A/N: Thank you James Birdsong and SnidgetHex for reviewing! I'm glad you're enjoying this. ^_^

Chapter 4

With just a few weeks until the start of the new school year, the teachers were back at Hogwarts and preparing for the arrival of the students. Hagrid took one of the secret tunnels up to the hospital ward, not wanting to get waylaid by a bunch of professors demanding answers, or worse, Filch. He burst through the wall panel in the back of the hall, giving Madam Pomfrey a proper scare. She'd been stocking the cupboards only a few feet away and let out a shrill scream at his raucous entrance.

"Hagrid!" she snapped when she'd recovered her wits, only to stop and gape at the bloodied boy in his arms.

"Please, help him," Hagrid begged.

She straightened with immediate professionalism and waved sharply at the nearest bed. Hagrid made the few strides toward it and laid Remus on the white sheets.

"This is not a student," Poppy said as she waved her wand over the boy with diagnostic spells.

"P-please," Hagrid blubbered. "Just help him."

"What happened to him?"

Hagrid opened his mouth but faltered before revealing Remus's condition. He didn't know how Poppy would react. "Gytrash," he said instead.

She shot him a sharp look, then went back to work. Her brow pinched as she cast healing spell after healing spell. "Some of these wounds are cursed," she said, and Hagrid knew those wouldn't be from the gytrash.

Poppy didn't question him further, as she had to focus more on saving her patient's life. Hagrid wrung his hands together as he watched, silently pleading for Remus to be okay. After countless spells and finally bandages, Poppy stepped away with a heavy sigh.

"Will he be all right?" Hagrid asked fearfully.

She angled a curious look at him. "Yes. Wait right here while I send for the Headmaster."

Hagrid's shoulders slumped. Now everything was going to come crashing down on both of them.

He moved toward the bed and rested a hand on Remus's head. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

It didn't take long for Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall to arrive. Minerva's eyes widened as she took in the patient on the last cot.

"What in Merlin's name is going on?" she demanded. "Where did this boy come from?"

Hagrid took a deep breath. "I found him in the Forbidden Forest several weeks ago. He'd been abandoned, so I took him in."

"Abandoned?" Poppy repeated, aghast. "Why?"

Hagrid grimaced. "He's a werewolf."

Both witches shot a shocked look at the unconscious boy in the bed, while Dumbledore was calmly inscrutable as always.

"And he's been living with you on the grounds all summer?" McGonagall asked tersely.

Hagrid nodded.

"And you failed to mention it to any of the staff?"

"He was just a frightened little thing," Hagrid explained. "It took me days to earn his trust enough to bring him out of the woods, and even longer to make him feel safe. He was so scared he was going to be killed, and I couldn't bear to let anyone take him away to some horrible place for werewolves. He's only eleven for Merlin's sake!"

"And what about when the students returned to school?" Minerva continued to upbraid him. "Did you think harboring a werewolf wouldn't be dangerous to them?"

"I'd found a way to handle it!" Hagrid exclaimed, only to realize he couldn't mention Aragog without getting in trouble for that. "I did have a way to handle it," he said more dejectedly. "But then a gytrash showed up and everything went all to hell." He looked at Dumbledore, who had always been kind and supportive of him. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to protect the boy."

"And I admire your noble actions," Dumbledore finally said. "But you should have come to me."

"I know," he said miserably. "I'm sorry. Remus almost died because of me."

"I think you have that backwards, Hagrid," Dumbledore said more kindly. "No doubt he wouldn't have lasted long on his own in the Forbidden Forest. You did save his life."

Hagrid supposed that was true. "What's gonna happen to him now?"

"We should alert the Ministry, yes?" McGonagall said.

A choked sound drew their attention to the bed. Remus had woken and was backing up against the headboard, heedless of tearing open his wounds and making them bleed anew through the linen bandages. His chest hitched with barely contained sobs.

Hagrid hurried over and pulled him close. Remus threw his arms around Hagrid and clung tightly as he sobbed into his shirt.

"Hey, shh, it's okay," Hagrid soothed. "Everything's gonna be alright."

