Disclaimer: If I were J.K. Rowling I would be busy editing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and not writing fanfiction!

A/N: I had some trouble with this chapter because I wanted to do it justice. I didn't want it to be too sappy, I wanted to keep it original and as realistic as possible. And then on my first draft Peter barely had any part in the conversation and I didn't want that. BUT I am finally happy with it, so enjoy!

"You're free to go."

Remus had never been more relieved to hear those words. Madam Pomfrey had conducted an extensive checkup and for awhile he'd wondered if he'd ever be released. To him the Hospital Wing was no sanctuary; he hated everything about the place from the beige rug to the white bed sheets. He couldn't wait to be back in his own bed where there was nothing to remind him of pain and full moons. Obviously the Hogwarts staff wouldn't want to make it too comfortable in there in order to discourage students from self admitting to get out of tests and homework.

His latest transformation had been more violent and painful than usual. Instead of bandaging the wounds on his body the nurse had covered them with a tan paste, explaining that this would lesson the chances of scarring. A large, but not very deep scrape on his hand had to be bandaged and this would unfortunately be hard to hide.

Remus had not told the nurse the whole truth about why his transformation had been more difficult. His parents had sent him a vial filled with pale yellow liquid. In the letter they had said they had personally talked to three werewolves who claimed that the liquid dulled the pain and calmed the wolf. He hadn't really believed the potion would do anything, but he'd taken it, gulping down the flowery scented, slightly bitter tasting liquid.

There had been no improvement and the wolf had been wilder instead of calmer. Despite not being hopeful of a change, Remus was still disappointed and he was not looking forward to writing to his parents about the failed remedy. His father took the search for a cure so seriously and deeply, which was why Remus had kept Pomfrey in the dark about it. The nurse would be sure to write a letter of reprehension, and his parents didn't need that after all they had only meant to help him.

It was smack in the middle of lunch time now and Remus debated between going to the Tower or the Great Hall. He could use more rest, but if he wanted peace he could have easily stayed longer in the Hospital Wing. His stomach growled hungrily making the decision for him. Swinging the large wooden doors open, Remus scanned over to the Professor's table where Professor McGonagall gave a friendly nod.

Looking over at the Gryffindor table to spot his friends, he saw them at the end of the table, farthest from the entrance, about six seats separating them and the other Gryffindors. Remus took a deep breath, feeling an unexplainable nervousness. He was just going to join his friends after all; there was no need for the apprehension.

Lily Evans and Grace Landon waved to him as he passed where the girls were sitting in the middle area of the long table. Remus desperately hoped his friends wouldn't focus on where he had gone to as they usually did the morning after. Remus was particularly concerned about Sirius. Would he still be angry with Remus about missing his birthday gathering?

Relief washed over him when he realized Sirius was wearing the shirt he had bought. Remus took that as a good sign and quickened his pace toward his friends. That's when he caught Sirius nudging James, having spotted Remus first. James looked up startled and gave Remus – was that a guilty smile? His stomach gave a lurch and his heart beat increased, but Remus ignored his body's warning giving his mates a friendly smile. Yet he couldn't ignore that in the short time it took to finally reach his friends, James ran a hand through his hair not once, not twice, but three times.

As he took a seat, trying to smile, he was bombarded with two other warnings, Sirius had not touched a plateful of his favorite foods and Peter was doing the opposite, stuffing his face and scuffing his feet underneath the table.

Something was wrong, but it was too late to bolt. Remus hesitantly asked, "How is everything?" It was a very lame beginning to any conversation and Remus felt his face warm when his words were blatantly ignored. Sirius was staring at him coldly, a look he usually reserved for Slytherins. Peter had stopped eating abruptly and James ruffled his hair for the fourth time.

Were they giving him the silent treatment?

Perhaps he even deserved it, he was deceiving his friends, but what choice did he have? In order to cover the awkwardness of the moment, Remus reached for a piece of bread and in the process his sleeve rode up on his arm, uncovering the blatant crisp whiteness of the bandage. He recoiled his hand back, but it was too late, they were all looking intently at his injured hand with calculating gazes.

James cleared his throat. "How'd your visit go?" James didn't sound like himself. His tone was polite and rehearsed, but at least he was speaking.

Remus shrugged. He wasn't going to lie about that. "Not so good."

