Hello again kind readers. Once more I have to thank you for such kind reviews and for trusting the author of this story. It may seem like I'm being harsh on the characters now- in fact (being the pathetic sod that I am) I was practically crying as I wrote this chapter. But things can only get better (no, honestly they will get better!)

So review, be kind, and revel in the fact that Johnny Depp has kept his gold teeth from Pirates of the Caribbean.

~Moony's POV, Thursday 11th November~

Pack.

Where is pack?

Where is Padfoot?

Moony misses Padfoot.

Wait. What do I smell?

Man-flesh.

Hungry.

Where is the man?

Hungry.

Kill.

Kill.

Kill.

There is the man!

KILL.

KILL.

KILL.

Man is going!

Man has been saved by stag-boy. Prongs.

No kill for Moony tonight.

Moony left alone.

Padfoot abandoned Moony.

~Remus' POV, 12th November~

I'm sat up in a bed in the hospital ward, trying to battle with the growing knot of dread in my stomach. Hesitant rays of early sunlight drift through the window at the end of the ward but everything is silent so I gather that most of the school is yet to wake up.

James comes into the hospital ward. His eyes are bloodshot and for the first time since I have know him he looks depressed.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

James looks at me sadly. "I should be asking you the same question," he says.

"I'm alright."

James shakes his head and pulls a chair up to my bed. He slumps down into it and puts his head into his hands.

"What happened?" I ask fearfully. I can remember nothing about yesterday's full moon except that none of the other Marauders came to run with me and that I encountered a human while in wolf form.

James lifts his head from his hands and looks at me searchingly. "So nobody's told you?"

"No," I say with a tremor in my voice. I have to ask my question. I have to know. "Did I kill somebody last night?"

A look of relief passes across James' face. "No, Remus. Nobody was harmed."

"But something did happen?"

I notice that James is clenching and unclenching his fists, as he sometimes does when angry. "Please, James! Please! You must tell me what happened. I can't wait for anybody else to. Tell me," I beg.

James takes a deep breath. "Sirius told Snape that you're a werewolf."

"Sirius wouldn't-"

"He then told Snape where to find you and Snape went to the shrieking shack, where he encountered-"

"-Moony! Snape saw me! Lord, I knew I met a human last night! God, James, I was going to kill him! Kill him!" I force myself to calm down. "But Sirius wouldn't-"

James looks at the floor. "Sirius betrayed you, Remus. He went straight to Dumbledore and told him what had happened. Dumbledore has been talking to him and Snape, and to me, for the last few hours."

The back of my throat has started to burn. Tears are welling in my eyes. I try one last time. "But Sirius wouldn't do that. Sirius wouldn't hurt me. He wouldn't-"

"Sirius betrayed you." James is now looking so utterly wretched that I almost pity him. Now the tears in my eyes have started to well over and my hands, which had been resting quietly on the covers, are trembling. Sirius betrayed me.

"But he loved me" I manage to protest. "He said he loved me! Why, James? Why would he do this to me?" I cry.

"I don't know," says James helplessly.

Tears, blackened by eyeliner, are dripping down onto the bed covers and staining the sheets. James sits looking awkward for a few moments, and then breaking his rule of not hugging, he wraps me in his arms. Vaguely I realise that it was James who stopped me killing Snape last night, and I want to thank him but I cannot find any words so I just cling to him. And shutting my eyes, I see the image of another black-haired boy who, try as I might, I can't see as a betrayer.

~Later~

"I'm sorry about this, Remus," says Dumbledore. "I shall have to write to your parents, of course. But I must stress that Hogwarts is happy to have you for as long as you wish to remain here."

"Thanks, Sir," I say, trying not to cry again. I hate to cry as once I start it's something I have no control of.

"If you have anything you wish to say to your parents, I can give you a few minutes to write it," Dumbledore says kindly, offering me a piece of parchment and a quill.

"No, Sir, there's nothing I'd- Wait! Yes, there is something I'd like to tell them." Grabbing the parchment, I hastily scribble a quick message:

My dear parents,

                     I was very upset and alarmed to receive such a howler yesterday. I have written no note concerning my sexuality and moreover, am in no relationship with Sirius Black of any kind.

                                                                                                          Remus.

I hand over the message to Dumbledore who looks at me gently and reassures me that he will not read it. "You are now free to leave the hospital wing, Remus," he says.

Outside, I head automatically to the library, the day's lessons have not yet finished, and it is completely deserted. I take a book down from the charm's shelf but find that the words hold no meaning for me.

I remember the note I gave to Dumbledore just a few minutes ago. A sudden wave of guilt washes over me. I have never before told a direct lie to my parents and I realise how Sirius must feel- his relationship with his parents has always been a web of hatred, secrets, lies and deceit.

Thinking of Sirius, I must admit one thing to myself: betrayer or not, I still love him.

So maybe there's hope for us yet.