The Times We Almost Lost Everything.

The year they almost lost Peter was in their second year, shortly after discovering Remus's affliction. James and Sirius had been planning quietly, waiting for Remus to be released from the infirmary so that they could hurry to the kitchens.

Peter had, of course, already spoken to the elves there and arranged for them to prepare a few meals for them along with an array of sweets that they knew Remus would enjoy.

Sirius cackled quietly at something James had said and then frowned slightly at his jittery friend, nervously gazing out one of the windows, "Oi Pete. You're not afraid of him now are you?"

Peter jumped and blanched nervously, "Err… Uh... What I mean is… Well I don't mean to say…"

Sirius scowled and shook his head in disbelief, "You're scared of him! I should have known you would be, you don't belong in Gryffindor…"

James had frowned, looking upon the both of them in contemplative silence before sighing and beginning to speak, "Sir-"

The door opened and Remus exited looking both exhausted and frazzled at Madam Merry's overbearing hospitality. Upon seeing his friends he managed a small, awkward smile, surprised but having expected them to be there nonetheless as always, "Hullo everybody."

James and Sirius, master trouble makers and deceivers immediately smiled brightly and approached him without hesitation, wrapping their arms over his shoulders and steering him merrily down the hall to the kitchens where he could feast of unhealthy food.

After finally making it to the kitchens they let themselves in, tickling the pear that opened for them eagerly. Sirius huffed in appreciation at the sight of all the food waiting for them, "Prat couldn't even decide what he wanted to eat so he just asked for everything did he?"

Peter flushed and looked down at his feet, missing Remus's concerned and confused look and James's glare at Sirius.

"What happened? Did I miss something?" Remus inquired hesitantly.

James sighed and shook his head, "Peter is just having a little bit of trouble wrapping his head around an issue and Sirius had decided to take it far more personally than he needs to yet."

Remus nodded hesitantly and sat down quietly at the table, quickly forgetting the issue as the elves immediately made him feel guilty by nearly weeping when he refused a bit of pie before his meal.

Sirius cackled, watching the young werewolf struggle to comfort the elves, eating a bit of everything they offered, looking helplessly at Sirius for aid. Sirius merely laughed and raised a fork in a mock salute as he dug into his food.

James smiled softly at all of his friends and then turned to the grim Peter, "Pete, mate. Sirius is just upset because he thinks you're scared of Remus just because he happens to be something that he can't help."

Peter nodded mutely as James continued, "Sirius takes these kinds of things quite personally, you know. A mate can't pick his family any more than he can pick what he does during a full moon and he's scared that if his best mates will run away from one, why wouldn't they run away from the other, you see what Im saying?"

Peter again nodded mutely, understanding showing in his eyes, "Remus is no more a danger to us than he ever was. You know that. So just… find a way to prove to Sirius that you do. Yeah?"

Peter nodded and then smiled at James, "Thank you James, I'll think of what to do and ill fix this." He stood abruptly, "Tell them I had to go to the library."

James smiled slightly and nodded, waving him off. Sirius frowned after him, "Now where's he going?"

James smirked, "Getting away from your foul mood, I suspect."

Sirius huffed, looking slightly guilty, "It's his own fault. He can't be so indecisive all the time; I can't be around someone I have to tell what to like and what not to."

James nodded understandingly, not saying a word and instead smirking at the uncomfortable looking Remus still struggling with the elves, "Parry, Minty, Monty, Ben? Im sure Mr. Lupin is enjoying your food to the best of his abilities but he gets nervous when people watch him eat and finds he can't enjoy it quite as much as he would like."

The elves immediately backed away, grinning at one another and swarming the cackling Sirius instead who had none of the same problems as Remus, having no such qualms with being watched.

Later, far later than any of them cared to admit and would refuse to admit in later hours as they all suffered severe stomachaches and the desire to nap, they returned to their tower where Remus, still exhausted from the night before promptly fell asleep.

Sirius frowned at the empty bed on the other side of the room, "Did Pete actually run away from me? He's not that much of a coward is he?"

James sighed tiredly and frowned at Sirius and then at the bed, "No Sirius, he went to the library. Get at least a bit of sleep will you?"

James gave an almighty harrumph and closed his eyes, "James?"

A pitiful sound escaped him, his eyes opening painfully to see the gleeful Peter crouching just in front of him, "What is it Pete?"

Peter bounced on the balls of his feet excitedly, "I found it. I found how to get Sirius to forgive me."

James narrowed his eyes at him critically, "Oh? Let me see it then."

Peter grinned mischievously and pulled a large tome out from behind his back, causing James to sit up in startled amazement, "But Pete! This is from the restricted section! Not only that but…. This is beyond restricted….."

His voice was filled with awe, unable to disguise his excitement for anything but glee. Sirius groaned tiredly, "Was gon on?"

James shushed his raven haired friend quickly, "Petey has brought us a book on animagus. So we can be around Remus when he turns."

Sirius sat up slowly, gaping at his two tired, excited friends who were both watching him expectantly, "You found that all by yourself?"

Peter nodded proudly, "I may not do a lot of things by myself Sirius but that doesn't mean that I can't do them at all."

Sirius grinned slowly and then gave a silent jump and shout of triumph, "We're going to be using illegal magic!"

James shushed him quietly.