Finally I managed to post on time! :D

Well, my darlings, this is it! We've made it to the end of second year, which means we made it to the end of what had been originally posted here before I went on hiatus. From here on out, every chapter is brand new to the site and to anyone's eyes but my own :D I can't believe we're here already :')

Kam, you don't ever have to apologize for writing a long review. When you do it just means that you really enjoy the story, and that makes me super happy :D Thank you for all your lovely comments every chapter, I always look forward to them ^^

Enjoy the chapter my dears! The next one is the beginning of a new era! :D Love ya!

~SXS

FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMER, SEE FIRST CHAPTER AN.


James and Sirius had gotten particularly jumpy over the next few months. Both boys were always looking over their shoulders, thinking that the other was about to prank them again (especially after the incidents of the Snake Socks and the Sentient Boils). For Remus, this was getting very old very fast. As he and Sirius were walking back to their dorm from the library one evening, the dark-haired boy spinning around as they went, he finally said, "This is ridiculous. You two are both spending so much time worrying about getting pranked that you haven't even made plans for your own pranks. This is never going to end until you call off this stupid war."

"It's not that simple, Moony," Sirius said as he continued to whip back and forth with his wand out. "James is waiting for me to let my guard down so he can strike. His nerves are all just an act. Oh, he thinks he's clever, but he's not going to outsmart Sirius Black!"

Remus sighed, shaking his head as he continued to walk, holding his books close. They made their way to the Gryffindor common room and then up the stairs to their dorm.

"Wait!" Sirius threw a hand out in front of Remus as he was about to open the door.

"Sirius, please. This is stupid."

"Shhh!" Sirius grabbed the door handle, pushing it open just a crack. Nothing. He pushed it a little further and it creaked. Freezing, his eyes darted back and forth quickly. Still nothing.

"Dear Merlin." Remus shoved past Sirius and pushed open the door. As he did, he was hit in the face with something gooey and sticky. The werewolf took a deep breath in...and out.

"Oh...Sorry, Remus," James said, trying to hold back the laughter that Peter had let loose. He cast a quick cleaning charm. "I thought you were Sirius."

Sirius came up behind him. "What did I tell you? Though this is a little below your usual standard, James." Said Marauder just shrugged.

Remus rubbed his face, trying to get rid of the sticky feeling that lingered even though his face was clean. "You're all a bunch of idiots." He went to his bed, laying his books down on the end. "I'm going to have a shower now. Please don't kill each other while I'm gone." With that he went into the bathroom.

Sirius and James slowly turned face to face as the door closed behind Remus. They looked at each other, eyes like slits. Peter watched the stare-down from his bed, wondering who would break first.

"You do realize," James said finally, "That since I didn't get you, that I will have to try again."

"Yes. And I will be ready when that time comes," Sirius said, tilting his head slightly.

James nodded, face stoic. "Then let the war continue."

Sirius nodded as well. "I'm going to the common room for a bit." He backed out of the room, never taking his eyes off of James until the door was closed.

James smirked as Sirius left. "I've got him scared out of his wits. Just wait, Pete. When we finally think of something we're going to win the war."

Peter grinned back at him, eyes wide with excitement. "Do you have any ideas yet?"

"No, but we've got to think quickly. There's only so long before school's out." James put a hand to his chin. So far the two dark-haired Marauders had been quite creative with their pranks. He needed to come up with something that was just as good. Admittedly, this last idea of shooting goo in Sirius's face was a weak cover, just to buy him a bit of time to come up with something else. But what?

"Oh, I know!" Peter said, bouncing on his mattress. "We should do something the next time he takes Remus downstairs."

James's face broke into a grin. "You might be onto something, Pete." Peter's smile grew wide at his first friend's approval. "We could scare him. Sneak up behind him and make him think that he's hearing voices."

"But he'll have the cloak," Peter pointed out.

"That's the beauty of it. He won't think it's us because he won't see us and he's got the only thing we've ever used to become invisible. But we can find a charm, and a charm to change our voices too so he's really scared." James's brain was working fast. "Yeah, this is brilliant!"

