Madame Rue proclaimed Gwen quite fit, although she kept her in the hospital wing overnight, just in case. Gwen seemed extremely embarrassed about it, so Remus didn't ask any questions, although he was curious.

A good side effect of the incident was the fact that it seemed to have distracted Gwen from her own suspicions of Remus for awhile. They saw more of each other in the month that followed, and spent more time alone together.

But it couldn't be hoped that Gwen's curiosity would be stilled forever. Remus's November "visit to his mother" came along, and Gwen was as solicitous as she had been in September.

But Gwen was actually the last thing in Remus's mind the next night as he made his way back from the hospital wing—or, as he would tell everyone but his fellow Marauders tomorrow morning, riding back from his parents' house. Actually, he was worried that he was missing so much work due to what James termed his "furry little problem". He had a test in charms in two days, and he hadn't studied at all.

The portrait hole creaked as Remus stepped into the common room, his mind on spells and incantations. He turned and took two steps toward the stairs before he caught sight of Gwen, sitting in the corner. He started guiltily. She had been waiting up for him, and she looked very solemn.

They stared at one another for a moment, and Gwen schooled her face into a smile and started to speak. But she was cut off by a voice from the direction of the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

"I heard the portrait hole creak," Peter was insisting as he led the procession into the common room. He didn't observe Gwen, his head turned to add to James and Sirius behind him, "Remus is back from the hospital wing, and you can tell him your plans!"

"Shut up," Sirius suddenly said, catching sight of Gwen. He whacked Peter in the back, and Peter looked around with an expression of innocent bewilderment. Finally seeing Gwen and Remus, he opened and shut his mouth a couple times like a gaping fish.

James and Sirius both looked a little apprehensive—an unusual expression for the two trouble-makers. Remus shut his eyes with a pained expression. They'd done it, now.

"We'll, uh, leave you two to catch up!" James finally managed, grabbing Peter's collar and pushing his friend up the stairs ahead of him. "You've got to hear Sirius's new plot, Remus, it's brilliant!" They disappeared back into the dormitory.

Remus and Gwen looked at one another again.

"Remus," Gwen said, "we have to talk. There's something going on that you're not telling me."

Remus felt like he'd swallowed a bucket of ice water.

"I don't mean to pry," Gwen said, almost pleadingly, "but don't you trust me enough to tell me what's going on?"

Remus took a deep breath. He did owe her the truth, even if she hated him. And she would—she would be disgusted. But there was nothing for it.

He didn't meet her eye. Staring into the fire, he said, "I'm a werewolf."

Gwen gave a sharp intake of breath, almost a gasp, but she didn't move. Remus finally turned to look at her, and she was staring at him, an inscrutable expression on her face. But Remus thought he saw fear in it. Abruptly, he turned and left the room. Gwen sat staring after him.

000

Remus didn't see Gwen the next morning at breakfast, for which he was half-thankful. He barely said a word to anybody, and only managed to choke down a little toast.

She probably never wants to see me again, he thought, staring glumly at his plate. What if she tells someone? But he couldn't quite imagine Gwen doing such an awful thing. Well, I suppose I should consider us broken up, now, he continued. But we'll still have to see each other so often—the next couple of weeks are gonna be hell.

Peter hit him in the arm. "Earth to Moony?"

"Oh. Sorry. What were we saying?"

"You weren't saying anything," Sirius pointed out. "What's eating you?"

Remus glanced around to make sure no one else was listening. "I told Gwen last night. About my lycanthropy."

James whistled between his teeth. "I am so sorry, mate."

"It wasn't because of what I said, was it?" Peter asked in a small voice.

"Of course it was, dimwit," Sirius growled, smacking his arm.

"No, it wasn't," Remus said firmly. "That was just the icing on the cake. She was surpicious before."

James cleared his throat. "So, um… How'd she take it?"

"She just looked at me," Remus said bitterly. "Look, I don't want to talk about it."

000

Their first class that morning was potions, with Hufflepuff. Remus, James, Peter and Sirius walked into the dungeon just as the class was starting, so Gwen didn't have any time to talk to or avoid Remus. He was careful not to glance in her direction all the way through class. It was a good thing they were only taking notes that day, because James had to keep elbowing him to tell him he'd missed something.

Someone trapped Gwen in conversation as soon as the class ended, and Remus quickly left with his friends. As they were climbing up the stairs, Gwen called after him.

"Remus! Wait up!"

Gritting his teeth, he stopped. "Go on, I'll catch up," he said to Peter, who looked unsure but scampered after James and Sirius.

Gwen caught up with him. "I overslept. That's why I wasn't at breakfast," she said casually as they continued down the hall. "My roommates didn't wake me up, and—"

"Gwen, what are you playing at?" Remus asked her in a furious undertone.

"What?"

"C'mere." He grabbed her arm and pulled her into an unused classroom, shutting the door behind them. "What are you doing? You heard what I said last night!"

"Yeah? You're a werewolf." Remus just looked at her. Gwen began to get angry. "What, do you want me to shun you or something? Scream and take off running when I see you? Carry wolfsbane in my pocket? Do you think I care?"

"Oh, so my turning into a monster once a month doesn't bother you?" he said angrily. "Are you trying to be politically correct? Act like I'm just like everyone else so you can think you're all noble or something?"

Gwen was really angry now. "You want the truth? Yes, if the first werewolf I met were anyone but you, it would bug me. It would scare me, in fact. But it is you. I can't be scared of you—I trust you." She paused and shrugged her shoulders. "I love you."

Remus surprised them both by kissing her.

When Gwen caught her breath again, she laughed almost shakily. "Remus, we're going to be late to class."

000

Gwen and Remus were in their own little world together at lunch. They spoke quietly, so as not to be overheard.

"So it doesn't bother you at all?" Remus asked incredulously.

"Well, the whole idea will definitely take some getting used to," Gwen acknowledged with a smile. "But just because you change into something else for one night every month doesn't mean I think you're any different inside than you were." She laughed and quoted, "'Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds'."

"Shakespeare?"

"But of course!" They laughed together.

"Are you two having fun over there?" Sirius teased.

"What's it look like?" Remus asked, grinning.

"Do they know?" Gwen asked in an undertone.

"What, about Moony?" said James, whose sharp ears had caught her question. "Of course! Where d'you think the nickname came from?"

"What about Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, then?"

Sirius laughed. "No, no, too many revelations at once. No good."

TBC