Riddikulus || R.J Lupin

Chapter 1 ~ St. Harold's

Remus Lupin always felt like an outsider. Never allowed to play outside. Never able to go to primary school. Never had friends. Never a normal kid. He had a secret. A secret that he loathed. A secret that would haunt him his whole life. He couldn't do normal things. He couldn't go to town with friend. He couldn't get an ice cream on his own when the van came. He couldn't live his own life. He couldn't do it out of fear. Not fear – pure terror...

Also, Remus was an orphan. His father – Lyall – had taken his own life after Remus' accident when he was five. His mother – Hope – had decided to give Remus up. She wasn't able to help him. She couldn't do magic like Lyall could. She couldn't fend for him. That was six years ago. For all Remus knew, Hope could have a whole new family – a new life.

The children's home in question was St Harold's Institution. It was located in London and was known by the locals as the home for 'troubled children.'

Remus was never treated like the others. They were all treated harshly by the staff, but Remus was treated harsher by the other orphans. They always pointed and jeered at his scars. He had lots of them. Throughout the orphanage, there were many rumors as of where the scars were from. Remus ignored it all. He tried to focus on himself. That was the only way to survive at St Harold's...

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27th July 1971

He woke up on the sawdust floor. He was boiling. It could've just been the heatwave that late July was bringing or the fever that always came after. He dragged himself to the other side of the dingy room.

The room was all grey. It was covered in metal. The walls had long scratch marks down them, all of Remus' creation.

He could hear Matron coming to the small room. He could hear her footsteps, her heartbeat, her breaths. His senses were always amplified after his senses. She wasn't alone though. She was with a man. He smelt different. He smelt of something sweet – partly licorice – burning wood, metal, and something that reminded him faintly of his father.

Remus could hear them talking to each other quietly.

"He's one of our worst cases," Matron explained.

"I see," the man said thoughtfully.

"I know he's one of your sort, but he's a real nuisance sometimes," Matron went on. "Needs less of the lip."

"My sort?" he said.

"My sister was one, barely see her nowadays," Matron said with a faraway undertone.

The man didn't reply.

"I don't know why you wanted to see him today if you knew about his condition," she grumbled. "You'll have to let me go in first, he normally needs patching up."

Remus found his small blanket and wrapped it around himself tightly. There was a brisk knock on the door.

"Lupin! Are you up?!" Matron asked loudly.

"Yes," Remus mumbled, wrapping the blanket tighter around his exposed body.

She unlocked the door and came in. The silver plating on the door, that kept it closed, made Remus' head swim. Matron was a very pointy looking sort of woman, lean and mean. The door slammed behind her. She bent down beside him and spoke quietly, but close to his face.

"Yes, Matron," she chastised.

"Yes, Matron," Remus said scornfully.

She stood up straight, pleased with his response.

"Are you hurt?" She asked.

Remus showed her the long silver gashes across his arm and the bite on his thigh. She patchef them up with long bandages after applying some antiseptic to them. Remus winced as the antiseptic stung.

"You have a guest," Matron said sternly, "A teacher. He's here to talk to you about school."

"Tell him to piss off," Remus mumbled.

Matron clipped him around the head and he winced.

"You'll do as I say," she said, "Get your clothes on and come out."

She placed his clothes infront of him and walked out. Remus changed quickly, making sure not to touch his bandages. He ran a hand through his curly mousy brown hair.

Opening the door, he stepped out, hands in pockets, slouching. Matron looked at him pointedly. The old man stood there, smiling benignly at Remus. He was wearing the strangest suit Remus had ever seen and had a purple starry tie.

"Mr Lupin," he smiled. "Good morning. I'm Professor Dumbledore."

Remus hesitated. He'd never been treated with such respect before in his life. He nodded.

"Morning," he said.

"Shall we go for a walk about the grounds?" The mysterious man suggested.

Remus looked over at Matron, who nodded approvingly.

"Alright," he shrugged.

Matron walked past, patting his shoulder roughly – more of a tame slap – and bent over.

"Don't shrug," she hissed in his ear.

She stood up and walked away. Remus looked up at the bearded man and followed him outside.

The grounds, as Dumbledore had call it, consisted of a small vegetable patch, a lot of dead grass, and a long white picket fence. There were a couple of older boys in the corner, smoking.

"Do you know who I am, Remus?" Dumbledore asked.

"You're magic, like my dad was," Remus said, walking with his hands in his pockets.

"Do you remember your father, Remus?" The man asked curiously.

"A bit," Remus shrugged. "He was magic. Mum wasn't. Dad's dead though."

Dumbledore seemed taken aback by his bluntness which only pleased Remus.

Remus only vaguely remembered his father. A tall, slim figure, leaning over Remus – the night he was bitten. Remus always wondered what would've happened if he hadn't been bitten. Would his father still be alive? Would his mother have wanted him?

"You know, Remus, I run a school," Dumbledore said. "For witches and wizards. Would you be interested in attending?"

"Won't get in, not smart enough," Remus said.

"I'm sure that isn't true," Dumbledore smiled reassuringly.

"Ask her," Remus pointed to the big stone building that Matron was somewhere inside of. "Can barely read or write."

"I'm sure you're still very clever," Dumbledore said.

Remus snorted quietly. The man looked down at him.

"Would you like to learn magic, Remus?" Dumbledore asked.

Remus thought it about it for a moment. Did he want to? He could get away from St Harry's, wouldn't he? He could probably defend himself from the older, rougher boys. It would be a good laugh, right? Maybe it'd be fun...

"Sure, I guess," Remus shrugged.

Dumbledore smiled at him. Perfect.

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(A/N)
Hey, hope ur having a good day/night. I hope you enjoy this. It's loosely based on atyd, but I'm changing it up and putting in my headcanons. I hope u like it. Don't forget to vote, comment and share.
Bye