Hope began her campaign of trying to convince Remus not to return to Hogwarts on Monday morning. In retrospect, he wasn't that surprised. She spoke about the dangers, his safety, his need to be hidden as she fixed him a hearty breakfast. In the afternoon she asked him wouldn't it be easier for him if he stayed?

Remus campaigned right back, talking excitedly of his classes, of his grades, of the upcoming end-of-year exams that he knew he'd mostly be top in (Defense and Potions being the exceptions). He spoke endlessly of Hogwarts' library, how incredible it was. "You should see it. It's so big!" He spread his arms out, ignoring the frown on his mother's face. "I know I'll never even have a sliver of that amount of books but it gives me inspiration."

At supper his mother worked hard on the guilt tripping, talking about how lonely she was when Lyall went to work, how she missed the sound of Remus running around the house, she missed seeing his face every day. It almost worked. Almost. Except his love of school was too strong. He felt bad, of course. He wished he could be there for his mother. He understood her misery... he just wished she understood his need to have his education.

"Hey, what would you call a group of kids that like to play pranks?" he asked after Hope set dessert on the table.

"Misfits," Lyall said.

"Hooligans," Hope sniffled.

Remus poked his fork into the piece of pie. Cooligans, he thought, trying to suppress laughter. That was a Sirius name if he ever heard one. Mischief Misfits could work. Except that didn't sound right either. Personally he wanted to use Fellowship Of The something but couldn't think of anything that fit, nor did he think they'd appreciate (or understand) the reference. James and Sirius would make a good Merry and Pippin, Remus mused, though Sirius would probably fit the elves better with his noble beauty. He wondered where he and Peter would fit. Peter's appearance was rather hobbit-esque. Remus would probably be an uruk-hai except they were big and Remus was small but he was a monster so... probably the closest.

When Remus returned to his room he flopped on his bed and picked up his stuffed dog. "What do you think, Gwyllgi?" He held the dog above him, wishing he was Gryffindor enough to take the toy with him back to school to have at night except he knew he'd never be able to endure the teasing. "I doubt they'll like Mischief Misfits but it's not too terrible, is it?" He brought Gwyllgi back down, hugging it tightly.

Then a sound distracted him. A tapping at his window. That old sickly dread filled his body and he wished he knew why he felt this way about his bedroom window at night. Still clutching Gwyllgi, he got out of bed, slowly creeping over. The tapping had to be an owl. It wasn't Sirius's owl, that owl was vicious and stabbed at his window like he had a personal vendetta against it. "Oh, hullo Cocoa." He opened the window up, smiling at Peter's tiny brown owl. Coca trembled at him then detached the letter from his leg, dropping it at Remus's feet, then flew out into the night.

Dear Remus 2/4/72

Happy Easter! I hope your holiday is going fun. Mum and Dad sent me loads of

Here the word 'choclit' was crossed out and replaced with chocolate. Remus couldn't help but laugh.

loads of chocolate and candy. But James got loads more. You shuld see the pile on his desk! Exsept the way he and Sirius are going they are going to eat it all before you even come back. There probibly going to be in the hospitul wing when you do. They say I'm bad with candy but at leest when I eat it I dont get it all over my face and melted into my covers. well may be I do get it all over my face. but not as bad as they did this morning! any way I cant wait for you to get back

Then the handwriting changed. Sirius's calligraphy took over.

HEY REMUS! Pete is sending you a letter so i thought id add some cause i dont think you wrote back to me? or did Filibuster leave without waiting for you to send something? is arthur on his way with a letter? if the easter holidays suck this bad i dont even wanna think about the summer hols those are gonna be CRAP!

Then James's handwriting came into play.

It's not going to be crap if you all would just COME VISIT ME! I'm trying to convince Sirius to talk about visiting and Remus you should too! I don't CARE if you have to cancel last minute I mean we'd all understand! I'd rather have the possibility possability posi chance of seeing you. i mean we know you get sick so if you do its not like we'll be all MERLIN'S BREAD BEARD YOU TRATOR REMUS!

Then it went back to Sirius

Merlin's Bread is the new thing. Sirius Black declares it so.

