The Marauders and the Arenotelicon

The second month came and went without a hitch. The spells Remus had learned poring through various books Madam Pince grudgingly helped him find within the Restricted Section hid any marks or clues that something had gone wrong with him "next trip home". The other three boys watched Remus like hawks for any sign of abuse the following days after the full moon but he showed not a one. Gradually it was forgotten on the surface but not deep within. Remus knew that his friends would protect him no matter what.

Their friendship was now a deep bond, almost psychic. Each knew when one of the others' was either in trouble, getting ready to be in trouble or looking for trouble. Or anything else for that matter. They were receptive to each others' moods. It was becoming uncanny and slightly disconcerting, especially for Remus. It also became apparent that they were going to be the hellions of the school, especially Sirius.

Sirius had always been a bit standoffish, a bit rebellious. James had always put it down to being a "poor little rich boy" thing. Peter spent a lot of his time hero-worshipping James, mimicking everything he did. Remus was alternately amused or worried by his pure blood friend's behavior, not sure whether to join in or stop him. Either way, Sirius was definitely good for entertainment value if nothing else.

James was rapidly becoming the leader of their little group. It was James that organized their study sessions. It was James that instigated their little forays against Snape and his own little band of Slytherins. It was James that led them all over the campus, with other three trailing behind. It was James that managed to get them detention for throwing Filibuster Fireworks at Peeves the Poltergeist one late October afternoon.

It had been fun while it lasted and it was easy enough with half the school cheering them on. Remus had felt a little guilty about it but he also felt Peeves had it coming for all the torment he gave the students. He'd found a charm that hampered the ghostly ability to fade through walls and move at increased speeds while digging around in the Restricted Section. That, coupled with Sirius' diabolical need to avenge himself on Peeves for a prior incident concerning a large bucket of ice water and a trick staircase, was more than enough incentive for the four of them to tackle Peeves immediately after History of Magic.

Too bad Professor McGonagall was less amused than the rest of the school. She ordered the four of them to report to Hagrid for detention that evening at sundown. Remus was thankful it wasn't a full moon. Sirius was ecstatic it might mean a trip into the Forbidden Forest. James and Peter thought Sirius was nuts. Remus refrained from comment on both points.

Immediately after dinner, the four of them drudged to Hagrid's hut, where the huge man was sitting outside, fiddling with his giant crossbow. "So you boys are helping me tonight, are ya?" asked the groundskeeper almost jovially.

"Yes," said James with very little enthusiasm. Sirius was craning his neck around Hagrid's large form to stare at the forest beyond.

"Well, don' worry. We aren't goin' inta the forest. Just doin' a bit of guard duty is all. The sheep in the pen on the other side of the castle have been gettin' attacked. We jus' need to sit back and see if we can catch what it is." Hagrid didn't seem too concerned about what it might be.

Peter nervously shifted from foot to foot. "It wouldn't be a werewolf, would it?" he asked tremulously and Remus blanched when Hagrid gave him a quick look.

"Nah, never happens on a full moon." Remus relaxed slightly.

"Bugbear?" suggested James.

"Nah, wrong smell in the air for one of them. Besides, bugbears usually go after something smaller than a sheep, like chickens." Hagrid slung the quiver over his back and nodded to them. "Well, let's be off then. I'll only be keepin' ya until about midnight and usually its attacked and gone by then. I may need your help putting the sheep in the pen, though."

Sirius was horrified and intrigued at the same time. "You mean, herd them? Like shepherds?"

James sniggered. "That's how they get there, Sirius."

"I've never -" exclaimed Sirius, temporarily lapsing into his upper class upbringing, aghast that he'd have to do such a menial task.

"Ya are now, so get a move on!" snapped Hagrid but all four boys could see his beard twitch, as if he were trying not to laugh.

Remus sidled next to his friend. "You're not some rich man's son here, Sirius, don't forget."

