dorm
"The moon.", Sirius gasped, looking out of the window.
"How are we getting out of here?", James asked, running a hand through his hair, "We can't just leave him alone."
"I have an idea.", Peter suggested.
"I don't know if I can do it, but wandless magic is an option.", he continued.
"Okay, Pete, whenever you're ready.", James said nervously.
Peter muttered something slowly, and carefully, and the shield broke.
willow
The wolf sniffed around for his friends, the stag, the dog, and the rat. No one was there.
He howled in pain as the unusual moon took over his mind, tearing at his own front leg out with his teeth, licking the familiar taste of metallic blood.
Three boys burst through the tunnel door, ones the wolf did not recognise.
The shortest boy closed the door, making sure the bolt was on, turning towards the wolf.
"Padfoot, we need to transform now.", James said urgently.
"Yeah.", Sirius said, staring at the wolf, before blurring into Padfoot.
the next morning
Sirius was the first one to wake, standing up, wincing at the pain in his side.
He walked over, letting out a hiss of pain as he bent down next to Remus. Remus was fast asleep, but he didn't look peaceful.
Sirius sat down quietly, not waking Remus, just watching him. He looked at Remus' leg, wincing at the deep cuts.
"Padfoot?", James whispered, "Are you hurt?".
"I got scratched, but I'm fine.", he said, not taking his eyes off Remus.
"Do you want me to take a look at it?", Peter asked.
"Later.", Sirius said, touching the back of his head.
a few minutes later
Remus stirred, coughing in his sleep as he woke up. He opened his eyes, to three blurry forms.
"What are you doing here?", Remus said, rubbing his eyes. He woke up at the wrong time, at the same time Sirius lifted up his shirt to check on the deep gash on his torso.
Sirius pulled down his shirt quickly, but not quick enough. "I- I did that to you.", Remus cried, ignoring the tightening in his lungs and the tearing pain in his legs.
"Come here, Rem.", Sirius said enveloping the taller boy into a hug, letting him cry into his shoulder.
"Why are you still my friends? I'm a werewolf, I hurt you guys, I trapped you, I-", Remus sobbed, letting the moment of weakness take over.
"Moony, we're always going to stay with you.", Peter promised. James nodded slowly. "Look at me, Remus.", James said quietly, as Remus' sobs took over the shack.
"Don't say it's okay, Prongs, it's not okay. I could've killed you. It's not going to get better, It's not. I know that. I've accepted that I'm a monster, why can't you?", Remus cried, clinging on to Sirius and burying his head in his chest.
The three boys were silent. Remus had never cried like this, so raw and full of emotion.
"I know it's hard. You don't deserve any of the stuff that's happened to you. You, Remus, are a good person. You're not a monster. You just have a-- a furry little problem.", James said
All Remus could say was "I'm sorry" again and again. "I didn't mean to, I promise I didn't mean to hurt you.", he gulped.
"We know, Re. I promise.", Sirius said softly, kissing the top of his head, his sobs quieting down
James put an arm around Remus, a tear slipping out of his eye.
later
Sirius sat down on the bed, and Remus took out his first aid kit.
"You can use magic, you know.", Sirius said softly.
"I know. I don't want to."
"I can do it, Moony, you should rest.", James offered. Remus shook his head, taking out the gauze and dittany.
"Lift up your shirt."
"Whoa, take me out on a date first.", Sirius joked.
Remus didn't laugh, and Sirius obliged. Remus winced at the deep cut. "I'm fine, Moons. Promise.", Sirius said.
Remus didn't respond, rubbing the dittany on his cut. Sirius bit his lip, trying not to yell out in pain. James and Peter made eye contact with Sirius, who shook his head.
Sirius couldn't handle the burning anymore, and he let out a whimper of pain. Remus looked up at him. "I'm sorry."
"It's going to scar.", he muttered.
"Prongs, I'm more badass than you!", Sirius cheered, and James and Peter let out a chuckle.
"I'm sorry.", Remus said softly, tears filling his eyes again.
He wiped his eyes with the heel of his palm roughly, looking down.
"I just can't stop bloody crying.", he said roughly, looking at the ground.
"Moony, it's okay to cry.", Peter said quietly.
"I'm sorry, Pads. I promise-- I can't even do that because of this bloody wolf.", Remus groaned.
"Remus.", James tried.
"I can't even promise my best friends that I won't kill them.", he said quietly.
"Rem, you want to head back up to the castle?", Sirius asked softly.
"You lot can go, I'll come up there later.", Remus said, his voice dry and raspy.
"We'll all go up there together.", Peter said sleepily.
How did I get so lucky?, Remus thought, looking at Peter and James, who were asleep, and looked up at Sirius, who had his arms around him, snoring softly.
"Thank you.", he whispered, before going to sleep.
girls' dorm
Lily didn't feel like celebrating her birthday. Her friends gave her gifts that she loved, but she didn't want to get out of her bed, staring at the ceiling. Eventually, James came up, forcing her to eat and taking care of her, telling her about Remus and the moon.
"I love you, James, but how did you get up here?", Lily asked sleepily.
"That's a secret I'll never tell. I love you, Evans.", James smirked.
"Do you want to talk?", Marlene asked quietly, after James had left.
"Not really.", Lily whispered, touching the necklace.
"I think- I forget sometimes he's gone.", Lily said softly.
"He loved you, Lily, so much.", Marlene said, hugging her tightly.
dorm
Remus picked up the paper that was on the ground, with the date on it.
January 31, 1977
Howard Andrews, Ministry official in London has been found to have been injecting silver into the blood of some werewolves who came to register themselves. Howard was killed by a group of people, calling themselves 'werewolf activists'. An insider source reported that werewolves have been dropping dead, but not all werewolves. We are unsure why Howard did not attempt to kill all of them.
In other news, Caldidge Ridwan has been arrested and sent to Azkaban for endangering the lives of students and teachers at Hogwarts.
"Moony, how many times have I said not to read the Daily Prophet? They're a load of bull.", James said, snatching the paper out of his hands.
"I might die.", Remus whispered.
James read the paper, turning white.
"C'mon, Prongs, we need to plan out the prank.", Sirius grinned, stepping in the dorm.
"Oh no, what happened?", he asked, seeing the look on their faces.
"Nothing, right? Everyone's fine?", Peter asked hurriedly.
James didn't move, just reading the paper again.
"Prongs, you're scaring me.", Sirius said, grabbing the newspaper. He read it, scanning the paper, Peter reading it over his shoulder,
"Don't do anything irrational.", Remus said, his stomach turning. "Don't do anything irrational? Moony, we're getting to the hospital wing!", Sirius said, throwing the paper on the ground.
hospital wing
"Back so soon, Mr. Lupin?", Pomfrey asked, as they walked in.
"Tell me he isn't going to die.", Sirius said, his voice breaking, as James showed her the paper.
"Remus, come to the back room with me. You boys stay here. I mean it.", Pomfrey said, very business-like.