AN: Hello! I originally intended for this to be an oneshot, but it ended up being too long, so I decided to break it up. Be forewarned, Remus/Sirius pairing, so if you don't like slash or that pairing please don't read : )

Updates will be every day.

4 year old Remus had not a care in the world, growing up in a loving home with his wizard father and muggle mother, who both loved him dearly. His days were spent playing with neighbouring children, causing general mischief for his mother, and being entertained by watching his father do simple but eye catching magic. Two months before his fifth birthday, one rainy evening, Remus was passing the time lying on the living room floor playing with a small Quidditch set while his mother was cooking dinner in the kitchen. Suddenly the front door opened letting a draft of cold air into the house, which could only mean one thing; Father was home! Smiling broadly, Remus ran to the door to be immediately scooped up into his dad's arms.

"Hello son! Did you have a good day? Have you been behaving for your mother?" his dad asked, ruffing Remus' hair. Remus giggled in response and nodded earnestly.

"Oh don't let him trick you with that innocent smile, just wait and let me tell you what he got up to today." Remus' mother rounded the corner with a playful smirk on her face. "What your dear son did was- Lyall, what's wrong?" Hope's smile quickly faded as she saw her husband's face. Remus looked up at his dad; he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

Lyall sighed quietly and placed Remus on the floor. "Go play in the next room, your mother and I need to talk," he instructed his son. Not liked being dismissed so quickly, Remus scowled at his father who let out a laugh. "Later I'll set the dinner table by making the dishes float," he promised. Remus let out an excited laugh and charged back into the living room to keep playing with his game. Once he settled back in front of his Quidditch set he could only hear snippets of his parent's conversation. It sounded like his father was talking about something that happened at work. Remus could hear the words 'Greyback,' and 'lycanthropy' said quite often (whatever that meant). After a few more minutes of whispered discussion, he heard his mother go back into the kitchen, and his father came into the room and sat beside Remus on the floor. Lyall's frown quickly faded as he looked at his son and was replaced with a smile, as he joined in the game Remus had started.

A few hours later Remus lay in bed with a full stomach and a smile on his face. He loved watching his father set the table with magic, which he did today as promised. The bits of the conversation he overheard earlier today long forgotten, Remus rolled over in his bed and listened to the wind and rain howl against his window. He has almost drifted off to sleep when he heard a new noise suddenly. Remus sat up in his bed to hear it better, because it almost sounded like a dog was sniffing just outside his window. Ever being a dangerous mix of brave and curious, Remus slid out of his bed and tried to peek over his window sill to see if there really could be a dog. Maybe he could convince his parents to keep it as a pet, he grinned to himself. Seeing nothing but rain on his window and darkness beyond, Remus frowned as he turned back to his bed. Perhaps he just imagined the noise. Before he could take a step away from the window, he heard a terrible crash behind him and felt cold wind and rain on his back. Spinning around, Remus gasped as he saw something crawling its way through his window, forcing its way into his room. Stunned, Remus took a few hurried steps backwards and slipped and fell. His mouth wide with terror, as the creature finally made its way through the broken and shattered window, standing to its full height as it surveyed its surroundings, sniffing the air.

It was a monster.

Remus finally found his voice as the monster looked down at him on the floor, and screamed. He could hear his father's footsteps running down the hall, but it was too late, snarling the monster lunged itself at the boy.

All Remus knew was pain.

O -

11 year old Remus stood shakily in front of the whole school, lined up with the other first years waiting to be sorted into their new houses. His head was still whirling at the fact that he was here, he was actually in Hogwarts and was going to learn magic, just like any other normal wizard. Ever since the 'incident' his parents have told him that it wouldn't be possible for him to go to school, so naturally all three Lupins were shocked when Remus received his acceptance letter a few months ago. It was all thanks to the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore; he had done so much to make it possible for Remus to attend Hogwarts. Remus raised his head shyly to glance back at the tall thin wizard seated in the middle of the table behind him, whose twinkling eyes seemed to catch Remus' and give him a slight wink. Feeling slightly braver, Remus tried to pay attention at the sorting going on around him, as one by one the students went over to the sorting hat to be declared in their new houses.

