UNDER THE FULL MOON
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Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I'd Harry Potter in the evening, I'd Harry Potter in the morning, I'd Harry Potter all over this town… is that how the hammer song goes? Eh, who cares, I don't own Harry Potter.
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Note: This story takes place before Snape knows that Lupin is a werewolf.
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CHAPTER SEVEN – A MYSTERIOUS CENTAUR
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James sat across from Professor Dumbledore, his hands folded neatly in his lap. He wondered vaguely if the headmaster noticed that they shook or that he clasped them as tightly as he could.
"You really haven't found him?" James asked. His voice seemed to have risen by at least an octave since Dumbledore had asked to speak with him.
Professor Dumbledore shook his head. "James," he said in a warm, reassuring voice, "this is not as bad as you seem to be taking it. The forbidden forest is very large, and a werewolf, especially when frightened or in a frenzy, can travel very fast. It is unlikely that he was harmed last night. Our most immediate problem is finding Remus before he resorts to hunting rats for food."
James's eyes narrowed slightly in doubt, but he nodded. He could see Peter in the corner of his eye. His friend was staring absentmindedly at the floor, and James felt a surge of annoyance. He was sure Peter cared about Remus, but couldn't the boy show it a little bit?
No, he shouldn't be mad at Peter. This was his fault.
"I only wanted to talk to you because I have decided on the first part of my punishment for both of you," Dumbledore continued.
Peter's head jerked upright. "What will that be, sir?"
"You two are to help in looking for him during the daylight hours that you do not have class. This will go on until we find him—which I expect to be very soon," he added, his blue eyes lingering on James. "There is magic that I will show you to help you locate him, though I expect you already know some."
James's thoughts flashed the to Marauder's Map that lay concealed under his bed.
"Can you do that?' Dumbledore asked.
"Yes," James said.
Peter nodded mutely.
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"I said, are you lost?" the voice repeated. It was deep and melodious, but unsettlingly so. Remus pivoted and nearly slipped on the wet leaves. When he righted himself, he stared up at the rippling muscles of an enormous centaur.
He was speechless, and stood staring for a moment before the centaur spoke again.
"I would rather not have to repeat myself," the centaur said. His voice seemed to drop even lower.
Remus found his voice. "Yes, actually, I'm—I am," he stammered.
"And where are you lost from?" the centaur queried.
Remus answered in a quiet, voice. "Hogwarts."
The centaur leaned down and cupped a hand around his ear. "Eh?"
"Hogwarts," Remus said clearly. The centaur didn't seem to be much of a threat, but it was impossible to be sure…
The centaur's eyes narrowed, and he regarded Remus with a look of—what? Suspicion? He folded his arms across his chest.
"I was lost last night," Remus clarified hurriedly. "I'm sorry… am I in your territory or something?"
Ignoring this question completely, the centaur asked, "Are you the werewolf?"
Remus was struck speechless for a second time. The centaur sighed gustily. "I said, are you the werewolf?" he repeated loudly.
"Yes, yes, I am," Remus squeaked. "How did you know? Did I hurt anyone in the forest?" he cleared his throat. "Please tell me!"
Shaking his head, the centaur reached down and patted Remus's tousled hair. Remus barely noticed.
"Please tell me," he said again.
"Why don't you come with me," the centaur said.
Remus opened his mouth.
"Yes, I definitely think you should come with me," the centaur added. He glared at Remus and folded his burly arms across his chest, which made the werewolf entirely sure that this was not a jovial request.
Deciding it would be best not to protest when the centaur could probably rip him in half, Remus closed his mouth and nodded.
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Severus Snape approached Peter and James during their lunch break. He slid into the seat next to Peter, and Peter imagined that he could smell a foul odor wafting from the Slytherin.
An uncharacteristic grin was plastered on Severus's face.
"What do you want, Snape?" James asked. "You know, I'm not really in the mood to torture you right now."
"I heard about your good friends Sirius, Lily, and Remus," Snape said. "Such a pity."
James turned his head slowly to Snape and growled, "If you don't go away now, I'll curse your head off."
Severus made a pouting face. "Oh, I'm so scared," he said sarcastically. "Though I suppose I should be, considering that you lost one friend, maimed the other, and turned the love of your life into a werewolf. I'd hate to see what you could do to someone you don't like."
"Who told you all that?" James gritted through clenched teeth. His fist had tightened around his fork.
"Oh, a friend told me," Severus said. Peter winced.
"Snape, if you don't either tell me who told you that or leave me alone, I'll castrate you with this fork." James's voice was eerily serious.
Severus tilted his head and the grin on his face spread wider. "I'm sorry, I meant that your friend told me." He put an arm around Peter. "Didn't you, Pettigrew?"
Peter squirmed from the Slytherin's grasp, but his cheeks burned with a red hot blush. He could hear Severus laughing, but the face that James had turned his fury upon Peter felt much more pressing.
"Oh, I do love my victories," Severus said, standing up. With one last snort of laugher, he sauntered back to the Slytherin table.
With effort that even Peter could feel, James set the fork down on the table.
"You told him?" he asked through still-clenched teeth.
Peter's blush had drained away and he felt suddenly numb. "It was just that…I mean… people wanted to know what was going on, and they were asking me so many questions… I just had to tell them…"
"Them?" James cried. "How many people did you tell?"
"Well… a lot," Peter stammered. "I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! There were all asking questions, they all wanted to know what had happened! I had to tell them! I'm sorry!"
"Oh god," James moaned. "Peter, how many people know?"
Peter shrugged stiffly. "I really don't know… the people that I told probably told other people…"
"I have to go," James said. He stood up, leaving Peter sitting alone.
"Where are you going?" asked Peter.
"I don't know." James stalked out of the Great Hall and Peter watched his receding back.
Somehow, he didn't feel too wretched.
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"Lily?" Sirius said.
No response.
"Lily, if you're awake, would you please at least grunt at me?"
"What, Sirius?" Lily's voice was tired. Sirius wished he could turn around and look at her, but he had discovered that it was best not to move. Still, staring at the ceiling made him feel as though he was missing something.
"Well," Sirius began, "We're the only ones in here, so I thought I might try to strike up a conversation."
A sigh drifted toward Sirius from Lily's direction. "It is rather boring, isn't it? But you know what, Sirius? I would rather be bored than talk to you."
"Suit yourself, then," Sirius said. "But I'll have you know, I tried to stop Remus from getting to you."
"I can see that," Lily said flatly. She took a deep breath. "It's not you I'm angry at, really. You've paid your due. It's James… oh, I hate him."
Sirius was silent, contemplating a response that would be loyal to James but that wouldn't make Lily too angry. He settled with, "He likes you a lot."
Lily snorted. "I can't believe you're still standing up for him after he did… this to you."
They both knew what this was.
"Yes, well…" Tell her it was my idea and she'll probably get up and throw me off the bed. Tell her it was James and he'll never forgive me. "Yes." Vaguely agreeing worked in most circumstances. James could probably break the real news to her some other time.
They both lay in awkward silence for a moment. As it stretched on, Sirius wondered if he should break it, but Lily was faster.
"You're certainly right that this is boring," she said. "So. Let's make conversation. What classes are you taking this year?"
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Tada! And that, ladies and gentleman, is the end of chapter seven.
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