Poppy's Boys

A Harry Potter Fanfic

Remus

"Ah, Poppy. This is the student I was telling you about," said Headmaster Dumbledore as he entered the room, slightly startling Poppy. She noticed a small, mousey boy halfway hidden behind Albus. She felt herself blink in surprise. This was the werewolf? Certainly she hadn't been expecting a huge monstrous boy, but this child was probably one of the smaller ones in his year.

She noticed his nervousness and smiled in hopes of making him feel more welcome, before briskly saying, "Well, come here, Mr. Lupin, so I can check you over."

He took hesitant steps at first but sped up when he realized she wasn't going to run away screaming or sneer in disgust. She directed him to the area wear he could change into a robe. After he exited, Poppy ran through the basic diagnostic spells before moving on to some more complex ones that were specifically for werewolves. Overall, she found him to be in as good health as a werewolf could be.

She noticed, belatedly, that Albus had politely stepped out to give Remus privacy.

"So, Mr. Lupin, do you have any questions?"

Remus blinked slowly, before nodding slightly, "Where will I make.. the.. you know?"

Poppy gave him a soft smile. "We've had a tunnel installed that leads to a small cottage on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. You should be completely safe there."

The first year boy bit his lip, "Are you certain I won't be able to.. escape?"

She felt her heart break. This child will never be fully accepted into society, and he knows it, yet he still worries about others. She hoped that the werewolf regulations would be changed someday. "We are certain. Headmaster Dumbledore cast the wards himself."

Remus nodded and seemed content with the answer, so Poppy decided to explain a few more things.

"I'll take you through the tunnel around sunset and return for you at sunrise. I'll take you to the hospital wing to check you over and give you time to recuperate from the change. Did you visit a healer after your changes at home?"

Remus shook his head, "After I was bitten, Mum took the time to learn the basic spells needed. She took care of it."

Poppy nodded and smiled one last time before calling Dumbledore back in to escort Mr. Lupin to Gryffindor Tower.


"Have you decided whether or not to tell them, Mr. Lupin?" Poppy asked as she poured Remus's potions in to a goblet. The third year wrinkled his nose at the site of them before answering.

"I'm more afraid of Sirius's response than any. James would never turn his back on a friend, even a vicious, blood thirst-" Poppy raised and eyebrow at Remus, who blushed before continuing,"even a werewolf. And Peter will follow whatever James and Sirius do. But Sirius is from an old pure blood family. Even if he's set firmly against their views on muggleborns... Werewolves are different. Even some of the lightest families would reject a werewolf."

Poppy felt bad for the boy she'd come to care for over the years. He often spent the mornings when he was supposed to be recuperating worrying over whether or not his friends would believe his story this time, as well as feeling guilty about having to lie to them. They'd been arguing over whether or not to tell the boys since shortly after the third year had begun.

"I think you might be pleasantly surprised by Mr. Black's reaction. To be honest, I'm surprised they have yet to figure it out themselves. Mr. Potter and Mr. Black are far from idiots, despite their attempts to prove otherwise."

Remus bit his lip. "I think James has caught on. The guys have been doubting my stories and trying to get me to stay, but James has been making them leave me alone."

She nodded. She wouldn't be surprised if James was the first one to find out.

"So, Mr. Lupin, do you feel any different than any other mornings after your changes?"

And the conversation was dropped for this time.


"That idiot! Even if it is Snape, did he really think it was a good idea to tell him were I was? If James hadn't been there, he would've been dead!" Remus paced around the hospital wings muttering about idiot dogs.

"Mr. Lupin, I must insist you sit down. You can continue rambling about that idiot Black all you want, but you need to rest." Poppy was angry herself. After all they went through to protect Remus, Black would risk it all on a petty schoolboy prank?

Remus finally set down glaring at the vase next to him.

"I should never of told him."

Poppy looked up from her tests, before sighing,"I do believe I recall you telling me they figured it out for themselves. You had nothing to do with them knowing."

Remus's eyes flickered to her before going back to glaring at the vase, "I could have... denied it... Or something."

