Sorry if I haven't been updating at my former speed. Spring Break came to end for me last week. Yet another cliffhanger at the end of this chapter. I'm so evil! Review answers:

Magnolia Lane: Wait no longer! It doesn't get to the 'finding' part just yet, but that'll be in the next chapter. I hope you like this chappie!

lovemehatemejustdon'tfearme: Like I said above, the 'finding' part is next chapter. This chapter does better explain what Dumbledore does though. My original plan was to have them find Ron in this one, but it turned out longer than I thought. To keep to my normal length, I put it in the next chapter. You keep reading, I'll keep writing!

Rumpleteaze: Oooh, I can't wait to write the transformation scene! I'm hoping it'll be next chapter, but you never know. I'm glad you're sticking with this story!

OOO

Outside the quidditch game between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw was coming to an end. Dumbledore still had time. The sun was low in the sky, but not yet setting.

Lupin was currently in the dungeons getting the ingredients for his Wolfsbane potion from Snape. He decided he would go down there and tell him the grave news. Remus was sure to be upset that the student he had bitten turned out to be one so close to him, but he would want to know nevertheless. He had been just sick about the whole accident.

A few minutes later Dumbledore arrived at the dungeons. Lupin was mixing the potion's ingredients in a small cauldron.

"Do you need something as well, Dumbledore?" Snape asked in his usual drawl.

"Yes, Remus can I have a word?"

"What is it Dumbledore? Is it about..." Lupin asked as the two were out of the dungeons and in the deserted entrance hall.

Dumbledore nodded "I know who it was you bit that night."

"Who?"

He sighed deeply before answering. "Ron Weasley"

Lupin's face dropped visibly. "No... I couldn't have... not Ron..."

"If we hurry we can catch him before the moon rises. Well, maybe not you. You have your own business to take care of. Go, take your potion. You can always see Ron in the morning."

"But Dumbledore, you-you can't leave him to transform on his own! Trust me, I know how bad it can be the first time. Isn't there any way I can help?"

"No... you should just worry about yourself for tonight. Hagrid and Madame Pomfrey have had quite a bit of experience with werewolves. They should be able to help."

"Right..."

Students started filling in from the grounds. The game must have ended.

"I'll have to hurry. Goodbye Remus."

OOO

Hagrid was sitting at his over-sized table enjoying supper when he heard a knock on the door.

"Dumbledore! Why, come in. Yeh can have somethin' to eat if yer want."

"No thank you Hagrid, I'm afraid we don't have time."

"What do yeh mean? What's goin' on?" He could tell something bad was up. He could hear it in Dumbledore's voice.

"I'm afraid I have very bad news... as of last month Hogwarts has a new werewolf resident."

"Really?" Hagrid almost seemed exited about having a sort of creature at the school. "This would be the first since Lupin, right?"

"Yes, infact Lupin was the one who bit the poor student."

Hagrid's eyes widened. "Yer mean they were bitten here at Hogwarts? That ain't good at all... I thought yeh meant they'd been bitten before comin' here... Who is it? Anyone I'd recognize?"

"Sadly, yes. Ron Weasley was our victim."

"No... no, not Ron..." The half-giant's eyes were watering. "H-how did this happen? Yeh said Lupin bit 'im?"

Dumbledore nodded solemly. "He was coming for his potion, but he was too late and transformed in the Forbidden Forest. For some reason Ron was there that night and was bitten..." He let Hagrid soak this in before continuing. "I'm telling you this because tonight is the full moon. Ron will be facing his first transformation, and I thought you could aid him. You did have quite a bit of experience with Remus before the Marauder's time."

"Sure, sure... we're goin' teh have to hurry; the sun's settin' already. Do yeh know where he is?"

"I can only assume he would go to the Whomping Willow. He knows how to get passed it, and what it was once used for."

"Right. So what do I tell 'im?"

Dumbledore pondered this for a moment. "Tell him I figured it out, and that you were sent to help him through his transformation. We can explain it all in better detail tomorrow. He won't likely be in the best state of mind tonight, anyhow. I'm going to go back to the castle to inform Harry and Hermione. They have as much of a right to know as we do. Not to mention they would probably like to help their friend as well."

"Okay then, I'll go an find 'im"

OOO

Hermione was studying near the fire in the Common Room as Harry walked in. He plopped down in the over-stuffed chair next to her and proceeded to stare at the ground.

"Cheer up Harry. You caught the snitch; it's not like the game was your fault."

"Still Hermione, you were there, you saw the whole thing. Face it, we sucked, swallowed, bit, and chewed."

She knew it probably wasn't appropriate, but this made her laugh.

"Where's Ron?" she asked in between giggles.

"He stayed behind. I think he might be going to practice some until dark. He seemed pretty messed up about everything."

"I can understand that, he was awful bad tonight."

"Yeah..."

The two could hear someone mumble the password. Seconds later the portrait door swung open, and in stepped none other than their headmaster.

"Good evening Professor," an odd look was in the old man's usually twinkling eye's, "is something wrong?" Hermione added quickly.

He nodded and took a seat in one of the arm chairs before diving into his story for the third time tonight. It was begining to feel repetitive.

"Have either of you noticed anything stange about Ron lately? Or, has he told you any kind of 'deep secrets'? Ones that he wasn't planning of telling anyone else, including me."

Dumbledore saw only looks of confusion. "Apparently not..." This was going to be tough. Harder than Lupin or Hagrid. How would he word such a thing?

"Ron... he was... last month, he was in the Forbidden Forest. AmI correct?"

Harry and Hermione nodded. Dumbledore continued with his theory.

"Well, I regret to inform you that your friend was... was bitten by Professor Lupin.

Everything was silent for a long time. Harry just stared at the old man in shock, while Hermione's bottom lip was quivering.

"I knew it, I knew it! I should have said something! Why, with all those books he was reading lately, and the way he looked and acted... That night, the night he was bitten, he was limping when he came back. All of the clues were perfect. I figured Lupin out, why didn't I figure Ron out?"

"Please Hermione, calm down. It's not your fault. It's no ones's fault." Dumbledore tried to console her.

"Why didn't he tell us?" was all Harry could say.

"I don't know Harry, I don't know..." He took a glance out the window and nearly jumped out of his seat at how little sunlight was left. "Listen, there isn't much time. Tonight is the full moon and Ron is going to transform for the first time. I've sent Hagrid to find him and help him through it. I didn't know if you would want to be there as well."

"Of course we will! Won't we Harry?"

He nodded defiantly. "He needs our help."

"You best hurry then. I don't know where Hagrid is, or even if he found him yet. I would check the Whomping Willow first though." With that said he added as an afterthought, "Please, be careful." Though by this time they were already tearing out of portrait hole.