The Truth About Remus
Chapter Five

I couldn't move.

Out of nowhere, Remus morphed back into himself. He was there in human form, sitting on his hands and knees in front of me. He was as frozen as I was. James' cry caused us both to stir.

"Ani, get out of here," he yelled.

Quickly, he switched back into his Animagi form as Remus went wolf mode again and jumped at him. I leapt out of the room. I heard crashes and wooden chairs being ripped into splinters behind me. I heard high animal screams and low gowls. Once I was out of the tunnel and onto Hogwarts grounds again, I looked up at the sky. There were no clouds; the moon wasn't blocked during the time Remus was sitting on the ground, staring at me in his human form.

So what happened?

I was the last person to breakfast that morning and avoided the glances from James and Sirius while I sat down. I hadn't even the chance to cut into my hot cakes before Sirius spoke.

"Moony wants to see you about last night," he informed me. "You can see him when you take him his lunch. Either that, or you can hear a bunch of shit from us."

"Thank you for your concern," I replied as I stabbed into the center of my breakfast.

We were quiet for a while, until James broke the silence.

"What is Peter doing, sitting with Snivellus?"

I turned around to face the Slytherin table and, just as James had observed, Peter was talking with Snape. They were leaning towards each other, obviously speaking in hushed voices. I could see the anger rising in the faces of Sirius and James and I felt it rising up in mine as well. Sirius, beside me, stood to walk over there, but I pushed him down.

"Later, Padfoot," I hissed, "We don't want to cause a scene. We will deal with the traitor later."

"I wonder for how long this has been happening," James asked, "He could be passing along secrets about us."

"That's it," Sirius exclaimed, banging his fist on the table, "That no good ass hole – I have had it up to here with him! He is definitely exiled from the Marauders, permanently! I don't care that we exiled the exile rule – it is in effect in Peter's case."

"I don't think you have any argument from over here," I said.

None of us noticed it, but Lily was also over there with them. She had left before any of us even noticed and we let it slide.

It was lunch hour and James had gotten food for both Remus and I from the kitchens so I wouldn't even have to enter the Great Hall. I put this in my backpack (all of it was well wrapped), thanked James and walked out onto the grounds. Once I was out there, I had to find a deserted place so I could morph into my rabbit form. There were so many people outside today. I had to be careful. I succeeded in morphing and easily was able to get into the base of the Whomping Willow. Even in the day, the tunnel leading to the Shrieking Shack was dark as night. Quickly and carefully, I hopped through it, came to the trap door and redeemed my human form.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," I whispered into the keyhole in the door to the bedroom.

"Ani," I heard Remus call from behind, "don't go in there. Come with me."

Confused, I was led to another bedroom. It was nicer than the one that I usually see. Then I realized that I had never seen anymore of the house than I saw on nights of the full moon. Remus was sitting on the bed; the covers were rumpled because he had been sleeping earlier. He motioned for me to sit on it with him.

"I brought lunch," I told him, taking off my backpack, "I know that a house elf usually brings it to you, but I gave him the day off."

"Thank you," he replied as I began unpacking.

A few minutes later, Remus brought up the subject of the previous night.

"Anistasia," he began, "I don't know how to explain what happened last night, but ---"

"Please don't lecture me. I couldn't morph last night. I don't know what happened to me. I might have had a power lapse or something, but I ---"

"Listen, Ani, I am not going to lecture you. I have nothing to lecture you about. I just…I want to know what happened last night with me. I mean, I know what happened, but I want you to know, too. What I remember of it, anyway…all I know is that, in my werewolf mode, I saw you…I smelled your fear. I was about to jump on you and attack you when I realized that the last thing I wanted to do was attack you. I saw that you were afraid of me and I was hurt. I didn't want you to be afraid of me. Something inside of me controlled my wolf side – it caused me to calm down and be myself. Something about you caused me to do that."

"That is why you were human when the moon was visible," I said. "You believe that I did that?"

"Yes. I know it with all of my heart."

"Would you like to investigate this matter further?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I will come here again tonight and keep you calm so you won't morph. I know that it is painful for you. I would do anything to stop the pain."

Remus shook his head, "I can't let you do that. I can't let you risk your life. What if that was just a one time thing?"

"Remus, if last night was a one time thing…if the feelings that made you do what you did last night were that strong, I am sure that they wont fail to overpower your werewolf side again."

