Hello, I'm back. Sorry this chapter took so long, um what do I have for excuses this time… Oh yeah I got caught writing in Religion class, which is my main class for writing both Lord of the Rings fics and this one. Yeah that wasn't good. My teacher thinks I'm a complete freak… go me! Anyway, I swear the next chapter will be up in a few days. I'd say ummm next Thursday. I have two days of school next week so I will type up the next chapter and post it as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience and I hope you are enjoying the story. Just to let everyone know, I will be seeing this story til the end of it, no matter how long my absence I am writing more of it. I also apologize for the short chapter… it will be longer next time. The fic is also coming to and end, next chapter I'm dealing with exams and stuff.

Thank you to Luna, RedRaspberry, Karen Black, Shadow00, Avvy Kavvy, horseriding-muso, Thowra, ggyy, LuluIsALobster, ping*pong5, lara6, Amandinka, Someone Reading, Andie Potter, pressed for time, Greek Witch, Anne, Moonysgirl, skahducky, Baron Von Halfsmurfen, P. D. Yerf

For reviewing the last chapter and leaving such cool comments!!!!!

Just one or two comments

paradox01- I know he just 'nearly lost an eye' but the rumor mill at Hogwarts is even better than the one at my school!

Rhanna- thanks for the review, I actually plan to do that. I'm not going to write 2-5 years cause I don't know anything about the Animagus transformation stuff and I really don't want to go there. However I am planning on writing a story about the summer after their 5th year when Sirius goes to the Potters. It would be a summer fic, I wouldn't go into the year.

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Students did not stop talking about Davy Gudgeon for weeks. Dumbledore had again spoken to the school warning them about touching the tree. The rumors going around the school about Gudgeon though were enough to stop anyone from going a few miles of the tree. Some said he was in a coma and Dumbledore had to bring in specialists, others said he died and his ghost was going to haunt the school for centuries. All anyone knew for sure was he was still in the hospital wing, and no one expect his best friends were allowed in. They hadn't commented too much on his condition either.

The four Gryffindors though knew better. Sirius and James had told Remus about their conversation with Dumbledore but it did not help his mood. The two boys had woken up to find Remus gone, but after a quick search, they found him taking a shower. He came out pale faced and with large circles under his eyes.

"Remus eat something," James muttered to him while the other three ate breakfast. Remus had been staring at Davy Gudgeon's empty seat at the Hufflepuff Table. His eyes glazed and not blinking was noticed by all of Gryffindor though no one said anything.

"Remus people are noticing that something is wrong," Sirius leaned over and spoke to him.

The doors to the Great Hall opened at that moment and everyone looked up. Dumbledore walked in with Davy Gudgeon, who walked slowly and with an eye patch over his right eye. James and Sirius looked at Remus who if possible had turned even whiter.

"Remus he's alive, he is walking, and he's fine!" James pointed out.

"But… the eye patch!" Remus' voice was higher than usual.

"It's a bandage that's all. It's just healing," Sirius pointed out.

"He looks fine to me," Peter had looked up and now was back at his food.

Remus' eyes followed Davy Gudgeon to his seat and continued to watch the third year student, who ate and did not realize he was being watched.

They had a free period that morning. They were scheduled to have Transfiguration but McGonagall went to the Ministry of Magic right after breakfast and was not expected back that day. No one knew why she went though. The Gryffindors used their free period playing chess and thinking of tricks to play. They had a few plans to use on the Slytherins when the bell rang and they grabbed their books to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Remus was very solemn during their free. He was content to staring into the fire while James and Sirius planned chess. They tried to get him involved in their planning but he didn't respond to their calls.

While Remus and Peter took notes about Dark Creatures and James slept Sirius sat back in his chair looking at the board. There was notes written on it, but Sirius was thinking about Remus. He wanted to do something to help him, something to ease the stress and pain of the full moons. He knew that James felt the same way he did, it didn't seem fair that Remus should have to go through this hell every time the moon was full. He could think of dozens of other people who deserved this, most of them in his family, but Remus didn't. His thoughts ventured to the way his family had taught him about werewolves. A year or two before Hogwarts one of his uncles showed him pictures of a werewolf eating a human. He had told Sirius that werewolves were dirty, ignorant, untrustworthy and barely human. He had believed that until he found out about Remus. Remus was the complete opposite of what he had grown up believing.

