A/N: Due to suddenly having to work tomorrow, I won't be able to post the second chapter on Tuesday as expected. So instead of posting it a day later, you guys are getting it a day early :P The last chapter will be posted next week's Tuesday again as is usual for me.

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A groan pulled James' attention from his book just in time to see Remus bring a hand up to his head.

"What?"

"Easy, you hit your head pretty hard. How are you feeling?" James carefully pushed the pillow in his back behind Sirius so he'd not roll over before he shifted from the bed and made his way to Remus.

"Like I've been hit by a bulldozer."

"What's a bulldozer?" James pulled the chair Peter had left hours ago more between the two beds and sat down.

"Something hard and painful to be hit with. What happened?" Remus didn't even attempt to sit up as he touched the bandage carefully.

"Leave it," James pushed his hand away. "What do you remember?"

"I remember playing with Wizzy while you were treating Sirius' feet and didn't we play a game of ludo?"

"That was yesterday, what do you remember of today?" James asked apprehensively, glancing back at Madam Pomfrey's office in case she'd notice Remus was awake.

"I..." James could see the brown-haired boy was racking his brain and as he was staring so intently at him he accidentally glimpsed into his friend's mind; seeing a big blur of nothing for that morning. "I don't know...I don't remember anything. What happened?"

"The bridge collapsed when we were about to cross it," Sirius' soft voice made them both turn, though Remus immediately winced as he did so.

"How...why would a bridge collapse?" Remus' expression turned pained as he clearly couldn't think properly and James' heart clenched as he realised what his best friend was doing.

"We suspect it was an assassination attempt, I reacted too late and could only push you out of the way. You hit your head pretty hard due to my unexpected shove," Sirius gasped as he tried to shift and James hurried over to him at the same time Madam Pomfrey came out of her office.

"Why haven't you warned me they were awake?" she berated him as she leaned over Sirius to check his injuries. "Remus, take the potion that is on your night-stand. It will help with the headache."

"What's wrong with him?" Remus ignored the potion to try and sit up as Sirius curled in on himself.

"He was already on the bridge when it collapsed and caught the brunt of it," James informed Remus as he stood aside to allow Pomfrey to check Sirius' injuries.

"Why can't I remember?"

"Probably the blow to your head," James lied, coming to the conclusion that it was most likely the shock of suddenly transforming that had blocked the event from his memory as Sirius couldn't have knocked him out so hard he'd lose his memory.

If Remus didn't remember what had happened, which he clearly didn't if his memory was any indication, there was no need for him to feel terrible about what he'd unintentionally done to Sirius.

Thought if he knew Sirius as well as he believed he did, the other was most likely thinking of how horrified Remus would be by what could have happened if Sirius hadn't acted as fast as he had.

The guy already had little to no self-esteem and blamed himself for any cut he made on his friends' bodies as Moony, this would devastate him.

His words made Sirius meet his eyes and immediately James knew he was right. Giving his best friend a tiny nod, he let him know he understood and agreed.

The small smile Sirius gave him was worth the slight guilt he felt at lying to Remus.

"Yes, it is possible not to remember something after a hard blow to the head. You remember everything else? Name, parents, their names and where you are?" Neither Madam Pomfrey nor Remus were aware of the silent conversation that had taken place between them.

"Remus John Lupin, parents' names are Hope and Lyall. Friends names are Sirius, James and Peter and you are Madam Poppy Pomfrey, matron of Hogwarts where I am a fifth year," Remus summed up.

"Date?"

"Tenth of May?"

"Close enough," she nodded satisfied as she handed Sirius several potions to swallow. "And you?"

"I remember what happened and I was conscious when James got to me," Sirius let her check his eyes and adjust the pillows behind him.

"Just humour me."

"Sirius Potter-Black, parents are Dorea and Charlus Potter, brother James, also in my fifth year, the date is the eleventh if it's not after midnight yet and I'm missing the fourth of our party."

"McGonagall forced Pete to return to our dorm because he can't afford to miss classes so close to our exams," James helpfully supplied him.

"Right, although the information is not entirely correct I suppose it is true for you. And it is indeed still the eleventh, barely," Madam Pomfrey fondly shook her head as she moved from Sirius to Remus to check on him. "You boys should rest so get to bed, James."

"I was in bed until Remus woke up," James complained.

"Then you better return to that bed," she rolled her eyes and retrieved two potions from the cupboard. "Take these so you'll be able to sleep properly tonight without being bothered by your injuries."

