A/N: Hello, everyone. Not as late as last time, but still very late. I have been updating all my stories these days and hopefully, this will continue. Reviews make me update faster, i realised. ;-)


"Do you need any help?"

Severus was having a difficult time managing three huge books, his bag and potions kit. Normally he wouldn't sign out three books at a time, but these books were rarely left for long in the library. It has been his sheer luck; they were back after his failed search for them for some four months.

Of course, in all this, he wasn't paying much attention to people around him. So, when a voice offered help, he couldn't help but smile with relief.

"Good evening, Lupin," Severus managed. "I'm managing just fine."

"Of course, you are," Remus smiled and took the books from him. He sensed Severus wasn't very used to receiving help.

"Oh," Severus managed as Remus took the books. To be honest, they were pretty heavy and he could feel the ache in his arms. Remus, on the other hand, seemed completely fine with three heavy books in his hand and a bag slung on his shoulders. It was as if he didn't feel the weight at all. Now that he thought of it, he had seen Remus carry heavier books effortlessly.

"Back to earth."

"Oh sorry," Severus said sheepishly. "Spaced out."

"What were you thinking?"

"That you have superhuman strength," Severus blurted out.

Remus froze.

"My arms are aching from carrying those books and you seem to carry them so easily," Severus was yet to notice Remus' discomfort.

"Er, Lupin?"

That was Sirius. Remus came out of his shock to find Severus two paces ahead of him, glaring daggers at Black, who was addressing him.

"Hello, Black," Remus said.

"Honestly, Lupin, how many books do you wish to finish by the weekend?" Sirius joked eyeing the heavy tomes.

Remus smiled. "They are not mine; they belong to Severus. Just helping him with them."

The use of Snape's first name didn't go unnoticed by the two raven-haired boys. Whereas Severus was glad to hear this, Sirius' eyes hardened.

"Why? He is unable to carry his own load? Grown delicate, Snivellus?"

"Shut up, Black."

"Guys, no fighting, alright?" Remus intervened before it could turn to an argument or, worse, fighting. Severus and Sirius glared at each other for another minute before giving up.

"Would you come this weekend with us?" Sirius asked. He noticed the hard look Severus was sending his way. There was a satisfaction in seeing your enemy burn with jealousy.

This is what people call as catch 22 situation, Remus thought. Though, Severus and he hadn't made any plans for the weekend, but, what if he expected another game on Saturday? And, since he had already agreed to Sirius last time he asked, he couldn't refuse Sirius as well.

Glancing at Severus, Remus answered cautiously. "I agreed when you asked me last time, didn't I? I will." He saw Severus' stance harden. Remus winced inwardly. If only, he could spend time with his two friends together. Why did he go and make two enemies his friends?

"Great! I assure you we will have loads of fun." Remus was mesmerized by Sirius' bright smile. Unknown to himself, he was smiling in response.

"I hope you wouldn't mind if I would leave you guys in the afternoon. Severus and I plan to go to a bookshop." That was the only way of balancing his friendship with two enemies that Remus could think of – spend time with both so that no one feels neglected.

"I'm not free on weekend," Severus said curtly. Levitating his books from Remus' arms, Severus walked away. "Have fun."

Sirius rolled his eyes at Severus. What did Severus really expect? He should be happy that Remus had offered to go somewhere with him, though the thought didn't make him happy. It was obvious there wasn't any plan and Remus had just come up with that to make Severus happy. Why did snivellus mean so much to Remus?


James was furious, very furious and everyone was giving him a wide berth as he stormed to his common room after his last class for the day.

"James!"

Sirius was calling him, but James just increased his pace. And that idiot, Peter, didn't even bother to apologise.

Soon, he had lost Sirius or, perhaps, he decided to give up.

Peter will pay for his … whatever it was today.


Sirius jogged back to where Peter and Remus were talking quietly. They had Transfiguration last and he had sat with Remus whereas James had sat with Peter.

"What did you do?" Sirius nearly shouted at Peter. He had seen them discuss something rather heatedly.

"What makes you think I did something?" Peter asked calmly. That again surprised Sirius; these days it was as if he didn't know Peter at all.

"I saw you two arguing," Sirius growled.

Remus was standing few paces behind, observing all this. He had seen the Marauders; there was an altogether level of intimacy and comfort between Sirius and James. Peter usually trailed behind them. But, he wasn't sure of the internal dynamics of the group and was thinking of leaving, if only Sirius would move from the doorway.

Peter sighed. "I, sort of, confronted him about something." Here, he motioned towards Remus. "One thing led to another and we ended up arguing."

"What's wrong with you, Peter?" Sirius asked, totally confused. "You are behaving strangely these days and now you are fighting your best friends."

Peter looked away. "Am I best friend to you two, Sirius? I never was. I have always been a third wheel. Do you know what James favourite colour is?"

Sirius was surprised at the unexpected question. "Yellow. What does-?

"And mine?"

That stopped Sirius mid-sentence.

"Or my favourite quidditch player? Or my favourite dish? Or my best subject?"

Sirius was desperately trying to search his brain for answers, any answers.

"We have been together for years and I saw you two become close. That was okay with me. Gradually, I was being left out. That was okay with me too. I wanted friends, to be accepted and popular. So, I stayed with you. I did what you did, liked what you liked, ate what you ate. I knew it was wrong of me to change myself for you, that friends accepted each other even with their differences. I was sure that once we would be friends, we would be close, my personality would come out."

Peter took a seat on the nearby desk. "But, then, came the fear of losing you guys. Remember, how I was against the prank we played on Slytherins last year? That was the first time, I had voiced my opinion. We had had a short argument and you didn't talk to me at all for a week. Though, I had no argued with James, he also didn't talk to me for a week, just to support you. In the end, I apologised for the argument and went ahead with the prank. We were discovered, as I had predicted, and faced consequences for it, the same I had predicted. Though you never knew, I faced the worst. Slytherins had seen me and I was at the receiving end of their jibes, comments and hexes for quite long."

Peter looked straight at Sirius. "Lily watched my back during that time. And once, Snape deflected a hex aimed at me. He doesn't know that I saw him deflecting the hex. That was the day I realised I had never been a good friend to you and vice-versa. I thought about all this a lot during the vacation and decided to change things. I think I have been trying to be a better friend but-"

Peter couldn't continue. He already had said too much.

"I'm sorry but I can't go back to old ways now," Peter whispered to Sirius before he bypassed Sirius in the doorway.

Sirius stood shocked there. This was too much. His mind was blank and numb. Dazed, he turned around and walked away, never noticing the brunette inside the class.


Remus had observed the whole scene. And that had reminded him of his own fight, for the lack of a better word, with Severus.

Severus had been cool and aloof when he had met him the next day after agreeing to go out with Sirius and the group. Though, he didn't shirk away from his tutor responsibilities, it was awkward. It hadn't been easy getting friendly with Severus, but now that they had become friends, the loss felt deeper.

Severus was insecure in relationships, Remus had realised that day. That could only be the reason for his strange behaviour. He had point blankly refused to go to Hogsmeade.

"I would still wait for you by the bookshop at three," Remus had left the tuition class that day.

And they hadn't met for another class after that day.

Guess, he was better alone than having friends, Remus mused. Last two weeks had been a roller coaster ride for him, emotionally.

Taking in the unusual quiet of his dormitory, Remus snuggled deeper in the blankets. Only Merlin knew how tomorrow would go in Hogsmeade.