Sirius' birthday was odd to say the least.

Ever since declaring their silent war against Remus for being the 'party pooper' he had been afraid they would ruin their other friends birthday. It wasn't like Sirius was all chummy with them these days either. True to his word, he kept out of the Slytherin pit, warding James and Peter away whenever one of them so much as mentioned it out loud.

Yesterday, Remus could have sworn James went for his wand. They were in the middle of dinner, the four of them sitting with their comrades on opposite sides of the table. Sirius was playfully knocking his leg against Remus, trying to see if he could knock the custard out of his hands and over to the first year sitting next to him. He wasn't successful. He got a close knock in, the custard teetering on the edge of the bronze rim, before stopping completely, like a hound with a scent, and focusing on James. He had hissed something to Peter, that something being about visiting the secret room for some planning time. The words seemed to come out of Sirius second nature now, warning them away from it, threatening to tell on them. It was that last one that saw James going for his pocket, the one he kept his wand in. It took a deep breath and a hissed warning before Remus was sure James wasn't going to hex them.

That wasn't what was really bothering him. A hex he could easily undo with a counter. It was the principle of friend turning against friend. He feared this would actually be their undoing. That, after one year of magnificent friendship, they were all going to throw it away over some stupid room housing a stupid monster.

He woke up on the Saturday of Sirius' birthday in a sour mood. He had spent all night thinking of ways to make it special for the boy, like he and James had for him. But James was the mastermind of celebration. He was the one who was shared Sirius' humour, and if he were talking to Remus, he knew they would have made something spectacular happen for Sirius waking up.

As it was, Remus pried his eyes open to the light of any other day. The sun was out at least, and a thin sheen of snow falling from the sky outside. Sirius was lying half on top of him, his elbow poking uncomfortably into his stomach. It took some shifting to get out before Sirius woke. Running towards his own trunk he prised it open as quietly as he could, grabbing his present out and readying himself to jump on Sirius.

Only to be beat to it.

James, in the time it had taken Remus to turn back around, had sprang from his own curtains, catapulting himself onto the sleeping boy and screaming at the top of his voice his congratulations.

'Get up! You have presents.'

Sirius swatted at him, still half asleep and mumbling something about a birds next. James took the offending hand and used it to slap Sirius until he was sitting up and trying to hit James for real.

When the wrestling eventually ended in sniggers and giggles, the two boys crawled to the bottom of the bed, Sirius holding his hands out expectantly for his presents. James yelled at Peter to get up as he handed over his present first, a brightly wrapped package with snitches buzzing around it. A Quidditch top was inside, apparently Sirius' favourite team from the way he bolted from the bed, stripped and posed with the new item on.

It took a lot of persuading before Sirius sat still for his other presents, Peter handing over his latest steal of sweets and a new scarf clad in Gryffindor's colours.

'Since your other one got ripped.' It seemed a lot of their clothing got ripped these days. Stray spells and forgotten potions often ended up in one or more of their clothes holey and entirely unusable. The latest had been Sirius' scarf, the one thing he had from first year that his parents hadn't managed to burn as soon as he got home. Remus still didn't know how he managed that feat.

'Greatly appreciated Peter.'

Remus handed over his when Sirius demanded. He hadn't gotten the boy anything special, not like the Quidditch top. All he knew was that he wanted to get Sirius something he would enjoy, and so had asked a fifth year about wizard toys. It had took some bartering, and all the allowance he had, to get the fifth year to order the stuffed werewolf.

'It howls on full moons,' Remus told him, taking the fluffy creature and showing him the other features it had. It looked kind of like Remus' wolf, the same face and claws. It was only on the body that there was something distinctly werewolf like. Instead of on fours, it was on it's hind legs, the front paws curled in front like it was constantly waiting for a treat. The body was longer, but that was where the wolf halted its monstrous appearance- it was a kids toy after all.

