Of Werwolves and Wizards

AN: AU from the point of "The Prank" on. Obviously, I do not own any of this. If I did, well, I'd be happy and rich wouldn't I?

Chapter 1: The Prank

Pain rippled through his body and try as he might to clench his teeth together, a rather unmanly scream tore out of his mouth. Pain as he had never felt erased all thought and sense from Remus Lupin, and his body bucked, as if to throw off what was hurting him.

It wasn't until the pain started to ease that he felt the hands on his body that pushed him into the bed, and another pair of hands keeping his mouth open and a potion was sliding down his throat. Slowly, the world came into focus. He was in the hospital wing, in the small room set aside for his recovery.

Towering over him, looks of weary concern universal on their face were Albus Dumbledore, tall, in magnificent blue robes, his glasses slightly askew on his long and crooked nose. Poppy Pomfrey, the short, thin middle aged matron, her black hair going silver. James Potter, tall and lanky, his black hair a mess as ever, and his glasses equally awry. Peter Pettigrew, short, plump, a mop of short cropped blond hair. Minerva McGonagall, her black hair out of it's usual tight bun, in her tartan robe.

Remus groaned lowly, something was wrong, he could tell. Not since his first transformation had the Headmaster and the Transfiguration Professor showed up to see how he was after the moon. He noted, with rising fear, that Sirius was not there. Had something happened during the Marauder's usual full moon romp? Had he bitten Sirius outside his animagus form?

"Mr. Lupin, can you understand me?" Dumbledore asked softly. The young werewolf nodded slowly, his eyes blinked slowly.

"Professor, maybe we should tell him?" came the equally and unusually soft voice of James. Remus saw the exchange of looks between James and Dumbledore, and the aged wizard smiled softly and nodded.

It took ten minuets for Prongs to tell Remus what had happened in the late hours of last night. Sirius, his boyfriend of a year and fellow Marauder had told Snape how to get past the Whomping Willow, and the 6th year Slytherian and glimpsed the wolf. When Remus tried to interrupt, his voice full of dread, "No! Did I ki-," but James cut him off and assured him that no harm had come to Snivillus, erm, Snape, James hastily amended, as he looked quickly at Dumbledore and McGonagall. James himself had braved the willow and the werewolf to retrieve the hated Slytherin.

The dread did not leave Remus, instead it changed direction. No, he would not be hauled to the Ministry and put down, but he would be expelled. Dumbledore, the ever-knowing and powerful wizard had been wrong, the experiment of allowing a werewolf attend Hogwarts had failed.

"I've been expelled haven't I?" Remus murmured, giving voice to his fear. Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on the top of Remus' head, "Of course not dear boy, I know you had nothing to do with this. But we do need to discuss what has happened last night with everyone involved. Poppy says you'll be able to come to my office once the potion takes full affect, and before you ask, no", Dumbledore said, heading off the next question from Remus, "Severus Snape shall not be speaking of your condition, I have made sure of that,"

Remus made a sound between disbelief and amusement. Dumbledore patted him gently on the head, "I will see you soon in my office," with that he nodded to the others in the small room and walked out, sighing quietly.

"How do you feel now, Lupin?" McGonagall asked, her usual hard voice was much softer than Remus had ever heard. Remus thought for a few moments, "Like I've been mauled by a werewolf," he said, a note of irony in his voice, "Even when I got the bite, it didn't feel as painful as this,"

McGonagall moved, her arms started to come up from her sides, as if to hug Remus, but seemed to think better of it, and instead settled for patting his cheek. Minerva McGonagall, or Sexy McGoogles, as Sirius had affectionately nicknamed her three years previous, as demanding and hard as she came off, she did care and love those students under her charge. Remus gave her a knowing smile and she returned it sadly. "I will see you when you come to the Headmaster's office," she said and she too left with Pomfrey.

Prongs and Wormtail seemed at a loss of what to do or say, so they sat there. Looking at Remus as though he was on his death bed. "It doesn't fit them," Remus thought to himself. He mustered as much energy as he could to make a small smile, "Well, if anything, maybe Snape will leave us alone now, he may be too afraid he'll end up as my snack one night,"

The attempt of humor fell flat. Peter made a small and strangled chuckle, devoid of any humor. James just looked sadly at him.

"Where is Pads?" Remus asked, looking at James, whose face went hard, "Does it matter where that twat is Moony?" he scoffed, his right hand twitched.

Remus closed his eyes and nodded as he forced the next words out of his mouth, "Yes, Prongs it does. He's still my boyfriend and I want to see him," the words felt bitter in his own mouth and tried his best to keep his face even.

"How the bloody hell can you call him your boyfriend after what he did?" James said, his voice low and full of anger. "Black almost got you killed, Black is-"

"Your brother, my boyfriend, and Wormtail's friend, and don't say anything you'll regret later Prongs, we're going to forgive him, and we're going to move on, and yes, you will," Remus added sharply as James opened his mouth to protest. The edge to the werewolf's voice seemed to catch whatever words James was going to say so bit his lip.

"He's in Dumbledore's office, waiting for us," Peter finally supplied in a squeaky voice. Remus gave him a thankful smile.

The door opened again as the matron came in, fresh clothes for her patient. Remus just now realized he was naked, and was pleased for the blanket that covered his scared body. They had seem him naked and they had seen the scars, but he still was not like Sirius, he would never be one to willingly show his body to others. It had taken much argument over four months before Sirius had convinced Remus that let them sleep naked together or to shower together. It had taken another month before Sirius and he had done more than snog. Remus had protested, yes, he had seen the scars before, all the more reason Remus thought, that them getting together had been a horrible idea. Who could find him attractive? Who could handle the scars and not be turned off by them? Sirius had won the argument.

Pomfrey motioned for the two young men to leave so Remus could dress himself in private.