Chapter 11: It IS You

Remus returned to the Common Room that night floating on air. He hardly registered the time on the mantelpiece clock, other than to discern that it was very late; he and Mary had gotten quite carried away in their snogging, learning about each other, and perhaps more importantly, how kissing worked. It surprised and yet heartened Remus that the object of his affections was just as inexperienced in romance as he. Mary MacDonald was an exceedingly beautiful witch. But more than this, she was patient, kind, intelligent, and soft-spoken in a way that a word or a glance from her was like a warm balm on Remus's tortured soul.

As expected, he entered the Common Room to find his three best mates laying about. Though not asleep, they all appeared drowsy. He was almost tempted to tell them all to go to bed, the lot of them. Sirius was attempting to play wizard's chess without a partner. James was slouched in one armchair with that scowl on his face that he had been sporting all night.

"Did you see Lily?" Remus asked him mildly. He hadn't intended to ask in order to twist the knife in – though in truth, he had been happy for Severus, and at how so natural he and Lily looked together. Nevertheless, James' interpreted the question as though Remus was taunting him.

"Piss off, Moony. Not in the bloody mood."

Remus frowned hard. "Clearly." It almost made him second-guess relaying to them what was on his mind. Almost. Down on the floor, Peter was fiddling with an unfolded spare bit of parchment. Remus nudged him in the head with his toe. "And just what are you three idiots doing up so late?"

"We could ask you the same, mate," Sirius gave Remus his trademark grin, but it was droopy and tired.

Remus didn't hide his blush, betting that Sirius wouldn't pick up on it in a sleep-addled state. He should have known better. Suddenly, the slick bastard had all the energy of a man who had just had a blast of shower water applied to his face, halfway out of his seat with a roar of delight and half-disbelief, shaking Remus jovially.

"Hurrah! Good on ya, mate! We were sure that one day…."

"What? What's going on?" The scowl dropped just long enough from James's face to be replaced by genuine curiosity. Peter got up off the floor, a glint forming in his eye.

Before Remus knew what was happening, all three of his best blokes were sitting him down, peppering him with question. "Give us the goods, then, mate, go on! You right went and snogged MacDonald, didn't you?"

Grin truly bashful, Remus said nothing in answer, except to procure the Invisibility Cloak from his robes and hand it to his friend. "Thanks, mate."

James got the deeper meaning instantly. "No!" His grin was practically frolicking along his dimples. "You shagged her, you right beautiful bastard!"

"Moony no longer a virgin! Let me tell it to the world!" Sirius whooped, standing on a couch cushion. He sounded half-drunk.

"Bloody hell, no!" Remus shushed him. "Keep it down! Mary's not that kind of girl…"

"Not the kind of girl to just put out? Oh, poo!" Peter pouted. "So you didn't get into her knickers?"

"No," Remus started firmly. "Just snogged for a bit. We both agreed we want to be discreet and just take things slow." He looked down at his hands. "I love her, lads. She's not like any woman I've ever met."

Sirius clapped him on the shoulder. "We're happy for you, mate. She's a right lovely bint. I'd try and have a go at her, but she hates my guts."

"A first for you, I'm sure," Remus parried with dry wit. They all had a chortle at that. When the silence was ascendant, Remus took a deep breath. "I want to tell her who I….. what I am."

At this, James, Sirius and Peter all looked at each other. None of them were sure exactly what to say, and were in even less agreement over what should be done. But their faces said it all: the concern there was evident.

"You don't believe she'll accept me. Well, that's where you're wrong – I know she will!"

"How?"

"We talked a bit about that night by the Willow, with Avery and Mulciber and Sn – and Severus." James cocked an eyebrow at Remus's use of Severus's given name, but didn't say anything further.

"You said you want to tell her. It sounds like you already did!" Peter looked a little panicked.

"No, I made it sound like I had only heard what happened, and…. I asked her what she thought about werewolves. She said she wouldn't care about its condition, and would even like to know what the werewolf who saved her was like as a man. That was when I kissed her."

"Blimey!" Sirius's eyes gleamed. "Did she let you feel her up?" Remus's deep shade of scarlet told the bastard all he needed to know.

"Let's get back on topic," James stated. He turned to Remus. "From what you've told us, it sounds like Mary is worth it enough to let her in on this secret. But consider the consequences carefully: the more people who know, the less of a secret it is. We already have Snivellus onto us. Do we really need….?"

"I want to. If she really loves me, she'll understand."

