Full Moon
"I can't believe you got detention for the full moon" Remus told James and Peter.
The marauders were sitting in a corner in the Gryffindor common room.
"It's all Wormtail's fault," James defended himself, "if he hadn't blown our cover none of this would have ever happened."
"It's not like I planned on sneezing in the restricted section, it was just so dusty!" Peter explained.
"What were you two doing in there in the first place?" Remus asked.
"Well, I was helping Worms study for herbology and he was hopelessly lost," James recalled, "so we went looking in the library for a book on magical carnivorous plants of Southeast Asia."
"I found one, but it was in the restricted section. I didn't want to go and get permission from the professor." Peter said.
"So I said, 'just slip in as a rat and get it'-"
"So I did that, but I couldn't get back out with the book either way-"
"Then the librarian caught us," James finished.
"At least this time it wasn't for jinxing Snivelus," Remus said under his breath.
"'S not all bad," Peter said trying to cheer his friend up, "Padfoots not got detention."
Sirius walked by his group of friends and sat down next to Remus on the couch.
"What's this about Padfoot and detention?"
"These two got caught sneaking books from the restricted section." Remus caught Sirius up to speed.
"Least it was educational," Sirius said.
Remus elbowed Sirius playfully.
"C'mon Mooney, as a prefect you should value the academic efforts of your friends and classmates." Sirius joked.
"He's just pressed cus it's on the full moon," James explained.
"Oh," Sirius sighed, "well like Wormtail said, you've still got me."
"Think I've just gotten used to transforming as all of us," Remus thought for a moment.
The prospect of being alone with the person he fancied, especially when he knew he wouldn't have the greatest self control, was daunting. At least with Prongs and Wormtail he could have some diversion, if it's just him and Sirius things might be different.
"It's only one night, and besides, it's not like we really want to be dusting the entire library all night." James assured him.
"Which day is that again?" Sirius asked.
"Thursday," Remus replied.
"Shit, thats the day after tomorrow. You sure you couldn't strike a deal with Dumbledore to move the date?" Said Sirius.
"It's not up to him, it's up to whoever gives the detention." Remus explained.
"'Spose it's only fair, they can't give special treatment." Sirius remarked.
"Sir, can we do the detention next week, I've got a cold?" James joked.
Thursday evening Remus was on edge. He was always a bit nervous on full moon days, but tonight was especially tense. He ate early with the other marauders before James and Peter's detention and left the castle when everyone was finished. Sirius went back up to the common room to wait for nightfall. Remus walked out by the whomping willow admiring the changing leaves and the setting sun.
The days were getting shorter and the nights were getting longer. Winter was a miserable time to be a werewolf. Not only would the transformation last longer, but the cold wasn't much easier to deal with as a werewolf. His fur got wet and his paw pads would freeze, the next day he would still be affected by the cold.
Remus didn't want to have to deal with this. He wished there was a cure. Being trans was easy compared to being a werewolf, he almost never thought about it. Having transitioned as early as he did it's almost as if he was never perceived as a girl. Very few people knew about either of his taboo traits, and it was for the best. He only wanted people he trusted to know either one.
Sirius was still up in Gryffindor tower finishing up a chapter on size altering charms when he noticed how low the sun had gotten. He started to put his things away and sneak out the door when he ran into Lily.
"On your way out I see." She observed.
"Well spotted, Officer Evans." He replied.
"Just be careful Sirius" she reminded him.
He nodded and headed out for the shrieking shack.
Remus was hiding in the shrieking shack waiting for the moon to take over the sky. The cold autumn breeze tossed leaves around the drafty room. It wouldn't be much longer before he transformed.
Sirius had already morphed into his dog form.
Remus's transformation happened just like any other full moon: uncomfortable, but relatively quick. Sirius found it more difficult to werewolf-sit his friend solo. Not having Wormtail and Prongs around wasn't the end of the world though, and Sirius was able to keep the transformed Remus out of trouble for the night.
They both woke up in the shrieking shack that morning on an old, dusty bed. Remus was up before his friend, appreciating the morning light. Sirius woke shortly after with a growling stomach.
"Ahh, what a night," he yawned.
"Wasn't too difficult to tame the beast by yourself, was it?" Remus asked.
"Nah, but I can think of another one that needs taming," Sirius said, gesturing to himself.
Remus gave a disappointed look to Sirius, noticing he was experiencing morning wood.
"What?" Sirius asked, looking down in his confusion, "Blimey, Mooney, that's not what I meant! Besides, don't act like it doesn't happen to you too."
"Let's just go get some breakfast before classes," Remus changed the subject.