Disclaimer: I. DO. NOT. OWN. THIS! Thank you.

A/N: I would like to thank everyone who took the time to review so much! I really appreciate hearing your opinions! :)

Life continued apace in Hogwarts. Frank and Lily disappeared three times a week for Quidditch practice, leaving Severus and Petunia to their own devices. They usually ended up in the library doing homework—not that Severus minded since it was a golden opportunity to annoy the answers of his Herbology assignments out of Petunia, simply by doing it horribly wrong where she could see. It offended her inner-Ravenclaw too much for her to keep quiet and neither Frank nor Lily was present to call him on it.

But it seemed that he was on his own today. The others were at their evening practice but instead of getting her own books, Petunia vanished as soon as they entered the library. Severus headed for their usual table and was about to start his Potions assignment when she appeared from the stacks carrying a huge leather-bound tome. The inkwells rattled when she dropped it on the table and a huge amount of dust seeped from between the pages. Severus was intrigued. Shoving his own books out of the way, he leaned over to read the peeling gold leaf on the cover.

Magickal Beastes And Where To Find Them

1st Edition

Quite honestly, he couldn't think of anything Tuney would be less interested in. She certainly made no secret of her dislike of 'dirty, smelly creatures.' Archimedes was only tolerated because Frank braved his claws once a month to give him a bath and even then, not sharing a common room meant she didn't have to see him often. Petunia caught his bewildered look and sniffed disdainfully.

"I know!" she said snippily. "Just consider it self-defense."

"Against what?" he demanded, thoroughly bemused now.

"Xenophilius Lovegood," she sighed.

Severus quickly turned his laugh into a cough and attempted to look appropriately sympathetic.

"He got you again?"

"Well how am I to know what's real in a world where unicorns and dragons are perfectly plausible?" she huffed. "What bothers me the most is that I fall for it every time! I thought I was a better judge of character than that. It's just that he always seems so sincere!" She slumped back into her chair, looking put out and disillusioned.

Seeing that she was actually upset, Severus offered her a tentative pat on the arm and looked desperately around, wishing for Frank or Lily to spring out of the woodwork—hell, he'd even take Remus at this point. However their nook remained stubbornly empty and Severus took a deep breath, trying not to panic. He didn't do the touchy-feely things; he normally left that to Lily. Unfortunately there was nothing for it.

"Well," he started awkwardly, "it's hard to catch people in a lie if they really are sincere."

Petunia shot him a freezing look and he felt his spine stiffen in response. "Look Tuney," he said pragmatically, "Everyone knows that Lovegood is a bit…different."

"Odd is that word most people used when talking to me," Petunia interrupted petulantly but she seemed to be listening so Severus plowed on.

"Whatever you what to call it," he said dismissively. "Anyway the point is that he really does believe in all those weird things he goes on about. So he's not actually lying to you." He made a face. "Not on purpose, anyway."

Petunia stared at him. "But he can't seriously…" At Severus' raised eyebrow, she spluttered; "But he's in Ravenclaw! The House of cold, hard facts! Not to mention that he's Wizard-born. He should know by now what exists and what doesn't. He doesn't even have the muggle-born excuse!"

Severus just shrugged, grabbing his Potions book.

Petunia spent the next few minutes in a state of shock at the lack of logic that was her Housemate. Severus thought she might have actually preferred if he just had a malicious sense of humor. After a few more minutes of horrified contemplation, she shook herself and carefully opened the book's heavy leather cover.

"Well it's good to know that he isn't being a pain on purpose," she muttered, stifling a sneeze at the plume of dust that rose when she turned a page. "But he's still making me look ridiculous; I was banging my shoes together over my pillows last night to scare off Danglesnors!"

Severus almost swallowed his tongue trying not to laugh. "Hmm," he managed and hid his face behind his textbook. Thankfully, Tuney was too busy poring over her book to notice his shaking shoulders. He finished off his Potions essay relatively quickly—and only three inches over the required amount!—before leaning back in his chair to stretch. Idly, he glanced at where Petunia was buried in her dusty tome, even having gone so far as to scratch out some hasty notes which littered her side of the table.

As he watched lazily, she turned a page and he froze, snapping upright.

"Wait!" he barked, startling Petunia so badly that she nearly fell out of her chair. "What's that?"

"What?" she asked peevishly, as he pointed. "That? Looks like an anorexic horse…with wings."

Severus squeezed his eyes shut. He'd buried the memory, dismissing it as some sort of bizarre hallucination—he'd been sick after all and no-one else had seen them.

"What does it say?" he whispered, opening his eyes to find Petunia staring at him in concern.

"What, the horse-things? Sev, are you—"

"Yes, the horse-things," he hissed, fighting to keep his temper. "What does it say?"

"Uh, they're called Thestrals," she said, scanning the page. "Um…usually associated with death and bad luck."

He shouldn't be surprised. He wasn't really. "Anything else?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Not much," she informed him, "just that they're carnivorous and are invisible to those who haven't seen death."

He had to work hard not to flinch but at least he knew he wasn't crazy. Which was the worry that had been simmering behind his vehement 'just a hallucination' theory. Truthfully he was torn between relief and apprehension. It just figured he'd be the one to see symbols of death and misfortune.

"Severus?"

