Chapter2
"Looks like our parents get on well anyhow." James said nodding at his and Sirius' parents chatting amiably with Remus' as they shopped for new books in Diagon Alley.
"Shame Peter's still away on holiday with his parents. The last few days have been really good haven't they, but it's not the same without all of us." Remus said reflectively, still having had the best days of his life with his friends in his own home, something he never thought he'd be able to experience.
"You had me!" Sirius said over-dramatically flinging his arms around Remus and kissing him repetitively on the cheeks.
"Sirius!" His father bellowed while his mother shook her head in dismay. "He'll never change will he?" Ralph Black said. "Always has to be a total exhibitionist!" Remus' mother smiled at her son laughing with his friends.
"He has done the world of good for Remus, he was so quiet and withdrawn when he went to Hogwarts, he's like a new boy."
"Sirius can be thoroughly ludicrous though! He has the strangest ideas on how a family of such standing in the community as our own should operate. He really lacks respect and I'm just glad he has James to balance him." Mrs Black added, "He's a sensible boy isn't he?" She trailed off as James picked Sirius up and promptly dropped him.
"Mum, Dad! Look! Can I have an owl, please, loads of people have got them, and just think of all the letters I'd send if I didn't have to use a scabby school owl! James got one for his birthday and Remus has had one since first year!" Sirius pleaded with his parents, having no intentions of sending them lots of letters, he didn't have a particularly good relationship with them.
"Not a chance Sirius!" His father said firmly. "You can't even look after yourself let alone an owl, the answer is no!" Sirius looked thoroughly annoyed but knew better than to argue with his father or even try to plead with his mother.
"James also got a new broom for his birthday, something tells me he's a spoilt little boy!" Remus joked trying to lift the tone seeing the despondent look on Sirius face.
"Oh yeah, born with a silver spoon in my mouth me, spoilt rotten!" James grinned.
***
"Remember this time last year?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah we were all really nervous and thought we could cast thousands of spells and I can hardly even transfigure a quill into a stick!" Peter laughed.
"I was actually thinking more about me holding Remus over the side of the train throwing up."
"Please don't remind me of that! I was terrified you'd guess about me after I went and puked when you talked about hunting werewolves."
"Erm yeah, I'm really sorry about that."
"So you should be!" Remus said trying desperately hard to look serious. Sirius' face dropped momentarily before Remus burst out laughing and was promptly punched in the arm.
"Bastard!"
"Hey! Be nice or I might have to bite you!"
"Ohh..I'm so scared. James, James, help me please, I'm a damsel in distress."
"Still a melodramatic imbecile I see!" A sly voice sounded, making all four boys look up from the act they were playing and Sirius removing himself from James' lap where he had plonked himself.
"Malfoy, still a pompous shit I see!" Sirius replied hardly missing a beat. "Oh and the greasy side kick, see you still haven't found a bath Sevvy babes! Difficult though I suppose to get clean when you spend the majority of your time with your head residing in Luscious Lucius' arse!"
Peter snorted with laughter. "Alright Pettigrew no need to sound like a pig as well as look like one!" Malfoy spoke scathingly. "Let's get out of here Severus, don't want to catch anything!"
***
"I really can't stomach any food!" James said trying desperately hard to swallow his second mouthful of toast.
"Need your strength Jamie boy!" Sirius said shovelling piles of bacon and eggs down his throat. Peter nodded, mouth too full to speak.
"I don't know how you can eat Sirius! We're going to be trying for the Gryffindor team in about an hour! It's the most important moment of our school life so far!"
Remus raised his eyebrows and tried not to grin. He could understand house glory but he didn't think it was that important!
"I think I might just die if I don't get picked." James slumped forwards with his head in his arms. "It's all I've ever wanted!"
Remus couldn't help but giggle this time. "Honestly James you're as bad as Sirius! Such a dramatist!"
"Oh Remus you just don't understand!" Sirius said in defence of James. "The honour, the glory, the thought of shoving Malfoy's nose in it when we hammer Slytherin in the first match!"
Passing a sideways glance at Peter, Remus replied "Ah. now I get you, makes so much more sense now!"
"James is doing well isn't he? And why is it that Sirius can lark about and still be really good at everything?"
Remus jumped, having just been staring at the people flying high above them but lost in thought. "Hmm, yeah, suppose.OOOH look out!" Remus winced as the bludger cannoned straight into James' leg.
"That looked nasty." Peter stated what the rest of the stands were thinking.
Remus and Peter hurried through the corridors to the hospital wing, well as fast as Peter could run, so they didn't exactly move at lightning speed! When the two fair-headed boys arrived Madame Pomfrey was just leaving James after giving him a potion of some description.
