Update: March 15th, 2005

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. The story belongs to Fred et George (186521). And the translation belongs to me :)

Werewolfing

1 – It was a nice morning...

"Rrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeemmmmmuuuuuuuuussssssss !"

Remus Lupin came back to reality with a start. He raised his eyes from his plate, almost spilling the glass he was absentmindedly holding in his hand. Sitting in front of him, nearly laying on the Gryffindor table, Sirius Black was watching him in the eyes, snapping his fingers at two inches of his face. Remus turned his head to glance at James Potter, sitting beside Sirius, and noticed that he was, too, staring at him, his head high in the air, so he could see him through his glasses that had slipped on his nose. In front of James, Peter Pettigrew, his spoon full of porridge immobilised at a few inches of his mouth, was also watching him. On the other side of Sirius, Catherine White was glancing from Remus to Sirius, as if she was waiting for a bomb to blow up. Finally, the young boy turned in head on the left only to meet two big sparkling green eyes. All of his friends were staring at him for an unknown reason that seemed to worry them really much. He gave a glance around the table once more, searching what was happening, but before he could have opened his mouth, a gentle hand touched his left arm.

"Remus, are you okay ? Sirius has been trying to talk to you for five minutes," explained Lily Evans in a calm and soft voice.

"Err… Yes… Yes… I was…"

"Daydreaming somewhere near the moon ?" asked Sirius, smiling.

Remus hardly swallowed and forced himself into a smile.

"Yeah, we could say that ! So what did you want, Sirius ?"

He was relieved to see Sirius lean back on the seat of his chair, Peter who finally ate his porridge, and Catherine who started again to watch around her to find some potential males that could be interesting. He had once more managed to hide his discomfort.

"Oh, I wanted to know if you would like to do the tryouts for the Quidditch team next year !" asked Sirius with a casual voice.

"I don't think so, I'm not really good on a broom !" he answered, trying to laugh.

"I don't agree, you can handle it well ! You could always try ! You don't have anything to lose !" said James with a happy voice.

Remus turned his head toward him and understood immediately that if he had fooled the majority of his friends, he didn't succeed with everyone. Because it wasn't the first time Remus had an odd behaviour. And it was actually about that he was thinking before Sirius interrupted him. For the three hundred eighty twelve million times – at least – since he had arrived at Hogwarts, he was asking himself about if he should tell them the truth before they find it. The result of these introspections had always the same conclusion. "If you tell them yourself, or if they find it by themselves, it will come to the same outcome. Enjoy the little time you have." But as the months were passing, his list of lies was stretching out and he wasn't pleased with that fact. They trust him. They were his friends. How could he lie to them ? How could he hide something so important from them ?

To tell the truth, he was astonished they had believed all of his stories since so long. On the other hand, he doubted that since the middle of last year – their first – James, Sirius, and Lily did not really believe the awkward explications he gave them. But they weren't asking questions and Lupin was happy about that. They understood Remus had something about what he didn't want to talk and they respected his choice. His friends were intelligent… Really intelligent. They would soon find his secret by themselves. And at this moment, he would lose their trust and their friendship. Lupin couldn't see why it would be different. Being what he was, nobody would accept him as a friend. Only a few grown– up persons trusted him, so how children could ever do it ? Even if these children were his best friends. Invariably, they would abandon him. Each night, Remus was praying so it would not happen too fast. He hated lying to his friends, the only friends he had ever had, but he couldn't see how he could have done differently. He wanted to keep them as long as possible, to know what it looked like to be glad, even for someone like him.

He felt something in his stomach as James watched him. He had finally slipped back up his glasses and was staring at him with intensity. James would think about it. James would know it. James would say it and Remus wouldn't be able to be angry with him.

"Oh, that's kind from you James, but personally, I don't think so !" he answered with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"You're defeatist, my friend," added Lily.

