A/N: I'm back! All of the work I've been getting at college has made me realize how much I love writing and not doing homework...so I've been writing! This chapter is really short compared to what I usually have, but it felt like a good place to stop, so I stopped. Thanks SOOOOO much to everyone who's reviewed and who has been patient with me because of my random updating. You guys are AWESOME!

Anyway, I don't own Harry Potter, so don't sue me, but I do own Becca, and I own Liz vicariously through my cousin. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy!

Sammy Solo

The first day, then the first week, passed by in a flash. Before the first years knew it they were starting their second week as Hogwarts students. Through the first week, new friendships had been formed…and new grudges.

"I can't believe we have to be in the same room as that Slytherin git," Remus heard Sirius say for the fifth time during just this one potion's class. Remus watched Sirius complaining to James from his seat behind the pair. Sirius glared across the room at the hooked nosed boy who had fallen out of the boat on their first night.

"I don't even want to breathe the same air as him," Sirius continued. "I mean, look at his hair. Has he ever even taken a shower? And it's all in his face…"

"He probably keeps it in his face so no one can see him sniveling all over like he was in the boat," James added. Both boys sniggered, and Peter, who was sitting next to Remus, laughed also.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, if you please," the professor warned, then went back to checking the students' brews.

"Yes professor," the boys chorused, still smirking mischievously.

Remus shook his head. Sirius had become even more bitter towards the Slytherins after he had received a letter from home at breakfast on the third day of classes. "Letter," of course, was an understatement, as the parchment itself had screamed at Sirius in what Remus assumed was his father's voice.

"SIRIUS BLACK!" it had yelled, loud enough for everyone in the Great Hall to hear. "I NEVER THOUGHT THAT EVEN AN IDIOTIC BOY LIKE YOU COULD SCREW UP YOUR OWN SORTING! AND NOW LOOK WHERE YOU ARE! YOU WILL TALK TO THE HEADMASTER IMMEDIATELY ABOUT TRANSFERRING TO SLYTHERIN, OR SO HELP ME, WHEN YOU COME HOME FOR WINTER HOLIDAY, YOU WILL REGRET IT!"

The voice had scared Remus practically out of his wits; it had an icy edge that sent shivers down his spine. Sirius had paled slightly, but had been smiling for the rest of the day. When approached later by Dumbledore to ask if he would like to talk about anything, Sirius had simply replied, "No thank you, sir," and continued on his way. Remus certainly wished he was brave enough to stand up to someone like that.

After class, Remus and Peter caught up with Sirius and James and the four boys proceeded towards the Gryffindor common room together. Remus tried to listen to the conversation of his three friends, but he was having trouble concentrating over the taunting of the wolf.

"A few more days, Remus," the monster sneered in his ear, louder than before now that the full moon was approaching. "Just a few more days and these supposed friends of yours will really see what you're all about…"

"Remus, are listening?" Sirius's voice broke through his daze, and Remus blinked a few times and looked at his friend.

"Sorry, I was thinking, what did you say?" he asked, feeling color rush to his cheeks.

"I asked if you were going to come with us after classes," Sirius said, one eyebrow arched. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Remus answered quickly, still trying to block out the wolf in the background of his mind. "Um…where are you going?"

"Exploring," James said with a smile and a wave of his hand that took in the whole corridor in front of them. "We've got an entire castle, plus the grounds, to get to know. I'd say it's about time we started."

"Yeah, sure, I'll go," Remus said. As long as they don't leave me here alone with him, he thought, and the wolf laughed manically.

"You're more foolish than I thought you were!" the wolf teased. "You think they can save you from me? I can't wait to tear them apart, one by one…"

"Shut up," Remus mumbled.

"What did ya say?" James asked him.

"Nothing," he answered. James shrugged and turned back to the talking with Sirius, and the wolf continued.

"They already know you're a freak," it sneered. "Just give it a few more days and they'll see you for what you really are. A monster, a vicious beast who will…"

"James, Sirius!" The voice wasn't loud, but it instantly cut the wolf off and brought Remus back to reality. He turned to the source of the voice: Becca Potter, James's twin sister and Lily and Liz's new best friend. Remus had only formally met her once, but with the stories he heard from James, Lily, and Liz, he felt like her knew her very well. He smiled as she walked by.

