Remus first noticed it during Transfiguration—just a faint tickle at the back of his throat. He swallowed hard, trying to ignore it as Professor McGonagall explained the intricacies of their latest lesson. James sat next to him, scribbling notes at lightning speed, while Sirius, on Remus's other side, was barely suppressing a grin, likely plotting their next bit of mischief. Peter, as usual, was listening intently, trying his best to keep up.
But Remus found it harder and harder to focus. The tickle in his throat seemed to be spreading, his sinuses prickling with an unfamiliar tightness. He sniffled softly, hoping none of the others would notice, but a slight shiver ran through him as the classroom's chill crept into his bones. Maybe it was nothing—he couldn't afford to get sick, not with all the time he already lost each month.
As the day wore on, it became harder to ignore. By Charms, his throat was sore, and his nose had begun to run. Remus stifled a sneeze into the sleeve of his robe, barely making a sound, but his head was starting to feel foggy.
"Bless you," Peter whispered, glancing over.
"Thanks," Remus muttered, hoping it would be the only one. He had already missed several lessons this term, and if he showed any signs of being ill, his roommates might start asking uncomfortable questions. They'd barely started to accept his strange disappearances to the Hospital Wing, and if he now looked properly sick, they might begin to suspect something else. He couldn't risk it.
By the time dinner rolled around, his sinuses were throbbing, and he'd lost his appetite. The Great Hall was loud and lively, filled with the usual chatter of students, but Remus could barely hear it over the buzzing in his head. He pushed his food around his plate, eyes drooping as he fought off a growing sense of exhaustion.
"Oi, Remus," Sirius nudged him with his elbow, "you look half asleep."
Remus blinked, forcing a tired smile. "Just tired, I guess."
"Well, wake up," James chimed in, grinning as he leaned across the table. "We've got plans for tonight."
"What sort of plans?" Remus asked, trying to sound more alert than he felt.
James exchanged a look with Sirius, both of them wearing identical mischievous smirks. "The Black Lake. After curfew."
Remus's stomach dropped. He could already feel his body protesting, the scratchiness in his throat deepening, but he knew what would happen if he backed out now. They'd go without him, and he'd be left behind again. Worse, they might start thinking he didn't want to be part of their group.
"Alright, I'm in," Remus said, though even he could hear the roughness in his voice. He sniffled, hoping to clear his head, but it only seemed to make things worse. His nose tingled, the familiar sensation of an incoming sneeze building. He turned away quickly, pressing his sleeve against his nose.
"Hh'nxxt!"
He seemed to get away with it.
"You don't look convinced," Peter piped up from across the table.
Remus quickly cleared his throat, hoping the action would sound casual rather than painful. "Just tired. It's been a long day."
"You'll feel better once we're out there," Sirius said with a wink. "Bit of fresh air."
Remus gave a non-committal nod, fighting the ever-growing pressure in his sinuses. A small part of him hoped it would pass before they made their way to the lake. But by the time they sneaked out of the castle under James's Invisibility Cloak, the cold night air hit him like a wave, and any hopes of it easing vanished.
The tickle in his nose returned with a vengeance, and Remus pressed his sleeve against it, trying desperately to stop the sneeze building inside. He managed to stifle it, but Sirius, walking beside him, glanced over.
"Bless you," Sirius muttered, half-laughing. "We haven't even reached the lake yet, and you're already sneezing."
Remus quickly shrugged it off. "Just the cold air." His voice cracked slightly, and he cleared his throat, wincing as the soreness deepened.
They made their way through the grounds, James and Sirius leading the charge, but Remus was struggling to keep up. The cold seemed to cling to him, the wind biting through his robes, and his head felt heavier with each step.
The Black Lake loomed ahead, the water dark and still under the moonlight. Remus shivered as they approached, and before he could say anything, James and Sirius were already stripping off their shoes and socks.
Remus's eyes widened in disbelief. "We're going in?"
James shrugged. "Just a quick dip. Shouldn't be that bad."
They were mad. Absolutely mad. But before Remus could protest, the others were already wading in, the icy water biting at their skin. He hesitated, shivering as the wind lashed at him, but with a resigned sigh, he followed.
The moment he stepped into the lake, the cold hit him like a wall. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, his whole body shaking, but he forced himself to wade deeper, following the others. He couldn't show weakness. Not now.
It didn't take long before the freezing water did its work. Remus's already fragile immune system seemed to crumble under the cold's assault. His nose, which had been a persistent tickle, now burned with congestion, and his head throbbed dully. He sniffled again, more forcefully this time, but it didn't help. His breath hitched, and he barely managed to stifle a sneeze before it escaped.
"Hh'GNSHH!"
"Did you just sneeze again?" Sirius called, splashing him.
