XXVI.

"Isn't that Remus?" Amelia asked, looking around Greta at something across the common room.

Greta turned around in her chair to see a short boy with her brother's hair disappearing through the portrait hole. "What do you think is up?" Dorcas asked, looking concerned. "He looked really upset…"

"I'll go after him," Greta said, standing up. "Be back in a minute." She crossed the room quickly. Not much would upset him, she thought, wildly imagining possibilities. Unless—

"Do you know where he went?" she asked the Fat Lady as soon as she was outside.

"Who? The boy who just left?" she asked. "He went down that way, but I wouldn't know where exactly." She pointed to the right.

"Thanks," Greta said distractedly, and she hurried in that direction.

She did not want to think it, but her mind jumped to the worst conclusion. They know. She knew Remus' friends were not stupid; she had just hoped they had not been able to put it together, or at least had accepted him as their friend. I should have known better.

Her wanderings brought her to the Hospital Wing. Maybe he's in here? Maybe he just felt a little sick and was getting something for it. Maybe we're still safe after all.

She pushed open the door, wincing as it squeaked. Only a few lanterns lit the large room; in the dim light, she was just able to see a figure sitting up on one of the far beds. "Remus?" she called, walking toward him.

"G-greta?" his choked voice came from that direction. Quickening her pace, she reached her brother in a matter of seconds. Madame Pomfrey opened her office door just as Greta sat down next to him.

"Who is it?" the nurse called. "Is something wrong?" She held a lantern in her hand, staring down the long room in concern. She saw the two of them sitting and made her way toward them. "Are your wounds still sore, dear?" she asked Remus gently. "What's wrong?" her tone changed suddenly when he did not reply and she saw his tear-soaked face.

Greta shook her head at the nurse. The other witch put down her lantern and sat on Remus' other side, looking concerned.

"You…won't have to…heal me anymore," Remus choked out.

Madame Pomfrey and Greta shared a confused look. "What do you mean?" the nurse asked.

"I'm going to be kicked out!" he said loudly. "They know! They hate me! They'll tell everyone and I'll have to leave!"

"That's not true," Greta said immediately, overcoming her terror and looking quickly to Madame Pomfrey for support. "Professor Dumbledore said he'd modify everyone's memories, remember? So you won't have to worry about it!"

"I don't want him to change their memories," he said angrily. "They'll just find out again. I can't live like this, lying forever…"

"If it's a matter of your education, you have to make them forget," the Healer said sternly. "I'll go talk to Dumbledore right now. He'll work something out."

"No! Don't…go…" Remus collapsed on his bed.

"Remus? Remus!" Greta leaned over her brother in terror. He did not move. "Is he okay?" she looked over at Madame Pomfrey frantically.

The nurse walked back over quickly and checked him over. "He's just sleeping," she assured Greta. "Everything's just caught up to him."

"We have to tell someone! What if he's planning to attack? What if he wants to attack us to keep it quiet?"

James continued to ramble on, and Sirius sighed. Sure, he had been surprised—even angry—to find out that Remus was keeping such a secret. When he saw James and Peter's reaction, though, he quickly forgave him. Of course he lied to us.

"You coming, Sirius?" James cut into his thoughts. He looked up, very irritated.

"Coming where?"

"We're talking to Dumbledore about this! He can't just stay in school without anyone knowing!"

Sirius had a strong suspicion that most of the staff already knew about Remus' illness, but James was already out the door, Peter trailing behind. He sighed heavily and followed them.

Somehow, the boys were able to find their way to the Headmaster's office. "How did McGonagall open it?" James asked the empty hall impatiently.

"She had a password, didn't she?" Peter offered tentatively. James swore.

"My, my, Mister Potter," the old man's voice said from behind them. All three boys spun around to stare up at Dumbledore, who stared right back, looking amused. "Well, what is your urgent message?"

"We need to talk, sir," James said shortly. "In your office."

Dumbledore looked at the three of them a moment longer. "What might this be about?"

"In your office, please, sir," Peter said in a more respectful tone.

Another moment passed, and Sirius thought the Headmaster might refuse. But finally he nodded, and the boys soon found themselves standing in the enormous office once again.

"Lupin's a monster, Professor!" James exploded. "How come—"

Dumbledore sighed heavily, cutting him off. "I thought that might be it." Nobody moved for a moment. The old man's next action caught Sirius off guard:

He pulled out his wand.

