1971.
"It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts."
"You can see it after the next turn, I believe" said Mr Lupin. "I'm not sure. This trip does sure bring back memories."
Remus and his parents were on the Hogwarts Express. Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had invited them to talk about Remus´ parents request to let him attend the school. Remus didn't expect much of it. Most of his life he had been downsized and avoided because he was a werewolf. Unless this Dumbledore was extremely weird or a complete moron, he wasn't likely to go to Hogwarts.
The train took the turn and Hogwarts castle came into sight. Remus gasped. It was beautiful; a real castle with hundreds of towers and a big forest close to it. It was just as he always pictured haunted houses. Or castle Dracula (he had secretly read the book; he wasn't allowed to read it until his fourteenth birthday). He hoped he was able to walk around a little, to see the castle. Maybe it was haunted, and he could see some ghosts! He was fascinated by ghosts and vampires and all that kind of stuff. His brother was going the same way. His mother didn't like that at all!
The train stopped at a small station. A sign said: "Hogsmeade Station". They got out and started walking in the direction of Hogwarts (a friendly old man had pointed it out for them). Remus couldn't get his eyes of the distant silhouette of Hogwarts castle. He almost didn't dare to, but he hoped Dumbledore was a fool. Imagine living seven years in a castle like that…
As he got closer, he could take a better look on it. It was quiet on the grounds, because the summer holiday had started only yesterday. The only people left were the teachers. As they walked up a hill, they could see a large lake, and the castle on the other side. The castle reflected itself in the water, it seemed as there were two castles. Finally, they reached the castle itself. As they were standing in front of a large wooden door, Remus couldn't believe he was really there. This must be some kind of weird dream. A really vivid dream, with dream-wind in his hair.
His father was looking for a doorbell, but there didn't seem to be one there.
"Maybe we have to knock" suggested Mrs Lupin. Right after she said that, the door opened. They saw a woman with black hair, drawn back in a tight bun, and with square glasses. "The Lupin family?" she asked. "Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you. If you would follow me, please."
For Remus, it was like one of his wildest dreams had come true. When he walked in, he saw a grand marble staircase. He could almost see Dracula walking down from it.
Two giant doors led to an unknown room, according to the size of the doors a giant hall. They followed the woman (who had introduced herself as Professor McGonagall) up to another floor. They walked through corridors and up and down stairways. Remus had lost all his sense of direction. But he was too occupied with the armours, paintings and old corridors to care. At long last, they stopped in front of a weird statue. McGonagall said something which sounded like "bananabombs" and suddenly a door and another staircase appeared.
"Watch the step" said she. As soon as Mr Lupin´s foot touched the staircase, it began spiralling up. The staircase ended in front of another wooden door. Remus' father knocked, and a voice said "Come in."
It had to be said: professor Dumbledore didn't really look like a moron or a fool. He had little half-moon spectacles, and a long silvery beard. He smiled as he walked from the window to his chair, beckoning them to sit down.
"Mr and Mrs Lupin, and Remus of course…" he said, nodding to Remus. Remus, who was looking around at the paintings and the bird in a corner, looked up when he heard his name. Now was the moment when he would hear if he…
"There isn't a problem for your son to come to Hogwarts…" Remus held his breath. Could it be true? "…As far as intellect in concerned. But there is of course a more important matter, a problem which cannot be solved so easily." Dumbledore looked like he was going to say something which wasn't easy to say.
Remus breathed again. That was it. He couldn't come. He started looking around again. Now Dumbledore was going to say he was sorry and all that kind of rubbish.
"A normal person would never allow Remus to come at his school. But I'm not considered a normal person, by many people." This was the dream again. He was dreaming he was at Hogwarts, a fantastic castle, and he was dreaming Dumbledore had just said he could come there. Remus didn't want the dream to stop.
"Remus, could you come over here, please?" asked Dumbledore, who walked over to the window where he had been standing when they had entered the room. When he was standing next to Dumbledore, the old man said: "Look over there. Do you see that man and that woman?" It was very hard to miss them, as the man was very big. They were standing near a large tree, which was, strangely enough, moving. And it couldn't be the wind who made it move.
"That is a Whomping Willow. It is a rare kind of tree. Whomping Willows are rather aggressive trees, but there is a way to make it freeze. This willow hides the entrance of a tunnel to a little house, not far away from the village Hogsmeade. You can go there every month, when it's a full moon. Nobody would get hurt, and you can safely attend Hogwarts" explained Dumbledore. Remus just stared at the tree. It was just like that room at his house. It was a perfect plan, and he could hardly believe it.
Was this really happening?
Dumbledore had walked over to his desk and taken something out of a drawer.
"Mr Remus Lupin" he said. "I am very pleased to give you this personally." He handed Remus an envelope over. It was a envelope made of parchment. Emerald green letters said:
Mr R.J. Lupin.
Professor A. Dumbledore´s office,
Hogwarts castle.
When he looked up he saw Dumbledore smiling at him. He smiled back.
He could really come to Hogwarts!