"Duty is what one expects from others, it is not what one does oneself." – Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance.

Where You Belong

Chapter 9

Remus Lupin was not happy, far from it in fact. That night had been one of the worst full moons in a long time and the consequences of it were not going to be any better. Remus wasn't really sure what had even happened the night before but what he could remember was not good. He distinctly remembered smelling human flesh and diving towards it wanting nothing more then to taste the blood, but even worse then that was that he couldn't remember if he had gotten his target or not. That fact made Remus scared, for if he bit someone he could never live with the guilt. Remus was also a little hurt and upset that his friends never joined him in the shack that night. Moony had paced the house waiting for his pack but they never showed up

When Remus had woken up from his transformation he found that the door leading to the tunnel was magically locked. Since he wolf senses were still intact he could smell that people had been down there last night but to his great relief he couldn't smell any blood. Remus tiredly trudged up to the school and then to the hospital wing to get some much needed rest and to have his wounds tended to because he had attacked himself the night before after smelling the human.

"Mr. Lupin what happened?" Madame Pomfrey asked worriedly as soon as she saw Remus.

"I'm not sure but it was a bad night last night."

"Oh you poor dear, here let me fix you up and then you can get some rest"

"Thanks." Remus muttered and five minutes later he was fast asleep.

"No I cannot let you in to see him he needs his rest. You can come back later and talk to him."

"You don't understand Madame Pomfrey we really need to talk to him, it's important." James begged.

"No"

"Moony tell her to let us in, we need to talk!" Sirius yelled into the Hospital Wing.

Remus had just coming out of a deep sleep to hear his friends harassing the nurse and being quite loud about it.

"Sirius shut the bloody hell up I have a killer headache and you're not helping it any." Remus yelled back from his bed.

At the sound of his voice the arguing at the entrance of the hospital wing stopped and all four of them hurried to his bed side. Madame Pomfrey immediately got a few potions and shoved them all down Remus' throat quite forcefully. James, Sirius and Peter stood at the foot of Remus' bed shooting looks back and forth to each other. As soon as the nurse was done feeding Remus potions she retreated to her office in the far corner and Remus turned his attention to his somewhat guilty looking friends.

"Where were you three last night?" Remus questioned.

"Well you see Remus we were headed down to join you when a…problem came up and we needed to take care of that…" Sirius began a bit awkwardly.

"Guys I didn't bite anyone did I?" Remus meekly asked.

"Why would you think that?" James asked nervously.

"I-I smelled human last night and I know that I went after the smell but that's all I remember." Remus admitted and waited for his friends to answer his question but they just stood there looking anywhere but him. He could sense and smell their fear and it was driving him insane. "Guys what happened last night? What are you afraid of?" Remus demanded after a few minutes of silence.

"Sirius you'd better tell him before I do." James threatened.

"Alright James. Look Moony I did a really stupid thing last night." Sirius started.

"What exactly did you do?"

"Well you see I…we were walking around the castle before leaving and we ran into Snape and…well you know me I can never pass up a chance to taunt Snape. It was harmless really…"

"Cut the bull shit Sirius and tell me what you did!" Remus demanded getting angry at Sirius' dawdling.

"I-I told Snape how to get past the willow and to go to the end of the tunnel. I didn't think he'd actually listen to me, he never has before." Sirius blurted out in a rush.

Remus just sat there for a few seconds too stunned to talk.

"You What? Sirius you idiot…" Remus literally screamed.

"You didn't bite him if that helps." Sirius interrupted meekly. Remus just sat there and glared daggers at his so called friends. He had a feeling he knew how the rest of the tale went and didn't bother asking for it. He was beyond livid that something like this had happened but he wanted time to think everything through before lashing out so he drew in a ragged breath before speaking again.

"Get out…all of you, out." Remus uttered in a low warning voice.

"But Rem…"Sirius started.

