A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I hope everyone who isn't reviewing is enjoying it too. This one if particularly long.
Thanks again to my beta: swimdiva87. Enjoy!
The Truth about Remus
James was zooming down the Pitch, his eye on the Quaffle in Sarah's hands as she darted around one of the Ravenclaw Chasers. He was distracted and hadn't been playing his best game. Devon had already yelled at him twice for missing a scoring opportunity, but he was thinking about Remus and his Defense essay. He'd counted the days, but knew it was just a coincidence even though he could see Sirius' point: Remus was hiding something from them. As much as he felt compelled to trust his three friends, Remus was still a mystery. Dodging a Bludger, James flew near the stands, raising his arm to Frank Longbottom, who now had the possession of the Quaffle. He heard Sirius and Peter yelling "Go James!" and distractedly glanced back to grin at them but his eyes rested on Remus, who wasn't watching but closing his eyes and rubbing his temples. Not one to let his thoughts get completely in the way of Quidditch, however, James ducked around another Ravenclaw Chaser and easily caught Frank's pass. As he sped off to the goal, his thoughts of Remus left him, feeling the usual elation when he scored and the crowd erupted in cheers.
"Even on his off days this kid is amazing to watch!" came the commentator's voice, some fourth year he didn't really know.
James raised his arms in triumph, grinning at the stands before flying at the Ravenclaw Chaser and causing him to drop the Quaffle back in to his hands. Holding on to the red orb tightly, James spun and dashed back to the goals, scoring again.
"Brilliant, James!" he heard Devon yell as he, Sarah, and Frank followed the Ravenclaws back to their side of the Pitch. Devon stopped the goal easily and tossed it out to Frank before yelling. "James, check on Liv!"
Nodding, James sped over to where Liv was hovering near his friends in the stands. She was waving at Sirius.
"What are you doing?" he said, yanking her arm and pulling her away. He noticed but tried to ignore Remus' exhausted face and yelled at Liv.
"Why aren't you looking for the Snitch?"
"Of course I'm looking!" she snapped, her eyes whirling around the stadium.
"Looked like you were looking at Sirius," James said knowingly.
"Shut up, you're just a new Second Year. I know what I'm doing!" she yelled irritably.
"Same year as your boyfriend," James yelled back. She glared at him, but James noticed that the Ravenclaw Seeker was going in to a dive.
"Liv!" he shouted, pointing and racing with her to where the Seeker was, as James flew in the Ravenclaw's way, Liv caught sight of the Snitch and snatched it up, luckily winning the game by a hair. Devon gave her an earful and she sulkily apologized to James. Now that they'd won and were back on the ground, however, James was back to thinking about Remus. He jumped off his broom, pushed past someone and ran over to where his friends were approaching. He didn't notice that Lily Evans was glaring at him, as she picked herself off the floor in annoyance.
"Remus, what's wrong?" he said after they'd congratulated him.
"Nothing, but I have to leave now," Remus said weakly, glancing up at the darkening sky. "It's getting late." And then without another word, he was running off to the castle leaving his three friends very confused.
"I think you're right about him lying, you know?" James quietly said to Sirius in a dark tone. Sirius nodded and then cringed as a girl with long hair threw her arms around his neck. James rolled his eyes, said goodbye to Peter and went to change as Liv complained to Sirius about him. He grinned when Sirius spoke in a stiff voice.
"Well he's right, isn't he? Why weren't you looking for the Snitch?"
"What does he know? He's so young."
"Same age as me, and he's my best mate, in case you forgot. Come on, Peter," Sirius said, turning away and dragging Peter behind him.
"Oh Sirius, wait! I'm sorry."
"Apologize to James, not to me."
In true Sirius fashion, he ignored the argument they'd had the night before and indulgently let Liv chatter on about the Ball at lunch the next day. When she left the common room to get ready, however he turned to James while Peter went off to do his last detention of the term with Professor McGonagall.
