{1} The Marauders and the Whomping Willow ✔️

Chapter 8: The First Moon

I am Remus John Lupin and I will not be afraid. 

The words became a mantra in his head. He repeated them over and over again hoping against all hope that everything will turn out alright tonight. Sirius was leaning casually against his chair while James and Peter were engaged in an intense game of wizard chess, their potions essay left abandoned.

That morning, the teachers had changed back the banners while most of the Slytherins were taken to Madame Pomfrey's to be checked over. No one had suspected the four boys just yet, which was lucky. But after the excitement subsided fear settled in for Remus and he found he could barely eat his breakfast. He hated being so far away from home especially on the day of the full moon. He missed his mother's comforting touch and his father's soothing words. His missed the warm fire and his familiar blanket.

"Hey Remus you okay there?" asked Sirius. His eyes were fixed on Remus now. "If you're worried about getting caught you really shouldn't. Your plan was fool proof."

He would have to tell them, sooner of later. But they'd hate him, they'd kick him out. After all who wants to share a dorm with a werewolf.

"You can always talk to us you know." piped in James. "I mean we're a gang right?"

"Yeah we are." muttered Remus. But didn't speak any further instead kept fidgeting with the hem of his large patterned sweater hoping that they would look away. But they didn't.

"Remus..."

"It's nothing really James I'm fine."

"You didn't eat breakfast." said Peter rather solemnly. 

Remus's stomach knotted itself together, would he lose this friendship and care if he told them.

"I wasn't hungry." he told them. At least he wasn't lying.

"Alright." said James. "But if you need anything Remus just tell us okay...we're a gang."

"Yeah a gang with no name." said Sirius rolling his eyes.

"Oh I know Gangrene Gang!" exclaimed James. "You know like we gang up on Slytherins and their green. So gangrene."

"Terrible logic." said Remus with a smile.

----

It wasn't hard to get out of the common room. He told them he needed to see Professor McGonagall that day and then needed to go to the library afterwards. He said he had many questions and not to bother waiting for him. When Peter asked if he wanted company he shook his head. He had almost snapped at him in irritation. The full moon often made him feel that way.

He walked up to Professor McGonagall's office and knocked on the door.

It opened.

"Come in Mr. Lupin." she told him and he came inside.

There was another woman inside. She was tall and graceful her bronze hair tied in a tight bun. She wore a nurse's uniform and inside her apron was her wand and a flask. The flask he recognised was his own, the one with his potion that made the transformation slightly bearable, though it was still quite painful.

"This is Madame Pomfrey, she will be looking after you before and after your transformation."

He gave Madame Pomfrey a polite smile who returned it with a warm one of her own.

"Please call me Poppy." she said. And Remus realised she was barely out of her teens perhaps no older that twenty-one, yet her fingers were long withered and graceful. A true healer's hands. He'd seen many of them and recognised them very well.