Remus couldn't help the nervous shivers that ran through him as he paced the unfamiliar corridor outside Professor Dumbledore's office, waiting to be called in by his parents so his anxiety would reduce. His poor muggle parents, who had been trying to ignore magic since it had shown up in Remus, and who were now sitting in the Headmaster's office, in a magical school for witches and wizards. Remus was actually proud of how well they were taking it. He frequently pinched himself, trying to prevent his excitement rising as he thought he'd finally done it, finally convinced them to let him come.
For the past six years, they'd been too worried to let him out his front door, let alone to an enclosed school surrounded by other people. When Remus was five years old, his parents had taken him on a family hiking trip in the huge forest near where he lived. Foolishly, he'd crept out of their tent one night to hunt for fairies or something else magical, and got lost. Being five years old, he didn't know what he could do other than cry, but that only made his situation worse. The noise attracted the attention of a werewolf, who apparently seemed to think his shoulder looked rather tasty because there was a huge scar in a mouth crescent shape there. If it hadn't of been for his wizard magic, which caused a thick tree branch to break off and slam into the werewolf's face, making it flee, he'd have died right there. Sometimes he wished he had, it probably would have been better than the pain he went through every night the full moon was high in the sky, or the fact that he'd left his basement bedroom possibly five times in the past 11 years.
Since then though, his parents never let him out of their sight, worrying about what would happen if someone found out what he'd become. They'd found him a wizard tutor to visit his basement daily, so he'd still been learning how to control and use his magic, and the 24/7 attention meant he was now skilled in every aspect he'd been taught. Obviously, that didn't include flying, which was because his parents had forbidden it, and his basement ceiling wasn't high enough. The only reason they were giving in to Remus' plea to let him do his N.E. at Hogwarts was that he'd shown them how well he could control his 'condition' and promised that he'd keep it a secret. And that's why he was there, that Tuesday morning on the 2nd of September, a day he'd always remember no matter how it went from here.
The click of a door opening drew Remus' attention and peaked his nerves, and his mother poked her head around the door, informing him the Headmaster now wanted to talk to him. Remus nodded, making sure his tatty old suit looked as presentable as he could make it before he entered Dumbledore's office. He felt terrible for meeting a high-power person in a second-hand, grubby suit, but his parents couldn't afford any better.
The old man was sitting behind a large wooden desk, talking to a beautiful, exotic-looking bird, who was perched on a stand by his side. Remus complimented Professor Dumbledore on his beautiful Phoenix, hoping his knowledge and politeness would sway the Headmaster into accepting him into the school. Maybe distract him from the tatty clothes and scarred face.
"No need for compliments Mr Lupin, seen as I never bothered much with first impressions," Dumbledore rasped wisely. "After speaking with your parents, I feel further inclined to let you stay at Hogwarts for your N.E. ."
Remus beamed, rushing right over to shake his new Headmaster's hand, and thank him at least five times before finally letting go of his hand. Professor Dumbledore merely laughed and instructed him to retrieve a tattered old hat off a shelf just high enough for Remus to reach. Having read all about Hogwarts before he came, he knew just what to expect as the hat was lowered onto his head.
Ahh, right now, it said from inside his head, let me think about you. I sense intelligence, a good match for Ravenclaw, but also courage that I must congratulate you on considering your…condition. Oh, there's something to fit you in every house I see, but I sense more of one than the others.
"Gryffindor" it announced to Dumbledore, before falling silent on Remus' head.
"Well then, it's settled," Dumbledore grinned, flicking his wand at Remus' clothes.
In an instant, Remus' suit turned into a set of black school robes. Around his neck, was a silky, scarlet tie, with golden stripes across it. His shoes were black and polished, obviously new, and he briefly worried how his parents were going to afford his little makeover. That was until Dumbledore informed his parents they didn't have to worry about paying for it, that it was his welcome gift to Remus. Dumbledore wrote a quick note and gave it to Fawkes for a girl named Lily. The bird left swiftly and elegantly.
"Excuse me Professor, but I was wondering where you wanted me to go this weekend, for my…change."
"Ah yes, I apologise, it slipped my mind," he smiled. "I'll have Hagrid meet you at 7 o'clock by the Whomping Willow, he'll lead you where you need to go with your…equipment."
This made Remus feel better now he knew there was a plan for the weekend. It sucked to have to change on his birthday when he would have wanted to spend it with friends. If he made any in five days.
There was a firm knock on the door, and a young girl came in. She looked like she could be in his year, or perhaps the year above. She was pretty, she had eyes that were green like springtime and bright red hair. Remus knew she was trying to hide her reaction, but her eyes widened when she looked at his face. The scars usually got that reaction, so Remus didn't find it rude. Just natural.
"Mr Lupin, this is Lily Evans. She is also a sixth year Gryffindor." He smiled, "Lily, I asked you here to show Remus to the dormitories and to his first lesson. I believe you both have Potions for the first two lessons this morning."
"Of course, sir," she nodded, gesturing for Remus to leave with her.
Remus nodded, satisfied that he was now ready to start his academic years at Hogwarts. Lily seemed friendly enough to be his first friend. He followed her out of the Headmaster's office and headed up one of the many hallways. She didn't start a conversation immediately, so Remus took that as a cue to walk silently.
"Is it rude to ask why you're joining the school with only two years to go?"
Remus tried not to be fazed by the question. He knew it would come eventually today, but this was the first thing Lily would know about him and she might care about first impressions. He resited the excuse he'd practised about his social anxiety holding him back slightly, and how he was more under control so he was allowed to attend school. It was half the truth. Lily didn't need to know his nerves came from years in a dark basement only interacting with three people making it hard to handle the outside world. Remus wasn't neglected, or physically abused, or anything scary like that. He knew his parents loved him as much as life, they were just scared and he bore the brunt of that. He was scared too, knowing there were monster instincts in him that he had to control. But that was easy after 11 years.
Lily mistook his silence as part of his anxiety and he wasn't going to correct her. She started asking him about lessons, which ones he'd taken and how his O. had gone. He felt more comfortable in this subject. He hadn't gotten below an Acceptable and had taken most subjects that schools offered. He had loads of time on his hands with his tutor, so he was good with all 12 subjects he'd studied. Lily seemed impressed but was of a similar level. They could definitely have intellectual conversations.
"We take most of the same N.E. . Potions, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures. But I take Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes. You take-"
"Herbology and Charms."
She promised him that she knew people who were nice enough who took those subjects, so she offered to introduce him to them in the Common Room. Remus accepted, wanting all the help possible when it came to making friends. He hadn't noticed how far they'd gone until he was on the staircase outside their House area, Gryffindor Tower. Lily asked if he was ready to go in, as it might be a bit busy. Remus just linked their arms, saying he'd be fine as long as there was someone he knew, which was her. She smiled and opened the entrance, letting noise vent out and choke him slightly.