Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Note: I love Remus Lupin's character and wanted see more about his life in the books, from the time he was bitten, to the end. To rid my curiosity I am going to write this story. There will be eventually spoilers for the last book in chapters to come.

This is my tribute to Moony.

The Exile of Remus Lupin

The full moon was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Little Remus Lupin decided this as he made his way along the country road. He stared up at the glowing orb of light with bright brown eyes, a smile on his face. He hummed to himself, hopping on one foot, then he switched to the other. He thought, a little guiltily, that it was late and that his parents would be waiting for him. He supposed he should get home soon.

But the moon was so bright, so beautiful, and he was full of life. A spring night, alight with moon shine, was a perfect time for him to play, he thought.

Remus turned his eyes to the fields, to the shadows the tall English oaks cast across the grass . . . and he froze . . .

One of those shadows was moving.

The small child stepped back, his eyes staring wide as he watched a strange creature stalk near, its shadow long across the ground. It looked like a dog. But something was terribly wrong with it. Its legs were far too long, its body too lanky, bloodstained teeth too large. Its gold, blood shot eyes bore into him and a snarl that shook and vibrated through its whole muscular body echoed through the glade.

The boy gasped and took off at a run towards the small house in the distance. The werewolf howled, blood high with thirst, and sprinted after the boy. In only a few strides the creature overtook the small child. Remus felt the large paws smash into his little back and he fell to the ground face down, the weight of the creature pressing him down into the ground.

The unbearable, excruciating pain came when the great creature bit hard into his little shoulder, long fangs slipping easily into his skin. The boy screamed, eyes tightly closed, terrified tears running down his face. He felt the great beast's claws tearing into his back.

And he heard, though he would forget only moments later, a laugh hidden somewhere in the snarl of that great, gray werewolf.

Orion Lupin tore across the field at a sprint, his brown eyes flashing. "STUPIFY!" he roared.

An explosion of light shot forth from his wand and the creature tearing into his son's shoulder was thrown off the boy. "REMUS!" he screamed, hurtling forwards. REUMUS!"

"P-papa," little Remus whispered from where he lay.

The werewolf howled, his eyes turning to the adult human who now opposed him. "JENNY! GET REMUS!" he bellowed. Jenny Lupin, her eyes filled with tears and terror, swept up her trembling, wounded little son into her arms, feeling helpless. She had no magic like her husband and no way of aiding him. Racing across the field with her son she crooned to the boy, and to herself. "It'll be alright," she whispered. "It'll be alright."

Orion, his anger and despair contorting his face, roared, "Avada Kedavra!"

The werewolf, with an uncanny understanding, dodged the curse, his teeth bared in a grin. He chose that moment to flee from the scene, into the woods, his thirst for selfish survival stronger than his thirst for blood at that moment. Orion nearly chased after him till he froze. "Remus!" he sobbed quietly. Whirling about he raced towards the little house on the grassy hill, and he knew life for his boy would never be the same again.

The pain of the occult wound was terrible, more terrible than an ordinary dog bite. It throbbed and stung. Little Remus whimpered, his closed eyes, trembling, confused by the pain and waves of agony rolling through his body as he lay on the bed under uncomfortably hot sheets.

He could hear his father talking to someone. A healer.

"That scar on his shoulder will never disappear. That's the nature of cursed wounds. You are lucky he didn't die. That werewolf would have mauled him if you hadn't stopped it."

There was a small sob and Remus felt his mother's hand gently run through his sweaty, damp hair. Somehow, in his present state of mind, that maternal touch was more painful than comforting.

"My son . . . a werewolf . . ." Orion's voice sounded deflated. Then it rang with anger and grief. "It . . . it's all my fault."

"What do you mean, dear?" Jenny whispered. "How can this be your fault? Orion?"

Orion did not answer. Opening his eyes Remus saw his father rest his head against the wall, his eyes closed, his fists clenched and shaking. Though Remus did not understand, did not know what he had become, he felt as though the world was coming to an end just by glancing at his father's defeated frame. Remus closed his eyes again and the six year old boy wished he was dead.

Screams pierced the night, echoing from the small house on top of the hill. In the cellar the tortured howls of a small boy shook the dusty air. His bones grinded, muscles contorting as limbs lengthened, his face elongating into a feral snout. Each heartbeat was painful, each breath a knife wound. His brown yellow eyes glowed in the darkness, filled with crazed tears. "MUM!" His roar was bestial. "PAPA!"

The werewolf tore through the cellar, knocking over barrels, tearing into the plaster walls with his claws. With no fresh meat in sight the werewolf bit his arm, scratching his limbs. His shirt and pants soon hung about him in torn shreds.

The beast could smell blood. Fresh human blood. It was just beyond the barricaded cellar door. He clawed at it, snarling fiercely, his eyes filled with blood lust, with hunger. If he tore through it he'd be filled. He wouldn't be in pain anymore.

In the distant recesses of his mind he wept and cried in terror.

What's happening?! Mum! Dad!

