Warning: Depression, Self-harm (Not Detailed)

"The bravest thing one can do is be one's self"

-unknown

Chapter Three

~Remus Lupin's POV~

Draco. All I could think about was Draco. His screams as the first transformation took place, his calls for help when the first bone snapped. It was an endless loop running through my head. I thought I knew what transformations felt like, I thought I knew the pain of it like the back of my hand. I was wrong. There is nothing like watching a boy-your adopted son-transform into what he thought was a monster. Draco bit and scratched himself every step of the way, making dark red blood, stain the forest floor. It was hell. Just hell.

The morning after, Draco had curled into a ball, crying like no tomorrow. His heart was broken, as well as his spirt. That part was easy to tell. He didn't eat, he didn't sleep. He didn't even talk. It broke me down to see how much pain my pup was in. I felt hopeless. Nothing I could ever do would pull Draco out of his slump, nothing I tried. I wished I could take the curse away, take away what ruined my pup's life but, there is only one cure for lycanthropy that was forced upon him and that was so bloody powerful magic. I highly doubt anyone in that room could pull off that kind of magic, even The Dark Lord himself was playing second-fiddle to it. Of course, the Dark Lord probably already knew that. That is why he had a full pack of Werewolves under his command, made up of all the die-hard followers that failed him in the past. They would do anything to please their lord, even throw away their lives.

For now, all I could do was wait. Wait for the beginning of the Hogwarts semester, and wait for the first owl from Draco, telling me how the transformation went. Telling me if he found a kind of Wolves Bane that worked for him. Because so far, we hadn't.

~Draco's POV~

Fuck. Just bloody fucking hell. At first, I was hopeful now, I know so much better. I am weak. I am a bloody monster. Lupin tries to tell me differently but, I know. I know what I am now, I know that small little voice in my head telling my body to do things that are both inhuman and wrong. If only the world could see me now, the great Draco Malfoy: heir to the noble and richest family in England-a werewolf. What a laugh they would have. ' Oh, what a pompous git! He finally got what was coming for him,' they would say over their morning tea. Oh, how everyone would laugh, how they would shove it in my face. I hate it! I hate being a disgusting creature of the night! That is why, I decided that I, Draco Malfoy will do everything in my power to make sure no one else finds out about my little 'issue.'

*Two Days Later: Start of the Term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry*

~Harry's POV~

Every year I am shocked at the rush running through the barrier to Platform Nine and three-quarters brings. It feels like a cool spring breeze that carries me to my true home, Hogwarts. It seems to always be the same, but I am not complaining. Some things are best left unchanged.

So one can guess my surprise when I see a familiar blond standing next to an even more familiar light brunette. What in the name of Merlin was Malfoy doing with Lupin? Why was Lupin on the platform anyway, I remember him saying he wanted to stay away from Hogwarts until everything cools off after what happened in third year. Yet here he is.

"Moony!" I called out, running towards him. He turned around, eyes wide with panic. That was odd. I slowed down, "Moony?"

"Harry! Sorry, it has been a rough full moon...I swear I am losing my mind." The werewolf said, pulling me into a hug. "How was your summer?"

"Horrid." There was no use lying to Remus. I tried it once and I swear he literally sniffed out my fib. "How was yours?"

"A bit more stressful than I would like, but it ended nicely...in a way." He looked towards Malfoy with caring eyes. "I was just telling my so-Mister Malfoy here that I am going to be teaching again this year! Dumbledore needed someone and everything has mostly died down, so I said yes!"

"That is amazing Moony! You were by far the best Defense Professor we ever had!"

"Don't you mean Professor Lupin, Mister Potter?" He said with a smirk on his face. This year was going to be a good one, I can already see it! If only I knew why Moony was hanging around Malfoy...

~Draco's POV~

We hadn't been on the Platform for nearly three minutes before things started to go down hill. I got odd looks from many of the other purebloods and looks of betrayal from some of the Slytherins, this year was already going to the dogs. No pun intended. And then who should show up right as things were finally calming down about me talking with a werewolf, Harry bloody Potter. Right when Remus-Dad and I were discussing how full moons would work in hushed voices.

