Myrtle was very excited to help Remus and disappeared from her bathroom for about five minutes then came back to tell him Filch was currently on his way to the sixth floor. Remus thanked her and slipped out of the bathroom and waited till he saw Filch zoom by then he ran down to the ground floor to give the signal. Black and Potter disappeared into Filch's office while Remus and Pettigrew kept watch, and soon the mission was accomplished and the four of them hurried back to their common room in fits of laughter.
Remus didn't want to admit how fun that was or how entertaining it was to picture Filch's face when he came back. Apparently not only did Potter set up multiple dung bombs to go off the next time he opened his desk, Black had also stolen (filched, Remus thought with a giggle) a bunch of confiscated goods including more dung bombs and firecrackers and various jokes and pranks including three different fanged frisbees, one of which Black threw across the common room and making them need to hide out in their dorm after it hit a third year and bit her ear.
They played cards for the rest of the afternoon until Remus started panicking and trying to figure out how he could escape. He could insist he was starting to feel sick however he didn't want to use that excuse every month. So at around four-thirty he excused himself and went to the bathroom, purposely taking a long time, then when he returned he trembled and shook and began lying.
"One of the--the other students handed m-me a note from--McGonagall," he said, wiping his hands off on his jeans as if he were sweating which, really, he was a bit. "My--my mother's fallen p-pretty ill. I-I-I need to go see her."
"What?!" All three of them stared as Remus grabbed his cloak, hoping none of them saw him slip a paperback book into his pocket.
"I'm sorry--"
"You don't need to apologize, mate," Black said, scrambling to his feet. "Is it really bad?"
He felt awful telling this lie since they all looked so concerned. "Y--yes, I--I suppose so. I--er--see you later." He quickly hurried out of the dorm before they could ask anything else, and made his way to the hospital wing. It was a bit early--a good two and a half hours before sunset--however he didn't mind hanging about the house and reading.
Pomfrey took him to the Whomping Willow through the drizzle and led him through the tunnel, while having an argument about whether she should come get him in the morning. He didn't want her to, she refused to listen to him. She left him at the entrance to the house and wished him luck as he climbed up into the house. She gave him a quick anxious glance through the hole in the floor and then he closed the door.
"Home sweet home," he muttered and turned on one of the lights. He recoiled a bit at the sight of all the bloodstains on the floor and at the dark hand print on the doorway leading out into the hall. He saw his own tiny bare footprints leading out as well. I'll need to try to clean this, maybe I can convince Pomfrey to let me bring cleaning solutions here tomorrow night. He went into the kitchen and rummaged around in the fridge which he knew was connected to a fridge in Hogwarts that the house-elves kept stocked up for him. There wasn't a huge selection of food but it was pretty decent. He pulled out some sandwiches and settled in the living room with his book.
At five till seven--just before sunset--he went up to the bedroom to put his clothes an book away in the wardrobe, then came back down to wait shivering in the living room.
And wait.
And wait.
Seven-thirty went by, and then eight. Remus was incredibly bored and also angry--he hated nights like this. He didn't exactly like transforming but sitting around and waiting with nothing to do was just like nails on a chalkboard to him. He wished he could see outside at least, to see if it looked like the clouds would part anytime soon.
Knowing it was a mistake and he'd just destroy it, he hurried upstairs and grabbed his book and returned to the living room. He knew if he transformed he'd tear the book to shreds but he couldn't just sit around and do nothing. He did that enough at home in the pitch black cellar.
About twenty minutes after the clock struck one in the morning, Remus flung his book across the room as pain began ripping apart his insides. He collapsed onto the ground and screamed and screamed and screamed, sobbing and begging the curse to just hurry up! His back arched and he began clawing at his own body, trying to tear the pain out from his insides, and that just caused more pain and blood once his nails lengthened. Finally his body convulsed one last time and his human mind shrank into near nothingness.
*
The clouds covered the moon again before sunrise and Remus lay panting on the ground after the wolf ebbed out of him. He wearily looked at the clock. Four in the morning. Less than three hours. His body was no where as destroyed as it was any of the first full moon of the school term, though he did have some pretty nasty slices including one along his thigh that was still bleeding pretty badly. He pressed his hand against the gash and then just lay there for a long time, wondering if the moon would come back out. Sometimes it did. Those were... the worst... ever... though it happened only rarely. If the clouds were come-and-go enough usually he just stayed as a wolf. He wasn't sure if the moon had to be gone a certain length of time or what... he wished he did know. It would be nice to have some actual information--real information and not the constant myths and rumors that most werewolf books had.
At around five he decided he'd be staying human and slowly got up, looking at the gash on his thigh. It was still ragged and open though the other cuts were beginning to heal. Pomfrey won't be showing up till probably seven-thirty at the earliest, he thought and then just curled up, drifting into a nightmarish sleep. Full moons as a human gave him the worst nightmares. It was if the wolf was coming out in his dreams since it couldn't in his body. Finally he gave up trying to sleep and dragged himself to the shower to clean himself off. He spent a long time sitting in the shower watching his blood circle the drain.
