A/N: No one saw my Doctor Who reference. Everyone fails Muggle Studies. :( Anyway, because my last two updates took too long, I'll make it up to you by actually doing my damn job and typing. Updates should be quicker

This is going to be a pretty long story, I think. They're still third years. Good. I hate short ones.

As always, if you see the fiction under the name of anyone that isn't going by the name Kasey Marie, rmhill10, Admin Sev, or SlytherinRamona, they are frauds, use sticks to beat them and contact me.

Sirius Black was in pain, and what a pain it was. He lay down on his back, rubbing his stomach. What kind of sick tree was this!? Who planted this crap here!? Why does it pack such a punch!? Such questions swam in Sirius' mind while he attempted to regain himself without his lunch coming up onto his robe. After lying down in the spot where the tree had thrown him for a few minutes, he finally felt able to breathe some, and shakily gave up. He glared at the tree

"Slug breath!" he yelled at it, certain it could hear him. The rebel threw a rock at it out of anger, managing to hit it right on one of its big ugly knots. To Sirius' surprise, the tree suddenly froze. The boy took two steps back, gasping and expecting it to bring another attack. But the tree stayed frozen. It was almost un-tree like how still it was, at least some trees swayed their branches in the wind, but this one stood as still as a statue. Sirius walked cautiously toward the tree. It still did not move, he was close enough to touch its trunk and roots. He walked around the tree; surely this tree had some sort of purpose. Why would Dumbledore just decide to plant a killer tree on school grounds? Sirius knew he was balmy, but the old professor wasn't a complete pyscho. Sirius tripped on a hole and yelled, falling down onto the dirt.

"Damn…" he whispered. He looked at the hole he tripped on and squinted. It looked like a tunnel of some kind. Sirius grinned, jackpot! This tree did have a purpose, it was sitting on something, and obviously something that was to be kept hidden. Naturally, Sirius wanted to find it. The young Gryffindor slipped through the hole.

OoOoOo

It smelled like human. The werewolf growled. Not only did it smell like human, it smelled like dinner. Licking his muzzle, the wolf lied in wait. He was so hungry. Food was so near. A small voice in the back of his head was nagging him again.

No, this isn't me. I'm not like this. Please don't hurt the person… it could be a student… I can't leave; I need to stay at Hogwarts. Please don't…

The wolf ignored the pleas of the voice. Food was food. The lycanthrope stared at the entrance to the house with red eyes. He watched as a dark haired boy came in, looking around, the wolf froze. The nagging voice in the back of head suddenly grew louder.

Sirius, why are you here!? Get away from me! I'll hurt you… please, please don't hurt Sirius… The wolf gave a pitiful growl. Sirius looked up towards the noise, seeing the wolf and stumbling back in shock. His face grew paler and paler and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. The Wolf snarled, regaining his poise.

"Oh no… no no no…"Sirius whispered, not moving a muscle. The wolf inched closer, still hearing the voice, which was now yelling.

RUN! RUN YOU IDIOT! I WILL HURT YOU… Sirius… Run… The wolf whimpered, pawing his face, the voice was too loud to focus. Suddenly the lycanthrope was confused, almost agitated. Sirius raised an eyebrow, still backing further and further into the hole. The wolf started backing up as well, looking at Sirius and giving him a warning growl. Run.

Sirius turned into the hole and started running. Even he knew better than to face a werewolf. He didn't stop running until he reached the castle. The wolf whined, because to the wolf, Sirius Black was a meal. But it was Remus that really stopped him.

OoOoOoO

James, Peter and Sirius woke up Christmas morning to loads of presents at the foot of their four-posters, as well as gifts beside Remus', but they looked pitiful, considering there was no Remus around to open them. This was quite a damper on the boys' spirits. Nonetheless, they opened up their gifts. James got many chocolates from various girls, as well as parcels from his parents.

"None of these gifts could compare to a gift from Evans…" he sighed. The other two boys gave him a look and Peter hit him on the head with a jelly bean. James threw his pillow at the blonde boy, and everyone shared a good laugh. Sirius seemed a bit subdued, and James slid over to him, handing him his gift.

"Cheer up, mate. Think about that Christmas dinner." Sirius gave a small smile and took his parcel, opening it up and finding a Chudley Cannons robe.

"Awesome! Happy Christmas, James!" Sirius tried it on for size, temporarily forgetting the wolf and the strange disappearance of Remus Lupin. Could they possibly be connected? Peter opened up his gifts, getting all kinds of foods from all kinds of family. He got started on some fudge, if just to tide him over before breakfast. He too, got a Chudley Cannons robe from James, who got four of them for each of the boys.

"We'll look incredibly cool." He said, brushing back his hair from his forehead. "Might even get some birds worth with them. Though I only have eyes for Lily."

