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

Wales

Winter, December 1970

It was a weekend afternoon, and Mr Lupin was out in the small back garden of their home. Beside him, his wife sat comfortably in a rocking chair that he had enchanted with great care to provide a deeper, more soothing rest.

She held a book in her hands, though her attention kept drifting from it; she much preferred to watch her husband from her warm and cosy seat. He had several thick volumes open in front of him, reviewing cases he would be working on the following day. The weariness was plain on his face, yet when she looked at him, she gave him a soft smile, one filled with the kind of tenderness she seemed to reserve only for him.

"Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest, love?" he suggested, taking a sip of water. As much as he adored Hope's company, he couldn't help but wish she would get a bit more rest.

"Rubbish!" she replied, waving his concern away with a playful gesture. Then, with a teasing glint in her eye, she added, "I love watching you work! My brave husband! Do you remember how we met?"

He looked up, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"How could I forget?" he replied, his mind drifting back to that day. He'd been sent to a forest in Wales to deal with a boggart that had been tormenting the local villagers for days. Naturally, the creature had taken the shape of a sinister and threatening man to frighten Hope, who had stumbled upon it by accident.

"And there you were, like a hero!" she said, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia and amusement. "You told me not to be afraid, that it was only a boggart... and then you pointed at a mushroom!"

Mr Lupin let out a soft chuckle.

"I'd never met a non-magical person who could actually see a boggart! I was stunned!"

Hope giggled, her laughter infectious.

"I didn't understand a word you were saying. All I could think about was how brave you were, chasing off that terrifying man," she said, releasing a charming little laugh.

"Well, I didn't want to brag about being a hero!" he replied, still a bit embarrassed even after all these years. He ran a hand through his hair, as if that memory both troubled and touched him. "But you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, so I preferred not to clarify anything."

Hope chuckled softly, with the same enchanting sparkle in her eyes that she had back then.

"I fell in love with you instantly," she confessed, reaching out to take her husband's hand, which he accepted affectionately. "Even months later, when you told me the truth about what had happened and that you were a wizard, nothing changed how I felt about you."

Lyall looked at her tenderly, pride shining in his expression.

"We've done pretty well since then, haven't we?" he said, smiling. "Especially with our son."

"That's right, really. And he's learning so much from you as his tutor," she added, with a smile brimming with compassion and love. "The only thing I worry about is how lonely..."

Just then, a piece of flaming parchment appeared in the air before them, floating for a moment before fading away, leaving a single word written in large letters: "Intruder."

Lyall reacted instantly, grabbing the small map next to him on the table and examining it quickly.

"Who is it?" Hope asked, concern etched on her face. She was already standing, tense as a drawn bow. "Where is Remus?"

"How is this possible? How did he get past all my spells?" murmured Lyall, astonished, as he slipped the map under his sleeve. The name "Albus Dumbledore" still glowed on the parchment.

Together with his wife, he moved toward the front door, expecting to find the intruder there. But the entrance was empty. Confused, they hurried to the living room, and that's when they saw him.

There, by the fireplace, sat Albus Dumbledore on the floor with his legs crossed in front of Remus, who had mimicked him. He wore a bluish-gray robe, and his slightly crooked pointed hat was of the same muted tone. Despite his advanced age —his hair and beard cascading in silver waves down to his chest— there was something playful and youthful in his eyes, as if he still enjoyed the simplest pleasures of life.

Before him, little Remus watched every one of his movements, mesmerized. They were both eating cookies that Hope had left on the table, and they were engaged in a lively game of Gobstones. It seemed Dumbledore was losing, allowing the small magical marbles to splatter him with foul-smelling smoke every time Remus scored.

"Oh, what a pity!" exclaimed Dumbledore with a soft chuckle. "I used to be quite good at this game... when I was your age, of course."

Remus blushed, smiling shyly, as if he didn't know whether to keep winning or let his elderly opponent surpass him.

It was then that Dumbledore lifted his gaze, peering over his half-moon glasses at the Lupin couple, who had entered the room.

"Ah, perfect, you're here!" he said cheerfully, standing up with surprising fluidity for someone of his age. He shook Lyall's hand and then Hope's, whose gestures remained frozen in surprise. "I apologize for my little intrusion." He smiled with a kindness that bordered on mischief. "My desire to meet young Remus got the better of me this time."

It was evident that Dumbledore knew that if he had sent an owl announcing his arrival, the Lupins would have found a polite excuse to not receive him.

"Judging by your expressions," Dumbledore continued, a playful glint in his eyes, "it seems you weren't expecting my visit. Perhaps you were hoping for an owl, and now I've disappointed you."

"It's Albus Dumbledore, Mom!" interrupted Remus, jumping to his feet. "He appears on the Chocolate Frog cards!"

Dumbledore nodded, his eyes sparkling with pride.