"'m fine," Remus muttered, his voice thick with congestion, his cheeks burning from embarrassment as well as the cold.
Thankfully the others decided it was enough excitement for April in the cold lake.. Remus followed his friends out of the lake, his body trembling from the freezing water and the effort of keeping his sneezes at bay. Every step felt heavier, his head spinning slightly from the chill that had settled deep into his bones. The others were still laughing and chatting as they trudged back toward the castle, their mischief a success, but Remus could barely focus on their words. His nose twitched, the urge to sneeze building again, but he pressed his sleeve tightly to his face, determined not to let it out.
"Merlin, that was freezing," Sirius said, shaking the water from his hair. "But worth it!"
James grinned, though his teeth were chattering. "Told you it'd wake us up."
Remus nodded faintly, unable to trust his voice. His throat felt raw, and the pressure in his sinuses was almost unbearable. He didn't dare sniffle too loudly, lest it give him away. Another sneeze was threatening to burst out, but he pinched his nose, forcing it back.
"You're quiet tonight, Remus," James remarked, glancing over at him.
"I… hhh... I'm fine," Remus said quickly, barely managing to stifle the sneeze building in his chest. His breath hitched, and he turned away as much as he could under the Invisibility Cloak. "Hh'NGXCH!"
Sirius shot him a look, frowning slightly. "You sure? You're shivering like mad."
Remus forced a smile, though his nose twitched again. "Just cold. 's all."
Peter, who had been quiet for most of the walk back, finally spoke up. "You're not sick, are you? I mean, you've been sneezing a lot tonight."
"No, just... just the cold air," Remus mumbled, his voice coming out thicker than he intended. His throat was sore, and he knew that if they kept pressing, he wouldn't be able to hide it much longer.
But he couldn't admit it. Not when he was already missing so much time due to his transformations. If he admitted he was sick, they'd drag him to the Hospital Wing, and more questions would follow. He couldn't risk them piecing anything together.
Sirius and James exchanged a glance, but they didn't push further. "We're almost there anyway," James said with a grin. "Once we're back in the common room, you can warm up."
Remus nodded, though he wasn't sure how much longer he could last. His entire body ached, and the chill had settled deep into his bones, making each step feel like a struggle. He could feel another sneeze building, but he clenched his teeth, determined to hold it back until they were safely back inside.
Remus barely made it through the common room without drawing too much attention. After the freezing dip in the lake, every inch of his body screamed for warmth and rest. He sniffled quietly as he climbed the stairs to the dormitory, hoping that James, Sirius, and Peter wouldn't notice the slight hitch in his breath or the tremble in his hands.
"See? Nothing a warm shower won't fix," James said, patting Remus on the back as they split off to their separate corners of the dorm.
Remus gave him a weak smile. "Yeah, exactly."
He quickly gathered his things and slipped into the bathroom. The steam from the shower was a welcome relief, slowly thawing the cold that had settled deep in his bones. He stood under the hot water for a long time, willing the ache in his body to subside. His nose, however, had other ideas, twitching incessantly with the promise of another sneeze.
"Hh'gnxt!" Remus stifled it, pressing his knuckles to his nose. The steam wasn't helping—if anything, it made the tickle worse. But he couldn't afford to let his sneezing get out of control, not with the others just outside.
Once he was done, he pulled on his pyjamas and towel-dried his hair. His head was still fuzzy, and the pressure in his sinuses hadn't lessened, but at least he felt a little more presentable. He took a deep breath, willing himself to push through, and joined the others back in the dormitory, where they were already sprawled out in their beds.
"You look better," Sirius commented, his usual grin back in place.
"Feel better," Remus lied smoothly, though his nose twitched again, the need to sneeze only barely held in check.
"Good," James said, already half-asleep. "Tomorrow's another day of mischief."
Remus smiled faintly, grateful that the shower had thrown off their suspicions for the night. He climbed into bed, burying himself under the covers as his body finally relaxed. He closed his eyes, letting exhaustion take over, though the itch in his sinuses didn't quite fade.
The next morning, Remus woke up to an empty dormitory. His head throbbed, and his throat felt raw, but at least for now, he had the room to himself. Sirius, James, and Peter had likely already gone down to breakfast. He blinked blearily at the clock on his bedside table—he was running late.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. His nose twitched again, the ever-present tickle demanding attention now that he didn't have to stifle it anymore. Remus stumbled into the bathroom, closing the door behind him as he braced himself against the sink.
His breath hitched, and this time, he let it.
"Hhh... hhh'EHHCHOO! Hh'EHSHOO!"
The sneezes tore through him, one after another, finally allowed to escape without restraint. Remus pressed the heel of his hand to his nose, trying to catch his breath. He felt a little better for it, though his head still throbbed with congestion.
