Work Text:
The plan had succeeded beyond any of their wildest dreams. As first light tinged the horizon, Sirius and James shuffled back into Hogwarts Castle under the invisibility cloak, with Peter, still in rat form, curled up asleep in the pocket of Sirius's robes. They stood still, holding their breath, as Madam Pomfrey passed by them on her way down the great staircase, and watched in silence until she exited through the castle's huge oak doors.
Back in their dormitory, the exhausted boys quickly changed robes, ran combs through their hair, and splashed cold water on their faces, before retracing their steps down to the Hospital Wing, as if they had risen early, rather than staying out all night.
The matron looked up from her charge as Sirius, James, and Peter stumbled through the infirmary door.
"I wondered how long it would be before you three turned up." Her tart tone did not quite hide a hint of amusement.
Although Madam Pomfrey did not approve of Remus's roommates knowing his secret, it had been four years now since they learned the truth, and not one of them had let so much as a whisper slip, so the matron had made her peace with their visits on the mornings following full moons.
"A glorious morning to you, Ma'am," said James with exaggerated courtesy. "How is the patient?"
"He's well enough. Better than usual, in fact. There's hardly a scratch on him. You must have been very lucky last night, Mr Lupin."
"Yeah, pretty lucky," said Remus hoarsely.
When the matron turned her back to pour out a measure of dark brown potion into a large spoon, Remus shot his friends a weak grin.
"This will take care of your aches and pains," said Madam Pomfrey. "Then you may go back to your dormitory and get some sleep. I don't see any reason to keep you here today. You should feel back to normal by suppertime."
Remus dutifully swallowed the medicine, wincing at the bitter taste, then allowed his friends to escort him back to Gryffindor Tower. They did not speak on the way, but every now and then, they caught one another's eye, and stifled a giggle.
In the safety of their dormitory, James collapsed onto his bed with an exhausted laugh. "It worked!"
"Told you it would," said Sirius smugly.
"I thought for sure Pomfrey would guess something was up," Peter yawned.
"Yeah," agreed James. "She'll definitely be suspicious if Moony starts coming through unscathed every month, but I'm too tired to worry about it right now."
"I'll just say I think it has something to do with me getting older," said Remus, climbing into bed and pulling the covers over himself. "I can probably get her to buy it. It's not as if anyone has done a study of adolescent werewolves."
"D'you 'spose we have time for a quick kip before breakfast?" Peter cast a longing look at his own bed.
Sirius yawned and stretched ostentatiously, arching his back. "If I lie down now, I may never get up again."
"We could just skive off," suggested Peter hopefully.
James levered himself reluctantly back to his feet. "Nah; someone will get suspicious if all four of us are out at once. C'mon, lads; we'll be first down to breakfast. Sleep well, Moony." He pushed Peter out the dormitory door ahead of him.
Sirius hung back. "You're really OK?"
"Yeah. Just tired and achey." Remus gave him a sleepy smile. "Thanks. For ... y'know ... everything."
Warmth bloomed in Sirius's chest. "Yeah, well, I - we had to do something. Couldn't let a mate go through all that rubbish every month on his own."
It had all been worth it - the sleepless nights - the months of research - the dozens of failed attempts - for the sight of that sweet smile on Remus's lips, and the knowledge that he had helped lessen his friend's suffering, at least a little.
Remus settled down against the pillows.
"You're sure you don't need anything?" Sirius asked.
"I'm sure. Go get some breakfast."
Sirius knew he should go, but he did not want to. He looked down at his hand on the door handle. All of them could not skive off, but what if it were only him? Maybe he could transform back into the dog. Maybe he could jump up onto Remus's bed, and curl up to sleep at his friend's feet. Remus always complained of cold feet after full moons. Maybe, if Sirius were the dog, Remus would touch him ...
"Sirius?"
The sound of his name on Remus's lips was soft and slurred.
"Yeah?"
"Do James and Pete know?"
Sirius tensed, heart leaping into his throat. Had Remus guessed? Had Sirius's feelings been so obvious in his canine form that he might as well have shouted them from the top of the Astronomy Tower?
"Know what?" he said cautiously.
"Your animagus form. It's female, isn't it?"
Normally, Sirius might have deflected with a quip or a barbed remark, but his wits were sluggish with exhaustion.
"What of it?"
"I've just never heard of that happening before," Remus mumbled, eyes already drooping. "Isn't the animagus form supposed to ... sort of ... reflect a person's inner self?"
Sirius bit the inside of his lip. After his first successful transformation, he had combed obsessively through every text he could find on the subject - had sent to the Ministry of Magic for the list of every registered animagus, going back to the beginning of the registry in the early 15th century - had even tried to muddle through an ancient tome written in an archaic form of French. But if any animagus had ever had an animal form whose sex did not match that of their human body, no one had thought to make note of it. Maybe that meant it was not unusual. Maybe.
"I don't think it means anything," he said, turning back toward the door. "Get some rest, Moony. I'll see you at supper."