"All right. You sound so sure, but prepare yourself for the possibility that she might not, whether or not you put out a feeler. Once she finds out her lover and her werewolf rescuer are one and the same…."

"… it changes everything," Peter finishes. "And anyway, how are you going to tell her without hurting her?"

"Peter!" Sirius walloped him on the head. But in Black's eyes, the possibility was there. It would require more than Remus just plucking up the courage and telling Mary, though that was the least risky way to go about it. No, Remus would probably want to show Mary.

And that meant….

"Mate, even if she agreed to go back to that tree – where she underwent a traumatic experience – Peter's right: how are you going to tell her without harming her, even if you might not mean to? There's no way!"

"No, there is a way," Remus smiled, ready for whatever his fate was, come what may. "One way. OK: here's what we're going to do…."

Knowing full well that Mary wouldn't readily agree to return to a place of trauma on her own, Remus decided to enlist one other person to help in this effort. In the library, watching her with her auburn hair and bright green eyes, he took a deep breath and approached. Glancing up, Lily granted him the brightest smile he had ever seen. Lily Evans had always been a lovely person, unfailing kind, even to some Slytherins. His mates were a different story, but then again, James and Sirius could be right tossers sometimes.

"Hello, Remus! What's up?" Remus also appreciated how Lily had never extended her ire towards the Marauders to him, even when he was alone. As fellow Prefects, they had always had a friendly working relationship, and also a mutual respect for each other's achievements in their studies.

"I wanted to speak to you, and ask you a favor…." He paused for a moment, gathering his courage. "Has Mary told you about…. about her and me?"

Lily got a dreamy look on her face. "Enough," her green eyes sparkled. "I've never seen her this happy. I happen to think you suit each other quite perfectly! Don't you dare let her get away, Remus Lupin, but as her best friend, I must also tell you not to hurt her." The brightness in her eyes dimmed only slightly, conveying a warning.

"Oh, I don't intend to do either," Remus grinned. "But I've come to you to ask you a favor. I'll be gone tonight from my rounds – another leave of absence – but will you do something for me?"

"Sure, Remus, anything."

"Will you and Mary sneak out of the castle, just before sunrise in the morning, and wait by the Whomping Willow?" At this, Lily paled – no doubt not only over the PTSD that might come to Mary in returning there, but also that she, as a Prefect, would be helping a classmate break the rules. Though Prefects both girls were, as Mary served as Remus's alternate, no students – not even Prefects – were allowed to wander the grounds at night. Student patrols didn't take them out that far; there was no reason to.

"Please, Lily, will you promise me? It's really important! You'll be able to get out of the castle easily – just take Mary with you on your rounds and then sneak out the front."

"What is this about?" Lily said quietly.

"You're going to have to trust me. And anyway, you'll know soon enough."

After a long moment, Lily nodded. "I promise."

Beaming, Remus chastely pecked her on the cheek. Flushing red, Lily smirked.

"Why, Mr. Lupin, do be careful – you're spoken for!"

"From what I hear, so are you," he winked. At her turning an even brighter shade of red, he laughed musically. "Severus is a lucky fellow."

He swept from the library before Lily even had a chance to half-heartedly deny it.

Lily and Mary walked arm-in-arm, shivering, along the grounds and up the grassy knoll. They were careful not to come too close into the shadow of the Whomping Willow, but the tree moved not a whit. It was oddly still, and at least now, having watched Severus complete the First Task, both girls knew why.

The night sky, which had long since grayed, was now beginning to brighten with spots of pink. Clutching her best girlfriend's arm, Mary smiled weakly.

"I'm so glad you asked me to come and watch the sunrise with you, Lily!" Even on a winter's morning such as this, it was a beautiful sight.

A sudden rustling near the base of the tree made the girls glance up. Then, they gasped, as a werewolf, accompanied by a large black dog and a stag, clambered out from the knot underneath the frozen Willow.

Mary had turned quite pale. "It's them," she whispered. "The animals…." Her gaze was only for the werewolf. "And him. The werewolf that saved me."

Lily was rooted to the spot, every muscle in her telling her to flee and drag Mary back with her. "Mary, we…. we have to run."

"No," Mary whispered, gazing at the werewolf as the sun crested over the horizon. When the light hit the beast, the fur and hair on its body began to disappear, and it began to shrink. Within moments, a naked well-built man was shivering in the snow before the girls. Mary had both hands drawn to her mouth, her eyebrows stitched together in amazement and confusion. Her heart was pounding, her head was spinning.

Another gasp was drawn from her when the man stood up on ungainly legs and lifted his head to face her. Mary lowered her hand in amazement, her grey eyes going huge.

