Disclaimer: Do I own Harry Potter, nope. Jk Rowling owns Harry Potter. I'm just a person writing about Harry Potter. Please don't sue, Lawyers make me itch. Please don't make me go into Anaphylactic shock.

Author's Note: This is a very important chapter. Sorry if this might be off time wise. I couldn't get confirmation if this mashes with the HP time period that Mrs. Rowling came up with. Please Review!

Ch. 10 Realizing the Truth

The last day of break came and went. Before Sirius knew it he and James were getting on the Hogwarts Express. It was snowing really hard when they went to Kings Cross Station. They immediately went to find Peter and Remus. When they found the other half of their group they got into the compartment

"How was your holiday" James asked both of them.

"Boring my cousins were awful" Peter said with disgusted. Peter's cousins lived in France and apparently were so spoiled and made fun of Peter.

"It was really quiet for me" Remus said simply.

"What did you get?" Sirius asked.

"Well I got a lot of clothes" Peter said disappointed.

"I didn't get much" Remus whispered.

"Why not" Sirius asked. James nudged him. It was a touché subject with Remus. He was very poor.

"My parents can barely afford the second-hand clothes I wear" Remus said shrugging. A lot of people, mostly Slytherins, laughed at him because of his clothes.

"Sorry to bring it up, Remus" Sirius said feeling guilty.

"It's ok Sirius" Remus said clearly stating that he shouldn't give it a second thought.

"So are you ready for our Defense projects to be done" James said.

"I am" Peter said.

"I am. Its"

"Pointless, stupid, busy work" Sirius and James said. Remus looked taken aback.

"Well did you do complain about it all the time" Peter said shrugging.

"I honestly don't see what this project has to do with Defense" Remus said huffy. Sirius and James laughed at his indignant face. They knew how much he hated Professor Rockwood.

The marauders spent the rest of the train ride plotting more pranks. They got back to the castle at nightfall. There was a delicious dinner the students. After dinner they spent the rest of the night playing wizard chess. It was good to be back at Hogwarts and they couldn't wait to do more pranks, at least Sirius and James was. Remus begged them not cause any trouble. Sirius and James made no promises. Lupin knew that it was futile to try and change them. Sirius wondered if he honestly wanted them to, or did he think it was what he should say. Remus was clearly the rational one. He always told James and Sirius if a prank was a bad idea and help them study. Sirius always wondered; probably always will, why Remus hung out with them. He was not a person that liked causing chaos like James and Sirius. He wasn't a complete follower like Peter. It was as if he just liked their company and it didn't matter if he had anything in common with them

"Potter, Lupin, Pettigrew, Black! Pay attention" Professor McGonagall said sharply.

"Sorry Professor" They chorused. They yawned. They spent all of last night finishing up their homework, they were all extremely tired. The reason, Professor Rockwood. Professor Rockwood had given loads of homework since term started.

"I can't wait until this stupid project is over" Sirius said frustrated.

"We need to transfigure Professor Rockwood, a new personality" Remus declared. The others laughed at him. He really did need to learn how to insult.

"He seems to really hate you" James pointed out. The look that Remus gave James stated that the feeling was mutual.

"I don't even want to talk about him, he gives me a headache" Remus said rubbing his forehead.

"I thought Sirius gave you a headache" James smirked.

"Well he does but we have been back for a month, and we already had seven tests in Defense already." Remus said.

"What is his problem" Sirius asked.

"He's evil" James replied.

"You ok Loopy" Sirius asked noticing the pained expression on the other Marauder.

"I don't feel well, I think I'm going to take a nap" He said. He got up and went to their dorm.

"Just wait tomorrow he'll disappear" James said after he was out of ear shot. Sirius nodded.

"What are you talking about?" Peter asked.

"We notice that Remus disappears soon after he starts getting ill" Sirius explained.

"So" Peter said.

"So, we want to know where he goes to" James retorted.

"Maybe he's just ill" Peter shrugged.
"Like almost every month" James pointed out.
"Month" Sirius said curiously.

"Yeah it happens every 4 weeks" James explained.

"What does it mean" Peter said confused.
"I'm not sure" James said thoughtfully.

