Summery: Remus' life was never an easy one and here is just a glimpse as he tries to fight the prejudices of the world and more importantly, the beast within.
A/N: Written for the HPFC 30 Drabbles in 30 Days challenge. Enjoy =]
Thirty Moments in the Life of Remus Lupin
1) Marked
The circular moon began to set as the dewy grass began to sway in the gentle spring morning's breeze. Birds came to life singing their cheerful lullabies, and humans all around the country began to rise with a yawn. But if you looked into a particular forest at the edge of Godric's Hollow, you'd see something quite different to forest animals and spring flowers. Lying on a mound of brown earth was what seemed to be a man. Now, I say seemed, as this man didn't exactly look all human, in fact if one were to walk past him you may mistake him for some sort of dog, or perhaps wolf. A slivery kind of fur coated his ragged body and crimson blood fell from his wounds, which seemed to be in shape of scratches. He appeared to have a long pointed dog's nose and sharp claws attached to paws. If you were to approach this dog-like-man you would be able to hear barely audible whimpers emitting from his dry mouth.
As the full moon completely set the sound of cries of pain and despair filled the forest at the edge of Godric's Hollow. Birds scattered as the screaming continued until all of a sudden, silence reigned. Sitting on the mound of earth was no longer the dog-like-man but a man, which appeared to be gravely injured with wounds much like the dog. He dropped his head into his hands in total exhaustion, before running a single hand through his rapidly graying hair. Carefully the man rose until he was standing on his thin spider-like legs. With a sigh, the man began to walk through the forest, never taking note of the beautiful flowers and the lively animals. He kept hobbling until he came upon the most beautiful cottage in the exact middle of the forest. The cottage was small having perhaps only four or five rooms, ivy clung to the brick work making it look like a place of magic and fairy tales and trees surrounded it at all angles. The man opened the rickety gate stopping for a mere second to look at the wooden plaque that stated 'Moony's Manor'. He continued to the front door and pulled out what appeared to be a wooden stick. With a wave of this wooden stick the door to Moony's Manor creaked open. The worn man sighed throwing his cloak onto the nearest chair before he grabbed a picture and lay on the surprisingly comfortable sofa. A single icy tear ran down his dirty face as he stared at the five people in the picture. Three were now dead, killed by the other and here he was, alone, for this man was one Remus Lupin. But, Remus was not quite your normal man for he had been marked. Marked by the bloodthirsty creature he was forced to become once a month. Marked by fate never to have true happiness, and marked by self inflicted scars that came with his curse. Before, it was never as bad for he had his friends that helped him overcome the beast but now he had no one, he was forced to live day by day in complete solitude, never hearing news from the outside world. Remus Lupin was truly alone, marked by the werewolf.