Disclaimer: Not mine. The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling

Warnings: Pre-slash and insanely cute hedgehogs

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

(George Eliot)

REMUS:

Remus trailed his friends to breakfast the next day feeling decidedly un-hungry. It was the full moon that night, and his nervousness about the upcoming year meant that it would probably be a rough transformation. He was aware of Sirius's grey eyes – still heavy with sleep - flicking worried glances at him throughout breakfast as he picked at his food.

"All right, Moony?" Sirius asked eventually, putting an arm around Remus's shoulders.

"'Course," Remus said, ducking his head so the other boy couldn't see quite how pale and strained he looked.

"Maybe you should take the day off and rest in the dorms," Sirius said.

Remus forgot about hiding his face and stared up at Sirius in alarm. "No! It's the first day of classes. I'm not going to miss it."

"Merlin, Moony," James said, leaning across the table as he caught sight of Remus's face. "You do look like hell."

"Worse than usual," Peter agreed.

"Cheers, lads," Remus said, shrugging off Sirius's arm and feeling surprised when he found himself missing the protective warmth. "You certainly know how to raise a bloke's self esteem."

"You really do look bad, Lupin," said a bossy voice from beside Peter. "Maybe you should go and see Madame Pomfrey."

Remus glanced up to see Lily Evans studying him with wide green eyes. Her friend, Alice, who was sitting next to her, seemed as confused by her concern as the Marauders.

"Butt out, Evans," Sirius said. "It's none of your business."

"It is my business!" she said, flicking her long red hair over one shoulder and scowling at Sirius. "He's a fellow Gryffindor who's ill. Don't you remember Professor McGonagall's lecture at the beginning of first year? 'Your house will be like your family.'"

"We're his family," Peter put in timidly. He never felt comfortable talking to girls, but his bond with the Marauders seemed to outweigh this fear. Remus tried not to show quite how touched he was by the words.

Lily opened her mouth to say more but was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, who was handing out timetables. Lily took hers, but reached out to stop the professor from moving on. "Wait! Professor!"

McGonagall turned questioningly. "What is it Miss Evans?"

"Don't you think Lupin should go to the hospital wing?"

Professor McGonagall turned to glance at Remus and her face grew concerned. "Are you alright, Mr. Lupin? Maybe you should go to the Hospital Wing." Remus didn't miss the way her eyes flicked up to the charmed ceiling as if the daytime sky reminded her of that night's full moon.

Remus flushed at all the attention, ducking his head again. "I don't want to. I want to go to lessons."

"If you're ill, you shouldn't push yourself."

"I'm not, I'm fine!" Remus was unable to keep himself from snapping. Moony was close to the surface and didn't like this invasion of his human counter-part's privacy.

McGonagall sighed. "Very well, but you may leave any of your lessons if you feel unwell." She moved on to continue handing out timetables and Remus dropped his head into his hands, feeling bad about snapping when he know Professor McGonagall had only been trying to help.

"See what you did!" Sirius said, glaring at Lily.

"Sirius, lay off," James said. "She was only trying to help."

"Oh, don't stand up for her, James. She's just a nosy busybody."

"I'm not!" Lilly said indignantly. "I'm –"

Remus didn't wait to hear the rest. The raised voices were making his head hurt and his stomach was churning at the sight of all the food. Stupid start-of-term nerves - they always made him worse. He got up from the table without a word and headed towards the doors.

"Moony!" He heard Sirius hurrying after him. "I'm sorry, mate. I know you hate it when we argue."

Remus shook his head. "I'm just not in the mood right now, Sirius."

"I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

Remus always found it odd that Sirius apologised to him so easily. Getting an apology from him for anyone else was like drawing blood from a stone. He would usually just laugh it off, or cuff whoever it was over the head in a friendly way.

Remus glanced up at Sirius who was still eyeing him.

"It's true, though, Remus. You really don't look good."

