Thunder

Warning: Loads of angst in this chapter.

Disclaimer: Still don't own them...but I do have an extra box of tissues...*slides them over to you*...

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Remus opened his eyes slowly and buried his face in the pillow, throwing the blanket over his head. He felt every muscle in his body ache and the tenderness of his face. He didn't want to move from the spot and wished to the Powers that Be he was back in his Gryffindor dormitory. Last night took its toll on him and to make matter worse, the Full Moon was tomorrow night. He sighed and closed his eyes again. It seemed everything went from wonderful to dreadful in a matter of hours. Dumbledore seemed to give Severus and himself his blessing. Even his marauding friends accepted them. They still felt uneasy around Severus but at least they tolerated their relationship.

He would have never fathomed his own flesh and blood doing this to him. The man that loved him and showed him various defense techniques. The man that showed him how to ride a broom, albeit he never had a strong suit for such things but he learned the basics. He wanted his mum badly at the moment. She'd surely accept him. Maybe. He thought the same of his father. He peeked out from under the blue coverlet and saw that it was nearly ten o'clock in the morning.

He rested his cheek on the pillow and sighed. He closed his eyes and recalled his father hoisting him on his shoulders when he was so much younger. Before he was a student at Hogwarts, his father took the time to ensure he was loved and protected. He regularly took him to the park and they played on the monkey bars together. Remus stood on the bars all the way to the top and started to cry. He had climbed too high and he hugged the bar tight in his small hands. He closed his eyes and trembled. "Daddy! Daddy!"

John looked over and ran to his son. He held out his arms, "Remus, open your eyes. Son, you'll be ok."

"I'm scared, Daddy."

"I know, baby. I'm coming." John started his climb to the top of the bars and wrapped a strong arm around Remus. He held him close and made his way back down to the gravel.

"I'm s-s-so-sorry, Daddy-"

"It's all right, Remmy. It's all fine. I got you now." John rubbed his six year old's back tenderly. "I won't let anything harm you."

Remus sighed and felt a tear escape his deep, blue eyes. He remembered his father's promise and took it to heart. He had spent the last five years of his life receiving mostly O's and E's in his classes. He was a well-read young man, he could perform complex spells, yet he couldn't wrap his mind around the current facts before him. The man that he had grown to love and trust to protect him was not the same man he remembered. Remus pulled his clenched fists to his chest, trembling and sobbed into the pillow.

He tilted his head to the side and heard thundering footsteps approaching his room. He swallowed hard when the door opened and saw his father's tall figure holding a piece of parchment.

"Remus John Lupin!"

Remus lifted his head from the pillow and rested on his elbows, keeping his eyes on his father. John looked at the black eye on his son' face and the drying tears for a moment but promptly chose to ignore them. He stepped to the side of the bed and put the letter on the pillow. "Young man, do you care to enlighten me as to what that is?"

Remus squinted to see from his half awakened eyes. He read the letter and felt his spirit plummet. The progress pertaining to his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy lay before him. It had his grades, attendance, and mischief that he had gotten into this year.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lupin,

We are writing to inform you Remus' progress throughout his time as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. He is doing remarkably well. He has earned the following grades:

Potions: A

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O

Transfiguration: O

Charms: O

Astronomy: E

History of Magic: O

Herbology: E

Muggle Studies: O

Mr. Lupin regularly attends courses and is excused for the classes he misses due to his condition. He has made a remarkable improvement in his Potion's course. It has been an honor and privilege instructing young Mr. Lupin for the 1975-1976 school year and has successfully completed all the requirements to begin his sixth year.

As far as his behaviour is concerned, he had a month's session of detentions to serve alongside Mr. Severus Snape when they left the school grounds in the spring without permission. The matter has been dealt with and the boys have assured me that they will never do so again. Mr. Remus Lupin will be allowed to keep his prefect duties upon arrival for the next term in the 1976-1977 school year.

We look forward to seeing him. Enjoy your Summer Holidays.

Best Wishes,

A. Dumbledore.

Headmaster.

"It looks like I've gotten mostly O's, Dad. That's good, right?"

"Don't try to sway my attentions from the latter part of your progress report, boy. You left the school grounds with Severus. You didn't tell me about that," John said as he snatched the letter from him. "And you also received this letter this morning. Let me read it to you:

'My dearest Remmy. I've only been away from you for a day but I miss you already. I hope to see you soon. I can't wait for next year. Don't worry, I'll help you again in Potions and hopefully get you to an "E". I'll continue working on the potion for your lycanthropy.

Write to me soon.

Love, Sev.'"

"Dad, you shouldn't be reading my personal letters."

"How dare you tell me what I can and cannot do in my own house! Do you pay the mortgage?"

"I-I didn't mean it l-li-like that, S-Sir!"

"I don't know what's gotten into you, boy. You're leaving school grounds with that boy and he's sending you love letters! He knows you're a werewolf, too." Remus groaned and let his face fall into the pillow, pulling the blanket back over his head. He felt the covers ripping from him. He looked up and saw the blanket in his dad's hand. John threw it to the floor and started to unbuckle his belt again. "I'm putting you back in line, boy."

Remus' eyes widened and he went to move. "Don't you move an inch. Lay back on your stomach!"

"Dad, please. Not again. Tomorrow is the full moon and I-I already am in p-pa-pain."

"Lay face down or I'll make you," John said while he doubled the belt over. "Now!"