Peter beamed. "When do you think that Remus will leave next?"

"I'm not sure," James said. "But we'd better start planning soon."

.:~I~S~S~:.

The next and final full moon of the school year came quickly. Remus and Sirius agreed to use the sick family member excuse for the last time, and that over the summer they would start coming up with some pre-planned excuses that were a little more creative. Remus packed his unnecessary overnight bag, which Sirius carried along with the cloak, and the two boys left the dorm together, relieved that this would be the last time for a while that they would have to deceive their friends.

James waited a minute to let them get a head start. "Alright, Pete. Ready?" Peter nodded enthusiastically. The bespectacled Marauder pulled out his wand and cast, "Clarus Corpus." while making smooth motions back and forth in front of the other boy. Peter's body started to disappear as the wand moved over him, as if he were being erased, until nothing was left but a faint outline and his eyes. "This Transparency spell is brilliant! Now you do me."

Peter repeated the charm on James, the two now sets of floating lines. "Now what?" he asked, looking in the general direction of James.

"Now we follow them until Sirius is alone. Peter, if you so much as breathe too loudly you'll ruin the whole thing and I'll never forgive you."

"I'll be quiet as a mouse," Peter said. James saw a barely distinguishable motion of the other boy zippering his lip. Without another word, James went to the door and the pair slipped out and down the stairs. When they reached the empty common room, the portrait door was just closing. Sirius and Remus were either moving very slowly or had paused for whatever reason before they exited.

James held his arm out to stop Peter, who went 'oof' when he hit the limb. They waited a minute more, not wanting to be too close behind, then continued on the trail. But once outside the portrait hole, they found Sirius and Remus were only at the bottom of the first flight of stairs. Remus was leaning heavily on Sirius who had one arm around him, basically doing all the movement for both of them. The tawny-haired boy was shaking violently, which had not been the case nearly ten minutes before in the dorm. Sirius carefully moved them down each step one at a time with a patience that James hadn't seen him use on anything else.

James and Peter looked in each others' directions. The former was slowly losing his desire to play this prank, now more curious than anything. The latter suddenly felt like they were trespassing on a secret. "James, maybe we shouldn't do this after all. Something else is going on."

"Duh," James said. "And we have the perfect opportunity to find out what." He started again down the stairs after their dormmates. After a moment's hesitation, Peter followed him.

The messy-haired Marauder frowned as he watched the pair from afar. He'd been trying not to be suspicious about Remus's constant disappearances after Sirius told them about his skin problem, but this only brought back all his skepticism. Maybe this was some kind of misreading of the situation, but he felt in his gut that there was a lot more going on than either of his friends had been willing to share before. He just didn't know exactly what.

The journey down the stairs took about half an hour at the slow pace Remus and Sirius had set, and found them not at the front doors, but at the hospital wing. Sirius passed Remus and his unnecessary bag off to Madam Pomfrey with a, "Goodnight, Moony." Then he put on James's cloak and disappeared.

Moony...Suddenly it was all clear to him. Sirius had already given them the answer. He'd told them Remus was a werewolf in jest to throw them off, but it had to be true. Remus was leaving every month like clockwork (every full moon), he always came back looking worse for wear (because the transformations took a toll on him), he had streaks all over his skin (scars from the wolf's damage to his body). James couldn't believe that he had been so easily led.

Sirius's barely-there footsteps snapped him out of his reverie as the other invisible boy started to come back in their direction. James turned to Peter's outline and went, "Shh." He pushed them out of the way just in time so that they were flat against the wall. Then he tugged at Peter's arm, urging him to move, but listening carefully to keep track of Sirius. It especially helped when their friend started whistling tunelessly.

James and Peter followed Sirius up to the third floor. As they went, the former wondered what good Madam Pomfrey could possibly do for a werewolf. Though if she had been helping for the whole of these past two years, she must have been doing something right since she had managed to keep him from attacking anyone, including herself.

