Yes, I'm on a roll. This happens often—I might pump out four chapters in a week then not write any for a month or two. Pfft… it's annoying, but I have to live with it and, unfortunately for you as my readers, so do you. : )

DISCLAIMER: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling, EXCLUDING: Alexander, Cassius, Roxane and Sarissa Malfoy, Yanni Poulos, Edward Moss, Quentin Cohen, Fiona Benedict, Joseph and Renee Bones (except for their last name), Harriet Rosier (ditto) Professor Mulciber, Adonis Lestrange, William Ledoyen, Thomas Yang, Sarah Winton, Lachlan Herzog, Carlina Petrovic, Frederick Avery (last name excluded), Mary Caldwell, Alyssa Murdoch, Jacob Flint (except last name), Emily Pinkerton, Alex Barraclough, Christina Eccles, Ben Mason and Pete Jordan (quadruple ditto).

The book "The Beast Within" doesn't exist, but the title isn't mine—it's from the GABRIEL KNIGHT computer game series, because the second game concerns Werewolves and is called, accordingly "The Beast Within". It's one of my favourite games, as well as the best way, in my opinion, to allude to lycanthropy. Hee.

Have fun! There's much to be had in this next chapter of "BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON!"

***

Of Quidditch

After Lucius' ball, the summer became harder to bear. I was confined to the cellar over my birthday, Edward and Narcissa given the excuse that I had fallen ill with a sudden cold and had been sent to stay at St. Mungos overnight for observation. Part of me felt scared that it would not be long before they would realise the coincidences—each of my absences fell exactly on the three days of the full moon; my pubescent body was beginning to react to the transformations in unusual ways, such as my growing strength that was rather uncommon in a twelve-year old boy—I could have beaten Lucius, Evan or possibly even my Uncle Cassius in a fist-fight; as well as the fact that in our next year of Defence Against the Dark Arts, one of our prescribed texts included Yanni Poulos' famous novella, "The Beast Within". Fear of discovery began to envelop me, and possibly it was this fear that clouded my perceptions over the next few months.

Lucius was much changed following his sixteenth birthday. Gone forever was the competitive yet kind, ambitious yet sensitive boy of my childhood—his innocence had been ripped from his grasp viciously, the cruel reality of our world now a burden on his still young shoulders. Evan Rosier, who now ironically had taken to following my cousin Sarissa around unwanted, was preoccupied and barely noticed his best friend during the summer holidays. Uncle Cassius would keep Lucius inside studying for hours every day needlessly while Edward, Narcissa and I practiced Quidditch on the expansive lawn behind the Manor… some part of me could sense him, sitting inside with the drapes drawn closed, his head bent over an old, decaying book that had been secreted in the depths of my Grandfather's reasonably respectable library, longing to be outside in the warm sun but knowing that it was impossible. That summer, while pitying him, my mind was too full of its own troubles to truly sympathise.

The unusual friendship that had formed between Sarissa and Evan continued to fascinate my Mother daily. Often, when I would force her to watch me beating a bludger towards Edward or Narcissa's head, her gaze would trail off into the trees beyond the pitch, where Sarissa plaited together daisies into necklaces and hung them, a secretive smile on her face, around her paramour's neck. At these moments, something in my Mother's eyes would flash with recognition, occasionally I would note what appeared to be tears forming there, but before I could be certain she glanced back up at me, a grin replacing it and ready for my next attempt to win her favour. Without delay I would slam another bludger into Grandfather's favourite rosebush. Aunt Nicolette was nowhere to be seen during these interludes.

One of my most vivid memories from the summer occurred in Diagon Alley, when Sarissa, Lucius and I went with Uncle Cassius to buy our school supplies. My Uncle took us down a narrow, disreputable lane in search of a book he had ordered several months previously, and we entered a small, dimly-lit shop cluttered with strange, mind-boggling objects. I remember stroking the silver werewolf charms on display mischievously, but Cassius and Lucius' conversation with proprietor remains a mystery of jumbled words and half-meanings. When we left, Sarissa asked her father if his book had been worth waiting for, Cassius ignoring the question and striding forth ahead with Lucius, his silver-topped walking cane tapping on the cobblestones as we watched, his hands empty and his shoulders heavy.

