Chapter 5
Loss of Innocence
Almost four long weeks went by, and Remus came home, the day before Christmas. Christmas was an exceptional feast (and of course Clara made a point of not even mentioning the word hunt around either Xavier or Remus, and pointedly made sure they staid inside), larger then Guy Fawkes Day, and both the MacDougal's and the Turpin's came, children as well. This was the first time in over a month the children had seen their close friend and both immediately tackled Remus in bone shattering hugs.
The parents smiled, and laughed, apparently willing this holiday to be a much lighter one and banish the memory of the one previous altogether. Xavier and Clara had agreed not to mention Remus' lycanthropcy to anyone just yet, the full moon was going to be the day of Remus' birthday, and because of it, he couldn't have a party. Thoroughly disheartened, the boy had made a petition to have his party on Christmas, and they had consented, but told them if any of the other children asked, he was going to families house for his birthday this year. He understood, unnerving adult of him to do so, but he actually did. He was scared of his condition, and he knew his friends would be too, so he agreed, not wanting to tell them either.
The night went well (so much so that one would begin to wonder when the good spell would run out) and went cleanly through, without a hitch. The children played various games in the living room until dinner, where they eat heartily, and at the end, presented Remus with his birthday presents. Coincidentally, Mandi MacDougal gave his best friend a lunar chart, "So's we can pick out the stars at night!" he had said, beaming, as this was a favorite pass time of the two before the bite. No one noticed poor Remus blanche at this, but had merely guessed it to be in shock of the gift. He recovered amazingly well, forcing a big grin at his friend and agreeing to do so some time. Serin Turpin had gotten him a set of wizard's chess, onyx and opal with a marble playing board, and most likely highly expensive. This was from the whole family, to the whole family, which was understandable.
Soon the guests had went home, and Remus' mother helped him take his new gifts to his room, and tucked him into bed with a smile on his face for the first time since he had gotten home. He had had a normal day, a party with his friends, and that had done more good then any test at St. Mungo's had.
Upon the next morning, Remus' father left for work early, not coming home until late, and by that time, Remus had been sent to bed. He had snuck out of course, waiting in the hallway to sneak up on his father so he could. He waited outside the kitchen door to the hall, and listened for sounds of his father walking toward it. That wasn't what he heard.
"Xavier?" a soft voice asked. There was a rustling of papers.
"Yes, what is it?" the reply came, sounding concerned.
"Look at these, they're from St. Mungo's. For Remus' 'treatments' as they call them." the voice now sounded tight, clipped.
"Merlin's beard," his father's voice breathed, and the rustling of paper slightly proceeded before he spoke again. "Clara.. I don't know how I'm going to do this..."
"I know. I.. I've been meaning to tell you I might get a second job other then the part time one..."
"No. I won't have it." came the immediate reply, stubborn and set.
"Oh shut it Xavier! I know what condition we're in...and I know what kind for salary you bring home. It's nothing to look down your nose at, but I know we can't pay our house note, the other notes and now this." Clara snapped, and followed it up shortly with a quiet. "Sorry. I shouldn't have jumped down yer throat..."
"Not at all. I shouldn't have been so ox headed as to think you had no idea. We're even... hush love, come now.." he said, obviously trying to console his flustered and upset mother.
Remus didn't catch much else of the conversation, other then the next bit about mortgaging the house, and getting a smaller place farther off. His heart sank pitifully, and his eye swam. He quickly ran himself to bed and shut the door tightly, but softly behind him, jumping on his bed. He sat cross legged, the waxing moon sending an eerie silver light through his window, and he sniffled, gazing out it to the bright, cursed thing that had twisted his life around.
He had no idea what mortgaging was, but he could guess if it meant getting a new home someplace else. They were going to sell the house and go away. Forever. And it was all his fault some how. At least in his mind it was. Silent tears fell from his eyes, arresting even at almost seven years old. He brushed them away bitterly, making himself toughen up, feeling emotions no child should ever have to. Remus fell asleep that night, young mind filled with confusion and utterly miserable, after having been happier then he had been in a month a couple of days prior.
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The day of Remus' seventh birthday came all too quickly for the family. But this also meant this horribly awry year was soon coming to an end, and maybe better times would come next year, with a new life.
For the change, Remus was locked in the cellar downstairs, must to his parent's distemper and Remus' discomfort. The cellar was cold, and dank, and often smelled of mildew. Xavier took his son down the steps that night, and once he was down there, he put a Warming Charm on the room, so Remus didn't come down with 'flu. There was water there, enough for the night, but other then that, the cellar had been stripped of all things that could harm him. Except himself. Remus stared up at his father, swallowing nervously, tawny eyes wide, not wanting to have this happen again, but knowing it would have to pass.
"Rem, you'll be alright. Honest, your mum's going to be up before first light to come down to get you in the morning... I'd stay down here with you, you know. I would." Xavier said softly to Remus, and gave his son a clasp on the shoulder before turning to leave.
The door shut behind his father's retreating form, and Remus was alone. Alone in a dark, slightly warmer, empty room. Left to turn into a monster that was nothing like the little boy he actually was. And soon enough, after this change, he was to find out that sometimes only the monster was what people saw.
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"I wish this wouldn't 'ave happened to him.." Clara mumbled into her hand, feeling terrible about the whole situation.
