This is my entry for Beeabeeon49's prompt competition. There will be seventy seven chapters, all one shots, in no particular order, all with different lengths, different characters, different genres. I may not update this regularly as I have exams and several other ongoing fics. I will finish this though!

Prompt 9. Once in a lifetime

Characters: Remus Lupin

Disclaimer: I do not own anything under the Harry Potter franchise. This is fan written for fans to read. No copywrite infringement intended.

Remus Lupin sat down at the table in the small kitchen, morosely spooning his cereal. He didn't notice the worried looks this parents exchanged, or the slight tip of his mother's head; a signal to his father. 'You try and talk to him.'

"Remmy, son," he began, reaching out to place his hand on his only child's shoulder.

"Yes Dad," he replied. His parents shared another glance. Even with his condition, Remus was a bubbly child. To see him so downcast was extremely unusual and never boded well.

"Remmy, just because the letter hasn't arrived yet doesn't mean it never will. Owls aren't always reliable, you know that."

"It won't come. They don't want me there." Remus' spoon hit the bottom of his bowl with a thump. His voice had risen, and his eyes filled with desperate tears. "I'm a werewolf! Why would they want me?"

Before his parents could respond with assurances that his lycanthropy shouldn't matter to him – it certainly didn't matter to them – and how nobody could ever dislike him once they knew what a kind and considerate boy he was (words Remus had heard far too many times, and had long stopped believeing) there was a brisk knock knock on the front door.

"I wonder who that is," Remus' father said, confused, getting up and walking to the door.

"We aren't expecting anyone," Remus' mother called, "If it's the man from down the lane don't let him in; he's drunk half the time, and rude the rest!"

However, it wasn't the drunk from down the lane; nor was it the coalman, or the rubbish man, or the local policewoman 'wanting to find out more about the strange howling heard hereabouts'. No, standing on the doorstep in emerald robes and a sharply pointed hat, with black hair pulled off a stern face and into a tight bun, was a witch and in one hand she held a letter.

"Professor McGonagall!" Remus' parents both exclaimed, suddenly feeling as if they were sixteen again and brought before the stern witch for a lecture and detention slip.

"Good Morning Janus, Diana," Minerva McGonagall replied, with a small smile, "Though there is no need to call me Professor; you have not been my students for over a decade now." She turned to Remus. "And you must be the young Mr Lupin. You should call me Professor though; to practice for when you are in my classes."

"In your... In your classes! You mean..." Remus trailed off in disbelief as McGonagall reached into a pocket and withdrew an envelope made of fancy parchment, which she handed to Remus. He stroked the parchment reverently for a moment, then looked up to see McGonagall looking expectant and his parents beaming, looking quite close to tears. He opened the envelope and unfolded the pieces of parchment inside.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Sorc.; Chf Warlock;

Supreme Mugwump; International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr Lupin,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than 31st of July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

The second sheet of parchment held a list of equipment, which Remus scanned through eagerly. Robes, books... a wand! This was unbelievable!

"I'm really going? I can't believe it!" He said, jumping up and down with excitement. Then, suddenly, his jubilance vanished. "But... but my condition," he said, looking directly at McGonagall. "What about my condition. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You shall not hurt anyone, Mr Lupin. We have created measures to prevent such, which I shall explain momentarily. I do not need to explain that, however, if there is an accident and another student were harmed, you would most likely be expelled."

"I have one chance," Remus summarised, before breaking into a huge grin. He was going to Hogwarts!