My return to Hogwarts was tearless this time around; my Mother had become used to my absence and I wondered if returning at Christmastime would have any effect on our relationship whatsoever. She was a different woman now that I had left her—our conversations were always brief, and I believe she resented my schooling for the fact that it had given me an independence that she craved in her own, caged life. I never held her hand anymore.

And so, as I sat in the last compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Sarissa reading her Herbology textbook with one hand while the other lay hidden, encased in Evan Rosier's underneath their black robes, I smiled at the friends that surrounded me. The horrible pangs that friendship can bring—the ones that threaten the love, understanding, confidence—sliced through my soul like a machete, along with the feeling that my secret would hurt them, or someone else who dared complete me, forever.

***

September 1st, 1971, 6:57pm

Narcissa's laugh echoed along the dark hallways leading downstairs from Ravenclaw Tower to the Great Hall, Remus and Edward struggling to keep up with her as the staircases changed position all around them.

"Cissie… slow… down…" Edward gasped, feeling a stitch develop in his side from the exertion.

She shook her head quickly as she glanced back at the floundering boys. "We're late, and if you're not careful we'll get caught by Professor Mulciber or someone equally bad!" Narcissa laughed again and Remus felt like strangling her mercilessly. I suppose my strength is better used flying on a broomstick than racing around the castle, pursuing pranks—"Besides," she called out again, Remus grasping Edward's arm to pull him along faster, "without my great planning, dahling Quentin wouldn't have stink pellets waiting for him in his bed!"

Edward snorted loudly, thinking of the squeals Quentin Cohen—a rather irritating, stocky boy who slept in their dormitory and enjoyed reading Sherlock Holmes novels—would undoubtedly emit when he parted the curtains surrounding his bed later that evening. Remus allowed himself to grin widely as they slowed their pace, entering the Great Hall silently and resuming their places at the Ravenclaw table. The sorting had already begun, but they were not too late to see where Narcissa's brother would be placed. The first new student had seated herself at the Ravenclaw table, and the cheers resounding from it allowed them to slip in unnoticed.

"Benedict, Fiona!"

She was sorted quickly into Hufflepuff, and Remus poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice as he stared at the long line of first-years waiting nervously near the hat. Several more were sorted quickly, including twins—"Bones, Joseph" and "Bones, Renee"—before he looked up again.

"Black, Sirius!"

A tall, dark-haired boy approached the hat quickly, his stride confident and self-assured. Giving the Hall a huge grin, he pulled the Sorting Hat down onto his head. This boy took a little longer than the others, as if the hat were deliberating over which house would best suit his obviously unique attributes. After another moment, it screeched: "SLYTHERIN!"—resulting in massive cheers from the farthest table; he was their first new student for the year.

Narcissa leaned forward conspiratorially. "Too bad, eh, Remus? That one didn't look half bad—a bit of a schemer too, I'd imagine!"

Nodding, Remus drained his glass and saw that a short, red-haired girl was now seating herself on the stool, her hands shaking nervously. "Probably a Muggle, that one," Edward murmured, and they all watched as she was sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Too many for their own good, I reckon—we'll have so many silly 'Puffs running around this year we won't know what to do with them!"

Narcissa rolled her eyes at Felicity Winter, another Ravenclaw, before saying with a laugh: "They're easy to manage—just drop a few Dungbombs in their school bag and they'll be so scared they'll run home crying for Mummy!" This resulted in an uproarious laugh from everyone who heard, causing Professor Fletcher, their House Patron, to shush them all angrily. Finally, "Ledoyen, William", was placed in Slytherin and the moment Narcissa had been waiting for arrived.

"Lestrange, Adonis!"

The three friends sat silently as they watched Narcissa's brother, the tension of the moment building in their stomachs until—"RAVENCLAW!"—was announced and Adonis bounced off happily to his sister, who hugged and kissed him lavishly.

