My Name Is Padfoot

Prologue~ Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Sylvia Lupin cried, sobbing into her hands. Her five-year-old son, Remus, was startled to see his mother so anguished. He couldn't remember anything that had happened last night either, except for a lot of snarling and shrieking, but he got the idea that that was why his mother was so scared and upset. Seeing her like this made him scared too, she never cried, NEVER!

"Mum...."

"Sylvia, calm down, everything will be alright, don't worry, it's okay, just calm down, dear, calm down," Remus Lupin, Remus Jr.'s father, said soothingly, "Re," he added to his son, "go and get a cool cloth for your mother, will you?"

"Why is Mum so sad, and what happened last night? Daddy, what's going on, I'm scared!" Remus cried. It was all so confusing!

"Just go get that cloth, I'll explain in a minute,"

He looks so scared, thought Remus, or Re, as people called him so as not to confuse him with his father. I never saw Daddy look scared before. He ran to the kitchen to do as he was told. As he ran cold water over a rag, he tried to remember what had happened last night. It seemed to be the key to all of this. He sighed, it would sort itself out, he decided. Wringing out the rag, he went back to where his parents were. They would figure it out, and everything was going to be okay, he told himself. As he handed the cloth to his father, he asked again,

"What happened? Daddy, please tell me."

His father took a deep breath, then said slowly, shakily, "Alright. Re, last night..... a, a werewolf...... a werewolf got into the house and... and...and you were bitten by it. You are now a werewolf, son, you are now a werewolf."

_______________________________

Six years later, Re was sitting on his porch, deeply engrossed in a book about transfiguration. His father walked out onto the porch with another man, but he didn't notice. He was reading about Animagi, and found them so fascinating that he didn't look up until his father said his name very loudly. Then he jumped, looked around, and, upon seeing the other man, quickly made to hide his book, because he didn't know if the man was a Muggle or not; and a transfiguration book about how to change into an animal wasn't the type of book you would show to a Muggle. But the man just smiled, looking down his long, crooked nose at Remus, which made him a little nervous. His light blue eyes were very wise and penetrating, seeming to see right through him; and Remus wasn't sure he liked that very much. Then the man chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I know very well what transfiguration and Animagi are. Although, I must say I am surprised that a boy of your age is reading such an advanced book as that."

Remus' father then said, "Re, this is Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. He is here to talk to you. Dumbledore, would you like anything to drink?"

"No thank you, Remus. I would just like to speak with Re here, as you call him."

"Of course, I'll be inside if you need me then."

Re, who had sat up a little straighter at the mention of Dumbledore's name, and of Hogwarts, was a little nervous to be left alone with Dumbledore. He only hoped it didn't show on his face. He did not like it for people to know if he was nervous or not. He wondered why the Headmaster of Hogwarts wanted to talk to him of all people. It was absurd, seeing as he would never get to go to Hogwarts anyway, being who he was. But maybe, there was a chance; no, it was impossible, nobody would want their children going to school with a werewolf, not to mention the fact that he would have no where to go when he transformed. He had been hoping that there might be a way around it, but he couldn't see how, in all the books he had read, there was no cure for a werewolf, none at all. He would just have to do the studies on his own, since his father had gotten permission from the Ministry of Magic for him to practice spells and so on at his house. He sighed.

"And why so great a sigh, Mr. Lupin?"

Remus jumped, he had forgotten he was not alone, "Sorry, sir, it's just that I don't think I'll ever be able to go to Hogwarts. Because..." he took a deep breath, then plunged on ahead, "because I'm a werewolf, see." He felt it was safe to tell this to Dumbledore; he had a strange feeling that he could trust him. "That's why I'm reading all these spell books, and practicing the spells so I can keep up with what I would learn at Hogwarts."

"Well, you are well ahead of what any first year at my school would be learning. In fact, I am amazed that you know so much already," said Dumbledore, smiling. "Your father informed me about how you practice spells and charms at home. Did not the Ministry of Magic contact you about not being allowed to do magic outside of school because you are underage?"

"Well sir, they did, but my Dad told them why I was practicing, and that I would never use them to do anything harmful. I was just learning them so I could be a qualified wizard, and they said it was alright. But only if my dad supervised me. When we got back from the Ministry though, Dad told me that he trusted me not to do anything stupid, and that I could practice on my own, as long as I told him what I learned each week."