He had originally thought to get Sirius a dragon like the one James mentioned he had. He thought Sirius would like a little thing floating around and puffing smoke. But then he remembered his own toy, and the fact he knew Remus' secret. It was both thrilling and dangerous to pull a stunt like this in front of his two other friends, he half hoped they would think back on their accusations of last year and think Remus was just being spiteful. Even so, he showed Sirius the eyes, and how they changed colour from black to gold. He showed him how he could tell how close the full moon was by the way it growled. The louder it got and more close to a howl the closer the moon.

Throughout it all Sirius was frowning, looking between Remus and the werewolf like it was some offence.

'Do you not like it?'

Sirius squinted at him, his grey eyes glowing slightly in the morning light. 'I guess. It just seems in poor taste I suppose.'

James was looking uncomfortable too, fidgeting with his fingers and avoiding Remus' gaze. 'Is this about last year Rem? I know you were upset but-'

'No! It's a joke. It's funny. I thought you might like it.' It seemed he was wrong. Sirius didn't get the funny side of a werewolf giving a werewolf for a present.

'You think so?' Sirius looked like he was genuinely asking for permission.

'Of course.'

He got a small smile before the matter was dropped and moved on to a different topic. Namely, what they were going to do today. It was like nothing had ever gone wrong. Like they weren't in the midst of a feud.

They went down to the kitchens, completely forgetting about the breakfast in the great hall, on Sirius' request. The house elves, having been briefed by probably all of them about today, were poised from the moment they stepped in. Sirius had four chocolate monstrosities before James dragged him over to the towering cake taking up half the room.

'Because a Black can have nothing short of extravagant,' James sniggered, elbowing Sirius until they were both stuffing their faces through laughter.

Remus was most aghast when he learned the cake was chocolate. They were treating it like it was regular sponge, coining a sort of food fight and smushing each others faces with icing. Chocolate was not meant to be treated this way. So he tried his best, as was his solemn duty as a chocolate lover, to save the poor cake from the menacing boys. Namely by putting it in his stomach before the others could get their paws on it.

They dragged him off after his seventh piece, barely a dent in the massive structure really, on the wish that they spend the day playing in the snow outside.

It was fun. Together, Remus and Peter managed to stuff a handful of snow down James' pants. Sirius built an igloo that was swiftly destroyed when James stumbled over it in his attempt to get the snow out. They all ended up making snow angels, using their wands to change the shape into griffins and devils when they got up.

When they could barely feel their hands, and in James' case his nether regions, Sirius finally said they could go in. They holed themselves up in the dorm, all of them shivering in their blankets to get warm as Peter grabbed his chess set out.

'This was nice,' Sirius said. It was dark outside, late. They had all changed into their pyjama's ages ago. Sirius, still adamant that he was going to beat Peter today, hadn't left the chessboard since it had been taken out, despite James and Remus offering to do something else or something more fun because it was his birthday.

Such a simple day of playing in the snow and eating until they were full seemed a bit anticlimactic for a boy such as Sirius. Remus had prepared more than several back up plans in case they were going to do something illegal. He was sure James had too by the way he kept suggesting this or that to do. But no, Sirius stayed at his chess game and cuddled up with Romulus when he next left for the bathroom.

'We didn't do much,' James sulked. He had retreated to his own side of the room, lavishing attention on his Quidditch magazines.

Sirius shrugged, the whole move looking relaxed, but Remus could read the tension in his shoulders. There as a slight blush colouring his pale skin, telling Remus more than Sirius probably wanted to say with that move.

He remembered last year when Sirius' birthday passed. He had woken, opened his presents and went to class like any other day. There was no drawing attention to himself, he didn't demand James do this or that, which he probably could have at least for that boy last year.

He remembered there being a long letter attached to one of the presents, Sirius having overlooked it that morning in his haste to rip his presents apart. Remus wondered if birthdays were even a happy occasion in the Black household. Whether it was just another excuse to show off the heir, the former pride and joy of the Black house. It must have been harder than they all knew last year for Sirius on his birthday. What little he probably had was gone in that letter. Making him even more sombre before he was forced to go home for Christmas.

