Inside the Slytherin Commons sat Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Lucius. Though, Lucius had made the mistake of sitting down before Narcissa, and she just happened to plop her thin frame upon his lap.

"Dear cousin and his annoying friends need to be taught a lesson." Narcissa calmly stated as she ran a hand through Lucius' long, blonde hair.

"I bet Aunty Black wouldn't mind if he was to suddenly disappear, in a freak accident." Suggested Bellatrix, as she idly played with her wand; running a thin finger atop it then around to the stubby side, to end resting on the point.

"Indeed, she would probably consider it a favor."

"But what to do…" Mused Lucius, as he allowed his early wife to continue stroking his hair. "After all, it is the last year we shall spend here therefore must we waste our time on the likes of them?"

Narcissa raised an eyebrow twisting her neck so that she could look at Lucius. "Not waste, my Lucius."

"Then devising a plan would be best." Bellatrix answered for both Lucius and Narcissa, nearly falling over vomiting with the lovey-dovey scene that had just played out. Though, her eyes narrowed in the wisdom of a secret that neither of her fellow Slytherins, or anyone for that matter knew.

James and Peter sat about the other Gryffindors in Great Hall. The house tables were laden with much food and drinks, and the area was full of good cheer and chattering.

Turning his head around in circles, James continued to mutter to Peter. "Where are they? I don't see them, not even Lily."

"I'm sure that Remus and Sirius are talking right this moment. Probably getting everything settled out too." Eyeing the Marauder's Map first, Peter fully pulled it out and showed it to James beneath the table, pointing to the two dots labeled Sirius and Remus together.

Nodding slowly, James inclined. "Uh huh. I suppose you're right." And finding nothing more with that conversation, took a small bite of the roll that was in his hand.

"Y-you…didn't…feel like a Marauder…?" Sirius stared at Remus as if he stood in front of him, without a head. The words stuttered and he nearly fell where he stood.

Merely shaking his head, Remus was unsure of what to say or do.

"W-was it, Sniverus? Or Bella, Narcy, and Malfus?" He tried to find blame in the others, using their well-known nicknames.

Again Remus shook his head. "I don't know why that's how I felt…it was just something that…well to tell you the truth, it sent shivers down my spine."

Sirius looked to Remus, eyes showing the pain that he felt.

"Sirius, let's not dawdle on it." Remus said trying to force a smile. "There isn't anything to be done about it, and I feel fine now. James and Peter are most likely wondering where we are too…"

"Yeah…"

With a firm nod, Remus began to lead Sirius back into the castle, and headed towards Great Hall.

Peter watched James closely, looking at his movements, occasionally glancing at James' goblet. The doors opened and Remus and Sirius came in, one after the other. James stood up immediately and began to wave the two over.

Taking advantage of James' preoccupied activity, Peter swept his hand, which held his wand, over the goblet, dropping a small spell among the liquid, and quickly retreated. Now, if James drank the drink, then his fate would be sealed.

"Oi, Sirius, Remus!" James continued to wave his hands until he was sure that the two Marauders were making their way towards the spot in which he stood, and still then, he did not sit until they had taken their rightful places beside him.

"Hallo, Padfoot. Moony." Smiling, Peter tried to ignore the thing he had just done, and went on with the regular schedule of life.

"You alright, Remus?" Questioned James as he reached for his goblet; Peter's heart leapt.

"Yeah, fine." Nodding his head, Remus lied plainly, and James as well as Sirius had noticed, but both said nothing of the matter. Tonight's a full moon… He thought sadly through the smile.

To the disappointment of Peter, James replaced his goblet on the table and sighed.

"James Potter!!!!!!"

The voice rang through the whole of Great Hall, causing all of the students within to cringe with the exception of every Slytherin, who snickered through their food.

Sheepishly smiling at the figure that towered over him, James waved a half limp hand. "Hehe…hi Lily…"

"Hi, indeed!" Lily fumed. "Where were you two hours ago?! I was waiting for you outside in the garden like you said!"

James' face grew pallid. "Oh my God… I'm sorry!" He clasped both hands above his head finger-to-finger, palm-to-palm. "I'm so sorry! I can't believe I forgot!"

"Hmph. Forgot, wasn't that your excuse last time? And the time before that? I didn't think kids our age were that forgetful." Taking a seat next to James, as Sirius jumped to his feet and sidled next to Remus on James' other side.

The pallid expression soon changed from that of pale to a blushed, rosy, red. "I-I-I…" He stuttered.

Gingerly reaching for James' goblet, Lily took a dainty swig, still managing to hold he ladylike manner, and smiled pecking James lightly on the cheek. "Don't worry, I forgive you." And among a mass of high pitched whistles and jeering from the Gryffindors she left.

Peter was aghast. His eyes bulged and he swore beneath his breath. Master would not be pleased, and that always led to bad things. The only way that the spell would work upon James now, was if the two married. But his small mind never thought it capable of the squabbling pair.

