The Potters had came back around two in the morning, the faint glow of Remus' watch ticking away the rest of the hour as they tried to stealthily climb into their beds.

He rather enjoyed those peaceful hours before breakfast. No one really knew he was down there, the Potters anyway, which meant he could pull himself back together without having to constantly tell everyone he was alright. It meant he could get a few hours sleep before the tell tale sounds of waking were roaming around the Potter's kitchen.

The men were up first, Remus could hear them complaining about their hangovers and talking about this or that which had happened that night. Mrs Potter was up just after them, scolding them for making so much noise and telling her husband to make sure James and Sirius got up before noon.

They didn't.

Partly because they were teenagers. Mostly because Remus had used his heightened hearing to listen to James and Sirius talk until one. James had been inconsolable, ranting and raving until Sirius just left him to it for a while, holing himself up in the Potter's bathroom so he wouldn't bump into any of James' aunt or cousins.

After the smashing had stopped Sirius finally went back to the room, changing the topic to something that would get them through the night until Mr and Mrs Potter were home. Strangely that topic had been the scent thing, Sirius asking about what it was.

He heard what had to be one of the worst explanations James ever gave. He started on Remus being like a dog, then changing it because dogs were offensive, Remus wasn't a dog he was a wolf. When that had ended he went back to explaining that the wolf didn't leave Remus completely when the moon was down, going off on a tangent about his aunt and prompting Sirius to wonder aloud if he would ever hear the end of this explanation. By the time heightened senses and Remus still having some of his instincts were talked about Remus knew James wasn't cut out for a life as a professor. His mind was too chaotic.

Sirius had taken the news well. By that he meant he hadn't audibly reviled at the idea of Remus still being part wolf when the moon was down. Instead he merely said, 'Oh.' then, 'So that's why, oh.' the noises not making sense from Remus' point of view.

Mr Potter finally got the boys up when the men of the house were talking about a Quidditch game in the back garden. Remus could tell without looking that Mrs Potter would probably love to join in too, however her sister had taken her out almost as soon as she'd woke up to fetch more provisions for the house. Remus had an idea that she didn't like the thought of Remus touching all the food the Potters had already bought.

Some sadistic part of Remus kind of wished the woman had been in the house when James relayed what happened last night to his father. It was gone in an instant, burrowing down into his sheets to try and drown out what was going on upstairs.

Even without his heightened senses he could hear the moment Mr Potter processed what happened. There was silence, complete silence, then Mrs Potter's sister's name, shouted in a tone Remus had never heard Mr potter use. Ever. Not even the time James broke his new car, smashing the window to pieces with a defective pack of exploding snap.

The shout stopped, thundering steps following with smaller, faster ones behind it towards the living room. Hushed voices tried to calm Mr Potter down, the man demanding to be let to the floo. Mrs Potter's brother had some choice things to say, mostly consisting of his sister never learning, that kicking her out would do no good and it was Christmas, they couldn't kick her and her kids out on Christmas. Of course, all of this was ignored, mostly because James butted in to remind Mr Potter that she didn't even want to be here. That she had told Sirius numerous times yesterday that she was partly there to tell her sister to leave her husband- tainted blood could never wash out again were her words.

The whole debacle lasted all day. Mrs Potter coming home not long after the floo call. Mrs Potter's sister being given one of the most eye opening rants Remus had ever heard in this house. He hadn't even known Mrs Potter was capable of cursing until he heard a slew of them coming from her mouth. James wasn't put off enough by the adults to stay silent, butting in here and there with reminders of what happened. Remus knew he was enjoying it, he lived for chaos, and loved when it was someone else in the wrong, especially if they had hurt someone close to him.

Napping did no good. Even when he managed to fall asleep he woke to the same screeches he had heard earlier. It was only when it grew dark, something he knew because one of James' uncles had asked whether they should make something for dinner, when a resolution finally happened. Mrs Potter's sister was thrown out, her and her children told to go home and never sully her doorstep again if that was what she thought about their family. With one last word about Mr Potter, the door was slammed and order restored to the Potter house.

He was reading by torchlight when Mrs Potter came down, a plate of leftovers from last night in her hand and a defeated look on her face. Remus understood. She was a pureblood maniac but she was still Mrs Potter's sister.

'Here you are sweetheart,' She handed it over, carding her hand through his hair and sitting next to him. Her fingers stopped at his cheek, no doubt there was a mark there. 'You want your dad to heal it?'

He shook his head, 'I've had worse. It doesn't even hurt anymore.'

He was pulled in close, trying to fight off tears that were trying to break free again. He wasn't a child anymore, and she wasn't his mum. Still, she was the closest thing he would ever get to one, and right now he needed someone to baby him a bit. If only to make him feel a bit better.

