A/N: Thank you to my first reviewer, Qoheleth! And to my favorites and followers! I'll keep updating this as fast as possible, so this is the next update. Thanks! ~ Vellichora
-O-
Chapter 2: The Letter
It was a few months before September. Remus had not been looking forward to the date. He knew that his… unfortunate condition would prevent him from ever setting foot in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But it would be like a slap in the face for the date to come. It was warm out, nothing like the chilly day it was on that fateful night. No, it was warm, and a baby blue sky shone, and clouds seemed to be an extinct species. Remus was reading. The old armchair down in the living room was comfy, and it was his new favorite reading place. They had been in this town for over five months, and he was starting to like the place.
It was then that the owl came. A tall tawny owl with dappled feathers and a letter. Remus looked up in surprise when it slammed its beak against the window, so surprised in fact that he dropped his book. Eyebrows furrowing, the eleven year old sat up and walked to the window where the insistent owl was glaring at him through the glass. He slid the latch to the window down, and pulled it open. The owl immediately dived in and landed on the table, giving him a haughty look. Remus walked hesitantly over to it, and it held out it's leg. He didn't know what to think. He and his father had no acquaintances and no one to bother sending a letter. It screeched, startling him out of his thoughts.
"Fine, fine…" He mumbled under his breath before using long, slim fingers to gently unwrap the letter. The owl glared at him and flew back out the window. Remus looked down at the letter in his hands, and his heart leapt. Thick, heavy parchment, and the red of the Hogwart's insignia stamped down to hold the flap shut. Heart pounding, he turned it over.
Mr. R Lupin
Armchair in the Sitting Room
Wishing Bridge Road
London
Trembling hands pulled open the letter, making sure not to tear the paper, and slid out the letter.
Dear Mr. Lupin,
You have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Given your condition, I have decided to write you your letter myself. Hogwarts is a school whose doors should always be open, for all students, muggleborn or pureblood, rich or poor, or in your case, with lycanthropy or without. You deserve education just as much as any other child, and we can make preparations for you to make sure that you and all the other staff and students are safe if you accept. I will stop by for a visit on the upcoming Sunday to talk to you about what we could figure out for your time at Hogwarts.
Signed,
Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
He had been accepted to Hogwarts. He had been accepted to Hogwarts. He had been accepted to Hogwarts. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His father, he had to tell his father. Remus sprinted out of the sitting room and thundered up the stairs. The staircase seemed to be longer than usual, stretching out, climbing ever higher. Then he was in the hallway. He ran down it, skidding to a halt in front of his father's room, and knocked. The man opened the door after a moment. And did a double take. In front of his bedroom door stood Remus. The Remus from the photographs. 11 year old Remus, hair wild, grin splitting his face. The only difference was the sorrow hidden behind the wonder in his eyes, but it was forgotten. Remus hadn't smiled since… Since that night.
"Remus?" He asked, surprised.
"I got a letter!" The excited boy laughed. It was a half in wonder, half disbelieving laugh. And was beautiful, even after being absent so long. "I got a letter from Hogwarts!" He didn't seem to be able to say anything else, but shoved the said slip of paper into his father's hands. A series of emotions flashed across the man's face as he read. Nostalgia, sadness, perhaps… Perhaps even a flicker of pride. But surprise covered all of these masterfully.
"You got a letter." He echoed, voice slightly choked up.
"I want to go." Remus said quietly, earlier excitement covered up under a hesitant smile. Like he'd forgotten how to smile at his father.
"I… Yes. You can go to Hogwarts, if Dumbledore's preparations are satisfactory." Lyall responded, unsure how to act.
"Thanks… Dad." The word felt foreign coming out of his mouth. Dad. He hadn't called the man that in years. They barely ever even spoke.
"I'm proud." Lyall said, quietly and uncertain, like he didn't know if he had the right to say that. He probably didn't, but to Remus it meant the world. He stepped forward and let his arms raise, before a flash of fear went through his eyes and he thought the better of it, arms falling and stepping back. Remus gave him a understanding, sad smile. He was still scared of him. He was proud, he was his father, but he could never be Dad. No dad is scared of his own son. Maybe if things had gone differently… If Hope was still there… But he would never be Dad the way things are now.
"I understand." Remus said quietly. And he did. He was after all, not meant to be loved. You don't love zombies, you don't love vampires, you don't love the things that hide under beds. You don't love monsters, wolves that tear down golden haired muggle mothers, wolves with eyes like the moon. You don't love monsters, so you don't love Remus. It was something he grew to accept. Love was something he hadn't felt since the age of six. He looked longingly for what could have been at his father, before turning and walking down the hallway to his own room.
