Sirius Black was down by the lake, a thick packet of paper in his hand. Wait a minute, Sirius was reading something? Wow, amazing... His sister Amy was nearby, sketching something in her notebook. Suddenly, Sirius burst out laughing. Remus Lupin raised a brow, looking up from his own book, placing a finger in the place where his eyes had stopped their scanning.

"What?" He asked, his tone slightly amused. Sirius shook his head, managing to quote through his laughter.

"They do not even have control over themselves! Do not believe them!" He wiped a tear of mirth from his eyes. "Bloody hell, is this man for real?!"

 What's he talking about? Oh, right. Baghdad Bob.

"Mmm, that's the packet from Chrissie, isn't it? She thought you'd love him..." Amy said, glancing up at the two boys for a reminder, before returning to her sketch of them. Remus blinked, looking to Amy then back to Sirius.

"Huh?" He was getting confused by this point.

 Well, at least it's a distraction.

"This is some guy in Iraq, who's talking about the war between them and the U.S. Chrissie, a friend of mine, sent Sirius a list of quotes, thinking Sirius'd love him." Amy explained.

 And her letter was long enough, ranting at me to break up with Chris. But can I manage it?

"Well, at least he's reading..." Remus shook his head with something of an affectionate smile. Sirius was no longer listening, and once again, he burst out laughing. Amy smiled as well.

"Aye, it's better than nothing, isn't it?" She had her eyes down on the sketch again, putting on a few finishing touches. Remus chuckled softly, opening his book again.

"I guess it shows that he's not completely corrupted. I mean, if he finds the man funny..." He said, shrugging slightly.

"Mmm..." She said with a soft laugh, finally finishing the sketch.

 I can't stay here any longer, playing cheerful. I'll scream otherwise. I need somewhere that I can think.

Amy stood, setting the notebook down with her bag, before running a hand through her hair, glancing out at the lake. It was midday on a September day, and the sun gleamed on the surface of the lake. Remus didn't glance up, instead set the book down, pulling off his robe. Sitting up he lay it down on the robe, picking up the book again, starting to read.

"Siri, watch my stuff." Amy told him, and he only shrugged, not having heard her.

 And my brother's not listening to me. What a shocker.

"Yeah, sure, whatever..." He said. Amy rolled her eyes, smiling, before starting off for a walk down by the lake. Remus' eyes moved up from the book, watching her walk off, blinking in the silence for a moment before his eyes returned to the pages.

"Where'd Amy go?" Sirius asked, looking around for her.

"For a walk, I assume..." Remus looked up, nodding in the direction.

"But... Why didn't she say anything before she left?" Sirius asked, looking highly confused. Remus smiled, shaking his head.

"She did mate. You even responded..."

"Oh... But why'd she leave?" Sirius was getting more and more confused by the moment.

"She didn't give a reason..." Remus shrugged.

"Ahh.... Oh well." He shrugged a bit, returning to his reading. Amy had taken a seat down on the lakeshore, her arms wrapped around her knees. Amy sighed softly, pulling her long black hair over one shoulder. The 6th year seemed depressed, upset.

 How on earth am I going to handle this? Chris'll kill me if I try to break up with him. I'm his, his property. He'll turn me in. They'd. I can't break up with him!

Remus looked across the grounds, Sirius' questions having raised a few in his own mind. He stood after a moment, having spotted her.

Grabbing his robe, he pulled it back on as he walked, eventually reaching her.

"You alright?" He asked, his voice slightly reserved. Amy tilted her head back to look up at him, before offering a weak smile.

 And now it gets better. How the hell do I explain to the guy I've liked for god only knows how long, that I'm in the middle of a bad relationship, and can't see any way in hell to get out? Nah, not exactly easy.

"Guy troubles." She said simply. He raised a brow, giving her a small smile.

"Oh? Well, I'm a guy, maybe I can help?"

"If you're willing to listen to a major rant about my boyfriend, then give me some advice, it'd be much appreciated, though I'll understand if you decline." A slight smirk was on Amy's lips. Remus gave a soft chuckle, taking a seat next to her.

 Do I want him to decline? He may actually be able to help me. I can't tell Sirius or James, that's for sure.

"If I'm capable of sitting through James and Sirius' whining, I think I can handle anything you throw at me."

 You know, they do whine way too much. I pity you. Well, here goes nothing.

"Well, it's like this... I've been dating Chris for 8 months... He wants sex, I'm not ready. So a couple of weeks ago, he came to me, and told me he's been sleeping with Briget for a few months now. I got angry, hurt, everything... But then he started telling me I should be grateful he was cheating on me, as it spared me from sleeping with him. I'd had a rough day, so I started to believe him, even going so far as to believe him when he told me I was lucky to be with him, I didn't deserve him... Thank god I've snapped out of that, but part of me still does believe him... What I'm trying to decide is should I stay with him, accept this, and just be happy I have someone, or should I break up with him?" Her voice was soft, laced with fear, doubt, and pain. Remus' mouth dropped slightly, blinking when she'd finished telling her story.

 And now that you're going to walk away from me for being this bloody stupid so as to stay with him. And that's the tame version. What would you say if I told you the rest of it?

"I... well... that's certainly nothing Sirius or James have ever told me... Amy, you deserve so much better than that. He'll get his, and so will Briget. I'm proud of you, telling him you weren't ready. You were honest... He's going to be lucky that Sirius doesn't kill him. Break up with the bastard. Do you have any idea how many guys around this school want to be with you? You can replace him, when you're ready..."

 Replace him? That's not going to happen. He'd never let me, and no guy would want me if they knew the truth.

"Rem, Chris and I are considered the class couple for my year... I just don't know... I mean, he's one of the few people that I feel comfortable around, feel like I can talk to..." She shook her head with a soft sigh. Remus shook his head as well.

 That's the only actual lie I've told. I can't talk to him, but I can't explain otherwise why I can't break up with him.

"Screw popularity, Amy. What is that going to get you in the real world? I'm telling you, don't stay with this guy. He's bad news. And don't you dare sleep with him. It most likely wont stop him from sleeping with anyone else again." He warned. She shook her head once more.

"No, that much I'm decided upon... I'm not sleeping with him. I just... It'll take a lot of courage for me to end things with him..." She said with a soft sigh. He nodded, a smirk on his lips as he did so.

 I may not plan on sleeping with him, but that doesn't mean he won't rape me any time soon.

"I know of a pretty easy way. Tell your brother what the guy did..." Amy started to laugh softly.

"Or James, for that matter... They're both incredibly protective of me..." She shook her head, smiling softly, remembering how many times they'd been there for her in the past. Remus smiled, his hand reaching down to pull up a few pieces of grass.

 As nice as that may sound, telling James or Sirius, getting them to do something about this, they'd ask far too many questions. I can't do that. I just can't.

"That they are. Hell, I'll even tell him for you. I can't guarantee he'd come out looking as badly as he would with say Pad or Prongs, but I'll do my best." Amy shook her head with another smile.

"No... Thank you, though... I just think this is something I'll have to manage myself..." She said softly, inwardly cringing at the idea. Remus shrugged a bit.

 Just. Come visit me in the hospital wing when he leaves me near death, if I even survive this?

"Eh, guess it's my loss. And his. He didn't know what he had, Ames," he said, kissing her cheek lightly as he stood, wiping off his jeans, starting on his way back over to grab his book.

Frowning lightly after he left, she seemed confused over what was meant by that. Smiling slowly, she couldn't find a way to take it that it wasn't a compliment. Standing, she went off in search of Chris, half hoping Briget would be with him.