the_debt_of_time

Sirius stepped forward without hesitation. "I, Sirius Orion Black, swear upon my
wand and magic as a wizard never to reveal to anyone that Remus Lupin is a werewolf
without his permission."
"Peter?" Mia eyed him carefully as his gaze turned to the floor, hesitating.
"What the hell, Pete?" James snapped. "Do it!"
"I-I.. ." Peter stammered nervously.
Mia stepped forward in a predatory manner that Remus and his wolf might have
appreciated. "Make the oath. Or I'll figure out a way to Obliviate you." She could see James
and Sirius stare at her from the side. "We're only second years; I wouldn't trust me to
remove just this one memory."
"I love it when she's scary." Sirius exhaled with a grin, and James made a face.
"I, Peter Evan Pettigrew," Peter said quietly, gripping his wand with white knuckles,
"swear upon my wand and magic as a wizard never to reveal to anyone that Remus Lupin
is a werewolf without his permission."
Once the oaths were complete, the room fell silent, and Mia closed her eyes,
listening closely to Remus softly snoring behind the four of them.
James nervously adjusted his glasses and finally broke through the quiet. "What do
you need aconite for?"
Mia slowly tilted her head toward her brother, scowling. "You snooped through my
things?"
James looked down guiltily. "Accidentally."
"Aconite is also called wolfsbane. I can't cure him, but I think if I try hard enough,
I can come up with something to help him."
"What can we do?" Sirius demanded.
Mia shook her head. "Nothing. Just keep the secret." She glared at Peter and
repeated, "Keep the secret. Educate yourselves about his condition. Be his friends, and don't
treat him any different. He hates pity."
James frowned. "That's it? He's been alone through this since he was four?"
"A werewolf named Fenrir Greyback attacked him. Remus's dad was working at the
Ministry, and Greyback had been arrested on suspicions of killing Muggle children.
Remus's dad knew that Greyback was a werewolf, but because the Ministry doesn't know
how to properly keep a registry, his name wasn't on it, and he was set free. Mr Lupin