Finally Peter again.

there fiting now over merlins bread ha Im definitly going to be saying that now you should to just to make james mad he doesnt like it. but its great! anyway see you soon! Peter

Then James signed it too with a simple 'James' and then Sirius finished it off with MERLIN'S FRESHLY BAKED BREAD! with a well drawn picture of a loaf of bread wearing a wizard's hat.

Remus was stifling his laughter as best he could, jamming his face down against his pillow. Once he finally managed to calm down he went over to his desk. It seemed they were going to be sending letters regardless of whether or not Remus sent any back. Not writing back probably would make them wonder.

Dear James, Peter, and Sirius 3/4/72

Thank you for the well wishes and Easter greetings! Happy Easter back to all of you. I hope you're having a terrific time at Hogwarts. How much trouble are you causing? How much detention have you gotten? My holidays are going pretty simple. There's not much to do out here however my mother's been going wild in the garden so I've been helping her out. Most nights I'm completely worn out. I've been a little too tired to write back till now, however the good news is neither of us has been sick at all! My dad worries about us hacking away at plants in the garden but I think the fresh air is doing us both good. Albeit tiring us out.

I got a lovely chocolate egg for Easter. I've eaten more of it than I should have at this point but I don't particularly care. It's there to be eaten! That's what chocolate is for! However none of it has melted into my covers (I'm quite curious as to what happened there, James! Did you sit on it or something?).

Don't worry about writing back. I'm really tired and I'll see you Saturday.

Remus

P.S. Please don't neglect your homework assignments!

He attached the letter to Arthur's leg. "When you get to Hogwarts you can just stay there," he said, stroking Arthur's head. "Rest up." Arthur nibbled at his finger before taking off.

()

Four more days of boredom. Remus redid the essays multiple times then spent the hours reading books and staring out the window at the rain. He wished the magical world had things like telephones. He'd love to hear his friends, for just a few moments. Lily would have one, he realized, sitting up a bit straighter. Maybe I can call her this summer. Except she'd want to call him and that would be trouble. He slumped back down, sighing.

"Something wrong?" Lyall asked, rattling his newspaper.

"No. Just bored."

"Why don't you read?"

Remus looked down at his book. He didn't want to read he wanted to do something like-play a prank or run around. "I want to go outside."

"S'raining."

"I can't get sick." Lyall lowered the newspaper, a deep frown on his face that sent a wave of guilt through Remus. "Well. I can't," he mumbled, wishing he hadn't brought his lycanthropic abilities up. It always upset them. Lyall shook the papers again, bringing it up over his face. Remus tilted his head, reading the print in one of the corners. Something about blood and laws. "What's that about? The blood thing?"

Lyall closed the paper to see what he meant. "Oh, I don't know. Some no one trying to push the pureblood agenda. Like they don't have enough rights." Lyall rolled his eyes and went back to reading.

"Oh." Remus pulled his legs up, setting his chin on his knees, looking back out the window. He didn't like blood purity discussions, they always made him feel itchy. And scared. He stretched out one arm, rubbing his hand along the inside, thinking about his tainted blood. "Do you think it will ever change?"

"What? Purebloods?"

"No. Yes. I mean." He looked at the veins in his arm, his wolf blood pumping through his body. "How they see us." His voice was barely audible. He wanted to be comforted, to be told it would all be okay.

Lyall lowered his paper even more, setting it in his lap. "No," he said, causing Remus to wince. "Not until there's a cure."

"Do you think there will be?"

"A cure? Of course. There has to be. You'll be cured one day." His voice sounded determined and a little vindictive. "That's what we've got to hope for."

"What if there's never a cure? What if I have to be like this forever? What if-"

"Don't say that," Lyall snapped, returning to his paper. "That's stupid. There will be."

Remus pressed his forehead against the glass, watching the rain again, fighting back the tears.

()

Finally it was time to go. Remus had everything packed Friday night, and on Saturday morning he woke up more excited than he thought he ought to be. He said farewell to his father at the house then spent the trip to London trying not to show his mother how happy he was. She sniffled a lot at the station and gave him several hugs and kisses, making him promise to write, be careful, be safe. Pretty much repeating herself. He promised he would then hurried onto the train before Lily came. He had been worried she'd approach him when he was still with his mother but she didn't seem to be around yet.

