Disclaimer: The characters and places in this story are all the property of JK Rowling. I have merely borrowed them and given them my own little twist.

Rating: PG

Note: I use the HP Lexicon as a reference and if the information is not concrete in there I make it up to suit the story. Various secondary characters are placed in years that are most convenient.

AUTHOR NOTE: 29 May 2016: I am aware that the names of Remus's parents are not correct. This story was started in 2004 and finished in 2008. Back when this story was written Pottermore (where Remus's parents are officially named) didn't even exist. That site was opened in 2012. I'm sorry, but while I was able to go back through this story and others to make amendments when I was working on them, I simply don't have the time to do so any more. Yes, it is just two names now, but as more and more information is added, there will be more and more alterations required. These days I am concentrating on my original stories rather than fan fiction.

This story and the Snape story are now HBP and DH compliant. The changes include things like Andromeda being placed in the correct house and Professor Mistry becoming Professor Slughorn (as was pointed out to me, he was practically in character anyway so just needed a name change).

Some changes are small some are larger, however if you have already read the story so far you will NOT have to re-read it in order to make sense of what is happening. There are a few little things that haven't been altered but they are things that will either

- Mean those already following the story will have to re-read

- Be impossible to alter because they affect the main plot (yeah I do actually have one – despite appearances to the contrary!)

- Probably small enough that they won't be noticed but too difficult to change (e.g. I put free classes (on the mornings following Astronomy classes) into the time tables for the first years which they shouldn't have until the sixth year. Since it took forever to get a working timetable for the two of houses and I have it for reference throughout altering it now would be practically impossible.)

This story is designed to run alongside my Origins: A Young Severus Snape Story. They do stand alone but please consider checking out the other one too.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this story and especially to those who take the time to review. It is much appreciated.

Origins: A Young Remus Lupin Story

Part One - First Impressions - The Hogwart's Express

"Remus, do you have everything?" the harried female voice called upstairs from the front doorway.

"I think so. Do you have my cauldron, mum?" Remus Lupin answered as he appeared at the top of the staircase with an armful of textbooks. His brown hair was already messy after rooting under his bed for his missing transfiguration book. There was dust on the knees of his trousers and a small tear to his robe from where he had caught it in his trunk when he had been trying it on earlier that morning. He knew he did not have to wear the robes on the journey but a small part of him was scared that the Powers that Be would change their minds and say he couldn't attend the school. That he would have to return home. That he would never be able to wear the school robes again.

"It's in the car already. Oh look at the state of you," his mother sighed. "Well come along then, or you'll miss the train."

Remus hurried down the stairs and let her brush some of the dust off of his clothes. He shrugged her off after a moment though. After all the trouble they had gone to, the last thing he wanted to do was miss the train. Rushing out to the car he carefully deposited his books in the back of the car and climbed in after them.

"You all set?" his father asked from the driver's seat. Remus nodded in reply as his mother climbed into the front passenger seat.

At long last he was on his way to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They arrived at Platform 9¾ at just after quarter to eleven when the platform was teeming with students, parents and a wide variety of pets.

Remus looked around the bustling platform in amazement and searched for someone who looked like they might be a first year student like himself, but he could not tell for sure amongst the crowd. Standing by his parents he felt the first flutter of worry at leaving them behind as he went on this, his first, long trip away from home that was not to another family member.

Isolated from other families in the wizarding world Remus had not known any other children his age and did not recognise anyone on the platform.

"You'll do fine," his mother assured him. "Just remember…"

"I know, don't let anyone find out about me." Remus sighed at the unnecessary reminder.

"It's for your own good."

"But surely people will start to notice I keep disappearing?" Remus questioned.

"Headmaster Dumbledore has it all sorted out. Your father has apparated to Hogsmeade just last week and the house is all built and the tunnel from the school is ready for you."

Remus nodded. It seemed that everyone had his prison all figured out for him.

His resentment only lasted a moment though. He knew it was not his parents' fault that he had been bitten by a werewolf. He knew they had done everything they could be expected, and more besides, to try to find a cure for him. They had petitioned Hogwarts for years for him to be allowed to attend when he reached the admission age. Headmaster Dumbledore was the only reason he was being allowed to attend the school and Remus felt a wave of gratitude for the Professor he had yet to meet. He knew it was only through his efforts and the building of the tunnel and house that he was being allowed within the famous school for young wizards and witches.

Standing to one side he watched as the students all began to file onto the train. Hugging his parents one last time he moved towards the nearest carriage and was one of the last students to board the train.

He stood at the window and waved with the other students as it pulled out of the station and began the long journey that would not end until that evening.

Once the station was out of sight, Remus picked up the handle on his trunk and headed to the nearest compartment and looked inside. The seats were all taken and so he moved onto the next compartment. He searched them all one by one. Occasionally he saw a seat or two empty but the students in those appeared far older than his own eleven years and he was reluctant to force his company onto them.

Finally, when he was starting to wonder if he might have to spend the entire journey in the corridor, he spotted a door opening a couple of compartments ahead of him. He hesitated as he watched the young girl with dark red hair stepped out into the corridor. She was immediately followed by a small dark haired boy, and from Remus could see both of them seemed to be carrying their belongings.

They didn't turn in Remus's direction but instead walked away from him towards the final carriage of the train. The girl's voice drifted back to him just before they moved out of earshot.

"Let's see if there's any room in this one…"

Remus looked towards the compartment they had just stepped out from. He wondered whether they had been thrown out by older students who didn't want the youngsters present, or whether there was some defect with the compartment itself.

He moved cautiously forward until he could see into the compartment. The boys inside didn't seem to be any older than he was and he reached cautiously for the door handle.

"Is this one full?" he asked the black-haired boy sitting in the corner nearest to him as he opened the door. He reasoned that if they didn't want him there then all they had to do was say so.