Remus sighed, "Okay, we can try it, but James and Sirius have to be here to hold me back if things do not go as planned."

"That is all that I ask."

I got up to leave so I could make it to my next class, but Remus called me back.

"Ani, I also have one thing that I would like to ask."

I turned back to him, "Yeah?"

"Will you go to the Halloween Ball with me?"

"Of course I will," I told him, more surprised than I meant to sound, "I mean, we have been going to the Hogwarts dances together since we have been allowed to go in our fourth year. What makes you think I wouldn't?"

"Nothing. Its just polite to ask rather than assume, because, as they say, to assume is to make an ass out of you and me…especially if someone got to you first."

"I would never say yes to anyone but you," I told him with a smile. "I have got to get to class. See you tonight."

I walked into James, Sirius, Remus and Peter's room just in time to see Sirius slam Peter against one of the walls.

"Tell us now, you bastard," Sirius yelled, "What were you doing with Snape? What were you telling him about us, huh? What secrets did you spill to him?"

"Nothing," Peter yelled.

Sirius threw a punch at him and is smacked him in the jaw. "Tell us now!"

"I am telling you the truth! I don't tell them any of your secrets! Don't you trust me?"

"No."

Another punch buried itself in Peter's stomach and knocked the wind out of him. Sirius was well built and I knew that he was hurting Peter. I just closed the door behind me and stood beside James to watch the demonstration.

"We made you a part of our group. We helped you with your animagi transformation, let you in on our pranks and we told you our biggest secrets and then…and then we saw you sitting with the Slytherins. You were whispering with them. You were telling them things about us," James accused.

Lily walked in while James was speaking, curious about all of the noise, and she saw Sirius hit Peter.

"Enough," Lily exclaimed. "Black, put him down!"

Reluctantly, he let go of his robes and Peter fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

"Why didn't you talk this out? Look at what you did, Black!"

Sirius frowned at Lily, "We tried talking, but the rat wouldn't speak. He is a traitor. If you want to stick up for him, that is fine with me."

Peter began getting up, but Sirius kicked him back down.

"Seriously, Sirius," Lily exclaimed.

Sirius ignored her and bent down beside Peter. "I never want to see your bloody face again, do you hear me, Pettigrew? Never."

He spat the last word and out of fear, Peter scurried from the room. Lily gave Sirius one last look before she followed him. Sirius sat on his bed, and for the first time, I was acknowledged.

"Anistasia, what are you doing here," James asked.

"I just want you to know that Remus wants me to go with you guys again tonight."

"Is he nuts," Sirius exclaimed.

"No," James replied, "Remus wouldn't say that. Not after what happened last night."

"It is because of what happened last night that makes him believe that I should be there tonight," I explained.

Sirius shook his head, "Go to your room. Do homework. Sleep. Do anything – I don't care. Just don't show up at the shack tonight."

I scowled at Sirius and left.

Sirius cant get his way that easily, I thought as I slipped on some work robes over my pajamas.

Just before I was about to leave the room, Lily got out of her bed. She was pointing her wand at me. I knew why immediately – James had told her what happened last night and told her to keep an eye on me.

"Eat bollocks, Evans." I whispered, becoming extremely pissed. "I have something to do."

She shook her head, "I can't let you. You are going to get hurt."

"Why do you always show up at the very worst times, huh? Go back to sleep. You didn't want to meddle in the affairs of the Marauders before – I suggest that it stays that way."

I turned to walk out of the room but Lily put her hand on my shoulder.

"This is not a Marauder affair," she told me. "This is a friend saving another friend's ass."

"Just because we have been roommates since first year doesn't make you my friend. I wouldn't be going to the shack if I didn't totally believe that I was safe. You have to trust me on this, Evans, and let me go," I demanded.

"I don't want to stand here arguing with you all night. We have an exam in Herbology tomorrow that I plan to ace."

"Then don't argue with me any further. Get your sleep and let me get done that I need to get done. Trust me, Evans. Please…"

She sighed, "Okay, I trust you. Just don't be a dumb ass out there, okay?"

I nodded and walked quietly out of the room. No one was in around, so I morphed. I got to the grounds and into the tunnel safely. In no time, I was in the shack and I could hear Remus thrashing about above me. I took the steps two at a time and came to the bedroom.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," I said quickly and the door flew open.