'You can come upstairs. We're warming up the meal you made yesterday, I know it's going to be lovely.'

'Maybe in a while,' He compromised, not feeling up to seeing James and Sirius just yet.

A while was the next morning. Mr Potter had brought him food, fussing almost as bad as Mrs Potter about his cheek. He told him all about James and Sirius trying to lighten the house now their bad houseguest was gone. How they had set off dungbombs and lay exploding snap traps again to rile up his parents. Remus had heard them laughing, kind of wishing he was up there but his pride keeping him down until he knew he wouldn't cry again when he went up. It was hard to let go of the fact that James had seen him take the hit, even worse, somehow, than his monthly transformations. Those were a part of life, this was different. So he had to work through the fact there would be pitying looks for a while, and James would probably be mad at him at first too.

When he did come out of his hidey hole he was glad he had stayed in there all night, there was no way he could have taken the silence that was brought over the breakfast table otherwise. The way Mr and Mrs Potter's brothers were avoiding his eyes and the way the other occupants gazes immediately went to his cheek. Dignity was hard to regain, but somehow he did it, making it through eating and going on with the clean up he had neglected by staying in the cellar a whole day.

Christmas was a relief after that.

Putting up the tree had everyone in high spirits, James and Sirius lamenting about not being able to use their wands, trying to bribe Mr Potter in turning a blind eye so they could just do 'one spell.' Mrs Potter wouldn't let Remus near the kitchen for three days, Christmas being her time to show off her culinary skills and knowing this was around the time Remus started stealing cookies and cakes to hide in his room. Thankfully James was just as good at it, handing Remus a snowman shaped biscuit almost every hour.

When Christmas morning came he wasn't surprised to be dragged out of his chocolate coma at six in the morning. If there was one thing James wouldn't grow out of it was waking up early for presents. On the dot he was jumping on Remus and Sirius, dragging them to their feet until they leaned sleepily before the Christmas tree.

James got a new owl, immediately calling him Godric, claiming that the bird himself was a symbol of Gryffindor pride. Remus could see why, it's feathers seemed to be a mix of soft gold and a brown that looked almost red in the right light, an epitome of bravery.

There was a nice chocolate shaped present for him, along with a new book about werewolves for him to read. The only difference was that this was written by a muggle, and from James' smirk he hadn't high hopes for the narrative. Some new jumpers opened and there was only one left. It was shoddily wrapped, looking like another present from James had the cursive not been so precise on his name. There was a whole horde of sweets inside, some kind of gift basket, and the best thing was it was from Honeydukes. Remus had only had chocolate from there once, James having forgotten to eat it before he came home one summer and cast it off to him with the words everyone needed to experience this chocolate once. He had been right. Remus had dreams about this chocolate, amazing dreams full of smooth bars with some kind of filling inside that literally melted on his tongue. It was always warm too, magic keeping it just that right temperature not to disrupt the rest of the bar. He never thought he would get another bar, yet, here was a whole basket full of them.

He didn't even think about it, lunging across the room and hugging the life out of Sirius. It was short, Remus seeing James eyeing up the chocolate out of the corner of his eye, and let go to ward him off, but it was enough to make Sirius uncomfortable. He was frozen on the spot, his arms rigid at his side and casting James little 'help me' looks that were still there when Remus returned to his chocolate. He didn't regret it, he was thankful for the chocolate. Let Sirius wipe the animal from himself later but right now he had chocolate to eat.

James and Sirius spent the rest of the holidays playing with James' new owl. One of their favourite things to do was take their brooms out back and send letters to each other over a short space. Mrs Potter did not find the enjoyment out of it that they did.

'He's not a toy James.' She herded the owl down herself with scraps of bacon, shooing the boys off when they got too close with their brooms. 'And why don't you invite Remus to play with you.'

Remus himself was spying on them from his room. He'd taken to hiding there when James had tried to steal some of his Honeydukes again. With the Potter's extended family gone he had it all to himself again, which meant that he had warning should James try and sneak in. Which he did, often.

At first he had done it to try and check on Remus through the night. It appeared the physical strike across his cheek had shocked him into overprotective mode. Remus thanked Merlin that James didn't know about the other times, had only been witnessed to this one since he was sure James would never leave him out of his sight.

Of course James always thought he was stealthy when he sneaked in. He used his invisibility cloak and everything. But Remus was a light sleeper, one of the drawbacks of having heightened senses. He knew the moment James moved from the other room, his hearing telling him his human was up and out for mischief. His nose telling him when his sight failed as James tip toed into his room. Most importantly he heard the moment where James was satisfied with his findings and went rummaging around for something to munch on.

He had gladly begged out of Quidditch to guard it, not trusting James for a moment if he left his room unguarded.