"I can't help what I look like. Bad genes, you know."

Sirius smiled. "You know that's not what I meant. You're a very handsome bloke. Give it a year or so and all the girls will be flocking 'round you."

Remus gave a disbelieving snort as he looked at his friend. Sirius – although he remained oblivious to the fact – had already attracted the attention of a large portion of Hogwarts' female population. His smooth black hair fell in gentle waves to his ears and his aristocratic features and dark-lashed grey eyes gave him an unconscious sense of elegance – something neither James, Remus or Peter could ever hope to imitate. Everything about Sirius screamed high-class pureblood - until the moment that the wicked Marauder's grin would alight on his face.

Remus was very aware that he was short, skinny and scarred. He knew that his clothes were too shabby, his eyes too big, and his manner too shy to ever come close to Sirius's sex appeal.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Sirius asked, still studying him with interest.

Remus flushed. "Whatever, Sirius." He pulled out his new timetable and studied it. "Look, Transfiguration first. If you're done with breakfast shall we make our way there?"

Sirius gave an eloquent shrug. "Okay, then." They started down the corridor in the direction of the Transfiguration classroom. "You just wait, though. They'll be flocking, I tell you. Flocking."

"What're you talking about now?" Remus asked in exasperation, still looking at his timetable.

"The girls!"

"Honestly!" Remus shoved his timetable in his pocket and shook his head. "You know as well as I do that even if they were – which they won't be, by the way – I couldn't do anything with them."

"Why?"

"Well, what if they found out about – you know?"

"Well, don't tell them."

"Yeah, because that's a great basis to start a relationship on. Don't tell them about half of who I am."

Sirius was uncharacteristically silent for the rest of the way to the classroom. They were the first ones there and headed automatically for their seats at the back of the room. After a while Remus became worried by the lack of his friend's usual chatter. He looked over to Sirius and saw a crease of worry between his arching black brows.

"Hey," he said, putting a hand on the other boy's arm. "Don't worry about it. Really."

"Bit it's unfair."

"Story of my life. It really is okay. I promise."

"We understood. I'm sure you'll find a girl who will as well."

"I know," Remus said agreeably. "Of course I will. That's why you mustn't worry."

Sirius's expression relaxed a bit and he smiled. "Of course you will."

The door opened and more students began to enter. They shared this class with the Ravenclaws, so they were not the only ones who came early. Sirius and Remus began pulling out their own parchment and quills. Remus was glad he had been able to put Sirius's mind at rest. He hated having people worry about him. Any white lie was worth it to see that peculiar expression of adult concern disappear. And Remus knew it had been a white lie. Actually, probably closer to a black one. He knew he would never allow himself to become that close to anyone. He couldn't put that burden on some poor girl's shoulders.

No, he could never allow that to happen. Forming the Marauder pack had been bad enough. He'd really had no right to bind his friends to him in that way. They didn't mind now, but the duty they felt to protect him and care for him would one day come back on them with a vengeance.

"Hey, lads!"

Remus was shaken out of his thought by the arrival of James and Peter who both eyed him with worry. He forced a smile for them and was relieved to see them grin back.

"Alright, Moony?" James asked, as he and Peter slid into the seat in front of Remus and Sirius.

"Of course."

"Settle down ladies and gentlemen!" Professor McGonagall said from the front of the class. "You're in third year now, and I expect your work to improve accordingly."

Remus sat back in his chair and began to take notes.

"This year, we'll be moving on to study Transfiguration in animals and humans. As I'm sure you are all aware, Transfiguration on a living creature is much harder to perform that on an inanimate object. Potions that transfigure people or animals are usually very complicated and spells that do the same are even more difficult. Observe."

With that, she promptly changed into a tabby cat with spectacle-like markings round its eyes.

"Bloody hell!" Frank said from the front of the class. "Are we going to learn how to do that?"

