A/N: I just wanted to give a quick shoutout to everyone who took the time to review recently. I don't usually respond to individual reviews, but I do read every single one and your comments and encouragement never fail to make me smile.

Also, I have to acknowledge a mistake. On rereading for clarity's sake, I realized I've been writing Rastaban instead of Rabastan when referring to everyone's favorite younger Lestrange brother. I don't have an editor and unfortunately, I didn't notice until we reached Chapter 25. Sad fail. I will attempt to fix it in the old chapters. Thank you all for not laughing at me.

And now, we return to our story.

He hadn't meant to do it. He really hadn't. And usually when Sirius destroyed things, he very much meant to.

It had been a rough holiday. His parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle had insisted on acting as though everything was perfectly normal, even though nothing would ever be normal again. They'd taken away Andromeda's place setting for Easter dinner. Sirius' mother had removed all photos of Andromeda from the house - including some of Sirius' favorite memories - and quizzed him on the Black family eight generations back every night. She'd forbidden him from sending any owls, though he'd still received his letters from James and Remus. She'd paraded him around awful parties with the Lestranges and Malfoys and groups of people Sirius didn't even know. She'd even been short with Regulus, her golden child, when he made the mistake of asking why it smelled like smoke in the tapestry room.

It had gone without saying that no one was to mention Andromeda's name. It had also gone without saying that Sirius was not to try to contact her in any way.

Sirius had never gone through a holiday without his cousin - the family, being obsessed with bloodline and therefore having a rather small social circle, had always done things together. Narcissa was an angry wreck, and Regulus was a sad one, which left Sirius to be the strong one. He could not break down, nor let his guard down, not with Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix constantly hanging around.

So he'd held it together. All the misery and grief and anger at Andromeda for doing what she did was pushed down, hidden away in a little part of him.

Until he'd heard the Slytherins talk about her, and he realized, as mad as he was, he still needed to defend her.

"Whore. Slag. Blood traitor."

It kept playing over and over in his head. Somehow, hearing insults directed at someone you cared about was infinitely worse than hearing them said of yourself.

"Yo, Black, what's wrong with you?"

Oh, wait, that last bit wasn't in his head. It just sounded far off because of the ringing in his ears.

Finally, he made himself look up. And there he saw three very concerned looking faces.

"Can you hear me, Black?" James asked. Sirius nodded.

"You might have given us a warning to duck," Peter grumbled.

"He didn't know we'd need to," Remus said quietly. "Right Sirius?"

Sirius sighed and let his arms fall down to his sides. "I'm sorry Petey. How's your head?"

"It hurts. Will someone tell me what just happened?"

James crossed his arms. "This is just an educated guess, but it seems like someone just released a massive amount of magical power into a tiny little train compartment."

"James -" Remus started to say.

"Which is incredibly dangerous, as Shacklebolt said. And stupid. And it was brilliant! Did you see how fast the Slytherins turned tail? Mulciber nearly wet himself." James' facial expression changed from one of condemnation to almost gleeful, but Sirius couldn't rouse himself enough to be amused.

"That's not the word I would have used…" Remus said. "Sirius, are you hurt?"

"M'fine," Sirius mumbled. He was embarrassed. Only young children lost control of their magic. "I didn't plan it. I didn't even have hold on my wand yet."

Before the boys could continue, the compartment door slid open again. Sirius groaned.

It was Andromeda.

She strode past the other three boys as if she didn't even see them and knelt next to her cousin, for Sirius was still on the floor. "You blew up a train compartment?"

"Why do you assume it was me?" He asked. "And you can't be here." He did not want to see her. After all, she'd betrayed him. She could have waited until the end of the school year, at least. She could have given him some warning. As it was - she didn't even know he'd known about Tonks ahead of time. She'd just sprung it on everyone without considering anyone's feelings but her own.

"I can be wherever I please," she told him. "And I'll ask again. Did you blow up a train compartment?"

"Sort of…"

"Gideon Prewett is telling everyone a Gryffindor first-year blew up a train compartment trying to make fire. That sounds like you."

"Don't be ridiculous. I can make fire without creating an explosion. And since when do you speak to Gideon Prewett?" In truth, Sirius hadn't paid much attention to who Andromeda associated with at school, excepting the young Mr. Tonks. "Now go away."

