Sirius, James and Peter had thrown themselves into research, using the exams as a good cover. Only it was not well planned. Instead of having the few weeks left to research Remus' condition (whatever it may be) they had only a few days. And Remus had decided to study with them most og the time, so reading up was difficult. He also made study plans to stick to so that they wouldn't get sidetracked. Unfortunately for him, it did not work and more times than not they found themselves straying into areas such as Snape's growing obsession with the Dark Arts, to other dark areas such as You-Know-Who's growing strength. They had tried unsuccessfully to get onto other topics like what they were expected to do over the holidays.

"Sleep. Eat. Stay out of my family's way." Sirius summed up simply.

"Go to Egypt with mum and dad." James said shrugging.

"Egypt?" Peter asked.

"Mum and dad say that there is a wealth of Egyptian magic to learn there." James shrugged, taking the parchment he was writing on and rolling it into a ball before throwing it into the non-existent fire. He turned to Remus who was itching his neck. "What about you Scratchy?"

"Studying," Remus had replied much to the dismay of his friends. "Oh and... Reading..."

"Do you ever do anything fun?" Sirius asked, pulling his long black hair back into a red silk ribbon.

"Yes," Remus replied. "I read. I think that was implied. There's this new book that Deina Mirabilis has released, I really want to read it."

"Who?" James asked absentmindedly.

"She's a French alchemist who has theorised that old tale The Fountain of Fair Fortune may have links to the fountain of youth or in muggle culture, the holy grail." Remus said sitting up on his chair, shifting his cardigan slightly, his tie hanging loosely around his neck and his straight brown hair hanging around his face. He was smiling as he talked looking a lot happier than they had seen him in months. "She thinks that Beedle (the Bard, obviously) may have discovered it upon his travels and actually have met the three witches and Sir Luckless."

"Jeez," Sirius said. "Did this bloke ever write any original material?"

"That's not the point," Remus said excitedly, getting up from the chair and pacing in front of the fireplace where no flames sat, his hands twisting together. "The entire theory of the fountain is to grant any wish that one wants as long as it does not harm another or indirectly causes harm to another. Imagine the possibilities! Imagine all that we could change!"

James frowned looking up from his D.A.D.A book. "Remus, what the hell are you on about? What could be so bad about your life that you need to change?"

Remus paled. "Nothing," He said. "I'm just theorising is all."

"Oh," James said. "Sorry I asked."

Peter was watching curious, not paying attention to his D.A.D.A textbook that he was meant to be reading. "So are all the stories from Beedle the Bard true?" He asked, frowning.

Sirius shrugged. "It appears to be so. I mean, The Tale of Three Brothers was real enough. James is practically descended from them." James raised his hands high as if he was about to be worshipped. Sirius threw a notebook at him. "Grow up you idiot!"

"I am though!"

"What an idiot?"

"Yes, but descended from the three brothers." James said earnestly.

"Were they also pompous twats?"

"Sirius, its times like these I can truly rely on you to come up with a ridiculous and pointless insult. Thank you."

"Stop fighting," Remus said dryly.

"He started it." Sirius said folding his arms grumpily.

"Be that as it may, the family also has a reputation for being incredibly good liars," Remus said flopping back down onto the couch and undoing his cardigan, taking it off and relaxing in his white shirt.

"I'm not a liar." James said.

"Yes you are," Sirius said. "Remember that time when you lied to McGonagall about Remus being ill so you could skip out of class and go see him?"

"Remus was ill," James snapped back.

"Yes, but you didn't go and see him did you?" Sirius said, taking out the knife he had been given for Christmas and flicking the blade. "You went out into the forbidden forest to ask the centaurs to find some unicorn hair so you could sell it off to Professor Slughorn and make a tasty profit for yourself."

Remus looked at him. "That's actually not a bad plan." He said. "How did you manage to get along with the centaurs?"

James shrugged. "Remember when those bloody great big spiders were chasing us?" The other three nodded. "Well according to them the forest had been overridden with the vile creatures. They were stealing the centaurs' food supply and when we dwindled down the population we were doing the forest a great favour."

"Do they know who put those dirty things there?" Sirius asked. "Because I want to find the mother fu-"

"Sirius," Remus warned.

"-Futterwhack, Remus. What the hell did you think I was going to say?" Sirius said. "And grind their bollocking balls into the ground where they belong. Someone could have died."

"No thanks to you," James said.

"It was your idea." Sirius replied

"And should you ever listen to my ideas?" James grinned. "Ha! See! No argument!"

Remus looked over at Peter who gave a grin, turning the page on werewolves in his book.

The days were passing by with ease and there was a growing uncertainty amongst the first years. They could not really believe that their first year of Hogwarts was almost at an end. It had seemed to go by so quick and without a second glance. Most of the other students had fell into ease with it looking forward to the next year. Sirius was pissed that they had not discovered anything really cool during their first year. James reassured him, almost mockingly, that they'd have another six years to become the best students at Hogwarts, as they walked to their last D.A.D.A before they went home for the summer holidays.

