Peter covered his mouth with his hands as his eyes bulged out. "A werewolf?" he gasped.
"It makes sense, doesn't it?" asked James, looking at Sirius and Peter. "I was reading 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and read about Werewolves. Remus checks off all the boxes!"
"Even if it is true, why didn't he tell us?" asked Peter, his lower lip pushed out in a pout.
"Because of the prejudices and discriminations," Sirius started. Shifting on one foot to the other, Sirius spoke in a mumble, "They're treated worse than house elves."
"But why? We wouldn't do that to Remus. He's our friend," said Peter.
James shook his head and said, "He doesn't know we think this way."
"Werewolves are considered monsters," Sirius explained. He crossed his hands in front of his chest. "Even in their human form, they are considered dangerous."
"Of course, we know that Remus isn't dangerous at all," James agreed as he nodded his head.
"Do you think we should ask him about it?" asked Peter. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked at James and Sirius tentatively.
"What're we going to say? 'We know about your furry little problem'," James scoffed, as he rolled his eyes.
"Do you reckon he goes home every month for his transformation?" asked Sirius, tilting his head to the left.
James shook his head as he spoke, "That's barking mad if you ask me." He gave it a thought for a moment and then his brain connected the dots. Why was the willow planted on school grounds? "I don't know how, but I have a hunch. The willow is somehow connected to Remus."
Peter raised his eyebrows as he asked, "The Willow?"
"You're right," gasped Sirius, jerking his index finger towards James. "Think about it. When Remus came to Hogwarts, they planted it. And for what possible reason? Dumbledore wouldn't punish students by letting a tree beat them."
"I reckon that's why Remus keeps reminding us to stay away from the tree," Peter agreed. He was nodding his head fervently.
"Do you reckon it goes to a secret place?" asked James, his mouth agape.
"There's only one way to find out," said Sirius. James followed his glance. He realised Sirius was looking at the invisibility cloak resting on James's bed.
It had to make sense, right? Then why did the three boys felt like idiots as they stood near the Willow. They had checked when the full moon was setting and stayed up to leave in time to meet Remus outside the Willow. The Willow did have an entrance, but the boys couldn't figure out a way inside it. Of course, with the invisibility cloak on, they could march inside. But Remus didn't have an invisibility cloak.
"Should we go in?" whispered Peter, as they sat near the Willow.
"Have you lost your mind? Friend or not, Remus wouldn't recognize us as a werewolf," Sirius snickered, glaring at Peter.
"That is, if he is a werewolf," mumbled Peter, averting his eyes to the ground. James and Sirius's brows creased together, as they looked at Peter. "What if he isn't lying? His mother is actually sick?"
The silence broken when someone stomped on a broken branch, making it crackle. The moving branches of Willow came to a halt and the boys held their breathes. The brown-haired boy made an appearance out of tunnel. But he wasn't wearing the clothes he left in. Whatever he was wearing, tore to shreds. Underneath the clothes, he had fresh scratches and bite marks, as if he was mauled. The boy sniffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand and then his legs buckled as he fell on his knees.
"Remus!" James cried, taking off the cloak as he dashed towards him. The brown-haired boy froze, his head turning towards James. "Are you okay?" asked James, holding Remus by his shoulders.
"J – James," Remus stuttered, his eyes widening as the other two boys made their appearance. "Sirius? Peter?" His eyes welled up again, and he collapsed on the grass.
"He's shivering," Sirius noted. He shrugged out of his coat and draped it over Remus's shoulder. "Put your arms inside," Sirius instructed as he helped Remus wear the coat.
"W – Wh – What're you d – doing here?" Remus stuttered. Tears spilling from his eyes, his brows furrowed.
James gave him a small smile as he spoke, "Waiting for you, of course."
"Let's get you to the Hospital Wing," said Sirius. He slung Remus's left arm over his shoulder, wrapping his arm around Remus's torso. James slung Remus's right arm over his shoulder, helping him up on his feet.
