War with Rats
Sept. 1, 1979
    Lily O'Connor steeped off the train and ran over to meet James Potter and Sirius Black.
    "Hi!" she said brightly.
    "Why'd you chop your hair off?  It looks terrible!" said Sirius grinning.
    "Oh, shut up!" Lily said, laughing.
    "Yeah!  You heard the lady, shut up, Sirius!" a voice behind them called out.
    "Hey, Remus, buddy!  How are ya?" said Sirius, turning around to smile at Remus Lupin.
    A loud yelp made every body jump.   James put his arm around Lily as if to protect her from what had yelped.  A small boy ran over and ducked behind Sirius and Remus.
    "Who was it Peter?" James asked, not surprised like Lily was.
    She ran over to help him up and led him to the middle of the group.
    "Who else but Lucius Malfoy?!" Peter Pettigrew replied, his voice shaking with anger and fright.
    "Well duh!  We should have known, you're only picked on by EVERY bloody Slytherin in the whole school!" Remus said sarcastically.  He was obviously disgusted by Peter.
    Lily reached up and slapped him.  "You should be a friend to him, not ridicule him!" she yelled and stomped off, pulling James with her.
    "Uh, see you at the sorting!" he called.
    "Yeah Remus, shut up!" Sirius said.
    "Oh.. go blow up your cauldron!" Remus yelled, and stomped off in the opposite direction.
    "Ummmm," Peter said nervously.
    "Shut up, Peter!" yelled Sirius and stomped off after Lily and James.
    "Ummmm, oops," Peter said and scurried off the find a place to hide from Lucius Malfoy.


    "I can't believe it! We've been here ten hours and we have homework!  what a rip-off!" Sirius exclaimed.
    "Couldn't agree with you more!" said James laughing.
    They carried on for a few minutes joking and laughing.
    "Would you be quiet?!" Remus yelled, slamming down his quill and spinning his chair around to face them.  "I am TRYING to concentrate on a very complicated potion for Snape!"
    "I'll handle this," Sirius whispered to James and walked over to Remus.  "What's up with you?"
    "I'm sick of protecting Peter.  He's turning into SUCH  a sissy!  He's one of the worst in the class and he's a crybaby!"  remus said aggravated.  "He's not up to our standards and he shouldn't be considered one of the gang!  he doesn't live up to it and he gives all of us a bad name!"
    "Jeez!" Sirius exclaimed.  "What a spiel!  But, I concur.  Wholeheartedly!!!  Let's go talk to James."

    Two nicely manicured hands were shoved into both Sirius and Remus faces.
    "Lily!  Move your hand!  I can't see where I'm going!" Sirius whined.
    "That poor boy needs a couple of good friends and that could be you and it should and you know it!"  she replied annoyed.
    "Lily, he's a baby!  He doesn't belong in our league!  He's the worst in the class and we get beat up an awful lot because of him!" Remus said slowly, letting it sink in.
    "That's why he needs a friend!"  she said and stormed off again.
    "She needs to hang out with some people who actually listen to her," Sirius said as they continued towards James.

Sept. 15, 1979
    Peter looked around.  Sirius was on his bed reading, james at his desk studying.  Remus was...where was Remus?  Peter looked around again.  Remus was not in the dorm.
    Peter walked down the stairs to the common room.  He walked over to Lily.
    "Have you seen Remus anytime lately?"  he asked her.
    "No," she said.  "Why?"
    "He's gone!"
    "What?!"  she shrieked.
    "Don't worry Lily.  I'll find him."
    "Alright, but be careful!"  she replied worriedly.

    Remus walked to the Whomping willow with his head down.  I wonder what my friends would do if they knew? he thought.  Probably desert me.
    CRUNCH.  Remus whirled around.
    "Who's there?" he yelled.  He looked around.  There was nothing there.

    Peter sighed.  He had thought Remus had seen him.  He was more careful after that.  Finally, they reached the Whomping Willow.  Remus entered through a hole in the back and Peter waited a little while before following.  they went down a twisting low tunnel and stopped in an underground house.  peter ducked under a table as Remus turned around.  Suddenly, a bright light shot out around him.  His shadow twisted and warped as Peter watched it, unable to look directly at Remus.  After a few minutes, the shadow turned away from Peter and stalked into another room, in the form of a wolf.  Peter took a quick look back and ran back to the castle.

    "Password?"
    "Toil and trouble," Peter ran in and rushed through the common room and up to the boys' dorm.
    "Peter-"
    "Can't talk now Lily!" he yelled, still hurrying up the stairs.
    "Remus is a werewolf!" he said panting and looking from James to Sirius and back.
    "I don't believe you!" Sirius said and turned his back to Peter.
    "Rio," Sirius froze when Peter used his nickname.  "Please!"  Sirius turned around and looked into Peter's eyes, searching for signs of lying.
    "You have exactly one minute to explain starting...now!" Sirius replied.
    "I noticed Remus was missing and I followed him down to the Whomping Willow and he went in and i went after and I hid under a table and he transformed, but he didn't see me!" Peter said in a rush.
    "Well done!  54 seconds!" Sirius exclaimed smiling.

Sept. 16, 1979
    Remus walked into the Great hall and started to sit down.
    "Don't bother Remus, we need to talk," it was Sirius.  "Privately."
    "OK," Remus said confused.  "But why?"
    "You'll see."
    They walked to the dorm with James following silently.
    "Remus, we know you're a werewolf," Peter stepped into the room and closed the door.
    "You're sick every month ON THE FULL MOON," Sirius continued.
    "So?"
    "So," Sirius replied slowly.  "You're a werewolf and we know you are."
    "But, but," Remus stuttered.  "You can't prove it!"
    "We can Remus," Peter said.  "i saw you last night transforming.  You were missing, I was worried so I followed you to the willow and saw you transform."
    "I...I guess you don't want to be friends anyone," Remus said sadly.
    "Well," Sirius began.  "We've pondered the problem and,"
    "we decided to become Animagi," James finished.
    "You...you...you...WHAT?!"  Remus yelled, realizing what they meant.
    "We decided to become Animagi,"  James repeated.
    "You can't.  Please...you...wouldn't!  That could go horribly wrong!  You could be stuck as animals for the rest of your lives!"  Remus protested.
    "We'll risk it Remus.  You're our best friend!"  Sirius said.
    "Yeah!" Peter agreed.  "And I'm sorry for acting like such a baby."
    "That's OK.  Thanks you guys!"  Remus replied smiling.