Remus Lupin and the Werewolf Within (Year 1)
A/N: This fanfic was written pre-Order of the Phoenix, so parts of it are no longer canon, but they were when I wrote them. I have posted this story, and its sequel, on harrypotter.com, where I am also working on the third in the series currently. I am busy converting the first two years into fanfiction.net format, so bear with me if my posting isn't very frequent.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. I do own Austin Harris, Professor Carter, James and Remus' parents, Arnold, Meg and Mrs. Weasley, and the Potters' house elf. I do own most of the plot as well, except of course for Remus' condition and a few minor plot points. JK Rowling is a literary genius, hands down.
Chapter One: Entering a New World
Remus looked around the train station in amazement. Never had he seen so many odd looking people in one place. They were wearing weird colors and carrying around owls. The strangest thing was that he had been one of them and was about to enter their world again.
He stood with his mom and dad between platforms 9 and 10 of King's Cross Station. His mom was trying hard to look excited, but the tears in her eyes were obvious. "Be careful, dear," she said.
"I will mother," he answered and gave her a big hug. "Goodbye."
Nick Lupin, Remus' father, asked, "Are you ready son?"
Remus nodded.
"Then run right at that wall there to get to platform 9 3/4 and I'll be right behind you."
'Is he crazy', Remus thought. 'No, he's been through this before.' And with that thought he took a deep breath and ran through the wall onto the platform.
Before him sat a scarlet engine, the Hogwarts Express. As Remus gazed at it, he heard his father arrive behind him.
"Nick Lupin!" A man with red hair came over and shook his hand.
"Hello Arnold. It's been a long time," Mr. Lupin said. He turned to Remus. "This is Arnold Weasley, one of my old school friends. Arnold, this is my son, Remus."
Remus shook Mr. Weasley's hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Weasley laughed. "It's a pleasure to have you and your father back with us. We were quite upset when he left the wizarding world for you and your mother."
Remus' dad started to defend his decision, but Mr. Weasley interrupted. "I know, Nick. I'm sure it was for a noble reason. But I want to introduce you to my son Arthur. He's a seventh year and he hates that I came to see him off, but I heard that you'd both be here."
He turned and called, "Arthur, come here!"
A moment later, a tall red haired boy in shabby wizard robes came over. "Yes, Dad? What did you want? There's a third year on the train with a Muggle magazine I want to look at."
Weasley chuckled. "Just a minute my boy. This is Nick Lupin and his son Remus."
Arthur's blue eyes widened. "Mr. Lupin?"
"Yes. It is Remus' first year. Will you make sure he gets to Hogwarts alright?"
Arthur shook himself. "Of course, Dad."
Mr. Weasley asked his son, "Do you know where your sister Meg is?"
"Probably on the train bossing around some first years," was Arthur's snotty reply.
"Arthur! Don't be jealous because Meg is a prefect and you weren't."
"I'm not jealous!" Arthur shouted. To Remus he said, "Do you ever watch TV? I've heard they're an interesting Muggle invention."
Remus immediately liked Arthur and was about to answer when his father pulled him away for a moment. "Remus, my son, you're going to do just fine at Hogwarts so long as you keep up with your studies and follow Headmaster Dumbledore's every order. You owe him a lot for allowing you to come." Nick looked very seriously at his son.
Remus nodded. "I know, dad. Don't worry about me." He smiled.
His dad smiled back. "Don't forget to send us an owl now and then."
"I won't."
With that, Remus turned towards Arthur and said, "Hadn't we better be getting on the train?"
The two boys pushed their trunks toward the train. Arthur said, "I heard that your father left the wizarding world, but I never quite understood why. I hear he was a great wizard."
Remus squirmed a little. But he supposed he'd have to answer this question a lot. It was unusual for anyone from a wizarding family to retreat to the Muggle world, even if they were a squib, which his father was not. "Well, my mom's a Muggle and she was just overwhelmed by the wizarding stuff. She didn't want me to be brought up in this world, so when I was 4 we left it. She thought it was too dangerous." 'Oh no, did I give too much away?' he thought.