"I'm supposed to wait for Madam Pomfrey here," Remus sniffed, shaking his head. "She'd be here any minute."
"Let's help you sit then," said James. Sirius and James helped Remus walk away from the Willow. They helped him sit down on the grass, his back propped up against a tree.
"You don't understand," Remus cried, covering his face with his hands. James frowned as he watched Remus's shoulder shake, a sob escaping from his lips. He sat down in front of Remus.
Taking Remus's hands off of his face, James wiped away his tears and spoke, "We know. We're here to help."
"We should get going, I reckon Madam Pomfrey is coming," Peter announced. He opened the cloak, still looking at the moving silhouette near the castle.
"We'll see you in the morning, right?" asked Sirius. When Remus nodded, the three boys ducked under the invisibility cloak.
They watched as Madam Pomfrey helped Remus get up on his feet. She comforted Remus with her kind words as the two made way to the castle. The three boys followed them hot on their heels.
The boys were on pins and needles the whole day. Classes seemed boring and nothing held their interest. Even Severus remained far away from their thoughts. None of them could believe what they'd seen! They spent their whole day worrying about Remus. The teachers had noticed their lack of interest in the class and their unusual silence.
"Is something bothering you?" asked Professor Slughorn during his class. The boys had only shaken their heads. They wondered if the teachers knew Remus was a werewolf?
Professor McGonagall had also eyed them suspiciously during her class and when they passed her in the corridor. Suspiciousness turned to worry by evening and then to distress. She kept watching them as if they were the silence before the hurricane. But the hurricane never came and the boys retired to their rooms.
It wasn't until almost dinner time, that Remus returned. His eyes remained at the floor, slumped shoulders and he walked in without a word. "How are you now?" James broke the silence.
"Fine," Remus mumbled, putting his small suitcase near his bed.
Sirius jumped out of his bed and said, "Is there something you want us to do for you?"
"How long have you known?" asked Remus. His voice was almost inaudible and when he looked up, his red rimmed eyes filled with tears.
The three boys exchanged glances, and then James spoke, "We figured out yesterday."
"Have I lost all my friends?" Remus's voice cracked. He averted his eyes to the floor, wiping away his tears.
James's brows creased together, "Lost us?" he asked. "Why would you lose us?"
"I'm a monster," Remus choked. The words rang in James's ears and pierced a thousand knives in his heart. Remus a monster?
"No, you aren't!" cried Sirius, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"You're anything but a monster," agreed Peter.
"Don't I disgust you? Aren't you scared of me?" asked Remus, his lower lips trembling.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, James pressed his lips together. "Scared? You keep your socks in colour coded order. I am sorry but I've a hard time feeling scared of you." Sirius and Peter laughed in agreement. "And disgust?" asked James, as he moved closer to Remus. "We see Remus Lupin in front of us. We don't find Remus Lupin disgusting." Remus broke down at James's words,
James's hands found their way to hold Remus's shoulders. Giving his shoulders a light squeeze, James drew Remus's attention to himself. Smiling, James said, "We can't share your pain but I promise, you will never go through it alone."
Shaking his head, Remus dropped his gaze. "You can't be close to me when I turn," Remus sniffed.
"There are other ways, and we'll do everything to help you," said Sirius, shrugging.
"However we can," James added with a stern nod.
"Thank you," Remus sniffed, wiping his tears away. A small smile grew on his trembling lips.
James dropped his hands to his side as he spoke, "You're our friend. There's nothing you should thank us for."
"I was almost five," Remus started. His friends had helped him into the bed, and sneaked in food for him after dinner. They asked him about how he was infected with lycanthropy. "My father had made some remarks about a werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. He was on trial for killing two children. The night he was released, he forced his way into my room and hid under my bed."
James's teeth dug into his lower lip, turning it pale as he continued listening to Remus's story.
"I knew something was wrong. There were some noises, and I told my dad. When I was asleep, he attacked me," said Remus, looking off into the distance. The boys gasped; their eyes widened.
