Dumbledore stood next to one of the beds in the Hospital Wing. His eyes twinkled sadly as he looked down at the small boy lying asleep in bed. Madame Pomfrey stood at his side, looking sadly down at Remus Lupin.

"He should be moved to St. Mungo's," she said softly. Dumbledore shook his head.

"No," he said, "if he truly has been poisoned this badly, the healers there wouldn't be able to provide anything more than you can here. He will want to be with his friends, and his parents will be contacted in the morning. They will most likely want to be with him." Pomfrey nodded, looking at the three sleeping boys in the chairs. She reached down and gently took the glasses off of one of them. She placed it on the dresser, before turning away and retreating to her office.

Remus had woken up a little after dawn on Saturday morning to find himself in a hospital bed, and his three best friends all asleep in chairs next to him. He thought for a moment trying to recall what had happened. No, it hadn't been a full moon, no, they hadn't had a dueling class, no James hadn't dropped Firewhiskey into his Pumpkin Juice again (long story) so what had happened? 'Oh, right,' Remus said as he finally acknowledged the terrible pounding in his head, 'how many bets I passed out in detention?' Seriously, he swore the entire percussion section of a high school band was in there, pounding on the drums as hard as they could! He held in a groan and rubbed his hands over his face. His fingers got caught in his extremely tangled bangs, and he didn't like how hollow his cheeks felt. His stomach rumbled, and he looked down at it in surprise. He was hardly ever this hungry. He reached over to the nightstand to find a piece of parchment, grabbed it, and read what was written: Hey Moony! Just writing this in case you're not up by the time we leave for breakfast. James simply cannot miss his daily dose of flirting with Evans. Ugh, give me a break! Anyway, we'll probably be back here by noon with a pile of homework, both ours and yours, to keep you occupied! Also the map! Maybe while you're sick you can finally get a move on with it and finish those dang enchantments! Anyway, see you, soon, Mate!- Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs! (But mostly Padfoot considering he was the one who wrote this letter) Remus smiled lightly at the paper, and carefully ripped it into thirds. He then proceeded to ball up each strip, and throw them at his three sleeping partners in crime. "Oi!" he said, "get up you lot! I'm not dead, which means no time for sleeping!" (I know, I'm evil!) James arose with a snort, serious more of a groan and a "five more minutes, Mum," and Peter, well he didn't get up. He just kept sleeping. James rubbed his eyes, looking around as he realized his glasses had been removed sometime during the night. He than hit Sirius, who had actually been falling back asleep, and kicked Peter, who jumped and said, "I'm awake! Or are we all asleep?" Remus laughed lightly, but stopped when he realized it really hurt his head. The three seemed to just notice Remus' consciousness, and broke out in smiles. "Remus!" Sirius said, "you all right?" Remus gave a gesture that clearly meant so-so, and replied, "How about you?" "Pretty good, except for the fact that you practically scared us out of our own bodies last night!" "Hey, once a marauder, always a marauder. Scaring you guys is in the job description," "Yeah, but this one wasn't funny mate," Sirius said. James nodded, and said, "We were honestly fearful for your life, and, well, that hasn't stopped," Remus cocked his head to a side slightly, and asked, "What do you mean?" "Well, um, how do I break this to you lightly…?" "You're dying!" Peter blurted out quickly, before two pairs of hands covered his mouth. James and Sirius carefully let their arms down, turning back to their friend.

"How long?" Remus asked quietly, looking down.

"About to the end of the school year," Sirius said, any previous humor gone from his voice.

"And they can't do anything about it?" Remus asked.

"No, I'm so sorry mate," James replied, as he carefully moved to sit by his friend. He noticed that Remus was crying, and he took him in a tight embrace. Sirius joined in, and so did Peter. The four Marauders all clung to each other, so if it were a life line.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lupin,

I am terribly terribly sorrowed to inform you that your son, Remus, has become terribly sick. Our conclusion is poison, a new concoction that we do not have yet an antidote to. I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to save him, but Madame Pomfrey, our resident healer, does not give him longer than mid-June. Therefore, you are all invited up to stay with your son. Guest rooms will be made for you in Gryffindor Tower, which is where your son will be released to once Madame Pomfrey is done fussing over him in the Hospital Wing.

Sincerely,

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts

Grand Sorcerer

Supreme Mugwump

Chief Warlock of the Wizangamont

Order of Merlin, First Class

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

My wife and I were quite distressed at your last letter. We will be making our way to Hogwarts in a week, as I have work and will need to get someone in for me. We will bring some comforts for Remus, and will be sure to stay with him as long as we can.

Sincerely,

Lyall and Hope Lupin