Orion sat hunched at the other side of that barricaded door, his face buried in one hand, as his shoulders shook with sobs. Jenny wept. "Is there anything you can do?!" she sobbed, and gasped as her son howled loudly, the door shaking.

Orion's voice rasped out in deep pain. "No."

"But you're a wizard, aren't you?!" Jenny wailed franticly, grabbing his arm. Her eyes were wide. "Aren't you able to do anything?!"

"There are . . . some things even a wizard can't do, my dear." Orion whispered.

Jenny sobbed and crooned to the crazed werewolf, her little boy, who bashed himself repeatedly against the door, each howl of rage and terror he issued filling her with pain. "Everything will be alright, Remus," she whispered. "Everything will be fine."

At long last, the full moon disappeared from the sky. Remus trembled, feeling his limbs contorting, his body throbbing with agony as he shrunk back into human form. The crazed blood thirst that had held him throughout the whole night slowly, steadily, left him, along with his energy. Swaying, he collapsed, the cellar about him spinning. "Mum," he whispered.

The door was thrown open and warm arms wrapped around him. His mother and father, weeping hard, held him close and he rested his head on one of their shoulder's, too weak to speak, too weak to dream when he fell into exhausted slumber.

"Look there . . . isn't that Lupin?"

Remus Lupin, sitting on a fence on a cold March day, looked up. His face was scarred in a few places, his brown yellow eyes watching curiously as two school children walked across the field, pointing at him. The chilly wind blew gently in his brown, gray streaked hair.

"Yeah. That's him. From a poor peddler family I think. Look at those old clothes."

"Well, it serves him right. He's weird. That house of his is odd too. Don't you hear it? That thing they keep locked up in there?"

"You mean . . . the thing that makes those howls? Maybe they got a werewolf locked up in their cellar."

The two boys laughed and departed along the path, unaware of the truthfulness in their jest. Remus remained seated on the fence, his head downcast, his eyes dull, devoid of emotion, of light.

It wasn't fair.

He got up off the fence and walked across the field, hands thrust into his coat pockets. His father had given him all his old first year school books yesterday from Hogwarts. Since Remus really didn't have anything else to do, he had already read half of "Hogwarts, a History." It hadn't helped his mood at all. It had made it worse. No wizarding school would ever admit a werewolf. Surely Hogwarts, one of the most famous schools in the world, would never allow a safety hazard like him inside its walls. He would never walk the long hallways that were described in that text book. He'd never be sorted into a house. He personally wanted to be in Gryffindor. He thought that the idea of a wolf joining a house meant for lions was amusing.

Remus, approaching his house, looked up. His jaw dropped.

A tall, old man stood in the path near his home, patting his large wizard's hat as he set it once again atop his head. His hair and beard were of the brightest silver and was so long Remus guessed he could have tucked them both into his belt. His blue twinkling eyes sparkled in the March sunshine. He caught sight of the boy and his eyes crinkled with optimistic mirth. "Oh. Hello there." he said.

Remus closed his mouth, trying not to gape. "Uh, may I help you, sir?" he asked.

The tall old man drew out an envelope from the folds on his robes and looked down at it. "I am looking for a Mr. Remus Lupin of 23 William Lane, Bretwalda, England. Have you seen him?"

Remus gulped, his eyes widening. "I-I'm Remus . . . sir," he said.

The tall man chuckled. "Well, of course you are, boy." The wizard pointed. "And that house, on top of the hill, is yours then."

Remus nodded, lost for words.

"Are your parents at home?"

Remus nodded again.

"Well then, let us go see them." The tall man strode forwards and Remus had to trot to keep up.

"Ar—are you a wizard?" Remus asked, feeling stupid.

The man nodded. "Yes."

Remus was confused, but he knew it would be rude to ask questions. Something told him that this odd wizard was incredibly powerful, but not in a frightening way. It was a reassuring power, a strength that made Remus feel the happiest he had ever been in five years.

Remus excused himself to the man and opened the door, trotting into the living room. "Dad, mum," he called.

Orion Lupin looked up from the Daily Prophet opened in his hands. "What's wrong," he said, concerned.

Remus sighed. "Nothing," he said. "There's someone here to talk to me," he said.

Orion's eyes narrowed and he strode past his son, his hand reaching into the pocket of his robes, fingers tightening about his wand. Jenny watched, apprehensive.

Upon seeing who was at the door, however, Orion's eyes widened. He let go of his wand and went red in the face when it clattered loudly to the floor. "P-professor Dumbledore," he stammered, grabbing his wand from where it had fallen. He tucked it again into his pocket. "Come in, please." Hurrying into the other room he whispered to his wife, "Jenny, make some tea, please."

Jenny, peering at the door, gasped as she caught sight of the Professor. "Yes," she said. She looked down at Remus, her expression anxious, but hopeful, an expression Remus rarely saw on her face. "Go into the cupboard for some fudge. Professor Dumbledore might want some."

