Remus looked up sharply from the particularly thick novel he'd been reading, attempting to find the source of the shadow that had fallen over him. He found a boy staring back down at him. None other than Sirius Black. Remus had heard a lot about Sirius Black. He doubted Black had heard much about him. Maybe him and the Potter boy and the dopey little one who followed them about (although where'd he get of calling someone else dopey?) had grown tired of hammering on Snape -the greasy snot ball that he was, Remus still didn't think their vicious taunting was very fair- and were going to start on him now? He couldn't say he hadn't been expecting it to happen at some time, kids like him were born to be preyed upon and picked of by the predators – the stronger kids.

'Hi.'

Remus flinches horrible, bracing himself for the first insult. But it doesn't come happen. Hi? Wait, was this one of those mind games?

'Eh, sorry – what?'

Way to go thick-o! Remus mentally berates himself,

'You've sure got a way with words.'

'Oh shut up.'

'Hey don't take it out on me!'

'Well, you're my brain and I wish you weren't so sarcastic.'

'Sorry sir, your wish is my command. NOT!'

'Just SHUT UP!' Remus shouts out loud. A flush rises in his cheeks as Sirius' eyebrows disappear into his hairline, wherever it is.

'I only said hi.' Sirius feigns a hurt look, rather successfully in his opinion.

'Better think fast.'

'You are meant to help, you know. Now QUIET!'

Oh yeah I know, I wasn't talking to yo- I mean- I- err- hi.' He bypasses pink and progresses to maroon instantaneously.

'Hi, It's Remus isn't it?' Sirius says, knowing full well that his name is Remus John Lupin and also feeling rather pleased with the knowledge that that said R.J. Lupin was finally tuned into the conversation.

'Uh, yeah, that's me.' Remus is stilled baffled as to why a boy as popular as Sirius Black is talking to him, nicely.

'I'm Sirius, Sirius Black.' Sirius announces, although it is entirely un-required as both of them know, that he knows, that Remus knows, precisely who he is.

'Err, yeah, I know. Sorry, but why are talking to me?' He asks, genuinely confused.

'Honestly?' Sirius asks, rapidly creating an excuse, luckily he has many to choose from. 'Well, you don't have any friends so I thought I'd try and make you a new one. But if you want me to leave...' He lets the sentence hang, hoping that Remus will jump in, he doesn't hope in vain.

'No! Don't go I was just wondering...You're the first person to take interest in me...Thanks.' Remus says quietly.

'Don't mention it.' Sirius waves it away with a hand. 'Do you wanna come and sit with me, James and Peter?' He gestures casually at the tree by the lake (where James and Peter are laughing at something or other) while his insides change their setting from butterfly to conga.

Sirius outstretches a hand, offering Remus help up. And in that moment Remus made a decision. No longer would he be the boy in the corner. He would change his name if he had to, if that was what it took. By this stage he had taken Sirius' hand and was on his feet. He was still holding Sirius's hand.