Ugh I'm so sorry this took so damn long, really I am. Life got hectic and this just got put off. But don't worry, the next few chapters are nice and exciting and dramatic! Remember, anything you'd like to see happening in the story, just leave me a nice little review of a PM and I'll see what I can do! I'm very osrry this is so short, this chapter hard to write, dude, like, I just had to think so much about every sentence to make it work but I hope you like it! :3

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters you recognise, only the OCs and the plot, nor do I own the song lyrics used! JK Rowling and Imagine Dragons have all the rights, I'm just some poor fangirl.

Chapter 19 - Full Moon Beckoning

When you feel my heat,

Look into my eyes,

It's where my demons hide,

Don't get too close,

And get stuck inside,

It's where my demons hide,

It's where my demons hide,

- Imagine Dragons, Demons

It was a Wednesday night late in February when the Marauders' best kept secret was discovered. It may have had some long term repercussions, but the short term ones were so much more devastating.

Lily crept slowly towards the boys' staircase for the sixth time in a week, knowing that at this time of night, James would be the only one awake. Knocking and slipping inside silently as usual, she looked around the darkened dorm room, searching for James' eager hazel eyes. There weren't there; no one was there.

Bed curtains hung open, drapes gaping to reveal the empty beds showing that nobody had slept there since the previous night. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were gone: there was nothing at all to be seen in the sixth years dorm and Lily was instantly curious.

Worried, she hurried over to Sirius' bed, the closest, and stared at it.

"Sirius? Guys?"

A large piece of crumpled parchment was spread across Sirius' bed, badly concealed by a blanket and Lily could just make out what looked like a corridor. Confused, she pulled it out and gasped: inked all over the crumpled, marked parchment with a rich, maroon ink was the twisting and winding corridors and classrooms of Hogwarts Castle.

Trailing a small finger over the intricate artwork, Lily caught sight of a little figure. Then another. Then another! Reading the little label that said 'Hufflepuff Dormitories', she almost laughed out loud as Lily worked out what it was.

"No wonder they always avoid being seen!" She exclaimed to the dark dorm.

She realised that she could easily find the Marauders now, being very curious as to where they had all disappeared to, she set to finding them on the vast expanses of enchanted parchment. They weren't anywhere in Gryffindor Tower or the surrounding area, and she soon knew she would need some help locating the four boys.

Gathering the map into her arms, she hurried back to her own dorm. Once the map was spread out on her bed, Lily shook Mary and Marlene awake.

"Lily, I was sleeping," Mary mumbled, waving an annoyed hand at her.

Marlene just groaned and rolled over.

"Remus and Sirius are in danger," Lily said slyly.

Mary sat bolt upright straight away, blonde hair sticking up all over the place like a day's nest; the other girl yelped and rolled out of bed, landing on the floor.

Mary grinned to herself and motioned them forwards. Now wide awake, they shuffled in the direction of Lily's bed.

Lily spoke in a hushed whisper. "The Marauders are all gone for their beds and I found this. It's a map that shows where everyone is! I need to know where they got it!"

Marlene folded back the parchment, eyes widening. "Lils, I don't think you can buy this - I think they made it... Look..."

They read the swirling writing at the very top of the map, jaws dropping: 'Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present'...

"The Marauders Map," Lily breathed while Mary stared in disbelief.

Marlene blinked: "I thought I knew all their little secrets but clearly not."

"Let's just find them," Mary begged, "If you think they're in danger we need to get a move on!"

"Oh, yes, sorry Mary - each take a section and start looking," Lily instructed, scanning her eyes down the far left of the map. She was sure there was no danger surrounding the boys disappearance but if that was what got the girls to help her so be it.

Marlene took the bottom half, the grounds; everything seemed normal enough around the castle itself, but she moved her concerned gaze to the Dark Forest at he flicker of movement in the corner of her eye.

A name tag: James Potter, with Peter Pettigrew a short distance away.

But where were the other two? She looked around and saw no other people nearby. Perhaps they were on the edge of the grounds, not shown on the Map?

"I've found Pete and James but not Sirius and Remus," Marlene hissed, pointing.

"If they're there, the other two will be, that's - they're OUTSIDE?!" Lily raged, "Are they trying to get themselves expelled?! We have to get them back inside!"

Mary rolled her eyes, "Lily that means going outside ourselves."

"I'm a Prefect, we'll get away with it hopefully."

"If you think they're in danger, we'll have to risk it," Mary said matter-of-factly.

Marlene leaped up to grab her jumper and scarf, still clutching the Marauders Map.

The other two followed her example, trying to find jackets and coats without waking the fourth girl in their dorm, Emmeline, before tiptoeing down the stairs and out of the Portrait Hole. The Fat Lady was asleep so she didn't see them leave and Mary, Lily and Marlene continued on their way down to the grounds, using the Map to avoid Filch and Mrs. Norris as well as some patrolling teachers.