James slipped back into the bed with Sirius, moving carefully so he'd not hurt him and smiled as Sirius curled up against him when he was comfortable again.

Accepting the potion from Madam Pomfrey, he helped Sirius take it before letting him settle back against his side comfortably.

"Take it, we'll talk more in the morning," he indicating to Remus that he should take it.

Both boys were back under mere moments after taking the potions and Madam Pomfrey watched James amused.

"I more meant you'd return to a bed of your own."

"I'm fine here, being close to him like this helps settle me," James admitted. "And knowing Remus is right at the other side allows me to be alerted immediately if something is up with either of them."

"Very well, just make sure you get some rest. If you need something to help you sleep, I'll be in my chambers."

"I know, thank you," bidding her a good night, he watched as she left before pulling his glasses off.

He didn't dare to wrap an arm around his brother as his entire back was covered in bruises so he settled for tucking him in against his side and taking his hand before he let himself drift off to sleep as well.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

James turned as the door opened and Peter stepped into the dorm, looking shifty.

"Pete?"

"I...uh..."

"Get on with it, Peter. My nerves are already fried by the knowledge Sirius is down there with Remus alone tonight."

He had protested wholeheartedly when Sirius had first told him he'd be spending the full moon alone with Remus, not only because his best friend was still healing from the events that had happened two weeks ago, but also because they were aware Moony might transform twice that night and it would make him violent.

He hadn't seen Sirius all day and although the boy had sent him several messages to let him know they were fine and Remus was just annoyed, not violent yet, it hadn't done anything to ease his worry.

"I- I think I might have done something stupid," the nervous mousy-haired boy admitted as he shifted nervously.

James' eyes narrowed and Peter tensed.

"You remember w-when Remus transformed and I...uh...used Polyjuice to become Sirius?"

"Yes?"

"I—uh, I ran into Snape."

"What did you do?"

"He was taunting me...well, Sirius and I know you said not to speak to anyone b-but I- I answered him. He was saying he knew what Remus was and that h-he'd expose him and...and," Peter stuttered.

"Spill it, Peter. What did you do?!" James got to his feet, a sense of foreboding coming to him.

"I told him how to get to the Shrieking Shack on a full moon," Peter squeaked. "I didn't mean to, it just slipped!"

"You did what?!" not giving Peter time to stutter more, James brushed passed him.

If that slimy git knew how to get to Remus, he would most likely go just before the full moon rose and Remus transformed. It was when he was on his most vulnerable and James knew Sirius wouldn't be fit enough to protect Snape should he indeed be so stupid as to go investigate.

Dashing down the stairs he ignored the Fat Lady and Peter calling after him and hurried out of the Common Room and down the stairs towards the closest exit, not caring if anyone might see him.

"Mister Potter?!" McGonagall's voice called out to him as he rushed past her.

He was aware she was coming after him, but he didn't dare stop, fearing that if he was right, any delay could be fatal.

It would likely cause trouble should she realise what had happened, but he'd worry about the consequences later.

He rushed out of the castle, heart clenching as the Whomping Willow came into view and was frozen, aware he'd been right.

He wasted no time in entering the tunnel, hoping he'd not be too late. He knew he couldn't transform in the tunnel and spit out a spell to enlarge the tunnel so he'd not lose any time by having to go slow.

He was nearing the end of the tunnel when he saw the silhouette of a human at the same time he heard a familiar growl that told him Remus had just transformed and dashed forward to yank Snape back as a dark shadow became visible at the hatch.

He threw Snape behind him at the same time Padfoot's familiar shape became clearly visible as he crashed into the dark shadow; the hatch was slammed shut and he tried not to react even through the thick wood he could hear Moony's vicious growls, knowing Sirius was being hurt trying to protect them.

"The hell were you thinking!" James turned to Snape, heart missing a beat as he instead caught sight of McGonagall arriving behind him.

"Potter, what could you possibly be..." McGonagall's eyes widened as she stared at Snape sprawled out on the ground, terrified and with his wand still drawn.

"The both of you are coming with me and you are going to tell me exactly what the in Merlin's name is going on here before I decide if you will both be expelled!" McGonagall spat out, grabbing Snape by the arm and pulling him up before raising her wand defensively as the sound of digging and growling sounded through the hatch. "Walk!"

Not daring to argue, James let McGonagall force him and Snape back through the tunnel, though the slimy git seemed shell-shocked, walking mutely with her as she pushed them forward to the castle and up to Dumbledore's office.

"You are both to sit there and remain there until Dumbledore comes up. I don't know how long it might be as he's dealing with other things, but I don't want you to move or hear a word from you in that time!" she barked out as she took their wands from them and pushed them into two of the chairs.

