A/N: For anyone who read Chapter 8 before 8:00 pm May 24, 2003 you need to go back and read it again. When I said that I was going to split it into 2 chapters I decided against it and added a new scene that is very important to read before you read this chapter. This fic is a narrative by Remus in it I have his memories per-say come alive, they will be in italics.

"It all started when I was about seven. My parents had decided to take a vacation trip to America. We had decided to camp out when we were touring the west. The place was pretty deserted; it was desert all around and was well known for wolves. My parents took all the precautions they could by putting a charm around the camp so that nothing but us could enter and exit the camp. Yet wild animals were the least of their worries. My brother Romulus and I were known for going off and exploring. (A/N: The name Romulus come from the fic "Seeing Grey" by Ignominia. But in no way is my Romulus that same.)

"Now, Remus, I want you to stay inside your tent. Your mother and I don't want you and your brother wandering off! I've told Rom this and I expect you both to behave."

"Yes sir," came Remus' obedient response as he pretended to salute his father.

"Night Remus,"

"Night Dad," answered Remus snuggling down into his sleeping bag.

I started out trying to go to sleep with every intention of obeying my dad. That was, until my brother Romulus came to my tent.

"Rem, pst, Rem,"

"Huh?" Remus asked groggily.

"Hey, you want to go exploring?" asked Romulus shining his wand in on Remus; he was a Third Year at Hogwarts.

"Dad said to stay in our tents," answered Remus, "There are wolves out there."

"What, are you afraid?"

"No, it's just that dad said to stay here."

"I still say you're afraid!"

"I am not!" retorted Remus.

"Prove it!" answered Romulus he had his brother right where he wanted him.

"All right, I will!"

Well, my brother had me; we went exploring. It was the biggest mistake I ever made. We decide to look for the wolves not realizing the actual dangers of doing so. We quietly followed the combination of the howls and tracks that were left. To be sure that we didn't get lost my brother left a magical trail. Our travels ended when we came to a cave. That was about when the howls had stopped. There was an eerie silence in the air.

"Let's go back Rom," begged Remus getting uncomfortable with the silence.

"Alright," agreed Romulus getting a little unnerved by the silence also.

Just as the two turned to go back to camp there was a wolf standing in their path growling. Next there was a pricing howl right behind them as the two turned back around they saw another wolf on top of the cave. Their faces were white as sheets as they saw two more flanking their sides. They were surrounded.

"Run, Remus, I'll hold them off!" ordered Romulus as he held up his wand.

So I ran as fast as I could. I didn't get far though, for a wolf had grabbed my leg biting hard into it. Pain seared up and down my leg. I thought I was a goner as the wolf shook my leg all over. I closed my eyes saying a last prayer when I felt the wolf lifted off of me. I looked to see Rom magically lifting it off of me as two more jumped on him. I then half ran half hobbled back to camp.

By the time I reached camp the sun was beginning to rise. I collapsed in the middle of it passed out form loss of blood and exhaustion. My next memory was waking up in the hospital. It was a dimly lit room. The only source of light was through the doorway of the room where my parents stood shadowed by the bright light emanating from the hallway. My mother was sobbing into my dad's shoulders.

"Mom, Dad?" weekly called Remus.

"Oh, Remus, my baby, are you all right?" cried Mrs. Lupin as she rushed in hugging Remus.

"I'm fine, where's Rom?"

Mrs. Lupin then broke out into more sobs turning into Mr. Lupin's shoulders.

"He's dead Rem," explained Mr. Lupin hoarsely, "Eaten by wolves."

When I heard those fatal words, 'He's dead Rem,' it was like all time stopped. I realized what Rom had done for me. He sacrificed his life so I could get away. It was my fault he was dead. He died because of me. But that wasn't all.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lupin," started a doctor, "I'm afraid that I may have some bad news."

"What, what is it?" demanded Mrs. Lupin hearing words that every mother dreads to hear when their child is in the hospital.

"Given the conditions of the bite you son received it is highly possible that you son has lycanthropy, on in lames terms werewolf-ism."

"No!" cried Mrs. Lupin turning into her husbands shoulders yet again.

"Is there anything we can do?" helplessly asked Mr. Lupin.

"Well, first have to do some tests to verify weather he does or doesn't have it, other than that there is nothing else we can do," answered the doctor.

As it turned out I am one. The wolf that bit me was a werewolf. So now because of my stupidity my brother died and for my punishment I am cursed to be a werewolf."

Remus finished his story with James', Sirius', and Peter's rapt attention. There was a long silence as the story sunk in with each boy. Remus then broke the silence, "I'll understand if you don't want to be friends any more and if you want me to leave."

After a few moments more silence James asked, "What? Are you crazy?"

"You think that being something as stupid as a werewolf, would make us stop liking you?" asked Sirius.

"Well, yeah, everyone else did," answered Remus wincing at the painful memories of his friends abandoning him.

"We're not going to," assured James.

"Yeah, you'd have to be something like a vampire for us not to like you," joked Sirius.

"Now you're not keeping something like that from us are you?" asked James joining in on the joke.

"I am," answered Peter very seriously.

This cut all laughter short as everyone stared at Peter in shock.

"Yes, by day I am nothing but the lowly Peter Pettigrew, but by night!" began Peter walking forward with an imaginary cloak held up over his face, "I am your worst nightmare! Bleh! Bleh!"

Every one burst into fits of laughter and a pillow fight soon followed. Once the floor was coated with feathers and everyone was about out of breath the fight stopped.

"I just got the greatest idea," spoke up Sirius.

"Not another prank!" complained Peter.

"Shut up Peter!" answered James throwing a pillow at him, "So what's the idea Sirius?"

"You know how I call Remus here Moody."

"Don't remind me!" interrupted Remus hurtling a pillow in Sirius' direction, to which he dodged.

"I say we call him Moony," finished Sirius as if nothing happened.

"What?" asked Remus stopping himself from hurtling another pillow at Sirius.

"I like it," offered Peter, "It fits you."

"Moony?" asked Remus.

"Yeah, why not Remus? You're always moody after a moon," agreed James.

"Moony it is then!" exclaimed Sirius before he was hit with a pillow thrown by Remus.

Sirius then aimed for Remus who was in front of Peter. The pillow hit Peter when Remus dodged it. In retaliation Peter threw a pillow at Sirius but with his bad aim hit James instead. This ended up sparking yet another pillow fight bringing a happy end to a long and pleasant Christmas Day.

A/N: Well, what did you think? I'll try to write up and post chapter 10 as soon as I can. I have other fics I've got to deal with and I'm starting to draw blanks for this fic. I am open to any ideas you might offer. E-mail me.