Professor McGonagall changed back and looked towards Frank. "Language, Mr. Longbottom. That was an animagus transformation. It's a very difficult process to complete and takes years of study and some very complicated spells and potions. There are very few wizards and witches who become animagi and those that do have to be registered at the Ministry. We will not be learning that this year, or any other year for that matter. I was merely demonstrating one type of human transfiguration. You, of course, will all be starting much smaller. Today you will be attempting to transfigure hedgehogs into pincushions."

She pointed towards a large basket against the wall by her desk. "Please come and gently collect a hedgehog. I will not tolerate cruelty towards these animals. You will take them back to your desk and attempt the transfiguration. The wand movement is an upward flick and a clockwise circle. The incantation is ericius mutatio. Observe."

She leant over the basket and gently lifted out a hedgehog. She placed it on her desk and demonstrated the spell. "Ericius mutatio!" The hedgehog turned into a tan-coloured pincushion with silver pins stuck all over it. "Finite incantatem!" The hedgehog reappeared looking rather surprised.

"That is so cool," Sirius murmured to Remus.

"Poor hedgehog," Remus said in return.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Come on, you idiot."

Remus followed the dark-haired boy to the front of the class and peered down into the basket. The hedgehogs – seeming to sense the presence of a dark creature – all made a bid to scramble to the other side of the basket as quickly as they could. All except one, who peered sleepily up at Remus for a few seconds before opening its tiny mouth in a yawn.

Remus leant down and picked it up gently. Its spines tickled the palms of his hands as he held it against his chest. It didn't seem frightened in the least. Remus was rather unnerved. Aside from Brutus, who would love anyone who came accompanied by sausages, he had never met a creature that wasn't at least wary of him before.

"My hedgehog's not frightened of me," Remus said as he and Sirius returned to their desk.

"So?"

"Well, most animals are. Except for some magical ones. And some of the braver dogs."

Sirius looked surprised. "What? Even when you're not all wolfy?"

Remus flushed and glanced around to make sure no one had overheard. "Well, obviously it's worse when I am," he said, "But even now. Look."

He leaned towards Sirius'ss hedgehog and it eyed him with alarm before promptly curling up in a protective ball. His own sat quietly on the desk in front of him watching with sleepy interest.

"Maybe it's a magic hedgehog?" James said. He and Peter had swizzled their chairs around so they could listen to the conversation as well.

"Maybe it's suicidal?" Peter added.

"It doesn't look suicidal, just bored," Sirius said.

Remus reached out to stroke the animal and smiled when it butted its head towards his hand.

"I think it's just fallen under the Moony-charm," James said.

"Gentlemen, if you don't begin practising, I will separate you!" Professor McGonagall said, coming over to see how they were doing and frowning when she saw a distinct lack of pincushions.

James and Peter hurriedly reached for their own hedgehogs that had been waiting patiently on their tables and put them on Remus's and Sirius's desk. The hedgehogs spotted Remus and curled up defensively.

"I feel so mean," Remus said.

"It's not your fault, mate," James assured him. "Watch this. Ericius mutatio!" The hedgehog in front of him shimmered and changed into a pincushion.

"It's still furry," Sirius pointed out.

"I'd like to see you so any better, Black."

"Fine." Sirius cleared his throat and waved his wand at his rolled-up hedgehog. "Ericius mutatio!"

The hedgehog's spines turned silver, but otherwise there was no change. "Damn!"

"See!" James sniggered. "Not as easy as it looks."

When Peter tried, his hedgehog uncurled a little and its legs disappeared. By this time, James had managed to rid his own of fur.

"Come on, Moony, give it a go," Sirius said.

"I don't want to," Remus said, pulling his hedgehog protectively into his lap. "What if I hurt him?"

"How do you know it's a 'him?'"

"I can smell that he is."

The others stared at him. "Really?" Peter asked.

"Yeah," Remus said, blushing. "I can. Especially with warm-blooded creatures."

"That's a bit weird, you know," Peter said.

