Disclaimer: Me no own.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx- Wednesday September 1st, 1971

A small boy with light tawny hair stared up at the gleaming scarlet steam engine with his amber eyes. This boy's name was Remus Lupin. Never had Remus ever imagined he would be here, standing in front of the Hogwarts Express, gathering his things together, preparing for the trip to Hogwarts. You see, Remus had been bitten by a werewolf at a young age, therefore the curse of lycanthropy was passed on to him. Due to the curse, he had never been allowed to play with other kids in case he accidentally let it slip that he was a werewolf, so it was practically a given that he was never to set foot in Hogwarts.

But none other than Albus Dumbledore showed up on the Lupin's doorstep and told him that he was, in fact, accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was actually going to get to go to a normal school and fit in for once, and maybe, just maybe, people would be able to look beyond his illness and see him for something else...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-Flashback, play Dr. Who theme: Dr. Who theme 2005-2007 by Murray Gold

Somewhere in a small cottage in the middle of a large field, a boy swirled his cereal absent-mindedly. He wasn't that hungry, due to the fact that the full moon was only a night ago.

"Remus, dear, you have to eat something." his mother said worriedly.

"I'm sorry mum, I'm just not hungry."

"B-"

"Hope, leave it." Remus' father interrupted with a sigh from the doorway of their tiny kitchen. He had been out drinking again, Remus could tell. He was never home anymore for Remus' transformations, always heading to the bar to drown his guilt and sorrow in whiskey and leaving his wife to cry and listen to her son's screams and howls. It had been partly his fault (although Remus would ever tell him that, oh no) he had been the one to aggravate Fenrir Greyback, not Remus.

"Fine." his mother said with a sigh, "Go get some rest, Remus." Remus jumped down from his chair, favoring his right leg slightly, to put his bowl in the sink. But a loud thump on the window caused him to drop it as a large barn owl collided with the wall outside.

"What? Who would be sending letters to us?" Hope Lupin muttered, more to herself than her husband and son. And with that, she opened the window to let the ruffled owl in.

"Is that...?"

"A Hogwarts letter?" Remus and his father said together, disbelief evident in both of their voices.

"Indeed it is," Hope said quietly as she ran her fingers along it.

"Oh." Remus knew what this meant, it was the letter that explained why he couldn't go, with being a monster and all. It would have just been better if there was no letter, they could of at least saved him the embarrassment.

"Why don't you open it, Remus?" his mother said, holding the letter out the Remus.

"I really don't see a reason, I know I can't go." Remus snapped bitterly as snatched the letter from his mother's hand and threw it into the trash. He chose to ignore the small voice in his head telling him to pull it out and check. But he didn't, instead Remus stalked into his room, slamming the door on the way in and ignoring his father's calls to apologize to his mother.

Later that night-

Remus sat at the table poking at his potato salad dejectedly. Another owl had turned up around lunchtime that day. Didn't they understand that Remus couldn't go? If he wasn't responding then it was obvious that they knew. But no, they had to send another bloody letter telling him he was a freak and didn't belong at Hogwarts. He had thrown that one away too.

Just then there was a loud knock at the door and Remus could faintly see the outline of someone very tall standing at the door.

"Who in their right mind would come at this hour?" Hope whispered, throwing down her dish rag and opening the door. And to Remus' surprise, there at their doorstep stood an old man, a very old man. He had an eccentric look about him with his long white beard and hair and dark violet robes with silver trim.

"Hello, Mrs. Lupin, sorry to intrude at such a late hour but may I speak to Remus?" Dumbledore said politely.

"Excuse me? You can't just show up on my doorstep asking to see my son! Who the bloody hell do you think you are?! And more importantly, how do you know who we are!?" Hope Lupin said angrily, putting her hands on her hips. She could be quite intimidating for someone who barely reached Dumbledore's armpit.

"Oh, my bad. You'll have to excuse my bad manners, for I am-" but his introduction was cut off by Lyall Lupin rushing down the stairs as fast as he could.

"Professor Dumbledore! What are you doing here?"

"You know this man!?" Hope hissed angrily, glaring daggers at her husband.

"Yes Hope, he's the headmaster of Hogwarts." he said calmly before turning to Dumbledore, "Sorry about that Professor, she's new to the magical world." Realization then dawned upon Hope's face as she remembered the stories Lyall had told her. Remus sucked in a breath, Dumbledore was in his house!