The blush faded, Remus keeping his mouth shut. This was Sirius' day. If he wanted to have fun playing chess, Remus wasn't going to make him uncomfortable. So he went back to his book, or pretended to go back to it, and made suggestions over Peter's head how Sirius could beat him.

The truce didn't last. Almost as soon as the sun came up the next day things were back to normal. Or as normal as they could be in the midst of a war.

James and Peter were up before them, a surprising thing considering it was a Sunday and usually they liked to be the last out of bed. Breakfast was a quiet affair, James and Peter joking back and forth on their side, while Remus and Sirius watched on wondering where they fit in this picture.

As soon as they were finished eating the two of them were gone, telling them pointedly about their plans in the Slytherin room.

'Do you think they know they're being annoying?' Sirius asked.

The two of them were trailing along the courtyard, kicking up the snow that drifted through the arches. Their plan had been to try and sneak into the prefects bathroom, Sirius having hidden out and got the password from a fifth year the other day. They were going to change the bubble bath there into something less nice smelling. A fun day for all. Especially because Remus knew one of Sirius' cousins were going there later today.

'Yes.'

Sirius huffed, the whole move sending his body slumping, almost trailing along the floor unlike his usual glide. 'When will they just give up? I mean, seriously, this whole thing is ridiculous. They're being childish, and I know there's not that much to do down there so it's not like they've having that great a time. Truthfully, when you've climbed Salazar's head, there's not much else to keep you occupied, I know.'

'Yeah, well, until we know how to scare them away, we're going to have to accept our group being split.'

Sirius groaned, sliding even closer to the ground as he did so. Remus was honestly wondering how he was still walking.

Instantly, he popped up, his whole body looking like it had been electrified with how rigid it was. The moment he relaxed he was on Remus, jumping like a puppy and dragging him to the nearest empty classroom.

'That's it, that's it!' He repeated, letting Remus go to pace in front of him. He didn't catch much of what was said, mostly because Sirius was garbling or mumbling words as they fought their way out of his mouth. When Sirius finally regained the ability to think it was with a look he only got when conspiring with James. 'Don't you get it Remus? It's perfect.'

'What's perfect? Sirius, I can barely understand you on a good day. Remember, enunciate.'

'You know, for a werewolf, you're awfully concerned with people's speech. And my plan is what's perfect Lupin. I think I know a way to get James and Peter back. Or, you do since it was your idea.'

Remus thought back to their walk here. He didn't remember coming up with a plan of any kind. Sirius however, was adamant in Remus' genius, lavishing him in praise before revealing his grand idea.

He had to admit it was ingenious. Up until the part where Sirius wanted Remus to participate. 'So then you wolf out.'

'Wolf out? What do you mean wolf out?'

'You know-' Sirius curled his hands close to his chest, throwing his head back in a silent howl. 'Wolf out.'

'You want me to change?'

Sirius' excitement fell, probably catching on to Remus' horror since he laughed, telling him he was kidding and changed the whole plan entirely. They used the chalk board to make their plan more official, actually thinking this out properly. He supposed the prefect bathroom could wait.

The first part of their plan was easy to implement. Well, sort of easy.

With James and Peter avoiding them, they didn't have to worry about getting caught on that front. It was easy to sneak out. The problem was avoiding Filch on their way to abandoned classroom. He seemed to always know where they were making mischief. Remus suspected Mrs Norris was secretly an animagus, or at least had some feline way to communicate. In any case, he was sure the cat spied on them during the day and fed the information back to Filch for his nightly rounds. It sure would explain a lot.

Like how they had to wait a whole hour before he decided to leave the classroom doorway and actually patrol. Remus kept an eye out for Mrs Norris as they scuttled into the classroom.

