Secrets Revealed

The next morning was very eventful for Mina. She woke up, with the feeling of embarrassment and regret still sitting in her stomach, and left the dorm to take a shower. Slowly, she crept into the girls' bathroom and twisted the taps on the shower. Water poured from the shower head. Cold, icy water. Grunting in irritation, Mira turned the shower off and returned to the dorm room. Upon arrival, she realized that everyone else was already up and going about the usual morning routine. Steph was prancing around the room talking about what she and Caleb were going to do that day.

'It's a little easy to guess…'

The other girls in her dorm, who were both in her year, looked completely different. One girl was sitting on the edge of her bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and yawning noisily. The other was standing in front of the only floor length mirror fixing her hair and putting on her makeup. The first girl, Alice Green, was usually a quiet girl who kept to herself most of the time. Mira and Alice were on talking terms, whenever Alice did talk, but Mira wasn't about to spill all of her secrets to her any moment soon.

The other girl, who was now simply staring at her reflection in the mirror, was a completely different story. Danielle Taylors was one of the more "popular" girls in Mira's year. When they were younger, Mira and Danielle were friendly to each other, able to keep a steady conversation without disagreeing. That was until all of Mira's "bloody attention" began to get to Danielle, and she swore to hate Mira with every fiber of her being. Well, at least that's what Mira figured. It's not that Danielle was stuck up or anything; she was actually a nice girl. But, that only applied to everyone except Mira. When they were alone, Danielle was always trying to make rude comments and Mira was sure she had started a few rumors about her in the past.

As if that wasn't enough to dislike the girl, she happened to be one of Sirius' past girls.

"Oh! Mira, there you are! Did you take a shower yet? I was told the water was freezing today. But, I could be wrong," Steph said blissfully as she brushed the knots out of her long black hair. Mira just smiled at her best friend's complete lack of concern with the world, but it didn't last long when Mira saw the evil smirk spread across Danielle's face.

"Yes, Mira! We were worried you drowned in your own pathetic ness," she laughed.

Mira shot her a dark glare and tried to ignore her. The last thing she needed was to be expelled for attacking another student and beating her to within an inch of her horrible existence. That wouldn't go over too well with her parents. Mira walked over to her trunk and picked out a clean skirt and blouse. With a quick reassuring glance at Steph, Mira began to change out of her pajamas and into her uniform. Although Steph was usually caught up in her own world (which she only shared with one other person) she hadn't failed to realize that Mira and Danielle had been at each others throats for a while now. Mira knew Steph would warn her against fighting with Danielle, but Mira's hate for the girl may be strong enough to push past it.

Unluckily for her, Danielle started again. "So, Mira. Done anything interesting lately? I doubt it. Your life isn't half as interesting as mine is. Oh, you won't believe what fun I had last night!" she said.

Mira turned her back on Danielle, pretending not to hear, and picked up a brush. She knew that wherever this was going, she didn't want to hear it, and Mira prayed that Danielle would take a hint and stop. She didn't.

"I just happened to bump into an old friend in the hall yesterday. Well, he was more than a friend actually…but, I noticed he looked troubled so I being the kind, generous person I am, helped him out," she continued in a sickly-sweet voice.

Mira pulled the brush violently through the knots in her hair, resisting the urge to shout right there. Unfortunately, Mira already knew what was going on, and as much as she didn't want to hear it, she knew she would.

"You know, Sirius is so sweet, and thoughtful. When we broke up, he told me it was because he didn't feel he was good enough for me. But he told me yesterday, that he was thinking that maybe he was wrong."

I smell trouble.

'There will be.'

Danielle laughed and walked over to where Mira was standing and stood right in front. The sweet smile on her face made Mira want to throw up. It was so fake and she was so tempted to wipe it of Danielle's face for good.

"I took him back without another thought! We do make the perfect couple don't you think Mira?"

Mira had had enough. She wasn't going to sit here and let this evil witch tell her these things. Sirius wouldn't do that anyway, he couldn't, not after last night.

Well he is Sirius.

'You really have to pick a side and stay there.'

Because Mira had not answered, Danielle repeated her question, "Don't you?"

