Hello all! I am SO sorry for the delay in this chapter, but I have been banging my head against the wall suffering from writer's block! AH! It was horrible; I had no idea where to go next! I got this idea in American Government today, thank god!

I hope you enjoy the chapter, and thank you to all the kind reviews. Thanks to crazy-lil-nae-nae, Thowra, horseriding-muso, P. D. Yerf, MagickalStar135, SilverKnight7, Moonysgirl, Elves of the Moon for reviewing the last chapter!!!!

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The four Gryffindors sat outside by the lake on the first good warm, spring day. Remus brought out books to study from, but Sirius and James sat and talked. Peter hovered over Remus, who was reading aloud from one of his books so Peter could learn too. James had settled on the grass for a nice nap, and Sirius had gone down to the lake to tickle the giant squid and give it food.

There was only the sound of Remus reading for a while. It was peaceful out here, Sirius decided as he looked back to Remus and found James sleeping next to them. It must have been the books that put James to sleep, Sirius decided, how else could he have fallen asleep on a day like this? He had just turned back to the giant squid when he heard Remus stop reading, and then swear.

Remus never swore, actually none of them really did. Not yet anyway. However, Remus did. Sirius looked up at him, and his eyes traveled in the direction that Remus was looking.

"Did I hear Remus swear?" James woke with a yawn and a question.

"You just swore?" Sirius looked back at Remus not seeing what he was.

"Look." Remus pointed over at the Whomping Willow. A crowd had gathered there and even from where they sat, they could hear cheering and yelling.

"Oh no."

"Those idiots."

"Morons."

The crowd had gathered around the Whomping Willow, and was cheering each other on, trying to get someone to touch the tree. This game had been started in the fall, but thankfully winter had come and discontinued it. Now that spring had come, it seemed those anxious students to touch the tree had returned. No one had gotten near the tree yet, it was known to all that if anyone got near it, the tree would swing its branches, but those agile and nimble had gotten close but turned around quickly.

Remus got up from where he sat.

"Remus sit down, there is nothing you can do," Sirius advised. Remus didn't need to advertise the fact that he knew just how dangerous the tree was, or to tell people not to go near it.

"I have to stop them, I can't let them go near that Tree!" Remus started to run toward the crowd.

As quick as lightening Sirius was on his feet and grabbed Remus' arm. Sirius, being stronger of the two pulled him back. "No Remus."

"Remus they can't know that you know anything about that tree," James stood up and went up to Sirius and Remus.

"Its too dangerous," Peter put in.

"They could get hurt!" Remus whined.

"Dumbledore has warned them, come on let's go back to the common room. There is nothing any of us can do."

James packed up Remus' books and with Remus between them they started back up to the castle. Remus kept looking over his shoulder at the tree. He bit his lip, if anyone got hurt because of the tree… it was his fault it was planted in the first place.

"I just don't want anyone hurt because of me," He said to his three friends.

"We know Remus," Sirius patted his shoulder. "We know."

Inside the castle, the four Gryffindors missed all the excitement that happened near the tree.

They went to dinner that night to find chaos in the Great Hall. They stood in the doors of the Great Hall staring. Half the teachers were not in the Hall, including Dumbledore, and the Hufflepuff table most of the girls were crying. Every table was whispering, and some at the Slytherin table were smirking.

"What happened?" Sirius asked aloud.

"I don't know," James responded shaking his head.

They headed to the Gryffindor Table and sat down. James leaned forward, "What happened?" He asked a second year sitting across from them.

"Oh it was horrible! A third year Hufflepuff, Gudgeon was dared to touch the tree, and he did it! Well he tried, the tree swung down, grabbed him and the other branches hit him. He was swinging high in the air, maybe 20 feet! It killed him, but then Dumbledore came out, furious that anyone had gotten near the tree, but then he brought Gudgeon back to life! I heard him tell one of the teachers, that he will be able to keep both his arms, and his right leg! He won't be brain damaged either, he was going to be but then that bird of his healed him more!"

"The tree picked him up and tossed him around?" James asked. He stole a glance at Sirius.

At that moment there was a crash and everyone at the Gryffindor table looked to see Remus getting up and sprinting out of the Hall.

"What's with him? Was he a friend of Gudgeon? Dumbledore had to stop his other friends from arranging his funeral." The girl continued.