"We've got to talk about Remus."
James sighed and nodded. "What does he do every month?"
"I had a theory about that," Sirius said.
"It's not about his parents again, is it?" James said wearily.
"I haven't completely ruled it out, but I have been tiptoeing around another theory".
"Me too…but mine's ridiculous."
"Mine too…you first," Sirius goaded.
"Well, have you noticed that he's always leaving around the same time every month?" James said carefully.
"Yes…but it hasn't been many months that we've known him…" Sirius said slowly.
"A year and a half…but anyway…every time he says his mother is sick…doesn't he…well, look sick?"
"It's not always his mother though," Sirius said, playing devil's advocate.
"It's the full moon. Every time," James said darkly.
"I know. I thought the same thing. And how he went all stiff when Professor Trumple mentioned the werewolf essay…" Sirius said, biting his lip and lowering his voice to ensure no one overheard them.
"It can't be," James breathed, staring at Sirius with worry.
"Not Remus…"
"My dad's told me horror stories. But somehow, I always feel bad for them," James said, ruffling his hair, a habit he'd picked up since joining the Quidditch team.
"Feel bad for them? James, werewolves are dangerous!" Sirius shot back, his voice still low. The common room was buzzing loudly however, so there was little chance of successful eavesdroppers.
"I know, but it's not their fault they got bitten, is it?"
"We're being ridiculous. His mother's just sick…" Sirius said, shaking his head.
"Do you think we ought to keep watch though?"
"What would we do?" Sirius wondered.
"Be there for him. 'Through thick and thin'," James said at once.
"Oh come on, I was only joking that time," Sirius reasoned, remembering the silly phrase they'd used last year before their first Halloween prank.
"He's still our friend. He's been nothing but a good friend to us."
"I know…"
"Let's just watch ok?" James said staring at Sirius.
"Deal with it later?" Sirius proposed. They shook on it.
James whistled loudly, drawing a lot of attention to he and Peter, who started cat calling as Sirius descended the dormitory stairs frowning and pulling at the collar of his charcoal grey dress robes. He scowled as his friends laughed at him and he joined them, glaring at the clock on the wall.
"Stop it. You've seen me seven times already," he said glaring around the room at the Gryffindors who were laughing at their display. Sirius had indeed been up and down the stairs seven times as Liv's friend had been sent to approve his appearance. Either the robes were too crumpled or too neat; or his hair was too slick or not styled enough but Sirius had been told to change what he thought, was about a million things about his appearance and Liv wasn't even ready yet. James and Peter, who had found this incredibly amusing, brought more attention to the fact by applauding the changes loudly to the whole common room.
"Your hair looks brilliant this time, mate," James teased, grinning and ducking as Sirius swiped at his head with a clenched fist.
Danielle, Liv's right hand woman, finally nodded at him.
"Ok, you look fine. Wait until you see her, she looks amazing!"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "She could be wearing a brown paper bag at this point and I wouldn't care."
Danielle glared. "You are such a child."
"I know you are, but what am I?" Sirius taunted back, annoyingly.
James and Peter laughed as Danielle huffed upstairs and Sirius slipped in to a lazy smile.
"This is really not worth it," he sighed.
"Want to play Snap while you wait?" Peter asked but Sirius mournfully declined.
"I won't make it until Christmas if I lose and get soot all over me," he groaned.
Finally Liv arrived, three giggling friends behind her. Sirius made no move to get up but most male eyes in the room were on her. She cleared her throat, ignoring all of the bulging eyes and smiled sweetly at Sirius, though her friends began to whisper. Finally Sirius got up.
"You ready then?"
She stared at him, her mouth dropping open slightly in disbelief, but he made no move to compliment her. He did think she looked gorgeous but he hated being kept waiting. And more than that, he hated being told to change.
"Aren't you going to say she looks nice?" Danielle demanded.
Sirius shrugged. "Yeah, you look nice."
