Chapter 7: Moonlight Adventures

The day finally ended. The Marauders and the girls walked up to Head Quarters.

They strolled through the portrait hole and the girls went straight to their room.

"Where are you going?" James asked watching them.

"None of your business" Claire snapped.

"Lily, where are you going?" Sirius asked turning to his sister.

She sighed and answered "We are going to wax our legs and that takes a lot of time. See you later." And they went up to their room.

"I know something is up but I don't care right now. We have to go to the Whomping Willow" Remus told as they went up the stairs to go get the Marauders Map and invisibility cloak.

The boys suck out of the portrait hole and along the way met Peter. When they reached The Whomping Willow, Peter changed into his rat form, froze the tree and they made their way into a room with a bed covered in ripped sheets and broken chairs on the floor.

"The moon should be out any minute." Remus said removing his top and waiting.

Finally he started to shake and scream in pain as his body changed into the animal within. He face stretched into a snout and his bones started to crack out place. When the transformation was complete, a fully grown werewolf was looking at the stag and black dog before him. He readied himself to attack.

--

Lily and Ella were waiting for Claire as she looked for her lost sneaker.

"Hurry up Claire, or we won't make it into the forest in time." Ella told getting inpatient.

"Got it. Let's go" she replied

The girls ran as fast as they could through the castle and onto the school grounds.

They ran past the Whomping Willow when they heard growling noises, but there was no time to discuss because Ella was now transforming.

"Go! Run and we will catch up!" Lily yelled and Ella disappeared into the forest.

"You ready?" Claire asked hugging Lily.

"You know it. Now let's go" she smiled as they transformed into a cheetah and ocelot and ran after their friend.

Just as the two girls entered the forest a werewolf charged out of the Whomping Willow sniffing the air. A stag ran toward it, to force it back into the tree, but with no such luck it was thrown a few metres away and unable to stand.

The werewolf ran into the forest and was soon chased by Prongs and Padfoot.

Deep in the forest a cheetah was fighting and hissing at a female werewolf. The werewolf stuck up behind and left deep scratches in the cheetah's back making it growl and fall to the ground, in pain.

Claire charged and fought with the werewolf for a while making it tried and lay on the floor, panting.

It was quiet as the two girls and a werewolf lay there, until another werewolf came to a halt in front of them with a stag and dog behind him. The two werewolves looked at each other and lay on the floor cuddled up.

The Prongs and Padfoot walked over the injured cats and looked into their eyes trying to find an answer.

I know those eye, but I who? James thought.

Before he knew it the cheetah got up and separated the two werewolves and ran deeper into the forest.

At five in the morning the moon was gone and Ella and Remus were back in their normal state. Ella was very weak and couldn't move, so Lily volunteered to carry her back to the castle.

Ella was mounted on Lily's back, and even though her scratches were bleeding more, they went back to school.

When they finally made it to Head Quarters they put Ella on her bed and fell asleep.

Two Hours later the girls woke up at got ready to go to breakfast. They made their way down the table and sat with their brothers who looked just as tried. Sirius was sleeping and his head was almost in his porridge, and James was holding his head with his hand and trying to keep his eyes open.

"Morning" Claire said trying to look happy but it wasn't exactly working.

"I SWEAR I DIDN'T EAT IT!" Sirius yelled as he jumped up.

Everyone looked at his but he just sat down and stared at his breakfast.

"Ok then" she replied. She looked at Lily and saw that she was in pain.

"Lily, what's wrong?" James asked looking at her with a worried expression.

"Nothing I just feel a bit sick" she answered.

"Do you want me to take you to the hospital wing?" he asked and without knowing he started to rub her back, making her scream in pain and run out the Hall.

"What was wrong with her back?" James asked Claire as she got up and ran after Lily.

"Um, she has a rash"

Claire found Lily sitting on a table in an empty classroom with silent tears running down her face.

"Lily, let me see your back"

"No, it hurts too much" she whispered.

"I won't touch it, but we might have to if you keep bleeding, and the blood can also run onto you t-shirt" Claire said lifting the back of Lily's top to see four very deep cuts all the way down her back to her hips.

"O my god just let me take some of the blood away then. I will be very gentle I promise" Claire said conjuring a towel.

"Ok" lily replied taking a deep breath as her cuts started to burn.

Once Claire was finished she sat opposite Lily, smiling sympathetically.

The door opened and the James and Sirius walked into the room. When they saw the towel covered with blood they became more worried.

"Ok, tell us what is going on now" Sirius demanded looking at the girls who were exchanging looks.

"Sorry, we can't" Claire answered.

"Why not?" James asked

"It isn't ours to tell…" but before Lily could finish her sentence Ella stumbled in and said "it's mine"

"Ella, you shouldn't be here" Claire said helping her to a table to sit down.

"You guys are freaking me out. Just tell us already" Sirius said. Everyone knew he wasn't the patient type.

