Chapter 2
Remus was panting for air, but kept dashing across the grounds. As he was heading outside earlier, he had run into a prefect, and would still be taking a lecture about the importance of following curfew had Professor McGonagall not passed by and sent Remus on his way. However, the incident had cost him some time.
"I'll never make it..." Remus mumbled under his breath. With a glance up at the already dark sky, he put on a burst of speed.
"Remus..." Sirius wheezed. Peter was out of breath as well, and even James, the most athletic of the group, felt winded by their sprinting.
"He can't...hear us...from here. Sheesh! He's faster... than I thought!
The trio slowed as they approached a large tree with branches that swayed from a force other than wind.
Sirius gasped. "Is...is Remus CRAZY? Why is he...running toward...the Whomping Willow?"
"Look!"
Remus had picked up a long branch, and was probing at the base of the willow. Suddenly, the violently jerking branches froze, and Remus rushed up to the trunk, disappearing among the gnarled roots.
Peter, Sirius, and James stopped short next to the twitching tree.
"What the...?
James grabbed the other boys by the arms and pulled them along.
"C'mon!"
They quickly ran after Remus. As the trio approached the trunk, the branches began to swish again. Ducking the whip-like sticks, they spotted a gap between the roots of the willow and rushed inside.
"Oof! Peter, James—get OFF!"
The boys rolled off of each other, and looked up. They had tumbled into a dark tunnel.
"Remus?"
"He must be farther down the path."
James, Sirius, and Peter exchanged glances. Then, in silent agreement, they set off into the impenetrable blackness that filled the passage.
Remus sat alone in the darkness of the Shrieking Shack. His prickling skin, throbbing head, and aching bones let him know that the full moon was on the rise.
"It won't be long now" he thought.
A loud "creeeak" broke in on his musings. Remus cocked his head to the side. With his heightened senses, he detected someone—or several someones—right outside the door of the shack.
With a scratchy voice, Remus called out.
"Wh—who's there?"
"Remus!"
Upon hearing their friend, James, Sirius, and Peter rushed inside the shabby room to find Remus, dressed in rags, sitting in the middle of the scuffed-up floor.
"Remus, what are you doing here?"
The skinny boy on the floor jerked backwards, startled, causing a rattling sound; only then did the others notice the thick, shining chains binding his limbs.
"Guys? Wha—you shouldn't be here!"
Shock and terror were evident in his voice. James, Peter, and Sirius also noted that Remus was breathing hard. Suddenly, he let out a sharp gasp. The trio saw their friends face contort unpleasantly.
"What's going on, Remus?"
"Are you ok?"
Remus let out a cry that could shatter glass. When the others moved forward to help him, he waved them away.
"Get out of here! Aaah!"
The trio heard a sickening "crack!" Remus twisted into a fetal position, the back of his head facing his friends.
"C'mon, Remus! We need to get you to the hospital wing!"
Another horrible "CRACK," rang out, like the sound of ice breaking, yet Remus still pushed the other boys away. He twisted again, lying on his stomach, and clutched at his head.
"R-run! AAAH!"
"Remus, what...?"
Suddenly, Remus sprang up into a kneeling position, and let out another agonized scream.
A scream that morphed into a howl.
"AAAAROOOOOOOO!"
James, Sirius, and Peter looked on as thick fur sprouted from his every pore, and his gentle grey eyes changed to a coldly gleaming silver.
The transformation was complete; Remus was gone, replaced by a snarling wolf.