Chapter 3: The Full Moon
Disclaimer: None of the things you recognize belong to me. I own everything else, though.
The next day before lunch I told my mates I was going to the library during lunch, so they went the Great Hall and I walked to the lake and raised the boat. It didn't take long to get to the island. I sat down and talked to the headstone. I told her how my first day was and I even told her about my friends.
I looked at my watch and realized I had five minutes to get to DADA. I took the boat, rowed back to shore, and ran as fast as I could to the classroom. I plunked down next to Sirius with a minute to spare.
"Where were you?" he whispered to me.
I was still trying to catch my breath. "Library. I lost track of time."
He nodded, but I don't think he believed me.
The class was okay. We just read most of the time. James and Sirius were playing a prank on the boy sitting in front of us. They turned his hair green and the poor boy didn't know. I was trying not to laugh. When we were walking out of the classroom, the teacher called us back. I didn't know what it was about.
"I know it was you three that turned that boy's hair green, so you will have detention for a week."
I looked at him, horrified. "But, Professor, I didn't do it," I said.
He looked sternly at me. "You saw them doing it and didn't stop them."
I bit my lip in anger, but I just nodded and walked out of the classroom with the boys. I was shaking with rage. "Je déteste que mec! I will get him back for this if it is the last thing I do!"
James was smiling at me. "If you like, I could help you with that?"
I glared at him. Both of them moved back.
"If you two ever to that to me again, I will hex you so bad that not even your mothers would be able to tell if it's you or not!"
Their faces turned white.
Remus and Peter were waiting for us down the corridor.
"What happened to you two?" Remus asked James and Sirius when we got closer.
"We got Mercy in trouble, and if we do it again she is going to hex us."
Peter gave a weak giggle. "She wouldn't do that, would she?" He eyed me warily.
"I would. Next time, Peter, you sit with James and Sirius, while I sit with Remus." I walked away before they could say anything.
The next class was Charms. I sat down and Remus sat next to me, a little nervous. I smiled at him, but he looked like he was sick.
"Are you feeling okay, Remus?" I asked in a low voice.
"I feel a little sick, but I'll be fine."
I nodded. Mother used to get like this around the full moon. I patted his hand, then opened my book and began to read.
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After dinner we walked back to the common room. James, Sirius, and Peter were behind us, looking at the homework. Remus was helping them.
"Are you going to do your homework, too, Mercy?"
I looked up from my hex book, smirking. "I've been done with it for ages."
Their eyes got huge. "You're done? Let us copy yours."
I shook my head. "How would you learn if I let you copy?"
Sirius smiled and got up. He walked over to me and I eyed him warily. Then he grabbed my bag and ran back to the table.
"Where is your work?"
He was looking for my essays. I laughed. "I handed them into day."
I laughed even harder. The looks on their faces were comical.
"That's not fair. How are we going to copy it if you turn it in?"
I glanced at Sirius. He looked mad.
"Thought we were mates."
I rolled my eyes, closed my book, and got up. I walked over to him and sat down next to him.
"I'll help you, so you learn it."
He smiled at me.
Lily walked by and I saw that James was staring at her. I grinned and started to tutor Sirius.
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The next night was the full moon. I didn't know what I was going to do, but Professor McGonagall came and gave me a piece of parchment.
It said that I could change in the forest, so an hour before the moon came out I walked out of the entrance hall. I saw Remus with Madam Pomfrey. They were heading for the Whomping Willow. I watched them make the trek down to the hell-tree and looked away when they disappeared..
I took off my clothes and phased. I ran for a long time, occasionally howling at the moon. I was suddenly in Hogsmeade, and I could hear Remus. I trotted to The Shrieking Shack and sniffed around it. Remus saw me through a gap in the window.
He stopped screaming and just looked at me. I wagged my tail and stayed there with him. He still bit and scratched himself, if only minimally.
I saw the moon come out from behind a cloud and howled. Remus did the same. I felt sorry for him, and wanted to be in there with him. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, because I smelled like wolf, not human.
I stayed with him for the whole night, leaving only when it was nearly dawn.
Before I left, I saw that Remus was turning back into a human, earlier than was perhaps usual. I ran fast and changed back. My skin felt raw and it hurt like hell to put on my clothes.
I limped back to the castle. I met Madam Pomfrey on my way in, and as soon as she saw me, she said, "Go to the Hospital Wing."
I nodded and made my way there. I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes. I heard her come back a few minutes later with Remus, but he looked bad. He was bleeding. I rolled over so I wouldn't see.
When Madam Pomfrey was done with him she come over to me. I was fine, just so damn tired. She let me sleep until dinner. Remus was nearly healed, and we both went down to dinner.
"Why were you in the Hospital Wing?"
I looked at him and smiled. "I wasn't feeling good so I came here. She fixed me up, but I fell asleep. I was up all night." He smiled, but I could tell he was scared I was going to ask him why he was in there. I stopped and pulled him into a hug. "Its okay, Remus."
I pulled back and he gave me a small smile. From that day on, on the full moons I stayed with him at the Shrieking Shack.
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A few months went by, and it was about to be the Christmas holidays. Professor McGonagall came around asking who would be staying at Hogwarts for the holidays. I put my name down.
I was the only one that put their name down. I felt so miserable the boys didn't ask me if I was going or staying.
The next day was the first of the holidays. I stayed in bed as everyone else left. Lily came to say good bye.
"Have a nice holiday," I said to her.
"You, too."
Then she left.
It was lunch-time so I walked down to the great hall to eat. There was hardly anyone there. If you counted me, only four students stayed. I felt even more miserable. I stayed and ate, and when I was done I walked to my mothers grave. I sat down and started to talk to her.
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(On the Train with James, Sirius, Remus and Peter.)
The famous Gryffindor first years were on the train, playing with a pack of exploding snap cards. Remus glanced over at the seat where Mercy would sit, but she wasn't there.
"Oi, guys, where is Mercy?"
They all stared at the seat.
"She might be with some other friends?" suggested James.
Sirius shook his head. "I don't think she has any friends besides us."
Remus tilted his head, saying, "She's friends with that redhead."
Peter piped up. "Mercy might be sitting with her."
They all nodded.
When the train pull into King's Cross Station, the students spilled out of the train. James saw the red-headed girl and called, "Oi! Evans!" Lily turned to look at him.
"Yes?" she said.
"Was Mercy with you?"
Her face fell. "She didn't tell you? That she was staying at the school?"
James and the rests' hearts sank. They hadn't known she was staying. They thought she would be coming back to stay with some other family.
"No, we didn't. Thanks, Evans."
Lily nodded and took off.
"Did she tell you guys?" James asked. The rest of his friends shook their heads. They all felt horrible.