Chapter 4: Childhood Part 3

(1970. November 12th)

The full moon illuminated the sky, just as it normally does every month. As always, two poor children lay in separate cellars, as their bodies began to warp at the moons first appearance. Their bones began to break, and their screams began to fill the night air. No silencing charms could be cast, for fear that the creatures would escape and that their families wouldn't be able to find them and keep them from the village in time. Although separated by the ground and many yards of land, their screams could be heard equally as well from either of their households.

In the mean time their agony would fill the air for many more minutes, until their transformation was complete. For many years this transformation had become such a monotonous task. Two families plagued with the same miserable existence, each and every month.

As the screams began lessening in frequency, Jane Fiddo glanced at her husband. Much like her, his face seems to be twisted into some sort of ugly grimace, as he listens to his child's obvious pain.

"Ya know, if we just take her to France, Julia told me of a wonderful healer that could prescribe a potion that she thinks could cure the disease itself!" Looking hopefully at her husband, the artificial excitement sounded foreign to even her own ears.

"Jane, we can't keep doing this. C'mon, its been years, and I think these healers are all rubbish. I think we'd best be spending our time just accepting the situation and looking up good healing potions." Pausing to look down at the coffee in his hands, Michael Fiddo frowned.

"You saw her spine last month, body changes in a 10-year-old are normal, but her spine breaking every month lately? This is getting ridiculous."

"I know. I can't stand to see her like this either, hopefully the potion that I picked up from the hospital will work. It's a shame that I don't work with potions often." Jane Fiddo sighed, grabbing the coffee from her husband's hands, she took a long gulp before standing.

"I'm going to check the wards and put the last two up, if you want to join me after your coffee." Standing slowly, Jane walked to the closet in their hallway and pulled on her winter cloak, before disappearing out their back door.

(1971. Early February)

"I don't know. I don't know. I. DON'T. KNOW." Gritting her teeth, Hope Lupin was fuming. She hadn't been so frustrated in such a long time, but here she was, with her fist clenched and a few tears threatening to escape her eyes, standing in the middle of her pristine kitchen.

"Hope, love. You need to calm down." Trying to remove some of her tension, Lyall Lupin stood and engulfed the frame of his wife in a rather secure hug.

"Hows I supposed to- to calm down when…" Trailing off on her thought, Hope began to cry, her tears immediately being soaked up by her husband's cotton shirt as he pressed her face to his chest.

"There's nothing we can do by this point. Muggle remedies or not, there is very little that all our galleons can buy that can cure our son, and I really suppose we ought to come to that realization." Pulling at his sleeve he began to wipe the tears from his wife's cheeks.

"I know we can't be wasting all your Ministry money on cures. I can't even imagine how many pounds you've spent on everything we've tried." Sighing once again, Hope immediately felt guilty for her sudden outburst. Her husband's job at the Ministry was good, and supported their family well, and here she was trying to use up all his well-earned wizard money on some useless potions.

"It's all right Hope. Remus is bright, and he will be okay, no matter his Lycanthropy."

"Do you think he'll get to go to that Hogwarts you went to when you were a child?" Only slightly startled by his wife's statement, Lyall led her to the kitchen table. Placing some tea before her he shrugged.

"I don't know Hope."

"Well, who will teach him how to get rid of big bad boggarts then?" Smiling at her joke, Hope took a sip of her tea, stirring a bit of honey into it as she waited for an answer.

"I suppose that I will have to. Or else, how will he know how to fend one off and save a pretty muggle lady in the nick of time?" Mimicking his wife's humor, he sat down beside her.

"You told me they weren't dangerous. Those Boggarts are just mean I thought." Pretending to pout, Hope Lupin took a few sips from her tea and looked teasingly at her husband.

"You weren't supposed to remember that lady. And to go back to your question, I don't know if Hogwarts will let him in. His birthday is coming up and I suppose we will find out then."

