In the days following what became known as "the incident" Remus would hardly look at James and Sirius for his anger. The whole school was abuzz gossiping about what might have caused such a rift. Those days were quite lonely for Remus, particularly because Lily wasn't talking to him either, still peeved about the prank which he had no real involvement in. This is how he found himself stuck in the library for another long night of studying with Peter.

"Remus, what's the Bezoar for again?"

Remus sighed, looking up from his advanced potions book at Peter once again, trying to keep his patience intact.

"I told you Peter; it can cure any poison. I really have to finish this essay alright?"

"Yeah, ok." Peter went back to staring at his own essay, biting his lip nervously, clearly at a loss.

Remus sighed before turning to him, giving him advice again on exactly what structure Slughorn found most appealing. It was tough without James and Sirius amusing him, but Remus didn't particularly care at the moment.

"Oh, close, but no cigar."

James laughed as he held a first year Hufflepuff's book hostage. The poor boy jumped to the top of his height but was unable to reach the book given James' tall stature.

"Come on, you can get it, just a little higher. Oh, you were almost there with that one."

Sirius laughed as the frustrated boy seemed to admit defeat, not jumping anymore. James was about to continue messing with the kid when he felt a hand grabbed the book from his own.

"Hey, what's the big idea?"

James glanced behind him to see Remus moving past him without so much as a second glance and thrusting the book into the boy's arms. He ran off before his book could be snatched from him again, and Remus followed him moving quickly away from James and Sirius.

"Moony hey! Where are you going?"

Remus ignored the two calling out his nickname, trying desperately to get him to glance their way.

"Damn it, he's really pissed at us this time."

Sirius said, his easy-going facade faltering just a bit. James glanced at him and tried to cheer him up with that classic confidence that never quite stretched all the way to his own brain.

"He'll come around, it was an accident, and no one got hurt. It all worked out, like always. Just give him a few more days, right?"

Sirius nodded, but he didn't look so sure.

Remus and Peter sat in the library for the third night that week, looking over their transfiguration notes. OWLs were nearly upon them, and Peter needed all the help he could get. He made a mental note to ask James about the exact wandwork for one of the trickier spells on the list. He was debating whether or not to ask them about the exact process for becoming an Animagus because, as was Peter's way, he had managed to forget the second step despite having been through it just a few months prior. He glanced at Remus whose furrowed brow indicated that he was focusing intently, but this couldn't wait. He bit his lip before turning his eyes from his book to his friend.

"Remus?" Remus didn't even glance up, evidently not really paying attention.

"Yeah, Peter?" He said.
"When are you coming back to stay in our dorm again?" Peter asked.

"Not tonight Peter." Remus' concentrated scowl had turned to one of anxiety and slight sadness at the thought of his friends staying in the room with the missing bed for a third night in a row.
"Remus, look, I know Pads and Prongs made a mistake, but…" Peter was cut off.

"They've made mistakes before Peter. I can forgive mistakes, but this was a deliberate action. They put everything in jeopardy, my entire life. They know how people look at people like me in our world, and they did it anyway." Remus whispered this last bit, glancing around fervently to make sure no one could overhear.

"Remus," Peter turned towards him, awkwardly placing a hand on his shoulder, "They're your best friends. I don't know what I'd do without all of you. This back and forth, it's not good for us. We're a team, the four of us yeah? And we need to be united, or else what good are we?"

Peter looked at Remus, a hopeful expression in his bright blue eyes.

James and Sirius were playing a half-hearted game of exploding snap when Remus walked in the room for the first time in three days.

"Remus?" James stood first, Sirius keeping his eyes downcast, not wanting to risk any unwanted contact.

"Moony, it's Moony, Prongs."

James smiled at him, moving forward to embrace him, but Remus put his hands out, stopping him.

"I need to speak to both of you. Sirius?"

Sirius looked up at him, immediately looking away, not daring to meet Remus' eyes.

"This can't happen again."

James and Sirius both nodded fervently, taking in the sternness of their best friend's gaze.

"I can't do this again, it's not worth the risk. You all mean the world to me, but this secret is too dangerous to be trifled with. I need your word that you will never put another person at such a risk to themselves when I'm transformed again."

The two of them nodded once again, staying silent while Remus finished.

"Do I have your word?"

"Yes, of course, Remus we're so…"

"No more apologies. Sirius?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Good to have you back Moony."

Sirius barged past Remus with hardly a second glance leaving for who knows where without even James' invisibility cloak to cover him.

"Should I go after him?"

Remus looked to James who shook his head.

"He needs some time to cool off. He's missed you these past few days, and after everything I think he just needs some time before he can forgive himself, even if you've forgiven us."

Remus nodded, staring after the exit which Sirius just took.

Sirius knew that his family wouldn't be thrilled with his being sorted anywhere else but

Slytherin. He also knew in his heart that he didn't belong there. He was rough around the edges, impulsive and thoughtless, too concerned with others to really care about his own ambitions. He dreaded the thought that he might end up in Hufflepuff, he certainly didn't have a Ravenclaw's brains, but nothing could have prepared him for the house the hat called out that day.

