The next few days started to pass in a haze for William. He had tried to speak with Nick, but the other boy had actively started to avoid him, not bothering with more than simple pleasantries when they passed in the hallways or saw each other in the dining hall on the rare occasions that Nick was actually eating around people. William found himself alone on a regular basis, often working late in the library or the like unsure of exactly where he stood with anyone anymore. Had he really been ignoring the pain of his friend?

One night William found himself sitting up in the potions laboratory. He had no papers due, the dueling club didn't meet that night, and William simply just didn't know what to do with himself. Per usual Chris seemed to be somewhere else when he had gotten back from dinner, and there were no sporting events that night so William was left to his own devices. Plenty of people had been in the lounge listening to things on the Wizarding Wireless but William didn't really know them, nor did he really care about the quodpot game most people were transfixed upon. So there he was staring at an empty cauldron, debating on whether or not to make some sort of potion just to test himself. After all, William considered, midterms were only a few weeks away.

The potions lab was a fairly compact room in a part of the basement, not near the main potions classroom's at all. He had discovered it one day when he had taken a wrong turn heading down toward the kitchens, and William slowly learned that it wasn't well known to most of the student body. After a few moments he opened up his textbook and sighed, trying to think of which potion he had brewed the worst. As he started skimming through the pages, the thick wooden door opened. William turned to see none other than Franklin Perry entering with a mug.

The older boy paused when he saw William standing there, "Hello William." He blew on the mug, smooth white steam curling up out of it, "What're you doing here?"

William shrugged, "I don't really know, going to brew something I guess."

"What'd you miss a class or something?" The older student asked as he set down his large cauldron at a table not far away, slowly taking out jars of ingredients as he sipped from his mug.

"No, just preparing for midterms," William answered.

Franklin shook his head and replied, "William it's the first week of November, midterms are over a month away, don't study for them go enjoy an evening with out homework."

William shook his head, "All of my friends are busy..." He then sighed, "Or not talking to me."

Franklin's eyebrows perked up, "Not speaking to you?"

William nodded, "Yeah, my friend Nick, he sort of..." William shrugged.

"Isn't that the werewolf?" Franklin asked. William noticed that the older student didn't have the general alarm that most people did when they asked that question.

"Yes," William answered, "Why?"

Franklin shrugged, "He must be having a rough time, especially with the full moon being in a few days. Plus, you know, everything else." Franklin shook his head as he started pouring in various ingredients to the cauldron. William noticed the older student didn't seem to be consulting any sort of directions as he tapped his wand to the table and a small fire appeared. "I still can't believe the prejudices of some people these days. My father is thinking about writing something about it in the Intelligencer."

William looked at the older boy and then asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well the Waldorf boy," Franklin replied as he murmured a spell and the potion started to stir itself, "I'm sure you know more about the situation than I do though."

"What situation?" William asked as he stood up and crossed over to the older boy's table.

"That Brian Waldorf is trying to move out of the room," Franklin said with a hint of surprise in his voice, "How could you not know about that? It's caused a bit of a stir."

Suddenly William remembered how Brian had stormed out of Tall Elk's office, and how the few times he had seen Nick at times when Nick should have been heading back to his dorm he had always found some excuse to delay a little longer. "Oh my god," William said as he then collapsed onto a nearby stool.

Franklin stared over at William and then asked, "What?"

William shook his head, "Nick was right, this whole time, I've thought we were friends but..." William bit his lip, he was not even sure how to admit that he had ultimately been the worst best friend he could ever imagine there being.

The older boy sighed and then said, "Hey, it's alright, I'm sure you'll be able to make it up to him or something."

William sighed himself, and then said, "I can't even imagine how I could begin to make it up to him."

"Well," Franklin smirked as he began to chop up some roots, "I know when a girl gets angry with me for not paying attention to them, all you have to do is show them you care. I mean, granted that's a much less severe situation, so you'll have to go an extra mile but it's not like you don't want to, right?"

William nodded, and then watched the older boy quickly chopping the roots, they were uneven cuts. William then said, "Yeah, you're right. By the way, it'll work better if you have a fine chop of the roots."

"Oh?" Franklin then looked down at his cutting board, and then nodded, slowly going back and dicing up the roots. "Are you good with potions?"

William nodded, "It's one of my favorite subjects."

Franklin then smiled wide as he slid the roots into the cauldron, "I am as well actually, though I'm glad you caught the roots issue, that could've been bad." He then took a long sip from his mug.