James had his glasses off and his face was tear stained. Remus didn't think he'd ever seen anyone look so vulnerable in his whole life. "What did Madame Pomfrey say? Is it broken?" Peter asked finally finding his voice, embarrassed by James' tears, the older boy always appearing so steady and strong.
"She's given me a potion to fix it...need to stay in tonight...really hurts...not as much as not getting on the team though!" He snivelled and gratefully accepted Remus' hanky.
"It could be worse Jamie." Remus said tactfully. "At least your leg's going to be ok, and you can always try again next year. If it's any consolation I thought you were doing really well!" James nodded knowing snapping at Remus as he might have liked to do would achieve nothing. Anyway, Remus was only trying to make him feel better, it wasn't possible to feel any worse he thought!
"Merlin James!" Sirius came bursting through the hospital wing door, sweaty and muddy from the quidditch pitch. "You nearly made me fall of my broom! What a fright. How are you?"
James scowled and chewed on his lip determined not to let Sirius see how upset he had been and still was. "Alright. My leg will fix over night."
Sirius nodded. "Well Jamie my son, you are looking at the new Gryffindor beater so the honour of our little group of friends is still in place do not fear!"
James nodded and tried to look pleased for his friend despite feeling like the jealous green monster. "Alright for some." Came out of his mouth when he had meant to just say well done.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius asked, his high spirits rapidly deflating at the glowering face of his friend.
"I've practised all year while you've messed around and still you get on the team and I'm just playing a spectator sport from the fucking stand!" James shouted not caring who heard him. "It's not fair!"
Sirius saw red and lost his temper. "Well it's not my fault you can't see even with your specs and consequentially a bludger hit you!"
"It isn't my fault you're as arrogant as Lucius Malfoy but you still are!" James fired back.
Sirius opened his mouth to retaliate but shut it quickly as the nurse came bustling over. "What on Earth is going on here? Mr Potter needs his rest, he has had a nasty fright! Now I suggest seeing as you boys cannot behave responsibly you leave!"
"I was just going!" Sirius announced turning on his heel and marching off nose in the air.
Peter shuffled off, afraid of Madame Pomphrey's beady glare.
"Don't worry Jamie, he was just over excited, he didn't mean it. And neither did you if you are honest." Remus squeezed his friend's shoulder. "I'll try to pop by and see you later." James nodded not trusting himself to speak for the lump in his throat. He'd had an awful day.
***
"How long is this going to go on for Siri?" Remus asked as they took their seats in potions, himself now working with Sirius since James and the other raven haired boy were barely acknowledging each others presence since the quidditch team trials three weeks earlier.
"Until he apologises!" Sirius growled.
James overhearing muttered to Peter "Well if he thinks I'm apologising he's very much mistaken! He pretty much said I was blind. And I know I need glasses but there's no need to rub it in!"
Peter sighed, it wasn't terribly nice for him and Remus being stuck between the pair who were equally as proud as each other and wouldn't apologise because their pride was like a brick wall in the way! The lesson began, making aging potions. Sirius, angry about the whole situation with James wasn't in the best of moods to begin with. This worsened when he realised that Snape and Malfoy were seated behind him and just the sound of their slimy self- righteous voices was making his skin crawl. Remus resigned himself to chopping up the ingredients and not speaking to Sirius for fear of his wrath.
"Lupin doesn't need an aging potion. He's an old git anyhow. Look at his hair Lucius, flecked with grey already, a fair bit of it too, so ugly on a person our age don't you think?" Remus heard and looked down, embarrassed by the silver streaks through his hair due to the wolf in him.
Sirius, however, had just been looking for an excuse to vent some of his frustration about the whole situation with James and turned around wand in hand to an unsuspecting Snape. "Folliculus Removo!" He hissed.
The whole classroom erupted into laughter as Snape's hand flew to his now bald head.
"And you could still fry your breakfast off it even without the greasy mop! Maybe you should offer yourself to the house elves? At least then you'd be half useful!"
"SILENCE!" Professor Brewer's voice bellowed over the racket in the dungeon and the second years all fell silent at once. The potions master flicked his wand towards Snape leaving him with a head full of hair once again before turning on Sirius and Remus. "You two will be in here tonight for detention at 9pm sharp! Cleaning all of the cauldrons without any magic!"
Sirius nodded, knowing fine well he would be punished for his misdemeanour but not actually caring. He did feel a bit guilty about getting Remus into trouble. "Sorry Rem, it wasn't you, you shouldn't have to do it."
Remus shrugged. "Doesn't matter, you only did it to defend me."
***
"My wrist's aching!" Sirius whined as he scrubbed what felt like the millionth cauldron.
"Tell me about it!" Remus agreed lethargically reaching for the next one, which was equally as filthy with ingredients practically welded to the sides.
"Remy?"
"Hmm?"