"I see. You told me you don't think you will be able to go to Hogwarts because you are a werewolf? Why is that?" Dumbledore asked.

"Because people wouldn't want their kids going to school with a werewolf, they'd think it was dangerous; and because I would have nowhere to go when I transformed, and I could bite someone. So it's safer and probably better if I don't go," he concluded sadly.

"Ah, well, that is exactly why I'm here. Professor Sprout, our Herbology teacher, has recently acquired a very rare Whomping Willow tree. Your father wrote to me a couple months back, expressing his wish that you attend Hogwarts, but not knowing how that was possible. We have built a small house in Hogsmeade, the village just off grounds, and a tunnel leading from it to nearby the castle. And the Whomping Willow has been planted right over the entrance. If you truly wish to go to Hogwarts, then every month at the full moon, you will travel through that tunnel and transform in that house, where you will not be a danger to others. Of course, that is only if you want to go to Hogwarts at all. What do you say, Mr. Lupin?"

"Of course I want to go; it's all I've ever wanted!!!" Remus was so excited it was all he could do to keep from jumping for joy. He was going to Hogwarts!

Peter Pettigrew sat on his bed, panting. He had managed to outrun the bullies, amazingly. Stupid Muggles, he thought, why do they have to pick on me anyway? Wish I knew some good curses I could use on them. But then, I would be in terrible trouble, and might never get to go to Hogwarts. He shuddered at the thought of it. Peter took several deep breaths; even if he knew the curses, he would be too scared to use them anyway.

There was a knock on his door, then it burst open, and his younger sister flew in clutching a very unhappy looking owl in her hand.

"It's here, it's here!" she squealed, almost throwing the owl at him. "It's finally here!!! Quick, open it up and see what it says, quick!!!"

Peter jumped up, all weariness and anger gone, replaced with excitement.

"Give it to me, come on!" He grabbed the owl from her, and tore the envelope attached away from its leg. It immediately took off, cuffing him on the head as it went. Rubbing his head, he ripped open the letter, and began to read. He wasn't the fastest reader, and it took a while for the information to sink in. Then he was bolting down the stairs with his sister behind him, shouting, "I got in, I got in!!! Mum, Dad, I got in!!!"

His mother, a plump woman who Peter resembled very much, came rushing in, followed closely by his father, a taller, thinner man.

"Oh Darling, that's wonderful!! We'll go shopping tomorrow!"

"Congratulations, son. I knew you would," said his father, smiling down at him. This was extravagant praise from him, because Peter very rarely did anything right or well.

"Oooooooo, I can't wait until I go next year!!" his sister said, jumping up and down.

Peter glowed. This year will be a good one, he promised himself.

"Get out of this house! Out!!"

"Fine, it's not like I want to be in this stupid house anyway!! Who would?" Sirius Black stormed out of his house, with his mother screaming after him.

Once outside, he wandered around looking in the Muggle shops. The stuff they make, he thought, it's disgusting. Any of the stuff these things fix could be done by magic in about two seconds. Oh well, it's not their fault they can't do magic. God, my mum gets on my nerves. Them with all their "Voldemort has the right idea of things." He's a damn Dark Wizard; can't any of them see that? And that stupid house-elf, Kreacher, always muttering and running around doing nothing. I can't stand this family, why was I even born to them? Can't wait until I get my Hogwarts letter, then I can LEAVE. Speaking of which, it should be here any day now.

Sirius had no doubt that he would get in, none at all. He fingered the wand he had gotten for his birthday last year, his only satisfactory present; his only present at all in fact. It was great; his family didn't think he was "worthy" of having a wand passed down through generations of the family, thank goodness. So instead, they bought him one that was brand new: ebony, with one unicorn tail hair, and 12 inches long.

He decided to stop for a cone at the nearest ice cream parlor. He wasn't sure what it was about ice cream, he just loved it, which is why he worked a small Muggle job to get enough Muggle money to pay for the ice cream. He jingled the coins in his pocket, Muggle and Wizard. He always carried a bit of each with him.

