Revelare Viam, pt. 1

“I help him when he transforms into a werewolf.” 

Harry gasped. He looked from the drink to James’ stunned face, then bolted out of the portrait hole. With a look to make sure the coast was clear, he pulled his invisibility cloak out of his robes.

Just as he disappeared, James and Sirius came running out from around the corner. 

“Who are your best friends?” James shouted, knowing that Harry would be forced to answer if he was within earshot, and they could find him. They didn’t expect anything unusual.

“Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley!” Harry shouted in an equally loud voice as he ran in the opposite direction. He tried to cast a Muffling Charm to block out any future responses, but found he was unable to do so. Then, to his relief, he found a hiding place—the humpbacked witch statue. He tapped the statue with his wand, muttered “Dissendium,” and got inside before James and Sirius caught up to him. 

Harry contemplated waiting out the potion, but figured it would take too long. If only he’d mastered Occlumency…he tried saying a lie to himself. “My name is J—J—Harry…” He stopped. What had Severus taught him in the Occlumency lessons? Clear your mind. But he couldn’t, not when he’d just given away his friend’s secret. 

Harry knew he couldn’t stand by when James and Sirius had the information. He couldn’t modify their memories without risking permanent damage…but he could body-bind the pair until the potion wore off. He left the tunnel, cloak on, wand at the ready.

“I heard something this way!” James called from down the corridor. He sprinted in Harry’s direction. 

“Are you really…” James paused, Harry hesitated, which gave James just enough time to continue, “…who you say you are?” 

Harry had no choice but to answer. “No. Petrificus Totalus!” 

“James? Where’d you go?” Sirius appeared, comically shocked when he spotted James frozen on the ground. 

“What the—” Sirius limbs snapped together and he fell to the ground before he could finish. 

Despite Harry’s relief that the information was contained, that James hadn’t asked a more revealing question, Harry was nervous. He flipped them over so they wouldn’t see him take off his cloak, then waited for the potion to wear off. 

“My name is Ha—” he mutter periodically. Ten minutes later, he felt his jaw relax, allowing him to say, “My name is Jacob Walker.” 

Harry disarmed Sirius and James, pocketed their wands, then released the two boys. They jumped up, staring at Harry, who kept his wand raised. 

“It’s impressive that you made Veritaserum.”

James glared at Harry, eyes narrowed. The expression only lasted a moment, he looked back at the ground, still processing the news. 

“I have to take you to Dumbledore. He’ll decide what to do, now that you know.” The fact hit Harry hard once more…How would Remus react? What if it was too early for them to find out, and they wouldn’t accept Remus? 

James looked as though he might resist Harry, but knew he wasn’t in a position to do so. 

The three made their way through the seventh floor corridor and down the staircase. A few students looked at them, trying to assess if they needed help, but James nor Sirius said anything. 

When the reached the third floor, James spoke. “I asked you if you were really who you said you were. You said no.”

Harry frowned. There had to be a way out of giving the truth. “I said no because…the question was really vague. I said no because I…interpreted it as if you…asked if I felt like I acted like my true self, and wasn’t putting on an act. And I feel like I am putting on an act. Everyone sees me as really good at Quidditch, and smart, but they don’t really know me. That’s a guess, I dunno why, exactly.”

Was Harry’s response too heartfelt? James might’ve believed him, but it was hard to tell. It was the last thing anyone said until they reached the entrance on the first floor. 

The gargoyle gave way to the Headmaster’s office.

When they had barely entered the room, Dumbledore spoke. “You may lower your wand, Mr. Walker.” 

Harry did so and turned to face Dumbledore, this ghost of his past, who studied the odd trio over steepled fingers. 

“Sir, they found out about Remus.” Harry’s voice was hard, serious.

Dumbledore nodded slowly. “How, may I ask…?” 

“Veritaserum, I think.” 

Dumbledore studied James and Sirius with his piercing blue eyes. “I expected better from you two. The use of Veritaserum is highly restricted in the wizarding world.” 

“Remus wouldn’t tell us! What were we supposed to do?” James caught himself. “Sorry, sir.” 

“I would like you to have thought of something other than a truth serum.” 

Finally, the boys looked ashamed. 

“Now,” Dumbledore continued, standing, “I don’t think it should be a problem, but out of respect for your friend, you must not tell anyone.” 

“What about Peter?”

