Just an interim chapter, this one. I PROMISE WITH ALL MY HEART that this will be finished before the end of the year. I swear.

Peter POV

Something's happened, and again no one will tell me what's up. I feel slightly better though, because James seemed to know about as much as I do. This morning, when we went into Charms, he came and sat next to me rather than next to Lily, which is what he usually does, or Sirius, what he used to do before the big argument, or Remus, his partner after the argument. No, he came to me and asked if I knew what had happened with Remus and Sirius.

It's strange. They weren't talking, instead throwing each other glances that would have killed, but now they talk. Not a lot, and yet I see Sirius giving Remus looks. It's almost like Remus has got Sirius' personality. He's laughing constantly in the common room, won't go to bed until everyone else is already gone, and seems to do no work. James thinks something's wrong, and he's going to ask Sirius and Remus about it.

I stretch my legs out in front of the chair, letting the fire warm them gently. James is sat opposite, frowning and biting his thumbnail. If Lily saw him, she'd yell at him to stop it. But she isn't around, instead is probably revising in the library.

"Remus!"

I twist my head, and see the frail body coming in through the portrait hole. He comes towards us, smiling, and when he's this close I can see that the smile doesn't reach his eyes. One of his eyes is black. He told us that he fell down some stairs, and that's also how he got the cut down his face. I remember that particular conversation. Sirius was sat in the chair James is in now, and he was frowning deeply as though Remus was lying through his teeth.

Remus tugs at his polo neck jumper, revealing several bruises for a second. "Hey guys."

"Remus, what's happened?"

He laughs. "What the hell do you mean?"

James leans forward. For once he's being serious. "For the last four days you've been acting strange. You're talking to Sirius again, and you've got a load of injuries- don't try and hide it, I've seen them when you get changed- and you've broken up with Stromboli." Remus' mask slips for a second, and his eyes get wide.

"I'm fine. Thanks for your sympathy, but I'm quite all right." And with that, he turns on his heel and leaves, striding away and up the stairs to our dorm.

"Maybe if I cornered him in there…" James stands.

"Who're you gonna corner now then, Jamesie boy?" Sirius flings himself down into the chair and grins upwards.

"Remus. I'm gonna make him talk."

The mood changes instantly. "The fuck you are." Sirius' face is dark, his eyes flashing. "Leave him be."

"Why should I?"

"Because it's his own business."

"You know what's happened."

Sirius stands to face James, his added height allowing him to glower down. "And you know why he's more likely to talk to me."

I don't. But they won't tell me; they're wrapped up in their own little world, too busy and self important to worry about explaining things to a rat like me.

"Does it involve you?" James asks softly. Sirius nods in response. "And Rem?"

"Well, obviously."

"And Stromboli?" Sirius' face twists angrily, and he lashes out at the chair, punching it hard. "Take that as a yes."

"That fucking, fucking bastard." He brings his clenched fist to his mouth and kisses his fingers gingerly. "That really hurt."

"Don't abuse the furniture in the future," James says distractedly. He places a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Look, we're here for Remus. We'll do anything to make it better."

"I know." Sirius' eyes peek out from behind his wisps of hair. "But he won't admit that there's anything wrong."

"But something obviously is! He's acting completely out of character, and he's hurt. Why didn't he go to Madame Pomfrey?"

A wince. Interesting. "He wouldn't let me take him."

James frowns. "Did Stromboli hurt him?"

Sirius puts up his hands. "Look, James, I can't tell you anything. Or Remus will rip me to pieces." His attention wanders to the stairs. I think that the expression on his face is a mix of different emotions. Part of it is tenderness. That's no surprise- he's always mothered Remus, mostly due to Remus' furry little problem. Then there's some anger. Probably due to whatever Stromboli did. And there's something else… almost like longing. I know that look too well, from personal experience. But why is Sirius wearing it?

"Sirius, go upstairs. Go and help him."

Eyes turn desperate. "But he won't-"

"If anyone can get through to him, it's you."

Sirius smiles sadly, and trudges up the stairs. James collapses, and sends a weak smile my way. "Just have to wait now."

"Are you going to decipher any of that for me, or just leave me sitting here like an idiot?"

He sighs and places his head in his hands. "Not now, Pete."

"Fine." I leave the room, unwilling to sit with a so-called friend who won't even let me know what's going on.

Okay, so it was weird and short. But be nice, I have a cold and feel completely blergh. And I'm hungry.

The songs have been requested. You get Bohemian Rhapsody in chapters 1-7 (Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy, Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality, Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time, Nothing really matters to me, Galileo Figaro Magnifico, I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me, Oo, baby, can't do this to me baby, just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here, Mama, just killed a man. Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead, I don't wanna die, I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all, Goodbye everybody, I've got to go. Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth, think you can love me and leave me to die), Don't Stop Me Now in chapter 9 (I'm having a good time, I don't want to stop at all), Save Me in chapters 11-20 (It started off so well, they said we made a perfect pair, I clothed myself in your glory and your love, How I loved you- how I cried, The years of care and loyalty were nothing but a sham it seems the years belie we lived a lie, I love you till I die, Save me save me save me I can't face this life alone Save me save me save me… I'm naked and I'm far from home, I have no heart- I'm cold inside I have no real intent, Was it all wasted- all that love, The slate will soon be clean I'll erase the memories To start again with somebody new, I hang my head and I advertise a soul for sale or rent) and Death On Two Legs in chapter 17 (Death on two legs you're tearing me apart death on two legs you never had a heart of your own, You're just an old barrow-boy have you found a new toy to replace me can you face me, Is your conscience all right does it plague you at night do you feel good- feel good?)