{1} The Marauders and the Whomping Willow ✔️

Chapter 15: Malfoy's Secret

28th of May 1972.

Crap.

Today was full moon. He had almost forgotten. Hastily and stealthily Remus made his way to the door. He would have slipped out unnoticed had Sirius not been watching him from over his Astronomy homework.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

The other two boys turned to them and once again Remus found himself frozen in panic. What should he say to them?

"We don't buy what you tell us everytime." said James. "I mean who goes out in the afternon to the library and doesn't return until morning?"

Remus was still. Every muscle taut and unmoving. He could feel a cool trickle spread under his skin. He was paling.

"We're pals." said Peter. "That means you can tell us anything right?"

"My...I...you see my mum's ill." he finally said. "Her illness comes up once in a while. Dad sometimes has to work at night so I have to look after her."

"Oh..." Sirius remembered the vibrant young woman at the Potter's Christmas dinner. She'd knitted them all handmade sweaters and scarves and he loved them to bits. He hoped nothing happened to her. "Why didn't you say so before?"

Remus looked embarrassed and angry. 

"I gotta go." he said hurriedly. James could feel the irritation beneath the words.

"Tell her we say hi..." he said. "And that we hope she gets better."

"Sure." said Remus. "See ya!"

With that Remus left burning with shame. He hated lying to his friends like that. Once again he wondered what would be the consequences if he told them that he was in fact a monster.

He hurried down to McGonagall's office.

~~~

Sirius and James huddled together under the invisibility cloak as they watched Lucius Malfoy take his round of Prefect Duty. It was the first time they agreed they should risk following him . He was looking around suspiciously, furtively.

"He's definitely up to something." whispered James to Sirius.

Sirius nodded and together they moved after Lucius. Wands raised under the cloak ready to strike if need be.

Suddenly Sirius stepped on James's foot.

"Ow!" he cried in pain.

Lucius whipped around wand ready.

"Who's there?"

James and Sirius held their breath. Luckily they were still under the cloak. Lucius shrugged putting his wand back in his robes before walking ahead. James and Sirius followed after him.

Lucius looked back again before turning a corner. The two boys followed swiftly. Lucious seemed nervous as he touched the ends of his pale blond hair. None th eless he puffed up his chest. Whatever he was doing it looked very illegal and very dangerous.

Lucius turned another corner and headed towards and empty Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Curious. Thought James. As they followed.

He's probably waiting for Lord Voldemort. Thought Sirius, dreading to see the lords they all talked about, that was rumoured of in every newspaper. But there was also an anger. He will kill him for scaring his brother. He could still feel his brother crying in his arms at night.

James shivered as the same realisation hit him. He didn't want to come face-to-face with him. Not yet anyone.

The door creaked open and to their surprise. In walked Sirius's cousin Narcissa Black. She was beautiful with pale blond hair and blue eyes. Could it be that she was also one of these Death Eaters if so they need to know what they were discussing.