Disclaimer: Next Chapter, you know the routine. Read and Review and don't feel shy! I love criticism it helps me learn, and I love encouragement it helps me write faster ;) I own Pheebs and her ever expanding story. Anyway enjoy!

The moon came too quickly. Thankfully it came on a weekend so Remus didn't have to drag himself to class, but I'd rather the full moon just never come at all. It wasn't fair. The whole day we sat in the chairs around the fire. Remus was incredibly pale, and it seemed as though the dark circles under his eyes grew every hour. We'd just finished our third game of wizard's chess, and I'd sent Pete off to get us some cocoa. Chocolate seemed to be the only thing Remus wanted.

I was currently giving Remus a foot rub. He was the only Marauder who ever got this kind of treatment, the boys liked to joke that it was because Remus was my favourite, but in reality it was because Remus' were the only feet I'd touch, let alone massage. Anyways, I was currently giving Remus a foot rub, much to Sirius' disappointment, and James was running his hands through his hair manically. Most likely due to the fact that Lily was at the nearest table with Marlene, doing her schoolwork, but if you asked him, James would probably tell you it was because Quidditch season was right around the corner.

Lily and Marlene proved a problem to me. Not only was James a mess, but Sirius was making eyes across the room to Marlene, who was making them right back. Usually this wouldn't be much of a problem, but with Remus nearly comatose I needed someone to keep me distracted. I was a wreck with worry for tonight; tonight would be the first night that all my boys would be out, in danger, on the full moon. I was panicking, not outright because I needed to be strong for Remus. He worried enough about me as it was, but on the full moon he always seemed to get more protective; I liked to call it a wolf thing.

Speaking of the wolf, Remus was sprawled across the largest couch, something he only did around the full moon, and softly moaning as I pressed my expert fingers into the arches of his feet. His eyes were closed, and his face was wrinkled with the signs of a headache, but I knew he appreciated me because of the goosebumps all along his arms and his neck. That was his tell, goosebumps. I smiled, moments like these alleviating my stress, at least for a minute. Though I needed another distraction. I needed Sirius.

The dog, literally, in question had finally made his way over to Marlene and was now snogging the life out of her right at the table. Lily was hastily packing up, with a disgusted look on her face and I almost felt bad for her. Until I remembered how much she loved Snape and then I sobered up quite quickly.

"Oi, Padfoot!" I yelled across the common room, a little miffed. "Get your arse over here,"

Sirius broke for breathe to give me an exasperated look, Marlene still slobbering on his neck.

"I'm a little busy love," Sirius moaned. Did he honestly think I cared about that.

"Well un-busy yourself! I need someone to play chess with," Sirius hated chess, but I gave him a look that could put the newly-wed Molly Weasley to shame. Sirius huffed but came to join me anyways. I smirked inwardly, knowing that he'd give up Marlene for me made me happy in the smuggest sense.

We played a few rounds of chess, until James interrupted to show Sirius some Quidditch plays he'd been working on. I fell asleep to the ardent voices of James and Sirius, their familiarity calming me. I faded off slumped in my seat at the end of Remus' couch.

I woke to the hasty nudging of Peter, back with the cocoa. He had five mugs on a tray, each cup with a dollop of whip cream and cinnamon sprinkles, just how we liked it. I stretched, feeling Remus behind me, lean and sturdy, with a warm arm wrapped around my middle. I sat up, Remus waking and following suit, and took a mug from Pete. It smelled so familiar, the Marauders and I had crafted a hot cocoa tradition, and smelling it here and now in the cozy common room after a long summer was heaven to me, not matter the circumstances. I took a long sip, snuggling down into Remus' shoulder as he too took a sip.

I'm sure that the rest of Gryffindor had quite a view, all of us deeply enjoying our drinks, me with a whip cream topped nose, Remus with his eyes closed in comfort from the chocolate relief, James with fogged up glasses, Sirius staring dismally down at an already empty mug, and Peter on the floor holding his mug between his hands just enjoying the warmth. It was a frequent, coveted ritual; one of my favourites.

Although the only onlookers we had that day were that of Lily and Marlene. They both looked quite upset with us, although I expect for different reasons. Lily was probably out of her little prefect mind about our cocoa in the common room, where Marlene was most likely upset that I'd stolen her snogging partner for the time being. Either way I couldn't be bothered, I just took another sip and smiled at my boys.