By the time Pomfrey came (seven-twenty, close enough) he was fully clothed, had put some bandages on the worst parts, and was sitting on the couch, reading. When he had thrown his book it had skidded under a chair and his wolf self hadn't hunted it down. He had also tried his best to clean up as much fresh blood as possible.
"I was only---f-f-for a few hours," he explained when she stared at him. "I feel p-pretty good... can I stay here today?"
"No," she said and approached him. "Where are you hurt?"
"I'm f-fine."
She gave him an incredibly angry glare then just knelt down so she could roll up his pant leg. There was a bandage around his ankle and then her eyes traveled up to see bulkiness on his thigh. "Come along them, Mr. Lupin."
"Please--"
"No, you're only eleven," she said, straightening up and putting her hands on her hips. "Albus made his orders very clear. You're too young to be left alone. Besides, your thigh is bleeding."
He looked down and saw red seeping through his jeans. He sighed and got to his feet, limping along with Pomfrey back to the school. She smuggled him inside to the small private room in the hospital wing. He changed into a gown so she could examine the wound on his thigh and bandage it up properly.
"I wish there was a way to heal this," she muttered.
"It w-would be nice to b--be able to heal up d-dark magic," Remus said and Pomfrey's face flushed a little bit as she realized it was a little awkward to say such a thing to a werewolf.
"There you are. Do you need some breakfast?"
"No th-thank you, I'm--I'm pretty tired..." Now that the sun was up he knew he could sleep a little easier and as soon as she left he did fall into a deep, exhausted sleep.
*
Monday night the cloud coverage wasn't enough to prevent the transformation so Tuesday morning he returned to his human body amidst gore again. He got himself to the bathroom and sat on the floor of the shower to clean himself off as best he could around his wounds. Pomfrey came in during this and he covered his lap with a towel, wishing she wouldn't come. He just sat there miserably as she bandaged him up and gave him hospital wing pajamas to put on so he wouldn't have to go fetch his clothes. She also wrapped her cloak around him to help him get into the school without being seen.
When he woke up for lunch he asked for some parchment, envelope, ink, and a quill. He carefully spread the paper out on his food tray and began writing, his handwriting worse than normal because of how tired and shaky he felt.
Dear Professor Dumbledore
This is the second moon I'm going through at school and I've learned a lot about how things are going from my experience. Madame Pomfrey is an excellent nurse and I am glad she's around however I think there's something that should change about the situation. Coming back to the school every morning is really exhausting and I understand why she insists on doing this but I think it would be easier and safer for everyone if I just stay at the house during the entirety of the moon. I'm very tired and all I'd do is sleep during the days. The only way in and out is through the secret tunnel. Also I know I'm only eleven but I think out of everyone here I have the best understanding of what's going on and I wouldn't do anything stupid if I'm in the house alone. Also I know Pomfrey will argue I need watched over because of my wounds but they'll heal anyway all she can really do is put bandages on them which I can do myself.
Please consider this. Thank you. Remus.
He read over the letter, hoping it sounded mature enough to convince the headmaster, and then he folded it all up and stuck it in the envelope, scribbled Dumbledore on the side, and then when Pomfrey came back in he handed it to her and asked her to send it to him, mumbling that it was very personal so nobody else could see it.
He drifted back to sleep, hoping it worked out.
*
Wednesday was bad. He wasn't sure what had upset the wolf so much to ravage his body like this. Perhaps worry about the letter, or the fact Tuesday night he had legilimency on his mind since it was supposed to be his night for another occlumency lesson, but Wednesday morning he woke up in very bad shape (well, 'woke up' meaning his human brain coming back). He just barely pulled a ripped up rug over his body when Pomfrey came in and he knew this was going to be points against him if she mentioned how awful he looked today.
Pomfrey helped him into hospital pajamas and then fetched his things from the wardrobe before taking him back to school. He had to lean heavily against her and shuffle along, wincing his pain every time his right foot pressed against the ground. Pomfrey tutted the whole way and gave off an 'I told you so' air. Once at the school she changed out his bandages and helped him into bed, where he fell asleep right away until pain woke him up, his right leg hurting horribly.
He sat up and saw his leg had fallen out of bed and was dangling over the edge, the wound rubbing up against the side of the bed. He pulled his leg back up, leaving a streak of blood. He cried out in pain and within a minute the door to the room opened and Pomfrey came in. She said soothing things as she carefully peeled the bandage off revealing that the wound was still really bad, all open and jagged and fleshy. She dabbed some medicine on it.
"Th--that won't do anything," he pointed out, wincing at the burning sensation.
"It fights infection," she said, meticulously slathering the potion on.
"I naturally fight that off," he grumbled.
"Well then this will make it go faster."
"D--don't waste it on me."
"Stop complaining," she ordered as she put a new bandage on him. He didn't like the feeling of the cold goop on his leg or the itchy burning it was causing. Then he tried not to glare as she put her hand against his forehead. "You have a fever."
