The Werewolf Watches
Remus John Lupin had been watching people for as long as he had been bitten. Watching, for even the barest hint that others knew what he was. Watching, for a sign that his parents would give up on him. Watching, himself for even a slight wind that he was turning into what his biter was.
When Remus was attended Hogwarts, he watched. He watched out for his time of the month. He watched for a sign that his proffesors were treating him differently. He watched himself even more closely as to not give himself away. He watched out for his friends and got them out of many scrapes. When his friends found out what he was, he watched them for a sign that they would start shunning him. When no rejection came, he relaxed his watch every so slightly.
As part of the Order of the Phoenix, Remus watched other werewolves for Dumbledore. He watched over his friends as two of them had a perfect little baby boy. He watched over the little boy. He watched for people that may want to employ him. He watched the silver patronus deliver the fateful news that heralded the deaths of three of his friends, the betrayal of another, the destruction of Voldemort and the orphaning of the perfect little baby boy.
For eleven years, he watched the baby boy grow up while under the not-so-tender care of his Aunt and Uncle. He watched the uncle strike the perfect boy and he watched himself place a spell on the uncle, a spell that wouldn't allow the uncle to act upon his threats. He watched the perfect boy go about his disgustingly ridiculous amount of chores and he watched himself draw out his wand to make these chores easier. He watched for the dwindling amount of employers. He watched the not-so-little-but-still-perfect boy board the Hogwarts Express.
Two years later he watched his hand guide his quill accross the teaching contract's dotted signature line. He watched from under the pretence of sleep, the perfect teenager interact with his friends and wonder who the 'sleeping' man was, he felt a sharp pang in his chest at that. He watched the dementors board the train in search of the betrayer and he watched the perfect orphaned teenager slump to the floor unconscious. He watched his patronus charge away the dementor. He watched himself hand out chocolate, and felt another pang when the teenager didn't immediately trust him.
Throughout the perfect teenager's third year, he watched the friends of the perfect orphan, to see if they were good enough. He watched for any hint that the Greasy Git-Sorry, Potion Master- had 'accidentally...let slip' his secret. He watched the students for a sign that they had figured it out. He watched ever so closely for the traitor. He watched the perfect boy navigate Third Year and he watched the boy's cheeks redden both pride and embaressment respectively as he gently guided him. He watched the Marauders Map and hurried to the Whomping Willow when danger arose. He watched the convicted betrayer turn back into the (biggest drama queen of all time) friend and the dead friend turn into betrayer and traitor. He watched the perfect teenager fight for what was right and couldn't have been prouder.
He watched from afar as someone else helped the perfect boy navigate his Fourth Year with a great amount of jealousy. He watched feverishly as the perfect orphan had his name entered into the Triwizard Tournament and watched ever the closer as he completed ridiculous tasks designed for far older wizards. He watched the perfect teenager sleep dreamlessly in the Hospital Wing while the old friend slept as a dog at the foot of the bed. He watched the Order of the Phoenix reform and felt ever increasing nervousness.
He watched Tonks break something, and felt the warm tug of fondness, as he and other Order members stole into the Dursley house. He watched the perfect teenager draw his wand on the rescue party. He watched as the perfect flyer flew his broom expertly and even better than his father. He watched the wrongly convicted and the perfect boy embrace with passion, and once again felt the pangs of jealousy. He watched as the perfect teenager departed for Hogwarts once again. He watched as his old friend paced tirelessly, fretting over having so little news from his godson, and he to fretted and paced. He watched the perfect orphan's head come through the floo and berate them for being young fifteen year old idiots to Sniv-Snape. He watched with gut-wrenching agony as his old friend fell through the veil and his screams mingled with the godfatherless godson's. He watched as he valiantly fought Death Eaters and Voldemort with headsplitting worry. He watched the newspapers with the perfect almost-a-man splashed across them. He watched as something unexplainable tugged him closer to Don't-Call-Me-Nymphandora Tonks.
As the perfect boy started his seventh year, he watched other werewolves and bitterly regreted not being able to watch the perfect flyer. He watched the D.A, the Order and teachers of Hogwarts battle intruding Death Eaters. He watched as people gathered around the fallen Dumbledore and with them he raised his wand. He watched as the red-heads gathered around Bill's bed and watched as Molly and Fleur argued then fell on each other crying. He watched as Tonks once again proclaimed her love for him and he tried to once again bury his true feelings. He watched many people sob at the fallen's funeral and wished high to heaven he had the guts to comfort the one he was so proud of.
He watched himself propose to Tonks and he watched her gleefully say "Yes!". He watched many people plot how to take the boy he had watched over for many moons away from the No.4 Privet Drive. He watched as the perfect teenager climbed into his late friend's old sidecar, and repressed the urge to smirk. He watched as colours from wands lit up the night and he watched Mad-Eye fall. He watched as George's ear was blown off and they struggled and fought their way to The Burrow. He watched as everyone mourned the passing of another comrade and felt tears slide down his own cheeks.
He watched as Tonks became pregnant and he did the cowardly thing and ran away, to beg the perfect man to take him with them on their quest. He watched as the perfect man once again berated him and Remus left in a storm, and returned to his wife and unborn son. He watched nervously as his son was born and watched elatedly as his son's hair started turning different colours. He watched as he and his wife signed their sons birth certificate and he watched his hand pound numerous people's doors as he spread the news. He named the boy whom he had watched over the perfect Godfather and got completely drunk. He bounced around like a giant bouncy ball looking twenty years younger.
He watched as an Order member flooed him, telling him the Battle of Hogwarts had started and did he want to join? He watched himself say goodbye to his son, well aware that it might be the last time he saw the little monster. But he wanted to fight for a better world for his son, so he went. He watched his beloved wife stretch out her hand to him and he took it. Took it and watched a green flash hit them both before everything disappeared.
He could hear Harry calling him from through the veil. Remus felt a tug, similar to a portkey tug, and he felt himself appear in the scene of so many adolescent wanderings. He gazed at Harry and offered him what little advice and comfort he had. He watched as Harry bravely walked to his death, thrice the man anyone could ever hope to be. He was so proud of the man he had watched over for so long.
Remus John Lupin ceased to watch people on 2nd May 1998. He may not watch people anymore but the one he watched will watch over the son he left behind for him.
Fin
-Thoughts?
Anything that sounds familiar from J. 's world is probably from here world and I don't own any of it. I own nothing, J. does.