"The Truth Will Out"

Three heads, two dark, one dusky brown, bent over the table, nearly touching. One of the dark-haired boys had tousled hair and was sporting a pair of glasses over hazel eyes, while the other had shaggy hair that brushed his shoulders and striking grey eyes. The last boy had a round face, small, watery eyes, and a habit of eating quite a lot of food when he was nervous.  

"We've got to do it today," James stated firmly.  

"I dunno," Peter sighed, looking doubtful.

 "Yeah, James, he'll hate us for life if we're wrong! Do you have any idea how insulting that would be? It's worse than calling him mudblood!"  Sirius hissed.

Lily Evans, who was seated just a little ways down the Gryffindor table from them, scowled at the mention of the word. It was their second year at Hogwarts, and just like the year before, James, Sirius, and Peter had noticed more and more their friend, Remus, slipping out on certain nights and not returning until the following morning, where they usually found him asleep in their dorm or, on a few occasions, in the hospital wing. They had asked him about what was going on, but he would always wave them off and ask that they bring him his homework, so he didn't get too far behind.   

"I don't know why you have to go snooping in other people's business, Potter," a voice with the icy chill of winter seethed.   

James turned to see Lily Evans, the red-haired muggle-born witch who was top of their class, glaring at him. "Go away Evans," he grumbled.

Shooting one last dark glance at James, Lily spun on her heel and stormed off to class.

James rolled his eyes, returning to the matter at hand. "But, listen. Last night was a full moon. He'll be tired, and he's completely exhausted his repertoire of excuses. He can't deny the truth-and it's not like we'll think any differently of him!"

"I think," Peter began timidly, "he believes we would."

Sirius and James stared at him. "No way!" Sirius protested.

"He has to know we'd still be his friends!" James exclaimed.

Peter shrugged. "I don't think he does. It's not like society's given him a positive spin on the prospect of being...you know...different." Peter had lowered his voice, and the three boys were leaned toward each other over the table, so no one would eavesdrop on their conversation.

"We have to convince him, then," Sirius sighed, though his eyes glinted determinedly.

Peter nodded his agreement. The two looked to James, who was staring intently at his goblet of pumpkin juice. "I suppose," he said slowly, "we'll need an actual plan."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Simple: we go to the hospital wing. We corner him so he has to tell the truth. Then, when he's hesitating, we tell him we don't care and we'll still be his bloody best friends whether he is or isn't."

James nodded in agreement, while Peter appeared somewhat doubtful. "I highly doubt that will work," he said quietly.

"We'll have to wing it, then," James said decisively.

Sirius and Peter shared a look that seemed to say 'Oh Boy', before following James out of the Great Hall and heading toward the hospital wing.

*  *  *

Peter couldn't help feeling apprehensive about the meeting, as the threesome stood huddled outside the door. He had a terrible feeling that  they might be completely wrong and Remus would despise them forever for suggesting that he might be remotely affiliated with such "filth" as werewolves. It wasn't like society was particularly kind to that breed of wizard, after all, Peter reflected.