Disclaimer- I don't own characters you recognise; they're JK Rowling's.
Please don't nick this. Now here it is.
********
"Wake up," someone shook him, "Remus, wake up." Another shake. Remus vaguely heard some whispering. Ice cold water poured down his neck.
"Jesus!" he yelled sitting bolt upright. "What the hell are you doing?" he saw James and Sirius standing over him. Sirius was holding his wand, which was pouring water from its tip and James had the standard book of spells open. Unfortunately them, Greymalkin was also disturbed. She flew at them hissing and spitting, claws out. Now it was Remus's turn to laugh.
Sirius was crouched behind Peter's bed and James had already made it to the bathroom. "Call it off. Call it off. I'm sorry." Sirius pleaded.
Peter unluckily chose this time to wake up only to find his face full of ferocious cat. "Ahhhhhh!" he fell off the side of the bed onto Sirius.
The yells fetched a prefect from bellow. The door burst open and in blundered the red-haired prefect from the train. "What on earth is going on?" he screamed.
Greymalkin instantly transformed into an adorable if slightly damp pussycat.
Remus stepped forward trying to ring out his pyjamas. "Um, well they were trying to wake me up and unfortunately my cat objected." Greymalkin improved the situation by rubbing up against the prefects legs, purring.
The prefect's face softened, he picked up Greymalkin and said, "You caused all this fuss? No I can't believe that." He looked up to the rest of the boys. "I'm . Weasly. Now get dressed or you'll be late on your first day." He placed Greymalkin on the floor and turned to leave. "Hurry up, you'll be late for breakfast." This was enough to bring James's head out from the bathroom.
"Breakfast? Did someone mention breakfast?" he asked all troubles forgotten.
************
The four boys leaned over the timetable. "So we'v g't Ch'rms then Tramsfigrrti'n." said James round a piece of toast. He swallowed. "And then History of Magic and Defence."
"And after lunch there's double Potions" agreed Peter piling bacon onto his plate. "That sounds interesting." And he began to shovel it into his mouth.
Remus looked unenthusiastically at the sausage and eggs in front of him. After last night his stomach was doing summersaults. He had once toyed with the idea of vegetarianism, but his condition meant that for half a month he ate much more meat than anyone else he knew did. With only 3 days to go till the full moon, those sausages looked very appealing. He gave in and began to eat and, to his annoyance, with relish.
"I reckon we'd better get going, or else we'll be late for charms." James remarked, checking his watch.
Peter went to stand up, while Sirius asked, "But we've got ages till we have to be there. It won't take that long will it?" he added another piece of toast to his plate.
"No. My dad said it takes ages to reach anywhere here. The staircases change you know. Anyway you can go and be late if you want, but I have better things to do." He picked up his books and set off, Peter trailing behind him.
"Go stick your head in a cauldron!" Sirius shouted after him, "your dad too!" He started to finish his breakfast. Remus sat in shocked silence and hoped he hadn't made a mistake by staying.
*********
Remus later was sure that he had. He and Sirius had become lost. About twenty minutes ago. They had almost fallen off moving staircases, been chased by crazed suits of armour and now somehow they had wound up following a painting of a medieval lady wearing pink. She thankfully seemed to know the way to the Charms classroom. As they reached a likely looking door Sirius bowed to the lady, who was currently standing on a ship in the middle of a naval battle. She blushed and dipped a wobbly curtsy and ran out of the frame before the ship was scuttled.
They entered the classroom and tried to slip into spare seats with out anyone noticing. James did, and shot them a superior look. Sirius glared back again. The teacher, who look somewhat like a troll was still taking the register. They seemed to be taking this class with the Ravenclaws.
"Potter, James." He said somewhat squeakily.
"Here." James affirmed
When Emma Robson and Jacob Willis had been ticked off, the troll-man turned to face Sirius and Remus. "So you are?"
"Late, sir." Sirius said with a grin.
The short man checked his list then scowled. "No, I meant what are your names?"
"Sirius Black." He was still grinning.
"Remus Lupin." He stammered quietly. The tiny man's eyes widened then crinkled suspiciously. There was pity in them and a little fear.
He knows what I am. Remus realised franticly.