"I know you don't like talking about it but, well, would you tell me what it's like when you transform." Remus sighed. "You don't have to." Sirius added quickly not sure whether he'd made a mistake in asking such a sensitive question, "I just wanted to be able to understand exactly what you go through every month."
Remus put down the cauldron he was scrubbing. "It's not easy for me to talk about really but I understand you wanting to know. It's horrible really. In the days leading up to the moon I start to feel really fractious and irritable as the wolf starts to take over me, well I suppose the wolf is me, so the human side of me. Then when Madame Pomfrey takes me to the Whomping Willow, as you know, I go through the passageway into the little room in the shack where the physical side of it starts. It gets really lonely in there, just waiting for the inevitable. My teeth grow and my skin stretches. It burns Sirius; it feels like it's going to tear apart. My bones crack as they change shape and the itchiness of all the hair sprouting is really indescribable!"
He took a deep breath before continuing. Sirius was starting to wonder if he'd made the wrong decision, this sounded horrendous. "And the screams that they hear from the shack, the noises that make people think it's terribly haunted, well that's me, crying in pain. I try not to but I can't help it, it just hurts so badly."
Remus coughed against the lump in his throat and blinked hard to stop the tears in his eyes from spilling. He'd never talked about this before and although it was difficult it somehow felt right to tell Sirius, to share the most private, well-kept secrets about himself with the long-haired boy.
"You don't have to continue." Sirius said, surprised to hear his own voice was wobbly.
"No, I want to. The wolf, it gets really angry because it's trapped. It wants blood Sirius, when I'm like that I want to kill people. It's dreadful because as a person I'm really easy going and placid, I wouldn't hurt a fly and this thing takes over me and all I want to do is go crazy, explode. And so I attack myself. That's why I have so many wounds because I throw myself around, bite and claw at my own skin until I bleed."
Remus felt Sirius' hand on his shoulder and smiled, grateful of his support. "Then I tend to just fall asleep, exhausted, and when I wake I'm human again, naked, vulnerable and sore. Madame Pomfrey comes to get me and fixes me up. She's wonderful about it all. All the teachers here are, particularly Dumbledore, he's really kind to let someone with my condition, my lycanthropy in here. I feel sick and I ache all over afterwards. Sometimes it's worse than others, it all depends just how violent the wolf gets I suppose. I have to live with it; I know that now. I just wish they could find something to make it a little easier." A single silvery tear slid down Remus' pale cheek.
Sirius wrapped his arms around the golden headed boy, realising he too had tears slipping from his eyes. "Oh Remus, you poor soul, you're so brave and strong." Remus squeezed Sirius, recognizing this had been as hard for Sirius to hear as it had been for him to say.
"Not really." Remus said softly. "Just accepting. I suppose you have to be."
Sirius nodded but was still in awe of the courage Remus must have to go through that every month. "I wish I could be more like you Remy. You're so sensible, sensitive and strong. I'm just good at playing the fool and upsetting people! Even my own parents think I'm a waste of space, they're probably right! Saying that, they're far from perfect."
Remus pulled Sirius' black locks back from his face where they had stuck due to the dampness of his salty tears. "Don't ever want to be someone else. Everyone is special because they are the person that they are. You're wonderful as you are! Alright?"
Sirius nodded, saddened by the wise way that Remus spoke, feeling it was almost sorrowful that someone so young had to be so mature because of the way they were. "Well thanks Remus, I'll keep it to myself. But if you ever need me to do anything I'm there alright?"
Remus thought for a moment. "There is one thing. Will you make up with Jamie? It's difficult for me and Peter stuck between you and anyhow, you're both miserable not talking to one another. Swallow your pride Sirius. It makes you the better person for doing it."
"You're right..as usual! I hate that!" Remus laughed.
***
James and Sirius had settled their differences as Remus had asked much to everyone's relief. A few months had passed and the school year was going well. That is, apart from a minor hiccup where Argus Filch had caught them sneaking around the castle at 2am in the morning looking for secret passageways.
They realised they had become a bit too cock-sure because had they taken the invisibility cloak he would never have seen Peter's bright red pyjamas which is what Sirius swore got them caught. It was Sirius' birthday that morning so everyone was awake early because he wanted to open his presents.
"Oh Merlin!" He exclaimed, eyes nearly popping out of his head. "Sirius, I'm proud of your achievements in making the house quidditch team and know how much you wanted this." The note accompanying the new model Nimbus 1800 read from his Uncle Alphard. Sirius glanced quickly over at James, worried in case the jealousy would be back but there was just a look of sheer admiration on his face.
"That is wonderful Sirius. Lock it away or I might steal it!"
"Eurgh!" Came the next comment as he opened his grandmother's present."When will she learn that when I say I don't like brown itchy jumpers that means I don't want a new one every bloody year! Oh well never mind, at least she sent some sweets as well! Every cloud has a silver lining."
