He didn't know why his father was acting so strangely, why his mother kept glancing at the windows. His father had something to do with it, but he didn't care. It didn't affect him, so why should he worry? As the day went on, his father pulled him aside, interrupting his reading. His wide, innocent eyes pleading to know why things were happening- why his mother was jumping at loud noises, why his father was weeping and packing, and why he didn't know.
"Son, there is a bad man out there- a very bad man, who does very bad, very evil things when he's angry- and I made him angry- and he wants to do evil things to our family, including you. Don't leave the house at night, not even to go observe the moon like we usually do." said the man, wrinkles of worry creasing his forehead, and his weariness affected his son too.
"Daddy, what did you do?" asked the sandy-haired boy, scared.
"I insulted a man named Fenrir Greyback, Son. He's a-" he was interrupted by the fear in his son's expression, and his son's speech.
"Werewolf, I know. I read the Daily Prophet." muttered the five year old.
One night, on the full moon, they went to Hogsmeade, were they would go and live under the Hog's Head. They moved back soon after, and they established a schedule. Every week that lead up to a full moon, would be spent under the Hog's Head, and they would both go outside, with Auror supervision. It was a nice life, living so near Hogwarts. As Fenrir Greyback became infamous for various crimes, they finally moved permanently into the Hog's Head.
The father spent time with his family in the Three Broomsticks, one particular Full Moon, that was usually spent in hiding. The barmaid and her daughter, Rosmerta, who was already Hogwarts age, home with her mother for the Christmas holidays, told stories about Hogwarts to the family, who either had not gone yet, or forgotten how fun and dangerous and safe and charming the castle was.
As they left, they heard a howl, and they saw many faces darken, and people started running. You could hear the swish of cloaks, before disapparition, and the wave of wands, casting Locking Charms on their doors. The family, terrified that Greyback had found them at last, ran under, and ran into the crude, one room apartment, and locked the door, bolted it, and hid in a corner. However, he still found them. As other months came, they lost track of Fenrir and the Full moon.
That mistake resulted in the biggest consequence.
Remus Lupin skipped in the night, and the residents of Hogsmeade watched this innocent soon-to-be six year old skip around the town. He heard a howl, but paid it no mind. As he skipped out into the cobbled street, he came to face with a wolf. A wolf with a long snout, it's angry growls vibrating in Remus's head, and Remus knew this was Fenrir Greyback. He ran as fast as he could. He knew it wouldn't be enough, and he cried for help- he was only five, what else could he do? He ran, and ran, and he ducked into an alley. Greyback ran, and leapt. He hit Remus hard in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. He looked into the yellow eyes of the werewolf, and knew now, he had never felt true terror before this moment. All of a sudden, the wolf leapt backwards, as if pulled back by some invisible force. Remus knew, he somehow did that, but before the joy could settle in, he was knocked backwards by a gray creature, and he felt the beast's teeth puncture his shoulder, and a large part of his torso. The last he remembers of that night, is a howl, and distant laughter, ringing through the streets of Hogsmeade.
His father, later in life, regretted insulting greyback. He had almost forgotten the young, carefree, innocent boy he loved. He still loved Remus of course, but... he could still miss the pre-wolf Remus. He was proud of his son though, for dealing with this, for struggling with this- it made him who he is, and made him appreciate life all the more. He was a man now, and his father knew then- he didn't have to worry about Remus anymore- last he'd heard, he found himself a nice girl.
A/N: I don't know how I feel about this one. I wanted to put some backstory in there, how the family felt about this predicament, and I did it how I thought they would, but I don't think it's enough. Also, I included Rosmerta as the Barmaid's daughter because, really, how old can she be? That last part- about Remus's Father's thoughts wasn't there about a minute ago, while I wrote this, but- I think I like it.