As soon as Remus stepped into Professor Dumbledore's office, he knew why he had been called up. He wasn't in trouble at all.

"Miss Fawley!" His face broke into a grin and he ran over, falling into her open arms as they hugged each other tightly.

"Remus," she said, squeezing. "It's so good to hear your voice again."

"Oh—oh, Miss Fawley, I'm sorry, I got mud all over you!" He pulled back, cringing at the sight of dirt all over her pretty blue robes. "We j-just had Herbology and I—I didn't have time to—"

"It's fine, they can be cleaned," she laughed. Her hand touched his head gently sending a surge of happiness inside his chest. "How are you doing?"

"Pretty good. Happy to be in classes again! I got to meet the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher on Sunday and I think he liked me."

Fawley nodded, remembering the memories she saw of Dedenne. "I'm glad. Fabian is a good guy."

"You know him?"

"I know his twin brother, Gideon. I've met Fabian once or twice. I hope he proves to be a better teacher than Professor Dedenne, but I believe he will be." She swung her cane around as she went to the nearest couch, sitting down; Remus sat down next to her, pretty much forgetting Dumbledore until then. He was standing by his desk, watching all of this with amused eyes.

Seeing Remus's gaze he headed over, sitting in an armchair. "I've brought Mythana here so we can work out which night works best for your Occlumency lessons."

"Well. Um. Maybe T-Tuesdays still? Or Thursdays. Tuesdays have my l-least amount of classes," he said. "Thursday is the same except I—I have Astronomy too."

"Tuesdays would work out for me as well," she said, tucking some of her long white hair behind her ear. "If you wish we can begin tonight."

"That'd be t-terrific." He thought back then frowned, realizing he had been a little rude. "How are you d-doing? I forgot to ask, I'm sorry."

"I'm doing well, thank you." Fawley smiled broadly. "Quite excited to begin lessons again. This year will be one of great growth for you, I think. Considering the advances you made last year."

Remus beamed until Dumbledore said in a rather grave tone, "There is another issue I wished to discuss with you, Remus. It's about your friends."

"I—I'm s-sorry about the—the fight," he said, assuming that's what the headmaster was getting at. "I sh-should have stopped them—"

"It isn't that." Remus shrank back a little bit, scared of what was going to be said next. "It's what I touched on briefly at the end of last year. I know you are very close with them..." He trailed off then averted his gaze, staring instead at the far wall. And? Remus thought, wishing he'd get on with it. "I urge you to be more careful."

"What?" He couldn't believe it! He was being lectured over this again? He looked at Fawley whose smile had disappeared. "Wh—what do you mean?"

"The closer you are to someone, the easier it will be for them to realize what you're hiding," Dumbledore said carefully. "Don't get me wrong, it is wonderful you have such good friends. I merely wish to remind you caution is important."

"Really? I never would have g-guessed," Remus muttered rather bitterly then bit his tongue at what he just told the headmaster! "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I—I mean, I—I know, I... I am c-c-careful. I promise. Th-they have n-n-nn-no idea." He wrung his hands, wishing he could take back what he had said. All he could do was, "I'm sorry," again.

"I know you're careful," Dumbledore said, tilting his head forward, looking at Remus over his half-moon spectacles. "Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. I am very glad you have friends, I am very glad they are your friends. You need to have friends. I'm not trying to say you shouldn't. However, it is very easy to let one's guard down with those you care about. If you ever even imagine they're beginning to question, please come to me immediately. I shall keep you safe."

Remus swallowed, nodding. "Yes, sir."

"They did not find it suspicious when you were cut the other day?"

"Suspicious?" Remus felt confused again. "Cut?"

"Your... fight, with the Slytherins. Poppy said you were cut during the fight. Nobody noticed it healing?"

Suddenly everything Dumbledore was saying made sense. "Oh!" he breathed out. "No! N-nobody noticed, my—my sh-shirt was cut but it still covered the spot well enough, and—and I bled so—so everyone saw that. I just told them that Madame Pomfrey healed it, they believed that."

Dumbledore nodded. "Good, I'm glad. I didn't mean to upset you, it's only incidents such as that can bring about suspicion. That is why I wanted to remind you to be cautious."

"I am," he said, calmed down. "I'm v-very careful."

Fawley's hand came down on his shoulder. "It'll be fine. You still have that necklace?"

"Yes, I wear it every day," he promised, hand going to where the pendant hung under his clothes. "They think it's p-pure silver."

"Good." She pushed herself up, fingers gripping her cane. "Is six pm still a good time for you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Until then."

