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Remus Lupin was walking alone through the corridors of Hogwarts. He felt as though he needed to be alone for a while and his feet were treading the well engrained route to the library, knowing that James and Sirius had no real interest in being there so soon after the OWL's had finished, and as Peter wanted to be wherever they were, he didn't have to worry about him either. It was nice to be able to think, to be quiet, away from James and Sirius' constant bantering and laughter and although Remus was happy to hear it, sometimes he just needed to be in his own mind.

Today was one of those days. Remus was relieved that the OWL's were over and he knew the others would be celebrating, but he couldn't bring himself to sit in the crowded Gryffindor common room. He slipped out of the door, taking advantage of the packed room and James' game of exploding snap with Sirius, and breathed a sigh of relief. It was quiet out here. His footsteps echoed around the walls as he walked but that was the only sound.

As he walked his mind started to organise itself. He should have been feeling happy, after all the exams had finished and he felt he had done rather well, but all he could feel was anger. James and Sirius' behaviour after the exams had been horrible. After all they had done to protect him Remus didn't see why they thought they could treat Snape so badly. He wished he had told them both to stop but he couldn't. He was a prefect, he had to authority to stop it. He huffed, annoyed with himself for not stepping in when he should have, walking faster now, his pulse rushing in his ears, his footsteps echoing around the stone corridors. After a while he realised there were footsteps alongside his own, he turned sharply and saw Sirius walking behind him.

"You okay?" he asked.

Remus took a few seconds to answer, his brain slowly adjusting itself.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because I've been calling you for a while and you didn't hear me, plus you just looked like you wanted to hex me."

"Oh, sorry."

"Where you going? Were all celebrating, Owls are over."

"I know." Remus said tiredly. "I just needed to get out of the common room. Was gonna go to the library."

Sirius stepped forward, reaching forward to touch his arm. Remus pulled it back agitatedly. Sirius backed up, looking concerned and hurt at the same time. He put his hands in the pocket of his robes. Remus immediately felt bad; he hadn't meant to react like that.

"Sorry Sirius." He said, rubbing his forehead.

Sirius shrugged in response.

"Its fine, just please, tell me what's wrong?"

Remus took a breath.

"Why'd you do that to Snape this afternoon? You could have stopped James; he listens to you. You protect me because of the way I am, why did you treat Snape like he's something less than me. He hasn't done anything to deserve that." Remus signed, "I just don't understand what James' problem is with him. I used to have nightmares thinking I would be treated like that when I came to school, and here I am, surrounded by friends, and James is doing his best to drive away only friend Snape has."

"You know his problem, Lily is the problem, and how Snape is so close to her. I really don't think he understands how bad he is being sometimes. As long as he's got people laughing behind him it drives him forward."

"I know, I know he doesn't think when he's like that, but still, I feel horrible for not stopping him."

Sirius reached a tentative hand out of his robes and put it on Remus' shoulder.

"Look, I'm sorry that it upset you, acting like that this afternoon. I know I shouldn't have encouraged him. You know that James would have stopped too if he'd have known it hurt you."

Remus breathed in deeply, rubbing his eyes against sudden tiredness and headache.

"It's fine, thanks Sirius." He said softly, briefly squeezing the hand on his shoulder, before lifting it gently away. "Tell James I'll be back soon. I just need to send a note to someone. Thank you for checking I was okay. It's good to have friends like you."

Sirius give him a quick smile.

"Good to have friends like you too. See you soon Moony."

He turned on his heal and was gone. Once more Remus was alone, He took another deep breath, deciding what to do, then with the touch of Sirius' hand still tingling on his shoulder, changed course to the owlery.