"I didn't tell anyone!" Hermione shrieked. 

"I've been covering up for you --"

 "Hermione, listen to me, please'" Lupin shouted. "I can explain --" 

Harry could feel himself shaking, not with fear, but with a fresh wave of fury.

 "I trusted you," he shouted at Lupin, his voice wavering, out of control, "and all the time you've been his friend!" 

"You're wrong," said Lupin. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now -- Let me explain...."

 "NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too -- he's a werewolf!"

 There was a ringing silence.

"Well, no shit Sherlock!" shouted Amelia, hands resting on her hips. "But if we aren't to trust him, I would think it would be becouse of the fact he is friends with a serial killer, not becouse of his race. I'm not human either, you know."

"Sorry," Hermione mumbled.

 Everyone's eyes were now on Lupin, who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale. 

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione," he said. "Only one out of three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead. An odd shiver passed over his face. "But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

 Ron made a valiant effort to get up again but fell back with a whimper of pain. Lupin made toward him, looking concerned, but Ron gasped, "Get away ftom me, werewolf!"

Amelia walked over to Ron and pinched him. "Don't be a racist. God, I had thought you pureblood would be over this shit."

 Lupin stopped dead. Then, with an obvious effort, he turned to Hermione and said, "How long have you known?" 

"Ages," Hermione whispered. "Since I did Professor Snape's essay..." 

"He'll be delighted," said Lupin coolly. "He assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant.... Did you check the lunar chart and realize that I was always ill at the full moon? Or did yourealize that the boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?"