Quickly he moved onto the next present. "It doesn't have a label." Sirius mused as he tore it open. "ARGH!" Sirius flung the parcel away from himself as a label fell out.
"Happy Birthday Black, have a horrid day! Malfoy" The dead snake lay in the middle of the floor. James cast a quick spell to get rid of it. "That slimy bastard. How did he know I hated snakes!"
Peter shook his head. "Not sure. But James should have left it. We could have strangled Malfoy with it!"
The rest of his presents weren't nearly so bad. A book from James about quidditch tactics and techniques, "I have to make my contribution to the Gryffindor team skills after all." And a framed photograph of the four friends taken down by the lake messing around from Peter along with a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans.
"What have your parents got for you?" Peter asked, suddenly realising nothing had been opened from them. "If your uncle got you a racing broom Merlin knows what you'll get from your parents!"
Sirius looked flustered as he muttered under his breath. "They don't really get me birthday presents. Erm, they think I'm too disobedient to deserve them anymore!"
Peter laughed loudly. "Oh Sirius you do make me laugh!" He stopped laughing suddenly as he realised Sirius was being honest.
"Get dressed." Remus commanded, taking charge of the situation, trying to alleviate both of the boys' embarassment. "Then we'll go and I'll show you my present." Intrigued Sirius hurriedly threw on his clothes.
"This way." Remus led his three friends across the grounds of the school.
"Erm Remy, where are you taking us?"
"You'll see." The cheerful voice came from in front of him.
"Why are we in the owlery?"
"Because.." He trailed off and pointed at a beautfil Tawny owl. "Meet Athena. Your new pet."
Sirius was, for possibly the first time in his life, speechless. "Oh Remus, she's beautiful but I can't possibly. It's far too much. She'd be too expensive!"
Remus shrugged his shoulders. "I wanted to get her for you. I knew how much you wanted an owl. Anyhow, I've been saving my money for years and there's nothing I wanted for myself. I wanted to get her for you."
Remus was nearly knocked off his feet as Sirius flung himself on him. "Remus I love you alright! Thanks so much."
"Well, at least you don't have an excuse now not to send thank you letters to all of your family for your presents, and yes, that does include your grandma for the jumper. And if you really want to thank me you can share your sweets with me and not eat them all yourself like Peter did last year on his birthday!" Remus said with a meaningful glance in Peter's direction, who was suddenly finding the floor of the owlery to be of great interest.
***
"James, I'm sorry this is short notice but I really don't have any choice." David Abbot, captain of the quidditch team, said running up to him out of breath. "Lucinda, one of the chasers, well she's come down with flu and the pepper up isn't working as well as it might and I know she's not happy because it would have been her last match before leaving the school, but I need to have the team in tip top condition for Saturday's match against Ravenclaw. If we win we'll get the quidditch cup!"
James looked a little bewildered and David must have noticed "So I was wondering if you would mind practising with us this week and playing for the team on Saturday. If you can't don't worry, I know it's last minute and it might be a hassle."
James cut him off. "A hassle? Do I mind? I've wanted this more than anything, well not Lucinda to be unwell but to play for the team. I'll see you at practise!" He punched the air and didn't even care when he was seen by Snape.
"Seeing invisible men again Potter, I'd say you need your eyes testing, after all we all know they're not exactly firing on all cylinders!"
***
The quidditch match turned out to be a huge success with the whole school turning out to watch. Remus and Peter watched proudly from the stands as their two friends flew high above them. James scored 80 points while Sirius saved the day on a number of occasions by firing bludgers towards the opposing Ravenclaw team. And it was with great delight when the Gryffindor seeker caught the snitch. "Gryffindor wins! 260 points to 90! Gryffindor wins the quidditch cup!"
Dinner that night was a particularly frivolous affair at the Gryffindor table, having won both the house and quidditch cups. "Well we've all passed our exams, it's the summer holidays and a feast now. Life's good!" Sirius laughed swigging pumpkin juice from his goblet. "Shame we couldn't find any alcohol really to spice things up a bit though." He added as an after thought.
"I'm starving!" Peter announced. "I wish everyone else would hurry up and get here so that we could start!" At that moment the second year Gryffindor girls approached the boys at the table.
"Hi girls." Sirius said, ever the flirt.
"James you were fabulous out there today. You made me proud to be a Gryffindor!" A red headed girl named Lily said throwing her arms around James and planting a kiss on his cheek before walking off with her friends giggling wildly and whistling at James.
"Ok James, place your tongue back in your mouth." Sirius giggled.
Remus joined in the laughing. "Well he's always thought she was pretty, he first starting looking at her in the sorting ceremony.
"I did not!" James argued but the flushed colour of his cheeks gave the game away.
"Well." Remus began. "I think we can safely say that makes a pretty good ending to a pretty good year!"
