Hey, guys! This is my first ever fic! Today, i.e., March 27, is James Potter's birthday and what better way to celebrate by publishing this and making my debut as an FF writer. This is my take on Remus' first ever Wolfsbane experience and I hope you enjoy it and please feel free to leave constructive criticism in the reviews.

-J&L-

Around a couple of weeks after the OWLS results were out, James, Sirius and Remus were in Monty's study with James' parents, Fleamont and Euphemia Potter.

"Well, will you tell us now, Dad?" James asked, a tad irritated. He was tapping his foot impatiently, arms crossed. Sirius looked on amused and Remus was sweating, as if he was anticipating something bad to happen.

Fee just rubbed a hand soothingly down his arm. "It'll be fine, Remus. One of Monty's acquaintances gave him a recipe for a new potion. No harm will occur, we can promise that."

Remus asked, "What is it, Mrs. Potter?"

It was Monty who replied. He turned around from his previous position of hunching over a few papers, a goblet in hand. Faint blue smoke was being emitted from it.

"This is the Wolfsbane Potion."

The boys' eyebrows rose so high, they might not have existed at all.

Seeing the dumbstruck look on their faces, he continued, "From its name, it's obvious that it was concocted from wolfsbane, more commonly known as monkshood or aconite -"

"Isn't that poisonous?" James asked.

"Sixteen years around me and you've become a potions genius, Jamie!" Monty joked.

Everyone snickered as James scowled, and that reduced Remus' anxiety a little. Fee placing a motherly hand on his back contributed to that too.

Monty was still smiling as he resumed his explanation, "Aconite is poisonous, but is stabilized using magnesium and amiodarone, which is obtained from the extract of a plant called Khella or Bishop's weed."

Everyone was listening raptly to every word he was saying.

"Bishop's weed is not an uncommon plant to find across Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. In fact, African healers use it regularly to treat heart and blood maladies... An ingenious move on Damocles' part if you ask me. Damocles Belby, the inventor of this potion, was trying for years to find a cure to lycanthropy-"

The boys looked shocked and more than a little excited at this, but he didn't stop.

"-and he had gotten nowhere until now. Apparently, his uncle was a werewolf persecuted by the Ministry and he vowed to find a cure. With immense effort on his part, he was able to bring this to fruition. A goblet full of it must be taken every day for a week before the full moon. Unfortunately, it doesn't cure lycanthropy completely. It only eases the symptoms. It allows you to retain your mental capabilities while in your wolf form."

"You'll turn, but your mind will still be Remus. You can't harm a fly," Fee explained.

James and Sirius, who became disappointed after they heard that it wouldn't cure lycanthropy completely, immediately perked up at the mention of the retention of human cognizance.

Remus was extremely grateful that the Potters would think about him for this and he thanked them profusely.

"It's nothing, son. You're family and that's just what we do," Monty said as he and Fee hugged him.

"You are just as much a son to us as James and Sirius are, Remus. We love you and would do anything for you," Fee said.

Sirius and Remus teared up at that and James clapped them on the back reiterating what his parents said.

Sirius' curiosity kicked in and he asked, "Why isn't this widely available, Monty?"

Fee smiled at Sirius and said, "It was invented fairly recently, Sirius. It isn't even in the market yet. Monty got the recipe early because he is famous and has connections."

Correctly interpreting the troubled looks on their faces she explained "Don't worry, boys. Testing was conducted, though not as extensively as one would like, and there were no adverse effects and the test subjects were more than satisfied with it. Moreover, Monty has spent the last couple of months studying it quite thoroughly and deemed it safe just the day before yesterday."

"That's why we didn't tell you sooner," Monty told the boys.

"It's ok, Dad. We understand." Sirius nodded vigorously at that.

"When will it come out, though?" James asked.

"Sometime next week, I believe. Why?"

James had a contemplative look on his face, similar to the one Fee had whenever she was solving a complex case, Monty noted.