Peter bit his lip and Sirius had picked up a utensil to push the food around his plate.

Feeling he ought to elaborate, Remus continued, "As you can see I – er- hurt myself."

"How'd you hurt yourself?" Sirius asked suddenly and there was an edge to the question.

"A glass – a glass vase broke…and I picked up the pieces by hand…I mean I should have used magic, but at the time…" He was rambling and he wasn't sure why. Even to his own ears his words were dripping with dishonesty.

Sirius smirked. "You sure nothing took a bite out of your hand?" The comment was made in such an offhand manner that Remus at the time didn't connect it with anything. He stared at Sirius blankly. How was he supposed to respond to such a strange question?

"We had an interesting night," James interjected. Remus smiled at James thinking that he was drawing the topic away from whatever subject Sirius was trying to drudge up.

"Very interesting," Peter agreed.

Remus took the bait; playing whatever game his friends were playing. "Oh yea? Did you find a secret passage?"

"Not exactly," James paused, carefully choosing his next words, "We did uncover a secret."

Remus reached out to take another piece of bread, taking a bite of it so he wouldn't have to respond.

"Don't you want to know what it is?" Sirius urged. The friendly manner and joking tone was missing from the statement.

"Only if you want to tell me," Remus responded evenly.

James kicked Peter under the table. "Oh!" Peter sputtered his eyes widening, "Did anyone else hear all the howling outside last night?"

"Howling?" James echoed his eyes on Remus, not on Peter who had spoken. Remus frowned.

Peter nodded. "Y-yea. It sounded like w-wolves. The howling woke me up."

"I didn't hear anything, but I did notice one thing," James said quickly and he lowered his voice in a conspiratorial manner, "The moon was especially full and bright last night."

"Do you guys think there are wolves in the Dark Forest?" Peter pondered and cringed when Remus looked at him directly.

"I don't know." Sirius had rejoined the conversation. "What do you think, Remus?"

"About what?" Remus said warily, his mind was having trouble keeping up with the conversation and he couldn't seem to process most of it as if they were speaking another language. He felt a creeping dread, waiting for the response.

"If there are wolves in the forest?" Sirius rolled his eyes in impatience at Remus' slowness.

"Why would I know that?"

"We thought you might enjoy frolicking with them once a month."

His stomach somersaulted in one nauseating lurch. In a strange combination of opposites Remus' face heated while the blood in his veins froze. No…no…no… that one word tumbled in his mind refusing to believe the obvious. Remus swallowed painfully, his throat dry and hands sweaty.

James leaned in saying softly, "Remus, we know."

He was frozen to his seat, but his mind was already conjuring up horrible images of his friends calling him a half-breed, a monster, not human – telling the other Gryffindors and the truth would spread around the school so as he walked the halls the younger students would skirt away in fear and the older ones would spit and jeer in his face.

"We figured it all out…" Sirius divulged breaking his horrible thoughts, "your secret that is…"

He had to get out of there. Remus covered his head with his hands. He couldn't bear to look at their faces; to see the same hate and revulsion in his friends' eyes as he had seen in other people so many times. It had been a mistake to think he could go to Hogwarts; one messed up mistake. He could feel their eyes on him and the pressure was too much.

Remus stumbled to his feet, knocking into Peter accidentally and causing Peter to drop his glass of cranberry juice. The shattered glass mixed with the red liquid looking like blood and Remus felt nauseated. The sound of shattering glass had caught the attention of the student body and everyone had turned around to look in their direction. So Remus fled, he wouldn't wait like a sitting duck for James and Sirius to announce what he was.

The slamming of the door behind him, the muttering of the students, his friends calling his name and Evan's voice yelling at his friends to leave him alone – all echoed in his mind as he went to find sanctuary.

Remus stretched out lazily and opened his eyes allowing them to focus on the surroundings. He sat up suddenly, knocking his head on the wall. Where was he? His brain slowly started up and the painful memories of yesterday came flooding back.

Unable to face anyone Remus had spent time in the library, then in an empty classroom, and back to the library. He kept moving to make it harder for anyone to track him down. When night came he had a run-in with the caretaker, Filch, but he'd ducked into an empty hall closet and that was where he'd fallen asleep.