"Looks like our parents get on well anyhow." James said nodding at his and Sirius' parents chatting amiably with Remus' as they shopped for new books in Diagon Alley.
"Shame Peter's still away on holiday with his parents. The last few days have been really good haven't they, but it's not the same without all of us." Remus said reflectively, still having had the best days of his life with his friends in his own home, something he never thought he'd be able to experience.
"You had me!" Sirius said over-dramatically flinging his arms around Remus and kissing him repetitively on the cheeks.
"Sirius!" His father bellowed while his mother shook her head in dismay. "He'll never change will he?" Ralph Black said. "Always has to be a total exhibitionist!" Remus' mother smiled at her son laughing with his friends.
"He has done the world of good for Remus, he was so quiet and withdrawn when he went to Hogwarts, he's like a new boy."
"Sirius can be thoroughly ludicrous though! He has the strangest ideas on how a family of such standing in the community as our own should operate. He really lacks respect and I'm just glad he has James to balance him." Mrs Black added, "He's a sensible boy isn't he?" She trailed off as James picked Sirius up and promptly dropped him.
"Mum, Dad! Look! Can I have an owl, please, loads of people have got them, and just think of all the letters I'd send if I didn't have to use a scabby school owl! James got one for his birthday and Remus has had one since first year!" Sirius pleaded with his parents, having no intentions of sending them lots of letters, he didn't have a particularly good relationship with them.
"Not a chance Sirius!" His father said firmly. "You can't even look after yourself let alone an owl, the answer is no!" Sirius looked thoroughly annoyed but knew better than to argue with his father or even try to plead with his mother.
"James also got a new broom for his birthday, something tells me he's a spoilt little boy!" Remus joked trying to lift the tone seeing the despondent look on Sirius face.
"Oh yeah, born with a silver spoon in my mouth me, spoilt rotten!" James grinned.
***
"Remember this time last year?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah we were all really nervous and thought we could cast thousands of spells and I can hardly even transfigure a quill into a stick!" Peter laughed.
"I was actually thinking more about me holding Remus over the side of the train throwing up."
"Please don't remind me of that! I was terrified you'd guess about me after I went and puked when you talked about hunting werewolves."
"Erm yeah, I'm really sorry about that."
"So you should be!" Remus said trying desperately hard to look serious. Sirius' face dropped momentarily before Remus burst out laughing and was promptly punched in the arm.
"Bastard!"
"Hey! Be nice or I might have to bite you!"
"Ohh..I'm so scared. James, James, help me please, I'm a damsel in distress."
"Still a melodramatic imbecile I see!" A sly voice sounded, making all four boys look up from the act they were playing and Sirius removing himself from James' lap where he had plonked himself.
"Malfoy, still a pompous shit I see!" Sirius replied hardly missing a beat. "Oh and the greasy side kick, see you still haven't found a bath Sevvy babes! Difficult though I suppose to get clean when you spend the majority of your time with your head residing in Luscious Lucius' arse!"
Peter snorted with laughter. "Alright Pettigrew no need to sound like a pig as well as look like one!" Malfoy spoke scathingly. "Let's get out of here Severus, don't want to catch anything!"
***
"I really can't stomach any food!" James said trying desperately hard to swallow his second mouthful of toast.
"Need your strength Jamie boy!" Sirius said shovelling piles of bacon and eggs down his throat. Peter nodded, mouth too full to speak.
"I don't know how you can eat Sirius! We're going to be trying for the Gryffindor team in about an hour! It's the most important moment of our school life so far!"
Remus raised his eyebrows and tried not to grin. He could understand house glory but he didn't think it was that important!
"I think I might just die if I don't get picked." James slumped forwards with his head in his arms. "It's all I've ever wanted!"
Remus couldn't help but giggle this time. "Honestly James you're as bad as Sirius! Such a dramatist!"
"Oh Remus you just don't understand!" Sirius said in defence of James. "The honour, the glory, the thought of shoving Malfoy's nose in it when we hammer Slytherin in the first match!"
Passing a sideways glance at Peter, Remus replied "Ah. now I get you, makes so much more sense now!"
"James is doing well isn't he? And why is it that Sirius can lark about and still be really good at everything?"
Remus jumped, having just been staring at the people flying high above them but lost in thought. "Hmm, yeah, suppose.OOOH look out!" Remus winced as the bludger cannoned straight into James' leg.
"That looked nasty." Peter stated what the rest of the stands were thinking.
Remus and Peter hurried through the corridors to the hospital wing, well as fast as Peter could run, so they didn't exactly move at lightning speed! When the two fair-headed boys arrived Madame Pomfrey was just leaving James after giving him a potion of some description.
