Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All the characters (save Kathy) belong to J.K.Rowling along with settings, objects and anything else you recognize from the Harry Potter series. All the dates are correct according to hp.lexicon and wikipedia.

ENJOY!

Until The Clock Strikes Twelve – Chapter Four

Remus woke up early the next morning. He always did on the days he planned to have a shower. Even though they knew, even though they had seen them before Remus was still embarrassed about his friends seeing the scars; scars from his self inflicted torture each full moon.

Maybe that was one of the things that the others thought was strange, why he always hid his body from view. Why he showered alone so early in the morning. Why he always changed behind the curtains of his bed. Why he always wore long sleeve shirts and trousers even in the summer months. To hide his scars, to hide his true self.

Slipping into the bathroom he locked himself into one of the three shower cubicles. Slipping off his pyjamas he threw them over the top of the door before turning on the water. Stepping under the warm water, he felt it fall down him relaxing him and making him forget. It was an escape for him, better than the cold harsh rain he often felt during the winter months while trapped in the Shrieking Shack. It made him feel human again; it made him forget what he really was.

He remembered the night of his attack so clearly as if it had happened only days before. He remembered his father coming home from work at the Ministry of Magic looking rather pale, slightly fearsome.

"Daddy? Daddy?" the small boy asked from the top of the stair as he watched the tall man enter the house, "Daddy what's the matter?"

The man had looked like this for the past few days, after a big argument he'd had at work, or so young Remus had gathered from over hearing his mother and father talking.

"Nothing my son. Nothing." He man reassured looking up at his 5 year old son who stood in his pyjamas; watching, waiting for his father to return. "Just go to bed. Daddy's home now."

The small boy nodded. He turned and ran to his room and dived under his thick warm covers and soon fell asleep. Not much later the boy woke with a start; something outside his window was making a noise. He rose wondering what it was, his grey eye's narrowing as he pushed his sandy hair out of his eyes. As he reached the window he knelt on the window box, his small fingers reaching out to open the curtains that rippled in the soft breeze that came from the open window behind. But before he could a large shadow appeared against the paling curtains, the boy let out a shrill yell as a werewolf pounced and bit. The teeth dug in, sharp and painful...

"Arggh!" Remus yelled as he slipped and fell.

"Remus!?"

"Moony!"

"Are you okay?" three yells came from outside the bathroom as the sound of people struggling out of beds reached Remus ears.

"I'm fine," he called weakly at first, but his second call was stronger. "I'm fine! Just slipped that's all."

"You sure you're okay?" James called
"Yes. Yes I'm sure." Remus replied standing up and pulling his towel around him.

"If you're sure…" Sirius said, though he didn't sound convinced.

"I'm fine alright!?"

"Okay, okay. We were just wondering." James muttered.

"I wish he'd ask as when he needed help." Peter said glumly.

"Me too." Sirius agreed, running his fingers through his hair. "It's bad enough having to see him go through hell each month."

"I know. Why does he always have to do things on his own?"

"Because he's never had anyone else to do things for him before now, except his parents. He's scared of loosing us if he hassle us too much."

"Well that's stupid." Peter said.

"Not really Wormy. As a werewolf he's shunned by most of society, he's going to have a hard time finding a job after Hogwarts." James said wisely. "I'd be scared too if it was me."

"Finished talking about me?" Remus asked from the bathroom door, he had his clean clothes on but his hair was still wet. He sounded solemn but slightly scared of the truth as well.

"Sorry Moony." They all chorused together.

"Don't worry about it. It's all true," Remus sighed "I mean about the job thing. That's all." He added hastily, not wanting to think that he never asked them for anything because their friendship meant so much to him. And it did. He had no idea how he'd have got through his seven years at Hogwarts without his friends, especially during the full moon. And since their 5th year and Sirius, James and Peter all successfully became illegal Animagi, life as a werewolf couldn't have been easier.

"I'll be down in the common room." Remus told the rest of the Marauders who all nodded.

