A/N: In my previous account, this was included in my story called 'The Order of the Phoenix Reads the Deathly Hallows'. However, since that story and subsequently my account were deleted, I figured I'd post this here as a seperate story. I've added some things, but nothing major. Hope you enjoy. Reviews are always appreciated ;)

Of course I don't own a single thing from Harry Potter.

''You decided to do WHAT?''

''No, say it louder Remus, I think a couple of people on the other side of the castle couldn't really hear you.''

Remus rolled his eyes at James but when he spoke again it was in less ear-splitting tones. ''Please tell me you're kidding.''

''We never kid, Remus,'' said Sirius.

''Except for when we do.''

''That was really deep, James.''

''Why, thank you, Sirius. But anyway, we're not actually kidding about this one,'' he told Remus.

''But you can't mean it,'' Remus protested. ''Do you have any idea what you'd be getting yourselves into?''

''We do as a matter of fact. We've done our research,'' Sirius replied.

''There's no need to look so surprised, Remus,'' James added.

''But… You… I mean…'' Remus seemed to be at a loss for words. ''Are you out of your minds?'' he asked finally.

''It's been said,'' said James shrugging, as if he was not at all bothered by the fact that there were people who believed he was crazy. ''But not about this,'' he continued firmly.

''What's Peter got to say about this?'' asked Remus, hoping for an ally.

''Ask him,'' Sirius replied. ''I don't think he'll be able to answer, though.''

''Why not?''

Instead of answering, Sirius indicated with his head the table closest to them, where Peter was currently sleeping on, soft snores escaping his mouth every now and then.

''… Should we tell him he's drooling all over his Transfiguration essay?''

''You pose an interesting question there, Sirius. On one hand we could be good friends, wake him up and save his hours of hard work. On the other hand, if he goes on like that, it'll be excellent teasing material for tomorrow. Decisions, decisions.''

''You know that if he fails to turn in his essay tomorrow, McGonagall's going to assume we're to blame as well,'' said Remus.

James and Sirius merely shrugged. ''So she'll give us detention. Hardly worth worrying about,'' James said unperturbed. ''You'd think by now she'd have gotten tired of doing it.''

''But James, we haven't been in Minnie's office for quite some time. It will be a wonderful opportunity to revisit it.'' said Sirius with way more excitement than anyone talking about their professor's office should feel.

''Ooh and maybe nick some stuff, like we did last time,'' James agreed enthusiastically.

''Could you be serious for just one second?'' Remus asked exasperated.

''Certainly.'' James removed his glasses, tried unsuccessfully to flatten his messy hair, mimicked the way Sirius was sitting on the couch and assumed a weird expression, which he apparently thought was Sirius-like.

''Oh please, as if you could ever manage to be like me,'' said Sirius airily. ''Do you hear something?''

''Remus is banging his head on the table.''

''Oh… We should stop him. He's going to wake up Peter!''

Remus lifted his head from the table and looked at his friends with a long-suffering expression.

''Okay look, all kidding aside, we really want to do this,'' James told him.

''Do you understand how important a decision like this is?'' said Remus. ''We're not talking about what to eat at dinner or what new prank to play on the unsuspecting student population. Becoming animagi is difficult, it's dangerous!''

''We know. Contrary to popular belief, we do pay attention to class sometimes and we've heard McGonagall talking about it. Plus, like I said, we've done our research. We know exactly what to do and the risk we're taking.'' Sirius told him confidently.

''But why would you decide to do something like that? Isn't it enough that one of us turns into an animal once a month, why… '' he trailed off as realization dawned on him. No. They wouldn't do that. Not for him. Even they wouldn't be so stupid. Or such good friends, a voice whispered in his head. ''Would you really do that?'' he asked, amazement warring with disbelief inside him. ''For me?''

''Okay, I don't know what you think you've figured out there, wolf boy, but this is not about you. Can you imagine how cool it would be if we could turn into animals at will?'' said Sirius, but he was grinning widely and James's eyes were full of warmth and understanding.

Remus found himself at a loss for words. Before he came to Hogwarts he didn't really have any friends, his 'condition' making him believe it was not safe for other people to be around him. When he got to the castle he had resolved to focus on his studies and show Dumbledore he had not been mistaken in accepting him into the school. Making friends had never been a priority for him; or even an option. He figured if he avoided his classmates, they would do the same. But it was all shot to hell when he met those crazy kids who wouldn't take no for an answer, who insisted on dragging him along wherever they were going, who constantly showed up whenever he was attempting to study with a new prank idea he ''just couldn't miss'', who kept trying until he gave in, until he decided to throw caution to the wind and become their friend. And they had made sure he didn't regret it. Even finding out about his 'furry little problem' hadn't fazed them. And now here they were, his friends willing to break the law, risk their lives, all to make sure he wouldn't be alone whenever he turned into a murderous creature, make sure he would be safe. They didn't have to say it. They knew he understood it, just like he knew they understood why he couldn't utter a single word right now. And that, that was the best feeling of all.

''Just so you know, if you end up turning into a fly or a seal, don't say I didn't warn you,'' he said some time later, after they had woken Peter up, helped fix the damage that had been done to his essay and gone up to their dormitory.

''You have a very weird imagination, Remus,'' Sirius said, shaking his head. ''And that's coming from me. Now shut up and go to sleep.''

Remus threw his pillow at Sirius's direction, but regretted it immediately after he realized how uncomfortable trying to sleep without a pillow was.