While talking, she had tightened her grip on Lupin's arm. He turned his head toward her and understood immediately that she had not believed him either.

If James and Sirius were known to be inseparable, it was the same thing for Remus and Lily. Everything they were doing, they did it together and they understood each other really well. There was something comforting in Lily's emerald look. He liked her gentleness and her comprehension and she liked his calmness and his shy side. Some persons thought they would do a cute couple but, besides the fact that James was strangely scowling each time someone was telling this assumption, Remus knew it wouldn't be possible. And, moreover, Lily was only a fabulous friend, but only that and he knew it would never change. Some are made to be friends, other lovers. Lily and Remus were made to be friends. Besides, he knew the young girl had a slight crush for unruly dark hair.

But for now, when he looked in her big green eyes, noticing worry and comprehension, he could only shiver inside, imagining the disgust he would soon see in them. He closed his eyes a moment, and shook his head to expulse the fog from his brain.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'll see, maybe I'll go !" he finally decided to say in a voice he hoped was convincing.

"Yeah… With a little bit of practice, you could become a great actor, mate !" stated Sirius with a big grin. So, we need to go or we'll be late and I don't think it's a good idea !

"Which class ?" asked Peter who had always difficulties at memorizing his schedule.

Catherine, also known as Cathy, finally turned around from the Ravenclaw team captain to answer Peter's question. The young lady had a particular gift; she was able to look everywhere, mostly when it was something masculine, while following without a single problem a conversation.

"Defence against the Dark Arts…" Cathy announced with a gloomy voice.

Defence against the Dark Arts could have been an interesting class, but Professor Spite was rather unpleasant. He seemed to be angry with all his students because they hadn't suffered as him while he was doing his career of explorer. He hated even more the Gryffindor of second year. One day, while Spite was explaining, for the hundredth time, how he had suffered, and that them – young and innocent students – were so lucky to live in security, Sirius had judiciously said, in a rather aggressive voice, that he just had to change career sooner if he didn't like that. He removed fifty points to Gryffindor and gave a detention to Sirius. After, Spite made a promise to hate every single student who had unluckily laughed at Sirius' joke… what were actually all the students. But it didn't really bother anybody. In spite of the fact that he didn't like them, he was fair and impartial. Except perhaps with Remus Lupin. Without any logical explication, the teacher had loathed him at the very moment he had seen him, during the first class of their first year. The young boy was in fact thinking about that when a remark from Sirius pulled him out of his reveries.

"I'm warning you, if he tells us again that her mother has been gobbled up by a werewolf " under my eyes when I was only eighteen ! We were walking together and he jumped on her. I couldn't do anything. Werewolves are dangerous, children ! Never forget that. Don't ever trust someone that could eat an innocent poor woman under the terrified eyes of her son. ", I swear I'll suggest him the idea that she deliberately went to walk with him under the full moon to commit suicide so she wouldn't have to hear her son anymore !" growled Sirius who was rather good to imitate Professor Spite's falsely affected voice. If a werewolf, whom I doubt, has eaten his mother, I'm sure he wished he had a camera with him !

Everyone who heard Black broke in laughter. Everyone except Remus. That wasn't the kind of jokes he liked. He admitted Spite certainly didn't have a lot of regret about his mother, but he didn't like the jokes on werewolves. And neither the stories about werewolves. And Spite had the bad craze of talking about werewolves every single class, only to remember to students how these beasts were monstrous.

"Stop bragging Sirius, we'll really be late !" he said, more dryly that he had intended.

« Yes, sir !" Sirius answered, standing up.

Remus snapped himself mentally while his friends were all standing up, taking their bags. He hadn't been able to control his voice and regretted it. Sirius had a strange sense of humour sometimes. Lupin came back unto his deep muses, while leaving the Great Hall that was slowly emptying itself, students making their way to their classes. Remus followed his friends automatically. He was barely hearing the stupidities James and Sirius were plotting with Peter and the feminist comments Cathy was telling to Lily. The second years soon arrived in front of Professor Spite' classroom. Remus had just put a feet in the room when someone grabbed his arm. He turned around and saw a stern looking Sirius, which was very unusual. Remus opened his mouth to ask what was happening, but Sirius didn't let him talk.

