Hogwarts 70's: The Adventures of the Marauders | Headcanon

Somewhere in Wales…

Autumn, September 1969.

The Lupins were a harmonious couple: the union of a brilliant wizard and a beautiful Muggle. Both had noble characters, which had allowed them to build a life together filled with love, understanding, and respect. Lyall Lupin was a brave man, protective and with great moral depth. Despite the tragedies his family had endured, he had always ensured that his wife and only son had a good, safe, and comfortable life.

Hope Howell, his wife, was a loving, patient, and gentle woman, capable of bringing a unique sense of calm to their home. Her unconditional love for Lyall and their son made her the emotional support both needed. Despite being a non-magical person, Lyall always told her how much he admired her open nature and her ability to adapt to the magical world. She had embraced her life as the wife of a wizard without prejudice or fear, and that was something he never stopped valuing.

"Today is the first day of classes at Hogwarts, Mum," the excited boy said, sitting on the kitchen worktop as he watched her prepare a cake. "It must be a really big feast, don't you think?"

"I suppose so. Your father says it's something marvellous to see."

"Dad says the ceiling is enchanted to look like a clear sky with all the stars. He told me there are ghosts wandering the corridors and all sorts of creatures in the Black Lake and the Forbidden Forest," Remus said, his voice a mix of excitement and sadness.

His mother tensed slightly, her hands pausing as she cast him a worried glance. It wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation. It always ended with Remus asking if there was any chance, however small, that he could go to Hogwarts, the school for witches and wizards in England.

"Sweetheart, we've talked about this," his mother said, her voice gentle yet firm. She knew how much Hogwarts meant to any wizarding child his age, but letting Remus attend the school wasn't an option, not for her or his father. Taking care of him during the full moon was becoming more difficult, and there would be no one at Hogwarts who could do it as they did. "You know it's not safe for you to go, don't you?"

"Not safe for others, or for me?" Remus replied.

She paused, searching for the right words as she saw the frustration and sadness in his eyes.

"For everyone, Remus," his mother sighed sadly, moving closer to the worktop where he sat until they were face to face. "But especially for you, darling. You couldn't bear knowing you'd hurt someone, and I don't want that for you. You're a good boy, Remus, and I know how much it would hurt you if something like that ever happened."

"Just think about how awful you felt last week when… you know." His mother's voice trembled slightly, and her eyes began to glisten, as if they were about to spill over with tears. "You were so sad, remember?"

Remus lowered his gaze, feeling a knot form in his chest. His mother was right, and guilt settled in his heart like a stone. What if he ended up hurting one of his classmates? Or a teacher? He was a werewolf, and during his transformations, everything became a blurry chaos, like he was trapped inside his own body, powerless, watching from a distance, unable to stop what he was doing. The worst part was that the next day, the memories would come back clear: every growl, every sensation, every thought. Those memories haunted him, overwhelming him with a sadness so deep that it didn't seem fair for a nine-year-old to bear.

"Mum, I'm sorry. I know you and Dad are just trying to protect me, it's just that..." Remus swallowed hard, the words catching in his throat. He wanted to tell her how lonely he felt, how he wished he could have friends, be like any other child, at least on the days when he wasn't turning into that beast. But he knew he would never be like the others. As soon as someone learned the truth, they would reject him. Maybe it was better to stay home, with his parents, who truly loved him. "Forget what I said, Mum," he added quickly, his voice breaking. "Hogwarts wouldn't want someone like me anyway."

His mother frowned. The self-loathing she was beginning to see in her son hurt her deeply, making her feel like maybe she wasn't doing enough as his mother.

"Don't say those things, Remus. It doesn't matter if you don't go to Hogwarts; your dad is a great wizard, and he will continue to teach you so much here. That school will be the one to miss out on one of the brightest and bravest wizards the world will ever see. There's no child braver than you, Remus," his mother assured him.

He wished that were true, but he couldn't help but think that to mothers, all their children were perfect.

Nevertheless, Remus smiled at the proud look in his mother's eyes. Without a second thought, he hugged her tightly. She welcomed him into her arms with warmth, and as soon as he pulled back slightly, she playfully threw some flour at his face. It landed in his hair and on his cheeks.

" Mum!" he complained, jumping off the stool as quickly as he could, laughing.

"What's all this commotion about, family?" a voice called from the main room. "And what is that delicious smell?" he asked as he entered the kitchen. He was a tall, handsome, and muscular man.

"I hope it's not a ghost I have to catch, dear Hope," Lyall said with a smile, pointing at his son's flour-covered face.

Lyall Lupin was a world-renowned wizard known for his vast knowledge of Non-Human Spirit Apparitions. Because of this, a few years ago he had joined a team of experts on dark magical creatures in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic. However, after the attack on his son, Lyall left his office position and returned to his work as an independent researcher, although he still exchanged information with the Ministry of Magic. This new role allowed him to conduct his own field research, manage threats, and, at the same time, maintain a low profile. Thanks to this, they could move constantly without raising suspicions about Remus's lycanthropy.

