Remus Lupin sat at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal. It was two days after his latest transformation and he was still recovering. A fresh scar ran down his back, raw against the rubbing flannel of his pyjama shirt. He was now eleven; it was four years after he was bitten by Fenrir Greyback.
Remus' parents had told him the whole story behind why that particular werewolf was in their garden on that fateful night. John Lupin had cried when he explained to his son that it was his fault; he had been the one to insult Greyback and bring his wrath down upon them. The night after the healers at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries had confirmed Remus' lycanthropy he had tried to drown his sorrows with several bottles of Firewhisky.
Remus' mother, Mary, had become reclusive, barely leaving the house. The relationship between her and her husband had become strained. She loved Remus, but rarely showed it these days. She had lost a lot of weight after he was bitten and her face was now pale, drawn, and sickly.
The house had barely changed, at least visibly.
In fact, if you assessed the house with magic you would find many reinforcing charms, a number of anti-trespasser jinxes and alarms, as well as a basement which had previously not existed. For a few months after he was first bitten, his parents had taken Remus to the purpose built Transformation Rooms beneath St Mungo's, but after a while they decided that was too public and noticeable.
It broke John's heart every time he led Remus down to that dark room. He hated himself every time he locked the door between himself and his only son. He cursed and wept and tried to comfort his wife every time the creature that had taken over their son howled and snarled.
Remus tried not to let his pain show. In the past four years he had learnt that it was easier for him to lie about what he was feeling than to put more strain on his parents. He didn't want them to break up. He didn't want them to be sick with worry. He didn't want them to know that he knew his mother had tried to kill herself soon after he was bitten.
It was easier for him to put on a brave face and hide his true pain from the world.
He had long ago put all thoughts of going to Hogwarts aside. He believed that he could no longer have fun, have friends, or have a family of his own.
After all, who would want to hang around with a werewolf?
Remus was eating in silence when the intruder alarm went off. The loud chorus of high pitched sirens echoed down the hall and into the kitchen. Remus' heart leapt to his throat, he shoved his chair back and it fell over as he ran, still in his pyjamas, to his parents' bedroom. What if Greyback had come back, as his father had feared?
His large blue eyes were wide as his father ran past him, down the stairs, wand at the ready, and told him to stay back.
John swore as the doorbell rang.
'How the blazes did they get past my jinxes?' he exclaimed. The outline against the door was tall and thin, it didn't look like Greyback to Remus. Besides, it was July – the height of British summer – and the moon wasn't full.
Mary pulled Remus close as they both looked cautiously around the banister of the stairs down the length of the hall. John's wand was ready, his hand on the doorknob. He pulled back sharply and thrust his wand towards whoever was waiting outside.
'WHAT DO YOU WANT?' he yelled at the stranger. 'Oh, I'm sorry Professor Dumbledore, we weren't expecting any visitors.' John stammered and apologised at the person outside. Remus couldn't see who they were in the bright sunlight. It seemed to him as if the person was reflecting and sparkling in the light. Mary loosened her grip on her son and took his hand as she uncertainly headed down the stairs.
'It's quite alright John, I should have let you know I was coming – how rude of me!' said the visitor in a friendly voice, 'though your jinxes and traps did most certainly give me some useful exercise. Do you mind if I come in? It's a lovely day but I have some important business to discuss with you and your son.'
'With Remus? Of course, sir, come in. Sorry about the jinxes.' John let the man past him and showed him into the living room. He beckoned to Remus and Mary and set about offering the man a cup of tea.
When Remus entered the kitchen he found an old wizard with half moon glasses, light blue robes and a long silver beard sat in the seat he had vacated shortly before. Remus saw his parents exchange a look over his head. He didn't know what to make of it. His mother ushered him into a seat opposite the man. John and Mary sat either side of their son. A united front.
'Hello Remus,' the old man said, 'My name is Albus Dumbledore, I am Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'
Remus stared, open mouthed, at Albus Dumbledore. Dare he hope?
'Excuse me, Professor; are you aware of Remus'… affliction?' John asked, unsure of how much his old teacher knew.
'There's no need to call me Professor now, John, I am your equal.' Dumbledore smiled serenely, a twinkle in his blue eyes. 'And yes, I am well aware of Remus' condition, I have been wracking my brains for the best part of the year to find a solution that can benefit everyone.'
Remus couldn't believe it. He had spent four years telling himself that Hogwarts was but a dream to him, and now, here was Professor Dumbledore telling him that he could, indeed, do the impossible.
'How?' asked Mary, speaking at last.
'Very simply,' Dumbledore addressed Remus directly. 'As you are only affected on one night each month, I see no reason to sacrifice your entire future because of this. I have spoken with a number of Healers at St Mungo's and both the Potions Master and Matron at Hogwarts and concluded that, providing you are properly cared for post-transformation, you can be back at school within two days.'
'But where am I meant to change?' Remus asked, voicing his main concern. 'I can't change near people; I might hurt them.'
'Ah, but if there are no people nearby then you are perfectly safe. Your own wounds can be treated by Madam Pomfrey, the Matron.'
'But where,' Remus repeated, 'here we have a basement and I get locked in so I can't get to Mum and Dad,'
'Well this is my idea, Remus. On the edge of Hogsmeade village is a recently built, run down shack. Through the use of some cunning magic, of my own doing I'm afraid, I have managed to convince the locals that the shack has been there for a number of years but was deserted suddenly due to an infestation of particularly malevolent ghosts.' Dumbledore gazed over the top of his glasses, 'there are of course no ghosts, but their imagined presence will put off any unwanted visitors so you are free to transform safely.
'As a way of getting you to the shack without being noticed, a secret passageway has been dug and a rather boisterous Whomping Willow planted over the top – Professor Sprout was most thrilled by the challenge. This Willow will prevent anyone following you to the shack. Does this seem agreeable?'
Remus nodded his head anxiously and looked quickly between both of his parents. Finally, his father said, 'I don't see any reason not to accept this, thank you so much Professor. You have no idea how much this means to all of us, Remus especially, thank you.'
Dumbledore patted John tenderly on the back as he was swept into an uncomfortable hug over the table. Mary excused herself from the room with teary eyes. Remus grinned from ear to ear – he was going to school!
Before he left, Professor Dumbledore handed Remus a thick parchment envelope from an unseen pocket in his robes.
'See you in September, Remus,' said Remus' first hope in four years as he walked away down the sunlit garden path.
'I can't wait,' Remus called to his retreating back.
Sorry for the not uploading regularly - I've been focusing on two of my other stories instead... but now I feel bad for just ditching Remus.
I will try to get back into writing for him soon.
But in the meantime:
Thank you to Coaloki, issmith and ShadowedPuppeteer for adding this to your story alerts!
Thank you to Buninsun for adding this to your favourite stories!
Thank you to issmith for reviewing!
Next chapter should be Remus boarding the Hogwarts Express!