Magic?
Walking down the narrow road, Remus felt guilty for leaving the way he did. He told his friends he was going to use the tele outside so as to not disturb them, but instead went the other way and headed to meet his mom a few streets over.
Hope Lupin was many things, a wonderful mother who cared, a slightly narcissistic bitch, and married to a complete asshole who called himself his father. When Remus approached the shiny blue car Hope loved so much he noticed she wasn't alone. His dickhead of a father was with her.
He looked at his mother's face and saw the painful expression she wore. He knew something had either happened or was about to happen. He didn't want to know either way.
"So this is where you go every weekend? The Slums?" Lyall Lupin said with a distasteful grimace.
"What are you doing here Lyall?"
"I'm your father, address me as so."
"You're not my father, you're just someone who helped create me."
"You're 11 years old. You don't know what you're talking about, Now shut up and get in the car, you've somewhere to be in two days and i have very little time to explain."
Remus huffed and got in the car. He refused to speak to Lyall, instead choosing to converse with his mom to pass the time. Soon enough they arrived home.
"Go to your room and pack enough clothes for a year Remus, youre going to a boarding school." Lyall said as they stepped inside.
Remus stopped in his tracks, "Like hell I am, do you know how dangerous that is? To send someone like me to a boarding school where I could possibly kill someone every month? Are you Crazy?"
"Mr.Lupin, Please calm down." A voice from behind him spoke.
Remus turned around to see an old man with a long grey beard standing in their kitchen, "Who are you?"
"My name is Albus Dumbledore, You may call me Professor Dumbledore. I'm the headmaster at Hogwarts. The school you will be attending in a matter of days."
Remus stood, dumbfounded by his presence, unable to speak.
"Hogwarts is not an ordinary boarding school Mr Lupin. It's a school for young witches and wizards. It's the safest place in the world."
"Witches and Wizards?"
"Don't tell me you don't believe in them Mr. Lupin. Given how Werewolves are supposed to not exist you can't truly believe that magic doesn't exist?"
"What does this have to do with me? I'm not a wizard."
"Yes, you are Remus. I was one, my parents were one, and their parents too." Lyall said.
"This is not happening. It's not real. You're still at Lee's asleep." Remus mumbled to himself.
"Remus, This is good, It's a wonderful opportunity, don't wish it away." His mother whispered.
"How long will I be gone?" He asked
"Well Mr. Lupin, term starts September 1st, you'll come home during Christmas break then return to school January 2nd, and classes will resume the following day. You will then be at the school till June 10th."
"Great, So I'll be spending most of the year there? How long do I have to go there? "
"Seven years, " Dumbledore responded.
"SEVEN YEARS?!?!"
"Yes Remus, It's non-negotiable you're going." His father responded sharply
"Now Lyall, We can't force the boy. But I will say, you won't regret it. "
"Fine whatever, Not like I get a choice anyway."
"You'll always have a choice Mr. Lupin, Hogwarts is not a prison, more like a second home to many. You'll find that help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who ask for it."
Remus rolled his eyes and went upstairs to pack his belongings. He wasn't sure what he would need so he grabbed clothes for two weeks, he figured there would be a way to do laundry so he didn't pack much besides the necessities clothes-wise. He pulled a second suitcase out from under his bed. He pulled his records out from their stand and set them gently into the tan interior. He folded the stand and set it on top. Closing the suitcase he set it in the corner with his other bags. He put anything he thought he might need, like his journal and his posters hung across his room. He was curious if he'd be allowed to hang them, or if his roommates, if he had any, would allow him to hang them.
He grabbed his bags and made his way down the stairs.
"If you're gonna ship me off to a school for the rest of the year at least let me go see me friends before I leave yeah?"
"Of course Remus, I'll Drive you myself." His mother said.
"No, you're not going back there." Lyall spoke.
"Like hell, I'm not. I have a right to see my friends, especially if you're shipping me off till June."
