September 5th, 1971

Remus sat on the windowsill, staring out at the sun setting over the grounds. Downstairs, Sirius and James were playing exploding snap and talking as if they had known each other forever.

Would they still treat him like that, if they found out? Sirius came from a Pureblood supremacist family, and James acted as though he was the brother he'd never had.

That was different though. Sirius hated his family with a burning passion, avoiding them and their ways at all costs.

Remus couldn't tell them. They would be disgusted and turn their backs. It was better to have friends that didn't quite know him than to have no one at all, he convinced himself.

He allowed Madam Pomfrey to lead him across the grounds and settled down on the hard dirt floor to wait.

Three hours to go.

Now just two.

One more. It was chilly and uncomfortable, and his bones ached.

With ten minutes to go he stood and removed his clothes, folding them neatly in an attempt to distract himself from the impending pain.

It started with a prickling sensation running over his skin. Then the feeling that his muscles were being ripped away and bones pushing and grating against each other. Fur sprouted like needles stabbing through his skin, claws shredding through his fingers.

And suddenly, he took a backseat in his own mind. He could watch, but not move. He could hear, but not speak.

The wold looked around for victims. But no one was there. It paced angrily for a few minutes, sniffing around the bare earth and wooden boards. It snapped its sharp teeth at a few pieces of furniture, before turning on itself.

Remus returned to consciousness early in the morning. He didn't move, mentally assessing the injuries.

Once he had ascertained that there was no serious damage he gingerly got to his feet, wincing as he stretched. His muscles were on fire and every inch of him hurt, but no more than usual.

He reached for his clothes and pulled them on, hissing as they rubbed over scratches. He was used to this. He was not going to cry.

This time though, he was alone. His parents were halfway across the country. There was no one to kiss him on the forehead and push the pain away.

Madam Pomfrey came to collect him half an hour later, and found him curled in a tight ball on the floor, sobbing.

Thank you to MissingMommy for betaing!