“Lyall, I don't think this
can be fixed,” Hope Lupin said worriedly. “It's permanent. He'll
never be a normal boy -”

“Don't say that,” Lyall
replied. “We can home-school him, and nobody will know.”

“But he won't have any
friends,” Hope argued. “Nobody would want to be friends with a
werewolf!”

“He can go to Hogwarts,
then! We just have to keep it a secret. He could have friends, Hope!
He could be the most popular kid in school, for all we know! We can't
just assume he'll be an outcast for the rest of his life. We have to
give him a chance.” Hope looked up and saw tears in her husband's
eyes. She knew that he never dreamed that standing up for what he
believed could cost his son's reputation.

“Lyall, this wasn't your
fault.” Hope said determinedly. Lyall shook his head.

“Yes, it was, if I just
shut up and called the Ministry of Magic when Greyback came -”

“I would've done the same
thing,” Hope said.

They were interrupted when a
woman with straight black hair and a lime-green cloak came bustling
into their bedroom. “Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, but you may see
your son. He's doing much better.” Lyall and Hope exchanged nervous
glances, and the man led them down the hall into Remus's bedroom.

The sight of Remus lying
there, so pale, so sickly, with dark circles under his eyes, caused
Lyall to break down. He collapsed into the nearest chair, staring
into the face of the boy who was once his bright, healthy son,
knowing it was all his fault.

The doctor jabbered on about
fatal bites, and healing in a month or so, but neither Lyall nor Hope
really heard any of it. They were trying to listen, but they couldn't
help but look into their son's pale face, wondering if he would ever
be the same again.

When the doctor dismissed
them, and they got up, Remus's eyes flickered open. The doctors
gasped, and Lyall rushed down to kneel by his bed, Hope following
closely behind, her light brown waves hanging around her shoulders.

Remus smiled, and Lyall tried
to smile back, but it looked more like a teary grimace, so he just
gripped his son's hand and held it tight.

“Call me Moon.” whispered
Remus. Hope burst into silent tears while Lyall hung his head,
willing himself not to let a tear fall. He had to be a man for his
son, despite how horrible he felt.

“Okay, we'll call you Moon
from now on.” Lyall said quietly. Remus grinned and nodded
vigorously.

“Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, you
may leave now. The boy needs rest.” Lyall and Hope nodded silently
and tiptoed out of the room, leaving Remus to a handful of nurses to
tend to his bite. Again.