"It w-won't work," he said as she fetched a potion to reduce the fever. "I d-don't think potions really w-work on me the way they're supposed to anyway. I'm not sure." He knew dreamless sleep potion didn't work on him. When he was younger his father tried to give him some of the stuff to help him not wake up screaming after every full moon, and it just gave him worse nightmares and made his tummy hurt.
"You know, whining about all of this doesn't help your desire to seem mature enough to be left alone," Pomfrey said and Remus turned scarlet. "Albus talked to me last night when I returned. I told him it's my professional opinion you need to come back every morning." She straightened up, tugging the gloves off her hands and tossing them into the bin. "I'm not sure if he entirely agrees with me, however, so you may get your wish." She gave an annoyed sort of sound and then left.
Remus slept till lunch and then after he finished eating he got dressed, insisting he wanted to go to class even though he was still wounded and tired. He had to climb all the way to the tower to get his school stuff and then back down to the second floor just in time for class. His entire body was weak and his legs shaky and his right leg aching though he didn't think he was bleeding through. He knew he was pushing his luck doing this... but he didn't want to miss any more classes than he already had to.
Dedenne looked quite shocked to see him and Black, Potter, Pettigrew, and Evans all smiled at him.
"Welcome back!" Evans said though she was looking at Remus in concern.
"Th-thank you," he said, creeping to his seat.
"You all right?" Potter whispered.
"You don't look so well," Black added.
"Quiet, quiet," Dedenne ordered, rapping on her desk for attention. "You can be social after class. Today we're going to begin learning about chizpurfles. Can anyone tell me what they are? Miss Colgate?"
Another class full of Dedenne ignoring Remus's raised hand not that he really cared today. He felt drifty and tired and had to fight to stay awake. Dedenne's class was the worst one to fall asleep in, he couldn't imagine what she'd say if he did. He took wild notes that he could barely even read and as soon as class was over he put everything in bag, intending to go back to his dorm to go to sleep.
"Hey, you okay?" Potter asked again as soon as they left class.
"J--just really tired, I d-didn't get much sleep over the p-past few days," Remus said.
"How's your mother?" Pettigrew inquired.
"B-better, thank you. It... got p-pretty bad which is why I wasn't able to sleep much, but--but she's turned around and will b-be able to go home tomorrow. I th--think I'm just going to go take a nap."
He hoped they'd go off somewhere else however all three of them and Evans all walked with him back to the tower so he had to concentrate on not limping. It was hard going up stairs especially since Black decided to take a shortcut up a flight of steps that had a missing stair so he had to stretch his legs to get up there. He used his left one, but it still hurt. Evans glanced his way when he gave a whimper but he just said he jammed his thumb against the railing and she seemed to believe him.
"You can have all my notes," Evans said when they finally reached the seventh floor.
"We have notes too, you know," Potter said.
"In History you and Black were throwing paper brooms through Binns," Evans said accusingly.
"Oh, like you paid attention to his lecture?" Potter asked. "I heard you snoring."
Evans went a bit pink. "I was not snoring! Though... I might have... fallen asleep..." She turned to Remus. "I'm sorry, but I can tell you what he went over for the most part."
"Lupin takes loads of notes in history," Black said. "Shoot, what's the password again?"
James shrugged. "Don't look at me, I've forgotten."
"They change it way too many times," Pettigrew complained.
Evans just looked at the boys, clearly exasperated. "Fortitudo. Honestly!" She hauled herself through the entrance, grumbling about idiotic children.
Okay you can do this. Pettigrew had just scrambled through and now it was Remus's turn. He bit his lip and carefully pulled himself up through the hole, doing his best to stay balanced so he wouldn't fall. He hoped once he got older and taller it would be easier. Who makes a hole in the wall the entrance?! Oh right the same idiot who put us up on a seventh floor tower!! He managed to get through without issue though he went so slowly he figured it probably raised suspicion, and then said he'd get Evans's notes later before going up to his dorm, legs getting very shaky at this point. The other three came with him so he'd be unable to change into something more comfortable.
"You can have our notes," Black said as Remus took his shoes off and got into bed. He fought hard to keep his face blank, no evidence of how much pain he was in. "They're probably better than hers anyway. Here."
Remus looked down at the paper Black threw in his lap. "Th--this is a picture of you riding a dragon."
"Oh, er, sorry, doodled that in Defense Monday. Ummm... errr here." He dropped a different piece of paper in Remus's lap.
"I've missed seven classes and you--you've got one page of notes?" Remus looked up.
"And the drawing of me riding a dragon," Black said cheerfully.
Potter and Pettigrew added their notes though altogether it didn't cover all the missed classes. Still... "Th-thank you, I'll copy th-them later, after a... a nap." He straightened the pile and set it on his bedside table, intending to get Evans notes for sure. He then closed his curtains and curled up, one hand reaching down to touch the bandage under his pants, flinching at the slight pressure. His wound was bad again. He knew it was all his own fault but even though Dedenne's class was the worst, he didn't regret going. He'd be missing plenty. He needed to go to as many as he possibly could, whether he was supremely exhausted and horribly injured or not.