Chapter 3: In the Moonlight

"Where's Sirius?" Mimi asked that Friday night walking upstairs into the boys dormitories. She plopped down on Remus's bed and waited to be answered.

"He's shaving in the bathroom," Peter said from the bed across the way. Mimi flopped backwards and blew hair out of her eyes.

"Why what's up Mimi?" James asked.

"Well, tonight is my date with Amos and well he is a guy who gets a lot of girls and I wanted him to check my outfit." Mimi looked sheepish as James mouth hung open.

'"I don't even know where to begin with answering that statement. Sirius doesn't get a lot of girls, he takes advantage of a lot of girls and there is no way Amos is going to take advantage of you and you better not wear an outfit that makes him think that!" James scolded.

"So when's he going to be done?" Mimi asked.

"Give him 3 more minutes," James answered as Remus walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"How come you're showering?" Mimi asked curiously.

"Thanks? I have a date," Remus answered rummaging around for some jeans.

"You do? With who?"

"Ignoring that surprised tone, Yuli Ameen."

"Oh, she's in 5th year right?" Remus nodded as he pulled on some jeans.

"What are you doing up here?"

"I need Sirius's advice."

"What? Are you out of your head?"

"I want to know what he thinks of my outfit."

"Don't you have girls for that?"

"Girls don't get with other girls."

"Well can I see your outfit?" Mimi sighed, she had wanted Sirius but who knew when he would be out of the bathroom. She stood up and showed off her outfit. She was wearing dark blue skinny jeans that puddled around her brown sparkled ballet flats edged in black velvet ribbon. She was wearing a black velvet v- neck sweater and a velvet bow head band around her long hair. She looked gorgeous.

"You're wearing that?" Remus breathed, he never thought he could think of Mimi as hott.

"Is it that bad?" Mimi bit her lip in worry.

"No, you look-" Remus was cut off when Sirius walked out of the bathroom.

"Whoa! Looking good," Sirius said before he realized who it was.

"Mimi!" He exclaimed. She was grinning, "Thanks guys!" She skipped down out of their room.

"Where's she going?" Sirius asked as he pulled a shirt over his head.

"On her date with Amos," James told him. Suddenly it grew silent and the four boys looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Shit." James grabbed his invisibility cloak and they ran out after her.

"I have a date you know," Sirius hissed while the boys stood hidden under the cloak watching Mimi and Amos make their way up the astronomy tower.

"You'll get more," James told him.

"True."

"But I won't can I please go?" Remus whined.

"Moony, your already an hour late Yuli's gone." Remus began to pout but didn't move. Mimi and Amos were getting pretty comfortable with each other, and after a few butter beers down in Hogsmeade (Mimi was an extremely light weight) they started to become joined at the mouth. Sirius lunged forward when they started to make up but Remus flung out his arm holding them back.

"We are only hear to spy slash stop any sexual intercourse." Sirius backed down but glared. Just then, Mimi looked curiously off into the corner where they were standing.

"What's wrong?" Amos asked obviously missing their kiss.

"Nothing, sorry," Mimi smiled and they got back to what they were doing.

"Remus can I ask you something?" Mimi asked plopping down next to him across the couch and leaning back so she was lying across his legs.

"Sure."

"How come you told me you were going out on a date with Yuli? I understand totally if you, James, and Sirius are gay and want to go out together. Well, actually I couldn't understand Sirius being gay so much, but not the point. There is no need to lie to me about your true feelings." Mimi grinned as Remus practically spat out his pumpkin juice.

"What?"

"I know you were guys were up in the tower watching me last night."

"I don't have any idea what you are talking about."

"So whose idea was it?"

"All of ours."

"Oh."

"Wait, you're not mad?"

"No, frankly I'm honored that you would give up your first date in two years and Sirius would give up any date up to spy on me."

"Gee, thanks?" Suddenly Mimi was stuck with an idea.

