Remus,

I know that you have asked me to stop writing to you, and I would believe that you truly didn't care for me if it wasn't for the fact that every word you write screams a lie.
I don't ask for you to declare undying love for me. Don't be ridiculous. We're only thirteen. Or at least I am, I know that you're a few months older than me. I'm getting distracted.
I'm not an idiot. There is something you're hiding from me and it doesn't amuse. I can't imagine what would be so terrible that you have to ignore me for.
I don't know.
Anyway, this is just a short note to say, I miss you. Not as a boyfriend. But just as someone that I could talk to if my day got rough, or help me with my homework or whatever. I know, it's silly, I'm in Ravenclaw, I should be able to do my own homework. But as you recall we never really did Homework.
I hope you right back.

Love Sarah.

Remus folded the letter carefully and put it to the side. On his desk were scraps of what he had been trying to write scored out and blotchy from ink. He had tried writing a letter back to her, but he couldn't fit the right words together. Sirius was lounging on the bed, eating chips from an oil drenched newspaper that he had gotten from the muggle fish and chip shop. He licked the last off his fingers and scrunched it up before throwing it at Remus' head. Remus managed to duck in time and instead it fell to the floor. Remus kicked it to the side, not even bothering to pick it up.

James was leaning back on one of the chairs, relaxed and calm and at home. His shoes kicked off and up on the desk. He was flicking through one of Remus' many books, his eyes glazing over the chapters, flicking every now and then to certain pages where he would read if a word caught his eye.

Peter was lying on the rug, picking at the threaded moons and stars. It was already tatty and torn, holes worn into it after years of neglect. Old ink stains had faded against the dark blue. Peter was almost mesmerised by how old it was.

"Was that Sarah?" James asked, closing the book, leaning back and ruffling his hair.

"Yes," Remus said stiffly, shooing the owl that was perched on the window away.

"You're not going to write back, are you?" Sirius said.

"What makes you say that?" Remus asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"It seems like the Remus thing to do," Sirius said.

Remus looked at the letter in his hand sadly. James sighed and got up. He took the letter from Remus.

"Come on," He said. "Let's go out,"

Remus looked over at the window. "I don't think that's going to work."

"And why not?" Sirius jumped up and grabbed his jacket. "It's a nice night, might as well go out and explore the world that Moony calls home."

"I mean, it won't work because it's… It's a full moon tonight," Remus said.

"Oh," Peter said. "Why did you invite us over then?"

"I didn't." Remus replied. "You all turned up at my doorstep and expected me to be happy to see you."

"Weren't you?" Sirius asked.

"Well… Yes…" Remus replied. "But I did say that you couldn't stay the night,"

"You did?" James asked. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.

"Me neither," Sirius shrugged.

"Yeah… Me neither." Peter agreed.

"It's good to know that I am appreciated fully."

Sirius looked shocked. "I do appreciate you!" He said. "I appreciate it when you do my homework for me…"

"Oh, I'm aware of that." Remus replied.

"And yet, you won't do it."

"Sirius, you're smart enough as it is, you don't need me to help you with anything,"

"Yeah, but I'm just a lazy arse," Sirius shrugged.

"Yep," James agreed.

"You're not meant to agree with him," Sirius pouted. "You are meant to tell me how wonderful I am."

"Right, sorry," James cleared his throat. "Sirius-you-are-the-most-amazing-person-I-have-ever-met."

Sirius threw a pillow at James, who almost toppled over. He took his feet off the desk, twisted around. He was grinning madly. "I sure am," Sirius said, ignoring the obvious sarcasm in James' voice.

"Well it's a bummer," James said.

"What is?" Peter asked.

"The whole full moon thing," James checked his watch. "Well you have a few hours." He said. "Come on, we can make it back in time."

"I don't think we can," Remus doubted.

"Urgh," Sirius said. "This is getting boring. Prongs, confound that boy and drag him out!"

James grinned, pulling on his trainers whilst Peter got up accidently shifting the rug. He stopped, stooped down and sorted it before getting up and grinning. Remus let out a sigh and got his jacket. They tucked their wands into their pockets and trumped through the bungalow. Remus' mum was sitting on her own, her face brightened kindly as they entered the front room. Remus felt a lump rise to his throat. It looked as if she had been crying again.

"You guys going out?" She asked.

"Yes," Remus replied.

She glanced worriedly at the clock. "Will you get back in time?" She asked.

"I won't be out for long," Remus assured her.

