In this chapter James, Sirius and Peter work out what Remus is and secretly vow to help him. They also prove to him that they really don't care of his as James puts it furry little promblem. Also I'm really sorry bout the long gap in updating, it's been a very busy time with a new job starting and trying to make a good impression on my boss. Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter.

1st of September

Remus was sitting in the same compartment near the end of the train waiting for James, Sirius and Peter to arrive and join him. His parents were surprised at how much he'd had changed when he'd come home form his first year. Hope his mother, was pleased that her son was able to pull himself out of his shell a little and make friends. Though she could see that he still had fear in his amber eyes, he was scared of them finding out and losing them. Remus had become lost in thought again, when the sound of James pulling open the door it made Remus look up from his book.

"Morning Remus. Had a good a summer?" The messy black hair boy asked. Remus nods.

"It was ok." He sighed. "My dad lost his job though." James gasped.

"Oh Remus, I'm sorry." Remus shakes his head. 'It was because of me.' The werewolf thought to himself. Making him feel guilty. He hated being a burden to his parents, but they kept on asurreing him that they still loved him. With a few moments to spare Sirius and Peter arrived, relieved of their trunks. The four boys began to talk about what being in second year meant.

"We get to try out for the team this year." James said clearly excited. The other three laughed, though Remus's one was forced. Little did he know that this year would mean their friendship would become stronger because of him.

September, the night of a full moon.

James was laying on his chest reading his copy while laying on his bed in Gryffindor tower. Remus had leaft a few hours before hand. Using the same excuse of his mother being sick. The silence was broken by Sirius, who was looking though the window at the moon.

"Has anyone noticed that Remus always leaves on the night of a full moon?" James was pulled from the textbook he was reading but not really taking in.

"Yeah, and he always gives the same excuse." A thick silence descends, Sirius's face turns white as the truth hits him.

"James, Remus is a werewolf. He leaves to protect us from what he becomes." James grows worried, if word got out about Remus... James didn't want to think on that. Once that had filled Peter in, the three vowed to not only talk with Remus about it. They also vowed to help him in anyway they could. James takes a deep breath, he breaks the silence.

"Ok, once Remus is back in human form we'll go down and see him. Once he's healed, we can really talk about his furry little problem. You two not a word about Remus to anyone. Understood. You know what happens if Remus's secret gets out." Sirius nods while Peter also nods. Sighing James settles down, though Sirius says.

"He'll need to know that we don't care, that we know him as a person." James nods. Knowing the next few hours were critical James said.

"At the risk of sounding like Remus, I think it's best if we all turn in." The other two groan but with soft chuckles they all head to bed. James woke the next morning, well at lest he thought it was morning. The moon was starting to set, his thoughts reeling of the revelation from last night about Remus. The sound of Sirius's snoring rung though the dorm, James threw a pillow in Sirius's general direction. A groggy.

"Oi!" From Sirius who had been shocked awake. James chuckles to himself. Heading into the shower, James gets washed and stepping out he grabs a towel and wraps it round himself. He reached his trunk and pulls his robes out and got dressed, while waiting James walked over to Remus's bed and opened Remus's battered trunk and pulled out a set of robes out for Remus. Once they were they left, they arrive at the hospital wing. Remus was in a horrible state, cuts, claw marks, bite marks and bruises littered his body. He was fast asleep, his sandy brown hair covering his bruised face. Remus did all this to himself? James's stomach was uneasy, one of his best friends looking in such a state. James noticed that Remus's chest was moving up and down as he breathed. Even Sirius was lost for words, his face white and his body shaking. Peter was in a similar state, his mouth hanging open. They had never seen Remus in such a vurable state. James broke the heavy silence. James remembers that he'd brought down clothes for Remus to get dressed in once he was up to it. Leaving them with Madame Pomfrey and one worried glance towards Remus James said.

"Come on guys, let's leave Remus to rest." They walk away, but they felt as if they were just abandoning him. Shaking still they made their way to the great hall, none of them ate. Too worried about Remus.

Hospital wing

Remus was starting to come round, a soft moan escapes his lips. His whole body was in pain, he couldn't move without aggravating some self inflicted injury somewhere on his body. Finally he mustered the energy to sit up in the hospital bed. He sunk his head in his hands. As the misted events from last night floated around his head. His head shot up as everything became clear. Last night was a full moon, he'd had survived. He didn't know to be delighted or annoyed at this. He noticed that his bed was blocked by the rolling screen. The fabric ruffled by the air that was moved as Madame Pomfrey passed by tending to other students. She must have noticed that Remus was up by his outline sitting up. As a few moments later she slipped in though a gap. Keeping her voice low so not to be overheard.

"Ah mr lupin, you're awake. That's good, and how are feeling dear? How is everything?" While Remus wanted to answer he was fine, he'd had learned the hard way that the schools matron would find out the truth one way or another.

"I'm in pain, everywhere." He answers truthfully.

"Well, I have painkiller potion ready for you." Remus nods, accepting the mix of post moon potions. After downing them Remus settles down, while Madame Pomfrey tends to his wounds. She was still speaking in hushed tones.

