its own colors and its own Quidditch team. Your uniforms will have colors on them that represent your house to identify you to others."

"Will I get to spend time with people from other houses too?" Remus asked.

"Yes, you will. The whole school eats together, and even though you have a house table, you can mingle if you want. The library is open to everyone, and if you go to the Quidditch games, you can sit wherever you want. The same is true for the train- you can sit wherever you wish. You'll also have free time after classes and on weekends to do what you want. Your mom and I were in different houses- I was in Hufflepuff and she was in Gryffindor."

"Will I be able to write to you and mom from school?"

"Yes, you will. The school has a bunch of owls that are there for anyone to use. You just have to tell them where to deliver the letter- it shouldn't be too difficult, owls are pretty smart."

Before Remus could ask another question, his mom came into the room and said dinner was ready. After they ate, Remus took a bath and went to bed, hoping he wasn't too excited to sleep.

The next morning, he got up by about 6:00 a.m., dressed quietly and tiptoed to the living room, where he curled up with the book his mom had given him the previous evening. It was a history of Hogwarts school, and he was eager to learn as much as he could about it. He read for about half an hour before his mom came into the room. She greeted him with a kiss on the cheek, then went into the kitchen to make breakfast. He decided to follow her so he could help, and also have the chance to talk to her before they went shopping.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked.

"If you want, you can make the toast while I cook the eggs and sausages."

"Okay." He replied with a yawn.

"Did you sleep last night?"

"A little. I was so excited it took forever for me to go to sleep, and I woke up a few times. But I'm ready to go shopping- I'm looking forward to getting a few things."

"I'm sure you are. Most kids are excited to get their school things- I know I was. I'm sure you'll have fun today picking out some of your stuff. I guess it would be more fun if we got it all at once, but maybe you'll still enjoy it."

"I know I will. Taking more than one trip will just mean I have something to look forward to each week. I don't mind it at all."

"That's a very grown up way to look at it, and you're right, it will give you something to look forward to all through the summer."

"I wanted to ask you something that I thought of late last night. How do you choose a good wand? You and dad said that I might get my wand today, but I don't know how to pick one."

"Actually, choosing a wand is not like picking anything else- you don't actually choose the wand. The wand chooses you. It sounds strange, but that's how it works. Mr. Ollivander, the wand maker, will measure you several different ways and ask you some questions that will help him choose a group of wands he feels likely to work for you. Then you'll try each of them, one at a time, by just waving them. The one that works right for you is the one that has chosen you. He will know for sure if it's right, but it should be the one that doesn't do anything strange. It may even glow when you use it. The others you try are likely to make quite a mess of the store. Don't worry, it happens to everyone. By the time we're done, he will have it all cleaned up."

"That does sound strange, but at least he's used to it. Will I need to tell him I'm a werewolf, or do you think it will matter?"

"I don't think it will matter, so we won't say anything unless there seems to be something wrong or he asks. But if he needs to know, I'll tell him for you."

"Thanks, mom. I really hope it goes okay without needing to tell him."

"I'm sure it will. Now, we need to finish breakfast so we can go."

She had almost finished her part of the meal, so he quickly got some bread toasted it, then poured his milk. He sat down at the table to wait for her to finish. Soon, his dad joined them in the kitchen. When they had finished eating, they washed and put away the dishes, then they apparated to Diagon Alley.

Once they were there, they went to Gringott's Bank to withdraw the money they would need for the shopping trip. Remus and his mom decided to wait outside while his dad went inside, which allowed Remus a chance to look at the nearby shops. They walked down the sidewalk a short distance, and Remus looked in the storefront of the apothecary's shop. There were bunches of herbs tied together, bins of horns, stones and shells, but most prominent in the display was a thick bunch of silvery white unicorn hair. He couldn't see the price because of the other people standing around outside the shop, but he knew it was likely to be expensive. He really hoped he wouldn't need any unicorn hair.

His mom was leading him away from the shop toward the Quidditch supply shop when his dad caught up to them.

"Are you ready to go buy your wand?" his dad asked

"Yes sir, I am."

They walked down the sidewalk a short distance to a very old-looking wooden building. It had a very simple display- a faded purple velvet pillow holding a dark colored wand. He followed his parents into the building, and stepped up to the counter between them. After a moment, a wizard appeared who looked older than Professor Dumbledore did. The man, who Remus guessed was Mr. Ollivander, was shorter than Remus' dad was, and though he had silver hair like Professor Dumbledore, it was shorter and he had no beard.

"Welcome to Ollivander's. I'm Mr. Ollivander, and I'm guessing you're here for a new wand." He said, appraising Remus with pale silver eyes.

"Yes sir, I am. My name's Remus Lupin and I'll be starting school at Hogwarts this fall. We thought we'd get some of the shopping done early."

"Yes, that makes sense. It gives you a little time to practice with a new wand and get the feel of it. Well, Remus, let me take a few measurements and I'll see what I have that might work for you."

He came from behind the counter and looked Remus over again. He got out his tape measure and measured Remus several different ways. He asked some questions about which hand he wrote with, could he use both hands equally well, and several other things that made Remus wonder why he needed to know. Once he had his notes, he went to the back of the shop. About ten minutes later, he returned with a stack of about eight boxes. He sat them down on the counter and separated them into two short stacks, then opened one and handed it to Remus to try first. Remus waved it cautiously, only to have it send at least fifty wand boxes flying off the shelf. Mr. Ollivander shook his head and took that one from Remus. He placed it in its box and separated it from the others. The next one he handed Remus shattered the storefront window when Remus waved it. Mr. Ollivander repaired the window before Remus could get an apology out of his mouth. As he took that wand from Remus, he said

"Don't worry lad, that happens at least a dozen times a day in the week before school starts. Practically everyone breaks my window."

