The Attack
1st September 1973
Atticus Black's mother had not dealt with the escape well. Despite Jane's constant reassuring words, Helena would still beg to be shown that the wards around the house are still up and working. Ezekiel had not gone back to Hogwarts for his 2nd year nor would he go back for his 3rd. Seraphina and Atticus had still yet to be sorted.
It was difficult of a night time. It was useless even trying to fall asleep when every so often you would be jolted by a blood-curdling scream from the next room over. Mother's nightmares. Most nights the words coming out would be too incoherent to understand, but all of them knew it was always about Father.
It was not his mothers fault that Atticus and his siblings had missed out on so much. She is the bravest woman he had ever met. However the young boy couldn't help but feel angry towards other children his age. Why do they get to live a normal life while he was confined to the fence around the Finch House? The jealousy is then overrided with pangs of guilt; Regulus and Sirius are still trapped in that stupid house with a troll as a mother, yet they still had the freedom of going to school and talking to people other than the ones they live with.
A perk of living in a smaller home; it's much easier for Atticus to sneak out. The vines growing against the walls act as ladders to climb down without unnecessarily breaking any bones. He would first have to wait for Mothers constant checks that her children okay before even thinking about leaving.
Atticus did not like to go against his mothers wishes, however it was this, or slowly going insane from listening to Seraphina's record replaying for the 9th time that morning. He, of course, made the wise decision of leaving.
It was around 10am when he had jumped over the picket fence, immediately hit in the face with the smell of freedom. He did not care for the stange looks as he ran around the corner where he was sure to be out of Helena's view. Families would soon start arriving at King's Cross Station, ready for their childrens departure to Hogwarts.
He had planned this for weeks. He could see how Sirius and Reggie were doing. Trying his hardest to mask his excitement, he pulled out a neat list from his trouser pocket:
1. Jump out of window - land like those superheros Jane talks about.
2. Hide around the corner as soon as you land - mother seems to have eyes in the back of her head.
3. Make sure your trousers cover your sisters pink socks that you accidentally put on - no muggle will think you look cool if you have the frills showing.
4. Once at King's Cross Station, stay behind the pillar - DO NOT let the old cow Aunt Walburga see you.
5. Watch everyone get on the train while you sit and feel sorry for yourself - rain for dramatic effect would be apreciated.
6. Get home before mother notices.
He'd finally reached the platform and hid behind the pillar just enough for him to have a decent view of everyone arriving. He decided to push down the envy from seeing people's fathers be human enough to hug their children. It seemed to be more effort to act like Phineas, than to be affectionate.
It was around 10:54am by the time Atticus had spotted the screwed up face of Walburga Black, looking down at her children as if they were just bugs that needed to be squished. Regulus seemed to keep his face void of as many emotions as possible. Sirius on the other hand was quite the opposite, he did not try to hide his looks of disgust towards his parents. However that soon changed as he ran past Uncle Orion, ignoring their calls for him.
He landed in the arms of a boy just taller than him, with round glasses, dark messy hair and caramel toned skin to match. His smile mirrored the sun as he recognised Sirius, turning to the people Atticus assumed were his parents. He began to regret coming here when it became clear how close this boy was to both of his parents. The house of Black clearly was far from normal, when Atticus realises how easy it was for other families to just show their love to each other.
---
It was long after the train had left when Atticus decided to go home. He found it very nice to watch how other people acted, although it made him slightly frustrated, he allowed himself to feel it. The 'dramatic rain' that he had asked for earlier had now arrived, ruining his list of directions to back home. He no longer knew where he was going, despite living in this area for 2 years now.
He approached a dark alley, he did not have to pass through here earlier, but he couldn't tell where else to go. His trouser legs began to dampen from the splashes after each step. This alley clearly was not suitable for a 12 year old boy to be walking through with the shouting in the distance keeping him on edge.
Fast footsteps appeared from behind him, with a quick glance, all Atticus could see was a cloaked figure. He quickened his pace as he was reminded of the horror films Jane had shown him on Halloween. He did not fancy getting murdered today. The footsteps behind him got progressively louder. When does this stupid alley end?