As the day dragged on Remus drifted back to sleep, this time with his head in my lap, and we were joined by Frank and Alice. Frank sat in the open chair beside the couch, and Alice on Frank's lap. Usually publicly broadcasted affection worried and nauseated me, but these two were my one and only exception. You could feel the love they felt for each other, and they still managed to be functional within each others space. If that makes sense. I liked it when they joined us, and felt guilty that I hadn't made an effort with Alice this year. Last year she was my closest girlfriend, not Marauder close by any means, but it was nice to have a feminine touch at times.

The boys mainly talked Quidditch strategy and Alice inputted as much as she could edgewise, the boys really got into this sort of thing. I mainly nodded along, fading in and out, absent mindedly stroking Moony's sandy-brown head. Alice smiled at me and left the boys in the midst of their heated Quidditch discussion.

"How are you Phoebe? I feel like we haven't had the chance to catch up,"

'I'm fine," I grinned back, as warmly as possible, I needed Alice in my life, "And you? Are you and Frank having a good year so far,"

"Oh yeah. It was nice being with him over the summer but his mother is a bit extreme! I was happy to be home after the stay was up, and I'm even happier to be back to Hogwarts,"

"Yeah, It's like coming home for me," I nodded slowly.

"I'm sure you love being back with the boys full time," Alice grinned, "especially with Sirius down Marlene's throat at every turn now a days,"

I laughed, loudly, causing Remus to stir and mumble into my corduroy pants. I waited until he'd settled before starting my calm stroking motions again, wanting him to get as much sleep as possible before the big night.

"Oh I meant to say this earlier," Alice whispered leaning in quite close; to little effect though, as she brought the boys attention with her, "You and Remus are quite cute together. Frank and I were saying it was about time," She giggled then but went right back into it, "Maybe one of these days we could double! How bout that Frank? Double date with Remus and Pheebs?"

Sirius' bark laugh brought me back into the real world. Then Peter's squeaks and James full laugh. Remus was stirring in his sleep again, and I quickly shut the boys up. I needed to sort this out, Alice was blushing with embarrassment, so was I no doubt, and Frank looked quite lost.

"We aren't really dating," I explained, "It was a joke that got out of control,"

"What joke? I just thought that all the snuggling and cute stuff meant that something had happened at last,"

Sirius laughed again, louder and longer, I leaned over and smacked him across the head.

"Shut up Pads, Rem needs his sleep," James looked sternly at Sirius; fatherly almost.

"Just mates," I turned to Alice again, "And what is all this at last nonsense,"

"Oh nothing," Alice brushed off, in a way that was definitely not nothing.

Remus finally woke up just after Alice had left, he'd missed an early dinner so we were on our way to the kitchens. I was trailing along in the back of the group with Remus, Pete was up ahead, and James and Sirius were lopping about somewhere in the middle. Remus was slow, it sort of frightened me, but I knew if something didn't feel right he would've said; or I would've noticed. Instead he just took longer than usual and leaned on me for a bit of help.

"How are you feeling," he asked me, his voice heavy.

"You know I worry," I sighed stopping in my tracks.

"I know. I'm sorry you have to worry about me," He looked into my eyes, sadness was evident.

"Get over yourself Rem," I grinned, "I'm worried about the others,"

Remus laughed, fainter than normal but a laugh was a laugh. He pulled me into a hug,

"thank you," I felt his chin on my head. I rolled my eyes.

"Remus you don't have to thank me," I kissed his cheek, "You know I love you; I love all you guys. You're my best mates and honestly I wouldn't want anyone else."

"Are you two love birds done," Sirius yelled down the hall, "I'm fucking hungry,"

We walked down the hall arms around each other and Sirius joined on when we caught up to him.

It was twelve when I heard the first howl. It was far off but that didn't do anything to stop my blood from running cold. All the other girls were in bed, lightly snoring, or saying things in their sleep. Lily often rattled off spells in her sleep, which had proved dangerous often enough. They hardly ever heard the howls, but I heard them every month. The full moons never gave me much sleep, I was awake with worry, each agonized sound tearing at me more than the last. Eyes closed was no better, my lids seemed to be painted with gruesome images of Remus hurt or worse, and tonight James, Sirius, and Peter were added to my list. Usually I would have a shower and put a silencing charm on the bathroom so the other girls could sleep, but tonight I couldn't even manage that.

At two I threw up, nerve and anxious energy getting to much for me. I'd done that maybe three times in all my moons with Remus; tonight was a bad night. I felt trapped in this little room. Helpless while the four people I loved most were out at risk. I paced the bathroom, after splashing cool water across my face and neck.

Six o'clock came much too slowly for my liking, but it came nonetheless. I hauled myself out of the dorms still wearing only Remus' first year button up and cardigan, with sleep shorts on -only because I was still technically at school, I hated wearing pants- and practically sprinted to the hospital wing.