James had his glasses off and his face was tear stained. Remus didn't think he'd ever seen anyone look so vulnerable in his whole life. "What did Madame Pomfrey say? Is it broken?" Peter asked finally finding his voice, embarrassed by James' tears, the older boy always appearing so steady and strong.
"She's given me a potion to fix it...need to stay in tonight...really hurts...not as much as not getting on the team though!" He snivelled and gratefully accepted Remus' hanky.
"It could be worse Jamie." Remus said tactfully. "At least your leg's going to be ok, and you can always try again next year. If it's any consolation I thought you were doing really well!" James nodded knowing snapping at Remus as he might have liked to do would achieve nothing. Anyway, Remus was only trying to make him feel better, it wasn't possible to feel any worse he thought!
"Merlin James!" Sirius came bursting through the hospital wing door, sweaty and muddy from the quidditch pitch. "You nearly made me fall of my broom! What a fright. How are you?"
James scowled and chewed on his lip determined not to let Sirius see how upset he had been and still was. "Alright. My leg will fix over night."
Sirius nodded. "Well Jamie my son, you are looking at the new Gryffindor beater so the honour of our little group of friends is still in place do not fear!"
James nodded and tried to look pleased for his friend despite feeling like the jealous green monster. "Alright for some." Came out of his mouth when he had meant to just say well done.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius asked, his high spirits rapidly deflating at the glowering face of his friend.
"I've practised all year while you've messed around and still you get on the team and I'm just playing a spectator sport from the fucking stand!" James shouted not caring who heard him. "It's not fair!"
Sirius saw red and lost his temper. "Well it's not my fault you can't see even with your specs and consequentially a bludger hit you!"
"It isn't my fault you're as arrogant as Lucius Malfoy but you still are!" James fired back.
Sirius opened his mouth to retaliate but shut it quickly as the nurse came bustling over. "What on Earth is going on here? Mr Potter needs his rest, he has had a nasty fright! Now I suggest seeing as you boys cannot behave responsibly you leave!"
"I was just going!" Sirius announced turning on his heel and marching off nose in the air.
Peter shuffled off, afraid of Madame Pomphrey's beady glare.
"Don't worry Jamie, he was just over excited, he didn't mean it. And neither did you if you are honest." Remus squeezed his friend's shoulder. "I'll try to pop by and see you later." James nodded not trusting himself to speak for the lump in his throat. He'd had an awful day.
***
"How long is this going to go on for Siri?" Remus asked as they took their seats in potions, himself now working with Sirius since James and the other raven haired boy were barely acknowledging each others presence since the quidditch team trials three weeks earlier.
"Until he apologises!" Sirius growled.
James overhearing muttered to Peter "Well if he thinks I'm apologising he's very much mistaken! He pretty much said I was blind. And I know I need glasses but there's no need to rub it in!"
Peter sighed, it wasn't terribly nice for him and Remus being stuck between the pair who were equally as proud as each other and wouldn't apologise because their pride was like a brick wall in the way! The lesson began, making aging potions. Sirius, angry about the whole situation with James wasn't in the best of moods to begin with. This worsened when he realised that Snape and Malfoy were seated behind him and just the sound of their slimy self- righteous voices was making his skin crawl. Remus resigned himself to chopping up the ingredients and not speaking to Sirius for fear of his wrath.
"Lupin doesn't need an aging potion. He's an old git anyhow. Look at his hair Lucius, flecked with grey already, a fair bit of it too, so ugly on a person our age don't you think?" Remus heard and looked down, embarrassed by the silver streaks through his hair due to the wolf in him.
Sirius, however, had just been looking for an excuse to vent some of his frustration about the whole situation with James and turned around wand in hand to an unsuspecting Snape. "Folliculus Removo!" He hissed.
The whole classroom erupted into laughter as Snape's hand flew to his now bald head.
"And you could still fry your breakfast off it even without the greasy mop! Maybe you should offer yourself to the house elves? At least then you'd be half useful!"
"SILENCE!" Professor Brewer's voice bellowed over the racket in the dungeon and the second years all fell silent at once. The potions master flicked his wand towards Snape leaving him with a head full of hair once again before turning on Sirius and Remus. "You two will be in here tonight for detention at 9pm sharp! Cleaning all of the cauldrons without any magic!"
Sirius nodded, knowing fine well he would be punished for his misdemeanour but not actually caring. He did feel a bit guilty about getting Remus into trouble. "Sorry Rem, it wasn't you, you shouldn't have to do it."
Remus shrugged. "Doesn't matter, you only did it to defend me."
***
"My wrist's aching!" Sirius whined as he scrubbed what felt like the millionth cauldron.
"Tell me about it!" Remus agreed lethargically reaching for the next one, which was equally as filthy with ingredients practically welded to the sides.
"Remy?"
"Hmm?"