James nodded mutely, only hoping Peter would warn Sirius about what had happened and come clean.

He had no idea how long he sat there, but he knew it had been hours as it already began to get light before Dumbledore arrived.

In all that time McGonagall hadn't moved a muscle, working on some papers and James couldn't help but fear for what would happen.

"Minerva, what..."

"Albus, I was walking my rounds when Mister Potter dashed past me. As he ignored my call and it was close to curfew, I followed him. Only to find him entering the tunnel under the Whomping Willow in a hurry, so naturally I followed him, completely horrified he should take such a risk," McGonagall's nose flares rose as she spat the words out and James shrunk a little in his seat.

"And Mister Snape?" Dumbledore' eyebrow rose.

"He was already in the tunnel and I witnessed Potter pulling him back as he was about to enter the hatch to the Shrieking Shack with his wand drawn. Potter slammed the hatch shut before the wolf could get to him."

Snape flinched at the word, still as pale as a sheet, though James couldn't find any compassion in him as he remembered the sight of that wand and the realisation of what Snape was planning. He was thankful that McGonagall apparently hadn't seen Padfoot, or had perhaps thought it was Moony she was seeing and he briefly wondered if she even knew what the wolf looked like.

"With his...what were you doing there, Mister Snape?" There was no friendliness in Dumbledore's voice as he sat down at his desk and Snape tensed.

"Black tried to kill me," he spat out. "I only had my wand drawn because I saw that monster."

"That's a lie!" James burst out, unable to keep silent at such a lie.

"Silence Mister Potter, we will hear your side of the story in a moment. How did Black try to kill you?"

"I- I just wanted to know where Lupin went every month and Black said that if I wanted to know so badly I should touch the trunk of the Whomping Willow and follow the tunnel."

James seethed at the lie, aware he didn't know exactly what Peter had told Snape while Polyjuiced as Sirius but aware enough to know Snape had gone in there knowing exactly what he'd find.

It also put him in a difficult position, if he told the truth, what had happened a month ago would come out and that would put Remus in danger. But if he didn't tell the truth, Sirius would be taking the fall for something Peter had done.

"I see...and did you know what you would find there?" Dumbledore's voice was sharp.

"No, Professor."

"And what is Mister Potter's role in this?"

"I learned about what was said tonight and went after Snape to stop him from being killed or harming the wolf. He knew what he'd find there before he'd been told how to get in," James settled on.

"Very well. Minerva, please get Mister Black from his dorm and bring him here."

"Immediately," McGonagall left and James' heart clenched as there was no way Sirius could have made it back to his dorm yet and he had no idea in what kind of shape the other would be.

It only took McGonagall ten minutes to return with Sirius in tow and James swallowed thickly as the other's expression was unreadable as he was told to sit down.

"Do you know what you are doing here, Mister Black?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not entirely," Sirius admitted and James took the moment to glance at his friend covertly. There was no sign of any injury on his friend, though James knew that meant nothing as that rune could hide a lot of injuries if Sirius wished it to do so and his pain tolerance was so high he'd not necessarily know unless his friend told him himself.

"Mister Snape here tells us that you told him how to enter the Whomping Willow if he wanted to know so badly where Mister Lupin went every month."

"I...that is true. Snape was provoking me and telling me he'd find out where the filthy half-breed was hiding so he could kill him and in a fit of anger I regrettably told him that if he wanted to meet a fully grown werewolf so badly, he should hit the trunk of the Whomping Willow and enter the tunnel and be killed by one. When I realised he'd be stupid enough to actually go through with it, I warned James of what had happened and he went after the greasy git."

James' hands clenched in his lap as deep inside, he'd known Sirius would choose to keep the truth hidden to protect Remus, even at the cost to himself.

But his words also told him Sirius had already spoken to Peter as his information was too detailed to be guessing work.

"That's a lie," Snape sneered. "I had no idea what I'd be facing."

"Enough bickering," Dumbledore's voice raised even though Sirius had made no indication of going in on Snape's words.

"Mister Potter, you are free to go. I wish to speak with Mister Snape and Mister Black alone. Minerva, would you be so kind as to escort Mister Potter to his dorm so he can get some rest before classes start and retrieve Mister Lupin? He should be at the hospital wing by now."

"Of course," McGonagall's hand on his back forced James to move before he could make eye contact with Sirius and he had no choice but to let himself be guided downstairs.

"I can make it from here," he clenched his teeth as McGonagall attempted to move him further.