By this point they were both running, however his legs were no match to the tall person behind him. He felt an arm grasp around his shoulders and another on his mouth before he could reach his wand. There was immense pressure at his neck, followed by an ear-splitting scream that he guessed was his own, until his vision went black and he fell to the pavement. Atticus heard an unsteady voice shouting in the distance, "I've got the vampire, get that kid to St. Mungo's; he was bitten."
---
6th September 1973
Atticus finally regained consciousness, however he was in too much pain to move or open his eyes. Every time his heart beat, it felt like a surge of pain would flow through his entire body. He was no longer in the dark alley, nor was it raining. It felt like he was in a very uncomfortable bed. He could hear Jane somewhere around him speaking to an unknown person, "So how long will this training period last? Will he be able to return to normal?"
"The training programme lasts for approximately one year. It will be a mixture of different activities that will help for controlling any vampiric urges he may have. There will also be therapy sessions every week for any psychological effects the situation has caused."
Atticus world had shattered. Any chances of him living a normal life when he is older is over. No one will want to befriend a fucking vampire. How will he ever be allowed in Hogwarts? If he had just respected his mother and stayed inside, this never would've happened.
His mother must have been sat beside him, because he could feel her thumb drawing circles on the back of his hand. He forced his eyes open when he heard sniffles coming from her direction. She had not seen him, concentrating on the words of who Atticus assumed was a Healer.
The whole room was coloured with plain whites and greys. He did not want to spend a whole year in such a miserable room. He looked back at his mother, watching her facial expressions intently. His eyes then travelled to his hand, there were leather strips around his wrists, which were connected to the metal sides on the bed.
His head was pounding, the room smelt overwhelmingly of something metalic, it was oddly apetising. There were 3 different beats he could hear in the room. Looking around for the explanation, he panicked at the realisation. There were 3 people around him, surely he couldn't hear there heartbeats? Atticus was sure it was only werewolves that could hear this well.
He quickly grew disgusted with himself, pulling his hand away from his mother, however he did not get very far due to the restraints on his arms. His mother gasped before wrapping her arms around her son and sobbing, "Atticus! You're awake! I am so sorry, my love. I love you so much."
Atticus winced at the pain but chose not to say anything. The healer that was speaking to Jane soon ended up beside him, asking what seemed like hundreds of questions that Atticus didn't quite understand. He instead lifted both hands - perhaps too fast judging by the way the healer had flinched - and asked, "Can I get these things off? I feel like a prisoner."
"Unfortunately not, Mr. Black. You are still deemed unstable and a danger to the rest of St. Mungo's, so they must stay. Now, can you tell me if your teeth or mouth hurts?"
Atticus had only acknowledged the burning sensation at his gums when the healer mentioned it. "Yes, I suppose so. It feels like my gums are on fire."
"Yes, just as I assumed. That will be the new set of teeth. I will go and get you a potion to help with the pain." As the healer opened the door to leave, Atticus could see what looked like two Aurors standing guard on either side of the door. He really felt like an animal trapped at a muggle zoo, once again confined.
---
July 1974
"That's all for today, Atticus, you may return to your ward now." Atticus practically ran out of the therapy room as soon as the words were spoken. He had been moved to a long term ward, after he was announced 'safe' and 'not a danger to society'.
He preferred not to speak to the other patients around him and instead kept to his section in the far right corner. That was until a new patient had come in, placing his bags on the bed opposite Atticus. He was a rather tall boy, with light brown hair. The sun shining in his direction as he began to unpack, it clearly showed that the boy was covered in scars, including multiple on his face. Which Atticus now realised he had not been able to see a second ago, "Do you need something? You seem to be staring an awful lot."
"My apologies. I'm Atticus."
"Remus," He had finished unpacking by now and sat himself on the chair in his section and began reading a book. How he thought it was comfortable, Atticus would never know. There was something different about Remus compared to the other patients, there was a minescule chance that he could be like Atticus, but the more he thought about it the less it seemed possible, "You're staring again, Atticus."
---
Remus had only spent a week at St. Mungo's, he did not explain what the reason was, only that he had yearly checks just before he goes back to Hogwarts. During that week Remus and Atticus had become quite close. He only realised Remus was his first actual friend after he had left. He did not expect they would see each other again, given that he was not a normal wizard anymore. However it was a nice while it lasted.