I remember going back
To the place we used to lay
But I keep losing track

The little boy ran. The twisted, knobby branches scratched and bruised his aching, exhausted body as his feet, fleeing in the growing, blinding darkness, barely caressed the ground. He didn't care. It didn't matter anymore. His worst nightmare was coming true in an all too frightening reality.

He hadn't listened. He had though his parents to be too overbearing and superstitious, even if he was too young to know those words. Even when he hadn't realized they understood what terrorizing monsters lived in the woods.

He had been on his way to visit his beloved clearing to watch the full honey moon reflect its beautiful silver-gold light on his parent's lake surface. Too late had he seen the black figure bent over crookedly, apparently satisfying bloody hunger on an unfortunate animal.

He had stepped closer if only to figure out the kind of animal. He had then set foot on that cursed twig. It didn't make much noise, but it was enough. The creature had swiveled around, its teeth dripping with the blood of the victim that wasn't quick enough.

He had figured out the species now, however. He couldn't believe he had been so insanely naïve as to question his parents' superior intelligence concerning the woods. If only he could feel them hold him; tell them he was sorry for disobeying their wishes. But he knew, he knew deep inside as the growling grew louder, that he would never see them again. His favorite clearing, the very thing responsible for this disaster was etched distinctly into his mind.

And now the days they all turn black
And our dreams all start to fade
But there's no turning back

He would never be an Auror. His mother would never be there, sitting in a chair at his graduation from Hogwarts. He would never see the pride on his father's face as he accepted his first employment.

How he wished he could sit by the lake's shore in the summer once more, he hoped for one more lingering moment between him and his parents. Longed (though, he wasn't quite sure), to see his new friend- a little redheaded girl- one last time. Most of all though, he wanted faster legs to get him away from this beast, toward his desires.

He tripped.

This was his last thought as he endured a stinging sensation on his backside, and vision plunged into unseeing darkness as a human figure came running up.

His father was leading Remus into the woods with an unforgiving chain wrapped around his young cherubic neck. Tonight was the full moon.

Cause the world keeps turning
(Why do you tell me you care if you're not going to change?)

Remus used to love the nights every month when the full moon came out. Like a ball ready to be played with and tossed around. Since his rendezvous with the werewolf though, the full moon had become a burden, a curse. As the round moon drew near and nearer still, he had noticed a change in his parents' behavior. They became more interested in the things around them then they were looking their son in the eyes.

Remus recalled when he was naïve enough to believe his parents when they told him they would love him no matter what. Of course, they might still love him, but he was growing increasingly frustrated with the way they would keep on a leash, figuratively and literally.

And my heart keeps burning
(Why do you tell me you care?)

As his father tied him to a sturdy tree and walked wearily back to the house, Remus felt a burning stab of jealously in his heart at the normalcy of his father's. Going home, sitting by the fire, waiting for the sunrise to return his son to "normal."

But, Remus thought with scornful rage, it's all for my own good right?

Then the moon came out, the man on it jeering as if to say, Time to play again tonight! And Remus fell into a familiar, formidable opaque.

A tall and gangly child made his way through the throng of kids shoving onto the ruby train. His parents were behind him whispering for him to behave himself and to "please remember to thank Dumbledore for trusting your judgment on your monstrosity."

Remus sighed and muttered something about he would remember, but he had to get onto the Express. He managed to give them the slip and think about what he wanted to do once he in school.

What if I change the world
If I lead the way

He knew almost immediately.

He would study more about werewolves (his parents had never allowed to touch a single book about them) and figure out a cure so that no one would have to worry about them again.

What if I be the one
That takes the blame

It was the least he could do since it was his stupidity in the place that sprung another "thing" onto humanity.

What if I can't go on without you
What if I graduate

He knew that without Hogwarts though, he would never achieve that dream. If he just stayed on top of his game, he should be able to graduate in no time.

What if I don't
What if I don't

What if Dumbledore realized the error he'd made in letting a werewolf practice magic? Or worse: what if he couldn't do magic at all and he flunked all of his classes while the wizarding world laughed at him?

There's only one way to find out.

Now I'm slowly giving up
As the world keeps losing faith
And you still turn your back

Maybe this time I'll be able to make friends, Remus thought as he walked into the Great Hall. It seemed as if everyone was looking at him and Remus became nervous. Who am I kidding? I'll never make friends. Everyone I meet seems to have been friends since the beginning of their lives.

Now the path I follow
Takes a toll on me
On you

He thought of his parents and how they still barely scraped across his eyes with their own. He thought of the few friends that he had managed to capture over the six years and how they had pieced together his unexplained illnesses once a month. He hadn't seen them since he saw the realization and fear in their eyes.

But there's no turning back

Remus was so lost in his thoughts, that he almost didn't hear the Deputy Headmistress.

"Lupin, Remus." Well, Remus thought, panicked, there's no backing now.

"GRYFFINDOR…"

Remus Lupin waved goodbye to his mother and father as he boarded the train with his friends: James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew.

Cause the world keeps turning

"Come on Moony. Come on. Come on, come on, come on." Sirius said impatiently. "I want to make sure those nosy first years don't steal our compartment. Hurry up." He was doubled over in theatrical, emotional pain, and his features were twisted into a gruesome caricature of a creature being tortured.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Firstly, Sirius, the year wasn't long ago in which you were once a first year." Sirius took this time to look at James and mumble, "Why does he have to talk that?" Remus, however, pressed on. "Secondly, no first years would ever make the mistake of sitting where we have been for the past four years."

Sirius grinned. "I can't wait until we get to Hogwarts! I have a good feeling about this year fellas. A feeling that says we're finally going to get it under control."

Remus smirked. "You mean, you're maturity problem?" James and Peter snickered. Sirius scowled.

I meant the skill James, Peter, and I have been working on since second year." Sirius smiled again. "We're going to master it, and we'll be able to help you, Moony, like friends should be able to."

And my heart keeps burning
(Why do you tell me you care?)

Remus looked at his friends and thought about how they were all different from each other. Sirius, the heartthrob, with his remarkable mixture of mischief and sadness in one little glint in his eyes. James, the Quidditch captain, with his unbeatable compassion for others (with the exception of the Slytherins). Last, but not least, Peter. With his willingness to help out a friend even when he was obviously busy, they were instant friends.

Maybe, Remus thought, perhaps being a werewolf isn't so bad if it helps decide who your true friends are.

I'll be waiting here
For you to call me