The Slytherin room was just as unnerving as the last time he was down. The heads of so many snakes glaring down at him, with the bust of Salazar at the front, keeping something hidden behind that grim exterior. It was all chilling, telling him to turn back. He almost did too, had Sirius not been adamant this was the last time. If they did this, everything could go back to normal. They could forget this place exists.

'We're going to get in so much trouble,' Remus said, needing to say anything to help cope with this feeling.

'We always get in trouble Remus. At least this time it's for a purpose.'

'I know.' He pulled his sleeves over his hands. 'It's just, I miss so much school work as it is. And, the full moon is in four days. More missed work.'

'Detail orientated werewolf.' Sirius scoffed.

'Could you stop!'

He didn't mean to snap, really. But his nerves were fried and Sirius wasn't helping it by being so calm.

'Stop what?'

'That-' It was harder than he thought to force the words out. 'Calling me that. That's twice today you've called me- called me a werewolf.'

Sirius stopped ahead. 'I didn't realize.'

'Well I did.'

Sirius backtracked, stopping in front of him. 'Remus, you know I won't tell anyone.'

'Yeah.'

'That didn't sound very convincing.' He grabbed Remus' shoulders, frowning when his own hands started shaking with the tremors. 'Remus. I'm not going to tell anyone. I'm sorry if I've been insensitive, or something. It's just, I've never really had a werewolf friend before. I don't know what I can and can't do in this situation. But believe me when I say: I can keep a secret.'

'I know.' Which he did. He knew Sirius could keep bruises and lies from his friends. He knew he probably hid much worse when he went home. The friends he made, how happy he was in Gryffindor. Remus knew all this. It was just the room making him edgy. 'I'm sorry. It's not you. Besides, I was the one who gave you a stuffed werewolf for your birthday.'

'Which I still don't get.'

The tension gone, the two of them ventured to their preparations. He kept note of the hand on his arm, not too tight, but not slack either. Just letting him know he wasn't alone down here, with that thing breathing behind that grim marble mouth.

'It was a joke.'

One he tried to explain as they finished and hid behind one of the snakes.

It was a long day. One which Remus filled with more mindless chatter than Sirius. He complained about his work, speculating what they might be learning. He tried to come up with his own classes from the things he knew. Quizzing Sirius until the boy snapped on how to spot this or that. How to use this spell, what would he use this spell for. He thought Sirius was quite justified come lunch to start an impromptu duelling session. Well, he thought it was a duelling session, he was 99% sure Sirius had just decided to hex him and he was lucky to shield it in time.

Hunger set in after a while. They hadn't had breakfast, or lunch, and Remus was sure they were missing dinner by the time they heard footsteps and manic laughter.

Remus almost collapsed on top of Sirius as the boy pulled him behind their hidey snake, James coming into view soon after.

'- of them! They're probably plotting something Peter.' James stalked over to Salazar's head. 'They're gonna block this place off. Or maybe they're pulling off some kind of prank. It would be just like Sirius. Spiting us by doing something really cool.'

Sirius rolled his eyes next to him. Remus just glared back, it wasn't like James was wrong.

James continued to sprout off more theories, Peter chiming in with comments Remus was sure he wouldn't say to their faces. He had to physically restrain Sirius when one comment had him almost attacking Peter.

'He's just upset,' Remus breathed, trying to calm Sirius down. 'We have a plan.'

They waited a while, letting James and Peter become more comfortable. They also waited until James and Peter were in position. That position being as close to Salazar's head as they could get them.

It worked like a trip wire. As soon as they got close to the mouth, James 'tripped' and landed heavily on the marble. The noise echoed around the room.

That, and James' 'Oops.'

Remus was honestly surprised that monster was still asleep with all the noise they had probably made since finding this place.

As the echo died down, Sirius started the next step of spells. The first to shake the stone. Really more of a blast to the rocks that made the floor tremble slightly, but with Sirius' anger it was like an earthquake had struck them. Remus had to cling to the rock just to stop the two of them from falling out of their spot.