"I knew you'd be here, I just knew it!" she said ecstatically. "Mother and Dad will be so pleased, they won't know what to do with themselves!"

"Pettigrew, Peter!" slowly became a Gryffindor, followed by "Pippin, Estella!" who also took her time before heading towards the Hufflepuff table. After "Potter, James!" joined the Gryffindors as well, Remus' stomach was beginning to growl and Edward laughed loudly, only to be threatened once more—this time with a detention—by Professor Fletcher.

"Rosier, Harriet!"

Remus stared at the overly-tall, awkward girl who tripped over herself before reaching the stool and the hat which held her fate. Nobody laughed at her, however—they knew better than to laugh at a Rosier, and even the first-year Muggles hushed themselves quickly when they realised no one else was sharing their mirth. She was sent to the Slytherin table, where Evan, her cousin, slapped her on the back excitedly. Remus noticed that Sarissa sat beside him instead of Lucius, who had joined the sixth-year Prefects further up the Slytherin table.

Finally, "Yang, Thomas" became the last Ravenclaw—and first-year—sorted, and Professor Dumbledore stood to deliver his speech.

"It is wonderful to see so many new faces here—ones whose name we know so well—" Harriet Rosier blushed at this "—and others whose name is totally unfamiliar. I hope that all of you will take this opportunity not only to learn about the magical arts, but also about the diversity of the people in our magical world.

"As always, the Forbidden Forest is out-of-bounds, as I'm sure our new Groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid will inform you should you forget and wander too near it. Professor Sprout has also asked me to warn new students—and old ones—of the Whomping Willow tree, which has only just recovered from its last encounter with a student… Unless you wish to make Madam Pomfrey's job all the more difficult, please steer clear of both the Forest and the Tree." Dumbledore gave the entire Hall a stern look but Remus saw the twinkle in his eye and almost giggled. "Now, let the Feast begin!"

Remus, Narcissa and Edward all tucked in to a large, meaty pie that appeared before them and spoke sporadically for the rest of the night, their hunger more important than the conversation. About an hour later they climbed the stairs to Ravenclaw Tower, gasping and heaving themselves forward, all blaming the house elves for preparing too much food—"It's a bloody menace, that's what—trying to gorge us, are they? Want us to suffocate in our own vomit, I suppose," Edward exclaimed rather too loudly as they passed the kitchens—and collapsed in their beds, too tired to move, and even too tired to laugh when Quentin Cohen almost choked on the stench emanating from his bedsheets. A few minutes after their heads touched the pillow, Edward and Remus were both fast asleep.

***

October 12th, 1971

Dearest Mother,

Thankyou for your letter regarding my schoolwork—I'm surprised that Professor Dumbledore actually took the time to write to you concerning my new placement in third-year Potions, but I suppose he knew you would be both interested and excited by the prospect. I have had no problems in the class thus far; we are scheduled with the Gryffindors, who are rather an unruly lot, but much nicer now that I know them a little better. I tend to sit with Frederick Avery, an older Ravenclaw whose father is apparently quite good friends with Grandfather and Uncle Cassius.

My last transformation was more painful than usual, but I wouldn't worry yourself, Mother. Madam Pomfrey has spoken to me about the effects that ones bitten so young can experience—apparently its something to do with hormones interacting with the blood, causing headaches, nausea and a much more vicious transformation than an older or a younger werewolf.

Unfortunately, Groundskeeper Ogg departed Hogwarts several days ago, following my stint underneath the Whomping Willow, and has now passed the duty onto Rubeus Hagrid (the new Groundskeeper), and Madam Pomfrey. I've already spoken to them regarding November, and both assure me that they are versed in the precautions to be taken, etc… Neither Narcissa nor Edward are suspicious yet, they merely think that I'm prone to sickness, even in the summer months!

Yesterday I had my Quidditch trial, with Madam Hooch and Sarah Winton, one of our best chasers as well as team captain. There were about ten others trying for the new Beater positions—both were seventh-years, and left Hogwarts in June—but I believe that I played well for my age, regarding the fact that most of the other applicants were in their third or fourth year. Madam Hooch was very complimentary, however, so I still think I'm in with a chance! I guess all those outside practices with Narcissa and Edward during the summer paid off, don't you think?

