Remus was exhausted from all the emotional turmoil over the week (and his three dormmates finding out one of his secrets, about never having any friends) and dreaded detention. He couldn't believe he had detention! His first month at school and detention! Hopefully not with Dedenne, he thought as he made his way to Filch's office after supper (which he had gotten from the kitchen and ate hidden away somewhere to avoid people).

Remus had to find a ghost to take him to Filch's office which was just off the entrance's hall. The office itself looked like it belonged in the dungeons and Remus saw chains hanging off the walls, and manacles, and they looked... very clean and well-used. Argus Filch was sitting at his desk, a perverse smile on his face as Remus sat down. Filch began scribbling things down, information about Remus.

"Got to give you your folder now, eh?" he chuckled. "Talking back to a teacher. Attacking a teacher. Very naughty."

Remus remained silent and just looked around the room at all the cabinets and filing drawers. He doubted anything was ever thrown away and there was probably storage from ancient times somewhere. Detention in the tenth century. What would that have been like? He eyed the manacles again and had some idea.

"Oh yes, those are always fun to use," Filch said, noticing what the tiny boy was looking at. "Not that Dumbledore lets me use them anymore... shame... nasty children who get hung up by their ankles for a few hours rarely come back... punishment is so weak now... you'll be back..." He wrote something down on a piece of paper and pushed it over to Remus. "No doubt about it, you're a troublemaker."

Remus took the paper and it instructed him to go outside, down to the gamekeeper's hut for detention with Hagrid. He left the cackling caretaker and went out of the castle, not really sure where Hagrid's place was. He thought he remembered seeing a rickety hut on the grounds and just hoped that was where it was. He crossed the grounds and went down the winding pathways. On his way he saw the Whomping Willow in the distance and thought, one week. Then he saw some figures near the tree and frowned. They weren't very close but closer than it seemed they should be. However they weren't getting any closer to the tree so Remus shrugged it off and kept going until he got to the small wooden cabin outside the Forbidden Forest, and hoped was where he was supposed to go.

Indeed the humongous gamekeeper swung the door open when Remus knocked. It was absolutely ridiculous to see the two of them together. One of the smallest first years with the man who had to have giant blood in him. Remus trembled before him even though Hagrid was smiling behind his beard.

"Ah yes, forgot I had summin for detention. Yeh boys better get yerself back t'the castle." For a second Remus thought that Hagrid was telling him to just go back to the school but then Hagrid stepped out of his cabin, revealing Potter and Black. Both boys grinned at the sight of Remus.

"Hey there, Lupin," Potter said brightly. "Detention, huh? Hagrid's probably the coolest person you could have that with."

"Good luck there," Black added.

"An' yeh two stay away from the forest!" Hagrid shouted as the two of them ran down the path. "If I find yeh there again, I'll tell Minerva!"

"Forest?" Remus asked.

Hagrid shook his head. "Found'em skulkin' bout the edge, lookin' like they were gonna go in. Now then, let's get goin'."

There was a barking noise and a miniature pony covered with scruffy fur appeared. The pony ran to Remus and began licking his face. "Don' yeh be worryin' 'bout Rocky, he ain't gonna hurt yeh none, unless it's death by lickin'."

The dog sat down and began wagging its tail. A wolfhound, Remus realized, his chest seizing up, especially this one seemed even bigger than the normal wolfhounds. Then he felt confused: most animals hated him. They sensed the beast in him. Surely a wolfhound would recognize the wolf lurking below the surface. This one just began panting sending a wave of meaty, bone-y breath on Remus's face.

"Come on, then," Hagrid said and Remus followed him with Rocky behind him. Remus assumed they were going somewhere distant however Hagrid just took him into a huge pumpkin patch right by his hut. Huge being in both the size of the garden and the size of the pumpkin sense. "Bin havin' some flesh-eatin' slug problems. I'm gonna be puttin' the repellent along the edges while yeh go 'round an' see if yeh can't find some o' the slugs hidin'. Don't be touchin' 'em, mind you, don't wan' yeh goin' to the hospital wing with half yer flesh burned off."

