Can I go to Hogwarts?

He had been shocked to find Albus Dumbledore standing outside of his family's house the day before his eleventh Birthday. He had been quietly reading a second hand copy of Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling in his room. His father had given it to him believing that his son would be unable to attend Hogwarts. When Dumbledore's knock came he snuck over to his window and peered out. He jumped back startled at who he had seen.

"Dad!" Remus Lupin called. He ran out to the small family room where his dad was.

"Shh," his father, Lyall, said. "Go back to your room, son. I'll take care of this."

But Remus Lupin was curious. What could The Albus Dumbledore be doing at their house? But deep down he knew why. It was about Hogwarts, after all he was the Headmaster. He probably came to tell them that despite the amount of accidental magic little Remus had performed, he would not be allowed to attend Hogwarts and to not bother waiting for a letter.

It wasn't until he had dragged himself and locked himself in his room that Remus realized that this was probably about the letter he had written to Professor Dumbledore during the Christmas holidays. He had completely forgotten that he had written that letter. He had written it in secret without telling his parents. His father had told him last year that because of what he was, he wouldn't be able to attend. Monsters didn't go to Hogwarts. But in a bout of childish Christmas wishes as he was writing a letter to Santa, a muggle Christmas tradition, he had also decided to write one to Albus Dumbledore.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

My name is Remus Lupin. Mother wanted me to write to Santa Claus. But he can't get me what I want for Christmas. All I would really like is to go to Hogwarts. I'm going to be eleven next year. But I know that it's impossible for a monster like me. I know it's dangerous for other students. But even if I could just attend classes or something. I really want to go. But I don't want to hurt anyone. That's all I want for Christmas is to go to Hogwarts.

I know you're a busy man and you might even read this letter and you certainly don't have to respond. I don't mean to waste your time. If you took the time to read this, thank you.

Happy Christmas,

Remus J Lupin

He didn't mention that he was a werewolf but he knew that Dumbledore knew that he was a werewolf because Dumbledore knew everything.

And now Dumbledore was here. And Remus was panicking because if his parents found out that he'd written the letter… well he wasn't sure what would happen. But he knew that his parents didn't allow him to talk to other people. It was dangerous for him and for them. So Remus usually kept to himself and to his books.

In the midst of his panic he hadn't noticed that His mother came in until she spoke.

"Remus, you can come out now." She said. He looked up at her. "Dumbledore's gone now."

"What did he say?" Remus asked his mother, trying not to show his nervousness.

"He didn't," she replied. "Your father put some enchantments up to send him away."

Remus stared shocked at his mother. His father had blocked Dumbledore from even coming in? How could he have managed that? But he didn't say anything in response as his mother left him to his own devices again.

Remus, deciding he was no longer in the mood for his book, grabbed his pack of Gobstones to play by himself. He heard his mother and father talking about him and why Albus Dumbledore might've come. He tried to push their voices out of his head but it was difficult with his werewolf hearing.

He entered the living room and was met with a sight that caused him to drop his gobstones. Albus Dumbledore was sitting by his fireplace as if it was his home. He wore light purple robes and half moon spectacles. He looked just like the chocolate front card Remus had in his chest of cards by his bedside table.

"Ah Mr. Lupin, just the young man I wanted to see," Dumbledore said casually. He waved his wand and gathered the scattered gobstones. "Gobstones, how did you know it was one of my favorites?"

"How did you—my father— enchantments—" Remus stuttered out.

"The floo network is quite a magical invention don't you think?" Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Now, how about a round of gobstones, my boy?"

The next thing Remus knew he was sitting across from Dumbledore playing gobstones and eating the crumpets that the bizarre old man had offered him. But soon enough his curiosity got the better of him and he dared to ask.

"Sir, are you here about my letter?" He asked quietly without looking the old wizard in the eye.

"Hmm your letter?" Dumbledore seemed to ponder. Remus dared to look up at him. He looked as if he were trying to remember such a letter. But Remus somehow knew that the headmaster knew exactly what Remus was talking about. "Ah. I suppose in a way yes. But you should know that you have heard quite a bit about you for some time before that. I have been contemplating the answer to your question long before you even asked. Why, I have thought of it ever since I heard about the terrible incident some years ago."

Remus hung his head. He knew it. He wasn't allowed to come. The headmaster had come to tell him what his parents had already told him. What he already knew. That he was a monster and there was in no way he would be allowed to come close to his students.

"I knew it," he muttered under his breath. He thought he spoke low enough that Dumbledore couldn't hear him.

"Do you?" Dumbledore mused. "I think you'll find, Mr. Lupin, that life seems to be full of many surprises. Both good and bad."

Remus looked up and met Dumbledore's kind and gentle eyes. He wasn't looking at Remus like a monster, like everybody else who knew he was a werewolf did. Like sometimes his parents did especially after a full moon. He wasn't quite sure what to say and waited for Dumbledore to continue. He didn't dare hope, that wasn't something he got to do. But before the man could say anything they were interrupted by a crash and a shriek.

"Well hello," Dumbledore said cheerfully, "we're glad that you could join us."

"Remus, did you let him in?" His father angrily pointed a finger at him. Remus quickly stood and shook his head.

