A/N i know it's short, and I'm sorry. Move in and classes are nuts. Next one should be longer

Disclaimer: As per usual, I don't own what's not mine

24 September 1972

The transformation from wolf to human - on its own- was less painful than that at moonrise. But couple it with the gashes, bites and bruised or broken bones caused by the wolf, and it was hell on fire.

Remus didn't remember leaving the shack. When he opened his eyes, all he could see was dim light filtering through the bandages wrapped around his head.

"No Mr. Potter. For the last time, Mr Lupin is not here. He is participating in a medical trial and will not return until tomorrow morning at the earliest. Now please return to your dorm." Now he was sure he was in the hospital wing, and judging by the nurse's irritated voice, this was not the first time his friends had come looking for him.

"Nurse?" Remus called. Though all that came out was "Nnngghh"

Her head turned to his curtained-off bed. "Remus, are you awake?"

He grunted in reply. "Thank goodness. I was starting to get worried. You did quite the damage to yourself young man."

"Ha ba?" was the closest articulation he got to 'how bad?'

"You managed to bruise three ribs, crack your skull, and rip your forearm open. Plus all the other scrapes and bites, you lost quite a bit of blood."

The patient nodded. The wolf hadn't liked being somewhere new. When it was anxious or scared, Remus usually ended up taking the blow.

"Drink this. It'll Help speed the healing process." a vial was placed to his lips, and the contents poured down his throat. As he drifted off to sleep, he heard the nurse say "Poor boy got the short straw in life…"

Remus returned to school as predicted on Tuesday morning, just before breakfast, and despite having slept for the better part of two days, he was still exhausted. His wounds had yet to heal completely, but Remus had managed to convince Nurse Biddle that he needed to return to class as quickly as possible.

By the time he had limped to the great hall, breakfast was in full swing. Students chatted about classes and friends, and his friends looked a little too happy. "What did you do?" Remus asked when he approached the table.

"We're celebrating." said James. Remus raised an eyebrow, so Sirius pitched in.

"Meet Gryffindor's new beater and chaser."

"Congratulations! You guys made it?"

"Of course we did you dolt. Who else?"

This was too much of Sirius's ego after a moon so Remus changed the topic. "Seriously though. What did you do?"

"You'll see." Peter mumbled before returning to his breakfast.

Sitting down nervously, Remus pulled out his cutlery and dug in, helping himself to everything in sight. When he looked up from his second empty plate, the tone of conversation had changed. No longer were students jovial or complaining. Now students were muttering to each other with frustration and fear, no one however, had gotten up. Scanning the room, one could see several people jerk upwards, as though preparing to rise but not being able to.

Remus stared at his friends. "What? We have a test today!" James said defensively.

"You stuck the entire school to their seats merely to avoid writing a test?"

McGonagall was annoyed. No, scratch that, she was ticked. She had really hoped that they had gotten this out of their systems last year. "Potter, Black, Pettigrew, twenty points apiece."

Sirius opened his mouth to protest but McGonagall's glare shut him up. "And you will each serve detention tomorrow night." Six eyes fell to the floor, James and Sirius hurt because that was their first practice, Peter because he didn't really think he had a hand in this. He had thought the idea was funny sure, but the other two had done all the sticking charms, So he didn't really see why he should be punished with them. He only stayed because they put up with him. Even the hufflepuffs-who were known to be friendly-avoided him as much as possible. Peter was pretty sure tjat James only put up with him because they were socialized together when they were younger, and Sirius mostly ignored him unless he had something revolutionary to say, and that didn't happen that often.

Remus seemed different than the other guys though. He may not listen intently, and he laughs at Peter's expense, but he did seem to hold some sort of care for the well being of the entire group. Remus was hard to read though. His roommate seemed guarded, like he was hiding something.

Letting it go, He tuned back into McGonagall's lecture in time to learn that his detention would be with the groundskeeper.

People can have their secrets. Besides, they're the only ones who put up with me and I'll be devoured anywhere else

A/N Again, sorry it's later than intended and that its short. Next one should be up shprtly but we'll have to see what my circuits prof has to say about that. I'm trying to find a way to make Peter less of a sideline character than he is in many other fics-I may not like the guy, but he has to have some sort of purpose and skill.

Ideas, comments, questions, concerns? Drop me a line. -Please, textbooks are frying my creativity

One-Eyed Wolf signing off to study circuitry