He glanced up at the steely tone to find Petunia looking at him expectantly.

"Sorry," he replied glibly, "I just saw picture of one somewhere in the castle. I didn't think they were real." Severus had discovered long ago that lies always went down better with a grain of truth.

"Yes, I can see how it might be upsetting," she agreed. "They really are ugly brutes aren't they? Why are things like this real when snicklepuffs aren't? I can almost see Xenophilius' point."

Severus smirked at her and dodged as she threw a piece of crumpled paper at his head. "Oh shut up Snape," she snapped, glowering. "I said almost!"

Petunia resumed flicking through the book but Severus couldn't settle. Instead he wished her goodnight and spent the time until curfew wandering around the castle, thinking about luck and whether it was possible to make your own.

Remus sighed as he zipped up his overnight bag. He should be used to it by now. He should have accepted it—he'd gone through the transformation hundreds of times. It wasn't anything new but he still felt his stomach curdle at the mere thought of the full moon. He sighed again, gazing around the empty dorm and trying to drum up some courage. He was a Gryffindor—if he still couldn't accept what was going to happen, he should at the very least be brave.

The door burst open and he jumped at the raucous sound of Sirius' laughter as James' voice rose. "And then I said, not if those boils are going to be a permanent feature!" The pair of them collapsed on James' bed, howling with laughter and Remus felt his melancholy lift slightly. Behind them, Peter closed the door and bounced in, jumping on his own bed.

"Remus, where have you been?" James demanded, using Sirius as a prop to sit up. "You missed the best Quidditch practice!"

Remus bit his lip to hide a smile. "I thought you weren't on the team, James?" he asked mildly.

"Well I had to go to cheer Sirius on, didn't I?" he responded indignantly. "He's sending those bludgers flying around the pitch! Besides, it's good to see how things work for next year." That statement would have made more of an impact if his glasses hadn't been dangling from one ear.

"Absolutely mate," Sirius agreed, dislodging himself from James and sitting up properly. "Longbottom's a good flier but Merlin, the guy doesn't know how to have any fun! I needed all the encouragement I could get, James!"

"And me too," Peter piped up. "I was there too!"

"'Course you were, Pete," Sirius said with a charming grin. "Thanks."

As Peter blushed and stuttered with pleasure, Remus sighed. He'd hoped that practice would run longer so he could slip out without anyone noticing. He hated lying to his friends and knew damn well that he was terrible at it. It was only a matter of time before they noticed and got suspicious.

"Why are you hiding away up here anyway, Remus?" Sirius demanded.

"Oh well, there was this book I wanting to finish…" He trailed off, hoping his studious nature would save him from further questions.

Sirius snorted, bounding over to sling an arm over his shoulders. "Remy, Remy, Remy," he sighed, "seriously mate, you have got to get out more."

James laughed, settling his glasses back on his nose. "Good luck there," he teased, "We all know that Remus prefers books to people!"

Remus threw a pillow at him and James clutched it to his chest for a moment before falling dramatically back on the bed in imaginary death throes.

Remus could actually felt the dread roiling in his stomach diminish as he laughed and sent up yet another fervent prayer of thanks for being lucky enough to find friends like these.

"Remus, is that a bag?" The innocent question turned his heart to ice and the fragile shield of laughter shattered as reality set in. "Are you going somewhere?" Peter asked again.

All eyes turned to the bag and then to him. Remus tried not to fidget too obviously.

"Yes, actually…" he began.

"Your Aunt again?" James asked sympathetically.

Remus looked down feeling like the worst friend in the world as he nodded. "I'm afraid I'm going to miss your Quidditch match tomorrow, Sirius."

"Hey man, don't worry about it." Sirius said, hugging him tighter around the shoulders before releasing him. "She always gets better after a few days right?"

Though his words were innocent enough, something in his tone made Remus look up in alarm—straight into curious grey eyes. With effort, he pulled his gaze away. "S-She's really v-very sick," he stammered, "and my mother says my being there helps her, so—"

"Well then that could be a good career move," James enthused, his hazel eyes gleaming. "Remus Lupin, Mediwizard—heals by breathing!"

Remus gave a wan smile. "Yeah," he said softly.

His bag suddenly appeared before him as Sirius held it out, looking contrite. "Hope she gets better soon," he said and Remus couldn't help but smile at the silent apology.

He really was a horrible person.

James gave him an encouraging slap on the back as he passed. "Tell your Aunt the Marauders are rooting for her!"

Remus flashed a brittle grin and waved before leaving quickly. He couldn't tell them. Lying might be difficult but he'd rather be horrible with friends than a monster all by himself.

"Bye Remus!" Peter chirped as the door closed.

Sirius looked at James and shook his head. "I hope he gets his Aunt's Mediwitch to take a look at him while he's there. He looks awful."

James shrugged, settling back on his bed and grabbing a half-eaten chocolate frog off his nightstand. "It's probably stress," he guessed, taking a bite. "It must be hard seeing a family member like that."

Sirius dropped onto his own bed and absently grabbed a Quidditch magazine. "Still, he should take better care of himself," he muttered.

It was typical Remus, to be so concerned about others that he forgot about himself. Well he, Sirius Orion Black would watch out for his friend no matter what. He'd just have to keep a closer eye on him when he got back.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think!