It felt like my brain had stopped. All my senses seemed to have disappeared. My mouth was dry, my vision blurred, and I felt my legs shaking. I couldn't think, it felt as though my brain was being squished like a marshmallow.

I had killed my best friend.

I had killed my best friend.

I HAD KILLED HER.

Ended her future, killed her when she was just twelve years old.

No. I couldn't have. She couldn't be dead. I checked her pulse, but felt no beating. She wasn't breathing. This couldn't be happening…

"NO!" I screamed, and collapsed into a ball, putting my head down and sobbing. It was pain like I'd never felt in my entire life. And then I began laughing, looking down at her body and laughing.

What was wrong with me?!

I returned to my sobbing soon enough, and then was shaking my head like a madman. I felt a sort of… satisfaction. It was like something I'd needed for years, but I'd never quite gotten, but now I just felt better about myself. A warmth I'd never felt before rushed over me, on top of guilt and grief and I was an absolute mess.

The rock in front of the cave moved aside and I looked up to see Fenrir Greyback.

"What a night," he said. "I'm exhausted — the pack and I got a new recruit! Seems like you had a successful night, too!"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "The reason you brought us both was so I would kill her?"

"You're not bleeding," Greyback pointed out. "You wouldn't get any more scars like the ones on your face if you just joined the pack. You'd be attacking others instead of yourself."

"YOU'RE A MONSTER!"

"You're a monster," said Greyback.

"I'm a monster."

"The worthless girl died by your hands, not mine. Or should I say teeth?" Greyback grinned at me.

I nodded. "Yes… I mean no… no…"

"You can't deny what you've done, pup," he said, then he held out his hand. "They'll get you put down if you don't join the pack now. You're a monster, you may as well embrace it."

"I WILL NEVER JOIN YOU!" I shouted. "I should… be put down."

"You've killed your own friend," he said, putting on a mock sad face.

I clenched my fists, trying not to cry again in front of this monster.

"YOU KILLED HER! LOOK AT HER!" He clenched his hands on my head and forced me to look at Monifa's body. I closed my eyes before I could see that bloody body, with the glassy dead eyes…

"I don't want to kill anyone else," I said, my voice breaking. "I'm not joining you."

"Fine," said Greyback. "I think some threats from the ministry may change your mind."

Greyback grabbed a bottle filled with a brown liquid. He doused it in one gulp, then dropped it to the floor. His skin started bubbling, and I watched in fear as his form changed from a creepy, hairy man to a more regular looking guy.

Smiling menacingly, he then grabbed Monifa's body and my shaking arm and apparated. We came out in front of a bathroom, and he dragged me in with him. He walked into a cubicle, then stood on the toilet, and flushed. We went down a chute and came out in a fireplace.

He dragged out of the fireplace and I noticed that we were in the Ministry of Magic, and people were there. Hundreds of people.

"Help!" Greyback yelled out. "This boy is a werewolf! He killed this young girl!"

Everyone in the hall fell silent, and I felt a hundred pairs of eyes burn on my face. Then everyone seemed to crowd around me, they were dragging us all into a room, and before I knew it I was tied to a chair in the middle of a room filled with people all around me.

"What is the meaning of this?" yelled a familiar voice. I looked up to see my own dad staring down at me. "That's my son!"

"Well, your son has apparently killed a girl," said someone who I recognised as the Minister of Magic. "Do you deny this, young man?"

I was silent, but Greyback in his disguise said, "I saw it! He would have come for me if the moon hadn't gone down! He's a werewolf!"

Dad looked at me, and I couldn't meet his eyes, I just looked down at my shoes.

"What is your name, little beast?" the Minister hissed, adjusting his glasses and looking down at me judgmentally.

"R-Remus Lupin," I said, not looking up from my shoes.

There was a silence, until the Minister spoke again. "Alright, I've found you in the data… Remus John Lupin, date of birth 10th of March, 1960… you are meant to be going into second year of Hogwarts this September?"

"Yes, sir," I said, my voice shaking. They'd removed Monifa's body, but I couldn't get the sight of her out of my head… the torn skin, drenched with blood from my teeth and claws… the dead eyes… and that feeling of satisfaction…

"How are you at Hogwarts if you're a werewolf?" the Minister asked.

I opened my mouth to respond, when the door of the courtroom we were in burst open and my friends James Potter and Sirius Black came bursting in and sat in the guest seats.

"Sorry we're late," said James. "Heard our missing friends Remus and Monifa were here, thank god they're OK."

