Ok, this one's different than my last chapter- it's not a continuation. But I think you'll like it :D
Accalia Lupin sat with her head in her hands at the edge of her bed, silently cursing the sunbeams that shone on the bedroom floor. She'd been dreading this day; today her poor baby's dreams would likely be shattered, and through no fault of his own. She sighed as she felt her husband's warm, comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Accalia, we can't avoid it forever. Come on, Remus is likely already up and waiting for us. We can't ignore him."
Accalia nodded and stood up, her heart heavy. She just couldn't bear having to face her son today.
She and John made their way downstairs to the kitchen, where, sure enough, Remus was sitting, his nose in a book. He looked up when his parents entered. Grinning and placing the book aside, he bounced out of his seat and into their arms.
"Morning, Mum! Morning, Dad!"
They hugged him at the same time, kneeling to reach his height.
"Good morning, dear. Happy Birthday."
Remus smiled up at his mother, excitement pouring from him, making the scratches on his face and the rings under his eyes seem almost nonexistent.
"And I'm eleven today! That means I get my Hogwarts letter!"
Accalia's face fell as she glanced to her husband. He nodded slightly, encouraging her to explain. She sighed and looked back at her son, who was looking at her, puzzled.
"Remus, Dear…. Honey, you might not get that letter. It's just… it's not you, dear, it's what you are. It's not your fault. It's just that there's the safety of the other children to think of. Do you understand?"
Remus was staring at her, tears starting to form in his eyes.
"You mean… I might not get to go to Hogwarts… because of what I am? How is that fair? I want to go!"
John reached out an arm and grasped his son's shoulder.
"We know it's hard to understand, son, but think about it. What if there was an accident, and you hurt someone by mistake? That person would have to go through what you do, though you do so bravely."
Remus balked at that, horror twisting his thin, pale face.
"No, no, I don't want that, I couldn't do that…." He stared at the floor, tears starting to fall down his cheeks. "You're right, I can't go. I can't do that to anyone."
Tears were falling from Accalia's eyes as she watched her son. She hated that he had to shoulder an old man's burden, that he could never think like a child does, held back by what he was. She swept him up in another hug, letting him bury his face in her shoulder and just cry. She looked at John over Remus' shoulder. He seemed to be holding back tears. He silently stood up, trying not to disturb his son, and walked over to the kitchen window, which looked out over the front lawn. He glanced outside, but then did a double take.
"Accalia, someone's coming up the walk… Merlin's beard, it's Dumbledore!"
Accalia looked up, shocked, and stared at him.
"Dumbledore, the Headmaster?"
John nodded and turned to open the door. Remus and Accalia jumped apart and stood up, Remus drying his tears on his sleeve, though his eyes were still red.
John pulled open the front door, just as Dumbledore was about to knock.
"Ah, John," he said, "Perfect timing, as usual. I assume you know why I am here?"
John, mystified, glanced to Accalia, who shook her head.
"Uh, no, Professor, I'm afraid we don't."
"Why, to deliver a letter to one Remus Lupin, of course."
Remus gazed at Dumbledore, bemused, as he strode into the house and handed him a letter that Dumbledore procured from underneath his long cloak. Remus took it with trembling hands, turning it slowly around to reveal the Hogwarts crest. He looked back up at Dumbledore, his mouth open, hope shining in his eyes. He seemed to struggle for words, until he burst out with,
"But I thought owls always delivered the letters?"
Dumbledore chuckled along with Remus' parents.
"Well, normally they do, with the exception of special cases such as yours. I feel the need to discuss several things with you and your parents," He looked back to John and Accalia "Is there possibly a sitting room where we could talk?"
Accalia jumped as though being pulled out of a trance and said, "Oh, yes, of course, Headmaster. Right this way."
She led him and the others down a short hallway and through a doorway to the left, which opened into a modest sitting room with couches and a rug that were rather worn but still charming. Several photos of Remus stood on bookshelves, in between the dozens of books placed there.
