'And that's it?'

'Yes'.

'YOU just asked him to be your friend and left!'.

Sirius, who was too busy banging his head against the wall lets out an incoherent noise. He hadn't stopped thinking about the blunder of a human he had been a few days back in the hospital.

'Now what do I do?'

'Continue and let him fall in love with you'.

James makes a certain inappropriate gesture with his fingers that almost earns him a smack from Sirius.

'But I just pushed back all the progress I had made'.

'On the bright side, you now possess the ability to at least talk to him'.

At this, Sirius bangs his head a little harder on the wall earning both of them the nastiest glare Madam Pince could give and a warning. Both of them had been in the library for several hours now. The magical beast section, being the least visited section sans a certain werewolf student did not attract many students and served as the perfect spot to have a talk or simple self-depreciate. James and Sirius had spent the entire afternoon lurking around in the corners waiting for the werewolf in question to appear.

'I still don't get it, why did you just stop talking to him in Potions?'

'Oi, I never stopped. I just focus more on the healing potions we're doing now. Besides, it's not like he's any much of a talker himself'.

'Yeah, but you are. You're the talker, him the listener, perfect couple'.

Sirius' cheeks pinken a little and he looks away for a second before letting out a deep sigh and sitting down on the floor. James, being ever the best friend follows after.

'You know, you can still talk to him, why did you stop?'

'I saw you doing it and I stopped as well.'

'I never stopped. I have just limited the conversation, I need to pass Potions, it's bloody OWLs after all'.

'Who are you and what have you done to the only decent Black?'

'Piss off'.

Sirius gets up rather gracelessly and begins to browse titles. He runs his fingers on each one of them as he had seen Remus do so many good days ago.

'Moiusis' guide to werewolves'.

Sirius reads the title aloud and takes the book out of the shelf. He flicks past all the pages towards the end and takes out the issue card at the back. Sure enough, the last and the only person to have read this book was none other than his Remus. For hiding such a big secret, the boy was doing rather a lousy job. Reading all the books concerning magical beasts, werewolves to be specific was definite to arouse suspicions. He was just lucky that most students preferred to stay away from this section of the library.

Sirius had to admit the diagrams in the book were none the majestic he had expected them to be. The book was highly demeaning, belittling werewolves at every page. The only page to have any factual and useful information was page 394 and was in the poorest of state amongst all. It was completely crushed with ink stains at every corner. It reeked of dirt and the yellowing pages had turned brown. Sirius' pureblood upbringing could sense the use of dark magic but couldn't quite place what.

Reading all the nonsense written in the oldest English possible, Sirius had begun to realize that maybe Remus is not a dark creature or monster after all. The specifications, anatomy and behaviour did not match him at all. But what could be expected of a book that was written two centuries ago and was never revised?

'First, you bring me to a library, then you also start reading!?'

'Would you rather stay silent on your own or make me hex you into it? What was that spell Evans used?'

The mention of Evans quietens James and he continues to sit on the ground with his arms crossed and eyes glaring.

'James?'

'WHAT?'

'Does this page smell funny to you?'

'What page?'

'This page right here, 394'.

'There is no 394 here, it is 395 after 393. It could be a printing mistake. Wizarding books often have these.'

'Adjust your glasses, you daft. It's right here'.

'No, it's not. Maybe you need glasses. Or it is the hair you have started growing, they block intelligent vision, you see'.

'Don't you dare drag my hair into this! Just because yours can't be tamed doesn't mean you can-

'Oh how good to see you, Remus, such a long time!'

Madam Pince's salutation silences both the boys and they watch in shocked silence at how nicely Remus is being greeted by the always-angry-student- hating-probably-having-an-affair-with-Filch librarian. She politely asks him how his day was going and Remus replies with a genuine smile.

'Just here to get some reading done for Transfiguration'.

'Oh, wonderful! Be sure to ask if you have any doubt'.

'Thank you, I'll be sure to consider it'.

Remus leaves the librarian to her work and heads to the required section. He puts his book bag down on the table and begins to browse titles running his fingers over each one of them. Sirius watches in complete awe. It's hard to miss the spark in Remus' eyes as he scans over each title and the smile that brightens his face when he finds the right one.

'Psst Sirius?'