"Sirius -" She grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look at her. "Did you blow up a train compartment?"

He glared at her. "Okay, fine. Yes, I blew up a bloody train compartment. I blew up a bloody train compartment and I didn't even mean to do it. I did it because everything is just a bloody fucking mess!" He let himself lash out at her, hoping she could feel his anger and despair, which felt like it was going to consume him. Hadn't he dealt with enough this year, being sorted into Gryffindor? He was already the wayward Black. How could she have given him more of a challenge to overcome?

"You're too young to use those words…" she whispered, pushing hair out of his face.

"Don't tell me what I am. You don't have a right anymore." He tried to escape her grip. "You left!"

She sighed. "You're right. I left. I had to leave. I thought you, of all people, would understand why."

Sirius felt his anger bubbling up his throat. "Well, I don't. I don't understand why you get to leave, and I have to stay there. Did you even think about that part of it? I HAVE TO STAY!"

Andromeda glanced at the other three boys, who were visibly uncomfortable. Sirius hated that his family problems were being aired out like this, making him look so foolish and weak in front of his friends.

"Sirius, I'd be leaving my parents' house and spending less time around after finishing school regardless…remember when Bella left?"

"So?" He suppressed a sob.

"So you'd have to do without me eventually anyway. Everyone has to leave at some point."

"Well, that's a load of hippogriff crap," James broke in.

Both Blacks turned to look at him. He was standing at his full height with his arms crossed, staring up at Andromeda with disapproval on his face.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," James shot back. "You know, Sirius here is always talking about how you're his favorite cousin, and how wonderful you are. But to be honest, I just don't see it."

Andromeda looked like she'd just smelled something unpleasant. "As usual, Potter, you're overstepping your bounds. This is none of your business."

"No, you're wrong." This time Remus spoke. "What you did affects Sirius, so it is our business. You've hurt him."

"Even little Lupin is upset with me?" Her voice softened. "And what do you think you know about what I did?"

"Well, I know you've been dating a muggleborn," James said. "And don't misunderstand - I think you should date whomever you please. But you're not a fool. You knew what it would mean for your family. And yet you didn't even have the decency to give Sirius here a heads up."

"Who I date is hardly the business of my younger cousin."

"Well it should be!" Sirius snapped, standing up. "You could have told me - I never would have told mum or anyone else."

"It was safer for you not to know, Sirius, don't you see that? Safer for you," she said.

"Bullocks!" Sirius shouted. "I knew anyway. You weren't subtle, leaving footprints all around the Whomping Willow after all that snogging." He pointed an accusatory finger at his cousin.

"You knew about that?"

Sirius nodded. "Why do adults always think it's a good idea to lie to children?" And why was it sucha common theme in his life?

"I didn't lie, I simply didn't tell you."

"Withholding information can be just as bad as lying," James said angrily. "My god woman, do you hear yourself? You act as though this is your private business but your actions have far-reaching consequences. Did you consider Sirius' feelings at all? Did you forget that when Sirius is upset, he's likely to lose control? And when Sirius loses control, people like Petey here get hurt!" James grabbed the smaller boy and shoved his head down so Andromeda could see the bump on his head. "You know, this is really your fault."

"Take it down a degree or two, James," Lupin warned.

Andromeda looked at James as if simultaneously tempted to punt him across the compartment and also admitting he may have a point. She sighed and ran a hand through her long hair. "Look, Sirius, sweetie, I'm sorry that the way I did it upset you, I really am. But Ted is my soulmate. It would all have come to this anyway."

Sirius couldn't understand why she wasn't more upset about the upheaval she had caused. "How do you know?" He demanded.

She smiled. "I just know."

"That's not good enough," he insisted. "You're giving up everything for one bloke!"

Andromeda shrugged. "Maybe it's not good enough for you yet. But someday, you'll find someone you're willing to give up everything for, and then you'll understand."

Sirius wanted to hold on to his anger. He wanted to yell and scream and kick and destroy something. But more than that, he wanted Andromeda back from Ted Tonks. And he knew it wasn't going to happen.

"I hate this," he muttered, turning away from her. But did he really have the right to be so angry with her? She wasn't his mother, or even his sister. She didn't owe him any more than she'd already given.