"Hhh'EHHSHH!" Another sneeze, this one louder, echoed through the bathroom. Remus groaned softly, wiping his nose with a tissue. At least he didn't have to worry about anyone hearing him now.
For a moment, he simply stood there, his forehead pressed to the cool surface of the sink, allowing himself a few minutes of unguarded relief. He sniffled and cleared his throat, trying to shake off the sluggishness that clung to him.
But he knew the day would be long. He had to make it through breakfast without tipping off the others again. At least for now, he had some time to breathe freely—literally.
By the time morning classes rolled around, Remus felt like he was trudging through a fog. His head throbbed with each passing minute, and his nose was so stuffed that breathing became an effort. Chills ran up and down his spine, and he was fighting off sneezes more often than not. Every few minutes, he'd pinch his nose or stifle one into the back of his hand, hoping none of the others would notice.
Sirius, sitting beside him in Transfiguration, was too busy scribbling out plans for their next round of mischief to pay much attention, while James was whispering something to Peter, both of them far too caught up in their discussion to glance Remus's way. He managed to get through the lesson without too much trouble, though he couldn't quite shake the sensation that his body was on the verge of giving out.
During Defence Against the Dark Arts, things became more difficult. His sneezes were coming more frequently, and though he continued to stifle them, it was becoming obvious that he was struggling. His throat burned with each attempt, and his head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. Every so often, he caught James or Sirius glancing his way, but he quickly pretended to be absorbed in the lesson, keeping his face neutral despite how miserable he felt.
By lunch, Remus was barely holding himself together. His vision blurred slightly as he sat down at the Gryffindor table, and he didn't bother touching the food in front of him. He could barely swallow, and every breath felt like it scraped his throat raw.
He was trying to blend in when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see none other than Lily Evans standing in front of him, her sharp green eyes narrowing as she took in his appearance.
"You look awful," she said, without preamble.
Before Remus could respond, she reached out, placing the back of her hand against his forehead. The cool touch made him flinch, but he was too sluggish to pull away.
"You're burning up," Lily said, frowning. "Why haven't you gone to Madam Pomfrey?"
"I—hhgnxt!—I'm not sick," Remus mumbled, stifling another sneeze as he rubbed his nose.
"Not sick?" Lily arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You're practically a walking furnace."
At that moment, James, who had been sitting across the table and watching the interaction with wide eyes, suddenly piped up. "See, that's why Lily Evans is so brilliant!" He puffed out his chest, clearly trying to make himself look impressive. "She's always right, can spot a problem from a mile away."
Lily shot him a look, unimpressed with his attempt at flattery. "You're all idiots for letting him get like this."
James visibly deflated. "What? I—"
"Don't 'what' me, Potter," she snapped, crossing her arms. "You should have taken him to Madam Pomfrey ages ago. Look at him!"
Sirius looked sheepish, but Remus quickly intervened. "I'm fine," he croaked, though his congested voice betrayed him. He sniffled, trying to suppress the tickle that was already rising in his sinuses. "It's nothing, just a... a... hh'nxxgt! A cold."
Lily wasn't having any of it. "You're clearly worse than you think. Come on, I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing."
"No," Remus protested weakly, shaking his head. "I don't need to go."
"Yes, you do," Lily insisted, her expression firm. She glanced around the table, as if daring the others to argue, but James, Sirius, and Peter all looked at their feet, clearly unwilling to oppose her.
Remus shook his head again, trying to stand his ground. "I'm not going."
Lily sighed, exasperated. "You're impossible." She paused for a moment, then her expression softened slightly. "Look, I'm just trying to help. You don't want to make yourself worse, do you?"
But Remus, despite feeling as though he might collapse at any moment, shook his head again. "I'll be fine. Just... need to rest."
Lily huffed, clearly fed up. "Fine. If you won't go willingly, then I'll have to call someone."
Before Remus could react, she turned on her heel and scanned the Great Hall for the nearest prefect. Spotting one at the Hufflepuff table, she waved them over.
"Hey! Can you help me take him to the Hospital Wing? He's sick and won't listen."
The prefect, looking somewhat alarmed, rushed over to assist. Remus's heart sank. There was no way he could escape now.
Sirius leaned closer, muttering under his breath, "Should've just gone with her, mate."
Remus sighed, knowing he had no choice left. Lily shook her head in exasperation. Why was Remus fighting this?
James, oblivious to Lily's exasperation, puffed out his chest even further as she called for a prefect. "See, told you! Brilliant, Evans! Knows exactly what to do, doesn't she?"
Lily rolled her eyes but didn't respond, too focused on helping Remus to waste time on James's inflated sense of importance. Remus, however, groaned inwardly, wishing James would stop drawing attention to the situation.
As the prefect approached and gently took Remus's arm to lead him away, James continued, grinning like a fool. "We really are lucky to have someone like her in our year, aren't we?"
