A Little Piece of this Dream

He spent his whole life being to young,
To live the life that's in his dreams,
At night he lies awake and he wonders,
Why can't that be me

-"Be Like That" 3 Doors Down

Remus was 7 when it happened. His father had warned him not to stray to far from the porch. It was the night of the full moon, and for some reason this terrified Mr. and Mrs. Lupin. Remus had heard stories from other kids in the area of weirdoes and werewolves coming out on the full moon, but the Lupin family lived in a quiet suburb far away from weirdoes and werewolves, or so he thought. Surely there was nothing lurking in his own front yard. Remus had played outside in this same yard in broad daylight just hours earlier, what could have changed since the sun went down? It wasn't until Remus heard the deep breathing and the sound of four legs on the pavement. He tried to run for it, but the wolf caught up with him. Remus felt teeth dig into his skin as he hit the hard earth. The last thing he saw before loosing consciousness was a set of very sharp and dangerous looking fangs.

Remus woke up a few days later in a sterile white bed in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. He looked around and saw healers in their acid-green robes. Some were administering potions to other patients or changing bandages. One of them saw that Remus was awake and came to his bedside.

"Hello Mr. Lupin I am Healer Smethwyck. You are in the Dai Llewelyn ward at St. Mungo's Hospital. Do you feel any pain?" The healer asked.

Remus nodded slightly. He wanted to know what had happened. He tried to remember what he was doing before he woke up here. He remembered playing outside, and that the moon had been full, but neither of these explained what he was doing in St. Mungo's.

"Good." The healer said, marking something on a chart at the foot of Remus's bed. "I'm going to need you to take this potion for me then." He handed Remus a goblet of a strange thick looking liquid. It tasted horrible, and burned going all the way down. "Now I am sure you are wondering what you are doing here in the Dai Llewelyn ward at St. Mungo's?" Remus nodded. "Do you remember anything from right before you passed out?"

"I, er, I was in my front yard. My dad told me to stay on the porch, but the toy quaffle I was playing with rolled away. I went to get it and–" Remus stopped as he remembered what happened to land him a bed in the dangerous bites ward of St. Mungo's Hospital. The healer looked at Remus with a mix of pity and fear. Remus swelled with anger. He didn't want any pity, and he certainly didn't want to be feared. He knew enough about werewolves to know that they are greatly feared dark creatures, even when the cursed is in their human form. Remus would no longer be able to live a normal life. He would certainly not be allowed into Hogwarts, as parents wouldn't want their kids going to school with a werewolf. Remus was cursed, at the tender age of 7, his life was over. And all because he didn't listen to his dad.

The healer was still watching Remus, interpreting his facial expressions. The wizard opened his mouth several times but couldn't seem to think of anything to say to the young boy in front of him.

"Where –, where are my parents?" Remus squeaked in a small, fearful voice.

"We're right here Remus." came the comforting voice of his mother. Mrs. Lupin grabbed her son's hand and squeezed it to let him know she was there. Mr. Lupin was standing next to his wife, and was looking down at his young son with an encouraging smile.

Just looking at his parents' faces was enough to calm Remus down. They weren't afraid of him, they knew that he wasn't harmful. He was just a little boy whose curiosity got the better of him. Remus vowed to himself, then and there, that he would never again wander away from the safety of his house. He wouldn't let his adventurous side overpower his sensible side ever again. If Remus was given any chance to be normal, he wasn't going to risk losing it all to go exploring. His parents explained to him that he was bit by a werewolf names Fenrir Greyback, who likes to attack children, especially the children of his enemies.

Remus was allowed to leave the hospital later that day. The healers gave Mr. and Mrs. Lupin instructions on how to deal with him during transformations, and afterwards.

Once back at home, Mrs. Lupin pampered her son. She gave him everything he asked for, which wasn't much, and offered to stay by his side until he felt comfortable being alone. Remus wasn't afraid, and he told his mother. The full moon was weeks away, and he wanted to be as normal as he could until then. He went outside and played, although no one would play with him, and tried to be a normal boy. Being normal is hard, especially when everyone is afraid of you. News of his bite had spread around the wizarding neighbors, and many parents wouldn't let their children out if they knew Remus was around.

The first transformation was the worst. As soon as the moon rays hit Remus, a pain shot through his body, starting at the location of his bite and spreading quickly to the tips of his fingers and toes. He felt himself elongate and his spine hunched over to allow for him to walk on all fours.

Remus didn't remember much of his first transformation. His mother told him when he woke up the next morning that he had screamed in pain all night. She said that she nearly blasted open the door to comfort him, but Mr. Lupin held her back.

Remus clawed himself near death that first transformation. He had scratches all over his body and had to take a blood replenishing potion. Remus was bed ridden for three days after the full moon, and it took nearly a week and a half for him to regain color in his cheeks. Each proceeding transformation was less painful, and he caused less pain on himself. Still, every full moon, Mrs. Lupin would sit outside his door and sing lullabies through the crack of the door. Remus knew she was out there, and would try to focus on her voice, hoping it would distract him from the pain. He wouldn't let the wolf take over his mind if he could. As long as Mrs. Lupin kept singing, Remus was almost fully in control.

