Remus John Lupin grinned widely as he read the letter he had just received. He had gotten the position as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For two years, Remus had been at Hogwarts just to watch over a certain now thirteen year old. Harry James Potter. Remus wanted more than anything to take Harry in to be his own, to adopt him, but Professor Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts wouldn't allow it.

Flashback

"Albus, please. Please let me take Harry in. He is not being cared for properly at his uncle's," Remus said to Albus Dumbledore.

"You know you cannot have children, Remus. The Werewolf Law. Harry is perfectly safe at his uncle's house."

"Screw the Werewolf Law! You know perfectly well that I can take care of children. Harry can be just as safe with me, if not safer."

"I know you would make an excellent parent, but the law cannot be broken. Harry is safer where he is because of Lily's sacrifice. There is no ward stronger than that. I'm sorry."

"But, sir…"

"You cannot take Harry in. I'm very sorry."

Remus sighed and thought. "If I can't take him in, can I at least come to the school each year to watch over him?" he watched as the headmaster thought it over.

"That would be all right. I will tell the staff, but you cannot be seen by the students. I have a spell that will help. It makes you invisible and people are able to walk through you. Kind of like making yourself a ghost but you are alive," Dumbledore explained.

"Thank you so much, sir," Remus smiled.

End of Flashback

And so it had begun. Every year on September the first, Remus would catch the Hogwarts Express and spend the school year at the school, watching over Harry.

He had learned a bit about the boy just by watching him. Though he looked like James, he had many qualities of Lily. He had a temper, he was very loyal to his friends, but he shied away from people. Remus had watched as Harry became best friends with Ron Weasley and, after saving her from the troll at Halloween, Hermione Granger. They were best friends and were always together, helping each other out.

Like Dumbledore had said, when he put the invisibility spell on himself, he went invisible and people could walk through him. He tried to avoid people, but if someone did go through him, even a little bit, they would feel just cool air. With the use of this spell, Remus was able to walk around the school, watching Harry and his friends, every student unaware of his presence.

A couple times, Remus had slipped into one of Harry's classes just to see what went on. He found that Harry and Ron passed notes and slept in History of Magic, they talked somewhat in Defence Against the Dark Arts, and in Charms, the trio sat in the same seats and chatted. It was Harry's Potions class that worried him. Harry clearly hadn't picked up Lily's good skills in Potions. He did do fine in the class, but he was always so agitated because of Professor Severus Snape. Snape clearly despised Harry and did well of letting everyone know.

"Oh well. Now I'll really be able to watch Harry and help him out with any problems. If he figures out that he can trust me anyways," Remus said to himself. He placed the letter on the table and looked around his home, sighing.

It was a small home. A one bedroom cottage in the countryside of London. He lived near a muggle village so he wasn't in range of any other wizards. The cottage, fortunately, had an attic, so on every full moon, he locked himself in the attic. He had lived in the cottage for many years. After his mother died when he was fifteen, it was just him and his father so they got a smaller place…the cottage. Remus never understood why they got a place with only one bedroom. His father had made the attic his room. He had a bed and everything. When Remus was twenty, his father died of a heart attack. No one had ever been sure what caused the heart attack, so the death was a mystery. Remus didn't care too much though. His father was never loving towards him like his mother was. Ever since he had become a werewolf at the age of seven, his father had done nothing but neglect him.

Father didn't care, so I don't care either. I only care about Mum, not you, Dad. Never. I'll never care about you again, just like how you didn't care for me, especially after Mum died,Remus thought bitterly. For a bit he sat, just thinking, then he went to start packing and figure out what he needed to go buy.

Number Four, Privet Drivewas a beautiful house in a beautiful neighbourhood. What went on inside the house was not nearly as pleasant.

"What have I told you about saying that word in this house?" Mr. Vernon Dursley shouted at his nephew who was glaring at him.

"What? Oh, you mean 'magic'," Harry Potter said, not caring about the beatings he would get.

"Do not talk about your freak life under this roof!" Vernon threw Harry into a wall, making the boy fall to the floor, all the wind knocked out of him.

"Go to hell," Harry snapped. He yelped in pain when his uncle kicked him in the ribs. He was pretty sure one was cracked, not broken, but cracked.

"Watch your mouth, boy," Vernon threatened as Harry slowly stood. He used the small door knob on the cupboard under the stairs to help himself into a standing position.

