Generic disclaimer:The simple fact that I (currently) only own AMERICAN editions of all the books should be evidence enough that I am not J.K. Rowling. Neither do I own rights to anything that you recognize. Lame jokes belong to me. Everything (like this) is a thought of Remus', even if it's in the middle of what somebody else is saying. Added 1/26/09: This event falls a few months before the rest of the story, and is just meant to give a bit of backround. "Prelude" is a musical term; I'm fully aware that the proper term for something such as this is "prologue". The story title is taken from Edgar Allan Poe's "From Childhood's Hour".

Fuzziness and blurs, blurriness and fuzz, only distorted colors and shapes, all indistinct and unimportant.

"Mr. Lupin? Mr. Lupin, the headmaster is here to see you - just sit up now; there's a good lad!"

"Nonsense, Poppy, I can talk to young Mr. Lupin just as well when he's lying down. If you don't mind, I'd like to speak to him alone?"

Sounds that echoed, nonsensical as if they'd been altered, or as if from a different life entirely.

Madame Pomphrey muttered something that Remus couldn't quite distinguish as she walked out of the room, her robes swishing behind her like the branches of the Whomping Willow.

"Accio Pepperup!"

A hand on his back, forcing him to sit up. "Just a sip now, Remus. You do still need your rest." The fire in his mouth was more than enough to have him fully aware, as well as sitting up.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Mr. Lupin, it is I. How are you feeling?"

Remus frowned; frankly, he felt like he'd been run over by the school's herd of Thestrals.

"Been worse, sir. Why, did something happen? I didn't get out, did I? Oh Merlin, is everybody-"

"Everything will be alright, Mr. Lupin." Dumbledore cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I don't suppose you remember any of last night?" At the shake of Remus' head he continued, "One Sirius Black took it upon himself to dare young Mr. Snape to go through the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack at sunset last night, from what I've been told. Mr. Black didn't seem to want to talk about it. Fortunately, he took it upon himself to tell Mr. Potter of his misdoings in time for Mr. Potter to pull Mr. Snape out of the tunnel. He will not tell anybody of your affliction, Remus." He reached down and plucked something off of Remus' bedside table and placed it in his mouth. "Alas! Earwax! Mr. Black has been waiting outside the wing since lessons let out, I believe, wishing to see you. Would you like me to have Poppy allow him enterance?" (Sirius I could have killed Severus Sirius James Peter anybody could have killed Severus why would he tell anybody- another thought struck Remus then: Severus knew that he was a werewolf. That he was not human . . . a Dark Creature. -monster and you would have killed him too if not for James owe him your life as well vicious monster terror) Numbly, it was all Remus could do to nod and lower himself back down to the bed.

"I'll send him in, then. Good-day, Mr. Lupin!"

As soon as Dumbledore had turned, Remus clenched his eyes shut. (At least now I know why I feel so awful he can't have done this on purpose Moony needs Padfoot too much.I need Padfoot too much.) He opend them again at the slight rustling next to him, and saw Sirius shifting from one foot to another, hands in his pockets, bags under his eyes.

"Remus, I - "

Remus cut him off. Rolling his eyes, he said, "Sit down, Sirius, you look terrible. What happened?"

Instead of perching on the end of the bed like he usually did, Sirius opted to sit on the floor, bringing him nearly eye-to-eye with Remus. Drawing his knees up to his chest, he crossed his arms over them and made fists so tight that his knuckles shone through. "I'm so sorry, Remus, I - "

Remus, however, cut him off again. Lifting a hand from its place on his blankets, he reached down and wrapped it around one of Sirius' fists. "Just from the beginning, Sirius."

Sirius drew a shuddering breath and looked away, towards a window. "Snape caught me alone outside - I'd gone out to let Padfoot out for a bit before . . . well, you know how the git is, nearly got into a deul." He looked back at Remus "He wanted to know where you go every month, Remus. Told him your Mum was ill and all that . . . wouldn't believe me. We both had our wands out . . . next I knew he was gone and I'd told him to go to the Willow . . . push the knothole and he'd end up in the Shack . . . ." He drew another shuddering breath, and Remus continued trying to pry his fist open. "Ran up and told James; he always knows what to do; he got to Snape just in time. He'd seen you, though, Remus, I'm so sorry." He looked out towards the windows again, and relaxed his hands enough for Remus to finally slip his fingers between his own and open his hand.

"Needn't make yourself bleed though, Pads."

Sirius turned his head quickly to look back at Remus, his mouth slightly open. "What?"

Remus squeezed his hand. Looking down, Sirius opend up both of his hands to see blood on his palms in crecents from his nails. "Bugger." He looked up at Remus again, wiping his hands on his robes. "I think James is ready to kill me; I get it completely if you want me to leave you alone - " "Padfoot," Remus interrupted, "it's alright. You're my best friend, y'know, always. And Severus hated me anyway, I think. I may not be happy, but it's in the past. Moony and I both need you too much to not forgive you, yeah? It'll be alright." With that, Remus slipped back into unconsiousness, leaving Sirius sitting on the floor still holding his hand, pondering the previous twenty-four hours.