Chapter 2: Moony
"Ready to outline our plans for the full moon?" James said, on a Wednesday night a few weeks into term. "I think a trip into the village might be to much this time around. You're getting rather bigger as a werewolf than you used to be, Moony."
Remus laughed, and leaned in so no one would hear him. "Poor James is a tiny stag, not strong enough to hold off a wolf."
Peter looked around nervously. "Guys," he said, "There are a bunch of people in here. It's not really wise to be talking about this now, is it?"
James looked around. There were two third years sitting near the fire, and a fifth year reading a book near the window. "Yes," he said sardonically, "the common room is practically buzzing with life. Sod off, Wormtail, unless you have something good to say."
Peter's faced darkened. "I'll be busy this weekend. I've- I've joined a club, you see, and, well, anyway, we're meeting on Friday, so I suppose I won't be able to accompany you on--"
"Peter!" Remus said desperately. "We need you there! How else are they supposed to get past the tree?"
"I know the spell Madam Pomfrey uses to freeze the tree when you're around is nonverbal, but I suppose that she's only doing it so you won't know how to get in without her," he said quickly. "The Full-Body Bind, Petrificus Totalus, should work. I'll bet two sickles on it."
"I've had a brilliant idea," Sirius said suddenly. "I bet a simple Full-Body Bind should do the trick."
"You're an outright genius, Sirius Black!" James said, slapping him on the shoulder. Peter mumbled his goodbyes and went off to bed, looking distinctly put-out. Remus looked off after him, a small splinter of guilt poking his side. Peter knows we're only teasing him, Remus thought. And the splinter seemed to vanish.
"So, Prongs isn't quite up the challenge of messing with wolves anymore," Sirius began.
James rolled his eyes. "That's not quite how I put it, Padfoot."
"Stop bickering," Remus said, "we just won't go into the village. The forest is plenty fun. Maybe we'll find some magical creature to chase."
"Remember that time in third year when we'd spotted that hippogriff?" Sirius said excitedly.
"Yes, and you upset it, so it nearly clawed out my eyes," James said in a flat sort of voice. "That was dead fun, that was. I'm just lucky my antlers were long enough to keep it away..." -he touched a tiny scar on his wrist- "mostly."
Sirius sighed contentedly, "That was fun, wasn't it? One of our better exploits, I imagine."
The three of them laughed. James looked serious all of the sudden. He glanced around the room. It had emptied while they were talking.
"There's something I should tell you both," he said in a hushed voice. "My mum was pretty worried about me being at Hogwarts, what with You-Know-Who and all. She knew I had to come back, of course. I have to know all I can if I want to be able to protect myself, right? But, anyway, the main reason she wanted me back is because Dumbledore's here." He paused, looking around once more. "But Dumbledore isn't the only wizard protecting the castle. Friends of my parents, the Bones family, the Vances, some of them are here. See, Dumbledore has gathered a few people together, people he knows he can trust, and they're fighting side-by-side with him against You-Know-Who."
"Wicked," said Sirius with a dreamy look upon his face.
"It's called the Order of the Phoenix," he said. "And I'm going to join."
"Me, too!" said Sirius instantly. "You're in, right, Remus?"
"That seems awfully dangerous, Padfoot. The danger we encounter, the hippogriff for example, that's all fun stuff; that's a game to You-Know-Who. And the Death Eaters, they do horrible things. If something happened to you, I don't know--"
"This Order, this is what's going to be His downfall," James said. "You're a bloody good wizard. We're going to need you fighting on our side."
"Okay," Remus said resolutely, a small forming on his face. "Where do I sign up?"
"I figure we talk to Dumbledore as soon as we can," James said. "Tomorrow, if possible."
"Someone'll have to tell Peter," Sirius mused. "He's not the shiniest wand in the shop, but he's our friend."
*
The next day, Sirius scribbled on a scrap of parchment during N.E.W.T. Level Transfiguation and passed it to James, who passed it to Remus.
