A/N: Anything recognizable is not mine!

"I can't believe your wearing a long sleeved shirt!" James exclaimed when he saw Remus come out of his house. "It's got to be 100 degrees out here mate." He, himself, was wearing a loose black t-shirt with the image of a wasp on it and khaki shorts.

Remus shrugged. "It's not that hot out," he said nonchalantly looking down the lane. Sirius should be showing up any moment and he said he was bringing someone…

James took in Remus's peaky appearance and tired eyes and sighed.

"Bad full moon." It wasn't a question, more of a realization, and James didn't expect his friend to answer; he knew what he could be like. When the others weren't around he and Remus often talked about it or at least as much as Remus was willing to talk. He knew not to push, though sometimes it was hard to tell what Remus was really thinking and feeling.

"Look, you know Sirius won't say anything and you could just tell…"

"It's fine James," Remus said shortly. He turned and looked at his friend and smiled slightly, his face giving nothing away. "Really. I'm used to it and I actually don't find it all that hot out. Besides we'll be near the water, it's always cooler down there."

James wasn't about to give up though. If he could hound Evans for four years and still not take no for an answer, then he certainly wasn't about to give up on his friend.

"You won't have to deal with it alone anymore soon," he said brightly, trying to take another tact. "Sirius and I reckon we've almost got the change down and I swear Peter had whiskers last time."

Remus smiled but didn't say anything. He appreciated what his friends were trying to do and if it helped than that was more than he could ever hope for. But at the same time he didn't want to get his hopes up too much; it would only make the disappointment worse if they failed.

Just then a figure appeared on the lane. It was oddly misshapen and was walking rather quickly. As it got closer both boys were able to make out a shock of black and one of pink.

"Is he..?" James asked already cracking up at the sight.

"Yes he is." Remus too was trying not to laugh, although it was a near thing. For coming up the lane were none other than Sirius Black and Nymphadora Tonks, the later carrying the 13 year old on his back. What was so funny, aside from the fact that Sirius was acting as mule, was the contrasting looks on the cousin's faces. Sirius's face was red from exertion, and he looked like he was ready to murder Tonks in her sleep, while she was smiling serenely.

By the time Sirius made it to the Lupin's gate, James was practically rolling around having lost the fight with his amusement and given in.

"Oh yeah, its alright, laugh," Sirius said sarcastically. "You didn't have to carry this great budge all the way from the village."

"Oh I'm not that heavy!" Tonks said, hopping off his back and immediately falling backward. "Bugger!" She cursed as landed on her rear in the dirt. "Wotcher Remus, James."

"There's your Karma for making me carry you." Sirius grinned. "I swear she made herself heavier on purpose."

"I did not. You know I can't do that," Tonks protested as Remus pulled her to her feet, but the look on her face suggested that she most likely could and had.

Sirius snorted. "Right." He turned to Remus. "When is your floo going to be fixed, that old bat at the pub in the Village told me off today for getting ash on the floor. Not that it made much of a difference, she can't have cleaned it since the 40's," he muttered.

Remus shrugged. "Someone was supposed to come this morning but they're not coming till next week. End of the month probably."

"Where's Peter?" Sirius looked around as if he would see Peter hiding behind the begonias.

"Not coming," James said inspecting the bag Sirius had brought. "Oh, Fire Whiskey;nice one mate. His Mother won't let him, something about his Gran. He owled me this morning."

Remus glanced at the sky. The sun would be setting in an hour or two. "We should go."

James stopped his inspection of the bag and glanced up too. "Oh yeah." He thrust the bag back at Sirius who gave a disgruntled "Oi!", but said no more as they set off down the lane towards the sea.

"So you do this every year then?" Tonks asked falling in step with Remus.

He nodded. "For the past three at least. Peter is usually here as well, but his Grandmother was ill. He'll be upset he missed it."

"Yeah, we'll probably be hearing about it for days, eh James?" Sirius chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"Three at least," James agreed.

"So what do you do?" Tonks tripped over a rock and Remus reached out a hand to steady her.

"Thanks," She said blushing slightly. Sirius noticed and nudged James nodding at their friend and his cousin. They shared a look and James raised a brow shaking his head. He knew what his best mate was at and he didn't think Remus would go for it. He had already sworn he would never enter into a relationship; he didn't want to expose any one else to his "Furry Problem".

"Well, it's nothing really. We go down to the beach there, down by the tidal pools, build a large fire and take turns drinking a shot. It used to be Butter Beer, but evidently Sirius has decided we're ready for stronger stuff."

"Live a little Remus!" Sirius said from behind them. "We're not gonna get pissed or anything!"

Remus snorted derisively. Somehow he doubted that. "Anyway, you drink your shot and make a resolution for that year at school. If the resolution comes true then the others in the group owe you a Galleon. If it doesn't, then you drink three shots in succession."

