Mary and I didn't interact at all until Tuesday afternoon when I was studying/hiding in my dorm. I was surprised that James and Sirius didn't have much to say about my new friend, but they may have just noticed how miserable I looked and put it off on the approaching full moon on Thursday night. Perhaps they are capable of some sensitivity and mercy. Who knew?

Anyway, I was lying on my bed using my wand to levitate a book over my face. I've been doing this for a while now, and it's quite genius, if I do say so myself, because it prevents your arms from tiring. So, I was lying there, focusing more on keeping the book in place than actually reading it when they was a knock at my door accompanied by someone saying my last name.

I was startled, and the book came crashing down onto my face as my concentration broke. I guess I should've seen that one coming. I removed the book and rubbed at my sore nose as I twisted my head around to see who was responsible, deciding I was in the mood to hex anyone over four feet tall. You know, for ethical reasons I can't hex anyone who's that small. I turned my head to see who had called my name. And there's another thing I should've seen coming.

Mary MacDonald was standing at my open door, looking quite amused. She was awfully short, but certainly not under four feet. So, ethically, I could hex her if I so desired… I sat up, realizing she was upside-down from my point of view, and she stayed, hovering around the doorframe, looking very entertained.

I rubbed my nose again. I hoped it didn't start bleeding. But maybe she's afraid of blood, in which case she'd run away screaming. That would be okay.

"Lupin," she said again, obviously holding back a giggle. "What's up?"

"I was trying to read," I said, sounding more like I was channeling the snooty Lily Evans rather than my confident, blunt best friends. I'll work on it.

"I see that," she said. "But when you get injured reading that's probably a sign that you should call it a day."

A laugh escaped despite my efforts to hold it in. Nice self-control, Lupin. Really.

"Okay, okay," I said. "Thanks for the advice."

"So," she said, taking a few unsure steps into my room. "About the tutoring for Astronomy…"

"Oh, right!" Like I could've forgotten. Please. "Do you want to do that now?"

"Well, we could do it later—you know, when it gets dark. We could go to the Astronomy Tower."

"We don't have an observation test for, like, two weeks, so why don't we just stick with theory until then?"

"But… it's supposed to be a full moon this week!"

"Really," I said dryly.

"Yeah! Do you know what day?"

I told her I didn't. Thursday. It was Thursday. But what kind of normal, non-werewolf kid knows the moon cycles exactly?

"Oh," she said, sounding disappointed. "I'm pretty sure it's Thursday night."

"Really."

Mary stood awkwardly about halfway between the door and my bed where I sat, her arms crossed uncomfortably.

"Do you want to study now, a bit?" I asked her, prodding my sensitive nose again.

Mary smiled. "Yeah, I would, but I don't have my books. I'll go get them, and—"

"It's fine, we can use mine."

We sat down on the floor, in the middle of the dorm room, and spread the books and papers all around us.

"Okay, so," I said tiredly, rubbing at my eyes. I was definitely starting to feel drained from the nearly full moon and this little study session was not helping.

"Are you alright?" she asked, sounding concerned. "I can make you some tea, if you want."

"Yeah, just… coming down with something." It's called lycanthropy. "I'm fine. Thanks for offering, though. We should study now."

"Okay," she said slowly and I could tell she wasn't convinced. I really hoped I hadn't been negating my statements aloud. She'd probably think I was schizophrenic or something.

I began to slowly flip through the books and notes, realizing that I had no idea how to go about tutoring someone. "Er, what do you need help with?" I asked her.

"Are you sure you don't want any tea?"

"Yes, I am."

"It'll make you feel better," she promised.

"No, thank you," I said firmly, beginning to feel annoyed.

"Oh, come on, I'll make us some." She sprang to her feet before I could stop her and had taken a few steps toward the door when she stopped; I froze at the same time, hearing the same thing.

The unmistakable voices of James and Sirius as they came up the stairs and toward our dorm. Mary turned to me, smiling slightly.

"Well, don't just stand there!" I hissed as I began to shove the books under my bed.

"Lupin, what are you doing?" she asked, standing beside me. I grabbed her wrist, pulling her down. She finally caught on and we squeezed under my bed. There was barely enough room for the two of us, not to mention all the books.

"Are we actually hiding from your friends?" she whispered, incredulous and amused.

"Shh!"

"We were only studying…"

"Yes, but in my dorm. Alone."

"So?"

"Just shut up!"

I saw two pairs of feet come into the room and pause just inside the door.

"I thought he was up here," James said.

"Must've slipped past us," Sirius added, a shrug in his voice. The two pairs of feet left the room and were gone from sight in a few seconds. I let out my breath. Wait—I was holding my breath? This is really bad…

Mary gave an exhilarated giggle and I swatted at her.

