Thanks to all reviewers! I'm sorry that's this is taking so long, but with finals coming up I really haven't had that much time to write. I'm sorry that it's so short, but this is an in-between chapter. The next one should be much longer. One last thing; I don't know how one becomes a teacher in the wizarding world, so I've used the word university for the place where teachers train. Enjoy!
Sirius' POV
It's amazing how quickly this year has gone by. When I think about it it's really quite depressing. This is my last year here and then it's off into the cold, cruel world. I suppose that I'll always have my friends though and that's what counts. I think that I'll also be seeing a lot of Dumbledore too, for a dark wizard named Voldemort is on the rise and I know that Dumbledore will need all the help he can get in fighting him.
Things haven't really changed much since Christmas. In January and February Remus and I spent long evenings by the fire and now as the weather gets a bit better, afternoons outside under a tree. The biggest event occurred in April.
When we were in our third year Peter made the remark that it would be helpful if we had a map that showed us where the teachers were on our late night runs to the kitchen. James took the idea and ran with it. So, by the end of our fourth year we had such a map that showed secret passageways and everything. Sadly it has been confiscated by Filch. Luckily we had enough time to wipe it clear before he took it, but I fear that it is gone for good.
Now it's May and N.E.W.T.s are fast approaching. All of us are studying a lot, but Remus is practically studying in his sleep. Some nights he doesn't crawl into bed until three in the morning. Right now we're sitting eating breakfast and he's got a book propped up against the juice jug.
"I've been thinking," says James suddenly.
"Did hell freeze over?" says Remus mildly as he comes out from behind his book, "James Potter is actually thinking about something?" James glares at him and Remus says, "Just don't strain yourself too hard." I smile to myself; Remus can have a nasty sense of humor when it's close to the full moon.
James looks like he's going to come back with a witty comment of his own, but he lets it go. "Anyway," he starts, "I was thinking that after school lets out the four of us should get a flat together for a while. It'll give us all somewhere to live while we get settled into the world."
"It also means that all of us will only have to pay a quarter of the rent," smirks Peter, "yes, count me in."
"As long as Remus and I are in the same room," I say with a smirk.
"Defiantly a two bedroom flat Wormtail," groans James. Peter nods vigorously in agreement.
"It sounds perfect James," says Remus quietly, "as long as I have somewhere to go during, uh, that time of the month."
"I'm sure that Dumbledore would still let us use the shack," I say.
"I'm in then," Remus replies, "start looking for a place." He pushes our copy of the Daily Prophet towards James and Peter who are seated across the table from us. He then returns to his studying.
"You know Jen we should do the same thing," states Lily. Jen nods and the two of them join Peter and James behind the newspaper. I smile at how perfect this will be and absently take Remus' hand.
Classes today are boring. It's not like they're easy, but the day just seems to drag on for forever. Every teacher has given us a lecture about the importance of N.E.W.T.s today and I'm getting rather sick of them. Every time we receive such lectures Remus gets this really worried look on his face and when I take his hand his palms are sweaty. This could be attributed to the fact that it's hotter than hell in some of the classrooms though.
When this day is finally over we drag ourselves up to the common room to do homework and to study. We settle into the corner which we claimed as our own in our first year and open the books.
By eleven o'clock James, Peter, Jen, and Lily call it quits. I glance over at Remus and for the first time in a while really look at him. His skin is very pale and the bags under his eyes are enormous. The full moon is in two days and I'm getting worried about him.
I gently trace one of the bags; forcing him to look at me. "You need to go to bed," I state, "Now."
"I can't," he says, "I've got too much studying to do. You go up; I'll be there in a bit."
"No," I say forcefully, "you've got bags under your eyes bigger than your eyes themselves. The moon will be full in two days and you need your rest."
"You don't understand," he says in an almost desperate tone, "I have to do well on these tests so that I can get into university."
"Remus you have some of the best grades in our year, of course you'll get into university."
"No," he says quietly, "not with my condition they won't. But I thought that maybe if I did really well on my N.E.W.T.s that they'd consider letting me in. I already can't be an Auror, so I thought that maybe I'd be a teacher instead." My heart clenches with this statement. Because he's a werewolf he can't be an Auror; something about Ministry regulations or something.
"You won't do well if you're too tired to remember what you studied," I say quietly as I wrap my arms around his thin body. "I don't want you to hurt yourself during the moon because of lack of sleep."
"Alright," he says with a small laugh, "you win mother."
"That's my boy," I laugh. I pick him up and cradle him like a baby. We then make our way up the stairs. He lets his head fall onto my shoulder and a tired yawn escapes him.
When he's ready for bed and my skin crème has been applied, I sit next to him on our bed. "Lay down," I say. When he does as requested, I place my hands on the smooth plains of his back and gently rub; lulling him to sleep. It's not like I don't trust him, but I have a feeling that if I go to sleep before he does, a book will find its way into his hands.
His breathing evens out, and I reluctantly remove my hands. I then reach under the bed and pull out a book. Just because I'm making him take a night off doesn't mean that I can. I study for an hour more before snuggling down beside my Remus.
Remus' POV
It's my last transformation before I leave Hogwarts. Call me sentimental, but it makes me a bit sad. This place has so many memories for me. I know that next month I'll probably be here again because Dumbledore has promised use of this place for as long as I need it, but it won't be the same. Moving into our own flat is a scary and exciting prospect that I'm looking forward to. I'm hoping that after James and Lily get married Sirius and I can get a place of our own.
Moonbeams stream through the window and the change grips me. Pain shoots through every molecule of my body and I black out. I awake to cool, wet nose butting into me. Padfoot licks me joyfully as I revive and get to my paws. I great the rest of my pack members and we set out into the forest.
I enjoy these nights now that I have my pack with me. Before they came it was awful, but now it's not so bad. The pain of the transformations is still great and I do occasionally bite or scratch myself, but it is much better. Padfoot and I wrestle in the forest and I'm happy.
When dawn draws close we head back to the shack. I transform back with almost as much pain as when I turned into my wolf form. When the last convulsion passes I feel strong arms encase my body as I fall towards the floor. The bed is soft as I am placed on it, and I feel my clothing being slowly eased onto my uncooperative limbs. I sink back into the pillows and the last thing I feel as I drift off to sleep is a warm body sliding in next to me.
Review!