A/N I have recently listened through this story and corrected spelling mistakes and typos-apologies because I know it can be frustrating to infer what is being said, and in future chapters I will try to avoid my pet peeves/

Disclaimer: Characters and places you recognize are Rowling's

20 September 1972

Remus bounced out of bed at six o'clock on the morning of September 20th. James rolled over. "What are you so excited about?"

"Nothing" replied Remus, continuing to bounce about the room as he prepared for the day.

His nervousness had finally died down with the whispers yesterday. And the agitation of the waxing moon was definitely not helping to provide a smooth transition to his normal, hyperactive demeanor.

"I'm going to explore" he informed his friends ten minutes later as he started to descend the tower. "See you at breakfast"

"It's barely six!" James hissed after him. Deciding sleep sounded better, he left Remus to explore the castle as he pleased.

But Remus was not at breakfast. He had sped off from Gryffindor Tower without a destination in mind.

About an hour into his wanderings, Remus smelled food. Breakfast wouldn't start for thirty minutes, but he was hungry. Turning on his heel, he followed his nose down three floors and into the basement. Past three suits of armour, a yellow arch, and several paintings of food he marched. The corridor turned and Remus stopped. Sniffing the air carefully he turned and was guided to a painting of a fruit bowl by his sense of smell.

Leaning forward, he sniffed again. There's food behind this painting. Remus reached out and poked the portrayed pear.

The pear twitched. The second time, it giggled. Are you ticklish little pear? Remus wondered to himself. With that thought, Remus tickled the pear until it laughed. Then he stopped because the pear had vanished. In its place was a green handle, which Remus obviously pulled.

The painting swung open to reveal a vast room lined with stoves and ovens. In the middle were four long tables, with a fifth lying crosswise at the end.

I think i just found the kitchens. I wonder.. his thoughts were cut off by several squeaky voices.

"Welcome sir!"

"What can we do for sir?"

"Would sir like some bacon?"

Remus pondered the tiny, floppy-eared creatures for a moment. House elves, well, I guess it only makes sense. Never having seen a house elf before, but having read all about them, it was concluded that these were indeed house elves.

"You know, I would love some bacon" Minutes later Remus was sitting at the Gryffindor sub-table with more food in front of him than one could normally eat. This was not normally. The inner wolf always got hungrier in the days before the full moon; this meant that the plates of bacon, pancakes, cereals, toast, and fruit were all consumed in a timely manner.

"Would sir like anything else?"

"No thanks. And please, just call me Remus."

"Of course master Remus and I is called midge." The elf- who was tiny by elf standards- bowed as Remus rose from his meal. "We is always happy to provide."

"Thank you Midge. I'm sure I'll come back soon."

"Master Remus is always welcome" called another elf as he ducked out into the hall and closed the painting.


Where were you" James demanded when Remus joined them at the greenhouses."Oh, and this came for you," he said holding out a letter, which Remus took.

Remus had stopped walking, but he couldn't seem to make himself stop moving. "Exploring. Tell you what I found later"

"And what has gotten into you today?" asked James, watching his friend bounce up and down on the balls of his feet.

"Nothing"

Sirius opened his mouth to reply, but the door to greenhouse three swung open to admit entrance to the waiting students, and he was silenced by the greetings of Geoffrey Styne.

"Good morning class. Today we will be reviewing the collections of Puffapods. Professor Styne gestured to the worktables "The plants are waiting."

"James, Sirius, and occasionally Peter spent most of the class pestering their roommate, trying to learn what he had discovered. I'm not going to tell them yet, they should really give up. Remus was very much enjoying withholding information from the taller two of his three friends.

Congratulations on your sorting Remus, know that your mother and I are proud of you regardless of where you ended up. Good job on passing into second year, I can't believe they they let you do it all in one day. And we're very pleased that you've made friends, just remember to be careful. I'm very glad You and Rom are still getting along after all these years, and I guess you've figured out by now why they moved. On that note, I would advise Romulus, that should he wish to stay at Hogwarts, that he not mention you to his mother. She'd have a fit and have him transferred. Probably wouldn't say why, but let's not take the risks ok? Your mother is driving herself up the wall without you around, and I miss you too.

Love, Dad and Mom


"You found the kitchens?" hissed Peter across the table at lunch.

"And you waited three hours to tell us?" Sirius pitched in from beside his friend

"Well I didn't exactly think it was something I should share with the whole class!"

James stood and grabbed Remus by the arm. "You're showing us." he stated, dragging the boy from his lunch.


The second year Gryffindor boys arrived ten minutes late to History of Magic. Lily and Remus were the only ones who seemed to care. "Where have you been?" she asked, as the sandy-haired boy took the open seat beside her.

"James dragged us off from lunch on a hunt for hidden secrets." Having said his piece, Remus pulled out his battered copy of 'A History of Magic' and began to read, having given up on trying to listen to Professor Binns on his second class. It was something he had caught onto from Lily; the two of them read, and everyone else napped- whether they tried to or not.


Thursday and Friday passed in a similar manner, the exception being that all four friends arrived at breakfast. Saturday morning rolled around and James Sirius and Peter came down into the common room shortly after seven. As it was a weekend, the common room was deserted- the residents of Gryffindor tower generally took the opportunity to sleep in on Saturday mornings. Remus included, though for reasons other than 'it's the weekend'

"Someone remind me to say something about this to him" grumbled Sirius, leading the way into the corridor.

Taking their usual seats, James was the only one awake enough to notice the missing member of their group. "Where's Remus?"