"I said get out…I'll deal with you when I'm ready." Remus stated in a final tone that got through to all three friends. Sullenly the three boys left the hospital wing. Once they were out of sight Remus let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and sunk back into his bed.

Andrea sat next to the fire in the common room working on her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. The common room was unusually quiet due to the fact that it was dinner time and everyone was in the Great Hall. Therefore it was no surprise that when the portrait hole squeaked open Andrea heard it. Her head quickly shot up to see who had returned form dinner so early only to see a very worn out Remus stumbling in. Immediately Andrea jumped up out of her seat and went to help Remus.

"Oh Remmy!" Andrea exclaimed "What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure myself anymore." Remus truthfully answered.

"Did Madame Pomfrey let you leave?"
"Yea but I'm still really tired."

"Here let me help you get up to bed. You look as if you're ready to crash."

"Thanks."
Andrea threw her around Remus to help support him and slowly they made their way towards the stairs and then up them to the sixth year boys dormitories. Once they reached the room and Andrea was sure that Remus would be alright she turned to leave the room so that Remus could sleep.

"Andrea wait!" Remus called to her retreating back.

"I was going to let you get some more sleep." Andrea started.

"I know and I thank you but I need to talk about this to someone, I need to tell someone."

"Tell someone what?"

"What happened last night?"

"Wouldn't you be better off to tell one of the guys I mean they have more experience with your monthly problem then I do. I mean you just told me." Andrea rambled.

"I know but I can't tell the guys because they already know and I need a sane non-marauder to help me with this. I need advice on how to deal with this whole situation."

"Ok…I'll try. Why don't you at least lie down while you tell me because you look like you're about ready to fall over? Are you always like this after your transformations?"

"To the second part, no but I'll explain that later. I will lie down but you might want to at least sit down because it's a bit of a long story."

"Alright." Andrea agreed as she sat down on his bed and pulled his head into her lap so that she could play with his hair and help him relax while he told her what happened. "There now you can tell me what happened and relax at the same time. So go on what happened last night?"

Andrea sat silent on Remus' bed idly running her fingers through his soft, shaggy, sandy blonde hair. Remus in the mean time told Andrea everything that had happened the night before. He told her everything in as much detail as he could from how painful the night's transformation was to how angry he was with his friends. He finally knew every detail of the night before because Dumbledore had visited him shortly after the three marauders had and explained it all to him. After talking for about an hour and a half Remus was finally done his tale.

"What should I do Ang?" Remus asked pathetically.

"Oh Remmy I know you're mad at them, especially Sirius but you have to understand that they never meant for all this to happen."
"I know but still he basically betrayed my trust and told Snape!"

"You have been best friends with these guys for how long now?"

"Five years they were the first ones to accept me for me."

"So are you ready to let five years of brother like friendship go to waste over one highly stupid yet forgivable mistake?"

"How can I forgive Sirius after what he did?"

"Well he did try to help James correct it, he did come to you right away and told you and he's already apologized and I'm sure that he'll keep apologizing to you. He's realized his mistake and he's trying to correct it."

"I don't know Ang."

"It'll take time but I'm sure you'll fix everything in the end."

"How can you point out all of Sirius' good qualities when he's been nothing but horrible to you?" Remus asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Andrea airily responded.

"Don't lie Ang I know how the three of them treat you. I've tried to stop them but when they have their minds set they don't listen to anyone."

"I'm just trying to forget my own strife with Black to help make you feel better."

"Fair enough."

"Now why don't we talk about something a little more upbeat…like why Lily hates James so much?" Andrea offered trying to lighten the mood.

The two friends talked for another hour about whatever came to their minds, Quidditch, classes, couples, teachers, the weather, and so on. They only stopped when the door to the dorm opened and they remembered where they were.

The other three sixth year boys entered the dorm and it took them a minute or two before they noticed Andrea and Remus. The three took in the way the two were situated as Andrea still idly played with Remus' hair, and sent knowing glances to Remus who in return looked away from them.