"They could hear you!"

She rolled her eyes. "Do your friends really scare you that much?"

"No," I said defiantly.

"Oh, of course. Not your friends, just what they might say to you. Right."

I scowled because she had summarized my thoughts exactly.

"I'm right, aren't I?" she said gloatingly.

That was when I conveniently remembered that we were under a bed so I could avoid answering that. I crawled out backwards and managed to clunk my head pretty hard in the process. Mary came flitting to my side, asking if I was alright. No matter the good intentions, it was still rather annoying.

"Are you sure you don't want any tea?" she asked yet again.

Not helping my headache.

"You know, Mary, maybe I don't feel well enough to tutor you today."

She nodded. "That's fine. I understand."

Hmm. She had heard what I said, but… she was still standing there.

"Er, so… I'm going to get some rest then."

Her face flushed for an instant. Wait—was she embarrassed? Mary MacDonald has shame?!

"Right, sorry," she said, taking a few slow steps backwards. Then she turned around and finally—miraculously—left.

Thank you, Merlin. Dodged a Bludger with that one.

The day before the full moon, Wednesday, was miserable—as always. I slugged around to my classes, moaning and groaning about everything.

"Honestly, Moony," James implored that afternoon in the common room. "You have a perfectly good excuse to miss a few days of school once a month—why don't you take advantage of it?"

I sighed. Of course my disease was only something to be taken advantage of, in James's mind. "I miss one day of school as it is, and I don't want to fall behind. Besides, I'm already drawing enough attention to myself."

James rolled his eyes. "You're no fun."

"Yeah, well—" I lowered my voice, "—being a werewolf isn't so much fun either."

James seemed about ready to argue with me, but Sirius cut him off. "Okay, look—he's only trying to say that you work too hard and you should take more days off to rest and recover. We'll help you catch up and no one would notice."

I was admittedly touched, but only for a moment; Peter, who'd been quiet thus far, ruined it rather quickly.

"I bet Mary would notice," he smirked.

James and Sirius snickered and I was back to being less than fond of them. They must've gathered that much from my expression because their grins fell from their faces immediately.

"Sorry, Moony, but…" James began carefully, "…what's going on with you two anyway?"

"It's nothing." They exchanged doubtful glances. "I mean, it's not nothing, but… I just got roped into tutoring her is all."

"You're tutoring her?" Sirius asked incredulously. "Merlin."

"Oh, sure, Remus," Peter said huffily. "You'll tutor her, but not me!"

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. "I don't want to tutor anyone! She's… very forceful."

Sirius slapped me on the back and James gave me a sympathetic look.

The day of the full moon managed to be even more miserable, somehow. The bags under my eyes seemed to keep Mary from talking to me at least. Before dinner, as I walked down to the hospital wing, the usual nerves resurfaced. No matter how many times I transformed I could never get used to it.

This night was no better and no worse than any other full moon. I woke up the next morning stiff and exhausted. There was only one new scratch, a long one down the side of my leg, that was sure to heal into a scar.

It wasn't long before I heard the voices in the tunnel underneath the Shrieking Shack. James, Sirius and Peter. And, even better, I could smell the warm scent of breakfast. I remembered why I put up with them. In the long run, it doesn't matter what they say as long as they bring me food the day after the full moon and cheer me up. And they never fail to do just that.

"Moony?" Sirius called out.

"Up here. In the dining room." My voice was raspy and it hurt a little to talk.

They bounded into the room a few moments later. There was no pity on their faces as they saw me lying on the floor, bruised and bleeding. They just seemed excited to see their friend.

"Guess what," James sang out.

Sirius set a platter of food in front of me on the floor. Eggs, bacon, toast—the whole shebang. I began shoveling food into my face, wincing as I did so.

"Whoa, there. Slow down, mate," James laughed. "Besides, we nicked some pain-killing potion from Pomfrey."

I grabbed the vial out of his hands and threw my head back, ignoring the searing pain in my neck. There was instant relief. I went back to eating. Pomfrey didn't want me to take pain-killing potion after every full moon because apparently there's a 'risk of addiction.' So what? I'll be addicted to the stuff. No big deal. At least I won't be in nearly unbearable pain once a month. Really, Pomfrey. Have a heart.

My friends began recounting the epic tale of their hospital wing break-in, but I was hardly listening. It just mattered that they were there… and that they brought me food… and my potion… I swear I'm not addicted.

A/N: I don't really have any specific questions this time, but what do you think of the story so far? Thanks for reading and please leave a review!