'Remus is a werewolf'.

A glass clatters in the back and both the boys startle and see a figure standing with wide eyes and mouth agape.

Lily jumps over the shattered glass on the floor and grabs the collar of Sirius' shirt with shaking hands. Both the boys were quite surprised by her sudden attitude change.

'Who told you this? This is false.'

Sirius did not reply and the mental struggle in his head continued. It was James again who comes to his rescue.

'Lily, please let go of him'.

Not Evans but Lily. Things were really serious. Remus' entire academic career was on stake and the poor boy was howling his pains far far away unaware of the commotion he has caused.

Lily lets go of Sirius with rather a reluctance but stay there looking at him pointedly. She didn't trust him an ounce. Lily had been the only one to have figured out Remus' secret back in their third year. She had noticed a pattern in his monthly disappearances during their study sessions together at the library. She had confronted him and Remus could've sworn that he saw his entire life flash in front of his eyes at that very moment. Lucky for both of them, Lily's muggle upbringing could not instil the stigma around werewolves in her and she remained rather free of prejudices against them.

She rather thought it was kind of incredible to be able to transform into an animal once a month and that too something as magnificent as a wolf. Remus had told her she was confusing him for an animagus but she remained on her opinion. Perhaps that's when their friendship strengthened and when Lily who has unable to sleep because of Remus tonight heard the conversation between James and Sirius, was startled.

Both purebloods and one of them a Slytherin would not bode well for this well-hidden secret.

'Who told you this?'

Lily asks again, the shrill in her voice betraying the potency she was trying to muster.

'I-i saw him trans-transform'.

Sirius, who was still shaking from the initial shock replied in a quiet voice. He still found himself unable to look anyone in the eyes. He kept them glued to the spilt water on the floor.

'Are you going to tell anyone?'

'Do you think anyone would believe us? Sweet Remus, always helping others, the ever so kind Remus can't be a vile creature like that of a werewolf'.

'You're the one who is wrong in their judgement of character. Do you think he chose to be a werewolf? Do you think he voluntarily decides to be a wolf every month and scar himself?'

Something clicked in James' mind but he remained silent. He had grown up hearing nothing but ill about these creatures of the night and had even grown accustomed to hating some like Greyback. But Remus was nothing like him. Remus never showed any tendencies of bloodlust. All these thoughts were confusing him and he could sense a headache approaching . But Sirius was worse. He grew up in Britain's darkest family and probably knew more about werewolves, their origins, life history, span more than one itself. He should have been able to detect these signs earlier but it is indeed truly said that love is blind. One tends to easily overlook the bad in the ones we love and fully accept them in their imperfections. But could Sirius easily overlook such a huge revelation?

Sirius' head was fully hurting now and he couldn't bear to have any more conversations on this topic. He needed to clear his mind. Sleeping should be his topmost priority. So, he simply said his goodbyes and quietly left the Gryffindor common room leaving behind no promises and showing no signs of trust of such huge secret bearing.

He makes his way towards the dungeons and mutters the password and walks in.

'Oomph'.

'Can't you see where you're going?'

'I'm sor- Reggie?'

'Sirius? Where were you last night?'

'I-i was...out'.

'Out? Are you seeing someone? Is it someone from Gryffindor?'

'What? No. No, I'm not. I- what are you doing up at this hour?'

'Oh. I-i was just going...out'.

Regulus' cheeks pinkened slightly but Sirius was too busy self-pitying to notice.

'Out? Are YOU seeing someone?'

'No-no. NO! I was just going for a walk.'

Regulus spares a look outside the window to see the Sun risen completely. The teachers would be up by now and so will be some of the students. No point going anywhere now.

'Good. Walks are good.'

'Sirius, are you okay? You seem a bit...distracted lately'.

'I'm fine'.

'No, you're not. You're far from fine. What's wrong?'

'Honestly, would you stop being so nosy! Can't you see I'm FINE!'

'Yuppity, you're definitely not. Do you want to talk about it? Maybe head to the astronomy tower?'

'okay'.

Both the Black brothers make their way to the highest tower of Hogwarts. They climb up the stairs in absolute silence and Regulus ponders on how to not end this situation in a brawl. They finally reach the top and Regulus looks down and immediately leans against the tiny wall as if trying to hide something from view. His cheeks are heating up quite quickly now.

'Are you feeling slightly better now?'

'Yes. Somewhat better.'

'What was it that bothers you so much?'

'It's just-

Sirius wonders if Regulus would be interested in hearing about his non-existent-already-problematic love life. But guess being blood-related has its vices and virtues and he decides to go for it.

'Imagine liking someone for a very long time. Longer than three months. And then finding out a big secret about them that completely changes your opinion about them. Would you be able to accept them the way they are?'

'So, you do like someone. Well, it depends on how big is the secret anyways? They're not a murderer or anything?'

'No. Nothing like that...maybe. But something big. Something you've told to detest'.

'You're in a war with your own heart'.

Regulus had somewhat caught on to Sirius' crypt way of talking but didn't know if it would be advisable to directly talk about it to him. While his head suggested doing it his heart signalled the opposite and he decided to maintain his furtive. After all, it was better to remain silent and be thought of a fool than to speak up and clear all doubts.1

Sirius' head seemed to be having the same doubts. But since he had come this far why not risk it further? After all, what's life without a little risk?

'What if they're a werewolf?'

Regulus immediately pales and looks down again. He had expected someone who was a muggleborn or maybe someone from Gryffindor but this definitely didn't cross his mind. Before he could think and answer wisely his mouth quickly spluttered out:

'Remus?'

'You know about him!?'

'Yes'.

'B-but how?'

'You're not the only one in the family to break tradition, Sirius. I have done it too.'

'But how? It makes no sense'.

'Remember when I asked you to tutor me?'

'How is that related to this?'

'Just answer me. Do you remember?'

'Yes. Yes. You had some doubt in Defence, I guess'.

'Potions and remember how you refused to do it? You said and I quote, don't have the bloody time to tutor you. Not like you can do a prank, end quote'.

It was Sirius' turn to redden now.

'I-I guess, I do remember. But how is it related to Remus?'

'Oh, and you call yourself smart. I asked Remus and the Evans girl for help and they agreed. I am a part of their little study group'.

'How long have you known?'

'Since the first time, he didn't attend the study session. Mother did teach us about werewolves and how to identify them and I picked up the signs'.

'Did you confront him about it?'

'No, of course not. It's not a kind of thing you would want people to know now, do you?'

'No. No Of course not. But... you still study with him?'

'And why would I not?'

'I-I mean he's a werewolf. They're-

'Vile? Blood-thirsty? Deserved to be put down? Is Remus any of THAT?'

'No, but he's still a-

'Really Sirius? You're the last person I expected to be prejudiced! I thought maybe befriending Gryffindors, a Potter and even muggleborns would have made you different! But you're doing exactly what a Black would do.'

Sirius was rendered speechless at Regulus' sudden outburst. He had never thought his brother to be this wise.

Regulus was afraid he had overstepped his boundaries with his words. But they seemed to have the exact effect on the intended.

'I need to go'. Catch you later'.

With this, Sirius left the astronomy tower and made his way to the only place he knew he could find Remus this fine morning.

Regulus stayed there for a while.

Smiling to himself all alone, he knew he has done the right thing.