Liv looked like she was going to cry as she bit her lip and looked at the floor. Somewhat unfortunately for Sirius, he could not handle crying girls. He moved to her and grabbed her hand, squeezing it until she looked at him.
"Really, really nice," he whispered to her making her break in to a shaky laugh.
"Let's go, ok?" he said to which she nodded.
"Bye mates," Sirius said, shooting James and Peter a disbelieving look as Liv's friends followed behind them closely. They saluted him and went back to their game of Snap as Sirius loosened his collar once more and sighed.
"Thanks for coming," Liv said as they walked ahead of her friends, holding hands. Sirius shrugged, feeling his stomach churn as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. He was a little worried about the night; though he was sure he would never admit it and simply say he thought it was going to be boring. He felt all eyes on him as they arrived in the Entranceway and waited for Liv's friends' dates. He leaned against the wall, kicking up one leg and staring around the space, his now signature look of indifference on his face as Liv and her friends giggled excitedly. Danielle was hugging her date, Tom something, a Gryffindor Fourth year.
"Hey Black," he said, when they separated.
Sirius nodded.
"Tell your friend I hope he feels better. What the hell happened to him anyway?" he said, causing the group to raise their eyebrows in interest. Sirius raised his own eyebrows.
"What?" he said, in confusion.
"That tall, skinny kid you're always with. The peaky looking one."
"You mean Remus?" Sirius asked, scratching the back of his well-groomed head. Liv slapped his wrist lightly and though he dropped his hand, he ignored her.
"Remus isn't sick. He went home early," he said, his mind swimming with his usual Remus concerns.
Tom shook his head. "No, I was just in the Hospital Wing doing a detention. He looks like he fell fifty feet."
Sirius mouth dropped open. "But…"
"They say he was riding his broom, there's blood everywhere." Tom shrugged before offering his arm to his date and leading Danielle and the rest of the girls in to the Great hall.
"Remus doesn't…" Sirius began but drifted off as he thought carefully through what seemed like quite an elaborate cover story.
"Sirius," Liv hissed, tugging at his sleeve. "Come on!"
In a daze, he began to walk with her but paused again when he heard loud, hysterical shrieking from a nearby corridor. Liv stamped her foot impatiently, looking embarrassedly at the older students who were passing by them, watching with interest.
"Come on!" she said, pulling him once more. This time, he shook her off and listened, carefully to the voices. He heard McGonagall now, too.
"Mrs.. Lupin! Please, keep your voice down. There are students around. The Christmas Ball…"
"Where is he? Oh Merlin! I knew I should've never let him come."
Sirius began to walk to the corridor, leaving Liv appalled. Just as he was about to turn the corner, she yelled at him across the space.
"SIRIUS BLACK!"
The voices of McGonagall and Mrs Lupin stopped abruptly and the Entrance way fell silent from the flutter of conversation and the students all turned to watch. He turned in annoyance.
"WHAT?" he said, looking at her, impatiently.
"WHAT? WHAT?" Liv shouted, seething, her hair practically standing on end. Her usual quiet, sweet demeanor was long gone and for once, Sirius thought she looked fake and ugly.
He looked at her, a dangerous look on his own face, but she didn't back down, stepping forward and clenching her fists. Just as she began to shout, a woman with chestnut coloured hair and a strained face whirled around the corner with Professor McGonagall huffing behind her, looking scandalized. The two older women stopped short, watching as Liv screamed. McGonagall's face looked torn between stopping the fight and leaving them to it.
"I've been making excuses for you for weeks! Everyone told me I was an idiot for dating someone so young and immature. I could have anyone I want, don't you get that?" she yelled at Sirius, who though he felt uncomfortable, looked at ease. He sighed and leaned back against the wall, ignoring their audience and listened with mock patience to Liv berating him.
"It's not enough to be good looking or cool! Do you even give a damn about me? Why did you ask me out in the first place!"
Sirius opened his mouth to reply but clamped it shut when she carried on.