"I know, I know, I forgot." Sirius was still looking a bit uncertain but he squared his shoulders and followed James and Hagrid. After a few steps he seemed eager again and began to badger the giant man about various creatures he'd seen in the forest.

The five of them had gotten around to the sheep pen and just beyond, on a ridge overlooking the pen, was a whole hillside full of sheep. Hagrid led them up the slope and broke them into two groups. "I'll take James and Sirius and we'll go over here and start pushing them toward the pen. Remus and Peter, get the gate open and keep any strays from getting too far away as we herd 'em to ya." Hagrid stumped off with Sirius and James trailing behind, muttering, "Gotta ask the headmaster fer a dog."

Peter pulled open the huge paddock gate and Remus stood back a bit as the sheep started to slowly make their way toward them. It happened in only a few quick moments. Neither Peter nor Remus registered anything was happening until it was almost too late. As the sheep began to pour into the pen, a blur streaked from the edge of the forest. Remus vaguely heard Peter's cry of alarm; his wolf instincts had immediately gone on alert.

The blur leaped toward the sheep nearest to the forest's edge and, without thinking Remus ran toward it. It was only a brief moment where beast and boy's eyes met but the animal gave a tremendous snarl and turned to race back into the forest. As it disappeared into the darkness of the trees, Remus sped by the hapless sheep that had almost been the beast's dinner. The sheep bleated in terror and charged toward the pen. This started a small stampede of sheep, each one catching the primal fear of its neighbor and seeking refuge.

The refuge that was pen where Peter was standing right in the gate.

The pounding of the earth shook Remus from his instinctual need to chase the fleeing predator. He could vaguely hear over the increasing noise of hooves pounding the ground Hagrid, James and Sirius screaming at them. He turned and his jaw dropped. One sheep had started several sheep running to the fence. Following the pattern of all herd animals, the entire flock caught the scent of fear and was heading for safety, for the pen.

Peter and Remus' eyes met for a second before Peter turned and ran for the other end of the paddock. Unable to do more himself other than to dodge away from panicked sheep, Remus held his breath until he saw Peter scrambling up on the fence on the other end of the pen and then over it to safety. Within minutes, the sheep were in their enclosure, still frightened but safe.

"What 'appened?" demanded Hagrid hoarsely when he and the other two boys got to them. Peter had come around the fence to join Remus. The two boys were panting, eyes wide with disbelief, staring at the white, brown and black fluffy beasts.

"Whatever was after the sheep came back!" Peter began to babble. "Ran right for a sheep near Remus! Thought it was going for Remus for a second there!"

"Yer al'right then?" asked Hagrid gruffly, turning Remus this way and that, searching for injuries.

"I'm fine. I didn't recognize it, Hagrid, but it was -" Remus snapped his jaw closed. Once again he'd been about to say something that would make his friends suspicious of him.

"It was what, Remus?" demanded James. The others merely stared at him.

"Brown. Big and brown," Remus finished lamely.

"Big and brown," frowned Hagrid. "Could be anything then. Two legs? Four legs? See any teeth? Any claws? Long fur or short fur?" Remus shrugged helplessly, caught between a rock and a hard place. "Well, think on it and let me know if you remember anything," sighed Hagrid in disappointment.

"Yessir," mumbled Remus, staring at the ground. He could feel James, Peter and Sirius' perplexed looks on him but couldn't meet their gaze.

"You boys had best get back up to the school. If Professor McGonagall asks, you did your detention." Hagrid waved them away absent-mindedly. "Stay away from the forest as much as you can." He was staring into the trees where the creature had come and Remus, following Hagrid's gaze, swore he could see the beast staring back at them. The nerves on the back of his neck tingled and unknowingly Remus growled deep in his throat.

Hagrid's gaze jerked to Remus in surprise and Remus belatedly realized what he'd done when he heard Peter's gasp. He was thankful that no one mentioned it, though, but James' eyes bored into him the whole way back to the castle and to the Gryffindor common rooms.