Sirius gave James a sideways look, smirking. "You're really not helping, you know."
But James missed the jab entirely, still too wrapped up in his attempts to impress. "Of course I'm helping, Sirius. I'm just pointing out how great Lily is—like I always say, a real asset to Gryffindor!"
Lily sighed, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Potter, if you really want to help, stop talking." She looked back at Remus, her tone softening. "Come on, let's get you sorted."
Remus, too exhausted to argue further, allowed himself to be led out of the hall, sneezing into his sleeve as they walked. His head swirled with dizziness, but at least he was finally on his way to the Hospital Wing—whether he liked it or not. Behind him, James was still chattering on, entirely unaware of how little he was impressing Lily.
Madam Pomfrey took one look at Remus as he stumbled into the Hospital Wing, her eyebrow arching in disapproval. "Mr Lupin, why didn't you come sooner?" she asked, her tone sharp but with an underlying hint of concern.
Remus opened his mouth to answer, but Lily beat him to it. "He's stubborn," she said, crossing her arms as if daring him to argue. "Refused to admit he was sick, even though it was obvious."
The matron tutted, shaking her head as she stepped closer to examine him. "I know well enough how stubborn this one is," she said, casting a pointed glance at Remus. "This isn't the first time."
Remus shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, but Madam Pomfrey didn't waste any more time on lectures. "Come on, Mr Lupin, let's get you into bed before you fall over." She looked back at Lily, her stern expression softening slightly. "Thank you for bringing him, Miss Evans, but I'll take it from here."
Lily nodded, but not before shooting Remus a look that said I told you so. "Take care of yourself, Remus."
With that, she turned to leave, and Madam Pomfrey ushered Remus to the nearest bed, already pulling out potions and remedies from her cabinets.
As Remus lay back on the bed, Madam Pomfrey bustling around him, he couldn't help but reflect on the fact that this was the first time he'd actually been sick since coming to Hogwarts. It was strange, really. His mum always used Muggle medicine when he was ill, and it had worked well enough for him in the past. He wondered what magical potions they might have here—surely there was something that could clear this up quickly, right?
But as Madam Pomfrey approached with a tray of potions, she gave him a stern look. "We need to be very careful about dosing with you, Mr Lupin," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Some of these potions contain aconite, and in too large a dose, it could be dangerous for you."
Remus blinked, surprised. Aconite? He didn't know much about potion ingredients, but he'd never thought about why Muggle medicines seemed to work better for him. He was unaware that his parents had discovered this the hard way when he was much younger. He didn't remember being sick to the point of vomiting after taking a potion, but it made sense now that Madam Pomfrey was mentioning it.
"I won't give you more than what's safe," she continued, her expression softening a bit. "But if the potions don't help at that dose... well, you'll just have to suffer through it, I'm afraid. There's only so much we can do."
Remus nodded weakly, feeling a little more vulnerable than usual. His mum had always taken such good care of him when he was sick, but the Hospital Wing felt so different. He was grateful for Madam Pomfrey's care, though, and knew she was doing her best.
As she examined him, her wand hovering over his chest, her brow furrowed slightly. "Hmm, there's a bit of a rattle in your lungs, Mr Lupin. What on earth have you been up to? Swimming in the Black Lake?"
Remus froze for a moment, his heart racing. He could feel the heat rising to his face, but before he could respond, a sneeze built up quickly in his sinuses.
"Hh... hh'EHHSHOO!"
The sneeze covered for his sheepish expression, and he sniffled as Madam Pomfrey handed him a tissue.
"Bless you," she said, giving him a knowing look. "Well, whatever mischief you've been up to, you'll need to rest for a bit. No running around the castle tonight."
Remus nodded, grateful that the sneeze had saved him from having to explain anything.
Madam Pomfrey pressed her hand to Remus's forehead and then, with a flick of her wand, measured his temperature. "38.3C," she announced. "Not too bad, but still a fever. Let's get you sorted."
She handed him a small vial of potion. "Take this; it should help bring your fever down and clear up some of that congestion."
Remus took the vial without protest, downing it in one gulp. Almost immediately, his stomach churned uncomfortably, a queasiness settling in, but it wasn't unbearable. He shifted slightly in the bed, trying to ignore it.
"There you go," Madam Pomfrey said, tucking the covers around him. "Now, you rest up. The potions will work, and you'll be right as rain by tomorrow."
Remus nodded, but as he lay back, the effects of the potion weren't quite what he expected. Instead of clearing his head, his nose began to twitch more than before, the tingling sensation intensifying. He rubbed at his nose, trying to stave off the inevitable, but the sneezes came anyway.
"Hh... hh'EHHSHOO! Hh'EHHSHH!"
