Alright, here is another chapter. One that you were all disappointed was not in the last chapter. I felt it deserved its own chapter. Please R/R! Thanks for all the great reviews, I am glad that everyone loves the story. Um, someone asked how far I was going with this, I don't know how much longer… um I need some really good ideas to continue to the end of the year. My last chapter is then getting off the train, but I might skip to there… I don't know. I'm running out of ideas. Any help is appreciated!

I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does!!!

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Congratulating each other, they returned to the Gryffindor Common Room. They had the Zonko bags stuffed in their pockets and under their robes.

"Quidditch," James spoke to the Fat Lady and they went in both smiling at their success.

They went in to drop their bags off in the dorm, but when they got there, Remus and Peter stood there waiting for them. Remus had his arms crossed across his chest and his face had a stern look on it.

"Where were you?" He asked.

"Out."

"Why does it matter?" James asked.

"You left during dinner. We checked here, in the library, everywhere. Where did you go?" Remus told them.

"We had business to attend to," Sirius looked at Remus, "mother."

"You went into Hogsmeade," Remus looked at the bags they now took out of their pockets and placed in their respected trunks. "How?"

"We will keep our secrets and you can keep yours," James shrugged.

"Unless you would like to tell us yours, and in which case afterwards we will tell you

where we went and how," Sirius continued.

"I have no secrets," Remus unfolded his arms and took an involuntary step back.

"You don't?" James' eyebrows raised and he glanced at Sirius before continuing. "Then where do you go every month? You come back tired, worn out, sometimes with a scratch on your face or arms, and you get all that from going home? Do you have to fight a dragon to enter your house?"

"I have a cat," Remus stumbled on his words.

"Remus no matter what, you are our friend, and nothing will change that. We promise, right James."

"We are friends forever, we will never let go of this friendship. Right Peter?" James nodded in agreement and then looked at the final member of the group, Peter who was very shy around the boys.

"Ye-Yes," Peter nodded his head.

"Remus we have an idea what is going on, but there are so many questions," James confessed. "Trust us."

"You are never hear when that old ghoul starts making noise from outside, from that Shack!" Sirius pointed out. "You are never here on the full moon. Or are you?"

Remus was backing up as the two boys pointed out all the clues. He was now at the wall

and shaking madly. He didn't meet the eyes of the two Gryffindors who stood in front of him, and he wished to be away, to find a quiet place to hide all his secrets and never let anyone find out.

"Just tell us Remus, it doesn't matter to us," Sirius urged.

Remus' eyes were darting from James to Sirius and then to Peter. Peter he noticed was

confused, but the two stronger boys were not. They both looked at him, their eyes pleading for the truth, for them to be aware of the secrets hidden inside Remus.

Remus' hands were still shaking, his face had paled and his eyes kept darting around. And then suddenly, he sprang as if a tiger let out of his cage. He ran toward the door, to escape, to leave what he believed was a prison.

But Sirius stood in front of the door and grabbed him around the middle preventing him from leaving.

"This is killing you Remus, let us help you. Let us help you bear the load," Sirius told him. He whispered it to him, and then released him.

Seeing he wouldn't be able to escape, Remus retreated into the corner of the room. James and Sirius watched him carefully. They both pitied him, and their eyes tried not to show it though. They had a feeling that Remus did not want their pity, but it was difficult when he was retreating into the shadows, hiding from them.

"No secrets among friends Remus," Sirius shook his head.

"What secret do you think I have?" Remus tried one last time to deny everything. "I have none."

"Well, we think… Remus… are you… well… um… you know… er."

"Are you a werewolf?" Sirius came out and said it. He knew that if he hesitated he would never have been able to say it.

Remus slid down the wall. He looked at nothing for a few seconds and then put his hands over his face and let his face hit his knees. He felt ashamed to be in the room with them, and that he didn't want them to see him. Why, how had they figured it out? Had they not been careful enough? Why did someone have to know? Remus started to cry silently. All the three Gryffindors could see was his messed up brown hair. They stood in place for a few minutes, not sure what to do next.

James was saddened by Remus' problem. He knew that they were right but James wished they weren't. Why did they have to be? Why did Remus have to have this monthly problem? Why did he have to have this fate?

Sirius then walked over to Remus and motioned for James and Peter to join him. Together they took Remus' arms and lifted him up.

"Listen to us Remus, we don't care. We are your friends, and we always will be," Sirius told him firmly.

"You are our friend, and we will never forget that," James continued.

"We are your friends," Peter squeaked.

Remus' eyes were red and still had a few tears on his face. He kept his head down, but now he raised it.

"We have all secrets, and we all have faults Remus. But together we will get through it," Sirius promised him.

"We will do anything we can to help you every month," James also promised. "We promise forever."

Remus looked at Sirius, and then James and Peter. He did not say anything but at that moment, as they still held Remus' arms, Remus took his hands and held them back. Nothing needed to be said at that moment.

They sat in class the next day. Sirius doodled on a piece of parchment. He stopped and glanced at James and then Remus. Remus who was looking down at his desk. He had not met the eyes of the other three since the previous night. Sirius glanced back at James who shrugged.

Sirius nudged Remus who glanced us, "Never forget that it doesn't matter to us."

"Is there a problem Mr. Black?" Professor McGongall asked.

"No Professor," Sirius told him but looked back at James. They never felt so hopeless.

The full moon came two weeks later. That night in the first year dorm Sirius, James and Peter were looking out the windows at the full moon. Sirius and James were sitting with their backs against the wall looking out the tall window. They stared at the full moon and listened to the howling of what everyone else thought was the evil ghoul.

"I want to help him," Sirius confessed to James.

"There has to be something we can do," James had not taken his eyes off the full moon for about five minutes.

Sirius had his head in his hands, "How much pain do you think he goes through?"

"I don't want to think of it," James sighed.

"Why can't he ease his pain? Why are we so helpless?"

Silence.

"I hate this."

"So do I."

Sirius looked around, Peter was asleep in his bed. He knew though he would find any sleep tonight, not while the full moon was out and Remus was down there. What did Remus do to deserve this fate? Why did he have to go through this hell every month?

He found no answers to his questions that night.