Chapter Text
New Beginnings
Remus had spent the day playing by the stream behind his home with his mother while his dad was at work. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon; the warm rays tickled his face while the light breeze blew his mothers hair into her face. It was time to go in now though, mum had to make dinner and it was beginning to get a little cold, goosebumps were popping up across his arms. Him and his mother raced up the hill back to their little cottage.
“Remus dear, go wash up while I make dinner, dad will be home from work soon.” Hope told him once inside.
Remus nodded and trotted off to clean his hands and feet from playing in the river for hours. When he came back to the kitchen it was filled with smells of squash and nutmeg, his mother was making his fathers favourite soup.
All of a sudden, Lyall came out of the fireplace.
“DAD!” Remus called out, running over to his father, and jumping onto him.
Lyall was laughing, swinging his son around the little living room, he could see the look of pure adoration on his wife’s face in the nearby kitchen.
“Okay you two, dinner is nearly ready, settle down a little.” She said while walking over to give Lyall a kiss, but she said this while laughing, not minding the commotion of her two boys one bit.
The two of them started dancing in the living room to the Beatles record that was playing in the background and Remus kept trying to get between them to join it. Eventually the timer on the oven beeped and Hope whisked off to the kitchen, Remus and Lyall not far behind. Lyall set the table as Hope finished spooning the soup into bowls and Remus sat in his favourite spot, across from the window where he could see the hill that he knew lead to the stream.
“How was work today hun?” Hope asked over the table.
“It was long. We’re still dealing with the same situation as the beginning of the week, there’s been a major influx of infections over the past year and we haven’t convicted anyone yet, no matter how many of them are brought in. Vial creatures, attacking children and not even feeling guilty about it.’ Lyall said with a look of disgust. “But let’s not focus too much on that, we’re going to fix the problem even if we have to put every single one of them away. How have you been doing today, you’re not straining yourself too much right? I can take time off work if you need me to.”
“I am quite alright, its not as if I haven’t been through this before, lets just hope our baby is as easy as Remus was.” Hope replied, with a hand on her five-month large belly, smiling to Remus.
At this, Remus perked up. He is so excited to be a big brother and can’t wait for his little brother or sister to be born.
“Can I name them? When we find out if they’re a boy or girl?” Remus asked eagerly.
Lyall began to flat out say “no” but Hope cut him off saying, “Naming the baby can be a family effort when they’re born.”
Remus was satisfied with this answer and picked up his bowl and drained the last of his soup.
“You eat so much for such a little boy.” Lyall said in wonder, starring at his son.
“A growing boy.” Remus corrected promptly, causing Hope to snort into her cup.
After dinner was finished and the dishes cleaned the family of three, soon to be four, settled into the living room and sat down to watch the nightly sitcoms that the TV only sometimes had reception to get.
“Time for bed, Remus.” Lyall said after the episode had finished.
Remus was already dozing on the couch, curled up to his mother’s side, lightly snoring. Lyall smiled down at his son and wife, wondering how he got so lucky for these two beautiful people in his life. He gently scooped Remus into his arms and carried him up the stairs to his small bedroom and set him onto the bed, tucking him under the covers. Lyall brushed Remus’ hair back from his forehead and gave him a kiss and Remus stirred.
“Dad? Can you read me a story?” Remus asked quietly.
“Yes of course Remus. What would you like tonight?”
“Can you read something about magic? Magic animals?” Remus requested hopefully.
“Magical creatures.” Lyall gently corrected as he searched Remus’ rather large bookshelf for a five-year-old. “And yes, yes I can. How about the one about Murray the Mooncalf?”
“Yes please.”
“Okay, ah yes here’s the book. Once upon a time, a Mooncalf named Murray was born into a large family of other mooncalves. Murray had seven brothers and seven sisters, all order than himself. All his brothers and sisters were amazing at their moonlit dances, attracting attention from all the other mooncalves in the village. Murray, however, was too nervous to dance in front of the others. Imagine, being the youngest of fourteen amazing dancers! How could you not be nervous, everyone expected him to be just as good or better. So, Murray refused to dance. Everyone used to bug him about it when he was little, telling him to just dance, it’s fine. That didn’t make it any easier. One night however, Murray snuck into a nearby cornfield during the full moon and danced his little mooncalf heart out. He spent hours under the moonlight, spinning and stomping and bearing his soul to the open air. As the moon finally began to set, he finally looked around him, noticing that there was one other mooncalf not far away watching him. Murray became very self conscious and tried to leave but he stopped him.
“My name is Emmett.” He said, “And your dancing was lovely.”
“Oh, uh, well thanks, I didn’t know you were there, I, I thought I was alone. But um, thanks, I guess. My name is Murray, by the way.” Murray replied a little flustered.
“It’s nice to meet you Murray, we should hang out sometime, you can teach me to dance, you’re really good. You should show more people.”
And so, he did. After that night, Murray realized dancing in front of people shouldn’t be scarry, it’s fun and freeing and is a way to make friends. From then on Murray danced every night under the moon alongside his village and family and Emmett and it was the best decision he ever made. The End.” Lyall finished reading and slowly closed the book, setting it on his knee.
“I like that story. Maybe I’ll be like Murray and dance under the moon and meet my Emmett.” Remus said sleepily.
“I’m sorry Remus but you can’t go dancing under the moon all by yourself at night. You’re too little and the dark is too dangerous.” Lyall replied, suddenly firm.
At this Remus was suddenly less tired, “What do you mean I’m too little, I’m five now! I’m going to be a big brother. It’s a full moon tonight, maybe I’ll go dancing later.” Remus replied haughtily.
“Remus you will do no such thing. You are to go to bed now and stay inside the house until the sun is up. Do not fight me on this, it is for your own safety.” And with that Lyall rose from the bed and placed the book back in its spot. “I love you Remus, goodnight.” He said, turning the light off and shutting the door.
Remus flopped back into bed, not feeling very tired anymore. In his mind he could see Murray twirling around under the moonlight, totally free. Making friends with Emmett and eventually the entire village. Remus wanted that too.
An hour later he heard his dad walking back up the stairs to go to bed before work tomorrow. Remus tried to fall asleep, he really did. Sometimes when he gets an idea in his head, he just can’t stop thinking about it though. Which is how Remus ended up creeping slowly down the stairs. His mom was not asleep yet, which was a big issue since the house was so small and the only way to the front door was past the living room and kitchen. Slowly Remus crept around the hallway to the back door and out on the porch. Outside was chilly, the light breeze from earlier was gently pushing the porch swing back and forth. The fresh Welsh air felt amazing on Remus’ skin, mixed with the adrenalin from his little act of rebellion. Remus walked down the wooden steps, the grass tickling his bare feet. He made his way over to the hill to go down by the river. He made it to the top of the hill before the feeling of guilt started to creep up on him. Maybe he should’ve told his mom. His dad was only trying to keep him safe. Remus glanced up at the clear sky, seeing stars all over above him while considering all of this.
Just as Remus began turning around to head back to the cottage and confess everything to his mum, he was knocked over from the side by something large barrelling out of the woods. Remus yelled out in shock as he was thrown to the ground. He was now of his back, squirming trying to get free of whatever was pining him to the ground. It was too dark to see, but he could feel the hot panting breaths on his face and see the yellow eyes boring into him in place of the stars above. Then all he felt was pain, pain so much pain and he was screaming and crying and still trying to get away. Screaming for his mum, his dad, for Murray, for anyone who could help him because his hip was on fire, and he knew he was bleeding so much and the big beast was still on top of him. All Remus could remember after that was how thankful he was when he finally passed out from the pain.