October, 1976

The light of the full moon shone through the window illuminating my bed. I sat with my legs crossed and used a hardcover book as a makeshift desk. I wrote a reply to Jules, whose correspondences have become more frequent. Apparenly his wife is now pregnant and he wants me to come over for dinner to meet her. And so I wrote, accepting their invitation while half wondering how I would get there.

On their own individual beds, Marlene, Lily, and the other two girls slept. Just the light of moon and a small candle on my nightstand offered escape from the darkness. I left the window slightly open, allowing the Autumn air to enter, rustling my ash-blonde hair. The only sounds heard were the steady breathing of the girls and the occasional howling.

I heard it every full moon, the howling. I never really thought about it, but I knew that Werewolves and ordinary wolves lived in the Forbidden Forest.

When I finished my letter, I left it on my nightstand and then blew out the candle, soon falling into a deep sleep.

I woke up before everyone else, early in the morning. I grabbed my letter and then went out, planning to have it delivered very soon. I reached the owlery quicker than I expected and very soon I found myself walking back to the castle with the sun barely rising above the tree line.

I tucked my hands in my pocket and wished I had brought my hat and scarf. When I entered the castle again I was free from the cold. I thought I would have some quiet time but then I heard four distinct voices I instantly recognized.

Turning a corner, I gasped when I beheld what was before me. The Marauders, all looking exhausted and worn out, walked down the corridor. Remus wore clothes too big for him and there was so much blood on them. James kept him from collapsing while Peter did the same for Sirius, whose entire arm was torn up. It was absolutely terrifying.

I rushed towards them. "What happened?" I asked, unable to keep the worry from my voice.

Remus looked at me in alarm while Peter panicked. "Cerisa!"

"Go away, Kaiser," James muttered, continuing to lead Remus away.

I didn't go away but I was too dumbfounded to follow them. Instead I watched as they walked towards the direction of the infirmary, leaving me wondering what on God's good earth happened.

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October, 1976

Later that day I found myself always looking to the Marauders that showed up for class: James and Peter. I only told Lydia of what I saw because I couldn't find Marlene or Lily. But I still had no idea what was going on and neither James nor Peter were telling me. I even tried to get into the infirmary to see Sirius and Remus, but Madam Pomfrey insisted they needed to rest.

It was finally during the evening on the next day that I was able to get inside the infirmary. I breathed in relief when I saw both Sirius and Remus, the latter of who was fast asleep. Sirius sat upright against his pillow, a book in his hand. When he saw me, he quickly put the book away.

"Kaiser, what are you doing here?" Sirius whispered as I approached.

I slowed my pace when I got closer and I pressed my lips together when I saw the bandages around his arm. I was itching to know what happened, but right now I was more concerned.

"What happened?" I asked quietly after a moment.

Sirius sighed. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?" I asked in disbelief. I was sure to whisper in order to let Remus have his sleep. "Black, you cant expect me to take that for an answer. You and Remus were covered in blood. I can't unsee that."

"I can't tell you, Kaiser," Sirius told me adamantly, his eyes filled with something that could've been regret or guilt. "I'm sorry. It's not my story to tell."

I looked down at me feet, crossing my arms and nodding in understanding. "All right then. I hope you get better soon. You can tell Remus I said that when he wakes up."

Just as I began to leave, Sirius grabbed my hand and said, "I'm sorry, Cerisa."

My breath caught as he said my name before nodding. "I understand, Black. There's no need to apologize. Good night."

Pulling my hand away from his touch, I left the infirmary, telling myself to let it go, to forget about. It wasn't his story to tell. I could understand that. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

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Mid-November, 1976

I had no occasion to talk with the Marauders the following weeks. Instead I tried to spend time with the girls. Except, Lily and Marlene were almost always with Tobster studying in the library. Meanwhile, Lydia had been acting increasingly strange and when she wasn't with Peter, she was talking with the other Marauders.

It was confusing and it hurt but I let it go. I went through worse in my family.

However, as it got the middle of November, I soon found out why the Marauders and Lydia were so myserious and elusive.

I was walking back from the greenhouse, where I had been drawing, when Lydia appeared. With a smile, she said nothing, gave no explanation, as she led me to the whomping willow. I was most confused when she then had me enter a tunnel leading to the Shrieking Shake. I was confused especially when I arrived at the Shack and all Marauders were waiting for me.

"Hello, Kaiser," Sirius said with a smile.

"What am I doing here, Black?" I asked, nervously tugging at my satchel.

Sirius looked to Remus—who sat down at the broken piano—and when he nodded, Sirius turned to me and thus explained.

"That night when you saw us," Sirius began. "It had been the full moon. And Werewolves come on the full moon."

"Gee, I didn't know that," I said sarcastically. I said it because everyone was looking uncharacteristically serious and I was getting more nervous. "So what? A werewolf attacked you?"

Sirius sighed. "No, because it was an accident. It was an accident because the werewolf is a friend."

I looked around and let out a nervois chuckle. "What are you saying?" I turned to Lydia. "What are they saying?"

"I'm a Werewolf," Remus said, looking up from the piano.

It took my mind a moment to process what he had said. Of course my mind told me he was just messing around with me. That soon they would all burst out laughing saying 'Got you!". But they didn't do that and instead I thought about the past and how every month Remus would get very ill and the Marauders would skip class. I thought about the new scars he always got and I found myself shedding a tear.

"Oh, Remus..."

He certainly didn't expect my reaction. For when I rushed over and pulled him into an embrace, he stiffened before finally hugging me back. When I pulled away, I gave him a look of sympathy while also looking at his scars, wondering about the pain he must've gone through.

"I'm so sorry, Remus," I said, sitting down on the piano bench beside him. "You were bitten?"

Remus nodded. "Before I turned five." He shook his head in confusion. "Aren't you terrified of me? Don't you think I'm a monster?"

I smiled. "If you're a monster, I can't imagine what Black is. Or Potter." When Remus chuckled, I turned to Lydia. "How long have you known?"

"Peter told me last year," Lydia replied. "When we had that fight. He wasn't writing because he was with Remus while James and Sirius were away."

"So only we know?" I asked. "The six of us?"

James nodded. "Mostly. We're the only ones that need to know."

"We are Aminagus too," Sirius added. "Werewolves Don't attack other animals so we transform to be with him. But last full moon something went wrong."

"That'll why you were all torn up," I finished, finally understanding. I looked at the Marauders in awe. "You do this every full moon for Remus? You're only sixteen."

Sirius shurgged. "He's our friend."

I smiled. "And why did you tell me? I didn't need to know."

"Because you're our friend, too," Remus replied when Sirius didn't.

My grin widened and as I gazed at those four boys, I couldn't help but think how very fortunate they are, to have such a pure friendship. I couldn't help but feel proud that I was a part of it.