Thanks to my loyal reviewers, whiskeygurl007 and hermy permy! You both rock.:-)


Remus sat cross-legged on his four-poster bed watching as James poked at his fat, bleeding lip; Sirius sported a hefty black eye and was rubbing his nose, grimacing. 'Idiots…' The light-brown haired boy glanced over at Peter who was quietly watching as well. He desperately wanted to know what had set his two best friends against each other. He knew the basic facts, all of Gryffindor did. Professor McGonagall was practically shrieking, when she barged into the common room, dragging the two offenders by their ears.

"I don't know what you two were thinking, but this juvenile behaviour ends here. In all my years, I have never seen two Gryffindor friends start attacking each other. And the Head Boy, no less!"

Sirius and James couldn't meet each other in the eye. Nor, could they look at the curious crowd gathering. Instead they looked to their feet, full of anger or shame, Remus couldn't tell.

Professor McGonagall marched over to Remus, finally letting go of the boys' ears. "Maybe you can knock some sense into these idiots!"

Her hurricane of teacher-like anger left the common room as quickly as she came. Remus wandered over to his friends. With a silent nod, they left the gazing crowd, to the privacy of their room.

"I hope we aren't going to sit here in silence all night." Peter offered quietly.

James glanced up for a moment, but shrugged and looked away.

Remus scowled. Out of habit, he glanced over at his calendar. It was a calendar of famous wizarding couples having romantic moonlit nights. James had bought it as a joke for Remus, because almost every picture had a full moon in it. 'Full moon…' It was coming up tomorrow, and Remus certainly hoped that his friends would get along. As much guilt as he felt for dragging them into his situation, the nights didn't seem as horrible as they once did. With friends along side him, the excruciating pain he felt, could be distracted. It was a game now, not something to be hated.

Sirius followed Remus's gaze. "I'm still in for it, Moony. Just because this guy is a…"

James looked up, as if daring Sirius to continue. Sirius glared, and went back into sulk-mode. Peter sighed loudly, 'Isn't this going to be a fun night.'

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Breakfast the next morning was an awkward one. Peter and Remus sat between the feuding Marauders, sitting in an uncomfortable silence. Each time Remus would attempt conversation, only one of the two would answer, leaving someone left out. It was better not to say anything. By now the entire school had heard of their fight. Discussing their recent behaviour was much more interesting to the school then the fact that most Slytherins were in the hospital wing. Rumours flew, getting wilder by the second. A curious red head leaned over to her friend and asked, for the umpteenth time what had happened.

Kat sighed, frustrated. "I told you! They were talking then all of the sudden they were fighting. It was the weirdest thing."

"I don't get it. How can best friends like that, just…turn on each other?"

Lily whispered quietly, "What if something like that happens to us?"

"Then let's promise never to stop talking to each other, no matter how mad we are. Always let each other explain, and always, always, trust what each other have to say." Melody smiled at her friends.

It was cheesy, but it was her true thoughts. They agreed to their pact, and then devised a plan.

"Lily, he likes you, so maybe he will open up to you!" Kat grinned maliciously.

Mel nodded, "You can get the dirt on their fight."

Lily groaned, knowing her friends were right. She would ask him that evening when they had to patrol the hallways. She hoped he would be in a better mood than the last time they had to supervise. Lily was not looking forward to it, despite her underlying curiosity. Of course, the day seemed to zoom by, as always when there is something unpleasant to look forward to.

Surprisingly, James seemed to be his normal self. He was telling Lily funny stories that she couldn't help but laugh at.

"Say Potter…" Lily said suddenly, "Um...can I ask you something?"

James hesitated before answering, "Sure. You can always ask, I just might not answer the way you want." He joked, grinning.

Lily smiled nervously. "What happened?" She left the question vague, hoping he would catch her drift.

James stopped walking and stared at Lily. He was silent for so long, that Lily opened her mouth to mumble 'never mind', but James beat her.

"Death eaters killed my dad over the summer."

Lily was stunned. 'Oh my gosh! How horrible! Though, it all makes sense now. First his father was killed, and then he was attacked. No wonder he was so keen for revenge. But what does this have to do with Sirius?' James brushed his hair with his hand nervously, as if afraid to continue.

"After quidditch tryouts, I made a comment about…his brother. When I was attacked, it was his cousin Bellatrix who was leading it. I'm pretty sure Regulus was there as well. I said… I said that Sirius's family was trying to kill mine because I was friends with him and I gave him a place to live. I blamed him for everything that happened. It's really stupid I know, but… I think it is partially true."

James looked away from Lily's piercing green eyes. "Who hit who first?"

"Sirius punched me in the jaw, and it escalated from there. Can't blame him, but can't forgive him either."

"Boys are so stupid!" Lily yelled suddenly, tears flooding in her eyes.

James was surprised to see her crying. "Evans? Why are you crying?"

She brushed away a tear with the back of her hand, as more spilled from her now closed eyes. James brought a gentle finger to her face and wiped a loose drop away. Lily backed away at his touch, glaring up at him. She brought her hand in the air and struck him sharply across the face.

"You're an idiot!" She shriek, exasperated, "You can't blame Sirius for what happened. He's one of your best friends, and you're treating him like dirt! He can't help were he was born into. I'm sorry to hear about your dad, but unless Sirius planned it out, you can't blame him! He is too good of a friend to lose."

She was babbling, crying, and feeling like an idiot. Her face flushed at the thought of her showing such girly emotions in front of her nemesis. James was wide-eye with shock, rubbing the side of his face.

"You're hurting more than just Sirius. I've never seen Remus look so worried; And Peter-"

"Shit!" James jumped suddenly, interrupting Lily.