"But, you did lie and follow me and hide, you definitely owe me."

"I thought you just said you were honored?"

"That was before."

"Before what?"

"Before I remembered the full moon is this Thursday and I really want to go with you guys."

"No! Mimi it's too dangerous!" Mimi sighed. She knew that Remus was a werewolf and the rest of the guys were animagus's but when they had begun to plan becoming them they told Mimi she couldn't. She had cried, whined, and complained but they stood firm, it was too dangerous. She got up and walked out, "I hope you know I hate you!" She shouted at him on the way out, he started to laugh.

"Hey Mimi!" Mimi looked up from relaxing by the lake to see Arabella, Sarah, and Lily grinning down at her.

"Hey girls."

"Soo... how was the date?" Mimi grinned up at them.

"Perfect. He took me to the Three Broomsticks and we had dinner and then we came back and hung out at the astronomy tower," she told them with a wink. The girls squealed.

"Is he a good kisser?" Arabella asked settling down next to her.

"Arabella!" Lily cried.

"Yes! And he's so sweet," Mimi said. The girls sighed picturing it.

"You're so lucky Mimi," Sarah told her. Mimi smiled back not sure what to say.

"Are you sure I can't come?" Mimi pleaded that Thursday night. James, Peter, and Sirius were going down to the Shrieking Shack (Remus was already there).

"No! How could you anyway your not an animagus," Peter pointed out.

"Whose fault is that?" Mimi grumbled.

"We're going now," James told her.

"I hope Remus eats you," she called after them.

"Remus eats people now? Damn, and I thought he was the nice one," Lily said walking over to her. Mimi froze afraid of how much Lily heard.

"Haha I wouldn't mind if he ate them sometimes," she said with a nervous giggle.

"Me either. So what are you doing?" Lily asked and Mimi sighed in relief as the conversation changed.

"Well nothing really. I had a free period today so I did my homework, so yea nothing. What about you?"

"Same very bored. Arabella and Sarah both have dates tonight. I'm dateless"

"Me too don't feel bad."

"Want to go for a walk?"

"Lily! It's after hours!"

"I know but I am feeling spontaneous tonight. Please a walk in the moonlight could be fun!"

"In the moonlight?"

"Yes, Mimi."

"Like outside?"

"You've been spending way to much time around Sirius."

"I don't want to."

"It'll be fun come on." Lily hopped off the couch dragging a very worried Mimi after her.

"Lily lets go back," Mimi pleaded as they reached the main doors. She could not let Lily go out there.

"Oh come on Mimi, we made it this far let's go. You're a marauder you can't really be worried about getting caught." Lily pushed opened the doors and Mimi hurried after her.

"Lily please."

"I'm having fun already," Lily laughed twirling in a circle. She froze when they heard a howl at the moon.

"What was that?"

"Lily, let's go!" Suddenly a large wolf like creature came bounding toward them. Lily looked up in surprise but fear course through Mimi's mind. They stood their frozen in time as it continued running for them. Thoughts raced through Mimi's mind, 'It's just Remus he won't hurt you.' 'He's not Remus tonight he will!' 'Where are James and Sirius?' Suddenly her mind clicked into gear as a big black dong and a stag came rushing up.

"Run!" Mimi cried pulling Lily off to the right, but Lily remained frozen.

"This way!" She practically yanked her off her feet and they began to run. Mimi and Lily tore across the grounds kicking up grass, when suddenly Lily tripped. Remus still hot on their tail came close to her and Lily's eyes squeezed shut in fear. She could feel his hot breath on her and she began to whimper. Suddenly, a stag appeared in front of her and reared up at the werewolf throwing it off its feet. Mimi, not missing a beat, ran forward and grabbed her friend and they took off.

Mimi pulled her into a corner surrounded by brush and crouched down. "Okay listen, what I am about to tell you is a HUGE secret and if you ever tell anyone Lily Kathleen Evans things will be terrible for everyone around you," Mimi said low and fast. Lily's who was still shaking from the incident gulped but she nodded, "I won't tell."