"What are you brewing exactly?" William asked as he looked down into the older boy's cauldron. The potion had a creamy sheen to it, and was a deep blue color, slowly bubbling.

Franklin smirked, "It's a very important potion, though you'd be hard pressed to find the recipe in the library."

William nodded, "Alright." He backed away a bit and then asked, "Is it something...dark?"

Franklin burst out laughing, "Certainly not, though I suppose some people would like to pretend it is. It's just a prophylactic potion. It's a bit more trustworthy than the spell..." He then paused and said, "You'll learn about the spell when you're older, trust me. I just prefer the potion, it lasts longer and is more stable."

"Oh," William answered suddenly backing away a little bit more.
"Anyway, if you're good with potions, you could try your hand at brewing a Wolfsbane Potion, it's pretty advanced stuff but," He then shrugged, "I'd be willing to help you if you think it'd help your friend."

"What is it?" William asked once more leaning in again.

"It basically makes being a werewolf a tad easier," Franklin answered, "I mean, he probably gets it from one of the potions teachers or the government I'd guess but it'd probably be a good gesture or something."

William nodded, "I'll think about it."

Franklin smiled, "Good." William then sat for the rest of the evening while the older boy continued to brew the potion. Franklin taught William a few of the simple charms he had used to ease the brewing process, and then when it was finished the older boy poured it into a few different vessels and smiled, "You should probably get going, your curfew is coming up I think."

William checked his pocket watch, and then nodded quickly, "Yeah, I really should, thanks Franklin."

"Any time, William," the older boy responded giving a wave as William exited the room with his books and cauldron.

By the following week, William had already begun to read up on the Wolfsbane potion though he realized that he was already too late to provide it to Nick this week, he hoped that next month he'd be able to truly show his friend that he did care and did want to help. Meanwhile, William continued to notice that Nick was trying to ignore him. As he was preparing to leave Defense on Monday morning, he was about to walk out when he paused at Tall Elk's desk, "Sir?" He asked as he looked at the older wizard.

"Yes, William?" The older wizard asked as he waved his wand over the board, erasing the notes in a simple flash.

"I was wondering if I could speak with you about something," William asked after a deep breath.

"Certainly, let's step into my office," The older wizard moved calmly into the cozy office, gesturing for William to take a seat. "What's on your mind?" He asked leaning back into his chair.

"It's Nick, sir, I'm worried about him," William said after a long few moments passed.

"Ah," Tall Elk responded, nodding slowly, "He is going through a very difficult time William."

"I know, sir," William then shook his head, "Or well, I don't really know, I mean..." William shook his head and sighed.

The older wizard nodded, "It is difficult to stand by someone William, especially when they don't seem to want help." The older man then slowly stood up, and moved toward the fireplace which as usual had a smooth crackling fire warming the old office. He then looked at the young boy sitting in the thick leather chair, "I can tell you William that everyone wants help but it takes time for people to accept that."

William nodded slowly, "But there has to be something that..."

Tall Elk raised his hand to quiet the young boy, and then frowned, "Sometimes we must accept the things which we cannot change William. More often than not, we merely need to give things time to sort themselves out. Time can be dangerous, for people can stew with time, but sometimes it helps to heal wounds and calm us down. Nicholas will come to terms with what has occurred to him, and if you are ready you will be there to stand by him when he does but for the time being all you can do is try and be there when he calls for you."

William frowned, "Alright, sir."

Tall Elk sighed, "I'm sorry William." He then moved and sat down in his chair again, "I shall tell you that it was devastating when I saw what happened to Nicholas, it is never easy to deal with lycanthropy especially when one is very young. It is not a disease that is kind to its host, and our society is most certainly not kind to anything that is different."

William nodded, then took a deep breath, "Sir people are..."

Tall Elk nodded, "I am aware of the horrible things that he is going through William. I know the pain which he is undergoing for wizarding society is not known for its kindness, and children can be quite cruel." He then locked his eyes with William, "But Nicholas much like you is a duelist, and if you are his friend I hope that you will do whatever you can to stop it just as the faculty is."

William stared back at Tall Elk's ancient eyes, "Sir are you saying that I should...fight people?"

Tall Elk didn't shake his head he merely said, "William I am asking you to stand up for what you think is right. I hope that you can find a better way to do that than to hex people."

William nodded unsure of exactly what to say to his defense professor, he finally decided on, "Yes, sir."

As William stood to go, Tall Elk called after him, "Just give it time William, all things become better with time."

"Right, sir," William responded as he left the professor's office, closing the door shut behind him.