Remus, simply bursting with questions but resolutely holding them all back, nodded and trotted to the kitchen to get the fudge. Fumbling, he pulled the chocolates out of the small box they were stored in and he put them onto a little plate. He didn't think just setting the dented cardboard box down on a table in front of the magnificent wizard was presentable. He hurried into the living room and found the professor sitting in a chair. Orion sat across from the man, his hands clasped, his expression tight. Setting the fudge on the table beside the stranger, Remus mumbled something about hoping the professor would like some fudge and he went to sit in the corner, sitting on the edge of a chair. Dumbledore smiled. "Don't be shy boy. Come sit over here with us."

Remus nearly knocked over the chair as he placed it beside his father. He sat there, excitement coursing through him. He glanced at his father in confusion but Orion smiled down at him reassuring, though the corner of his smile trembled a little.

Jenny came soon into the room with the tea and a few scones, blushing. "I'm sorry it took long," she murmured, embarrassed as she apologized for her lack of magic. "I . . . I'm not . . ."

Dumbledore smiled warmly. "Sometimes tea tastes better when time and hard work is taken to make it," he replied simply. Jenny, beaming, watched as Dumbledore took the first sip of tea and a bite of a scone. "Excellent," he said. "And your fudge is very good." Remus watched with amazement as the great and powerful wizard retrieved a small bag of Muggle candy from his pocket. "Care for a lemon drop, Remus?" he asked. "They are quite good as well."

Remus, gulping, nodded, and the lemon drop fell into his palm. It was the first time anyone but his parents had given him candy. "Thank you," he murmured.

Orion tapped his foot on the floor worriedly. "Professor Dumbledore," he said quietly. "My boy . . . our boy is a good lad. He's studious, responsible, talented. He's polite. He—" Orion laughed, nervous. "He's already read half of 'Hogwarts, a History,' and I just gave it to him yesterday. He . . . Please accept him. With his talents he needs to go to school. None of the other schools . . . they won't . . . I beg you—"

"Orion. Hogwarts, I'm afraid, is not like other schools," Dumbledore said, but he still smiled. "Goodness, as I am its Headmaster it would not be like others, I assure you." He looked upon Remus with his twinkling blue eyes. "You are eleven today, Remus. Is that correct?"

Remus blinked. He had forgotten. March 10th, today, was his birthday. "Yes."

Dumbledore chuckled jovially. "Happy birthday, my boy. Here is a letter for you." He passed the letter to the boy who took it, staring at the green lettering on the front addressed to him. He opened it up carefully and pulled out the letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Lupin,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Term starts September 1. The Hogwarts Express leaves from Platform Nine and Three Quarters on August 30 from King's Cross Station. Enclosed is a list of the books and supplies you will need. We await your answer by owl.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

After reading the letter, Remus looked up at both his parents, his face breaking into a smile. "Hogwarts!" he said, his eyes wide with glee.

Orion sat back in his chair with a relieved sigh, his eyes staring at Professor Dumbledore. "Then he has been accepted. You accepted him."

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes I have. I would be a terrible Headmaster if I barred a student willing to learn and who had the talent and thirst to do so from our doors."

Jenny, glee filling her eyes, flung her arms about the still seated headmaster. Orion cleared his throat. Jenny stepped back from the Headmaster, flustered. "I—I'm sorry, Professor," she muttered.

Dumbledore laughed though. "I say, if all parents were this pleased about their children coming to Hogwarts I would be very happy. No harm done, Jenny. However, though this must be a joyous occasion for all of you, we must now speak of safety measures." He looked at Remus. "I would like you to hear this as well, Remus. I apologize if it will make you uncomfortable, but in order to keep you safe you must also be aware."

Remus understood that Dumbledore was about to talk to him about his condition. Remus would listen to every word, no matter how much it hurt him to remember he was different from everyone else. "I won't be uncomfortable," he said, determined.

Dumbledore nodded and looked at all of them. "The Staff and I have built a house in Hogsmeade where Remus can safely undergo his transformations, without the notice of the students and others. We now have a secret passage leading from the Hogwarts grounds to the house." Dumbledore smiled. "We also have a brand new tree as well."

"A tree?" Jenny asked, bemused.

"Yes. A rather large, ferocious willow, to be exact." When Jenny gasped in fear Dumbledore reassured her. "Do not worry. The willow simply guards the entrance into the passageway. No one will come close enough to the tree to realize a secret tunnel is right under its roots."

Remus didn't know if he should be happy that his arrival to Hogwarts caused all these new conditions or if he should be ashamed. Even so, the idea of a vicious willow tree was oddly amusing to him.

Dumbledore spoke more with the Lupins, but Remus' thoughts wandered far from the conversation as excitement overtook him.

I'm going to school . . . I'm going to Hogwarts . . . I'm going to be a wizard . . . I'm going to Hogwarts . . . I'm going to make friends . . . I'm going to Hogwarts . . .

For the first time since he became a werewolf, his transformations, his pain, his exile, had taken a back seat in his mind.