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As you requested, here's the next chapter…

1972.

"My three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month."

"No, I can't come, you know that, I've told you thousand times before! Will you just leave me alone!" Remus pulled his bag out of James' hands.

"Why not? This match is death important! If we win this, we might have a change to win the cup! You have to come!" yelled James back.

"I've told you, I have to go home, because my mother is very ill."

"Again? You're mother is always ill. You have to come, you bring good fortune."

"Just because I was there when you won your first match? This is only your second, why would it be any different? And let go of my bag. I'm going to the library, to finish my Defence Against the Dark Arts essay." Remus quickly walked away.

"To finish you essay?! You've already got twice as much as Sirius and me!"

"Bye!!" waved Remus over his shoulder.

~*~

Sirius was in the common room, rehearsing potions with Peter. Sirius could already dream all the ingredients, but Peter just couldn't remember the right sequence.

Peter Pettigrew was number four of their group of friends. He was a slightly fat boy with hair with a very strange colour. The best way to describe it would just be colourless.

"No, Peter, I've told you so many times. First the nettle leaves and then the stamped beetle eyes. First nettle, then beetle!" Sirius was about to loose his temper.

James threw himself in a chair.

"Still rehearsing potions?" he asked.

"Yes. I can't believe that ugly, slimy Snape is better at potions than we are!

Where is Remus?" asked Sirius.

"Where do you think? In the library of course. Finishing his Defence Against the Dark Arts essay, or so he says."

"And is he coming tomorrow?" Sirius wanted to know.

"Nope. He says his mother is ill. Yes, again. Just like last month and the month before that and the month before that. I don't know what's wrong with him."

"Maybe his mother is really ill" said Peter softly.

"Do you think so? But what is wrong with her then? Remus never says anything about it. He doesn't have to give a full medical report on it, but just a little information… I mean, we're his best friends!" said James. He was tapping with his fingers on the table, looking puzzled.

"Oh c'mon James, this isn't some kind of chess-problem!" said Sirius. "I'm sure there's a normal and logic explanation for all this. Maybe he thinks Quidditch is boring. Could be!" he said, laughing at the of-all-your-theories-this-is-the-most-stupid-look on James' face. "Not everyone is as much in love with Quidditch as you are!"

~*~

The next morning.

Sirius walked tip-toe into the dormitory, holding a huge book. It was very early, only a few people were awake. James was sleeping in a very odd position. His blanket was wrapped around him, and he was laying on the edge of his bed. Just a few inches to the right and he would fall out. An evil grin appeared on Sirius´ face. He walked over to James, still tip-toe, bowed his head near James´ ear, and whispered: "boo."

James´ eyes opened in a flash and he fell out of bed. Quickly, he stretched out his leg and tackled Sirius. Sirius hit the ground with a thump.

"Ouch, how did you do that?!"

"Quidditch-reflexes. You should have known, Sirius." James scrambled on his feet.

"Thanks for waking me up though."

"This was the first and the last time, Potter" Sirius groaned. "I should never have done this." He pulled a sad face.

"What are you doing here anyway, except waking me up?" asked James, taking a new pair of socks from his trunk.

"I believe I've found the answer to your chess-problem." Sirius showed James the book, eager to share his discovery.

"Not now, after the Quidditch match, okay? I don't think I can concentrate on chess-problems right now" smiled James.

~*~

A few hours later, after the Quidditch match.

"That match was fantastic! Ravenclaw absolutely didn't stand a change! I think we win the cup this year!" All the Griffindors were enthusiastically reviewing the match.

Griffindor beated Ravenclaw with 200-10. Unless Ravenclaw defeated Slytherin the next match, they were out of the running for the Quidditch cup.

After a few hours, Sirius dragged James and Peter to the dormitory.

"Remus still not back?" James asked.

"No, and I think I know why. Look." Sirius gave him a sheet of paper. "These are the dates when Remus was gone. You see, today, last month, the month before that. Now," he took another paper, "this is a lunar chart. Compare the dates." James and Peter bowed over the sheets of paper.

"He's always gone with a full moon" pointed Peter.

"Exactly" said Sirius. "And look at this." He showed the book. It was opened on a page about werewolves. "Werewolves only change when it's a full moon."

"Are you saying Remus' mother is a werewolf?" asked Peter.

"No of course not, stupid. I think Remus is a werewolf."

A death silence followed this words. "You're crazy" said James finally. "You are absolutely out of your mind!"

"Don't you see it?! It fits! Look, today's a full moon. A month ago, just when we had to do that Charms test, and when he wasn't there, it was a full moon. And look at this." Sirius quickly turned over the pages of the book. "See, werewolves have hair on their hands. Remus has that too, remember? And do you remember yesterday morning, when he was eating almost nothing but meat? That fits in with this part, look." And he pointed to another passage.

James carefully read everything Sirius pointed at. Finally, he sighed and said: "maybe you're right. I think there's only one way to find out. We have to ask Remus straight to the point if he's a werewolf or not."

~*~

A few days later.

"Are you going to ask it?" whispered Sirius in James' ear, as Remus walked into the Great Hall. He looked tired and ill.

"Why me? Why don't you ask it?" whispered James back.

"Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it" replied Sirius.

"And that's why I have to ask it? Some reason…" muttered James.

When Remus sat down next to them and took a slice of bread, James took a deep breath and said: "Remus, we need to ask you something. Can we take a walk to the Quidditch-pitch, this afternoon?"

Remus looked up. "Sure, why not?"

~*~

That afternoon…

James had a strange feeling in his stomach. It felt like he was about to have a Quidditch match, only ten times worse. What if Sirius was wrong? And what if he was right? If Remus really was a werewolf…

Sirius was also strangely quiet. The only ones who behaved normal were Remus and Peter. They were talking about potions; Remus wasn't good at that either.

When they had reached the Quidditch pitch, Remus turned around to James. "There was something you wanted to ask me?" he asked.

James´ heart was pounding. It was now or never.

"Well, you know, you were gone Saturday, and it was a full moon then. And last month, you were also gone with the full moon. And now we –er – have this crazy idea that you are a –er – werewolf." He glanced at Remus. How would he react?

Remus´ heart stopped. This was it. If he told them the truth, he would certainly loose his friends. They would get scared. He had kept it a secret for almost a year and a half. Nobody knew it, except Dumbledore and a few other people. He swallowed heavily. The truth, Dumbledore had told him, was always the best thing to tell. But it was so hard! Then he thought: if they're real friends, they will accept me just as I am. I'm not denying anything. He proudly raised his head.

"Yes, you are right" he said. "I am a werewolf. I was bitten when I was five."

James breathed again. He hadn't realised he had held his breath. Sirius whistled softly.

"When you were five?" he said. "And Dumbledore accepted you here?"

"I have a place to hide when it's full moon. That's were I go every time I leave, like on Saturday. I can show you, if…. you're still my friends." He couldn't look at them. What would they say?

James, Sirius and Peter didn't need to discuss the matter.

"Of course we are!" they said together.