Author's Note: This is just a warning that this fic is pure folly and will not be updated regularly. I am a college student and not only does school take up my time but I have a writing schedule and this fic is not on it nor will it be on the schedule until a story is complete. That being said I hope you enjoy this fic, and remember that just because updates won't be regular it will be updated.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Harry Potter. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling.


It had been two weeks since Sirius' prank on Snape and none of his friends were speaking to him. Peter and James at least let him eat with them and tag around the school with them during the day, but Remus was avoiding him completely. Sirius knew he deserved it. He knew that his prank had deeply hurt Remus, but still, after two weeks he'd thought at least James would have been talking to him. Sighing, he tossed his last piece of toast on his plate and slumped in his seat at the Gryffindor table.

"You needn't look so sorry for yourself," James said coolly. "It's your own fault no one's talking to you."

"I know that," Sirius said meekly. "It was just supposed to be a joke."

James raised an eyebrow at him. "A joke?" he snorted. "That ends with one person dead and two lives destroyed? Great punchline, Sirius."

"I didn't think about that," Sirius admitted and stared pleadingly at James. "You know how I get when I'm angry. Snivellus kept pestering me about where Moony disappeared every month. I had to teach him a lesson about prying into other people's business."

"Yeah, and now he knows about Remus," James replied angrily. "The last person on earth we wanted to know about his secret knows. Because of you."

"He can't tell anyone," Sirius said defensively. "Dumbledore forbade him from telling anyone. He won't disobey Dumbledore."

"He won't tell anyone about Remus being a werewolf, but nothing's stopping him from claiming Remus is something else," James replied.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.

"Snape is telling everyone Remus is a poof," James told him.

"A what?!" Sirius cried shocked.

"A poof. It means he's…"

"I know what it means," Sirius cut James off. "But that's ridiculous! Remus isn't some fairy! Snape has no right to say that about Remus. Are people actually believing this nonsense?"

James shrugged. "The Slytherins do," his friend replied. "I hexed three of them yesterday for ganging up on Remus."

"It's probably why he's skipping breakfast," Peter cut in. "He's avoiding the gossip about him." Sirius glanced at the empty seat Remus usually sat in and then sagged forward in his seat until his forehead touched the table, ashamed of what he'd done. He only looked up when he heard a plate set down next to his head. He looked up at the plate of toast and then over at James who was looking at him with the first hint of forgiveness in his eyes.

"Why don't you bring him that toast?" James suggested. Sirius nodded and took the plate before rushing to Gryffindor Tower. He yelled the password at the Fat Lady and dashed through the common room and up to the stairs to the dormitory he shared with the other Marauders. Remus was sitting on his bed looking morose. He glanced at Sirius when he burst in, scowled, and turned away.

Sirius tried not to let it bother him and approached his friend's bed. "I brought you some breakfast," he said hopefully. "It's toast."

"I'm not hungry," Remus replied stiffly ignoring the plate Sirius was holding out for him.

"Of course you are!" Sirius disagreed. "You missed dinner last night. You must be starved by now." When Remus didn't reply or take the plate Sirius' shoulders slumped. "Moony…"

"Don't!" Remus said sharply turning to glare at him. "You don't get to call me that. Not anymore. Not after what you did."

"I'm sorry," Sirius whispered. "I didn't think…"

"And that's the problem, Sirius. You never do," Remus snapped. Sirius lowered his eyes, unable to hold his friend's gaze. But as his eyes lowered from Remus' face he caught sight of a bruise peeking out from the collar of Remus' too large robe. Impulsively, Sirius pushed the robe off. He sucked in his breath when he saw Remus' torso covered in dark, purple bruises.

"Where did you get these?" Sirius asked in a shake voice.

A panicked look flitted across Remus' face before he arranged it into an indifferent expression. "The last transformation," he answered harshly. "Thanks to your prank I spent the full moon alone. The wolf took it out on me."

Sirius knew he was lying. Madam Pomfrey would have healed any injury Remus bestowed upon himself, but even if she hadn't these bruises were too new. "You're lying," he finally accused Remus. "Are these from yesterday?"

"You know about yesterday?" Remus asked surprised.

"James told me," Sirius replied. "I can't believe that Snivellus! Telling everyone that you're some bloody poof! I can't believe people are actually belie…" Sirius cut himself off when he noticed Remus squirming uncomfortably and a light blush dusting his cheeks. Realization dawned on him. "Remus, are you a…do you fancy blokes?"

Remus flushed scarlet before fixing him with a hard glare. "Yes. Are you going to beat me up too?" he baited.

"No, I'm your friend," Sirius replied and ignored the angry snort from Remus. "I am surprised though."

"Well, it's not every day you find out someone you know is gay," Remus remarked bitterly.

"No, not about that," Sirius said dismissively. "That you're as beat up as you are. James implied that he got there in time."

"He did," Remus replied. "He got there before they could…" He didn't finish the sentence.

Sirius felt dread wash over him. "Before they could what?" he questioned.

"Nothing," Remus answered quickly. Too quickly. Sirius could tell he wasn't telling him something.

"Before they could what, Remus?" he asked again, and then a horrific thought burst into his head. He paled. "Did they…did they rape you?"

"No!" Remus cried. "I mean…I don't know. They never, well, they didn't get all the way. Just fingers…"He was cut off by the sound of a plate crashing. "Sirius?"