"Somewhere near the moon my foot ! I'm no as stupid as I look, you know !" Sirius murmured to him with a surprisingly emotional tone. "I know something's bothering you. Why don't you talk to me about it ?"

Lupin didn't find anything to answer. Black stared at him for a few seconds, his eyes shining of a strange, soft and sad light. Seeing his friend wasn't saying anything, he sighed and came in the classroom without a single word. Remus slowly followed him, totally distressed. He didn't have much time left with his friends. He took his usual seat, between James and Lily. Spite entered the room at the very moment when Remus put his bag on the floor, besides his chair. When the young boy straightened up, he looked at his teacher and frowned. Spite was also looking at him, a glimmer near from madness dancing in his eyes. The man narrowed his eyes until they were only a thin line, and he turned around to tidy his papers and books.

"It starts well..." James whispered in Remus' ear.

He just nodded, knowing the whole class was probably looking at him. Remus tried to put aside all his thoughts so he could concentrate on the lesson. He had to do everything he could so Spite wouldn't be able to catch him out. He had the feeling the teacher was only waiting for the right moment to eliminate Remus Lupin of the game. The young boy did his best to take impeccable notes, to always have to right page in his book, to have an interested look on his face, not talk to his friends and always raise his hand to respond to the professor's questions, even if he wasn't sure about the answer. Anyway, Spite would never ask him. Unluckily, at the end of the class, probably angry that he hadn't had the chance to catch Lupin out, Spite came back on his favourite subject. He started, warning all over again the students against the dangers of his sworn enemies… Werewolves, to the displeasure of everyone. Remus managed to keep his gaze steady and look quite comfortable. He concentrated on the words his professor was saying, trying as he could to ignore the noise made by Sirius as he drummed on the table with his fingers, waiting for the story of the eaten mother. However, Spite apparently didn't want to talk about his mother on this October day.

"... is essential, kids, to remember that werewolves can't be considered as normal persons. Some can think they're only dangerous on full moon days. But I would say those are the days where we can see their true self. They have two sides. You should NEVER trust someone who changes into a monster once a month. They can't be considered as friends or as normal persons. The devil's gene flows in their veins. They know how to destroy, how to hurt, how to lie. You mustn't trust them. Well, I think you've understood. Now, tell me, how can we make the difference between a wolf and a werewolf ?"

Spite had hit the jackpot as he had hoped. Remus had returned to his painful introspections and, even if he had heard everything his teacher had said, he hadn't notice there had been a question. Consequently, he hadn't raised his hand. A horrible grin appeared on the professor's face. He didn't pay any attention to all the other raised hand.

"Mister Lupin, can you give me the answer to my question ?" he asked in a sickly sweet voice.

Remus looked up from his parchment where a big ink stain had formed at the end of his quill. He swallowed hard.

"... Can you repeat the question please ?" he asked softly.

"Tss... You were still not listening ! It becomes an illness, my dear ! Aren't you interested about werewolves, young man ? Your lack of concentration will cost five points to Gryffindor ! And another five points because you didn't know the answer," stated Spite, triumphant.

A wave of protestations spread through the room.

"But Professor, he had the answer for all your other questions !" Sirius shouted.

"That's totally unfair ! How can you answer a question you haven't heard ?" James asked.

"And moreover, he's the best of the class if it wasn't of…" Lily added.

"THAT'S ENOUGH ! Black, Evans, Potter, detention ! And I take five points off each to Gryffindor ! You'll come tonight at my office so we can see what will be your punishment. Now, you can go, class is over," stated Professor Spite with a devilish grin.