As he was entering the parlor, a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Backing out of the doorway, he looked around. There was a handsome screech owl perched on a nearby roof. About time, he thought, and, staring pointedly at the owl, he turned and headed down a dark alley, so that no one would notice the owl following him. As soon as he was out of sight of the road and its occupants, the owl glided down to land on his arm. Untying the letter from its place on the bird's ankle, Sirius sank to the dirty ground to read it. Sweeping his long, dark hair from his eyes, he quickly skimmed through it, catching everything. When he finished, he got up and, forgetting about his ice cream, he headed down to the Leaky Cauldron, and stepped inside.

"Hello Sirius, little early for you to be here, isn't it? You don't usually get in family arguments until after lunch. Want a drink?" Tom, the old bartender, grinned at him with what few teeth he had left.

"No thanks, Tom," said Sirius, also grinning, "I have to get my Hogwarts stuff, and buy an owl so I can tell my parents I got accepted and will be staying here for the rest of the summer; not that they care. Actually, they should be glad I'm out of the house. Which reminds me, Tom, I need a room, nothing fancy, just something that will get me through till September 1st, ok?"

"Sure, but why don't you go home to tell your parents you were accepted? Congratulations by the way," Tom added.

"Thanks. I knew I would though; it wasn't that hard to figure out. No, I'm not going to go home, I've had about enough of that house anyway. I want to stay as far away from them as possible, I don't enjoy living there at all. See ya later Tom."

"Bye Sirius."

Sirius walked out into the courtyard, and tapped the bricks that would open Diagon Alley. Once inside, he wandered up the street towards Gringots, but bumped into a boy with very messy black hair who was reading his Hogwarts list and muttering to himself.

"Oh, sorry, first year at Hogwarts too?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, hey, do you know where I can get something to eat around here, I'm starving," the boy said, looking up and down the street with a lost expression.

"Yeah just down there. I'll come with you, if you don't mind," Sirius said, remembering the ice cream he forgot to get, "Sirius Black, by the way," he added, "Haven't you ever been to Diagon Alley before? Or are you Muggle born?"

"James Potter. Nice to meet you. Na, I'm wizard born, but I've only been here once before, when my sister got her acceptance letter. But I was five then, so I don't remember much. What about you?" he asked, as they headed towards the ice cream parlor a couple of shops away.

"Oh, I practically grew up here. This is where I go every time my mum and dad and the rest of my family get to me; which is every day," Sirius said, laughing and ordering an ice cream cone with some of the Sickles in his pocket. "I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron until school starts to get away from that accursed house of theirs. It's not like they care, they'll probably be happy to get rid of me for almost a whole year."

"You don't seem too bad," James laughed. "Why don't they like you, 'cause that's certainly what it sounds like from here."

"Because I think Voldemort is the crazed idiot he is, that's why." The waiter passing them almost dropped his tray at the mention of Voldemort's name. The boys laughed. "They're not Death Eaters, no, but they certainly think VOLDEMORT," he said it very loudly, laughing again at how the waiter jumped and winced horribly, along with several other people, "has the right idea."

"Ah," James said, grinning, "And I'm guessing that you don't agree?"

"Right in one."

They continued talking for a while, about everything from Quidditch, to girls, to Hogwarts. Sirius found himself really liking James; they agreed on just about everything. He's cool, he thought, glad I met him. It was getting late though, and he still had to buy his owl.

"Hey, I've got to go, alright? I'll see you later," he said, getting up.

Also getting up, James replied, "Yeah, see ya on the Hogwarts Express, Sirius!"

As Sirius walked into the owl store, he thought, I think I found a friend who will be there for a long, long time.

James Potter was helping his mother with the dishes when the owl flew in through their kitchen window, narrowly missing the knives. James untied the letter, and it flew off again, disappearing into the night sky. When he saw the seal on the back, he exclaimed, "Mum, Mum, it's from Hogwarts!"

His older sister was in her 6th year at Hogwarts already, so James had been looking forward to going ever since he was five.

"Oh dear, that's wonderful! Open it and see what it says, not that we don't already know, of course," his mother said, wiping her hands on the dishtowel and beaming.