He realized it was a dismissal. He told them both goodbye then scurried out, fingers absentmindedly plucking at the hem of his vest as Dumbledore's words echoed in his head. He hadn't really thought about being cut in front of his friends like that. During his first year there hadn't been any real problems with him getting hurt then healing up suddenly, other than the Quidditch game Madame Hooch had the first years play; but Pomfrey had been on the scene so quickly that it never seemed weird. He really did need to be more careful, especially when it came to injures. Other things he could play off but healing almost instantly... well, he just had to be careful.

/\/\/\/\/\

After the meeting in Dumbledore's office Remus hurried to the Gryffindor tower for a quick shower then ran to the Great Hall to shove some food in his mouth before the bell rang for the next class. He didn't get much food, but it'd be enough. He could sneak into the kitchens after Dark Arts.

"How did things go with Pomfrey?" Peter asked as they headed to class.

"Good," Remus muttered. "I need to go see her tonight for a proper checkup. She figured because of my class schedule, Tuesdays would remain the best day for my weekly checkup."

"What exactly is this checkup for?" Sirius inquired.

"Er..." He wracked his brain for memories of what he had told them before. "Blood tests, mostly. A physical. That sort of thing."

"What for?" Sirius still pressed.

Remus glared up at him through his fringe. "Because I'm sick?"

However that didn't deter him. "Yes, but don't your, uh, attacks come on suddenly without much warning?" Sirius stared down into Remus's face. "You usually just wake up exhausted. There isn't medicine or anything, right?"

"C—correct." Remus ducked his head now, not wanting to see those silver eyes. He then remained silent, hoping Sirius would take that as enough of an answer. He had to deal with this dance the previous term, he didn't want to do it again. Especially not right after Dumbledore's whole be careful of friends lecture.

Sirius waited several seconds then realized Remus wasn't going to say anything more. "So, what's the point of the checkups? If there's nothing that can be done in advance, and you don't know when—"

"Sirius!" James hissed out. "Stop badgering him."

"Yeah, it's personal," Peter agreed.

Sirius kept his gaze on Remus for a second too long—Remus felt like he might explodethen he smiled, lightly punching Remus's shoulder. "I just worry about you, and don't want you doing more than you have to. Pushing yourself, I mean."

"It's okay. I just don't like talking about it."

"Yeah..." Sirius hesitated then said, "I shouldn't have pushed."

Sirius pretty much never actually said the word 'sorry' so Remus knew that was his version of an apology. "Thank you."

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom looked quite different than it had for Dedenne. The desks were arranged in a semi-circle around the edges of the room, leaving a huge empty space which had two X marks opposite each other. Normally Remus sat near the front however now there wasn't much of a front. He followed his friends who sat in one of the curves, sitting closest to the teacher. Sirius took the seat next to him. He and James were discussing what the new arrangement might mean but Remus had figured it out.

"Dueling," he whispered.

"Ooooh!" Sirius gasped out. He and James high fived each other.

Professor Prewett was leaning against his desk, watching everyone come in. Once the last one came in he flicked his wand, shutting the door. He introduced himself, the chalk writing his name on the board behind him. He took a quick roll call then began pacing. "Your previous teacher did a decent job of some of the basics however it's quite obvious she held you back on one of the most important aspects of Defense Against the Dark Arts. The physical aspect of fighting." There was an appreciative sound from the students at that. "I understand you know a few bits and bobs here and there however..." He slammed his hand down against his desk making everyone jump. "Not enough. A lot of magical folk dismiss dueling as a flashy show, entertainment." He shook his head, making a disgusted sound. "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye, or a limb, or their very life. It isn't just entertainment. It could be a life and death situation. So I will be focusing on teaching you to protect yourselves. Against creatures, but also other people."

He walked into the middle of the room. "I'm assuming you lot are much the same as the other second years. You have very little knowledge of proper stances and form, so everyone line up here; let's work on forms first before we go any farther."

Prewett spent the first twenty or so minutes having everyone hold their wands out as if they were preparing to duel so he could correct their postures, their forms, the way they stood. "Too open, you're just screaming for a spell to hit your other arm," he told one. "Look at those feet, you'll trip yourself immediately," he told another. For Remus he said, "You're too hunched, stop looking like you want to disappear or someone will make you." Though the best correction was for James. "You're too flashy, this is a duel, not a stage show."

"What a git," James grumbled as he took his seat again. "Too flashy. Wanker."

