Chapter Two

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I didn't sleep for the rest of the night, and I was already showered, dressed, and down in the common room when Sirius, James, and Peter came down the stairs. Their bags were dragging slightly and it surprised me that Sirius wasn't freaking out. I didn't know if he finished that essay for Potions, and the last thing I wanted him to do was to go and get detention for tomorrow night. Though, I thought, Maybe it would be better if he wasn't there. I pushed away the thought. I wasn't going to think of Sirius like that. I'd ruin my friendship with him if I said how I was suddenly feeling. And why should I risk it?
They looked out the window and all three of them groaned. "How much snow can there be?"
"I think there's about two-and-a-half feet, Padfoot." I said, not looking up. "That's bloody brilliant... And we have herbology today. AND Care of Magical Creatures." Sirius plopped down next to me in the large chair and said, in a low voice, "You don't look well. Did you get back to sleep last night?"
I shook my head. He grabbed my arm and pulled me across the room. "Moony, you should go to the hospital wing and get a Dreamless Sleep potion. If you're that terified of your dreams you really should." He said, and he actually sounded concerned. "Not to mention, I'd like to sleep tonight, since I won't tomorrow night." He smirked.
"You're really going?" I asked, shocked that he was really going to skip the Yule Ball to be with me.
"Of course, you overgrown puppy. I told you I was going." I hated it when he called me that.
"I just wasn't sure..." I said, standing to go to breakfast. I wanted to get through the day as fast as I could, and for the first time ever, I was actually looking forward to my transformation
*~*

We arrived in the common room, all of us wet and cold. Sirius had tried to melt the snow, resulting in a flood of ice-cold water spilling on each and every one of us who were in it's path. Sirius' teeth we chattering, Peter was glaring at Sirius and wringing out his robes, and James was standing by the fire. Lily decided, at that moment, to enter the room. She squealed with laughter at the sight of us all, drenched and freezing.
"Not a word, Lily." James said, turning and looking at her.
"Oh, I was going to offer to help you dry off, but if you don't want me too...." She said, her green eyes glowing in the firelight. It was funny.. I had never noticed she had green eyes before. Sirius had dark eyes... I think I like his better.
What am I thinking??? I asked myself as I sat down and watched as everyone else dried off. When Lily finished them, she turned to me. "Your turn, Remus." She said, and I stood. A moment later I was dry and I thanked her. She nodded and went to sit down by James. Eventually, the way I figured it, they'd be inseperable.
Sirius came over and squished me into the side of the chair. "We're losing him, Moony... He's gone over to the dark side. Lily accepted his invitation to the Yule Ball." He shook his head disgustedly.
I raised my eyebrows at him. "And you thought she's decline because.....?"
"Well, because he's James Potter. He's got a history for making trouble. You know Lily.. She's such a goody-two-shoes." He said, almost laughing.
"Well, you go with girls places all the time. Why shouldn't he?" I asked, but I already knew the answer.
"Because I'm better looking than he is." He looked over at a group of third year girls and winked. Each and every one of them giggled and blushed. "I have more charm then him. I bet he couldn't do that." He laughed. "C'mon, Moony. I was hoping you could help me with my Transfiguration essay that's due on Monday." He said, grabbing my arm and pulling me up the stairs. As we disappeared into the dormitories, I heard Lily say, "The day Sirius Black can do his own homework will be the day he has no interest in girls." I heard James laugh and say, "I guess that isn't going to happen."

*~*

I was tired, exhausted, and I felt as though I'd pass out from exhaustion. "G'night, Moony. Have good dreams tonight." He laughed and then I heard his curtains close. I closed my own and fell back onto my pillows. I slept.
"Remus? I thought I'd come down and make sure you were alright." My mother said, walking down the stairs into the basement. I was already inside the cage and I nodded to her. "I'm fine, Mum." I was 13 years old, and I was home on Christmas holiday. "Alright. The sun is setting, so any moment now.." She was trying to make me ready. I was never ready.
Suddenly, the pain was surging through me and before I knew what was happening I had burst through the cage door. My eyes opened in fear, but the wolf didn't listen to what my mind wanted to do. I lunged at my screaming mother and pinned her beneath me. My father came bounding through the basement door and he held his wand in hand.
I had already injured my mother and I didn't know what I was doing. I went after him next.
"Remus! Remus! Wake up, mate." Sirius was saying it again and again. I sat up quickly, and my face was a mere inches away from his. I felt my eyes pool with tears and I said, "I killed them, Sirius. I killed them." He looked shocked and then he pulled me close to him.
"It was just a dream, Moony. Just a dream." He said, rubbing my back and trying to calm me.
"No, Padfoot... It really happened. I killed them. I tore them to pieces." I sobbed, and Sirius cast a silencing spell on the bed so no one would hear us.
"Moony, why didn't you ever tell me that? That's why you live with your aunt and uncle?" He asked, and I nodded, trying stop the tears. "You should've told me, Moony. You should've told me." He said, looking at me. "Is that why you won't ask anyone to the Yule Ball or to Hogsmeade? You're afraid to get close to anyone?" I nodded. He sighed. "Want me to stay here in case that nightmare comes back? You really should sleep." He asked. I nodded and pulled the covers back up to my chest and tried to sleep. I moved over to the edge and I saw Sirius move up and put his head on one side of the pillow. A moment later, I fell into a peaceful sleep.