He didn't know how he was going to keep that promise, but he was determined to do everything in his power to.

Dumbledore came over and sat on the foot of the bed. "Hello," he said kindly. "My name is Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. What is your name?"

Remus hiccoughed. "Remus, sir."

"No last name?"

Remus hesitated, then shook his head.

"What was your parents' last name?" Dumbledore pressed gently.

"Lupin," he whispered.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful at that. "Your father is a wizard, I believe. And your mother a Muggle?"

Remus nodded. "But I'm not their son anymore. They said so."

The adults in the room frowned at that.

"Because of your lycanthropy?" Dumbledore asked.

Remus nodded again. "Are you going to lock me up in a cage?" he asked in a mixture of fear and resignation that tore at Hagrid's heart.

"No, my dear boy, nobody is going to lock you up." Dumbledore patted the bed. "Get some rest. Madam Pomfrey will take good care of you."

Remus jerked his gaze to Hagrid pleadingly.

"And once you're better," Dumbledore went on, "you can go back to Hagrid's. Would you like that?"

Remus nodded earnestly. Hagrid gave the Headmaster a grateful look as well. Dumbledore merely smiled and stood up to leave, Professor McGonagall following him out.

"Come dear," Poppy said, coming round the other side of the bed. "You've torn your wounds open. Lay down before you pull them more. And before you go back to sleep, I have some potions I'd like you to drink."

Remus tipped his head up at Hagrid. "You'll stay?"

"'Course I will," he promised, even as his heart continued to break. He didn't know what was going to happen next. The professors were right, of course; why did he think he could properly care for a young werewolf? But Hagrid wasn't going to let Remus see how upset he was. He had to be strong for the boy now, no matter what happened.

To Hagrid's relief, he was allowed to take Remus back to his hut the next day. The boy was still seriously injured, and so Hagrid tucked him into his bed where he would convalesce for the next few days. Hagrid was a little lax with his groundskeeper duties as he spent the time keeping Remus company and reading to him from one of his books. There was still an unspoken tension in the air, and Hagrid was constantly worried that the Ministry would show up on his doorstep to take Remus away.

So when he received a knock at the door, he jumped badly and knocked over his mug of tea. He leaped to his feet, muttering under his breath. "Yeah, who is it?" he called.

"Albus," came the reply.

Oh, that was…he couldn't keep Dumbledore waiting. Hagrid hurried to the door to open it, bracing for the Headmaster to have someone from the Ministry with him. But it was just Dumbledore.

"Afternoon, Hagrid."

"Afternoon, Professor," he said, stepping back to allow him entrance.

Remus had picked up Hagrid's umbrella and spelled away the spilled tea, but at the sight of the old wizard, he quickly shoved the contraband wand under the pillows and shrank back against them.

"Hello, Remus," Dumbledore greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, sir," he answered quietly.

Dumbledore came to stand by the bed, his eyes twinkling. "I have something for you." He pulled a folded piece of parchment from inside his robe and handed it to Remus.

The moment the boy opened it, magical lettering came to life. Hagrid's eyes widened as he recognized the script, proclaiming Remus's acceptance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Remus looked stunned as he stared at it, but there was no gleam of excitement. He looked up at Dumbledore. "But, I'm a monster."

Dumbledore gazed back at him sadly. "I know many people have told you that over the years, but I assure you, you are not. You are also a wizard, as I can clearly see." He smiled at the clean floor. "Would you like to go to school?" he asked seriously.

Remus's eyes finally lit up a small fraction. "Yes, very much." But he immediately faltered again. "But…every month, I…"

"I have spoken with the staff, and we are making arrangements for the full moon so that your condition will not only be kept secret, but you will be secure during the transformations so you don't hurt anyone."

Remus was finally starting to look hopeful, but then he glanced at Hagrid. "Will I be able to stay with Hagrid?"

"Students reside in the dormitory," Dumbledore replied. "But you can visit Hagrid any time you want. Before curfew, of course. And for the summer breaks, we will discuss getting you a legal guardian. I'm sure Hagrid won't mind the title."