Remus' muscles were all cramped and he had an awful taste in his mouth. He felt physically weak as if he hadn't eaten in a week, after all Remus had missed lunch and dinner and maybe even breakfast depending on the time. His hand and other gashes throbbed slightly reminding him that he had forgotten to see the nurse last night.

Remus stood up unsure about his next course of action. He had no idea if his secret was out and at the same time he couldn't hide in the closet forever. Cautiously Remus made his way to the more well-used hallways which he found empty. He wondered if classes had started for the day.

"Mr. Lupin!" Professor McGonagall was standing right behind him and giving him one of her famous stares.

"Morning, Professor," Remus replied casually, as if nothing was wrong, a tactic he had learned from his troublemaking friends.

"Why are you not in class?"

"I'm not feeling well," Remus replied and it was the truth.

"You should be in the Hospital Wing then, not skulking about the halls. And none of that excuses you of being out of uniform."

"Sorry, Professor."

"I'll take five points off for that. Now either go see the nurse or get changed and go to class. What class should you be in?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I'll send Professor Adair a note to not take any additional disciplinary action when you arrive late."

Remus thanked McGonagall and he turned toward the most direct route to the tower. Going to Madam Pomfrey would mean getting another lecture; the nurse would be disappointed in him for not seeing her the night before.

The common room was empty except for a few seventh years that had a free first period. None of them paid him much attention, which meant for whatever reason his secret was still safe. In the dorm he found a note on his bed. We need to talk. It was in James' handwriting. Remus sat down wearily on his bed. How many friends has his parents lost because of his lycanthropy? Dozens and he had in turn lost childhood playmates. At the time he'd just been bitten the whole neighborhood had known because there was no way to hide it.

And when his parents stopped receiving invitations for play dates and then when a group of older children had thrown a rock at his window, they had moved to a larger town, where no one knew them and where everyone was too busy to notice if they had any secrets to hide.

Remus wasn't sure why James, Sirius, and Peter hadn't told anyone, but the fact did not calm him. It worried him that they had something planned, perhaps they wanted to 'out' him in public.

Remus changed into his black robes slowly, but he couldn't drag that out forever. Entering Adair's class late was an infraction that was right up there with cheating. He hoped McGonagall's note would be enough to deter Adair from using her usual corporal methods.

With a new sense of determination, he was in Gryffindor for a reason; he strode with a purpose out to the hallway and straight to Adair's class. He didn't dawdle or dwidle. With a trembling hand that he ignored, he opened the door and practically ran into Sirius.

Sirius and Leila Yaxley were on opposite sides of the room, wands held in position of a duel.

"Remus!" Sirius breathed, his face held a mixture of relief and annoyance. Remus felt his muscles tense and his gaze was drawn to where James and Peter were seated by reflex. James was watching him warily and Peter's face turned pink. Peter was scared of him that was obvious, but what was going through his other two friends' minds was a mystery.

"Mr. Lupin, I'm glad you could find time in your busy schedule to join us." It amazed Remus how Adair could manipulate her voice to sound unthreatening, yet at the same time make the hairs on his arm stand up.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Professor," Remus answered obediently. He'd stay polite and courteous, so she wouldn't have any reason to punish him. He wished Sirius would stop staring at him.

"Well Mr. Lupin, you've missed the demonstration part of class so I'm afraid you'll receive a failing grade for participation today." Adair almost sounded as if she sincerely regretted having to do that, but Remus knew better. Adair jerked her wand and an empty desk rose into the air, flying by Grace Landon's and Elli Aston's heads, so that the girls had to duck; and landing next to the Professor's desk, so that it was facing the class.

"You will sit there and outline chapter five for me quietly."

"Yes, Professor," Remus replied, eager to sit down and for the lesson to go on. He ambled over to the desk and set on his task as if he normally sat there everyday.

In a strange way the busy work came as a relief. It would have been worse if Adair had him sit silently unable to participate and just watch because there would have been no distraction from his problem. Remus had learned from a young age to use the written word as comfort and he immersed himself in the work.

Class ended sooner than Remus expected and he noticed James, Sirius, and Peter packing their things and whispering intently. His hands began to shake and in his nervousness he couldn't seem to get his book back into his satchel. His savior came in the form of a red head. Lily had stopped perhaps on purpose, perhaps not, right in the middle of the aisle and began to chat loudly with two of her friends, blocking his friends.