I still see Severus Snape in the hallway occasionally; he tends to avoid me as much as I do him. Luckily my Potions class isn't held with the Slytherins; otherwise we'd probably be forced to speak to each other! Professor McGonagall believes that my Transfiguration has improved from my first-year—within time, she says, I'll finally grasp it all. I think I'm beginning to understand why I despise it so much: probably due to the fact that if a transformation in my body is painful, then how could that not be the same for a rabbit, turtle or little mouse? As long as I pass, and pass well, I know you and me— and everyone at home—will be pleased. That's all that matters to me.

Give my love to everyone—especially to Uncle Cassius and Aunt Nicolette when they return from Paris!

Remus.

***

December 30th, 1971, 2:34pm

Evan Rosier gripped Sarissa's arm as she walked beside him, down the main stairs and out into the light snow that was falling in drifts around Hogwarts Castle. She smiled up at him as he held her, and Evan felt like bursting inside with the feeling of being with her once more. All through December they had taken to wandering past the frozen lake, through the snow and sitting in the Quidditch stands with their robes drawn tightly around them, hands linked and mouths speaking of everything and nothing all at once. Today, Evan supposed, was to be no different than all the others, until he saw a dark, heavily-clad figure standing near the lake, staring at them as they approached. Sarissa stopped when she recognised the hooded figure.

"Let's go," she whispered anxiously and began to pull Evan back towards the castle, but the figure was walking towards them quickly, removing his hood as he did so. It was Lucius. Evan's blood turned to ice as he saw him.

"Evan," Lucius said, nodding to his best friend, then looked at Sarissa with a stern, commanding gaze. "Sarissa, go inside. I need to speak with Evan… alone."

Sarissa didn't move, so Evan nudged her softly and motioned towards the castle. "Go on, go back to the common room. We'll be up in a minute or two." She left them, her eyes still fixed on Lucius as she passed through the heavy wooden doors and climbed the stairs. As soon as she was out of sight, Evan began to speak again. "So, Luce, what do you—"

Suddenly Evan found himself up against the freezing stone wall of the castle, Lucius' hands around his neck, slowly choking him with an iron grip. "What are you doing, eh?" His voice sounded different, darker, as if from the depths of some part of his soul Evan had never seen before. "What are you doing with Sarissa?"

Evan gasped as he tried to breath, although his neck was slowly being crushed by Lucius' hold. "Nothing, Lucius, I swear it!" He felt himself being released and slumped against the wall, breathing deeply, his face red both from the wind and the lack of oxygen.

"Nothing," Lucius muttered to himself, glaring at the boy who had been his best friend for six years. "Nothing, nothing, nothing…" Evan caught the glare before Lucius' eyes flashed away to the window above, one that let light into a small stairwell, where Sarissa was standing with her hands covering her mouth in surprise. "Would you like to tell her that?" he asked, pointing up at the window. "Tell her that this is just nothing?"

"No… you don't understand, I didn't mean…"

"Cassius knows." Here Lucius paused before smirking at Evan hostilely. "Her father knows. And now he wants to know exactly what your intentions are. Towards his daughter, his heir." He clapped loudly and rubbed his hands together to warm them. "So tell me, Evan—what exactly are you doing?"

Evan felt cornered, alone, even with Sarissa's calming face gazing down at him from above. His mouth didn't seem to work properly, it opened and closed like a dying fish but no words escaped. Lucius came closer, closer—then kicked him in the ribs as if he were a useless dog.

Sarissa screamed, and Lucius heard her loud footsteps on the stairs before a loud crash resonated through the castle doors. Evan was immediately on his feet, frightened for her safety and his own in the hands of this new Lucius Malfoy. He raced inside the castle, Lucius closely following, and saw Sarissa lying in a heap at the bottom of the main stairs. Her lower lip was trembling as he reached her, right leg in an ominous position. "I fell. I think it's broken," she mumbled as Evan touched it gingerly and Sarissa winced noticeably. Lucius stopped behind Evan and saw that his niece was looking up at him with disbelief on her face. "What were you doing, Lucius?" she asked breathlessly.