Remus easily found a compartment and got settled, only then allowing a huge grin to spread on his face. He waited rather impatiently, one foot jiggling. He hoped Lily would come find him. Maybe he should go seek her out? Perhaps she was waiting in a compartment too. The train was about to leave...

He waited until the train left then grabbed his satchel, going down the train until he caught her scent. He followed it, ignoring the voice in the back of his head You're tracking her, like a beast. He reached the compartment he thought she might be in and cautiously knocked. The door slid open, a bright green eye peering out.

"Remus!" Lily pushed the door open then hugged him tightly.

Remus hugged her back. "Lily! It's so good to-to see you!"

She pulled him inside, shutting the door behind him. "Are you all right? Did something happen?"

Remus fell onto one of the seats. "N-no? I mean, y-yes. I mean. I'm all right, But nothing ha-happened. What makes you th-think that?"

She sat across from him, pulling her feet up underneath her. She looked like some sort of spring goddess wearing a light green dress with flower print, and a light green ribbon holding her ponytail. "You're stammering."

"Er, I g-guess it's f-from being around n-no one but my parents for so long," he muttered, not sure if it was that or all the small incidents over the holiday-the book, James calling him his friend in front of his mum, etc, etc. "So how was your ho-holiday?"

Lily began talking about the time spent with her family. She spoke cheerfully about her parents, about an Easter egg hunt her town had that she participated in (but didn't do too well on purpose, for the younger kids). She talked about food, homework, and pretty much everything except her sister, so Remus didn't bring that subject up. Then she asked about his holidays and he told her it had gone well and that he and his mum hadn't been sick at all.

When he said this, Lily raised her eyebrows. "Really?" she asked.

"Y-yeah?" Why did she seem so surprised? "It was really nice."

"I'm glad," she said, smiling though there was still some confusion in her eyes as if she didn't fully believe him. He shifted uncomfortably, wanting to ask her what was so shocking except he didn't want to draw attention to-to that subject. "Did you do anything fun?"

"Not really, mostly just helped my mum in-in the garden. Read a lot. Homework. I need to redo all my essays though once I get to the library."

"Oh, same!" She tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and moved her legs, stretching them out across the seat. "I think I did well enough except I just want to, you know, make sure everything is in tip-top shape."

"D'you want to...?" He motioned towards his bag and Lily grabbed for hers. The two of them pulled out their essays and books, comparing everything, making scribbled notes in the margins, crossing things out, writing more. They spent most the trip back doing this, and agreed to meet in the library the next day after breakfast.

"I'm so nervous for the final exams," Lily said once the train started slowing down.

"Me too," Remus confessed. "I'm going to study so hard for the rest of the school year."

Lily reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. "You're absolutely brilliant, you'll pass everything with flying colors. Except Potions."

"Oh thanks!" Remus said, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated way then smiling to show it hadn't bothered him at all. Lily giggled. "You'll do wonderful though, you're so smart."

"Thank you." She bit her bottom lip, looking out the window as they came to a complete halt. "I know a lot of people don't think I can."

"What do you mean?" Remus got up, grabbing his stuff.

"Being Muggleborn."

"Oh." He pulled his bag over his shoulder. Sometimes he forgot that about her. He thought saying so would possibly be rude, so he remained silent. If people knew what I was, they wouldn't think I could do it either, he wanted to say. He knew most people viewed werewolves as just dumb beasts (like Dedenne seemed to). If they weren't horrified and disgusted at the thought of a werewolf being at the school, he knew people would think it a big joke. "It doesn't matter if you are or not," he finally said. "You're the smartest in our year."

"No, that's you." They left the compartment, heading off the train. Together they crossed the platform, following the prefects guiding students to the carriages which were hooked up to those things Remus did his best to ignore. He and Lily climbed into a carriage, shutting the door so no one else could join. Once alone again, Lily said, "Can I ask you something personal?"

"Er, s-sure?"

"Did-the Sorting Hat mention any other houses for you?" she asked as the carriage began rolling towards the school, that thing clipclopping along.