Hagrid beamed. "Not at all. Remus, this is an amazing opportunity. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

Remus considered it for another moment, then nodded. "Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent. Arrangements are also being made for your books and required materials to be delivered. The only thing you'll have to get is a wand. Hagrid can take you to Diagon Alley for it."

Hagrid was all too thrilled to do that.

As Dumbledore headed out, he subtly passed him a pouch of coin to pay for it. Hagrid gave him a small nod in gratitude.

Once Remus was mostly healed, Hagrid took him to Diagon Alley and Ollivander's shop of wands. Remus was skittish around so many people and stuck close to Hagrid as they walked down the cobblestone streets. There were many children about with their families, some in black robes and others still in regular clothes.

"Are all these students going to Hogwarts?" Remus asked.

"Yup," Hagrid replied. "And don't worry, it'll be new for all these first-years too. Some of 'em are even Muggle-born, which means they didn't even know about magic until this summer when they got their letters."

Remus kept craning his neck around to take it all in until they reached the wand shop. Hagrid had to step sideways to get through the door, and he was immediately met with a very limited cramped space in which to stand, as the shop was stacked high with shelves and shelves of wands.

Ollivander was just finishing up with another customer, so Hagrid and Remus waited until they'd gone.

"Ah, Hagrid!" Ollivander greeted. "It's been a long time."

"Ollivander," Hagrid nodded back. "Got a first-year here ready to purchase his own wand."

The old man's eyes lit up. "Is that so? Mm," he hummed, looking Remus over appraisingly.

The boy fidgeted under the scrutiny, no doubt wondering if anyone would see past him to the curse underneath. Hagrid put a hand on his shoulder in support.

"Let's try…" Ollivander said to himself as he went to search among his shelves and draw out a narrow box. "This one." He pulled out the wand and handed it to Remus. "Go on, give it a try."

"Lumos," Remus whispered.

The wand exploded with sparks.

"Alright, not that one," Ollivander said as he snatched it back and returned it to the shelf.

Remus shot Hagrid a freaked look.

"All part of the process," Hagrid assured him.

Ollivander handed him another one, and Remus tried the light spell again. The tip of the wand sputtered like a dying Muggle streetlamp. As Ollivander went deeper into his shop, Remus hurried back toward Hagrid.

"What if the wands all know?" he asked fearfully. "What if I'm not supposed to have one?"

"That's nonsense. You can use my wand just fine."

Remus worried at his lip, not looking encouraged.

Ollivander returned and held out a third wand of cypress.

Remus nervously took it and whispered the spell again. This time the wand lit up and cast a smattering of stars around the room.

Ollivander smiled. "I thought so. That's a unicorn hair core. Its owner must be pure of heart to wield it so."

Remus looked up, utterly stunned.

Hagrid beamed. "Thank you, Ollivander," he said and passed over the coins to pay for it.

"Good luck, young man," the wandmaker said to Remus as they turned to head out.

"Do you think it's true?" Remus breathed, still looking at his wand in wonder.

Hagrid slung an arm around his shoulders. "Of course it is."

The first day of school arrived, and Hagrid stood with Remus in the corridor as the first-year students arrived. Remus was fidgeting nervously at his side.

Hagrid leaned down to whisper, "It's going to be all right."

Remus took a deep breath and tried to draw his shoulders back. Hagrid patted him on the back proudly.

"Best slip into the mix, then," he said, giving the boy a gentle nudge.

Remus strode forward, falling into line in the rear as the first-years were led to the great hall. Hagrid trailed behind and stood in the back near the doors to watch the Sorting Hat ceremony. When Remus was called up, he watched with bated breath until the Sorting Hat called out loudly, "Gryffindor!"

Hagrid clapped heartily, his heart swelling with pride. Remus took a seat at his house table, and a few times through supper, looked up to catch Hagrid's encouraging eye. But gradually he was drawn into conversation, particularly by two other students, both with black hair and one with spectacles. And as the night wore on, Hagrid watched Remus slowly come out of his shell.

Hagrid smiled; yeah, he'd be all right.