"Very well. Settle down." The quill scratched their names off. "I am Professor Flitwick, and your Charms teacher." He climbed unsteadily onto a chair behind his desk. "I will be teaching you the beautiful art of Charms." He flicked his wand and fairy lights appeared all over the room. A gasp of wonder and awe went up from the class. Then they blinked out as quickly as they had appeared.
"Today we shall be learning the art of levitation." Flitwick's face had brightened up. "OK class please get out your wands."
As Remus pulled out his wand he looked at it remembering what had happened when he had gone to buy it.
**********
Remus and his mother marched through Diagon Ally. It was tight and crowded. This sort of place made Remus uncomfortable. There were too many people, too much noise. This was the kind of place where he could lose himself.
They finally found the place they were looking for. A small, dark shop crouched between much larger ones. Olivander's wand makers. They entered with the tinkling of the shop bell. Mrs Lupin settled herself on the one spindly chair. Remus stood, rocking back and forth on his heels, the letter clasped in his fist. At least there was no one else here. This place smelled of magic, musty with the accumulation of it like the amassing of dust. He looked around. Long boxes lined the walls and one lonely wand sat on a faded blue cushion in the window. Everything had a sense of timelessness, as if it had never been anything else. Next year it would be the same and all the years after that. Generation after generation. Even down to the nervous looking child standing by the chair. But this child was different.
Remus jumped when the shopkeeper appeared. His heart beat fast as Mr Olivander walked creakily out of the storeroom.
"Good afternoon." He greeted Mrs Lupin cordially. "I don't think I've seen you before," His bright blue eyes snapped round to Remus, "but you must be going to Hogwarts. Yes." He crooned. "What's your name young man, speak up?"
"Remus Lupin sir." Remus swallowed nervously.
"Ah. Lupin. Yes I remember." His voice became hushed and he leant down, his face level with Remus's. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, you know. Hmm, pine, dragon heartstring, 13 ΒΌ inches. If I recall correctly and I do. Very inflexible, yes." All the time he was staring about 3 inches into Remus's head.
Remus stared back annoyed by the mention of his father, the father who loathed him, who had left his mother. He hardened his gaze and would not look away.
Mrs Lupin watched, afraid to say anything, as her son and this strange old man glowered at each other.
Mr Olivander's brow began to wrinkle. Suddenly with no warning he stood bolt upright, a look of fear on his face. "I'm sorry I can't sell you a wand." He rushed away into the storeroom. Remus ran after him.
He found Mr Olivander franticly rearranging boxes of wands. As he saw Remus he turned and shouted. "It's illegal! Section 22 paragraph 8 of the werewolf code. I helped write that section!" he scooted away on the stepladder.
"No werewolf may carry, use, procure or possess by any means, a magic wand." Remus repeated from the book. "Yes I've read the code."
Mr Olivander leant down again. "I'm sorry boy, but those are the rules. You may have done well in the world, but this one is too prejudiced against you. I truly am sorry." His peculiar eyes for a moment seemed sad.
"Great!" Remus yelled sarcastically. "How does that help me? You're sorry, but that doesn't make it better." His wolf side was taking over tonight was a full moon. He'd known it was a mistake to come today. "That's all I ever get, pity or fear. I'm not a monster all the time!" he glared at Olivander. "You didn't even wait to see this letter." he flung it at Olivander and sat down dejectedly on a pile of wand boxes.
Mr Olivander's eyes widened as they flickered down the page. "I see." He murmured. "Well we had better go back into the shop then."
Mrs Lupin was glad to see Mr Olivander appear followed by her son. "Well will you sell him a wand. Did you get the letter from Dumbledor?" Mr Olivander nodded.
"We'd better get you measurements Remus." He said quietly. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Left sir." Remus said.
The hours drew on and the pile of wands grew. Mr Olivander told Remus how he made each one from a different magical substance. Remus asked if the dragon heartstrings required killing the dragon. Mr Olivander said that it did not. He asked Remus how he had been bitten and Remus told him. And he told him about Romulus too. They talked in hushed tones and as the first rosy light of sunset filtered through the dusty window, Mr Olivander remarked "Well that's the last one. We've been through every wand in the shop." Remus looked depressed, he knew it was useless. "Unless." Mr Olivander breathed, an idea forming in his mind.
"Come with me Remus." He beckoned him back into the storerooms. They walked through the stacks and shelves most of which were empty by now. Mr Olivander walked up to one of the walls and pulled out one of the boxes. The wall began to shiver then it dropped down to reveal a door. He pulled out a key on a long silver chain and fitted it into the lock. As Remus stepped inside he had the feeling of entering a holy place, where few dare to tread.