He ignored the question. "We've got to get you to Madam Pomfrey," he said, picking her up deftly in his arms. Then, to Evan: "You've got blood on your collar. Clean yourself up, and we'll talk about this later. My brother has a proposition for you." With that, Lucius headed off in the direction of the hospital wing, Sarissa looking back over his shoulder into the eyes of Evan Rosier, whose mind was whirring with the possibilities. What in Merlin's name is Lucius talking about? he wondered, before departing the stairs for the nearest bathroom, the blood still warm and viscous near his throat.

***

January 23rd, 1972, 10:13am

"And its Lachlan Herzog taking the field, Quaffle in hand, passes to Carlina Petrovic, who—no, she's dropped it, Ben Mason's carefully aimed Bludger nearly taking her off the broom!" The crowd booed viciously at the Slytherin team, the Beaters of which stuck their noses high in the air and dodged the Bludger sent back at them from Remus, the adrenaline pumping through his veins and making his blood rush like never before. This is worse than my transformations, he thought wildly, everything happens so quickly, you can't be sure of yourself—ever.

He saw Evan Rosier block the Quaffle at the goalposts, throwing it back to Jacob Flint, a Slytherin Chaser. Getting his bat ready, Remus swooped lower and swung, hitting the Bludger with a loud crack and defending Sarah Winton, his captain and the Chaser who was marking Flint. "Nice job there by Remus Lupin, allowing Sarah Winton to take the Quaffle… she's powering up the field, Herzog and Petrovic shielding her, she's almost there, yes, yes—YES! Rosier misses, Forty-nil to Ravenclaw!"

The crowd went wild for the Ravenclaw Team, screaming and shouting their praises as Lucius Malfoy scowled high above them, searching for the Golden Snitch with his earnest eyes. Alyssa Murdoch, the Ravenclaw Seeker, hung in the air behind him, knowing that her Shooting Star was no match for his Cleansweep should there be a race to snatch the Snitch. Remus saw her and smiled upwards, receiving a grin in return from the older girl.

"Barraclough has the Quaffle, oh and Winton's facing him off—careful, careful—and he's dodged her, nice Bludger from Caldwell, just missed! Passes to Pinkerton, no, no—and he's scored! Forty-ten to Ravenclaw! Avery doesn't look too happy about it either!"

Remus saw Frederick Avery, the Ravenclaw Keeper, zooming back and forth in front of the goal-posts, a fuming look on his usually calm face. I guess I'm not the only one who feels so nervous… This match would put Ravenclaw in the semi-final against Hufflepuff, and with a chance of winning the Quidditch Cup. Slytherin had won it the last twelve years, and the entire school was banking on the Ravenclaw Team, thought to be the best in a century, to beat them today. If we win, Slytherin hasn't got a chance in hell of winning the Cup. Remus felt a little bad for Lucius, who was the Captain of Slytherin this year, and for Evan who had only recently joined the team as Keeper, but a twelve-year winning streak wasn't bad for a team that regularly prepared players for teams on the International Quidditch circuit. Someone else deserves it, once in a while.

Daydreaming, Remus nearly had his head knocked off by a Bludger, and received a withering look from Lachlan Herzog, who didn't believe second-years should be given places on the school Quidditch teams. Smiling weakly, Remus flew after the Bludger and knocked it back at Emily Pinkerton, a Slytherin Chaser who was marking Carlina. Ravenclaw scored again, and Remus followed the Bludgers with his eyes as well as his broom, nearly knocking several Slytherins off their brooms much to the delight of Pete Jordan, a fourth-year Gryffindor and the Quidditch commentator.

"Winton's in possession, flying up the field—oh, what's Eccles doing? Penalty! Penalty!" Remus watched as Christina Eccles, a Slytherin Beater, fiercely hit at Sarah Winton's hand, the one holding the Quaffle, with her bat. Madam Hooch blew her whistle loudly and awarded a penalty to Ravenclaw. "Yes! Eighty-twenty, to Ravenclaw!"