Though Remus had expected to make a mess, breaking the window had surprised him, and he had been quite embarrassed about it until Mr. Ollivander had shared that detail.

"Really? You must get tired of fixing it so often." Remus commented.

"Actually I don't mind because it keeps me in practice on my repairing spells. But I guess you can understand why I use such a simple display."

"Yes sir, I do. Anything else would be a lot more work, and you could end up losing something."

"Exactly. Now, try this one." He said, handing Remus a third wand.

Remus waved it toward the wall of the shop, where a vase of flowers sat perched on a glass display case. Both the vase and the display cabinet shattered.

As he repaired the glass, Mr. Ollivander said with a slight chuckle

"I have to ask- you aren't thinking hard about breaking things are you? I know you aren't likely doing this deliberately, but if you concentrate too much on breaking things, the damage tends to be worse."

"I was worrying that I might break something you couldn't fix, but that's all. I don't want to break things."

"Okay, then that's not likely to be the problem. But you can stop worrying- everything in this shop has been broken by someone, and I've always managed to mend it. So relax, we still need to find the right wand for you. None of these seems to be quite right."

He took that wand from Remus, walked back to the counter and took a moment to look at the remaining wands in the stack. He pulled one from the bottom, opened it and looked at it closely. He handed the long, thin, light colored wand to Remus. Remus was sure it wouldn't be right for him either it seemed too long for him to handle. But when he took it from Mr. Ollivander, it fit his hand better than he expected. He gave it a wave, and it shot gold sparks out the end of it, and glowed faintly as he held it.

"This is your wand Remus. It has chosen you. This wand should work very well for you. It is 12 ½ inches long, made of ash, with a unicorn hair core."

"Will it always glow when I hold it?" Remus asked

"No. It just does that the first time its true master holds it. That just shows that the wand has chosen you. This means it will work better for you than other types of wands. If you look, the glow is fading already."

"If this wand works best for me, then what do I do if it gets broken or lost? Will another wand work for me?"

"Oh yes, there are others that will work for you if needed, and a few might even perform as well as this one. But now that we know what wood and core combination works for you, I, or any other wand maker if needed, can make another one of that combination or similar. But you likely won't need to worry about that for a long time. Most wizards quickly learn to keep their wands close at all times. As far as damage, a wand can often be repaired unless the damage is very severe."

"That's good to know, because I can be a bit clumsy at times. But I will do my best to be careful with my wand."

"I'm sure you will. This box will help you keep up with it and keep it safe. "said Mr. Ollivander, pulling a polished wooden box from behind the counter. It was a perfect fit for Remus' new wand.

He handed the box to Remus and said, "This box, and a basic wand care kit come with the purchase of a new wand at no additional cost. The kit has instructions as well as basic items to keep a wand clean and in good shape."

As Remus was looking at the wand, box and kit, his dad asked

"How much for this?"

"Five galleons." Mr. Ollivander replied

Mr. Lupin took out the pouch of money he had in his pocket and paid for the wand. Mr. Ollivander handed a bag to Remus, who put everything in the bag.

"Have a good year at Hogwarts." said Mr. Ollivander as they turned to leave the shop.

"Thank you sir, I'm sure I will." replied Remus.

They left the shop and walked down the sidewalk toward the bookstore. Of all the stores in Diagon Alley, Flourish and Blotts was the most familiar to Remus. He'd been in there several times in the past, usually when his mom or dad was looking for information about his condition. As he walked through the door, he was greeted by two of his favorite smells- leather and fresh parchment.

Immediately inside were several displays featuring some of the newer titles on the Hogwarts book list. There was a newly revised edition of his potions textbook, as well as a new edition of the book required for defense against the dark arts. They looked at these, his father mentally noting the price. They then looked at some of the other titles, and finally decided to purchase his transfiguration book, which was on sale, and his potions book. After spending just a little over twenty galleons on the books, they decided to go to the apothecary's shop and pick up his potions kit.

The purchase there was far easier than Remus had expected. Instead of picking out individual ingredients, his dad simply told the shopkeeper that they needed a first year potions kit for Hogwarts. The wizard retrieved it from the back of the store, his dad paid for it, and they were finished.

Their shopping completed for the day, they apparated home. Remus set his new supplies on the coffee table in the living room and started examining everything closely. After being immersed in his transfiguration book for quite a while, he looked up and realized he'd been reading for over an hour. A bumping noise had caused him to look up, and he now saw the source of the sound- his dad was bringing an old, but functional trunk into the living room. The trunk was clean and his dad had apparently painted Remus' name on it so it would be ready to use if he wanted.

"Here's the trunk I told you about last night. The cedar lining is still good; it doesn't have any cracks or splits anywhere, and the latches all still work. I think it can work okay for you." said his dad.

Remus looked at it closely, and agreed with his dad's description.

"I think it will be fine, as long as it can hold everything. I'm guessing it probably can, it certainly looks big."

"It should hold everything, if you pack it carefully. Your mom or I can help you with that if needed."

"I'm sure I can do it. For now, can we put it in my room, and I'll just add to it as I get my stuff?"

"Sure, that's what I was thinking anyway." replied his dad.

His dad took the trunk and put it in Remus' bedroom, at the foot of his bed.

Over the next several months, Remus would add a few new items to his trunk every week. His mom had suggested, right after their first shopping trip, that they put off buying his uniforms until just before school started. So by the time he got those, he already had all of his books, his cauldron, potion kit, and other needed items.