Sirius sank to his knees. "I'm sorry," he choked around the tears in his throat. "I'm so sorry."

"Sirius?" Remus questioned, shocked to see tears welling up in the pureblood's eyes.

"It's my fault!" Sirius cried guiltily. "They hurt you because of me. If I hadn't told Snape how to get past the Womping Willow…" He shook his head, covering his face with his hands. "No wonder you won't forgive me. I don't blame you for hating me."

"Sirius, no!" Remus exclaimed sharply. He gripped under Sirius' arms and lifted him onto the bed. He pulled Sirius' hands away from his face, forcing him to look at him. "I don't hate you, Sirius. I'm mad as hell at you, but I don't hate you."

"You should," Sirius whispered morosely. "It's my fault that Snape told the Slytherins you're gay. It's my fault they…they hurt you."

Remus sighed. "I don't blame you for what those prats did the other day or for Snape telling everyone about me," he said firmly. "I'm mad at you because you used me. We're supposed to be friends, but you used me like it was nothing. Like I meant nothing to you."

"You do, Moon…Remus. You mean so much," Sirius said urgently. "I didn't mean…I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Remus' glare softened and he sighed. "I know you are, Sirius. I know," he replied.

"But that isn't enough, is it?" Sirius whispered.

"Not this time," Remus said.

They sat quietly for a minute before Sirius stood up and handed Remus his school bag. "Well, let's get to class," he sighed. "If we hurry we might get to Transfiguration on time."

Remus fiddled with the zipper on his bag. "I don't know if I'm going today," he said quietly.

"Hiding won't help, Remus," Sirius told him gently. Remus didn't say anything, just continued to worry at the zipper. Sirius hesitantly laid a hand on his shoulder. Remus stiffened but didn't shrug it off. After a moment he glanced up at Sirius. "No one's going to touch you, okay? James, Pete, and I won't let anyone near you."

"Okay," Remus relented and slipped the strap of his bag over his shoulder.

They managed to get to Transfiguration just in time, and slid into their respective seats. James was trying to get Sirius' attention, probably to ask whether he and Remus had made up, but he pretended to be busy looking for his notes until Professor McGonagall called the class to attention. For the first time in his life Sirius was relieved when all the professor did was lecture. He didn't want to talk to James about how he'd failed to make up with Remus. About how Remus didn't want to be friends with him anymore. With that thought in mind Sirius suddenly slumped down in his seat until his head landed on his arms on his desk. He stopped paying attention to what McGonagall was saying.

"Mr. Black," a sharp voice sounded nearby. "Mr. Black." A sharp poke from James made him lift his head up, and he blinked a few times to clear his vision. Professor McGonagall was glaring at him from the front of the room.

"What?" he asked confused, his voice thick, as if he had a cold.

To his surprise a flicker of concern flashed across McGonagall's face. "Mr. Black," she repeated again. "Are you not feeling well?"

Sirius took the question into consideration. His eyes were watering, his stomach felt as if it were in knots, he couldn't stop shaking. His eyes wandered towards Remus who was looking at him in concern and he suddenly felt nauseous. His eyes snapped back to McGonagall and he shook his head. "No," he replied. "Actually, I feel awful."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Well then take your things and go see Madam Pomfrey," she ordered. "I'm sure one of your friends will let you borrow their notes later."

"You can copy my notes, mate," James said clapping a hand on his shoulder.

Sirius felt bile rise to his throat at the declaration of friendship. He didn't deserve it. He swallowed the bile back down and nodded his head. "Thanks," he choked out stuffing his notes back in his bag and rushing out of the classroom. He didn't go to the infirmary, however. Instead he ran back to Gryffindor Tower and up to his dormitory. He went straight for his bed, dumping his bag in the middle of the room, and after pulling the curtain closed landed face down in his pillows where he let the tears finally fall.

It wasn't until lunch that someone, presumably James with his notes, entered the dormitory. Sirius heard the person walk towards his bed and pull back the curtains. "Sirius," the person said, and he tensed when he realized it was Remus and not James. He kept his eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. He heard Remus sigh. "Sirius, I know you're not asleep." Sirius still didn't respond, but almost jumped when he felt the added weight of Remus on the mattress and a comforting hand on his back.

"I know what you're thinking and you're wrong," Remus told him. "I do still want to be friends. But right now I'm too angry. What you did was…well, it's bigger then you just landing us in detention, alright? So, yeah, right now I can't forgive you, but I will someday. Just give me some time, okay?" Sirius nodded his head and Remus moved his hand up to his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Now, why don't you come down to lunch?" Remus suggested.

"Not hungry," Sirius croaked. He could practically see Remus raise an eyebrow, even though he wasn't brave enough to look at his friend.

"Really?" Remus asked him. "Because James said you didn't eat much at breakfast." When Sirius didn't reply he sighed and stood back up. "You have to come down for dinner then Sirius. Or I'll drag you to Madam Pomfrey myself." Sirius jumped when Remus tossed a bag onto his bed and rolled over to stare up at him. Remus looked relieved. "You can copy my notes for Transfiguration and Herbology. You can thank me by coming to dinner."

"Okay," Sirius replied meekly. Remus smiled weakly at him before hurrying out of the dormitory. Sirius watched him go hoping that one day soon Remus would actually forgive him.