“Seeing as he is part of your group, it would be hard to keep it from him. However, outside of you four, and Jacob…” The Headmaster paced before them. “People would feel endangered with a werewolf in the school. Not everyone would react the same way as you have to Remus’ situation.” 

Harry wondered, how were James and Sirius reacting to this new discovery? They were a bit shaken, but otherwise he’d have to wait and see. 

“I recommend talking to Remus. Tonight would be best. This involves him, he can decide what to do. For now, I bid you good night. Thank you, Jacob.” 

Harry nodded, unable to speak. He held down his feelings so he wouldn’t get choked up, or get teary-eyed. Each meeting with Dumbledore was increasingly painful. 

The journey to the Hospital wing was dreadfully awkward. Harry only spoke to give them advice. “What Remus feared most was you’d find out and not want to be friends with him. As long as he knows you’ll all still be friends, and will help him, even, he won’t want your memories erased.” 

Remus was asleep when they got there. He seemed to be having a nightmare; his face was scrunched up in discomfort and his hands were clenched before him. Harry cast a Muffling Charm so the couple other patients wouldn’t hear.

“Remus?” Harry touched his shoulder. 

Remus’ eyes opened drowsily. “Jacob?” He rubbed his head and looked at his company. “James, Sirius…what’s…?”

“Listen, Remus. They gave me this truth serum and I was forced to tell them you were a werewolf. But—” 

Remus was brought abruptly out of his post-sleep daze. “What?” He didn’t know how to react other than to look worriedly from James and Sirius to Harry.

“We don’t mind that you’re a werewolf!” James said quickly.

“Yeah, you’d have to be the King of Gits to give a damn if his best friend were a werewolf.”

“So you do give a damn, then, Sirius?” James joked. They both laughed. 

“Dumbledore said you get to decide how to deal with this,” Harry told Remus, who was staring at his hands, face twisting as different emotions struggled to surface. 

“Why did you make Jacob tell you about my…problem?” Remus asked, dumbfounded. He’d settled on being confused and upset, brown eyes shining up at the three. 

James and Sirius glanced at each other. “We knew you weren’t telling the truth, you wouldn’t tell us what was really going on—”

“There’s a reason I kept it a secret! What if people find out?” Remus’ voice rose. 

James and Sirius were stunned by his outburst. “Well…they won’t find out. Your secret’s safe with us.” 

“You don’t understand—” Remus began, but Sirius cut him off.

“No, you don’t understand. We honestly don’t care that you’re a werewolf. You could be a—a vampire, secretly a girl for that matter…” 

“Now, being a girl is more likely than a vampire. You do have some feminine qualities, Remus,” James interjected, grinning.

“Anyway, it’s better if we do know because, well, it’s kinda hard to keep from us, and we could find a way to help you!” 

Remus no longer looked angry, he was just serious. “Fine. I’m sorry. I—I just was worried. If anyone else found out, well…” 

“They won’t,” James promised him firmly. 

“Just know—I’ll make their lives miserable if they do,” Harry assured Remus. 

“Well, we won’t,” James repeated, though his smile held a hint of his annoyance. 

“But if you do, just know the consequences.” Harry had now turned to James, eyes flaring up. 

“Right. I think I already know the consequences.” James was more than ready to fight. 

“Oh, you do, do you?” Harry pulled out his wand, and James did the same. 

“I think you made it very clear when you used that Body-Bind Curse.”

“You think Remus should trust you when you forced me to talk?” Harry snapped, his voice rising. 

“Oh, shut up, you—” James called Harry something vulgar that was half-masked by a gasp at the other end of the room. Madam Pomfrey shuffled over, took five points from Gryffindor, and made them leave. 

“Let him rest, he needs sleep to get better. Shoo.” The three trudged back to the Tower, James and Harry arguing, Sirius in tow. 

After that night, the Marauders had an unspoken connection to Harry. Unspoken as in, at first, it seemed as though it would not have any effect on the visible relationship between them.

“So, what do you do to help him? Remus, I mean.” It was a week later and a few days after the second Quidditch match, which they easily won. It was also the first time one of the Marauders other than Remus himself had talked about his problem. 

Harry looked at James. It was like seeing the reflection of his true appearance, his younger self, except for the eyes. He wondered…Could they be friends now? 

“Er, well, I charm things inside the Shrieking Shack—”

“What’s the Shrieking Shack?” James interrupted. Oh, right. He knew nothing about the process. 

