How They Figured It Out

How They Figured it Out

“I told you already, he said he already finished his Astronomy homework and wants to be left alone to finish up the rest of his make-up work.” James replied to the inquiry about Remus both Sirius and Peter had just thrown his way.

He was finishing getting his telescope set up at the table the three of them had moved over towards a window in the Gryffindor Common room. It was late a night and they were the only ones left in the room. It was just the first week of their second school year and since they didn't have much homework yet, James had agreed for all of them with Remus to do their work in the Common Room to give him a peaceful night on the account of his feeling unwell.

James's reply seemed to be enough for the other two. They set about their self made work area for their Astronomy work. James was going to do the star charts, Sirius was going to fill out the Moon charts and the work with Peter on answering the twenty lunar and stellar questions they had been given.

“Hey did you know that every month as a different names for it’s full moons?” Peter randomly asked as he scanned through his book. He had found something he thought was interesting and hoped the others would think so too. James continued to fiddle with his telescope.

“Give me that," Sirius reached across the table and took the book from Peter's hands. He began to scan the page Peter had been looking at with his finger. "Okay… let me see, November, November, Ah! Yes, okay. Dark, white, ... what could people not make up their minds?” James turned his head as Sirius began to read aloud knowing why November interested him so much, it was Sirius's birth month.

“Sirius keep going.” James interrupted.
“Fine. Dark, white, oak, hunter’s, I like that one, snow and tree. Eh."
“What’s it say for March?” James asked curiously, now fully drawn in to the new distraction.
“Wind, sleepy, storm... no wonder your hair’s a mess, and death.”
“That’s not very pleasant.” Peter commented looking at James with a slightly sorrow filled expression.
“Shouldn’t read too much into it mate." Sirius said in a rather casual tone. Clearly the moon names for James's birth month didn't bother him.

“Give me my book back Sirius, I want to read mine!” Peter squeaked trying to reach for the book across the table but his arms were a few inches to short.
“Your born in the same month I am nimwit.” Sirius retorted at him, finding his feeble attempts to get the book back pathetic.
“Oh, Yeah. Right, sorry.” Peter replied sheepishly backing back down in his seat. “Okay then, what about Remus’s”

James and Sirius exchange glances then slowly turned their heads to Peter.

“I’m sorry are you the same Peter Pettigrew we bunk up with? How do you not remember finding out last year that both you and I are born in November and James and Remus are born in March?!” Sirius wasn't even trying to hide the smirk on his face.

“Go on finish the list.” James suggested towards Sirius to change the subject.

“October’s Moons are the hunter’s, harvest, raven, blood, and blood again apparently. For December there’s winter, cold, wolf, peach, and bitter. January’s are quiet, winter, storm, wolf, cold, wolf, ice, wolf.”

“There sure are a lot Wolf Moons.” Peter commented as Sirius finished January's list.

“Probably relates to Lycanthropy.” James replied.

Silence surrounded the boys. Sirius looked down at the work he had done on the Lunar Chart, ignoring the book still in his hands. Slowly James pulled the Lunar Chart towards himself. They looked up from the parchment on the table at one another.
"You don't think-" James began.
"Only one way to be sure." Sirius cut him off. Peter looked between the two of them, his confusion increasing by the second. After a few moments of silence Sirius suddenly spoke up again.

“Hey, I think I left something I need up in the dorm. Want to go with me to get it Peter?”
“Ugh, why?”
“I’ll go too, come on Peter.” James piped up giving Sirius a wink to show his understanding.
“Erm... okay...” Peter replied. Together the three of them headed up to their dorm room.