Thursday had dawned and since Monday no one had uttered a word about Remus' dramatic change in appearance and mood. That is until lunchtime and James could no longer hold his tongue.

'OK, I can' take this anymore! Remus, you look like death now.' said James as he threw down his fork which made a loud clattering sound. His voice, was infected with concern that he could hide. 'Please go to Madam Pomfrey, please.' He added emphasis on the last word and looked Remus straight in the eyes.

Remus couldn't help but give a slight smile when Sirius cheered with agreement and Peter started to nod his head vigorously. 'I-I can't-'

'You can't. You can't. Why the hell not?' snapped James.

'I mean, I don't need too.' Remus stammered, not looking neither of his friends in the eye. 'I used to get headaches at home a lot. They go away eventually. You don't need to worry, I promise.' It was only a half-lie, and Remus could deal with that. He did get headaches when the full moon drew nearer but they weren't the "whole" reason like he had just made out. But he wasn't lying, not really …

He looked up slowly with his eyes to see if they had bought it, none of them looked convinced. But Remus was saved from more interrogating when someone tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He turned to see Lily Evans standing behind him holding a letter. Her red hair sat neatly on her shoulders. The look in her beautiful green eyes however change as soon as Remus turned to see her.

'Holy cricket!' she gasped, putting a hand over her mouth. She sat down on the bench next to Remus. 'What's the matter with you Remus?' she cried. 'You look so sick.'

'I'm fine Lily, really.' he assured her, hoping his voice was convincing enough, he rubbed the sweat off of his forehead and looked at her hand. 'What's that?' he asked as he indicated the letter in her right hand.

'Oh,' she said looking at her hand, as though someone had woken her from a daydream and she'd just realised where she was and what she was doing. 'This-this is for you.' she smiled. 'Professor Dumbledore asked me to bring it to you.'

'What is it about?' he asked her, even though he had a fleeting feeling he already knew the answer even if she didn't. She passed him the parchment and said: 'No idea, he didn't say. He just told me to get it to you as soon as I possibly could. I came here straight away.' she said smiling, she took a grape from the tray of fruit on the table in front of her and popped it into her mouth.

'Well, I've got to go I promised Sev I'd meet up with him.' she cast James and Sirius a fleeting look before standing up. 'I hope you get better soon,' she said to Remus, 'even though you're not ill.' And with that she turned, her hair dancing with her as she skipped out of the Great Hall to find her friend.

'Evans talks to you.' said James once she had gone, sounding rather like a petulant child.

'Can you really blame her for not liking you?' asked Remus earnestly. 'You haven't exactly been the nicest person in the world.'

'How do you mean?'

'Well you accidentally hexed her last week-'

'Accidentally. We we're after Snivellus anyway.' James said smirking.

'That didn't help either. Snape's her friend James. She's not exactly going to like someone who hates her friend now is she?'

'She likes you.'

'I've never said or done anything rude or mean over Snape.' Remus told him. He watched James as he seemed to go into a sulk.

'What's in the letter?' said Sirius trying to pick up the conversation to a lighter note.

Remus shrugged and opened the letter. It read:

Dear Remus.

I request you come to my office as soon as you have received this note. On matters concerning of which you already know.

Yours Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore.

P.S. The password to my office is Treacle Fudge.

'"Concerning of which you already know . . ." what does that mean?' asked Sirus, who was now leaning over the table and reading the note too.

'I don't know.' said Remus hastily, and before he realised it the note had gone up in flames and was now a pile of ash on his lap.

'Well, apparently you do.' Sirius persisted.

'Well he must be wrong, because I don't.'

'Right.' said James, now not as grumpy. 'Did you mean to set it alight.'

'Not really no.' It was the truth, he didn't mean to burn it but he didn't want Sirius reading any more.

He had finished his lunch in a rush, made his way to Dumbledore's office, said the password and walked up the steps to his office door. He knocked, waited until Dumbledore's voice called to him to enter then turned the handle. He didn't know anyone who had been in Dumbledore's office before, he didn't know what to expect, what it was maybe. It was a magnificent room, there were trinkets and odd appliances on tabletops around the room, many books.

'Ah, good afternoon, Remus.' said Professor Dumbledore, watching him as he took his office in.

'Headmaster.' said Remus, inclining his head an inch.

'Take a seat, Remus.' said the Headmaster, motioning to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. As Remus sat he pulled out a bowl, 'Sherbet Lemon?' he offered.

'Err .. No thank you Professor.' Remus said, gratefully declining.

'Right you are.' Mumled the Headmaster, who took one for himself, unwrapped it and placed it in his mouth. It was a while before he spoke again, and Remus began to grow agitated. 'I'm sorry to have left it so late, Remus. I know you must have been fretting this whole week.'

'Yeah, a little.' Remus admitted, looking down at his cupped hands on his lap.

'I have, I hope you're please to here, been perfecting the place where you will be transforming once a month from now on.' said Dumbledore calmly.

'You have?'

'Yes. The Whomping Willow, that was mentioned at the beginning of term feast, has not just been planted for frivolous admiration, but it has been planted for you.'

'For me?' Remus was confused, he hadn't really listened at the feast, he was too over washed with feelings of home and safety, he thought he was going to cry that night. As he thought it over, he still couldn't think how a tree was going to help him.

'Yes, for you, Remus. I have perfected a secret tunnel from underneath the tree to a shack on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. The Whomping Willow, hides that passage, keeping everyone safe, you included.' Dumbledore said, looking at Remus over his half-moon spectacles. 'A clever idea, I think, if it's not too bold to say.'

Remus smiled, 'Not too bold sir, you're a great Wizard from what I hear.'

The Headmaster laughed lightly, adverting his eyes, '… Flattering …'

Remus didn't know what to say, so he waited until Professor Dumbledore spoke again. He told him that he may leave to finish the rest of his daily lessons and to come back to his office after the school day ends.