This is just a really short chapter as a Happy New Years day Present/ Late Xmas present. Hope you enjoy :)
"First full moon of the school term!" Sirius said excitedly. "I can't wait!"
Remus looked around, and gave him a look. "You might think it's fun." He grunted.
"Will you be joining us Prongs?" Sirius asked looking around.
James grinned. "Course I will. Wormtail?"
Peter looked terrified at the thought of being stuck with a full grown werewolf. But he nodded. Remus sighed.
"Besides, it's not the first full moon of the month, is it Remus?" James shot him a look.
"Did I miss something?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, during Quidditch training the first week back." Remus supplied, flicking the page and making a small annotation.
"SHH!" Hissed Madam Pince, passing through the aisles of books.
"Sorry," Remus said. Madam Pince looked dissatisfied but sauntered off, looking for more kids to victimise. Or at least, that's what Sirius thought.
"So," Sirius said, pulling his essay forward to pretend he was actually working. "What's the plan?"
"You can forget it," Remus replied, not looking up.
"And let us go through 3 years of that for nothing?" James asked.
"Two years." Remus replied, scratching his quill against the parchment.
"You're really touchy about these sort of things, aren't you Moony?" Sirius said.
"You've only just noticed?" Remus asked, raising his eyebrow and giving them a look.
"So… What time…?" James asked, giving a smirk.
Remus looked at them before giving a sigh, something snapping inside him like an internal dialogue. He pursed his lips. "Come down about after 7:30pm. That's when the sun will be setting. Tap the knot on the tree… Climb in."
"When will you… Y'know?" Sirius asked, giving him a nudge.
"About 8." Remus' jaw clenched, twitching slightly.
"Cool man."
"Bring something to eat and hide it in the tunnel," Remus continued. "You'll need to eat after 9 hours. Don't forget water and spare clothes."
"What about you?" James asked.
"Madame Pomfrey will be collecting me." Remus replied, his face flushing. "Don't get caught. Bring the cloak."
James nodded. Sirius hit him on the back and grinned. "There's nothing to worry about." He said. "Everything is going to be fine. I promise that."
Remus said nothing. His entire frame tense and unmoving. As James moved to get a book from the shelf and Sirius actually settled down to his essay, Peter patted Remus' arm.
"You'll be fine." He said quietly. "You always are."
"It's not me I'm concerned about," Remus replied. "I don't think you guys understand the implications of all this."
"Well… if you eat me," Peter said. "I'll nibble through your stomach like nobody's business."
Remus managed to break a smile. "Okay."
"SHH!"
"Sorry."
…
Sirius, James and Peter all snuck under the invisibility cloak as Remus left the Gryffindor common room.
"We're getting too big for this." Sirius sighed.
"Correction," James replied. "Your head is getting too big for this. Peter move!"
Peter moved to his left, almost falling over. Sirius sighed. "Maybe you should transform? We could put you on our shoulder!"
Peter nodded as they ducked into a small alcove. James pointed his wand at Peter, he shrank into a rat. Sirius picked him up and put him on his shoulder, before scurrying back under the cloak and catching up with Remus. Madame Pomfrey was already waiting for him outside the hospital wing, checking her watch patiently.
"You're cutting it a bit close, aren't you?" She asked.
"You know me." Remus replied, shrugging as she began to lead the way down to the whomping willow. Sirius and James shared a look under the cloak and followed careful not to make any noise. Once at the trunk of the large tree, and the sun setting not far in the distance, Madam Pomfrey drew out her wand and pointed it at the knot. As the tree's moving branches stopped swaying, Remus pulled off his shoes and socks and shirt, handing them over to Madame Pomfrey. She took them and tucked them carefully under her arm before giving Remus a slight pat on the shoulder and letting him descend into the tunnel. Madame Pomfrey looked woeful as she pointed her wand again at the knot and the tree began to defend itself. As she tucked her wand back into her skirts, she sighed, and made her way back up to the castle.
Sirius took Wormtail off his shoulder and placed him down on the ground. Wormtail sniffed around for a bit before climbing up to the knot and giving it a prod. He scuttled back down to Sirius who gathered him up and began to make his way down to the tunnel. James found a long stick and climbed in after them. He manoeuvred himself and lifted the stick, prodding the knot behind him.
Sirius was already setting down the satchel of things that they brought for the next morning. James folded his cloak and placed it gently to the side, along with their wands, shoes and cloaks. Sirius put Wormtail on his shoulder again and slowly they made their way up to the Shrieking Shack.
Remus was standing beside the window. He had been exhausted, pale and sick looking all day. He didn't look around when his friends entered. Instead, he sighed.
"You alright there, Moony old pal?" James asked, taking Wormtail off Sirius' shoulder and set him down.
"Did you do what I told you to?" Remus asked quietly.
"Yeah." Sirius replied. "Seems a little over-cautious if you ask me. But you're the expert in these matters."
Remus still didn't look at them. James went towards him and reached out.
"Don't touch me!" He snapped, shoving James away. James took a step back, carefully observing.
"Sorry," He said. He knew Remus really didn't mean it. In fact, he probably wanted their presence more than ever. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I feel sick." Remus replied.
"That's normal." Sirius explained quietly.
Remus turned. "HOW ARE YOU TO KNOW WHAT'S NORMAL AND WHAT'S NOT!" He bellowed.
"Sorry mate," Sirius said.
"DON'T YOU DARE ASSUME ANYTHING!" Remus doubled over, clutching his sides. James rushed to his side and helped him straighten up. Two tears escaped. "It's starting." He whispered. "James. Move!" He let out a cry, falling to the floor. Sirius yanked James back. Remus was crying, hunched over in pain. His vest was tearing, showing the thousands of scratch marks and bites that he had given himself. Wormtail was squeaking, terrified about what he was seeing.
