Severus and his team needed a suitable place for their research. Since Damocles couldn't enter Hogwarts and we could only go to Hogsmeade on weekends, we had to find a place there. Damocles mentioned that he didn't get along well with his brother and had moved out after coming of age. Having just graduated, he was renting a place in Diagon Alley but was now looking to buy a house.
After about a week, Damocles finally chose a house to buy, located a bit off the main street in Hogsmeade. The house had a good structure, with two floors and a basement. However, it was quite bare, with minimal furniture and no significant renovations. Damocles spent a few more days setting up, and on Saturday, we went straight to his new home after leaving the Hog's Head.
Seeing Damocles' so-called "settled" home, Lily and I could only comfort each other, "We shouldn't expect a single man devoted to potions to have a well-kept home." After a chaotic afternoon, we returned to school exhausted but satisfied.
After dinner, we stayed in the common room until curfew, reading.
I closed the book I had just finished, *Irreversible Magical Damage*, and rubbed my eyes. "Are you going to Damocles' place tomorrow?"
Lily looked up from her book, "Yes, are you coming?"
"I won't—" I yawned. "I need to return this book to Madam Pomfrey and borrow a new one." I waved the book in my hand.
"If you're tired, go back to the dormitory and sleep," Severus said without looking up.
Was he concerned about me? I wasn't sure and tried to find clues in his expression but found none.
"Yes, Sawyer, you look tired. I'll walk with you," Lily said, adding a bookmark and packing her bag.
"Alright. Severus, aren't you coming?"
"I'll leave in a bit. You two go ahead."
"Okay, goodnight."
The next morning, I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep. Since lying in bed was boring, I decided to return the book to the hospital wing.
I got up quietly, washed, left a note for Lily, and left the Gryffindor Tower with the book. I'd never gone to the hospital wing this early, and when I reached the door, I realized Madam Pomfrey might not be up yet. It felt intrusive, but since I was already there, I decided to wait inside.
I sneaked in and prepared to sit on a bed when I heard voices from the special ward inside. It was Madam Pomfrey's voice.
The door was ajar, and my curiosity piqued, but eavesdropping wasn't polite. I knocked, pushing the door open a bit more. "Poppy, are you there?"
I immediately saw a weak-looking Remus lying on the bed and Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have just finished a healing spell, her wand still raised.
"Sorry to interrupt, Madam. I came to return the book I borrowed." I raised the book. "But, may I ask what happened to Mr. Lupin? He doesn't look well."
Madam Pomfrey sighed, not answering me directly. She put away her wand and said to Remus, "It's up to you whether you want to tell her. If she's a friend and truly cares for you…" She trailed off and turned to leave. "Mr. Lupin needs more Blood-Replenishing Potion. I'll go see Professor Slughorn. Sawyer, can you handle his wounds? There's one on his chest and another on his arm."
"No problem, Madam." I watched her leave and close the door. Walking over to Remus, I saw him pulling his clothes together to hide his wounds. I sighed inwardly and said in a healer's impartial tone, "Let me see the chest wound. Please open your shirt, Mr. Lupin."
Hearing my firm tone, Remus resignedly opened his shirt. The gory wound, running from his left shoulder to his second rib, made me frown. It was a beast's claw mark. Madam Pomfrey had already stopped the bleeding.
I skillfully drew my wand and murmured the healing spell, watching the wound slowly close, leaving a pink scar. Such forceful tears in the skin rarely healed perfectly without expensive and complex skin-regenerating potions, which were usually only used by wealthy families. The school infirmary didn't stock such potions.
Silently, I treated the wound on Remus' arm and then sat down with a stern expression, waiting for him to speak.
He looked conflicted, still hesitating whether to tell me the truth.
"If you're debating whether to tell me you're a werewolf, I already know," I said, confirming the uneasy truth.
Seeing his shocked and somewhat vulnerable expression, my attitude softened.