He had almost forgotten about tonight. Remus would be expecting him, and he couldn't let him down. Feud or no feud, he was loyal to Remus and wanted to be there for him.

"I have to go!" James bolted away before Lily could open her mouth.

'Wow,' Lily thought slightly amused, as she wiped the last of her tears away, 'I'm good.'

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James bolted through the hallways, he figured they would already be making their way down to the whomping willow. It was early still, the sun was just setting. However, Remus always liked to head down early, just in case they were delayed for any reason. 'Like the time in fifth year,' James thought to himself as he burst through the front doors of the school. 'Stupid nosy Snape. We haven't pranked him at all since then. He's blackmailing us. That was Sirius' fault then too.' James slapped his head, 'What am I thinking? Lily is right.'

If luck was with him, James would make it down to the tree just as Peter had pressed the secret knot, freezing the tree. However, as James dashed around the bend, the tree was wildly waving it's arms. 'Shit! This won't be easy.' James slowed as he neared the tree, hoping to avoid being hit. Sensing his presence the tree swung wildly at his head. 'It won't hit me in stag form, but I can't fit through the hole then.' The black haired teen crouched and hurried towards the the trunk. A thick twig jumped at his ankles, knocking him to his knees.

"Peter!" James shouted, "Help me!"

James figured the rat boy wouldn't be able to hear his cries. They were probably already in the house, making it too far to hear sound. While he was down on his knees a large branch swooped for him. James rolled sideways, but wasn't able to completely avoid it. It struck him on the edge of his shoulder. Burning pain hissed through James's shoulder, but he ignored it, ducking and running towards the hole. As he dove for the knot, vines wrapped themselves around him, preparing to throw him away. James felt his fingers reach the edge of the knot. He pushed forward and suddenly, the tree froze.

He was tangled in vines, but it wasn't hard to unravel. Soon he was inside, and could hear the faint sounds of a transforming werewolf in the distance. James focused and felt the familiar shifting of his mind and body. He galloped towards the house.

He could hear howling as he approached, and the scuffle of two animals; Sirius and Remus. James ran up the stairs, where he was greeted, by a not too friendly, snarling face. Padfoot jumped on Prongs, knocking the surprised stag sideways. The big black dog bit furiously down on Prongs's hind leg. From instinct, the stag lashed out, kicking the dog directly between the eyes. Sirius whimpered slightly as he backed off. Only to be tackled by a full grown werewolf.

Moony dug his claws deep into the side of the puppy. The beast felt the blood trickle down his claws, and watched with glowing yellow eyes, as the black dog struggled to escape. Sirius managed to scramble away, whimpering. The werewolf seemed to laugh as he lunged forward, preparing to kill his prey. Drool slipped from between his large fangs, as he hunched over, ready to maim. Horns suddenly pushed back the beast, allowing Padfoot to escape to safety under a broken desk; where he would lay until morning, too injured to fend off Moony. Prongs fought hard through the night, defending his injured friend. Morning came slowly, and both creatures grew weaker with the fading moon.

Soon the transformed boy returned to normal. Remus crawled slowly over to Sirius, who was returning to his normal form. Peter was always the last to change back, for they froze the tree on the way out. However, today he turned back into a teenage boy. All three human marauders rushed over to their bleeding friend.

"Sirius, I'm so sorry." Remus apologized immediately.

"Don't be. I was stupid. I was too busy attacking Prongs to notice you coming behind me."

"I deserved it mate." James grimaced, "C'mon let's get you back to Gryffindor. We shan't go see the nurse, though. She will be too suspicious, if both Remus and Sirius go."

As was tradition, Remus would make his way to the hospital wing in the mornings. He was always too exhausted and injured from the night before to attend classes. Transforming into and from a werewolf form drained a person very drastically. As they made their way back into Hogwarts, all covered by the invisibility cloak, a limping James helped a bleeding Sirius cross the grounds.

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Lily always wasn't always a light sleeper. But when she became a prefect, she developed a habit of waking up at the tiniest sound that might indicate a Gryffindor trying to sneak out. Unfortunately, by the time Lily got into the common room, the perpetrators would usually be gone. Sometimes she could swear there was someone in there, but she could never see anything, so would return to bed. Tonight seemed no different. It was nearing four o'clock and she heard some muffled talking, that seemed distressed. Grabbing her robe, she slipped it on and tip toed out of her room. She paused at the top of the stairs, getting a good look at who was involved. She had to suppress a gasp.

A topless Sirius was sprawled across the couch. Long scratch marks covered his upper marks. Several deep-looking round holes in his chest were bleeding badly. James and Peter were hurriedly trying to wrap his wounds. Sirius was cursing loudly at each touch.

"Keep it down Padfoot." Peter chirped glancing at the stairs. Instinctively, Lily ducked down behind the ledge serving as a handrail. They would never tell her what was happening, she would have to find out for herself.

"I didn't see you trying to help me back there, Wormtail. Don't tell me to shut up." Sirius moaned. "Sorry, I bit your leg Prongs."

'Sorry, I bit your leg?' A confused Lily wondered, 'What the heck were these idiots up to?'

"No harm done. Sorry about…well everything." James shrugged sheepishly, wiggling his right leg to show that it was fine.

"No worries, Prongsie." Sirius winced suddenly as James continued to bandage him. "Dammit! Why did I have to turn my back on a werewolf." Sirius moaned, quieter than before.

Lily had heard enough. Making her way down the stairs, she watched as all three marauders turned white with shock as they spotted the red head casually standing on the bottom step.

"You were fighting against a werewolf?"