She responded by stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she whispered in his ear. "Someday I hope I can make it up to you." She released him from the hug and ruffled his hair.

He sighed and sat down hard on the compartment floor. He was resigned to the situation now. "They're calling you names."

"Let them," she said.

"You'll be okay?" he asked.

"Of course I will," she answered. "You?"

He blew out a deep breath. "Sure. You really should go before Cissy or her crew see you here. I don't need Mum hearing about it."

She left, and Sirius was left alone with his friends once more. At once, Remus produced a chunk of chocolate. How he always had it on him Sirius would never know.

"Eat this, it will help," Remus insisted.

"Do you want to talk about it?" James asked.

"Do you want a cauldron cake?" Peter offered.

"I hate my family," Sirius said, taking a bite of the chocolate. Remus was right - it did make him feel slightly better.

Remus and James settled on either side of him, and Peter dropped down across. It was tight quarters on the floor - which was really only meant for their feet, but the boys made it work. Despite his shame and embarrassment, having his friends there did help Sirius calm down.

"You know what I think?" James said after a while.

"Whaf?" Sirius had made his way through the chocolate and was now eating one of the cauldron cakes.

"I think we need to find a way to channel all that rage you have into something productive."

"Productive?"

"Yes." James Potter grinned in a way that only James Potter could and ran a hand through his messy hair. "I think you should try out for Beater next year."

"No way! Beating is all physical - there's no strategy to it. I want to be a Chaser."

"I think James has a point," Remus said. "Imagine if you could hit a Bludger with the force you used earlier."

"That was my magic, not my body," Sirius argued.

"What your magic does it tied to how your body and brain work," Remus said. "They all work in concert with each other. Face it - you were upset and you wanted to destroy something. Some people would react by crying, or shouting, or quietly holing up somewhere they couldn't be found. You reacted with force."

"Come on Black, just imagine how satisfying it would be to knock a few Slytherins off their brooms. You can't do that as a Chaser."

"Personally, I'd rather see you hit a Bludger than hit me again," Peter said.

"I said I was sorry about your head, Petey," Sirius grumbled.

"We'll have plenty of time to practice over the summer," James said brightly.

"If I'm allowed out of the house," Sirius grumbled.

"I'll have mother see to it that our invitation is accepted," James said, as if that settled the matter. "Now that we've moved through this little rough patch, I do believe we have work to do."

"What kind of work?" Peter asked.

"Isn't it obvious? We need to come up with a prank for Ted Tonks. Not a mean one!" James added quickly when Remus opened his mouth to protest. "Nothing cruel. But come on - Sirius needs to get the guy back at least a little bit, right?"

"Damn right I do," Sirius said, his heart lifting. "What did you have in mind?"

"There's a spell that makes you grow feathers, then molt like a sick chicken…."

Sirius nearly dropped his sweet. The suggestion had come from Lupin, not James. Sirius grinned. His friends always did cheer him up.

/

Sirius Black was powerful and dangerous.

Remus had always known this, in the back of his head, and chosen not to care. But after a display of out-of-control magic, Remus had to concede that Sirius could do real damage if someone didn't rein him in. And since James wasn't particularly good at that sort of thing, and Peter didn't seem to have the strength of character for it, that duty would fall to Remus. Remus had no idea if there was a test for magical ability, but if there was, he would love to see how Sirius measured. Clearly, his latent ability was formidable. Remus would bet his last knut that James' was also strong. He wondered if it was a pureblood thing. He hoped not. That fell too much in line with the thinking of the blood purists, and he wanted nothing to do with that.

Remus had no way of knowing if his own magic stacked up against his friends' because he was unwilling to try. He already knew what it was to be dangerous - he was a werewolf after all - even his own parents hid from him during a full moon - and he had no desire to run the risk of hurting anyone.

(Of course, had he tried, young Remus Lupin may have found himself pleasantly surprised to learn he was quite a match for Sirius or James. But more on that later.)

Remus was considering exactly how - and if - he could control his two friends when they were all whisked into Professor McGonagall's office immediately upon arriving at the castle.

The deputy headmistress was never one to beat around the bush. "Kingsley Shacklebolt tells me you blew up a compartment on the train," she said. Her eyes were hard. Some may have mistaken them for cold, but Remus knew better. Remus knew the Head of Gryffindor was all fire, smoldering under the surface.

