The second year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students gathered in the classroom, glancing around at the new touches put in since they had last been inside. On the walls were posters of various dark creatures, text around the drawings with details on how to spot and kill the creatures.

Remus quite liked the werewolf one.

It showed a perfectly normal wizard, smiling and waving . As he watched, the wizard morphed, mirroring the change Remus went through every month. Strengths and vulnerabilities were listed, along with a note staring that werewolves were, on the whole, not dangerous except for during the full moon.

Use of silver can kill a werewolf, but can also subdue one. Must be remembered that unlike other dark creatures, a werewolf is still a human.

Excitement bubbled up in the room, as they waited for their new professor.

The door at the back of the room opened, revealing a tall, slightly muscular woman with dark hair and scars lining her face and arms. She stepped in, smiling at them as she took her place behind the desk."Put your books away," she barked, before waving her wand. Text appeared on the blackboard behind her.

What do you already know?

"Welcome to your first Defence Against the Dark Arts class of the year," she said, her smile widening. "I am Professor Harpo, former hunter for the Ministry of Magic."

The students who understood her words gaped. Lily Evans frowned, before putting her hand in the air.

"Yes, Miss..."

"Evans. Sorry, Professor, but what is a hunter?"

Harpo smiled. "You are a muggle-born, Miss Evans?" Lily nodded. "Good. I am glad to see you have no qualms about clarifying information." Her eyes roamed briefly around the class. "I want you to know that, if at any point you do not understand something I said, you have to ask me. No point getting left behind because of a misunderstanding. Now, would anyone like to explain to Miss Evans what a hunter is?"

Various hands shot into the air, and Professor Harpo gestured to a Ravenclaw boy. He spoke with awe.

"A hunter is tasked with finding dark creatures who may be causing trouble. They have to either subdue or eliminate the creature."

"Excellent, ten points to Ravenclaw." Professor Harpo gestured to the board. "So, what do you already know? I thought we'd start with a quick question and answer, just to see where your level of knowledge is at the moment. So, first question – does anyone know the difference between a spell and a curse?"

More hands shot into the air. Still smiling, Harpo pointed out to William to answer the question. The rest of the class was pretty much the same, with Professor Harpo asking about various topics they had covered the previous year.

The class was soon drawing to an end.

"Excellent!" she cried, clapping her hands together after James had answered her last question. "Absolutely excellent. It seems Professor Caedmon taught you all brilliantly – everyone in this school is, without a doubt, beyond the standard for Defence. For homework, I want you to find out something you did not know but find interesting about Defence Against the Dark Arts. You will report it to the class next lesson, and I will permit you to work in twos or threes. You may go."

They began to file out, but as the first Ravenclaws left, Professor Harpo spoke again.

"Miss Evans, Mr Lupin, may I speak to you for a moment?"

Both students glanced uncertainly at their friends, who shrugged and said they'd wait outside. Lily and Remus approached the desk, swapping glances as the last students filed out.

"Miss Evans, first, I think."

Remus took a step back as Harpo sat in her chair and smiled at Lily.

"Now, from the notes and exams last year, it's seems to me that you are one of the brightest students in your year. You seem very keen, Miss Evans, and for that I feel you will go far." She leant forward, lowering her voice slightly. "It's not easy coming here from a muggle background, is it?"

Lily blushed. "Not really, but I had help," she whispered.

"Good! Keep your friends close and your enemies as far away as possible." Her smile grew. "My parents were stunned when they discovered I was a witch. Never believed in fairy tales and myths before I came here. I think they've stopped having heart attacks every time I disappear for a while, though. Have you given any consideration to what you may like to do after school, Miss Evans?"

Lily looked surprised. "I'm not sure, at the moment. I...someone mentioned the Universities, last year. Or maybe teaching."

"You could do both, you know," Professor Harpo mused. "But I'm glad you said teaching. I was wondering if you'd be interested in tutoring some of the first year students? Especially some of the muggle-borns. I fear that a few of them are a bit intimidated here, and I'd like them to be able to feel more comfortable. Someone closer to their age...well, they'd feel better asking you anything they didn't quite understand."

"Yeah, I'd...I'd love to!"

"Great. I'll contact you shortly about it. That is all, Miss Evans."

Lily nodded, flashing a grin at Remus over her shoulder before darting out of the room. Harpo gestured to Remus, and he slid forward, fiddling with the strap of his bag.

"Now, Mr Lupin..."

"I was considering teaching, too," he muttered, dipping his head down as he felt himself blush. "As a possible future career option."

To his surprise, she laughed. "Right in there, I like it. I'll put you down for tutoring, too. Like Miss Evans, you seem to be one of the brightest in your year. Along with...I assume Mr Black and Potter are your friends?"

Remus nodded.

"I have been warned about them," she chuckled. "But I actually wanted to talk to you about something different, Mr Lupin."

She reached into her drawer, and pulled out a photograph. It showed a younger Professor Harpo, her hair longer and her face marked by only one scar, happily waving at the camera in front of the Eiffel Tower. Tourists moved around in the background. Next to her stood a man with bushy brown hair and a thick beard, grinning madly as he, too, waved.