Remus thought back to his Sorting and how he felt afterward, especially when Spinnet said it was a pity Sorting. "Yes. Ravenclaw. Did it...?"

"Sort of. It just said I was a Gryffindor." She toyed with the end of her ponytail, clearly anxious. "I... argued."

"You did?"

"I wanted to be in Slytherin, with Severus."

"Oh."

"Yeah. The Hat practically laughed at me, told me I'd never survive there. I guess it was probably right. It said if I wasn't a Gryffindor-which I was-then I'd be in Hufflepuff but Gryffindor was where I belonged."

"Your Sorting didn't take that long, though." He remembered her sitting on the stool for like, five seconds maybe.

"It went quick," she said. "Sometimes I don't feel Gryffindor enough though. I know a lot of Muggleborns go to Hufflepuff..."

"That's not why the Hat suggested it," Remus said quickly. "You're loyal. Very loyal. You're hardworking, too, and really kind. Those are all Hufflepuff traits. It wasn't cause you're Muggleborn."

Lily leaned against him. "Thank you. I just-I saw some stuff in the Daily Prophet over the holidays and it's been bugging me."

"That article about purebloods?" he inquired, and she nodded. "I didn't read it, just saw the headline. It's rubbish. Purebloods are twats."

"Aren't Potter and Black both pureblood?"

"Yeah? And they're twats." That gained some of her bubbling laughter that filled him with warmth. "Really, though, I don't think James cares about Muggleborns like that, and neither does Sirius." He could still picture the anguish on Sirius's face when he confessed to using the 'm' term without realizing what it truly meant.

"Just Slytherins?" she asked rather sneakily.

Remus pressed his lips thin. "Most Slytherins. Not all. Snape's your friend."

"He's not pureblood."

"He's not?" Remus was rather shocked at that.

Suddenly Lily looked upset. "P-please don't say that to anyone! He told me in confidence... though I doubt it's a big secret in Slytherin since they all seem to know whom begot whom."

"I won't say a word," he promised. Snape's not a pureblood? I guess that explains his willingness to be around a Muggleborn then. "Slytherins-well, I think most purebloods are really good at telling who's from what family."

"Your mother's Muggle, right?"

"Yeah... The Lupin name is pretty old, though. But we've intermingled with Muggleborns and Muggles so even if Dad married a pureblood, I doubt most families would consider their offspring very pure." Lily leaned against him again, making him uncomfortable. He liked the feeling of her sitting so close, of her arm against his, but at the same time... "I dunno, I don't know much about that stuff. I wasn't really exposed to much of that growing up."

"It seems silly..." Her voice was very soft, very low.

"It is," he said, and Lily jerked a little, startled he had heard her. "Magic's magic. Blood shouldn't matter." He looked down at his hands, thinking again of the wolf blood. The difference, the great chasm between him and other wizarding folk. Between him and Lily.

His hand was upturned on his leg then before he knew it Lily reached down, clasping her hand with his. She was holding his hand. Remus swallowed, eyes darting upwards but she was looking out the window and seemed so sad.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

You're lying. Instead he closed his fingers, tightening the hold on her hand. Lily slid closer and rested her head on his shoulder. After a moment a few tears dropped down onto his arm. "Lily..."

"I'm fine." She sat upright as the carriage shuddered to a halt. She rubbed her eyes off on her sleeve then let go of his hand. "It's fine!" she said with a rather fake laugh, seeing the concern on his face. "Come on, I'm starving!"

You can talk to me... He slithered out of the carriage behind her, following her quick footsteps up the steps into the castle, passing by the prefects standing guard to make sure everyone got in safely. Once in the Great Hall Lily gave Remus's arm a squeeze, saying she'd see him later, then she took off towards Colgate and Inkwood.

Farther down the table Remus saw James and Peter waving their hands wildly. Sirius climbed up onto the seat, cupping his hands round his mouth to mortify Remus by shouting, "OI! REMUS! GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE!"

"MR. BLACK!" McGonagall snapped from where she was watching students come into the Great Hall. "Watch your language!"

"SORRY PROFESSOR!"

Remus grinned, pulling his backpack up a bit higher as he hurried over to his friends.