Disclaimer: I do not own any of this (sadly).

…..

"Nosebleed." The word came out of Remus's mouth faster than he could blink- so fast it was clearly a lie. "I just… I had a nosebleed," he repeated now, conscious of the speed he spoke.

James looked him up and down, eyes sparkling mischievously. "Yeah, and I'm a Slytherin."

Sirius grinned from behind James, his doggish dark stare a sure indicator of where the conversation was going. "We know you didn't have a nosebleed, Remus," the black haired boy told him, clearly reveling in the face of his own cleverness.

Horror bloomed in Remus's stomach, clawing its way up to his heart and throat. He wanted to run, to make up an excuse, to do anything that would help him escape the words he had been dreading the very moment he first bayed to the moon like the beast within him. Words flooded his mouth but came out like croaks- he knew he was cornered, and there was no escaping what was going to happen. He braced himself for the accusations and anger he was sure to come.

"Okay, so I didn't… have a nosebleed," Remus muttered, his pale eyes seeking the solidity of the ground.

A hand touched his shoulder. "We know you leave every month because of some illness or your mother being sick," James began, his tone turning gentle.

"But we also know you leave on the full moon," an eager Peter chimed in, his voice noticeably higher than the other boys'. Remus's finger spasmed in time with the phrase 'full moon.'

"So," Sirius finished, "we put the dots together. You, seeming ill and in a rather off mood, go to the hospital wing on the night of the full moon with the excuse you or a family member are sick. Then you come back a day or two later, in a much better mood and seeming well enough. So we decided we'd come early in the morning after the full moon to see what happens to you. And sure enough, here you are, all slathered up in blood. We know what you are, mate," Sirius told him, meeting Remus's fearful look with a masked one.

Panic fluttered against Remus's abdomen. This is it. The moment I was too stupid to realize was coming.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, shoulders slumping under defeat, his gaze sliding back the floor with his inability to meet his friends' eyes. "If you don't want to… to be near me… I don't blame you." His voice quivered with rising emotion.

Confusion spread like a ripple over the marauders. They balked at him.

"Don't be bloody sorry!" James began, sounding loud next to the absolute silence of the hospital wing. "Just because you're a werewolf doesn't mean we don't want to be friends!"

Remus looked up, surprised.

"If anything, mate, it makes you that much cooler," Sirius told him, grinning and laughing at Remus's reaction.

Peter smiled up at him nervously. He, of all the boys, seemed to be the only one not so sure about the apparent goodness of Remus's problem.

"You... You still want to be friends?" Hope in spite of what Remus had always believed warmed his toes. "Even with my... er… situation?" He couldn't believe it.

James slapped him on the back. "Of course! Why not? Although I am curious as to why you're all covered in blood," James told him, eyes tracing the soiled robes draped over Remus's shoulders.

Remus fingered the drying and caked cloth. "It's because," he began, not sure how to say it without scaring the other boys. "I... er… When I, um, change, I… I hurt myself. Not purposefully, but, 'cause I'm all locked up, I just… lose control. I'm not there… it's just the- the wolf. I scratch and bite myself," He struggled through the words, never having to explain his situation to anyone before and fearing the outcome of what he said.

Sirius touched his sleeve. "That's a lot of blood," he murmured. Remus looked at him just in time to watch him and James exchange a glance. He frowned, worried.

"I wish we could do something," James muttered, so quietly Remus almost didn't catch it.

Do something? Remus wondered. What does he mean?

….

Sorry this one was so short! I have a question: I'm probably going to be skipping to 5th year now (you'll find out why soon). Would you prefer to read more about the years in between or should I just go straight to it? Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing!