With in an instant everything started to move. Sirius headed back towards Remus and put his arm around his shoulders, helping him to his feet. His shirt was damp with cold sweat.
"Sirius," Remus whispered, trying to shake his friend's arm from his back, "No…"
But Sirius only held on tighter. "It's okay mate, we'll get you out."
James was already halfway down the stairs, shouting that he was going to get Professor Bones, and that someone should run and get Dumbledore.
"Peter," Sirius called, "Stay with Remus, I'll run and get Dumbledore. Take him out of the grounds. Quickly. Use the nearest exit." He took their map from his robe pocket and threw it at Peter, leading the way down the stairs with the doubled-over Remus under his arm. It was going to look suspicious walking through the common room, but that would have to be dealt with later. Also, it was late, so there wouldn't be many people around anyway.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs Sirius found his conclusion to be right – the common room was almost empty. A few steps in front of them was James, leading the way. Glancing down at the groaning Remus, Sirius marched his way through, following him. Peter's heavy footsteps could be heard behind.
"Potter?"
James spun on his heels, almost knocking Sirius and Remus over. They turned too, to see a confused looking Lily Evans staring at them. Ignoring her, Sirius called to the advancing Peter.
"Hurry Up! Take Remus! He can't exactly make it on his own!"
"Maybe…" Peter began to stutter, "Maybe I should run and get Professor Dumbledore…" His eyes flickered to Remus, "You stay with…with…"
Sirius groaned. "Come on James. We need to get him out. Now."
Pulling his eyes away from Lily, James looked at Sirius and nodded. "I'll get Dumbledore," he said with an angry glare at Peter, "If Wormtail's too scared."
For the first time, Lily spoke.
"What in Merlin's name is going on here?! What have you done to Remus?!" She stared down at the boy under Sirius' arm. He was almost screaming now, biting his lip to prevent the noise. Sweat dripped from the parts of his face Lily could make out from under his hair, and his eyes were screwed painfully together. She looked up to glare at Potter and Black, waiting for an explanation, but Potter had already left, and Black was now tutting and turning around with Remus in tow. She followed them across the common room, staring down at Remus' face. She could tell he was in serious pain.
"Sirius…" he groaned between gasping breaths, "Hurry…It's coming…"
"I am mate, I'm going as fast as I can." He threw a shout over his shoulder to the remaining Marauder.
"Peter, are you coming?"
Peter Pettigrew merely whimpered at the sight of his two friends as he tried to find the words to say. Sirius growled and let out a short, sharp, laugh like a bark, still marching to the portrait hole. They were close now.
"Evans! Move!"
Lily now stood in front of them, hands on her hips, one eyebrow raised. "Tell me what you've done."
With that, Sirius pushed her aside. She fell to the floor next to them just in time to see Remus' face clearly. This time, he couldn't control the scream as one of his bones snapped with a sickening crack. He opened his eyes and threw back his head in the pain, only to have it pushed down again by an anxious looking Sirius.
But that second was all she needed. She had seen the fear in the eyes of all four boys that night – but none so as scared as Remus. The eyes she saw were not the friendly hazel ones she was used to. Their inhumanness was unmistakable, their evil prominent. The eyes of Remus Lupin, the smiley, sometimes shy boy had gone, and what replaced them was something Lily had hoped she would never have to see.
They were the amber eyes of a wolf.
Staggering backwards in disbelief, she watched as Sirius pushed Remus through the portrait hole, his eyes switching from left to right at speed. The door closed behind them, leaving Lily standing in awe of what she had just seen.
A feeble whimper broke the silence.
Spinning on her heels and drawing her wand simultaneously, she turned to see the last remaining Marauder still standing by the staircase, tears streaming down his reddened cheeks. His eyes snapped up to meet hers. His widened as hers narrowed.
There was no stopping Lily Evans when she wanted answers.