"Make me," Harry held back his scream of pain when Vernon grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the wall, the door knob on the cupboard going right into his back.

"I'd watch it or I'll make you wish you'd never been born," Vernon let him go.

"That's one of the biggest wishes I have," Harry glowered at his uncle.

"Soon I'll make that wish come true if you don't start showing some respect."

"Respect? Why in the hell should I show you respect?" Harry shouted.

"Because we give you shelter, food, and a place to sleep! We've given you a home!"

"This is anything but home! This is a bloody prison and torture chamber! I get beat on twenty-four seven for absolutely nothing! I hardly get any food! As for sleeping somewhere, you shoved me in a cupboard for ten years! I have nothing to give you respect for," Harry yelled. Vernon hit him in the face, making him fall, then stepped on his ankle. Harry screamed when he felt it crack.

"Go to your room," Vernon pointed to the stairs. Harry got uneasily to his feet and hopped up the stairs, gasping in pain every time his ankle was bumped. He got to his bedroom then carefully laid on his bed after closing the door.

"There's no way he's going to sign my Hogsmeade form. Guess Ron and Hermione will just have to go alone," he sighed sadly. He closed his eyes tiredly and fell into an uncomfortable sleep.

While Remus finished packing and thought about what he needed to get, his thoughts drifted back to Harry. In Harry's first year, he had come to Hogwarts very skinny. He had gained weight during the year and when he went home, he looked fine. When they returned for Harry's second year, he was even skinner than he had been the previous year. This time, Harry did not gain as much weight and was still much to skinny for a twelve year old. Remus was worried about Harry's health. At Hogwarts, the boy ate a lot, almost as much as Ron, but he just didn't seem to be the same size as the other boys his age.

Guess we'll see in a few days, Remus sighed. He finished packing then went to Diagon Alley to pick some things up.

Remus entered the Leaky Cauldron and went straight to Tom, the bartender.

"Hello, Remus. How are you?"

Remus sat down. "Hi, Tom. I'm all right. You? How's business?" he ordered a butterbeer.

"Same as always. Busy one day, slow the next. How's it going up at the school? Everything all right with Harry?" Tom and Remus were very close friends, so Remus had told him everything about watching Harry since he couldn't adopt him.

"It's going very well. I've actually been hired to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor this year. I'm just here picking up a few extra things that I need."

"That's great!" Tom smiled widely. "Hey, off topic, but have you seen the paper today?"

"No. Haven't had time. Why?" Remus frowned. Tom placed a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of Remus without speaking.

"Oh no." On the front page, there was a black and white photo of a man. He wore prison clothes, he had a sunken face, haunted eyes, and he was deathly skinny. Remus forced himself to read some of the article.

Break-Out From Azkaban!

Last night at two thirty-six, mad mass murderer, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban prison. How he escaped is unknown, but what is known is that he is highly dangerous. He is also much more likely to be going after The-Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter. Everyone is told to watch out for Black and if he is seen, do not attack. Contact the Ministry immediately.

Remus groaned. Just what he needed. His first year of teaching and Sirius Orion Black escapes from prison.

"Just what I need. A murderer on the loose the year I'm teaching. Brilliant," he sighed.

Tom smiled. "You'll be fine. Did you know that a certain boy was brought here last night?"

"No. That doesn't concern me, Tom. I should go. I need to pick things up. See you later, Tom," Remus paid for his drink and stood to leave.

"It's Harry Potter," Tom stated and watched as Remus stopped walking.

"What?"

"The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge brought him in last night. I'll tell you this, that boy looked absolutely horrible. He kind of looked like he was on the road to death."

"What room is he in?"

"Twenty two."

"Thanks. I'll see you later, Tom," Remus went up a set of stairs that lead to the rooms. He walked down a hall then stopped at room twenty-two. For a couple seconds, he just listened but didn't hear anything. He knocked.

"Yeah?" Harry's voice came from inside the room.

"Mr. Potter, can I come in? I'm with the Ministry of Magic. Mr. Cornelius Fudge sent me to check on you," Remus lied.

"Sure. Come in. Door's open," Harry answered and Remus walked into the room. Remus' breath caught in his chest when he saw Harry. The boy was deathly skinny. His usual over-sized clothes hung off him more than normal. He had a cut on the side of his head which was still bleeding freely, over his right eye, and his lip was cut. His left eye was black and he had a bad bruise on his cheek.