Arthur nodded. "The Muggle reaction to witchcraft and wizardry is really amazing. Why back in..." He droned on as the boys boarded the train.
Suddenly Arthur stopped at a compartment. "This is where my friends are," he said. "Would you like to sit with us or would you like me to introduce you to some other first years?"
"I guess I should find some classmates. Some of them are bound to be as clueless about wizardry as I am," Remus answered sheepishly.
Arthur smiled and led him down a few compartments. Inside sat 3 other 11- year-old boys. One was smaller with lots of messy black hair, one was short and round with thin colorless hair and the third had longer dark hair with sort of deep set eyes. Remus wheeled in his luggage as Arthur said, "Hello boys. This is Remus Lupin. He's a first year as well." Then he disappeared, going back to his Muggle magazine, Remus supposed.
The boy with the messy black hair stood up. "Hello Remus, I'm James Potter." The boy with the long hair said," I'm Sirius Black. Are you from Muggles or wizards?"
Remus didn't know quite what to say, but stammered out, "Half and half, but we've been living in the Muggle world completely since I was four."
James looked intently at Remus. "That's interesting." Then he looked at the round boy and said, "Peter, aren't you going to say hello?"
Timidly, Peter said, "I'm Peter Petigrew."
"Nice to meet you all," said Remus politely. They all sat down as the train began to pull away from the station.
James said, "Did anyone see the new broomstick in Diagon Alley recently? It was a new make, a Comet 50. I'd love to have that to play quidditch with."
Sirius agreed, but Peter looked like he never wanted to leave solid ground on a broomstick or any other way.
Remus shifted uncomfortably as James looked at him, trying to include him in the conversation. "I've never been to Diagon Alley," he explained.
"How'd you get your supplies and your wand?" Sirius demanded.
"My dad got my supplies and I'm using his wand until I've decided whether to live Muggle or wizard," Remus said, looking ashamed.
"Why wouldn't you live as a wizard, since you are?" James asked.
"My mom says it's dangerous and she worries about me. But she wants me to decide." Looking to change the subject, he asked, "What's quidditch anyway?"
James and Sirius launched into a long and detailed description of the best loved wizarding sport. In quidditch, teams fly on brooms, trying to score points by putting a quaffle through a hoop while dodging bludgers and opposing players. But whatever team catches the Snitch, the fastest and smallest ball, gets 150 points and ends the game. Remus listened intently, while Peter looked sick just hearing about the game.
As they finished, an older witch stopped by the compartment with the candy cart. The other three boys helped themselves to a variety of magical and exotic sweets, while Remus tried to pick out something recognizable. He ended up with a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and a chocolate frog.
As he opened the Bertie Bott's, a memory came back to him. "Oh," he said aloud. "I think I remember these things from when I was little. I loved them until I ate a ketchup flavored one. No wonder I don't really care for jelly beans."
The boys laughed and tried to guess the flavors they'd come across today, because when they say "every flavor," they mean EVERY flavor. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the worst they came across was black pepper.
Soon the train stopped and the boys hurried to get off of the train. As they did, they could hear a voice calling, "First years, this way. First years, follow me!"
The four boys left their trunks (they were told they would be taken care of) and followed the voice. It belonged to a nice looking man who introduced himself as Professor Carter, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"First years," he began, "get into these boats- four in each please- and we will sail to Hogwarts, your home for the next seven years."
Remus, James, Sirius and Peter got into a boat. In the boat next to them was a very pretty girl, with auburn hair and a few freckles. She looked at Remus and smiled. With his light brown hair and crooked smile, he was quite attractive to the girls, but he didn't realize it. He blushed and looked away. James saw the whole thing, and said, "That's Lily Evans. She introduced herself on the train. She seems alright, for a girl."
Remus was embarrassed to be caught looking at Lily like that, so he looked at James and asked innocently, "Who?"
James laughed and nudged Remus with his elbow. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
At that moment, each boy knew he had made a friend for life.
