A/N: My first HP fanfic. Part 1 of I don't know how many. I wondered throughout the 4th book whatever happened to Lupin. So, I began this to explain his absence. I do not own any of these characters, they belong to the almighty J. K. Rowling. Don't sue me, I am flat broke after spending all my money holiday shopping. ;-P
Remus gazed up at the castle as his carriage pulled away. He sighed deeply. It had been so nice, so refreshing to be back at Hogwarts. Around every corner there was another memory. And then there was Harry. Just seeing him and his friends brought back so much. Remus could almost see personalities of past friends jump out at him. Not only did Harry's feature's matched James', but his persona as well. Ron was very much like Sirius, the joking and hot-tempered one. Hermione, well, to Remus, she seemed to be a female version of himself. Studious and always striving to make good marks. The voice of caution, but still able to join in the escapades once the warnings were voiced. Remus smiled wistfully at the castle as it finally faded from view. It was for the best that he was leaving, anyhow. He couldn't risk biting a student again, or worse, killing one. Suddenly, there was a small "pop" and the scenery switched from the Hogwarts grounds to Remus' neighborhood.
The carriage stopped in front of his house. As he stepped out, the small house looked almost foreign after nearly a year away. "It's good to be home," murmured Remus to himself and paid the driver. The carriage disappeared. Remus broke the locking charm and walked inside. Everything was exactly as he left it before Hogwarts. Remus rubbed his temples in attempt to break the beginnings of a headache. He collapsed on the large, overstuffed couch as the aftereffects of the full moon began to set in. If I was at Hogwarts right now, he thought to himself, I would be among friends, not alone like now. I would know where Sirius is at the moment, whether he's safe. Remus' eye caught the picture on the shelf of the Marauders the week after graduation. James rolled his eyes at Sirius who was making faces at the camera. Peter raised an eyebrow at the joking Padfoot. Remus' former self was nearly bent double with laughter. It was remarkable how much things had changed. Remus took and released a deep breath. "Well isn't nostalgia wonderful," he muttered under his breath. Even though the James in the picture was four years senior to Harry, they looked incredibly alike. "Ah well. It was all for the best." Remus gave in to the exhaustion, and slept.
Remus awoke the next morning to a soft hooting next to his bed. The owl flew out the window just as he got up. Remus grabbed the Daily Prophet off of the counter the owl had dropped it on. He walked, eyes half closed, into his room. Remus dropped the paper onto the bed, to be read later. Quickly, Remus changed into some clothes other than the ones he had worn for the past two days. As he stretched, something beside his bed, something caught his still-awakening eyes. The title of an article read "Dumbledore Hires Werewolf for Defense Professor"
"Damn," whispered Remus. "Damn, damn, damn."
Remus made himself a pot of coffee in the kitchen. Only heaven knew how the people around him would react. He sat down at the kitchen table and read the article by (of course) Rita Skeeter.
Albus Dumbledore is known as one of the greatest wizards of all time. Hundreds of children are put into his care each year to learn and to grow. However, one has no choice but to question the headmaster's judgment on his selection of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year. For the past year, Remus Lupin, a past friend of Sirius Black and a werewolf, has taught the students of Hogwarts. Lupin resigned yesterday in shame as the student body discovered his secret. His resignation occurred the day after Lupin ran wild on the Hogwars grounds nearly biting a teacher and three students, including the famous Harry Potter. Whether Lupin has been aiding Sirius black into the castle remains to be discovered.
Angrily, Lupin threw the paper down on the small, wood table. "Bloody hell," he sighed. Remus rubbed the bridge of his nose at the beginnings of a headache. Calm, Remus, he told himself.
Remus took a deep breath and sat down on the overstuffed couch. He flipped through the ads. Zonko's. Broom repair. The Cauldron Cake Factory. So many choices, not so many appealing ones. Idiot, spoke up a nasty little voice, you'll be lucky if you even get those. No one wants a werewolf. Loup-garou can't be trusted, you know.
"Shut up," Lupin told the voice. His thoughts went back to the paper. Scribe. Potion mixer. Spell writer. Flourish and Blotts. Auror.
Lupin's eyes stared at the last prospect. Auror. Been there, done that. It didn't work, he thought bitterly. He remembered a day long ago, less than a year after graduation.
The three friends sat nervously, waiting for the results of the Auror aptitude test they had just taken. They spoke excitedly about the adventures they'd have and made half-joking estimates of how many dark wizards they'd catch as a team, together. A middle-aged wizard in long, black ropes stuck his head into the room. "Remus Lupin?" he asked.
One of the young men stood up. Despite his broad smile, he had a gaunt look about him-the full moon occurred just two nights ago. "Yes?"
"Please come with me."
Remus followed the man. As the door locked behind him, Remus looked up questioningly at the wizard, who seemed as if this was the last thing he wanted to be doing. "I'll give it to you straight, Lupin. Your test shows you very qualified. You have extensive knowledge, especially when it comes to dark creatures." Remus' eyes lit up. "However, we cannot hire you. The test also shows that, along with your abilities, you are also a-"
"Werewolf," said Remus, flatly.
"Yes. It showed you were a loup-garou. I am sorry. It would be dangerous to hire someone with your...er...condition. If you really want to, we could put you in research and analysis. Other than that..."
Remus nodded and walked out. He continued past his friends and to the door. The people who had sat with Remus before stood up and rushed over to him.
"Remus! Remus, wait up!" the shorter one called.
Remus jerked his head around. He seemed very close to tears. All his years of being accepted at Hogwarts had caused Remus to forget the harsh sting of prejudice. "I got a great score, they said. If it weren't for one thing, they would have hired me."
"And that would be..." asked the other friend, taller with dark features.
"The fact that my kind are prone to running about the countryside eating people, Sirius." Remus replied, bitterness dripping from his voice.
"What?!" cried the two friends. All eyes turned toward the three young wizards.
Remus simply nodded. "They suggested me for research. I decided not to accept that option."
"What will you do now, Moony?"
"I'm not quite sure, James. Maybe I'll do some teaching or something like that. Write a bit, maybe. I was always the studious one, y'know."
James and Sirius were about to comment, when the older wizard from before stuck his his head out the door again. "The list of accepted Aurors; Sirius Black, Arabella Figg, Frank Longbottom, James Potter. Please come forward for information."
James and Sirius looked worriedly at Remus.
"Go on. Seriously, you guys. You were made for this. I, obviously, wasn't." Remus pointed to his upper arm where the bite scar still remained. "Go save the world from Voldemort. I'll do it in my own way. Go on. They're waiting for you."
"Alright, Moony. If you're okay with it."
"I am."
James and Sirius hesitated slightly before joining the other new Aurors at the door. Remus exited the building. At this time he allowed the tears so carefully held back to flow freely down his face. Remus apparated home, childhood taunts echoing in his ears.
Remus sighed. Damn, memories. He flipped the page over. One headline read "Black Still At Large." Remus smiled. At least Sirius was okay. And Remus needn't worry about Harry any more, now that they both knew Sirius was innocent. Yes, things would be okay; maybe no one would even overreact about the arti-
The shattering of glass interrupted Remus' train of thought. He ran into the living room, where the sound came from, and picked up the stone so carefully thrown through the window. You won't get any of my children, werewolf! You'll die, first! Remus bit his lip. So much for optimism.
It had begun.
