Disclaimer: Harry Potter is life, but it's not mine.

'Half-breed!'

'Faggot werewolf!'

'Fucking sick!'

'They shouldn't let it walk the street, fucking disgusting!'

'Go die, you filthy piece of shit!'

An ice ball was thrown at the back of his head with such force, that Remus was thrown off his feet. He landed with a sickening thud in a pile slush near the Hogshead. Remus's head was pounding as the locals laughed and jeered at him as he sat in the freezing snow and mud. Children began poking sticks at him as he struggled to find his feet. His face remained stoic as he continued down the streets; the taunters had began to follow him.

This isn't life? He thought to himself as more snowballs came pummelling towards him. The lycanthrope realised then that it was the first time he had been seen properly in normal day to day life by wizards since before Halloween; the only people to have see him before now were Dumbledore, Rosmerta, Harry and the Dursley's. Remus quickly remembered the lesson that he had learnt quite young in life: that not all wizards were as kind as Dumbledore, as he was exposed to the insults continuously thrown at him at the present time.

He walked aimlessly, ignoring the calls, until he was roughly grabbed by the scruff of his neck and shoved into an alleyway.

He was backed into a corner, back against the crumbling wall, surrounded by five wizards, dressed in black cloaks with the hoods up. Their faces were undistinguishable beneath the shadow of their hoods. The alleyway had such a foul stench of sewage that Remus felt dirty just being in its presence. As a werewolf, Remus's sense of smell was much more acute than that of a normal human and he screwed his nose up at the smell of the sweat and alcohol that was given off by the five figures in front of him. He wasn't getting out of this one anytime soon...

His head was shoved viciously against the wall when he realised that one of them had been addressing him -his usually impeccable hearing was failing him due to his fatigue and recent blow to the head.

'What?' He slurred, placing a cool hand to the back of his head. One of the figures growled impatiently, in a vain attempt to sound threatening.

"You call that a growl? I'll show you a growl" (the same part of his brain that, yet again, had probably been influenced a lot by James and Sirius mentally replied).

'I said: how does it feel to have the whole world hate you, Werewolf? How does it feel to be so unwanted? For even children to be sickened by your very presence?!' Remus was not going to humour them with a response. This lack of retaliation, however, did not lead to an any better outcome for the unfortunate lycanthrope.

He was kneed in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him as he slid down the wall, struggling to keep his footing. Two unfamiliar pairs of arms grabbed each of his, holding him up as the remaining three took turns at beating him. Remus's knees buckled under the pressure of each blow and he lay limp in the arms of the two associates. He began slipping from consciousness as the wall behind him was stained in scarlet from the blood forming dripping the back of his head. Just as his eyes began to close, a mirthless voice whispered in his ear,

'Say hello to my wife's estranged cousin when you join him, you rotten fag.' Dull grey eyes bore into his and right then Remus knew.

'Malfoy.' he rasped out. Lucius smiled, showing a set of yellowing teeth.

'That's right Lupin. Don't know if you've been reading the Prophet lately, their saying a lot of things about you... tut tut...' He mocked, clicking his tongue. Remus used what little energy he had to spit in the ghastly man's face, wiping the smirk clean off him.

Malfoy rose a gloved hand to wipe the saliva, then used the same hand to backhand Remus across his already bruising face. He hissed, 'I think, it's time we pay a visit to the Ministry.'

Even in his hazed consciousness, Remus knew why Malfoy was doing this (besides the sadistic pleasure): Malfoy was not exactly a favourite at the Ministry at the moment either (what with the whole Death Eater thing); bringing Remus in for questioning would, no doubt, soften the possible punishment that might follow if Malfoy did not play his cards right, which was unlikely.

Once a snake, always a snake...

The last sound Remus heard was the snapping of fingers followed by a loud blow to the side of his head.

Darkness consumed him, swallowing him whole.

Remus awoke to find himself strapped to a cold, metal chair in a dusty, coal black room. The leather bonds were gripping painfully into his wrists and ankles. He could feel the absence of his wand which usually sat on the inside of his robes. Across the room, despite his blurry vision, he spotted his satchel and said wand; he also spotted the pair of feet standing beside them.

It was then, Remus realized that he was not alone.

He looked up properly at the room for the first time as his vision cleared. He was met with several pairs of eyes trained on him, staring like a hawk trained on its prey. Ministry officials, Remus guessed. The room was circular and eerily cold. He looked up to find a lone dementor hovering above the wizards, hungrily. Remus, through clever deduction, had come to the conclusion that he was, indeed, at a hearing.

More importantly: his hearing.

'Remus John Lupin?' His eyes followed the speaker, coming to rest on none other than Barty Couch, sat in the magistrates position. He swallowed nervously, and nodded. 'Are you aware of why you are there?' Remus thought about the question, and found his voice.

'Possibly, albeit I'm not entirely sure...' His authoritative voice echoed off the walls with confidence. His words were lies, however, he knew why he was here.

His calm, collected demeanour was, of course, a façade; he was not going to show them his steadily growing fear, as he watched the Dementor, out of the corner of his eyes, circling him. Barty glared at Remus before replying,

'Very well. Remus Lupin, you are here for questioning, under the suspicions that you have been taking part in various Death Eater activities.'

'I figured as much.' Remus fired back, his emerald eyes flaming like the wolf's. His lips were pressed together so thin, he would have given McGonagall a run for her money. 'Under what pretences have you brought me here? What evidence do you have besides my lycanthropy?'