"I know you don't like talking about it but, well, would you tell me what it's like when you transform." Remus sighed. "You don't have to." Sirius added quickly not sure whether he'd made a mistake in asking such a sensitive question, "I just wanted to be able to understand exactly what you go through every month."
Remus put down the cauldron he was scrubbing. "It's not easy for me to talk about really but I understand you wanting to know. It's horrible really. In the days leading up to the moon I start to feel really fractious and irritable as the wolf starts to take over me, well I suppose the wolf is me, so the human side of me. Then when Madame Pomfrey takes me to the Whomping Willow, as you know, I go through the passageway into the little room in the shack where the physical side of it starts. It gets really lonely in there, just waiting for the inevitable. My teeth grow and my skin stretches. It burns Sirius; it feels like it's going to tear apart. My bones crack as they change shape and the itchiness of all the hair sprouting is really indescribable!"
He took a deep breath before continuing. Sirius was starting to wonder if he'd made the wrong decision, this sounded horrendous. "And the screams that they hear from the shack, the noises that make people think it's terribly haunted, well that's me, crying in pain. I try not to but I can't help it, it just hurts so badly."
Remus coughed against the lump in his throat and blinked hard to stop the tears in his eyes from spilling. He'd never talked about this before and although it was difficult it somehow felt right to tell Sirius, to share the most private, well-kept secrets about himself with the long-haired boy.
"You don't have to continue." Sirius said, surprised to hear his own voice was wobbly.
"No, I want to. The wolf, it gets really angry because it's trapped. It wants blood Sirius, when I'm like that I want to kill people. It's dreadful because as a person I'm really easy going and placid, I wouldn't hurt a fly and this thing takes over me and all I want to do is go crazy, explode. And so I attack myself. That's why I have so many wounds because I throw myself around, bite and claw at my own skin until I bleed."
Remus felt Sirius' hand on his shoulder and smiled, grateful of his support. "Then I tend to just fall asleep, exhausted, and when I wake I'm human again, naked, vulnerable and sore. Madame Pomfrey comes to get me and fixes me up. She's wonderful about it all. All the teachers here are, particularly Dumbledore, he's really kind to let someone with my condition, my lycanthropy in here. I feel sick and I ache all over afterwards. Sometimes it's worse than others, it all depends just how violent the wolf gets I suppose. I have to live with it; I know that now. I just wish they could find something to make it a little easier." A single silvery tear slid down Remus' pale cheek.
Sirius wrapped his arms around the golden headed boy, realising he too had tears slipping from his eyes. "Oh Remus, you poor soul, you're so brave and strong." Remus squeezed Sirius, recognizing this had been as hard for Sirius to hear as it had been for him to say.
"Not really." Remus said softly. "Just accepting. I suppose you have to be."
Sirius nodded but was still in awe of the courage Remus must have to go through that every month. "I wish I could be more like you Remy. You're so sensible, sensitive and strong. I'm just good at playing the fool and upsetting people! Even my own parents think I'm a waste of space, they're probably right! Saying that, they're far from perfect."
Remus pulled Sirius' black locks back from his face where they had stuck due to the dampness of his salty tears. "Don't ever want to be someone else. Everyone is special because they are the person that they are. You're wonderful as you are! Alright?"
Sirius nodded, saddened by the wise way that Remus spoke, feeling it was almost sorrowful that someone so young had to be so mature because of the way they were. "Well thanks Remus, I'll keep it to myself. But if you ever need me to do anything I'm there alright?"
Remus thought for a moment. "There is one thing. Will you make up with Jamie? It's difficult for me and Peter stuck between you and anyhow, you're both miserable not talking to one another. Swallow your pride Sirius. It makes you the better person for doing it."
"You're right..as usual! I hate that!" Remus laughed.
***
James and Sirius had settled their differences as Remus had asked much to everyone's relief. A few months had passed and the school year was going well. That is, apart from a minor hiccup where Argus Filch had caught them sneaking around the castle at 2am in the morning looking for secret passageways.
They realised they had become a bit too cock-sure because had they taken the invisibility cloak he would never have seen Peter's bright red pyjamas which is what Sirius swore got them caught. It was Sirius' birthday that morning so everyone was awake early because he wanted to open his presents.
"Oh Merlin!" He exclaimed, eyes nearly popping out of his head. "Sirius, I'm proud of your achievements in making the house quidditch team and know how much you wanted this." The note accompanying the new model Nimbus 1800 read from his Uncle Alphard. Sirius glanced quickly over at James, worried in case the jealousy would be back but there was just a look of sheer admiration on his face.
"That is wonderful Sirius. Lock it away or I might steal it!"
"Eurgh!" Came the next comment as he opened his grandmother's present."When will she learn that when I say I don't like brown itchy jumpers that means I don't want a new one every bloody year! Oh well never mind, at least she sent some sweets as well! Every cloud has a silver lining."
