*This chapter has now been edited thanks to my new beta Have Faith In Yourself. =P So enjoy the new and improve version!*
Disclaimer: I WILL ONLY SAY THIS ONCE! I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!!!
I would like to thank PottedLilies for the title!! = ) I really appreciate it! So the title I got from her!!!
Remus Lupin knew that he was a wizard.
In fact, he had known he was a wizard since he was four and had turned his old friend's hair green when he had embarrassed him. However, he never thought that he would be able to go to school.
Remus Lupin was not normal, not even by the standards of the Wizarding Word. He was, to put it bluntly, shunned by most people. At age six, Remus had been bitten by a werewolf; a werewolf that went by the name Fenrir Greyback. Two days before, both he and his parents were shocked when he got his Hogwarts letter.
He and his parents were to meet with Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to see what had been set up for him so that he would be out of the way when he transformed under the full moon. If it was safe enough, he would actually be able to go to Hogwarts!
With that thought, he climbed out of bed and got dressed – moving a little slowly because the full moon had been just three days ago, and he was still regaining his strength.
"Morning mum! Morning dad!" Remus called as he raced downstairs.
"Morning, sweetie!" his mother smiled back at him, "As soon as you finish eating, we'll be heading out."
Remus quickly chomped down a piece of toast, unsure if he could eat any more than that. After a five minute almost-argument (his mother seemed soamused) that he was really done eating, they took a portkey to the school, arriving in the center of the Great Hall.
Remus felt his mouth drop. It was beautiful; the ceiling looked exactly like the sky outside! But before he had the chance to look around, a man with twinkling blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles along with a long silvery bread and equally long silvery hair stood and began walking toward them. This, he presumed, was Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Good morning," he inclined his head slightly toward them, "I am Professor Dumbledore."
"Hello Professor. Pleased to meet you…" Remus' manners kicked in, "I'm Remus, Remus Lupin."
"I know," he said with a smile, "Now if you will please follow me out onto the grounds, I will show you where you will be able to transform."
The Lupin family nodded as one, and followed Dumbledore onto the grounds. They walked a good distance across the grounds, until they stopped a little ways away from a giant willow tree. Unlike normal willow trees, however, its branches were swinging around wildly.
"This tree is called a Whomping Willow; it will swing its branches at anyone who gets too close. Hidden at its base is a small entrance. It leads to a secure place where you, Remus, can transform without fear of harming anyone. Our medi-witch, Madame Pomfrey will escort you here an hour before the full moon; you will meet her in the Great Hall, unless you go into the Hospital Wing earlier that day." He gestured with one hand at the swinging branches, seeming almost amused.
"When you arrive you will take a stick that is long enough to get at the tree – one is hidden behind those bushes – and use it to prod the knot on the tree – that will immobilize it. After it is immobilized, you will be able to go down the secret passage," Dumbledore quietly explained to the Lupins, "Like so."
Professor Dumbledore picked up a long, sturdy stick and prodded the knot at the base of the tree with it. The tree immediately stopped moving, and they all followed Dumbledore into the tunnel. Finally, they reached the end of the tunnel and Dumbledore opened a trap door, which lead into a torn apart looking room. There were no valuables anywhere.
"This is the Shrieking Shack," Dumbledore intoned, "I have started a rumor that it is haunted so no one from Hogsmeade Village will enter; and as you saw no one from Hogwarts can get past the tree, so no one will have the dreadful misfortune of coming across a transformed werewolf. There are also all sorts of spells here, preventing the walls from breaking and allowing you to get out."
"Th-Thank you sir." Remus managed to say around his wide grin. He would actually be able to go to school!
"It is a pleasure to help you, Mr. Lupin. Now, only the staff will know that you are a werewolf, but none of them are allowed to tell any of the students."
"Thank you very much Professor," his mother said with a smile, "Remus quite wants to come to school here, don't you darling?"
"Yes!" Remus nodded his head fervently.
"Very well; I shall see you on September first, Mr. Lupin." Dumbledore inclined his head toward Remus, "And if you ever need anything, feel free to come and speak to me in my office."
Another round of thanks was heard from the Lupin family before they politely said farewells and Disapparated. At home, Remus ran upstairs into his room and looked at his calendar. There was only a week and a half before the first.
"Mom!" Remus called, exiting his room and wheeling down the stairs.
"Yes, sweetheart?" his mom answered from the living room.
"When am I going to go to Diagon Alley to get my school supplies?" asked Remus.
"How about we go this weekend? It's still a week before school starts. Does that sound good?" his father offered.
"Yes Dad," Remus grinned thankfully, running back up to his room.
He simply could not wait!
Sorry this chapter is a little on the shorter side, the next one is longer I promise!!
Please review and let me know what you think! I accept constructive criticism, but please no flaming!