"Well Rem I'd better go I've got to finish my Defense essay and don't worry I'll let you copy my notes from today's lessons. I hope you feel better by tomorrow morning."

"So do I, I hate feeling like this."

"Don't worry. Well it was fun talking to you I hope it helped you get your mind off whatever was bothering you?"

"It did."
"Good see you in the morning."
With that Andrea gracefully slid out from underneath Remus and lay his head down on the pillow that was propped up against his headboard. She then leaned down and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek before sauntering out of the room. The other three had watched the whole exchange from beside the door having not moved sine they spotted the two.

"What was she doing in here?" Peter asked haughtily.

Remus didn't even warrant the three an answer before shutting his curtains and settling down to sleep.

The other three occupants shared a look before going to their respective beds. They believed that Remus and Andrea had been talking about nothing in particular the whole time, which is what Remus and Andrea wanted them to believe.

Two days later Remus still wasn't talking to the other Marauders unless he absolutely had to. It normally would have been very easy for him to avoid the other three except that every time he tried to avoid them Andrea was there and gave him a reproachful look before going back to whatever she was doing.

That night at dinner Andrea sat in between Lily and Remus as usual but what was unusual was that the other three Marauders were sitting across from them and not next to Remus like they normally did. Halfway through dinner the conversation began to get out of hand.

"Andrea did you see what Snape did to Andrew's potion today?" Lily inquired.

"I did and I can't believe that he got away with something so blatantly obvious. What annoyed me even more was that he pulled that on his own housemate. I understand that whole house rivalry but I thought that if you were pretty safe from you own house." Andrea replied.

"Well Taylor you should know that Slytherins tend to be more cruel then the other houses even their own. But you already knew that didn't you?" Sirius nastily stated.

"Yes Black I do know what they're like because I was forced to live there for two months, but even still it doesn't mean that I have to accept it. You should be able to see by now that I'm not like the rest of them, that's why I moved." Andrea snapped back.

"Sure whatever you say Taylor I'm sure you're just waiting for us all to let our guard down and then you'll strike. Just know this I'll never let my guard down as long as you're around."

"That's it I'm sick of you and your accusations. What have I ever done to you Black? What? NOTHING! So why can't you leave me alone? I understand that you don't like me but all you have to do is ignore me!" Andrea raged as she got up from her seat. "Rem I'm sorry, I know he's your friend but I can't take him anymore I have to go."

With that Andrea turned and stormed away towards the doors. Immediately Lily got up to chase after her and Remus followed suit after giving Sirius a death glare. Meanwhile across the hall a select group of Slytherins were watching Andrea and when they saw her jump up they got up as well and followed her out of the Great Hall.

Once she reached the entrance hall she was stopped by none other then Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, the Black sisters, Sirius' younger brother Regulus and Lestrange. Lily was only a few steps behind Andrea with the Marauders a few steps behind her but Andrea didn't know it. The five Gryffindors stopped behind Andrea to see what was going to happen.

"So I see you've come beg." Lucius drawled reminding Andrea very much of someone she knew but had long forgotten.

"Beg for what? I've got nothing to beg from you."

"Why of course you do."

"Oh really and what might that be?" Andrea sarcastically inquired.

"Our forgiveness of course." Narcissa replied.

"Forgiveness for what?"

"For being the traitor you are." Bellatrix answered.

"Me a traitor…Ha!"

"We welcomed you into our noble house, showed you many things, and let you in on our darkest secrets. And how do you repay our kindness? By joining Gryffindor and being a sell out. And to think that we did all that knowing that you were a filthy mudblood as well."

At this last comment Remus made to attack Sirius' cousin but surprisingly both James and Sirius held him back The two boys didn't like Andrea but something abut this whole situation and how she was handling it told them that she had to take care of this by herself.

"I'd be careful throwing that word around if I were you Bella. Are you positive that I'm a mudblood or are you just making an assumption? Sure I know a lot about muggles but maybe I was brought up in both worlds."