"I've practically begged you to act like a normal boyfriend but all you want to do is PLAY with your stupid little friends! HOW can you treat me like this?" Finally she glared, her chest heaving and her eyes bulging.
Sirius cleared his throat. "Are you finished?"
One person gasped but a couple of boys chuckled quietly.
"What have you got to say for yourself!" Liv yelled, ignoring the whispers.
"I've got to go," Sirius shrugged.
"You're leaving me here? Right before the Ball?" she said, her lip starting to tremble. Her eyes glistened but Sirius didn't pay attention.
"Yeah. Sorry," he said shortly, not feeling sorry at all.
She stared in disbelief as Sirius stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around the room in apparent interest. Then the real waterworks started and Sirius fought not to roll his eyes. She played that card far too much in his opinion. Soon, Danielle and the others were there, comfortingly dragging her away and he sighed heavily and chuckled uncomfortably. Their audience was staring at him in awe. No one seemed sure if they should be impressed or thoroughly disgusted by his behavior. He was after all a Second Year who seemed like he didn't care in the least about what they might think.
"Move along there. Go to the Ball or your dormitories!" Professor McGonagall said, finally finding her voice and clapping her hand authoritatively at the crowd. "Mr Black, I suppose you ought to go back to Gryffindor Tower as you no longer have a dancing partner, you are not allowed to go to the Ball."
Sirius grinned and shrugged at her before his eyes turned with interest to Mrs Lupin. She had a similar look of interest on her face, though she seemed distracted.
"Black? Sirius?" she said, hoarsely.
Sirius nodded. "At your service. Who are you?"
"Mr Black! Manners," McGonagall reprimanded.
"I'm Remus' Mum. You're a friend of his, aren't you?"
Sirius nodded, and she grabbed at his hand. He was disconcerted by her touch but more so by her face. She looked worried, yes but not ill. Wasn't she supposed to be ill? What was going on?
"Have you seen him? Is he alright?"
Sirius stared. "What are you talking about? He's supposed to be visiting you."
"What?" Mrs Lupin asked, glancing at Professor McGonagall who looked equally confused.
"You're the one who's supposed to be ill all the time," Sirius said, accusation creeping in to his voice.
"What? Remus…he's….he's the ill one," Mrs Lupin, said vaguely sounding faint.
"Fell off his Broomstick," McGonagall said. "Now, Black, back to your dormitory."
"Remus doesn't fly. He doesn't even have a broomstick," Sirius said obstinately.
Mrs Lupin shook on spot and both McGonagall and Sirius moved to support her.
"We'd better get to the Hospital Wing," McGonagall said quietly, leading Mrs Lupin away.
"Can I come?"
"No! To your common room, now!" the professor replied briskly.
"What? He's my friend. I suppose you don't care if I want to check on him?" Sirius argued, glaring at her suspiciously.
"I'll take points for your cheek, Black," McGonagall said tightly, though her face faltered.
"What? Because I want to see my ill friend?"
"COMMON ROOM. NOW!" McGonagall yelled, finally losing her temper thoroughly.
"Fine. Bye Minnie," Sirius said cheekily, walking in the opposite direction, ignoring her red, furious face. "Hey Mrs Lupin, tell Remus that me, James and Peter are worried about him. Please."
Mrs. Lupin nodded and choked back a sob as McGonagall led her firmly by the arm to the Hospital Wing.
Sirius watched them go before hurrying to the Common Room to tell the others.
James and Peter in fact were not in the common room, but standing near the staircase to the Dungeons. They'd fancied a walk after Sirius had left; both of them exhausted with Gobstones and Snap and had run in to Severus Snape and Lily Evans.
"Out after hours Evans?" James said, ignoring Snape altogether.
"We still have ten minutes before curfew Potter," Lily said coolly.
"But what if you get a detention?" James mocked, egged on by Peter's laughter.
"I suppose you don't care about one either," she said, turning to Snape trying to ignore the others.