"Funny, James," Sirius said. "Look, my kidneys have literally fallen out because my sides are splitting so profusely."

James checked. "Well, you don't seem to have lost your kidneys he said. Perhaps it's the love handles keeping everything all in."

Sirius was about to hit him before realising that they were seated and waiting for Professor Elgard to arrive. They sat and waited, patiently getting out their quills and their ink and setting their wands on the desk. After about ten minutes, Sirius turned around to look at Remus and Peter who were hotly discussing something important. Probably to do with Remus' recent obsession with the French chemist lady.

"Yes?" Remus asked, patiently, scratching the top of his arm where a bandage was wrapped around it, hidden by his shirt.

"I heard, there's a rule, where a teacher doesn't show up for class, we can automatically leave like after twenty minutes." Sirius said.

"Well, we still have another ten minutes," Peter pointed out. "And I doubt Professor Elgard is going to like you walking out of his class."

"He's not even here!" Sirius said, realising James was tugging at his sleeve. "What?" He looked around and saw Elgard looking at him arms folded. "Oh. There you are professor." He reached into his pocket and took out a piece of chocolate. "Frog?" He asked.

Elgard smirked slightly before taking it and moving to the desk up front. He was a young man who always had the evident appearance of being persistently restrained and many a time had he been close to completely losing his temper and performing one of the unforgivable curses on a first year. Why Dumbledore had hired him, no one knew. But in essence he was an okay teacher. Not the best, but at least he wasn't a death eater.

"I'm sure that you are all unaware of this," He said, his voice hoarse. "But the Defence Against the Dark Arts post is cursed. Something wretched always happens to the professor by the end of their first year. Dumbledore says its dark magic and he dare not tread. So instead he puts the lives of those innocent in his hands. And I'm not doing it. I have said this to every year so far. But I am leaving. This is your last lesson with me. Ever. It is likely that your experience in this subject will be uneven" The word sounded distasteful in his mouth. "And I cannot understand why your headmaster will not just dismiss the subject from the curriculum. I refuse to be a pawn in his elaborate game of chess. He has to find another knight."

The class remained silent.

"Does that mean I can get my chocolate frog back sir?" Sirius asked.

The class erupted into laughter. Elgard looked as if he was about to curse someone. His cheek twitched dangerously before he turned.

"Do whatever you want," He said. "I do not care."

"Are you not going to give us our grades?" Remus asked, frowning.

"Well seeing as you're the only one who really cares about your grades, Mr. Lupin, no, I think not." Elgard snarled with some distaste. Remus fell back into his chair. He was thankful that he did not need to put up with Elgard's dark and unsettling prejudice against him next year. His eyes dark, he stared at the page blinking miserably trying to show that he had not been hurt. Lily put up her hand.

"Miss Evans," Elgard said, looking over at her.

"Sir," She said. "I wish to know my grades too."

Remus looked up feeling less rejected. Lily gave him a small smile.

Elgard sighed and pulled forward a large pile of parchment running his fingers through them. "Evans, Lily. 83%." He stuffed the papers back into the drawer.

"You never mentioned Remus'," Sirius said.

"Mr. Black," Elgard said. "Refrain from becoming too attached to that boy."

Remus tugged at Sirius' robes. "It doesn't matter." He said. James stared at his friend mouth hanging open slightly.

"Doesn't matter?" He asked.

Remus shook his head.

...

James took the bird cage from one of the other students as she got down from the carriages. Remus and Peter were waiting for Sirius who was pulling his trunk towards them.

"Why did you let Professor Elghardon bully you for a year?" Peter asked trying desperately to make a joke from the name.

Remus shrugged as he helped one of the conductors put his trunk onto the train, he pulled his back pack further over his shoulder and unfastened his shabby jacket.

"There must be a reason," James said climbing on board the train as Sirius followed. James caught a glance of Snape and Lily following them. He tried to ignore it. He pushed past a few students to find a compartment where he and his three friends sat down and closed the door and blinds making sure that they would not be disturbed by anyone wanting to sit with them. Peter sat next to Remus who was staring out of the window watching the other students board onto the train. He closed his eyes.

"Remus," Sirius said teasingly. "Answer us."

"I'd rather not." Remus breathed.

"I can't believe we're leaving," James sighed, looking out at Hagrid giving one last wave to the driver before the train lurched forward and began to speed down the tracks. Remus was staring after the school, deep in thought.

"Fantastic," Sirius said bitterly. "I had rather hoped that I could stay behind for the holidays. Do you have any idea how fuc- I mean bloody annoying my parents are going to be for my sorting into Gryffindor? I – urgh! I don't even want to think what Kreacher will do!"

"Calm down," Remus said silently. "I don't want to go home either. Things are just easier here."

Sirius and James looked over at him. He did not seem to notice.

"What did your parents do to you that screwed you up so bad?" James asked. "I mean, I know Sirius' parents are bad, but at least he's not as... bergh! As you!"

