Chapter 6 - Werewolf, Love & a Ball
The fall months came to a close for Hogwarts students. December had rolled around, and with it, the holidays.
"You find yourself a date for the big ball next week mate?" James asked Sirius as he took a seat beside him at the Gryffindor table the Monday morning before the holiday break.
"Nope, going solo, you should now that." Sirius answered.
"Going to be crowded around here this year. I'm kind of used to us being the only few people left in the common room around Christmas."
"Yea, probably can't get away with nearly as much either."
James nodded then looked around and came closer to Sirius.
"Full moon over the break too." James, Sirius and Peter has become animagi the previous year. It was for Remus. No one knew but then and some of the staff, but Remus was a werewolf. They now spend every full moon since they learned how to transform into animals running around the forest with Remus as he became the werewolf. They found a werewolf could be slightly tamed by other animals and they also felt it was easier on Remus when he went through this with his friends.
"Yea..." Sirius got a grin. "I can't wait." While Remus hated the transformations, the others loved them. It was such a rush for them to escape and wonder free at night in the forest once a month.
"What do you think he told Kate?" James asked.
"Same thing you probably told Lily."
James looked slightly uncomfortable. "Uh... Well... about Lily, see... She kind of... well... knows already..."
Sirius dropped his fork and looked at James with shock. "WHAT?!" He whispered harshly under gritted teeth. "You mean to tell me that you got to tell your girl when I got in trouble last year for telling Snivellus?"
"Sirius! You know very well you nearly tried to kill him! And i didn't tell her. She already knew. She confronted me about it last Full Moon, told me I really didn't have to lie every month to her, that she already knew and it was ok."
"Oh." Sirius gave a small laugh. "Sounds like a great girl there Prongs."
James sighed. "Padfoot. You have no idea."
Just then Peter and Remus joined then. Peter pulled a piece of toast to him and began eating, Remus on the other hand, didn't look so happy. "What up with you Moony?" Sirius asked.
"Kate." He said exhaling.
Sirius's glaze went down the table where Kate and Lily had just taken a seat at the other end of the table.
"I see. So what did you do to Kate that took away my girlfriend too?" James asked.
Sirius laughed. "Kind of sucks for you two. When one couple fights, the other with lose his girl for the time too. That seems to me its what you get for dating best friends."
Remus didn't look pleased Sirius had said that.
"What happened?" James asked Remus.
"She wants to know why I can't go to the ball with her."
James eye's widened and his jaw dropped. "Bloody Hell! The ball is the same night as the full moon! How did I not see that before?! Oh my god, Lily is going to kill me."
"Wow, see, looks like it was a good choice I was going stag." Sirius chimed in.
"Kate says she's tired of my little lies. She says she knows there have been at least three times now I've said i was going one place and she came to find I wasn't there. She says she wants to trust me, but can't. Then I can't tell her why I can't make the ball. I don't think this is going to work. I think I'm going to end things with her." Remus said slumping to the table.
"No way moony. You're not leaving her. Listen, just tell her." James said.
"Yea, before Lily does." Sirius said.
Remus shot up to look at James. "Lily knows?!"
"It's not what you think! I didn't tell her mate, I told her last month that we would be out that night, that we all had a detention together, she told me I didn't have to lie anymore. She said she knows where I go on the full moon. Says she's known about you since like second year mate. She's smart, we all knew that. She doesn't know what we are, but she knows we try to go with and help you. She told me to be careful." James looked down the table at Lily. "Guess she hasn't noticed the ball is on the full moon yet either."
Remus just nodded. "Will she keep it secret?"
James looked back at Remus. "Of course she will. She has all this time hasn't she?"
Remus nodded. "I can't tell Kate. Even if I did, she'd leave me anyways. No one can love me for what I am."
Peter finally put down his toast. "That's not true Remus, you know she loves you, just tell her."
"Pete's right mate, you have to tell her. Let her chose." James said.
"I agree." Sirius tossed in.
Remus sighed. "We'll see."
xxx
"I mean, for god's sake, I'm his girlfriend. We've been together for over three months now, and once again he can't tell me something. Lily you know I let those night I found he was lying go because you assured me it cannot in anyway be what I think. But now, he said he can't go to the ball with me and won't tell me why? He tells me he loves me, why can't he mean it?" Kate was saying to Lily down the table. Then something hit Lily. It was a small relization. She made a mental note to be in shock later and confront James about it then too.
"Hey, whats going on? You two just leave the dormitory without me now?" Jen asked coming and taking a seat across from Kate and Lily.
