So, i've put up this chapter because i've seen that a few of you have added it to your favourites.

I'm not going to start begging for reviews but a few would be nice, simply to know that it's a little more appreciated..=]

For those of you that have read so far - thanks =]

It was nearing Christmas already, the past 3 months having flown by. The four boys were now almost inseparable - meaning they had even accepted Peter into their little group. Not to say they didn't have friends outside that circle - they did, James and Sirius especially.

Remus and Sirius were sat in armchairs by the common room fire, as James and Peter were lead on the floor, playing wizards chess to pass the Saturday morning. For the fourth time, James' side had one, so he decided to call it a day where that activity was concerned.

"Peter, you're never gonna win." James said, a slightly cocky grin on his face. He looked up at the other two. "Let's explore."

The four boys got up, leaving through the portrait entrance, and starting off down a corridor.

"Remus…" Peter started, carefully. "If we can find a deserted, quiet, area…will you tell us where you've been disappearing to once a month?"

Remus seemed to consider this proposition. "I can take you there." he said, a thoughtful tone in his voice. "Tonight…I'll have to go by myself tomorrow night."

The other three stared at him. A frown passed over James' face before he spoke.

"Remus…tomorrow night's…"

"I'm meeting someone there." he said, sharply, a slightly worried look in his eye. James then shrugged, and they agreed that they would go with Remus that night, allowing him freedom the night after.

Later, around Eleven-thirty at night, when the rest of the students in the common room had left for bed, the four of them got up from their spaces or chairs, and left quietly through the portrait entrance, being careful not to wake the Fat Lady.

They crept through the castle, keeping to the shadows, Remus leading the way. He began to walk down towards the main doors, when James grabbed hold of his shoulder to hold him back.

"Turn left." he whispered. "there's a way to get out on the third floor."

Remus nodded to show that he understood, and they turned left, still keeping close into the shadows. They soon approached a statue that was alone on a third-floor corridor. James moved past Remus to the statue and pulled out his wand.

"Dissendium" he muttered, tapping the statue's hump with his wand. The hinges that were previously concealed creaked slightly as the hump opened.

"How'd you…" Peter started, before Sirius quickly hushed him.

"We gotta be quiet…I'll go first." He said, before climbing into the statue, and sliding down the passage way. He was shortly followed by James, then Remus, and then Peter, who closed the hump of the statue as he slid.

"Where are we?" Remus said, looking around as they all got up and dusted themselves off.

"Look…" James said, walking towards a ladder. He climbed up, pushing open the trap door that was above him. "…Honeyduke's cellar."

The other three walked over, peering up through the gap James had just opened. They descended up the ladder, climbing up onto the floor above them, before walking up another flight of stairs which connected the cellar to the shop itself.

"And how do we get out now?" Remus said, looking at James questioningly. It was late, so the shop was closed and locked up.

Sirius walked over to the main door, using 'Alohomora' to try and open the door. When it didn't open, he was clearly frustrated, but then pulled a knife from his pocket, inserted it into the lock, and the door clicked open. He grinned as the others walked out past him, before closing the door, locking it again with his knife, before putting it back in his pocket.

"So where'd you get that?" James asked, as they began walking down the street, Remus leading the way to his hiding place.

"Oh…it was my dads. You've probably heard how almost my whole family are obsessed with being pure-blood and the dark arts. Welcome to my childhood." he grinned slightly. "I know a lot of stuff I shouldn't."

"And less of what you should." said a disapproving female voice from behind them. James and Sirius spun around in unison to find themselves face-to-face with Professor McGonagall.

"Please Professor" Remus began, when he and Peter had turned a few seconds after the other two. "I wanted to show them where - well - because of tomorrow - and I…" he trailed off.

"Be that as it may, Lupin, I am removing twenty house points from each of you. Out of bounds in the middle of the night! Your parents will be hearing from me about this. However." she paused. "I will not send you back to the school immediately…yet if I have even a scrap of evidence that the four of you have been anywhere in Hogsmeade aside from - Lupin, you know. Then I shall be forced to reconsider disciplinary measures." She turned on her heel, striding away in the direction of the school.

"Right." James said, when Remus had led them to their destination - a very old, run down looking house that was cordoned off from the rest of the village by a fence. "I think it's about time you explained what's going on - and why McGonagall let us off like that."

"Why the bloody hell would you want to keep coming here?" Sirius added, looking around at the damp on the walls, showing where the wallpaper was peeling off, and creaking a floorboard by moving his foot slightly on it.

"You know how this place became known as the Shrieking Shack back in…oh, September." Remus started, walking to the old, moth-bitten bed in the corner of the room. The others nodded, and he took a breath to continue. "I um, well…Fenrir Greyback-"

"the werewolf?" Peter interjected, snapping his head around to look at Remus.

"Yeah, that's him. Well anyway, around 6 years ago now, so when I was five, he tried to get some information out of my dad…" he looked at them all, wondering if they'd worked it out yet. When no one spoke, expecting him to continue, he did so. "but he refused. And well, Greyback wanted revenge so…"

"You're a werewolf?" James asked, watching for Remus' response, which came in the form of a nod. Remus was now looking extremely pale and nervous, waiting for any response from the others, James and Sirius simply shrugged, and Peter only made the slightest noise, which came out as more of a squeak.

Then Sirius started to laugh. No one else, bar James, seemed to find the situation amusing - the latter was attempting not to laugh, though the corners of his mouth were twitching slightly.

"Oh - those…poor…villagers…" Sirius said between laughs. "Remus…they think this place is…haunted…"

James finally gave in to his battle against his own laughter , and the other two soon joined in - outside, on the other side of the fence, late-night passers by stopped and looked in wonder as to why the source of mystery in the village was now emitting laughter as opposed to other haunting sounds.