As the years went on, Remus became more comfortable with his condition. He wasn't afraid of himself anymore. He only felt out of control on the night of the full moon, and even then his mother would comfort him as best as she could. On the 28 days from full moon to full moon, Remus would read. He loved to read, and it helped to ease the adventurous side of himself. He would read muggle books his mother would by from the nearest town, and wizard books bought in Diagon Alley, or ordered by catalog. Remus would read novels, and fantasy, or textbooks, and educational. He didn't care what it was he read, just that he was reading. Soon, Remus's thirst for adventure was overpowered by his desire to learn. Maybe his desire to learn came from his fear of not being allowed at Hogwarts, or maybe it just took his mind off the curse that was waiting for him at the end of the moon cycle.

Remus wasn't the only one in the house reading everything he could get his hands on. Mr. Lupin had bought or borrowed every book about lycanthropy as he could, hoping to find a cure or treatment for his son. Every evening, after work, Mr. Lupin would shut himself in his study and pour through pages and pages of text, hoping for a tiny snippet of anything that might have been used to tame or cure werewolves. By Remus's 11th birthday, Mr. Lupin was yet to have found anything.

Remus had pretty much given up all hope of ever going to school. Albus Dumbledore, famed wizard who defeated the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, as well as several other amazing feats, was named Headmaster of Hogwarts the summer of 1970. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin now had hope that their son might be allowed into Hogwarts. Dumbledore was a very accepting man, and was Remus's only chance at being allowed an education.

Late July 1971, Remus received the letter that would change his life.

Dear Mr. Lupin,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Remus read through this letter several time to make sure it was true. The he handed it to his mother for further verification. Mrs. Lupin put her hand on her chest and thrusted the letter into her husband's hand. The Lupins had never really believed Dumbledore would let their son in, even if they had hoped he would.

Behind the acceptance letter was another letter, this one addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Lupin.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lupin,

I feel that your son deserves the same chance as every other wizard child to an education. Several security measures have been put into effect for the safety of Remus and his fellow students. A particularly violent tree has been planted on the school grounds, covering the entrance to a secret passageway to a secure house in the nearby village of Hogsmead. On the afternoon of the full moon, the school nurse, Madame Pomfrey, will escort Remus to the entrance at the Womping Willow where he will make his way to the shack and transform safely away from the school and students.

For now, I would like to keep his lycanthropy a secret from the students and their parents, but the entire staff knows and understands his condition. I hope to create an environment where Remus can receive a full education and feel comfortable in a world that fears those individuals cursed with his condition.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Remus was very excited to have been admitted to Hogwarts. He had been dreaming of Hogwarts since he knew what school was, and it nearly broke his heart when he was told that as a werewolf he probably wouldn't be allowed in. Remus was very thankful to Professor Dumbledore, and made a mental note to thank him at the first possible moment.

The day after Remus received his Hogwarts letter, he begged his mother to take him to Diagon Alley for his school supplies. Not having much money because of Remus's hospital bills, they had to buy much of the supplies at secondhand shops. Remus didn't mind second hand books, he actually preferred them. They had more character. What he hated was the second hand robes. He felt dirty walking around in someone else's robes, even though his mother washed them before allowing him to wear them.

Remus was defiantly a strange boy. He valued cleanliness over nearly everything else, with the main exception being knowledge. Remus's robes were always in the best condition they could possibly be in, the only stains having been there before he bought them. His room was always perfectly clean, with his latest books piled neatly in the corner. He made his bed with such precision every morning, the second he climbed out of it.

Remus and Mrs. Lupin spent most of the day shopping in Diagon Alley. Remus eyed the vast walls filled with books inside Flourish & Blotts like a small child in a candy store. His mother had to pry him away from several texts, explaining that he had a large pile of books at home waiting to be read, as well as his new schoolbooks. Remus reluctantly followed his mother out of the store and down the road to more shops.

As soon as Remus and his mother got home, Remus pulled out one of his textbooks, The Standard Book of Spells: Grade One, and started reading. He read until his mother pulled the book out of his hand and sent him to bed. When he woke up the next morning, Remus had opened his book and resumed his place before breakfast was even served.

By the third straight day of this, Mrs. Lupin was getting upset.

"Remus John Lupin! Put down that book and go outside! Get dirty, play with the neighborhood boys, be a kid!" Mrs. Lupin said to her son, not quite yelling but urging him to listen to her.

Remus hated getting dirty, and he knew none of the boys in the neighborhood would even get close to him, let alone play with him. Remus decided it was better to not argue with his mother and dragged his feet all the way outside. He walked over to the park nearby and sat down on one of the swings. Swings were the only bit of playground Remus ever enjoyed, probably because the chances of getting dirty are pretty slim. He also loved the feeling of air rushing past him, his hair blowing in the wind. Perhaps this was a sign he would love to fly, but he had yet to attempt it. No, swings seemed safer. With swings, you are still attached to the ground through a chain and the metal poles supporting the swing.

