Thanks for reading/reviewing :)

Contrary to usual, I actually know where I'm going with this story, just really struggling to put my ideas onto paper. I'm going to continue trying to write it, but apologies if there's another long gap before the next part.

James threw himself on to the bench in the great hall. "Fuck." He saw Lily give him a look of disgust at his language, and swore again, ensuring only Remus could hear that time.

"What's up?"

"I've got detention. Starting at seven and lasting the whole evening."

"What did you do this time?"

"Hexed Regulus."

"What?" Remus neglected his food to gape at James. "You know Sirius told you not to."

"Even you would have cursed him. He was standing there all smug, telling Snivellus and a bunch of other Slytherin's about how his fantastic family were standing up for pure blood rights, trying to rid Hogwarts of everyone else."

"Unfair and unnecessary, yes. But that's hardly the point."

James groaned. "You're right. He's going to kill me. And I can't even visit and grovel for myself seeing as I'll be stuck cleaning with Filch." He rested his head in his hands. "You're going to have to apologise for me."

"Or you can go under the cloak after detention."

"By that point he'll be so mad he'll probably hex me in return. You know how bored he is."

"Well it's a risk you're going to have to take."

"I know, I know." James paused, a wicked grin creeping on to his face. "You should see Regulus though, green boils all over his face."

"You're an idiot," Remus replied, but he too was smiling.

At seven o'clock Remus and James went their separate ways. Remus greeted Sirius by announcing James' whereabouts.

"He's in detention. Says he's really sorry but will come and see you as soon as he can," Remus relayed as he came level with Sirius' bed. He was close enough to see Sirius' face now, and realised his eyes and nose were red and swollen. "What's happened?"

Sirius refused to meet Remus' eyes, feigning a sudden interest in the floor and screwing up his face with concentration as he tried not to cry.

"Please tell me, Padfoot."

Sirius shrugged and furiously wiped at a tear with a balled fist. "Twat of a healer."

"Did he ask too many questions?" Remus said, knowing Sirius refused to talk to his family to anyone outside of the marauders.

"Nah, not that." Sirius frowned. "He... he wanted me to get out of bed for a bit, start walking round the ward, you know. So I thought great, get up, get out of here. But I couldn't fucking do it."

"It's only been a week, Sirius."

"And that's a fucking long time to be stuck in bed. He was holding me up and everything; I managed a couple of steps but then my legs gave way. Useless."

"You're not useless."

"Yeah? 'Cos then he started on my hands – do this, move them like that. And I couldn't do that either." Sirius looked away again, as a few tears slid down his cheeks. "Fucking useless."

"You'll get there." Remus put a hand on the far side of Sirius' cheek, and turned his head to look at him. "You never give up. Animagus potion, remember. Took two and a half years, had to start over three times, if what you told me is true. But still, you didn't give up."

"I had help then."

"You have help now."

Sirius didn't reply, but kept Remus' gaze for the first time that day. He gulped a couple of times, and sniffed. "Yeah. Keep trying." He forced a smile. "So what did James do?"

"Do?"

"You said he got detention."

"Ah, about that." Remus paused. "He hexed Regulus."

"Good."

"You told him not to!"

"Yeah, well I'm pissed off and incapable of pretty much everything; I'm entitled to change my mind."

"I would be sympathetic if there wasn't enough radiating around this room already."

"I think I'm bloody well entitled to it," Sirius snapped.

"I was kidding," Remus said quietly. Despite being used to Sirius' rapid mood swings, and on the whole being able to negotiate them well, he felt guilty for being the cause of this one and blushed. "I'm sorry."

"Forget it."

Remus sighed, and moved from the chair onto the edge of the bed. It was unusual for him to be the first to initiate physical contact between him and any of his friends, but he knew it calmed Sirius. He swung his legs onto the mattress, and as he has expected Sirius leaned into him.

"Moony, I did something really bad," he whispered.

"That's not true, whatever she told you," Remus replied, both of them aware who 'she' referred to.

"She knows about you... about your secret. I told her."

"I know."

"I'm so, so sorry." Sirius leant away from Remus, believing he wouldn't want him near him after that. " I didn't give in easily, I promise, but I shouldn't have at all. I understand if you hate me."

"I don't hate you," Remus said, pulling Sirius back onto him. "It wasn't your fault."

"There's ways to overpower the curse apparently."

"That only very powerful experienced wizards can manage."

"Well I should have been one of them. That curse wasn't like the other ones she used – the ones for pain. It was different, it was..." His eyes clouded over at the memories.

"You can talk to me about what happened, you know."

"I know. I will someday. I just want to concentrate on getting better first." Sirius said, sounding nervous as he succumbed to being a patient for the first time.

"Don't worry, you'll be out of here soon even if Prongs and I have to take an arm and leg each and carry you."

"That sounds like a plan."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Merlin, I walked right into that."

"Yep." Sirius smiled genuinely that time. "Moony, don't tell James about this will you? Well, tell him about the healer, just not – you know – the crying. I don't want him thinking I've lost it."

"Fine. And you haven't lost it."

"Thanks. Oh, and tell him I'm mad at him over Regulus. I want to see how he'll make it up to me."