A/N: This fanfic was written pre-Order of the Phoenix, so parts of it are no longer canon, but they were when I wrote them. I have posted this story, and its sequel, on harrypotter.com, where I am also working on the third in the series currently. I am busy converting the first two years into fanfiction.net format, so bear with me if my posting isn't very frequent.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. I do own Austin Harris, Professor Carter, James and Remus' parents, Arnold, Meg and Mrs. Weasley, and the Potters' house elf. I do own most of the plot as well, except of course for Remus' condition and a few minor plot points. JK Rowling is a literary genius, hands down.
Chapter One: Entering a New World
Remus looked around the train station in amazement. Never had he seen so many odd looking people in one place. They were wearing weird colors and carrying around owls. The strangest thing was that he had been one of them and was about to enter their world again.
He stood with his mom and dad between platforms 9 and 10 of King's Cross Station. His mom was trying hard to look excited, but the tears in her eyes were obvious. "Be careful, dear," she said.
"I will mother," he answered and gave her a big hug. "Goodbye."
Nick Lupin, Remus' father, asked, "Are you ready son?"
Remus nodded.
"Then run right at that wall there to get to platform 9 3/4 and I'll be right behind you."
'Is he crazy', Remus thought. 'No, he's been through this before.' And with that thought he took a deep breath and ran through the wall onto the platform.
Before him sat a scarlet engine, the Hogwarts Express. As Remus gazed at it, he heard his father arrive behind him.
"Nick Lupin!" A man with red hair came over and shook his hand.
"Hello Arnold. It's been a long time," Mr. Lupin said. He turned to Remus. "This is Arnold Weasley, one of my old school friends. Arnold, this is my son, Remus."
Remus shook Mr. Weasley's hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Weasley laughed. "It's a pleasure to have you and your father back with us. We were quite upset when he left the wizarding world for you and your mother."
Remus' dad started to defend his decision, but Mr. Weasley interrupted. "I know, Nick. I'm sure it was for a noble reason. But I want to introduce you to my son Arthur. He's a seventh year and he hates that I came to see him off, but I heard that you'd both be here."
He turned and called, "Arthur, come here!"
A moment later, a tall red haired boy in shabby wizard robes came over. "Yes, Dad? What did you want? There's a third year on the train with a Muggle magazine I want to look at."
Weasley chuckled. "Just a minute my boy. This is Nick Lupin and his son Remus."
Arthur's blue eyes widened. "Mr. Lupin?"
"Yes. It is Remus' first year. Will you make sure he gets to Hogwarts alright?"
Arthur shook himself. "Of course, Dad."
Mr. Weasley asked his son, "Do you know where your sister Meg is?"
"Probably on the train bossing around some first years," was Arthur's snotty reply.
"Arthur! Don't be jealous because Meg is a prefect and you weren't."
"I'm not jealous!" Arthur shouted. To Remus he said, "Do you ever watch TV? I've heard they're an interesting Muggle invention."
Remus immediately liked Arthur and was about to answer when his father pulled him away for a moment. "Remus, my son, you're going to do just fine at Hogwarts so long as you keep up with your studies and follow Headmaster Dumbledore's every order. You owe him a lot for allowing you to come." Nick looked very seriously at his son.
Remus nodded. "I know, dad. Don't worry about me." He smiled.
His dad smiled back. "Don't forget to send us an owl now and then."
"I won't."
With that, Remus turned towards Arthur and said, "Hadn't we better be getting on the train?"
The two boys pushed their trunks toward the train. Arthur said, "I heard that your father left the wizarding world, but I never quite understood why. I hear he was a great wizard."
Remus squirmed a little. But he supposed he'd have to answer this question a lot. It was unusual for anyone from a wizarding family to retreat to the Muggle world, even if they were a squib, which his father was not. "Well, my mom's a Muggle and she was just overwhelmed by the wizarding stuff. She didn't want me to be brought up in this world, so when I was 4 we left it. She thought it was too dangerous." 'Oh no, did I give too much away?' he thought.