"Hey Remus," she said as she passed, and his stomach did a little flip.

"Hey," he replied. She smiled, then continued on to talk to her brother. Remus watched the conversation, James and Becca arguing about something he wasn't quite following, and braced himself for the wolf to come back. To his great surprise, however, the creature remained silent.

What made him quiet? he wondered, but he didn't think on it too hard, just enjoyed the temporary peace in his head as he walked back to the common room with his friends.

"Give it up, Black! You're no match for me!" James yelled over his shoulder as he sprinted down the stairs towards the first floor. He rounded his way onto the last staircase, whooping loudly at his obvious victory, but was suddenly caught off guard as Sirius slid by him on the railing. James put on a burst of speed and jumped the last few steps, but to no avail; when he landed, Sirius was already standing in the Entrance Hall with a crooked smile on his face.

"You…cheated…" panted James, his face flushed from sprinting down a few flights of stairs. Remus was only a few steps behind him, with Peter bringing up the rear.

"Hey, you said 'Race you!'" Sirius argued. "You never said we had to run." James rolled his eyes.

"Oh well, I'll get you next time. Let's go!" James led the way out the oak front doors and into the warm night air of the grounds.

"Where are we going?" Peter asked breathlessly, still trying to recover from the race down the steps.

"I dunno," James answered, looking around. "What's good to explore out here?"

"That," Sirius said, pointing straight ahead. Stretching across their line of vision was the forest of Hogwarts.

"Yeah!" James said, and the pair immediately started for the trees. Peter looked a little scared, but followed anyway. Remus gulped and started to follow his friends.

"Guys, Professor Dumbledore said that place is off limits," he called after them. "We probably shouldn't go in there."
"Who's gonna know?" Sirius asked over his shoulder.

"But…it might be dangerous…" Remus felt himself trail off, his heart pumping wildly. The wolf cackled as memories of the last time he had been in a forest ran through his head…a scream in the darkness, the hot breath on his neck, teeth sinking into his shoulder, a howl of glory as he felt the life slipping out of him…

"Are you okay?" Remus blinked and refocused on the present. James was right in front of him once again, his hand on Remus's shoulder. "Are you sick or something?"

Remus felt his cheeks burning and realized that he must have paled as the memories came back. His breath was coming quickly, and his heart was still racing.

"No, no, I'm fine," he lied to James. "I just…I really don't think we should go in there, it might be…"

"Oy! What're you four doin'?" All four boys jumped as the booming voice came at them. They turned to see Hagrid, the half-giant groundskeeper, striding quickly towards them across the grass. He stopped in front of them and narrowed his eyes at Sirius and James. "I shoulda known you two were gonna be trouble," he said. "What're you four doin' anyway?"

"Exploring," Sirius answered with a shrug. Hagrid still looked suspicious.

"Yeah, well, go on inside and explore. You ain't allowed in the forest, and there's nothin' else around here fer ya. Go on, get."

"But…" James tried, but Hagrid cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"No arguments from ya. Get goin'."

James and Sirius groaned and turned back for the castle. Remus felt a sigh of relief escape his lips as he followed his friends back inside.

"We'll get in there eventually," Sirius promised.

"And I'll make sure he pays for it…" the wolf commented. Remus shook his head quickly, trying to block out the bad memories and the voice of the wolf.

The boys spent most of the night exploring, until Professor McGonagall spotted them, reminded them quickly that all students had to be in their common rooms by a certain time, and sent them on their way. Remus had attempted to finish his homework when they got back, but the wolf wouldn't give him even a moment's peace. Eventually, he bid goodnight to his friends and ascended the stairs, hoping that maybe sleep would drown out the wolf.

"Just two more days, Remus," the wolf reminded him. "Two more days and you're mine again…"

Remus closed his eyes and pulled his blanket over his head, tears forming in his eyes. If only he could get to sleep, he would feel so much better…

He heard the other three boys come in some time later, and lay awake long after that, staring into his blankets and hoping that something would make the wolf stop…