Once everyone was done Prewett paired everyone up alphabetically, which put Remus with a virtual stranger, Athena Magpie. A girl of Korean descent who he had been partners with once or twice in their first year however they pretty much never spoke. She hadn't been overly great with spells when they had been paired up in Defense once, though she had clearly gotten better as hers was one of the only stances Prewett hadn't corrected.

They didn't stand on the Xs, instead they lined up facing their partners. Since there was an uneven amount, Twycross was put with Struthers and Spinnet; she looked exceedingly displeased by this, face pinched as she stood next to Spinnet who didn't seem all that pleased to have her with them. Remus was on the defensive side so when Prewett said go he put up shields, blocking the spells Magpie sent his way. She had gotten between since the last time they were partners, lips twisted in a smile as his hands whipped about trying to keep her spells off him. He was a little relieved when Prewett said to switch. He wiped some sweat off his forehead.

"Th—that was b-brilliant," he said.

Magpie's cheeks tinted a little. "Thanks," she said shyly.

They were told to go again so Remus began sending sparks at her. She blocked most, though a few green sparks landed harmlessly against her uniform. Once they finished with that Magpie told Remus he had done very well to which he gave a shy 'thanks' back. They all stood back as Prewett paced up and down between the lines, eyes narrowed in thought. Finally he got to one end, spinning around to face them all.

"All right then. While it seems you've got a basic shielding spell down for the most part, I'm a little disappointed in one thing. Anyone tell me what that is?" He surveyed the room however nobody put their hands up, not even Remus who had no clue. "The severe lack of offensive spells. Sparks won't do you good. You should have learned at least a couple other offensive spells in your first year! Nothing major. Yet all you can do is make sparks fly."

Remus's stomach dropped. They hadn't been told to use anything more than sparks! Then again they hadn't been told just to use sparks, just 'one side offense, one side defense'.

"Mr. Potter?" Prewett asked.

James lowered his hand. "Sirius, Remus, Pete, and I know a lot more offensive spells, sir."

"Could have fooled me," Prewett responded.

James didn't seem phased. "Want to see?"

"All right then, everyone back to your desks. Let's see a proper duel. You said Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew?" Prewett eyed the three of them. "One of you want to d—" Sirius's hand was in the air before he even finished. "Right then, go on. Xs, let's see the duel. Everyone else sit down, Potter and Black are going to show us a duel."

There was a lot of snickers and whispers as the students returned to their desks. "Are they nutters?" Peter asked quietly.

"Yes," Remus replied. "The answer is yes. Always."

Sirius and James stood on the Xs, James going right back to the fanciful stance he had before. Prewett put his head in his hands for a second but then told them to begin. Both boys bowed then spells began flying. Students sitting around began putting up their own shielding spells to stop flyaway spells from hitting them. Peter wasn't very good at shields so he huddled up next to Remus who put a spell up to protect them. Both boys held their own fairly well for a few minutes but the spells began piling up until James lost, collapsing on the ground with one leg jellified, one arm jellified, sneezing rose petals while also laughing uproariously from a tickling spell. Sirius was being attacked by a single yet large furry bat-shaped bogey, all of his fingers had been jellified, and his body kept jerking in a strange manner. But he was standing, able to talk, while James wasn't.

Prewett clapped. "Very good!" he said then began removing the spells. He had trouble with the furry bat-bogey but with James back to normal he was able to dismiss it, as the caster. "Very impressive, offensively. Would have liked to see more defense there however five points each to Gryffindor." He waved his hand for them to sit and as his eyes swept the room Remus froze, terrified he and Pete would be called up to duel because of what James said about all four of them knowing how to. Prewett's gaze hesitated for a split second on Remus and Peter then he whirled around, going back to the front of the room. "Now that we've cleared that up, anyone else know any offensive spells besides some sparks?"

Almost everyone raised their hand and for the rest of the class they watched small duels between nearly everyone. Lily was pitted against Spinnet and wiped the floor with him, which was a terrific thing to watch. The only ones who didn't want to duel were Remus, Pete, and Eloise Nettle who could barely perform a basic shield spell. These were the three that had to remain behind after Prewett let class out early.

The three of them stood in front of his desk awkwardly. Pete kept shuffling from foot to foot while Nettle was very determined to get the lens of her glasses cleaned. Remus just stared at the floor.

"Do none of you know good offense?" Prewett asked.

"I... I know them, I'm just not good," Nettle mumbled.

"And you two boys?" Silence. "I'll take that as a no, then. Potter lied? About your... abilities?"

"Errr..." Pete looked desperately at Remus.