"Kate wanted to leave the common room to avoid Remus." Lily told her.
"Yea, now what's all this about you being mad at him?" Jen asked Kate.
Kate explained the whole story to Jen. "I'm trying to tell her to be patient, if there is anything she doesn't know about Remus, he'll tell her when he's ready." Lily said.
"Patience has nothing to do with this Lil's. Kate, if Kevin was doing this to me, I would be upset too." Jen and Kevin had been doing so well. He has kept his word and not told her I love you once since she found out he did. She was think now though, after nearly three months together, him saying it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Maybe she might say it back if he did.
"Exactly, if he loves me like he says he does, he wouldn't lie and keep things from me."
"Maybe he has a reason Kate. Maybe it's something he can't just come out and tell you, maybe he's too scared." Lily said pleadingly. She didn't want to tell Kate about Remus, but she didn't want her to leave him over not knowing either.
Kate and Jenn looked at Lily for a moment. "Do you know something we don't Lily? After all, you are dating his best friend, has James told you something?" Jen asked Lily accusingly.
"No! Listen, I'm just saying, give him more time. Maybe try talking to him again. Tell him its ok. He can confide in you. Tell him he shouldn't worry and you love him. Maybe he'll open up. It just sounds like a case of closed feelings."
"Closed feelings? Lily, he's so loving. There are no closed feelings their." Kate said.
"What can it hurt? Lil always seems to be right, give her idea a try." Jen conceded.
"Maybe..." Kate looked down the table at Remus. He was lying on the table with James, Sirius and Peter all looking as if they were trying to pep him up. Kate sighed. "God I love him. Fine..." With that Kate got up and moved toward Remus.
"Lil, do you know anything we don't about him?" Jen asked Lily quietly when Kate was out of earshot.
"Maybe I do. But don't tell Kate. It's something I just know ok? But it's not my place to tell so don't ask." Lily said taking her last bite of oatmeal. "Now, I need to speak with James before class. I'll see you in Transfiguration." With that Lily made her way to James.
xxx
Kate put her arms around Remus's shoulder. "Baby, can we go for a walk?" Kate asked him in his ear.
Remus sat up and looked at her. He nodded and got up, grabbed her hand and they made their way out of the Great Hall.
"James." It was Lily, she had just walked up. "I wanted to talk to you about the ball next week. Have a few minutes before class?"
"Good morning to you too sweetheart." He said pretending to be hurt.
Lily laughed. "Good Morning silly." She said giving him a small kiss.
"Have a seat baby." James patted the bench where Remus has just vacated. "It's ok, they know you know now."
Lily looked at Sirius and Peter. "Oh." She took the seat. "Listen, I really want you to come to the ball with me but I would understand if you went to be there for him. I can go with Kate and have fun. You're a great friend to him sweetie and I love that about you."
James looked her deep in the eye's and knew this was not some girl's trap. "Thank you Lily. I do need to be there for him. When we're with him, it's not so hard on him, he's safer."
"Can I ask how on earth you guys go and don't get hurt?"
Sirius chimed in this time. "Promise not to tell?"
"Of course I do." She looked from James to Sirius to Peter.
James leaned forward slowly and whispered something in her ear.
Lily gasped, "But that's illegal! You can seriously hurt yourselves!"
"We know Evans, but we've been doing this since early last year. We have it down now." Sirius told her.
Lily looked at James. "You guys better be careful. Please?"
"Always." James said with a grin.
xxx
Kate and Remus came to a stop on a deserted spot on the grounds by the lake. Kate took a seat and pulled Remus down next to her.
"Remus, I just want you to know I love you very much and you can tell me anything. If there's anything wrong, I can help you. I'm here for you. I would never leave you no matter what you have to tell me. I only ask that you trust me enough to tell me so I don't have to worry and wonder and you don't have to lie to me anymore."
Remus just stared at the lawn.
"Baby?"
He looked up at her. She was so beautiful. Her long blond hair flowing in the wind, her bright blue eyes filled with love and concern. He loved everything about her, he loved the freckles on her tan nose, he loved the way she always raised an eyebrow while talking. She was perfect.
"Kate, if you love me, please let me tell you when I'm ready. I will tell you I swear, I just can't right now. I can't tell you why I can't make the ball, just know I am not and will never cheat on you."
Kate sighed. She did love him, he had every right to ask this unfortunately. "Ok. But promise you will tell me as soon as you are ready?"
