Marlene

9- A Werewolf

"Remus!" Marlene grinned when she arrived at breakfast the next morning to see her friends sat at the Gryffindor table, looking tired, but otherwise okay.

"Hello Marlene," Remus smiled weakly.

"Where were you?" Marlene sat down opposite him and grabbed some toast, "I looked for you on the train, but I couldn't find you anywhere, and then Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee wouldn't tell me anything."

"Are you really still using those nicknames?" Remus laughed heartily.

"Yes I am, I love that muggle story, Alice in Wonderland," Marlene smiled, "mum used to read it to me when I was younger- but don't change the subject."

"I wasn't changing the subject-" Remus protested.

"Remus what's the matter, you were ill so much last year and I can't help but think the worst!"

"What's the worst?" Remus asked.

"I dunno, that you're dying or something," said Marlene.

"Well," Remus laughed slightly, "I can safely tell you that I am not dying."

"That doesn't set me at ease, please Remus, whatever it is, just tell me," Marlene persisted, "I can keep a secret, even if it's that you go off and murder muggles once a month, I won't judge you- well actually I might if you go off murdering muggles for no reason, but that's not the point-"

"Okay!" Remus cut her off, "if you stop talking I'll tell you."

Marlene made a gesture like zipping her mouth shut, which made Remus smile slightly.

"Not here," Remus looked around the slowly filling hall, "let's go for a walk." He suggested.

********

"So you're a-"

"Werewolf." Remus finished. He had explained everything to Marlene as they walked around the grounds. Since James, Sirius and Peter hadn't shunned him when they found out, Remus had decided to tell Marlene as well. Sure, she talked a lot. But she was one Remus's closest friends and he knew that he could trust her.

"Wow." Marlene was speechless, it must've been one of the first times that Remus had ever seen her unable to speak, but after a few moments she seemed to shake herself back to reality. "Merlin, James, Sirius and Peter are totally eating their own eyeballs."

"What?" Remus demanded, slightly scandalised by what she had just said.

"Never mind," Marlene shook her head and looked back at Remus. "No matter what Remus. I'm here for you, you're still you, you just have a- a problem!"

Remus laughed, "that's one way to put the fact that once a month I transform into a man eating monster and try to kill anyone I come across."

"Exactly, it's a problem." Marlene laughed, "a furry little problem!"

And the they were both laughing. Laughing so hard that they doubled over and sat down on the slightly damp grass. Marlene clutched her stomach and rolled on the floor. Not caring that she was getting mud on her robes, not caring that the grass was making her clothes sodden. It was a nice feeling to know that one of her best friends trusted her as much as she trusted him,