Eventually they arrived at the Entrance Hall. Leaving the map secreted in the corner, all three girls slipped outside, pulling their coats together around their bodies for protection against the bitter winter chill.

"Let's go," Marlene whispered, teeth chattering, and Lily nodded.

"I see something moving," Mary said quickly, grabbing her friends' arms in warning.

"It's Peter!" Lily said, "I hate how they lead him into trouble like this!"

"He has a mind of his own, Lily, and he's just as had as they are," Marlene pointed out as they hurried over.

"I know but don't even try to deny he would have less detentions without them," she sighed.

"Peter!" Mary called, "Are you okay? Where's Remus? Is he in trouble? We're here to help!"

Peter squeaked in fright and whirled around to face them. "Mary? Lily? Marlene?" His face was pale.

"Hey," Lily smiled tightly, "Mary didn't mean to scare you. Get inside, we'll find the others."

Peter's watery eyes flickered over to the motionless Whomping Willow then back to the trio. "You need to go... Now!"

Something about the fear in his voice unnerved them but they all stayed out.

"Where are the others?" Marlene asked, "Where's Sirius?"

Lily poked Marlene's arm and pointed past Peter towards a large, chestnut stag, gleaming in the moonlight near the trees.

"Marls," she breathed, "It's - it's... Incredible. I've never seen one so beautiful... Peter, is this why you're-"

"Mary craned her neck to see too but screamed and stepped backwards. "SHIT THERE'S A DOG TOO! Guys, run, Peter, shit, fuck, hell it's angry, I - RUN!"

"What the HELL are you doing here?" Sirius said, furious, as he morphed from Padfoot and pushed Peter out of the way, grabbing Marlene's arm. "Get out of here, go!"

"Padfoot," Peter panted as a bellow of warning came from the stag and the crash of antlers clashing against another large, incredibly strong animal could be heard.

He spun around, growling protectively and pushing Marlene behind him as Mary whimpered and Lily froze and stared.

"What is that?" she whispered, red hair whipping in the sudden wind.

There was an even more horrible noise as the stag was forced backwards and the animal snarled before slipping past, narrowed eyes focussing on the humans just a short distance away.

Mary screamed, the sound slicing through the night like a knife. "WEREWOLF, WEREWOLF," she sobbed, wand out but hands trembling so much she couldn't do anything. "HELP, WEREWOLF! REMUS? REMUS WHERE ARE YOU? JAMES?"

Panicking, Marlene started breathing more heavily and Sirius turned to face her, his anger gone, and they were so close she could see the small scratch above his eyebrow that she'd never noticed before.

"You need to go, run back to the castle and stay away, fucking hell, run!" Sirius instructed, panicking, but their sudden proximity had unnerved her and all Marlene could do was stare.

"GO!"

Startled into action, she staggered away from him and Sirius turned back to face the werewolf as it ran towards him. he had to turn back around and force her to the ground quickly; she floundered under him as the wolf pounced at her, only pushed away by Sirius' body and a spell in it's side, it's jaws snapping shut where her arm had been only moments earlier.

By now she was really panicking and she was whimpering desperately, every instinct screaming at her to run even as Sirius held her down. Then he was gone. His weight pushed off her shaking body and scrambled to pull the werewolf back.

Pushing herself to her feet, Marlene looked around for Mary and Lily: Lily was firing any spell she could at the enraged werewolf bearing down on Mary.

Time slowed down. Seconds seemed to last minutes as the grey beast lunged forward, body arching into a perfect, lethal curve towards the terrified girl.

"Mary!" Marlene screamed as another flash of red diverted the beast just enough, it's claws tearing into her friend's shoulder rather than her neck.

The black dog roared and knocked the werewolf to the floor as Peter scurried over to Mary as fast as he could move.

Lily, who seemed to be functioning in a state of extreme shock and terror, conjured a stretcher for Mary and grabbed one end of it as the smaller boy took the other end.

Transfixed, Marlene stood and watched as the wolf and the dog fought, clawing at each other, growling. She couldn't move and she didn't want to; all she did was stand and stare. Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind, lifting her up easily and jogging away. Marlene's breath caught in her throat but she realised it was James and began to struggle.

"Let go of me!" she sobbed, trying to reach Sirius who had just been swatted heavily to the floor by Moony.

"Marlene, we need to go," James pleaded although he couldn't tear his eyes away from Remus and Sirius either.

"We can't leave him!"

Shutting his eyes for a moment to muster all his strength, James stopped moving and wrapped his arms more tightly around Marlene, more comforting than restricting. "We wouldn't want either of us hurt, and he knows what he'd doing. We need to go so M-the werewolf doesn't get even angrier."

Marlene continued to sob hysterically as James started walking again, and she allowed him to pick her up and lead them towards where Lily and Peter were waiting. Passed out on the stretcher, Mary lay still, her face pale as blood seeped through Peter's jumper that they had tied around her shoulder to try and stop the bleeding.

They had paused as Lily seemed to be breaking down, breaths erratic as Peter tried in vain to help. James loosened his grip on Marlene when he saw Lily and she bolted towards the fighting canines.