He groaned quietly, sniffling as he buried his face into his sleeve. The potion hadn't helped with the congestion at all—in fact, it seemed to make it worse. His nose was running, and the sneezes were coming in rapid succession.
"Hhh'NGSSH! Hhh... hhgnxt!"
Madam Pomfrey, busy with her work nearby, glanced over but didn't comment, assuming the potions were doing their job. Remus, meanwhile, just tried to settle into the bed, hoping that sleep would take over before the sneezes did.
Later that night, the dim glow of the waxing gibbous moon barely illuminated the Hospital Wing when the door creaked open, and three shadowy figures slipped inside. Remus, half-asleep and thoroughly miserable, groaned softly as he shifted under the blankets. His throat burned, his nose was completely blocked, and a dry, rattling cough had started to develop, making it even harder to rest.
"Remus?" Sirius whispered, his voice barely audible as he crept closer to the bed.
Remus cracked his eyes open, blinking wearily. His dormmates—Sirius, James, and Peter—were all standing around his bed, looking far more serious than usual. He sighed inwardly, too exhausted to deal with them.
"Why didn't you come back to the dorms?" Peter asked, his brow furrowed. "We were worried."
"You should be fine by now," James added, confusion evident in his voice. "Whenever we've had a cold, Madam Pomfrey gives us a bit of Pepper-Up, and we're right as rain in no time. What's going on with you?"
Remus wished he could explain, but there was no way to tell them the truth. They didn't know he was a werewolf, and it wasn't like he could casually mention that aconite in potions meant his recovery was a lot slower—and much more complicated—than theirs. Instead, he coughed, the sound harsh and grating, and wiped his nose with the edge of his blanket.
"I dunno," he muttered, his voice thick with congestion. He tried to sniffle but gave up when nothing cleared. "Just bad luck, I guess."
Sirius leaned in, his eyes full of concern. "You sound awful, mate."
"Feel awful," Remus admitted, his voice strained. His chest rattled with another cough, and he groaned. "Can't even sleep."
James frowned, clearly at a loss. "But... Pepper-Up should've worked."
Remus just shook his head, exhausted beyond belief. "It didn't."
The boys exchanged uneasy glances, not understanding why their normally quick cure wasn't working for Remus. Sirius looked ready to ask more questions, but Remus could barely keep his eyes open. All he wanted was to rest, to sleep and hope that tomorrow he might feel even a fraction better.
"Look," Remus rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm fine. Just tired."
Sirius, clearly still worried, nodded reluctantly. "Alright. We'll let you sleep, but... you'll tell us if it gets worse, right?"
Remus nodded weakly, grateful that they didn't press further. He didn't have the energy to explain what he couldn't say.
"Get some rest, then," Peter said softly as they began to file out.
"Feel better, Remus," James added, giving him one last concerned glance.
Once the room was quiet again, Remus let out a slow breath, his body aching with the effort of simply breathing. As much as he appreciated his friends worrying about him, he just wanted to sleep. Unfortunately, with his nose completely blocked and his throat raw, even sleep seemed like a distant dream.
The next day, Remus lay in bed in the afternoon, feeling even worse than he had the day before. His head throbbed with each sneeze, the congestion thick and unrelenting, and his fever had crept higher. He was trying to rest, but his blocked nose made it impossible to breathe properly, and each attempt to blow it ended in frustration. The sneezes were wet and squelching, and every time he let one out, the pressure in his head only worsened.
"Hhgnxxxt! Hh... hh'EHHSHOO!" Remus groaned, wiping his nose again, though it did little to clear the congestion.
Just as he was about to drift into a miserable doze, the door to the Hospital Wing creaked open, and Lily Evans stepped in, carrying a stack of parchment.
"Hey," she said, smiling warmly as she approached his bed. "I brought you the notes from everything you missed today."
Remus blinked at her through feverish eyes and managed a weak smile. "Thanks," he rasped, his voice still thick with congestion. He gratefully took the notes, though the simple act of holding them made his head swim.
Lily watched him for a moment, frowning slightly. "You're still looking pretty rough. Have you taken anything for that fever?"
Remus shook his head, immediately regretting the movement as it made him dizzy. "They... gave me some potions," he muttered, sniffling as his nose twitched. "But they're not really working."
Lily furrowed her brow. "You mean, no paracetamol or anything?"
Remus gave her a confused look. "They don't use that here. No Muggle medicine."
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Really? Well, whatever they're giving you isn't doing much, is it?" She glanced toward Madam Pomfrey's office. "I'll ask if we can try something else. My mum always gives me paracetamol when I'm sick."
Remus couldn't help the warmth that blossomed in his chest at Lily's offer. He missed his mum's care, especially when he felt this awful, and though the wizarding remedies should have worked, they hadn't done much more than make him sneeze even more.
