August 1995

Harry woke up in a cold sweat. It was the second night in a row and he could not get a good night's rest. The pain coming from his scar had intensified and Harry moaned in agony as he held on to it. He was glad that Ron had gone back home for the week and Hermione was upstairs, so no one was going to question him about his nightmares or his scar hurting.

He saw it every time. Voldemort rising again, killing Cedric, dueling with him; his parents–rather his mom and James Potter, giving him a chance to escape. He lived the moments in his sleep over and over again and with the full moon coming close, they got more intense. He had nightmares of Remus walking away from him, James Potter yelling at him saying he truly wasn't his son. Sirius leaving because he wasn't really a Potter. The glamor charm coming off and the whole school in utter pandemonium when they find out that Harry Potter was a fraud all along and of course the bloody corridor!

"Lumos" Harry whispered as he got out of bed. Hedwig rattled her cage because Harry had put the light on her and woken her up from her sleep, but instead of making a sound of annoyance she called in concern for the teenage boy.

"I'm fine" He told her after seeing the way she looked at him. Hedwig made a noise as if saying she didn't believe him one bit and Harry smiled despite himself. He loved his pet owl, she was the first real pet he ever had. Growing up, the other owl, Terra, was Sirius's and although he liked Terra, he was never his own and when Remus had come over on his eleventh birthday holding a cage with the most beautiful snow white owl Harry had ever seen, he had gained a friend and partner in his pet.

The thought of Remus made Harry feel sad. He remembered Remus had saved for a long time in order to afford to get the best looking owl possible for Harry. The memory made the now fifteen year old think that maybe Remus did care about him, but he brushed it off as quickly as the thought came to him.

Once his scar stopped hurting. Harry got back into bed with the intension of staying awake and waiting till morning came. He lay there for hours and finally fell asleep out of exhaustion in the early hours of the morning.

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"Again" Sirius said

Harry sighed in frustration. In about two weeks they would be off to Hogwarts again and he still could not get a handle on this stupid glamor spell. After weeks of learning and practicing he still could only change one part of his body at a time. Once he was able to change half of himself, which was quite awkward since one part was much taller than the other and he could barely get his balance.

"Mutatio" Harry muttered placing his wand on the top of his head. Again the only change that occurred was his now gentle dark brown hair turned into the demon jet black Potter hair that couldn't stay still.

"You have to concentrate on the whole image Harry. Your thoughts can't wonder" Sirius said getting tired of not being able to make any progress with the glamor spell

"I'm trying okay!" Harry snapped

"Getting upset wouldn't help anything" Sirius said. He was trying very hard not to lose his patience with the moody teenager. "Again"

Harry said the spell and again the same thing happened, but quickly fizzled out because of his temper.

Hermione looked unimpressed as she studied the scene. They had barely made any sort of improvement and September first was around the corner.

Frustrated Harry slumped into the nearest chair and Sirius sighed deeply.

"I'm useless at this" Harry mumbled. Sirius felt for his godson. Harry was just so stressed lately and there was good reason for it too.

"You'll get it Harry" Sirius said patting him lightly on the back. "I'll go get dinner started. Keep practicing" Harry nodded and Hermione sat quietly as Sirius made his way out of the room.

Silence fell upon the room and Harry got the sense that Hermione was aching to get something off her chest.

"What?" Harry asked curious to know what she could not say in front of Sirius.

"You will get it Harry, but only with the help of the perfect teacher" Hermione said

"Sirius is doing his best" said Harry a bit too defensively

"I understand that Harry, and he is excellent at charms, but he wasn't always your best teacher" She paused "Professor Lupin has always been the one to teach you difficult spells. Dumbledore did tell them both to teach you Harry, I think you ought to write to Lupin"

Harry frowned "Well you don't see him here, do you?"

"You've not given him reason to feel welcome"

"He's not!"

"Harry!"

He stubbornly turned away from her.

Hermione sighed. "School starts in about two weeks. You need to master this glamor spell before then. Please think about it Harry. If you don't want to write to him, then get Sirius to." Harry didn't give her a response, but Hermione felt like she had gotten the message through when she saw him deflate a little. She settled back in her seat with a text book for the upcoming year, it was an OWL year after all.

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April 16, 1976

Detention: The last class of the day for one Sirius Black. There was hardly ever a day that went by that Sirius or his counterpart James Potter did not serve one. Today's punishment came from the fact that James and Sirius had stuck two first year boys on the ceiling in the common room, causing them to miss breakfast and some of their classes. The reason for this prank was one of the boys had said something about Lily Evan's backside and James had not taken that lightly.

Their detentions were served separately. James had been placed in the trophy room and Sirius In the dungeons cleaning out Slughorn's supply closet.

Once his sentence was over, Sirius whistled along the corridors as he made his way back up to the Gryffindor common room, obviously ignoring the fact that most people in the castle had gone to bed.