It may have only bought fifteen to twenty seconds, but in that time he regained his motor skills, his book slipped into his bag easily and he disappeared into the crowded corridor, avoiding the confrontation he wished never to have.

"Out of my way, Evans!" James demanded irritably. The gaggle of girls obliged, but it was too late. Remus was out of the door and engulfed by the endless corridors of Hogwarts. James swore running a hand absentmindedly through his hair.

"We'll never find him now!" James said angrily to nobody in particular. Snape snorted in his direction, but there were too many people around to show him a lesson.

"We have Potions soon," Peter supplied helpfully.

"We can corner him there," Sirius added darkly, "If he doesn't show up late and if he sits by us."

"You'll do no such thing!" Lily Evans had been walking behind them with Adrianna Wood by her side. She did not look embarrassed as one would expect after admitting to eavesdropping, instead her nostrils flared and her green eyes danced angrily.

"Stay out of this Evans." Sirius waved her away with a regal hand as if she were just some pest, nothing to be concerned about. Lily didn't take being ignored lightly. "I won't stand by while you harass him."

"We're not harassing anyone," James replied indignantly. "I'll have you know this is mainly Remus' fault – all we want to do is talk to him and if he hadn't lied to us…"

"He lied to you?" Lily asked, suddenly more interested.

"Yes, us, not you, so don't expect us to tell you," Sirius supplied. They had come to an unspoken agreement to keep Remus' secret, at least until they could question him. They didn't care if he lied to other people, but they were his friends; they shared the same room that should all count for something.

"He looked upset," Lily ventured, "You are his supposed friends, and doesn't that worry you?"

"Perhaps if you hadn't blocked our way, we'd be talking to Remus instead of you and this would all be resolved," James retorted.

As annoying as Evans was, she did have a point. Remus did look terrible. He looked shaken and drained, giving them that cornered animal look. Why was he so afraid to speak with them? Really they shouldn't even be the ones chasing after Remus; he should be apologizing for all his lies and half-truths. Though it wasn't your run-of-the-mill secret, James had to admit. Remus was a werewolf and James wasn't that naïve, he knew about all the prejudices against them.

In Potions there were exactly ten spots on the benches so Remus could not avoid sitting in his usual seat, which happened to be next to James. Remus looked as peaky as he had before, and he stared straight ahead, ignoring everyone else around him. Sirius nudged James to say something to Remus, but with the sudden chance to speak; his mouth wouldn't form any words.

Professor Slughorn began explaining the properties to common poisons found around the house. It wasn't until Slughorn had them begin concocting an antidote that James felt he could turn his attention to Remus.

"Are you ever going to talk to us?" James asked, keeping his voice low, but somehow Evans still had managed to hear because she threw James a withering look.

Remus stopped his chopping of milkweed and sighed exasperatedly. "We're in class. I need to concentrate."

"The thing is it's been difficult to hunt you down between classes…" James was making an effort to keep his voice friendly and calm.

"I've been busy."

"To busy for your friends?"

Remus jerked his head toward him. He was very jumpy lately. "Just leave it."

"So is the plan to ignore us for the rest of the year? We all do live in the same room."

"There is no plan," Remus replied tensely.

"So you will talk to us eventually?"

"Can't you just leave it," there was desperation in Remus' voice now, "Leave me alone."

James bristled; he was trying to be understanding of Lupin's situation, but if Remus wasn't even going to make an effort on his end. "If that's what you want?"

"Yes," Remus answered, picking up his chopping knife once more. He was back to his potion as if their conversation had never happened.

James obliged. He had no choice. He couldn't force Remus to talk to him. If Remus wanted to throw away their friendship; who was he to stand in the way?

Ignoring Remus was easier in theory, than in actuality. The jokes and laughter during the rest of class that James shared with Sirius and Peter sounded fake and flat. They even made a show of packing their equipment, walking by Remus, not giving him any more recognition than you would a potted plant, but it didn't have the desired effect. And to top it off James couldn't help feeling guilty.

Once Remus saw they weren't going to bother him anymore, he did appear more relaxed in their other classes. That didn't stop Remus from missing lunch and dinner, but he did know where the kitchens were, so James wasn't worried that he might be starving himself.

After a rigorous hour of Quidditch practice, James was in the shower washing the remainder of the grime and sweat off. James wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom into his room. Whistling to himself, he looked up and literally jumped back in surprise.

