The first two weeks of school had passed and none of the friends had found a way to disappear to Hogsmeade unnoticed and start the investigation. The security precautions were almost insurmountable, Filch patrolled the hallways and the dungeon every evening, the teachers escorted the students between classes and McGonagall was in the Gryffindor common room every evening! Even with James Invisibility Cloak and the Marauders map, they couldn't slip away; their disappearance would have been noticed immediately. They even had to postpone the traditional party to start school, which was particularly annoying to Krone. After all, he had hoped for an opportunity to speak to Lily and she had now - for the time being at least - fallen into the water.

Remus, on the other hand, had completely different worries, the moon would soon be full again and he didn't want to go without his friends' company. But he couldn't imagine Dumbledore allowing her night out either! There were only a few days left to the infamous date and he was getting paler and paler. Slowly the headache started again, it would get worse and worse until he could hardly stand it and then finally, at full moon, it would be over! Well, at least for a little while! He couldn't concentrate because he felt like his head was going to crack and he was sick! “Mr. Lupine?” That too, of course he hadn't listened and couldn't answer the question. He blushed and began to stutter, something that always happened to him when he got nervous! The whole class turned to look at him, some gave him encouraging looks, while the Slytherins, with whom they had Metamorphosis, grinned maliciously.

"Well, then ... Ms. Strife?" Nojiko raised her head and bit her lower lip, a typical gesture for her when she didn't know what to do next. "I'm sure you asked a really good question, Professor.Surely they don't mind repeating them. "The class started to laugh, which McGonagall found less funny. With a slightly sour expression, she repeated her question again." Oh, I thought it was something difficult ... "Nojiko raised her wand and waved it with it Immediately the small wooden box in front of her began to transform into a bird that flew onto the teacher's hat and made itself comfortable there, chirping happily. McGonagall was about to distribute detention, she opened her mouth around the giggling Great points to deduct, then the door opened and a slightly plump man with a chubby face came in. "Karlos, what brings you here?"

Karlos Monlo was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and not very popular with most of the students. He was always friendly, but gave an inordinate amount of homework and had absolutely no idea about his subject. "Professor Dumbledore sent me, a certain Remus Lupine should come to him right now!" He looked around searchingly and when Moony got up to go out he added quietly, "I guess something screwed up again, right?" Remus ignored him and left quickly outwards. He could already imagine what the conversation was about and he was hoping for not too bad news.

“Come in!” Remus knew the password for Dumbledore's gargoyle, Sirius had told him. That was one of the advantages of being a Marauder, one of the friends always knew the code because one of them was guaranteed to always have a serious conversation with the director! So, after he had knocked politely, Moony stepped into the professor's office and looked around in amazement. He had been here many times before, but it kept surprising him! "Have a seat. I suppose you know why you are here?" He nodded uncertainly and took the comfortable chair across from Dumbledore's desk.He gave him a friendly smile and leaned back in his own chair. "I have to ask you to only stay in the hut the next time you transform." Remus felt a knot grow wide in his stomach. "It's for your own safety, there are Aurors everywhere who might think you're the one responsible for these horrific murders. Besides, I can't allow your friends to accompany you to the howling shack. It's just too risky!"

Remus nodded and felt tears welling up in his eyes. He hated being alone when he transformed, it was still bearable with his friends, but so? Still, he didn't want to contradict Dumbledore, he knew him too well to try. The headmaster wouldn't allow this to happen, so Moony didn't even try. Instead, he got up and said goodbye to Dumbledore. As if stunned, he went down the stairs to the Great Hall, downstairs they were already eating. They waited for him and were already planning the next foray. He didn't want to tell them there wasn't going to be a nighttime adventure, but he had to!

“That can't be serious?” Remus had told his friends, who all stared at him in disbelief. "It must be really bad if he even forbids us!" James just shook his head and Sirius drummed his fingers on the table. Nojiko was concerned with something else, Dumbledore had said that the murders could be the work of a werewolf and that meant they were really cruel! Who else could do that? It was time to visit Hagrid again, but how was she supposed to get out? “Don't worry, Moony, we'll be back next time: I promise!” She gave him an encouraging smile and everyone else immediately agreed.

