A/n: Hey, readers! So I know, again, it's been a while since I've last updated and I'm so sorry that I'm not updating as often as I used to, but I just had winter break, and time to finish Chapter 21.

Review Responses:

marauding-mischief78: Ha, thanks. It's gonna be soo hard for me to choose! I think I have an idea on how I can though, but that's for another chapter. I knooow! They're so freaking cute *sigh*!

Nekogurl888: I get what you're saying, but. . . idk what to do! Come on they "seem" like the guys you'd have a crush on?! You know you do ;)! I know I do! Thanks!

JoyI9199: Wow. That was a lot to take in. Thanks!

That's it for reviews. This'll be a veery exciting chapter. Get reading :)

Chapter 21

As I lean back, Alice holds her breath. "I— I thought. . ."

I blink. "I'm so sorry. I know we came as friends and I just felt something in that moment and. . ."

"Scott, it's okay. I felt it too."

I inhale slowly. "So what's happening?"

She opens her mouth and closes it, then opens it again. "I don't know. I thought you liked May."

"I thought I did too. My heart is. . . in all of these crazy directions and. . ."

"You're having second thoughts?"

"Kind of."

Alice gazes into the ocean. "You know, Scott, I've sort of been crushing on you since I met you on that day when we took James and Lily to the Hospital Wing." She looks at me and smiles. "You were such a git yet so charming. You knew how to make me smile. And you still do.

"When I asked you if you knew who you were going with to the ball, I was kind of wishing you'd say 'no' and get the hint I wanted you to ask me out. I lied when you asked me if that was what I was trying to do. When you asked me out to the ball, I was so excited. I was glad that you still liked me as a friend, even though you liked May.

"When you called me 'date' this morning, I thought I was going to die, even though you were saying it as a joke. But throughout the day, I sort of let that love leave me. I knew that you wanted to go with May to the ball and I saw the jealousy in your eyes as she blushed at Sirius. You wanted her. So I got over it.

"I can see why you like her. May is pretty, popular, and smart. I'm none of those. You and May would probably be the cutest couple. I don't want to ruin your happiness, Scott."

"Alice, you are beautiful and talented. How can you ruin my happiness if you're the one who makes me happy? I really like you Alice, and I want to be with you, but part of me also wants to be with May. I don't want to choose, but it seems that I must. I just need time."

"Time for what?"

Alice and I both turn to see May standing there.

"Time for what?" she asks again. "You too are really close." She laughs nervously.

"It's nothing," Alice says. "We were only talking."

"I wasn't talking to you, Fortescue. Scott, why are people saying that you snogged. . . her?"

I sigh. "May, you have your date and I have mine. Don't be so pushy about who I can kiss."

May blinks and looks at Alice. "Sorry, I was a bit rude a second ago." She turns to me. "You said that we can date after the ball."

"I'm not saying that won't happen. May, I really like you, and I'm not saying that I don't want to be with you, but I need time to think."

May blinks. "You changed, Scott. You said that you loved me. Now you don't know if you even like me."

My heart is racing and I can't put up with this conversation anymore. I suddenly feel a pain in my chest. I use my Legilimens powers to find McGonagall's thoughts. I search through her mind. I find what I'm looking for. "May, do you know where Remus is?"

"No idea, but I know that Sirius just said that he had to leave for the night and he muttered something about Remus."

Remus Lupin. I thought he might have been the werewolf. And tonight's the full moon.

The pain continues to travel through my body. Transformation.

"I must leave," I say. "Sorry. Er, have a good night!"

I run to find one of Remus's friends. I finally find Peter, who's rushing to get somewhere. "Peter, I need you tell me where Remus went!"

Peter freezes. "I can't tell you that."

"Look," I say, bringing my voice down to a whisper. "I know that he's a werewolf because I'm one too. I need to know how to get to the Shrieking Shack or else my transformation will just continue. I will get claws and fangs and kill everyone that you know and love that's here."

He gulps. "Ummmm. . . come with me."

He runs to the Forbidden Forest and I chase after him. I'm running out of time.

Hair starts growing throughout my body. Peter gasps. He looks so tasty and. . . No! I won't eat him. He looks so yummy, just one bite. . . NO!

Peter understands the temptation and he suddenly starts to shrink. Smaller and smaller, until he's the size of a rat. He starts growing a long tail and rat-like features.

He looks less appetizing as an animal.

He scurries off to a willow tree. The willow tree. The Whomping Willow. The dangerous tree. Okay, I thought he was crazy before, but now he's just a blasting idiot.

Peter crawls and jump onto one of the trees knots a tunnel slowly starts to open and he scurries through it. I crawl through and follow him.

Animals. They're all sauntering in a circle in what used to be a living room. A stag, a dog, now Peter-rat, and a wolf. It's them. Sirius. James. Peter. Remus. I feel the truth seeping through me from my Hope powers. But how?

Animagus. It's the only explanation. But they couldn't be registered Animagi if they were fifteen. . . Unless. . . they were unregistered?

"Of course you're unregistered Animagi," I mutter, smirking.

My werewolf is starting to sink in. My teeth, my hair, my bones.

"Merlin, Wayward, do you have to follow us everywhere?" Sirius's voice groans. It came from the dog. I guess this meant that we could talk, even as animals.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but someone forgot to tell me about how to get to this blasting place during the full moon. I had to use that one-" I nod towards Peter, "- to get here, where he probably doesn't have any permission to be. None of you do, save for Lupin. So I wouldn't talk so high if I were you, Sirius."

They all stare at me for a minute, their animal eyes trying to figure me out.

James-the-Stag bursts into laughter. "That was too good, Scott! I actually thought you were serious!"

"He will never be as good-looking as me," said Sirius, lifting a paw.

"I wasn't going to tell, you ninnies. It was a joke. But I must say, you rascals always find a way to get into trouble. Marauders, as the French say."

"I like the sound of that," James says. "Doesn't it just slip off your tongue? Mararauraurerd- um, what was that again?"

"Marauders," I repeat. "They're people who steal. Mischief-makers. Rascals. Come on, you've never heard that term before?"

Remus smiles, his fangs baring. "Of course I did. And I just wanted to say sorry about the full moon. I wanted to tell you, but then everything happened with your mum and the ball, and I forgot to tell you. My apologies."

"Whatever, Remus." I scan the room twice and look at the guys. "What do you gits even do here?"

"Um, we talk," James fabricated.

"I know I'm annoying, Potter, but I'm not an idiot."

"We work on The Map. . ." Peter blurted out.

I smile. "Now that sounds interesting."

"It's not for you," Sirius argued. "It's our thing. We're not gonna let you ruin all our hard work."

I roll my eyes. "Fine. Just let me have a look-"

"No!" Sirius barks.

"Oy, you can really crush someone's fun. I was only going to make some suggestions."

Sirius sighs. "I know. Your full of them. That's what makes you annoying."

Remus hands me the enchanted paper with his mouth and I stare at it in my claws. For a long time.

"Well?" James asks.

"The title has to go. You can't call a map 'The Map' (A/n: Sorry, Dora :(). How about 'The something Map'?"

" Well that's a nice name," Sirius said sarcastically. "'The Something Map'! Don't you love it?"

"How about that word I used before? 'The Gits' Map.'"

"Veeery funny, Scott," Remus says, "but however true that may be I liked the word you used before that even better."

"The Marauders' Map!" we all say in unison.

A/n: Oooh, I like that! I still need more votes for Scay or Scalice. Ahh, which one?! Heads up for next chapter: it involves music. If any of you have a love song you'd want me to use, please speak. I really need. Preferably a clean one. Review!

3, Booky