The tune he was singing died on his lips. "Evans?!" And he turned bright red in embarrassment. He grabbed a robe to cover himself properly. Sirius and Peter were both gaping at the unexpected visitor.

"How did you get in here?" James demanded.

"I walked up the stairs off course," Lily said looking at him as if he were the crazy one.

"Just walked up?"

"Yes. And the door to your dorm was cracked open, so I just…" She trailed off, her cheeks reddened. It seemed she finally realized that she ought to be a little embarrassed at the situation. "But I really needed to talk to you! I ran into Remus and he's leaving!"

Sirius raised one of his eyebrows, a skill James had yet to master. "Leaving?"

"Yes, leaving the school," Lily repeated.

"To visit someone?" James asked carefully. It was possible that Remus' mother was sick and he was still a werewolf. The two things didn't have to be related.

"No! For good!" Lily exclaimed.

"What?" yelped James.

"He's going to the Headmaster's office right now. You've got to stop him."

James shook his head. "I've tried. He won't listen to us."

He glanced over to Sirius and Peter for their input.

"Well try harder!" Lily cried, twirling a strand of her red hair. Strange how only a few hours ago, Evans had been telling them to lay off Remus and now she wanted them to pull him back in.

"Dumbledore wouldn't just let him leave," Sirius replied. James nodded in agreement.

"I don't know…Lupin looked determined."

"Why didn't you try to stop him?" questioned James.

Looking hurt, Lily mumbled, "He told me to shove it."

"Doesn't sound like Remus," Sirius said worriedly.

"Ok," James said tiredly because Sirius was right. Remus generally wasn't rude to people, especially not a girl. They were being stupid; this wasn't the time to abandon their friend. "We'll give it a try."

Lily smiled and James looked over at her. "Mind leaving, so I can change?"

Evan's face turned as red as a robin. "Sorry…good luck."

James rummaged around his things to find a clean robe. "I think I should just go."

"Why?" Sirius asked. He had one of his shoes half on.

"If just one of us goes, it will be less threatening."

"If you are worried about being unthreatening, send Peter then," Sirius suggested with annoyance.

Peter looked alarmed, but James just waved his hand signaling Peter to just ignore Sirius.

"I'm just going to convince Remus to come back here and then we can all speak to him."

Though Sirius didn't seem to think this was the best of plans, he didn't argue any further. As James went down to the common room his mind raced with the quickest route to the Headmaster's office. He made it there in what he felt was 'record time', but the entire hallway was empty. James stared at the door the led to Dumbledore's office. Was he too late? Was Remus in there? He gave a feeble knock on the door, but there was no answer. He tried again more forcefully, still nothing. Either Dumbledore was ignoring him or he wasn't in there.

James sighed, best to just go back to Sirius and Peter and strategize from there.

James had only missed Remus by a mere thirty seconds. In fact Remus had stared at the same door James had, willing it to open, but without the correct password, no pleading or spell would open it.

Remus concentrated on the clunking of his shoes on the stone floor. He liked the sound, it was almost soothing. He couldn't believe it had come to his. Once word was out that he was a werewolf, he'd be forced to leave so he'd rather leave on his terms, not theirs. What his roommates were waiting for, why they still kept his secret, Remus didn't know. It was worse actually waiting for the bomb to be released, knowing it would happen, and looking over his shoulder constantly, looking suspiciously at every student.

Going to Hogwarts had been the best thing to happen to him. It had brought hope to both him and his family that perhaps with a formal wizard education, he might lead a normal life. Apparently many werewolves lived in the 'underground', away from society and Remus supposed now he might have to join them.

It was ironic how the one thing he'd always craved, friendship, was now the reason he had to leave. If only he'd stayed more distant…if only they hadn't cared about his absences…if only James and Sirius weren't so clever…if only he'd never been bitten in the first place. Remus forced himself to stop the if-only game in his head. It was something he found himself doing every so often and it was pointless…

He'd almost gone to look for a teacher, who may have known the password or at least a faster way to contact Dumbledore, but that would inevitably lead to questions he didn't want to answer. It was going to be difficult enough to explain it once to Dumbledore. Perhaps he could even owl his parents and ask them to pick him up…though right now he couldn't face the disappointment in their faces. Would they shout at him for not being more careful with his secret? No, it was better to tell them with Dumbledore on his side. The Headmaster would agree with him and make his parents see that this was for the best.

