Sirius, James and Peter had known they would attend a wizard school, but there was someone who did not because he was different. This boy had been brought up in the wizarding world and he wasn't a squib. The problem was he was a werewolf, and so may not be allowed to attend a school. This was down to the fact that the public did not accept werewolves and this left the young Remus Lupin doubting his future.
Remus didn't remember much about how he had become a werewolf. He remembered that he had gone into the woods behind his house one summer evening, when he was 6. Then he remembered a horrible pain just above his right knee. He remembered blood running down his leg, and then his father yelling, then pain, so much pain as he transformed for the first time in his life into a werewolf.
He hated this, being what he was. His parents hid him away from the world, both were only children and his grandparents were all dead. The Lupins kept away from everybody (except when they were at work) and on the night of the full moon, along with the nights before and after. Remus would be locked outside, where he was unlikely to meet anybody (nobody else lived near these woods)
He hated the moon what use to be fun to look at now gave him nightmares it was his worse fear. He hated the pain of changing and knowing he could never be close to anyone, be friends with anybody in fear of them finding out his secret.
The years passed and soon Remus was 10. He was at the age when wizard children were expected into school. It was a sunny July day when an owl arrived at their house. It had a Hogwarts seal and was addressed to Remus.
Shaking he carefully opened it; inside there was a letter. He quickly read through it, then ran to his parents were he read it to them.
Remus Lupin,
I am pleased to offer you a position at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. We have set about special arrangements for your problem. As headmaster I am inviting you and your parents to come look at these arrangements. If you would meet me at the three broomsticks on the 12th July. I will personally show you.
Yours sincerely
Albus Dumbledore
(Headmaster)
"Mum, can we go, please?"
Hannah Lupin looked lovely at her son, she knew that she wouldn't be able to say no to him. She smiled and nodded and on that the count down began.
Before Remus knew it the 12th was upon him. They headed to Hogsmeade. Remus couldn't believe it; he thought the town was the best he'd ever seen.
Looking around he saw shops lining each door, Honeydukes instantly caught his eye as he noticed the mountains of sweets, he wanted to run in there but felt the grip of his fathers hand as he was lead into the pub.
The three headed to the pub where they each had a butterbeer and waited for Dumbledore. They only waited 5 minutes when the Professor turned up. He was an old wizard with long grey hair; his beard was half way down his chest. His eyes crystal blue with a twinkle were hidden behind half-moon glasses.
"Mr Lupin it is a pleasure to finally meet you"
Remus just smiled at the old man who was promptly shaking his hand. His hand was dropped as the man moved onto his parents. Remus sat and waited while the adults made polite conversation.
Within minutes they were on their feet and leaving the comfy and cool pub. They made their way up a wide path making their way slowly up to Hogwarts. Dumbledore talked to the Lupins about some sort of up coming threat named Voldiemurt or something.
As they rounded a corner Remus was stopped in his tracks. His breath escaping and mouth hanging open like his pet goldfish. Dumbledore looked at the young boy and chuckled. He felt a hand on his back.
"This my boy is Hogwarts, my home and soon to be your home away from home if your parents like what they see. Breath taking isn't it."
Remus couldn't believe it, this was Hogwarts, it was giant. He wanted to be in there he wanted to spend the next seven years of his life there. He wanted to learn there and not at home with his parents.
The windows sparkled with the rays of light shining down on them, the green of the leaves gave a fresh young look to the old building and Remus felt that if a small rabbit ran across the grass it wouldn't be out of place.
Dumbledore pushed Remus forward through the gates causing Remus to remember the function of legs. They headed straight to the main doors and were seated in a huge hall.
Remus again felt his mouth fall open as he saw the clouds role by without a by your leave. Remus had read books on Hogwarts and had known the ceiling mimicked the outside sky but it was one of the best views he had ever seen.
Dumbledore looked at Remus and indicated a seat opposite him smiling politely at the young boy. Remus smiled back at the older man and accepted the seat offered.
"Welcome to the Great Hall, we're just waiting for the school nurse to turn up and here she is, Hannah, Timothy, Remus I would like you to meet Madam Pomfrey."
Remus turned to see a young woman with dark hair tied in a bun, wearing a white uniform. She smiled at them and nodded her head.
"Now I have informed Madam Pomfrey of your condition and we've been hard at work coming up with a way to keep everyone safe at the full moon."
Dumbledore looked down at Remus with a smile on his face as if he had just said something quite normal.
"We discussed something with our Herbology teacher and have come up with a sure thing. If you would just accompany me outside we will show you."
The Lupins got to their feet and followed the old man out of the building. They walked slowly around the grounds and again Remus felt his mouth hang open. There was a huge lake. The light was flickering off the top, casting fairy like lights on the surface. Although this was fascinating the thing that shocked him was that there was something floating on top. Dumbledore who had followed his gaze looked at the small boy.
"That's the giant squid it often comes to the surface in this weather, but not many people see it when they first arrive."
Again Remus smiled at the kindness of the man. Remus had worried that the professors would treat him differently yet Dumbledore acted as though he were a normal boy.
The small group stopped opposite a large willow tree. Remus wanted to laugh how was this suppose to make it safe for people to be around him. They must be insane in this place.
"This is the Whomping Willow. I know it doesn't look much but it is the entrance to a tunnel, which will take Remus to a safe place. Now as for stopping other students it will well 'whomp' them."
The Lupins all looked at Dumbledore as if he were the mad-hatter. Sighing he stepped forward towards the tree. What happened next convinced them that it would be safe for Remus. The tree waved its branches at Dumbledore and tried to whack him one. With such speed that Remus thought no man should hold he dodged the tree and stood back next to Remus smiling.
