I don't own anything but what little plot there is and some of the characters. Obviously we know which ones are mine cuz they aren't in any book or movie! Also, don't be mad that I kicked Pete out. I had to to make this work. Also, since we don't know how they became animagus I am just making this up. Sirius and James are considered two of the smartest in their class so I think they could do it on their own in secret.

We were wanna be rebels who didn't have a clue
In our rock and roll t-shirts and our typically bad attitudes
Had no excuses for the things that we'd done
We were brave, we were crazy, we were mostly young, young

Young- Kenny Chesney

James and Sirius groaned in unison as the bright sunbeam made its way across their faces. James took his pillow and jammed it on his head while Sirius ducked under the covers. The two had stayed up until the wee hours, finalizing the potions to become Animagus. Two years of hard work and determination were coming to an end. The sneaking around and stolen ingredients. Sirius was still amazed they had managed to hide it all from Remus.

It had started back in Year 3 when Remus had made a joke about the two joining him for a full moon.

"If only you could become animals than I wouldn't be so lonely!" Moony said with a sigh.

"Yea I'll be fierce lion that would keep you in line!" James said, jumping on his bed, standing with his chest puffed out. "I'll be the leader of the pack!" Sirius grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, knocking the dark haired boy off the bed.

"Well I'll be a jaguar. Ill stalk you in the moonlight and take you down!" Sirius jumped off his bed onto the prone boy. The two started to wrestle, shouts and cursing filling the air. The pair froze as a loud bang resounded through the dorm. They stared up at Remus, who stood in front of the window. He put his hands on his hips and smirked at them, not noticing how the light illuminated him.

"Well, I am a werewolf and the two of you would be my bitches!" He shouted before jumping into the fray. The two boys gave an answering roar and the three fumbled around on the floor, uncaring of the loud noises they were making which could be heard in the common room.

The idea was forgotten until one particularly bad moon, two months later. James and Sirius had visited Remus in the hospital but were surprised when they were barred from the premises. The pair had been visiting Remus ever since they had discovered his secret, to the distrust of Madam Pomfrey. For nearly a week they had been forbidden to visit their friend. When the day came where they could see him, they had been shocked.

Remus hadn't looked like himself. Normally he was up and at it the next day after a transformation, looking tired but normal. This time, his left eye was bandaged and covered with an eye patch while two deep cuts healed below. Various bruises and other bandages could be seen on the small boy. The look in his one good eye still haunted them to this day. The normal golden brown colored was nowhere to be seen. It was black with pain, despair, and something they couldn't put their finger on but feared none the less. It had taken some coaxing, but Remus finally told them that he had managed to almost rip his eye out and would now have two scars on his face.

The look of complete and utter defeat on his face sickened Sirius. They were only allowed to stay for 10 minutes before being shooed out. That evening found two unusually silent boys picking at their dinner. It was James who spoke first.

"Let's do it." Sirius looked up at him, confused. "Remember what McGonagall said in first year about people transforming into animals. Let's do it. For Remus."

After that short conversation, it was like a fever overcame the two. Abandoning the food, the pair rushed to the library to look up everything they could about becoming Animagus. Using James' cloak, they snuck into the Restricted Section and found the spells and potions needed. James had been tasked with questioning McGonagall about the process while Sirius talked with Slughorn about the potions. Sirius had even searched the Black Family library for books.

It was a difficult and arduous journey, made doubly hard with all the secrecy. They knew that Remus would go ballistic and turn them in, 'for their own safety.' Now, tonight, that journey was coming to a close. The summer was drawing to an end. There were only two weeks left until school started. Remus was going to stay the last week with them. The Potters were taking them to see them off. The week after term starts was the first full moon. James and Sirius planned to reveal their plan to Remus at the last moment when he could do little to stop them.

Sirius groaned and rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. All he saw was that long ago day when Remus had let spill just how bad the transformations were. How bad his nights were. No matter what he imagined, he knew that he was nowhere close to how it really was for Remus. James shared his thought.