"I hate to admit it though Sev, he's right. I don't want a detention right before Christmas."
Snape nodded. "Alright then. I'll see you on the train?"
James whistled loudly making Peter laugh again and Snape twitch in annoyance.
Lily ignored their teasing and smiled, squeezing Snape's arm. "Of course! Save me a seat!"
Snape smiled, his yellow teeth showing. "Don't I always?"
Lily laughed. "Not one with Mulciber though," she said, her face straightening.
"Of course not," Snape replied quickly.
"Bye then! See you tomorrow," she said, waving as she walked away. She did not spare Peter or James a second glance, thoroughly annoying the latter.
"Oooh, so Snivelly's got a date has he?" James said, adjusting his face in a grin. "How'd you manage that? Brew up a love potion?"
"At least I don't have to show off to get any attention," Snape said, his lip curling.
"Showing off am I? Sorry Snivellus, I don't much fancy impressing you."
"Why don't you stick that expensive broomstick up your behind and leave Lily alone?" Snape said, stepping forward dangerously.
"Evans? What's she got to do with it?" James shrugged.
"Oh shut up, Potter," Snape said. "Everyone knows you fancy her. She'll never like you, no matter how many Quidditch games you win."
"Well no one will ever like you, no matter how many times you wash your hair!" Peter put in, making James laugh loudly.
"Yeah go on, Snivellus, do something useful and take a shower."
Snape raised his wand threateningly but James already had his out.
"Ah..ah…ah…. do you really want to do that?" James said, twirling his wand and glancing at Peter who had scrambled to draw his own wand.
"It's two against one," Peter pointed out to which Snape laughed bitterly.
"I'd only be aiming for one," he said, glaring at James.
"And what if it were three against one?" came a voice from behind them. James and Peter turned to see Sirius striding up, his wand out and dress robes billowing around him. Seeing that Sirius was several inches taller than all of the boys present, Snape lowered his wand and scowled.
"Face me man to man some time Potter and you won't be laughing anymore."
James laughed in response. "Oh, I'll be laughing."
With another scowl, Snape turned and descended the staircase to the Dungeons leaving the three boys alone in the corridor.
"Excellent work, mate!" Peter said raising his hand for a high five from Sirius. Sirius shook his head.
"We've got to talk. This is important."
They stood in a dark alcove listening to Sirius describe his meeting with Mrs Lupin, their faces solemn but confused.
"Why aren't you at the Ball though?" Peter asked when Sirius had finished. The taller boy rolled his eyes.
"Ditched that idiot Liv. Who needs a flippin' Ball when our friend could be in danger?"
"Or could he be the one that's dangerous?" James said stiffly, addressing the elephant in the room. Sirius nodded, looking at the floor.
"I just…I can't believe it. Remus is like…a hinkypunk. Not a…." he trailed off and James nodded. Peter however was staring between the two looking confused.
"What the hell are you talking about? Have you gone mad?" Peter said, scratching his head.
Sirius groaned in frustration. "Think about it, you dimwit!"
"What, Remus being a hinkypunk? Don't they only have one leg?"
"As shocked as I am that you actually remembered something from Defense against The Dark Arts, mate…use your bloody head will you?" James said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Peter whined.
Sirius sighed heavily. "Oh forget it. James, what are we going to do?"
"Why are you talking behind Remus' back? He's our friend!" Peter said, annoyed at the exclusion.
James was slightly moved by this comment. He and Sirius had always thought of Peter as a tag along: for amusement and ego stroking but here he was defending their friend against them. He looked at Sirius who seemed equally surprised.
"We're not exactly talking behind his back," Sirius said, looking at Peter with new respect.
"We're just worried about him. We think…he's not telling us something," James added.
"So? You don't tell me everything," Peter said pointedly.
"Like what?" Sirius demanded.
"Well you didn't say what kissing Liv was like…and James didn't tell me his Potions mark last week."