"Do you remember it?" mumbled Peter, he hadn't recomposed his face.
"Not really," replied Remus as he shook his head. "I was not even five. I do remember the pain."
"That's horrible!" cried James, his brows furrowed together.
"It was nothing compared to the treatments I had to endure," Remus snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Treatment?" asked Sirius, his head cocked to one side.
Remus gave a sharp nod and sighed, as he spoke, "My father wanted to cure me. Of course, it didn't work."
"D – Does it – hurt?" James was hesitant to ask. He was still not sure how sensitive Remus was about the topic. He didn't want to step out of line.
"To transform?" Remus questioned back. When he earned a nod from James, he continued. "More than you can imagine. But perhaps the most frustrating part is that I'm alone."
"So, you gave yourself all this?" asked Sirius, pointing towards Remus's scars.
Remus nodded and said, "Each one to them."
"It's not under your control," mumbled James, a frown settling on his lips.
"That's what I am scared of," admitted Remus. "What if I hurt someone?" He bowed his head and his lips set in a straight line.
"You don't have to worry about that," said Sirius. A smile crept on his lips, "I reckon James can attest to it that no one can get past that tree." James was happy that it at least made Remus smile.
"The teachers know about it, don't they?" asked Peter after a long silence.
"All of them," Remus confirmed.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," started James. He puffed out his chest as he spoke, "No one will know your secret from us. We'll take it to our graves." Sirius and Peter nodded in agreement.
James was walking back to the Gryffindor common room after his Quidditch practice on Sunday morning. He heard whimpers around the corner. Curious about the noise, he poked his head out.
He watched a first year Hufflepuff student surrounded by Mulciber, Avery and a somewhat reluctant looking Severus. They were talking in whispers as Avery smacked the first year across the head.
James jutted his chin, his jaw clench. Jumping out of the corner, he pulled out his wand and marched towards the group. "What are you doing?" he snarled, making the boys turn around.
He watched Severus's demeanour change. He puffed his chest out, and raised his chin up. "What are you doing stuttering about the castle?" Severus spat back.
James could feel the frustration building inside him. He felt like he would explode. He took a deep breath, his hand clenching around his wand.
"Run along, your friends aren't nearby to save you," Mulciber scoffed, gesturing for James to leave.
"I don't need anyone to save me," said James from between his teeth.
"Only because you've learnt disarming spell doesn't make you better than anyone," retorted Severus. His lips curling back in a sinister smile.
"We'll have to see about that," said James, as he raised his wand. He jerked his head towards Severus's hand holding his own wand.
"You think you're special because you've made it into Quidditch team? Or because the teachers can't see through you?" asked Severus, stepping closer to James. "But you're an arrogant bully, who can't handle himself without his friends."
James could feel himself get angrier every time Severus opened his mouth. His knuckles had already turned white from clenching his fist hard. "And what were you doing here?" he spat, jerking his head in the direction of the forgotten first year student.
"He's a muggle born," Avery answered for Severus.
"And that justifies it?" asked James in disbelief. He narrowed his eyes at the three boys.
"You're one to talk Potter. You go around bullying people only because you can," Severus argued, his face was turning red. His black orbs throwing daggers at James.
"At least I don't discriminate on blood purity," roared James. He took a deep breath and spoke again as he glared at Severus, "What are you anyway? I know you aren't a pure blood. Half-blood? Muggle born?" He watched Severus's face turn redder by the second, but he didn't say anything. "And your best friend, she's a muggle born too. Why do you have such double standards? Is it because you like her?" James smirked.
Severus raised his wand, pointing it towards James's chest. James had raised his wand only seconds later. He knew he had hit a tough spot with Severus. "Don't bring her into this," Severus spoke from between his teeth.
"Why? Scared she'll find out?" James scoffed, and then he looked at Avery and Mulciber. "Or scared they will?"
