Chapter 2

"But Sirius, I love you!" Remus and the rest of the entrance hall turned to see the Black heir break another heart. A blond Hufflepuff girl was standing in the doors to the Great Hall, tears streaming down her face as the young gentleman walked away from her. He stopped and addressed her over his shoulder, "No you don't. Now give me some space, I am not a possession. Especially yours." and he strode off towards the dungeons. Remus shook his head and dropped into step with his friend.

Once out of sight of the hall, Sirius stopped and lent on a wall, eyes closed. Remus could tell that Sirius was counting internally, telling himself to get a grip on him temper. Remus opened him mouth to try to calm the other boy, but shut it as Sirius' fist met the wall with a resounding crack. "Shit." He breathed.

"Yes Pads, shit. What was that about anyway?" Remus worried about Sirius and his amazing mood swings. Like a woman with PMS. Sirius rolled his eyes, "Can I tell you later?"

Remus nodded and Smiled, "Sure. Let's go see Slughorn shall we, we're late."

"You reckon if me and James just relented and joined the Slug Club then he'd stop giving us detentions, and leave Peter alone?"

"Well I did tell you two to join, but you never listen to me–"

"That's a lie!" James' head appeared around the door to the potions dungeon.

"Perfect timing as always Prongs" Remus used liberal amounts of sarcasm but his eyes conveyed his concern for Sirius to their friend, not that James needed the hint. Sirius' hand was bleeding.

"Y'know Siri, you and that dormitory door need to fix your differences." James glanced at Remus, to see his own relief reflected in the yellow lupine eyes as Sirius smirked and said "How do you know it was our door Prongs?"

"Because we all know that you're on your last warning Black. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you no longer own the rights to that name." Remus grabbed Sirius' wrist as Severus Snape swept around the corner, a twisted smirk on his face.

"At least he doesn't hide behind a name and a system that means nothing. Unlike some people, Snivellus." James was standing in the doorway wand raised. He, like Remus felt the need to protect Sirius. At least from something they would later regret him doing.

"Well, if it isn't Saint Potter."

"Back off Snivellus. James, don't forget Snape is not pure blood, so he really should be on his knees to us, disowned or not." Peter had appeared behind James. Remus saw at the panicked look on the small boy's face and applied pressure to Sirius wrist. It hurt him, feeling the bones grate, a sign of how depressingly thin Sirius had become recently.

"No, Sirius. He's not even worth that. Its dirty enough down here without him adding to the scum on our robes." James' face told of ultimate disgust. The look was directed at Snape, who opened his mouth to retort as Professor Slughorn rounded the corner.

"Nice to see that you're all here punctually for your detention. Mr. Snape should you not be in your common room?"

Snape scowled at the four Marauders and left heading in the direction of the Slytherin common room.

In Gryffindor tower the four sixth year boys were still awake. They had returned from their detention just under an hour ago but none of them could sleep. Remus was wrapping a rag, soaked in Fire-whiskey around Sirius' injured hand. He was refusing to go to the Hospital wing. "Madam Pomfrey doesn't need something as minor as this to deal with. And anyway, I can't stand the 'what have you done now Mr. Black' speech." So it was down to Remus to fix it. Peter was trying desperately to copy James Transfiguration homework before he fell asleep, and James was working on his chat up lines for Lily Evans.

"James. Here's a idea. Leave her alone and I bet that she'll come running to you." Sirius suggested politely, then winced and Remus pulled the bandage tight.

"Nonononono. Pads that is no way to get a woman for life." James shook his head and laid back, clearly in a Evans obsessed world. Sirius and Remus exchanged a long suffering look. "Thanks Reams, I owe you one."

"I'm calling that whenever I want you know."

"I know. Peter do you want a hand?" Remus held in a reprimand, Peter needed the help right now.

"Yes please Sirius. I can barely keep my eyes open." Sirius smiled at the younger boy,

"No worries Peter," Sirius muttered something and taped Peter parchment. The rest of the roll was suddenly full. Remus would have been impressed but he decided to read Sirius handiwork first. He skimmed the parchment.

"Sirius," Remus looked over the top of the parchment at his friend, "this is amazing." The parchment contained a good standard essay. But it was not so good it would stand out as a fake, but good enough to bump up Peters grades. It was even in Peter's own handwriting.

Sirius smirked, "I know."

Peter had launched himself back to his bed and was already snoring quietly.

James sat up, "Right. We let him sleep in tomorrow, and then we'll do charms corridor and Ravenclaw passages, deal?"

The other two grinned at him, "You're on Prongs." Sirius stretched and yawned, "Well, I'm turning in now. Good night."

Remus shook his head and Sirius fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. "You do remember it's the full moon tomorrow, James?"

"Yeah I know, that's why we all need our sleep. Go to bed Moony, get the sleep you need."

"You too James, sleep tight." The dormitory light flicked out.