Prompt: the harvest moon

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Sirius sat uneasily in the chair at the first. The only reason he wasn't twitchy was years of learning never to fidget. Peter was fidgeting, but it was clearly for a different reason as James was helping him with his Transfigurations essay. He glanced over to the wall and could very nearly see the full moon in his mind's eye. It was a harvest moon so it was probably orange or red. Maybe blood red.

He stood up and James and Peter looking at him curiously. Immediately, Sirius came up with an excuse.

"I am going to go to the library. I need to look up something," he said smoothly, amazed that after only a year of being around James, he had learned to lie so efficiently, though he couldn't help the knot of guilt that appeared at the thought that he was lying to his friends.

James shrugged.

"Whatever you want. Come on, Pete. It's not that difficult."

Sirius fled before James or Peter could offer to join him. He moved quietly down to McGonagall's office and hoped that she would be there. He knocked loudly on the heavy oak door and stood still as he listened to a few locks come undone. It swung open just a fraction and McGonagall glared down at him sternly, looking ever bit like how his mother could look when she was displeased with him. He swallowed.

"It is after curfew, Mr. Black," she said shrewdly. "Five points–"

Sirius interrupted her in his haste.

"I know where Remus is, Professor," he said and promptly shut him mouth, waiting for the strike that would have come from his father for daring to interrupt.

McGonagall's eyes widened behind the square frames and she stood back from the door and opened it further, placing a hand on Sirius' should and pulling him into her office. He stood uneasily in the middle of the room as his Head of House closed the door.

"Might I ask how you figured this out?" she asked, moving so that she was sitting at her desk, she motioned for Sirius to take one the chairs on the opposite side.

"My mother, Professor," Sirius started, "is a herbologist and she let me help her with some things in the greenhouse this summer. She was telling me about different plants and how they bloom on full moons and she gave me a book about it. It gives the dates for full moons and…" he trailed off, nervous at the incredulous look that McGonagall was giving him. "He's a werewolf, isn't he, Professor?"

McGonagall nodded.

"You astound me, Mr. Black. I did not think that you or your friends would stumble upon Mr. Lupin's secret by yourself," she said after a moment. "Of course, this leaves me with a question. How many of your peers have to you told?"

Sirius straightened up unconsciously at the stern glare from her.

"None, Professor," McGonagall nodded.

"I am aware of your family. Just two months ago, you're father provided funding to a new piece of legislature that would limit even more rights to werewolves as most wizards view them as being subhuman. I could ask what you are planning to do with this new information."

"I should tell Remus, should I not?" Sirius asked.

"This is your decision," McGonagall stood up and gazed out the window. "You are only beginning your second year. I would tell you to think deeply on what you have seen of Remus and make a judgment from there. You do understand why he did not tell you and your friends, correct?"

Sirius nodded.

"Yes, Professor," he very nearly started fidgeting as she looked sharply at him.

"How do you feel about sharing your dorm with a werewolf, Mr. Black?" Sirius started in surprise and then finally, he did fidget slightly, his shoulders jerking momentarily before he gathered himself again.

"He's Remus. He's not going to eat me," he said after a minute. "I mean…well I suppose he would during a full moon, but he's locked away isn't he? That's why he isn't in the dorms tonight, right?"

McGonagall nodded.

"Ten points to Gryffindor, Mr. Black, for a rather insightful view on things. Though I suppose you could have worded it a bit better," she allowed a smallest of smile and Sirius couldn't help but smile in response. "Now, I have essays to grade for my fifth years. I would suggest that you return to Gryffindor tower, Mr. Black and think about what you plan to do with this new information. I would ask though that you not tell anyone else unless Mr. Lupin gives you his permission."

Sirius nodded.

"Yes, Professor," he stood up and moved toward the door, opening it. He turned back to look at his Head of House, but she was all ready writing something on a piece of parchment on her desk – one of the essays, no doubt. He closed the door behind him and started back toward Gryffindor Tower.