Crouch was taken aback, but he quickly regained himself, although not before another voice spoke; a calmer, more familiar voice.

'Strangely enough Barty, this seems like Deja Vu... in regard to our earlier conversation that is.' Remus sighed, finally, the voice of reason: Albus Dumbledore.

'And I can assure you Dumbledore, the Ministry had every right to bring the werewolf in for questioning. What evidence is there that it is not in fact, a Death Eater?' Dumbledore gave Crouch a omniscient smile and fixed his twinkling blue eyes on Remus.

'Mr Lupin, I am going to realise one of your bonds. When I do so, you are not to try and break free or try anything. Do you understand?' Remus nodded reassuringly. He knew it was important for Dumbledore not to show favouritism in his position and therefore he must be treated like any other "Prisoner", or in his case "werewolf".

Dumbledore raised his wand and loosened one of Remus's arms, He flexed his wrist where the bonds had reddened his ashen skin. Dumbledore then flicked this wand again and the sleeve of Remus's robes rolled up, exposing a clear, save for his scars, forearm. Dumbledore smiled and then turned back to Crouch. 'Evidence enough, Barty?' Crouch looked like a child who was told he could not have any dessert; evident anger spread across his face.

'No Dark Mark.' Crouch muttered disappointed. He glared at Remus in disgust, while Remus glared right back in triumph, his forearm still exposed. For once he did not want to hide away. For once he wanted them to look; to see his scars.

'You may label me as a dark creature, Mr Crouch, but I am human and I know morals, and right from wrong. I do not follow the stereotypes you all assume when meeting a werewolf. I have never, not once, wanted to join Voldemort-' Several wizards and witches flinched and hissed at the name, '-he destroyed what little happiness my life held...and I'd have sooner died than join him.' Remus finished his rant breathing heavily. Dumbledore, humming in agreement, offered his opinion.

'You seem to have blown this a tiny bit out of proportion, Barty. An entire Wizengamot trial, under the pretence of rumours and prejudice, and because of Mr Malfoy, who brought him there -and may I remind you he is also due for questioning.'

Barty gave the impression of one who had recently taken a powerful blow to the head by a bludger. He took the papers underneath his hands and banged them in frustration on his desk in an attempt to neaten them, but managing to only crease the edges further.

'Fine, Dumbledore! Have it your way, but if I ever see it-' He gestured to Remus in disgust, 'in the Ministry for reasons like this again, I will not be so lenient.' He finished bluntly, looking down his nose at Remus.

Yeah, "Lenient" would require me to actually commit a crime; something atrocious, as opposed to me actually trying to get on with my miserable life, which is proving rather hard as evident from this morning's events, Remus thought cynically.

'Therefore, it is with regret,' Crouch continued, making a point of looking anywhere but the lycanthrope, 'that it is no longer relevant to keep it here any longer.' He then locked his eyes onto Remus' challengingly, who stared back with equal hatred. 'You are free to go, Lupin.'He then stood abruptly and left the courtroom in what can only be described as being "in a huff". Remus stared at the vacated chair in which Crouch was recently sat.

What a befuddling day, he thought to himself.

He looked around at the remaining wizards, trying to catch Dumbledore's gaze. When he found it, Remus nodded in thanks towards the Professor and attempted a smile -which turned out to look more like a painful twitch at the side of his lips. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as he smiled back, before getting up and gliding towards Remus (who was still tied to his chair as no one seemed to have the decency to untie him, or even go near him for that matter). Dumbledore raised his wand and released the werewolf, who subconsciously rubbed his swollen wrists, and asked softly,

'I'm sorry about this, Remus. How are you?'

'Fine, thank you.' Remus replied a little too quickly. He bit his lip hard enough to taste copper. The professor, however, merely looked thoughtful.

'hmm... are you sure Remus? Where are you planning on living now, if you don't mind me asking? Rosmerta owled me a few days ago to inform me that you left The Three Broomsticks, you know how she used to always worry when it came to the infamous "Marauders", I hope you understand our concern.' Remus felt a growl rise in his throat and he gripped the sides of the metal chair, turning his knuckles and fingers white.

He was sick of this, all of this.

'I understand and appreciate all of your concern, really I do, but honestly I am fine.' He lied, 'I don't need mollycoddling just because everyone I have ever loved is either dead and taken away from me.' He took a deep breath. It was all coming out now; everything, 'You all tell me you'll be here for me, or that life will get better, but really, it never will. My life is over. The world hates me and I it and I am better off not in it. I want all of this to end!' and with that he ran from the court room, not even sparing a glance at his discarded possessions in the corner, and gaining a number of shocked looks from various witches and wizards.

Dumbledore stared after Remus and sighed in exasperation and concern. He needed to find him, and quick. All logic had been abandoned by the werewolf and his actions now could lead to drastic consequences for Remus, he was not in his right head at the moment.

The wise wizard glided hastily after Remus -even through his worried state, his presence could still calm every wizard and witch in his path. Dumbledore knew where he was going. The only place that could draw Remus's incoherent mind towards it in his current state. A place with dark memories. A place where, previously, Remus had often locked himself up in his school days as he shared the same thoughts like those he did now...

The shrieking Shack...

Dun Dun Dunn! The end of yet another dismal chapter. Poor Remus. I wasn't too sure about the Ministry thing, but lets see what you think, eh? The next chapter is probably going to be the most depressing, most likely because I'm just so evil and sadistic like that *sighs* So anyway, reviews appreciated.