Chapter Forty-Five

(January 7th, 1977)

His face stung.

That was the first thing that came to mind when Remus jerked awake in the middle of the Shrieking Shack. His pale skin was covered in dirt from the floor that stuck to his skin thanks to a coating of sweat. His body ached and his breathing was hard. It was always disorienting when he woke after a long night as a werewolf. Glancing around the room Remus seen that he did some damage to the walls, scratched, furniture ruined (even more so then it was before).

This could only mean one thing. James, Sirius, and Peter didn't come the previous night. Which was curious. They always came, simply because with them around Remus didn't end up hurting himself. He was calm with his friends as they slept nearby in animal form. A shaky hand reached up to his stinging face and pulled away covered in a sticky red liquid.

Blood.

He gave a sigh and slowly came to stand, in search of the clothes he had taken off the previous night. Praying to whatever higher power that his wolf form didn't eat them. After all, he couldn't very well walk into the castle naked.

He finally found his clothes, taking a moment he used his shirt to clean his face of the blood. He wasn't going to want to look into a mirror anytime soon. Remus could only wonder how bad he damaged his face, scratching at it. A bitter chuckle was given as he wondered what Kit would think. He'd have to tell her another lie.

Another bloody lie.

A growl escaped his lips as he kicked at the wall in fury. He was tired of it. Tired of it all! Damn it. He just wanted to be normal. Was that so hard to ask? Clenching and unclenching his jaw he managed to calm himself down. It would do him no good to get angry at something he couldn't change. Instead, his thoughts would turn towards the lack of his friends last night.

They always showed up. Since they managed to complete their animal transformations they had never missed a full-moon. Not even during the holidays. They always came over to his house (without his parents knowledge) and stayed with him. They were the reason he wasn't a walking, talking scar.

What if something was wrong? Did they get caught trying to sneak out? No. James had the cloak…they wouldn't have been stupid enough to forget that.

His only conclusion was that one of them was hurt.

That had to be it right?

Although as he started to make his way back to the castle…he could only wonder why he felt…

Sad?

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Despite Madam Pomfrey's warnings, James didn't leave Kit's side that night. In fact, it had come down to the Headmaster requesting that James stay with Kit in order to be there to comfort her when she awoke. It was the only thing that would stop Madam Pomfrey from scowling at James and mumbling at him each time she walked into the Hospital Wing. It wasn't that she was mean or anything of the like. The school nurse was simply…trying to do the best job she could.

And that included limiting visitors.

In the end it worked out though. James got to sit next to Kits bed all night. Although, during the three AM hour the messy haired boy was certain that he should have just given up at Madam Pomfrey's requests to leave. He was going crazy…just watching Kit lay there in that bed…

James had already sent an Owl to his parents, who were going to come to the school the next day if Kit didn't wake up. He held her hand during the night, even Sirius and Peter had stopped by several times huddled under the invisibility cloak.

Checking back on the hour every hour. Each one of them feeling just as guilty as the next for not going to Remus. Then again, James thought that Moony would have preferred them to stay with Kit rather then him.

It was almost dawn, the sun dancing slowly above the horizon when Kit started to awake. Which in turn caused James to be stirred out of his slightly depressing thoughts. After all, having his sister in a hospital bed and his friend off doing who knows what to himself in wolf form…James wasn't having the best night. He watched, holding his breath. He didn't know if he just imagined her moving or not. He didn't want to get his hopes up. Didn't want them to be crushed…

"James?" It was quiet. So quiet that it took the boy a few moments to realize what had happened. She was awake! And talking. This meant two things. One, she was awake. And two, she was talking…really that simple. His face broke into a smile, and a choked sob was given as he crushed himself against his little sister. "Oaf…er…cru-crushing me. Ow…"

"Sorry about that…" James mumbled, pulling away from her with a sheepish grin. "Are you okay?"

Her nose twitched slightly and Kit gave a small shrug, to be quite honest she didn't know how she felt. Last night was one of the most painful nights of her life, and to dampen spirits just a little more then that…she knew that's what Remus felt each and every month when he went away. "You call him Moony."