Mira opened her mouth to shout right in Danielle's face like she deserved, but someone beat her to it.

"Stop it! You have no right to say those things to her, Danielle!" Alice shouted.

'Wait! Alice shouted? That's a breakthrough in itself.' However it didn't stop there.

Danielle backed away from Mira and glared at Alice who stood behind the two, still near her bed. "What?" she sneered.

Alice, who looked livid for possibly the first time in her life, shouted right back.

"You heard me! I said stop saying those things! I know that's not even true! I saw Sirius sulking around the library all last night and you weren't even there!"

Steph and Mira exchanged a look of utter bewilderment. Never had Alice shouted over anything, not for Quidditch, not in arguments (the very few she had), nothing. And frankly, Mira was grateful.

Danielle side-stepped Mira and stormed out the door, making a scene of slamming it shut behind her. The other three girls stayed quite for a while, neither knowing what to say. Mira let out a sigh of relief. If Danielle had made such a scene when Alice had accused her of lying, then it was clearly wasn't the truth. Mira smiled and ran over to hug Alice tightly. Alice laughed while she hugged Mira back. When they broke apart, Mira grinned thankfully at her.

"I am forever in your debt," she tried to say seriously. Her suppressed giggles got the best of her and she burst out laughing again. It wasn't until Steph tapped her on the shoulder that she finally stopped.

"We should probably go down to breakfast. We're late enough as it is," she said.

And with that, Steph and Mira left the room and let Alice finish getting changed.

Breakfast was also something completely different for Mira. Instead of everyone sitting together at the Gryffindor table, it was much divided that morning. When the girls entered the Great Hall, Steph went to sit down beside Caleb and immediately began her own conversation. Mira stood still beside the table, just looking at the changes that morning. James and Lily were nowhere in sight, Remus sat farther down the table (looking oddly sick) while Mandy sat with him, Peter was also by himself, the farthest from where Mira stood, mumbling to himself. Mira was shocked by the sudden feeling of isolation that came over her and didn't know what to do with herself. Then she saw him. Sirius, whose usual morning routine was to be the center of attention and to make attempts at waking everyone else up, was sitting not too far away staring at the food in front of him. Seeing no other option, Mira walked over to the table and sat down across from him. At first he didn't look up, but when he did Mira flashed him a small smile which he cautiously returned.

Probably still uncomfortable about the whole situation last night.

'Really? Why should he be?! I mean it was only an almost kiss!'

You know sarcasm will get you no where.

Mira was just sitting; her appetite had long disappeared, chancing quick peeks at Sirius before concentrating hard on the wood grain of the table. Why did this always happen to her? What had she done to deserve this? All she wanted was to go back in time and forget this ever happened. Then they would all be sitting together and Sirius would be telling jokes and James would be asking Lily out again… where were James and Lily?

Just then James came bouncing into the hall, clearly in a better mood than the rest of them. He plopped himself in the seat next to Sirius and, completely ignorant to the tension between them, beamed at Sirius and Mira.

"Umm, what's wrong with you?" Mira asked while looking at him with wary eyes. Whenever James was like this, it meant that something had gone his way and usually those things were not good for the rest of them.

"I did it! I went through with the plan mate!" James told Sirius while trying not to jump out of his seat.

Both Sirius and Mira looked at him questioningly.

"What plan?" Sirius asked.

James turned to him, clearly stunned that neither of them could remember his brilliant plan. "What do you mean 'what plan'? The one I told you yesterday about prefect duties and Lily and the broom cupboard. That one!" he exclaimed.

Mira resisted the urge to burst out laughing and Sirius looked at him in surprise.

"That one! You actually did that?!" he said, also trying to hold back laughter.

James nodded his head and then went silent, looking between the two. Mira only wished that Remus had not told James about the whole common room incident. He would never let her live it down.

Sirius and Mira waited for James to continue, until Mira realized he wouldn't unless they asked. "So…what happened?" she asked.

James continued to grin while he said, "She hates me even more now."

Mira and Sirius looked at each other, but quickly turned away when they met each others' eyes.

"And you're okay with that?" Sirius asked.