"Why I let myself in," Dumbledore chuckled. But he didn't bother to explain how, like he had done with Remus.

"You have come in at just the right time," He continued. "I was just about to discuss with young Remus here about his placement at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"He won't be going," Lyall Lupin said hurriedly. "He can't. I'll just be teaching him at home."

Remus sighed and slumped down, defeated. He hung his head and pushed back tears of disappointment. He couldn't help it even though he wasn't at all surprised.

"Oh?" Dumbledore mused. "And why might that be?"

"Well because…" his father trailed off unsure of what to say. He didn't want to tell Dumbledore that his son was a werewolf.

"If this about his lycanthropy," Dumbledore said and the small family heads all shot up. "I don't see how that will be a problem."

Remus looked at Dumbledore with a small amount of hope in his eyes for the first time in five years.

"Won't be a problem—" Mr. Lupin started. He trailed of and looked sternly at his son when he realized that Dumbledore said he knew about his son being a werewolf. "Did you tell him, Remus?"

Remus started sputtering. He didn't want to admit that he had written a letter but technically if he had remembered correctly he had only said he was a monster not a werewolf. Dumbledore cut in and answered for him.

"He did not," Dumbledore said seriously. "I have certain, ah, connections among all different magical communities. And about maybe five or six years ago one of these connections told me about how a certain Fenrir Greyback boasted about attacking a little five year old boy by the name of Remus Lupin."

Remus flinched at the name of the werewolf and he rubbed his stomach where the scar from the bite was hidden away underneath his clothing. It still stung when he thought about it.

"I immediately recognized the surname as the one of my former students," Dumbledore peered meaningfully at Lyall. "So I checked the Book of Acceptance and indeed found young Remus Lupin's name. I have spent quite some time planning to ensure his safety at Hogwarts."

Remus noticed that he had emphasized the word 'his' as if Remus's own safety was important. And not that of the other students. It had been the first time someone had thought of his safety before his peers. And even if it was wrong, Remus couldn't help but feel touched.

"He's a monster," his father insisted. "He could hurt another student."

"I don't see a monster," Dumbledore said gently. He gave Remus a sincere smile. "I see a bright young boy with a brilliant mind. We wouldn't want to waste that mind from its potential, would we?"

"Of course not, but—" Mrs. Lupin started but Dumbledore cut her off.

"He is no more a monster than you or I," Dumbledore stated matter of factly. "He simply goes through a transformation he has no control over. Whatever happens in that time is not his fault."

Remus held back tears (of happiness this time). He couldn't believe that someone was sticking up for him the way Dumbledore did.

"As I have said before," Dumbledore continued. "I have spent plenty of time coming up with a way to ensure Young Remus's safety, as well as the safety of his peers, so that he may take his rightful place at Hogwarts. I assure my staff and I are completely prepared to care for him when he arrives."

"But how can you be so sure," Mr. Lupin protested. "I have trouble keeping him away during the full moon. He can break through walls and doors now. He'll only get stronger as he ages."

"We have taken care of that," Dumbledore calmly reassured. "I have set up a special place for Remus to transform at the outskirts of Hogsmeade. It is completely safe, no one will be able to get in from the outside, the only entrance will be through a secret passageway below a Whomping Willow we will have planted on Hogwarts grounds. A staff member will be on standby to ensure Remus and the other students are safe. Our new school healer is completely prepared to help care for Remus and heal him after the full moon."

Remus and his parents gapped at him. Remus especially was shocked. Dumbledore had gone through all of this trouble just for him. Remus desperately held back his tears of joy as he looked pleadingly at his father.

Mr. Lupin looked from his son's pleading eyes to Dumbledore's assuring twinkling ones. He let out a sigh.

"And what if someone finds out he is a werewolf? The other parents wouldn't allow their children to go to school with him." Mr. Lupin asked.

"I'm sure young Remus here won't tell anyone and I can assure you my staff won't either," Dumbledore assured. "And if any students find out, not to worry I will personally take care of it."

Remus's eyes brightened even more with the hope that he was never allowed to have. He looked to his parents and begged them desperately and silently.

"You can ensure that other students will be safe?" Mrs. Lupin asked quietly.

Dumbledore simply nodded.

"Well then, Remus, you may go," Mr. Lupin said after sharing a glance with his wife. Remus jumped up and hugged his parents, tears finally falling. He thanked them profusely.

Then, to the surprise of veryone in the room including himself, he rushed to Professor Dumbledore and gave him a hug and thanked him repeatedly. Dumbledore, to the surprise of the Lupins, wrapped his arms around the young boy gently.

Remus had never felt such excitement and joy in his life. And certainly not since he had first become a werewolf.

That had been several months ago. Now Remus Lupin sat nervously in a compartment on his own. He barely acknowledged when a plump mousy brown and blonde haired boy came and asked if he could join him. He simply nodded and turned back to curling himself into the wall by the window. It was quite the miracle for him to be here, he knew.

Remus Lupin hadn't slept at all the night before in his excitement. He hadn't even noticed that he had fallen asleep on the train until the plump boy woke him up upon their arrival.

An: For the next chapter I need a sorting hat song and I am no good at writing songs and poems so if anyone would like to write one I would love to collaborate with you and I would of course credit you for the song.