Quite contrary to usual nights, silence echoed in the infamous Marauder's dorm. Remus was in the library, thoroughly studying notes from the previous classes he had missed and compiling them for the assignment. While the remaining three were in their dorm pondering over how to tell Rem that they were aware of the truth.

The truth about their friend being a werewolf, a monster, an abomination of the cruelest kind. Yet still their friend.

It was not as easy as anyone would think. Firstly, there was the hurdle of trying to keep Peter calm after he was let in on the secret. The scrawny little guy had been quite scared when faced with the reality that he had been friends with a werewolf for the past year. But it was to James and Sirius's credit that they managed to persuade him, and made him come to terms with it.

Not that Peter had anything against Remus. He was just scared about why Rem hadn't told them earlier and why they were intentionally kept in the dark.

Shortly afterward, the door to the dorm creaked open and Remus stepped in, weighed down by the stack of books he was carrying. At times, it was hard to imagine how much he studied even though he was only in Year 2 yet it seemed he had an OWLs exam each Tuesday.

Sirius took half of the books from the pile he was carrying to which Rem gave him a gratified smile. When the books were all taken care of and Remus was about to drop into his bed for a much-deserved sleep, James gently grabbed him by the shoulder. 

"Wait a second, mate, we have something to tell you."

A bit surprised, Remus paused and then asked, "Okay, what is it?"

Both James and Sirius eyed each other as if considering what to say while Peter spoke up, "Remus, we know."

"What do you know?" He had not understood what they were talking about and it clearly showed from the baffled expression on his face, "Come on now, you're making me nervous."

Sirius took a deep breath not knowing how to break the news to him, "Look, buddy, we want you to promise one thing before we tell you what we know."

Remus was undeniably confused at what was happening, "Alright, what promise?"

"You have to promise us that you won't freak out and you won't leave the dorm. You will just sit here and listen to us until we have finished talking. You won't leave, Rem, promise that," James added.

"I promise," he sat down on the floor with them all, quite anxious because he knew it was something quite serious as judged by their current attitude.

"We know that you have been lying to us since the previous year," Sirius cautiously began, "we know your mother isn't sick, there are no bullies in your neighborhood and your uncle doesn't even have a cat."

"So... So what? I just... I..." Remus was exasperated at being caught up like that.

James silenced him, "You promised to listen, we aren't finished yet. Rem, we know you're a werewolf."

He stiffened immediately. The frown lines became evident on his face as the truth from their voices dawned upon him. 

His friends had figured it out and he feared that everything he had been trying to hold together would fall apart. They won't be his friends anymore and everything was simply ruined. His hands shook but he clasped them tightly together, failing to keep his composure.

"Remus, we know but we don't care what you are, you are still our best friend. We don't give a damn what people think of you, you are like a brother to us and we won't ever let you go. You understand?" Sirius grabbed him by the shoulders as he tried to draw back from them.

"Leave me, Sirius, I... I... I want to go."

"You promised."

"I... I... I don't care," he was slightly trembling as the corners of his eyes began to fill with tears.

But before he could get up to run away from the dorm, the three of them fell on him and tackled him into a giant bear hug, holding tightly onto him as if his life depended on it. There was silence except for the occasional choked sobs that ensued from Remus.

The three of them were trying their best to calm him down, hugging him and ruffling up his hair, holding him close in one of their confidential silent moments.

"Easy there, Remus, we are not leaving you," Peter spoke up at last, gently patting his back. "How could you even think that we would do that?"

"Exactly," Sirius agreed, "nothing has changed between us and nothing ever will. We don't care, Rem, we are brothers and that's what we will remain, no matter what happens."

"But... But... I'm a monster," he choked out still not recovering from the shock that his friends finally knew his secret, "You should be scared of me. I... I don't deserve to be with you guys."

"Oh yeah? A monster who knits woolen jumpers," James interjected, "honestly Rem, don't expect us to be trembling at the sight of you."

"And makes the best homemade cookies," Peter added, "Real scary material, don't you think?"

The momentary silence was broken when Sirius remarked, "I know why you even thought we would get terrified of you. You haven't met my Mum yet, so you have no perception of what real scary is like."

James frowned, "Sirius, this is not a joke."

He shrugged, "I know this is not a joke. It's a fact. My Mum howls louder than the noises that come from the Shrieking Shack. Next time you guys come to London, I will prove it."

Remus took a minute to let it all sink in. His friends knew he was a werewolf but didn't care about it at all, they still thought of him as a brother and were still just as close to him as they were before.

Very slowly, a small smile crept up to his face as he got up and hugged them back, "I don't know what I would do without you three."

"You won't have to think about that because we are never going to be apart," Peter added.

James gave Sirius a thumbs up as they returned his hug, squashing him until he nearly screamed. "Guys, I am still injured, remember?" 

When they finally broke up the embrace, Sirius lightened the atmosphere "Who's up for a game of Exploding Snap? I figured out a trick to win the game in five seconds and I am real eager to try it."

"Five seconds? You got to be kidding me," Remus replied, an eyebrow raised skeptically.

"Bet?" Sirius raised an eye in mischief, "The one who wins the game first gets a galleon."

James interjected, "Five galleons."

"Okay then," Remus smiled, "prepare to lose."

He let out his bark-like laugh, "Not a chance, mate. I learned that trick from that Ravenclaw prefect, what's his name, Stryker? It's fail-proof."

"We'll see about that," Peter replied, "James, how about we grab a bag of popcorn?"

"What's a popcorn?" James sat up surprised.

"Ah, not again..." Remus shook his head slightly, looking over at Peter who was trying to explain what popcorn was to James and Sirius who were looking at him as if they had just heard of an unbelievable thing.

But there was only one thing on his mind; he was lucky to have such a sincere pair of friends like those he had now. He didn't know what he would do without any of them. And he seriously hoped that they would never get apart.

***