"Peter!" James yelled, torn between catching Marlene to stop her from getting badly hurt and wanting to scoop Lily into his arms and tell her it would be okay.

His friend leaped forwards loyally and caught Marlene's arm, stopping her just in time.

"Let... Let me go, please," she begged but it was no use: Peter was stronger than he looked and pulled her backwards.

Both the girls were not losing their calm, Marlene trying desperately to free herself from Peter's grip, Lily shaking all over as she tried to stop Mary's bleeding as she hyperventilated.

"Sirius," Marlene cried, "SIRIUS NO!"

Moony was more aggressive and violent as his human moved away and there was no way Sirius could hold him back alone forever. Struggling to keep him away, he began to tire and more and more of this werewolf's swipes were meeting their mark.

Peter and James were used to this, it didn't affect them any more in quite he same way, but Marlene was deteriorating quickly as Peter guided her away, one hand on Mary's stretcher.

Eventually they reached the castle and the safety of the thick stone walls. James lead the way up to the Hospital Wing, where Madame Pomfrey knew exactly what had happened despite no one telling her when they walked in, having seen the whole scene unfold out of the window from where Mary was attacked by the werewolf.

Mary was laid on a crisp, white bed immediately, the nurse peeling away the blood soaked jumper and beginning to clean the wounds. Shaking fearfully, Marlene and Lily were seated on a second bed; arms right around Lily, James was seated next to her and she was sobbing into his shoulder.

Calming down after ten minutes, Marlene sat perfectly still, staring at the wall opposite as Peter stole a blanket from the cupboard and placed it hesitantly around her shoulders. She offered him a weak smile and pulled it tighter around herself.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"It's nothing. You need Sirius here to comfort you, but... Well..." he said nervously.

She looked at him sharply and he shrugged.

"It's obvious," Peter explained. "You and Sirius need to sort out some issues and then you'll be together, and James and Lily were destined to be together from the beginning."

Marlene sighed and looked over at the other two, who were curled up: they were starting to be something you could call friends.

"Something's going on: she was in your dorm which was how she knew you were gone. Why was she in your dorm?" Marlene muttered, "But there's more important things now."

Peter looked at her curiously.

"How long have you all been Animagi?"

He almost fell off his chair. "W-what?!"

"How long have you all been Animagi," she repeated firmly.

"Not so loud!" Peter begged, eyes darting to Madame Pomfrey. "Since third year," he added in a low voice.

Marlene was admittedly impressed and stared at him in amazement. "So Sirius is - uh - that big dog, right? Remus is obviously the werewolf... What are you and James?"

"I'm a rat, to help sneak around, James is that stag you saw. He helps Sirius to keep Remus safe and controlled," he explained quietly, "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs."

"Makes sense now," Marlene nodded, "I always wondered about those nicknames."

Peter smiled. "Padfoot will be okay, we do this every month, Marlene."

"I know, but... It was scary, I was scared. He saved me and I left him!"

"He wouldn't want you to save him. He doesn't like relying on people because it makes him feel weak," he explained.

"You-you just get him! He's so complicated and you all just understand each other!" Marlene said enviously. She was close friends with James and good friends with Peter and Remus. Then there was whatever Sirius was to her. Still, the four boys had a bond, something no one even tried to compete with. They were the Marauders, and they were inseparable.

"I've been his best friend for six years. I've seen him happy, sad, angry, scared, crying, shouting, knocking people unconscious, snogging people; I've seen him break down, I've seen him naked - that was disgusting - and I've seen him so happy you wouldn't recognise him. You can't do all that and not understand someone, even someone like Sirius with all his walls and shields up," Peter said with a small smile, "And I know he will be fine."

His words cut her right to the core, having never understood why they kept Peter around: it was because he noticed things and cared. He didn't forget anything, he was always there. Marlene let out a small wracking sob and gave him a tight hug. Peter was surprised as they'd never been close and he never expected affection from anyone but he hugged her back.

"Thank you," she breathed, wiping her tears sadly.

Duck. Push. Push again. Growl. Dodge. Back towards the Willow; away from Marlene. His limbs were aching, his wounds were bleeding but he couldn't stop.

Dive forwards. Be knocked back. Push on again. Whine. They were in the tunnel now but his vision was blurring, lights dancing in front of his eyes and his movements were uncoordinated.

Bat him away. Kick the door shut. One last pounce. Collapse. They were in; they were safe.

Curled up in the corner, he rested his battered head on his large paws and slid his eyes shut. He was already deep asleep when Moony clawed at him one last time, determined to beat this irritating dog.

Moony howled triumphantly as Padfoot kept sleeping, blood pooling on the floor from his hind leg.

Thank you all so much for all the amazing reviews and comments - I love you all! *snuggles* This little story here has 112 reviews at time of posting, and almost 9000 views! If I could find you all and give you hugs and cupcakes I would. Mwah x

- PIAM3