James arched a brow, this wasn't good. Kit's blue eyes went from James to the bracelet he had given her for Christmas. Her pale hand was playing with the wolf charm. She figured it out? "What's this about?"

She glanced up at him, and while she might have been trying to look utterly serious…James couldn't help but be slightly amused. Her orange hair was sticking up all over the place from the painful tossing and turning early on in the night. It looked as if she was struck by lightning or something of the like. "Don't act like a git James. I know you know what I'm talking about."

James gave a sigh and adjusted his glasses on his nose, before canting his head to one side. "Yes we call Remus…Moony. You finally caught on then?" He asked, starting to wonder what this had to do with why she had been in so much pain that night.

"I suppose I did. Caught me off guard it did…" She explained to him, as her attention returned to that bracelet she wore. "I can't explain it…I mean…well…"

"Explain what? Figuring it out? Well, I'm not surprised…I mean him leaving every full moon…getting sick. It's kind of obvious." James said, watching as a frown appeared on her face. Great…what did he say now?

"No…I don't think I would have even thought he was a…a werewolf for a minute. I mean, I just thought his family got sick a lot. I suppose I am an idiot."

"Don't call yourself an idiot." James scolded, and she glanced up at him rather quickly. "Well, you aren't. I mean, out of all the students at Hogwarts only Sirius, Peter, and I know what he is…and now you…but, then…what did you mean you can't explain it? I mean, you can't have suddenly known…can you?"

"I don't know what to call it…" Kit started, struggling for a moment to sit up. Her body wasn't used to such pain. While she might have been beat near death by her father, nothing compared to the pain that she felt last night. Then again, that was obvious now wasn't it? Bones breaking to grow bigger, teeth, hands…while she might not have turned into a werewolf herself; Thanks to Remus, she knew what it felt like. Then, that was the question…why could she feel it? "I mean, I don't really understand. It hit me all of a sudden…I think… I felt him change."

James' eyes went wide for a moment, and she sighed. Kit knew he would think she was crazy. "That's…"

"Crazy, I know. You can say it. I'm a basket case. Completely off my rocker I am." Kit told him with a groan.

James rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't mean that it's crazy…it's just, is it possible?"

"I can't explain it any other way. One moment I was fine, the next I felt like I was going to die there was so much pain. The last thing I saw was the full moon outside the window and I just knew…"

James nodded, and took a moment to stand. "I suppose Moony will be relieved then. He's wanted to tell you for ages…he was just afraid of how you would react."

"So he lied to me?"

"Only because he's afraid to loose you."

"He thinks I'm shallow…that I won't love him because he just happens to be a werewolf."

"Not many people would. I mean…things in his life will be hard enough as it is. For years the Ministry has tried to pass that law about all Half-breeds and not wanting them to marry and breed. Not to mention he won't be able to work many places in the Wizarding world…but, he's scared I suppose. I mean, wouldn't you be? Finally finding love, and then thinking that because of being who you are you might not be loved anymore…" James explained, rather passionately.

It was odd for Kit to see him like that. So dramatic almost. She could only nod to what he said. "I suppose you're right. I still…wish he would have told me. I didn't like having to find out like that."

"I didn't like you having to find out like that either--" James paused for a moment and looked at the watch on his wrist. "Oi! I have to go send a letter to Mum and Dad before they come here."

"What?!"

"Yeah, well…last night was really scary so I sent them a letter explaining what was going on. And if they don't here from me in the next two hours they're going to come here…and trust me, while it's great to have them around while you don't feel good. It's not the greatest thing in the world having them hover around you."

And with that, James gave a quick hug to Kit and was off. Leaving her all alone in the Hospital wing to muse about what exactly happened the previous night.

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Remus had taken a detour to the boys bathroom on the main floor before heading towards the Hospital Wing. He wanted to make sure he wasn't going to give any of the professors a fright as he walked around the castle. Merlin only knew how messed up his face was.

He avoided looking in the mirror as he splashed his still stinging face with cold water. He didn't want to look, but then again he had to see how bad it was. He had been to Madam Pomfrey countless times for scratches and cuts on his body…he knew that while she could heal the cut…it would still leave a scar.