"Of course not! It's me, Dad!" exclaimed Remus, looking at his father with love and admiration. At that moment, he realised something: his parents were the only friends he needed, and they would always accept him just as he was. No matter how alone he sometimes felt, as long as he had them, everything would be alright."

The man approached his wife to give her a warm kiss and then tousled the light brown hair of his son, identical to his mother's.

"Yes, I noticed," said his father with a smile. With a gentle wave of his hand, the small remnants of flour on his face began to float, forming a delicate white line that even picked up the specks that had fallen on the floor and the worktop. Remus watched in fascination as the line of dust transformed into a bird shape, flapping its wings and flying in circles before fading away over the bin.

Remus clapped excitedly, his eyes sparkling as he stared at the little bin. As he got closer, there was nothing left but scattered flour.

"That was amazing!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "Will you teach me how to do that someday?"

"Of course," replied his father, winking at him. He placed his small suitcase on the stool while his wife offered him a glass of water. "Thanks, dear. It's been a long day. The trip to London was quite a challenge, and I'm glad I won't have to go back for a while."

"Was it difficult to get there?" asked his wife.

"Not at all, but I hate travelling by Portkey. It was the only option; the Ministry of Magic is taking a lot of precautions," he replied, giving her a discreet glance. "Besides, London isn't exactly the best place to visit these days."

His wife picked up on the message immediately and nodded slightly, knowing he would fill her in later.

"So, champ, how's your shoulder?" asked his father.

"Well, I don't feel any pain," Remus lied. The truth was that it did hurt, but he didn't want to worry his parents any more than they already were. As he grew, his wolf form grew stronger too, and during his last transformation, he had had enough strength to break down the door that kept him trapped and escaped. His father had followed him into the forest, trying to stop him.

When he found him, he tried to get him to come back, but werewolves, even when young, are very strong and fast. In a moment of desperation, his father had got caught and had no choice but to cast a strong spell, hitting him on the shoulder to make his escape. That night had been terrible for everyone. The next day, one of the neighbours swore he had heard terrifying howls during the night. The Lupins had to move again, leaving those memories behind in search of a safer place for Remus.

His father looked at him doubtfully but didn't press the matter further.

"Taking advantage of my trip to London, I bought some ointment at St Mungo's. I'm sure it'll help."

"Well, dear, I'll put it on him myself before he goes to sleep," replied his mother as she placed the dough in a tin and set it aside.

"And… did you see the main basement?" asked his father.

"Yes, I saw it with Mum," said the boy, searching for his mother's gaze; she gave him a reassuring smile. "I think it's… fine." He knew that was where he would be locked up during each full moon, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

"Of course it is. I've put all sorts of spells in place," his father said confidently. "Also, I'm going to cast an extension spell to give you more space, dear. I just need to talk to a few trusted people at the Ministry to get a small favour."

The boy nodded again.

Although Lyall had told his family he went to London for work, which was true, the real reason behind the trip had been to seek more information about the growth of werewolves and how, at times, magic ceased to work on them. He hoped that this way, he could prevent what had happened last time from repeating itself.

"My… transformations are getting stronger, aren't they?" he finally asked, breaking the silence. He felt it in every fibre of his being. Each transformation was more painful, more savage. He wished he could forget what he did under the full moon. Maybe then he could sleep peacefully, without the nightmares that invaded his mind every night.

"Don't worry, Remus," said his mother softly, trying to soothe him. "Your father will handle it this time; you have nothing to worry about."

"That's right, son," added his father, a hint of guilt in his voice. "This time I'll get it right, I promise."

"I know, but…" Remus hesitated before continuing, lowering his gaze. "Sometimes I feel like I'm a burden to you. That you'd be better off if I weren't here," he whispered, wiping away the tears that had formed on his cheeks. "Every full moon, I turn into a monster, something horrible!"

"REMUS JOHN LUPIN! I forbid you to call yourself that!" his father shouted, using a strong tone he rarely employed. "You are none of that! If I had known before... if I had only understood what werewolves truly are, Remus… your life would be so different. If it weren't for me…" he said, tears in his eyes. "I have failed you as a father!"

"Dad, it's not your fault… it was an accident," Remus replied, regretful of his own words.

"Oh, if you only knew, my son! Of course, it's my fault!" his father exclaimed, covering his face, ashamed.

"Enough! It's not your fault, Lyall! You know this was the doing of one man," Mrs. Lupin said, cupping her husband's face. "You saved our son from dying that night! You haven't failed him! On the contrary, you saved him!" she said, as tears began to fall down her face. She knelt down to Remus's level and wiped away the tears that kept falling.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Remus. I wish you could see it, dear. You've never been and will never be a monster!"

Remus hugged her tightly, feeling guilty for not being able to stop saying things that only caused his parents more pain. His father joined the embrace as well, and the three of them stayed together, wishing that moment would last forever.