Suddenly, everything slowed as Remus saw Lucius dive towards the ground, his hand outstretched and ready to grasp for the Golden Snitch, which he had just spotted hovering near Alex Barraclough's broom handle, a Slytherin Chaser. Alyssa Murdoch immediately shot after him, but Remus knew that Lucius would reach the Snitch before she did, unless someone prevented him… Quickly, Remus readied his bat and swung a nearby Bludger as hard as he could towards his Uncle. It hit him, causing Lucius to sway precariously on his broom while Alyssa flew past, and moments rose even faster, her left hand grasping a small, fluttering golden ball.

The entire Ravenclaw Team began to scream ecstatically, and Remus saw his friends Edward and Narcissa hugging each other happily in the crowd. Pete Jordan seemed lost for words as he stuttered and stammered his congratulations, the satisfaction of Slytherin's defeat evident in his voice. Lucius looked shocked, his right arm hanging limply at his side, obviously broken. Evan Rosier's gaze flickered quickly to Remus, gave him a small, sad grin before they all lowered to the ground, alighted from their broomsticks, and waited for the onslaught, Ravenclaw overwhelmed by a crowd of hundreds of well-wishers, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff among them. Slytherin slunk away into the change rooms, their supporters vanished from the stands, save for one or two.

As Remus looked around himself, struggling to find his way out of the crowd around him, he spotted Severus Snape looking down at him from the bleachers, his face paler than before and his black hair hanging limply around his face. His white lips were contorted in disbelief, and as his eyes concentrated themselves on Remus he felt their fire burning inside of him, his skin prickling underneath his royal-blue robes. He was distracted as a girl came up beside him, and Remus recognised her as one of the Hufflepuff first-years, her green eyes bright with the victory.

"I'd just like to say that, well, I saw what you did up there, and it was great." She grinned and Remus felt as if her smile could make him happy forever. "I want to be a Beater as well, next year or so when I'm strong enough. Quidditch is just smashing, isn't it?" He nodded and the girl was pulled away from him into the crowd. "Bye!" she called, and Remus remembered Severus' look from the stands. When he looked once more, Remus was grateful that Severus had disappeared once more.

"Come on, Lupin!" he heard Frederick calling out to him, and felt Alyssa's arm on his shoulder. "If you don't hurry, you'll miss the victory feast!"

All other thoughts were pushed from his mind as he heard his stomach grumbling loudly. "Coming!" Remus yelled, and went off to gorge himself, as was expected, with Edward and Narcissa by his side, both Severus and the red-haired girl distant memories.

***

March 15th, 1972

Dearest Father and Cassius,

Thankyou for your concern regarding my arm—it still feels a little strange, despite Madam Pomfrey's prostrations that all my bones have healed. I have a niggling pain just above my elbow, and it feels a little strange to touch it—as if the cartilage had hardened there. Other than that, I am well, as are Sarissa, Remus and, more importantly, Evan Rosier.

I have had lengthy discussions with Evan regarding your decision—he seems quite besotted by Sarissa, and willing to do anything to win your favour, Brother. Evan Rosier is not a dupe, however, and will only be led so far by his emotions. Perhaps we must attempt the impossible: bring him over to our side of the argument permanently. I am sure that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will be pleased with my friend; he is intelligent, passionate and strong-willed. He would truly be an asset to our cause.

Every day brings me closer, but I am restless here at Hogwarts. I long to be with you, in the truest sense of the words, back at the Manor—and, most of all, initiated formally as I am secretly. I know that my N.E.W.T. examinations are what I should be striving towards, but this summer is my true goal—lifelong commitment to the Order.

Evan will return with me from Hogwarts on June 28th. Perhaps it would be wiser for you to speak with him about the seriousness of the decision he has made; more than likely he does not realise the effect the Order will have on him. It transforms you into something better than you were before, something greater than this world—and he, I'm afraid, views it merely as a secret society, one he hopes to join so that he may ask for Sarissa's hand. How imbecilic.