"I promise..."
"That was by far the hardest test McGonnagal had ever given us!" Jen exclaimed to Kevin as she took a seat next to him on the lawn that fridy after the free period they shared together.
"I'm sorry sweetie." Kevin said pulling her to him and kissing her. "So the ball next week, what will you wear?"
"Not telling."
"Can i get a color?"
She looked at him for a moment. "Ok fine, deep purple."
"That should look amazing on you."
xxx
Kate and Lily had made their way to the common room for the free period to prepare for the potions text coming up next.
"I hate this, I'll never be good at potions." Kate said shutting the book they had been studying from.
"Its simple Kate, just follow the directions carefully, you should be able to brew this antidote easily, don't worry, once you get it it's very simple."
"Easy for you to say miss I'm best in the class." Kate laughed.
"So did you talk to Remus this morning?" Lily asked her.
"Yea, he asked me to be patient and said he would tell me soon."
"Great! See, I told you just trust him."
"I know but I just hate not knowing."
"It'll be fine Kate. I promise."
"Always to optimist Lils."
They laughed.
xxx
"So you told her you'd tell her later? Come on Moony, she's figure it out eventually and by then she won't be happy to know you couldn't tell her yourself." James said.
"Prongs is right mate. You have to tell her." Sirius said.
"I will, after this next one. I just can't right now." Remus said.
"Do you guys understand this potions stuff? I just don't get it!" Peter said angrily.
"Here Pete, I'll help you." Remus said and Peter and Remus fell into the potions book so Peter might just be ready for the test to come.
"So mate, my parents are sending are gifts this weekend. They also say 'merry christmas' and are very sad we're not coming home for the holidays." James said to Sirius.
Sirius has that type of family that you cannot get along with. His family goes against all his morals. They think people like the rumored Voldemort guy have the right idea to make wizards superior to muggles. Voldemort was this guy who hated muggles and was all over the news for doing horid things to them. So far he wasn't too much worse than the rest of the muggle hating wizards out there. Sirius's family thought he had the right idea though and thought he should join this cult like organization he was creating called the Death Eaters. Sirius hated that idea, thinks muggles should be equals. In the end, he couldn't handle it anymore. Last summer he had ran away to the Potter's and had no plan on ever returning home.
The day of the ball came quickly. Jen, Lily and Kate were in their dormitory getting ready. Kate had her hair pulled back in a simple clasp and was wearing a floor length dark red spaghetti strap dress. Basic and simple. Elegant.
Lily was wearing deep green, it was strapless and her long red hair in ringletts falling about her shoulders.
Jen, had on the deep purple floor length gown. It was a halter top and hung from her hips perfectly. Her dark brown hair was pulled half up and she left curls falling about her shoulders.
"Kevin is going to love that." Lily told her.
"Remus?" Kate had said softly over by the window. "Hey, guys, Remus is going toward the whomping willow with Madame Pomphrey."
She turned to get Lily and Jen ever to her, but when she looked back they were gone. "What on earth is he doing?"
"Kate, you said you wouldn't be nosey remember?"
"Lily! He just disappeared into the ground with the school nurse! And hey! there she goes. Where did she come from?" Madame Pomphrey was now making her way back into the castle.
"Of course, there they go. Lily, is James not going to the ball with you then?" James Sirius and Peter were now making their way to the same place Remus did, where ever that was.
"No, he's busy."
"What's going on here?" Jen asked Lily.
"I don't know."
"Lily, don't lie to us." Kate said.
"Listen, I can't tell either of you ok? Its not my story."
"Lily! You know whats up with my boyfriend and I don't I think you should be telling me!" Kate said angrily.
"Kate! You know I can't!" Lily argued back.
Kate sighed. "Fine. Lets go down." Kate had given up to easily for Lily's liking, but oh well. She did give in after all.
xxx
"Wow... Wow..." Kevin kept saying over and over to Jen.
She laughed. "Kevin, stop."
"Sorry, you look so beautiful." He said kissing her firmly on the lips.
"She laughed still. "Shall we go in?"
They made their way into the ball where Kate and Lily were. Lily was in the middle of dragging Kate onto the dance floor to have a good time so Jen grabbed Kevin and followed.
The ball went by without anything spectacular. Lily and Kate managed to have a decent time and Jen was having the time of her life with Kevin.
As the ball was making its way to a close, a slow song came on. "I love this song!" Jen said.
"Then let's dance." Kevin said grabbing her hand once again and taking her away from the table where they were having a punch break.