Lily marched off to Madam Pomfrey's office, returning a moment later with the matron in tow. Madam Pomfrey looked bemused as Lily explained her suggestion.
"Muggle medicine?" Madam Pomfrey asked, clearly unfamiliar with the concept. "I don't know what that is."
Lily nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I have some in my dorm—paracetamol. It's for fever. I can bring it if you'd like to see it."
Madam Pomfrey hesitated, glancing back at Remus, who looked miserable with a fever of 39.5C, sneezing and coughing, unable to rest. "Well... I suppose if you can bring it and I can examine the ingredients, we might try it."
Remus, still propped up in bed, gave Lily a grateful look as she hurried off to fetch the medicine. A part of him was relieved at the thought of taking something familiar, something that had always worked for him when his mum had taken care of him as a child.
When Lily returned, holding a small bottle of paracetamol tablets, Madam Pomfrey examined it carefully, turning the bottle over in her hands and squinting at the ingredients list.
"No ill side effects?" Madam Pomfrey asked, her voice casual, but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she glanced at Remus. She was careful not to raise any suspicions in Lily, but Remus knew she was checking for his safety as a werewolf.
Remus shook his head slowly. "No. My mum used to give it to me when I was sick... worked fine."
Madam Pomfrey nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, Mr Lupin. I suppose it's worth a try. Let's see if it helps bring down that fever."
Lily, unaware of the deeper context, smiled brightly. "I'm sure it will. My mum swears by it."
Remus settled back into the pillows, quietly thankful for Lily's help. As Madam Pomfrey prepared to give him the medicine, he couldn't help but think of home and his mum's gentle care, wishing for just a little bit of that comfort now.
That night, long after the Hospital Wing had quieted down and Remus had finally drifted off into a somewhat restless sleep, the Marauders made their second stealthy appearance. Sirius, James, and Peter crept through the door, wands drawn for light as they tiptoed to Remus's bedside.
"He doesn't look feverish anymore," James whispered, peeking at their friend, who was sprawled on the bed, still congested and snoring softly through his blocked nose.
Sirius bent down slightly, listening. "Yeah, but he still sounds awful." He frowned, glancing around the bedside, and his eyes landed on the unfamiliar bottle sitting next to Remus's bed. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands. "What's this?"
James shrugged. "Dunno. Looks... Muggle."
Peter, leaning over James's shoulder, squinted at the label. "Paracetamol? What's that?"
Sirius's eyes narrowed. "Remus said Pepper-Up didn't work for him, but... none of the other potions worked either? That's strange, right? Fever Reducer, Cold Draught... why didn't any of those help him?"
James nodded, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, that is weird. Madam Pomfrey's stuff always works, even if it tastes foul."
"He's never been in the Hospital Wing this long before," Sirius whispered, frowning. "A night or two, sure, but nothing like this."
"Yeah," James added, scratching the back of his head. "Usually, he's back with us pretty quick—maybe a bit tired, but he's always on his feet."
Peter looked at the Muggle medicine bottle again, his eyes wide. "This is different. He's barely getting better now, and he's still so... out of it."
Sirius set the bottle back down, a suspicious look in his eyes. "It's a mystery. We need to figure out why none of the usual potions are working on him this time."
"But our research guy's out for the count," James muttered, gesturing to the still-sleeping Remus.
Peter perked up at that, eager to be helpful. "I'll go to the library tomorrow! I can look up the potions Madam Pomfrey usually uses and see if there's something weird about them."
Sirius smirked, ruffling Peter's hair. "Thanks, Pete. I'm sure Remus would appreciate it. You're braver than most for offering to go to the library."
James grinned, though his expression was still tinged with concern. "You're a good mate, Pete. Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of this."
With one last glance at Remus, the three quietly exited the Hospital Wing, leaving their friend to rest. But Sirius couldn't shake the feeling that something more was going on, something they hadn't yet uncovered. And knowing Remus, it was probably something he wouldn't tell them easily.
The next evening, Peter returned to the dormitory, looking slightly worn out but triumphant, clutching a stack of parchment in his hands.
"Got it!" he announced, flopping down beside Sirius and James, who were lounging on their beds. "Notes on everything I could find about the potions Madam Pomfrey usually gives."
Sirius sat up, interested. "Well done, Pete. What'd you find?"
Peter spread the notes out on the bed, and they all began sifting through them. There were lists of ingredients, preparation methods, and detailed descriptions of the effects of each potion Madam Pomfrey typically used for colds and fevers. As they combed through the information, one word kept appearing over and over: aconite.
"Here it is again," James muttered, tapping the word on the page. "Aconite. It's in almost every potion she uses."
