While searching, a boy in the same year as we were caught wind of what we were doing and started sticking to us like glue.
"Peter Pettigrew? Isn't he the one who always is trying to make friends with the fifth years?" Commented Sirius on one of the few times wewere able to get away from Peter.
"That's him." I replied.
"About time he got his head out of the clouds and started hanging around people his own age." James said. "But why did it have to be us?"He joked.
"Well!" Sirius exclaimed. "If he is going to hang around us, he has to learn the ropes."
And so it was. Over the next few weeks, it was our project to turn the kid into something more respectable, and less… shall I say, whiney.Before long it was as if he was always a part of the group.
It was now time for my second Hogwarts changing. I had to becareful; Sirius had noticed that it was a full moon last time I was "missing". I had to tell them before I left this time.
It took a little rehearsing, but finally my story sounded convincing. The main problem was: How to bring it about?
Telling my friends that I had to look something up, I went to the library. I read about spells, memorized charms, and finally found what I was looking for.
Quick heal broken bones
When once you are in trouble,
And a quick way out you need:
The best way out, with a painful shout,
Is an arm broke in half for all to see.
Just chant the words I tell you,
And all I said will come true
Specify arm, nail, leg or tooth
And immediately you will have your excuse.
With a painful SNAP for all to hear,
To a limb, no resemblance will itbear.
Yet within ten minutes or so,
If a break was there, it will not show,
Within this spell, it will heal alone.
No more broken bone.
Chant these words when the time is right.
"Azure, assure, break in the night.
Accursed, for worse, fill it with fright.
Unnamed, in pain, yet left with no scar,
Unharmed, unarmed, bright as a star."
I quickly memorized the chant and prepared to use it "When the time was right."
That time came soon enough.
Despite Dumbledore's rule of staying away from the WhompingWillow, many of the students played around it, daring it to hit them, then running away shrieking with laughter when it could not reach them. Others tried to dash in between the thrashing branches to touch the trunk of the lively tree. A great deal of them have had to limp to the school nurse to mend a bone,or to fix a deep gash.
Although James, Sirius, Peter and I did not take part in that, we did go watch them every now and then, we even placed friendly bets onhow many people would get injured in one hours time.
Today when we went to check it out, I "accidentally" went within reach of the willow. When the willow reached out to strike me, it came so close that it looked like it hit me Hard. At the same time, I chanted the spell I had learned. My bone in my arm split straight through witha CRACK. Pain! The spell did not lie, it hurt! But I was used to pain.
I told my concerned friends that I had to go to the nurse,and then I ran off towards the school. I hid in a room that was not in use and stayed there until night fell, my arm healed within minutes.
All too soon came the walk down to the Whomping Willow.
All went as usual, except instead of messing up a neat house while being a werewolf, I thrashed a messy house.
The morning following the full moon, I checked in with the nurse, as I was directed to do. Glancing at the time, I found that I was still in time for the first class of the day… If I could get to it within two minutes.
I ran full out and was only a minute late. For once I was glad that History of magic was so dull, being that my transformation usually leaves me feeling drained.
I ignored the questioning glances that my friends threw my way, smiling as if nothing was unusual.
When my friends did get a chance to ask me why I was away so long, I just convinced them that all was well. More lies. I felt bad about lying so much. But there was no other way. What could I do, tell them what I was? The very thought was laughable. 'Hey guys, guess what. I have been lying to you the last couple months. The reason I am gone so often is that once amonth I turn into a creature both hated a feared by most of the world.'
Not a pleasant thought.
The Christmas Holidays came quickly. Most people went home for their vacation; James and Peter were no exception.
In fact, out of all the first year male Gryffindors, only Sirius and I remained.
I am not certain why Sirius remained, he did not say and I did not ask, but I could not go. You see if anything went wrong, I could put a lot of people in danger. Now granted.Nothing has ever gone wrong with the Hogwarts express, But as this was my first year… Better not.
The day that the people away from Hogwarts come back from their vacation, it would be a full moon. Not ideal terms to travel with a werewolf. My parent supported my decision, and so here I am.
Christmas Eve came and went. The morning after, I awoke to find presents littering the base of my bed. Sirius threw back his bed curtains and awoke to the very same spectacle only moments after I did the same.
"Going to start without me, were you?" Sirius asked.
I answered with a grin and we both dove into the wrapped packages.
I received a new school robe from my dad, a new book from my mom (Expecting the Unexpected: A Tale of Precautions against Misfortunes.), A package of exploding rocks from Sirius ("Thanks Sirius!" I said), A dozen sugarquills from Peter. The last two presents I groaned as soon as I saw them. A Package of Flea powder and a bone from my brother… Which it goes without saying, I promptly hid. I also received a book from James (Practical Spells forthe Practical Joker).
Sirius noticed my expression and laughed at my explanation… That was the very same book that I gave James for Christmas. Of course, Sirius laughing got me into a fit of laughter myself. All in all, it was a great Christmas.