Halfway through the song, Kevin spoke. "Jen, I want to tell you something right now, even though I said I wouldn't."
Jen smiled to herself. Here it comes. "Jen, I love you."
Jen pulled back, kissed him deeply and just parted lips enough to say "I love you too." softly before kissing him again.
"Jen! You have to help me! Kate ran out into the grounds, says she has to know!" Lily said fastly running up to them, killing the moment.
Jen shot back from Kevin, "What?!" She turned to Kevin. "I'm so sorry Kevin, I have to help."
Kevin was smiling still. Jen loved him, she really loved him. "It's ok, go baby."
Jen and Lily ran out into thr grounds just in time to hear a single howl within the Forbidden Forest.
"What was that?" Jen asked aloud.
"Probably just a werewolf." Lily said.
Kate had paused when she heard the howl. She looked up at the full moon. "No" She said to herself "Can't be... Can it?"
"Kate Wait!" Lily was yelling as her and Jen were running for her.
"I have to Lily!" She shouted back and moved into the forest.
There is was again, the howl, it was louder this time. She moved deeper into the forest.
Lily and Jen caught up to her. "Kate stop this, lets get out of here. It's not safe. Its a full moon tonight, you know how crazy this place gets on a full moon!" Jen said to her.
"Please Kate, lets go." Lily and Jen were now walking beside her trying to convince her to leave.
There was alot of movement near now. Lily knew the boys were close now. Her heart was pounding. Kate and Jen froze, fear bright on their faces.
"Please... lets leave now..." Lily whispered, begging.
Again, a howl, so close to them now.
"Maybe we better go back." Kate said terrified.
Too late, there was a deep growling behind them, they turned to face the creature.
There, within ten feet of them was a fully grown werewolf. Together, they screamed. It roared forward and chased them as they began to run.
Out of no where a large shaggy black dog, a large stag and a small rat came running into the small clearing the girls were now in scattering from the werewolf.
The dog instantly attacked the werewolf and was flung against a tree trunk. The stag was no longer there, he was now James.
"James!" Lily said running to him.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!! GET OUT NOW!" She said angrily. "RUN!"
The werewolf had now moved in closer, The dog was whimpering and getting up from the tree. James turned back into the stag, but before either could reach the werewolf, he was upon Kate. She froze.
Those eye's she knew those eyes. It couldn't be though. "No?" She whispered.
It struck, it lashed out at her, hitting her around the stomach and tossing her body like a doll into a nearby tree. The dog and the Stag were now both upon the werewolf.
Lily and Jen ran to Kate. "Oh my god! KATE!"
Jen grabbed her. Kate was still awake, but only barely. "Kate, hang on, please!"
All three girls looked up, the dog and the stag were herding the werewolf off away from them. The rat though, was now Peter.
"Come on, we have to get you out of here." He said coming over to the girls.
"Peter... Pete... Remus?" With those words Kate's world went black.
A few moment later James and Sirius came into the clearing. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE LILY! YOU KNOW BETTER!"
"You knew? Lily!" Jen exclaimed.
"James, I'm sorry, Kate saw all you head here before the ball, she ran out to find Remus. We tried to stop her." Lily was crying. "Please James, help her."
Jen was in shock, Remus, a werewolf? and Lily knew?!
James had put a hovering charm on Kate to float her to the hospital wing. They all were now quickly making their way out of the forest.
"God I hope she will be ok." Jen was saying through her worries.
They were now approaching the front doors. James had an arm around Lily and Sirius was walking by Jen. "Jen, are you ok?"
"I'm fine Sirius, just worried about Kate. Will she be ok? Sirius, I just can't believe all this." She was crying now harder than before.
Sirius stopped. "I'm sorry. I'm sure she'll be ok. He didn't bite her."
Jen stopped to talk with Sirius. "There's so much blood." She said looking at Kate ahead with James Lily and Peter.
"I know, listen, you can't tell anyone, please? No one would understand."
Jen was still crying. "I won't."
Sirius then hugged her. "It's going to be fine. Just no more running off into the forest like that."
She hugged him back. "Thank you Sirius, for coming and helping us. Are you ok?"
"Me? I'm fine." Sirius now pulled out of the hug, "Come on. Lets catch up." Jen nodded.
At the entrance to the castle, Kevin was waiting for her to return and saw her being held by Sirius. He has tried to get over his jealously of this guy, but this was going to far. He should comfort her! Not him!
A/N
Hope the story is now more to every ones liking!