Remus felt his body wavering and he laid back down, burying his face in the pillow. John reached forward and hooked his fingers in Remus' sleeping pants, yanking them down along with his boxers. He pushed up Remus' shirt and folded it into the collar. John lifted the belt over his head and continually lashed the leather down on his son. Remus winced as the thick leather struck his defenseless backside. He bit down on the pillow to muffle his yelps.

"You're sneaking off with your little boyfriend. You told him about you being a werewolf!"

"He isn't going to tell! AHHHHH DAD! STOP!"

"You aren't going to tell me what to do. You're under my roof! My rules, boy!" John bellowed as he struck Remus repeatedly. The young teenager sobbed into his pillow. He'd already been punished for leaving the grounds. He made good grades. What in the bloody hell was going on?

"Dad...please...I can't...it hurts..." Remus begged for mercy, grasping the sheets tighter in his fingers. He laid weakly as his father's belt relentlessly contacted his back, backside, and thighs. He was sure the thrashing would never end.

"And you think it doesn't hurt having a gay son? A gay werewolf as my son?! I've spent years protecting you and you're running around like a feral creature. Screwing and snogging boys!"

"He's the only boy I've kissed or been with," Remus whimpered into the pillow through his tears. "I love him no matter what he is. He's a good Slytherin."

"And a Slytherin?!" John let the belt fly higher and harder on the trembling backside. "You will cease this now! You will write him a letter and break up with him while you're under my roof! Do you understand?!"

"Ma-Maybe I won't live under your r-roof."

"What did you say, boy?"

Remus pushed himself up on his elbows and looked at his father. "I said maybe I won't live under your roof."

"You've nowhere to go."

"Better than being beaten to a bloody pulp."

John reached down and grabbed Remus by the collar of his shirt. He held the boy close to his face and the hateful look in his eyes terrified Remus, "Get out of my house."

"Dad-"

"You are no son of mine. Get out of my house, now."

"Dad-"

"Pack your belongings and don't call me that anymore."

"You don't mean that."

John pushed Remus back into the wall and turned to walk out of the room. He let his hand rest on the door knob before he said, "You have an hour to pack your things and leave."

Remus slid down the wall and winced at the pain in his back. He laid his forehead on the top of his knees, hugging them close to his body while he sobbed. He had to find somewhere to transform by tomorrow night and had no idea where to go. He pulled himself up and held on to the wall. He removed his sleeping clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. He had one hell of a black eye and bloody lip. There were belt welts all over his body. He turned around and saw the multiple imprints of his father's belt buckle painted across his back.

Remus inhaled deeply and packed his trunk with the few belongings he had unpacked. He rubbed his face, exhausted. He threw on a pair of worn jeans and t-shirt, picking up his comb and brushed his hair. He grasped the handle of his trunk and took one last look at his room. The last twenty four hours was mixed with every emotion imaginable and he had not one inclination on how to deal with any of it. He frowned and took the parchments from his bed. He read over Severus' elegant handwriting. He shoved them into his pocket and left his room. He stood for a moment and put his wand in his back pocket. He slowly walked through his childhood home and looked in the kitchen. John sat at the table with his face in his hands. Remus stood at the doorway and walked a few steps closer to his father, "D-da-dad?"

"I see you're really leaving."

"You told me to."

John looked at the swelling black eye. Remus was the spitting image of his father-save his nose and eyes. Those were his mother's. Remus looked at the floor. He let another tear escape his eyes, just as expressive as they'd always been. John nodded and sat up straight in the kitchen chair. He nervously fumbled for a cigarette and lit it. "I did."

"Da-"

"I also told you not to call me that any more, boy."

Remus clenched his jaw and put his free hand on his heart. "I jus-just wan-want-"

"Your hour's almost up, boy. Say what you need to say and leave."

"I jus-just want to tell you. Da-" Remus didn't know what else to call the man. He looked up at the ceiling and prayed to any god that would take a moment to listen to see him through this. "I know you said not to call you that but you are my Dad. I hope you can forgive me, I really do. I love you. I don't understand any of this, I really don't and I'm not dense. If I never see you again, you must know one thing."

"What's that?"

"I already forgave you for all of this. I don't hate you, I'm just confused as hell. I'm gay and you're going to have to accept that. You know I never go into any decision half cocked. I mean that. I don't know where I'm going or who I'm going to but if you ever want-if you ever... Just let me know."

"I see. Remus, let me make something clear."

"Yes?"

"As long as you continue down this path, you're not my son. I'm ashamed of you."

Remus dropped his head and it took every bit of his soul not to fall to his knees and weep. He nodded slowly and looked at his father once more, "I understand, Sir." And he turned to leave his parents' house. He hesitated before he shut the door. He made it to the end of his block and the entire journey seemed to be in a slow daze. Remus finally stopped and moved to sit on his trunk. The lanky boy lifted his hands up to his face and rested his elbows on his knees. Thunder rolled and the lightning flashed through the sky but the werewolf was oblivious to it. He felt the rain drops fall on his head and down his cheek, mixing in with the tears that fell from his eyes. Another sound of the thunder shook across the small town in Manchester. Remus wasn't sure if the sound was the thunder or the sound of his heart breaking clean in two.

TBC~~~~

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A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews Annabeth and Sunshine. Hope all of you like this chapter...I intend on making Remus...safe again. Said reviews made me update a bit quicker than normal ...just saying...*hint hint*. Much love xoxoxox