"I'll tell you something that's been weighing on me for a long time, Remus. I think you're big enough to understand it now," his father said, carefully releasing the embrace. He looked at his wife, who nodded slowly. They had discussed many times whether it was the right time to tell him the truth, and even though Hope thought he was still too young, she knew they couldn't keep hiding it from him. They both placed their hands on Remus's shoulders, as if giving him strength for what he was about to hear. Mr. Lupin looked at him with a mix of pain and determination. "Please don't hold a grudge against me, my son."

Remus took a deep breath and nodded. He was ready.

"A long time ago, when I worked at the Ministry of Magic, I was asked to help with the trial of a man who claimed to know nothing about the magical world," his father began. "He was accused of something very serious, something terrible, and although he convinced many that he had nothing to do with it, I didn't believe him. I managed to see things in him that made me think he could be a werewolf."

Remus's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything. His father took a deep breath and continued.

"The members of the court that day agreed to release him, but I, who could see the truth, told them to keep him locked up until the next day, which was a full moon, to confirm my doubts. But nobody listened to me; I got very angry and said horrible things about werewolves… Things that I now know are not true, but he heard me. That day, I could see the malice in his soul through his eyes. He was filled with rage at my words and decided to take revenge. Oh, son, that bad reaction I had sentenced you! When you were only four years old, he stayed very close to our house during the full moon and attacked you. He turned you into what you are now because of what I said."

Lyall's face was filled with tears as he looked at his son, remorseful.

"I… thought you were going to die, Remus," his father continued, his voice trembling. "But you were so strong; you clung to life with all your might, and I couldn't give up either. I did everything I could to save you… and I did, I saved you, but only from death."

Lyall paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"The next full moon… was when you transformed for the first time. Now you are a werewolf, but I know, my son, that you are not like him. You are still you, Remus, and you always will be."

Remus, hearing his father's words, remained silent for a moment, processing what he had just heard. He looked down, nervously fiddling with his hands. He felt a knot in his stomach, as if everything he had been told was too big for him to fully comprehend.

"What did you say to him, Dad? Why did that man get so angry?" he finally whispered, barely lifting his gaze to look at his father.

He bit his lip, his eyes shining with the tears he was trying to hold back. He didn't want to make his parents feel worse, but he couldn't help wondering what his father really thought about werewolves. Was that what he saw in his son? Finally, a tear slipped down his cheek.

"Back then, I judged them poorly," his father replied, visibly pained. "I didn't know what I know now. You don't have an ounce of malice in you, Remus. But that man… he was different. You are the complete opposite of him."

Remus swallowed hard, trembling a bit as doubt washed over him.

"What if… what if I become like him?" he asked in a whisper, his voice cracking. "I don't want to be a monster, Dad…"

"No, Remus. You won't be," his father said, looking him directly in the eyes. "I've known other werewolves since then. Not all are like him. I never told you because I feared you wouldn't be able to forgive me for what happened, but I want you to know that… you will never be like that man. You are strong, Remus, but above all, you are good."

Remus, though still filled with fear, nodded slowly, trying to cling to his father's words.

"Dad, I don't hate you; I could never do that," Remus exclaimed, looking at his father with sadness. He didn't want his father to feel worse; he had enough to bear protecting him every full moon without carrying the guilt of his condition. "Many think that way, not just you."

His voice turned more serious, curiosity reflecting on his face.

"So, was the man guilty of what he was accused of?" he asked. The idea that others might have suffered because of someone like him troubled him.

"Yes, I'm convinced of it," his father said, nodding. "He knew about the existence of the magical world. When they were going to erase his memory, he attacked the wizard in charge and escaped. Now I know he attacks children, whether they are Muggles or wizards, to add more people to his pack. What I don't know is why. He is a bad person, Remus. You must never go near him."

"Pack?" Remus asked, surprised. "Does he want to turn more people into werewolves?"

The thought terrified him. He had never considered that there were others like him, forced to suffer that transformation. He would rather stay alone forever than drag someone else into sharing such a painful fate.

"Children, Remus, children. He attacks them because they are more prone to becoming werewolves," his father explained, his voice filled with sadness. "I don't know if that was his intention with you… He hurt you so badly that I'm sure he meant to kill you that night. I arrived just in time to stop it."

The expression on his father's face showed that he remembered every moment of that night, and Remus felt a knot in his stomach imagining what his father had faced.

"We tried everything to cure you before your first transformation, Remus," his father continued. "But nothing worked."

Remus felt very sad. He desperately wanted to ease his father's suffering, but he knew there was nothing he could do to erase that pain. The only way for his father to stop feeling guilty was if he were not a werewolf, and that reality was impossible; there was no cure for lycanthropy.

"Why was everyone so sure he wasn't a werewolf?" Remus asked.

"He was never registered as a werewolf at the Ministry of Magic," his father replied, briefly glancing at his wife before continuing. "Like you, you're not on that list. We thought it was best not to."

Remus looked at his pale father with pity. "I don't blame you for anything, Dad," he said softly before throwing himself into his father's arms and hugging him tightly.

His father, with a faint smile and a sigh of relief, returned the embrace with equal affection.

"We will always protect you, Remus," he promised, holding onto his son as if that hug could lift the weight of the world that fell upon them both.