I wish I had more reviews… Thanks to all you kind folks who did review! (A grand total of one- you rock TelepathicPrincess!)
TelepathicPrincess - I didn't like HBP that much either. There was too much romance, and I cried when Dumbledore died. I was so upset when I lost my chapter, but I was very glad to find out my mom hadn't read it…you're right, that would have been very scary.
A/N: Ok, all you readers out there, I desperately need your help! My title stinks, and I know it. I need a new title badly! So please, in your reviews, give me suggestions! I need a new title! PLEASE!
Disclaimer: The entire Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, not me. I can dream though...
'Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep.' -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Anastasia Lupin woke to her son's pleading screams echoing in the distance. She jumped out of bed as if an electric shock had surged through her body, and then quickly shook her husband awake.
"John! Remus is in trouble!" she said urgently.
The fear on her face made Mr. Lupin jump up immediately. "Let's go," he said, whipping his wand out as he spoke. They followed the screams out into the garden. They could just barely make out Remus' painful yelling, the sound coming from the forest. There was no time for an exchange of dark looks, the adults just crashed into the trees. Breathing heavily, they ran in the direction of their son, stumbling over logs and branches even though Mr. Lupin had his wand tip alight and they could see where they were going. Remus' father was scared out of his wits, though he didn't show it. He didn't want his wife to see the fear on his face and have her panic too.
Suddenly the wails stopped abruptly. Both parents halted and looked at each other with the same pale, sweaty faces. Coming to a silent decision, Remus' parents ran into the trees ahead, determination in their eyes. Breaking into a clearing, what they saw made their hearts stop.
Their little boy lay helplessly in a pool of moonlight, blood staining his tattered clothing. Mr. Lupin darted over to his unconscious son, and was relieved to find him still breathing. "He's alright!" John cried to his wife.
But that was far from the truth. Remus was in a terrible condition, although he was still alive. A huge bite mark scarred his right leg, and his breathing was shallow and labored, getting more haggard as he lost more blood through the bite and the many scratches covering his tiny body. Ann looked silently upon her son with wide eyes. Not my other one too… Finally she summoned up the strength to say something. "He needs to get to the hospital right away!" she said in a quavering voice quite unlike her own. Her husband muttered, "Ferula," and bandaged Remus' bloody leg. He carefully lifted his son's limp body into his arms, and the adults ran out of the forest.
"The muggle doctors won't know how to deal with this," Mr. Lupin panted as he ran, "Already he's lost too much blood. We'll have to go to St. Mungo's." Ann nodded as they reached the house and went inside. She grabbed a handful of floo powder from a small velvet bag hanging from the fireplace, and quickly threw it into the dying coals. Green flames erupted from the grate, lighting the room. Remus' father stepped into the flickering blaze, carefully cradling his son. "St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries," he said clearly. When both father and son had vanished, Mrs. Lupin followed suit. Whirling through color and sounds, they halted abruptly in a cold, dark fireplace, clearly in an unused room. Bursting into the bright hallway, they found the nearest healer and feverishly explained what had happened. She conjured a stretcher out of thin air and gently placed Remus upon it. Waving her wand, the pale ghostly boy floated down the hall after her, and she wasted no time in calling out to healers as she passed them by. The crowd of green-clad personnel rushed down the hallway, the Lupins following close behind. Unexpectedly a large, important-looking employee stepped into the parent's path as they tried to reach their son.
"Please do not interrupt the healers at work," he said in a calm voice, as this seemed to be routine. "You could damage your poor son even further at this vital stage if you distract them." For a moment Mr. Lupin looked as though he wanted to strangle the healer, but then he heaved a deep sigh and the parents trudged away to the fifth floor.
The wait was dreadful, each moment not knowing whether their son would live or die. As the minutes ticked by, the parents became increasingly tense. Mrs. Lupin's hands shook as she lifted the teacup to her lips, and Mr. Lupin paced back and forth continuously. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a healer stepped unto the floor and glanced around, as if searching for someone. The Lupins recognized her, jumped up and ran over, eager for some news. The healer asked them to relive their story again. Mr. Lupin explained breathlessly, wanting to find out if his son was alright. He felt awfully guilty.
"It is my understanding that you have lost a child before," the healer said, glancing at her clipboard. The parents' hearts plummeted. "Is that right Mr. and Mrs. Lupin?" The healer raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Yes," Anastasia said quietly. "She…she had an accident in the woods near our home." Mrs. Lupin gulped as her husband shot her a warning look.
"The same forest where your son was attacked? How did she die?"
"Now see here!" Mr. Lupin said angrily, "You're prying into matters that don't concern you!"
"Please calm down sir," the healer said fearfully. She was highly intimidated by this man. Even though he wasn't very large, his strong determination created a sense of power around him that frightened her.
Ann admired her husband for his bravery, but she could feel the alarm beneath his outer shell of menace. "John…"
Mr. Lupin looked to his wife and his anger changed into a strained sort of panic. The healer glanced at the husband and wife, confused by their curious behavior. She lifted the clipboard to her eyes once again, searching for an explanation.
"I see," she said quietly. Both parents stared at her. "I understand," the healer said louder as she lowered the clipboard. "You do know we have new procedures here at St. Mungo's… it wouldn't cause any pain…"
"No." said Mrs. Lupin firmly. Her husband opened his mouth, a pleading look upon his face, but Ann silenced him quickly.
"No. You know I can't John. We agreed."
"But Ann…"
"No."
The healer looked at the poor desperate couple pityingly. She saw there was no use arguing. "Well, I'm sorry about your daughter."
"What about Remus?" Ann asked, dreading the answer, but wanting it all the same.
"He should be fine for now." Mr. and Mrs. Lupin sighed in relief and allowed their tense shoulders to relax.
"But…" they searched the healer's face, worry etched once again on theirs. She seemed very upset, and was having trouble continuing. Composing herself with a deep breath, she gave the parents the shocking news.
"I'm very sorry to tell you this, but your son has been bitten by a werewolf."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: And so it begins… well, the story had to start getting sinister at some point. I shall only update when I get 10 reviews! MWAHAHAHA! So please, review. By the way, the next chapter is my favorite so far, and longer!