"Ah, yes. One of my most significant achievements, without a doubt."

Hope smiled nervously, still processing the unexpected appearance. Lyall, for his part, took a deep breath, trying to control his nervousness.

"Professor Dumbledore..." Lyall began, struggling to sound respectful. "My wife and I... didn't expect your visit. But I fear I can imagine the reason for your presence here."

Dumbledore looked at him with a serene expression, as if enjoying a trivial conversation about the weather.

"If you imagine correctly, Lyall, our chat will be much simpler," Dumbledore replied calmly. "I'm here to offer your son a place at Hogwarts."

The news only heightened the tension on Lyall's face, who shot a quick glance at his wife.

"Professor..." he said slowly, aware that he needed to choose his words carefully. "Why don't we take a seat?"

Dumbledore nodded with a cordial smile and sank into the sofa, as if he were an old friend visiting purely for pleasure. Hope and Remus did the same, though Lyall remained rigid as a post, trying to summon the courage for what was to come.

"You'd better go to your room, son," his mother said with a gentle smile, although her eyes reflected concern.

Remus frowned, as if he wanted to protest, but his father's anxious look was enough to tell him this wasn't just a casual request. He stood up sadly and left the living room without another word. He knew exactly what they were going to discuss.

"I know what your answer will be, Lyall," Dumbledore said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Lyall frowned, visibly confused.

"Then why are you here, professor?" he asked cautiously. "You know these are difficult times. One seeks to keep their children in the safest place."

"I know, Lyall. In fact, I know everything."

Both parents shifted uneasily in their seats, ready to stand up, but Dumbledore raised his hand gently, stopping them.

"I didn't mean to alarm you," he said with a slight nod. "But I have my sources... and they informed me about your son's condition."

Lyall's face hardened.

"Your sources are mistaken," he replied, a flicker of fear and anger in his eyes. "How many others know about this?" The thought of someone else knowing Remus's secret filled him with panic.

Dumbledore regarded him with infinite patience, as if he had expected exactly this reaction.

"No one else will know, Lyall," he replied, his voice low but firm. "I have no intention of revealing what is not mine to share."

The headmaster's words should have calmed them, but Lyall's anxiety remained.

"The world is changing, Lyall. Dark forces are moving boldly, unafraid of retaliation."

"I know," Lyall rushed to reply firmly. "Don't think I don't notice how the creatures are aligning, and not to fight on our side. This... is just beginning." He paused, as if what he was about to say was too difficult. "You-Know-Who has only taken the first step."

Dumbledore gave him a sad smile, one that held more understanding than Lyall had expected.

"You've always been exceptionally brilliant, Lyall," the headmaster said softly. "And you're right: creatures have started to choose. Werewolves, too."

Lyall stood still, his face turning as pale as ash. He tightened his grip on Hope's hand, which trembled slightly.

"Well, I presumed you knew," Dumbledore continued, without averting his gaze. "But I fear you do not know who their new leader is. It is the same man who attacked your son."

"Fenrir Greyback," Lyall whispered, a chill running down his spine. Hope stifled a small gasp, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Him," Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "And he is recruiting more people for his pack."

"Recruiting?" Hope whispered, her voice broken by fear. "How... how is that possible?"

"He has been doing it for years," Dumbledore explained sadly. "He attacks innocent children to infect them, pulls them away from their families, and molds them to his will, teaching them to hate both muggles and wizards. It's a miracle you've managed to keep Remus out of his reach. Moving constantly has been more helpful than you imagined."

Hope covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with tears. The idea that their little boy had been so close to that vile man was unbearable.

"I know it hasn't been easy to protect him during the full moons," Dumbledore continued, his voice laced with understanding. "Still, you never gave up. You didn't allow him to join his own kind."

"His own kind?" Hope looked up, desperation shining in her eyes. "Remus is our son! He's a noble and sweet boy... He's not like him... Do you really think he will try to... to recruit him?"

"Don't underestimate him, dear Hope," he said softly. "Those children he has in his pack are young ones who have been forced to take paths they never would have chosen willingly."

"Without a doubt, Greyback will come for him one day; it's hard to say when," said Dumbledore calmly, yet with unshakeable certainty. "Our hearts have different natures; some with more kindness than others... But in the end, it is always our choices that define us. And Remus is undoubtedly a noble child. He is yet another victim of this war that he never asked to fight. And although you have given him the best upbringing possible, he deserves a childhood like any other wizard his age, one that is less lonely."

Lyall pressed his lips together, frustration evident on his face.

"We can't," he said with regret, his voice tense. "It would be a danger, to him and to others."

"It won't be," Dumbledore replied firmly. "At Hogwarts, he will have a special place for his transformations. I assure you, there will be no safer place for him."

