Remus is thankful the next full moon isn't until late November. But he starts to feel the effects taking a toll on his body a couple days in advance. He has to skip going to a Quidditch game because his too irritated and tired to bother with going. He sits up in the Gryffindor common room alone, trying not to cry. Before starting school he knew there would be days like this, days where he's too angry and tired to do all the activities others get to do. He knew he'd spend nights alone, he knew he'd be missing out. But he didn't know it would hurt this bad. He didn't expect to have such a close group of friends to miss when he had nights like this. He didn't expect to enjoy Quidditch and enjoy spending the time screaming in the stands with boys he's grown to know as the brothers he never had. He didn't expect to be sitting up in the common room, wrapped in a blanket and staring out that window, slowly eating the last of his chocolate and longing to be down there with the rest of the school.
He stands up and moves away from the window, his arms and legs aching, already longing for the transformation in two nights. He lays down on the couch and picks up his book to read. The warmth from the fire makes the room a perfect temperature and he becomes lost in the book. He doesn't even notice as someone climbs through the portrait hole.
"How are you feeling?" Peter asks. Remus looks up.
"Oh, hey. Sorry I didn't hear you come in. I'm doing alright. Is the game over?" He looks for others to come into the common room, but Peter seems to be alone.
"No, I just didn't feel like staying. A little too loud for my liking." Peter says.
Remus chuckles. "Why do you think I'm up here."
Two nights later Remus has to tell his friends his not feeling well again and needs to go to the Hospital Wing. He knows he can't keep it up, and eventually he'll have to think of something else to say. He walks out into the chilly night and up to the tree. It's not going to be it's usual self and try to kill him. He's entered the trunk of the tree twice already and both times it stayed still and calm.
He drinks the potion as he walks through the underground passage. He's dead tired and sure he'll fall asleep quickly. It's a windy night and the whole shack seems to sway back and forth in the wind. Remus climbs under the dusty covers on the bed and closes his eyes. He knows the transformation will start any minute now. It's an extra painful night, one of those nights when he's really dreading it. He lets out a few painful howls, then tries to fall asleep.
He wakes late into the morning, much later than he planned. It's probably closer to noon than sunrise. Remus stands up, his whole body sore. The wind has stopped and it's a sunny day but still chilly. He throws on his jacket then goes back to the castle. When he's back on school grounds students are outside, they are wearing their uniforms. Remus watches them for a minute, then remembers it's a school day and he's missing classes.
He starts to jog back up to the school, unable to muster up the energy for a full run. The school is buzzing with life. For everyone else it's just a normal Monday. They are going to classes and chatting with their friends, excited about the winter weather coming.
No one seems to notice Remus, still wearing his day clothes, as he weaves in and out of a sea of robes and red, green, yellow, and blue ties. He hesitates a minute, should he go to his dorm and change for class or go to see Madam Pomfrey. He's muscles ache and he has a slight headache, so he knows he should go to the Hospital Wing but he also wants to get to class. He decides to go the his dorm and change.
It's nearing lunch so the common room is full of Gryffindors dropping off their school books from that morning and picking up the ones they need that afternoon. He climbs up the stairs to his dorm and it's empty. He quickly changes into his school robes. He sits down on his bed for a minute, his legs sore from walking. He doesn't remember laying down, but he finds his pillow and closes his eyes.
"He won't wake up."
"We're worried about him."
"He hasn't been feeling well all weekend."
Remus feels something wet and cold dripping down the side of his face. Then he feels a cold rag on his forehead. His head is still pounding. He moans a little then opens his eyes. Madam Pomfrey is standing over him, she sees his awake and gently lifts his head so he can sip some water.
"He's awake!" Remus hears James say, then there is the shuffling of shoes on the wooden floor and three faces appear on the other side of his bed.
"Are you alright?" Sirius asks, "You had us really worried."
"Back, all of you." Madam Pomfrey says, shooing James, Sirius, and Peter away. They all go back and sit on James's bed. Remus's arms ache and he rubs his elbow, trying to relax his joints. "Are you sore?" Madam Pomfrey asks. "Here, take this." Remus drinks the liquid Madam Pomfrey gives him then lays back down.