Instead of continuing up the next set of stairs to the fourth floor, Sirius turned in the opposite direction and stopped whistling. James power-walked to try to keep up with him, hearing Peter puffing a little behind him, and was about to pass him by when he heard a soft, "Alohomora!" at the door of the library. It started to open seemingly of its own volition then closed.

They stood in front of the library doors, wondering what Sirius would possibly be doing there. "James?" Peter whispered.

The other boy turned to him. "Finite Incantatum." Peter's body materialized again, then he did the same to himself. Without another word, he jerked his head towards the door and Peter nodded. James turned and gently pushed it open.

Sirius, who had taken off the cloak, jumped up when he heard the door creak. "Who's there?" He was just barely visible between the light coming from his wand and the full moon filtering in through the windows. He pointed his wand with a shaking hand.

"Sirius, it's just us." James lit his wand and revealed their presence.

The dark-haired boy's eyes were bulging. "J-James? Peter!"

"What are you doing?" Peter asked. There was a large book out on the table in front of where Sirius had been sitting. The guilty-looking boy came around to stand in front of them, blocking their view.

"Just some...homework," he tried.

"Sure," James said. "You gave up a nice full night's sleep to hit the books and catch up on your assignments." He leaned forward. "What's really going on?"

"Well, if you're going to be snarky," Sirius said, trying to keep a cool and joking air. "I'm not going to tell you. It's none of your business anyway." He then looked at the two, turning the suspicion back on them. "How did you even find me here?"

"We followed you," Peter said, turning a little pink with guilt. "We were planning on pranking you after you sent Remus off but...we saw where you really took him."

Sirius swallowed thickly. It was hard to tell, but James thought that the color had drained from his face. "Y-yeah...So?"

"He is a werewolf, isn't he?" Sirius shook his head, eyes large and unblinking. Peter turned to James, eyes also bulging.

"But...he was just kidding. Wasn't he?"

James ignored the pudgy boy and kept looking at Sirius. "You purposely tried to keep us from figuring it out by telling us it was a lie. But everything that you said was true. All those reasons that you gave for taking him downstairs were just excuses to bring him to Madam Pomfrey when he transforms."

Sirius's eyes darted between James and Peter, teeth gnawing at his bottom lip as he desperately tried to think of some sort of explanation. But it was becoming quickly apparent that he was out of options; they were caught.

"James, th-that can't be true," Peter said. "You said that w-werewolves aren't allowed in Hogwarts."

"Stranger things have happened," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "So am I right?"

Sirius's shoulders slumped and he bowed his head. He knew there was no getting James off his back now, and he was letting Remus down. But then he looked up again, determination flashing in his eyes. If he couldn't protect Remus's secret he could at least defend him. "I'm not saying anything because I promised Remus that I wouldn't tell. Whatever it is that you assume to know is something that he doesn't want anyone to know, especially you." He jabbed a finger at James. "After the way you acted when you found out I was a Black, he was terrified about what you would do to him." James's accusatory stance melted and he looked at the floor. Even Peter shuffled his feet. "There's obviously nothing that I can say that will change your mind about what you saw but the least you can do is act like you don't know, for Remus's sake."

There was a long moment of silence in which James and Sirius stared at each other and Peter watched between the two, still reeling in the shock of their discovery. Then the messy-haired boy broke the silence. "I don't care," he said. Sirius looked like he was about to respond but James put up a hand. "I mean I don't care that he's a werewolf. He's no different."

There was a pause while Sirius considered him, his expression wary but his eyes hopeful. "It really doesn't bother you? You thought that I was a Dark wizard because of my last name, and you don't care about this?"

James nodded once. "He's still Remus. He's not scary or dangerous to anything but a chocolate frog. Just as long as he's safely tucked away during full moons, I have no problem with him being a werewolf

"M-Me neither," Peter said, but he still seemed unnerved.

Sirius looked from one boy to the other before his face broke into a grin. He had been worried that they were going to be back at square one with James and Peter, and that Remus would have to worry about his secret being spread around the school. Somehow they had struck lucky. "Thank you."

"Hey, we're best mates and now we're the Marauders. We stick together." James smiled, putting a hand on Sirius's shoulder.