"Yep!" James replied simply. Mira furrowed her eyebrows. She must have missed something. Lily hated his guts even more now (if that was even possible) and he was still grinning?

"James, that isn't necessarily a good thing…" Mira said fearfully. Mira knew Lily disliked James, but now she was beginning to worry about James well-being.

James merely shrugged his shoulders at her comment. James and Sirius began talking and Mira picked up her schoolbag. There wasn't anything better for her to do here, so she may as well head to class early. Mira had charms first thing that morning and since it was one of her favourite classes, she didn't mind going a little bit earlier. She moved away from the table and said a quick good-bye before heading out of the Great Hall and to her first class.

By lunch, Mira was ready to go back to sleep. It had only been half the morning and already she had a Charms essay to do, along with practicing two new spells for her next Transfiguration and Charms classes. But today, she still had Potions and Herbology class to attend. Mira could only imagine what the others were going through, with it being their NEWT year and all. Needless to say, Mira was rejoicing when she entered the common room at the end of the day. Steph was not far behind her, lugging her schoolbag over her shoulder when they reached the spot by the fireplace.

"I can't believe how much homework we have! When do they expect us to do this?! In our sleep?!" Steph grunted as she collapsed into the armchair beside Mira.

Mira smiled, but inside she felt the same way. However, at least it would take her mind off other things.

That night Steph and Mira tried to do as much homework as possible, even though neither really put any heart into it. They were soon joined by Lily and Mandy who had even more homework to complete, and soon enough a dead silence swallowed them. It was getting late when Mira looked up from her feeble attempt on a Charms essay and took as much time to stretch as she could. It was only then that she realized the boys had not shown up the entire evening. Just then James and Sirius came down the stairs to the boys' dormitories (she must not have noticed them go up) closely followed by Peter and a very sickly-looking Remus. Before she could even ask what was wrong, the boys had left the common room.

'That's odd.'

What is?

'Why are the guys leaving at such a time? I mean it's nearly dark and they haven't even started on their homework.'

Maybe they're going for a walk?

'Not at this time. And why does Remus look so sick?'

Feeling terribly nosy, Mira spoke up. "Where do you think the guys are going?" she asked.

Steph answered without looking up from her page. "Maybe they're going for a walk?"

"At this time?" Mira asked while looking out the windowpane. The sky was orange from the setting sun and Mira knew that it would be dark in a few minutes. That and curfew was soon. The boys didn't always obey the rules but they always had a better reason for breaking them.

Steph just shrugged her shoulders.

Mira sighed. She really wanted to find out where they were going! It had to be more appealing then this essay.

"I don't think that's it. Remus looked pretty sick. I don't think taking a long walk is in his best interest," she said.

Mandy's head shot up and Mira could see genuine concern in her eyes.

"He looked sick? How?" she inquired.

Mira answered, "He looked pretty pale."

Mandy looked at Lily who had yet to join the conversation.

"Maybe we should go check on him Lily. You know make sure he's all right?" she pleaded. Lily looked up at her friend and sighed. Knowing Lily, she already had made up an excuse to stay and finish her homework.

"Perhaps they were taking him to the hospital wing. He'll be fine there Mandy," she said.

Mira sighed again in disappointment. She had been hoping that she could have a break from all her work and do something else. Mira looked out the window onto the grounds. The green grass was slowly fading into the dark, but Mira could still make out the shapes of most figures. She could see the Quidditch pitch off in the far distance, and the Whomping Willow standing eerily still, and four figures crossing the grounds towards it, and the lake was over to the left, and…what? Mira squinted her eyes trying to make out the figures on the grounds. One of them was much smaller than the others from were she could tell, while the other three were fairly tall.

'No! That can't be them!'

"Hey, isn't that them?" Mira asked in an attempt to catch everyone else's attention.

Lily reluctantly looked up from her work and walked over to the window to see what Mira was looking at. Mira watched on optimistically as Lily's exhausted face turned to a look of confusion and surprise.

Not taking her gaze off the window Lily motioned the others over and Mira, Steph, and Mandy jumped up and raced to the window. Outside they saw the four figures walk closer to the Whomping Willow and then stop when the tree began to flail its limbs dangerously.