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry Professor, you must forgive me!" Hope said, her cheeks turning a bright red.

"Oh it's quite alright Mrs. Lupin, I will admit I found it quite entertaining. Now, may I speak with Remus?" Dumbledore asked, craning his neck around Lyall to spot the werewolf.

"Ah, Mr. Lupin, just the man, or boy should I say, I wanted to see!" Dumbledore said happily as he walked into the Lupin's cottage.

"If this is about the letter then I know, I know I can't go." Remus hissed, blinking fast to try to stem the tears threatening to pour out of his eyes. Well wasn't this just perfect! They weren't satisfied enough so they sent the headmaster to tell Remus he couldn't go, that he was a monster. He had already been humiliated enough already.

"Well who said anything about not going? Did you even read the letters?" Dumbledore said gently, seeing Remus' tears.

"Um, n-not exactly."

"May I ask why?"

"Because I know I can't go." he snapped, losing his temper

"Nonsense! Everyone should be given a chance at an education, and I couldn't think of anyone better suited than you."

"But I'm a werewolf Professor! I'm dangerous!"

"Ah yes, your condition. I assure you that has been taken care of."

"I-It has?"

"Yes, we found a safe place for you to transform. And besides, like I said, everyone deserves a chance at an education."

"You really mean that?"

"Of course Remus."

"Um, excuse me Dumbledore, but what if someone finds out or he hurts someone? He's not registered and we both know the penalty." Lyall interrupted from his spot in the corner.

"Yeah! What about the other students, what if I hurt someone?"

"Don't worry Mr. Lupin, both of you," he said with a pointed glance in Remus' father's direction, "that has also been handled. You will be transforming a safe distance from the school."

"But Professor, you know how it is with werewolves, it's not safe for him there." Lyall interrupted once again.

"No one is to know of Mr. Lupin's secret unless he wishes to tell them himself."

"So, I really can go?"

"Of course."

"Oh thank you so much, sir!"

"Your welcome Remus," the wizard said with a chuckle, "Now, I must speak with your parents, please give us a moment," Dumbledore said, gesturing to Remus' parents who were standing at the door, identical looks of pride and happiness on their faces as they led Dumbledore into the study.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-Flashback ends.

"Remus, it's time to go sweetie." His mother's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked up at his mother and father's faces. It was now that he realized how much he was going to miss them. No one would be there to comfort him after the moons, no caring touches, no spell practicing; it worried him.

"Mum.," Remus whispered, his voice breaking.

"Oh, it's okay sweetheart, you'll be fine." Hope Lupin said as she bent down to stroke his hair affectionately. Remus leaned into her touch. He didn't want to leave but at the same time, he couldn't wait.

"Yep, your mother's right, you'll be home before you know it."And with a slightly lower voice added, "And we'll send you letters every moon." his father said.

"Really?" Remus asked, looking for confirmation. "Of course, now it's about time you get going; you don't want to end up in a compartment full of idiots, you're too smart to be one of them." his mother said jokingly, yet serious. Remus was quite smart for his age.

He managed a small laugh even though he was filled with a feeling of dread. What if he was stuck in a compartment full of idiots or maybe he wasn't as smart as he thought he was and he would be sent back home for being too stupid, or even worse, he could be stuck in a compartment full of bullies. He could manage idiots, and being an idiot, but not bullies. What if they found out about his secret?

"Remus, Remus, Remus!" Remus was jerked back to reality to see his father waving a hand in front of his face.

"Oh, sorry Pop. You know, mum's right I really should be going, I'll miss you guys. Love you." Remus turned to leave, he really didn't want to make a scene like some of the families there. Like the mum hugging her son so tight his glasses were hanging off his face while his dad gushed over different aspects of Hogwarts. But before he could even walk a foot towards the train, hands grabbed at his robes and pulled him back into his parent's loving embrace. Instead of pushing away his family's affections, like the tall boy with black hair who was currently fighting to free himself from his younger brother's bone-crushing hug, he let it swallow him up.

"Bye Mum, bye Pop, I love you guys," Remus said quietly before untangling himself from the hug and hurrying toward the train.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Author's Note: Hello guys! This is my first fanfic so please don't hate me if it's terrible, which it is. REVIEW! I will use flames to burn houses, don't give me that power.