The students gathered their books and left promptly the room, angry. As for Remus, he followed them, absolutely unsure about what he should do.

"What's his problem ? Was it worth a detention ? Really !" Sirius groaned, as they were walking to McGonagall' classroom.

"I... I'm sorry Sirius... James, Lily. You shouldn't have done that. He's always on my back, just let him !" Remus said in a whisper.

"Exactly ! He's always bullying you and that's unfair !" James answered.

"Yeah, that's true. He doesn't have any reason to hate you, after all ! I'm sure he thinks you're a werewolf," Peter said with a smile.

To his great pleasure, his friends laughed at his joke, except for Remus who didn't say a word. He forced himself into a slight smile while Lily took his hand in hers.

"Don't worry Remus. It's not your fault," Lily said with a happy voice.

"Of course it is ! You shouldn't bother about that…"

"Listen, the only reason for which I'm angry with you is that I'll be stuck in detention with these two big idiots," she added.

"We love you too Lily ! Don't we Jamesie ?" Sirius retorted, grinning widely.

"Of course !" James nodded, blushing slightly.

"What poor liars are you !" Lily said, laughing.

"You have such a lovely harem, my dear !" Cathy added.

And they were still jesting when they entered the Transfiguration classroom.

The day passed quickly. The other classes were really much more interesting than Spite's one. His friend's pranks had managed to bring Remus' joyfulness back and he had even forgotten about the events of the morning. It was only toward eight o'clock, when Cathy asked to James, Lily and Sirius where they were going, that their detention came back into his mind. So he waited for them to come back with apprehension. As he wasn't able to concentrate, he challenged Peter to a game of chess. He accepted in good faith, knowing he wouldn't win. They took place in comfortable armchairs with Cathy as a unique watcher. The game had just begun when Remus felt someone throw himself in the armchair beside his. He turned around and saw James who was really angry.

"Already back ?" Cathy asked.

"Yeah..." Lily answered, sinking in the armchair beside James's one.

"And the detention was... ?" inquired Peter.

"I don't know where he thinks he is, but he gave us a research work ! Four rolls of parchment ! For Monday ! It's unbelievable !" Sirius groaned, sitting next to Remus.

Peter, Remus and Cathy frowned and looked at each other.

"A research ? What is it about ?" Peter asked.

His three friends gave him a look that meant how much stupid they found the question.

"Come on, guess ! I give you two tries !" Sirius answered.

"Mmmmhhh... Werewolves ?" Cathy asked with a false idiot look.

"Congratulations Miss White ! 100 points to Gryffindor !" Sirius said, smiling.

"Thanks Mister Black ! I'm a genius !"

They all broke in laughter. All except Remus. If someone would have come in the common room at this very moment and had plunged a shovel in his sternum, laughing madly, Lupin wouldn't have suffered more. His complexion yet pale became totally ghastly. Sirius saw it and gave him a playful punch on his shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry, mate ! We'll manage it well together ! It doesn't always look like that, but we're really clever !" Sirius said to comfort him.

"Yeah ! Only four rolls of parchment ? Pfff… What a research we'll give him ! Werewolves, beware ! Here we are !" James added, laughing.

Remus looked at each of them, aware of their intelligence and of the fact he, indeed, should beware. He tried to smile, but didn't manage this time. His friends tried to lighten his mood, but to no avail. Remus Lupin's whole world had just collapsed. He strived to convince himself he should enjoy the moments he had left with them rather than feeling sorry for himself, but didn't manage too. He wasn't able to chase away this horrible news from his spirit. For the first – and probably last – time of his life, Peter Pettigrew won against Remus Lupin at chess.

So, hope there's not too many mistakes as I'm French, but oh well, I don't think there's a thousand mistakes (or am I dreaming :p) Hope you liked this story as much as the French readers liked it, that's one of my personal favourite. A little review so I can know you if you want the next chapter ? Pretty please :)

Pheneatis