Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1

February 16 1965

Almost five-year-old Remus Lupin was nervous he had forgotten his favorite book outside, and was sneaking out to get it. His parents would not be happy if they knew. His parents never let him go outside after dark alone. Lately his parents had not let Remus out of their sight. Remus climbed down the stairs from his bedroom. Oh merlin! He thought as he tripped down them. Crash! Remus used the railing to get back up at the bottom of the stairs. Someone came running. By the sound of it, he thought it was his father. No chance to get the book now Remus thought regretfully. All thanks to the slippery stairs.

"Remus?" Lyall Lupin asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yes daddy."

"What are you doing up?"

"I needed a drink of water." even at four, Remus Lupin was practicing his mischief making.

"All the way downstairs? We have cups by the bathroom sink right nextdoor to your bedroom. What's the real reason kiddo?"

Ashamed, Remus climbs up the rest of the stairs. "I forgot a book outside. I really wanted to read it!"

Lyall smiled knowingly his son had learned how to read by his fourth birthday almost a year ago now. Ever since he would fall asleep reading with a book under the covers.

"Why don't you go up to bed? I'll bring you the book. Where did you leave it?"

"It's in my tree in the backyard." Remus loved tree climbing. He had mastered it the summer before.

"Remus John Lupin." His father said emphasizing the John which meant trouble. "We live just outside London, England. It is very important you do not go out after dark." Lyall was upset, but knew from his own youth how reading before bed helped make him into the man he was now. "I'll go get this book, but do not let this happen again understand?"

"Yes daddy." agreed Remus looking appropriately ashamed as he had been since his father caught hm.

"Alright, I'll run out and grab the book. Be up in a minute."

Lyall went out the backdoor over to his son's favorite climbing tree. He got out his wand and said: "Accio Remus's The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe." on his way back over to the door, he heard a growl from behind. About twenty feet away he spotted a werewolf. He dared not to open the door he pointed his wand out and thought hard, colloportus. The door clicked letting him know it was now magically locked. The werewolf was too close to risk it, and Lyall needed to get ready to face off. That was his last thought before the werewolf pounced. While locking the door Lyall had lost track of the werewolves movements. He did not regret saving his family. Especially if he knew he had just changed his son's fate.

Fenrir Greyback had been a werewolf ever since he was two-years-old. Therefore, he had no memory of being a wizard. In his opinion he never was a wizard. Fools like Albus Dumbledore may claim otherwise, but Fenrir thought of himself as a beast. Not in a disgusted way, but as an honor. Fenrir knew nothing else. He knew nothing of his own biological family because the night he was bitten he left with his adopted werewolf father, Forest Greyback.

Forest had taught Fenrir it was crucial to pass on the honor of being a beast every full moon. Finding candidates was simple. Go after the children of those who do not believe werewolves to be beasts. Usually, this tactic worked to perfection, Fenrir now was the adopted father of his own pack. This particular night Fenrir was going after a vocal ally of Albus Dumbledore. Lyall Lupin ran the Diagon Alley Library, and had a young son who seemed like a perfect fit. Fenrir knew the boy was intelligent he could use an intelligent member of his pack to help strategize. Earlier that day while the boy was in the backyard playing Fenrir had grabbed a book from the pile on the porch and put it up the tree he knew the boy loved. Before every full moon Fenrir spent time tracking his "victims" to come up with his plan of attack. The boy was almost permanently attached to his books it seemed like the perfect way to get him outside since he had observed him reading in bed, and cuddling with them like most children would their teddy bears.

However, tonight it seemed tonight's well thought out plan had failed. Instead of Remus Lupin he was faced with the father. There's only one way to correct this mistake Fenrir thought wildly in his mind of the wolf. He had wanted the boy and if he let the father live he would never get the chance. Fenrir saw only one way Lupin could pay for ruining his plans. So he went on the attack ready to payback the man who foiled his plans. Payback Lupin permanently. In the morning the library would looking for a new head librarian Fenrir thought eagerly.

