Just in Time
April 27th, 1972
The days leading up to the next full moon were spent in relentless practice. James and Sirius had both made significant progress, but Peter lagged behind, growing increasingly frustrated as his friends edged closer to completion.
“You’re overthinking it,” James told him one evening, stretching lazily on his bed. “It’s about instinct, Pete. Stop trying to force it.”
Peter scowled. “Easy for you to say. You did it first.”
“And I can do it again,” James smirked.
To prove his point, he stood up, closed his eyes, and with a brief shudder, his body rippled and shrank. Within seconds, a magnificent stag stood in his place, towering over the beds. His antlers nearly brushed the ceiling.
Peter swore under his breath. “That’s not fair.”
James snorted—an actual snort—and transformed back, his grin widening. “See? It’s all about relaxing into it.”
“It took you weeks,” Sirius reminded him. “Cut Pete some slack.”
Peter still looked doubtful, but he nodded. He was trying.
Meanwhile, Sirius was nearing full transformation himself. He could shift now, almost completely, but the final stretch eluded him. “I feel it,” he muttered, pacing the dorm. “It’s there—I just can’t hold it long enough.”
Remus, listening from his bed, kept quiet. He had no idea what the transformation felt like from their end—only what it had always been for him: pain, loss of control, something he could never fight against.
That night, after another failed attempt, Peter sighed heavily and muttered, “If I don’t get this by tomorrow, I might as well give up.”
“You’ll get it,” Sirius assured him.
But the full moon was tomorrow night.
They were running out of time.
April 28th, 1972
The next day was agonizing.
Peter spent the entire afternoon in the dormitory, while James and Sirius coached him through the final steps. Remus tried to stay out of it, focusing instead on mentally preparing for the moon. His body already ached—his joints stiff, his skin hypersensitive. He’d barely eaten that day.
Even so, he couldn’t help but listen in.
And then, at sunset, Peter did it.
He had been pacing near James’s bed when he suddenly froze, his entire body tensed like a drawn bowstring.
“Pete?” Sirius said cautiously.
Peter clenched his fists, his face twisted in concentration. Then, in a flash of movement, his body shrank, twisting inward.
Where Peter had stood, a small, round rat now sat on the floor.
Silence.
Then—
“HOLY—”
James cut himself off, beaming. “You did it!”
Peter twitched his whiskers, his small black eyes darting back and forth. His tail flicked.
Then, just as quickly, he transformed back, collapsing onto the floor with a gasp.
“Bloody hell,” he panted, clutching his chest. “That—felt—so weird.”
Sirius let out a triumphant laugh, clapping him on the back. “You legend! Took you long enough!”
Peter groaned. “Shut up, Black.”
But he was smiling.
James grinned. “Alright. We’re in.”
They all turned to Remus.
He exhaled sharply. “You’re sure about this?”
James, Sirius, and Peter exchanged a look.
Then James said, “Absolutely.”
Sirius clapped his hands together. “And now we have a date with the full moon.”
Night fell fast.
Remus’s muscles burned as he followed Madam Pomfrey toward the tunnel beneath the Whomping Willow. Every step felt heavier than the last.
But this time, he wasn’t alone.
James, Sirius, and Peter followed at a safe distance, keeping to the shadows. They knew they had to wait until the transformation was complete before attempting to approach him.
Remus paused at the entrance to the tunnel, turning back.
James gave him a confident nod. “See you on the other side.”
Sirius smirked. “Try not to rip us apart, yeah?”
Remus rolled his eyes, even as a lump formed in his throat. He turned and disappeared into the darkness.
This time, for the first time, he wouldn’t have to face the night alone.