James and Sirius exchanged a look.
"You Div! I didn't want to go on and on about my stupid girlfriend," Sirius sighed.
"Ex," Peter corrected annoyingly.
"And I didn't tell you my Potions mark because it was terrible and…" James ruffled his hair and shrugged.
"And Perfect Evans was around when you asked," Sirius finished with a smirk. He got a shove in return and chuckled but Peter was looking very serious.
"So why is Remus any different?"
"Because his mum is not ill!" Sirius snapped.
"Well…you don't think she's hitting him like you thought before, do you?" Peter said, carefully.
Sirius shook his head. "No…she was…well, quite nice. And worried about him."
"So what's wrong? He's my friend too, I want to help."
James and Sirius were quiet for a moment.
"We have a theory. But you have to promise not to be scared."
"Shut up!" Peter said, blushing.
"Well, it's scary, Pete. I'm scared," Sirius admitted.
"So, why do I have to promise not to be?"
"Will you stop asking so many bloody questions?" The usually patient James was at the end of his rope. "We think…Remus might be…"
"Well, to put it lightly… a werewolf," Sirius said, cringing as the words were said out loud.
Peter's normally tiny eyes grew large and round as his jaw dropped.
"Are you having a laugh?"
James shook his head. "I wish. But think about it…every time he's away…"
"He's tired, sick…" Peter realized, stumbling back in to the wall.
"And it's always the full moon…"
"Not our Remus!" Peter said. "They're…monsters! Evil!"
"Not Remus," James said firmly.
"It wasn't his fault, he wasn't born that way," Sirius agreed, though he'd said the same thing as Peter, the last time he and James had talked.
"But…how…"
"Look, we don't know anything for sure yet. Are you guys up for an adventure?" James said, pulling his Invisibility cloak from his robes and holding it up.
"Damn James, that was my foot!" Sirius grumbled.
"Sorry…I'm not used to having three people under here," James apologized.
"Under where?" Peter said and James and Sirius laughed despite their current discomfort.
"Underwear!" Sirius gasped.
"Ok, ok, shut up," Peter said blushing. "How are we going to get in unnoticed?" he said indicating the closed door to the Hospital Wing.
"We're supposed to be in the common room," James said biting his lip, thinking. "Distraction, Marauders! Sirius do you have anything on you?"
"Just a firecracker I'd planned on setting off at the Ball," Sirius shrugged.
"That's perfect. Now we'll need to jam the door so they have to open it all the way to check on the disturbance. And then, when it's open, we slip by. Got it?" James recited his plan.
"Here, I have some Spello tape," Peter said.
"Hopefully they won't notice?" Sirius said doubtfully.
"Whatever, we're under the cloak, they won't," James said, taping the bottom of the door generously. "Ok, now."
Sirius nodded, and pulled a string on the firecracker and threw it away from them. A moment later, a large piercing bang exploded making the muffled voices in the Hospital Wing halt. A few seconds later, they heard Madam Pomfrey bustling over to the door.
"What in the world?" she was muttering as she pushed at the stuck door. Finally they heard her put her entire weight against it firmly and the door swung open abruptly. Carefully, the three boys, slipped by her as she walked in to the corridor, careful to check the cloak was still covering them all.
"Peeves?" they heard her ask in to nothingness as they approached the bed in the back with the curtains drawn halfway. Peeking through the gap, they held back gasps as they saw their friend lying on blood stained sheets, deep cuts and green bruises lining his arms and face. Remus was pale and sweaty and completely unconscious as his mother, wept loudly beside him.
With the loud sobbing, Peter took the chance to whisper.
"He's not dead…is he?"
Sirius and James shook their heads violently, but both boys felt as though their hearts had jumped to their throats. He wasn't…was he?
Professor Dumbledore was solemn as he listened to Professor McGonagall talk to him quietly and watched as Madam Pomfrey bustled around Remus, trying to wake him.
