Lupin Cottage…

Remus Lupin woke up on a Saturday morning to the sound of his parents screaming downstairs in the kitchen. He shifted uncomfortably on his bed and pulled his pillow over his head, trying and failing to block out the noise. He had stayed up all night watching Dracula for the fifth time, and had every intention to make up for the lost sleep. His parents, on the other hand seemed completely oblivious to his discomfort.

What was worse was that you couldn't even make out what they were rowing so furiously about. The thick oak door of his room made sure of that. Instead, all that could be heard was a buzzing incomprehensible noise, like bad static on the radio.

Remus turned on his side and immediately regretted it as a sharp pain shot through him. Last week's transformation had been anything but merciful on him and this time, he seemed to be taking longer than usual to heal. After all, magical maladies could only do so much, and the few that did have better effects were recently banned by the ministry for werewolves to use. Needless to say, John Lupin had been outraged. The scene that followed expressed clearly just how outraged John had been and is better left unsaid, for the sake of those with weak hearts.

Remus scrunched his eyes shut. It was useless now, he concluded. He was never going to get any sleep at this rate, especially since his bladder decided right then that it would be a good time for release. He got up gingerly; cursing himself for being foolish enough to even consider lying down on his side. God, it hurt.

He stumbled into the bathroom sleepily and after he'd finished his business, took out his toothbrush and toothpaste from the mirror cabinet. As he closed the cabinet door, he caught his reflection in the mirror and quickly reopened it again. Remus hated his reflection with a passion. Hated it, because every time he looked at himself, he could see the wolf staring ferociously through his eyes. His mother had told him off for it several times, saying that it was all in his head and that a handsome boy like him should want to keep a mirror in front of his face all day.

What would she know? She was a muggle, a psychiatrist, and a mother…

Remus Lupin was not stupid. He knew how incomplete he was. How he was stuck between the worlds of man and beast. His life here on earth was unjustified and no matter how much his parents tried to make him think otherwise, he was smart enough to know the truth.

The people who knew him hated him, and those who didn't…well, Remus hated them. It wasn't like he was antisocial. Quite the contrary, Remus had the privilege to go to a good muggle school and had quite a handful of friends who truly cared for him. However, if he ever told them who he truly was, he'd only get laughed at. They would never know, never understand.

Remus shook his head as he walked out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Eleven year olds were not meant to have thoughts like these. It was bad enough that he was a werewolf, he didn't need another label to claim him as psychologically disturbed as well.

His bare feet padded silently across the carpeted stairs, and he yawned widely, unable to believe that his parents were still rowing. It must be something serious. He'd almost tuned their voices out, when he heard his name being mentioned and peeked through the kitchen door cautiously, making sure he was well out of sight.

John Lupin was pacing holes into the floor, running his fingers repeatedly through his hair. 'You have to understand Del, I had talked to Dippet about this before, and he had assured me that Remus would never be able to get in! And now, Dumbledore comes to us personally with the offer of a lifetime! We can't just refuse!' He banged his fist, frustrated, against the kitchen table.

Delilah Lupin looked at her husband incredulously. 'You talked to Dippet? When?'

John sat down heavily on a nearby chair. 'A year ago. I know how you feel about this, Del,' he said before his wife could speak again. 'But I couldn't just sit back and do nothing about it. I had to know...know if he could ever get into Hogwarts. He such a smart boy, and he deserves so much more…'

Del moved behind him to rest both hands on her husband's shoulders, massaging them comfortingly. 'I know, sweetheart. But look what magic got us…Remus…into last time. I-I just can't risk that all over again, not when we've finally got everything settled out. I just want Remus to grow up like a normal boy. Go to college, become an accountant, or a doctor, or something.'

John shook his head. 'Magic is in his blood, Del, stronger than most children his age…given his condition. You can't just push it away.'

'No, but I can protect him from it.' She bit her lip. 'John, even if we do let him go, can you imagine the amount of prejudice he has to face? People are going to hurt him, and I'm not talking about physical pain alone.'

John looked at his wife pleadingly. 'Dumbledore will be taking precautions. No one's ever to know. Remus would be passing off as any other normal boy his age. Please, Del, he deserves a chance.'

Del looked at him uncertainly. 'I-'

On the other side of the room, Remus's mind was whirring. He was being accepted into Hogwarts? By this Dumbledore man? And no one would find out about him being a werewolf. What was the problem then? Why did his mother oppose to the idea so much? He was being given the opportunity to learn magic, to be the wizard he was born to be, to be among his own people? Who in their right minds would refuse such an offer?

Hogwarts, thought Remus again. All those stories his father had shared about his childhood; he could see if they were all true.

Remus Lupin had made his decision right then. So setting, what he hoped was a determined expression on his face, he walked in. His parents stopped mid conversation and looked at him, startled at the strange gleam in his eyes.

'Mom,' he said slowly. 'Dad, I want to go.'

And for the parents of an only child, that was all it took.

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