Without paying attention to where he was going, Remus found his feet had carried him straight to Gryffindor Tower. Figuring he'd be leaving soon anyway, packing his things wasn't a bad idea. He murmured the password and walked in; his eyes lingered on the plush red couches, the warm glow of the fire, wondering if this was the last time he'd see it. No point in moping around, he went up the stairs, hoping to find the dorm empty. No luck.

"Remus?" Sirius asked in surprise, "Where's James?"

He shrugged. "Why would I know?" Remus took the four large steps to his area of the room.

"James went looking for you," Sirius said as if that explained everything.

Remus shrugged again and began to meticulously pack his pants, then shirts and then his robes. He heard the pounding of feet and the door creaking open, but he didn't turn to see who entered.

"Remus, this needs to stop!" James' voice filled the room firm and decisive. Remus felt a hand on his shoulder and he spun around shaking it off.

"It is stopping. I'm leaving," Remus declared.

"You talked to Dumbledore already?" The worry and concern in James' voice was out of place, though he appeared sincere.

"No," Remus replied sourly. He didn't bother asking how they had found out he had gone looking for Dumbledore. He just went back to his packing.

"Will you stop!" Sirius burst out angrily. "This is getting ridiculous."

Remus turned around and James had his wand out as quickly as a snake's darting tongue, and it was pointed straight at Remus.

"Are you going to hex me?" The words choked out of his mouth. As he grasped for his own wand, he realized quite suddenly how sweaty his hands had become and how madly his heart was beating. His body was preparing for Flight-or-Fight.

"If you force me to," James said evenly. Sirius had also taken his wand out and Peter had moved toward the exit. His escape was blocked and he'd never win in a duel. He loosened the grip on his wand, his situation was futile.

"What do you want from me?" Remus whimpered, closing his eyes in resignation. He sat down on his bed, placing his head in his hands.

"How about we start at the beginning?" James proposed.

"Beginning of what?" His voice came out shaky. He wished that whatever they had planned they'd just get it over quickly.

"The beginning…as in the truth," James said lowering his wand a fraction.

"But no more lies," Sirius proclaimed, his voice and expression still angry. The silence was deafening in the room and Remus couldn't bring himself to speak. He'd turned mute. It shouldn't have surprised him. He had handled this whole situation in a cowardly manner. He even deserved their anger…how shocked and frightened they must have been when they found out what he was?

Sirius grew impatient. "Are you a werewolf?" Remus flinched hearing the word spoken for the first time on one of his roommate's lips. He hadn't been prepared and now the word was out there…just hanging.

Remus nodded numbly and found his voice, it was hoarse, but at least he was speaking. "I'm leaving so it doesn't matter. You won't have to share a room with a werewolf any longer."

"We did some reading on werewolves. One book said that they are only dangerous on full moons," James relayed ignoring Remus' last words.

"If we can trust the book," Peter interrupted suddenly. He was trembling slightly, but he didn't seem to notice. He was looking at Remus with revulsion. "My mum says you can't trust anything a werewolf says. They are all untrustworthy and they should all be locked up!"

By the widened and shocked expression on Sirius and James, Remus figured that Peter had kept quiet on the whole werewolf subject…until now that is. Remus had been called all those things before and worse.

"That's rubbish and you know it Peter," objected James.

"Why? He has been lying to us all along, hasn't he?" Peter said back.

"Peter's right. I'm going." Remus grabbed the rest of his clothes unceremoniously dumping them into his old trunk. He turned to leave, back to his quest of finding the Headmaster, but Sirius and James were still blocking his way. "Let me through."

"You shouldn't have lied to us," James said slowly, "But you don't have to leave because of that."

Remus gave them an incredulous look. "That's not why I'm leaving."

"Then why are you?" Sirius demanded.

"Because of what I am! A half-breed! A werewolf…I could rip you all to shreds."

"But only on a full moon," James cut in.

"That fact is enough for most wizards and witches to send me to the gallows!"

"Not us!" Sirius stated fiercely. "Sure it's interesting that you're a werewolf-,"

"Interesting?" echoed Remus. He never heard that word used to describe his affliction before.