Sirius frowned, looking perplexed. "Aconite... so what? I don't really know what to make of that. If it's in every potion, then he's been taking it before, right? Why isn't it working now?"
Peter scratched his head, looking uncertain. "I thought the same thing. If he was given these potions every other time he was sick, why would this time be different?"
James shrugged, leaning back. "Well, sometimes he's been sick with a stomach bug or something. Madam Pomfrey probably gave him different potions for those. Maybe this is just a particularly nasty flu virus."
Sirius still seemed suspicious, but after a moment, he sighed and leaned back on his bed. "Yeah, maybe. I suppose there's not much more we can do about it. If the potions aren't working, then I guess it's just a waiting game."
Peter nodded, and James let out a tired yawn, clearly ready to move on from their fruitless investigation.
"Alright then," James said, folding up the notes. "I guess we're at a dead end. Just have to hope Remus gets better soon."
With that, they all shrugged off their concerns, deeming the line of questioning a dead end for now. Though the mystery remained unsolved, they decided to focus on supporting their friend in his recovery, hopeful that rest and time would bring him back to his usual self.
By the time Remus was finally deemed healthy enough to leave the Hospital Wing, barely three days remained until the full moon. Though he still had a slight lingering cough, Madam Pomfrey had insisted he was well enough to rejoin his friends. So, at lunchtime, he found himself heading toward the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, where James, Sirius, and Peter sat eagerly awaiting him.
"There he is!" James exclaimed, clapping Remus on the back as he sat down. "Back from the dead!"
"You look half-decent for someone who was practically knocking on death's door," Sirius teased, grinning widely. "Maybe it's your absolutely shit immune system that did you in this time."
Remus chuckled awkwardly, his cheeks flushing as he fiddled with his napkin. "Yeah, well, that's me—always getting sick like clockwork."
The moment the word "clockwork" left Remus's mouth, Sirius's smile faltered ever so slightly, though he didn't say anything. His mind raced, piecing together past observations. Remus did always get sick, but there was a strange consistency to it—almost like once a month, he'd be out of commission for a day or two. This time had been different, though. Remus had gotten sick earlier than usual, almost a week and a half before the usual pattern.
Sirius's eyes flicked over to Remus, who was laughing with James and Peter, and though he joined in on the teasing, the gears in his mind were turning.
Interesting.
Maybe this wasn't just bad luck or a weak immune system. Sirius resolved to do some more digging, making a mental note of the timing and filing it away for later. Something was definitely off, and Sirius was determined to figure out what it was.
On the evening of the full moon, Remus looked worse than usual—paler, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. As dinner began in the Great Hall, he sat quietly, barely touching his food. James, Sirius, and Peter noticed his odd behaviour, but before any of them could ask, Remus stood up.
"I'm going to the Hospital Wing," he mumbled, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Headache."
Without waiting for a response, he quickly left the hall, his shoulders hunched as he disappeared through the doorway. The three boys exchanged wary glances as soon as he was out of earshot.
"Didn't he just get over being sick?" Peter asked, confused.
"Yeah," James muttered, frowning. "That doesn't make sense."
Sirius, however, remained silent, his eyes narrowing as a realisation crept into his mind. "It's right on schedule," he muttered under his breath, but James and Peter heard him.
"What do you mean?" James asked, confused.
Sirius stood abruptly, a determined look in his eyes. "Come on. We're going to the library."
"What—now?" Peter asked, bewildered.
"Yes, now," Sirius insisted, already pulling them along.
Once in the library, Sirius wasted no time. He led them straight to the reference section, where he pulled out a large, dusty tome—an almanack filled with lunar cycles. He quickly flipped through the pages until he found the current date.
"Today's the full moon," Sirius said, his voice low as he showed them the page. "Think about it. Every time Remus is gone, every time he's sick or has an excuse, it's always around the same time—once a month."
James's eyes widened as Sirius spoke. "Wait… you think...?"
Sirius nodded grimly. "He's been disappearing for a day or two every month, right? And today's the full moon."
James and Peter exchanged uneasy glances, but Sirius pressed on. "What are the dates of his other so-called illnesses? Do you remember?"
Peter frowned, trying to recall. "Not exactly, but… yeah, it does seem like it lines up."
James, still processing, added, "And the aconite. It's in all the potions Pomfrey could give him for a cold. Isn't aconite—"
Sirius nodded, finishing the thought for him. "Wolfsbane."
The three boys fell into a stunned silence, the pieces clicking into place.
"Remus is a werewolf," James whispered, the realisation sinking in.
They all stared at each other, the weight of the discovery pressing down on them. Their friend, the one they had shared laughs and mischief with, had been hiding this secret all along.
That night, the Marauders decided to pay a visit to the Hospital Wing, worried that Remus hadn't returned. They crept through the dark corridors, carefully avoiding Filch and Mrs. Norris, before finally reaching the doors to the Hospital Wing. James pushed the door open quietly, and the three boys stepped inside, only to be greeted by the sight of empty beds.