Peter did the same, but then he remembered something. "Wait. You bringing Remus to the hospital wing makes sense and all, but why are you here?"

"Yeah, that's true. What are you working on?" James went to the table where Sirius had been sitting, looking at the book which was open to a page on self-transfiguration. It was advanced looking magic, and the book had to have come from the Restricted Section. Sirius scrambled over and dove on top of the book to cover the pages. "Come on, Sirius. After what we just found out this is nothing."

Sirius pursed his lips, uncertain. He hadn't planned on them getting involved with his secret project but now that they knew the truth, perhaps they could help him. Many hands made for light work. "If I tell you about this, will you promise not to breathe a word to Remus until it's ready?"

"We promise. Tell us," Peter said, and James nodded his agreement.

"You have to swear it," Sirius said, and he held out two pinkies to them.

"What are we supposed to do with that?" James asked.

"It's something Remus taught me," Sirius explained. "Take my pinky with yours and say 'I solemnly swear that I will not tell Remus about this.'"

James thought it was a kind of silly way to make a promise, almost girly, but Peter immediately did it, hooking his pinky with Sirius's and repeating the words.

"Oh, alright." He took Sirius's pinky and squeezed. "I solemnly swear that I will not tell Remus about this." When they let go, James grabbed the book. "Now what are you planning?"

Sirius grinned, and stood between James and Peter, draping arms over their shoulders. "My boys, this will be the single greatest thing we ever accomplish if all goes according to plan. Let me tell you a little bit about how to become an Animagus."

.:~I~S~S~:.

The next afternoon, Sirius left the Great Hall during lunch with the intention of going to see Remus in the hospital wing. However, James and Peter were on his heels before he could get to the door. He turned around, quirking an eyebrow at them. "Why are you following me?"

"You're going to see Remus, right?" Peter asked.

"We're coming with you," James said.

"What? No!" Sirius dragged the two of them into the hallway where there were less people to hear. "You two aren't supposed to know about his..."

"Furry little problem?" James suggested.

"Yes, that. You swore that you wouldn't say anything to him."

"Ah, ah." James put a finger into the air in front of the dark-haired boy. "We swore not to tell him about trying to become you-know-whats. We never said anything about not telling him that we know his secret."

Sirius was about to retort but he realized that James was right. Then he shook his head. "Still, I don't want him to freak out. Can't you just let him tell you himself?"

"You know that won't happen, even if you soften him up," James said. Damn him, he was right again.

"Please let us come, Sirius," Peter said. "I want to see if he's alright."

James nodded. "We're in this together now. It'll probably be a relief to know he doesn't have to try and trick us to leave every full moon."

Sirius had to admit, he had a point. Coming up with excuses for the two of them each month was just as hard for him as it was for Remus. "Fine. Annoying gits." He started off again for the hospital wing. "But let me go in alone first. He's always really weak when he wakes up and if you two come in right away he'll get upset." James and Peter thankfully had no problem complying with this.

When they got to the hospital wing, Sirius left his friends outside the door and walked in by himself. Madam Pomfrey was leaning over Remus, giving him a pain potion. She glanced over as she heard him come in. "He just woke up so he's still a little groggy," she said.

Sirius nodded and stepped over to Remus's bed, smiling softly. The tawny-headed boy turned to him and returned the expression weakly. "Hey." He wasn't wearing a shirt, a large white bandage covering his abdomen. His arms were similarly wrapped in spots and there was gauze taped to his cheek.

"Hi, Moony." Sirius reached for his hand, as he did every time that he visited him now. It seemed to give Remus comfort and he wanted to help him in any way that he could. Remus gave his hand a feeble squeeze. "How are you feeling?"

The other boy chuckled but it was barely audible. "Whad'you think?" he croaked.

Sirius's mouth twitched on one side sadly. "Sorry. Dumb question." He sighed, looking down at his friend. He hated to have to get him worked up when he was in such bad shape, but he knew it was best not to prolong telling him. "Remus..." he started, tightening his grip a little on his hand. "James and Peter followed us last night."