Poppy handed Remus a potion, which he quickly drained. Poppy was also angry with Dumbledore. Did he really think it was a good idea to come tell Remus directly after the full moon? He could've waited.

She caught Remus's eye once again before continuing, "I don't think Mr. Black thought it out fully. I believe he was... caught up in the heat of the moment. Certainly, I don't think he thought Mr. Snape would listen to him."

Remus shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I don't think I can trust him ever again."

Poppy opened her mouth to say something more, but she was interrupted by Albus arriving with Sirius and Severus.

She moved to clear away the potions.


"Welcome back, Remus. I must say it's been sometime," Poppy said as she smiled at Professor Lupin. Remus gave her a small smile back.

"Hello, Madame Pomfrey." His eyes swept across the hospital wing, "I can't say that this place has changed much at all."

"Yes, well, it hasn't changed much since I began working here. And, please, call me Poppy. You've certainly earned the right."

Remus blushed slightly. "I suppose if I must get used to calling Professor McGonagall 'Minerva', I can get used to calling you 'Poppy'."

Madame Pomfrey let out a small laugh. "I assume you know how your changes are going to go this time around?"

Remus nodded, "Severus will provide me with the Wolfsbane potion and I'll spend the full moon curled up in my rooms."

Poppy nodded, while silently thanking Severus for saving Remus some of the pain he went during the changes. Though she knew that Dumbledore had likely forced Severus into this role, she still felt grateful.

Remus looked at Poppy with a slight nervousness. "Madame- I mean, Poppy, how has Harry been?"

Poppy turned away from Remus, pretending just to be picking up something, "He's been as well he could be considering the circumstances."

Remus opened his mouth to ask another question, but the look Poppy gave him stopped it in his throat.

Remus just nodded before continuing on to some more lighthearted conversations.


"She's pregnant, Poppy."

Poppy turned quickly. She'd heard the floo go off, but she'd been expecting it to be her supply of Skele Gro.

The father-to-be was standing in front of her looking as scared as James Potter had when he had announced Lily was pregnant. But the joy was missing from his face. She waved her wand at the doors, locking them.

"It's dangerous for you to be here, Remus."

Remus shrugged. "I need to know.. What if the child is a werewolf?"

Poppy suddenly realized what was wrong, "Then we will deal with that when it comes."

The werewolf suddenly got an angry look on his face, "That's what Nymphadora said! But, this is a child. It would be cruel to force a child to go through this, but Nymphadora refuses to see reason and -"

Remus was interrupted as Poppy smacked him.

"That is your child. We don't know if it will be a werewolf or not, but with the invention of Wolfsbane we can take care of it. It's more likely that he or she will just display some... werewolf traits, similar to Bill Weasley. The child's mother is a Metamorphus as well and that trait may over power the werewolf gene, if that gene is even passable."

Remus blinked slowly. "But... what if..."

He sat down in the chair and let out a sigh, "I've always taken care to avoid biting humans during the full moon... When Sirius," Here his voice cracked, "played that prank on Snape 5th year, I felt so guilty, even though I knew I hadn't bit him... If I turned my child into a werewolf.."

Poppy sighed, "I understand, Remus, but Nymphadora will have this child with or without you. I know you love her. Do you really want to make her go through this all on her own?"

Remus stood and embraced Poppy, "Thank you. I.. I have to go."

He rushed back to the floo, presumably, and hopefully, to return to Nymphadora.

Poppy smiled slightly to herself, "Congratulations, Remus."


After the Second War

Poppy felt a tear run down her face as she thought about Remus. And Nymphadora, as well. Little Teddy Lupin was an orphan now... But, he had his godfather, and his grandmother, and so many more.

He had Poppy, too.

Remus's son would be well taken care of. He'd grow up happy.

She'd make sure of it.


A/N: I'm not quite sure if I like this, but I don't feel like changing it. So there you are.

I considered putting in a section of Remus after the Potters died, but I don't think that Remus would've been there...? Or maybe he would've went to the hospital wing?

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