Remus stepped back, wiping his eyes inconspicuously "you- you could have gotten yourself killed" he said thickly "you're so stupid. Why are you so stupid?" Sirius smiled ruefully, half expecting another punch.
Sirius watched patiently as Remus bit his thumb nervously and began to pace back and forth on the creaky floorboards of the Shrieking Shack. He came to a stop by the window, a thin sliver of light illuminating his face.
"I can't believe you did that for me" he said softly.
Sirius tried not to smile "James and Peter helped. I asked them to help me get it first so that I could be the one…" somehow the words 'to test and see if you'd rip me to shreds' didn't seem like the right words "… to be there for you."
"Your arm" Remus gasped, suddenly spotting the fading scratch with horror "what happened? Will you-?"
"No I wasn't human at the time" Sirius rushed to assure him "it was just… play fighting. You know, you really are a softie even as a werewolf, you let me win and everything…"
Remus took a deep breath, eyes closed, then sighed "I'm kind of obligated to forgive you now aren't I?" he smiled shyly at Sirius who shook his head.
"Not if you don't want to, not if you're still mad" they were hard words to say but Sirius knew how important this was. He was not going to patch things up haphazardly.
Remus paused, staring out into the daylight "I'm not even that angry at you for endangering James and Severus' lives or the guilt it would have caused me, well I am but I should be far angrier about that, but no, it's not really that. Though it does play a part Sirius. It's the fact that you did the one thing you said you'd never do after I told you, James and Peter. You exposed my secret. Sure Snape had speculations but he didn't know for sure… now he does. I'm honestly shocked he hasn't told all the Slytherins and had me removed from the school." Remus rubbed his face wearily.
Sirius smiled tentatively "Don't be daft Remy they can't kick you out… Hogwart's grade average would plummet."
Remus managed a small chuckle before he returned to being serious "no more attacking Severus. I mean it. It's time I man-up, I've been quiet for far too long."
"Can I at least retaliate?" Sirius asked feeling sick at the thought of being unable to defend himself against his worst rival outside his family.
"Not unless it's a duel" Remus decreed in his best prefect's voice "and not to pranks, I don't care how angry you are."
Sirius nodded "fine. He pulls rubbish pranks anyway." Remus rolled his eyes "And you're more important than a prank. Obviously" he tacked on lamely.
"Friends?" Sirius asked hopefully.
Remus rolled his eyes "who else is going to stop you from doing something criminally stupid?"
"James was never all that good at stopping me, too busy helping me plan, and Pete's a pushover so I guess it's all up to you." Sirius grinned cheekily "come on Remus, help me be a less terrible person."
Remus snorted "come on idiot; let's get you out of here before you try to get yourself killed again… or worse"
"Worse?"
"Expelled."