Chapter Three
The Best Gift
3 years later

Ten (soon to be eleven) year old Remus Lupin was sitting on the front porch at his house watching a few kids playing a round of Dominos, a muggle game that Remus found quite interesting. He thought about going over to ask if he could play but he knew the answer he would get "no get away from us you werewolf!" or "go and chew on your bone!" He was also extremely unhappy because his aunt and uncle went on a two-week vacation and that only meant one thing, his absolutely unbearable cousin Bertha had to spend the whole time with them. Remus was also feeling a bit ill, his transformation had been the night before and being that he was still young, he would always end up feeling sick the next day. Just as he was deciding whether he should stay outside or head back in he heard the front door open.

"Hey wolfy!" came the voice of his annoying cousin.

"Go away!" Remus yelled.

"Aw is widdle baby Reme feeling sick?"

"Yeah sick from listening to you!"

"Ouch, that hurt. Watch your mouth little cousin."

"Maybe you should watch the calendar a bit more. I'm older than you!"

"By three days, big deal!"

"Look just leave me alone!" Remus stood up and ran forward towards the forest. As he was running the kids playing Dominos started whispering and pointing at him, but he didn't care. Remus did not have a problem with going into the forest anymore. It seemed that all the creatures that dwelled within could sense his werewolf side and let him be. He only went a little in and sat down against a tree trunk. He felt a surge of hatred for his cousin. Ever since he had unwillingly attacked her she was as rude to him as ever. His aunt was no better, when he was left at her house and his uncle wasn't around to tame his wife if Remus did something that she saw wrong, he would be locked in the spare room or she shoved soap down his mouth and made him leave it there for hours on end, or at least until he began chocking. Whenever he left to go home she would warn him that if he told, she would make his life much worse than it already was.

His darling cousin had just snatched away the last bit of happiness he had in him away. It was his birthday the next day and usually it was a very happy occasion. He would get a party, a cake and presents. But this year was different; this was the year when he was supposed to get his Hogwarts letter. His cousin was to be getting one as well and she knew she was getting one, but Remus wasn't so sure. He knew that no school with a headmaster in his right mind would dare let a werewolf into the school. The very thought of him not going to Hogwarts angered him and he picked up a melon size stone and flung it at the tree across from him, causing several of its leaves to fall down.

He had been sitting there for some time when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder and saw his mum standing behind him. She had her wand out because she knew she still wasn't safe in the forest, like her son was.

"You have a visitor," she said.

"Who? A person from the Werewolf Control Society?" Remus replied slyly.

"No, be serious. There is someone who would like to see you." Remus lifted himself off the ground and followed his mother back to the house, where the kids were still whispering about him. His mother brought him into the kitchen where an elderly man with a long pointed hat, purple robes, half moon glasses, very long silver hair and beard, was sitting at the table. He didn't know who this man was but from the way he was dressed, he had to be a wizard.

"Sit down Remus," the man said, his eyes twinkling. Remus took the chair farthest away from the man, "its okay, don't be afraid. My name is Albus Dumbledore, I am the new headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Oh, well pleased to meet you sir," said Remus shaking Dumbledore's hand.

"I understand that you are worried about whether or not you will be able to attend school?"

"Yes sir,"

"Well I certainly don't see why you can't! I have made some plans for you, so you won't endanger any of the students. The school Herbology teacher managed to acquire a Whomping Willow..."

"I heard of those! Don't they hit people when they get too close?"

"Yes they do. We planted one over a passageway that leads to a building in the village Hogsmeade. You are to be escorted by Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, every full moon to the Whomping Willow. She will prod a knot on the willow and it will freeze, you can go down the passage way and spend the night in the building, is that all right with you?"

"I would get to go to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore nodded, "of course its okay!" Dumbledore nodded and handed Remus his Hogwarts letter, bowed to Mrs. Lupin and showed himself out. Remus tore open the letter and read it excitedly. When he finished he and his mother traveled by Floo Powder to Diagon Alley where he purchased all of his school items. His wand was thirteen inches, ebony, with a single Phoenix feather core. His mum bought him for his birthday a snowy white owl, which he named Luther.

His birthday arrived on August 31st the day before he left for Hogwarts. Unfortunately for Remus, his aunt and uncle had still not returned and he had to suffer with his cousin. She was strutting about the house in her Hogwarts robes, while Remus just wore his old brown ones that were getting a bit too small for him. He got some decent gifts. His mum and dad gave him new navy blue robes and a book all about the Dark Arts, his aunt and uncle sent him a model Quidditch field that performed some of the greatest world cup games, his only disappointing gift was from Bertha, she gave him a torn piece of parchment with a drawing of a werewolf on it and had a collar. The nametag on the collar read "Remus Lupin." She almost laughed herself silly when he looked at it, and laughed even more when he threw it in the fire and his parents scolded him.

He went to bed early that night, being so full from dinner and nervous about the next day. He soon fell asleep and dreamt some horrible nightmares. First he dreamt that as he was boarding the Hogwarts Express it suddenly turned to nighttime, with a full moon and he transformed into a werewolf and attacked everyone on the platform. He had some others, consisting of basically the same plot, but didn't remember any.