A/N- Okay, here's the chapter between Peter and Remus. This one was especially hard to write. I think I'm going to do one more chapter, with everyone at graduation. That is, unless someone can give me another pairing to do.
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"Where the Hell did I put that damn book?" Peter asked no one in particular. He'd searched his room at least seven times, and he still couldn't find his Defense Against the Dark Arts book.
"I just saw it yesterday, where could it have gone?" he demanded from his mirror.
"Don't know dear. Have you checked under the bed?" it replied.
"At least a thousand times." he grumbled. How was he supposed to do his essay if he couldn't even find his book?
"That's it! I give up!" he cried, sitting down angrily on his bed. His room was now in shambles, the victim of an hour long search. "I'll just tell the professor a dragon ate it."
Laying back on his bed, thoroughly frustrated, Peter could see the stars peeking through the thin, scattered clouds. He sighed, angry that he couldn't be with his friends tonight. He hardly ever missed a transformation if he could help it. This was one of those times. Even if they were on summer holiday, James had invited him to stay with his family, so he could still be there for the transformation. Unfortunately, Peter's parents had said no.
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"Okay Sirius, be ready." James said, already half transformed.
"James, I've done this dozens of times, I know what I'm doing." Sirius replied, already done transforming.
"Here we go again." Remus sighed as he saw the moon peek above the horizon.
The familiar wave of pain hit him. Even though he always expected it, it shocked him every time. He squeezed his eyes closed. He'd learned long ago that it was not a pleasant sight to see gray fur sprouting from your skin as your bones rearrange themselves and your hands turned into paws. Of course, he couldn't shut out the sounds. The most stomach turning sounds you'd ever heard filled his ears as he went through the transformation. He felt sorry for James and Sirius, who couldn't shut their eyes. They had to pay attention, in case he couldn't take control right away. Even if they tried not to let it show, he could always see the pity in their eyes as they watched him. Yet another reason why he kept his eyes closed. He'd never been used to pity. It scared him really.
"Moony?" Remus heard Sirius' voice ask. "You okay now?"
Who was this other dog, the wolf wondered. And why isn't he submitting to his Alpha? A growl escaped his mouth as he started towards this other dog. If he wanted to be part of his pack, he would have to learn submission. He leaped at him when something hard struck him in midair, knocking him aside.
"Whew. Thanks Prongs. Its been a while since he's done that. I thought he was over it." Sirius said.
"No problem Padfoot. Moony? Are you in control now?"
This stag had just made a very big mistake. One that would cost him his life if the wolf had any say in it. He bared his teeth in an angry snarl and leaped at him, but this insubordinate dog knocked him off balance and pinned him down. The stag rushed forward and helped hold him down.
"I guess this isn't going to be one of those easy times." James sighed, using his antlers to trap him against the dirt. "Remus, I know you can here me somewhere in there. We won't let you up until you answer us."
"Good thing Peter isn't here, he'd have panicked by now for sure." Sirius commented. "Come on Moony, you can do it. Just take control before I beat the bloody hell out of this werewolf."
"Oh that's going to help a whole lot Sirius." James said sarcastically.
"Okay, okay." Remus said finally. "You can let me up now. I've got control of it."
"Glad to hear it." Sirius said, flashing him a doggy smile. "Shall we go have fun now?"
"You can't be mature for ten seconds, can you Padfoot?" Remus grinned back as James released him.
"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional." Sirius replied.
"You would be living proof of that." James spoke up.
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Peter could see the Full Moon casting its light outside. Remus has probably already transformed, he thought sadly. Too bad I couldn't be there. I'm always there. Well, okay, not always. But usually. I could have gone, but no, my parents made me stay home because crazy Aunt Bertha is coming tomorrow. And I'm stuck doing this stupid Defense Against the Dark Arts vampire essay. Why couldn't it have been something easy? Like werewolves.