"Ok. I am sick and tired of keeping this a secret, so I am just going to tell you. I am a werewolf. Have been since second year when I was bitten at my dad's house over the holidays. If you don't want to be my friend then I understand" she said in one breath.

"Well, that makes sense, but what about you two?" James said pointing to Lily and Claire.

"We are Animagi and transform with her every full moon" Claire said.

"Really? Cool!" Sirius asked with great interest.

"You guys are Animagi as well. Aren't you?" they nodded slightly confused "That's right; I know that you can do it too. I figured it out last night when a stag with beautiful hazel eyes stood over me, when I was hurt." Lily said smirking at the look on their faces.

"WHAT?" Ella and Claire screamed "You mean you didn't tell us that you knew about them?" Claire asked looking at Lily.

"Only because I wasn't sure and I didn't want to give out false information" she replied until she looked at Ella.

"So that must mean that Remus is a werewolf too" Ella asked looking over at the boys who nodded.

"What a coincidence"

"Ok, boys show me your animal form and we will show you ours" Claire said grinning.

James and Sirius changed into their animal form and walked over to the girls, so they could be pat. Sirius was rolling on the floor making Claire and Ella laugh and James was lying across Lily's lap looking into her eyes again. They changed back after five minutes.

"Ok, your turn" James said

The girls bent down and changed. They walked over to the boys and rubbed up against their legs and purring. They turned around to face to boys and sat there staring at them for a few seconds. The boys pat them for a while before they changed back to their human form.

"Sorry I hurt your back" James apologised to Lily.

"It's ok. You didn't know" she smiled and kissed him.

"You sure?"

"Yes"

"Wait! Where is Remus?" Ella asked suddenly realised that her boyfriend didn't know about her being a werewolf.

"The Shrieking Shack...I guess we can take you there before classes" Sirius answered looking at James and nodding.

"Ok. Let's go" James said and lead the way towards the Whomping Willow.

They snuck in and found Remus lying on a bed trying to sit up but failing because of his weak muscles. Ella walked as fast as she could to his side and sat with him.

"Ella I am so sorry. I didn't want to lose you" he said touching the side of her face making her cry.

Lily and Claire started to cry silently and James and Sirius were there to comfort them.

The couples were standing there until Sirius spoke up.

"Guys, why don't we just stay here for the day because it is not like we will be able to concentrate now?" he said looking down at Claire who was currently snuggled in his arms. She wasn't crying anymore, but didn't want to let go.

Remus and Ella snuggled up on the bed while James and Lily rested in the corner in each other's arms.

Sirius sat down a bit further away and Claire sat on his lap.

"I know we are not together, but I feel safe with you" she said while looking into his eyes.

"I'm not complaining. I've liked you since the beginning of last year" he replied blushing slightly.

"Really" he only nodded. "Me too"

He didn't expect it, but Claire kissed him on the lips. After the small shock he happily responded and held her close. When they broke away they were both grinning like fools. They turned to see everyone in the room looking at them and smiling.

"It's about time" Remus commented making everyone laugh.

"Hey Sirius, if you hurt my baby sister I might have to hurt you" James said grinning

He smiled back and said "Wouldn't dream of it"

"Good"

"Is anyone else bored? We need music in here" Lily said as James transfigured a broken piece of a chair into a CD player.

"Can you girls sing us a song?" James asked

"No, I don't feel so good" Ella said looking at the floor.

"What is your excuse?" Sirius said looking at down at Claire.

"Fine, but I will only sing if Lily does too"

"Okay I will sing... What song?" Lily said looking around the room waiting for an answer.

"Let's sing a gospel song or something" Claire said standing up.

"Ok. What about…. Won't ever change? Remember that one?" Lily asked everyone nodded so they started the music.

Together they sang the chorus:

"You know I'm here, always, forever
don't matter what happens
I'm gonna stay the same
your life, you live it
don't waste it trippin'
My love, I'll give it
And it won't ever change"

Lily started her small solo

"Question after question
Always wonderin' and guessin'
Is there anyone that will love me for me
Someone who will help me
Lead, guide and direct me
That's just what I need
And I heard you so clearly say"

They started the chorus and this time Ella joined in.Ellasang while looking at Remus:

"Want a different life?
Don't like the one you have?
You've tried and wished and all that you did don't seem to help
Can't be mad at the world
Someone else is in those shoes
Then a voice said believe in me 'cause I believe in you
'Cause"

Claire sang:

"A little faith
And a little love
And a little hope in The One Above
Is all you really need to make it in this life
So just keep listening
To that voice deep inside saying"

The chorus was sung and the song ended. The boys were clapping and smiling. Later that day Lily's back was healed by Madam Pomfery and everyone's injuries were healed as well.

The next week was full of catching up on missed work and for Lily and James also meant they had meetings and patrolling the ground. Luckily they were only rostered on the weekends so they got time to do homework and a hang with their friends for a while.