Chapter Two- A Chance
Disclaimer- all characters etc belong to J K Rowling.
Here is the second chapter a little earlier than planned. I hope that it is good and that you enjoy reading it ...
Remus POV-
31st August 1971- Evening-
'Are you sure that Remus will be alright at Hogwarts? I know that he is bright of course, but will the other children accept him? He is so quiet and has met so few children of his own age. What if they find out about his condition?'
From his vantage point behind the dark wood bannister on the upper floor of the small cottage, the boy who was the topic of conversation could see his parents' worried expressions. His parents, Lyall and Hope Lupin were just approaching middle age, but they looked much older. The constant fear and regular upheavals of moving house even few months for the past six years had taken its toll on their features. Lyall had always been quite a small man with light brown hair, now grey, and bright eyes which belayed his vast intellect, although now they often looked world-weary and worn. Hope had been beautiful, with chestnut curls and a ready smile, but she had lost that long ago and her once cheery, plump face had become gaunt. Both currently shared their usual worried expressions, which had worsened since the start of March that year, when Dumbledore had come to visit and Remus', the boy by the bannister, life had utterly changed.
'I am sure that he will be alright.' Lyall comforted, leaning across the rather shabby sofa in the centre of the small, wooden-beamed living room of their current cottage, to pat her hand. 'Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of this age and certainly the best Hogwarts headmaster so far. He seems certain that Remus' condition will not adversely affect his schooling and I trust Dumbledore. Anyway, like you said, our son in bright and kind so I am sure that he will make friends quickly. As for keeping them, unless he broadcasts his condition, which I know he is clever enough not to do, all should be well.' Hope smiled hesitantly, seeming somewhat comforted by her husband's response. They then fell silent as Lyall began to read a report on some apparition activity nearby, and Hope resumed knitting a large red and gold scarf.
At that point Remus decided to return to bed, deciding that, as his parents seemed to think that he would do well at school, he should allow his worries to be somewhat alleviated and he could sleep. He tiptoed carefully across the landing, avoiding the floorboards he knew creaked, and into his gabled bedroom. It was a very small room, but cosy. Books covered the walls, although there were gaps which his schoolbooks usually occupied. Before March Remus had known that he would always be home educated, but then this fact become obsolete and the books were now carefully packed in his leather trunk. The rest of the room was filled with the wardrobe, desk, a toy chest which was rarely used, and the bed. His mother's handmade rugs dotted the floor in an attempt to make the wooden room even more homely. They did not entirely succeed in the eyes of the room's young occupant. He had moved house so many times, to ensure that his lycanthropy was not notice and the family not ostracised, that home was wherever his parents were, not in a particular house, cottage or county.
The small, rather peaky, light-brown haired boy crept under his blankets and extinguished the gas lamp. As he rested his head on the pillow he let his mind wander, wander back to the first of March 1971, the day his life and prospects had completely changed.
1st March 1971-
The day had started normally, to be honest. The family had just moved house again to their current cottage in a rural part of north Wales. Previously they had been in Hampshire but the wizards in the community had begun to connect Remus' regular periods of illness, and his parents' reluctance to allow him to play with other children, to the lunar cycle and people would soon have begun to call werewolf. They always moved when the rumours started, it was safer for all involved that way. Remus had not minded the move, he had not known anyone in his old village particularly well and as long as his parents were with him all was well. They were a very close family, which partially made up for the lack of contact he had with children of his own age.
Remus' mother had woken him later than usual, had given him a full cooked breakfast and fussed over him as he ate. This was mostly due to the fact that he had had a particularly rough transformation a couple of days before. His wolf form had been growing stronger; it had nearly broken out of the outbuilding in which he had been confined, causing his father to have to do a quick bit of complex magic to avert catastrophe. As usual, Remus had emerged with an assortment of cuts, bites and a feeling of guilt as in the back of his mind he always knew that his lycanthropy was the reason for his family's regular moves. Mostly that feeling soon disappeared, though, as his parents hugged him, patched him up and sent him to bed. Lyall had also vowed to be more careful in the future. Hope had just stroked her son's hair until he fell asleep.