Rocky followed Remus around as he wandered through the pumpkins which were probably half the size of Remus as it was. If these were for Halloween, they were going to be huge! Flesh-eating slugs, he thought as he went. He knew a little bit about them. His mother had issues with them a couple years ago and came running into the house screaming her head off at the 'giant creatures' in her garden. She called Lyall home to deal with them and Remus had seen them out his window. They were really big, bigger than non-magical slugs, so he knew it wouldn't be too difficult to spot them if they were around...

And they were. Remus nearly tripped over one that oozed its way across the path. "Mr. Hagrid, I f-found one!"

They spent the next forty or so minutes exploring every inch of the garden while Rocky barked and at one point he butt into Remus knocking him over and then slobbering all over his face. Remus laughed and tried to push the dog's head away but also really enjoying the feeling. He liked it when Arthur nuzzled him and this was very nice too. It was nice not having an animal be absolutely terrified of him.

Finally the garden was clear, the repellent sprayed, and Remus sent back to the school. Detention hadn't been so bad really. Hagrid was good company and Rocky was very sweet. But Filch was wrong: just because the detention wasn't too bad didn't mean he was willing to have it happen again.

()

Remus did his best to avoid Potter, Black, and Pettigrew, sensing they would try to be even nicer to him knowing he never had any friends. When he went to the tower he found the three of them in the common room playing a very rowdy game of gobstones. Remus managed to sneak past them and get up to the dorm where he hid under his bed until everyone else went to sleep and he was able to get ready for bed in peace.

On Sunday he woke up super early and spent the day hiding in various parts of the castle and reading his occlumency book. He read it all the way through once already and was reading it again, excited for his first lesson on Tuesday. Dumbledore hadn't been sure whether they should start right away since Remus would be missing his second lesson thanks to the moon, however Remus really wanted to begin. He felt on edge, knowing there were students who could look into his mind and wanting to protect himself against it as best he could, even if Dumbledore had promised no one would try it.

Sunday evening he did go to study group and when asked where he had been Friday and Saturday he just said he hadn't been feeling well Friday, and had detention Saturday. Craft gave him a look that clearly read he thought Remus deserved the detention however it was unneeded as Remus agreed wholeheartedly.

Monday morning Remus couldn't avoid the three stooges anymore since they had classes, and worst of all after a short surprise quiz, Flitwick paired the students up and Remus was put with Black. They were starting on movement charms which would lead up into levitation.

"Can anybody tell me about the locomotion charm?" Flitwick asked. "Mr. Lupin?"

"It moves objects," Remus answered. "Typically said with the object intended to be moved after. It's extremely helpful. I'm assuming we're practicing locomotor feather," he added, looking at their desks.

"Very good. Can you tell me the difference between this and the levitation spell?"

"The locomotion charm is used to move things around while the levitation spell is used to lift things into the air," Remus said.

"Very good, a point to Gryffindor. As Mr. Lupin said, the spell is locomotor and then you say the target after. Locomotor feather." Flitwick pointed at the feather on his own desk and send it sliding off. "It's just a quick flick of the wrist and then you'll be moving your wand in the pathway you intend the object to move, imagining it as you do. And begin!"

"Locomotor feather!" Black said and brandished his wand so hard his hand nearly smacked into Remus's face. "Whoops, sorry."

"You d-d-don't need to-to do the movement unless y-you've got the spell act-activated," Remus said.

"Can you do it?" Black asked with interest.

"Locomotor feather," Remus said, flicking his wrist. Nothing happened. "Locomotor feather!" He felt a little something that time but nothing happened when he tried moving the feather.

"Once we get this mastered we can slide food away from the Slytherins while they try to eat," snickered Black.

"Wh-what have you ag-gainst the S-ss-Slytherins?" Remus inquired.

