"Wormtail, what do you think is wrong with Moony?"

"I don't know, Prongs," Peter started timidly, this all a part of his hidden plan. "Perhaps we should allow them to settle their differences. Padfoot and Moony that is."

James looked to Peter, but then finally nodded. "You're right."

"It's about lunch time, I've never heard of Sirius to miss a meal, so he'll probably sort things out with Remus and meet us there." Said Peter, with a faint smile.

About to protest, James opened his mouth but the grumbling of his stomach told his mind otherwise. Maybe this one time, he wouldn't get involved in things, and he could talk to Lily if worse turned to worse.

"Excellent." Mused Peter underneath his breath in a sinister tone. "Let's go."

Quietly cursing to himself, Sirius put a hand to his temples and rubbed them in annoyance. How could he have been so stupid? "Damn."

Remus ran through the corridors, telling himself not to turn back, not to cry, not to do anything but breathe and run. The fluent motions of the passing fixated him into a state of madness.

"If it isn't the little Remus Lupin, horror of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." The mocking tone drifted forward upon the breeze of passing air, and Remus froze in mid-step.

There before him stood the tall, thin form of the very pale, Narcissa Malfoy. Next to her stood Bellatrix Black, expression that of the most unheard of pleasure. Sneering at Remus, Narcissa raised her hand to her face in disgust.

"Why aren't you with my dear cousin, Werewolf?" She was one of the only students other than the other three Marauders that knew of his true form. Relishing the moment of triumph, she spat upon the floor before his feet.

Silently, Remus cursed his unheard words at Narcissa and Bellatrix, no expression plainly seen within his face. His golden-gray eyes glimmered, the gray more present than the gold allowing his presence to remain that of a somber manner.

"It seems he is at a loss for words, Narcissa." Muttered Bellatrix under her breath. "Shame our cousin is not here, oh, how I do wish to honor his eloquent presence." Sarcasm dripped from her lips, as she cunningly turned to fix her glare upon Remus.

"No." It was the first word Remus had said during their introductions. His lips barely moved to form the words, but his head inclined in a short shake that ruffled his bangs.

Raising a brow, Narcissa glowered at him. "Excuse me, but did you say something? I don't remember asking you for your opinion." Bellatrix stifled a laugh by placing her delicate hand upon her lips.

"I said no." Something inside of Remus screamed to be let out; the feeling that he had experienced during his transformation every month. He raised his head to look at the two relatives of his once believed best friend. "Leave Sirius alone, he doesn't enjoy carrying the name of Black and if I were you, I wouldn't taunt him of it."

"Such big words for a canine of primitive being. I thought your kind only played fetch and chased after their own tails." Shot Bellatrix from her safe vantage point. She had never been one to jeer at her cousin, but always took pride and joy in completely shooting down his friends.

This time, it was Narcissa's turn to stifle a laugh. However, Remus took no note of the insult. He merely pushed his way through the taller Slytherins and continued along his way, at least until he heard the oh so familiar voice, wincing in the knowledge that a showdown was to occur.

"Remus!"

"Speak of the Devil." Mused Narcissa, as she flicked a hand in her approaching cousin's direction. "So good to see you, cousin, we were just talking about you." The last part was added with a sinister manner, as well as that of the deepest spite.

"Narcy. Bella." He nodded to both, but quickly added a sticking out of his tongue.

"Dear Padfoot was it, that those fools of friends called you?" She sneered inclining her head to

Remus with a slight jerk of her head. "Of course, no offense meant."

Remus merely nodded, wanting to get away as fast as possible to prevent any contact with Sirius.

"Why won't you leave me and my friends alone? Don't you have other more IMPORTANT things to attend to?" Sirius sneered, glaring daggers at the use of his nickname.

"No, I don't have anything else to do but annoy my dearest cousin because you are the joy of my life." Narcissa continued to speak sarcasm, enjoying the moment to its last savoring moment. "You've become a nothing but a means of entertainment, Sirius. Get used to it." The last sentence was added with the feeling of hatred.

"Well find a new hobby." Sirius spat before turning to Remus, only to realize that he had yet again, escaped without a word.

"Better go find your friend, Sirius. After all, you have so little!"

Resisting the urge to sock both Bellatrix and Narcissa in the face with a well-set punch, Sirius ran past the two, bowling their thin frames over in the process, and chased after Remus.

Narrowing her eyes, with the before mentioned disgust, Narcissa watched her cousin scamper off. If only she knew of the shame he would later bring to their family name. If she knew of the acts further in the past, she would've sacrificed the school of Hogwarts and murder Sirius in his sleep.

"Remus, hold up!" Sirius shouted as he rounded a corner and saw Remus sitting beneath the wide branches of a tree, hiding within the shade, his head buried in his hands.

Sirius did not receive an answer, though he could see Remus' body shake with sighs and sobs. This greatly moved Sirius, though he knew nothing even close to his friend's pain.

"…Remus."

The answer was silent and short. So silent, Sirius had to think twice about the fact that Remus had answered him, instead of just staring at the back of his head and neck in sinister hate of his own acts. "Yes, Sirius…?"

"…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, it was dumb. I mean, of course you're on our side, you're a true-blooded Marauder. Isn't that right bud?" He stepped closer to Remus and put a hand on his shoulder, looking for forgiveness.

"Don't say sorry, Padfoot." Muttered Remus as he continued to stare at his feet, kicking at the grass.

"Why---"

"I have a confession to make." As the words poured from Remus' mouth, he turned to look at Sirius with those same gray-golden eyes; a somber expression. "Back there…on the staircases…when you hit Severus and I ran over to him…I didn't…didn't feel like a Marauder."