Finally his own name was called and Remus walked over to the stool, feeling weak in knees. He had overheard lots of different students on the train talking about their preferences in houses, but Remus found himself not really being picky. Just being thrilled to be here, he wasn't bothered which house he would end up in; either way he was going to study as hard as he could, and prove to Dumbledore that he didn't make a mistake by letting Remus attend Hogwarts. Besides, his parents explained to him thoroughly why he couldn't get close to any of his fellow students; if anyone found out what he was- well that was something Remus couldn't let happen. This was quite alright with Remus though, he hadn't had a friend since he was five and was comfortable being alone. After placing the sorting hat on his head, he only had time to take one breath before the hat yelled GRYFFINDOR, and Remus quickly hurried off to the clapping table, and found a seat next to the only other boy who had been placed in Gryffindor so far.

"Welcome to the team," the other boy said warmly, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes. "Names Sirius," he introduced himself and offered a hand out to Remus.

"Remus," he said quietly, before shaking hands quickly. The hall hushed as students continued to be sorted with polite claps after every announcement. Soon after Remus' own sorting, 'Pettigrew, Peter' was called to be sorted, where after an unusually long time was the third boy to be sorted into Gryffindor. Remus watched as Peter walked over to the table looking desperately for somewhere to sit.

"Oi, come sit with us!" Sirius called over loudly. Smiling gratefully, Peter sat opposite to Remus and Sirius with a muttered thanks. "Of course, we Gryffindor first years got to stick together," Sirius said easily. "My name is Sir-" At that moment "Potter, James"' name was called and Sirius shushed everyone around loudly, as though they were the ones talking. Looking up at the boy currently walking over to get sorted, Sirius leaned over to the two other boys and whispered, "He's going to be in Gryffindor too. James is my best friend, you'll like him."

"Oh, did you two grow up near each other?" Remus asked as he wasn't expecting people to already know each other before even being sorted.

"No, we just met this morning on the train. He's a good laugh," Sirius explained, as though it was obvious he only knew his proclaimed best friend for less than twenty-four hours. Before Remus could respond, the hat yelled out GRYFFINDOR and James easily made his way over to sit on the other side of Sirius, grinning broadly.

"See, I told you we both would end up in Gryffindor mate," James said slapping Sirius on the back. Sirius laughed and then quick introductions were made around the table, before they quieted for the rest of the sorting. Remus noticed that when 'Snape, Severus' was sorted into Slytherin, James and Sirius gave each other a knowing look. Soon after that the stool was being carried off, and everyone starting shoveling their plates with food as dinner magically appeared before them.

Throughout supper Remus tried to edge away a little from the other three boys, but couldn't help to laugh along with them, or listen into their conversations as they eagerly discussed what they thought classes would be like. Every now and then they would direct a question to Remus and he tried to say as little as possible and force conversation away from himself. He couldn't make friends; he had to keep to himself, this fact was endlessly driven into him by his parents before he left home.

A few hours later Remus found himself sitting on the edge of his bed in his new dormitory, feeling panic creep up on him as he now realised how close in proximity he was going to be living with his three new acquaintances. How could he possibly keep his secret to himself for seven years, when his roommates were so close? They would find out, he knew it, they would find out what he was, Dumbledore had made a terrible mistake letting him come here. Feeling his hands starting to shake, Remus leapt to his feet and made his way to the door.

"I don't think we are supposed to wander around," Peter said glancing up from his pile of clothes he was attempting to unpack. James and Sirius looked up as well, but before they could say anything, Remus pushed through the door and practically ran down the stairs. Dashing through the common room, he pushed himself out the portrait door before anyone could question what a first year was doing leaving at this hour. Remus sped down the corridors, frantically thinking of his next step. It was clear to him he had to leave, he had to leave immediately. He'd go back home, back to his parents, back to his safe isolation. Feeling tears prickling at his eyes, he hurried to the Great Hall. He couldn't stay here with normal people, what was he thinking, what if he hurt someone, what if they knew, what if-

"Going somewhere?"