'What?'

'Should we go ask him now?'

'Ask him what?'

This time, James really smacks Sirius who lets out a loud 'OW' in return gathering the attention of all the occupants of the library, most importantly Remus. The ever-so-kind librarian glares at them from her spot and the boys take it as the cue to leave. The book is long forgotten.

Once outside, out of prying ears,

'What did you do that for?'

'You were being an idiot'.

'Well, you're the one who got us kicked out, you're the idiot!'

'Are we going to ask him or not, you're wasting my time here!'

'Yes, we'll wait for him to come out and then we'll ask and you're welcome to leave'.

'Fine we'll wait and I am staying'.

'Good'.

'Should I get my invisibility cloak?'

'NO, you stay right here, Potter'.

Both the boys wait around the library for Remus to come out. An hour had passed and despite their pending assignments and schoolwork, they preferred to waste their time waiting for someone to talk him into helping with a prank which also happens to be off schedule. Only once had they stopped for a snack break which involved a very hungry James Potter dragging a very reluctant Sirius Black towards the kitchens. It was a sight to behold but the inhabitants of the castle who are rather used to their nonsense and promptness avoided asking questions.

A very impatient James had finally caved in.

'We could re-consider asking for help, you know'.

'Like ask someone else? Who?'

'We could ask Helios, good chap. You've met him'.

'He'll tell on us'.

'And what makes you think that Remus won't?'

'Just-

James' question needed no answer as the man of the hour himself had finally walked out of the library waving off the hawk and carrying books that weighed more than he did. On spotting the two boys waiting for him, he stops dead in his tracks and also stares back.

James is again the first one to break the silence.

'Hello, Remus, good studying? You've spent what like almost three hours doing a Transfiguration essay?'

Sirius' gives him an extremely murderous look and suppresses the urge to facepalm.

'Hi, James. I reckon you spent the three and a half hours waiting here for me?'.

Before the conversation could head south, Sirius guides it in the right direction and greets Remus properly as James should have. He asks about his day and is himself surprised at how easy the chat had flowed. He even offered to help Remus carry some of the books back to his dorm and also enquired if there were any essays due for Potions or Muggle studies, the only classes, they took together. Satisfied with the answers, he finally pops the question they had waited four hours for,

'Would you like to help us with a Prank?'

'A prank?'

'We take the blame, if caught, which is a rarity in its own but nonetheless'. James chimes in and Sirius beams at him.

'The prank you wanted to learn the d-drying spell for?'

Remus' voice stammers and he briefly glances at Sirius as if telepathing him about the last time they had talked about the same and wonderful outcome it had led to. Sirius' cheeks take on the full crimson shade and Remus' the face begins to heat up, the tips of his ears pinkening slightly. James simply grins at them.

'Y-yes, that one'.

'Right, I'll be sure to help. We just need to practise the hand movements and try it on something and you'll be good to go. Who are you pranking exactly?'

'The Slytherins'.

Both James and Sirius chip in together and a huge grin nearly splits their face in two. Remus raises an eyebrow glancing at Sirius' own robes and lets the question waver off. There was no point asking them the purpose of the prank and even more pointless expecting an answer. However, it would be fun to participate in one.

'Would it be alright if I helped in the entire prank?'

'Blimey, Lupin. Of course'.

A huge smile brightens up his face.

'Perfect, I know just the right person who can help with it. Meet me tomorrow after lunch, right here, I'll tell you what to do after. James, bring your cloak, yes, I know about it'.

Both of the self-taught pranksters are rendered speechless and quickly nod to give their affirmations.

Remus looks hesitantly at Sirius and it takes him a while to understand that Remus was offering him the books to carry. Sirius moves forward and grabs some off. Their hands brush each other and the books are nearly tumbled down. After taking in half the weight each, they began moving, James heading off in the opposite direction after an exaggerating wink, of course.

Both of them move in silence but Sirius finds the comfort in it as well. Remus finds the silence bearing and likes the noiseless company. Much to their dismay, the Hufflepuff common room arrives much sooner than expected and Remus takes in the books and goes inside after wordlessly waving at him and giving him a shy smile.

Sirius watches him leviate the books and easily move in. He stays there knowingly staring at the door for a while. There's still hope.