He smiled to himself. If someone had told him back in his first year that he would one day befriend a werewolf, he would have never believed them. Especially if they also told him that he would become an Animagus, illegally also, just to help his werewolf friend. True, the process had been long and difficult, and they only reason he'd succeeded at all was because of James. But if he had a choice, he'd do it all over again. It was really a useful skill, especially when trying to avoid Filch, though it did tend to attract Mrs. Norris.
Peter also wondered if they actually missed him. If they even noticed he wasn't there.
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"Too bad Peter isn't here." Remus spoke up.
"I second that opinion." Sirius and James said in unison.
"No, I second it Padfoot." James said.
"I said it first, I second it. You only third it."
"No, I did. You may as well admit it."
"Why would I admit it when its not true?"
"Because I'm bigger than you, and I have antlers I could easily gore you with."
"Padfoot kebobs?" Remus asked.
"Exactly." James replied.
"You wouldn't do that to me, would you Prongsie?"
"Now that you've called me Prongsie, yes." he replied, as he began chasing Sirius across the field.
"Too bad Peter isn't here." Remus thought. "At least then I'd have someone to talk to while James and Sirius are acting like idiots."
Remus stared up at the Full Moon, wondering if Peter was doing the same wherever he was. He began talking to it as though it were Peter. He knew there was no way Peter could possibly hear him, but he felt he had to say this anyway. There was something he had to tell him, but didn't know quite how to say it to him in person. Maybe he could somehow hear him.
I'm sorry Peter, Remus thought. I'm sorry I haven't been a better friend to you. True, I've never been mean to you, or teased you like Sirius does. But I've also never gone out of my way to help you like James does. I've regretted that often. Especially with our Dark Arts class. I know how hard that subject is to you, and I've never once offered you my help.
We really are a lot alike if you think about it. Both blond, very quiet, the smallest of the Marauders. We have much more subdued personalities than Sirius and James. They're the plotters, we're the executors. We're the sensible side of the group. We both had no friends before we went to Hogwarts. Neither of us has had much exposure to the friendship that Sirius and James have had all their lives. We're both kind of new to this friendship thing, aren't we? Well, we seem to be doing a good job so far. James and Sirius certainly seem to think so. I know we haven't exactly been that close to each other, but I really would like to change that. You're one of my best friends Peter, and I don't want to lose you once we all graduate.
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I know we haven't always been the best of friends Remus. But I really would like to change that. I've never really had friends before you guys, and I don't want to lose any of you. I just don't know how to be friends; I haven't exactly had a lot of exposure to them. But you have my word. Once we start the next term, I'm really going to try. I don't want us all drifting our separate ways once we graduate.
"Hope Sirius and James aren't driving you insane either." Peter smiled to himself. "Now, if I can just find my book."
**********
"Hey Remus!" James called from the trees. "You ever seen a dog up a tree?"
"A what?" Remus asked, snapping out of his thoughts. He went to where James was and looked up into the branches of one of the trees. There, perched among the branches, was Sirius, staring down at them. "Padfoot, how did you manage to climb up there? Dogs can't climb trees."
"You'd be amazed what you can do when there's a pissed off deer chasing you." he replied.
"I'm a stag, not a deer!" James shouted up to him.
"Whatever you say Bambi." Sirius said with a doggy grin.
"You are so lucky I can't reach you up there."
"How are you planning on getting down?" Remus asked.
"I'm not right now. Especially not when Jamesiekins is still so mad." Sirius replied.
"I'm only mad at you because you keep calling me those names I hate."
"You probably are lucky there's no way James could climb up there." Remus grinned.
"Yes, he's very lucky." James added.
"You can't?" Sirius asked, stumbling slightly in the branches. "Cool. Prongsie, Prongsie, Prongsie."
"That's it. I may not be able to climb up there, but I can certainly knock you out of the tree." James said, butting his head against the tree trunk.
"Hey! What are you-whoa!" Sirius cried as he fell out of the tree.
"Sirius, my advice would be to run." Remus suggested.
"Catch me if you can Bambi." Sirius laughed, taking off across the grass.
"Why you-" James started, chasing after him.
"The things I put up with with these two." Remus sighed. "Hope you're having fun too Peter."
"Thanks Remus." Peter sighed.
