Moon Fishing.
Chapter Three: Registration.
The next morning Remus awoke in a private room at St. Mungo's. The sheets were crisp and white, they smelled sterile and wrong. Remus decided he hated them and all he wanted was his own bed. His Mum and Dad were by his side when he woke up. They cooed quietly encouraging words and smiled a bit but they looked like they hadn't slept. He winced at a sudden pain in his side and asked his parents what had happened. They both seemed shocked by his question then his father started speaking in an odd voice and his Mum kept wiping her eyes as he was told that it was a werewolf that had attacked him and that while he was okay he would turn into a monster every full moon too.
And there was nothing they could do about it.
Remus nodded silently as his eyes filled with tears. He was afraid and confused and sorry he snuck out. He screwed his eyes shut as the tears began to fall and felt the weight of his parents first in the bed and then around him as they held him tight and rubbed his back and stroked his hair and cried too.
Remus was in the hospital for a few days and was feeling incredibly bored. He was to be discharged the day after tomorrow but already he felt he was going out of his mind. Two days ago had been great when his father had brought in the model airplanes and they had laughted together at them as they flew around the room. That was, until a rather stern healer had come in all waddle, pointing fingers and loud voice and told his father that that sortof thing wasn't allowed. When she had left Remus had learned a new swear word when his father muttered under his breath at her disappearing back.
Marelda came into the room just after lunch with a man Remus didn't know. He introduced himself as Bruce Stebbins and even shook Remus'hand like he was a grown up. Mister Stebbins was polite, warm and kind to Remus. He sat down with all the Lupins and told them that Remus would now have to be registered at the Ministry of Magic and that all sorts of different and sometimes silly and unfair laws would effect Remus as he grew. He answered any questions any of the Lupins and before he left he arranged for Remus' appointment at the Ministry for the day he was to be discharged and wished them all luck.
The day of Remus' discharge came quickly but Remus' fear of the scary-sounding Ministry was outweighed by his excitement to finally be going home. He and his parents flooed to the Ministry directly from the hospital. The trio stepped out of one of the many grates in the grand atrium. Remus looked wide-eyed at the imposing space before his eyes rested on the fountain. He quickly decided that he didn't like the fountain at all - the witch looked suspiciously like she was going to kiss the wizard. The idea was enough to make his young stomach crawl. Remus shuddered at the thought of a girl kissing him on his lips. John Lupin mistook this for a shudder of fear and scooped his son into his arms. Remus was all bones and energy and angles. His shaggy hair hung in his eyes because he point-blank refused to get it cut and John couldn't help but marvel at how much he loved his son. John leaned down and planted a kiss on Remus' cheek.
"Love you, kiddo." he whispered.
Remus sighed and rolled his eyes, "Urgh, Dad! Stop being such a girl!"
They laughed a little at this but all humour was lost when they came to their destination.
'DARK CREATURE REGISTRATION AND CONTROL'
Read the stern brass plate on the sterner door. Behind that door sat a hard and humourless man. When they enetered he stood and introduced himself to Marelda while he ignored John and the boy in his arms. He spoke pompously about rules and regulations, used the words 'us' and 'them' and referred to Remus as 'it' no matter how many times he was told his name. Then he got another wizard to poke and prod at Remus before some very official looking documents were signed and they were hustled out of the door.
When they were finally home Remus wonders about things that are different. His father removed the charm off his bedroom roof when Remus asked him to. The plain white paint screams to him how different things are. There is also the matter of the scary old cage in the basement...
But over the next few days and weeks Remus saw how much was the same.
John Lupin still played quidditch with his son. He still ruffled his hair teasingly if the subject of girls and kissing came up in conversation and he still admonished Remus with a stern voice ( but smiling eyes and a twitchy mouth) if Remus referred to his primary school teacher as 'the old bat'
Marelda Lupin still smiled and joked and sang when they sat together in the sunny kitchen on Sunday mornings. She still baked the best quadruple-choc-fudge biscuits in the world. ( always leaving a large amount of batter in the bowl for Remus to 'test'. She still read to Remus every night at bedtime, avoiding the subject of the Moon.