Chapter One
Remus sat in Astronomy, staring at the stone ceiling. Usually Professor Sinistra’s class was fascinating but today she was talking about planets and specifically the moon. These were usually the kinds of lessons he didn't pay attention to. His painful monthly transitions taught him as much about the moon as he cared to know. He did have to admit though, turning into a wolf had become more bearable now that Sirius, James, and Peter had started to sneak out in their Animagus forms to be with him.
“Oi, Lupin, have your notes from last class?” a voice from behind Remus echoed a bit throughout the classroom. He rotated to face the round glasses, tanned skin and unruly dark hair of James Potter. James had been Remus’ friend since the moment they met on The Hogwarts Express their first year. James was a loving, accepting, kind soul. Unless you hurt the people he loved, he would be the most loyal friend you would ever have. James had introduced Remus to the other two parts of their friend group; Sirius Black, a rebellious, theatrical sort with grey eyes and black hair that just managed to reach his shoulders and Peter Pettigrew. Peter had sandy blonde hair, a round freckled face, and a reserved demeanour that faded suddenly when he was faced with betrayal. Remus’ brown hair, scarred skin, and knit jumpers fit in with The Marauders immediately. ‘The Marauders’ was what they called their friend group. They were an alliance of intelligent, dedicated, pranksters.
Now, as Remus turned to face James, he heard another familiar but not nearly as friendly voice. Severus Snape. Or ‘Snivellus” as the friends called him. Snape had greasy, oily hair and tended to look as if he had just bitten to a particularly sour lemon.
“Potter, Lupin, not talking in class I hope.” Snape sneered. “Better pay attention so you don't fall behind when you take your monthly disappearance. What do you do anyways? Practising sucking up to teachers so they don’t see you for the annoying nuisances you are?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, Snivellus, but Moony actually goes on a luxury holiday every month.” Sirius piped in.
“Yeah! With beaches and horses.” added Peter.
“What kind of nickname is Moony? Anyways, he couldn’t afford a holiday, let alone one with horses.”
Remus was glad Sirius and Peter had distracted Snape from his original comments. It wasn’t like he could tell him the truth. Remus’ mystery disappearances every month were because he had to hole up in a shack just outside of the school grounds commonly referred to as ‘The Shrieking Shack”. Little did people know, the shrieking was Remus wailing in pain every full moon. When he was four, a werewolf named Fenrir Greyback bit him and changed the course of his life forever. His father couldn’t take it and killed himself. His mother, not knowing how to take care of Remus now that lycanthropy was involved, left him at the steps of an orphanage.
Because of this, Remus hadn’t wanted to tell his friends about his ailment when he arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for fear of ostracization and or ridicule. But when James, Sirius, and Peter discovered his secret, they did their best to aid him and make his transformations less painful. However, Remus knew that should Snape and his Death Eater friends find out, they would not be as understanding. It would be over. Not his magical education. No, that he could take. But it would be virtually impossible to get a job or live a normal life.