The day passed with agonizing slowness as the pair waited anxiously for darkness. Dinner was a painful affair as James' grandparents had come in for the evening. James loved his grandparents and even looked forward to their visits but tonight he was too distracted to do it justice. The adults had noticed and exchanged glances but put it down to "teenagers. They'd rather be doing anything else!"

Finally, finally, at the hour of nine o'clock, James' grandparents left and the boys rushed upstairs, shouting goodnight over their shoulder. They rushed into his room and slammed the door shut. Sirius sent up a silent bless you that James' parents had the foresight to put silencing charms in every bedroom of the house when they first moved in.

James jumped over his bed and pulled out a small box that contained the potions. Each would have to drink three separate potions in the correct order. The potions book they had nicked from the Restricted Section had explained each potion and their effects.

The first potion was clear and odorless. It looked like an ordinary glass of water. The purpose was too clear the body and prep it for the fusion of animal DNA. The potion book had described the experience as "flames, hot and quick, steal through the body burning your very essence and taking who you are from you…"

The second was a yucky brown color and had the consistency of syrup. It smelled of rotten eggs. The potion book described it as an itchy sensation as cells were stretched and transformed. The book warned that the user must refrain from scratching and went on to depict several gruesome photographs showing people who had itched the skin over their bodies. These pictures had given both boys nightmares.

The third potion was in Sirius opinion, the worst. It had the color of a sickly yellow-green and looked like a glass full of boogies. It smelled of death and let off a faint steam and bubbled faintly in the cup. The last potion, the book stated, was what stretched the person into the form of the animal for the first time. The book described the sensation as being "torn apart by wild animals" and then being "reformed in the midst of a firestorm."

The pair sat on the floor, facing each other. James carefully lined up the potions in order they were to be drank and sat back. They stared at each other, their breathing ragged as their hearts raced in fear and excitement. Silver eyes met hazel, feelings mirrored. In unspoken agreement, they lifted the first glasses and held them in front of them.

"Remus." James said quietly.

"Remus." Sirius echoed. They threw it back and gasped at the fire they felt on their tongues. The liquid burned all the way down, exploding in their stomachs. A shooting pain emanated from their stomachs and without thinking, James reached over and grabbed Sirius' hand. Sirius clutched at it as he felt the pain. It was like someone had replaced his blood with fuel and lit a match. He looked down at his skin, expecting to see it melting off his bones.

They reached for the second glass and threw it back, again gasping at the feeling. The burning eased but was replaced by a severe itching sensation. They itched in places that they were unaware could itch. Sirius clamped his tongue between his teeth to keep from scratching. James lifted his hand to his face and scratch so hard he drew blood. Sirius grabbed his other hand and shook his head, unable to speak. The pair writhed in agony as they plucked up the fortitude to continue.

Finally, they were able to control themselves enough to lift the last glass. James nearly bobbled his glass as the itching worsened. They gulped it down, gagging at the taste. The itching ceased and they stared at each other in amazement. No pain. No itch. Sirius frowned. Had they messed up somehow? He saw the confusion on the other boy's face. He stood and went to take a step when he felt his hip pop out of place. With a cry, he fell and suddenly he felt like every bone in his body was breaking.

He could vaguely hear James crying out from somewhere but he was too focused on what was happening to his body. He heard bones snapping. He heard skin ripping. From out of nowhere, he thought this must be what Remus feels. The pain increased and he heard a high-pitched keening sound and then darkness took him.

He woke seconds later. He felt different. He rose and nearly jumped out of his skin when he looked down. He saw two black paws where his feet should have been. He raced to the mirror and gave a bark of surprise. He was a dog! A big Labrador of some kind, his fur as black as his name. He grinned as he felt his tail wagging happily. He gave another bark and turned to look for James.

A giant stag stood in the middle of James' room. Its fur was red in color and upon its head were massive antlers that jutted up. The stag snorted and stamped a hoof. Within seconds, the stag disappeared and James stood in its place. James let out a shout and lifted his hands to the sky.

"We did it, Sirius! We did it!" Sirius gave a series of barks and bounded towards him. He transformed in midair and the two landed in a heap on the floor. In the way of boys, they started to wrestle, their laughs one of relief, shock and aw at what they had done. It was a long time before sleep would claim them.