Hope and Lyall exchanged a glance filled with doubt and fear. They knew that protecting their son was an overwhelming responsibility. Still, the old man's words, with their promise of hope, began to resonate with them.

"I give you my word," Dumbledore added gently. "Remus will be safe."

After a few moments of heavy silence, both parents finally looked at each other again, communicating without words. And in that shared glance, they found the answer they had been searching for.

"I know he is a great wizard, Professor," said Lyall, his voice no longer so tense. "I trust that you will take care of my son."

"I appreciate that trust, Lyall," Dumbledore replied, his smile warm and sincere. "Now, it is time to speak with Remus."

Hope stepped toward the professor with an uncertain gait, gently taking his hands in hers. Dumbledore blushed slightly.

"Please, Professor... promise that you will keep his condition a secret," she pleaded quietly. "I don't want him to be treated differently. You know how cruel children can be..."

Dumbledore squeezed her hands gently, a gesture of understanding and comfort.

"I will do everything in my power to protect that secret, Hope. You need not worry."

Hope gave him a grateful smile, although her eyes still showed a hint of concern. She turned and left the room to find her son.

Lyall remained silent for a few seconds, as if he needed to gather the right words. Then, with a weary but genuine smile, he said:

"I was very pleased when you were chosen as headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor."

Dumbledore inclined his head slightly, and a glimmer of melancholy shone in his gaze.

"I was too, Lyall... I was too," he replied softly, with a mixture of gratitude and sadness in his tone.

The boy returned a few minutes later with his mother, wearing a sad expression, and Dumbledore assumed that his mother had not yet told him anything.

"Why the sad look, Remus?" the professor asked kindly.

"I already know what you're going to say," said the boy, his gaze sad and speaking with much resignation. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, but my father teaches me enough at home."

The old man observed him with a warm gaze, feeling deep down how that small child had already learned to accept solitude as an inevitable part of his life. It was clear that his parents had done a wonderful job with him, but it was also evident that the sadness of feeling different had taken root.

"Would you like to go to Hogwarts, Remus?" Dumbledore asked with a gentle smile, leaning even closer to him.

The boy looked up sharply, surprised, and then glanced at his parents as if seeking their permission to express what he truly felt. His father, with a sad smile and eyes full of pride, nodded at him.

"I would love to..." whispered Remus, though his tone still carried insecurity.

"Then I hope to see you on the first of September," said Dumbledore, extending a letter with the Hogwarts seal.

Remus blinked in disbelief, hesitant to take the letter at first.

"Am I going to Hogwarts? Will they really accept me?" he asked, a mix of hope and fear in his voice, as if he still doubted that something so wonderful could be real.

"Only if you wish to," replied Dumbledore patiently, smiling.

The smile that lit up Remus's face was immediate, so pure that it almost completely erased the sadness that had enveloped him before. Suddenly, without thinking, he jumped towards the old man and hugged him tightly.

"Yes! Yes, I want to go! It's what I've always wanted!" he squealed with excitement, and then, like a whirlwind, he ran to embrace his mother as well. Hope wrapped him in her arms, crying along with him, and his father joined the hug.

"Thank you..." murmured Lyall to the professor, with a look of deep gratitude.

Dumbledore nodded, satisfied to see the genuine joy in the Lupin family.

"I would love for you both to come before the start of term to see the Hogwarts grounds," he added with a kind smile. "That way, you can learn about the measures we will take for Remus's transformations."

"Of course, Professor. We will be there," said Lyall with renewed joy, squeezing his wife's hand.

Remus, still trembling with excitement, rummaged through the pockets of his jacket and pulled out a handful of sweets.

"Here, Professor. They're my favourites."

Dumbledore accepted them with a light laugh, nodding in thanks.

"That's a generous gift, Remus. Thank you very much."

The old man bid farewell with one last smile before disappearing through the door. The Lupin family remained in the room, still trying to process what had just happened.

"I'm going to Hogwarts..." murmured Remus, still incredulous, as if saying it aloud made it more real. "It feels like a dream come true."

"And your mother will be going to Hogwarts as well," said Lyall, wrapping Hope in a tight embrace. "Oh, Hope, you'll see where our son will study! It's the most beautiful place in the world!"

"But will I be able to see it?" Hope asked with a hesitant smile. "I thought it was invisible to Muggles."

"Well, it's Albus Dumbledore," replied Lyall with a smile. "I'm sure he will find a way for you to see it."

"Then..." said Lyall, looking at his son with overflowing pride, "tomorrow we'll go shopping for everything you need, Remus. Books, robes, wand! Everything."

Remus couldn't help but smile from ear to ear; his excitement was impossible to contain.

"I'm going to Hogwarts!" he exclaimed again, this time with more conviction, as if nothing could stop him now.

His mother hugged him once more, and in that moment, for the first time in a long time, Remus felt that something great was about to change. And this time, for the better.