"Oh my God! What are they thinking?!" Mandy said clearly falling into a state of panic. "What if they get hurt? You said it yourself that Remus was already sick!" she told Mira.

Mira knew that they would have to go help the boys, seeing as they always helped the girls out of tight situations. Part of her wanted to race down to stop them, and another part of her wanted to watch them and see what they were up to. She decided to go with the former.

"Come on," she said and headed to the portrait hole. The other girls followed behind as Mira raced out of the common room and down the hall.

When they had finally reached the Entrance Hall (Lily muttering something about abusing privileges the entire way) Mira was sure the boys must have been on their way back. As quietly as possible, Mira pushed open the door and stepped out into the crisp night air. It was now pitch black and Mira could barely see the others warily coming out behind her. She didn't want to risk lighting her wand, in case they got caught, so she just continued to walk in the general direction of the Whomping Willow. The entire way there she was wondering what the boys could possibly be up to, and why they would do it at this time of night.

When the Whomping Willow was in sight, Mira motioned for the other girls to follow her into the cover of the shadow. The boys were still outside, as if they were waiting for something, but Mira couldn't figure out what. As the girls watched, they saw one of the boys look up and say something to the others. Slowly the boys approached the tree and when it began to thrash around Mira saw something astonishing happen. One of the boys (the one she assumed was Peter) disappeared completely and the others, either completely unaware or completely uncaring, stood and waited. Mira heard Mandy gasp behind her as the tree stopped moving as if it was frozen in time, and the remaining three boys entered the tree through an opening Mira had never seen before.

Mira stood completely transfixed at what she had seen and was wondering that maybe she was asleep and this was all a dream. However, when she did not wake up, Mira came to the conclusion that this was all very real. That and the boys were getting away.

Maybe you should just go back. They may just be having a little 'guy time' in a secret place so no girls can interrupt them.

'I want to know what's going on! And what is 'guy time'?'

Fine. But when they get angry at you for interrupting, don't say I didn't warn you!

Mira stepped out toward the tree, but was violently yanked back into the darkness.

"Where do you think you're going?" someone Mira guessed as Lily asked.

"I'm going to figure out what's going on," Mira replied, while turning around to leave. Lily pulled her back in.

"You can't do that! We're in enough trouble as it is just being out here at this time! What if we get caught? I'm a prefect! I'm the one who was supposed to stop you from even leaving the common room! And now we'll get caught and my badge will be taken away! What will my parents say?!" she exclaimed.

Mira thought she was clearly over-reacting, but she did have some valid points. If they were caught they would be in so much trouble. Her parents would be devastated if she was expelled. But, her curiosity and stubbornness was too great to just let this opportunity escape her.

"I'm sorry Lily, but I'm going. If you want to go back then I won't blame you. I probably should do just that, but I need to find out what they're up to," Mira said.

Lily looked torn between two options, while Steph and Mandy also appeared to be debating whether or not to go. Finally Lily let go of Mira's arm.

"If we get caught, I will hunt you down myself," she said seriously, but a smile was evident on her face. Mira smiled back and they made their way toward the Whomping Willow. The tree still seemed as if it was frozen, but Mira still approached it with care. To her relief, the tree did not move and Mira crouched down beside the entrance as the other three girls quietly came from behind. Inside it appeared to be a long passageway, but it was too dark to tell for sure. Mira was beginning to have second thoughts about the whole idea.

'Maybe we should just go back. I'm sure the boys would tell us if we asked them.'

Or maybe they won't.

'I have the strangest feeling that I am going to regret this.'

"Mira? What's wrong?" Steph asked anxiously.

Mira stood and turned around to face them. They were standing there with a look of terrified excitement on their faces.

"I'm not sure about this anymore. Maybe Lily was right. We could get in so much trouble for this," she said.

The other girls nodded and Mira felt a strong feeling of disappointment in her gut. She really wanted to find out what the boys were doing, but she also didn't want to get the others in trouble. Just as she was about to suggest that they go back inside; Mira heard the very faint creaking of wood above her. Slowly, she tilted her head towards the sky and to her horror saw that the Whomping Willow was gradually coming back to life. Wonderful.