'Nice,' Remus hissed. This was meant to be a subtle plan. If they didn't do everything else perfectly the other two were bound to know something was up.

He performed the next spell, the one that made the noise. He more or less dragged his wand across the ground, the sparks creating a sort of rumbling hiss. They had found the spell earlier of how to throw the noise around the room. To James and Peter it sounded like it came from behind the marble.

'Very funny Sirius!' Echoed around the room. Remus didn't have to hear the tremors in his voice, he could practically taste the fear. So he did it again, this time nudging Sirius to move the noise around so it sounded like something was moving behind the rock. 'You think you can scare me Black? I used to g-'

He did it again, having Sirius knock the floor as the noise sounded close to the marble again.

'We should leave.' Peter, barely heard over the loud noises the two of them were making.

'No. This is just Sirius. I told you they were up to something.' James insisted, but the edge of uncertainty kept Remus at it.

He waited until that stench of fear reached at peak, James starting to look around for the two of them, before implementing the last of Sirius' plan. He made the noise, had Sirius shake the earth, and lastly sent a solid boom straight to the middle of the mouth. The stone crumbled slightly, James crying out as fear finally won. Remus sent one more bust just in case, as Sirius watched the other two flee out of the room.

'Keep it up,' Sirius hissed. 'If they think it's us they might be waiting to see if we come out with them.'

So they did. It was the longest spellwork they had ever done. Quite the workout. By the time Sirius said they could stop Remus was sweating from exhaustion and hunger, wanting nothing more than to curl up in the kitchens with a piece of cake.

'Can we go?'

'Yeah,' Sirius agreed. 'But we can't go out the same way they did.'

'Figured.'

They had to take the confusing way out. The way through the pipes and into the dungeons. Which was more than difficult since neither of them had a broom, and had to rely on sticking charms. It was a smelly, messy affair. One which had Sirius giving up and sitting down more times than Remus could count.

'You're worse than me after a full moon. Get up Black.' He had given up on being nice four stops ago. Sirius had lost the right to his first name the moment he started outwardly wailing.

When they finally got to, Remus thought, the first floor of the castle, he had given up trying to find an exit. He would make an exit. It would help them avoid suspicion in any case. Especially if James was smart enough to guard both entrances.

It took time, and distractions to blow out the wall, and make sure no one found them as Remus patched it up. When they were finished they had the hard task of navigating the castle without James and Peter finding them. An easy feat had they not been filthy and covered in dust from the blown out wall.

They were almost stopped by three professors, only narrowly avoided because the throng of students heading back to their common rooms swallowed them up.

They ended up hiding out in the prefects bathroom until dark, actually doing their plan of swapping out the bubble bath and switching it with other things. It took them longer than they thought it would, especially because Sirius insisted beforehand to actually use the prefects bathroom for its original purpose.

When they got back to the common room they bumped into James. He was wide eyed, dishevelled, his hair in even more disarray than usual. His cloak was in one hand, and Peter trailing behind him. It seemed Sirius had been right about them waiting for them.

It was a standoff. James looking both of them over for any evidence of where they might have been. Remus could tell even before he opened his mouth that the two of them were in the clear. The fear had taken hold, no hint of suspicion as James asked what they had spent their day doing.

No mention of the Slytherin room popped up over the next few days. James actually talked to them over breakfast the next morning, Peter reluctantly following suit until it was like nothing had ever changed.

It was the night before the full moon when James finally brought up the room. A simple, 'You were right,' being the only apology they were going to get.

Remus took it, Sirius too. They knew how hard it would have been for James to admit he was wrong after so long believing he was right. Even if it was a lie. Or a half lie. Or not really a lie at all since there really was a monster down there.

Regardless, they had their friends back, and all of them went to block off the room together. James even struck the place off their map, making them swear they wouldn't tell anyone where it was. As far as they were concerned there was nothing but the dungeons below Hogwarts.