"You do realize this is a completely idiotic idea, right?" Remus complains.

Sirius shrugs. "It's not really idiotic. We're brilliant, after all." He strikes a pose, looking, as always, like a male model. "If anybody can become illegal Animagi, it's us."

Remus tears his eyes away from posing Sirius' body and looks up at the dark-haired youth's face. "I'm serious," he replies.

"No, I'm Sirius."

"That isn't funny the hundredth time," James complains. "I mean, it was funny back in first year. Like, the first three times. It isn't funny anymore."

He shrugs. "Yeah, but-"

"Um, aren't we supposed to try to practice the transformation?" It's Peter who interrupts, and the other three Marauders turn to look at him, slightly shocked. Usually it's Remus that keeps Sirius and James in check.

"You're right, actually," Sirius admits grudgingly, sweeping his black hair out of his face. "Let's practice it some more. Remember, Moony, if we say 'help'-"

"That's self-explanatory," James argues. "He knows what to do - he's the smart one, anyway."

Both Sirius and Peter nod at that, and the three resume trying to practice the transformation, with limited results. Remus has nothing to do at this point; he's only there in case something goes wrong, and because he'd be extremely bored otherwise. He contents himself with subtly watching the others.

His eyes flick to Sirius a bit more than James or Peter, although he tells himself to stop that. None of them are making much progress at this point, and he's tempted to interrupt them again, but decides against it.

The thought, anyway, is a very nice one, and in this case, it really is the thought that counts. When he entered Hogwarts, he never expected anybody to even like him. This was amazing; they had accepted him as a friend, not to mention now, how they're trying to become illegal Animagi just so that way his full moons aren't as torturous.

He sighs slightly, content. They're like brothers to him; they're closer than anything else. They're a family now, not just friends, and he appreciates it more than he would anything else.