Ok! I just thought of this one...... and it's kind of short......... so I hope it's ok. Here's the next chapter:


Chapter 26: Mom!?!

Remus nodded and made his way out into the church. To his surprise, someone was sitting in the pew! The only people attending the wedding were supposed to be in the wedding party! Who was this?

Remus walked over to the pew and looked down at a familiar face. “Mom!?!” Remus exclaimed in astonishment.

“Surprise” Julia Lupin hugged her son. “How are you sweetie?”

“What are you doing here?” Remus asked, still recovering from the initial shock.

“You didn’t think I would miss your wedding, did you?”

James was completely puzzled when he saw Remus talking to someone in the pew. He walked over to Remus, and jumped back in surprise.

“Mrs. Lupin! How are you?” James asked, hugging her.

“Actually, James, it’s no longer Mrs. Lupin.” Julia answered.

She turned to her son, “I left your father; you were right, Remus. He’s never going to change.”

Silent tears, running down her cheeks. “Remus I feel so guilty. I should have just taken you and left …….especially after what he did to you. Remus, I’m so sorry.”

“Mum, stop,” Remus said, pulling her into a hug. “I don’t blame you, at all. But what finally made you leave?”

“I just got sick of that abusive man; I’m old, and I just can’t take it any more. Remus, I’m just so sorry you had to grow up like that.”

“Well, I’m not. Mum, you are the best mother in the world; and you taught me what kind of person I should be.”

James had remained silent, he knew what Remus’s father was like. In third year Remus had come back from Christmas Vacation with several bruises. At first, the marauders thought that he had had a particularly bad transformation; but later realized that there hadn't been a full moon. James remembered when they finally confronted Remus:

James and Sirius marched up to the boys’ dorm (Peter was pigging out in the Great Hall).

"Remus what the bloody hell is going on?" Sirius asked.

"What?" Remus answered innocently.

"How did you get those bruises?" James asked.

"um.......my transformation......um......didn't go so well this month," he said weakly.

"Remus we aren't stupid!" Sirius said.

"Really? You could've fooled me!" he laughed.

Sirius scowled, and then laughed. "If you weren't covered in Black and Blue's, I'd punch you."

James interrupted. "Remus there was no full moon over Christmas break."

"Guys, really, it's no big deal."

"Remus! Are you crazy! You look like you almost died!" Sirius said.

"I almost did," he muttered; but James and Sirius had heard him. More loudly, he said, "Guys, please just drop it!"

"No! Remus you are going to tell us what happened," Sirius yelled.

"Remus, it's not like we're going to tell anyone," James said.

"Ok fine.........um.........my dad is..............well......... he drinks......... a lot..............and well I got in his way. I do that sometimes; and so does Mum, but it's no big deal. It's my fault really."

Sirius and James looked horrified.

"Honestly, it's not that big of a deal," Remus said.

"Remus, you almost died!" Sirius said softly.

"No..........well..........yes........ but I shouldn't have gotten in his way."

"Remus! This is not your fault!"

"It is! My dad wasn't like this before I became a were-wolf! It's my fault! He started drinking to deal with it. It's all my fault........."

Sirius and James got up and hugged Remus.

"Don't worry," James said. "I'm going to write to my mum. You'll never have to go back there......."


And Remus only went back once; it was over the summer, to collect what little things he had, and James and Sirius went with him. After that, he stayed with every summer James.

James looked over at Julia. He had always liked her; she was such a sweet lady. Every time she could sneak away for Mr. Lupin, she would come to James's house and bring them cookies. He was so happy that she finally decided to leave.

“So, what am I supposed to call you now?” James asked, breaking the silence.

“Well, I’m going by my maiden name: Hodgdon. But we are all adults now, so James, you can call me Julia, if you like.”

“Um…..this is a little awkward; but, did you know my parents died last year?” James asked.

Julia nodded.

“Well, you have always been like a second mother to me. So……um……. would you mind if I called you mom?”

Julia beamed. “Of course! I’ve always said ‘the four of you aren’t friends; you’re brothers’.” Julia smiled and looked up at the clock. “Um, boys. You might want to get a move on; you’re 20 minutes late!”