"Probably ate in the kitchens 'cause breakfast wasn't ready yet" Peter mumbled into his breakfast.

The three Gryffindors were on their way out of the Great Hall an hour later when the rest of the school started to make an appearance. They stopped in the common room before proceeding to walk out to the grounds, figuring that they could sit by the lake and relax, and maybe Remus would cross their paths in his hyperactive explorative habits. He didn't.

"You guys were up early today" called Lily as they entered the common room. "What are you up to, or do I even want to know?"

"It's all Remus's fault." said Peter.

"So someone gets up early. He'd be pretty quiet wouldn't he?"

James was aghast. "Have you met Remus lately? He's like a skrewt on steroids!"

Lily raised her eyebrows. "Remus?"

"Yes." James didn't see why she didn't see it.

"Remus Lupin?"

"YES" A few heads turned at the exclamation.

"The same Remus Lupin who is almost falling asleep on a book over there?"

The boys followed to where she was pointing. Sure enough, their friend was sitting at a table off to the side of the room, reading a book.

"Uh, Remus?" Sirius asked, poking his shoulder.

"Please leave a message after the tone. Beeep" was the reply.

Sirius looked at the rest of his friends and shrugged. "apparently he's too busy with his book. Want to go down to the quidditch pitch? Tryouts are tomorrow"James nodded eagerly and ran to get his broom.

Remus waited until James and Sirius had dragged Peter out the portrait hole, babbling about quidditch. Lily looked over at the movement. "Are you ok? You look like crap."

"Remus nodded. "Chronic illness. I'm used to it." he said, making his way to the exit.

"Ok, well I hope it gets better soon" she called after him.


Remus knocked twice, before hearing the call "Enter" Remus opened the door and stepped into the transfiguration office. "Mr. Lupin. I was about to call on you." He approached the desk which allowed his teacher to get a better look at him. "Are you alright? You look rather ill."

Remus sat opposite her and winced. "I'm used to it. Happens every time."

McGonagall pushed aside thoughts of feeling sorry for her student, knowing he wouldn't want the pity and moved to the task at hand. "Have you come up with an excuse yet?"

"A few ideas."

"Do elaborate"

"First, i could occasionally claim that I'm sick. Too often and people might make the connection." This received a nod. "Second, I could have a family emergency. Someone is severely ill or dying, and I'd have to go visit them, and third, which is kind of in place for this month, i say that I have a rare chronic illness or genetic disease that has no cure, but that I am part of a clinical trial."

"Impressive Mr. Lupin." her expression complied with her statement. "I was not expecting such preparedness from a boy of twelve." She thought for a moment. "Why is the third option partially in place for this month?" the scotswoman asked gently.

"I told Lily I have a chronic illness so that she'd stop pestering me about looking horrible."

"I see. Why don't we use that every other month, and find others in between?"

Remus grunted his approval, his energy fading fast.

"Remus, Ms. Evans was correct to show concern. You do look like crap." Remus gave a small smile at his professor's language, which she returned. "Are you going to take yourself to the hospital wing before you wind up on the floor, or am I going to have to escort you there myself?"

"Can't I just go back to my dorm?" Green eyes bored into green until Remus snapped away. "I'm going, I'm going" Her eyes followed him out of the office. Then McGonagall took on feline form, and followed him covertly down the corridor.

"I don't need an escort Professor" Remus called over his shoulder. McGonagall's form replaced the tabby's. She opened her mouth to speak bit was beaten to it. "My hearing is quite acute, and it isn't exactly getting any worse." The woman nodded.

"I trust that you are on your way. I'll be seeing you Mr Lupin" with that, she turned and began to retrace her steps.

Arriving at the hospital wing, Remus flopped down on the nearest bed and clocked out before Nurse Biddle had a chance to realize she had a new patient. When she finally did see him sprawled over the bed, she removed his shoes with her wand, fixed it so that he was actually on the bed, and conjured a blanket. Then she let him sleep.


Remus's eyes snapped open to see a face looming over his. In the dim light, he couldn't see who it was, though he smelled potions and antiseptic, and the height was about right for the nurse. "Nurse Biddle? Wha' timesit?"

"Its nearly seven. I didn't want to wake you but we really must get moving." She helped Remus to stand, and together they made their way outside and across the grounds to the whomping willow. Levitating a stick, she poked the knot, and led him inside the small tunnel, finally emerging at a ladder and trapdoor.

"Once you go up, and closed the door, I'll lock it behind you and activate the charms and wards. Upstairs you will find a small safe in which you may keep your belongings, though I'd advise only touching the handle."

Remus nodded and climbed the ladder. "I'll be back at dawn to collect you." you have no idea how literal that could be.

Closing the door, he muttered a quick "Thanks" to the witch below, and observed his surroundings. He was currently in a sparsely furnished sitting room, a kitchen was down the hall, and a set of stairs led up to the second level. This is way more space than the basement at home he thought, climbing the stairs. The first door on the landing revealed a small bedroom with an old bed and wardrobe. The other held a larger bed, a dresser, and a small silver safe.

Looking out the window, and realizing he was short on time, Remus carefully opened the safe, stripped, then placed his clothes and wand inside and latched the door. As he sat on the bed and waited, he couldn't help but wonder where people believed him to be.

He knew the moon was rising without looking. He could feel it in his bones; they began to ache and his muscles stiffened.

When the moon did rise, his screams rose with it. Bones began to lengthen and break within his body, coarse follicles forced their way up through his pores. His head re-oriented itself while his face stretched out, and pointed claws pushed through his fingertips. The strangled screams turned into howls as the man became wolf.

A/N Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions/requests