Quickly he moved onto the next present. "It doesn't have a label." Sirius mused as he tore it open. "ARGH!" Sirius flung the parcel away from himself as a label fell out.
"Happy Birthday Black, have a horrid day! Malfoy" The dead snake lay in the middle of the floor. James cast a quick spell to get rid of it. "That slimy bastard. How did he know I hated snakes!"
Peter shook his head. "Not sure. But James should have left it. We could have strangled Malfoy with it!"
The rest of his presents weren't nearly so bad. A book from James about quidditch tactics and techniques, "I have to make my contribution to the Gryffindor team skills after all." And a framed photograph of the four friends taken down by the lake messing around from Peter along with a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans.
"What have your parents got for you?" Peter asked, suddenly realising nothing had been opened from them. "If your uncle got you a racing broom Merlin knows what you'll get from your parents!"
Sirius looked flustered as he muttered under his breath. "They don't really get me birthday presents. Erm, they think I'm too disobedient to deserve them anymore!"
Peter laughed loudly. "Oh Sirius you do make me laugh!" He stopped laughing suddenly as he realised Sirius was being honest.
"Get dressed." Remus commanded, taking charge of the situation, trying to alleviate both of the boys' embarassment. "Then we'll go and I'll show you my present." Intrigued Sirius hurriedly threw on his clothes.
"This way." Remus led his three friends across the grounds of the school.
"Erm Remy, where are you taking us?"
"You'll see." The cheerful voice came from in front of him.
"Why are we in the owlery?"
"Because.." He trailed off and pointed at a beautfil Tawny owl. "Meet Athena. Your new pet."
Sirius was, for possibly the first time in his life, speechless. "Oh Remus, she's beautiful but I can't possibly. It's far too much. She'd be too expensive!"
Remus shrugged his shoulders. "I wanted to get her for you. I knew how much you wanted an owl. Anyhow, I've been saving my money for years and there's nothing I wanted for myself. I wanted to get her for you."
Remus was nearly knocked off his feet as Sirius flung himself on him. "Remus I love you alright! Thanks so much."
"Well, at least you don't have an excuse now not to send thank you letters to all of your family for your presents, and yes, that does include your grandma for the jumper. And if you really want to thank me you can share your sweets with me and not eat them all yourself like Peter did last year on his birthday!" Remus said with a meaningful glance in Peter's direction, who was suddenly finding the floor of the owlery to be of great interest.
***
"James, I'm sorry this is short notice but I really don't have any choice." David Abbot, captain of the quidditch team, said running up to him out of breath. "Lucinda, one of the chasers, well she's come down with flu and the pepper up isn't working as well as it might and I know she's not happy because it would have been her last match before leaving the school, but I need to have the team in tip top condition for Saturday's match against Ravenclaw. If we win we'll get the quidditch cup!"
James looked a little bewildered and David must have noticed "So I was wondering if you would mind practising with us this week and playing for the team on Saturday. If you can't don't worry, I know it's last minute and it might be a hassle."
James cut him off. "A hassle? Do I mind? I've wanted this more than anything, well not Lucinda to be unwell but to play for the team. I'll see you at practise!" He punched the air and didn't even care when he was seen by Snape.
"Seeing invisible men again Potter, I'd say you need your eyes testing, after all we all know they're not exactly firing on all cylinders!"
***
The quidditch match turned out to be a huge success with the whole school turning out to watch. Remus and Peter watched proudly from the stands as their two friends flew high above them. James scored 80 points while Sirius saved the day on a number of occasions by firing bludgers towards the opposing Ravenclaw team. And it was with great delight when the Gryffindor seeker caught the snitch. "Gryffindor wins! 260 points to 90! Gryffindor wins the quidditch cup!"
Dinner that night was a particularly frivolous affair at the Gryffindor table, having won both the house and quidditch cups. "Well we've all passed our exams, it's the summer holidays and a feast now. Life's good!" Sirius laughed swigging pumpkin juice from his goblet. "Shame we couldn't find any alcohol really to spice things up a bit though." He added as an after thought.
"I'm starving!" Peter announced. "I wish everyone else would hurry up and get here so that we could start!" At that moment the second year Gryffindor girls approached the boys at the table.
"Hi girls." Sirius said, ever the flirt.
"James you were fabulous out there today. You made me proud to be a Gryffindor!" A red headed girl named Lily said throwing her arms around James and planting a kiss on his cheek before walking off with her friends giggling wildly and whistling at James.
"Ok James, place your tongue back in your mouth." Sirius giggled.
Remus joined in the laughing. "Well he's always thought she was pretty, he first starting looking at her in the sorting ceremony.
"I did not!" James argued but the flushed colour of his cheeks gave the game away.
"Well." Remus began. "I think we can safely say that makes a pretty good ending to a pretty good year!"