"While I can't fully heal the claw and bite marks. The bruises will be healed in no time." She said while pulling out the bruise balm tin. Once she was sure all bruises were covered she leaves. Now alone Remus felt the pain potion begin to kick in. The pain blanket that covers his body began to subside, leaving only a throbbing behind. A few hours later even the throbbing had gone. Now Remus was free to walk around. Just after dinner, Madame pomfery said that he could go.

"Your friends dropped these off earlier for you." She said handing him the small stack of clothes that James had brought down. Staying behind the screen Remus gets dressed. Stepping out as he fixes his tie. Tugging slightly at his jumper Remus walks away from the hospital wing and towards Gryffindor tower. Giving the password, Remus scrambles inside to find.

"James, Sirius?" He asked. Looking up James smirks.

"Hey Remus welcome back. You didn't expect to be alone did you?" James asked grinning. Remus grins back. Unknown to him what was coming. A few days later Remus felt better as the effects of the full moon lessened. Though something was bugging him, James Sirius and Peter had been acting differently around him. He sighed and buried his hands into his trouser pockets.

"Ok, you guys are been acting differently for a few days. What in Merlin's name is going on?" He asked, throwing his gaze between James, Sirius and Peter.

"Not here." James whispered. Remus's heart stuttered. 'Do they know that I'm a monster? What's gonna happen?' Numb Remus rose from his seat and followed his friends back to Gryffindor tower. The Gryffindor common room was, busy with fifth and sixth years doing assignments and studying. To Remus the common room had been a small handful of spaces within the castle, that promised safety and security to the preteen werewolf. Shakily he followed the other three boys to their dorm. Sirius falls behind Remus, Remus guessed to stop him from bolting. With a shove Remus enters the second year dorms. Sirius shuts the door and passes Remus. James was looking at him as if looking at the 12 year old boy before him, for the first time. Remus felt his heart trying to escape though his chest. Finally James brakes the heavy silence.

"We need to talk, Remus." He said. 'Keep calm Remus. It might not be about me being a monster. It could be about something else. See what James has to say.'

"We know." James concluded. Remus saw his world crumble, the only friends he ever had knew. Remus felt sick. He tried to bolt, he found the door locked.

"I charm locked the door. We have to talk about this." James said trying to get Remus calm. Tears were flowing down Remus's cheeks.

"No James, you don't understand. I'm contaminated, I'm a monster. Please don't tell anyone. I'll ask Dumbldore to assign me a new room on my own. I'll leave Hogwarts. Just don't tell anyone." He whispered. Lowering his head and facing away from his former friends. Tears now flowing openly from his eyes. He knew that they would turn on him for what he was. James on the other hand was shocked that Remus was acting in such a way. Remus was normally level headed and the emositally mature one in the group. All that plus Remus was the one who knew his stuff in defense against the dark arts class, along other classes. He out preformed them in all classes apart from potions. Now that they knew Remus's secret they understood why he'd left early most of the time. His hightend sense of smell would play a huge part of it. Seeing Remus so upset hit James hard. Getting up James said softly.

"Whoa, whoa. Remus calm down for me mate. You are not leaving either Hogwarts or this dorm. You're our friend, before we worked it out we got to know you as Remus Lupin. We got to know you as a person. We like what we see, we know that you're not a monster Remus nor are you contaminated." Remus stopped his rambling, still unable to process what James had said. Taking his chance James continued.

"Besides who else but you could keep both Sirius and I in check, I certainly can't think of any but you Remus." James smirked slightly trying to brake the thick tension in the boy's dorms. This worked even Remus laughed, this time his true laugh. A soft easy laugh escaped Remus's scarred lips. Looking surprised at his actions, Remus wiped the tears that still lingered on his cheeks and in his eyes. Remus felt so much lift from his shoulders. He had never felt this at ease, before. It felt liberating for him, this was the start of a brand new chapter for him. He hoped a better one, dispite the fact that he'd find it next to impossible to get a job in the Wizarding world after graduating Hogwarts even if he got all 'O's' in his N.W.E.Ts. With his condition, but now with the support of his friends it would look better. James still smiling said.

"Don't worry about your furry little problem, Remus. We'll figure a way to help you out. From this point on, consider us your pack." James winks, Remus laughed again. Still stunned that they knew and didn't care, though the self doubt and uncertainty was still lingering in the back of his mind, Remus did his best to keep them at bay. Even more so, now. A dark thought crept into Remus's forefront of his mind.

'They'll leave you, they know but they'll leave you. You don't deserve friends.'

Remus hoped beyond anything that the dark voice was wrong. A few hours later, and the three boys fall asleep. Remus fell asleep with a smile on his face for the first time since being bitten slept soundlessly. Still stunned to have made friends like James, Sirius and Peter.

I hope that you enjoy this chapter, I'm sorry it's taken so long to write. The past few months have been crazy stressful, getting and working losing that job. Once agin I'm so sorry for the long wait in upload of a new chapter.

Till next time

Best Wishes

M L Edwards