"Is that a new phrase?" Remus asked, absentmindedly trying to dodge the question. It worked. James was distracted.

"Why yes, yes it is." He said.

"Oh. Use it in Egypt. I want to hear what the Pyramid breakers make of that." Remus said sleepily.

"I think I will." James said.

"Do you think your parents will mind if I came to yours for the summer?" Sirius asked looking up.

"Er... For how long?"

"For the summer holidays." Sirius said. "I really don't want to go home."

"Nah," Peter said. "We're not going home. Not really."

Remus smiled over at Peter before resting his head against the window, closing his eyes gently.

"I'll try and get dad to agree." James said in answer to his question.

"Thanks." Sirius said.

The train journey was long and the boys settled down with ease into their regular clothing. James sported an unbuttoned blazer, his dark hair messy and unkempt and jeans faded and dirty. Sirius had changed into an elegant velvet cloak and buttoned down waistcoat and looked every much as a member of his family. He did not do it lightly, but knowing full well that if he did not then it was likely that his parents would not bring him home. Peter had changed too, back into normal muggle clothing; jeans and a sweat shirt. Remus had not bothered at all, claiming that he was too tired to get anything from his bag.

To pass the boredom that was slowly creeping in, the boys opened a pack of exploding snap and began to build a tower. After the fourth loud bang, the door slid open and Lily appeared at the doors, her face furious.

James looked at her up and down. "Yes Evans'? What can I do for you?"

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!" She said angrily. "You will give back Severus' wand this instant."

Remus looked over and saw Sirius pull out a long black wand from his robes. "Oh," He said almost as if he was surprised. "I thought it was mine."

"You know bloody full well that it's not yours, you filthy pure blood!" She almost shrieked. Sirius stood up suddenly looking enraged.

"I have never, never, given you such a derogatory term!" He bellowed back furiously. "How dare you judge me on my family's blood status when I easily ignored yours?"

Lily looked at him, her face contorted in rage. She grabbed Snape's wand and marched off. Sirius was tempted to jinx her but decided against it, pulling the door close and slamming it so hard against the frame the glass shattered. James rolled out his eyes and pulled out his own wand muttering "Reparo."

"Why did you steal Severus' wand?" Remus asked, curiously looking away from the window for the first time since they set off.

"He was annoying me," Sirius replied, sitting down and flicking through the cards not concentrating on the game in front of him. He looked furious.

"Calm down," James ordered calmly. Sirius ran a hand over his face and sighed, shaking with anger slightly.

Outside the sky was darkening and the train was slowing down as it entered Kings Cross Station. The boys collected their things before climbing out of the compartments and onto the platform where their parents were waiting. For Peter there was a stern looking man who looked as if he had lost a lot of weight very recently. His features the same but taller, more defined than Peter was. Peter walked up slowly, his head down.

"Hey, dad." He muttered.

"See you later Pete!" Sirius said.

"Yeah, write to us," James said.

"But not every day," Sirius said.

"Because then we'd think you were desperate for attention," James continued. "I mean, we're friends, but I'm not expecting a letter asking if you can use the bathroom."

Peter grinned sheepishly before turning back to his father who said nothing, turning sharply on his heel. Peter followed. Sirius sighed as he saw his family waiting for him. A tall man with dark hair and dark eyes with an impressive silvery green jacket that stretched down to his feet with a waistcoat, pocket watch and an expression of pure distaste. Beside him was an equally tall woman with silvery grey hair pulled into a tight bun wearing a long black cloak with a silver "B" embellishment on it. Next to her was a bored looking young boy with short black hair but with an equally bored look across his face. Sirius looked pleadingly over at James. He sighed and dragged his trunk towards them.

"Hello mother," He said. "Father." The man nodded, curtly. "Regulus." The younger boy ignored him.

They said nothing to him in return but turned quickly. Mrs Black saw Mr Pettigrew, nodded and he did the same. Sirius looked back pleadingly at James who had found his elderly parents amongst the heaving mass. James said something to his father who peered, looking at Sirius over round spectacles. He said something back and James grinned and bounded back to Sirius.

"Dad says that he'd be happy to take us to a Quidditch match," He said. "Y'know, after we come back from Egypt of course, 'cause y'know. That's important."

Sirius let out a huge grin. "That sounds bloody fantastic."

"Sirius!" Said Mrs Black. "Come."

"I'll send you a letter," James said excitedly.

"Sure,"

"See you Sirius!"

"Bye!" Sirius had gone following his parents.

James looked around to see his father smiling happily whilst in deep conversation with someone that James had never seen before. He could only assume that it was Remus' father. Behind the man, Remus' mother stood barely able to look at her son. Remus was staring at the ground. James squinted, he couldn't see Remus' supposed sister. He smiled and said his goodbye's to Remus.

The boys followed their families from the Hogwarts train, impatient for the next school year.

Right, this chapter is just an end to their First Year at Hogwarts which in truth is very boring. The Second year. YESS! This is the year I'm excited about. Keep a look out for a chapter in the next few days!