"To access the tunnel you have to tap that knot in the trunk. I suggest you use a long stick."
Dumbledore then tapped the knot with the stick and crawled through a gap in the trunk. Remus watched and followed the man (who he thought was crazy yet great). As he entered he heard his mother say something about dirt as she entered. His father was next and then the nurse.
Remus followed Dumbledore through the tunnel listening to the old man humming some sort of tune to himself. A short walk later and the small group were stood inside a small house. The windows were all boarded shut and it was filled with tatty furniture.
"This is just an old empty house that is just outside of Hogsmeade. It belongs to me and so I give it up freely to you to use during your transformations Remus. I do not use it and I think it will be a good use for this old place."
The group headed back up to Hogwarts and sat in the Great Hall. They had lunch with Dumbledore while the Lupins asked questions. As the adults talked Remus looked at the ceiling. He had heard about the ceiling and couldn't believe his eyes. It was beautiful. A voice entered his mind disrupting him from his thoughts.
"Remus hunny, would you like to come to Hogwarts? It's up to you, your father and I think that it would be safe but we can't decide for you."
Remus looked at his parents. He wanted to come to Hogwarts but now that they said he could he wasn't sure. He would fit in by day, but what about the full moon. What if somebody followed him or if somebody found out.
Then he thought about his life if he didn't come. He would never meet someone his age; he would spend the rest of his life in that house by the woods. To Remus there really was only one answer.
"If it is safe and as long as only those that NEED to know are told the truth, I'd like to attend Hogwarts."
Remus smiled as Dumbledore took his hand and again started to shake it.
"My boy I will inform the staff and that is all. If you choose to tell your peers that is your choice. Here is a list of supplies you will need and we will see you on September 1st."
Dumbledore then looked at his hands as if counting.
"Yes September 1st will be alright, the full moon isn't until the 5th. You will of course catch the Hogwarts Express with the rest from platform 9¾. If you wish you may use the floo network home from my office."
Then the Lupin's thanking Dumbledore followed him to his office. The three flooed to their house. Remus was locked outside minutes after they arrived home as the Lupins settled in for the night.
A week later (when Remus had recovered from the full moon) the three travelled to Diagon Alley. Remus was use to Diagon Alley as he'd been there many a time with his mother when a new book came out by Cleopatra, the best romance writer in the wizarding world.
They went straight to Gringotts where they drew out money and their first stop was Ollivanders. They entered the aging shop and the smell of old books hit Remus strong, he enjoyed the scent of age, the dusty smell that intoxicated his nose. It was a constant reminder to him that life went on, no matter what happened life always went on even without some of the 'more' important people.
"Arr Mr Lupin isn't it, I wasn't expecting you here, let me look at you, yes that must be it, Albus has always been one to look past certain factors and see the true inner person. So which is you're wand arm young sir?"
Remus gulped this man somehow knew what he was, Remus didn't know how, he didn't understand why he knew, but he did. He was silent for a long time; so long in fact he felt something hit him in the arm. Looking down he saw a tape measurer in front of him swinging back and forth.
"Oh ummm…. Sorry I must have missed something." Remus muttered pointing at the tape measurer.
"Which arm my boy, which arm will be you're wand arm."
"My left, I think"
With that the tape measurer started up and down his arm then up and down his legs, across his face from his nose to his mouth and then it fell at his feet.
"Try this my boy its wolf tail hair, in Whomping willow, 12inches"
Remus shook with fear as he took the wand in hand, he felt a slight warmth run through his hands as he waved it. He watched as a light pink spark was emitted and looked at the old shopkeeper.
"Yes, there is a connection between you and this wand, but no I don't think it strong enough, try another."
This was how it went, Remus took a wand nothing happened then he moved onto the next nothing happened. He kept thinking of the first wand, he knew it was a connection due to his illness, nothing else.
"You're a tough one Mr Lupin, that first wand is still the best for you. Wait I wonder. Would you say you're a strong person who cares about others?"
This startled Remus, he had not expected to be asked such a question. He looked at the window and smiled at his waiting parents who were talking to some woman called Marcie who Remus had meet once (she worked with Remus' dad)
"Mr Ollivander, I don't know how to answer your question. I hope that I am a caring person, and I hope no harm comes to those I love, but I cannot judge myself, I would be bias."
"Yes, yes that is it, you are like the other two, there is a strong connection between you all and yet you don't know. The first wand should be yours, its destined for you its perfect, but because they had those wands you need one too."
Remus looked at the owner like he was a mad man, something Remus thought he must bring out in people thinking about how Dumbledore had acted the week earlier. His thoughts were interrupted as the man spoke again, waving a wand in front of his face.
"Try this it's a redwood, containing a Mahogany 11 inches Pliable with the tail hair of a Chimera"
Remus took it in his hand and waved it as warmth spread through his fingertips, he watched as the blue sparks flew out of the end.
"Yes my boy this is a sign, there are two others who are as special as you, they carry brother wands to you. I don't know when you will meet but when you do, you will be stronger together than apart. Remember that, and you can succeed. Defence should be easy for you with this wand, but its brothers will be good for transfiguration. Look out for your brothers."
Remus shook his head as he left the shop after paying for the wand, he didn't understand what the man was talking about except that this was his wand. He waited for his parents to finish talking and then they left Diagon alley to go to their small comfortable house.
Remus started the count down to the day when he would finally be able to go back to Hogwarts, the place had caught hold of him, he was in love with the place and wanted to be back there. He feared for himself and if he was caught during the full moon, but he still couldn't wait.