"Oh please, let him sleep! He'll be in so much pain," Mrs Lupin, said between teary hiccoughs.
"I must give him this blood replenishing Potion and he can take something for the pain if he wakes too. It's quite alright; we've managed every month so far."
"But this time was the worst! Why?"
"He seemed angrier when I took him down last night. Irritated at everything. I put it down to the excessive homework assignments he had to complete before the transformation this month."
"End of term pressure, indeed," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. He looked concerned as Remus began to stir. When his eyes finally opened, Remus groaned and the boys under the invisibility cloak cringed as they saw tears fall down his pained face.
"Remus, take this my dear, take this," Pomfrey said, thrusting a Potion at him. He mumbled as he sipped down three different Potions and finally he turned to his mother who was sobbing inconsolably now, with McGonagall's hand uncomfortably on her shoulder.
"Oh, Mum…why are you here?" he gasped, putting his face in his hands and cringing again as one of his open cuts, brushed against the sheets.
"I wanted to bring you home myself this time, I..." she couldn't finish and Remus looked up to glare at the Professors. Though they seemed to understand, they said nothing.
"Mum…it's not that bad," he whispered.
"You've been lying! You said you'd got it under control and it wasn't as bad anymore," she accused.
"Remus! A million times I asked if I should write to your mother!" Pomfrey accused in a similar fashion.
Remus groaned and leaned against the pillows, his face still covered.
"Now, now let's not berate the boy for being brave," Dumbledore said softly.
"I just didn't want to worry anyone," Remus mumbled.
"But we're already worried, Remus. Your friends too!" Mrs. Lupin said, clutching his hand.
And then, if possible Remus turned paler.
"What?" he said, slowly, his blood shot eyes growing wide.
"I ran in to your friend Sirius. He asked me to tell you that he and the others were worried about you. I'm so happy you've found such good friends."
"Oh God…" Remus said, barely audibly, staring in to space. "Mum…what have you done?"
"What, dear?"
"You…you told them?"
"Haven't you?" Mrs. Lupin asked in confusion.
"Of course not! They can't know! No one can know!" Remus said desperately.
Peter was digging his fingernails in to the forearms of James and Sirius, but they said nothing, as they too felt like clutching tight to something real.
"Remus, your lythancropy is not something you can control," Madam Pomfrey tried to say soothingly as she brushed his hair from his face in a motherly fashion. Mrs Lupin stood and took over quickly from the nurse.
"But, I can control who knows about me."
"Don't you trust your friends, Remus?" Mrs. Lupin said.
"Of course I do. I'm just not sure they'd trust me," Remus said in a small voice. Dumbledore bowed his head.
"Of course I understand. If the news of your condition were to get out, it might make your time here very difficult."
Remus laughed bitterly and Dumbledore indulged him with a sympathetic smile.
"Of course, it is difficult as it is. I will not forbid you from telling your friends. But I will advise you to choose carefully when it comes to divulging this information, for your own good."
"I'm not telling anyone," Remus insisted and Dumbledore nodded. "I just wish I could have someone with me…" Remus said very quietly. Everyone seemed to hear this but had no way to address it. After a few moments, Dumbledore spoke.
"Well Mr Lupin, when you feel up to it, we can arrange a Portkey for you and your mother to return home. Can I do anything to make you more comfortable?"
Remus shook his head. "No thank you, Professor."
"Happy Christmas, Mr Lupin," he said, bowing once more and leaving the bedside with an extraordinarily quiet McGonagall.
James, Sirius and Peter watched Mrs Lupin hug her son and Madam Pomfrey fuss about some more Potions for a minute, but all were disturbed by the very dead, hopeless look in Remus' eyes as he allowed the two women to flutter around him. Sirius looked away as Pomfrey started to tend to one of the deeper gashes and noticed Dumbledore and McGonagall talking quietly at the door of the Hospital Wing. Beckoning to the others, they moved slowly towards the two Professors standing in the doorway. They only had a few moments to get out of the Hospital Wing with them, but as they passed, they overheard the conversation and James motioned for them to stop in the corridor to listen.