"Very well, just be aware it can take a while. And that if you are going to yell you should do so in the privacy of your dorm."

James only nodded, aware his Head of House thought he was going to be yelling at Sirius and he supposed he couldn't blame her for thinking that after what had happened.

But although he had every intention to yell, it wasn't at Sirius and clenched his hands into fists when Snape left the office several minutes later. The greasy git only gave him a smug sneer before he left, but James didn't bother to let himself be riled up by the snake as McGonagall and Remus arrived from the other side.

Remus was pale as a sheet but didn't speak to James as McGonagall led him up to the office and James' heart hammered in his throat as he leaned back against the wall.

It was several more minutes before Sirius came down, hurried and pale and James pushed himself from the wall as he saw him coming.

"Sirius..."

"Don't..." Sirius choked out and James stepped back as his best friend suddenly turned to him, eyes bright. "Don't you dare tell Remus the truth, no matter what."

"I won't, it would destroy what little self-worth he's gained and endanger us all," James swallowed. "But I don't like that you're bearing the consequences for what Peter did."

"When did he tell you?" Sirius turned on his heels and began to hurry down the hallway, James at his heels.

"Just before the moon came up last night, I went after Snape immediately but couldn't prevent McGonagall from following us. He was there to try and kill Remus, wasn't he?"

"He denied any knowledge of what he'd face and said I set him up for murder," Sirius spat out.

"And Dumbledore believed him?" James wasn't sure why he was so surprised that the git had managed to weasel his way out of any punishment as usual or that Dumbledore had believed his word over theirs. "What are the consequences?"

"I'm banned from Hogsmeade for the rest of my years here, never allowed to visit Quidditch matches any more and I'm to serve detention twice a week for the rest of term and possibly on to next year. He wasn't sure about that yet but no points were taken to prevent the others from realising what happened."

"Merlin...and Snape?" the punishment Sirius had to face was harsh and it angered James that Sirius was taking the fall for something he'd not even done.

"Dumbledore placed a Tongue-Tying Curse upon him so he cannot reveal Remus' secret to anyone."

"That's it?" James growled, following Sirius up to their tower.

"Alea iacta est," Sirius gave the Fat Lady the password and climbed through the entrance. "What did you expect?"

Peter was waiting for them in the common room, rising as Sirius brushed past him. "Sirius..."

"Don't talk to me," Sirius growled as he hurried up the steps to their dorm and James paused.

"We'll be having words later, Sirius it taking the fall for what you've done to protect Remus so you keep your mouth shut, understood?"

"Y-yes...I'm sorry, James," Peter stuttered.

"I'm not the one you should say that to," James bit out as he turned away from the rat Animagus to see Sirius rush down the stairs again with his bag. "Where are you going?"

"Away from here for now," Sirius answered him shortly, but James refused to be cut off that easily and followed him.

"Sirius, talk to me."

"Remus said he didn't want to see me, he was so mad James...and who can blame him after what happened," Sirius choked out without turning back.

"He...wait...what? Are you leaving the dorm?" James grabbed Sirius' arm but immediately let go again as the other gasped. "You're hurt."

"I'll be fine..." Sirius tried to brush him off.

"I'll be the judge of that, where are we going?"

"Room of Requirement, it'll give me a place to stay for a while," Sirius finally sighed and slowed, allowing James to see he was limping rather heavily.

"You're going to let me check your wounds there and then we'll decide on what we'll do."

"No need to decide anything. You're going to be mad with me and ignore me for as long as Remus wants you to be," Sirius cut off his protests. "No, James. He'll need you after this, much more than I do."

"That's a lie," James choked out, irritated by his brother's own lack of self-worth when he really needed some. "You're as much a victim in this as he is and he won't even know...I know we can't tell him the truth, but you don't deserve this."

"We can't always get what we deserve. This is what we've been dealt and chosen to do and now we'll have to live with that," Sirius paced back and forth three times and a door appeared to allow them entrance.

"It's not fair," James muttered as he closed the door behind him.

"I've learned early on that life isn't very fair," Sirius tossed his bag onto the table and James moved to it to pull out the potions kit, trying to ignore the pile of clothes and school books Sirius had tossed in there.

"Let me see your injuries," he ordered but Sirius shook his head.

"Only if you promise you'll keep your distance from me and follow Remus' lead."

"I'm not going to ignore you, not even in pretend! Even if you've done this, it would have been an accident!" James bit out.

"Doesn't matter if it has been done accidentally or not, as long as Remus is mad, you stay away from me. I mean it, James."