"James, transform." Sirius ordered.
"I can't." James whispered.
Sirius turned. "What?"
Remus was screaming, tearing at his brown hair as razor sharp claws ripped themselves from his nail beds causing them to bleed.
"What do you mean you can't?"
"I mean I can't." James replied. "I can't do it!"
"Look, transform now, or he's going to rip you apart." Sirius said, rushing towards Remus, trying to pull him up. "Moony, listen to me, you can do this. I have faith in you. We're all here. JAMES FOR GODS SAKE TRANSFORM!"
James licked his lips and did just that. He hunched over and grew at great speed. Antlers bursting from his head.
Prongs lifted his majestic skull, standing at over 7 feet. Remus was still screaming, but his cries were becoming muffled with roars from the beast. Sirius had let go and was edging towards Prongs. Wormtail had climbed onto Prongs' back and was sitting on his antlers, holding on for dear life. Padfoot was at the stag's side in moments as the werewolf reached its final stages of transformation.
Moony raised his head, standing tall, about the same height as Prongs. Padfoot observed carefully. It seemed to have grown thinner and greyer since he had last seen him. As if it was getting sicker, like a disease that was finally taking control over his life. Moony stepped forward. His paws scratching the wood beneath him. He raised his head and howled low, and long, piercing the three animagi right in their hearts. Remus was gone completely now. A splatter of drool fell from his lips and hit the floor. Padfoot took heed. He barked, moving forward towards the werewolf.
Moony seemed to recognise Padfoot after sniffing him through the air. He growled and paced across the room, staring at Prongs and Wormtail. He rose to his full height and was about to go for the terrified rat sitting on Prongs' antlers. Padfoot barked again and Moony stopped and sniffed the air around the rat. Wormtail was terrified. Moony growled a little more before turning his attention towards Prongs. The stag stood quite still as the werewolf pondered around it.
Padfoot barked again. Moony looked down at the dog and growled. Padfoot barked again. Moony lunged for him. Padfoot darted out of the way, yelping playfully. Prongs stood, watching carefully as the werewolf and the dog had a bit of a scuffle. Moony retreated, knowing that his battle was futile. He growled respectively at Prongs before pacing the room carefully. Prongs took a step back, lowering his head so Wormtail could climb off. As he did so, Moony lunged for the rat. Padfoot grabbed the werewolf around the neck, pulling him away. Moony was too strong though and pushed Padfoot off, going for Wormtail, who was scuttling off into the corner. Prongs batted his antlers against Moony, forcing him back. Moony looked impatient.
Padfoot barked again, reassuringly. Moony was put off by the prospect of a fight. The big black dog alone was enough of a challenge, but the stag would be too much to take on. Padfoot realised something as Moony moved towards the broken and dusty walls and began scratching them. Playfully, Padfoot stepped between Moony and the wall. Moony pushed him away with ease, but Padfoot was not deterred. He grabbed Moony's arm between his mouth and pulled him away. It was a playful gesture, one to tire the werewolf out since they couldn't yet escape out into the forest or Hogsmede.
Prongs watched intently. Curious to see how the werewolf would react. Moony kept an eye on the stag before allowing Padfoot to play. Padfoot yelped happily, nudging Moony on.
Prongs watched their fighting. Moony did get a little bit complacent at times and did try and swipe at Padfoot. Padfoot seemed to take it in his stride, using it to bait Moony even more. Moony seemed to give in after about an hour, also growling playfully, but his shoulders hunched, ready to attack properly if he needed to.
…
Sunlight broke through the cracks of the boarded up window. Peter, Remus, James and Sirius all lay across the floor, sleeping peacefully. Remus was curled into the foetus position, covered in fresh scars and looking drawn and ill. Sirius lay across James' stomach, his feet near Peter's nose. James was the first to wake, feeling stiff and unable to move.
"Geroff ye big lump!" He groaned, pushing Sirius away. Sirius flopped onto the floor with a nasty clatter, hitting his head on the floorboards. He groaned as James pulled him up and kicked Peter awake.
Peter jumped up in a second, checking if he still was alive and had all limbs fully working. Once satisfied he grinned.
"That went better than I expected." He said.
James laughed before reaching down and gently shaking Remus awake. Remus rolled over and heaved. He drew back. "There's no body parts in there, is there?" He asked weakly. James pretended to look.
"Just bits of Wormtail." He joked.
Remus sat up, looking terrified.
"Relax," James said. "I'm only joking. Oh… Yikes." He turned away as he realised that Remus was naked. Remus blushed and covered himself before looking away. He cleared his throat.
"You should go." He said. "Madame Pomfrey will be here in a minute."
"Just about to." James said. "We'll see you in the hospital wing in a few hours. Sirius needs his beauty sleep."
"Damn straight." Sirius said, yawning.
"Come on," James said pulling him away. "See you later Moony!"
Remus nodded weakly. Sirius, James and Peter made their way down to the tunnel collecting their things. Sirius ripping open the chocolate and eating it as quickly as he could before throwing the wrapper away. James pulled on his shoes and cloak before wrapping the invisibility cloak around the three of them. Madame Pomfrey ducked into the tunnel, carrying a set of pyjama's, a heavy cloak and a set of shoes for Remus. She saw the wrapper and picked it up. She stared at if for a moment before dismissing it and throwing it away. James nudged Sirius angrily in the ribs.
She ran up the tunnel to the shrieking shack and disappeared.
"Come on," James said, as they climbed out of the tunnel.
The air outside was cool and crisp and left a pleasant sensation on their skin. Madame Pomfrey remerged, Remus behind her on shaky legs.
"Come on dear." She said tiredly. "Let's make sure you're okay before sending you back to class."