Instead of looking towards his reflection, Remus found his gaze locked on to the water in the sink he was dipping his head into. Dirty water, red water, really red. He dipped his hands into the cold water, for some reason feeling the cool touch of liquid made him feel just a tad better.

And with only a few minutes of hesitation he looked up in the mirror. His reflection was taunting him. Three gashes, one on his chin and cheek, and one going across his nose and cheek, and then another on his forehead.

Yes, these would definitely be leaving scars. A sigh escaped his lips and he turned off the water. Another thing to remind him of what he was. Each time he looked into his reflection he'd be reminded he's a beast.

It definitely wasn't the happiest of thoughts.

In fact, it was down right depressing. He ran his still dripping wet hands in his hair, causing it to stick up slightly as he walked down the halls towards the Hospital Wing. He wouldn't be depressed. He shouldn't. Where would that get him? While he would worry constantly about something, Remus didn't like to be depressed. Think about the good things in life. That was his motto.

Good things? His friends, his family, and most definitely his Kitten. She was his and no one else's. Okay, so maybe she was also James' and the Potters, and maybe a little of Sirius'…but generally she was his. All his. He couldn't help but claim her in a sense. That had to be his wolf side showing a little bit. Although, he didn't mind.

He liked thinking of her as his. Which was why when he seen her form laying in a bed inside the Hospital Wing he couldn't help but cry out and run to her. A deep fear settled in his stomach, his heart felt like it was dripping down his spine. He was scared. He didn't like his Kitten in a Hospital bed.

However, thankfully when he got to the bed she was in he noticed that her eyes were open. Blue oceans just gazing up at the ceiling, her face looking rather serene and peaceful. "Thank Merlin." He uttered with a small breath, causing her vision to turn towards him with a gasp before struggling to get up.

"Your face!" She cried, and he turned his head slightly. Was it really that bad? Was he really that horrible looking? "Oh, you must be in so much pain." Kit said, and Remus almost just slapped himself. Kit wasn't that shallow. He did in turn notice that she was just struggling to sit up.

As if her back hurt or something. That caused him to frown, and also caused him to rub his lower back. Thinking about her back made him think of his. He must have tossed himself against the wall a few times last night. "It's not that bad." Remus started, "Why are you here? Did someone attack you? Where are James and the others?"

Kit took a moment to lean back down onto the bed, it seemed almost as if she was trying to take all the time in the world to keep him waiting. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, which she then bit at, followed by a small shifting of her body.

She was nervous.

He frowned ever so slightly, but she started just as he was about to tell her to 'spit it out'. "I…um, kind of had well…" She paused, and played with the bracelet on her wrist. "You could have told me. It's not that big of a deal, I wasn't a big fan of taking moonlit walks anyway."

"Wh-what?"

"I just…I didn't know it hurt so bad personally…I thought that maybe changing made you numb on the inside or something. I can't believe you have to go through that every month…"

"You felt it?" Remus asked, raising a brow. He felt as if he might faint any moment. Okay, maybe that was being a little dramatic. But it was a lot to deal with. In the span of two minutes he had found Kit in the hospital wing, found out that she knew, and then found out that she felt his pain. Just like he did when she had been hurt by her father.

"I didn't like lying to you…last night, I thought about you a lot as I changed."

"Maybe that did it…I just hope the next time you don't think about me. That hurt."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"You really don't care?"

"Like I said…I didn't really like moonlit strolls anyway."

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AN: Yeah I bought POA when it came out and I couldn't help but wonder about the scars on Remus' face. I just had to add that little detail in. Also I'm happy for everyones imput on the Voldie issue. I do agree that it is a bit over the top (and time travel overdone) but I still have an interesting plan which will come into play when we get to were GOF would start (maybe around chapter 80 or so)

Loving the reviews. Almost got 200. I'm happy that all of you are enjoying this lil' diddy of a story.

Okay, a little banter here but not as much as usual (I swear we'll get on the banter and fluff train in up-coming chapters).

Next up: Hermione and Kit bond, Severus pisses Kit off, Harry and Kit start their search for "Scabbers", and Remus wonders what is going on with his kitten.