The Marauding Maps: A Collection of Oneshots

When They Found Out

"Remus..." 12 year old James Potter asked his friend, hesitantly, "why are you sick every month??"

Now Remus Lupin was worried. They couldn't find out about it. No way. These three boys were his friends. the first he'd ever had. He couldn't lose them, but they wouldn't be his friends when they found out. "Um..." He tried to play it off, "I don't know, really." He faked a laugh, "it must be a coincidence??"

Of course, the others didn't buy that. Not only was Remus a terrible lier at the best of times, but James, Peter, and Sirius had known him for a year and a half. And they weren't going to let this go.

"Remus..." Now it was Sirius Black's turn to try and get the truth out of him. "Come on, mate. We're best friends. The marauders. Snivellus defeaters. Defenders of Gryffindor glory..."

He was making Remus smile, but he was no closer to getting the truth.

"I have to go." Remus stood up from his bed and and made for the door, but Sirius grabbed his hand as he passed.

"Remus, please..." He begged, tears welling up in both boys' eyes, "stop with the lying. Well support you, no matter what."

"Sirius, please don't. I... I can't."

Sirius sighed and walked over to hit Peter Pettigrew on the back, and mutter something incoherent.

Peter nodded and went to sit on Sirius' bed, forcing Remus to sit on it. "Re-Remus..." His voice was cracking, now. "Are- are you a... a werewolf??" And then Remus Lupin ran out of the dormitory.

OoOoO

It was Christmas Eve, and twelve year old James Potter and Sirius Black were playing hide and seek in the Gryffindor common room. James was 'it' and went up to the boys' dorm to look for Sirius, who was sat on his bed reading a book. "What are you doing?? I thought were playing-" he cut off when he saw the title of the book chapter Taming Your Werewolf Companion. "Where did you find that..."

Sirius looked him in the eye, then. "Under Remus' bed"