Remus flushed, wishing he had kept his mouth shut. It was weird – weird and primitive and animalistic. He bit his lip and avoided their eyes, keeping his gaze fixed on the animal in his lap. It appeared to have gone to sleep.

"It's not weird!" Sirius said, and Remus glanced up in time to see him shooting Peter a poisonous glare.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that, Moony!" Peter said, looking suddenly horrified. "I didn't mean it meanly! I just…" he looked at a loss for words.

"It's okay, Pete," Remus said, still avoiding their eyes. "I know you didn't mean it."

"You can use my hedgehog," Sirius offered, giving it a shove in Remus's direction, and causing it to roll up tighter.

"N-no. I'm not really in the m-mood." Remus hated how he stuttered at times like this. It reminded him vividly of his father's trial. It didn't help that he was feeling ill and drained due to the approaching full moon. His hedgehog butted his hand gently, as if sensing his need for comfort. Remus wondered if it really was a bit magical.

"I really am sorry," Peter said, his voice thick with guilt. "You know I never think before I talk."

"It's really okay," Remus forced himself to look up at his smallest friend. "It's the m-moon. Not you."

"Do you want to leave?" James asked. "McGonagall said you could."

Remus shook his head wordlessly.

The others regarded him with worry, but when Remus refused to say any more, they reluctantly went back to their work. Remus sat quietly beside Sirius and stroked his hedgehog's small head. He didn't look up when Sirius reached out and squeezed his hand, but felt his mood lighten a little. He squeezed back and Sirius shot him a quick smile, before removing his hand and attempting the spell again.

By the end of the lesson, both Sirius and James could do the spell perfectly, though Peter's pincushion had a hedgehog's head and his pins were brown.

Remus couldn't bring himself to try the spell at all. Professor McGonagall noticed, but said nothing.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

That evening, it was with even more reluctance that usual that Remus pulled his outdoor cloak out of his trunk and got ready to head out to the hospital wing to meet Madame Pomfrey. Peter, James, and Sirius were playing exploding snap on Sirius's bed, meaning that the bedclothes currently looked rather singed.

As Remus got ready to go, Sirius rolled off his bed and put a hand on the werewolf's shoulder. "Do you want us to come with you to the Hospital Wing?"

Remus was tempted, but shook his head. He didn't want any of his pack members in danger of detention for being out after curfew.

"We won't get caught. We'll go under James's invisibility cloak."

"No," Remus said, pulling on his cloak. "I'm fine, Sirius. Just…will you look after Hamish for me while I'm gone?"

"Hamish?" James asked.

"Um…" Remus gestured towards his bed and blushed a bit when Sirius peered down and let out an incredulous laugh when he spotted the hedgehog sleeping comfortably on Remus's scarlet pillow.

"You nicked your hedgehog from Transfiguration?"

"Not exactly," Remus said, ducking his head.

"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" James asked, grinning and wandering over to pick up the hedgehog. Hamish wriggled a bit in protest, but settled again in the messy-haired boy's arms.

"I rescued him," Remus said.

Sirius laughed. "Rescued him from what?"

"A life as half a pincushion," Remus said. "The Slytherins and Hufflepuffs had Transfiguration after us. Can you imagine what might happen to poor innocent hedgehogs in their hands?"

"He has a point," Peter said. "I would hate to have Snivellus hunched over me dripping grease everywhere."

The others screwed up their faces at the image. "That's vile, Pete," Sirius complained.

"I have to go." Remus glanced towards the rapidly darkening sky out the window.

"We'll watch Hamish for you, mate," James said, carrying the hedgehog over to Sirius's bed where the exploding snap cards still smoked gently.

"Don't you dare play exploding snap with him in your lap," Remus said in alarm.

"I won't!" James said. "What do you take me for?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Remus ducked the tickling hex James sent his way, gave the others a wave, and headed out to the hospital wing to be escorted to the Whomping Willow.