Arthur nodded. "The Muggle reaction to witchcraft and wizardry is really amazing. Why back in..." He droned on as the boys boarded the train.
Suddenly Arthur stopped at a compartment. "This is where my friends are," he said. "Would you like to sit with us or would you like me to introduce you to some other first years?"
"I guess I should find some classmates. Some of them are bound to be as clueless about wizardry as I am," Remus answered sheepishly.
Arthur smiled and led him down a few compartments. Inside sat 3 other 11- year-old boys. One was smaller with lots of messy black hair, one was short and round with thin colorless hair and the third had longer dark hair with sort of deep set eyes. Remus wheeled in his luggage as Arthur said, "Hello boys. This is Remus Lupin. He's a first year as well." Then he disappeared, going back to his Muggle magazine, Remus supposed.
The boy with the messy black hair stood up. "Hello Remus, I'm James Potter." The boy with the long hair said," I'm Sirius Black. Are you from Muggles or wizards?"
Remus didn't know quite what to say, but stammered out, "Half and half, but we've been living in the Muggle world completely since I was four."
James looked intently at Remus. "That's interesting." Then he looked at the round boy and said, "Peter, aren't you going to say hello?"
Timidly, Peter said, "I'm Peter Petigrew."
"Nice to meet you all," said Remus politely. They all sat down as the train began to pull away from the station.
James said, "Did anyone see the new broomstick in Diagon Alley recently? It was a new make, a Comet 50. I'd love to have that to play quidditch with."
Sirius agreed, but Peter looked like he never wanted to leave solid ground on a broomstick or any other way.
Remus shifted uncomfortably as James looked at him, trying to include him in the conversation. "I've never been to Diagon Alley," he explained.
"How'd you get your supplies and your wand?" Sirius demanded.
"My dad got my supplies and I'm using his wand until I've decided whether to live Muggle or wizard," Remus said, looking ashamed.
"Why wouldn't you live as a wizard, since you are?" James asked.
"My mom says it's dangerous and she worries about me. But she wants me to decide." Looking to change the subject, he asked, "What's quidditch anyway?"
James and Sirius launched into a long and detailed description of the best loved wizarding sport. In quidditch, teams fly on brooms, trying to score points by putting a quaffle through a hoop while dodging bludgers and opposing players. But whatever team catches the Snitch, the fastest and smallest ball, gets 150 points and ends the game. Remus listened intently, while Peter looked sick just hearing about the game.
As they finished, an older witch stopped by the compartment with the candy cart. The other three boys helped themselves to a variety of magical and exotic sweets, while Remus tried to pick out something recognizable. He ended up with a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and a chocolate frog.
As he opened the Bertie Bott's, a memory came back to him. "Oh," he said aloud. "I think I remember these things from when I was little. I loved them until I ate a ketchup flavored one. No wonder I don't really care for jelly beans."
The boys laughed and tried to guess the flavors they'd come across today, because when they say "every flavor," they mean EVERY flavor. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the worst they came across was black pepper.
Soon the train stopped and the boys hurried to get off of the train. As they did, they could hear a voice calling, "First years, this way. First years, follow me!"
The four boys left their trunks (they were told they would be taken care of) and followed the voice. It belonged to a nice looking man who introduced himself as Professor Carter, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"First years," he began, "get into these boats- four in each please- and we will sail to Hogwarts, your home for the next seven years."
Remus, James, Sirius and Peter got into a boat. In the boat next to them was a very pretty girl, with auburn hair and a few freckles. She looked at Remus and smiled. With his light brown hair and crooked smile, he was quite attractive to the girls, but he didn't realize it. He blushed and looked away. James saw the whole thing, and said, "That's Lily Evans. She introduced herself on the train. She seems alright, for a girl."
Remus was embarrassed to be caught looking at Lily like that, so he looked at James and asked innocently, "Who?"
James laughed and nudged Remus with his elbow. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
At that moment, each boy knew he had made a friend for life.