"Nah, plenty of room," he replied with a grin.

He sat up a little straighter in his seat and pulled his legs back out of the way in order for Remus to navigate his way to one of the spare seats.

"Left it a bit late to find a seat did you?" the boy asked.

"Yeah," Remus replied as he finally sat down. "Too busy waving from the window to think about how crowded it was going to be."

"One advantage of coming to the station on your own is you get a good seat whilst everyone else is leaning out the windows," commented one of the other boys.

"No one brought you?" Remus asked. He had thought the students were all first years like himself but if he was travelling to station on his own then perhaps he'd been wrong.

"Wouldn't want my family too," the boy scowled. "Sirius Black," he said as he stuck out his hand.

"Remus Lupin," he replied as he shuck the hand offered to him. "I'm a first year student," he added.

"Me too," replied Sirius.

"Great," Remus said, although he could not quite hide his surprise. "What house do you want to be in? I've been reading all about them in Hogwarts: A History."

"You actually read that?" Sirius asked with a grin.

"Yes," Remus wondered if he had said something wrong. "It has some interesting stuff in it."

"You'll have to tell me all about it some time," said Sirius. "I was saying to James here that all my family have been in Slytherin."

"Oh," said Remus. He didn't know what else to say. He knew all about Slytherin house and it was the only house he was sure he did not want to be sorted into.

"All my family have been in that one, so chances are I will be too," Sirius explained. "Though I'm hoping to break with tradition."

"So families don't always end up in the same house?" Remus asked.

Sirius shrugged. "Well we'll find out later won't we?"

Remus sat back in his seat, wondering which house he was likely to end up in and for the first time thinking that if he ended up in Slytherin at least it wouldn't be so bad if he had Sirius for company.

Introductions were made, the quietest of the three boys who had already been in the compartment was Peter Pettigrew, and James proudly announced that he was a Potter, and like Sirius was one from one of the oldest wizarding families.

They were a lively if rowdy bunch and Remus soon felt caught up in their excitement; he pushed from his mind any lingering thoughts of why the other two students had vacated the presence of his new friends with expressions of such anger on their faces.

The morning stretched out into the afternoon and the witch with the food trolley stopped by with all sorts of treats for lunch.

After they'd finished eating Sirius began to dig around in his robes and Remus looked on as he wondered what he was searching for.

"Yes!" Sirius exclaimed. "Thought I'd forgotten 'em"

"What?" Remus asked curiously.

"These," Sirius tossed the box into the air and caught them deftly. "You know how to play exploding snap?"

Remus nodded and within minutes the boys were embroiled in their game and laughing like old friends.

They were nearly at the end of the journey when they had an unexpected guest in their carriage. "Well look who's here." Remus turned to the door of the carriage and the owner of the voice.

A student who was clearly older stood there, a prefect's badge on his uniform that showed the Slytherin colours. He was tall with long blonde hair and a thin face. There was an unpleasant and cold look about his eyes and Remus shivered as the boy looked at him.

"Lucius," said Sirius. Remus looked at his new friend. All warmth had gone from his voice at the new arrival. He obviously knew this "Lucius" but was clearly not on good terms with him.

"Sirius," replied Lucius with a smirk.

Remus shifted in his seat as everyone went quiet. It seemed that there was an undercurrent of tension that he knew nothing about.

"I see you have already made a few new friends," said Lucius. Remus shivered again as Lucius turned his attention him before turning to the other boy. Remus looked at Sirius and wondered if he was going to reply or not. For a moment he thought he was actually going to ignore him. He wondered what had happened between his seemingly easy going friend and the older student.

"Aren't you going to introduce us all?" Lucius asked when it was clear that Sirius had no intention of making introductions.

"James Potter," James announced, although Remus was quick to notice that he didn't hold out his hand by way of greeting and his tone was as cold as Sirius's had been a moment before.

Remus shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Lucius turned his cold blue eyes in his direction.

"Remus Lupin," he finally offered in what he hoped was a confident voice but suspected fell far short.

"Remus," Lucius nodded in a condescending manner. "A pleasure."

Remus felt a wave of relief that Lucius did not want to shake his hand. He knew that if he had to touch him he would not be able to stop himself from wiping his hand on his robes immediately.

Lucius walked into the compartment and sat down in the corner opposite Peter, the only one not to introduce himself. Remus wondered if Lucius already knew him or whether the small boy was merely beneath his notice. As Lucius settled back to make himself more comfortable Remus silently hoped he would not be staying with them for the whole of the rest of the journey. "So," started Lucius "did you hear that Dumbledore overruled the board of governors again on the school curriculum?"

Remus nodded, he recalled his father mentioning something about the same just a couple of weeks before. Sirius shrugged as though it was no concern to him. From what he'd said so far on their journey it probably wasn't. He and James were confident that they'd be top in all their classes anyway.

"He was always a dreadful choice for headmaster if you ask me," continued Lucius, oblivious to the lack of conversation from the others in the compartment. "My father says that there's no possibility of the dark arts being added to the list of school subjects as long as he's in charge."

"Good job too," muttered James. Remus privately agreed. The dark arts were the one thing his parents had never tried in order to find him a cure. He had heard them talking about it several times, usually after one or another dead end, and they were both in agreement that they would rather have Remus live as a werewolf for the rest of his life than try to find a cure through the dark arts.

Lucius cast a cold look at James before standing up again.

"You should all be changing into your robes now, we'll be arriving soon." The order was delivered with an air of authority. Remus looked out of the window and saw that it was much darker than the last time he had looked and that the older student, who had obviously made the journey to Hogwarts far more frequently than they had, was probably correct.

When he turned back from the window the older boy had gone but the tense atmosphere his presence had created lingered a while longer.