UNDER THE FULL MOON

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Disclaimer: Oh, my gosh, I like so totally don't own Harry Potter! Uh!

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CHAPTER Five – A

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James's arms were tired by the time he reached the castle. He barely noticed, though, because his mind was trying to process what had just happened. Lily had been bitten. Was she a werewolf yet? Or was there time?

He shoved the door open with a shoulder, smacking the unconscious Lily's feet on the wall as he stumbled into the entrance hall.

It was eerily dark and silent, and James stared into the gloom for a moment before he started into the main part of the castle.

His breath was harsh in his own ears and he nearly tripped over every nuance in the worn floor. Lily slipped down in his arms, and he bounced her into a more comfortable position. Her head lolled and James was nearly sick.

He was a few corridors away from the infirmary when a golden glow lit up the wall around the corner. A second later, James was staring at Professor Slughorn.

He started babbling. "Professor, it's Lily, she was bitten she needs to go to the infirmary sir please help me—"

Slughorn blinked sleepily, tired from his night patrol of the corridors, shaking his head to clear it. The fat under his chin wobbled even after his head had stopped moving. "What is this, Potter?" he finally demanded. "What's happened to Lily?"

James slowed his breathing enough to talk. "Sir, it's Lily, she was bitten by Remus and I think it's too late please help me—"

"Of course, of course," Slughorn said quickly, hastening to James and taking Lily into his own arms. "She needs help."

James remembered dreams more real than the next hour or so that passed. When they arrived, the professor boomed, "Poppy! There's been a werewolf bite!" A ruffled Madam Pomfrey, still in her nightgown, had come into the infirmary from a side room and ordered Slughorn to set Lily down on a bed.

Then, while she worked on Lily, Pomfrey had questioned James about what had happened. It hadn't even occurred to James to falsify the story to make it seem as though he hadn't been so far out of bounds. Madam Pomfrey had listened in disapproving silence, asking a few questions, though James couldn't remember what they had been.

When they were done, James asked a question of his own. "Is she a werewolf?"

Madam Pomfrey had looked at him, a tired expression that had nothing to do with the time of night on her features. "Yes."

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Peter could hardly believe his eyes. James sat hunched over in a chair and Lily was sprawled out, pale and limp, on a bed. Slughorn sat across the room from James, watching Madam Pomfrey adjust something on Lily's side.

"Madam Pomfrey!" he gasped, and she looked up, surprise written on her face.

"Did the werewolf get you too?"

Peter looked down at himself, as if to make sure he was in one piece, shook his head, and said quickly, "No, no, not me, but Sirius is in the tunnel and he's hurt!"

James jumped up, his mouth open uncertainly. "Sirius too?" he asked. Peter thought he heard the beginning of a sob in James's voice.

Peter nodded, swallowing nervously. "He's still transformed—I couldn't drag him with me."

"How badly is he hurt?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Peter haltingly described his friend's injuries. During this time, James slowly sunk back into his chair. Madam Pomfrey's response, however, was more energetic.

"Boys, stay with Lily. She's stabilized now, but make sure she doesn't roll off the bed or anything. Slughorn, wake Dumbledore and some of my other nurses. I will be retrieving Black from the tunnel."

"But what about the werewolf?" Slughorn asked nervously.

"I can take care of myself," Madam Pomfrey said curtly. "Now go."

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When the adults had left, Peter looked at James. "This is pretty bad, isn't it."

James grunted.

"I mean, won't we be in serious trouble?"

James, who had been stared vacantly at Lily's bed, snapped his attention to Peter. His mouth was twisted in a nasty scowl. "We'll be in trouble?" he exploded. "It's not us I'm worried about! I would hit you, but then that would be three of my friends I've hurt tonight." He gave a shuddering sigh as if the outburst had taken a lot from him and buried his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry, James," Peter said.

James looked up. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I was so stupid. I've gotten Lily turned into…into…what Remus is…and Sirius mauled. I'm stupid. I hope they punish us. We deserve it."

"I don't want to be punished," Peter mumbled.

James's reply was lethargic. "What?"

"Nothing, this is all just so terrible."

Silence descended upon them and James returned to staring at Lily's bed. Peter looked to the floor, then the ceiling, searched James's face for an emotion other than vacancy, and scraped some dirt from beneath his fingernail. None of this seemed real enough to worry about. He'd probably wake up now, with Sirius making fun of him for talking in his sleep.

A vivid picture of Remus's jaw's biting crushingly into Sirus's face seeped into his mind, and he shuddered. Sirius probably wouldn't be joking for quite a while.

Dumbledore and two nurses strode in. The headmaster's gaze swept the room, and though Dumbledore's eyes had rested for only a moment on Peter, he felt thoroughly searched.

The nurses hurried to Lily and began checking things and making minute adjustments. Dumbledore folded his long form into a chair next to James.

"So, James, Peter," he said. "Tell me what happened."

James took a deep, unsteady breath and began. He told Dumbledore everything, beginning with their monthly excursions and ending with chasing Mooney away from Lily's prostrate form. Peter added the events in the tunnel. He was honest, but throughout the story, he couldn't help but wonder if this was enough to be kicked out for, or if it would mean detentions until he graduated, or if Filch would be allowed to chain them up by their ankles.

When he was finished, Dumbledore nodded. "I hope you understand that this is very grave," he said.

"I understand," said James thickly. "If you want to expel me, I'll just go."

Dumbledore held up a hand. "No, I don't think that will be necessary," he said. Peter felt a warm wave of relief wash over him. "However, you both—all five of you—have broken a lot of rules, and the consequences are serious."

"Is Filch--?" Peter wondered.

"No, you will not be hung by your ankles," Dumbledore said quietly. "Obviously, that would not teach you a lesson."

"What will happen?" James asked. His tone suggested that he didn't care.

"Miss Evans and Mr. Black have been punished enough," said Dumbledore. "I believe that severe wounds and a lifetime of lycanthropy will be sufficient for them." (At the word 'lycanthropy,' James made a short, low moan and put his face in his hands again) "Mr. Lupin is not responsible for his actions tonight, and I will not punish him either. As for you…" he paused.

Peter watched him expectantly.

"I will decide your full punishments at another time," Dumbledore continued, "when it is later and I have thought of something that will teach you and help you."

"Alright," James said slowly. "Do you think Lily and Sirius will be okay?"

A brief look of pity crossed Dumbledore's face. "As you may already know, Miss Evans will be a werewolf for the rest of her life. I do not yet know Mr. Black's condition."

"Thank you, sir," James said in a tiny voice.

Peter didn't know what there was to thank him for.

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Sirius awoke for a brief moment to the word "Ennerverate." He blinked blurrily, enveloped in a haze of pain and darkness. A smooth voice said another spell, and he was shrinking to himself again. The pain didn't go away, and he tried to say something. What it was, Sirius didn't know.

The voice said a third spell and he was lifted smoothly from the ground. Everything went dark again.

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Reviewer Replies:

Luvin'it – Well, I'm glad you are (aren't I cheesy? Oh well, it's late). Thanks for reading.

Soft'N'fluffy – Yes, I suppose he is. And so are Sirius and Lupin, probably. I'll start rambling if I don't stop typing, so I'll end this with a good old Thanks for reading.

Hulabalooooooooo – Of course you're so loved. You reviewed me AND you have nine ooo's in your name. Well, three ooo's, but nine o's, and where was I again? I will read your story when I get the time, but school has been eating my life. I do like Marauder stories, though. (Could you tell?) And, though I already said this in the other replies, thanks for reading.