The night was fairly cold for August. Lily Potter shivered in her thin jacket, holding her young son Harry closer to her, just as much for her warmth as his. She sat on the park bench, jumping at every slight noise, fearing her husband James would arrive.

'Not now,' She thought desperately, 'Please, God, make him stay away…'

For James Potter had sunk so low. Once Head Boy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was only eighteen before he discovered the 'magic' of street life. Once said to be the brightest boy in school, James Potter was an eighteen-year-old father with heavy drug and alcohol usage and an abusive nature.

Lily sighed. She had never thought that her life could come to this, never thought that she would be living on the streets like a homeless muggle, fearing the moment when James, her beloved James, would come and demand for the money she didn't have. Or worse, Sirius. He was stronger than James, and he didn't love Lily as James had. For James wasn't an evil person, he was just another one of the sad stories, of good people gone astray.

The wind blew harder on Lily's back, bringing with it a chorus of drunken voices.

"What? Sirius Black! Why dincha tell us?" James' voice was wobbly, "oh, who gives a damn? Where's my Lily?"

Lily tried to duck down on the bench. James spotted her and ran over, stumbling on his own feet.

"Lily baby!" James' hot breath on her face smelled like whisky, "you look cold… oh well. Have any money for me?"

"No," Lily's voice was faint; not wanting to know what he'd do this night. Walk away? She doubted it. Yell? Tell her how she should get a job instead of sitting around? Was this one of the nights where James would call in Sirius, and the two would search her for money? Lily shivered. 'Is this what the rest of my life will be like?' she asked herself.

"YOU WORTHLESS LAZY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING LITTLE BRAT!" James bellowed at her. Lily shielded Harry away from James' wrath, in case he became violent. "GET A JOB! I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO! I HAVE DEBTS TO PAY! YOU'D BETTER HAVE ENOUGH BY THE END OF THE WEEK!" He spat on the ground in front of her, "That's what I think of you!"

Lily felt like crying. Why had she gotten herself into this life? But, she reminded herself; practically every girl at Hogwarts had wanted James. He was charming, sweet, handsome, and friendly, to all. It wasn't Lily's fault. How could she possibly know he would turn into a -monster?

She kept her face buried until the sounds of James complaining to his friends had died away. Shaking, Lily stood up, holding Harry tightly. He had woken up at the sound of James yelling at her. Now he began to cry.

"Shh, shh, little Harry," She said soothingly to the crying boy, "We'll go to Uncle Remus' house… he'll have something warm for you to eat."

Lily set off, holding Harry tightly in her arms. Dawn was breaking from over the clouds. Harry nodded off to sleep. Lily only hoped that Remus was at home. For the past six months, Lily had counted on him for support, both financially and emotionally. Remus was poor, so she tried to help him out with everything. James was wrong. Lily did have a job, but all the money she made, she would give to Remus in return for shelter and food, even though Remus hated getting paid for helping Lily out. Over the past six months, he had grown to love Lily like no one else had. He just hoped that the day never came when his help and love just weren't enough.

Remus was lying in bed, thinking. Wondering where Lily was, and if James was mistreating her. He felt a rush of anger towards his old friend. How dare he treat Lily like pond scum? Lily was like the flower she was named for, pure, sweet, and beautiful. And James Potter had destroyed that beauty, crushed her in his hand. Oh, sure, everyone had loved James Potter. All the girls had died to be around him, and with the guys he was mister super-cool. No one had seen this coming. James was the brightest scholar in school, except for maybe Sirius. They had all drifted so far apart, the original Marauders. Peter a Death Eater. Remus living by himself, secretly in love with Lily. James, a heavy drinker and drug user, living on the streets. Sirius, same life as James, except he hadn't ruined the life of two other people, as James had, Lily and Harry.

Just as Remus was about to check his watch, he heard a knock on the door. Thank God!

Remus flung open the door gleefully, shouting "Lily! I'm so-" He stopped in mid-sentence, the rest of it coming out in a strangled voice. It wasn't Lily. It wasn't even James.

"T- T- To- Tonks?" He finally gasped out, "I haven't seen you in- awhile!"

But that wasn't all. Beside Tonks stood Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a man that Remus faintly knew to be called Dawlish. He looked slowly from one to another, and then something clicked in his mind.

"But-" He stammered, "You're all…Aurors…"

"Yes, Mr. Lupin, I'm sorry to inform you, but you are under arrest," Kingsley said in his deep, calming voice. He chuckled, "Don't look like that, Remus. It's not really arrest. Just come with us to the Ministry for questioning."

"What? What for?" Remus was outraged. He pulled out his wand, "what? I never did anything wrong!"

"Come on Remus!" Tonks looked grieved, "and put that away!" She said sharply, eyeing his wand.

The man called Dawlish spoke, "come, come. Enough with this nonsense, you two! Nymphadora! Kingsley!" Tonks winced at the sound of her first name, "You do not reason with a suspect!"

Tonks and Kingsley looked highly affronted. Kingsley was the first to speak. "Come on, Remus. If you're innocent, which," he added at the look on Remus' face, "I'm sure you are, then you'll be home by tonight!"

"Yeah, come one, let's just get this over with!" Tonks pleaded. It was making her feel horrible to see him look so pained. Remus was usually quiet and calm.

"You- you don't understand!" He spluttered, "there's someone that I'm supposed to stay and wait for! She's in trouble!"

Tonks, Kingsley, and Dawlish all exchanged looks. Tonks and Kingsley looked uncomfortable.

"It's okay, you won't be gone that long," Kingsley assured, breaking the silence.

Remus finally consented.

"Do you have a book in your house? Anything I can use to make a portkey?" Dawlish asked Remus.

"Sure, got a book right here…" He fished around in his pockets, and brought out a battered looking old muggle journal. Dawlish pointed his wand at it and muttered something.

"Okay, grab on," said Tonks. She was a bit distracted, trying to read into what the journal said. Remus felt the familiar feeling of having a hook just behind his navel, and the whoosh of colour and sound, until he felt his feet hit the floor. Shaking his head, he looked around, confused. This couldn't be it… they were down by the old courtrooms! The Aurors lead him, Remus not knowing where they were taking him. They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door with bolts on it. He finally knew where he was. Level Ten, where the old courtrooms were.

"What?" Remus said blankly, "I don't even know what I'm getting charged for!" He shouted at the backs of the Aurors.

The wooden door opened, and a witch with a pale, flabby, toad-like face looked sternly at him, "Remus Lupin," She said, with disgust in her voice, "you are making an undue amount of noise. Already I do not like you, half-breed. Do not give me further evidence to incriminate you."

Remus was nonplussed. Suddenly, he recognised her. Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. She was particularly foul and biased against all wizards that she considered 'half-breeds'. Since Remus was a werewolf (by no choice of his own), she had hated him before their first meeting.

"Do come in," She continued with a sickly smile, "the Wizengamot awaits you and your trial!"