Satisfied with her husband's answer, the rest of the night was filled with light banter as it usually was in the Lupin household. Unbeknownst to the two parents though, their only child had heard all of what they had said. Sliding away from the wall that led to the kitchen, Remus quietly trudged off to his room. Although, his father's lessons would help him develop into a somewhat functional wizard, Remus was still disappointed. His own heart not as light and happy as his parents seemed to be, but instead heavy and tired, as he thought in disappointment at the fact that he would not attend Hogwarts as his father once did.

(1971. March)

"Happy birthday to youuuuu!" As the small group finished their out of tune rendition of Happy Birthday, Remus blew out the candles to his Lemon buttercream cake. Smiling at the company around him, his father clapped him on the back as his mother went to work cutting up the homemade cake before him.

Today was the 10th of March, and Remus Lupin had just turned 11 years old.

Laughter erupted from the eldest Fiddo sister as Remus chose to use his first bite of lemon cake as ammunition for a miniature food fight with his best friend. Not one to usually act so childish- or waste such good cake, Remus was in an exceptionally good mood.

Surrounded by his parents and the Fiddo family filled his heart with so much happiness he didn't think the day could get any better.

"Remus why did you have to pick lemon cake? You know chocolate is the bestttt."

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know today was Emilia Fiddo's birthday. Oh, it isn't? Well eleven-year old's are only able to pick out their cakes and what they pick is best so I think you should just eat your cake and hush up." Sticking his tongue (with cake still in his mouth) out at Emily, the family around them laughed.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Frowning slightly Lyall Lupin rose from the table and gestured to the group that he would be right back. As he made his way to the front door, he found it odd that somebody would be at the house at this hour. It was only noon which wasn't bad at all, but the family wasn't expecting anyone else to join them in their evening activities.

After only a few moments, he finally reached the door- pulling it open quickly, his eyes scanning the person before him and widening before he could even process the sight.

"Dumbledore, I wasn't expecting you."

"I know Mr. Lupin. May I come in?" pursing his lips and gesturing to a path around the man before him, Lyall Lupin only continued to stare.

"I don't think now is the best time Headmaster."

"I didn't suppose that you would be celebrating Remus's birthday so early in the day, I apologize for showing up unannounced… but I rather think it important that I speak to your family." Without waiting for another word, Dumbledore quickly stepped inside of the entry way, and brushed past the dumbfounded wizard.

As he slowly walked down the hallway he smiled at the scene before him in the kitchen. He knew rather well the children that sat in chairs, sloppily eating cake were lycanthropes, as well as magical, and nothing made him happier then discussing with them their attendance to Britain's only magical school. Clearing his throat quietly, but firmly enough to be heard, he attracted all of the attention in the room. Stepping into the dining room he smiled and nodded at the two families.

"Hello to the Fiddo's and the Lupin's. I am here to wish Remus a happy 11th birthday. My name is Albus Dumbledore, as you may know, and I am the headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizarding. I have come to deliver your letter of acceptance as well as discuss some precautionary procedures that our school is preparing for your attendance. If you don't mind me interrupting your party momentarily, I promise this discussion will take no more than fifteen minutes, as I too would want to get back to that Lemon cake if I was in Remus' shoes. "

Nodding dumbly, Remus rose to greet the older man. Wiping his hands on his trousers he went to guide Dumbledore to the living room.

"oh and might I invite Emilia as well."

Because the party was only made up of the two families, silently everyone rose to listen in the living area.

The two children sat on the couch across from the man with a very long beard and pointed hat, staring at him with wonder in their eyes. Emilia, due to her nervousness, and her shortness in stature, began to swing her legs back and forth off of the edge of the couch.

"I would like to congratulate both of you on your acceptance into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizarding. I only have a letter of acceptance for Remus, as your birthday isn't for another two months Emilia, but I promise that you will be receiving one as well on that day."