Severus had done it again! Before James could block it, with the flick of his wand, Severus sent him flying towards the wall. James collided into the wall and his glasses came undone. He knew they landed close by but his eye sight was too poor to find them, especially in the dimly lit corridor.
"Get out of the way Potter!" exclaimed Mulciber, as he walked past him. He heard Mulciber push something away with his foot as he walked by. James assumed it was his glasses. He could hear Avery and Severus snickering as they walked by too.
James jumped up to his feet. His pride wounded and he couldn't let it go by. He didn't need glasses to use a spell on at least one of the three. What does it matter which one of them the spell would hit? It would send the message. He raised his wand, trying to focus on one boy. The problem was all of them were black haired!
"Petrificus Totalus!" James cried, he saw the white light and then it hit the boy on the right. James couldn't see it as clear as he might like, but the boys fell on his face as stiff as a board.
James had thought it would save his wounded pride, but it didn't make him feel much better. He still had to find his glasses! It hit him then. If he needed to show off, he might as well do it properly.
"Accio glasses," he spoke loud and clear, holding his hand out. His glasses were clear in his head and as the spell promised, they landed in his hand. With a smug smile, he wore the glasses. Watching the horror in the eyes of first year Hufflepuff student was satisfying his wounded pride. But nothing could beat the horror on Avery's face or the irritation on Severus's expressions. He was hoping to hit Severus with the spell, but Mulciber was good enough.
He skipped over Mulciber's body in a deliberate effort to show off. His smug smile only grew bigger. If he earned a detention from McGonagall over this, it would be worth it.
A detention would have been better than the retaliation he received. Not just him, by extension his whole class, save a few students. It was their Charms class with Hufflepuff. There were still a few minutes for the class to start. Naturally, not all students were present in the class. Those students were lucky.
It started with the back row, and travelled to the front row like plague. At first, no one understood what was going on. The students at the back were making strange noises, that others ignored. It didn't matter until James saw large black bat flying past him. "What –" whispered James and suddenly his vision was covered by great flapping things! His nose tickled and itched. The more he tried to get the flapping black bats away from himself, the more they appeared.
Dread creeped over James, numbing his brain. He flailed his hands in front of his face, trying to make it stop! But it wasn't only James, the whole class seemed paralysed with fear, unable to figure out how to stop it.
Professor McGonagall was furious because of the incident. Even Professor Flitwick who remained calm headed, seemed angry. It took two teachers to calm the class down and use counter spell to reverse the Bat-Bogey Hex.
"We'll find out who did this," McGonagall assured the affected students.
"I bet it was Snape and his friends," whispered James, his fists clenched.
"You reckon three second-year students can you that?" Remus asked. He seemed too calm for someone attacked with such a hex.
"Who says it's only those three? That whole group is rotten," Sirius spat, pushing his hair back.
"If it is Snape, I swear I will make him regret it," James spoke from between his teeth.
Sirius crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It's that greasy git, alright? He knows more hexes than anyone in this school. And with his nose stuck to those books, I reckon he is learning more," said Sirius.
"Class dismissed," announced Professor McGonagall. She picked up the books she had bought with her and glided out of the classroom. Professor Flitwick followed her out, trying to keep up with her.
James and his friends picked up their books. Making their way out of the class with the rest of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. No one looked pleased with what happened. It seemed that they could wait to get their hands on whoever played the prank. Of course, the four boys would've been the first suspects. But seeing as it affected them too, everyone knew it wasn't them.
"Why do you think it was Snape?" asked Peter. He slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Guess who is one of the first Gryffindors to be in the class?" started James. His eyes found the girl he was talking about. She looked at her fellow classmates with a frown and creased brows. "And she wasn't in the class today, at all!"
"Do you mean Evans?" asked Sirius, his gaze followed James's. James gave a sharp nod.
"I don't reckon she'd do anything like that," said Remus as he shook his head.