But then they seemed to catch sight of me tied to the chair, and Sirius stood up, and said, "What's happening? Why is Remus tied to that chair?"

"Because apparently he's a werewolf," said the Minister. "And he apparently killed a girl named Monifa Blanchet."

"WHAT!?" James and Sirius both yelled out, looking at me in disbelief. I wished I could have died right then and there as they both stared at me.

"Witness, come forward!" the Minister called to Greyback who was still in his disguise. "Tell us, what exactly did you see?"

"I saw a werewolf," said Greyback, wiping a tear from his eye. I had to hand it to him, he was a pretty good actor. "The werewolf tore that girl apart — you saw her body —then it tried to attack me and then he transformed back into this boy. He is a monster and has committed murder!"

"Werewolves cannot control their actions during the full moon!" Dad yelled out.

"So you don't deny that your son is a werewolf?" the Minister asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I mean, my son isn't a werewolf! He's lying!" Dad pointed a finger at Greyback angrily. But I could tell he was sweating.

"Don't take the side of a monster!" cried someone from the jury. "You've basically just admitted that he's a beast. Did you see the dead girl?"

"Yes I did," said Dad. "But someone else could have killed her! It must be a fake accusation."

"Fine," said the Minister. "Bring the body back, we'll do DNA tests. And look at the werewolf registrations."

Monifa's body was brought into the room, and I scrunched up my eyes, feeling absolutely horrible. I deserved to go to Azkaban. I wished they'd just take me and suck out my soul so I didn't have to feel anymore, I didn't have to live with this forever.

I was trying harder than ever not to cry in front of all these people, and my eyes fell on Sirius and James. They were both sitting there, in shock silence, their eyes darting from Monifa's body to me, tied helplessly to the chair.

"Alright, from what we can tell, she was killed by a werewolf, and that werewolf was this boy!" said the Minister, looking through his papers. "OK, he should be handed to the authorities of magical creatures to be put down."

"NO!" Dad yelled. "Don't any of you know anything about werewolves? They cannot control themselves while in their wolf form! Please, he's only twelve years old! He's a good boy, he cannot control his actions during the full moon!"

"Putting the monster down it is, then," said the Minister.

"NOOOOO!" Dad screamed out, standing up. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS! ALBUS, BACK ME UP, PLEASE!"

Albus Dumbledore then stood up from the crowd and walked over to the chair to stand next to me. Trembling, I stopped looking at my shoes and looked up at the Headmaster.

"It is true that werewolves cannot control themselves while in their werewolf form," said Dumbledore. He whipped out a book, then opened it, and read, "'The werewolf is found worldwide, though it is believed to have originated in northern Europe. Humans turn into werewolves only when bitten. There is no known cure. Once a month, at the full moon, the otherwise sane and normal wizard or muggle afflicted transforms into a murderous beast. Almost uniquely among fantastic creatures, the werewolf actively seeks humans in preference to any other kind of prey.' Quoted directly from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander.

"This boy is otherwise sane and normal. This means he would have been bitten at one part of his life, which was not his choice," Dumbledore continued. "Nor was killing this girl. And while her death is a terrible tragedy, and we send our kindest regards to her friends and family, it was not the fault of young Mr Lupin here."

"Why didn't he lock himself up before he transformed, then?" asked a woman in the jury.

"Remus?" Dumbledore asked. "Do you have an answer for that?"

I looked at the wall, trembling. I could hardly bring myself fo speak, but I had to tell the truth, it was the only thing I could do now. "The man who brought me in is Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf himself. He drank a potion I believe to me the Polyjuice Potion, he… he locked me in a cave and put Monifa in there just before I transformed."

All eyes fell on Greyback, who looked shocked.

"This monster is delusional!" he cried. "I don't know what he's talking about! He's a liar!"

"DON'T SAY A WORD AGAINST MY SON!" Dad yelled at him. "I say we wait an hour to see if the effects of the potion wear off."

"Fine," grunted the Minister. "You may all go for a break, and come back in an hour. But the monster and the man who brought him here must stay, and we'll take turns monitoring them."

The minister grabbed Greyback and tied him to another seat. People shuffled out of the court room, murmuring among themselves. I was approached by James, Sirius, and my dad, and they immediately went off at me.

"MONIFA'S… DEAD!?"

"YOU KILLED HER!?"

"YOU'RE A WEREWOLF?"

"THAT'S WHERE YOU'VE BEEN GOING EVERY MONTH, THEN!"

"WHY WERE YOU WITH GREYBACK? YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW WORRIED YOUR MOTHER AND I HAVE BEEN!"