"So you feel differently about him now?" the Headmaster asked.

"Of course we do! How could we treat him the same now we know the truth?" James nearly yelled, staring at the wand apprehensively.

"Unfortunately, I cannot allow you to ruin Mr Lupin's education," the Headmaster said calmly. He raised his wand to point directly at them.

Sirius was totally lost. Would he really kill us to keep this quiet…?

"You will not remember anything about Mister Lupin's condition. I assure you this will not hurt at all."

Sirius suddenly understood—He's going to wipe our memories! Gasps from his right proved that his friends had some to the same conclusion.

"Ob—"

"Wait!"

A new voice came from behind them. Who is it now? Sirius wondered vaguely, realizing he still knew Remus was a werewolf.

"He said—not to—wipe their memories," a winded Madame Pomfrey said, looking imploringly at the Headmaster.

"What?" Sirius head his own voice ask the question on everyone's mind. Why would he try to save our memories when he knows we can't be friends anymore? As much as Sirius was willing to forgive him—he was their friend for a whole year, after all!—he knew James and Peter would be more than reluctant. I'll just have to change that, won't I?

"He said he didn't want to do it over again," the nurse said, sending a livid look to the three second years. "He'd rather have you hate him than have to lie to you."

Sirius was taken aback. He'd rather have no friends?

"What are you saying, Poppy?" Dumbledore asked calmly, looking over at the nurse. His wand was still raised toward Sirius and the others.

"Don't wipe their memories! He doesn't want them to forget!"

"You boys are to tell no one about Mister Lupin's condition, then," Dumbledore said decisively, putting his wand away.

"But sir!" James said loudly. "He's dangerous—he can't stay! What if—"

"Mister Lupin is the same as he was when you met him. He has been transforming since he arrived at Hogwarts, kept in a safehouse where he will not attack anyone."

James glared at the headmaster. "But if he changes some other time—"

"I can assure you that Mister Lupin would not change of his own free will, even if he could," the nurse said sternly. "He has never even so much as seen another human while transformed."

James huffed. "Fine. I won't tell anyone. But I don't have to ever talk to him again."

Dumbledore bowed his head, his face grave. "I cannot force you to do that."

"You boys had better go back to your room," Madame Pomfrey said harshly. James seemed only too happy to oblige; he spun around and walked away quickly. Peter followed him, shutting the door behind them. Sirius stood, uncertain, in the middle of the office. A thought had just occurred to him.

"Do you need something else, Black?" Madame Pomfrey asked, obviously attempting to stay civil with him.

"I just—I was wondering something," Sirius said quietly, more docile than he had ever been in his life. Maybe it was because of that that the Healer's face softened.

"What is it?"

"You said Remus' been a werewolf since before he came here…when was he turned?"

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Mr Lupin was bitten by Fenrir Greyback when he was six years old."

Sirius heard himself gasp. Six? He only vaguely remembered that far back into his own childhood, but he knew he did not have to worry about changing into a bloodthirsty monster once a month. Merlin…

"You had better return to your room as well, Mr Black," Dumbledore said.

Sirius hesitated. "I don't hate him," he said finally.

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sure that will mean a lot to him. Just try and convince James and Peter."

Once back in the common room, Sirius did just that. He cornered the other two boys in a secluded part of the room and explained, in no kind words, that they were completely, one hundred percent wrong. This did nothing but anger James further.

"You're falling for it?" he asked incredulously. "He's not a boy, he's a monster! Why don't you understand?"

"He hasn't changed since we've known him, at all," Sirius shot back. "Why don't you understand?"

"That's the thing! He's been lying to us about this all this time! He's probably been lying in wait to get the perfect chance to kill us!" James was beyond angry now, but then, so was Sirius. "Why would you ever stick up for something like that? It doesn't deserve—"

That was the last straw for Sirius.

He drew back his fist and punched James on the jaw, hard. Peter gasped loudly, and James simply stared for a moment, as if he didn't fully comprehend what had just happened. His hand rose to gently touch the tender area, and just as slowly, his eyes met Sirius'. All at once, he was furious, drawing back his own hand, fully intending to punch Sirius in the gut—

But before he could, Peter was holding onto his arm, asking desperately for them not to fight. They were supposed to be best friends, dammit, and best friends don't beat each other up in the middle of the common room—

Sirius spun on his heel, so much like what Remus had done an hour earlier, and walked toward the door quickly, not trusting himself to look at anything but what was directly ahead of him. He left the common room, ignoring the Fat Lady's calls that it was well past curfew, and started walking.