"Thank you," Sirius nodded to her and James and Sirius both grabbed some bread before running after Remus.

They didn't catch up with him until they reached the common room. The Fat Lady was muttering to herself about how some people didn't have any manners.

"Lions and courage!" James yelled and without a hello to her either they entered.

"Fine then, say hello or thank you. What does it matter to me?" She muttered closing the door.

"Remus what are you doing?" James asked upon entering their dorm.

"I'm leaving! I'm going home! I won't be a problem to anyone else!"

"You seriously believed her? Remus, he's not dead!"

Remus was throwing his clothes and books in his trunk.

"Well if he's not dead, someone else will die if I stay here!"

"No, you aren't going anywhere!" James started to take things out of his trunk. He put them on his bed. With an angry yell, Remus took the things and threw them back in his trunk.

"No!" James took them out.

"I'll do what I want!"

"You aren't thinking clearly!" James took them back out.

Sirius slammed the trunk closed. He sat down on it, followed by Peter.

"There, you aren't leaving!" Sirius looked pleased with himself.

"I don't need my stuff then, I'll just go!"

"Stop it! Just stop it Remus! You're being stupid!" James blocked the door. "It's not your fault!"

"Stop blaming yourself for everything. You didn't tell him to touch the tree!"

Remus though threw himself on his bed, shut his curtains and went under his covers. The three boys looked at each other. Silence was in the room.

"Remus."

"James lets go find out what happened." Sirius suggested. "Give him space."

"Peter, don't let him leave please." James asked.

Peter nodded, and continued to sit on the trunk.

"We will be back soon!" The two boys promised and with one last look at Remus' bed they went off.

They ran down to the hospital wing as fast as they could. James was in the lead and he stopped quickly almost going past the door to the wing. James looked inside, Dumbledore; small Professor Flitwick, McGonagall, Pomfrey, Salmon and a few other wizards that the two boys didn't know were inside all around a single bed. James and Sirius couldn't see who was in the bed, or their condition.

James knew better to disturb the Headmaster so they waited. James slid down the wall and sat on the cold stone floor preferring it to standing. Sirius stood for awhile but then he too sat on the floor next to James.

"Do you think there is much damage?"

James looked up at the window that he was sitting under, and sighed deeply, "I hope not."

They sat and waited… and waited. They weren't sure how much time had gone by but both knew dinner was long over and most of the students were settling in and starting their homework. James looked around; the halls were growing dark and cold.

"Wonder what time it is?" Sirius sighed.

"I don't know," James yawned.

They continued to wait.

"He seems to be resting comfortably," James woke with a start. He nudged Sirius who had also fallen asleep waiting. The voices were coming toward the door, and both boys stood up now.

Dumbledore emerged from the hospital wing with Professor McGonagall. Both teachers were surprised to see the two Gryffindors.

"I believe it's past curfew boys," Dumbledore looked down at them.

"Oh, I'm sorry sir, but we had to know. Is he going to be okay? Rumors said that he died and well you brought him back to life?" James asked.

Dumbledore sighed, "He will be fine. He nearly lost an eye, but thankfully he will be fine." He surveyed the two boys, "Why did you want to know?"

"Well sir, its Remus."

"He feels very bad sir," Sirius nodded. "We wanted to find out his condition so we could tell him, stop him from worrying that he was dead."

"We didn't think so sir, but we thought it would be best to find out," James continued.

"Ah yes, I would imagine Mr. Lupin would be feeling guilty at this time. Tell him for me that Mr. Gudgeon is fine, and will recover in time. He should worry no more."

"Thank you sir!" James smiled.

"We will tell him."

"One more thing boys, I trust you two-well you three know that this secret does not go beyond those who already know?"

"Of course sir," James nodded.

"We would never tell anyone," Sirius and James both understood what the thing was.

"Good, good," Dumbledore smiled, "I hoped that Mr. Lupin would find friends such as yourselves. Run along now, and if you get caught by a teacher or Prefect, tell them you have my permission to be out, and if there is a problem they can see me."

"Thank you sir!" They took off down the hall and yelled back to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore watched them run off. He turned to McGonagall; "Their years here will strengthen their friendship so that none can get between them." He smiled, "and that is exactly what all of them need."