"They're nasty and horrible," Black yawned. "Didn't they attack you last week? Or are you still protecting them about that?"

"Locomotor feather!"

"Lemme try again... locomotor feather! Ooooh, I think it moved a bit."

"Only b-bec-cause you blew on it."

Black just grinned, and switched the conversation completely. "It isn't pity or whatever you're calling it, we do want to be friends with you."

Remus and Black stared at one another and then Remus turned back to the task at hand. "Locomotor feather!" This time it did move, just slightly.

"For your information, I don't think you're mental or anything."

"Please be q-quiet, I'm trying to d-do our lesson. Locomotor feather!" It slid a full inch and Remus beamed.

Black sighed and propped his elbows on the desk. "Did you mean it when you said you never had friends before? Because-"

Remus jerked around without thinking and his feather went zooming across the room and stuck itself up Flitwick's nose. Their teacher yelped in surprise and tumbled off his stack of books, and most the class began laughing while Remus covered his face in mortification and dread, expecting to get more detention already. Instead Flitwick pulled the feather out of his nose and gave five points to Remus for outstanding locomotion work.

"Brilliant," Black whispered as Flitwick gave them a new feather. "You got points for shoving a feather up the teacher's nose. See? You're absolutely perfect to be friends with. That's talent, that is."

Remus smiled to himself, trying to keep the pleasure off his face while Black's arm windmilled about trying to get the feather to move. Then there was an explosion and both boys jerked backwards as smoke belched out in their faces. Coughing, Remus waved his hand around then shrieked as he saw the feather was on fire.

"How d-d-d-did you manage that?!" he squeaked.

"No idea. I guess that's my talent. You shove things up teachers' noses, I set things on fire. Er, Professor?" But Flitwick had seen and was coming over to get rid of the fire and give them a third feather. "You better try again," Black said.

"Locomotor feather." He was a bit worried nothing would happen but the feather slowly drifted along the desk. Across the room he saw Evans was moving her feather too and she grinned at him with a thumbs up. He gave a small smile back.

"Stop it!" Pettigrew whined and Remus looked over to where Potter was giving obvious flicks towards Pettigrew's nose, trying to get the feather up there. Potter saw Remus watching and gave him a wink.

"I'll give you a galleon if you stick the feather up Peter's nose," Black whispered.

For a split second Remus was very tempted. A galleon could buy him loads of chocolate, or a book. Then he realized what he was thinking and felt abashed. "No!" he hissed back.

"Give you one to stick it up James's nose."

Even more tempting. "No," he said, less annoyed, and with a faint smile. He spun his feather in a bit of a circle and let it settle. "You should be trying anyway."

"If I try to stick it up James's nose I'll probably just set him on fire. Locomotor feather!" Black waved his arm crazily and the feather didn't budge.

"Look, y-you're doing it rather..." Remus bit his bottom lip and fell silent.

"Hey, no, come on, help me out here," Black said. "What am I doing rather?"

Remus let out a slow breath, giving in to the desire to lecture and explain. "You might be activating the spell however flailing about like that probably breaks the connection, especially since you're going so fast. Do the spell, and move your hand slowly. Also focus on the feather, think of it moving."

Black studied Remus then pointed. "Locomotor feather!" then he carefully moved his hand. The feather slid about half an inch then stopped however Black was grinning. "See that?" he demanded, elbowing Remus proudly. "Bloody hell. You should be helping Flitwick teach this class."

Remus rolled his eyes. "He demonstrated, you just weren't paying attention."

Black started to say something in response but just then Pettigrew gave a very violent sneeze as Potter had successfully got his feather poked up into the other boy's nostrils. Black cheered and Potter fell out of his seat laughing so hard. Flitwick removed one point but Potter didn't seem to care. Pettigrew yanked the feather out and scowled at Potter rolling on the floor.

