"Will this be alright?" Sirius asked as the two of them entered what were to become his new lodgings. It was a small 3 room flat underneath an old chip shop. Some, unobtrusive, out of the way and fairly unnoticeable. Just what they were looking for in a hiding spot. It was modestly furnished, a sofa, table and chair, a kitchen area in the corner. Standard flat.

"Yeah. It's fine…" Peter morosely fiddled with a hole in the upholstery of the couch, sitting on the arm and staring at the mauve paisley fabric beneath his fingers. It wasn't like any of this really mattered.

"Peter…" Sirius turned again, he could feel the other man's stare on him, intense as always and with that concern everyone seemed to exude towards these days. That pity, "You alright?"

This made Peter look up, "What do you think?"

The taller man sighed, "Right…" He shook his head. After another pause he clicked his tongue, "Sorry…" He muttered, dropping down into one of the kitchen chairs.

Another pause.

"It's like no one fucking cares that she's gone," Peter broke the silence this time. He was back to staring at the couch, fingers playing with the frayed edges of the hole he was currently enlarging.

"We do care it's just-"

"Well you're not acting like it," Peter cut him off and he glanced up to see Sirius looking almost shocked. Small wonder. He never talked back, especially not to Sirius. Maybe he was just feeling bold today. Or because at this point he had nothing left to lose, "Everyone's just kept going…"

"We can't stop for everyone."

"But it's like she never even existed. Why couldn't we just-"

"Because we're in the middle of a war, Peter. We're all in danger here and the faster we stop the Death Eaters the fewer people are going to get killed."

"What if it had been Remus?" As soon as he had said it Peter immediately regretted his choice. Both of them were on their feet now, Sirius towering over Peter, a fierce, almost frightening look on his face. The fleeting thought that his friend might hit him flashed across his mind but he stood his ground.

The longest pause yet followed, Sirius finally broke it, "I wouldn't sit around on my ass and fucking mope about it. Medowes, Fennewick, McKinnon, You really think that's what any of them would want us to stop just because they died? They gave up everything for this. The least we can do is honor their memory and keep on fighting," His voice was low and dangerous, "And if anyone I loved was taken from me… Well, the one that did it would never see the light of day again. I'll swear in blood to that."

Peter stared at Sirius. The ferocious determination striking and suddenly he realized how wrong it felt to be here like this. He tore his eyes away, looking down at the floor again, "Right… Well, I think I'll be alright here on my own…" He mumbled. All the fire in him had gone and he was back to the usual meek Peter.

"Guess I ought to go make sure James 'n Lily are alright," Sirius sighed, turning away and moving to pick up his coat before turning to cast a glance back at Peter, "If you need anything call, alright? Take care of yourself Wormtail. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," The ghost of his old joking smile crossed his lips and with that he had gone.

Peter sank down on the sofa with his head in his hands.

A/N: Well… This has been fairly terrible. But I figure I should have written something. And so I did. And this idea was bothering me. I will be writing more hopefully better things as soon as I can. Until then…