"This is my workshop." Mr Olivander waved an arm at the surroundings. Dark wood panelling lined the walls. Collections of wood types and magical substances nestled in wooden cabinets. Tools covered the benches and desks and what space wasn't taken up was strewn with parchment.
Mr Olivander reached up and unhooked a small wooden case from the wall. He blew the dust off and opened it. He smiled at the content then handed to Remus. Inside were five wands all slightly different from the others he had seen.
"Those," he said with a smile, "are the wands I made at the end of my apprenticeship. They secured my place as a master wandmaker."
"But I can't have one of these. They're yours." Remus stammered.
"Don't be silly I'd get nowhere if I didn't sell my wands." He snapped then began to explain. Now each of these is theoretically impossible. The woods are hornbeam, hawthorn and rowan, supposedly impervious to magic. And one I made out of iron, which is meant to counter it completely." Remus picked up the top one and was surprised at its weight. "That's the one, it is filled with chimera hair one of the least magical substances in the world. The others, griffin tail feather, dragon scale and," Remus picked up the bottom one. It was slender, silvery and light with flecks of grey. He felt a tingle run up his arm and fill his whole body. White sparks plumed from the tip. "It works, I always knew it would!" he jumped up and down excitedly. "It shouldn't, but it does!"
"Yes, that's the one. 14 inches, hawthorn, werewolf fur." He saw the look on Remus's face and said, "The wand chooses the wizard you know. I'm sorry boy, but that's your wand. There's no changing it now."
Remus left the shop clutching the wand. His mother was smiling, but he hadn't told her exactly what had happened in the workshop. She didn't know that the wand contained werewolf fur. He wondered if this meant that he would never be free of the curse. Even at Hogwarts, every time he used this wand he'd be reminded of it.
At least he had a wand he thought as he laid it on his bed in the hotel. And it was beautiful. Mr Olivander deserved the title of master wandmaker for creating this. The last light glinted on the polished surface as he lay on his stomach, his head resting on his hands and stared at it.
That's it please review
Thank you to my 3 reviewers. Love you. #:-)
********
"Wake up," someone shook him, "Remus, wake up." Another shake. Remus vaguely heard some whispering. Ice cold water poured down his neck.
"Jesus!" he yelled sitting bolt upright. "What the hell are you doing?" he saw James and Sirius standing over him. Sirius was holding his wand, which was pouring water from its tip and James had the standard book of spells open. Unfortunately them, Greymalkin was also disturbed. She flew at them hissing and spitting, claws out. Now it was Remus's turn to laugh.
Sirius was crouched behind Peter's bed and James had already made it to the bathroom. "Call it off. Call it off. I'm sorry." Sirius pleaded.
Peter unluckily chose this time to wake up only to find his face full of ferocious cat. "Ahhhhhh!" he fell off the side of the bed onto Sirius.
The yells fetched a prefect from bellow. The door burst open and in blundered the red-haired prefect from the train. "What on earth is going on?" he screamed.
Greymalkin instantly transformed into an adorable if slightly damp pussycat.
Remus stepped forward trying to ring out his pyjamas. "Um, well they were trying to wake me up and unfortunately my cat objected." Greymalkin improved the situation by rubbing up against the prefects legs, purring.
The prefect's face softened, he picked up Greymalkin and said, "You caused all this fuss? No I can't believe that." He looked up to the rest of the boys. "I'm . Weasly. Now get dressed or you'll be late on your first day." He placed Greymalkin on the floor and turned to leave. "Hurry up, you'll be late for breakfast." This was enough to bring James's head out from the bathroom.
"Breakfast? Did someone mention breakfast?" he asked all troubles forgotten.
************
The four boys leaned over the timetable. "So we'v g't Ch'rms then Tramsfigrrti'n." said James round a piece of toast. He swallowed. "And then History of Magic and Defence."
"And after lunch there's double Potions" agreed Peter piling bacon onto his plate. "That sounds interesting." And he began to shovel it into his mouth.
Remus looked unenthusiastically at the sausage and eggs in front of him. After last night his stomach was doing summersaults. He had once toyed with the idea of vegetarianism, but his condition meant that for half a month he ate much more meat than anyone else he knew did. With only 3 days to go till the full moon, those sausages looked very appealing. He gave in and began to eat and, to his annoyance, with relish.
