"How was Reg?" Asked Peter as soon as Sirius came in.

"Upset." Admitted Sirius. "He really wanted to be in Gryffindor."

"He's still a Marauder. He saved our guts last year." Said James.

"True." Remus added. He was hunched over another book. Sirius vaguely remembered Remus saying something about learning German.

Sirius looked up at James and Peter. James nodded. It was agreed.

"Hey Remus..." started James nervously. "If you don't mind we want to talk to you about something important."

"Yes...?"


"Well you see mate..." said Sirius. "We know you're a werewolf."

There was a stunned silence. Remus looked around at them

"Okay I'm leaving."

"What? No!" Came Peter's response.

"What aren't you gonna kick me out?"

"Why would we do that?" Asked Sirius.

"Because I monster!"

"Quit being a Drama Queen, Remus." Scoffed James "You fold your socks forgive me if I'm trembling at the sight of you."

"Wait so you don't hate me?"

"Really Remus!" Exclaimed Sirius. 'What part of you fold your socks do you not understand?"

Remus gave a grin "Thank God. I hated coming up with all those lies."

"They weren't exactly great lies." Retorted James. "It's a miracle that Kingsley didn't realise something was up."

Remus ignored him.

"How did you know?" Asked Remus. "How did you guys eventually figure out?"

"Peter saw one of your books in the shack when we were leaving." Replied Sirius "The Gobbert or something."

"The Hobbit?" Asked Remus. "I take it with me to the shack to read until I start feeling the pain." He gave them a a small smile. "It can get real boring waiting to spiral into eventual insanity."

"How did it happen?" Asked Peter intrigued.

"Mum and Dad haven't told me much of it." Admitted Remus. "But basically you know how my Dad works at the ministry as expert in Non-Spiritous Apparitions."

"Everyone does..." said James with a smile. "He's the Welsh boggart dude."

"Right so I have no idea why but this werwolf called Fenrir Greyback wanted revenge on him for something that happened. So basically he crept around my room for a month. Every-time I told my parents they couldn't find him. Eventually dad gave me 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' speech unfortunately that night I was attacked."

"Merlin!" Cried Sirius. "Is that where all your scars come from?"

Remus blanched. "You've seen them?"

Sirius turned red. "Accidentally...sorry..."

"I mean it's all good now...but the permanent ones, like the one on my face the bite on my shoulder and some on my back, are the ones from Greyback, but the others they fade eventually."

"Others? As in the ones that you give yourself?" Asked James

"Yeah..."

Peter shifted nervously. "Have you ever you know...?"

"Killed a man?" Remus gave them a wry smile. "Nah not yet."

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Asked James.

"I thought you'd leave me."

"We'd never do that." Assured James. "Once a Marauder. Always a Marauder."

"So you don't hate me?" asked Remus still in disbelief. "I'm a werwolf"

James sighed. "Remus see this arm its actually shorter than the other. But you can't really tell especially if I twirl around like this."

With that James started spinning around.

"I'm lactose intolerant..." added in Peter.

"I'm OBNOXIOUS!" cried Sirius.

Remus laughed until he fell off the bed.

~~~

They sat on their desks in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom the next morning Remus considerably more relaxed. Lily had charmed a paper origami butterfly to flutter about the room. Most people laughed as it landed on their heads or gave a smile as it flew past them. Some even tried to catch it. As for James, he tried to set it on fire, which in turn prompted Lily to turn her butterfly into a fighter jet spraying sharp paper pellets at James's face.

The clicking of heels brought the second years out of their rather violent playfulness as an imperious old woman walked down the corridor of desks. She was tall and fit, clad still in Auror fighting leathers. The only indication of her age, the shock of spikey silver hair.

"Name's Varinia Smith." She said curtly. "That'll be Professor Smith to you."

The doors and windows shut around them.

"She sure does know how to make a dramatic entrance." Said Remus. The other boys suppressed a smile.

"It's to my understanding that your previous defence against the Dark Arts teacher is unable to join you due to his inappropriate dealings. Therefore I'll be taking over from now on.

"Now to the obvious no talking while I'm talking. Misbehaviour will not be tolerated in my classroom."

She was bit like McGonagall, mused James, except McGonagall was more regal and ladylike, queenly and could probably kill you if need be. This one looked like she could straight up blow you to bits and not bat an eye, perhaps add a maniacal laugh for dramatics.

"Now I brought us a little treat from Cornwall. Can anyone guess what it might be?"

Lily put her hand up. "Cornish Pixies."

"Thank you." Said Professor Smith bringing out a cage. "A Pixie is a small, bright blue mischief-maker, and loves tricks and practical jokes. It is able to fly, and enjoys lifting people up by their ears and depositing them on the tops of trees and buildings, showing incredible strength for creatures of their size. Pixies can only communicate with other pixies; their voices are described as "so shrill it was like listening to a lot of arguing budgies"

"Now the only way a pixie can be stopped is through the freezing charm. We'll be doing a practical demonstration. I would like you to repeat after me Immobulus:"

"Immobulus." The class chanted dully.

"Now get in a line I'll be releasing a pixie at time, each person gets one go each. Then we'll be taking notes. Nothing like taking notes aren't I right?"

She gave them a mischievous wink.

A small giggle rumbled through the class. They liked her sarcastic bluntness.

So one by the one they matched their bright blue foes and most of them succeeded in immobolising their pixie. After they took down notes Professor Smith dismissed them.

Sirius and Remus sung her praises till the cows came home.

"If you say one more word" warned James. "I'll strangle you both."