INTRO
"Lyall, I don't think this can be fixed," Hope Lupin said worriedly. "It's permanent. He'll never be a normal boy -"
"Don't say that," Lyall replied. "We can home-school him, and nobody will know."
"But he won't have any friends," Hope argued. "Nobody would want to be friends with a werewolf!"
"He can go to Hogwarts, then! We just have to keep it a secret. He could have friends, Hope! He could be the coolest kid in school, for all we know! We can't just assume he'll be an outcast for the rest of his life. We have to give him a chance." Hope looked up and saw tears in her husband's eyes. She knew that he never dreamed that standing up for what he believed could cost his son's reputation.
"Lyall, this wasn't your fault." Hope said determinedly. Lyall shook his head.
"Yes, it was, if I just shut up and called the Ministry of Magic when Greyback came -"
"I would've done the same thing," Hope said.
They were interrupted when a woman with straight black hair and a lime-green cloak came bustling into their bedroom. "Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, but you may see your son. He's doing much better." Lyall and Hope exchanged nervous glances, and the man led them down the hall into Remus's bedroom.
The sight of Remus lying there, so pale, so sickly, with dark circles under his eyes, caused Lyall to break down. He collapsed into the nearest chair, staring into the face of the boy who was once his bright, healthy son, knowing it was his fault.
The doctor jabbered on about fatal bites, and healing in a month or so, but neither Lyall nor Hope really heard any of it. They were trying to listen, but they couldn't help but look into their son's pale face, wondering if he would ever be the same again.
When the doctor dismissed them, and they got up, Remus's eyes flickered open. The doctors gasped, and Lyall rushed down to kneel by his bed, Hope following closely behind, her light brown waves hanging around her shoulders.
Remus smiled, and Lyall tried to smile back, but it looked more like a teary grimace, so he just gripped his son's hand and held it tight.
"Call me Moon." whispered Remus. Hope burst into silent tears while Lyall hung his head, willing himself not to let a tear fall. He had to be a man for his son, despite how horrible he felt.
"Okay, we'll call you Moon from now on." Lyall said quietly. Remus grinned and nodded vigorously.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, you may leave now. The boy needs rest." Lyall and Hope nodded silently and tiptoed out of the room, leaving Remus to a handful of nurses to tend to his bite. Again.