"I think mine might be too small…"

"Everything is too small on you, Peter!" Sirius cracked. The boys all shared a laugh when they heard a knock on their dorm door. James got up and opened the door, blinking.

"Oh… Happy Christmas, professor Dumbledore." He said, stepping back to let Dumbledore in. Albus smiled as if it was perfectly normal for him to just check up on students.

Happy Christmas, boys. I see you got all your presents. My, what fine robes you have on…" he looked over at Remus Lupin's unopened presents and frowned, humming. "Well, I do not come here with the happiest of news… there's been an accident boys. Mr. Lupin seemed to think he could wander into the Forbidden Forest on his own… we deployed a search party for him, found him in a bad state. He's up with Madame Pomfrey now… I'm very sorry boys." The room was silent. It didn't really make sense. The explanation was simple and not at all satisfying. It wasn't like Remus to just wander off into the forest. However no one questioned the headmaster. Albus cleared his throat.

"Would you like to send his gifts to him up there? He should be awake now. Your friend should be fixed up in not time." The old wizard smiled.

"Sure…" Sirius said slowly. He grabbed his gift for Remus, as well as some from the pile by his four posters. The other two boys followed suit and they all marched up to the hospital ward. There they found a pale and tired looking, but very much awake Remus Lupin. He smiled at the sight of his friends, but the smile faded as he locked eyes with Sirius. He prayed last night wasn't real. Sirius however was grinning. He even allowed himself to hug Remus.

"What the hell were you thinking!?" he demanded, squeezing the sickly boy, who turned even paler from the lack of oxygen. Remus suddenly remembered the cover story and turned red.

"Uh… thought I could take on a creature in there… I was wrong." This only caused Sirius to squeezing him even harder.

"It's my job to be stupid, idiot!" James pulled the rebel back before Remus passed out or something. Remus could feel himself blushing furiously from slight embarrassment over the whole situation. Plus, a little part of him didn't want James to pull back Sirius; he had a calming scent about him. Remus felt like his body could easily mesh together with the other boy's. They were almost like two interlocking puzzle pieces, was it even healthy to even think about that… especially considering it was Sirius Black. It was his best mate, nothing more and nothing less. Remus bit his lip and looked down at his unopened gift from Sirius.

"Go on, open mine first!" Sirius said, Remus obeyed. Tearing open the wrapping paper and the box, Remus pulled out an entire block of chocolate. It was literally a brick of chocolate. Remus' eyes nearly bugged out of his skull.

"Wh-what?" he asked. He looked around "This is…" Sirius leaned forward expectantly "This is AWESOME!" Remus hugged the chocolate. Peter snorted.

"And you say I have a problem." He said.

"Remus could use a few pounds, Peter." James responded, handing his gift of the quidditch robes. Soon, all of Remus' gifts were opened and everyone was having a good time, until Peter groaned, rubbing his belly.

"Can we go eat please?" he begged. "So hungry…" James slumped forward.

"I'll come with you, Pete. You coming down to breakfast with us, Sirius?"

"Nah, I'll catch up." Sirius sat at the foot of the Remus' hospital bed. James smirked knowingly and walked out with Peter. Sirius looked around to make sure no one was around and reached into his robes.

"You should really go with them, don't worry about me…" Remus started, Sirius shook his head, still shuffling through his robes. "Really, you must be starved. I couldn't possibly keep you… Sirius? Sirius, what are you doing?" Sirius pulled out a small box.

"Ha! Found it. It got you a second gift!" Sirius handed the gift over and Remus opened it.

"Oh… Oh Sirius, you really shouldn't."

"It wasn't much, my family is loaded, remember?"

"Yeah, but… not this much. Plus, they kind of hate you. Oh it's even my favorite animal!" Sirius scooted forward until he was practically sharing a pillow with the lycanthrope.

"Well, now they'll really hate me when they realize all that missing money. Oh, well. It was worth it." Remus couldn't help it, he hugged his friend.

"You're awesome."

"I know."

"Hey… Sirius?"dare he ask the rebel if he also felt like a perfect fit? It just sounded kind of stupid. Remus decided it was one of those times where you just don't make it awkward.

"Yeah?"

"Uh… Happy Christmas."

OoOoOoO

Harry spied an accessory on Professor Lupin's wrist; it was like a silver bracelet with a small wolf pendant on it. It looked a good deal of money. It was almost out of place compared to the rest of the professor.

"Where'd you get that, Professor?" he asked, pointing to the jewelry. The professor lifted his arm and smiled fondly at the piece.

"From a very close friend on a very lovely Christmas, a long time ago."

A/N: This one was awesome to write. Why would a third year boy buy his best mate a silver bracelet? Because fanfiction, that's why. And I like to think that the Black house still had a small fortune at this time. I forgot if they really did or not, bear with me here. This chapter, you'll probably have to give up canon slightly. I dunno, I really liked it.