"This is Marcus Galois. An old friend of mine. You and him have a lot in common." He couldn't be sure if he saw it, but for a split second he thought he saw her gaze shift to the werewolf poster. "He's a good, kind man. Currently working with another friend to produce a potion to dull the effects of the full moon on certain individuals."

Remus' breath caught in his throat. "He's a werewolf?"

She nodded, before placing a small piece of parchment on the table. "This is his address. I want you to know that if you ever want to talk, I am here for you. And you're also welcome to write to Marcus. His English is excellent. But the main thing to remember, Remus, is that you are not alone."

Remus dipped his head. "Thank you."

"Professor Dumbledore only told me because he knew of my connection with Marcus. I want you to know that not all staff members know, only those that Dumbledore feels can be trusted."

"There were rumours that you would be a werewolf."

She laughed. "Yes, well, I kept my presence pretty secret – I have to admit, I do love seeing the looks on student's faces when they discover I'm a hunter."

"Must be an exciting job."

"The best. I love it. And Marcus isn't the only werewolf I know. There are packs out there, Remus. Packs of good, kind people who simply stay out of the way. But the prejudice of the wizarding world..." She stopped, shaking her head. "Just know that you are never alone. I'll see you next lesson."

"Thank you," he repeated, before leaving the room. James waited in the corridor, telling him that Sirius and Peter had gone ahead to lunch. As they walked towards the Great Hall, Remus told James about what Professor Harpo had said.

"Yeah, Lily looked pretty chuffed when she came out. So, tutoring, huh?"

"It'll be good experience, if I ever do go into teaching."

"Do you think you'll write to this Marcus guy?"

"I don't see why not. It might be...good for me. Anyway, before I do that..." He came to a stop as they reached the doors to the Great Hall. "I want to tell Sirius and Peter, first. She was right, I'm not alone, and not just because there are other werewolves out there."

X X X

When classes finished, Remus suggested the four of them go for a walk by the lake. Although it wasn't hot outside, it wasn't cold, either. Instead, it was warm, as the last of summer clung on. They knew the warmth would soon disappear, to be replaced by howling winds, rain and snow. Winter was approaching, but it was taking its time. Autumn and summer seemed to be battling it out, making the air slightly muggy.

There was no one else near the lake. Every so often, they saw a streak above the Quidditch pitch, where the Ravenclaw team were practicing. James picked up a rock, skimming it across the lake as Remus sat down. Peter and Sirius sat either side of him and, growing bored, James turned away from the water and joined them, giving Remus a reassuring nod.

"I have something to tell you," Remus began, his eyes sliding from Sirius to Peter. "But I need you both to...to keep it a secret."

Peter looked confused, but both nodded. Remus focused on Sirius. He looked thoughtful, and after a few seconds, he spoke. "Go on, Remus. You can tell us anything."

"I'm a werewolf."

"A werewolf?" Peter spluttered.

"Yes, Peter, a werewolf. As in, Remus turns into a wolf during the full moon," James said, rolling his eyes before he locked his gaze on the smallest boy. Clearly, something about him bothered James. "And if you have a problem with that, you have a problem with all of us."

"Of course I don't," he squeaked. "I just...wanted to clarify." He turned to Remus. "I don't have a problem with it, Remus. Really. You're one of our best friends."

"And being a werewolf doesn't change that," Sirius muttered. When they looked at him, it was to see him smiling. "Come on, mate, we know you. We know you're not a monster. I mean, hell, look at you." He gestured to Remus, and the other three laughed. Suddenly, Sirius' head snapped to look at James. "You knew/"

James shrugged. "You didn't seem surprised."

"Yeah, well...did he tell you?" Sirius' gaze turned to Remus. "Did you tell him?"

"He worked it out," Remus muttered, frowning. "Wait, James is right...you didn't seem surprised, Sirius. Why?"

Sirius blushed. "I...aw come on, mate, you disappeared every full moon. And you always came back with...with marks. Plus, well, other things, sometimes. I kind of noticed."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I wanted to wait until you were comfortable," Sirius replied, almost weakly. "I didn't want to ambush you with it." He looked, again, at James. "You didn't ambush him, did you?"

Shaking his head, Remus sighed. "No, he didn't. So you two are really okay with it?"

"Yeah!" Peter chuckled. "Of course we are."

"What did Harpo want to see you about, anyway?" Sirius asked, and Remus found himself, for the second time, repeating what Harpo had said.

"Is it lonely?" Peter muttered, gazing at Remus with wide eyes. "I mean, being a werewolf and all that."

Remus' gaze dropped to the floor, as he thought over Peter's question and tried to find the words to answer him. "I suppose it is. I know the wolf is lonely. They're pack animals. It's difficult to explain but...well, when I turn, I'm usually in a room or..." He grinned. "Here, I go to the Shack. So I have a whole house to move around it. But it's too confined for the wolf, still too small. It'd rather be out under the moon, hunting and stuff." He shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about it though."

