Disclaimer: Oiy! If it sounds familiar, I don't own it.
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Summary: [Slash] In a world where curses are often forgivable because they give the story a moral and true love is waiting just around the corner and across the street, how do Remus Lupin (who hasn't had any conversation in about 10 years) and Sirius Black (who has had enough to go a few decades without it) fit together?
Author's Note: I'm aware that I can't write poetry (the reason this is a narrative), but what are you going to do? Flame me? Hah. Anyway, it's only one verse, so do not fear. That's the only attempt at prose in this whole story.
Prologue
Young Remus Lupin dared not sob as his mother led him by the arm through the forest. His feet were tired and aching; he had never walked so much in his life. Scratches from branches covered his face and arms and contrasted with the many scars he had earned over the years, but they were all miniscule compared to the long, thin and graceful scar which lead from his shoulder to a few inches down the inside of his upper arm, branding him as the monster he was.
Finally, they came to a stop in front of an ancient house that only made Remus feel his throat tighten and hot tears sting his eyes, but he refused to cry. It would be wrong to call the house 'small', as it was almost the size of, and maybe even bigger than, Remus's home. But to say that it was a house seemed inappropriate to Remus as well, as the place had an eerie quality that adhered his feet to the ground when his mother tugged again at his hand.
"Come on, Remus," she snapped, and he flinched when she said his name. There was something in her voice, something like hate or disgust, but Remus refused to believe he had actually heard it, he must have imagined it.
"Come on," she said sharply again, and this time Remus followed. "Good. Now, you'll be living here from now on. Don't interrupt." Obediently, Remus stopped protesting, waiting for his mother to continue.
"I cannot take the risk of keeping you. If you killed someone, or worse, if anyone found out what you were... I'd have to move far away, but whether or not they would let me take you with me, I am not sure. It's trouble enough keeping a young werewolf locked up during one night of the month, but you've proved numerous times that the wolf can surface whenever. Don't cry like that, this is for your own good.
"If you are thinking of escaping, don't. An enchantment has been set around this house so you can't escape as long as you are still a... what you are. You should be thanking me; this way you can't harm anyone. Here, take this." She held out a folded piece of paper, which Remus took. " It says how to break the curse. If you ever become human again, you'll be able to leave." It was clear she was trying to act maternal now, but she had never really been that way. Remus looked down at the paper in his hand. This paper was not unfamiliar to Remus; he already knew what it said. He had read it before, and one verse in particular stood out in his mind.
... And when beauty looks him in the eye
And with no attempt to flee
When love is given from both sides
Then the Cursed shall truly be free...
So, basically, he had to find a beautiful girl without ever leaving this place, and get her to love him. Not likely, Remus knew.
And as his mother turned around and walked away, never to cross that invisible barrier again, he tried to remember the other verses, but his mind was on something else. Seeing her leave without ever looking back made that 'not likely' change to 'impossible'.
A growl escaping his throat, the young werewolf whispered angrily after her, "I didn't ask to be a monster." The piece of paper he had clutched in his fist was torn again and again until there was nothing but tiny strips of parchment that were beyond repair. Spitting on the torn paper, Remus Lupin turned away and walked inside.
A bloodcurdling howl was heard, but it was not one of a monster, it was a howl made by someone full of anger and pain to the point of wishing, hoping for death to come and take them away from the world. It was a howl that sent a shiver down one's spine and made you quicken your step and look over your shoulder as you walked home.
Quietly, seeing as no one was around him, Remus gave in and began to cry. He felt real, physical pain, alone in that empty, empty house. Another little growl escaped him, the remorse he felt quickly turning to something else. As his sobs almost echoed through the silent house, he, for the very first time, felt like the monster he had always been told he was.
It was at that moment that Remus Lupin learned to hate himself and everyone else, wholly and completely. He had no hope of ever escaping the curse. Even if some beautiful girl was to find him... so what? If his own mother couldn't love him, who could? He had heard the fairytales when he was younger: the prince gets the girl, while the werewolf dies a slow and painful death, because who would care what happens to him? He's a monster, and nobody wants to love a monster. No one...
He let out a whimper and curled up into a tiny ball on the floor, closing his eyes and welcoming a dreamless sleep.