Flustered, James could feel his face turning bright red, and he quickly tried to squeeze his way out of the room, ushering to the other Marauders. Silently, they all made their way to the Gryffindor commons room, where everyone exploded with laughing and conversation.

"Prongs, you silly git! You should've seen your face when Lily planted you one!" Grinning widely, Sirius heftily launched a pat on the back.

"Oh, do be quiet all of you!" James said through a rather broad smile.

"Alright, alright!"

"We'd best be getting ready for classes anyway." Remus added halfheartedly. "I certainly wouldn't enjoy getting detention for being late."

"Of course not, Moony. Us Marauders only get detentions from misbehavior." Through the cheeky smile, James placed his right hand upon his heart and tilted his chin upwards. "I solemnly swear---"

"---I am up to no good." The other three chimed in.

"Exactly."

Peter's earlier good-humored demeanor had been demolished with the escapade of Lily Evans. But there were others on his side, on His side and with the failure of one another would succeed.

They broke up for classes, Sirius and Peter off to Potions, and James and Remus to Transfiguration. Time passed and they yet again switched classes, Remus and Peter to DADA [Defense Against the Dark Arts], James and Sirius to CMC [Care of Magical Creatures].

The four enjoyed their time studying what was to be learned, and never once did the thought of the full moon rise to Remus' attention again, and he forgot to tell the others so that he could be escorted to the Shrieking Shack. Or, did he actually consciously forget?

Was it possible that someone wanted him to forget purposely?

"Remus Lupin, such a foolish student." Bellatrix mused fixedly, as she ran a finger around her wand. "You're just the perfect tool for my plan to seek revenge on my cousin. But, all four of you will feel the pain, and never know what hit you."

After the four hours of classes the group of four reassembled outside of the GCR [Gryffindor Commons Room] all holding their books and parchment, ink pots and quills. They had all had some form of dinner had it been a quick piece of bread with butter or a bit of fruit or nothing but a glass of October Ale.

"Phew, that was an interesting class." Sirius commented in full sarcasm. "I mean, Bins must've rambled on and on for at least an hour straight on how he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Didn't get a lick of history from that guy."

Remus, who had been in the same class, laughed lightly. "Course we did, Sirius. The History of Professor Bins."

"Ha, ha, ha." Turning from the group, Sirius faced the fat lady's portrait. "Hm, let's see… Snickerbum."

As the portrait swung open, the four clambered in, yawning.

"I don't know about you, but I'm tired." Muttered Peter as he rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah." James nodded.

"Well then, g'night everyone." Sirius waved and headed towards the boy's dormitory. Peter and James soon followed suit, leaving Remus alone.

Sitting in front of the embers of the dying fire, Remus stared at the burned logs. His eyelids fell though he tried to keep himself from slipping into a slumber. However, they closed and he slumped against the chair next to him.

It felt like he had just fallen asleep the clouds parted from the sky and the large, glowing sphere could be seen in the night sky. Remus' eyes shot open, and he twisted in pain. His eyes grew wide as he tried to prevent himself from crying out. He had to get to the Shrieking Shack.

Through the unbearable pain, Remus stepped from the GCR falling to the floor with a thud. Remus could feel his eyes rolling around in his head and he bit his bottom lip, pushing himself to his feet. Fur began to sprout from his body and his patched up robes ripped at the seams. As his nose grew wide into a snout, and his ears grew pointed, Remus ran. Tripping on the top step, he stumbled and rolled head over heel to the bottom.

Upon reaching it, he tried to get right up and run again, but he had been reduced to all fours. This however, had been a partial advantage as he could run faster. Before he could stop himself, he heard himself let out howl to the moon and his eyes bulged as he realized what he had done. Clasping both hands to his snout, he listened hoping against the odds that no one had heard.

No voices reached Remus' ears, and he would've known, which caused him to sigh out of relief. Before his animal instincts took over again, he sprinted out of the castle.

Removing herself from the shadows of the castle walls when she saw the form speed across the grounds, Bellatrix grinned eyes narrowed. "I've been waiting for you, Remus." Within a moment's time, her form had mutated its way in the animagus material, so that a tall, black scaled, gleaming eyed dragon stood where she once was.

Remus continued to run, and he could feel the beast within him fighting to get out no matter how much he tried to fight it. The pain was truly unheard of and his eyes watered. He clawed at the ground leaving large amounts of upturned dirt and the transformation continued to pass through, until it was over. Again, he let out a shrill cry to the moon, though he did not cringe when he heard its full volume.

Back in the boy's dormitory Sirius sat up, a chill running down his back with the howl. Almost out of reflex, he whirled his head to see the full moon in the sky and cursed beneath his breath. Jumping out of bed so quickly that his feet tangled in the sheets and he landed on the ground with a thump, he crawled over to James' bed.

"James! We've got a problem."