"Don't call me Bella you don't have that privilege, you must address me by my full name. I'm positive that you're a mudblood because I know all of the pureblood families and you're not apart of them!"

"Very well Bella but rest assured when you're proven wrong I'll be there to laugh at you."

"And be rest assured that you'll regret ever leaving us." Snape retorted finally joining the conversation.

"Oh shut up Severus you and I both know you want nothing to do with this whole thing so why don't you just go bury yourself in another one of your potions texts. As for the rest of you I am not a traitor and never was one because in order to be a traitor you have to be loyal to something first and I was never loyal to you. So you can keep those self delusional views of me begging for forgiveness because it'll never happen, I'd rather be dead then have to beg from you!"

"It's no use continuing now you're just in denial but we will meet again." Lucius threatened.

"I figured we would but that doesn't mean I'll be looking forward to it."

By now both Lily and the Marauders were on either side of Andrea watching as she tossed words with the Slytherins. Severus noticed that Andrea was oblivious of the others presence around her and decided to teach them a lesson. As the group of Slytherins walked away Severus drew up the en of the line whispering loud enough for the other group to hear.

"I hope you have a moon chart and a muzzle, Merlin knows you'll need them to keep your little boyfriend from biting you."

The Marauders all looked at each other briefly seeing the same look of horror, forgetting their argument for the moment, but what happened next no one was prepared for. Andrea just smiled at Snape before she drew her hand back and punched Snape in the jaw. He was so caught off guard that he landed on his back on the floor and before he could even begin to get up Andrea was on her knees and in his face.

"Now that wasn't very nice was it? No. I believe I recall being told that you were sworn to secrecy were you not? So therefore I don't believe that headmaster will be very pleased if you broke that oath." Andrea whispered just audible enough for Severus to hear.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'll explain everything to the Headmaster and you will go along with whatever I say, got it?"

"Sure whatever."

"Cause if you don't you'll regret ever opening your mouth."

"So you really do like the wild animal?"

With that Andrea quickly punched Snape in the stomach before getting up and dusting herself off. As the doors to the Great Hall were open the whole school was able to watch the exchange. Andrea turned to face the Headmaster and gave him a brief nod before calling out.

"Professor Dumbledore I'll be outside your office after dinner."

With a nod of agreement from the Headmaster Andrea turned and left the entrance hall with Lily and the Marauders hot on her heels.

"Andrea wait up!" Lily called as she ran after her friend. "Andrea we need to talk." Lily slowed down as she saw Andrea stop and take a deep breath before turning around to face her.

"Yes Lily." Andrea replied coolly. Hearing her tone of voice the Marauders stayed further back not knowing where this whole thing was going.

"Don't get all bitchy on me, I'm just trying to be a good friend and look out for you."

"Alright I'm sorry but I'm just a little…frustrated right now. I have a few snakes I'd like to strangle at the moment."

"What happened with Snape? What was he talking about?" Lily inquired, her question peeked the interest of three of the Marauders and the fourth just acted interested.

"Never you mind what happened with Snape, I took care of it."

"Andrea, I'm your best friend! I deserve to know these things" Lily pleaded.

"Lily it's not my place to tell you so just leave it" Andrea ordered as her patience ran thin. "Now if you'll all excuse me I need to …go." With that Andrea turned her back on the group and sped down the hallway in search of a way to release her pent up anger.

As Andrea disappeared around the coroner the other Marauders turned to look at Remus. Lily had no idea what was going on but she looked to Remus as well.

"Don't look at me like that, I know about as much as Lily does." Remus stated to their questioning looks.

"Moony we know that you know something." James declared.

"Even if I did I wouldn't be telling you three. Come on Lils we have to get started on that Arithmancy project."

Lily nodded her head in consent to Remus and the two headed in the other direction from Andrea and headed to the library. The three remaining Marauders just stood there for a few minutes before deciding to go to Gryffindor tower and discuss what had happened among the three of them.