Remus and Greta returned to the common room soon after. Seeing his former friends in a far corner, he knew what he had to do. Even if he was staying at Hogwarts, he knew James would not be happy if he stayed in the same dormitory.

He ran up to the deserted room and packed his trunk quickly. Term had only started two weeks before, so it was not difficult. Soon enough, he dragged it out of the room.

Maybe I'll ask the first years if I can put my trunk there and use their bathroom…and I'll sleep in the common room. He did not even need a proper dormitory to live at Hogwarts, after all. A school is for learning, not for making friends!

Remus went down to the bottom floor of the dorms and knocked on the door. A short, blonde boy with round cheeks answered nervously. "Who're you?"

"Remus Lupin, I'm a second year. Could I keep my trunk in your room, please?"

"Uh…don't you have your own room?"

"Yeah, well, I've kind of been kicked out. I'll sleep in the common room, but I need to put my trunk somewhere and use your bathroom. Is that okay with you and the others?" he looked over the boy's shoulder to see four other pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Um…I guess. Is this going to be a permanent thing or what?" The boy opened the door wider to allow him entrance.

"I dunno. Depends on if me and my old roommates make up or not." So, yeah, it'll be permanent. "Don't worry. I won't bug you, okay? I'll come in early and be quick. You won't even know I'm here."

Minerva sighed heavily as her first Tuesday class, second year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, filed in loudly. This was one of her most trying classes—mostly because of the Gryffindor boys.

She saw Potter's scruffy head find a seat near the back and sit down next to Pettigrew. Black sat at the table in front of them—which was an odd thing in and of itself—and completely ignored the others.

Where's Remus?

She glanced at her calendar, but she knew the full moon had been two weeks before. The chair next to Black remained empty for several minutes before class, and Minerva was getting worried. Then she saw him trailing behind Evans, Keen, and MacDonald.

The girls sat down as they usually did, near the front. They had traded off sitting at the third seat since the beginning of their first year, and apparently it was Evans' turn. She sat at the desk behind the other two, and the girls continued their conversation.

Remus seemed to hesitate. There were only two empty seats: next to Black and next to Evans. He stood for a moment at the back of the classroom, looking at his friend uncertainly, before he noticed the seat near the front. His face relaxed instantly and he sped up to Evans.

"Can I sit here?"

"Um…I guess," she said, clearly confused. "Why—"

"Thanks." He cut her off and sat down.

Minerva saw the gleeful faces of Potter and Pettigrew, but she also saw the pained expression plain on Black's. What in Merlin's name is going on?

I don't need friends…

Remus thought he was getting along relatively well. He had found someone new to sit next to in all of his classes, and none had questioned it—to his face, at least. Every night he sat either in a corner of the common room or in the library, doing homework or reading.

I don't need friends.

He had spent the rest of the week convincing himself of that fact, and he eventually came to accept it. His neck was sore every morning from sleeping on couches, but he reasoned that it was a small price to pay for his excellent Hogwarts education.

I don't need friends!

On Friday, his last class was Transfiguration. He sat next to Alena Keen this time, and politely ignored the girls' conversation until the bell rang.

"Mr Lupin, a word?" McGonagall asked from her desk. Many of his classmates stared—they all were wondering why he had not sat with his former friends for a week. Obviously they thought they might find out if they stayed to listen.

"The rest of you are dismissed," the professor said loudly, shooing the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs toward the door. "What happened between all of you?" she continued as soon as everyone else was gone.

Remus laughed humorlessly. "What do you think, Professor?"

"They found out?" she asked incredulously. "Professor Dumbledore said he'd erase their memories! Has he not heard about this?"

"I don't want them to forget," Remus said simply. "I don't want to lie to them anymore."

"But what if they—"

"They swore not to tell anyone," he cut her off. "I don't need friends to finish school. As long as they keep it a secret, I'll be fine."

Who am I trying to convince?

McGonagall looked at him for a long moment. "I think you do need them," she said finally. "You look terrible, and isn't this supposed to be one of your healthy weeks?"

Remus shrugged; he had decided not to think about that too much. "I'm fine, Professor. Really."

She sighed heavily. "Very well. Good luck, then, Mr Lupin."