"I reckon we'd better get going, or else we'll be late for charms." James remarked, checking his watch.
Peter went to stand up, while Sirius asked, "But we've got ages till we have to be there. It won't take that long will it?" he added another piece of toast to his plate.
"No. My dad said it takes ages to reach anywhere here. The staircases change you know. Anyway you can go and be late if you want, but I have better things to do." He picked up his books and set off, Peter trailing behind him.
"Go stick your head in a cauldron!" Sirius shouted after him, "your dad too!" He started to finish his breakfast. Remus sat in shocked silence and hoped he hadn't made a mistake by staying.
*********
Remus later was sure that he had. He and Sirius had become lost. About twenty minutes ago. They had almost fallen off moving staircases, been chased by crazed suits of armour and now somehow they had wound up following a painting of a medieval lady wearing pink. She thankfully seemed to know the way to the Charms classroom. As they reached a likely looking door Sirius bowed to the lady, who was currently standing on a ship in the middle of a naval battle. She blushed and dipped a wobbly curtsy and ran out of the frame before the ship was scuttled.
They entered the classroom and tried to slip into spare seats with out anyone noticing. James did, and shot them a superior look. Sirius glared back again. The teacher, who look somewhat like a troll was still taking the register. They seemed to be taking this class with the Ravenclaws.
"Potter, James." He said somewhat squeakily.
"Here." James affirmed
When Emma Robson and Jacob Willis had been ticked off, the troll-man turned to face Sirius and Remus. "So you are?"
"Late, sir." Sirius said with a grin.
The short man checked his list then scowled. "No, I meant what are your names?"
"Sirius Black." He was still grinning.
"Remus Lupin." He stammered quietly. The tiny man's eyes widened then crinkled suspiciously. There was pity in them and a little fear.
He knows what I am. Remus realised franticly.
"Very well. Settle down." The quill scratched their names off. "I am Professor Flitwick, and your Charms teacher." He climbed unsteadily onto a chair behind his desk. "I will be teaching you the beautiful art of Charms." He flicked his wand and fairy lights appeared all over the room. A gasp of wonder and awe went up from the class. Then they blinked out as quickly as they had appeared.
"Today we shall be learning the art of levitation." Flitwick's face had brightened up. "OK class please get out your wands."
As Remus pulled out his wand he looked at it remembering what had happened when he had gone to buy it.
**********
Remus and his mother marched through Diagon Ally. It was tight and crowded. This sort of place made Remus uncomfortable. There were too many people, too much noise. This was the kind of place where he could lose himself.
They finally found the place they were looking for. A small, dark shop crouched between much larger ones. Olivander's wand makers. They entered with the tinkling of the shop bell. Mrs Lupin settled herself on the one spindly chair. Remus stood, rocking back and forth on his heels, the letter clasped in his fist. At least there was no one else here. This place smelled of magic, musty with the accumulation of it like the amassing of dust. He looked around. Long boxes lined the walls and one lonely wand sat on a faded blue cushion in the window. Everything had a sense of timelessness, as if it had never been anything else. Next year it would be the same and all the years after that. Generation after generation. Even down to the nervous looking child standing by the chair. But this child was different.
Remus jumped when the shopkeeper appeared. His heart beat fast as Mr Olivander walked creakily out of the storeroom.
"Good afternoon." He greeted Mrs Lupin cordially. "I don't think I've seen you before," His bright blue eyes snapped round to Remus, "but you must be going to Hogwarts. Yes." He crooned. "What's your name young man, speak up?"
"Remus Lupin sir." Remus swallowed nervously.
"Ah. Lupin. Yes I remember." His voice became hushed and he leant down, his face level with Remus's. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, you know. Hmm, pine, dragon heartstring, 13 ΒΌ inches. If I recall correctly and I do. Very inflexible, yes." All the time he was staring about 3 inches into Remus's head.
Remus stared back annoyed by the mention of his father, the father who loathed him, who had left his mother. He hardened his gaze and would not look away.
Mrs Lupin watched, afraid to say anything, as her son and this strange old man glowered at each other.
Mr Olivander's brow began to wrinkle. Suddenly with no warning he stood bolt upright, a look of fear on his face. "I'm sorry I can't sell you a wand." He rushed away into the storeroom. Remus ran after him.