"Maybe, if enough trials are conducted, the Ministry could sponsor it and it could be more widely available."

Remus and Sirius were looking at him in awe and his parents had proud looks on their faces, but they were tinged with sadness.

"It is a singularly complex potion to brew. Utmost patience and precision is required to brew it. Only the best of potioneers can do it, James. Besides, it is extremely expensive. Aconite is poisonous and isn't easy to acquire," his father explained.

"Also, the Ministry is not very sympathetic towards werewolves at the moment. A lot of it is because many of them are joining Voldemort, who is apparently promising prey and inclusion if he wins. They are outcasts from society, hence what Voldemort is offering is appealing to them. And the Ministry isn't doing anything to stop it," his mother added.

They all took in the implications of that for a moment. How could the Ministry, sworn to protect its citizens, be swayed towards the Dark Side? This only increases the anger of werewolves and other ostracised groups towards the Magical Community, furthering conflicts. And how could werewolves be so blind to believe that Voldemort will allow them to be a part of the society if he wins? Purebloods are the ones who shun them in the first place!

Monty clapped his hands, breaking everyone out of their respective reveries.

"That's enough sombre talk for today. How about you drink that now, Remus?"

He handed the goblet of Wolfsbane Potion over to Remus, who looked apprehensively at it. James, Sirius, and Fleamont shot him supporting looks and he gained strength from them. Euphemia said soothingly, "You don't have to, Remus."

"I want to, Mrs. Potter ," he said with conviction.

She nodded and said, "It's Fee."

Remus smiled and threw back his head and swallowed the whole thing in one.

It was disgusting. It was truly dreadful. The best way to describe it was sweat, rat droppings, and dirty socks mixed with something so bitter it made Remus want to throw up. But he stayed strong and managed to get it down his throat, which was burning. He allowed a small grimace to work its way onto his face. He needed water. His throat was on fire.

Fee, sensing his plight, conjured a glass of water for him. He nodded gratefully, water in amber eyes, and drank it. He clutched his sandy hair as he waited for the burns to subside.

After a few moments, Monty asked, "How was it?"

His voice was hoarse. "Bitter."

"Do you feel any different, Moony?" Sirius had his arm around his shoulders.

"Not much. Unless you count the fact that I might breathe fire in a couple of minutes."

Everyone laughed at that and Remus thought that if this would prevent him from harming anyone, he would gladly burn his throat anytime.

-J&L-

The moon was shining, its reflection making a wondrous sight in the pond adjoining the Potters residence. There was a stomping of hooves as a werewolf turned around.

A majestic white stag, with hazel eyes and antlers with black at the edges, was running towards it. Beside it, a shaggy black dog with grey eyes.

As they reached it, the werewolf raised its snout and let out a howl.

Padfoot went over to Moony and rubbed his head against his leg as Prongs approached cautiously. He didn't want to set off Moony if the potion didn't work.

Surprisingly, Moony raised his paw and signaled his friend to come over. He walked over and poked him with his antlers and Moony rubbed his arm in pain, instead of scratching it against a tree trunk.

Prongs made eye contact with Padfoot and nodded.

Moony was momentarily confused before Prongs came to stand in front of him. Sirius changed back and was taking slow steps towards him. Moony just wanted to go over to him and hug him like there was no tomorrow, but he understood the need for caution.

"Moony?" Sirius asked.

He nodded his head vigorously and Sirius smiled.

He came and petted him on the head. James was hugging him from the back. Moony wrapped his arms around both of them.

"We have to go tell Mum and Dad! This is amazing! It worked!"

James was ecstatic. But that was nothing compared to what Remus felt. He was euphoric. The potion worked! He could no longer harm anyone in this form. He was able to think like a human. He still had werewolf tendencies. He still wanted to bite the trunks. He still wanted to test human flesh. He still wanted to howl facing the moon.

But he managed to control himself. After eleven years of losing control every full moon and becoming a danger to society, he was relieved to be in control. Now the Marauders could explore the edges of the Forbidden Forest and even Hogsmeade with minimal risk.

