𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗭𝗞𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗡 [𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍]

Chapter Fourty Two: Halfway There

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

Sirius, James and Peter had to leave the Shrieking Shack early tonight because it was one of those really bad full moons and Moony was basically unapproachable.

The three dejectedly went back to Gryffindor tower, using a spell Remus taught them to erase their tracks from the snow, and went to bed because there was no good they'd do by staying up all night anymore.

First thing they did in the morning was going to visit Remus. Madam Pomfrey just rolled her eyes and let them in even if it wasn't visiting hours because she'd long since learned the boys were as stubborn as it gets when it came to these visits.

Remus looked worse than even the times when his friends weren't at the Shack him. But he tried to put on a brave face and smile when he saw them.

"How are you, Moony?" Sirius asked, trying not to wince audibly at the number of bandages covering Remus' torso.

"I've been better. But it just looks worse than it actually is." he shrugged. "I don't feel that bad."

"It doesn't feel like we're doing enough." sighed James.

On the surface, it might look like Remus was the one holding this group together but it was actually James, constantly worrying that his friends weren't getting enough of everything. He acts exactly like Mrs. Potter sometimes, though Sirius wouldn't say that to his face for the safety of his own face.

Remus shook his head. "No. You've done more than I could have ever asked for."

"But what about last night? When we couldn't be there for you?"

"Last night was different, James." Remus said, turning his head to look out of the window closest to his bed. "I could have seriously hurt you lot and I'd rather spend one night alone that live with that on my conscious."

The four boys sat silently after that. It's not really easy to start another conversation after hearing something like that.

"You walk your dog to make them feel better, right?" said James a while later, like he's just had an epiphany. "Maybe that's what Moony needs."

"I'm not a dog." Remus said, confused as to where James was going with this.

"Wolves are of the dog family." James argued.

"I'm not a wolf either."

"Well . . . You're half way there." James insisted with a sage-like nod of his head. "I believe that's where the term 'werewolf' was derived from."

"Your point being . . .?" Sirius prompted because the way Remus was glaring at James was scary.

"We just need to take Moony out of the Shack every once in a while." said James and faced Remus. "It's being trapped in there that's making you hurt yourself so much."

"But I can't leave the Shack." protested Remus. "There's a reason Dumbledore put me there. So I wouldn't hurt anyone in the castle."

"Who said anything about the castle?"

"We can't take him to the Forbidden Forest either, Prongs." Sirius said to James in particular. "The centaurs won't hesitate to shoot him if they see him."

"Hold it. I'm not going anywhere with you lot." Remus interrupted. "Dumbledore put me in Hogwarts and went to all the trouble of setting up the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow against any sane person's better judgment to help me. I'm not just going to throw that away to go frolicking with you. I'd be betraying Dumbledore's trust."

"You wouldn't be betraying Dumbledore's trust." Sirius said, a little shocked by Remus's outburst. "We'll just take you to the woods surrounding Hogsmead. There are no people there. You'll be safe with us."

"Professor Dumbledore doesn't even have to know what we're up to and if on the nonexistent chance he ever finds out, you can just say we dragged you kicking and screaming out of the Shrieking Shack." James added.

Remus rested his head back against his pillow and closed his eyes. "Three kids dragging a full grown werewolf even an inch doesn't seem very likely or believable." he said.

"Please Moony, don't be such a buzzkill." whined James.

"It's not just that, Prongs." he said and his eyes flew open. "I can't expect you guys to keep risking your lives for me like that every month. Your being in the Shack is bad enough."

James rolled his eyes and sighed too loudly for it to be legitimate and said, "How many times do we have to tell you this, Moony? You're opinion doesn't matter. It's settled. Next full moon we're taking you out and you're coming wether you like it or not. And just so you know, real men don't frolic."

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

The Marauders had managed to skiv off a few more of Slughorn's boring parties on the pretense of having Quidditch practices or homework.

Most of their time (even though Remus has practically been begging them to start studying for their O.W.L's) has been devoted to the development of the Marauders Map so they haven't had the time for much of anything else.

But a kind of nervous excitement gave Sirius goosebumps every time he thinks about taking Moony out of the Shack. They'd be risking a lot but if James's idea worked, there would be much more to gain with it.

They now sat at the Gryffindor table and discussed the plan in hushed voices over some toast and marmalade.

Sirius cleared his throat for emphasis and began the meeting. "In a few days it'll be Moony's time of the month . . ."

"Excuse you?" Remus interrupted, eyes scanning the table for anyone who might have been listening.

"You know, your furry little problem."

"I know that." he hissed. "But why don't you say it a little louder? I don't think they heard you over at the Three Broomsticks."

"Damn it. You're probably right." Sirius muttered and stood on the table just to see Remus's reaction.

But he got a little more than just Remus's attention because it just so happened to be his luck that McGonagall was looking at the Gryffindor table at that exact moment.

"Detention, Mr. Black. I expect you in my office in ten minutes." rang her voice across the hall, startling the teachers and students into starting at Sirius with one of his loafers in James's cereal bowl.

Sirius smiled at McGonagall apologetically and slid back on the bench.

"You kind of deserved that." said James as he used his wand to siphon milk off the front of his robes while Remus gave Sirius an evil smirk over the rim of his mug.

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