He found Mr Olivander franticly rearranging boxes of wands. As he saw Remus he turned and shouted. "It's illegal! Section 22 paragraph 8 of the werewolf code. I helped write that section!" he scooted away on the stepladder.
"No werewolf may carry, use, procure or possess by any means, a magic wand." Remus repeated from the book. "Yes I've read the code."
Mr Olivander leant down again. "I'm sorry boy, but those are the rules. You may have done well in the world, but this one is too prejudiced against you. I truly am sorry." His peculiar eyes for a moment seemed sad.
"Great!" Remus yelled sarcastically. "How does that help me? You're sorry, but that doesn't make it better." His wolf side was taking over tonight was a full moon. He'd known it was a mistake to come today. "That's all I ever get, pity or fear. I'm not a monster all the time!" he glared at Olivander. "You didn't even wait to see this letter." he flung it at Olivander and sat down dejectedly on a pile of wand boxes.
Mr Olivander's eyes widened as they flickered down the page. "I see." He murmured. "Well we had better go back into the shop then."
Mrs Lupin was glad to see Mr Olivander appear followed by her son. "Well will you sell him a wand. Did you get the letter from Dumbledor?" Mr Olivander nodded.
"We'd better get you measurements Remus." He said quietly. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Left sir." Remus said.
The hours drew on and the pile of wands grew. Mr Olivander told Remus how he made each one from a different magical substance. Remus asked if the dragon heartstrings required killing the dragon. Mr Olivander said that it did not. He asked Remus how he had been bitten and Remus told him. And he told him about Romulus too. They talked in hushed tones and as the first rosy light of sunset filtered through the dusty window, Mr Olivander remarked "Well that's the last one. We've been through every wand in the shop." Remus looked depressed, he knew it was useless. "Unless." Mr Olivander breathed, an idea forming in his mind.
"Come with me Remus." He beckoned him back into the storerooms. They walked through the stacks and shelves most of which were empty by now. Mr Olivander walked up to one of the walls and pulled out one of the boxes. The wall began to shiver then it dropped down to reveal a door. He pulled out a key on a long silver chain and fitted it into the lock. As Remus stepped inside he had the feeling of entering a holy place, where few dare to tread.
"This is my workshop." Mr Olivander waved an arm at the surroundings. Dark wood panelling lined the walls. Collections of wood types and magical substances nestled in wooden cabinets. Tools covered the benches and desks and what space wasn't taken up was strewn with parchment.
Mr Olivander reached up and unhooked a small wooden case from the wall. He blew the dust off and opened it. He smiled at the content then handed to Remus. Inside were five wands all slightly different from the others he had seen.
"Those," he said with a smile, "are the wands I made at the end of my apprenticeship. They secured my place as a master wandmaker."
"But I can't have one of these. They're yours." Remus stammered.
"Don't be silly I'd get nowhere if I didn't sell my wands." He snapped then began to explain. Now each of these is theoretically impossible. The woods are hornbeam, hawthorn and rowan, supposedly impervious to magic. And one I made out of iron, which is meant to counter it completely." Remus picked up the top one and was surprised at its weight. "That's the one, it is filled with chimera hair one of the least magical substances in the world. The others, griffin tail feather, dragon scale and," Remus picked up the bottom one. It was slender, silvery and light with flecks of grey. He felt a tingle run up his arm and fill his whole body. White sparks plumed from the tip. "It works, I always knew it would!" he jumped up and down excitedly. "It shouldn't, but it does!"
"Yes, that's the one. 14 inches, hawthorn, werewolf fur." He saw the look on Remus's face and said, "The wand chooses the wizard you know. I'm sorry boy, but that's your wand. There's no changing it now."
Remus left the shop clutching the wand. His mother was smiling, but he hadn't told her exactly what had happened in the workshop. She didn't know that the wand contained werewolf fur. He wondered if this meant that he would never be free of the curse. Even at Hogwarts, every time he used this wand he'd be reminded of it.
At least he had a wand he thought as he laid it on his bed in the hotel. And it was beautiful. Mr Olivander deserved the title of master wandmaker for creating this. The last light glinted on the polished surface as he lay on his stomach, his head resting on his hands and stared at it.
That's it please review
Thank you to my 3 reviewers. Love you. #:-)