"It was me, " Peter said, sticking to the story they'd gone with on the train. "I was trying to create fire."

The lie may have convinced Kingsley, but Remus wasn't so sure it would work on McGonagall. The witch had years of experience dealing with troublemaking children, after all.

She peered at them over the frames of her glasses. "Steven Mulciber and Rabastan Lestrange just checked in to the hospital wing for treatment of cuts and bruises. Madam Pomfrey tells me the injuries are consistent with being involved in a small explosion."

Remus was dying to know how the staff had communicated this so quickly - why, the boys had barely stepped off the train!

"What a strange coincidence, Professor," James said. "I reckon they may have been trying the same spell."

"Don't test me, Mr. Potter," the witch said sharply. "The truth, I want it now, or I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor and set you all in detention for the remainder of term and the next. That would leave you no time to try out for Quidditch."

Remus knew that was a threat that would hit James hard. His friend gasped. "How could you, of all people, risk the team's prospect that way?"

"The truth, Mr. Potter."

But James just set his mouth and stared at her defiantly. Instead it was Sirius that spoke. And for once, he did come out with the truth.

"It was my fault, Professor," he said. "They were calling my cousin names and I lost myself."

The witch turned to him. "Your cousin Andromeda, I presume?"

"Does everyone know my family business?" he grumbled.

"Katinka Macmillan wrote the headmaster, who briefed the teachers. Unfortunately, it's not the first time a pureblood family has chosen to reject their own child." Her tone made it clear she disapproved of the practice. "That aside, family troubles do not excuse your behavior. Any kind of explosion spell, particularly in close quarters, puts students a risk. You cannot raise a wand against others with the intent to do harm. I will not have that. Normal procedure would be to suspend, if not expel you."

Sirius' eyes widened. "Does that mean I would have to go home?" This was not the characteristic Sirius Black, full of cheek and a healthy level of disregard for rules and punishments. This was a boy vulnerable, afraid, and at that exact moment, unable to defend himself.

"Professor?" Remus broke in bravely. His friend was drowning. He needed someone to throw him a life preserver, and fast. "What if it was an accident? I mean, in March Henry Connors blew up a goblet in Charms and burned off his eyebrows, but he wasn't punished. And in November, Jenny Fraser's potion exploded when she added too many toad toes, but the only consequence she suffered was poor marks for the day. And when I sent off a rogue hex, you were very reasonable."

"Those cases were all clearly the result of mistakes and a lack of magical control, which is common in Hogwarts, particularly among first years. This situation suggests an intentional attack on other students. Provoked or not, this is a serious offense."

Inspiration struck Remus. He just hoped his intuition was correct. "I realize it was an attack, Professor, but not an intentional one. Check his wand."

"Excuse me?"

"Check his wand," Remus repeated. That will show you what spell he cast, right?"

This was a risky suggestion. Sirius had said he'd lost control of his magic. Remus was guessing it happened the same way it would with a young children, channeled without use of a wand. If he was right, he was sure he could convince McGonagall to be lenient - he hadn't forgotten her kindness at the beginning of the year, and he knew she would never enjoy the prospect of throwing a child out of school. But if he was wrong, he'd just given her evidence that Sirius was a danger to others.

She took the bait, her calculating eyes sizing Remus up carefully. "I suppose it won't hurt anyone to check. Wand, Mr. Black?"

Sirius glanced at Remus, who nodded encouragingly. Merlin, he hoped he was right about this.

And he was. When McGonagall checked the wand, it showed a series of menial spells like lumos and alohomora. Thankfully, having been on break there hadn't been much reason for Sirius to jinx or hex anybody.

"Fascinating," she said, handing the wand back to Sirius.

"So, does it not appear that Sirius, just like our other classmates, simply lost control? And then, by all logic, should he not be treated the same way you treated those other classmates? We are just first years, after all." Remus spoke very quickly as to not lose his nerve.

McGonagall looked impressed. "I admit, based on the evidence presented, that is the logical conclusion, Mr. Lupin."

"So you won't punish him?" Peter asked.

Her eyes flickered quickly to Peter before falling back on Sirius. "Not quite. Mr. Black, you absolutely must learn to control your magic, even under great emotional stress."

