With a Few Good Friends
It has been a particularly bad night.
The Shrieking Shack is wrecked. Floorboards have been torn up. The walls now bear scratches so deep it's surprising that the claws didn't break all the way through. Furniture has been tipped over. The always-drawn curtains are ripped. One of them will have to sneak back to repair them before the next full moon, or one of the Hogsmede villagers may catch a glimpse of what is actually happening in the supposedly haunted building.
It has taken James and Sirius a long time to get Remus under control tonight. His hatred and loathing of his condition is strong. Intense human emotions tussle with the raging beast inside him.
They are injured as well. James has some scratches on his face and will be walking with a slight limp in the morning, which he will easily be able to make up an excuse for as he is known for mischief making. Sirius carries some wounds to his dog ears, but they are nothing his hair won't hide once he transforms back. Remus will do nothing but apologise tomorrow.
Peter pokes a whiskered nose out from under a pile of mouldy bed sheets that were knocked to the floor. He sees Remus lying on the ground, large paws cover his face as he whimpers. Sirius lies next to him, ready to jump on the werewolf if he should start acting up again. But James lies on the other side. This lets Peter know that the worst is over, for deer never lie down unless they know it is safe to do so.
He scurries out, approaching more cautiously as he nears Remus. When he is less than an inch from Remus' nose, he stops and sits up on his hind legs. He is nervous, but wants to show that he can be brave when a friend needs him too.
Remus lifts up a paw just enough to see Peter, then rests it on the dusty floor. Sirius can also see Peter shaking, so he places his own paw over Remus'. Now the werewolf won't make a sudden swipe with it without him knowing. This appears to make Peter feel better, as the mouse then settles himself beside Remus' chest.
Remus is quiet to for a moment, his ears drooped, and his tail still firmly between his legs. He twitches, then lets out a long, mournful howl that could not be held back any longer. As he howls a second time, he feels James and Sirius press closer against him, comforting yet securing at the same time. Peter does the same against his chest, his little mouse body still quivering.
One more howl, low and sorrowful, them Remus settles his head back down again. The echoes of his howling dies down and the Shrieking Shack is quiet again.
James looks out of the window through the tears in the curtain. Dawn isn't far away now.
END