“Something’s wrong with Moony.” The morning after the change, and James couldn’t wake Remus for breakfast. Sirius sat up in bed groggily and scratched his head.

“Whatdya say James?”

“Remus won’t wake up!” James continued to shake the shoulder of the fragile werewolf, but he didn’t move. Again, he checked for a pulse as Sirius shuffled across the room to come and look. There was panic on Sirius’s face.

“Well, did you… I dunno, dump water on him or something?”

“Good idea, mate.” Sirius didn’t think it was such a good idea but, then again, he’d just suggested it. James ran to the bathroom and came back seconds later with a glass of water. He promptly dumped it over Remus’s head, but accomplished nothing except for wetting the mattress.

“Sirius, what are we gonna do?”

“Remus? Remus, wake up.” Sirius got down on his knees next to the bed and pulled Remus’s arm.

“It’s not like he’s faking right?” James glanced at Sirius nervously. “Right?” he said a little louder, frantically pacing back and forth. Sirius looked lost.

“Well, maybe… maybe he’ll be okay later. I mean, maybe he’s just really tired from… from the change and all. So we’ll leave him and go to class, right? And when we come back, he’ll be perky and ready to, to… eat some chocolate or… play some chess.” James looked at Sirius hopefully. “Or sit in the corner and read?”

Sirius laughed nervously and let go of Remus’s arm. “Yeah, I’m sure he’ll be okay. “ Sirius turned to the sleeping Remus. “I’ll come check on you later.”

James and Sirius slowly got dressed, eyes shifting every once in a while to Remus’s lifeless body, and then headed out the door. Sirius chanced one backwards glance at Remus before the painting swung shut behind them, leaving him feeling very lost.

“Come on Sirius, gotta get to class,” James reminded him since they’d already missed breakfast. Sirius sighed and followed James to Potions, feeling bad about leaving Remus but knowing there was nothing he could do.