It was evening now and McGonagall was sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, her students playing magic chess or doing homework.James and Sirius had to be detained because they were late for the first hour and would later be dropped off by Slughorn personally at Gryffindor Tower. Remus was studying and Peter wrote a letter to his mother, so Nojiko sat next to Lily on one of the couches and talked to her. "I just can't understand it, please help me. You are smart and beautiful, you could have anyone, why him of all people?" Sunny rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. "I don't even know what you have against Sirius!"

Her friend just snorted, but left it at that. “Tell me, what do you think of Josh?” She was talking about one of the Ravenclaw Seekers she had already had an eye on before the vacation. "Not my type - much too nice and well-behaved! But for you ..." She deliberately let the end of the sentence hang in the air. In fact, she didn't understand why Lily didn't just admit that she was in love with James instead of constantly looking for new friends! Now Evans began to rave about the boy's merits, but Strife only half listened to her, she saw Filch bring in his paw and crown and leave without a word. The two of them went upstairs to the dormitory, laughing, whereupon Peter jumped up and followed them. "... and besides, he has a great smile, don't you think?" Lily looked at her expectantly and Nojiko decided to do her a favor. “Yes, he's great, your Josh.” Her friend didn't want to hear anything else, she got up contentedly and yawned heartily. "I'm going to bed, you too?" Sunny nodded, quickly said goodnight to Remus and then went upstairs with her friend.

“Saw you earlier with Evans, what did you guys say?” Nojiko was lying in bed, the dormitory was already dark and so nobody noticed her smile. "Oh, women stuff. How was detention?" She loved these little conversations in her mind, thought language was just wonderful! Sirius had learned it from her in her third year at Hogwarts and by now they were both good enough to talk to each other over long distances."Filch let us polish trophies, incredibly exciting! We have to find out somehow what's going on in Hogsmeade!" Nojiko looked at the window, the light was still on in Hagrid's hut, as had been hoped. "I'm already at it ..." She tossed her duvet aside and stood up. She padded silently across the room to the window and opened it silently as well. “What do you mean?” Sirius sounded suspicious and, as she noted, a little satisfied, worried. "Just look out the window!"

Nojiko concentrated and transformed a moment later! If anyone had watched her, he would have seen her take the form of a snow-white phoenix, which now floated elegantly out of the open window and landed again in front of the Young Tower. She winked at Sirius, who shook his head at her, and then flew over the grounds from Hogwarts to Hagrid's hut. On the doorstep she looked around and when no one was in sight, she resumed her human form. She knocked twice on the door of the gamekeeper, who only opened a crack until he saw who it was.

"I've already missed you, Sunny. What are you doing here now? It's forbidden ... How did you get out of the castle?" She grinned and pushed her way inside. "Let me worry about that, I just wanted to visit you!" She dropped onto one of the chairs and began to stroke Fang who immediately came to her. They talked for a while about the holidays and the Forbidden Forest and finally they talked about the canceled weekends. "What's going on? I've only heard of a murder in the village." Nojiko tried to sound as casual as possible and took a long sip of tea.

"Murder? No, you got something wrong!" Hagrid smiled a little helplessly, but from the tone of his voice you could tell that Nojiko had hit the bull's eye. "Then why can't we go to Hogsmeade?“Soon she had the ranger so far, he couldn't keep secrets well to himself and was quick to gossip.“ Do you want to end up like Darkins or Foster? It was horrible ... what am I saying? "He bit his lip and stared silently at his cup." What happened to you? "It was genuine sympathy and an incredible amount of curiosity. She really wanted to know what had happened!" Well, they ... they were murdered ... But don't worry, you are safe here ... He, whose name must not be mentioned, does not dare after ... "He broke off again and went red in the face. Nojiko cheered inwardly, that was the first useful information! The teachers thought Voldemort was behind it!" You better go now, it's late! "It was clear that Hagrid wanted to get rid of her before he revealed any more.

She nodded, said goodbye, and stepped outside. Nojiko looked around