Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 7: The full moon
One night, Lily and her friends were sitting in the common room talking about boys.
"Ok, who's hotter, Rickie Lavitz, or Gilderoy Lockhart?" said Tina, chewing on a licorice.
"Hmm," said Miranda. "I'd have to go with Rickie." The others nodded in agreement.
"I don't know what people see in Lockhart," said Lily.
"He's not that bad," said Megan. Suddenly Miranda stopped chewing and looked alert.
"What is it?" asked Tina.
"Shh!" said Miranda, putting her finger across her lips. She was looking at the foot of the boys' staircase. She cautiously stood up and moved closer. It was all quiet but suddenly, the portrait hole burst open. The girls screamed and whipped around. Peter stood there, looking startled.
"Sorry!" he said. "I didn't know you were here."
"It's ok," said Lily, breathing heavily. Peter seemed to be searching his pockets.
"Oh, shoot!" he said. "I forgot my wand in the library." And with that, he was gone.
Peter's POV
I hurried away from the Gryffindor tower. That was too close. We'd have to be more careful next time. I looked out the window. The sun was setting, turning the sky oranges and pinks. I quickened my pace; it was almost time.
I reached the Entrance Hall, and saw that, luckily, the doors were still open. I walked across the grass until I saw the Whomping Willow. James and Sirius were standing behind it. It was getting dark, fast. The sky was steadily turning black. I ran to my friends and we went over the plan. I was to transform and press the knot on the tree trunk to make it freeze. Being a rat did have its uses after all.
Nobody's POV
As soon as the sky was pitch black, Peter transformed. He raced through the flailing branches and reached the trunk of the tree. He pressed the knot, and it immediately froze. James and Sirius also transformed. They ran through the tunnel, just as the moon was coming out. They started hearing cries of pain which gradually turned into howls. Peter cringed.
'Poor Remus', he thought.
'Yeah.' Peter jumped. Did he just hear Sirius' voice in his head? 'Yeah' said Sirius again.
'I read in the book that we'd have mental connections with whoever became Animagi using the potion we brewed. And if we all did it for a certain reason, we'd have connections with the reason. In other words, we'll have connections with Remus. But we have to be within 100 feet of each other for it to work'. Peter jumped again.
'Since when are you a bookworm, James?'said Sirius.
'Since we needed to become Animagi,' said James. 'But I'm not a bookworm!' A new voice entered their heads.
'Would you all shut up? You're being so annoying.'
'Moony!' Sirius cried…in their minds.
'Well Moony, the wolf that is, controls me more or less but I still have my human mind. It's not a big help though.' The Animagi had reached the end of the tunnel now. They went up through the trap door and saw a wolf lying down there.
'How come you aren't being a murderous raving lunatic wolf?' asked James.
'I think it's because I know you're going to be here for me soon.'
'Cool,' said Peter.
'I have an idea! Let's explore!' Sirius exclaimed. James suddenly looked around.
'Hold on a moment…are we in the Shrieking Shack?'
'Yeah,' said Remus. 'It's called the Shrieking Shack because of the noises they hear when I transform.'
'Oh. Well anyway, let's go out on the grounds and explore!' said Sirius. The wolf jumped up.
'No!' shouted Remus. 'You don't know how much you'll be able to keep Moony in control. We have to stay here for tonight. Maybe next month.'
'But I checked the calendar and there's no full moon next month!' whined James.
'Then next time. We're staying here today.'
'Fine,' the others grumbled. They spent the night talking in their minds, and occasionally trying to control Moony when he had a murderous rage and started destroying things in the Shack. When it was nearing morning, the Animagi were falling asleep so they decided to play with Moony to keep themselves alert and awake.
'Come on, Remmy, you can do better than that!' laughed James running away from Remus. He tried to run into the kitchen but his antlers got caught on the doorway and he flew up and Moony ran under him. Sirius and Peter were in animal hysterics. Sirius was barking and Peter was squeaking away. And suddenly, the sun's rays filtered through the blinds. In only a minute, the fur had disappeared, canines and claws turned into teeth and nails, and the tail was gone. Remus was a person again.
The Marauders helped him back, insisting that he looked terrible and must feel terrible too. Remus kept saying that they needed to get some sleep before classes but they would have none of it.
When they reached the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey looked happily at the friends.
He's so lucky to have such good friends, she thought. She didn't even take a moment to wonder why they were up and helping their friend back from the Shrieking Shack at 6:00 AM.
She had them lead him to a bed and drew the curtains around. As soon as his head touched the pillow, Remus was asleep. The rest of the Marauders walked out of the hospital wing to get an hour of sleep.