Across the park was a small sandbox. Remus saw a little boy playing in the sand with his mother. Remus remembered playing in that same sandbox. He remembered making friends, friends he had only ever seen once or twice afterwards. He remembered sand castles, and burying feet, and finding lost treasures that were nothing more than a long forgotten knut.

Remus swung on his swing until near dark. His mother would probably get worried if he didn't return soon. She still babied him, probably a result of his condition. Ever since he was bitten, she was reluctant to let him wander to far on his own. He slowed himself down, and got off the swing. He slowly walked back to his house, looking carefully in every direction before leaving the safe light of the park. The walk from the park to home only takes about 3 minutes, but for a nearly 11 year old at dusk, especially a nearly 11 year old like Remus, it can be very frightening. Every small noise seems much bigger, and much more intimidating.

Remus made it home safely, and was greeted by a big, tight hug from Mrs. Lupin. Remus managed to pull himself from the death grip of his mother. He went to the kitchen to find something to eat. He had stayed out much past dinner, and was staring. Mrs. Lupin made her son a sandwich, and sat with him at the table as he ate. Remus was thankful for the company, especially after being alone all day.

Mrs. Lupin didn't try to get her son to go out and play again. She seemed content with him staying home and reading his schoolbooks. That is, until the morning before his last transformation before starting school. Unfortunatly for Remus, this also happened to fall on the day of his 11th birthday. That particular morning, Mrs. Lupin seemed very keen to get her son out of the house for a bit. She seemed to want him to try to enjoy some of his birthday, before he had to nedure the horros of that night. She took him for a jog around the town, and then they went to get ice cream from a small family owned shop in town. They sat outside in the sunlight, eating their ice cream and talking about ridiculous things like the funny shapes of clouds and the sound of birds. Remus and Mrs. Lupin always talked about strange things. Perhaps it helped them forget about Remus's lycanthropy, or maybe it just helped pass the time.

Remus hated to admit it, but to this point in his life, his mother was his best friend. She would talk to him when there was no one left. She never looked at him with fear or pity in her eyes, only love. She would stay awake all night just to sing to him, even if it meant that she was miserable the next three days from lack of sleep. She would tend to his wounds the morning after the full moon, and pamper him until he said he was okay, which he usually dragged out just for the extra attention from her.

Mr. Lupin was a different story. He showed his love for Remus in a much different way. Mr. Lupin loved his son, but his fear of the beast that lurked inside was too overpowering. Mr. Lupin devoted all of his free time not to his son, but to finding a way to get rid of the monster. Mr. Lupin always had the fear in his eyes when he looked at Remus. The first few years, it really bothered Remus, but he had gotten used to it, and had started avoiding his father's eyes whenever possible. They had reached an understanding that went beyond the relationship of a father and son. They still cared very much for each other, but they were distant. Mr. Lupin only shared a few words a day with his son, and Remus replied with just as few words.

Remus's last transformation before the start of term happened to fall three days before September 1st. While this meant he would have almost an entire month to get comfortable at school before he had to worry about the moon, it made for a crazy last few days. Remus was entirely packed by the evening of his transformation. His mother bought him a new watch in town that day as a going away gift, but put it into his trunk for safekeeping. Remus knew this meant that she didn't want him to destroy it during his transformation as it was a bit more expensive than they could afford.

The last transformation smooth, or as smooth as the transformation from boy to wolf and back in one night could go. Mrs. Lupin sang Remus lullabies, and they seemed to have calmed him much more this particular month. He curled himself into a ball and slept, almost like a pet dog. Unfortunately, without the screams of her son, Mrs. Lupin fell asleep midway through the night. Remus awake a bit later and smelled her beyond the door. The wolf took over Remus's mind and he nearly knocked down the door before she woke up and resumed singing. Remus woke up the next morning with some horrible bruises and a few minor cuts. Mrs. Lupin tended to his injuries while Mr. Lupin stood back and watched from behind his copy of The Daily Prophet.

Remus looked off to the sky though the kitchen window. He stared at the clouds, which were forming the shape of a steam engine train, and imagined what Hogwarts would be like. All of his fears seemed to come out for the first time since he got accepted. Would he be accepted? Would everyone find out about his condition? What would they think? Would he make any real friends? Would he do well in classes? How long will he last? All of these questions and more built up in Remus's mind. He felt like a huge weight had just been lifted onto his shoulders. Mrs. Lupin seemed to sense this and brought out a giant hunk of Honeydukes best chocolate and handed it to her son. Remus loved chocolate. With every bite, the fear seemed to slip away and Remus was at peace again. He went to his bedroom to make sure he had everything for school, as tomorrow was the first of September.

A/N: I'd just like to remind you all of my request from the first chapter for a sorting hat song. I will seriously love you forever if you write me one! Please read and review!

DISCLAIMER: I do no own any of this nor am I making any profit, this is just my way of passing boring summer nights, and I'm sure eventually it will become another way for me to procrastinate once school starts up again. All names, places, ect. From the Harry Potter world belong to JK Rowling and the publishers ect. And the song quotes belong to their respective artists and the correct rights owners.