James was right again. Remus did disappear the next day. Sirius hoped he returned the following day but he didn't. Normally Sirius didn't care when Remus disappeared but this was something that involved him. Sirius was furious. He had to go up in front of the classroom by himself. Not only that, but Professor Rockwood already deducted points for Remus not being there. Sirius couldn't wait for Remus to come back so he could give him a piece of his mind.

"Hey Sirius, James" Remus said when he got back two days later.

"Hey" James said nervously looking at Sirius.

"Hello" Sirius said coldly.

"What did I do" Remus said confused.

"You missed are presentation" Sirius snapped. Horrifying realization appeared on Lupin's face.
"Where were you" Sirius asked.

"I…" Remus stammered.

"Just tell me" Sirius said.

"I can't tell you" Remus shrugged.

"Of course you can't" Sirius snapped.

"I'm sorry, but it's really none of your business" Remus said sternly.

"It's my business when you are missing in action on the day we are supposed to give our report. You not being there cost me" Sirius snapped.

"I'm sorry" Remus said.

"Where were you" Sirius asked again.
"I can't tell you" Remus said.

"Fine" Sirius said. He stopped off without another word.

Sirius was still angry with Remus when they got up the next morning. James begged Sirius to talk to Remus but he refused. Why couldn't he just tell him why he missed? He would not be so angry if he knew the reason for it. Remus seemed to want to tell them but something stopped him.
"Are you going to ignore me for the rest of term" Remus asked.

"I might" Sirius said coldly.

"I said I was sorry" Remus said.

"Yeah you did but It doesn't mean anything if you're not being truthful" Sirius said.

"I'm telling the truth" Remus said defensively.

"Friends don't keep secrets" Sirius retorted.

"I'm not keeping secrets" Remus retorted back.

"Just leave me alone, Lupin" Sirius said exasperatedly. Lupin looked like he wanted to argue but didn't. He did as he asked.

"James can I use your invisibility cloak" Sirius asked.
"Sure" James said.

"Thanks" Sirius said. He needed to think. He walked around the grounds. He was very quiet as to not to disturb the teachers on duty.

"Why are you out of bed, Mr. Black" A kind voice said suddenly. Sirius looked around horrified.

"I was just…" Sirius began, excused running through his mind.

"Don't look so frighten, I only want to know why a first year like yourself is out of bed this time of night" Professor Dumbledore said interestedly.

"Lots on my mind" Sirius explained.

"I see. I hear that Mr. Lupin missed out on Professor Rockwood class the other day" The old professor said.

"Yeah" Sirius said confirmed.

"He is a nice boy but I wish he was more open. His mom writes to me constantly. She is happy that he has made friends. He talks about his friends constantly to his mother" Professor Dumbledore said.

"Oh yeah" Sirius said interestedly. Remus never really talks about his parents that much.

"His family has had a rough time the last few years." Professor Dumbledore told him.

"I didn't know that" Sirius said feeling guilty.
"His mom says that he has made a huge turn around. He uses to write to his mom begging her to allow him to come home" Professor Dumbledore said. This was new to Sirius. Remus was very quiet the first few weeks but didn't think it was bad enough to want to go home.

"Well, it was nice chatting with you, Sirius but I think it's time for you to get back to Gryffindor tower" Professor Dumbledore said taking out his pocket watch.

"Good Night, Professor" Sirius said.
"Good Night Mr. Black"

Sirius didn't go to bed right away. He decided to stay up to do some homework. First he took out all his papers that Sirius didn't need any more. Then Sirius had a thought. All the of Remus symptoms suddenly made sense. How could he have been so stupid? He didn't know if it was true but he was almost certain he was.

"Your joking" James said.

"Well, it explains a lot" Sirius says.

"I don't know, Sirius" Peter says.

"Well let's asked him" Sirius suggested.
"Ok after class" James said. They waited the full day. James and Sirius tried not to look like there was something up.

"Remus can we talk to you" James said when they were safely in their dorm.
"Yeah it's important" Sirius said.
"You're not made at me anymore" Remus asked. Sirius shook his head no.

"We think we know what your hiding" James begun. Remus looked panicked.

"Oh yeah" Remus said after a few minutes.
"Remus, are you a werewolf" Sirius asked. You could have heard a pin drop. Remus looked horrified.

Next Chapter: The big reveal! Remus finds out that his new found friends don't care what he is. The other three Marauder learn more about their secretive friend.