Author's Note: This is a side-story of "What The Future May Hold". That story would not be complete without telling the love story of Remus and Elizabeth. For those who may not have read the previous story, I urge you to do so. Though, I'm going to try to write this story so it can "stand alone" if you haven't read WTFMH.
All questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you would like to leave a review. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
*****
Prologue: The Man Behind the Werewolf
Remus Lupin sat alone in his quarters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, staring into the fire as he sipped a glass of red wine. He had just resumed the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... a position that he had vacated more than four years ago, after it had been discovered that he was a werewolf. Albus Dumbledore had wanted him to stay on back then, but Remus didn't want to face the fearful students whose parents were sure to object to his teaching their children.
He took comfort in the fact that he was fortunate to have had many friends in his lifetime who had accepted him despite the monster he became once a month. He had lost the closest of his friends to Voldemort... James Potter and his wife Lily nearly two decades ago, and more recently, Sirius Black. Perhaps Sirius' death had hurt even more, as it was the second time that Remus had lost him. Very different circumstances, this time... Sirius died trying to save his godson, proving once and for all that he had not been a traitor or a murderer. Only now, more than two years later, had there been any closure on that chapter of his life. With the capture of Peter Pettigrew after the Final Battle, Sirius had finally been cleared of all charges. But what did that matter now that he was gone?
For all of the good friends he had been blessed with, he had never allowed himself to fall in love. Yes, he had fancied a few women in his lifetime, but none of them wanted to stick around once they discovered what he was. Furthermore, he had convinced himself that it would be unfair to saddle any woman with his burden, even if he had been fortunate enough to find one who would overlook his condition. No, he could not let himself fall in love... one or the other of them would get hurt in the end. And if there was one thing Remus Lupin could not bear, it was to cause anybody pain.
As he stared into the fire, Remus did not allow himself mourn the friends that he had lost... rather, he smiled at his good fortune as he thought about the good friends he still had. Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts staff, the members of the Order, the Weasley family, and Harry, Ron and Hermione. They had all been able to overlook his condition, and accept him as who he really was. He had even made peace with Severus Snape, though they weren't quite ready to call each other "friend" just yet.
He laughed at the irony of it... Snape was the one who had "accidentally" let it slip that he was a werewolf, all those years ago... and now, Snape had been the one to convince Dumbledore that Remus was the best candidate for the teaching position that needed filled. It was the first step in calling a truce, once an for all. Even so, Remus had been reluctant to accept the position. The year that he had spent teaching had been the one of the best years of his adult life, and he was eager to do it all over again... yet, he wasn't ready to face many of the same students who had once feared what he was. He couldn't help but be reluctant, even though he was no longer ostracized by society.
Again, the irony struck him... once feared as a monster, he was now hailed as a war hero. The same community that had shunned him for most of his life had finally come to accept him as the man he had always been, rather than the dangerous creature they had previously thought him to be.
In the end, it was due to the need to prove himself... not to society, but to himself... that he was more than a werewolf, that he finally let Albus coerce him into returning to teaching. So now, here he was, back in the place that held so many memories. He only hoped that he could create new memories that would one day be as precious as the old ones.
All questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you would like to leave a review. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.
*****
Prologue: The Man Behind the Werewolf
Remus Lupin sat alone in his quarters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, staring into the fire as he sipped a glass of red wine. He had just resumed the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... a position that he had vacated more than four years ago, after it had been discovered that he was a werewolf. Albus Dumbledore had wanted him to stay on back then, but Remus didn't want to face the fearful students whose parents were sure to object to his teaching their children.
He took comfort in the fact that he was fortunate to have had many friends in his lifetime who had accepted him despite the monster he became once a month. He had lost the closest of his friends to Voldemort... James Potter and his wife Lily nearly two decades ago, and more recently, Sirius Black. Perhaps Sirius' death had hurt even more, as it was the second time that Remus had lost him. Very different circumstances, this time... Sirius died trying to save his godson, proving once and for all that he had not been a traitor or a murderer. Only now, more than two years later, had there been any closure on that chapter of his life. With the capture of Peter Pettigrew after the Final Battle, Sirius had finally been cleared of all charges. But what did that matter now that he was gone?
For all of the good friends he had been blessed with, he had never allowed himself to fall in love. Yes, he had fancied a few women in his lifetime, but none of them wanted to stick around once they discovered what he was. Furthermore, he had convinced himself that it would be unfair to saddle any woman with his burden, even if he had been fortunate enough to find one who would overlook his condition. No, he could not let himself fall in love... one or the other of them would get hurt in the end. And if there was one thing Remus Lupin could not bear, it was to cause anybody pain.
As he stared into the fire, Remus did not allow himself mourn the friends that he had lost... rather, he smiled at his good fortune as he thought about the good friends he still had. Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts staff, the members of the Order, the Weasley family, and Harry, Ron and Hermione. They had all been able to overlook his condition, and accept him as who he really was. He had even made peace with Severus Snape, though they weren't quite ready to call each other "friend" just yet.
He laughed at the irony of it... Snape was the one who had "accidentally" let it slip that he was a werewolf, all those years ago... and now, Snape had been the one to convince Dumbledore that Remus was the best candidate for the teaching position that needed filled. It was the first step in calling a truce, once an for all. Even so, Remus had been reluctant to accept the position. The year that he had spent teaching had been the one of the best years of his adult life, and he was eager to do it all over again... yet, he wasn't ready to face many of the same students who had once feared what he was. He couldn't help but be reluctant, even though he was no longer ostracized by society.
Again, the irony struck him... once feared as a monster, he was now hailed as a war hero. The same community that had shunned him for most of his life had finally come to accept him as the man he had always been, rather than the dangerous creature they had previously thought him to be.
In the end, it was due to the need to prove himself... not to society, but to himself... that he was more than a werewolf, that he finally let Albus coerce him into returning to teaching. So now, here he was, back in the place that held so many memories. He only hoped that he could create new memories that would one day be as precious as the old ones.