Disclaimer- I own none of these characters I'm merely borrowing them.

What Friends are there for.

Remus John Lupin stood on platform 9 ¾; quaking. Quaking in pain from the resent abuse; that he had been forced to endure at the hands of his sadist uncle, not half an hour ago. Quaking from the unavoidable; his three best friends: James-Prongs- Sirius-Padfoot- Peter-Wormtail- (Remus had never really understood the reasoning behind James and Sirius bounding into the boys dormitories at two in the morning-in their third year- proclaiming to have come up with the most wonderful nicknames for them all. Picking Moony for Remus because it related to his 'Furry Problem' which they found out about mid-way through second year.)-would find out that he Remus John Lupin their 'baby brother' was abused, for being a werewolf, a 'freak', a bookworm, a teacher's pet, for being-himself.

Suddenly, a deep music voice broke through the stifling silent air around Remus, through his self-loathing thoughts.

"Moony! My m-"

Remus turned to face Sirius Orion Black- his elegant, aristocratic, and somewhat haughty looking face, with the grey fathomless eyes that contain flecks of blue sapphire, full pale pink mouth, long, slightly point nose and elbow length jet black spiral curls-effectively cutting off all thoughts of speech.

As the joyous greeting died on Sirius' lips, he took in the full extent of Remus injuries. Even with his hood brought up, to try and shield his face away from prying eyes, one could still see the vast majority of his gashes, bruises, cuts.

The area of skin around both his fire molten eyes was a dark shade of blues and purples; his left eye had been reduced to a slit; his lips were swollen, cracked and bleeding profusely; stray greens, browns, blacks, purples, greys coloured his high chiselled cheek bones; even with his cloak to cover most of his body up, one could still tell that Remus was unnaturally thin and frail, so much so it looked as if a hint of a breeze and he would be blown away.

"Oh Rem," the dark haired youth whispered, his voice cracking when he noticed tears of self-hatred well up in the youngest Marauders eyes, and fell in a fresh torrent down his bruised, swollen, bleeding face.

Ignoring Remus' involuntary flinch as his hand reached out for the younger male, Sirius drew him too him, and encased him in his strong arms. Rocking like you would a child.

Then the insecure werewolf's defences started to crumble, and the damn broke. So Sirius stood, his youngest friend sobbing into his chest, releasing all his pain, hurt, anguish. Holding onto him like Sirius was his life line.

And that was how a certain young Mister James Harold Potter, a dark messy haired, bespectacled youth, found two of his best friends.

"Padfoot? Moony? What's the matter guys'? What's happened?" Asked the certain young Mister James Harold Potter, his voice laced with concern.

Looking at James over Remus' shoulder Sirius said, "On the train eh Prongs."

"Of course." Was the only reply.

James grabbed both Sirius' and Remus' trunks, and began to weave in and out the families aboard the platform, making for the train. Sirius just behind, leading a weak Remus by the elbow.

"Wormtail got the compartment for us, and when youse didn't show up I came looking," James informed them, worry clearly present in the light hazel eyes. (God, if Lily Evens could have seen him then she would have forgot that he hexed her best friend every time he saw him. Forgot that she thought him an arrogant two faced toe rag, and even would have agreed to go out with him.)

To which Sirius offered a weak smile.

"Sirius!" Remus hissed in pain, as one of the young man's elbows made a connection with one of Remus Broken ribs, one of the major things the Marauders hadn't been able to heal with James supplies of Quidditch healing spells and potions, however the most noticeable things like black eyes, swollen lips, bruises had been completely healed.

Remus had brushed of their questions about how he got into such a state not wanting to betray his only family. Dismissed their concerns about the broken bones with a wave of his hand saying that Hogwarts Medic Witch would heal them in the morn, as it was full moon that night.

Sirius however had pulled Remus aside as they got off the train in Hogsmeade and murmured, "If you ever need to talk Moony you know where I'm."

"Sorry Moony, I'm just-" Sirius once more jostled Remus, while craning his neck, trying and failing to get a better view of the new first years. Who were now mid-way through getting sorted into the houses that truly represented them.

"Sorry Moony, I truly am, just Regulas starts this year."

Ah, thought Remus of course Sirius is worrying about his little brother getting sorted into Slytherin like the rest of the Black family aside from two.

"Black, Regulas," Professor McGonagall's voice rang out loud and clear.

And slowly a mini version Sirius detached himself from the huddle of first years.

The whole grate hall seemed to hold their breath as the youngest Black approached the Sorting Hat.

"Slytherin!" The hat all but screamed before it even touched the newly Slytherin's head.

Sirius groaned, and dropped his head to the table.

After Regulas twelve students were sorted into Gryffindor, six into Slytherin, nine into Ravenclaw, and finally seven more into Hufflepuff.

Then when the students all old and new had been fed and watered, Albus Dumbledore rose to say his words of welcome; "Welcome to Hogwarts, and to our older students welcome back to another year to Hogwarts. Now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start of term notices. First years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to all students- and a few of our older students ought to know and remember that by now too." (Here the Headmaster brought his sparkling blue eyes to rest on the Marauders.)

"Well we only went in to the forest last year because Moony here was convinced that there was spectrums of light in there like in the North Pole," James muttered out the corner of his mouth, smirking at the now blushing Remus. Who opened his mouth to retort when students all around started to stand and the noise level rose; Dumbledore had dismissed them.

Up in Gryffindor boys dormitories Sirius lounged across James bed, a brooding look up on his face.

Seeing his best mates troubled expression James sighed, abandoned his fruitless task of unpacking and came to sit by his oldest friend. Knowing that Sirius would release whatever was on his mind in his own time.

Which he soon did: "He just had to be put in Slytherin didn't he? He couldn't have been sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw with our sister Alma! He could have gone to Hufflepuff for all I cared, but ho no that was too easy!" he ranted.

"Whoa," James exclaimed, "Padfoot old boy. Regulas didn't asked to be put into Slytherin, the hat sorted him into Slytherin. Or did you somehow miss the fact that it was the tattered, musty hat that called out Slytherin for Regulas?"

"You're right, sorry Prongs. I'm just anxious Regulas is easily led, and with our parents and the Slytherin's influence I fear they will push him head first, blindfolded right into Voldemort's hands."

"No. Sirius if Regulas really truly loves and cares for you and Alma he'll do nothing too see youse hurt or put youse in danger."

To the surprise of both Sirius and James it was Peter who had spoken such words of wisdom.

"Well said Wormtail. Well said. See Padfoot nothing to be worried about, as long as Regulas loves Alma and you. And just in case I didn't hear properly did you Sirius Orion Black of The most Ancient and Nobel House of Black just admit to being wrong? Can I have that in writing please?"

A pillow was thrown at the young Potters head.