"Drinking games and gamboling? I'm shocked at you Remus Lupin. And I always thought you were the good one," Tonks said teasingly shaking her head in disbelief.

"Oh Lupin's a good boy alright. At least compared to us."

"Yes well, anyone is good compared to you two," Remus said as they headed down the path to the beach. " 20 detentions last year, I don't know how you find the time to get anything done."

"Us?" James asked grinning. "What about you? Half those detentions you should have been there with us. At least five of them you were."

"It's not my fault you two are so easily caught," Remus grinned.

"Well that'll change soon," James said under his breath. They almost had the map ready. Maybe in a few months…

"So, I don't have to ask you Sirius, I know what your answer will be, but did either of you two make Prefect?" Tonks asked curiously. She thought she knew what the answer would be, since meeting Remus two years ago she had been observing the Marauders.

"Prefect? Yeah right, that's a laugh. Although my Mum would have been really happy," James mused.

"Yeah. But it would be nice to have an in you know? Someone who can get us out of detention. Peter wouldn't have gotten it though. He's too timid. He'd go to tell a first year off and the first year would end up telling him off."

"Bet you Evans is one," James said as they reached the two logs that were placed together like benches around a fire pit.

"Probably. What do you think Remus?"

"Well," Remus said avoiding his friend's eyes. "I guess I'll find out into two days seeing as I was made one."

For a moment James and Sirius stood there stunned. Watching them, Tonks had to stifle a laugh. James' mouth was hanging open and Sirius just kept blinking.

"Am I hearing things or did he just say he was made a Prefect?"

"Couldn't be. I heard him too."

The two of them then started laughing hysterically.

Remus scowled. "For Merlin's sake it's not that funny!"

"Oh, but it is," Sirius said wiping his eyes and clapping Remus on the shoulder. "It's bloody hilarious. Looks like we'll be getting in a little less trouble this year mate."

"Oh yes, just assume that I'll get you out of detention."

"You know you will Remus." James was extracting the bottle of Fire Whiskey and four shot glasses from Sirius' bag.

Remus didn't protest, but gave his friend a sour look, which made Tonks finally loose the battle to hold her laughter back. By the time she had calmed down again they had a large fire going in the pit. The flames were blue and green from the driftwood they had used.

"Right, so James has to drink three shots, seeing as his resolution to get Evans to talk civilly to him fell through."

"This year will be the year, I can feel it. She will say yes," James said after downing the shots; his eyes were watering.

"So we know what James resolution will be, no surprise," Sirius rolled his eyes good-naturedly . "And Remus and mine came through so we all owe a Galleon."

"What was yours?" Tonks asked Remus. She had sat beside him, something that didn't go unnoticed to Sirius. "Oh. To stop worrying so much and be a bloody teenager, as Sirius would say."

"Something he succeed greatly with I think." Sirius poured Fire Whiskey into the glasses and handed them around. "Mine was to get Laura Prince to kiss me. Which I did, with interest," He said wagging his eyebrows.

"You are such a git," Tonks shook her head.

"So I'll go first yes?" James asked. The other three nodded. "Right, so this year I resolve that I'll get Lily Evans to not only talk civilly to me but to also agree to go out with me." He raised his glass then threw it back, now looking a little tipsy.

"No more Fire Whiskey for him," Remus warned as Sirius raised his glass. "This year I resolve to cause more trouble than before. Especially if it involves snivillous, the greasy git." He downed his shot.

"I resolve to keep you two from getting expelled, as you surely will at the rate your going." Remus threw back his shot, trying not to cough as it seared his throat.

"You're just asking to get drunk there," Tonks said happily as she raised hers. "Right, so I resolve to try and be nicer to Shannon Finnegan and to not steal her thong and put it on the statue of Bormey The Fearless like I did last year."

"That was you?!" Sirius laughed as she drank. "That was brilliant! The whole school was talking about it for days; I've never seen McGonagall go so red."

Tonks bowed a little causing her to fall off the log. "Bugger!"

"So can I come again next year?" She asked some time later as they were headed back to Remus'. Sirius was in front of them supporting an intoxicated James which was not working out too well as he himself was inebriated.

"You want to?" he asked surprised. "I mean you don't think we're being silly."

"Nah. Watching Sirius and James get pissed was fun. But yeah, I want to come again."

"Well then you can," he said, slightly pleased. He liked the idea of her being there, it felt right.

They had now reached the Lupin's gate and Sirius and James were doing a resounding and off key performance of God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs.

"I better get this one to bed." Remus said gesturing to James. They had agreed he should sleep off the alcohol at Remus'.

'"Yeah, I better get Sirius home. His mum is gonna love this. Maybe I can convince mine to let him stay, he doesn't need any more trouble than he gets." She slung Sirius's arm around her shoulders and started to half drag him down the lane.

"See you at school!" she called back, waving once, before disappearing around the bend.