"I assumed it was a voluntary dueling exercise, n-nn-not mandatory," Remus said swiftly. He didn't want to speak up for himself but he could smell how panicked Pete had gotten and didn't want to leave him floundering.

Prewett clasped his hands behind his back, walking over to one of the windows. "I'm not trying to be unreasonable. I'm only trying to teach you, and in order to teach you I need to know what you can do, and go from there. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," Remus whispered.

"Let me ask again. Do you know good offense?"

"I—I... I..." Remus swallowed heavily. "I c-can."

"Let's see, then." He flicked his wand causing a training dummy to trundle forward on some wheels. "Not a duel. Just attack the figure."

"What... w-would you like to see?"

Prewett gave him a rather piqued gaze. "I want to see what you can do, Mr. Lupin."

Remus pushed his sleeves up, not sure how some of the spells would work on an inanimate object. Prewett, Peter, and Nettle stood back while Remus began attacking the figure, using all the hexes, jinxes, and curses that he knew... which were quite a lot. He wasn't sure if some of them would even be considered offensive spells, such as the fire spell. He had used it in a fight. It could hurt someone. So it was an offensive spell. He also shot out sticky webbing which was mostly intended to put out the fire however it was also offensive, in his mind. He had to shoot a lot out to get rid of the fire. He used the bat-bogey hex which did nothing. He even used langlock which he couldn't do properly yet, because technically he knew it. He tried advanced spells that he never tried before which drained him being shot out one after another; some of them worked, some of them didn't. He finished with the knockback jinx which sent the battered figure spinning through the air to the other side of the room.

Remus swayed then stumbled, nearly falling over. Peter rushed to his side, grabbing hold of him. "Remus!"

"I'm okay." He leaned into Peter's arm, allowing his friend to help him over to one of the chairs. He was soaked in sweat, breathing hard, and felt dizzy. He felt on the verge of passing out. "Just overdid it."

Prewett was staring at the dummy figure then turned to face Remus. "That," he said as he walked over to Remus, "is what I wanted. Twenty points to Gryffindor for that display, Mr. Lupin. I am very impressed. Some of those were spells you wouldn't be learning until your third, or even fourth year." Remus remained silent, mopping up some of his sweat with the sleeves of his robes. "All right, Miss Nettle. Don't look so terrified. I do not expect that from anyone your age. Trust me. It'll be fine."

He coaxed some spells from her. They were very lackluster compared to what Remus did which made him feel rather guilty. If he had the presence of mind to cheer her on he would have, which thankfully Pete did. He clapped loudly the rare time her spell succeeded. Then when it was Pete's turn she cheered him on. He managed a few more than her.

"Thank you," Prewett said, waving his wand to send the dummy back to its corner. "This helps the class, yes? Now I have an idea where most of you are, skill-wise."

"Not very far," Peter muttered under his breath.

Prewett's eyes narrowed. "Mr. Pettigrew, I have seen adults with less capability of defending themselves, or fighting for themselves. A lot of magical folk graduate assuming they'll never need to know this sort of thing. But with how things seem—" He stopped then rubbed the bridge of his nose. "In any case, don't sell yourself short. You've got a little, and that's good. You'll grow. Now, go on, enjoy your afternoon."

Sirius and James were hopping from foot to foot right by the door, while Nettle's friend (Magpie, actually) waited a little farther down the hall. Nettle fled to her while James poked at his friends, wanting to know what happened. Remus explained everything although he didn't say how impressed Prewett had been by him, nor all the spells. But Peter told them, going on with awe at what he had done.

"That explains why you look so worn out," Sirius said, tousling Remus's sweaty hair. Remus swatted his hand away, wishing Sirius would stop doing that. He didn't do it to James or Peter, just Remus and it drove him nuts, especially since he couldn't figure out why he was the only target, or why it sometimes sent tingles through his body. Probably from irritation.

"It was embarrassing going after Remus," sighed Peter.

"You should listen to what Prewett said though," Remus said, trying to smooth his hair back down. "He said he's seen adults who can't do much at all. He said Pete's got some which is good, and he'll get better."

"You will get better!" James flung an arm around Pete. "You got loads better over last year. That first battle we ever had you didn't do anything. The one on Sunday you fought. Pretty well, really."

Pete slowly smiled. "T... true..."

Sirius bumped into him. "We'll help you. We can practice tonight and tomorrow, then Thursday you can show off how awesome you are."

Peter looked up at him then at the other two who were nodding encouragingly, and he finally smiled. "Okay."