"I'm afraid emotions aren't his strong suit," James said, looking amused as Sirius scowled.

"Nonetheless, as you are a first year, I am inclined to agree with Mr. Lupin," the Professor said. "Detention with me for the next week, Mr. Black. Provided we don't have another episode, after that I will consider the matter closed."

Sirius didn't look happy about that, but he knew it was better than being suspended. "Fair enough. But can we not write Mum about it?"

McGonagall considered this, then nodded. "I doubt informing your mother would be productive. We want to fix the problem, not exacerbate it, after all. Now, off to Gryffindor Tower with you. I don't want to have to see you four in my office again, understood?" The boys nodded and began to file out.

"Mr. Lupin?" The Professor called after him.

"Yes?" He paused.

"Do try to look out for Mr. Black. Mr. Potter has his heart in the right place, but they could both use a friend with some good sense to keep them in line."

Oh, Merlin. What did it mean when the werewolf was the member of the group with the good sense?

"I'll do my best."

He stepped out of the office and followed his friends.

"Lupin, you're a gentleman and a scholar!" Sirius said as they trudged up the stairs. "Why, I've half a mind to kiss you right there on the lips."

"Please don't," Remus responded, though he was smiling. A werewolf with good sense. What a world.

/

"What's this?" James asked, picking up a piece of parchment that had been displaced from Sirius' jungle. The boys had been keeping to the dormitory more than usual, trying to keep Sirius distracted from his troubles with games and pranks while also isolating him from the general population as a safety precaution. It made James restless, but he understood the reasoning Remus had presented earlier that week. The Slytherins would be out for blood after what happened on the train. They needed to keep Sirius in line for the rest of the term, or McGonagall was going to crack down, and that was the last thing the heir to House Black needed at the moment.

It must be exhausting to be so angry at your family and their associates all the time.

"Nothing," Sirius said hastily, trying to snatch it back. But James was quick and stepped lithely out of his reach.

"Why don't you want me to see it?" James asked, grinning wickedly. He unfolded the parchment and examined it carefully.

It was an elaborate charcoal drawing of a street of London brownstones. The vantage point suggested the artist had been looking out a window from an upper floor, for some of the roofs were visible. The drawing was incredibly detailed - from the motor car in the street to the individual cobblestones on the road to the pigeon feathers gathered in the corner on one roof.

"Did you draw this?" James asked his friend. "It's quite good."

"No, it's not," Sirius grumbled. "It's just something I do to pass time when Mum puts us on house arrest."

"I think it's quite well done," James said again. "Pity it doesn't move."

"It does, if you tap it with your wand," Sirius said with a shrug.

"Really?" James pulled his wand out to test it and Remus looked over his shoulder with interest. The picture responded immediately to James' light tap - suddenly the car was moving and pigeons were diving in and out of the frame.

"This is cool magic!" Jame said. He already knew Sirius was a talented spellcaster, but he'd never seen something like this before. Usually his friend's magic was more physical - focused on pranks or jinxing Slytherin punks. This was a complex piece of work that must have taken hours to perfect. This was art. James wasn't sure he'd ever seen Sirius sit still for twenty minutes, let alone the time it must have taken to complete this drawing.

"You think?" Sirius wasn't going to say it in front of everyone in the dormitory, but James could tell he was pleased by the compliment. "I've got a few more."

A few more was a bit of an understatement. Suddenly Sirius was pulling out a sketchbook full of dozens of similar drawings. Most of them showed scenes of a London home - a drawing room with thick velvet curtains and a desk that appeared to rattle - a kitchen where a cheery fire burned and house elves moved from place to place - a staircase that seemed to go on to the heavens. Not all of the pictures moved, but they were all highly detailed and realistic.

"I can't believe I didn't know you could do this!" James exclaimed, flipping through with great interest.

"They're really lovely Sirius," Remus said sincerely. He was looking at a loose one that showed a small park surrounded by a combination of old London construction and budding new high-rises. The playground was empty, but the swings swung back and forth as if it were windy.

"'S nothing," Sirius insisted. "Uncle Alphard taught me to draw - I think he hoped it might keep me out of some trouble. I'm afraid I failed him on that end." He grinned. "They don't talk like portraits do, but I've gotten pretty good at getting everything to move."