There wasn't a trace of Remus anywhere.
Sirius raised an eyebrow as he glanced around the quiet ward. "Well, I mean... we didn't really expect him to be transforming right here, did we?"
James and Peter exchanged uneasy glances. It was one thing to know what was happening, but it was another to confront the reality of it. The empty ward, combined with their newfound knowledge, made everything feel all too real.
"No," James murmured, "but it still feels strange not seeing him here."
Peter shifted uncomfortably. "So... where is he then?"
Sirius didn't answer, but they all knew. Remus wasn't just sick—he was dealing with something far more dangerous. And they had to figure out what this meant for their friend, and for their friendship.
The next evening, Remus returned to the dorm after dinner, looking utterly exhausted. His steps were slow, his posture slouched, but aside from that, he didn't seem too much worse for wear. He gave a tired smile to his friends as he dropped onto his bed, hoping for a bit of normalcy after the long and draining night.
But the moment he entered the room, he felt it. The tension in the air was unmistakable. Sirius, James, and Peter were sitting together, their usual chatter absent as they exchanged glances, clearly waiting for him.
Remus frowned, feeling uneasy. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice hoarse from fatigue.
The three boys exchanged a look, and Sirius finally spoke up, his tone careful. "Remus... we know."
Remus froze, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he thought he'd misheard, but the look in their eyes told him everything. They knew. They knew his secret.
The blood drained from his face, and panic surged through him. His worst fear had come true. His friends had found out, and now, everything was about to fall apart. He swallowed hard, his hands shaking as he stood up.
"I... I'll go to Dumbledore," he stammered, his voice trembling. "You don't have to worry. I'll... I'll be out of your hair by tomorrow at the latest."
He could barely breathe, the weight of it all crushing him. He'd always feared this moment—being exposed, losing the only friends he had, and having to leave Hogwarts. His mind raced, already imagining himself packing his bags, leaving the place he had come to love, where he had finally felt like he belonged, even for a short time.
But before he could move, Sirius stood up, grabbing him by the shoulders.
"Remus, you're out of your mind," Sirius said, shaking his head, his tone firm but kind. "You're not going anywhere."
James stepped forward, nodding in agreement. "We don't want you gone, mate. You're our friend. You think we'd just toss you out because of this?"
Remus blinked, stunned. "But... but I'm a—"
"We know what you are," Peter said softly, his voice full of compassion. "But we also know you're still Remus. You're still our friend. And whatever you're dealing with... we're not going to abandon you."
Remus's breath hitched, his chest tight with a whirlwind of emotions. He could barely process their words, the relief so overwhelming it felt like a tidal wave crashing over him.
Sirius grinned, clapping him on the back. "Besides, there are precautions in place, right? You've got Dumbledore looking out for you. It's fine. We're not afraid of you, Remus."
James nodded. "Yeah, and you're not facing this alone. We'll keep your secret. You don't have to worry about that."
The room was silent for a moment, the gravity of their words sinking in. And then, to his own shock, Remus felt tears welling up in his eyes. He hadn't expected this. Not their acceptance, not their loyalty.
He let out a shaky breath, unable to stop the tears from spilling over. "I... I thought..."
"You thought wrong," Sirius said with a soft smile. "We're not going anywhere, and neither are you."
Remus wiped his eyes, overwhelmed by the sheer relief flooding through him. For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't have to carry the weight of his secret alone.
And for that, he cried. Truly cried.
Sirius, who was never one for dealing with obvious displays of emotion, stood awkwardly by as Remus cried. His usual cocky confidence evaporated, leaving him looking at James with wide eyes, clearly at a loss for what to do.
James, ever the one to step in during these moments, raised an eyebrow and offered a simple solution. "Group hug?"
Before Sirius could react, James threw an arm around Remus, pulling him into a tight hug. Peter quickly joined, and after a moment of hesitation, Sirius sighed dramatically and threw his arms around them all.
Remus, caught in the middle of the embrace, couldn't help the strangled sound that escaped him—a half sob, half relieved chuckle. The warmth of his friends surrounded him, but as he sniffled, he realised with a twinge of embarrassment that he'd managed to get snot all over James's robe.
"Sorry," Remus mumbled through his tears, laughing weakly as he wiped his face. "Your robe's a mess."
James grinned, not fazed in the least. "It's worth it, mate."
Sirius, standing on the other side of the hug, made a face. "Well, if that's what I get for hugging, remind me to stick to pats on the back next time." But there was no mistaking the affection in his voice.
They broke apart, and though Remus was still teary-eyed, the heaviness that had settled on his chest for so long felt lighter than ever before.