“It’s where Remus goes to transform. There’s a tunnel underneath the Whomping Willow that leads to it.”

“Why’s it called the Shrieking Shack?” Shit. Harry realized the shack didn’t—and probably wouldn’t—earn that nickname because of his help. 

“Er, I don’t know why I called it that.” 

James looked at him strangely, but moved on. “So what do you do?” 

“I charm things into mice, or other small animals, so Remus can chase them. But they’re also enchanted so he can’t catch them.” Or at least, he’s not supposed to catch them. 

James nodded. He seemed to want to leave, but he didn’t have a valid excuse. 

Remus, Sirius, and Peter joined them. 

“We came up with a solution to help Remus,” Sirius said, voice low, so the other people who were entering the room wouldn’t hear. 

“Well, it was Sirius, really, but—” 

Peter set down the pile of books he had been carrying with a huff. The top one read Advanced Transfiguration: Long Term Spells, and looked very worn. 

“Remus said he doesn’t attack animals when he’s, you know…So I thought: what if we found a way to become animals? And we read about Animagi.” 

“I’ve heard of them before.” Harry was surprised they’d come up with the solution so fast.

“It’s really advanced magic, though.” It was Remus who spoke up. “And I thought, well, you’re the best in our year, so you could help. I—If you wanted to.” 

Harry immediately said yes, he’d love to help, but he realized a second too late what the problem was. He did want to help them, make sure nothing went wrong, but his form would be a stag. Like his dad. Would James be suspicious if they had the same form?

Harry couldn’t take it back, not when Remus’ face lit up how it did.

Sirius glanced upstairs. “Well, we were going to look through the books.”

“Right then.” James stood up, resenting Remus’ compliment to Harry, that he was best in their year. He pushed ahead of Harry and led the other four up the stairs, affirming that he was the leader of the pack. 

A week prior to Christmas, Harry had all his gifts figured out. His owl, Enoch, had been gone for a large portion of the year, out on the grounds or in the Owlery. He liked Harry, but hadn’t been given anything to do, which Harry could tell frustrated him. Now, Enoch, in his cage, hooted happily at the sight of all the mail. 

James received numerous large parcels leading up to the last day before holidays to give to friends, relishing their curiosity. Raven could be seen around the common room with her sketchbook, tucked close to her so no one would see. Sirius’ family sent him a mere five galleons, a third of what he asked for. Harry knew this because he spent an entire day muttering and complaining about them all being “…stingy, miserable, and old.” 

“Are you getting Lily anything for Christmas?” Harry asked Severus, who frowned, annoyed. 

His bed was covered in pieces of parchment, various books, and numerous vials. When he was this far into his work, he did not like being bothered. “Yeah, but why do you care? I’m not talking to you about it.” 

Harry looked back at him just as sourly. “Okay. I’m going to clean up.” 

“Okay,” Severus replied, still invested in the book he was reading. When Harry left, he realized how abrasive he’d been and pounded his head with his fist. “Stupid,” he muttered. 

Harry washed his face in the sink and studied his reflection. He was now more accustomed to, when he looked in the mirror, seeing the dirty blonde hair, the stark blue eyes, and the place he’d decided to put a small, fake birthmark, or sometimes a patch that blended into his skin. His bangs, however, were the easiest way to cover his scar. 

Harry ran a hand through his hair and dried off by muttering, “Exaresco.” By now, he’d memorized the spells to keep his appearance from changing. He waved his wand, acting quickly but carefully, until his no hints of Harry Potter showed through. 

James came into the bathroom, looking nervous in the moment before he saw Harry. “Oh. Hi.” 

“Hello.” Harry managed to fit the book into his robes, but James noticed. 

“What was that?”

“A book on…dueling.” Harry twirled his wand in his fingers intimidatingly. 

James was not impressed by this explanation. He strode up to Harry and pointed his wand at his chest. 

“There is something off about you. And I’m going to figure out what it is.” He glared at Harry until he thought he’d made enough of an impression, then he lowered his wand and let Harry leave.

Back in the dorm, Harry took his bag out of one of his drawers. I need to make sure he doesn’t dig through my stuff. He cast a spell that would only allow access if he said a certain phrase.

“Again?” Harry heard someone behind him say under their breath. James had just entered the dorm.

“I was just leaving,” Harry said. His father stared at the drawer, eyes narrowed.