Full moon tonight. You ready? was written in Sirius untidy print. He had nice handwriting, in Remus's opinion. Slanted, rushed letters, as if everything he were writing required a certain amount of urgency.
Of course, was written in James's thick scrawl. Are you ready, Moony?
I'm ready for this lesson to be over, is what I'm ready for, Remus wrote. He passed the scrap back to Sirius when McGonagall wasn't looking.
I think tonight will be more fun without Pettigrew tagging along. He makes such a scrawny rat, I always find myself stepping on him accidentally. Well, almost accidentally.
What club do you think he's joined?
Probably Gobstones, or something like that. Remus wrote when the note got back to him. He was never much of a dueler, and I can't see him be good at much else.
Remus passed the note and watched Sirius smirk as he read it. He began penning a response, something full of quip, Remus imagined, something witty and clever. Sirius was really clever sometimes, and very funny. He has a lot of winning qualities, thought Remus, spinning his quill between his fingers. Sirius is a great flyer, he mused, really talented on the Quidditch pitch. He is a naturally talented wizard, too. I like the way he holds his wand. A naughty grin spread over Remus's face.
"Mr. Lupin," Professor McGonagall stated sharply. Sirius and James both had to hide their faces in their arms. "I'd prefer you not to daydream in my class. This is N.E.W.T. Level, and I really expect more of you."
Remus blushed and Sirius threw back his head, silent laughter shaking his body. Class ended a few moments later. Sirius pounced up to Remus.
"What were you daydreaming about, Moony?" he asked playfully, laying a hand in the middle of Remus's back. Remus blushed furiously, and dropped his wand. He had an infamously terrible grip. He mumbled "Nothing" just as Oliana walked up to him.
"Hello, boys," she said, handing Remus his wand, "I don't think we've actually officially met. I'm Oliana Providence."
She held out her hand and and James took it eagerly. "I'm James Potter. Oli- may I call you Oli?" She nodded her head happily. "You're very pretty. Isn't she pretty, Sirius?" He continued in a stage whisper that everyone could hear. "Personally, I think our pal Remus is over the moon for you. Shh, don't say anything, it might embarrass him."
Remus wondered if blushing could become permanent as James pushed passed him and Oli, who was smiling awkwardly. The students that were still in the classroom snickered.
"You must be Sirius. Remus has told me--" Oli began, but she was abruptly cut off as Sirius walked away, following James out of the classroom.
"I'm sorry," Remus said hastily, "Sirius is really fickle sometimes. He'll warm up to you eventually."
"Oh, good. Er, I noticed we both have Potions next. Would you walk me to class? It's always nice to have a friend, and I think Slughorn is pairing us up today. Would you--"
"I'd love to be your partner," Remus said, grabbing his books and walking out of the class with her.
Just outside the door, he caught a glimpse of Sirius leaning against the wall on one arm, his other arm wrapped around Emma. She giggled girlishly, and he squeezed her. Remus's stomach jumped, ending up somewhere behind his Adam's apple. He found it very difficult to breath as he walked. This happened a lot, Sirius flirting with girls in the hall. It hadn't really bothered him much until last year. And even when it had, he locked away his jealousy because it's not like being jealous would do him any good. Besides, his flings were just flings, girls he barely knew and didn't speak to much afterwards. But seeing him with Emma made something turn inside of him, because Emma was a friend. Sirius didn't have flings with his friends. Emma would be, dare he say it, Sirius's real girlfriend. The thought of it made Remus want to do something stupid and reckless.
Tonight was the full moon, perfect time to let off his frustrations.
"They seemed friendly," Oliana chatted happily as they walked to the dungeons.
"Indeed, they did," Remus replied.
When he got back to the common room during his next free period, he saw Peter, Oliana, Emma, Sirius, James, and Lily on the couch.
"Lily is a godsend when it comes to Potions," he heard James saying as he approached. "Honestly, Lily, if you weren't my partner Professor Slughorn would fail me."