Remus whipped around to see Albus Dumbledore standing in the hallway, Remus must have barged right by without seeing him. "Uh, yes sir, I mean, no sir," Remus stammered, his thoughts still running wildly.

Dumbledore smiled down at Remus, his eyes piercing through him as though he could see what he was thinking. "Not planning on leaving so soon are you? I thought you'd be excited to come and learn at Hogwarts," Dumbledore commented. Remus could feel his panic starting to spill over, he furiously blinked back his tears as he looked down at his feet, not willing to answer. "Am I right to assume that this has to do with you-"

Remus hushed loudly, cutting Dumbledore off before looking wildly around the dark and disserted corridor. "Don't let anyone hear," Remus pleaded. A long silence followed, before Remus finally whispered, "What if they find out? Worse, what if I hurt someone, I'm dangerous, and I shouldn't be here." Remus glanced up at the Headmaster fully expecting to see him nodding in agreement before ushering him back onto the Hogwarts Express.

A look close to pity flew across Dumbledore's face before he smiled down at Remus and turned on his heel. "Follow me," he instructed over his shoulder. Not daring to disobey, Remus followed in Dumbledore's shadow, his breathing still erratic. Dumbledore led Remus up and down the castle before coming to a stop in front of a rather ugly tapestry. He smiled warmly down at Remus once more before pulling back the tapestry to revel a secret hallway, which he stepped inside and beckoned Remus to follow. Confused, Remus did so expecting to follow Dumbledore further but it seems the professor had no intention of walking down the hall. Pulling out his wand, Dumbledore lit the end of it, so they could see each other better in the dark corridor.

"This is a secret passageway," Dumbledore told Remus. "It is a shortcut through the school that few students know about. A student could get into a lot of mischief knowing about this. Now, do you know why I would show this to you?" he asked Remus, who shook his head and wiped a few tears off his face. "Because I trust you," Dumbledore said simply.

Remus looked at Dumbledore in the wand light, a few auburn hairs catching the light in his white beard. There was something so comforting and peaceful about Dumbledore's presence that Remus finally could start taking a few deep breaths, and he felt himself finally starting to calm down.

"I trust you too, sir," he finally said.

Dumbledore gave a radiant smile, "Wonderful. I will never tell anyone your secret Remus, and I know that you would never hurt anyone. You are safe here at Hogwarts."

Remus believed him, and his hands stopped shaking and he was able to catch his breath for the first time since leaving the dormitory. Of course he would stay at Hogwarts. Dumbledore believed in him and that made the future seem slightly less daunting.

"I won't let you down Professor," Remus promised. Dumbledore gave him another smile before patting his shoulder and leading him back into the main corridor. The two began to walk back to the Gryffindor tower together in silence, Remus collecting his thoughts. He would spend all of his time in his studies; no one would know him well enough to figure out his secret. He would be careful; he would keep everyone at arm's length. Dumbledore bade him goodnight at the Fat Lady, and Remus quickly made his way through the common room and back into the dormitory he ran out of not long ago.

"Oi, where did you run off to?" James questioned as soon as Remus stepped in the room. Giving a noncommittal shrug, Remus made his way over to his bed.

"What, you're not going to say?" Sirius whined as he followed Remus like a puppy. When it was clear Remus wasn't going to answer, Sirius rolled his eyes. "Fine, don't tell us, but it's alright, I'll figure out your secret soon."

Remus froze in the middle of getting into bed before he stuttered, "Secret? I don't have a secret, I just had to go… outside…" he trailed off.

Sirius laughed before striding over to his own bed and looking over at Remus. "You're weird. But don't worry, I like weird," he grinned while throwing Remus a friendly wink.

AN: New chapter will be up tomorrow. Reviews are welcome : )