"Guys, slowly get inside the tunnel," she said while not taking her eyes off the stirring tree limbs above her.

"Mira, what's going on?" Mandy asked.

"Just do it," Mira said quietly, as if any noise would make the tree wake up faster.

She felt someone brush past her and lower themselves into the opening in the tree, followed by someone else. Above her, the tree was beginning to move faster and the creaking was more apparent and louder. Mira looked back at the only person in front of her and saw Steph looking at her cautiously.

"Steph get inside now," Mira whispered hurriedly.

Steph looked at her before nodding and walking past her toward the tree. Mira turned and followed her and helped carefully lower Steph into the opening. Just when only Steph's head was visible above ground, out of nowhere a branch came down and swiped Mira across the face.

"MIRA!" Steph shouted.

Mira looked behind her and saw the tree's limbs flailing wildly again. Fearing for her safety, Mira shoved Steph down into the tunnel, and carelessly jumped in after her just as a much heavier limb came down on her.

Mira fell into the hole and crashed very ungracefully onto the floor of the tunnel. She felt hands reach around her and pull her to her feet. Mira saw the worried looks on her friends' faces and brushed herself off muttering, "I'm fine." She glanced around her and saw the dark black walls that made up the tunnel on all sides of her. The tunnel stretched on ahead of them, but Mira could see a light towards the end of it. Suddenly feeling much bolder, Mira stepped around her friends and walked confidently towards the end of the tunnel.

She came to realize that the end of the tunnel was farther away then she had first guessed. Or perhaps it was just the feeling of danger rising in her stomach that made the walk seem longer. After what seemed like hours of walking, they reached the end and Mira pulled herself up through the small opening above her.

Looking around, Mira found herself in a very disordered, dusty room. The wallpaper was peeling off the walls and the windows were all boarded up. Mira looked and saw what appeared to be claw marks on the floors and walls. In the corner a chair stood battered and broken, as if someone or something had smashed it. The feeling of danger Mira had felt back in the tunnel was now stuck in her chest, causing her breath to become long drawn out gasps. Something here was not right, but Mira couldn't put her finger on it.

"Where are we?"

Behind her Lily, Mandy, and Steph stood looking around the room much like she had. The truth was, Mira had no idea where they were. Why would a tunnel that started at the school, lead to an old (clearly deserted) house? It didn't make any sense to her. There was no house on the school grounds, not that she had ever seen or heard of. They may not even be on school grounds anymore.

"I don't know," Mira answered.

She looked around for any sign of the boys, but when she found none she walked over to a door that stood ajar on the right side of the room. She grasped the handle and found that it was barely attached to the door because it had been crushed into an unrecognizable shape. There were more scratches marring the wood of the door and Mira pushed it open farther. The door creaked loudly revealing a shadowy hallway. Mira looked over her shoulder and saw the others slowly creeping behind. She really had no idea what was going on, but if she was as scared as they looked, then there defiantly was something wrong. Mira drew her wand, just in case, and entered the hallway.

The hallway led to a set of very unstable looking stairs that went up to the next floor. Mira silently approached the stairs and just as she put one foot on the stair, she heard a creak from above. Something had moved up there. Looking behind her again, she saw that the others had noticed the sound too and they were all looking at the ceiling. Mira continued up the stairs, trying to make as little noise as possible, although it was difficult when each step creaked loudly.

When the four of them had reached the dark landing, they were all scared so badly that none of them wanted to continue. But as much as they wanted to turn around and leave, they couldn't. Not with the Whomping Willow wanting to take their heads off outside. Mira saw only one door open on the landing and gently crept towards it, while the others, who were too petrified to move, stayed back. Mira edged closer and closer to the room and had one hand on the door knob. It was as if her body no longer belonged to her. Her mind was screaming at her to turn back and run, but her hand slowly tightened around the brass metal piece that was, like the other, bent and crushed. Careful as to not make any sound, Mira pushed on the door which surprisingly, didn't creak.

The room was just as old and dusty looking as the other one, except this one had a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings centered in the middle of it. However, as fascinating as this was, Mira's attention was focused on something else.

