Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling and I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter, except in my wildest fantasies.  

Part 2: Secret Revealed, or Never Underestimate Your Friends

James frowned at the window.   Remus was gone to some mystery place, having disappeared again after dinner that day, this time without even trying to use the increasingly flimsy excuse of his mum or his grandmother being sick.    Peter had finally fallen asleep.   He glanced over at Sirius's bed and saw that Sirius was still awake.

"Hey," James whispered over, "Why're you still up?"  

Sirius sat up with a sigh.   "I was wondering where Remus disappeared to, actually."

James grinned a little.  "You and me both, eh?"  He sighed, growing serious.   "I think it's time we face it and just make him tell us."

James turned his head to stare out the window as he continued.   "I don't' really want to confront him.   I figure he must have a good reason for it but still, it's ridiculous.   And his reasons are getting ridiculous.   I mean, what could be so bad…"  James broke off as he frowned suddenly at something outside the window.   "Sirius," he asked hesitantly, "When was the last time Remus went away?"

Sirius was silent before answering, "Er, must've been the middle of last month or so, I think…  Oh yeah, I remember, it was the 12th actually.   We were planning to enchant Snape's robes to make them pink, remember?"

James nodded.  "I was afraid of that."  He faced Sirius.   "Tell me I'm imagining this.  Look, the moon's full tonight.  The last full moon was on the 12th, I remember because we had that long Astronomy paper due.   Remus disappears once a month – on the full moon…"  He spoke slowly, dismay creeping into his voice.  

Sirius had sat up.   His voice was hushed with dawning apprehension.   "Oh my God…"   His voice trailed off as they looked at each other in dismay.  

Silence reigned for several minutes, that was finally broken when James looked over at Sirius, a sardonic smile lifting one corner of his mouth up.  "No wonder he's always causing problems in Care of Magical Creatures."   Sirius cracked a small smile at that.   Remus was notoriously bad with animals.    Remus had always shrugged it off and managed to laugh at the teasing but James, for one, had wondered about it.  And now he knew. 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Remus returned after dinner two days later.   James, Sirius and Peter, who'd been let in on the plan, were waiting for him and pounced on him once he arrived.   He looked exhausted and pale.  James wondered again how he could have taken so long to figure out Remus's secret. 

A discreet glance at Peter had him immediately sliding behind Remus and putting his back to the closed door while Sirius leaped up and with a forced heartiness said, "Remus, old boy, there you are!" while propelling him to sit on James's bed that was in the middle.  

Remus looked confused and wary, glancing between his three friends.  "What on earth is going on?"  

James began.   "Look, Remus, we want to know where you go every month."

Remus paled even more, something James would've sworn wasn't possible a moment before.   "I—uh, I told you guys…"   His voice trailed off as both James and Sirius gave him a look.  

Sirius took over.   "Okay, old boy.   We understand the need for secrecy if you're planning a prank or something, but honestly, this is getting ridiculous.   You never have any new pranks to propose when you get back; you're just tired.   And I refuse to believe that you have that sickly of a mum, aunt or that many grandparents that die conveniently on a monthly basis or become deathly ill."  

Remus looked ashamed at this pointed retelling of some of his most used excuses.   James, watching him, noticed the inward struggle in the expressions that passed over his face, until finally, Remus seemed to come to a decision.  

He was pale and trembling but he looked determined.   "Ok, then," he said, breathing very quickly, "I'll tell you.   I- I'm a – a—"

James took pity on Remus's obvious pain.   If he couldn't change what his friend was, he could at least say it for him.   "You're a werewolf." James said quietly.  

Remus nodded, looking relieved, as he slumped on James's bed.  

There was a moment of silence, that was broken by Remus, finally.   "I—I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys, but I was --  was afraid…"   Yes, he was afraid, afraid of the rejection, the horror…  In his head, Remus heard again the screams, the names, all the kids who lived around his home who'd shout "Monster!" or "Man-eater" or worse, before running away as if a demon was on their heels.   But then, a demon was, as far as they were concerned.   He was the demon.   He shuddered again at the memory, and then waited for it to come.   He could just see it, his best friends looking at him in revulsion before turning their backs on him and walking out of the room.    He cringed inwardly, shutting his eyes as if that would make the rejection any less painful when it happened.  

The painful silence was finally broken by Sirius's voice.   "You were afraid?!   What, that we'd blame you or turn you out?"  

Remus nodded jerkily more out of instinct than not, opening his eyes in surprise at the question.   Then they weren't going to turn him out?

"Don't be a stupid git, Lupin.   We're not like the Malfoys, you know."   That statement from Sirius broke the chill that seemed to have fallen over the little group and Remus managed to smile, relief and happiness flooding his entire body, while James and Peter both grinned.  

"Speaking of the Malfoys, I have an idea…" Sirius continued, and in a moment, the tensions were forgotten as the mischievous spirit rose in all the boys.

Remus listened to Sirius's plan with half his mind, looking around at the familiar faces around him.   Sirius, with his brown eyes ever-glinting with mischief, hands gesturing wildly as he illustrated his plan.   James, with his perpetually messy black hair and cool gray eyes, that were shining gleefully behind his round glasses.   Peter, with his thin blond hair, nodding in agreement to every word Sirius said.   Remus smiled to himself, the secret fear and worry that had been hanging over him for so long disappearing.   They knew and they didn't care.   It was quite possibly the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him.   Just not caring and still accepting him.   He had the best friends in the world, and for the first time since the day he'd been bitten, Remus felt like he was lucky.