"Have you noticed how secret Remus is about his mum?" Sirius was lounging on his bed, being melancholic. Remus had just left to see his mother again, and the three remaining third year Gryffindor boys were back from Hogsmead early because of a truly terrifying thunder storm. Not that any of them would admit to being scared...in fact the only one who had was Remus Lupin.
"Maybe she's as evil as your mum," James seemed unconcerned, scribbling on a piece of parchment and crossing stuff out again, "and he doesn't want us to know."
Sirius snorted. "If the most noble matriarch of the Black household was sick every month, I wouldn't waste time and energy on seeing her. She'd probably kill me for coming home anyway." he rolled over onto his back and unwrapped a chocolate frog.
"It makes sense, though," mumbled Peter, through his own mouthful of chocolate. "I mean, if she's mean, it would explain all the bruises and cuts and stuff."
"True." Sirius stared moodily at his frog. He didn't want to think about his mum, or his best friend getting hurt-by anyone. Hm...Remus loved chocolate. Just their luck he was gone for Hogsmead-there was a fabulous opportunity to hex Narcissa and Malfoy, but none of them were clever enough to have pulled it off. Maybe he hadn't left yet...the Black rolled off the bed with a loud thump. "I'm going to go look for him and bring him some sweets for the train. Maybe he's still here."
Peter offered up a sugar quill and James, after pouting, handed over a licorice wand and two of his chocolate frogs. Sirius took his leave and went to look for Remus in the great hall, where he assumed McGonnagal would meet the golden eyed boy. Nobody was there, however, except a few ill-looking fifth years studying for OWLs. As Sirius turned to leave, he heard a familiar voice in the hall. Hurrying, he saw Remus with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Slughorn.
"Remus!" The boy turned with a look of surprise.
"Sirius? Aren't you supposed to be in Hogsmead?"
"We came back because of the thunderstorm. Good thing you're going home for a bit, it's a fierce one!" Sirius thought he saw a flicker of despair cross his friend's face, but was sidetracked by the others standing there. "Where's McGonnagal? Doesn't she usually take you to the train?"
The staff members exchanged a look, Remus hesitated. "She was busy, so Madam Pmfrey said she'd take me. Professor Slughorn was giving me a potion to take to my mum." Madam Pomfrey nudged Remus lightly, and he said quickly "I have to go, Sirius. See you on Monday."
"Oh. Okay. Wait! Do you want some sweets for the train ride? Keep your mind off the thunder." Sirius grinned. Remus hesitated again, but then a smile crossed his drawn face and he took the proffered sugar.
"Sure! Thanks, Siri. Bye."
"Bye, Rem!"
Sirius pattered up the stairs to a window that overlooked the grounds. He wanted to see how easy it was to leave the Hogwarts grounds by way of the main gate. He was sure Remus would know, but it was unlikely that the mostly-rule-abiding boy would tell his less-than-innocent friend. Sirius spotted Madam Pomfrey and Remus immediately. Bizarrely enough, they were moving across the grounds towards the forest instead of to where the train was. As they drew farther and farther out of Sirius's line of vision, Madam Pomfrey put her arm around Remus's thin waist. Sirius rolled his eyes-trust Rem to play the pity card on the pretty young healer. By the time he look back, they had disappeared beyond the whomping willow.
James was getting frustrated. There was apparently nothing he could do that got a red headed girl out of his mind. He was annoyed-he didn't even like girls! They were boring creatures who were always too smart for any fun. Besides, Lily Evans, the red head on his mind, was friends with a Slytherin! He supposed she was pretty, but...
"James?"
"Ungh"
"Can you come look at something?"
"...no."
"James, what if Remus's mum is really sick? Like, what if she can't be cured and can't help why she gets sick? I mean, say it was a re-occurring thing...like, for instance, maybe..."
"Merlin, Peter! Spit it out!" Sirius chuckled when the smaller boy jumped at his sudden appearance.
"Um. Okay. Have either of you read the DADA book?" there was a pause, and then they all laughed. "Um, anyway, when I was getting help from Dedalus, he was doing a paper on, um, werewolves and it looked interesting..."
"And you think that Remus's mum is a werewolf? Funny, Peter. He'd be dead by now." James turned his eyes back to his scribbles and huffed in annoyance when he saw that he had written Evans' name in cursive.
"Okay, good. I didn't think that could be it, but I don't know why she gets sick so much."
James idly scratched out what he had written, and looked up at Sirius. "Did you catch up with him? ...Sirius? ...Sirius...?"
The Black was standing in the middle of the room. The other boys could almost see the gears grinding to life in his brain. Connecting. Connecting scars and scratches. Connecting monthly visits and Madam Pomfrey. Connecting, connecting, connecting...the full moon. Tonight. And last month, they had been planning a prank for the full moon and Remus had left to see his mother again. How long had they been swallowing this lie? Sirius fell sick himself when he realized that it had been three years. Their whole time at Hogwarts. James was suddenly in front of him, holding his arms and telling him to sit down, to breathe. Sirius felt very glad to have a trunk behind him for when he sat down very quickly.
"James." he rasped. "Not him mum. Never his mum. It's him."
"It's him, what?"
"He's the wolf. Oh, Merlin, he's the wolf!" Sirius put his head in his hands shakily. James shoved something under his face.
"...What?"
"Eat it, Sirius."
Obligingly, he took a bite. And almost choked when he realized it was chocolate. He pushed James's hand with the offensive sweet away.
"Siri, it was just a stupid idea of Peter's. Relax, mate, there's no werewolf."
"Yeah, forget about it. It was stupid." Peter chimed in, anxiously.
"NO!" Sirius stood up, facing his friends with rage in his face. "Don't you see? It makes sense! The scratches! They're never from his dad's cat! They're bigger claws, his claws! The chocolate! It keeps dark creatures at bay! And look!" Sirius stormed over to Peter's divination work and shook it in front of the two. "What is tonight?"
"A full moon." whispered Peter.
"Exactly!" the rage faded away and was replaced by despair. "Why didn't he tell us?"
"Whoa, easy buddy." James approached him warily, like he was the wolf. "Yes, it makes sense, but it might actually be his mum. What if she's, I don't know, restrained, and he has to take care of her when she transforms? I know St. Mungo's doesn't take werewolves."
"No. James." Sirius's face crumpled. "It makes too much sense. She couldn't have not bitten him in all that time. And one more thing." he took a breath, remembering. "He doesn't go to the train station. I saw him and Madam Pomfrey walking towards the forest. How stupid have we been? He's never gotten on the train. He transforms in the forest and then stays in the hospital wing. Merlin. Why didn't he tell us?"
"I don't know, Sirius, but we're marauders-" James stated firmly, "And there's only one thing to do now."
Peter and Sirius looked at the grimly determined look in the Potter's eyes. Sirius nodded slowly. Peter inwardly sighed.