"That wolf creature that came running after us? That was a werewolf, and that werewolf is Remus Lupin. Remus is a werewolf and he has been keeping it a secret from everyone except for me, Sirius, James, and Peter for his whole life. Sirius, James, and Peter are illegal animagus and they sneak out every full moon to help Remus with his transformations. So, if you don't speak to Remus or me or any of the Marauders again I understand, but please do not tell Lily. But please just know one thing, that monster who came after you just now, Remus had no control over that. Once a month he looses himself, his mind his body. Remus Lupin your trusted friend and study buddy didn't come after you tonight, Remus Lupin the monster with a horrible secret did." Lily's eyes were squinted and her forehead wrinkled as she took in all the information. Finally she spoke.

"He doesn't deserve it. Remus is a great guy he doesn't deserve to be this way. And you and the marauders are also great for being so accepting. I won't ever tell and I won't ever not talk to you guys,' Lily whispered and Mimi threw her arms around her.

"Thank you so much."

"Now let's go back," Mimi said and together they walked back to the castle.

"I need to talk to you," James ambushed Mimi from the side as she made her way out of the portrait hall the next morning.

"What? Ow James your hurting me," James had a tight grip on Mimi's arm as he dragged her off into the corner where Sirius was waiting.

"Why'd you do it?" James asked finally letting go off her arm. She rubbed the spot where he had gripped her and gulped, she was in for it.

"I didn't mean too. Lily wanted to go for a walk outside I tried to stop her I swear!" Even to Mimi that excuse sounded lame.

"Do you have any idea what its like on those nights?" Sirius growled. Mimi shook her head.

"Were you scared last night Mimi?" James asked, Mimi lowered her eyes to the floor and nodded.

"Well, so was I! You and Lily were this close to getting attacked! Do you know why we didn't let you become an animagus? Not because we wanted you to miss out on all the fun like you claim, but because it's dangerous and we didn't want you getting hurt! Do you have any idea how much you worried me last night?" Sirius yelled at her. Mimi felt her eyes burn with tears as she shook her head again.

"I thought you knew better than that." With that the boys walked off leaving Mimi tearing up in shame.

The boys were very mad at Mimi and they barely took notice when they didn't show up in Transfiguration. Well, James, Peter, and Remus didn't but, mad as Sirius he began to wonder about it. He sat disinterested through McGonagall's droning and was the first one to leave.

"Padfoot where are you going?" Remus asked as he flew by.

"I know where mad at her, but I am going to look for her." Sirius followed his gut (having made many girls cry in his lifetime) and ran into the bathroom closest to the Great Hall. It was least used by the girls who actually had to go to the bathroom and most used by the ones who wanted a good cry. Not even caring it was a girl's bathroom Sirius pushed open the door and marched in. Sure, enough Mimi was their crying in the corner.

"Meems…" Sirius said when he reached her. Mimi looked up at him her hazel eyes red and full. She looked like an 8 year old who had broken her shovel at the beach, sad and alone. She was pleading him to sit with her and forgive her. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her.

"I didn't mean it," she snuffled into his chest.

"I know Meems, but we were so worried! You could have gotten seriously hurt." Mimi gave another small sob and stroked her hair. The marauders always felt the desperate need to protect Mimi from all the evils in the world, but at times it seemed Sirius (and sometimes Remus) were the only ones who cared to comfort her.

"Is James really mad?" She asked looking up.

"No, we were never mad we were worried."

"What about Remus?"

"He was upset that he almost hurt you." Another tear slid down Mimi's cheek. Sirius let Mimi cry for a few more minutes and then stood up.

"Come on Meems, someone is going to mistake you for Moaning Myrtle," Sirius said with a grin he extended his right hand and lifted her up. She smiled wiped the tears off her face and together they walked out of the bathroom.