I had suspected something was off about him last semester but didn't investigate. After all, I trusted Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey's responsibility toward Hogwarts students. Last semester's Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook had a final chapter on werewolves, though we didn't cover it in class due to the professor's hospitalization, I read it myself and consulted related books. The signs were clear, and with yesterday's full moon... I had pieced it together. Examining him closely confirmed the werewolf traits in Remus.
"I figured it out myself. Lily didn't tell me," I added, shrugging. "I didn't intend to uncover your secret. But I have a habit of self-study and didn't miss the werewolf chapter. And then, oops—" I nodded at his wounds. "I stumbled upon the evidence, and the truth became evident." I spread my hands in a detective's manner.
I tried to lighten the atmosphere, and Remus seemed to relax a bit. "I… didn't dare tell you. I know how dangerous werewolves are. If people knew, I wouldn't be allowed to stay at Hogwarts—I don't want to lose this. Since being bitten as a child, I never expected to attend Hogwarts, let alone have… friends."
I understood, but, "Even if Dumbledore has made safety arrangements, you could still hurt your friends. You know that," I said, catching the hurt in his expression. "Werewolves lose control after transforming. You're dangerous, Remus."
"I know—I hate that!" He said with frustration and helplessness.
"I guess Dumbledore's arrangement is the Shrieking Shack?"
Remus nodded, "I transform there every month. There's a secret passage leading from the Whomping Willow to the Shack. The haunted rumors are spread intentionally to keep people away."
We had encountered that and managed to involve Tito in a bit of trouble. I thought sarcastically. "Given that, as long as you're cautious, you can avoid hurting others. Who else knows this besides the professors?"
"James, Sirius, Peter, and Lily. James and I share a dormitory, and they found out in second year. I thought I'd lose them then… but they remained my friends, calling it my 'furry little problem.'" Speaking of his close friends, his tone was filled with warmth and gratitude. "Last semester, Lily got curious about the Shrieking Shack, which you probably know."
Of course, I knew; I had prompted it. I made a face inwardly but said nothing.
"James let slip a few things under Lily's pestering, and she, being smart and self-taught like you, figured it out. She rushed to confront me, upset that I didn't trust her." Remus smiled wryly.
"Should I be upset you didn't trust me? If I hadn't stumbled upon this today, you wouldn't have told me, would you?" I pretended to be annoyed.
"It's not about trust!" Remus sat up anxiously. "I'm afraid of losing you all. I value my friends."
"But Lily is still your friend, and do I seem like I'm about to cut ties with you?" I raised an eyebrow with a mock smile.
Realizing I was joking, Remus relaxed back onto his pillow, "Phew, Sawyer, you look so much like Snape right now."
I realized I was subconsciously mimicking Severus. Thinking of his raised eyebrow and sardonic smile, I smiled too.
"Ah-ha—" Remus laughed, "Looks like someone's in love!"
I must have been smiling too dreamily earlier, making Remus laugh at me. Embarrassed, I blushed and glared at him. "Stop it! We're discussing your issue!"
"Oh, someone's getting defensive… alright," Remus held up his hands in mock surrender as I looked ready to explode, "Where were we?"
"We were talking about cutting ties. Maybe I should seriously consider it…" I feigned hesitation.
"Oh, I shouldn't have joked about you and Snape," Remus said, his gentle smile tinged with vulnerability. "Are you serious?"
Now I regretted joking about this; he was too sensitive. I put on my most serious expression. "I'm serious now. We're still friends. You can trust me, and I'll help you find ways to lessen the pain." I gestured to his wounds. A thought suddenly crossed my mind, but I held back, not wanting to give false hope.
"You've already eased my pain. Your healing skills are excellent." Remus' voice was soft and filled with gratitude. His experiences must have made him easily content and grateful. My resolve to help him strengthened.
"I'll do everything I can. That's what friends do. Now, Madam Pomfrey should be back by now. Look at your pale face; you need that Blood-Replenishing Potion." I stood up to leave. "I'll go get her."
As I opened the door to the special ward, I heard his voice behind me, "Thank you."