Remus pressed his lips thin and focused himself as hard as he could, feeling sweat begin to drip down his face. "Locomotor glasses," he whispered, flicking his wand, and sending Potter's glasses shooting off his face. Potter gave an annoyed sound and began fumbling around, while Pettigrew started laughing. Black had heard Remus and raised his eyebrows at the smaller boy, so Remus acted like he had no idea what just happened. "Locomotor feather," he said simply and sent the feather clear off their desk.

()

"Locomotor pumpkin juice. Locomotor pumpkin juice. Locomotor pumpkin juice."

Remus read while he ate, trying to block out Potter's chants as he attempted to spill a glass over at the Slytherin table.

"You have to go slowly, and focus on the object moving," Black instructed haughtily causing Remus to snort and bury his face deeper into his book.

"Shaddup, I know what I'm doing. Locomotor pumpkin juice."

"Try putting it up their noses, you seem to be good at that," Pettigrew said.

"I'll put it up your nose," Potter grumbled and then leaned across the table, trying to keep his wand movement hidden from the teacher's table. "Locomotor pumpkin juice! Ooh, I think it wobbled."

"Your brain wobbled," Black said, lightly nudging his friend. "Get off the table, you're blocking the curry sauce."

"Locomotor curry sauce," Potter tried and the bowl tipped over, spilling the sauce all over. "Oh, whoops."

"Thanks, James, thanks a lot."

"I'll go get some more," Pettigrew said, getting up to go get a new bowl from down the table. He jogged back, happily setting it down by Black.

"Cheers." Black poured some on his plate to dip his chips into then pushed the bowl-with his hand, not magic-closer to Remus. "Lupin, you want some?"

"No th-thank you."

"Suit yourself."

Remus set a few napkins down to avoid the spreading puddle of curry sauce then began reading again though he wasn't really concentrating that hard. He was focusing on the table around him, at the three boys, at enjoying their company. Black had dragged the other two to sit with Remus though Remus had heard Potter whispering 'he won't want us'. Remus hadn't protested when they sat, and even joined in the brief conversation about Herbology, to all their surprise.

"Locomotor pumpkin juice."

"Give it up."

"No way, it'll spill. I managed the feather."

Remus glanced over his book. "You m-managed the fe-feather be-because it's light, and was right in front of you. Th-this is at a g-greater distance, and heavier."

Potter stared at Remus. "I managed the dish of sauce," he said, rather peeved.

"R-right in f-front of you."

"Let's see you do it then, if you're so great."

Remus clutched at his book. "No, I'm n-n-not going to-to do anything l-like that. And I-probably co-co-couldn't do it anyway." Though he was very tempted. Mostly to see if he could. He had managed Potter's glasses though the distance wasn't as great as the two tables, and the glass of juice was heavier.

"Do it, do it, do it," Potter whispered and Black and Pettigrew both joined in the chant. "Do it, do it, do it!"

Remus glanced at the Slytherin table then up at the High table. Nobody was looking. You shouldn't, it's very wrong, he did nothing to you, don't do it. He slid his wand out and hid it behind his robes sleeve as he focused intensely, sweat once more beading up on his face. "Locomotor cup."

The other three Gryffindors held their breath as the glass of juice wobbled a bit and then tipped over, spilling the juice all over Potter's intended victim: Snape. Snape cried out and jumped out of his seat, wiping the juice off his lap and looking furiously around while some of the other Slytherins actually laughed, one of them calling Snape clumsy.

The four Gryffindors ducked their heads and began snickering and giggling. Even Remus giggled as he guiltily tucked his wand back into his pocket.

"Brilliant," Black said for the second time that day, grinning stupidly at Remus.

"Told you you're one of us," Potter said, not at all bothered Remus had managed with one try after his own multiple attempts.

"That was so funny!" Pettigrew said, eyes twinkling as he watched Snape leave the Great Hall.

"No it-it wasn't, it was horrible and I feel bad f-f-for doing it," Remus said, trying his best to sound convincing.

"No you don't," Black said, and Remus gave a sniffle as he delicately cut up some of his food, pointedly ignoring the accuracy of the other boy.