As I walked in, I watched Padfoot pounce on Moony and they both fell to the ground. A low growl came from Moony's throat as he threw Padfoot off of him. Padfoot hit the wall and slid to the ground as Prongs took his place in the scuffle. I had never seen Moony so violent. That is when I decided to intervene.

"Remus, I am here," I said loudly to make sure that he could hear me. "Look at me."

I took another step towards him and Moony's head turned to look at me. A moment later, Remus was lying on the ground in the place of the monster. I kneeled beside him and took his face in my hands.

"You were right," he whispered. "It wasn't just a one time thing."

I nodded and Sirius, in his human form, pulled me up to my feet.

"I thought we told you not to come," he exclaimed.

"You did, but you couldn't stop me."

James stepped forward, "I told Lily not to let you."

"She is resting up for her Herbology exam," I explained to him, then looked at Remus; he looked angry, "Sirius, I would let go of me if I were you."

He did and I kneeled back down beside Remus.

"Will you help me up to the bed," he asked. "I hurt so much – I can hardly move."

"Of course," I replied and helped him up.

We went into the nicer bedroom that we had been in earlier that day and I sat against the headboard of the bed. I held Remus' head in my lap, stroking it and trying to get him to relax.

"I am so tired," he whispered, "Thank God this is the last night."

"I know Remmie," I said, "Just go to sleep."

James entered the room a moment later.

"I don't know what you are doing, Ani," James whispered as Remus' eyes drifted shut, "but it is keeping him calm. The moon is bright and shining but Moony is himself."

I nodded, "I believe that tonight, he is going to sleep well. You guys can go back to your room. I have everything here under control."

James nodded and left as I got out of the bed and took off my robes. A moment later, I was under the covers with Remus, holding him close and falling asleep.

I felt a hand on my cheek and my eyes fluttered open. Remus was smiling down at me as I awoke and I gave him a tired smile back.

"Good morning," I whispered, "Sleep well?"

"Yes. Better than I have in a long time," he told me, "It worked. Your theory worked."

"Yeah."

We just looked at each other for a moment in silence. I knew that Remus was about to say something to me by the way he was brushing the hair out of my eyes. All I could do was wait.

"Thank you for last night," he said finally.

"Don't mention it. That is what friends are for."

I smiled, but something sharp stabbed me inside. The expression on Remus' face fell.

"Yeah," he said and got out of bed, "We have class in a while. Would you like to take a walk around the lake?"

I nodded and slipped my robes on over my pajamas. Once Remus and I were outside, a cool breeze hit us. I looked around and noticed that fall was coming our way quickly. Beautiful shades of orange, yellow, red and brown leaves were lining the ground. My bare feet walked over the dew-covered grass and kicked up the leaves.

"You don't wear shoes when you morph, do you," he asked.

"Sometimes."

"You look really cold. Are you all right? Do you want to go back up to the castle?"

I shook my head, "I am fine. It'll get warmer as the day goes on. Look, the sun is rising."

We walked over to a bench on the edge of the lake, facing the sunrise. Remus put his arm around me as we looked out at the lake and the colors that the slowly rising sun was casting on the softly rippling water and felt the warmth as it brightened the earth with its soft glow.

I smiled and took a deep breath of cool, fresh air, "In all of the years that I have been here, I have never even seen the sun rise."

"I come out here a lot the morning after a full moon," he said, pulling me closer to him, "It is refreshing to say the least. No matter how terrible the night before was, seeing the sunrise always gives me hope. It shows me that there is always another day and, in the end, everything will be okay."

My eyes closed as I listened to Remus' heartbeat beneath my head, "You are strong, Remus. Stronger then I could ever be."

I felt Remus shake his head, "There, you are wrong, Ani. You are stronger than I. You could have forgotten about me a long time ago and forgotten about our friendship. However, you have never turned your back on me – not once. You have stayed with me, and for that, I thank you for your strength."

We talked for a while longer and then walked up to the Gryffindor Tower to get dressed. I walked into my room quickly as Lily was putting on s shirt.

"Sorry," I said as I walked towards my trunk, but took a double take at her arm. There was a mark on her left arm above her elbow. "Hey, what's that," I asked, moving closer to her.

"Nothing," she replied, covering it with her shirt.

"Okay," I said, shrugging.

"Well, I have to get to breakfast…patrolling duties," she informed me, slipping on her robes more quickly than I have ever seen her; I believe it was mostly out of fear, "See you later."

She left in a hurry, and I thought nothing about that incident for the rest of the day.