What if, during the time of the Marauders, it wasn't James Potter who Lily Evans fell for, but Remus Lupin? Yes, this story has been tackled before, but perhaps not in this manner. Sit back, relax and enjoy my take on 'Harry Lupin'. Note that OC's will make an appearance, and Harry's 'House' will probably be Ravenclaw, just because. :P
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Lily was pregnant. That much was certain. She and Remus were overjoyed, but due to being locked up under the Fidelius Charm, with Pettigrew as their Secret-Keeper, they didn't have many options. They had to stay put, and they had to raise their child under such conditions until such a time as when Dumbledore, or any other prodigious wizard or witch, finally became the undoing of Lord Voldemort.
And so, they raised the child, Harry John Lupin, who was born on July 31st just as Harry James Potter was in an alternate universe, and the next few months were peaceful. But then an omen came, adding to their already great pile of worries, what with Harry potentially being a Werewolf and all that.
Albus Dumbledore had met up with Sybill Trelawney in the Hog's Head, and heard her Prophecy. But he was not the only one; Severus Snape, Death Eater and Voldemort's Lieutenant, had been in hiding and overheard the Prophecy that came from the Seer. But he battled with it. Wondering what to do, as he knew informing Voldemort of this Prophecy would likely result in Lily and Remus' deaths, but his allegiance to his lord meant... He knew what must be done.
He flew to his Master, and regaled him with what of the Prophecy he had heard; which, admittedly, was fragmented due to having to upkeep his cover while eavesdropping on Dumbledore and Trelawney. But before Voldemort could come to a decision, Snape bade his Lord to listen to one request; the first and only he would ever make. Spare Lily Lupin, whom he loved, and spare Remus Lupin, who had treated him well compared to the other Marauders. Kill only the child, if he could. Voldemort pondered the idea... then consented that he could Stun them, rather than kill them. Severus bowed low, and thanked his Lord for his mercy; his benevolence. He knew that only this type of flattery would ensure Voldemort kept his word.
And so, some time later, Voldemort finally found Wormtail. After great effort, finally the Marauder broke. See, he had liked Remus a great deal more than James, so he was far more loyal to the Lupins than he was to the Potters in the alternate universe. But that at an aside, he still broke, when Sirius Black would have not, when James Potter would have not. But we are not here to discuss Peter Pettigrew's weaknesses. We are here to see what happened the Halloween night Lord Voldemort invaded the home of the Lupins in Godric's Hollow.
He strode through the dark, almost gliding, soundless and invisible thanks to a simple charm. He opened the gate to their walkway... and it creaked. And unlike the Potters, Remus Lupin had sharper senses. He heard the little creak. And it was this difference that changed everything.
Remus hurried to his Mirror and called for James and Sirius, and in a flash they had Apparated to Hogwarts, flying through the castle as they searched for Albus Dumbledore. Remus himself stepped outside, and began to duel Voldemort.
"Expelliarmus!" He cried, and a jet of red light shot from his wand, but Voldemort was prepared. He swished his own wand, and a jet of blue light countered the red, causing a stalemate. Remus' eyes narrowed... would Voldemort truly not duel to kill? Why would he not use the Avada Kedavra curse?
Lily meanwhile grabbed her infant son and the duo fled up the stairs of their house, grabbing emergency bags, and once they had everything, Lily waited for Remus... or Voldemort, preparing for the worst. Once one appeared, she would Apparate out, Harry on her hip. But she hoped, prayed, that Remus would come out of it alright...
Remus meanwhile continued to duel Voldemort, holding him off as best he could, until... a final flash of light, and the Werewolf fell to the ground... Stunned, but alive. Voldemort had kept his promise to Snape thus far. Could he keep it again? Before this could be tested, however, a crack sounded out throughout the night, and a quartet of three Wizards and one Witch appeared, wands raised.
James Potter, Sirius Black, Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore, all poised to take down Tom Riddle once and for all. The Dark Lord hissed his displeasure, and pointed his wand at Lupin. "Stand down, or he dies! He's only been Stunned, only the boy has to die tonight!" His words caused the trained Wizards and Witch to falter. He only wanted the boy? But why... Albus Dumbledore figured it out, naturally, for only he knew the Prophecy. His face slackening briefly, he considered his options. "... Tom. Let the two of us duel tonight. If you win, you have my word that Minerva and the rest will stand down. But if I succeed, and I think I will, then you will have no choice but to either surrender or flee. Well, Tom? Will you accept my conditions?" His voice was more confident than his nerves, for his mind was racing. He was wondering; why would Pettigrew sell out Remus and Lily? How did Tom find out about the Prophecy, to be targeting the child born at the end of July? But then Tom's answer shook him out of his reverie.
"Very well, Dumbledore. I accept your conditions... But do not be so confident, for my powers have grown significantly since last we met. I will not be easy for you to dispatch, if that is even possible for you, in your old age." His words cut like ice, and he raised his wand. And so, Minerva and the Marauders hurried to Lupin's side, not daring to enter the house and frighten Lily further. They examined his condition, despite the flurry of spellwork going on behind them.
Inside, Lily was waiting, terrified. Clutching Harry to her chest, she listened to the explosions, crashing, and crackling going on outside, downstairs, just out of sight. She knew that by now Sirius and James must have brought backup, likely in the form of Dumbledore. She then had an idea, and she grabbed Harry and the bags, and headed downstairs...
Voldemort was sweating from the pressure of Dumbledore's power, while the elderly wizard was... well, if he had been in his prime as he had been during his duel with Grindelwald, this would have been a breeze. As it was, he was equally as winded as his adversary, but he would not give in, not when so much is at stake. Though, with a final flourish of his wand...
Voldemort cheated. He launched a Stunning Spell at Minerva McGonagall, and Dumbledore, not thinking, Apparated between her and the spell... and crumpled, Stunned unconscious. McGonagall screamed, for she knew now she could do nothing, nothing but watch...
And then the door slammed open, to everyone's (who was conscious) shock. Even Voldemort couldn't contain his surprise. He regained his composure almost immediately, of course... but not until Lily had placed Harry in Minerva's arms, and she understood what had to be done.
Voldemort raised his wand-
Minerva took the bags-
He launched the Killing Curse-
Lily Lupin leapt in the way-
A crack resounded throughout the night-
... McGonagall and the child were gone. James and Sirius, reacting swiftly, grabbed Remus and Albus respectively, and Apparated out after McGonagall. They knew where she was going; Hogsmeade, where Voldemort couldn't risk going lest he be surrounded by Hogwarts Teachers and Hogsmeade Shopkeepers.
Lily Lupin lay dead at his feet, and his promise with Severus Snape had been broken. Perhaps worse, the brown-haired, green-eyed child had escaped, and now... now he did not know what to do. For now, though, he could not stay. Flying off into the night, he returned to his Headquarters...
Severus was there. Lord Voldemort's eyes narrowed. His Lieutenant was surely awaiting news of his success or failure... But was likely more curious about whether Remus and Lily Lupin were alive. And so... Voldemort informed Snape of exactly what had transpired in Godric's Hollow that night.
He expected Snape to be upset... he did not expect what actually happened. Cold and unnerved, Snape merely replied, "I understand, my Lord," and left.
... Perhaps the other child would do, is a thought that briefly flitted across Voldemort's mind. But no. Frank and Alice Longbottom were being tortured into insanity by Bellatrix, his other faithful Lieutenant. Wasting time on their child would be pointless. And so, the Dark Lord brooded over his next move...