In the center of the room, it stood with its shoulders hunched, but its height was still visible. Covered in fur, the creature looked even less human, but that wasn't what was terrifying to Mira. What was terrifying was that it was staring right at her. Instantly, she realized that it was a werewolf, and that she was very much alone with it. That feeling of danger, the one she should have listened too when it warned her to run, was in her throat. Mira couldn't breathe, couldn't scream for help. Why hadn't she listened? Just once she could have listened, and she didn't! Now she was going to pay for it.

In case you didn't hear it the first time, run.

Mira couldn't move. Her arms and legs felt like led, and she couldn't do anything to help herself. Her wand was still secure in her hand, but no charm came to her, no hex or jinx. Mira no longer saw the room, the dusty furniture or the peeling walls. She was alone, just her and the ravenous werewolf.

The werewolf turned on her and reared, snapping its long jaws at her. Mira could see the razor sharp teeth, but nothing registered within her.

Run!

As if it knew she was incapable of running, the werewolf slowly inched toward her. It came closer and closer and Mira prayed, not for herself, but that her friends would hear and get out.

'Get out. Oh God, what if the boys didn't get out?!'

The werewolf let out a blood curdling howl and Mira snapped out of her statue-like faze. She quickly raised her wand, prepared to fight for her life.

FORGET THAT! RUN!

The werewolf leapt at her and before Mira could react she was thrown to the floor. At first she thought maybe she had lost. Maybe the hungry animal had gotten her. But then shouldn't she be in pain? Mira felt nothing, just the cold wood of the floor beneath her. Slowly her hearing came back and she heard growling coming from near her. It was still there, and it would attack her anytime now. Then she heard another set of growls, more fierce and angry than even the werewolf's.

'Oh God, please. Please, there can't be another one.'

Mira looked up and saw the room again. Not just her and the thing that would surely be her death, but the room with its dusty surface. She saw the werewolf bearing down ready to attack, but it wasn't focused on her. In front of her, blocking the werewolf from reaching her was an enormous bear-like dog. Its jet-black fur was shaggy and long and its dark eyes were fixed on the werewolf. Mira watched it in wonder and appreciation. It was protecting her, it didn't know her yet there it was standing guard over her. She suddenly realized that it had been what pushed her out of the way, and if it hadn't she would have been shred to pieces.

Mira watched in horror as the werewolf attacked the dog and they began to fight. They were locked, jaw to jaw, claws ripping at each other-

She stood quickly and looked around for her wand. She had to help that dog, wherever it came from, it saved her life and she wasn't about to let it die protecting her. Spotting it a way away from her, Mira raced over and picked it up. When she spun around she saw her way blocked by a beautiful stag. It too was also protecting her from the werewolf, but it seemed to also be trying to get her to follow.

Mira was about to stay and help the dog, but the stag had other ideas. With its antlers, it pushed her towards the door forcefully and out into the hallway. There Mira saw a horrified group of girls who rushed to hug her once they saw her. However, they were not like this for very long because the stag continued to push them along the landing. Mira struggled to get by at the sounds of howls and whimpering still coming from the room, but the stag continued to obstruct her way. The girls were pushed into an empty room followed by the stag. Steph, Lily, and Mandy had no idea what was happening, but they didn't seem to care as long as Mira was there. Once they were in the room, Steph ran over and hugged Mira intensely while breaking down into tears.

"Oh Mira! I'm so – sorry- I should- should have helped! B-But I just- I," she stammered, rivers of tears flowing from her eyes.

Mira hugged her back, but she was more occupied with trying to figure out a way to get past the stag and get back to help the dog. She must have had a death wish.

"It's alright Steph. I'm okay. But if I don't get back to that room someone else won't be," she said while holding her friend at arms length.

Steph looked at her confused when Mandy burst out, "What! You can't go back there! Are you insane?!"

Mira looked over at her. "Maybe," she said before turning around to face the stag. "Look I have to get back there and help that dog. He is going to get seriously hurt by that werewolf if I don't help," she said trying to reason with it.

"A WEREWOLF, THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS?! NO! YOU ARE NOT GOING BACK THERE MIRA! WE WON'T LET YOU!" Lily shouted. But Mira knew what she had to do.