I listened to Dad's and Potter's conversation as little as I could, choosing these next few moments to look around and pretend that I was the same as I always was. Father-Lucius's words rang in my head as I attempted to look cool and collected:

"Now Draco, if you can't intimidate people within three seconds of your meeting, you will never be a good Malfoy. Fear is the best way to control."

"Merlin above you are getting sloppy, keep that damn chin up and do not ever let me see you slouch again. Slouching is for those weaker than us, below us Draco. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Father. Sorry, Father."

"A Malfoy is never sorry."

Oh how wrong I wrong he was...A Malfoy is always sorry. Sorry for being unable to beat a girl who's magical talent is slim to none but mind is as fast as a Killing Curse. Sorry for not being good enough at Quidditch to beat a single underweight boy. Sorry for being me.

~Remus Lupin's POV~

I could almost see the wheels turning in my sons mind, he was either beating himself up or thinking of when life was easier. Both of which he did more often than not, more often than is surely healthy. If I had not done the same thing after being bitten, I would tell him to stop. As dumb as it seems, the thinking helps. It takes your mind away from the truth for a few seconds, and those few seconds are the most precious thing in the world. There is no way to accept being a werewolf, you just have to learn that there is no way to change it.

"Moony?" Harry asked gently, pulling me a way from my thoughts and worries.

"Yes? Sorry..."

"Why are you hanging around Malfoy? I didn't even know if you two knew each other...?" Ah, there was a question Draco and I had talked about...what would be our alibi.

"He was in my class third year, Harry, just not in the same one as you. Though a bit bold and snarky, Mister Malfoy was one of my favorite students." I said easily, this wasn't a lie. Draco had been one of my favorite students, figuring out that I was a werewolf almost instantly and worked with Snape to help remove the horrid taste that the Wolvesbane potion carried. A brilliant kid.

"Really? I always thought he didn't take defense that year...well not like everyone else." I sighed, Harry always had been too quick to judge someone and too slow to give second chances.

"Why don't you ask him? It feels odd that we are talking about him when he is right here." Draco gave me a distant look, showing he was at least somewhat present.

Harry blinked at me before turning to Malfoy, "Erm...hey Malfoy..."

"Hi Potter." Draco said somewhat uncomfortably. Well, I at least give him props for trying. "How are you?"

"Fine, I suppose?" Harry looked like he was trying to bite back a response more along the lines of 'why the hell do you care.' Again, I give props for trying. "How are you?"

"Just peachy."

This was going to be rough.

~Harry's POV~

I will give Malfoy one thing, he knows how to hold his own when it comes to a conversation, though I suppose that has been blasted into him since birth. Even though the conversation was uncomfortable and slightly forced, it wasn't the worst I have ever been apart of.

"So, how many first years do you think will make it into Slytherin this year?" I asked dumbly, eyes growing wide when I saw a small smile tug on the blonds lips.

"You are awful at conversation Potter-" Malfoy started, but then at Moony's hard look he added, "-I'm not sure. The normal amount, maybe less after all the rumors that have been going around." Rumors, yes. With Voldemort gaining more control, it seemed that being a Slytherin was a fast pass into his ranks.

"Yeah...I suppose that might have an effect..."

"You don't say." That earned him another hard look from Moony, but he was cut off by a loud whistle. The Hogwarts Express was set to be leaving. "Well...I suppose we best be getting on the train..."

"Yeah..." With a quick nod from Moony and a small hug, I ran off to the train to find the room that Ron, Hermione and I always shared.

~Draco's POV~

After Potter left, Remus pulled me into a quick hug and whispered directions and rules in my ear. I needed to be much more careful now with the lack of Wolvesbane in my system and the lack of effect it had. This was not going to be fun.

"Stay safe Draco, I know you are a lot stronger than you believe, so show me."

"What if I can't? What if I hurt someone...what if it gets out Remus?!"

"It won't if you trust me and trust yourself. This doesn't have to be as much of a curse as it seem to be."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you. Now run along...I don't want you to miss the train." He hugged me one last time before pushing me towards the Hogwarts Express. Merlin save me.

Author's Note:

So sorry for the long wait and short chapter! I promise I will get better at uploading these at a normal time and normal length! Thank you for sticking with me! All mistakes are my own and feel free to point them out to me in your reviews/comments!