"So how far along did you get with the map the other night?" Remus asked as the five of us walked down the corridors, preparing to go down to breakfast before classes. He was jamming quills and parchment into his already stuffed school bag.

"Added a staircase," answered James, "Then we were interrupted by Dumbledore and decided on coming back to the common room."

Remus paused, "By Dumbledore?" he asked, "What on earth was Dumbledore doing up at that hour?" He gave a weak chuckle. I watched him closely.

"Beats me," James answered, "We were in a cupboard, hiding. Couldn't see or hear a thing from in there."

I saw Remus exhale rather quickly. Sirius and I looked at each other. I highly doubted he had the theory that I did, but he certainly shared the same amount of suspicions as me.

"Well," Sirius said, keeping his eyes very carefully averted from Remus', "Sabrina and I weren't in the cupboard,"

"That's right," James said, turning to us, "Forgot you didn't make it in there. Did either of you overhear anything?"

I met Remus' eyes for a tense moment. "Not a thing," I shrugged. "Maybe Dumbledore was just out for a nice walk. In the moonlight."

Remus looked like he was going to be sick.

"We're going to be late if we don't walk faster," Peter advised. He was standing at the entrance to the Grand Staircase landing.

"We're coming, we're coming," James exclaimed, jumping up and rushing, dragging us along with him.

Remus moved slowly. "You alright?" Peter asked, "You look pale."

"Just cheeky," Remus replied.

Remus seemed to be very jumpy at breakfast. He nearly leaped out of his seat when a second year Slytherin girl tapped him on the shoulder and jabbed an envelope in his face. "From Professor Slughorn," she said shortly before leaving without any further explanation.

"What's that?" Sirius asked around a mouthful of french toast dripping with jam and butter.

"Dunno," Remus replied, ripping it open. "Must be something about the Slug Club," he said dismally.

He took a moment, reading the note, before sighing and tucking the envelope and card into his school bag. "Apparently there's going to be a Christmas party and I can bring someone along."

The four of us exchanged glances and James quickly put down his fork. "Who're you gonna bring?"

"Trust me, none of you want to go," Remus said.

"I've never been to a Christmas party," Sirius commented. "Mother thinks Christmas is a Muggle holiday."

"Well, really, it is," James pointed out. "But it's a fun one." He turned back to Remus. "I heard Gwen Jones has contact with some league Quidditch teams," he said. "You could really be helping my future career as a Quidditch champion if you bring me along and I could meet her. You said she goes to these things, didn't you?"

Peter started poking at his pudding. "I'd like to go, but you're going to bring one of them," he said, nodding at James, Sirius and I. I remained quiet, still observing Remus.

Remus held up his palms, "Oi, I don't know who I'm going to bring. I've got a whole month to choose. I may not even go at all…" he looked like he was concentrating for a moment, like he was trying to work something out, before continuing. "They're really dull."

"You'd have to be barking to miss a party, though, right?" I said, eyeing Remus. I gave a small smirk.

Remus looked down and said, to his breakfast more than me, "Right. Barking." he shoved a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth quickly.

All through classes, I noticed Remus stealing peeks over at me. He definitely was aware that I knew something.

In flying lessons, Madam Hooch treated us to a surprise for one of our last basic lessons, pairing us off into groups of two to toss a ball back and forth to practise dexterity and quick steering. I nudged Remus, "Hey. Pair up, shall we?"

Remus hesitantly nodded. "Alright."

"So," I said, as Remus followed me across the pitch to the pile of brooms. "How've you been? Feels like we haven't really had much time to talk, me and you, since you came back."

"Been okay," Remus answered. "Yourself?"

"Alright," I replied, nodding. I lifted a broom up and inspected it carefully as Remus sifted through a small stack of them for one that wasn't absolute rubbish. "Can't believe it's almost Christmas already," I mused, flinging the broom over one shoulder. "You staying here or going home for the holidays?"

"Probably staying here," he answered.

"Been home enough already this term, eh?" I questioned.

Remus shrugged. "How about you? Going home?"

"Probably," I shrugged. "Would be nice to finally see my parents. Mum's been missing me like mad, and she says that my dad's been counting the days till I come home."

We walked back off down the pitch, carrying our brooms and the ball Madam Hooch had given us to play with. "You know," I said, "Whatever's going on back home that you keep having to leave for… you can tell me about it if you need to talk to somebody. I'm really good at keeping secrets." I put my hand on Remus' shoulder and looked into his eyes. He flinched for a split second, before relaxing. "You can trust me."

"I know," Remus answered.

"I'm serious," I said, "I'm more serious than Black right now." I grinned reassuringly and held out Madam Hooch's ball. "Friends are for confiding."

"I'll keep that in mind," Remus answered, taking the ball.

"Alright," I said.

An hour later and all our arms and brooms were tired and we marched off back up to the castle. He would tell me when he was ready. It would be cruel of me to force a confession out of him.

Author's Note: Heyyyy good news guys! As of right now, I just finished writing year one! WOOOOO! It's roughly going to be about 30 more chapters after this! I thought I'd update twice in one day to celebrate! So this means, in about a month or so Year One will be completely published! I have the first couple of years roughly planned out, but now it's time for me to start writing Year Two :)