She was right, James had always been a bright child, and had no worries that he would get into Hogwarts. He was still very excited, and a small part of him worried that he might not get in. Excitement overcame that however, he was finally getting a wand!!!!! Though his parents went often for one reason or another, James had only been to Diagon Alley once, when his sister got her Hogwarts letter.

He quickly scanned through the letter, not missing a thing. I get to go to Hogwarts; he thought to himself, I finally get to go to Hogwarts!!!! And I get a wand; I've been waiting for that longer than I've been waiting for Hogwarts. Finished with the letter and the supply list, he looked up at his mother who was expectantly waiting for the answer.

"Oh, sorry Mum, I got in!!!!!!! Can we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow, please?"

"Oh, I think we're just going to go for you and get all your stuff, Mr. Ollivander will pick a good wand for you, don't worry," she answered, grinning.

"Over my dead body you will!!!!"

"I was joking, dear."

"I wasn't though; there is no chance you're going to Diagon Alley without me tomorrow!!!" James said, indignant.

"I know, I know."

The next day, James was walking up Diagon Alley for the first time since he was five, trying to take in everything. His parents were bustling around behind him, doing some random shopping. James stopped at Quality Quidditch Supplies, gazing in the window with awe. If there was one thing he loved, it was flying. It was where he felt at home, and what he was good at.

"Dear, your father and I are going to run off for a bite to eat, ok? You still need to get your wand, that's the last shop. Come find us afterwards."

"Alright, Mum."

James walked up the alley to the last shop with the words Ollivander's, Maker of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. He went inside, and sat down on the chair in the corner, looking around at all the wands piled up everywhere. He was so intrigued that he didn't notice the man come up until he said,

"Hello, sir, and your name is?"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were there, I'm James Potter, sir. I'm here for a wand."

"Of course, of course. Well, Mr. Potter, you've come to the right place. Now, what is your wand arm, Mr. Potter?"

"Right, sir."

Many wands later, James left Ollivander's with the wand that fit him perfectly, 11 inches long, mahogany, and containing a dragon heartstring. As he was walking down the street, reading his list to make sure he didn't forget anything, a handsome boy with long, dark hair and rather strange, violet-colored eyes bumped into him.

"Oh, sorry, first year at Hogwarts too?" he asked.

"Yeah, hey, do you know where I can get something to eat around here? I'm starving," James said, looking around as he did.

"Yeah just down there. I'll come with you, if you don't mind," he said. "Sirius Black, by the way," he added. "Haven't you ever been to Diagon Alley before? Or are you Muggle born?"

"James Potter. Nice to meet you. Na, I'm wizard born, but I've only been here once before, when my sister got her acceptance letter. But I was five then, so I don't remember much. What about you?" he asked, as they headed towards the ice cream parlor a couple of shops away.

"Oh, I practically grew up here. This is where I go every time my mum and dad and the rest of my family get to me, which is every day," Sirius said, ordering an ice cream cone. "I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron until school starts to get away from that accursed house of theirs. It's not like they care, they'll probably be happy to get rid of me for almost a whole year."

"You don't seem too bad," James laughed, and he meant it, too. "Why do they not like you, 'cause that's certainly what it sounds like from here," he asked curiously.

"Because I think Voldemort is the crazed idiot he is, that's why." The waiter passing them almost dropped his tray at the mention of Voldemort's name. James was a little surprised that Sirius said Voldemort's name, he had never met anyone outside his family who did. "They're not Death Eaters, no," Sirius continued, "but they certainly think VOLDEMORT," he said it very loudly, laughing again at how the waiter jumped and winced horribly, along with several other people, "has the right idea."

"Ah," James said, grinning. "And I'm guessing that you don't agree?"

"Right in one."

James laughed again, he liked this kid; he was cool. They talked for a while, about just about everything. James was surprised to see that they agreed and shared the same views; most people thought his ideas were a little weird. After a while though, Sirius got up, saying,

"Hey, I've got to go, alright? I'll see you later."

James, getting up too, replied, "Yeah, see ya on the Hogwarts Express, Sirius!"

He watched as Sirius made his way down to Gringotts, feeling that he had found a friend that he would keep for a very long time. Then he heard his name being shouted, and turned to see his parents waving at him. Smiling, he turned and headed towards them, to go home, and await the coming of the Hogwarts Express.