Just got done reading Deathly Hallows, oh man, I can't describe it intelligently so I'll just list off words: sad, beautiful, thrilling, crappy, amazing, epic, chaotic. I'm a little pissed at J.K. but I applaud her all the same and thank her for the great series and the incredible final book!

As always, thanks to my awesome reviewers!

Chapter 17

He's a What?

Remus sat nervously on the floor of the dormitory. His three friends were standing above him with Lily skulking in the corner. James had been treating Remus like a criminal since the day of Lily's attack. The rest of the school was in uproar over the mysterious masked men, but not James. Remus had stolen his woman and that was that.

"Lady, gentleman and Peter," said James grandly, "We are gathered here in the second year boys dormitory to bear witness to the trial of Remus John Lupin, who in--"

"Get on with it, Potter!" Lily snapped, "I only came up here because you said Remus wanted to see me!"

"Oh, my delicate flower," James expounded, "Why does your passion flare whenever we're together?"

"Oh, I dunno Potter—maybe because you cursed Severus again, have been stalking me for the past two terms, and treating Remus like a murderer, all the while behaving like an arrogant, pig-headed twit!" Lily said…passionately.

Sirius sniggered at the exchange but became more somber, "C'mon James what have you brought us all here for? What's up?"

James immediately donned his judge-like demeanor once again, "Remus Lupin—if that is his real name, is a suspicious, if not sinister character that young girls should not be mixing with. Where does Remus John—if that is his real name—go every month? He would have you believe that he goes and visits his sick grandmother—a lie that clearly reveals a manipulative mind."

Lily gave a loud, impatient sigh.

"And did you notice in Transfiguration last week that he was staring hungrily at the fluffy bunnies we were supposed to be turning into hares?"

"James I think--" started Sirius.

"AANNDD haven't you ever seen, that when he comes back from his 'grandmother's'," James did the annoying air quotes sign, "That he is covered in scratched and bruises?"

Remus could barely breathe. James knew. His secret would be out, everyone would hate him, he would have to go home. Despair clutched at his chest. His life, which was just starting to look up, was over.

"This can only mean one thing," James whirled around dramatically, causing Peter to give a frightened squeak, "Remus is--"

"OH MY GOD!" Lily slapped her forehead as though stamping out violent thoughts, "James—you are possibly the stupidest person I have ever met! Do you mean to tell me you've just found out?"

"I mean you're one of his best friends! It's obvious, I figured it out our first year—silver eyes, monthly sicknesses, overlarge canines, superhuman physiology—

"Physio-what?" asked Sirius.

Lily continued, "the raven, an aversion to cooked meat…I mean, God, how could you not know Remus is a werewolf?"

"He's a what?" the three boys gaped.

Remus ran out of the room, his face covered.

"I-er," James held up a copy of The Quibbler with a rather grotesque green monster on the front, "I thought he was a Snaggletooth Weasler."

"Agggh!" Lily screeched, torn between the shame of revealing Remus and the blinding anger she felt for one James Potter. She snatched The Quibbler from James's hand, rolled it up and started chasing him around the room with it, thwacking him on the head whenever she got close enough.

Sirius ran after Remus, leaving Peter alone, and a little confused. He slid out the portrait hole.

"Isn't it a bit late?" asked the Fat Lady sternly.

Sirius ignored her and asked, "You seen Remus—short, blonde kid? Wavy hair? Kinda peaky looking?

"He went that way," the Fat Lady tilted her head to the right.

Sirius trotted along the corridor for a while before remembering Remus was probably up in the astronomy tower-- that is where he usually went when he wanted to be alone. Sirius raced up the steps until he reach the top. He was panting heavily, but was relieved to find Remus, who was curled up on the sill of a large, open window. His arms were wrapped around his knees and his head was hidden in them.

"Remus?" Sirius said gently.

Remus did not look up but mumbled something unintelligible.

"Listen, mate, it doesn't matter to me," he stood awkwardly next to his friend and added for emphasis, "Really."

"I'm a freak. I'm a monster," Remus said shakily, it was evident he was holding back his sobs.

"Remus, when I think of you, several words come to mind: nerdy, bookish, uptight, and too damn nice for your own good—but monstrous? Well, maybe that time when Peter spilt pumpkin juice on one of your school books, but--"

He paused, Remus was making a noise that could have been laughter, but also may have been grief-filled sobs.

"What about everyone else?" Remus shuddered.

"What about them? Lily already knew and she is obviously alright with it. Peter will take it in stride. And James…well, James thought you were a Snaggletooth Weasler…"

"A what?" Remus snorted.

Sirius offered his hand to him as Remus slid from the window, "Let's get back to the common room before Filch catches us up here."

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Sirius turned out to be right about his friends' reactions. Peter was calm because everyone else was calm, and James had christened Remus's lycanthrope as a "furry little problem" and would use the phrase at every opportunity.

"See? Remus looks quite civilized, despite his furry little problem," James said to Sirius one day in the library.

Sirius eyed Remus and Lily joining each other at a study table and laughing over their textbooks. He nudged James who frowned at the sight.

"Looks to me like you're the one with the furry little problem, mate."

Oh, Remus is stealin' James's woman! Heh, so what do you guys think of this chappie? Reviews always appreciated. Also, I will be temporarily taking a break from this story. Since reading Deathly Hallows, I've got a story that won't leave me alone. It will be called Summertime and it will involve Severus Snape and …a certain someone :P