An idea came to James. An idea that could allow them to have a bit of fun while keeping Sirius in check. "Can you only do it on parchment, or can you draw on other things as well?" James asked.

"Never thought to try, why?" Sirius asked. But before James could answer, he caught on. "Ohhh! That flat wall as you come out of the Great Hall?"

James nodded, pleased his friend was always so quick on the uptake. "It could do with some redecorating, don't you think?"

"The Gryffindor-Slytherin match is tomorrow, isn't it?" Sirius said lightly. "I have a concept in mind."

Sirius grinned, though Remus sighed and Peter looked nervous, as James pulled out the invisibility cloak.

"Let's get a move on then."

James and Sirius were up for hours while Sirius perfected his work and James stood guard. It was perfect. Revived by a chance to get into a little mischief, Sirius moved with concentrated speed, completely oblivious to the world around him as he practiced his craft. James couldn't believe he hadn't learned of this sooner - graffiti art was a popular pastime among muggle children, judging by the state of London's alleys and bridges. By the time they returned to the dormitory it was nearly 5 a.m. But every moment had been worth it.

James did his best to regulate his grin as the other students took in the entrance hall, which sported a massive Gryffindor lion with a snake between its teeth. The snake slithered and hissed silently, but the lion was clearly the victor as it strutted around the wall.

"Graffiti," Kingsley Shacklebolt was saying at the Gryffindor table when the first years sat down, but he looked fairly amused. "Filch is furious."

"That man doesn't appreciate good magic when he sees it," Gideon Prewett responded.

"Or artistic talent," Talia Jones, a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, commented. "Graffiti or not, that's a lovely piece of work."

James kicked Sirius under the table as the boy puffed out his chest and started to open his mouth. They couldn't go bragging to Shacklebolt about rule-breaking at the moment.

"I wonder who did it," Prewett said. "Clearly a Gryffindor."

"Dawson likes to doodle in class…" Jones mused.

James could tell Sirius was bursting to take credit for his work, and he hastily piled potatoes on his friend's plate. "Don't you just love Sunday breakfast?" he said loudly.

His voice brought Sirius back to his senses. "Oh yes, Sunday breakfast is just the best." he stifled a yawn. "Shame it's served so early though."

"It's served two hours later than breakfast during the week - how much of a lie-in do you need?" Remus teased, obviously aware of how late his friends had returned, which James expected of him by now.

"I love breakfast every day," Peter said, the joke going right over his head.

Gryffindor students of all ages stopped to admire the vandalism in their honor as they came to breakfast, and even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff seemed to get a kick out of it. It was only Slytherin that had any problem with it.

"I can't believe they haven't called a house elf to clean up that abomination yet," James heard Narcissa complain loudly to Lucius Malfoy. "What good are they if we have to wait on that squib of a caretaker to handle these situations? It looks like charcoal - how hard could it be to clean?"

The complaints seemed to amuse Sirius, who was in a good mood for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. And the day was only looking up as the students headed down to the Quidditch pitch for the game.

James loved everything about Quidditch - the feeling of the wind whipping - whether he was seated in the high stands or on a broomstick, the roar of an excited crowd, the intensity of competition - it was all a happy rush to him.

"Just think Black," he told Sirius. "Next year it will be us out there."

"Don't you have to try out first though?" Peter asked.

"That's just a technicality Petey," James said. "Sirius and I are better flyers than half of this team. We'll blow everyone away at tryouts."

Sirius laughed and slapped him on the back. "Right you are, Potter. I can't wait."

Sirius hadn't laughed much over the last week, and James was glad to see his friend returning to normal. It seemed he'd finally been able to shake the shadow of his family problems and was back to his mischievous self.

Marlene McKinnon, who was sporting Gryffindor colors for the match, wiggled through the crowd and found a seat next to Remus. "Hello boys," she said with a smile. "I liked the redecorating you did in the Entrance Hall. One of you has quite the eye for design."

"I have no idea what you mean, Marlene," James said as Sirius winked.

"That was you?" Eliza Corsica, who was sitting behind them, leaned forward and asked. "How did you get it to move?"

Sirius stretched and leaned backwards to speak to her without shouted. "I'm afraid it's a family secret. Can't be giving it away to every girl who comes along - even one as pretty as you." He tugged on one of the tendrils of wavy hair framing her face flirtily.