"Of course, she wouldn't. But she kept away from the class," replied James. His fingers rumpled up his hair, as if they weren't untidy enough.
"I reckon you're reading too much into the situation," mumbled Remus. James furrowed his brows together, letting out a sigh.
"Remus!" exclaimed Sirius, he raised his brows and continued. "Look at her! She knows something. And tell me, why was she among those few who weren't affected?"
"Even if she knows, do you reckon she'd rat her friend out?" asked Remus, narrowing his eyes.
"Of course not," scoffed James, rolling his eyes. "Snape and she are best friends!"
Sirius rolled his eyes too as he spoke, "We wouldn't have to do anything. If McGonagall said she's going to find out, she will find out."
As soon as James met Lily's gaze, he couldn't help but notice the way her eyes grew wide. She shifted from one foot to another, and dropped her head under James's scrutinizing glare. Guilt was written all over her face. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought she was the culprit.
As it turned out, he wasn't the only one to think that way. There were whispers around the castle that Lily was at least involved in everything. Anyone who'd have seen her face would come to that conclusion. But no one acted on it, after all, how could Lily manage to do that on her own?
James was returning from the bathroom. He heard a familiar voice near the Gryffindor common room entrance. It made him stop dead in his tracks as he eavesdropped on the conversation.
"Tell me Severus who was it?" Lily asked in a hushed voice. She seemed concerned about the situation.
"I told you I don't know," replied Snape, as nonchalantly as he could.
"Then tell me why did you ask me to stay out of the class?" asked Lily. It sounded like she had stomped her foot. James knew it! It had to be Snape; that greasy git was always up to something.
"I told you I heard someone in the corridor," said Snape. James wanted to jump out of his hiding place and tell Evans that Snape was lying.
"Who?" Lily pressed further. She sounded desperate to find the answers. James wondered if Lily would after all rat her best friend out if she knew he was involved.
"I don't know Lily!" Snape cried. James wanted to roll his eyes at Snape's pathetic attempt at lying.
"And you believed that because you heard it? You begged me to stay out of the class!" said Lily. James snuck his head out enough to see why they had grown silent. He prayed to Merlin that someone had heard them and now Snape was in trouble. Much to his dismay, Lily was glaring at Snape. The greasy curtains that Snape called his hair were hiding his face.
After an uncomfortably long silence, Snape spoke, "I reckon it was someone Potter and his friends crossed. You know they've been stuttering about the castle, hexing people." Snape's words made anger boil up in James's stomach. His hands reached for his wand in the pocket of his robe, but James stopped himself.
"Severus, if it was someone Potter and his friends crossed, it should've affected only them. All my classmates were affected. Who is worse? Potter and his friends or this person?" James didn't know how to feel about what Lily had said. While it made James happy that at least one of the duo was sensible. James was angry that Evans believed anything like a Bat-Bogey Hex should've affected James and his friends.
"Are you defending Potter?" spat Snape, his head jerked up. It was his turn to glare at Lily. James hid behind the corridor wall once again.
"What?! No!" exclaimed Lily.
Snape seemed to have collected himself when he spoke again. "Lily, forget you know anything about it."
"How?" asked Lily.
"It has nothing to do with you," assured Snape. 'Of course not, but it has everything to do with you!' thought James.
Lily mumbled, "Then don't warn me next time you hear it."
"I was only trying to keep you out of harm's way. I will always do that," promised Snape. James was already gagging at Snape's words. He hated how double-faced he was. He wondered if Evans knew what Snape and his friends did, she'd still be grateful for his friendship.
Lily spoke in a low voice, "I appreciate that Severus."
"You know you can trust me, right?" asked Snape.
"Of course, you're my oldest friend here." James rolled his eyes at Evans's words.
'Better have no friends than a friend like that,' James thought.
A/N: Hey Readers,
Thank you 'LilEvans8394' and 'NJU 676' for your reviews! How are the rest of you finding the story? Leave a review and let me know! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
Thank you!
-JT
