The Aww... Files

A special attribute of Remus is his ability to make you go "Awww...." with the slightest details. He's someone that makes you catch the "nurse syndrome" and want desperately to hug him and caress his hair. It's probably all the pain and suffering he's had to endure throughout his troubled life that makes you want to run up, fling your arms around him and cry "It's ok! I love you!" He's just so... Remus. *sigh*

~~º~

The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray.

The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.

 ~º~

"Look at the state of his robes," Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Profssor Lupin passed. " He dresses like our old house-elf."

  ~º~

"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me," he said. " I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex." He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. "Pity sugar makes it useless," he added, taking a sip and shuddering.

  ~º~

A ray of wintery sunlight fell across the classroom,  illuminating Lupin's gray hairs and the lines on his young face.

  ~º~

"When they get near me - " Harry stared at Lupin's desk, his throat tight, "I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum."

Lupin made a sudden motion with his arm as though he had made to grip Harry's shoulder, but thought better of it.

  ~º~

"But Sirius Black escaped from them," Harry said slowly. "He got away ..."

Lupin's briefcase slipped from the desk; he had to stoop quickly to catch it.

  ~º~

"But then ...," Lupin muttered, staring at Black so intently it seemed he was trying to read his mind, "...why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless"-- Lupin's eyes suddenly widened as though he was seeing something beyond Black, something none of the rest could see, "-- unless he was the one ... unless you switched ... without telling me?"

 ~º~

But he never finished the question, because what he saw made his voice die in his throat. Lupin was lowering his wand, gazing fixedly at Black. The Professor walked to Black's side, seized his hand, pulled him to his feet so that Crookshanks fell to the floor, and embraced Black like a brother.

 ~º~

There was a ringing silence. Everyone's eyes were now on Lupin, who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale.

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione" he said "Only one out of three, I am afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead ..." An odd shiver passed over his face "But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

  ~º~

He pushed his graying hair out of his eyes, thought for a moment, then said, "That's where all of this starts - with my becoming a werewolf. None of this could have happened if I hadn't been bitten... and if I hadn't been so foolhardy ... "

He looked sober and tired.

 ~º~

"My transformations in those days were - were terrible. It is very painful to turn into a werewolf. I was seperated from humans to bite, so I bit and scratched myself instead. ...... But apart from my transformations, I was happier than I had been in my life. For the first time ever, I had friends, three great friends."

 

 ~º~

BANG! Thin, snake-like cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists and ankles; he overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move.

 ~º~

Lupin picked his old suitcase and the empty grindylow tank. "Well - good-bye, Harry," he said, smiling. "It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime. Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage ..."

 ~º~