(A/N): Hey Guys! So, here's the next chapter... I plan to end third year reasonably soon, by the way.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Leo

The following morning was Christmas day, though the mood was hardly merry as Elaine and I entered the hospital wing to see Remus having his wounds tended to.

Wounds that I had inflicted.

I had hurt Remus before, and he had hurt me, I needed to see the consequences of hurting my friends. Besides, my side was still stinging from the injuries he had inflicted the previous night.

It was at about seven thirty, and hour after we had arrived, that the others burst in.

They didn't seem surprised to see Elaine, but I suspected that they didn't know about her part in our trip last night.

"Morning Remus." Lily greeted quietly, before the boys had a chance to make a spectacle of themselves.

I saw James's eyes dart to the bandages peeking out from beneath Remus's shirt before they narrowed.

"I see you were a little rough last night." He remarked, jaw clenched tight, but Remus held up a hand to placate him.

"Relax Prongs, I deserved it." The four shared a look.

"What do you mean, 'you deserved it'?" Remus shrugged.

"The wolf mind took control, tried to attack Elaine. Leo was just defending her." They gaped at Remus for a second before turning to me.

"Why would you let her out there?!" Sirius exclaimed quietly, knowing we couldn't let Madam Pomfrey overhear us.

"Guys, calm down, I was in animagus form!" Elaine objected, and James raised his eyebrows at her.

"You've managed the transformation, then?" Elaine carefully watched him for a second before crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yes." Sirius's face lit up at her admission.

"Would you help us then?" I winced, knowing exactly how Elaine would react after her own experience during and since the change.

"No!" She cried, her eyes wide, and the boys fell silent for a minute.

"Why not?" Lily asked, her tone showing her suspicion.

"Because it's dangerous!" James scoffed, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Dangerous! What could possibly happen?" Scanning their faces, I knew they thought it was a completely risk free procedure.

"You could be killed!" They looked slightly taken aback by Elaine's outburst.

"Not just by the transformation, or even by Remus!" I glanced at him, but he didn't seem particularly hurt or offended by the statement. "You could turn on each other, like I did to Leo!" I watched on as the others jaws dropped, and they gaped at us.

"What?" Lily questioned, her voice eerily calm, and Elaine sighed.

"When I first...changed, I lost control of the animal mind." She lowered her gaze to the ground. "Leo was the only thing in the room... so it attacked at him. I attacked him." I placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, and she shot me a weak smile.

"How badly?" Peter asked, so quietly we almost couldn't hear him say it.

"When I came back in, I honestly thought she had killed him." Remus replied, and I saw Elaine flinch, avoiding our eyes.

"Oh please, she barely touched me." She shot me a disbelieving though grateful look.

"So, Leo, you helped her, why won't you help us?" James inquired, his tone sharp as he watched me with narrowed eyes.

"Because I know she can take it."

(A/N): So, what did you think?

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 30/12/22 - Because I said Elaine was just defending Elaine, instead of Leo defending Elaine.