"Shut up! Please!" I yelled, and at that point I completely broke down. "I'm sorry. I'm a monster, I know. I killed Monifa, I'm a murderer and I'm so, so, sorry

Sirius had tears in his eyes, but wrapped his arms around me. He pulled away from me, then put his hands on my shoulders, looking me dead in the eyes. "You couldn't control what you did… it's going to be OK."

Clenching my jaw, I shook my head. James was also crying, but he said, "Greyback should get arrested for what he did, it's not your fault, OK? You're still my nerdy friend, Remus. We're not going to see you any differently, I promise you that."

I shook my head, sobbing and shaking. "I killed her, I killed her… I KILLED HER!"

"You didn't…" Dad started.

"Yes I did, don't deny it!" I hissed. "Your only son is a murderer!"

"Remus, you didn't mean to…" he said, although his expression seemed pained.

We sat in silence, and about half an hour later, Greyback was transforming back into himself slowly. Once he had, he started struggling against the ropes that were attaching him to the chair and trying to apparate.

"You," said Dad. His voice sounded colder than usual, and he was glaring at Greyback. "I told them you were a werewolf!"

"You also said werewolves are soulless, evil, and deserving of nothing but death," Greyback said, sneering. "So now your own son is soulless, evil, and deserving of nothing but death?"

Dad shook his head angrily. "That's just you. Werewolves don't need to be bad! But here you are just ruining their reputation! You're a monster, not my son."

"You dare insult me again?" Greyback snapped. "After what happened last time? Maybe I should bite your wife this time!"

Dad pulled out his wand, his eyes burning with anger. Then he spoke at barely a whisper, "If you ever come near me or my family ever again, I will use this wand to do the killing curseon you."

"We'll see, Lupin," said Greyback, "we'll see."

The jury came walking back in, and gasps of shock were let out through the room as they started to notice that the man who had been accusing me of murder had now transformed into a man with wolfish features, grey hair, and sharp claws instead of normal fingernails. Dad, Sirius, and James all returned to their seats nervously.

"We have Veritaserum here," said the Minister. "It's the only fair way to discover the truth."

"That's illegal to give to a child," said Dad, standing up.

"Sit down, Mr Lupin," the Minster hissed. "I am the Minister of Magic, therefore I make the rules."

He gave a two small bottles to one of the jury members, who walked down to where Greyback and I were sitting. Dad sat down slowly, still fuming. The jury member opened my mouth and poured the contents of one of the bottle down my throat. It tasted just like water.

Well, my secret's already out, may as well just take it, I thought, swallowing the liquid. The jury member then proceeded to do the same to Greyback, who struggled and choked on the liquid, before being forced to swallow.

"So, is your name Remus Lupin?" the Minister asked, looking down at us both. I nodded and Greyback shook his head. "Is your name Fenrir Greyback?" This time Greyback nodded and I shook my head. "Are you a werewolf?" Both of us nodded. "Young Mr Lupin, did you kill Miss Monifa Blanchet?" I nodded remorsefully, wishing that so many eyes weren't on me. "Mr Greyback, did you indeed lock the two children in a cave together so young Mr Lupin here would kill the girl?" Greyback nodded.

"OK, then," said the Minister. "Fenrir Greyback will go to to the containment of magical creatures, and Mr Lupin will be expelled from Hogwarts."

At that, cries of protest came from James, Sirius, and my dad, but then Dumbledore interrupted.

"Excuse me, Minster," he said, "but are you the Headmaster of Hogwarts? No, you are not. Therefore you do not have the power to expel students from my school."

"I am the Minister of Magic!" the Minister cried out. "You cannot defy me! Once word goes out about this child being a monster, your school will have no students at all!"

"Not if this information doesn't leave the room," said Dumbledore.

"No way we're not telling anyone about this!" protested an older witch. "This will be the latest gossip, everyone will be dying to know!"

"But they won't know," said Dumbledore. "None of you are to tell Mr Lupin's secret. To anyone. I want you to think very carefully about a secret that you may hold. Can you imagine if everyone found out? How ashamed you'd feel?"

There was some murmuring in the room, until the Minister hit the gavel onto the desk he was sitting at. "Fine! Remus Lupin is clear of charges… Fenrir Greyback will be held in captivity, you are all dismissed."

The ropes around my wrists were released, then Dad came down and grabbed my hand. He led me out of the room before I could get another word with my friends. He led me out to the hall, then to where the fireplaces were. We both went through the floo network and came out in the same bathroom as before. Not saying a word, he led me out of the bathroom, then apparated.