After a minute or so of silence, Sirius spoke. "You're right, there's nothing you can do, but maybe there's something we could do."

"No!" Remus barked, shaking his head. "Sirius, whatever you're thinking...I'm not me when I'm the wolf. If you were around, I wouldn't even recognise you. I could seriously hurt you. I would. The wolf would most likely rip you to shreds."

"Yeah, as humans," Sirius scoffed. "If we were in the Shack during the full moon with you like this," he gestured to them all, "then yeah, we'd most likely end up dead. Or..."

"There's no way I'm letting you let me purposefully bite you," he growled. "Sirius, this is not a good life. It's horrible and painful and...and scary."

"I didn't mean that," Sirius replied, his gaze soft as he looked at him. "I meant...well, there is another way."

"What is it, Sirius?" James asked, a grin on his face as he stared at the other boy.

Sirius chuckled. "Easy. We find a way of turning ourselves into animals."

"Like a temporary transfiguration?" Remus sighed. "That's almost impossible, Sirius. You've seen the photos of people who have tried spells to turn themselves into birds – it never works."

"I didn't mean temporary. Not that sort of transfiguration. I mean more like what McGonagall can do."

Remus gaped at him as his skin flushed red. James laughed.

"Sirius, you are a genius! That's a brilliant idea!"

"We turn ourselves into cats?" Peter muttered, frowning. "Wouldn't the wolf be more likely to hurt us if we were cats?"

"He means become animagi," Remus explained, shaking his head. "Sirius, I appreciate the idea, I really do, but for starters it's illegal at our age. Secondly, it's an incredibly difficult and lengthy process. It can take even the most advanced wizards decades to do it."

Sirius shrugged. "Then we'll try harder than they did. Or we'll do it in a couple of decades and spend every month for the rest of our lives running with you under the full moon."

"I think it's a great idea," James said. "Really. And I want to do it, Remus. I want to try. For you."

"Me too," Peter chirped.

"Really? You'd put yourselves through that, for me?"

They nodded, and Remus felt tears pricking at his eyes. He smiled, sighed and shrugged.

"You'd do it even if I said I didn't want you to, wouldn't you?"

"Yep!" Sirius nodded, a huge grin across his face. "There's no stopping us, now."

"All right. But...but no one can know, yeah? Like I said, it's illegal because you're underage and if anyone knew..."

"They'd question why," James finished. "Animagi usually have to register, right? But...well, we won't. Simple."

"If anyone finds out..." Remus muttered.

"Then we'll be in deep shit," Sirius laughed. "And my mother would probably kill me. But, hey, Azkaban can't be that bad, can it?"

X X X

The next full moon was the weekend before Halloween, for which Remus was grateful. As he prepared to go to the hospital wing, he threw the book about wizards and pirates onto James' bed.

"Cheers," James called, glancing up from a basic Transfiguration book. Remus had told them it was best to go from the ground up, to master the first and second year spells before they tried anything more advanced. They were looking at theory, and had taken to it much better than they took to their actual homework.

Remus said goodbye to the boys before grabbing his bag and walking through the castle towards the hospital wing. He always gave himself enough time, always strolled through the corridors, relishing the sense of delaying the inevitable.

Not that he ever could delay it.

In his pocket, he carried the address of Marcus Galois. Remus never really knew how long he would be in the hospital wing after the full moon. It all depended on how agitated the wolf got; sometimes, he hurt himself so bad he had to stay for a few days. Others he seemed to be better by the evening. This time, he had decided that, if he was stuck there for longer, he would write to the other werewolf.

Wolves were not meant to be alone. Humans weren't, either. Although he had three great friends by his side, he knew having another wolf to talk to, to share experiences with, would make as much difference as telling Sirius and Peter had.

Even Madam Pomfrey noticed a change in him as he entered the ward.

She smiled gently, dipping her head in greeting. With many of the students, she was overbearing and bossy, seeming strict in ensuring her patients got better. Although kind to them, it wasn't in the most obvious way. With Remus, she was gentler. He didn't know if it was because of what Sirius now referred to as his furry problem, or because he had spent so much time there. Whichever one it was, he was grateful for it.

"You seem in a good mood, Remus."

He smiled as he dropped his stuff on the bed she had indicated. "Professor Harpo gave me the address of another werewolf."

"It would be beneficial for you to have someone to talk to," she said, glancing out the window. "Especially someone who has been through similar experiences. Are you ready? It's almost nightfall."

He nodded, taking the small piece of parchment out of his pocket and slipping it into his bag, before putting a jacket on over his baggy t-shirt. "Ready," he said, before they began the same walk they did every month, down towards the tree at the edge of the forest.

A/N: Thoughts, feedback, suggestions? Feel free, as always, to let me know what you think. Anything you liked/didn't like? And what did you think of the new DADA professor? For anyone who is interested, I have a blog and Twitter if you want to know more about me. Check them out; .com and gracebunting. Hope to see you there!