"Lyall, come on, it is just a few hours. It's hardly worth a fight, he should be able to see his friends while he can."
"STAY OUT OF THIS HOPE! THIS IS BETWEEN ME AND THAT BRAT!" Lyall screamed.
"Lyall Lupin. Do not yell. There is no need to raise our voices. Let him go see his Friends. There's no harm in it." Dumbledore spoke with authority, making everyone stop and stare at him.
"Go on Hope, Take Remus to see his friends while I speak to Lyall."
"Come dear, Lets get in the car." Hope gestured towards the door and led Remus back to the car.
The drive was relaxing, it was sad, and full of hope at the same time. An odd feeling for someone so young but nice in an indescribable way.
"Don't be sad my dear, It's only for a while, you'll be back before you know it, and you'll make new friends there. "
"No I won't. Who would want to be friends with someone like me? I could kill them and not think twice. They'll get one look at my scars and call me a freak. Don't pretend otherwise." Remus all but jumped out of the car when it rolled to a stop.
"I'll be here when your r-" Remus slammed the door shut cutting his mother off. He walked away from her and towards Lee. He knew Lee would be pissed with the way he left but he always came back around once he saw him again.
He met Lee a few years ago when he went for a walk and got lost in the wrong side of town, or as his father called it, "the slums".
Lee was a few years older than him but was no doubt his best friend. He cared for Remus when he needed away and Remus cared for Lee when things got rough at home.
He wasn't stupid or naive, he knew Lee came from little money and most days his family could barley afford food. Remus would never tell him but he would occasionally leave bags of clothes and dry goods on the door step of their small flat. He knew Lee knew it was him but it was an unspoken rule. They simply didn't talk about it.
"Oi Lupin, What ya din roun ere"
"Hey Lee," Remus mumbled.
"Sum happen?"
"Yeh. I'm not gonna be roun' as much. Actually..not at all."
"Whatre ya talking 'bout?"
"Dad's sending me to a boarding school. Starten tomorrow i wont be here till Christmas then ill go back and be there till June."
"Damm Lupin, whadda do this time?"
"Nuffin, he just hates ma guts"
"Well how long till he makes ya go back 'ome?"
"Don't know. The Headmaster is there so Ma brought me back."
"At least she's good for something"
"Ya"
Lee jumped down from his post slinging his arm around Remus. "Lets go get smashed or sum"
The two boys walked down the street sharing a blunt. They walked for several minutes until they cames across a narrow alley way hidden down a side street. They took a seat on opposite sides yet were still able to reach each other.
"Whats the school known for?"
"Ya wouldn't believe me if I told ya Lee"
"Try me. I believe ya when ya say youre part wolf."
"I'm a werewolf. Not part wolf"
"Samething"
"Fine, It's a magic school"
"Magic?"
"Yeh. Hogwarts School for witchcraft and wizardy"
"So your magic too?"
"Appartenlty. I jus' found out myself"
"Well then Lupin, I expect magic tricks when ya get back."
"Orright Lee"
Lee reached over and nugeded his shoulder, "Comeon, Let's get ya home"
"I wish I didn't have to go. I'd rather stay here with you."
"Don't get sappy with with me ya posh boy, yer going."
"I know" Remus reached over and hugged Lee. In the years they've known each other they've never hugged. It was a nice hug. One of the best Remus had ever had no doubt.
Lee walked Remus all the way back to his car, "I always knew you were Posh."
"Never said I wasn't."
Lee gave Remus another hug, "See ya on the other side Lupin"
"See ya Lee"
Lee took off down the street leaving Remus in the dust. With his head hung low he got into his car.
"Who was that Remus? Your friend?"
"Noone."
Hope shook her head and drove off.
"Don't be sad Remus, This is a wonderful opportunity."
"I don't care. I don't want to go."
The rest of the drive was spent in silence.
When he waked back up the stairs of his home he was met by dumbledore leaving.
"I'll see you in school Remus Lupin"