"He would not," said the redhead. "You're a good Quidditch player and, as wrong as it is, Slughorn has a soft spot for you."
"Emma's dreadful at Potions," Sirius mused. "At least she's good-looking." Everyone laughed appreciatively. Oliana had spotted Remus coming over.
"Remus and I have Potions together," she said briskly. "He's very good."
"Hullo, Remus," said Lily, giving him a one-armed hug from her perch on the couch.
"I see you've gotten over your fear of the Gryffindor common room," Remus said to Oli, who he felt was fast becoming a good friend. She was a Ravenclaw who was very much like Remus. He related to her really well, and they spent a lot of time talking to one another.
She smirked, and patted the seat next to her, which he took.
Remus's stomach clenched as he watched Sirius throw an arm around Emma, and she kissed his cheek. He tried not to stare, but it was very difficult. A little over a half hour later, Oliana suggested that her and Emma go to their respective houses (Emma's being Hufflepuff) and get their things for next class. They left the Gryffindors after a few goodbyes and hugs.
Lily left just a few minutes after that, and James followed, sneaking out of the portrait hole. As soon as he had climbed out, Remus heard Lily say, "Ah! You were following me. That's so super creepy, James Potter. Go away!" And she stormed away. James followed her saying, "No, Lily, I just wanted to ask you something!"
Peter had sulked off before the girls left, and so Remus and Sirius found themselves alone in the common room.
"Are you and Emma dating now?" asked Remus casually.
"She likes me a lot," Sirius said. "But I suppose that's not really any of your business then, is it?"
"Just curious," he said, wondering why Sirius was being so biting.
"Do you fancy Oliana?"
"That's not any of your business," Remus said, only because Sirius was using a very accusing tone.
Sirius looked annoyed and said, "Fine. I'm skiving off Defense Against the Dark Arts." He got up and left; Remus didn't see him until nightfall.
*
Madam Pomfrey led Remus to the Whomping Willow 15 minutes before dusk. He crawled through the tunnel, which was much too small for him now, and up through the trap door. A few minutes after he'd stripped, the transformation hit him. Changing was always the worst part. Bones snapping and reshaping and mending in split seconds; skin stretching and ripping to accommodate the changing body structure; the force of the whole moon weighing on him, so that he could not stand, fell to his knees every time. As soon as it was over, Moony couldn't feel the pain.
He was expecting something, but he couldn't remember what, his human mind getting lost in his wolfish body. He ran the expanse of the room, barreling into the wall. He had to get out, had to run free. He needed to bite something, his jaws were aching for it. He lunged at a chair, ripping the leg off.
Moony, he heard someone say in his head.
His tail wagged as a huge black dog sprang from the trap door and pounced on him. Padfoot, he said, what took you song long? Where's Prongs?
Just then, a pair of antlers lifted the trap door that had swung shut. A large stag struggled out of the opening, making Padfoot roll on the ground, his tongue hanging out.
That is much more difficult than it was last year, moaned Prongs.
*
Remus woke up in a side room of the Shrieking Shack, like always, aching all his body. He pulled on a pair of pants and grabbed his robes from the dresser.
"James," he called, "Sirius, are you guys here?"
"About time you woke up," James said. "We couldn't wake you no matter what we did."
"It's probably about 7, so Pomfrey is gonna be here any minute," Sirius said, "but we didn't want to leave without letting you know."
"You should've left hours ago!" Remus said, slightly panicked. He was hurting pretty badly, and would be happy to see the school nurse, but not while James and Sirius were still here. "She's probably in the tunnel, now. You'll have to sneak into the castle another way."
"Wish we still had our map," James moaned. "I hate Filch."
"Go, now!" Remus said. There were noises coming from near the trap door. James and Sirius rushed to the front door, struggled with the lock, but managed to leave just as the trap door swung open.
Madam Pomfrey's kindly face was smudged with dirt. "Honestly," she said, "I'm too old for this."
