Chapter 7
October 16, 1976

The following day was a Monday and James, Sirius, and Peter couldn't do much more until the next weekend. And even though they each had at least three free periods, heaven forbid them from ever stepping foot into the library.

I didn't include myself in any of their discussions about the girl. I was beginning to feel guilty about my outburst to not help her, but my stubbornness kept me from admitting that for quite a while.

Five days of classes passed before the weekend. I was catching up on a Transfiguration essay that had been assigned over the last full moon. Books and parchment were spread out on two library tables as I struggled, wishing James was around.

"Remus? Remus!"

I moaned as Lily ran through the library toward me, interrupting my train of thought. Madame Pince scolded her, telling her to be quiet. She stopped at the table I was sitting at excitedly.

"Come on, Remus!" she grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the library before I had any time to protest.

"Lily! Where are we going?!" I asked.

"Somewhere deserted," she answered, pulling me inside and old, empty classroom and locking the door.

"What do you need to tell me?"

Her excited smile died away and she seemed to grow uncomfortable. "I think I found out why Cecil Marie was killed, but you may want to sit down for it…."

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow skeptically, but took a seat in a desk. She leaned against the desk beside me, staring at her feet.

She sighed and looked at me sadly. "Cecil was a…she was a werewolf, Remus…."

My blood turned ice cold in my veins and the insides of my mouth dry. I felt suddenly flush and nervous.

How did she find out! I couldn't find anything anywhere! Was it a frightening coincidence or –

- or had she made the connection? Did she know my secret? Could I trust her if she did know? What would happen if I couldn't? Would I be run out of the school? Or locked up? Or murdered like some animal?!

I wonder how long a person can remain conscious without breathing, because I was feeling quite faint.

When I didn't say anything, Lily spoke again. "Are you okay?"

I blinked into the distance for a few seconds and focused on a bookcase rather than face her. "Yeah. I just wasn't expecting that…."

"Remus…." she trailed off sadly.

"What?" I asked, feeling like a small child being scolded.

"Remus, please talk to me," she was pleading. I remained silent. "Remus, why don't you trust me?"

"How long have you known then?" I managed to choke out the words that were so gut-wrenching to say.

"Since third year," she stated very matter-of-factly. I couldn't bring myself to say anymore.

"Remus, I don't care! I don't! We're friends and you can trust me and I can trust you!" Lily assured. I said nothing. "Don't you know that?!?" She grabbed my hands in hers and I noticed she wasn't wearing her silver ring anywhere on her hands. It was safe on a chain necklace around her neck where it wouldn't touch me.

I then realized how stupid I had been. It was Lily after all; I was friends with her before James, Sirius, and Peter. She would never want to hurt me and I saw the blatantly with her silver ring. I felt ashamed I hadn't realized that before….

"Remus…." She lightly shook my hands, causing her bracelets to rattle together.

And I nodded. And then I looked up from the floor and nodded again, but this time sincerely to her face. She let go of my hands and then, to my great surprise, wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. I tried my best to overcome my shocked state and hug her back, but she let me go again.

"You can talk to me whenever you need to. I'll be there, alright? You've got to quit bottling things up-"

"- it's unhealthy, I know," I softly chuckled at my luck. Never in a million years would I have imagined anyone accepting me for me, but I now had four friends who knew my secret. And were fine with it. But I wasn't as I recalled Cecil's visit almost a week before.

"Cecil visited me last Sunday. She said I'm in danger," I stated.

"What?"

"I said that I didn't want to help her anymore and she visited me and said if I didn't want to help her, I should do it to help myself. That I'm in danger," I explained.

"In danger of what?"

I shrugged. "You said she was killed because she was…. And Peter actually said earlier that he thought she was killed because she wasn't pureblooded. With the both of you thinking like that and you with that information, I'm going to say you're right. But I still don't know what I'd be in danger of. Her killers have been dead and gone for centuries!"

"So if we don't help her, you'll be in danger," Lily repeated slowly, making sure she understood completely. And then she blinked in surprise. "Peter?! They all know about this, too?!"

"Yes, Lily."

"Oh….so now what?"

I shrugged. "I almost have to help her now. I understand the prejudice she faced."

"So you're back in?"

I slowly nodded.

"I think we should all talk to her," stated Lily. "What?"

"Not just you, I mean. We should all try to talk with her," she repeated.

I blinked. "And how are we suppose to do that?"

"Leave that to me. Give me a week. Saturday! Saturday we'll do it! You and your lot can find a place to meet with her, you'll be good at that."

I shook my head. "I already have a place."

A/N- Okay, here's a twist. And I want to state loud and clear here that yes, Remus is the only werewolf that attended Hogwarts. This is a fanfiction, and therefore I can make it as canon as the books (all hail the great J.K. Rowling) or I can pull for anywhere I like! So if I get some review that wants to argue with me, I'll just direct you to this rant!

So peoples are now reading my story. I'm very happy. Whoever hits review numero diez gets the next chappie dedication!