Just before Remus reached the bottom of the stairs two voices reached his ears. He paused to listen for a moment in case he was about to enter into someone's private conversation.

He was. A private conversation about him. Slightly shocked at the sound of his name, Remus sunk down onto the steps and listened even more intently. What did two girls have to say about him?

"Why do you think Remus is lying to us?"

Lying? Remus thought, he wasn't lying to anyone was he?

"I know what you mean Kat"

Kat? Oh shit, now he was in trouble.

"I mean that excuse about his nickname was really lame. 'It's because I mooned the old Head Boy.' Whatever."

Bugger, bugger, bugger.

"Anyone would think we had 'stupid' stamped across our foreheads."

"You like the phrase don't you?" Kat giggled

"What phrase?"

"You know, about having 'stupid' stamped across your forehead."

"Oh! That one."

"Yup!"

"Back to Remus?"

"Yup. It quite sad really, that it happened to such a nice boy. Why couldn't it be Crabbe or Sniv- Snape?"

"Because life is unfair."

You can say that again, Remus reflected a small smile on his lips, they really didn't seem to care about his condition, and they felt sorry for him not scared of him.

"So true, look who I had as a childhood friend. Black!"

"And look who has fancied me for 5 years."

"Yeah, but now you love him, it doesn't matter anymore."

"Shhh, Kat, someone might hear."

"And?"

"Down goes your bet with Black."

"Good point. Talking of Potter and Black."

"Do you really think they're…" Kat lowered her voice and Remus strained to hear. "…illegal Animagi?"

Shit! They knew?

"It makes sense." Lily began wisely. "I mean, after their poor explanation for their nicknames."

"'Oh, it's what we think our Animagi forms would be!'" Kat said mockingly. "My arse."

"But if it's true. If they really are their Animagi, then, well…"

"Potter might be your soul mate?"

"Well, yes..."

What? How could James be Lily's soul mate because of his Animagi form.

"Awww" Kat cooed, "Your doe Patronus matches his stag Animagi form. How cute."

"Shut it!"

"Sorry. So why learn to become Animagi?"

"Well that's an easy question. Remus."

"Remus?"

"Werewolves aren't dangerous to other animals. Just humans. So in their Animagi form they're safe to be with Remus during his transformations."

"But that's really dangerous!"

"I know." Lily said sadly, "But then they're Gryffindors and Marauders. What do you expect?"

"I can't believe you're saying this calmly Lily."

"Do you really think I think that this alright!? Of course I'm bloody scared, and of course I want to say something and stop them! But I can't!" Lily shouted quite suddenly, a few tears escaping. "But what can I do? I don't want Remus to know we know. But I don't want them to get hurt. But if I pull them alway from Remus, think of what it'll do to him." She broke down into hysterical sobs.

Remus heard Kat move across the room towards Lily. He couldn't take Lily getting upset over him, it wasn't right. It wasn't her place to worry about him. No one should have to. Standing up he took a few shaky step down the last of the staircase and into the common room.

"They know what they're doing Lily. They're always safe." Remus spoke quietly.

The two girls looked up in shock at the pale boy watching them, a small smile on his face.

"You heard us?" Kat asked. Remus nodded.

"We're so sorry Remus."

"There's nothing to be sorry for Lily. There's nothing to be done. Just," he paused, "don't tell anyone."

The two girls nodded. Lily suddenly stood up and flew across the room, grabbed Remus pulling him into hug.

"We're both here for you Remus."

"Yeah. Both of us, always."

"Thanks." Remus grinned, hugging Lily back.

"Moony?" Remus and Lily pulled apart quickly and turned to see James appear at the bottom of the boy's dormitory stairs.

Woo! Cliff hanger... Crap one I know, but who cares?

Yeah, basically I didn't know how to carry this bit on so I left it! Talk about lazy eh?

So review people! Review! Or Bella shall be released… (Yes, more Black Mail! DO you get it? BLACK mail! Hahaha… )

Note to self: Lay off the chocolate…