Mira tried to walk by the stag, but once again it stopped her. Seeing no other choice Mira pulled out her wand and pointed it at the innocent stag.

"Mira!" Mandy shouted. She was shocked that Mira could even think about hurting the poor animal to go run after a werewolf.

Mira continued to point her wand at the animal and decisively said, "Move."

The stag didn't move away from the door. Instead the girls watched as the stag transformed before their eyes, changing from a harmless animal to someone very familiar.

Mira dropped her wand to the floor as James looked back at her. There he was, his tall stature and dark untamed hair. The only thing Mira didn't recognize about him was the serious look of his face.

"James?" Mira gasped, completely bewildered.

He looked at the girls and sighed.

"I know we should have told you, but we figured we would wait for the right time to tell you. I guess now is the right time," he said.

He walked away from the door, leaving it open for Mira to run out and leave them but she didn't. She was too shocked to move at all.

"You're all probably wondering why we did it, and I would have preferred that he tell you himself, but he's a little tied up at the moment," James began. He let out a long tired sigh and continued. "Years ago we found out something about Remus that we never thought we would hear. He was attacked at a young age; by…he was attacked by a werewolf. And became one himself."

Mandy, Lily, and Steph gasped. Mira was falling into a bottomless hole. It was Remus; Remus had been the werewolf that attacked her. She was so stunned. But what hurt the most was that he didn't even realize he had done it.

"We came up with a plan, so that every full moon we would sneak out of the castle and help him during the transformation. Obviously with us being human and his being a werewolf, we couldn't do much. So, we decided that we would become Animagi. It took the better part of three years to do it, but finally in our fifth year we could transform at will. We would keep Remus company during the transformation as he is only a danger to humans," he said glancing meaningfully at Mira.

She looked down at her feet. This was all her fault, if she hadn't been so bloody persistent, none of this would have happened.

"So Remus is a werewolf. And you're a stag. What about Sirius and Peter?" Lily asked.

Something clicked inside Mira. In the other room, Remus was there as well as James, but what about the other two? The only other thing she saw was…the dog.

"Peter can transform into a rat. That's how we can stop the Whomping Willow from crushing us. There's a knot on the trunk of the tree and if you press it the tree stops," James replied. "Peter can easily dodge the branches and press it, letting us in. Which reminds me, how did you four get in?"

'So Peter is a rat. That only leaves one person.'

"James! What does Sirius transform into?" Mira asked hurriedly. James looked at her with a guarded look on his face.

"He transforms into…a dog. A big black dog," he said.

Mira's heart stopped. Sirius was the dog. The one that saved her life moments ago. The one that was fighting Remus, a violent werewolf, as they spoke.

"Oh, dear God!" Mira shouted as she raced for the door. Before she reached it though, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, hindering her from leaving.

"You can't go back there Mira! You'll get hurt!" James shouted over her struggles.

Mira was on the verge of breaking down, but she kept fighting against James' grip. "I have to! He's still there! He saved me and I just left!" she cried.

James pulled her back into the room where the girls were standing pained by their friend's actions.

"Sirius will be fine Mira. He knows how to protect himself. Besides, the moon should wane soon. Remus will be back to normal and Sirius will be fine. You have to wait here for him," James said.

Mira finally stopped trying to break away from his grasp and cried onto his shoulder. She really didn't even know why she was crying, but it felt better than trying to keep it inside. As Mira cried, she felt James stroke her hair in a comforting way and rub her back.

As they stood there, Mira wondered what she had done to deserve such great friends. James, who was more like another brother, stood there comforting her even though he had told her before that he's not really that good when it comes to girls and crying. Lily, Mandy, and Steph were more concerned for her safety, even after she had put all of their lives at risk. She felt so foolish, so dim-witted. Her curiosity had nearly gotten her best friends killed. Then there was Sirius. He jumped in front of a ravenous werewolf to save her. She didn't deserve any of this, they should be angry with her, yelling and shouting at her stupidity. But they weren't. They were just there for her. And she couldn't be more thankful for anything else in the entire world.