"Love, don't blame yourself. We tried everything we could, none of the 'cures' worked, but we tried. If anyone's to blame, it's me. I took him out with me, and I should have been bit and not him." he told his wife gently, putting an arm around her shoulders. He only got a muffled, inarticulate sound in reply.
They were both startled by a rap at the door. Xavier's brow furrowed, but he went to the door, and opened it to find Fred MacDougal standing outside, bundled inside a particularly heavy cloak.
"Mind if I come in Xav?" he asked through chattering teeth.
Xavier shook his head, and let his friend in the door, a little bemused and a bit nervous about what it was, and lead him to the living room once Fred's cloak was hung up in the foyer.
"Listen, I heard about your bouts with St. Mungo's and well, that's why I'm here." he said without preamble, as he sat down.
Clara had recovered herself beautifully, showing no signs of her previous distraught attitude. "Cry pardon?"
"We- that is the Missus, I and the Turpin's, say we'll be glad to help y-" he began to say, but was cut off by the most feral, pain filled scream he had ever heard. Except of course, that Guy Fawkes Day night.
Xavier was astounded that their neighbors had found out about their financial state, but was more so unnerved by the shriek that startled the three of them. Fred's gaze swung to meet Xavier's and he was on his feet.
"What's going-"
"Please, Fred, sit down, I can-"
"I won't sit! Come, Xavier, I know what kind of scream that was!"
"You don't yet, now sit and-"
"No! If you're going to try and make me sit up here and shoot the breeze when your child is screaming!" Fred shouted, looking at Xavier as if he were mad, and without another word, knowing what he heard and damned if he was going to be too late as he was last time, he strode off at a sprint to the cellar.
"Clara, stay put!" Xavier groaned and sprinted after the other man.
Fred reached the cellar first, and by then, the screams had faded to a whimper, then to silence. He struck at the locked door, and reached for his wand to open it. Xavier's hand caught his wand hand by the wrist and spun him around. Fred may have been the larger of the two, but Xavier was quicker.
"Stop, you can't go in there!" Xavier gasped.
"Why not!" Fred snapped, jerking his arm back to his control.
"Because," Xavier started, not knowing how to term it correctly without sending the man into the normal "Your son is a what??" attitude. "Remus is.. er.. Changing." he said, figuring this suited better then any other word he could use.
"Och, come ON now Xavier! You would think with a son of my own and being a man myself I'd be accustomed to changing!" Fred said sharply, taking Xavier's uncertain reply as grounds for a lie. "Now either you answer now or I'll get the answer myself."
"No, you out your wand away and I'll tell you what's going on."
Fred looked apprehensive, as if the idea of blasting the door open and seeing for himself what it was, was far more a better plan. He put his wand away reluctantly in the end.
"Now," Xavier said tiredly and ran a hand though his sandy colored hair. "you remember the night of the Party, how we couldn't find Remus-"
"Yes, now get on with it, don't dawdle." Fred said impatiently.
"Okay, don't get your garter too tight," he replied back almost waspishly. "the next morning a Muggle came by, said he found Remus out in a field, asleep. The reason was not that the wolf had dragged him and given up, Fred, the wolf that attacked us wasn't just a wolf. It was a werewolf." he said, letting the words sink in, looking up at his friend unsurely.
Fred listened with a scowl the whole time, but when the words really soaked in, he looked in shock at Xavier. And the shock soon dissipated and was replaced by the normal look: pure fear.
"So.. he's now a... He's one of.. them?" he said, voice shaking only slightly.
"Yes, we tried everything we could but there just isn't a cure yet." came the doleful reply, and Xavier rubbed his eyes. "Now do you see why there couldn't be a birthday party?" he asked his friend with a sad smile.
"You.. I don't believe you! How could you bring him back in the state he's in! He could bite on of the kids- hell, he's best friends with Mandi! What would happen if something slipped, eh? Ever think of that?" Fred asked, slightly enraged, but more frightened of the thought of something going wrong.
"Fred, calm down, it's alright, we've made sure that everything's under control, and it's only one day a month-" Xavier tried to explain but was silenced once again.
"Under control? Are you mad? You can't control one of those things!" he cried, slightly hysteric, and a low rumbling growl emanated from behind the door at his back and he jumped forward. He stared in disbelief at Xavier, as if that noise solidified everything he said.
"Fred, just, wait a moment, think it-"
"Oh, no, I'm quite done thinking Xavier." Fred said a bit coldly and pushed the other man out of the way and made his way up the stairs.
Xavier leaned his back against he wall, slid down and sat down on his haunches. He put the heels of his hands to his forehead, and gave an incoherent mumble. Moving was no longer an option to help financial problems, now, it was going to soon be a demand from all the neighbors. No one wanted a feral, destructive beast near their families, not even if all days save once a month, that monster was a quiet, kind natured, clever little boy they had all seen grow up. Sometimes, deep instilled fears cloud over sane judgment.
Author's Note: Ahhh, I feel AWEFUL now, but there it is.. the backlashes of St. Mungo's and the depth's of society's brainwashing of the public that werewolves are not to be treated as normal human beings. . Oi. Poor Remus. Well, next chapter is prolly going to be the last, and will end on a good note. Promise :D