Of course, he is only sixteen, as am I, and it is possible that his views toward Sarissa will change over time. We must persuade him, Father! Cassius, it is most important that you bind him to Sarissa as quickly as is possible, through a betrothal or some equally innocuous ceremony. She is quite protective of him, I assure you—without her own consent I daresay he would never attempt to ask it of you. He must be turned, that is certain. He must be one of us!

It is possible also that I am over-exaggerating her hold over him, but Sarissa has always been a rather manipulative, clever girl. Brother, you noted this when she was much younger, and have always thwarted her attempts to become close to you due to this fact. Now, I beg you—embrace her. For the only thing more conniving than the man is the woman who supports him… I am glad to hear of Nicolette's initiation. As a woman, she will never be as valuable as you are to You-Know-Who, but without her aid you would, as all men would, be nothing at all. As they say, education begins in the home—and women are at the heart of that.

My love to you both, Nicolette, Roxane and, most of all—to our Lord and Master.

Your comrade-in-arms,

Lucius.

***

June 13th, 1972, 11:43am

"Hey!" Remus' Transfiguration notes fell to the ground as several rambunctious Hufflepuff first-years ran past, and he sighed heavily. Edward and Narcissa immediately dropped to the ground to help him pick them up, but Remus waved them away. "No, you two go on to class. I'll catch up, okay?" They nodded and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Remus alone in the hallway, grabbing at his dishevelled notes. As he reached for one that had fallen a little further away than the others, another hand picked it up and handed it to him. Remus' eyes followed the arm to the neck and then saw the face of his helper. It was Severus Snape.

"Thanks," Remus said, taking the paper from Severus. He was much taller than Remus remembered, but then the last time they had seen each other closely was four years ago. Can it really be that long? Remus thought with shock, I haven't really been friends with him for that long either. How strange. He smiled at Severus weakly, who returned it uncomfortably. Remus noticed that his face looked colder and much less child-like now, as if he had aged ten years instead of just four. He had a deep cleft in the middle of his forehead, as if something was worrying him, and it seemed that the smile Remus had received hadn't been used recently.

"You're welcome." Severus' voice had changed also, deepening into what sounded like a low growl. It startled Remus for a moment, but a loud yell from the adjacent hallway distracted him momentarily.

"Peeevvveeees!" A boy came running down their hall, his blue eyes twinkling dangerously. Remus recognised him as the boy Narcissa had liked at the beginning of term feast. He stopped when he saw the older boys, smirking at them irritably. "That bloody ghost, can't just let someone run when he's late to class normally, no… he's gotta throw something at you." The boy indicated his stomach, where a large, green stain was spreading over his black robes.

Severus gave him a look of disdain. "Sirius Black, maybe if you weren't late to class Peeves wouldn't throw things at you."

Recognition and a look of hatred flashed into Sirius' eyes. "Oh, it's you is it, Slimy Snape? Finally found yourself a friend, I see." Laughing at his own joke, Sirius leaned over Remus and peered at him. "And a Ravenclaw, too. Gee, you've got such great taste, Severus."

"Maybe you should get to class, instead of loitering in hallways insulting people, Black." Severus' black eyes were glinting, and he fingered the pocket in his robes where he kept his wand. Remus glanced at both of them and felt the animosity burning there, silently destroying any hope of an easy resolution to this confrontation.

In a sudden burst of smoke Severus and Sirius both drew their wands, pointed them at each other, and shouted out hexes loudly. Unfortunately for Sirius, he grasped at his stomach in pain before opening his mouth to let a slug slide out. Severus laughed bitterly.

"Now get to class, Black, or should I get you a bucket first?" Without another look at Remus, Severus strode off down the hallway, and Sirius glared after him. Remus collected the rest of his papers and stood, offering to help the younger boy to his class.

"Nah, I'm alright—but that slimy git has it coming, I'm telling you. And I'll get him one day, don't you worry…" As Sirius crawled off to the hospital wing, Remus ran in the opposite direction, hoping against hope that a detention was not what awaited him in Professor McGonagall's classroom.

***

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