"As not to receive credit, where credit is not due, I must explain that I was not the mind behind our plan to protect you two during the full moon. A young man who I encountered during one of my travels this past year actually suggested a rather interesting pathway to protection. Our school has planted a rather rare Whomping Willow that will shield the out side world from your transformation, and you from the students of Hogwarts, while simultaneously allowing you two to attend school. Our healers on the grounds of Hogwarts are incredibly skilled as I would put my life in their hands. I can promise to you two that your condition will remain a heavily guarded secret, and your transformations as safe as possible." With a twinkle in his eye Dumbledore produced a letter from his cloak to hand to Remus, as well as a heavily browned letter for Emilia.

Confused as to what she was being handed to, upon reading the first few words, Emily knew that it was the strange boy from the festival that had suggested the magical tree to Dumbledore and secured her attendance at Hogwarts. Smiling with tears in her eyes Emily leapt up and proceeded to hug the tall wizard before her. Soon Remus joined in, and very quickly the whole family was speaking at once, questioning the headmaster and clapping the two children on their backs.

The rest of the day went by with an even more energetic buzz before. After many offers to stay, Dumbledore merely ate a piece of cake before departing for the rest of his duties.

The two families continued to celebrate the acceptance of their children into magical school, as well as the original birthday that they had set out to appreciate.

The day went by in a blur but would continue to be remembered as one of the best days of young Remus' life.

(1971. August)

A light breeze pushed Emily's shoulder length hair back and forth as she trotted behind her companions. Today both herself, Remus and her father were on the mission to collect all their school supplies and return home before 5pm for dinner. The children had just two weeks until they were to attend Hogwarts and excitement had been bubbling in the pits of their stomachs for months.

Excitingly enough the first object that they had set off to receive was their wands, and even more excitingly was the fact that Emily's wand was 11 and a half inches, with unicorn hair, aspen wood, and incredibly unyielding- whatever that means. Either ways, Emilia was incredibly proud to say that she now owned a wand that had chosen her- as the man at the shop had described.

Emilia's Gringotts Wizarding Bank visit was nothing short of exciting. She was well aware of her family tree going back many many generations, as well as her grandmum being quite well off due to her studies as a healer, but Emilia was not quite prepared for the trip into the middle of Gringotts vaults. She found her self at vault 225a, which held all of her inheritance as well as the wonderful gifts that her grandmum had left to her. Although the items within the vault was not quite a true fortune, to the eyes of the two eleven-year old's, it seemed like one.

After parting their ways with Dasloke, the goblin who was assigned to the family's various vaults, the three left Gringotts in favor or going to Flourish and Blotts to look for their books. While walking through the ally to their next destination, Emily couldn't help but giggle as she watched a boy with incredibly messy hair and round black glasses "test run" the newest Nimbus 1700 outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Very quickly Emily realized it was James Potter, an old family friend on the broom.

Remus also let out a snort as James mounted the broom and wobbly kick off of the ground (surrounded by what looked to be his family and two staff members), and promptly nosedive into the ground.

"You don't suppose I can join the Quidditch team at Hogwarts Remus?" Emily whispered to her friend, as the walked out of hearing distance of the other boy's laughing.

"You're being cheeky Emily… but if that's the competition you're a shoe in."

The book store was also just as captivating as the other places that they children had shopped in. They managed to find their books (surprisingly a few of them in the used book section were decent enough to buy at a discounted prices), as well as ones that the children wanted to read for fun. Emily was particularly interested in the newest edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, so she wasn't sheepish at all when she had to reach around a rather plump boy who only let out a small squeak when he noticed her reach above him for the book. Emily apologized quickly before joining Remus and her father at the checkout.

The rest of the evening went by in another blur, as the three went from store to store. After receiving their robes (which took incredibly long due to a rather posh family insisting on the perfect robes for their "perfect pureblood son…" The mothers words not Emilia's), and other school supplies such as their cauldron, the children were absolutely knackered by the time they had reached their last destination. Before them were many wonderful looking pets, and the two had quickly decided on a beautiful brown and gray barn owl to share while at Hogwarts.