James bristled as determined grey eyes stared him down.

"And how are you going to follow classes if you're staying out of his way?"

"I know his time table; I just won't follow classes he does as well."

"You've already thought it all out, haven't you?" James deflated from his anger at the unfairness of it all.

"Only that part. Remus was very clear, he didn't want to see me so the least I can do is stay out of his way for the time being."

"Fine, but I'm taking notes for you in those classes and even if you don't want me to come near you in public, I am not going to ignore you. You're my brother and I refuse to act like you're not. If you're going to stay here I'll bring you food and clean clothes, keep you company..."

"No," Sirius cut him off. "I'm fine with the note taking and stuff bringing, but I don't want you at my side. I've chosen to bear these consequences of Peter's actions. I...I don't trust Peter, even if it was an accident that he told Snape, he should have told us immediately after it happened. The fact that he kept it hidden...I can't trust Peter, not now and I need you to look after Remus because we both know he won't look after himself."

James opened his mouth to protest but eventually nodded his consent as he knew Sirius was right.

"For now...I'll keep my distance. But the moment I think it goes on too long, I'll put an end to it. Now let me see those injuries."

He waited impatiently until Sirius had stripped down, taking a deep breath as a tangle of new bruises and cuts were revealed to him.

"Any internal bleeding?"

"No, I think the hip is broken, though. It hurts to put weight on my left leg and it feels funny."

"Yet you've been walking around on it," James sighed.

"I didn't have much choice, couldn't exactly let McGonagall know I was injured or she would have wanted to know how it happened," Sirius bit back a pained grimace as James felt around the area while casting a diagnostic charm.

"It's broken in two places and you've damaged seven muscles," James announced as he healed the damage, biting his lip as Sirius choked out a pained breath as the bone realigned itself in place, not sure how the other had managed to walk around the way he had with such an injury despite his high pain tolerance.

"Sorry. It will probably bruise badly despite the cream," he carefully applied the cream to all the visible bruises. "But it might help. You saved our lives."

"Yeah well...I couldn't let Moony bite him, who knows what kind of diseases the greasy git carries and would infect our friend with?"

They both choked out a laugh, and as James pulled Sirius close to him, the other suddenly began to shake with sobs as he broke down.

"I don't know if I can do this," Sirius admitted against his shoulder as James held him tightly.

"We'll get through this, I'll talk to Remus and I'm not going to leave you alone," James wasn't sure when their roles had suddenly become reversed, but knew he had to be the strong one now as it finally seemed to sink in for his brother just what he'd taken on his shoulders.

"When did we become liars, James? I thought we'd agreed we'd never lie, never deceive one another and now we've done it twice," Sirius angrily tried to brush away his tears, but new ones kept forming.

"We're protecting someone we love from harm and I solemnly swear right here and now it won't remain a secret forever. When we've graduated and are steady in life, we'll tell him the truth about everything," James squeezed Sirius' hand. "Until then you are right and we'll have to live with what we've decided upon. You, me and Peter."

"Even after I kept apologising and explained what had supposedly happened Remus told me he hated me and never wanted to see me again," Sirius' voice was so small that James pulled him close again.

"I won't let that happen," James swore as he pressed a kiss to Sirius' forehead. "You hear me?"

A small nod was his only answer, though James didn't relinquish his hold for a good while.

"You should go to breakfast or you'll be late for class," Sirius eventually composed himself and pulled away from him.

"Will you be all right?" James didn't ask if the dark-haired boy would go to class as he didn't think the other would be able to sit even remotely comfortable for a good few hours at least, even with the pain relieving potion he'd just swallowed.

"Yeah...I'll have to be. I think I'll get some rest, think you could take notes for me today?"

"I'll come by between classes with some provisions so you don't have to leave the room at all today, but please stay in contact through our mirrors so I know you're all right."

"I will. I'm sorry for putting you into this position."

"We're both responsible for that," James squeezed his hand and pulled him into a hug once more before stepping back to help him dress into the pyjama's he pulled from Sirius' bag.

Helping him into the bed that had appeared, he tucked Sirius in and handed him a Dreamless Sleep potion. "Please take it; you need rest to help you heal."

Tiredly Sirius nodded, not putting up a fight as he allowed James to feed him the potion and after he'd drifted off to sleep James took a deep breath, loathing that he had to leave him like this but in the end he left a note for Sirius to remind him he'd be back later with food and that he had his mirror with him.

A last glance back at the small figure in the large bed before he left made James vow to do all he could to put this right again, no matter what.