"R….Remus?"

"Mary…. It's me." And Remus dared to step forward and take her hand with a hopeful smile. Only his eyes were in contrast, belying a deep-seated fear, as Lily observed Mary shy away, but not enough to leave the grasp of Remus's hand. The ginger-haired girl's mouth was also hanging open in astonishment, as all the pieces clicked into place.

Mary, meanwhile, had a bemused smile on her face, lips upturned curiously, skeptical. Slowly, she lifted a shaking hand and pawed it through the strands of Remus's long hair. Turning her head, her grey eyes met the brilliant-chocolate brown ones of this man she had fallen for. Then Mary's face brightened like the rising sun as understanding crashed over her like a peaceful wave at low tide.

"It is you!" she cried, reaching out to touch his soft face.

Remus's face deflated into one of abject relief as he caressed Mary's face and pulled her close. Tilting her face up challengingly, Mary didn't move, waiting, expectant…. amused, almost. Then, eyelids growing heavily, the couple leaned in and kissed lightly.

When they drew away, Mary let out a musical, crystalline laugh and threw her arms around Remus's neck, kissing him again, more deeply this time. Nestled in each other's arms, the couple was laughing, nearly crying.

And then Mary giggled, hand to her mouth as her skin turned rouge. "Remus…. Um….."

The lovers glanced down between them, Mary's heart racing as a certain…. anatomy brushed up against her belly.

"Oh. Oh!" Remus stepped away, trying to cover himself. "I beg your pardon!"

Laughing again, Mary stepped close and kissed him softly. "Don't apologize, my love. But I daresay you'll catch your death of cold if you don't find something to dress in!"

Remus grinned sheepishly. "Werewolf transformations aren't kind to clothing. You can't imagine the shirts I've gone through."

Mary smirked wryly. "I'm sure."

Stepping hesitantly closer, Remus took his hands in hers. "Now you know. I love you, Mary MacDonald – so much, that I wanted to trust you with this. It isn't wise to keep secrets – take it from someone who knows. I'm a werewolf."

Mary shook her head with a bright smile. "I don't care. I love you all the same."

Ecstatic, Remus pulled Mary close and kissed her again, thrilled when Mary clutched him close and returned it deeply, purring like a kitten. Coming up from air, she hissed against his lips, "And I can't say I'm affronted by how pleased you are to hold me."

Off to their right, the stag let out a snort that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

A stag that, Lily now just realized, was wearing trousers.

Holding Remus's hand, Mary drifted close to the other animals. "Are these your friends?"

At the dog and the stag's look, Remus nodded. Then, as the girls watched in disbelief, they both transformed… into very familiar classmates.

"James!" Lily gasped in shock. A shirtless James Potter turned to see her gawping and grinned.

"Like what you see, Evans?"

"Oh…. bugger off!" Lily laughed shakily. But she turned her face away with an embarrassed smile, as Sirius draped him with the Invisibility Cloak.

"Put a shirt on, mate."

"Not me! Moony needs it more!" So Sirius clothed Remus in the Cloak instead.

Mary glanced between her lover's best mates in stunned wonder. "So, wait…. are you…. Animagi?"

"That would be correct, lassie." Peter Pettigrew suddenly appeared seemingly from nowhere. Mary let out a shriek of surprise.

"Peter! Where did you come from?" Lily arched an eyebrow.

"Near your feet. Lucky you didn't step on me." At this, Lily went as white as the pure-driven snow around them.

"We help Remus when he's transformed during the full moon." James looked between the two girls. "We know you're Prefects, and we know we're outside the law on this one. If your ethics demand you to report us to the Headmaster, we'll understand." At this, Sirius appeared a little caught off-guard, like this wasn't part of the plan.

Mary and Lily glanced at each other. They both exchanged tepid, but hopeful smiles.

"If you help him…. I won't ever, ever tell!" Mary beamed gratefully on behalf of the man she loved.

"Well…. as long as you're quiet about it, Potter…. carry on," Lily smirked impishly.

James must have taken some innuendo from that comment, for he groaned audibly. "Minx."

Remus took this to mean something far more romantic, as, grinning devilishly, he pulled Mary close. He chuckled at how she balked, looking incredibly flustered and downright beautiful.

"Remus! Can't we be a little more discreet?"

"Let them look, my love." And he kissed her so fiercely that before long, Mary MacDonald had forgotten her own name, that she was out of bed beyond curfew hours, and she could give a right damn about any of it.