Dumbledore smiled and sat across on the couch across from the one the Lupins had taken. Remus sat in between his parents, still clutching his unopened Hogwarts letter. Accalia looked around nervously. Spotting the bottle of Butterbeer in the wine rack, she asked, "Would you like some Butterbeer, Professor? Or maybe some Firewhisky, I'm sure we have that."
Dumbledore smiled graciously and said, "No, thank you, Accalia. I am afraid I must decline your offer."
Accalia nodded, and Dumbledore continued.
"However, I have an offer to make myself. It concerns your son's enrollment in Hogwarts. You see, Remus' name has been on our list since he was born, but unfortunately many did not believe he would be able to come to Hogwarts, because of his lycanthropy. Now that I am Headmaster, however, I see no reason as to why he should not be allowed to attend."
Remus grinned at his parents, though they did not smile back. They looked mostly worried.
"I assure you, we will take the utmost caution as to the safety of your son and the other students. As we speak, our Professor of Herbology, Professor Sprout, is overseeing the planting of a Whomping Willow. This will be placed over the secret entrance of a tunnel, which leads to a small, abandoned house which is located on a hill overlooking Hogsmeade. Every month, our resident Healer, Madam Pomfrey, will take Remus to this secret place, so he may transform but be safe from contaminating any others."
The Lupins, all three of them, were staring at Dumbledore, amazed that he had taken the time to think up such a plan.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir, what about… what about the willow? It hurts anyone who comes near it, right? How will Remus get so close to it?"
Dumbledore smiled at John's concern. "Ah yes. There will be a knot in the side. When you press said knot, the tree freezes and you will be able to pass without harm. Now, Remus, do you have any questions?"
Remus, looking hopeful for the first time in- well, in years, if Accalia was being truthful with herself- simply stared at Dumbledore. Then a question seemed to present itself, because his face fell a bit. "Will… will the others know? About me, I mean."
Dumbledore frowned a bit and said,
"The teachers will, but have all sworn not to let slip a word. Your fellow students will not know, unless you deem it right to tell them."
Remus nodded, and the room was silent for a few minutes. Then, suddenly, Dumbledore reached for his pocket watch and checked the time.
"Oh, please excuse me, I must be going. There's a little Muggle- born girl who needs to get her Hogwarts letter, too."
They all stood up at once and accompanied him to the door.
"Thank you for your hospitality, John, and Accalia. And Remus, I look forward to seeing you at the Welcome feast!" With that Dumbledore swept from the house as quickly as he had come. He paused for a moment on the walk and looked back.
"Oh, and Remus," he called to the small boy staring at him with shining eyes, "Happy Birthday."
With that he walked to the edge of the walkway and turned on the spot, vanishing into thin air.
The Lupins stood in their doorway for a few seconds, staring at the spot Dumbledore had just occupied. It was Remus who broke the stillness first, looking down at the letter in his hands.
"Mum… can I… can I open it?"
Accalia looked down at her son, happiness shining in her eyes. "Of course you can, honey. Read it to us."
Remus slid one finger under the seal and broke it carefully, extracting the several heavy sheets of parchment from inside the envelope. He unfolded one with shaking hands, and slowly read the first line aloud.
"Dear Mr. Lupin, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
A/N:
So… How'd you guys like it? I've always tried to imagine this scene… poor little Remus, all sad because he thinks he won't get to go to Hogwarts… I was nearly crying when I wrote that part.
Oh, and a bit of background: I found the name Accalia on a baby name website- apparently, it was the name of the human foster mother of the twins Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. I thought it worked perfectly for such a character- and it's rather pretty, too. :D
Oh, also, from the last chapter- did anyone notice that the question Snape answered was essentially the same one Hermione tried to answer in POA? :D
Ok, Disclaimer time: I OWN NOTHING. Rub it in, why don't ya?
PLEASE REVIEW. Reviews are like drugs to authors. Just without all the nasty side effects. :D
Word count: 1,812