Prelude

When Remus was only four years old, he was bitten by a werewolf. From that day onward, Remus felt like a monster. He didn't understand why it had to be him. He hadn't done anything wrong, so why was he being punished. From that moment, his parents guarded him. All he wanted to do was play with friends; he was so young. His parents did their best to give him a normal childhood but worried about friendships he might form. Wouldn't they think it was weird when he disappeared every month around the full moon? As he was growing older and his young body because more covered in scars, the children began to laugh at him. They thought he was weird. Eventually, he had a very lonely life. He was laughed at by children his age. However, that changed one Sunday afternoon when he was seven years old.

One cloudy Sunday morning in October, as he sat on top of the monkey bars, he felt a presence beside him. He was startled by the sudden presence. The children in the playground tended to avoid him, but not finally looked at the figure beside him. He saw a messy-haired girl with a big grin on her face. Her dress was a little dirty from playing. He was taken aback by the girl's broad smile. She stuck her hand towards him with enthusiasm, "My name is Lizzie! What's yours?" she beamed. Remus couldn't help but smile, "Remus." He replied. "That's such a cool name. I don't like my name, so I go by Lizzie."

The girl stopped smiling as she looked at his face; she suddenly reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a plaster. She opened it up and placed it on his cheek. "There, all better! I always carry plasters with me in case I hurt myself playing. You should carry some too." The young girl pulled a handful of plasters from her pocket and handed them to Remus, shoving them into his hands. Remus couldn't help but smile back at her. This was one of the few times that someone hadn't been rude about the scars that covered his hands and parts of his face.

For the rest of the morning, they played together, swinging together or chasing each other. Remus observed how carefree Lizzie was; she didn't care if her dress got dirty; she was happy playing. Her contagious laughter attracted the children around her, and for one day, Remus was just like the other kids. He didn't feel judged. Remus just had fun. The other boys played with him as if they didn't care at all. He was one of the boys.

Eventually, it was time for him to go. His mother was calling his name. He walked up to Lizzie, who was laughing and running around, "Hey Lizzie, I've to go." She stopped running and hugged him. She was such a carefree girl. "See you next time." She smiled. As he was leaving with his mother, Lizzie called out to him, she ran up and grabbed his shoulder. She pulled out the rest of the plasters and gave him them, "You should always carry them with you, okay?" Remus nodded and waved goodbye.

They continued to see each other in the playground for the next few months until she told him that she was moving and that she wouldn't be able to play anymore. Remus was devested to lose her. Before she left, she promised Remus they'd see each other again the future. But once she was gone, he was alone again.

Years went by, and he never saw her again. She soon became a distant memory. At least that was until Hogwarts.