In the house

Hope Lupin was in bed, that was normal for this time of night. For some reason her husband wasn't there. This wasn't entirely unusual with the current state of the wizarding world. Lately Lyall barely got home in time for dinner because of some silly wizarding war she thought. Her husband was part of a group lead by his old transfiguration professor from school. Hope knew that there was some evil wizard after muggles, people like her. For the seven years Hope knew her husband he had never broken a promise, and he had promised he was not on duty tonight. Hope frowned, why was she up in the first place? She thought she had heard a scratching sound for the past hour. For a while she thought it was just the wind. Now she wasn't so sure. In her experience the wizarding world made things not just coincidence so she was suspicious.

Hope got up out of bed, and went downstairs, looked out the back window, and barely held back a scream. Outside her window she could see some sort of animal going wild. It wasn't normal. A wild wolf should not be in this suburban neighborhood. Hope took a quick look around the house for her husband. Her search came up blank. She then went into her husband's office he kept many books about magical creatures in there. As a librarian, wild life was his specialty. She picked up the top one, and took it into the kitchen. She flipped through the book, and in the back found what she was looking for.

Werewolves are one of the most vicious creatures on the earth. A werewolf has a tufted tail, and many other distinguishable qualities from the true wolf. When a werewolf while transformed bites a human, they will from then on be a werewolf too. There is currently no cure for the condition known as lycanthropy. For more information see pages 394-406.

Hope took another look out the window, it was definitely a werewolf. She sighed in frustration, there was only one option left.

Hope ran up to her son's room seeing her little boy sound asleep with a flashlight in hand, and a book on his chest. Hope shook him awake.

"Remus you need to wake up now honey."

"Mummy?" asked Remus sleepily. "where's Daddy he said he'd get my book."

"What book?" asked Hope frowning.

"My Narnia book. Before I started reading I went downstairs to get it, and Daddy said he'd get it for me because it was dark." Hope sighed the full moon must have already risen when Lyall went out.

"Come on Remus let's go floo call Uncle Septimus. We need to find your father."

Remus grinned happily getting out of bed. Lyall and Septimus went to school together, and Remus was becoming good friends with Septimus's youngest son, Percival. The sons were the eldest Septimus Jr., twins Arthur and Arnold, Billius, and Percival. Percival was year older then Remus, but right now they were the best of friends.

They went into Lyall study, Hope taking the floo powder down from the mantle. Remus dipped his hand in and was about to throw it in when Hope stopped him.

"Wait Remus we have to start the fire with a quick start firework since daddy isn't here remember?" Remus nodded. Hope rummaged through Lyall desk finding them and threw one into the fireplace. Then, Remus threw the powder in, grabbed his mother's hand, and they stepped into the fireplace.

"The Weasel Hole!" shouted Hope. The two spun round and round passing many fire places until they landed facedown on the floor of the Weasley's family room.

The room was dark so everyone must be sleeping. The Weasleys had an alarm on their fire that wouldn't go off until someone turned it off.

Moments later Cidrella Weasley came in followed by one of her twins, fourteen-year-old Arnold. The Weasleys oldest, Septimus Jr. was eighteen, the twins Gryffindor fourth years, Billius ten, and newly six-year-old Percival.

"What are you doing here Mrs. Lupin?" asked Arnold. Conspicuously absent was his twin Arthur.

"I'm afraid I cannot find my husband. Why don't you take Remus with you so I can talk to your mother." Hope said determinedly. In lighter times she would have asked where Arthur was the twin typically inseparable.

"Alright, but just the next room Arthur didn't wake up to the floo alarm. I swear it would take being bitten by a snake or something to wake the guy up." Arnold was the Weasley family jokester.

The older boy took the younger one's hand and left their mothers to themselves.

"Okay" said Cidrella, waving her wand to put up privacy wards. If Hope was making the children leave something must seriously be wrong. "What has happened dear?" asks Cidrella taking Hope in a hug. "I'm guessing there is more to just not finding Lyall."