"What do you suppose we name her?" Remus asked Emily, knowing full well that she would already have a plethora of names at her minds disposal.

"Can was name her Ava?" Emily immediately answered.

The barn owl hooted softly as the two continued to stroke the feathers on its head.

"It looks like she likes that." Chimed in Mr. Fiddo as he smiled down at the two children.

Grinning at each other, Emilia and Remus, spoke, "Ava it is."

(1971. September 1st)

Anxiety welled in Emilia's stomach as both her and Remus pushed separate trollies at Kings Cross Station. The closer the traveled to platform 9 and ¾ the more Emilia felt like she was to throw up. Her face was becoming paler and paler and her hands were barely kept steady as she pushed her cart. Behind her, her parents chatted away with the Lupins, and in front of her, her sister rode at the end of the trolley. Today was the day that the two had been waiting years for, yet for some reason she couldn't stomach the fact that it was actually here.

Emilia swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked away the tears that were beginning to form in the corner of her eyes for what seemed like the 10th time. In her peripheral vision she saw platforms 6,7, and 8, pass by on her left. They were almost there.

Almost in slow motion, Emilia could see the Platform between 9 and 10 approaching, and as it was only just a few seconds away, it felt like minuets had passed, as she watched Remus and his family disappear into the arch way.

"Hold on Lisa… I-I'm going to go through that wall with Mum and Dad at a slight run and I don't want you to fall off." Speaking to stall for a few seconds, Emily waited for her sister to brace herself. By that moment she felt both her mother and father grip firmly on her shoulders as all three set off on a quick trot.

Forcing herself not to close her eyes, Emilia was incredibly disoriented as she passed through what looked to be a very solid wall, to the new train station before her. In all directions were children and families running around and boarding the train. It took Emilia's eyes a few seconds to spot Remus's who was in an alcove not far away.

As Emilia pushed her belongings next to Remus she finally stopped to breath. Looking up questioning at her parents she saw them smiling with tears in both of their eyes. At that very same moment it looked like Remus was to have the same talk with his parents as Emilia was to have with hers.

"Emilia we're very proud of you. Dumbledore is a wonderful headmaster and I know you will have a wonderful time at Hogwarts." Her father spoke with sincerity as he bent down to hug his daughter.

"Do promise to write us and keep Remus in check. Despite what your father thinks about those houses or whatever it is that Hogwarts does-"

"Jane I've explained the four houses dozens of times, how long will it take you to stop thinking in your Beauxbatons ways…" trailing off at the eye roll and laugh that his wife was giving him, Mrs. Fiddo continued to speak.

"What I was saying, is just write to us. Have a good time dear. It looks like you aught to be moving your stuff onto the train love. I am so proud of you, stay safe Emily."

After hugging her daughter, and then Remus, the families were forced to part as the children handed their luggage to the various station staff to help load it.

There were five minuets until the bus was to leave the station, and the number of children on the floor had decreased. Many families began to wave at their children who were sticking their heads and hands out of the windows and shouting last good byes.

It took only a few moments for Remus and Emily to find themselves a compartment to themselves.

As they smiled and waved to their families the slow pull of the train lurched them forward, as the station floor began to move away from them. It took only a few seconds before their parent's faces were too far for them to be seen in the crowd, and the train to pick up enough speed to be exiting the station.

It took a few minutes for Emilia's nerves to settle down, but once they had, she looked up at Remus and grinned.

"We're here."

"Crazy 'innit"

Before Emily could respond a soft knocking on the compartments door interrupted their short-lived conversation.

A/N: Thank you for the read. I am struggling with what house I want Emilia to be in, as it will mostly shape where I take the rest of the story. Drastically. If you have any opinions, and why (including plot points or what you would like to see) please do review and tell.

I would love to hear any feedback if you have any. Again, as stated in my first authors note, updates will be spastic as I finish my spring term. I do have many ideas for this story though but would love to hear if you all have any. Have a good night.

I continually edit as I read, so excuse my errors.