James and Sirius were back in their animagus forms and were leading to the back door of Clevedon Court. Fee and Monty said they would wait for an hour after he turned to be given the news.

"Remus?...Remus, is that you?...Did it work?' Monty's anxious voice cut through his reverie.

He was in his dressing gown, wand in hand, standing. Fee was right next to him, in her dressing gown, sitting on the patio, but her eyes were sharp like a hawk looking for its prey. He knew that she knew that the potion worked when a brilliant smile spread across her face and she jumped up.

Monty was shocked at the sudden movement.

"What's wrong, Fee?"

"It worked, Monty! You're amazing! It really worked!"

Monty's grin was infectious. "Damocles actually achieved it…The bastard!"

Prongs and Padfoot, understandably, still had a leg each in front of him. Monty approached him first, hand outstretched, golden watch glittering in the moonlight, eyes shining behind the glasses. Moony rubbed his head against his head and the animagi let out relieved breaths as they moved their legs.

Monty pulled him into a hug and Fee joined in a moment later.

"How are you feeling, Remus? Any difference?" She asked.

He grinned and she understood.

"That's great!"

"It's bloody brilliant, is what it is!" Sirius had turned back and his face was shining like a child who got a hundred chocolate frogs for Christmas. Monty beamed. "It is. He wasn't joking. He does retain all cognizance…fascinating!"

"Now we can explore more of the Forbidden Forest," James whispered in his ear.

"Honestly, I think we should scare Wormy first. We should act like nothing happened and chase him around first," Sirius smirked.

James shot him a hesitant look, but Remus was too happy to consider the moral implications of that.

"And then we should explore the acromantula lair. They might be afraid to approach a werewolf, and we could-" Sirius continued.

"We're not scaring Wormy," James asserted.

"Why not?"

"Let's just not….ok?"

Remus and Sirius shared a look at that and they nodded their heads.

"What about the acromantula? We wanted to do that for years," Sirius pleaded.

James smirked. "Oh, we're definitely doing that. Actually, we should also add that to the Marauders Map. But we should steer clear of the centaurs, though."

Sirius and Remus nodded solemnly.

"Damn right. Remember the last time they saw us with Moony?"

"Magorian, I guess his name was. He wasn't happy."

"Yeah, Magorian…..That Firenze was a good guy, though."

Remus barked in acceptance.

"Yes," said James, "He didn't care that you were a werewolf. Just told us that we must not trespass into Centaur territory."

"You know," they both turned to Sirius, "Kettleburn or Hagrid should teach us about centaurs. No one knows much about them, except that they are very intelligent, are seers and are territorial."

"That's not a bad idea, Pads…Merlin knows Binns wouldn't."

"Why does Dumbledore allow that farce of a class to continue anyway? Binns drones on about Goblin rebellions. I already know why Ranrok staged a fucking coup….. You know, I think I wrote about how Death Eaters are pieces of shit for a question about former Dark Wizards."

Remus and James grinned wolfishly at that. "Really? I think I wrote about Herpo the Foul mating with Urg the Unclean!"

"Bloody hell, mate! Think about the offspring! No one deserves that."

They all burst into laughter at that.

There were a couple of pops and they looked over to see James' parents along with their house elfs, Mickey and Maddy, preparing a midnight picnic, blanket and all.

They settled on the blanket, Remus' head in Fee's lap, her hand stroking it. Sirius, Monty and James were lying on their backs, facing the stars around them. Sirius immediately picked up a sandwich from the basket.

The rest of the night was spent listening to Monty and Fee telling embarrassing stories of James, as Sirius interjected with some from Hogwarts and James vehemently trying to deny his involvement in any of them.

All in all, it was the best full moon night Remus had since before Greyback attacked him, and there was the first time the Marauders accompanied him when they became animagi. And that was saying something.

-J&L-

The Wizarding World belongs to JK Rowling. Not me.