"-but we're more concerned why you didn't trust us," finished Sirius.

"Look how Peter reacted…that's the reaction I expected from all of you…even worse. How could I tell you?"

"Because we're your friends!" Sirius answered hotly, as if that made all the difference.

"I've lost friends over this before!" Remus said matching the decibel Sirius' voice had risen to.

"They couldn't have been good friends then," James said firmly.

Remus wanted to argue that they had all been good people, but even good people had their prejudices.

"So you don't care that I'm a werewolf?" he asked in disbelief. He couldn't consider it until he heard them answer the question directly.

"No!" Sirius growled, "You could be half-vampire-,"

"Or half-pumpkin-,"

"Or half-turnip-,"

"Just a werewolf," Remus said, letting out a sound that was between a laugh and a sob. His eyes prickled with tears, but not because he was upset. He met first Sirius' eyes and then James' eyes, wishing there was some way to articulate how much this meant to him. They still liked him despite his lycanthropy.

"Were you born a werewolf?" Peter asked tentatively.

"No…I was bitten by a werewolf when I was a small boy," Remus managed, keeping his voice under control.

"That's horrible," murmured Peter, who now was looking at him as if he were a human, no longer a monster found in childhood nightmares.

"I really am only dangerous moon," Remus said hoping to quell Peter's fear. "Really deadly mind you, but Professor Dumbledore put in enough precautions."

"So Dumbledore knows?" Sirius asked.

"Yes." And Remus realized he could show his gratitude by answering all their questions. They hadn't abandoned him like he feared, and he now owed them the truth.

"And so do all the teachers, right? Even Adair," questioned Sirius.

"Part of the conditions of my acceptance to Hogwarts was that all Professors would be told as to avoid complicated questions when I was absent."

"What if Adair tells someone?" James asked worriedly.

"They were all sworn to secrecy."

"Your mother never was sick, was she?" Sirius threw in triumphantly.

"No…it was the only excuse I could think of."

"Not a very good one," Sirius muttered.

"Tell me about it. I wish I hadn't lied to you…but my parents and even Dumbledore felt it was best if as few people know about it as possible."

"Well lucky for you, we're forgiving people," James said lightly, "So – er – where do you go to – transform? Is that the proper word?"

Remus took a deep breath. He felt awkward talking about, but he knew he needed to. Carrying around that secret had been a burden (always lurking in the back of his mind) and now he could share some of it with his friends. "The Shrieking Shack."

"In Hogsmeade?" Peter asked in surprise, "The haunted one?"

"It's not really haunted…the noises and howling is really me?"

"You!" Sirius laughed and his face lit up in delight, "You're behind all those ghost stories? Amazing!"

"And the Whomping Willow tree was planted for me too." He couldn't help enjoying their looks of astonishment.

"You had a murderous tree planted just for you?" James whistled wistfully clearly impressed by this bit of information.

"It hides a tunnel that leads straight to the Shrieking Shack and that's where I transform every full moon."

"Does it hurt when you transform?" Peter asked cautiously.

"It's very painful…all I really remember is the pain…the rest of the night is really just a blur."

His friends silently mulled this over.

"What about all those wounds and scratches you always get?" James wondered quickly, as if he wasn't sure it was a proper question to ask

"I do that to myself."

"What?!" James, Sirius and Peter all exclaimed.

"Yes. Without human prey the wolf gets restless. Without anything else to hunt, it resorts to biting itself."

"That must be terrible," James said placing a comforting hand on Remus' shoulder. "Isn't there anything they can do?"

"There's no cure. Anyway I'd rather deal with that. I'd rather deal with the pain than the worry of actually biting someone…infecting someone else with this..."

His friends sat quietly, but their presence was enough. The fact they hadn't abandoned him was enough. Remus allowed himself to relax and his worries eased.

He let the warm feeling of friendship and loyalty wash over him. The unleashing of the secret had not severed his bond to these three boys, instead it had strengthened.

And their friendship would grow creating a bond filled with laughter, pacts, pranks, late night escapades and full moons, but would ultimately be destroyed by suspicion, betrayal, and murder.

A/N: Thanks for reading and I hope everyone enjoyed the 'confrontation' chapter. Please let me know what you think by leaving a REVIEW. I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews of the last chapter. And if you did not sign-in I have put review responses in my author profile.