He was half way up the first flight of stairs when he suddenly felt someone watching. He turned around quickly only to find no one in sight. Suddenly on guard, his hands went into his robes to find his wand. Sirius did not fear Slytherins, but he was very aware of the fact that they would have no problem trying to attack him when he was alone. He frowned at the thought of his brother and his friends trying to duel him the other week outside the great hall. The reminder that he and Regulus had really gone their separate ways always tore at his heart.

At the sound of footsteps, Sirius whipped around quickly, wand in hand and a curse at the tip of his tongue, but he stopped himself at the sight of a tall, skinny boy with black greasy hair.

"Snivellus" He hissed

"Black" said Severus in the same disdainful tone.

"Why aren't you in your dungeon" Sirius asked and the other boy smiled cynically

Severus looked different tonight. He had a certain glow in his eyes, it almost looked like triumph and that was not the look Severus Snape usually had when the likes of Black was around.

"I know what you and your marauding friends are up to every month. I've been watching you" Sirius felt his ears burn. There was no way Severus could know, could there? They had been so careful.

Sirius rolled his eyes in a way that showed he was not in the slightest bit disturbed by Snape's words.

"And what is it that we are up to Snape?" He asked "Have you nothing better to do with yourself than snuff your nose up other people's business"

"When they are up to no good and seem to always get away with it? Yes! I owe it to Dumbledore to find out the truth!"

Sirius smiled roguishly at the words Snape had used.

"It's not funny Black. I'm this close to finding out what it is you lot are doing" Snape inched his thumb and index finger together "This close"

"I'm sure you are Snivelly" suddenly looking disinterested, Sirius made to turn around.

"Don't be so confident you blood traitor. You and Potter are not as sleek as you think you are. You two pompous toe–rags think you rule everything in this castle and that you are on top of the world, but here's a newsflash. Your family blasted you off the wall, you are nobody and when the dark lord rises and gains control of the ministry and you are on the losing side, I promise you, you will be sorry for every word you've said to me-"

"So you admit to joining him then" Sirius was fuming now. His face had gone red with anger and he had taken a step closer to Severus as if he was going to forget his wand all of a sudden and attack him muggle style.

Snape said nothing, but Sirius already got his answer from the slight smirk on his lips. This only made him even angrier.

"If you really want to know what it is we are up to. Follow us out this Thursday. I'm sure you will catch a good glimpse of what it is we are doing, and perhaps after that your slimy face will disappear"

With that Sirius turned away and went directly to Gryffindor tower, calling Snape every name in the book.

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August 1995

Harry didn't come to him that same day. It was two days after, when the two of them sat exhausted in the family room. Harry had managed to change his face, but that was about it.

"Sirius"

Sirius who had his eyes closed, opened them and looked at his godson.

"I've been thinking" Harry paused " I think…Hermione-"

Sirius sat up a bit straighter when he noticed Harry had some difficulty in saying whatever it was that was on his mind

"What is it Harry?" He asked concerned

"I think I need professor Lupin to help teach me as well. He thought me the Patronus spell in a couple of months and I've gotten very good at that. And don't forget he was always the one giving me extra lessons and such. I don't want to ask him cause I don't want to seem needy or anything. I don't need him, I just have a few days before school starts and we could really use his assistance, so I was wondering if you could write him and ask him to teach me this week" Sirius felt like a ton of bricks had been dropped on his head. He would have wondered what it was that had gotten into Harry, but he too could see how hard it had been for the teenager to ask for Remus's help.

"I...I-"

"I want it to be strictly professional, that's all" Harry added

"hmmm-"

"This doesn't mean I hate your teaching Sirius, because you're wrong, I love it. I just find that you are better at teaching defense and transfiguration- and charms too, we just have…limited time?"

Sirius chuckled slightly at Harry's second interruption. This wasn't easy for him.

"I understand Harry." He frowned a bit "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Harry didn't look too sure, but he nodded his head anyway.

"In that case, if it is what you want. I shall write Remus tonight"

Harry didn't look relieved or grateful. He gave Sirius a nervous smile before running off to find Hermione who was helping him organize his school trunk.

Sirius went to his writing desk in order to begin the letter to Remus. He dipped his quill into the ink pot but that was where it remained. He stared at the blank piece of parchment in front of him not exactly sure of how he was to compose this letter.

Why should Remus get the benefit of saving the day? It was because of him that Harry was in this mess anyway. Because of him in two days Harry would be in some kind of pain and discomfort. Something told him not to be so cruel to his old friend, but Sirius could not help it. With the anger that boiled inside of him, Remus was the very monster that he turned into once a month. He was a liar and a cheat and an untrustworthy friend and he did not feel like he could forgive him.

Sirius stood up abruptly from his desk. Remus would be getting no letter from him, not tonight, not ever.

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I know updates are irregular, but I only find it easy to write when I have the inspiration for it or when I'm in some kind of mood. HAHA. I hope you guys liked this chapter. What did you think of Sirius not writing that letter? Was that selfish of him? Please leave reviews and your questions, if you have any. I'll try to update soon. I think I have an idea what the next few chapters look like so that should be no problem.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!