"Oh my God," Remus breathed. Harry looked to the floor, embarrassed.

"All right. You've checked on me. Go tell Fudge that I haven't blown anything else up," Harry said as he sat on the bed, his back to Remus.

"Blown anything else up?" Remus frowned.

"Yeah. Before Fudge brought me here, I had blown up my aunt by accident. Then I ran away," Harry replied.

"If you don't mind my asking..." Harry stopped him.

"Accident. Car accident a few days ago," Harry lied. He wasn't going to say what actually happened. He never did.

"You should be at a hospital."

"Got released. I didn't really have severe injuries. Bruises, cuts, couple broken ribs, broken ankle. The hospital healed the bones and some of the cuts. I'm fine," Harry still hadn't turned back around to face Remus. "Hey, you work for the Ministry. What's going on with Sirius Black?"

Remus was taken aback by the question. "Oh...umm...we're...we're getting somewhere. We're hoping to catch him very soon."

"Hope so. Although, I don't trust the Ministry very much. No offence. Mainly just Fudge," Harry stated.

"None taken."

"Okay, well, you should go tell Fudge I'm still here and the building's still standing."

Remus sighed. "Very well. Thank you, Mr. Potter," he left. "What happened to him?" he muttered to himself. With the image of Harry still clear in his head, he went to Diagon Alley and finally picked up the things he needed.

Even when he got home and hour later and busied himself with things around the house, he could not get the picture of Harry out of his mind. "I'm going to find out what happened no matter what. When I find out, I'm taking Harry in. I don't care about the stupid law or what Dumbledore says or thinks," he vowed to himself. He had to find out what had happened to put Harry in the condition he was in. Every day and every night leading up until the first of September, Remus fretted over Harry and what had happened. He just couldn't let it go and he wouldn't until he learned the truth.

Remus woke up early on September first and started getting ready. He was extremely tired. He hadn't slept well at all that night. Maybe he would sleep on the train. He had countless times before but he was a ghost then pretty much. Remus, after bringing his trunk downstairs, made himself a quick breakfast of eggs and bacon, and ate it slowly to pass time. After a while, he had twenty minutes left and he went to King's Cross. Remus looked around but didn't see Harry, so he just went to Platform Nine and Three Quarters and grabbed a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Being extremely tired, Remus sat back, leaned his head against the wall, and shut his eyes, desperate for sleep.

"I still say it's brilliant," a voice said.

"Of course you do, Ronald," another voice sighed.

"Come on. Everywhere else is full," Remus recognized the third voice. It was Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron. He heard the door to his compartment open and felt the Trio get comfortable. He ignored it and went back to trying to sleep.

"Who's that?" Ron asked.

"Our new Defence professor obviously. R.J. Lupin," Hermione answered.

"You know. I can't believe Black escaped from Azkaban," Ron stated.

"Doesn't help that he's supposedly after me," Harry replied.

"Forgot about that," Ron said.

"Harry, did you get your form signed for the Hogsmeade visits?" Hermione changed the subject.

"No. You two will be going alone. I have to stay at the school," Harry said sadly.

"Oh. Well, we'll bring you loads of stuff back, mate," Ron responded.

"Thanks, Ron," Harry smiled. Suddenly the train began to slow. "What's going on?"

"Why are we stopping? We can't be there yet," Hermione frowned. Harry went to stand to go look out the door but the train jerked, throwing him back into the seat.

"What's happening?" Ron wondered aloud. Then, the lights went out.

"Is it cold in here or is that just me?" Harry asked his friends.

"It's cold. Look," Hermione pointed to the window. It had frosted up like it was winter. The train jerked again.

"What's going on?" the trio said together. Just then, the door to their compartment slowly opened and a scaly hand came into the compartment.

"Oh my God," Hermione whispered. The body that belonged to the hand appeared. It was a hooded figure that seemed to have only a mouth. No nose, no eyes, only a mouth. The trio wanted to scream but they couldn't.

"Do you think he's really asleep? Has he realized what's going on?" Ron whispered, terrified. They looked at Remus. He seemed to have reacted to the cold, but didn't seem to be awake. The trio looked back to the creature and Harry felt the happiness slowly drain out of him.

"Harrrrryyyyy!" he heard a woman screaming. He could feel his consciousness slipping away and could still feel his happiness disappearing. Before he blacked out, he saw a bright light. Then everything disappeared.