The feast was like nothing that I have ever been to before. The bewitched ceiling was lit up with the yellows, oranges, golds, and reds of the Christmas sunset. The Great Hall itself was a spectacular sight to behold. Real pine trees decorated the large room, magical bubbles in shades of green,orange, red, gold, purple, and silver were strewn from wall to wall. The room itself seemed to glow with a pride of being decked out so extravagantly. There was a feeling of joy that radiated from everyone. The feast lain out on the golden platters, perfectly prepared, stretched the whole length of each housetable. Candles placed around the hall burned with a life of their own.
Halfway into our feast, the bewitched ceiling darkened with clouds and it started to snow. A great cheer broke out, and even the teachers smiled at the thought of snow. Or else they were laughing at our reaction. Dumbledore, pointed his wand at the ceiling and soft white flakes fell into theschool, disappearing a foot above the table.
In all truth, I was disappointed to see the evening end.
By the time I got to bed, it was nearly midnight. I was asleep the moment my head touched the pillow.
The rest of the vacation went quickly and quite smoothly, except for when Sirius found the little present that my brother sent me. I explained it away by saying that my family sent it as a joke, as if it were a present from the dog. (Another lie, seeing as we have no dog.)
All too soon, the holiday came to a close, and it was time to disappear to the Whomping Willow again.
I was getting worried; there were rumors that a group of ghosts took residence in the house that I stayed at. I was worried that someone may investigate it while I occupied it. The building seemed to have picked up the name "The Shrieking Shack". A new worry was that people would notice that the loud wails only happened once a month on a full moon. But now was not a good time to worry about it, you see, the full moon does not wait for worries to go away. It comes, slow and steady, with time.
It felt like death rumbling closer, unstoppable, and inescapable. I had no idea how I could keep this secret like this. Someone in the village was bound to figure out that there was a werewolf around. Wouldn't they?
When the full moon had passed, my greatest fear was facing Peter, James, and Sirius. (Peter and James had returned when I was gone)
Strangely enough, they did not ask me any questions, although James and Sirius eyed me oddly.
I know that I should be glad, but I could not shake the feeling of uneasiness.
None of my three friends seemed to notice my next two transformations. No questions were asked, not even the strange stares.
The only thing that seemed strange in how Peter would not stay alone in a room with me, and he seemed a bit skittish… but then again, this IS Peter that I am talking about. There is probably nothing to it. I think that I am just getting nervous. Hiding what I am seems too easy now. I should not worry; for once perhaps all is well.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
No, all is not well. It is now near the end of the year, there have been rumors, just rumor. Oh no, I never thought that they would be true. NEVER! You know how things are when you think that things might just work out, it often becomes worse? Well it just did. We got the news today. James's father was said to be missing. He just disappeared. For no reason. I had heard rumors of other wizards missing, but there was no one close to me… until now.
We had just finished our end of the year exams when I heard the news.
"Did you here about Mr. Potter?" "He did?" "Where?" "Why?" "Missing!" I heard whispers all around. From the look on James' face, I could see the truth.
He did not talk to me, to anyone. He would not even meet my eyes. A couple days went by. We had only two days until the year was over. I had nearly given up talking to James when he approached me.
He did not speak of his father, but there was a new light in his eye, one of determination, but I could not tell why he was determined.
Sirius and James passed their exams with flying colors. Literally. The charms exam was on entertainment and how to make colors take shape in mid air. You would have to see it to understand. They passed all their other exams with high marks. I did okay, except in defense against dark arts class. Being a werewolf, I knew more about dark arts then many of my classmates did. Peter also passed, but only by practicing the method of scraping by.
The last two days flew by now that my friends were by my side, and soon we were boarding the Hogwarts Express.
I was just starting to miss school, and all the good times that I had with my friends when Peter, James, and Sirius joined me at the back of the train. James and Sirius came and sat next to me, Peter sat down across the room, reading a book upside down.
I was about to laugh and let Peter know about his book when James and Sirius confronted my disappearances for the first time in months.
"Once a month." Spoke James softly.
"You leave once a month." Sirius added.
I took in a quick breath and was about to defend myself, but James did not give me a chance.
"Oh well, we were wondering, Sirius and I that is, would you like to come to visit us on the 18th of July?"
Full moon that night. If I said yes, I would endanger them. If I said no, would I be confirming what they suspect? I was not expecting this. At any other time I would have expected them to ask, but not now.
"M-my mom. I cannot, I have to…" Once again I was not allowed to finish what I was going to say.
"Stay home, locked away." Sirius said
"Away from people" James continued for him.
They both nod at me. "Full moon" they both say at the very same time.
There is only one reason to be gone every full moon.
I looked nervously at each of them. Peter hid further behind his book an tried to slide even further away from me.
"Remus Lupin," James said in a whisper. "You are a werewolf!"
*Disclaimer*
I do not own these characters, they are the property and the creation of J. K. Rowling. I am just a fan who spends her time thinking up ways things could be.
Janet