Remus' father had already gone to work and as soon as the boy had finished his breakfast her went to the desk in his room and started on his school work. A family discussion had occurred over Remus' schooling, and the result was that he had started first year work under the supervision of his father soon after Christmas as he was unlikely to ever be able to attend school. The boy was bright and was already half way thought the work, though he only learnt the theory as he could not yet usually use a wand because of his age. Schoolwork was invariably finished by the time his father got home, when he would any questions he had and the family would spend the evening together.
Lyall had just got home as usual and was talking about his day, which had involved a particularly vicious poltergeist, with Hope in the kitchen whilst she cooked the family's tea. Remus himself was playing on the multi-coloured rag rug by the warmth of the fire in the living room. His parents had allowed him to play with one of his eleventh birthday presents early; a particularly magnificent set of gobstones.
'Luckily we were called in early or it could have done some real damage. How was your day? And how had Remus been?' He heard his father say.
'Mmh, pretty good and he seems … Wait, was that someone at the door?' Silence. No one ever visited them. Hope and Lyall always discouraged visitors with one lie or another.
With his wand drawn, Lyall slowly proceeded to and opened the old oak front door. An elderly man with a long white beard and twinkling blue eyes faced him. The man's dark blue robes matched his pointed, star encrusted hat, which brushed the roof of the lean to protecting the door from the worst of the elements.
'Good evening, Mr Lupin.' Was the man's greeting. Lyall appeared rattled.
'Dumbledore. I am sorry but you cannot come in. We have just moved house and there are still boxes everywhere. My son, Remus, also is sick. Very contagious. Nasty business. I am sorry but you must go. Good evening.'
'It is actually Remus I wanted to speak to you about. He turns eleven soon, doesn't he? But if he is ill I shall return later, I don't mean to intrude. Good night.' Remus' father closed the door with a relieved sigh.
'Who was is, dear?' His wife called to him. She could not keep the slight nervous tremor out of her voice.
'It was nothing, here, let me help you with those crumpets.'
Both parents were so distracted that they did not notice the slight creak of the back door, or the small draft of icy spring air which caressed the floor, causing the rags in the rugs to move slightly and the curtains to gain a water-like motion for a second or so. They also missed the pause in the sounds of their son playing, which before had drifted into the kitchen through the open door to the hall. By the time they had relaxed enough to focus, the sounds had resumed.
'Ah, Remus, here is your … Who is this?!' Hope exclaimed, which was accompanied by the sound of breaking china as the plate she had been carrying dropped out of her hands. 'Lyall!'
Her husband close to ran into the room to find his wife standing by the remains of their tea, and his son sitting happily in the midst of a gobstone game with the man he had prevented, he thought, from entering the house only five minutes before.
'I thought I had told you that Remus was sick and we couldn't receive visitors now, Professor?'
'I understand that you want to protect Remus,' the professor replied, 'however, I am well aware of his condition and wish to make you a preposition. Please, sit down. Maybe we could have some crumpets whilst we talk. I do love them. Your son here is incredibly good at gobstones; he could join the club if he comes to Hogwarts in September.' That gained a slight gasp from Remus. His parents exchanged doubtful glances of incredulity. 'As you probably know I am not headmaster of Hogwarts and I believe that every young witch and wizard deserves an education. Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, and I have been discussing Remus' condition and believe that it is manageable enough for him to attend Hogwarts this year. We would take him to a secure location for his transformations and would obviously keep his condition a secret. I will explain the precautions that we intend to take further in a letter closer to the time. He is a very clever child and it would be a shame for him not to reach his educational potential.' Dumbledore smiled at the boy before him, who looked from his parents to the headmaster. His face showed a mixture of hope and fear.
'Would I really be able to go? Really?'
'Yes, I believe it could be possible.'
Hope and Lyall sat down, and began to talk with Dumbledore whilst Remus was absorbed in reading his Hogwarts letter, which the professor had just handed to him.
31st August 1971-
Now, on the eve of the start of term, Remus smiled to himself and rolled over. Despite everything, he could not wait to start school tomorrow.
Thanks for reading! Please review if possible as I would like to know what you think of this story and how I can grow as a writer. At some point during this week the next chapter, which will be about James will be posted then hopefully Peter's chapter and then the Marauders will come together! Have a good day, Lizzie Charley :)