Remus's amber eyes widened. "Did they..." He didn't need to finish the sentence to let Sirius know what he was asking. The dark-haired boy nodded.

"They saw me drop you here and then they-" (he wasn't going to tell Remus about their stop to the library) "-confronted me about it. James figured it out and there was nothing I could do." Remus listened, shaking his head with what little strength he had. His felt like he might cry and so closed his eyes before the tears could come. Now his secret was out for sure. He was going to lose two friends and his place at Hogwarts. It wouldn't be long before the whole school knew, and then the entire wizarding world.

Sirius could see the distress plainly on Remus's face and he mentally kicked himself for not starting with the fact that there was nothing to worry about. "No, Remus, it's alright," he said. "They don't care. They're fine with it." He found himself rubbing his thumb over Remus's hand without thinking.

Remus opened his eyes to look into Sirius's and they shone with moisture. "No...S'James. Look he did wi' you," he murmured, still not up to full sentences yet.

"They'll tell you for themselves. They're outside and they want to see you."

Remus closed his eyes again. He was sure that Sirius was wrong, and that James wanted to taunt him or tell him what a horrible monster he was, and Peter would follow right along. Why they couldn't at least wait until he was out of the hospital wing was beyond him, but he thought that perhaps it was best to get it over with so that he could concentrate on packing his things when he got back to the dorm.

When Remus didn't refuse, Sirius gave his hand a squeeze and went back to the door of the hospital wing to tell James and Peter that they could come in. The three boys went together to Remus's bedside. Sirius didn't take Remus's hand again; that was something he wanted to keep between the two of them.

"Hey, Moony," Peter said, hesitating only just slightly over the nickname. James smiled down at him.

"We heard about your...furry little problem," James said, using the phrase again.

Remus kept his eyes closed. "Here to call me monster?"

"No," Peter said. "We're just here to visit you."

"We don't care, Remus. We're still your friends," James said, trying his best to keep his tone genuine.

The injured boy's eyes opened and he looked at James and Peter warily. Then his gaze drifted to Sirius who nodded encouragingly. "Really?"

"Really," James repeated with a little smile. "Just as long as you don't bite us and try to make us part of your pack or something."

Remus couldn't believe what he was hearing. A smile slowly spread across his face, and he sniffled before chuckling weakly. The other three boys joined in, until they were all laughing. Even Remus was able to manage a full-fledged guffaw, feeling better by the second.

For the rest of lunch break, the four boys chatted, James and Peter asking hesitant questions that Remus was more than willing to answer just because he was so relieved. Sirius watched his face, which was practically glowing as he talked openly for the first time with their friends about his lycanthropy. His chest swelled and he couldn't stop smiling, just glad to know that his best friend was happy.

.:~I~S~S~:.

It was on their way home, sitting in their compartment in the back of the train, that The Treaty of the Hogwarts Express was signed, officially ending the Great Prank War. Remus and Anjanette had drafted and proofread it to make sure that they didn't miss any important points. Under the Treaty, James and Sirius agreed to no longer use their skills for pranking each other. They were also not allowed to prank Remus, Peter, Anjanette, Regulus, or Lily, and anyone else could be added with the consent of all undersigned. Remus grudgingly allowed the two dark-haired boys to add a clause that bound them to a quota of one major prank on the school every year, inspired from the success of the Mistletoe Mayhem. However, he made sure that all prank requests needed to be submitted to him first to test their potential danger to anyone involved.

As the two opposing leaders in the War, James and Sirius were the first ones to sign, Remus and Peter under them. Remus rolled up the parchment, saying that he would keep it somewhere safe where he could easily bring it out to remind them all of what they agreed to.

For the rest of the ride they talked about plans for summer. Sirius was hopeful this year, since he knew that his mother was in a good mood thanks to Regulus's successes. It was for this reason that James suggested that everyone come to his house for a few days. He looked directly at Remus when he said to let him know a good time. Remus smiled in appreciation.

When they had reached Kings Cross, the group said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, promising to write.