When the bell rang Sirius was no closer to any solution than he was when he walked in the room.

That night they all went to bed at the same time. James sat on his bed as Remus came in from the bathroom.

"When are you going to open your eyes and realize what happened to Gudgeon is not your fault?" James asked him.

Sirius looked up from his trunk. He raised an eyebrow at James' frontward behavior but he made his way over to James showing his support.

"What?" Remus looked up.

"Did you tell the tree to attack him? Did you tell him to go and touch it?" Sirius backed up James.

"No."

"Then why do you think it's your fault? Look he was being an idiot, its his own fault!"

"The tree is there because of me though!" Remus understood where James was going with this.

"That doesn't matter. Dumbledore gave them warnings, he told them not to go near the Tree, but they did. It's not your fault!"

"You have to stop killing yourself over this Remus," James told him. "It happened, he's fine, get over it. People are going to start to wonder why you are acting so weird. Plus, you shouldn't be in this kind of a mood during the full moon, you are going to tear yourself apart."

"When did you get so smart on werewolf behavior?" asked Remus.

"Since I started living with one," James responded smartly. He got off his bed and went over to Remus. "Blame yourself all you want, but you didn't cause it. Thankfully now, no one is going near that Tree. Dumbledore knew what he was planting when he suggested it, so just live with it. Don't destroy yourself over this."

Remus looked at James and then Sirius. He nodded and made for his bed.

The next time they had Transfiguration, McGonagall started out the class with a short demonstration. She turned into a small tabby cat. Sirius sat straight up when she turned. He sat at the Animagus for a full minute while the tabby cat walked around the room. McGonagall then returned to her human form. Sirius turned to James with shaking hands;

"We could become Animagi!"

"What?" James whispered.

"We can turn into animals!"

"Animals?"

"Like McGonagall!"

"Mr. Black! Mr. Potter! Pay attention!"

Remus glared at Sirius and shook his head forcefully.

"Excuse me Professor!" Sirius raised his hand. "I was wondering about the Animagus transformation. How long did you study to become one?"

"Two years Mr. Black," She responded. "The Animagus transformation takes time and dedication, along with a number of spells, a potion and a complete understanding of the anatomy of the animal you are to become. One does not pick their Animagus form, if you are able to make the transformation your form is based on personality. Those wishes to become an Animagus would do well to have a mentor who is an expert at Transfiguration or is an Animagus themselves. Countless people have tried and failed either killing or permanently damaging themselves. I myself was the student of Professor Dumbledore who is an expert at Transfiguration and has written books on the Animagus transformation."


Remus turned to Sirius and again shook his head.

Sirius smiled at their professor, "Thank you."

She looked at him and then continued with the lesson.

Outside of the class Remus grabbed Sirius' arm, "No! I won't allow it." The usually quiet and reserved boy snarled.

"Is it a crime to want to do something for your friends?" Sirius asked.

"You heard McGonagall… its too dangerous!"

"When has that stopped us?" asked Sirius. He looked to James and Peter for support; "We could do it!"

James shrugged, "It would be challenging."

"Challenging? It would be suicidal!"

"Well it would be an interesting way to go," Sirius smiled but quickly stopped at the look on Remus' face.

"I won't allow you to put yourself in danger because of me!" Remus turned away.

Sirius grabbed his arm this time, "Listen to me! We want to help you! We can't stand to see you suffering every time… just let us help."

Remus' expression softened. He looked at James, Peter and finally at Sirius. He shook his head, "No Sirius. You must understand...this is my burden. It will destroy you."

"It doesn't matter. We are friends, let us help you bear the burden."

"It would be safe Remus, you can't hurt other animals, just humans," James spoke softly. "I don't think its up to you if we do this or not. I think we know the risks, and I for one am willing to take them."

"Me too."

"Peter?" James asked.

Peter nodded his head.

Remus shook his head; "This is my problem, my curse, if I had known you would think of this, I would never have become friends with you. This is something I will carry alone, and for my whole life. Don't make it more difficult." He walked away. The other three boys were too stunned by his comment to follow. They looked at each other and went back to the common room defeated.

Author's Note: anyone catch the LoTR lines in the chapter?? Especially at the end? Lol, I couldn't resist. I don't own the LoTR lines or Harry Potter! Oh and also, I don't know when McGonagall becomes an Animagus… who does, so I decided to put it in here so that would give her an excuse to talk about Animagus before their third year.