Returning to Hogwarts after Christmas, Remus struggles with the devastating revelations about his father while navigating the end of Mary and Sirius's brief romance. His concentration suffers as he obsesses over questions about Greyback, his father's true motivations, and the dangerous feelings he's experiencing. When the full moon approaches and Remus feels an animalistic attraction to Professor Ferox, he recognizes these impulses as dangerous and firmly refuses the marauders' animagus plans, prioritizing their safety despite his own desperate loneliness and need for companionship.