"What's wrong with him?" James asks.
"I need to take him down to the Hospital Wing." Madam Pomfrey says, "So I can look him over better."
"He can barley move." Sirius says. "He can't leave his bed."
"I gave him some relaxant. He'll be able to walk in a couple minutes." Madam Pomfrey says calmly. "Until then, the three of you should leave, give him a little room. I'll wait here quietly until he feels he's in better condition to make it down to the Hospital Wing."
The three boys leave. Madam Pomfrey and Remus are left alone. Madam Pomfrey checks that the door is firmly closed then turns to Remus.
"You shouldn't be so sore in a few minutes." She informs him. "Do you have a headache?" Remus nods, but then wishes he didn't. It makes his head throb even more. "You have good friends, they all came running into my office in a panic about you. All the way up here Potter pulled me by the arm while Black was pushing me."
Remus smiles a little, then says, "I've never been this weak afterwards."
Madam Pomfrey nods. "I suspect it's because you're a growing boy. Your body goes through a lot of stress every month, and it doesn't know how to keep up with trying to grow at it's normal rate while also dealing with the transformations. I suspect the next couple transformation may be like this. I'd appreciate it if you'd come to me right after. You're Professors will understand if you miss a day or two of class."
"I think I'm ready to walk down to the Hospital Wing now." Remus sits up slowly. Madam Pomfrey takes his hand and helps guide him. James, Sirius, and Peter are sitting on the stairs halfway down to the common room. They all jump to their feet when they see Remus.
"Feeling better?" James asks.
"A little." Remus says, offering a weak smile. "Thanks for dragging Madam Pomfrey up here."
"Anytime."
For the next two days Remus stays in the Hospital Wing. James tells him about a secret passage they found on the third floor. Peter brings him the school work he's missed. And Sirius gives him the answers so he doesn't actually have to do the work himself. Madam Pomfrey informs them all that Remus was stricken with a illness and he didn't get it treated in time, but he should start feeling better soon. While his friends are in class Remus reads his schoolbooks and works on a report that was assigned in Astronomy.
He's focused on his work and only catches that someone is talking when they get closer.
"It's just a bloody nose." A boy says.
"No, it's broken. I'll go find Madam Pomfrey." A girl says. Remus looks up and sees Lily and Severus. Severus is holding his nose and blood covers his hand.
"You shouldn't have dragged me up here, Lily." Severus says. Lily ignores him and steps into Madam Pomfrey's office. Severus turns and sees Remus sitting in his bed. "Oh, great." Severus says, dread in his eyes.
"What happened?" Remus can't help but ask.
"That's none of your business." Severus snarls. Madam Pomfrey comes out of her office, Lily following closely. "It's just a bloody nose." Severus says, turning to Madam Pomfrey.
"Let me see." Madam Pomfrey says, guiding Severus to a bed. "Ah, no, Miss Evans is correct. It's broken. No matter, that's an easy fix." She pulls a thin wand out of her robes. "It'll only hurt for a moment, nothing more than you are feeling now. Ready? Episkey." Severus's nose sets back into place. Madam Pomfrey steps away to get something for Severus to clean his hands and face with.
Remus tries not to ease drop but he can't help it, he hears what Lily and Severus are saying.
"Why did he try to stun you?" Lily asks.
"Because." Severus says.
"That's not an answer." Lily says, crossing her arms. Madam Pomfrey returns with a wet cloth and bowl of water. Lily stops talking and they wait for Madam Pomfrey to leave again. "Severus, you can tell me."
"It was because of you." Severus hisses, clearly annoyed Lily keeps pressing for an answer.
"Me? We've barley talked the past three weeks." Lily says, slightly angry.
"Yeah but I still stood up for you. Just because we're fighting doesn't mean I don't try to defend our friendship."
"Why do you even have to defend it?" Lily asks.
Severus looks at her with pleading eyes,"You aren't dumb. Please don't make me say it."
Remus turns away from them, not wanting them to know he was listening. He turns his focus to his textbook and doesn't listen to the rest of their conversation.