A/N - I don't own Harry Potter or his world. I do however own these words.

Thanks for all the reviews guys. I'm glad you like it. Any imput on where you think this should be going would be welcome...

Chap5- Inevitability and Invisibility

Remus climbed out of the portrait hole behind Madam Pomfrey, he could feel the concerned stares of his three friends follow him, even after they started down the stairs.

He followed numbly as he was led to the entrance hall and out into the grounds. It was still light, not even dusk but he supposed Dumbledore didn't want to take any chances.

"You wouldn't believe the trouble we've had with the Whomping Willow." Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, speaking for the first time. "I've had sixteen students in the hospital wing, sixteen! In two weeks!" She repeated shrilly. "Whoever heard of a Whomping Willow at a school! Next thing it'll be snakes, spiders or even dragons!" Remus was only half listening. "Wait here dear."

She put an arm out to stop him, then darted nimbly forward and taped a knot in the tree. The branch which was inches away from smacking her around the face froze.

"Come on then." She encouraged, obviously trying to sound as if she escorted werewolf students down secret passages and into haunted houses ever year. He followed in silence as they crawled into the hole at the base of the tree and hurried up a long tunnel, having to stoop because of the low roof. After what seemed like an hour of trudging with nothing to look at but dirt and the odd tree root the passage began to slope upwards.

They emerged through a hole into a building which looked as if it should have fallen over decades ago. Remus swore he could see the floor moving under his feet. But on closer inspection, the dilapidated look was not perfect.

For one thing all the doors looked surprisingly steadfast in their frames which looked equally sturdy.

"Right then Remus." Madam Pomfrey said, taking his arm and leading him up a staircase which looked as if a feather landing on it would make it collapse, but the wood under his feet was surprisingly firm. She directed him into a room with a large dusty double bed. "I will be back for you just after sunrise. The door will be locked and the Headmaster has added a few of his own charms onto it. There's no way for you to get loose, you are perfectly safe."

Remus nodded and slumped down on the bed which emitted a large cloud of dust. He looked glumly around. So this was to be his home once a month, he supposed it was better than the cellar his father locked him in at home.

"Oh." Madam Pomfrey stopped half way to the door. "The Headmaster wanted me to give you this." She pulled a book out of her pocket, handed it to him then scuttled out.

The definite click of the lock felt like a blow to the stomach. He could imagine her muttering to herself on the way back: "Werewolves as students? Whatever next? Trolls? Giants?"

Looking down at the musty brown book, it looked like it had long ago lost its cover. He opened the it carefully as the pages were quite worn.

"The Wolf Within; A biography of Michael Cagwhole".

Foreword by Millicent Cagwhole.

"My father was bitten as by a werewolf at the age of five, he had been playing with friends in a wood nearby to his home when it had become lost. My grandparents were devastated, they had to home school him as no decent school take him.

However as soon as he became of age he began his life long campaign of Werewolf rights. At nineteen he was imprisoned in Azkaban fortress for 'civil descent' without trial, he was released a year later after the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Albus Dumbledore, interceded directly on his behalf.

A year in Azkaban had left its toll on him, yet he had not become bitter. Unable to find work due to the stringent restrictions placed on his kind by the Ministry of Magic he started his own movement funded by donations.

The 'charity' provided defences for werewolves who he believed were being rail-roaded because of their 'furball issue' as he phrased it. It was through this work that he met and married my mother.

He was murdered at the age of thirty by persons unknown. I was seven. To this day no one has been held accountable for his death.

This book includes extracts from letters and diary entries from childhood to adulthood and it is my hope it will ensure his cause is not buried with him."

Remus had just finished reading the first chapter when he lost his mind.

888

James tossed the book he was reading away and looked up. Sirius was building a house of cards with his packet of exploding snap cards.

"I'm bored." James sighed.

"Yupe." Sirius echoed, not looking up from his cards.

James picked up a chocolate frog box and threw it at Sirius. The house let off a loud bang and a waft of smoke parted to reveal Sirius still holding one of the cards which he had been about to place on top. His face was black and one of his eyebrows was smoking.

"Well what do you want me to do about it?" He asked, slowing putting the card down. James shrugged and looked away. "You're not bored you're worried about Remus." Sirius stood up and began collecting his cards and James was reminded that despite the arrogant, cocky demeanour; his friend was as astute and intelligent as he boasted.

"Fine. Whatever. I want something to take my mind off stuff." He snapped.

"Well, why don't we go for a walk then? Explore the castle? Maybe we could find some more secret passages to add to the map?"

"Yeah, nice idea. Shame that we'll probably get caught and end up in detention again…"

Sirius sighed and sat down. "Do you or do you not have an invisibility cloak you stupid muppet?" He smirked.

James could feel his mouth break into a huge grin. "Indeed I do... What about Peter?"

Sirius shrugged. "He's busy." He said gesturing over his shoulder to where Peter was still struggling with a particularly nasty History of Magic essay for the next day. He was staring at the meagre two and half feet he had written with his tongue poking out between his teeth. "Besides, it'll be easier to fit two under the cloak than three…"

James nodded; relieved Sirius had been the one to suggest leaving Peter behind.

It wasn't that he didn't like Peter. He just… felt a little annoyed when he tagged along everywhere with them.

James wasn't too modest and neither was Sirius. They both knew Peter wasn't as good a wizzard as them, he didn't have the confidence or the sense of humour and often James wondered how Peter had gotten into Griffindor in the first place.

Sirius had never worn an invisibility cloak before. His father had often used his infront of him, but never had he dared touch it himself. When he had been very young his father had made a game of it, hiding in a room watching and occasionally laughing as he and Regulus had stumbled over themselves trying to find him.

888

Sirius tried to shove the thought of his father away. He had been trying to avoid thinking of his family, but the anger and the sense of betrayal he felt was white hot in the pit of his stomach. He was enjoying being at Hogwarts, and yes, being in Griffindor. As far as he was concerned he had found a place he felt that maybe he could belong.

Always he felt like an outsider in the Black family. He looked the part; tall, dark, brooding and handsome. He spoke the part; a bored drawl which indicated he had better things to do. He had even acted the part; nodding at one of his father's increasingly long winded lectures on pureblood and blood traitors, looking disgusted at the sight of Muggles and trying his hardest to keep up with his mother's increasingly manic demands.

But that was it, it was just an act. He hadn't believed it like Regulus, whose eyes lit up whenever he heard how he was special, like royalty.

He had known, deep down, the day would come when he would have to stand up to them. But he had never thought it would be at the age of eleven. At least he was thousands of miles away.

The material felt like silk, smooth and silvery against his skin. He looked over at James. He had never met anyone like James. The look on his mothers face if she could see him now made him grin.

"Where are we going?" He murmured as they carefully slipped down one of the staircases to the fifth floor.

"No idea." James grinned. "Lets see where we end up."