Never Letting Go [A Marauder's Story]

Full Moon

"you got everything ready right?" Sirius asked James as they all looked at the map, eyeing the forest they'd retreated to before.

"We could always go to the outskirts of Hogwarts, get to the forbidden forest?" Peter suggested, being a lot more comfortable in a familiar environment. "or just stay in the shack?"

"I'm not staying locked up in there" Remus immediately and Sirius and James nodded in agreement. None of the three liked the idea of being in there, especially Remus.

"Let's just go to the same forest we did last time" Sirius said decidedly, pointing at the familiar spot on the long map.

"If we're all in agreement" James said and the other 3 nodded, even Peter.

"Alright so...Grant it'll be like last time" James explained, looking at him "Just stay in the tent and if you hear noise, don't check. If you don't leave nothing bad could happen...I think..."

"I'll be fine. It went okay last time" He reminded them, still remembering that long night alone during that first full moon.

"Help yourself to any of the food and just relax okay?" James suggested and Grant nodded reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I think I can handle it" he responded with a grin.

Remus winced slightly, his spine going through a rush of pain as he'd been bent over and looking at the map for too long. Sirius placed his hand on Remus' shoulder, his eyes full of concern.

"Hey? You okay?" Sirius asked and Remus nodded hastily.

"Just....pre moon pains" he muttered as he found a chair to sit down in.

"Can't be fun" Grant said sympathetically "Although you being a werwolf explains a lot. There were nights where you'd be missing and none of the boys knew where the hell you'd gone"

"You're right" Remus said through gritted teeth, his back aching again "It's not fun"

Grant nodded and stopped on the topic, changing it to what he should have for dinner.

Sirius sat beside Remus, messaging the top of his spine gently, relieving some of the pain but not all of it. Either way it was relaxing for Remus and comforted him until it was time for the four marauders to apparate.

"See you in the morning" Gran said, attempting to keep the spirits high, but Remus couldn't even smile, his body was in too much pain now.

"Is it gonna hurt to apparate?" James asked Remus quietly and Remus nodded.

"Apparate beside me okay?" Sirius said "I'll do most of the work, just hold my hand alright" he said, gently leading Remus out of the tent.

He hated feeling like this, his friends having to help him. He felt utterly helpless and he wanted to cry.

Sirius reached out his hand once they were outside of the tent. Remus looked at it and reached out his own shakily, gripping onto it.

There was a blur and then they were there. It had't been too bad but now his legs were aching. He could smell the surrounding pines and his wolf sense seemed to already be kicking in. He could smell every single scent in the air and every sound seemed to reach his ears quicker than lightening.

The four of them waited patiently, Sirius not leaving Remus' side as they waited for Remus to give a sign that his transformation was beginning.

"I hate this" Remus muttered unexpectedly as the air turned colder as night rose.

"I know" Sirius muttered back, gripping his arm gently as he curled up to him in comfort.

"All of it" Remus said grumpily "the hiding...the fear...all of you in danger..."

"Don't worry about it...especially not right now. Tonight just focus on getting through this okay?"

"Okay" Remus responded, trying to ignore how hard his head was throbbing and how much his arms were beginning to ache.

Just as he started to notice the pain getting worse he felt a sting shoot up his legs and up his back and he knew it had started.

"Time to change" Sirius said quickly, noticing the signs immediately. James transformed along with Peter and Sirius, watching as Remus transformed too. It took longer and it was far more painful.

He felt his spine elongate and his hands lengthen with claws forcing their way out. He screamed in agony which caused Padfoot and to whimper and set forward. Prongs made a motion which made the dog retreat, having to watch Remus go through all of that pain and eventually the werewolf stood before them and the night began.

.....................

When Remus opened his eyes the first person he saw was Peter who had just turned back into a man. He saw a dark shape that was Padfoot and saw James transform back into himself.

Peter handed Remus some clothes and he just nodded gratefully, knowing that Peter was always the most prepared. The others grabbed some clothes from a bag Peter had brought and got dressed in silence. Eventually, they were all in clothes. Remus comfortable in his sweater and jeans, Sirius in a loose white thsirt and shorts, James in a long sleeve shirt and light washed jeans and finally Peter, in a polo shirt and shorts.

"We were a force to be reckoned with last night!" James exclaimed breaking the silence and Sirius nodded, grinning ear to ear.

"Haven't ran that much in a while" He commented before glancing over at Remus who forced a smile. "You okay?"

"Yeah" Remus mumbled, even though his ribs felt like they were on fire and his muscles felt like they were being twisted.

Sirius walked over and checked for any wounds but there were barely any.

"Becoming animals is the best thing we've ever done. No scratches, not even one" Sirius said smiling softly. Remus was relieved by this but his body still ached and his head began to spin.

"Water..." he managed to say, his voice breaking, raw from howling.

Sirius looked over at Peter who rushed over to the bag and brought over a bottle of water with a shy smile.

Remus practically gulped down the whole thing, his mouth dry. Sirius watched as he slowly put the water bottle down, his face turning pale.

"We'll wait a while before we apparate back?" Sirius suggested, seeing how out of it Remus seemed.

"No..." Remus said immediately "Grant..."

"I'll check on him" James suggested quickly "you lot stay here and gain up your strength"

Remus nodded at James gratefully ands
felt himself calm down a little at the thought of James checking on Grant.

The sunrise stung his eyes and he closed them, laying down on the green leaves. Usually a summers day like this would be the perfect weather for eating outside the tent and laughing about with his 4 friends but now....he'd probably be in pain for hours.

"It'll wear off Remus" Sirius comforted with a small sigh "I know it can't be easy but...the pains always worse after the moon"

"I know" Remus muttered, just wanting to close his eyes and rest.

"Rest okay?" Sirius said, taking a blanket from the bag and placing it over Remus who was shaking. "When you wake up you'll feel much better"

With those words, Remus' eyes drifted closed and the world went dark.