Eliza giggled, then turned to Remus. "I'm surprised you didn't bring a book, Remus."

"I tried. James and Sirius locked me out of our room this morning so I couldn't grab my bag."

This was true. James, too wired to sleep, had decided to stay up straight through the day. That meant he was up early enough to hide Remus' bag and shove the boy out of the dorm without one of his precious books.

"It's important for a young man to engage with his peers," James said. "You'd hardly be socializing if you had a book right now."

"Why socialize when I could be reading?" Remus grumbled. Eliza gave him a sympathetic look.

"Lily brings books everywhere too. I'm surprised she'd not here right now with one."

"Where is Evans, anyway?" James asked, scanning the crowd for the trademark red hair. He didn't spot it, but he did see Lily's friend Mary sitting with a few other students from their year.

Eliza shrugged. "She's not much into Quidditch. I think she may have used the match as an excuse to hide out with that Slytherin friend of hers - you know - the one you're always picking on?"

"Snivellus!" James cried dramatically. "She's skipping something as beautiful as a Quidditch match for that slimy git?"

"Wait - are they talking about Severus Snape?" Marlene asked Peter.

"Yup."

"Ahh - oh James, that's just mean!" Marlene scolded.

"Hey, the nickname fits," Sirius said. "Should we go track them down and show them the error of their ways?"

James shook his head. "I'm not missing this match. Let them have their little rendezvous. That relationship will never last anyway." No, it simply couldn't last. Not if James showed Lily Evans what she was missing out on.

Really, what kind of witch or wizard skipped out on Quidditch?!

/

"Remus, help!" Peter begged his friend, who was sitting in the common room with a book. Their History of Magic essay was due the next morning and he was still four inches short. He was holding the parchment in both hands as he stood before the couch the other boy was on.

The other boy glanced at him from over the top of the pages. "I told the three of you to stop procrastinating yesterday, but why listen to Remus?" His eyes turned back to the page. Remus had been somewhat feisty ever since his success charming Professor McGonagall out of suspending Sirius. The new attitude suited him, and Peter knew despite the teasing he was still Remus.

"Surely you won't leave me to fail," Peter cried. "Please Remus - Sirius offered to help but last time I asked him for help he decided to change the whole thing to invisible ink!" Thankfully, Professor Flitwick had found that rather funny once Peter had reasoned out what Sirius had done and performed the spell to make everything readable.

Remus glanced up again. "Is he even done with his own essay?"

"He and James finished about an hour ago," Peter said, a bit resentful. No matter how hard he tried, he never quite reached their level. Granted, few people could - their two friends were exceptionally gifted - and Peter was constantly amazed with the magic the pulled off.

"Those two drive me crazy - always skirting by like that," Remus muttered. He sighed and pulled a bookmark from his bag. "Don't pick up their lazy habits," he told Peter.

"So you'll help me?"

"Of course I will," Remus said. "And no invisible ink, either."

"Thank you!" Remus always came through for Peter. As much as Peter looked up to James and Sirius for their showy personalities, it was Remus Peter always looked to when he truly needed help. James always tried to be helpful, but lacked the attention span to really be so, and Sirius liked his little jokes a little too much to really be of assistance.

Remus took the essay and began looking over it. After a few moments he looked up.

"Well you entirely forgot to mention the rebellions of 1202 and 1612," he told him. "They're earlier than most, but really set the framework for the later rebellions in the 18th century. Add those in and you should have enough length, then I'll go through and edit for clarity, okay?"

"Of course, thanks Remus!" Peter took the essay back and sat down at a nearby table to begin the work. Remus came over with his book to keep him company. The boys sat quietly as Peter's quill scratched away at the parchment, adding what details he could find.

Peter enjoyed working next to Remus - even though the other boy was cleverer than him, he never rubbed it in Peter's face like James or Sirius sometimes did, nor did he get boisterous and impatient waiting for Peter to finish up. He never let any of the others copy, but he was always there with a helpful hint or detail whenever needed. True, he may nag rather like Peter's mother when it came to schoolwork, but it was nice to have a friend that kept on top of him like that.

Thirty minutes later Peter handed the essay back over, and Remus pulled out a quill to begin his edits.