"There is. I..." Hope broke into tears. "I saw a creature in the backyard I identified it to be a werewolf. It is too coincidental that I can not find him." Cidrella patted Hope's back comfortingly.

"You did the right thing by coming here. No one should face a werewolf alone. I'm going to wake Septimus he'll know what to do. You are in no shape to go home after I wake Septimus I'll set up some space for you."

So Cidrella busied herself by waking her husband and sending him on his way. Cidrella transfigured some furniture into two beds preparing for the worst. It had only been a few years, but so many families had already lost loved ones in the war with Voldemort. Everyone knew there were werewolves who supported him. Arnold got a game of wizards chess set up to distract Remus for the time being. The four of them waited in the living room by the floo hoping for news.

About an hour later a tired looking Septimus Weasley apparated into the room.

"Septimus what do you think you're doing? Do you really want to set this example for your son?" Cidrella whisper shouted at him.

"Now's not the time dear." he said turning in Hope's direction he said. "Come with me we've found him. I'll explain on the way." Hope knew Septimus was not telling her everything, but stood up and took his arm ready to go.

At the other end Hope found herself at St. Mungo's hospital. She knew what it looked like on the outside because she delivered Remus there. The wizarding world had fear better methods for child birth at least at this pint in time. The two walked in and Septimus lead her up to the first floor, creature induced injuries. They walked until they reached a room Hope assumed was Lyall.

"Stop." said Septimus said firmly. "Let me explain first." he gently clasped Hope's hand holding her back from the door.

"You found him and I assume he is hurt. What else should I know?" ask Hope. Unlike Cidrella, back at the Weasley's house Hop liked to think the best of things.

"Trust me You'll want to know. Lyall is severely injured Hope not just a single bite or scratch. The healers say it is unlikely he will make it."

"even more reason to get in there now." Hopes said angrily shoving Septimus out of the way and going through the door.

Upon entering Hope finds herself in a hospital room with three beds Lyall in the one farthest from the door. She rushes over, but stops in her tracks on closer inspection. The bed has been abandoned by healers, and Lyall lays there extremely pale.

"Hope." whispers Lyall "Come here. There's not much time." Hope leans over her husband terrified of what she sees.

"Why aren't there any healers here? Shouldn't they be operating?" she asks.

"There isn't time. They've confirmed it. It was Greyback. You-know-who's most faithful werewolf supporter. I have been infected beyond recovery. The healers say I won't make to the morning. I can feel it too."

"Why are you okay with this Lyall?" Hope asks with tears running down her cheeks. "What about Remus? He's not going to understand."

"That's perfectly fine. I caught him trying to go outside to get a book Hope." Lyall now serious. "If I hadn't caught him this could be him. I'll take this any day for our son."

"I know you're right." Hope said letting out a long breath. "I just... why my family?"

"It's because of my views, but I would never become a muggle hater just to live. Just stay with me." Hope agrees and sits at her husband's bedside until the end. Lyall could feel it coming close. "Take care of Remus. Let him know he's worth it. And I love you both s..."

Hope broke into full out sobs at her husband's passing. Septimus had kept his distance in Lyall last hour's but now came forward to comfort Hope. "What am I going to tell him?" Hope asks through her tears.

"Keep it simple." said Septimus calmly. "His father loved him, and this was the only way to keep you both safe." Hope knew she would agree with Septimus, but at the time all she could do was grieve.

Hope and Septimus eventually returned to the Weasleys and informed the rest of the Weasley family and Remus. Over the next few years things would be tough, but they would make it through. Whatever was going to happen in the future February 16, 1965 would unknowingly by everyone involved be the night many lives changed in the wizarding world. All thanks to Remus Lupin tripping on the stairs.

Author's Note: I have wanted to write this story for years even before I started my other one. I had always wanted to finish Alternate Ending to POA first, but now with the times we are living in I couldn't resist. Hope you enjoy. Also, could use suggestions on a better title.