"But Albus, the child will destroy himself. We have to find something to help him."
"Ah Minerva, I over anyone wish for his time here to be as happy as any other student, but what can we do? The Wolfsbane Potion is years from being fully developed and there is no better option than that. You listened to Mrs Lupin's explanation of the numerous Healer visits, no doubt."
McGonagall sighed and looked away. The boys were shocked to see the usually severe Professor look so sad.
"Then, perhaps I can accompany him next time, in my Animagus form."
"No Minerva. We cannot be sure he will not harm you, even in your Animal form. Remus is not himself during the transformations. He is not the quiet and thoughtful boy we just saw. He doesn't have control and I cannot risk anyone's life," Dumbledore said, sighing heavily and closing his eyes.
"It has been proven that werewolves are more calm around other animals. Perhaps he won't hurt himself if I'm in his presence. I can help him keep control."
"Unfortunately, while your form is impressive, Minerva, a simple house cat could not keep a werewolf at bay."
McGonagall scowled and Dumbledore chuckled half heartedly before sighing again.
"Alas, let us return to the Ball. It's about time we break up any indecency, don't you agree?"
And with that, the two Professors left, leaving the three Invisible boys with a lot to think about.
With the common room full of students buzzing with excitement after the Ball, the Marauders headed straight for the dormitories, ignoring Liv's friends who were glaring daggers at Sirius and Liv herself, who was trying to ignore him as she listened to a plain looking Fifth Year boy talk to her about something. She laughed loudly at something, grabbing his arm and staring at Sirius, but he simply rolled his eyes.
"What an enormous Git," he said to his friends as they ascended the staircase. The others said nothing but as they retreated to the dormitory, the air was full of tension. They settled on James' bed, though it wasn't made. Somehow, they didn't have the heart to sit in Remus' perfectly arranged area of the room.
"So…what do we do?" James said, taking charge.
"What can we do?" Sirius said listlessly, loosening the collar of his dress robes and kicking off his shoes.
"We have to find a way to help," James said determinedly
"But we're only 12!" Peter argued.
"I'm 13," Sirius chuckled.
"Oh yes, Sirius half a year really helps!" Peter scowled.
Sirius shrugged. "Wow Pettigrew, I didn't think you were capable of sarcasm."
Peter groaned and leaned back on to James' pillows. "How can this be happening?"
James shook his head. "It's an adventure. It's just another adventure guys."
"Well, what about that Potion that Dumble and Minnie were talking about?" Sirius said with a shrug.
"Wolf's pain or something?" Peter said.
"Bane. Wolfsbane. Well you heard them. It is years from being perfected. And we don't even know what it does," James said.
"We could look it up?" Sirius suggested.
"Now, I never thought you were capable of studying," James joked making Sirius chuckle and shrug.
"We have to help."
"We're all useless at Potions though," Peter said hopelessly.
"Remus isn't," James said.
"Hey! I'm better!" Sirius put in.
"But are any of us good enough to try it?"
"We could just try a jumble or something of things…"
"We'd need Remus."
"Well, so we'll work on it with him. It's for him anyway!" Peter said.
"It would be cool to turn in to an animal like Minnie though, wouldn't it?" Sirius said, sighing.
"So cool," James agreed.
"Oh, yeah right! Didn't she say in Transfiguration that there were only like, four in existence?" Peter said.
"You're right. We'll have to try the Potion thing," James nodded rubbing his hands together. "So, when Remus comes back, we tell him that we aren't scared and we want to help."
The other two boys nodded in agreement.
"Blimey, who would've thought…Remus..a…a.." Peter trailed off, unable to complete the sentence.
"He has a little problem. That's all," Sirius cut in, though doubtfully.
"A furry little one," James joked.
A/N: Review, pleaaaaaase :)