"What do you suppose Sirius and James are up to right now?" Peter asked Remus.

"Probably stealing school broomsticks from storage to take a quick joyride or something," Remus said without looking up.

"You think?!" Peter would have loved to tag along for that - purely as an observer of course. He hadn't much talent for flying.

Remus sighed and paused his work. "I certainly hope not. That Ravenclaw prefect Dorcas Meadowes caught them sneaking around the cupboard last week and docked points for loitering. She'd immediately know who did it if they actually took the brooms."

"They're so daring though - that wouldn't stop them," Peter commented.

"I know - no common sense those too." The words were harsh, but Remus was smiling. "I swear they think they can do anything. I wouldn't be surprised if James became the best Quidditch player in a century and Sirius moved to Romania to handle dragons."

Peter chuckled. "What do you want to do when you grow up, Remus?"

The other boy looked pensive. "I've never put much thought into it, to be honest." He sounded almost sad. "Maybe I'll get lucky and be able to travel the world researching magical creatures like my father."

"You don't need luck, you certainly have the brains for that!" Peter told him. "You have the brains for anything! You could work for the Ministry, I'll bet. Or maybe come here and be a professor, since you love books so much."

Remus shook his head. "I don't think that's in the cards for me, unfortunately."

"Why not?" Peter asked, not understanding. Remus excelled at every subject except Potions - and even then he passed well enough.

His friend just shrugged. "What about you Peter? What would you like to be?"

"Well - promise not to laugh?"

"Of course I won't laugh!" Remus said.

"I've always wanted to open a sweets shop," he admitted. "I know it's not the most adventurous sort of life, but I think it would be just lovely."

Remus smiled. "It does sound lovely," he agreed.

"Someday you James and Sirius will have to come visit and my mum and I will make you the most delicious toffee pudding you've ever eaten!" Peter said.

"I didn't know you could cook," Remus said, interested. "Do you do it often with your mother?"

Peter nodded. "Mostly desserts, but I can make a few meals," he told his friend proudly. "I don't get much chance here of course."

"I cook with my mother too," Remus said. "The muggle way of course - she can't use magic. I find cooking very relaxing."

"Maybe sometime over the holidays we can get together and cook a whole feast!" Peter said. "Then we can make James and Sirius do the dishes."

"Somehow I see that ending badly…" Remus said, chuckling. "But I Iike the thought. By the way - here's your essay. Good job - I only changed a few things around. You really worked hard on this didn't you?"

"Thanks!" Peter took back the parchment and shoved it into his bag without looking - he knew anything Remus changed was for the better. "I'm not the best at wand work, but I can scrape together an essay." He grinned.

Remus nodded. "Say Peter, this is off-topic, but have you turned up any information on your father?"

The grin slipped off Peter's face. "Not really anything about his life after school," he said sadly. "I asked McGonagall about him, but she wasn't teaching here when he was a student, and she told me I should be focusing on transfiguring my gerbil into a teacup."

Remus looked thoughtful. "What about Dumbledore? He has connections all over."

"I couldn't bother the headmaster!" Peter said, alarmed at the thought. "He's far too busy to be answering my questions."

"I'm sure you wouldn't be the first student to inquire about a parent," Remus said, but Peter knew he would let the subject drop.

The boys settled into a comfortable silence for a bit, watching the Common Room fire. Of course that peace was shattered when James and Sirius came tumbling through the portrait hole, laughing hysterically.

"What happened?" Peter asked, eager to be a part of the excitement.

"We finally got Tonks!" Sirius hooted. "In the library - we hit him with a jinx and it worked just like the book said it would - chicken feathers all over!"

"I hope that doesn't cause problems for him and Andromeda…"

"That was the best part!" James said. "He wasn't mad at all - when he realized he was covered in feathers - he began to wave his arms and cluck like a chicken."

"He did the chicken dance?" Remus asked.

"The chicken dance?" Sirius repeated curiously.

"It's a muggle thing," Remus said.

This led to a whole discussion on the merits of muggle music, and Sirius and James forcing Remus to teach them the dance, which they proceeded to perform for the entire Common Room.

Peter climbed into his bed that night tired and content. This was the way it should be. This was what normal felt like, right? No talk of murders and war. No crazy family drama. Just four normal friends having a normal night at school.

It felt good.