She smiled softly again, before retreating into her chair. "Alright, just be careful,"

"Always am," Remus said, giving her a kiss on the forehead before turning around and following his friends out of the home.

"Where's your dad?" James asked, closing the door behind him.

"Out," Remus shrugged.

"Where?"

"Dunno."

"You don't know where your dad is?" Sirius asked.

"Not really,"

"Harsh," said Peter.

"Mm." Remus followed them down the garden path and through the bushes onto the country road. The sun was bright and hanging just above the land. James had gone ahead, enjoying the country air as they made their way up towards the tiny English town. Sirius put his arms around both Remus and Peter sighing dramatically. He grinned manically, his hair flowing behind him. He had not bothered to tie it up. He had grown slightly over the last few weeks and now he and Remus matched in height. Peter was still smallest of the group, but he too had grown slightly more. James was bounding excitedly, pleased to be with his friends. Soft clouds parted around the sun, hiding it from view for a moment. It winked through again, glistening and beautiful. In the distance the dark of night had appeared and a few stars sat twinkling in their blue blanket.

"I love this place," James said, passing the war memorial walking backwards as to still speak to his friends. His hands in his pockets and a smile so wide that it almost lifted his glasses from his nose.

"God you sad little man," Sirius laughed.

"How so?" James asked.

"Because that's the sort of thing Moony would say," Sirius said shaking his head.

Remus didn't say anything and hugged himself slightly. James skipped ahead and grabbed one of the traffic cones from a nearby council roadblock and put it on his head. Sirius rolled his eyes. Peter shook Sirius from his shoulders and ran forward, reaching up and knocking the traffic cone off his head. Peter ran ahead, laughing as much as he could handle without collapsing into a heap. James yanked out his wand and ran towards Peter.

"Oi!" Sirius shouted. "You're not allowed to do magic outside school just yet!"

James pouted and stuck his wand back into his jean pocket. Peter laughed even harder, doubling over to catch his breath. The sky was darkening around them. Remus picked up the traffic cone and put it back where it was meant to be.

"How's Mary?" James asked.

"She's fine," Sirius shrugged.

"You haven't spoken to her have you?"

"Now that's just a generalisation." Sirius replied. "I have spoken to her! I wrote to her just last week."

"And what did you tell her?"

"Stuff," Sirius replied.

"What kind of stuff?" James pressed.

"Just stuff," Sirius said. "Let's go down this way,"

They turned one of the corners onto a thin road that led out towards a growing forest. The birds tweeted, rustling in the trees. James kicked up some of the dirt and hopped onto the grassy hill, almost hitting the barbed wire that protected much of the farm land.

"What about you?" Sirius asked.

James frowned.

"Caitlin?" Peter said earnestly, moving in front of the group, grinning slightly, his blond hair moving in the light breeze.

"Oh," James shook his head. "I don't know,"

"Serious commitment issues, this one," Sirius said, nudging Remus, giving a chortle. Remus hugged himself tighter.

"I think I should make my way home now," Remus said.

"Nah," James replied. "You have enough time."

"Guys, no," Remus said, coming to a full stop in the middle of the road, no one noticed. "I really think we should go back."

"Remus-" Sirius said, turning around and seeing Remus shaking on the spot. He sighed and nodded. "Maybe that's not such a bad idea."

James looked over. "Yeah, maybe… OI PETER!"

Peter turned, he was about 15 feet in front of them. He blinked for a moment then made his way back very slowly.

"You mind speeding it up there, old Petey boy?" Sirius asked.

Peter gave Sirius a look before joining them. James put his arm around Remus' shoulder and slowly they made their way back to the house. Just as they were about to pass the abandoned road-works, Remus stopped dead. The pale orange moon that had just ascended in the blanket of blue and black hit his skin.

"Oh god," he whispered.

"Come on man," Sirius said, pushing him forward. "Just a little more," They quickened their pace, Remus was shaking completely, unable to keep a sense of composure. With a loud shriek, he grabbed his side and fell to the ground. Sirius grabbed his friend's waist, trying to hold him up. Remus was thrashing violently against him, screaming soundlessly as his vocal chords began to rip and change. James pulled him forward, almost being scratched by the long nails that were forcing their way from Remus' fingertips. Remus let out another painful scream. Peter stood, motionless, before suddenly in a stroke of genius he ran back to the house.

"PETER!" Sirius shouted, almost unable to control Remus as the summer moon began to take hold. James stared after him.