It was because of him keeping to himself over Christmas, indulging himself at every opportunity with Honeyduke's finest, that when he finally joined the rest of the family for New Years he was surprised at the sombre mood.

'Sirius' uncle just died,' James told him to the side. The rest of the Potters were consoling Sirius, the boy not looking too disheartened considering someone had just died.

It turned out he didn't know him all that well, Sirius remembering a few stories about the man before his mother declared him off the family tree. The only reason Sirius was hearing about the death in the family was because his uncle had left him something, a meeting at the ministry deciding whether he was eligible enough in age to receive it yet.

The meeting came and went a few days before James and Sirius were to return home. Sirius coming back in a considering mood, locking himself in James' room for the rest of the afternoon. Mrs Potter charged Remus with keeping James away. 'He's still Sirius' family,' She said, the words that were probably said the most around Sirius since he got there.

He had James playing poker, the two of them playing for the last of the Christmas sweets when Sirius re-joined them for supper. He slapped something down, taking James' cards off him and shoving the rest of the sweets Remus' way. 'He would've won,' Sirius said before James could argue, slipping the paper he had brought with him over to his friend. 'Alphard left me some money. Enough for a flat next summer. I think I might need your help to break the news to your folks.'

He did.

When James decided he was alright with the idea of Sirius moving out, which took some hissing arguments in the cellar and more pranks than Remus would care to remember, he helped Sirius break the news to his parents. Well, they didn't exactly tell them. Not in person. James thought the best way to tell his parents was by owl, a rather crass letter beginning with one of many detentions they had already received this year and ending with the address of Sirius' new flat. Remus was witness to one of ten howlers Mrs Potter sent back, the words she used bound to have her letters screened before letting them in for the future.

The letter war continued for months. Mrs Potter was adamant that Sirius was staying with them over the summer, not moving away. She even bribed him with sweets, cakes and anything else homely she made to get him to stay with them.

'He's just a boy, he can't live on his own,' She said, before ordering Remus to fetch more flour for the next cake she was making.

In those months there wasn't much Remus didn't hear about James' other exploits. No matter what, he ended up seeing some side of one argument even if all Remus had asked was if James had succeeded in getting Lily to talk to him. He had thought it would prompt a letter full of love, and God forbid, poetry- it had happened once- he should have known better with the way things were going as of late.

Thankfully exams were able to push off the fight for a while. Mrs Potter went into full motivation mode, sending less letters and more treats for both of her children. Of course, after exams the fight was back on, Mrs Potter storming in one day showing them a muggle photo of the apartment Sirius had bought.

'Maybe it's a good thing,' Mr Potter tried, and not for the first time. 'He's going to want to live on his own after school anyway, and this way he's gaining some experience beforehand. Darling, you know he feels like a burden when he stays with us, let him at least try before you herd him back home.'

She seemed to calm down a little, at least until the last two weeks of school. Then, she was adamant that Sirius could try and live on his own but she was getting weekends with him if she had to move in with him herself.

'That poor boy,' Mr Potter grinned as he led Remus down to the cellar. 'He's going to be regretting ever telling your mother when he comes home.' Which was true, even if she had calmed she was still preparing meal plans and cooking up excuses as to why they could come over on this or that day. Sirius wasn't getting rid of Mrs Potter that easily.

'I'm sure he'll be fine,' Remus said, knowing it to be true. If he could survive more than a year living with James he could survive anything. Remus knew from experience that it was bad enough living a room away, but sharing, and not to mention seeing him every day, it was a miracle Sirius hadn't killed James.

He stripped off, handing his clothes over to Mr Potter so he wouldn't eat them through the night, he had woke up more than once with strips of cloth between his teeth. Once he even remembered his throat feeling clogged all morning when he went for breakfast, after an hour he choked up a full cuff, James squealing in a very unmanly manner as he scampered to get his mum.

A hand was in his hair, messing it up, Mr Potter himself giving Remus a look he was well versed in now. Pity. He didn't like the full moons any more than Remus did, none of the Potters did for that fact. James once told him that they didn't go to bed, were actually scared to in case something happened. When Remus asked what could possible happen to them he was surprised with the list James came up with, all from Remus being too quiet and them all thinking something bad happening, or one of the spells keeping the neighbours and most importantly Remus safe failed. He'd never really thought about all that, mostly he would spend the hours waiting for the moon wishing he had at least covers on his bed, and ones that didn't smell like blood when he did have them.

He strapped on a smile, not wanting Mr Potter to feel worse about leaving him down there, and tried not to well up at the hug that followed. Sometimes he really wished the Potters were his family, they were so nice to him. 'I'll be here in the morning. Try not to chew yourself up too badly.'

'No promises.'