Remus glanced at Lily, who looked absolutely terrified. How anyone could think that Muggle-borns such as Lily did not have the right to learn magic was completely ridiculous. Lily was far more clever than half the purebloods at Hogwarts.

“Lupin,” Bulstrode growled, blocking Remus's exit. “How's the leg?”

“Get out of the way,” Remus said.

“I don't think so. Because of you I've got a week of detention,” Bulstrode said. “What do you say I get your other leg, just to make things even?”

“I said, move!” Remus shouted.

The class soon gave way to excited chatter. Most of the excitement was over what forms the patronuses would take. James, Sirius, and Peter already knew what their patronuses would be due to the fact that patronuses were almost always the same form as one's animagus form. Remus was fairly certain what his would be as well.

“We know for sure that Bulstrode is one of them,” Remus said quietly. “And Crabbe's in training.”

“Snape is one,” James said. “I'd bet anything.”

“They can't do much from inside the castle,” Peter pointed out.

“Except recruit new ones,” Sirius said. “I wish my brother wouldn't hang out with them.”

“Did you hear that?” Remus asked suddenly. He set down his fork and strained to listen. He could've sworn he heard something that sounded a bit like thunder, but almost like an explosion at the same time.

“Hear what?” Peter asked. “I didn't hear anything.” The rest of the group shook their heads.

“Guess I was hearing things,” Remus muttered and went back to his dinner. But as soon as he took a bite of chicken, he heard it again. A loud, exploding noise. “There it is again.”

“Isn't the Ravenclaw common room quiet?” Remus asked. He'd always imagined it was, given that most Ravenclaws studied a lot.

Addy burst out laughing. “Oh, no! Most of the time there's a few experiments going on and sometimes they explode, and they always get a lot of attention so it gets quite loud. I'd guess that the Gryffindor common room is really loud.”

“Hey, Remus.” Sirius poked Remus in the side, jolting him out of his full moon on Christmas woes.

Remus glanced up and saw that Sirius was nodding over to the Ravenclaw table, where Addy was watching him. She saw him look and smiled, then quickly turned back around.

“She likes you,” Sirius said with a grin. “Hogsmeade next Saturday.”

“We're just going to have to talk to him,” Mr. Lupin said. Remus heard the familiar stomp of his father's feet walking across the kitchen floor. His father was very heavy footed, unlike his mother's soft footsteps.

“It's going to upset him,” Mrs. Lupin replied. “I hate upsetting him, especially near the full moon.”

“Then we'll wait until after. But it's almost second term. He has to figure something out.”

“Quiet down!” McGonagall shouted. “Today I'd like you to continue practicing human transfiguration. Partner up and by the end of the class I expect you all to look vastly different than you do now. Nose shape, hair color, hair length, eye color, the like. Use your imaginations.”

“This could be fun,” Sirius said with a grin. “Moony? Partners?”

“Sure,” Remus said. “You can go first.”

“The world needs as many Aurors as possible,” Remus continued. “Don't wreck it trying to get revenge for me. It's not the first time anyone's ever called me half-breed scum, and it won't be the last-”

“But, Moony-”

“Prongs,” Remus cut him off. “I said it's fine.”

"Do I have to tell her? For moral reasons?”

“I don't know, mate,” James said quietly. “There isn't exactly a handbook, is there?”

“A handbook for werewolf relationships? No, not exactly. Still, I don't know what to do.”

Still, they said nothing. Their walk was quiet and solitary, despite the fact that they walked together. All three were lost in their own thoughts, and while they were most likely thinking the same things, it was better for their thoughts to remain thoughts.

ames shut the door after them and then turned to Remus. “Bulstrode and Crabbe have fled the grounds.”

Remus felt his jaw drop. “Wait, what?”

“Lily and I saw them. They walked right out the front doors and ran into the forest. I can only assume they Disapparated from there. And since they're both of age, I didn't bother to stop them.”

“What about the Ministry?” James asked. “Sirius and I are set to become Aurors.”

“And we need Aurors,” Dumbledore said. “Right now we have Alastor and one other Auror. But it does come at a risk. The Ministry does not oppose our efforts, but there is always the chance that they could tell their Aurors they aren't allowed to participate or face a sacking. It is up to you.”

“Luna...” Remus began.

“Professor?” Luna asked quietly, stepping inside. “What are you doing?”

“Packing,” Remus said. “I'm afraid I couldn't defy the curse.”

“But it's not really cursed!” Luna exclaimed. “Not really. It's just a rumor. You told me that.”