He had falling asleep with his face in a book. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. The eleven year old loved to read. He had taught himself how when he was around three and half, four. Even after his, "misfortune", a month before his fifth birthday, he still read. It was the one thing that made him feel more...human, even if he did not understand why. He could sit for hours at an end, when his mother was at work or out shopping, and devour one delicious tale after the other.

He knew how to do many things. Cooking, cleaning, sewing, and even how to dance. His mother had taught him every thing she had learned as a child to keep his mind off other matters that should not have to bother some one of his age. He loved that woman. And all he had done for her is made her life miserable.

Once a week he was presented with a new hardcover from his mother. She worked at Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley. Giving her free range to take home any book that was deemed "abnormal" to the manager, who would pull them off the shelves. Now, most books have good reasons not to be sold. Not just because of a ruined cover, or double prints of the same page.

Once his mother brought home a lovely tale called, Village by the Sea. And when you opened the book directly onto page ninety-six, molten lava would spew out of the bindings. The young man still had scorch marks on his finger tips till this day. He figured the saying was true, "Not every book, was meant to be read."

"Remus, darling." Came the sweet sound of his mother's voice. It was summoning him to wake, but his eyelids felt glued shut. "Sweetheart, wake up. There is some one here to see you."

The ten year old groaned in his half-sleep, and clung to his pillow tighter. He really did not want to be woken, for some strange reason he was having a wonderful dream. He had friends. Friends that did not fear what he became once a month. They loved him for him, and that brought tears to his deep blue eyes.

"Sweetheart, are you crying?" His mother cleaned his streaked cheeks.

"No." The boy mustered, lightly pushing his mother's warm touch away as he sat up. "Is some one really here to see me?" The pale boy asked, avoiding the hiding look of hurt in his mother's crystal eyes.

"Yes," She smiled, "there is."

Before Mrs. Lupin had a chance to say another word, a tall man with a long whiting beard, that reached to end of his torso, ducked through the door frame to Remus' room. "I'm sorry to have wakened you, Mr. Lupin, but I am sure you will enjoy hearing the news I have come to bestow upon you." The man's eyes twinkled beneath his half-moon spectacles.

Remus knew at once who the other was; Albus Dumbledore new headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But this didn't make sense, even though he was still half-asleep. Why would this Professor be here of all places? He must know what the boy was... And just as he opened his mouth to say what he thought, Professor Dumbledore began his speech.

"As you are most likely aware, Mr. Lupin. You are a wizard. And like any witch or wizard before you, they have learned to develop their skills at an establishment such as the one I am offering you to attend; Hogwarts."

Remus was use to keeping secrets. The ability allowed him to master a straight face when put into shocking, uncomfortable situations, but this one took the cake. Was this man daft? How could he stand there and offer a werewolf a place at his school...a chance to be normal; an equal?

No, Remus told himself, his legs now dangling over the side of his bed. This was still part of his dream. He was still unconscious. He needed to wake up; for this was truly a nightmare.

"I assure you, Mr. Lupin, I am not as unbalanced as I might seem." The man smiled, taking in the troubled look of the youth.

"I would never think such a thing, sir! You are a grand wizard; legendary. And I doubt any one at your high status would have gotten there, had they been a loon."

"You would be surprised, Mr. Lupin." Those blue eyes sparkled again in amusement. "However, I think that discussion is for another time and place. Would you not agree?" Remus stared dumb-founded at his guest. "We are here, after all, to converse about your future. Not those who have come or gone." This remark caused Remus to stare at his bare feet, as the Professor cleared his throat and continued. "Hogwarts has been home to many great witch and wizard, regardless of their place in our world. All that is needed is a curious, and willing mind. And I assume you are more than willing, Mr. Lupin."

The boy never removed his eyes from his feet, but nodded all the same. He could sense the excitement and fear from his mother. She had accepted a long time ago that her son might not get the education she had received, but still had not given up hope. She believed that as long as there were people in this world like Albus Dumbledore, there would always be hope. So, when the words that escaped her son's lips reached her ears, the fear doubled in amount. "Thank you, Professor, but no thank you."

"Of course, Mr. Lupin. Attending Hogwarts is entirely your choice." Ablus answered, not even the hint of disappoint or an inch of persuasion in his voice. "No one can decide for you, but may I ask why?"

Remus knew the answer to be obvious, but he still did not want to put it into words. He wished this man would just take the 'no thanks' and leave. He did not need to be tortured like this with a false hope, and it angered him. The emotion flooded through him, and, although, he tried to hide it, a hint of the feeling slipped out with his words. "I find nothing amusing, about an ten year old werewolf, breaking free on the school grounds. Or at being the main focus on some cruel, sick joke to see how many students I'll be able to claim within one night. And I, with out any doubt, will not allow myself to be chained and bound in a dank dungeon like some vile creature every person makes me out to be. I thank you for your offer, but no thank you all the same."

Remus was unable to read the Professor's face as his words left the air of the small room. "Fear." He stated. "And the underlining courage needed to recognize that fear is one of the main reasons we tend not to venture into the unknown. However, since you have until the thirty first of July, I will leave this with you. And you can respond via owl, with your decline."

Staring at the large envelope handed to him; Remus could only mumble a 'thank you', before Albus Dumbledore took his leave.