"COME ON!" He shouted, yanking Remus forward. "WE HAVE TO GET HIM BACK TO THE HOUSE!"

"YOU IDIOTS!" screamed a voice. Mrs Lupin was running forward, pulling her wand from her pocket. Remus recognised her, only for a minute before his eyes went from the light pale blue to viciously angry bloodshot green eyes. His teeth had evolved into canines and were now tearing at his lips. Mrs Lupin pulled her son forward, holding his cheeks. "Sweetie, sweetie look at mummy, look at mummy,"

Remus looked up, tiny tears dripping from his eyes. He was almost gone.

"You have to hurry sweetheart," She said. "Come on." James and Sirius pulled Remus forward, running down the hill towards the bungalow. Remus would fall every now and then yelling. His jaws snapped viciously. "Almost there, dear, almost there!" Peter had swung open the doors to the house waiting for them patiently. Mrs Lupin threw the rug from the kitchen floor to the side to reveal a trap door. She yanked it open and it revealed a set of stairs. She turned to him and grabbed his arms, pushing him down into the basement. Her hands locked on his face, foreheads together before Remus let out another shriek in pain. With that, Mrs Lupin closed the door on Remus. She stood up as they heard an almighty howl break from underneath.

"MOVE!" She shouted at the three boys. They stepped aside and watched her as she moved towards the round stone table. She attempted to push it. Sirius, James and Peter ran to her side and together they moved the table on top of the trap door.

Mrs Lupin let out a shaky sigh before standing up straighter and pointing her wands at the boys.

"HOW DARE YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN KEEP HIM OUT THAT LONG!" She shrieked.

"It wasn't intentional," Sirius said. "We didn't know that he would begin to change so early!"

"You knew?" She barked. "You knew what he was and you kept him out?"

"Well," Peter said. "Yes, we've known since second year,"

Her face, though they hoped it might soften, remained hard. She raised her wand. James moved between them, Sirius and Peter at either side. Mrs Lupin let out a sigh, she lowered her wand slightly. "Are you hurt?" She asked.

James, Sirius and Peter checked themselves over. Their clothes were a little disarrayed and Sirius had a scratch across his arm, but there were no serious injuries as far as they could tell.

"If you dare, wreck Remus' school career…" She warned.

"Trust me," Sirius assured her. "If we were to do that, we would have done it already. We haven't,"

Mrs Lupin pursed her lips before straightening up. "You better go."

James blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Well you obviously can't stay," Mrs Lupin said grabbing a pot from the kitchen sink and moving towards the fireplace. "Back home now,"

"I'd rather stay," Peter said.

"Same," Sirius said.

"No," She replied flatly. "If he wakes in the morning and realises that he was close to attacking his friends, he will never forgive himself."

"All the more reason to stay so that he doesn't believe that he mauled us during the middle of the night," Sirius replied.

Mrs Lupin was shaking her head. "No, listen to me, you have to leave. His father will be returning shortly and… Well…"

"We'll hide," James said simply. "In Remus' room until he goes away to work in the morning,"

"Not likely," Mrs Lupin said.

"Can we at least come back in the morning?" Peter asked in a desperate attempt as she pushed him towards the fireplace.

She pursed her lips. "Perhaps, if it bodes well with your parents."

James let out a big grin. "That sits well with me. Sirius?"

Sirius shifted, uncomfortable, he looked down at the stone table before nodding. "Alright." He walked over to the fireplace, ducking so that he could fit. James joined him and grabbed a large handful of Floo powder. In a hazy green flash of flame, they were gone.

"You too dear," Mrs Lupin said tiredly. Peter walked forward.

"Are you sure you're okay looking after him on his own?" He asked.

She smiled. "I've dealt with it before," She said simply. "I can manage."

Peter grabbed a handful of Floo Powder before also disappearing.

A/N

It seems my Remus muse is coming out… Damn, sorry about that for all you Sirius and James lovers. More fun with them later I promise. Now, just to let you know there should be at least two new chapters, but after the 7th of July to about the 21st there won't be any new ones. Damn holidays. It cannot be placed at a more inconvenient time to be perfectly honest. And I was so looking forward to seeing Harry Potter during the midnight showing! I was going to go all dressed up and everything…

I think we can safely assume that I am obsessed.

Anyway. Reviews are very welcome. But right now, I must go to bed… Or finish making that god forsaken snitch… Oodles!

*oodles, is short for toodles which is basically just short for bye-bye… I'll shut up now.