It was never open when I got there, but Madame Pomfrey would always wake up and let me in, usually still clad in a nightgown and dressing robe but I was not complaining. She'd always had a soft spot for me and would let me in at all times, knowing how important Remus was to me. This time was no exception, Madame Pomfrey came hustling out when I knocked softly at the great wooden and glass doors.

"Here already sweetheart," She said eyeing my state with a worried expression.

"I couldn't sleep, and I threw up again. Can you give me something quick before they get here," She knew I meant the boys. I came every moon without fail, and so did the Marauders.

"Yes of course. I'll give you a pepper up or two and that should work for the day," She'd already begun going through her stash before I'd come in and closed the door. "You really should cover up dear, you'll catch a cold," So matronly. She turned back to me with a bottle in hand and I took it eagerly. Tipping it back and downing it all at once I wiped my mouth feeling the warm, almost burning, sensation work through my body. I just had time to freshen up my appearance before the Marauders stormed in carrying Remus.

James had his left side and Sirius had his right, Peter was bracing James who seemed to be limping a bit. The three boys were relatively fine, although I was eyeing that limp and Sirius seemed to be favouring his left shoulder a bit more. Remus was also fairly fixable, compared to normally, so I breathed out a sigh of relief. The boys laid him down in bed and Madame Pomfrey got to work immediately, drawing back the privacy screens and leaving us to fuss about while we waited.

"How did it go," I turned to them, still worried even though I knew everything would be fine.

"Fairly well, I think we've got a system worked out," James replied softly, before enveloping me in a bone crushing hug.

"We're sorry you had to worry so much," Sirius added joining in,

"But it really does help Remus," Peter too joined the hug.

"I know. I'm glad you were there, but right now I just want you all fixed up," I broke free of their arms and made to sit on an empty bed.

"I'll get us some food," Pete offered to no one in particular. I couldn't even think of eating.

"He'll be alright Pheebs, he always is," Sirius came to sit next to me, letting me lean on him even if it was his bad side.

"Yeah," I said listlessly. I just wanted to skip ahead a day so we didn't have to go through the recovery motions again. I wished there was a potion that made everything go away. One of the reasons I wanted to be a healer, was so that I could spend my days working on the cure, or at least a serious healing advantage for lycanthropy.

"And besides, one look at you and he'll be on the mend for sure," Sirius gave me a pointed look, and I realized just how little clothing I was actually wearing. Oh well, nothing Sirius hadn't seen before. For Merlin's sake he had posters on his wall with more to show than I did.

Peter came back with food, which I avoided like the plague. They still didn't know I threw up, and I'd hate to have a repeat incident. I sat on the bed looking out to the dreary morning that looked almost as dismal as I felt.

Remus woke up at five that evening, he needed water and a few potions but after that we were permitted to visit him, thankfully I convinced her to give us privacy, she was in a foul mood after fixing up the boys' injuries, but no one could resist my charm.

"Hey Moony," James started,

"How are you feeling Mate," Sirius finished.

"Fairly good considering," Remus replied quietly, "Tired though of course,"

"Of course," James grinned, "It's good to see you up. Even if you look about as good as Snape,"

Remus cracked a small smile, "How about you? How are you lot feeling," He assessed us each in turn and I winced as I realized he wouldn't be as easy to fool as the others.

"I'm fine," Sirius assured us, "Pomfrey fixed my shoulder up,"

"I'm good also," Peter added. He looked the best out of all the boys; injuries wise.

"Yeah," James agreed, and then it was down to me.

Remus looked me up and down and I could see him sigh internally; he knew. I smiled meekly and hope it was good enough.

"Don't look at me like that, I should be the least of your worries," I scowled at Remus. "I'm fine,"

"Don't lie to me Pheebs. Sit down at least," I relented and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Happy now,"

"Very," I felt his arm circle around me and couldn't help a yawn. I was tired.

"You two are just too cute," Sirius grinned.

"Shut up Padfoot," Remus yawned, "We've all had a long night,"

"That's true. We'll head out and let you rest some more," James stated, knowing what was best.

I made to leave but felt Remus arm holding me in place. I settled back as Sirius and James started towards the door. I eased onto my side laying next to Remus in the small bed. We'd only done this once before and that was the Moon after I'd first found out. I had needed to reassure him that I was fine then too.

"Are you coming Pheebs," Peter asked finally leaving towards the door.

"Of course she's not coming Wormtail," Sirius laughed, shaking his head.

"But…" Peter began, he didn't get far with his thoughts though.

"Come on Pete," James said pulling the youngest Marauder out the door.