Allies to Friends

A Werewolf Bets

"Why?"

He rubbed his head and sighed. "I can't talk about this right now. Just.. Please let me go."

***

And of course, Remus was covered in bandages in the morning with no explanation. I was no closer to the truth. At first I believed the headache induced nightmare story the nurses gave, but I saw the scars one time.

"James, it's not a headache." I said, that morning, on the way to visit remus.

"What?'

"I mean, not just a headache. It can't be nightmares that hurt him. Even if he fell off the bed multiple times, it's not bruises on his body, it's scars. He mist have some magical ailment."

"He probably has a chronic illness but why won't he tell us."

"Maybe he's afraid of us judging him?"

"We have to let him know we won't."

I nodded and we walked into the infirmary.

"Hey guys." Remus said weakly. He was always so pale too..

"Hey remus." I said. "You know we love you right?"

He blinked tiredly and confused. "Yeah.. where is this going?"

"We know it's more than just headaches. We aren't going to judge you, remus. It isn't going to make us love you any less."

"..uh what?"

"You can tell us what's really been going on."

"I-i um no i can't though."

"Why not?"

"Uh can we talk about this later?"

"Why?'

"Because if mme. Pomfrey hears that she's not going to let me tell you anything."

"What?"

"I'm going to think about it, okay?"

"Okay."

***

"Hey.." I walked into our room, the other three marauders were there chilling.

"Oh remus, yay you're back!" sirius said happily

"Okay.. I'll tell you."

"Tell us what?" peter asked

"You were right, it's not just headaches and nightmares."

"Oh yeah, you okay?" peter asked

"Yeah, okay as i can be, i guess."

"So? Uh what is up with the scars and frequent visits to the infirmary?"

"Is it a chronic illness?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm only telling you because you'd probably find out anyway and the pestering is becoming a little annoying." I sat on the floor. "I.. I'm not dangerous just saying that.."

"What?" said sirius, confused

"I'm a werewolf."

"Oh." we sat in silence for a minute

"Isn't that called a lie-can throw or something?" james asked

"Lycanthropy, yeah."

"Does it hurt?" sirius asked

"Yeah, it does."

Peter hugged me. The rest of them soon followed.

"That's hard, Remus, and I don't want you to do that alone." sirius said

I laughed. "Some teachers know. And if they found out you knew, i would get in so much trouble."

"We aren't going to tell anyone." sirius assured me

"Promise!" peter said

"Yeah, of course." james added

***

Sirius

He scoffed. "I bet you can't keep a secret if it's not actually important to you."

"What? No.. I'm good at keeping secrets all the time. "

"Okay, fine, me and Peter are planning to surprise James with a surprise party a week before his birthday, Saturday the 20th, 1993. We didn't tell you because we knew you couldn't keep it secret."

"Ooh yay, i love parties! He's going to love it! I can keep it a secret!"

"Sirius, if you can keep it a secret, I'll give you like 30 sickles." (like $21 american)

"And if I can't, I'll give you 5 gallons!" ( $37.43 american)

"Deal" we shook

***

"I think we should have the party on my birthday." james said

"No!" i said

James "Why not?"

"Yeah, sirius, why not?" remus raised an eyebrow

"Because.. Moony's time is then.." i tried

James furrowed his eyebrows. "Really? Oh. sorry yeah, is it Saturday or Sunday night."

"Uhh, i'll have to go check." I panicked.

"Okay."

***

"You told him the moon was on his birthday? Really sirius?"

"I know! I'm sorry! I'll fix it."

"You better."

***

"James! The moon isn't actually on your birthday."

He looked up from his homework. "Oh great!"

"Yeah it's the 8th." i continued

"Okay, so is there any reason I can't have it on my birthday?"

"I mean sure but we already- i mean uh isn't moony's soon before yours?"

"We're going to have two aren't we? The more parties the better."

"Right.."

"Is something wrong?'

"Remus is right."

"That doesn't seem that bad."

"But that means I'm wrong!" i whined

"He doesn't have to know."

"Okay, well we were planning a surprise party for you."

"Awww! Don't worry, I'll pretend to be surprised!"

"Thanks, james."

"Of course!"

***

Remus

Lily sat beside me. "What's going on with sirius?"

"Oh, well he's terrible at keeping secrets and I told him about james' surprise party."

"When is it?"

"The Saturday before his birthday. I bet Sirius that he couldn't keep the secret."

"Oh. and? How is it going?"

"Told him yesterday and I'm pretty sure he already told james. I bet James is going to pretend to be surprised too."

"I'll take that bet if you invite me."

"Of course, James would love to have you there. You're going to lose this bet though, you know."

"Oh I know, but I think it'd be worth it to see his terrible attempt at acting surprised."

"Just bring a gallon on the day."

"Egh, i'm going to have to get him a gift."

"I think you coming would mean more than enough to him."

"I know, i'll still going to try to find something."