"Gryffindor!"

The word didn't register at first. Sirius jumped off his stool in shock as he heard the boos and hisses coming from so many people whom he recognized from family dinners, Christmases, even one cousin who he was sure had been at his house just a week before the start of term. But none of that mattered because he glanced over to the table that was cheering the loudest, adorned in scarlet and gold and he saw a boy with a shock of red hair beckoning him to join his new house. He made his way over on stiff legs, feeling the pull of this rambunctious group of teenagers pull him into a tight hug, embracing him as one of their own. He glanced over at the group of remaining nervous first years, eye catching the barely contained excitement of the boy he had met on the train, James.

He sat next to a boy who introduced himself as Fabian Prewett, a sixth year Gryffindor prefect, introducing him to his twin brother Gideon who seemed to have a permanent grin across his face. The girl from the train joined their table, adding her own scarlet red hair to the fiery red of the Prewett boys to their delight. She glanced sadly back at the boy from the train who had so mocked Sirius' now beloved house and Sirius glanced at James rolling his eyes and making kissy faces and gestures towards the two of them. That illicited a roar of laughter from James followed by a cleared throat from McGonagall telling the boy to quiet down. Remus Lupin, a sickly looking boy with what looked like far more than eleven years under his belt was quickly sorted into Gryffindor to the cheers of Sirius' new housemates. Marlene Mckinnon joined Lily Evans as the second girl Gryffindor in their year. A boy named Peter Pettigrew became the third boy Gryffindor in their year, a squirrely kid whose house took a whole five minutes to be announced. By now Sirius was starting to get hungry and blamed this stupid kid for likely narrowly escaping Hufflepuff given the look of him.

"James Potter,"

Finally, the moment had arrived. Sirius began to shake with anticipation, watching as the boy he hoped to make so many memories with strutted towards the hat confidently. That confidence could be misleading though. What if he's just that smart and gets sorted into Ravenclaw? Or even worse into Slytherin? Sirius hardly has time to stew over these thoughts when the hat just barely skims James' head shouting "Gryffindor" in nearly an instant.

Sirius cheered the loudest of anyone at the table clapping James on the back, and immediately picking up on their conversation from earlier.

"See, I told you I had a good feeling about you. Not a Slytherin bone in your body."

"What can I say? The crowd's boring, I'd rather be brawny anyway, more fun that way."

James smiled at him, as the two of them dove into the feast.

Sirius scowled as he lay at the top of the astronomy tower, staring at the stars through the clear ceiling. To think that his own sorting had been four whole years ago, sometimes it felt like yesterday. He hadn't even known Moony back then, identified him as some sickly kid keeping him from digging into the roast or whatever they were having that night. But now…he couldn't imagine life without him. And because of Snivellus he had almost lost him for good. Snivellus, the stupid git, sticking his overly large nose into things he had no business poking around in. Sure, maybe Sirius shouldn't have sent him after Remus, but it was his own damn fault and Remus should know that. Sirius left the astronomy tower in a huff, the distinct crashing sound of Peeves making his way towards him pushing him back towards Gryffindor tower in an effort to avoid detention.

Remus approached Lily after five days of stony silence. She was sitting at the Gryffindor table on the opposite side from the Marauders chatting with Marlene McKinnon when Remus approached her. She glanced at the tall, scarred boy making his way over to her side of the table and turned back to Marlene quickly coming up with an excuse.

"I have to get to class, have a question for Slughorn." She said quickly.

Grabbing her bag, Lily hurried out of the great hall, but Remus followed her. Not wanting to cause a scene he pulled back a tapestry that hid a shortcut to the dungeons that he and James discovered in their second year, beating her there easily. She looked at him in shock, glancing around for a way out of the conversation, but Remus is nothing if not determined.

"Lily," he said it plaintively, begging her to give him a chance.

"What do you want Remus?" Lily asked, trying to barge past him moving towards Slughorn's classroom. He followed right behind her, keeping pace easily with his long legs.

"To talk to you," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

She finally stopped in the middle of the hallway, still not glancing at him. "What about?" She asked. Remus raised an eyebrow at her but sighed as he dared to explain.

"Look, the thing with Snape, we didn't mean anything by it…" He tried to begin but was cut off by Lily who finally turned to face him.

"…Which thing Remus? Getting him caught past curfew or humiliating him by dying his robes?"

"I didn't know about either one until after they happened," Remus tried to convince her, but Lily just turned around again, ready to make her way down the last stretch to the classroom.

"Whatever, you're no different than Potter and Black, even Peter, a bunch of arrogant little boys masquerading as men, putting people down for their own amusement," She began walking again as she said this.
However, she had touched a nerve. Remus grabbed her by the arm, pulling her around to face him. She pulled her hand away but froze as he began to speak.

"Come on Lily, it's not like Snape is exactly innocent in all this."
She bit her lip, not making eye contact with him. He took this as a sign that she at least somewhat agreed with him.

But still she said, "I don't know what you mean."

"He gives as good as he gets…" Remus began.

"In defense!" She protested.

"Not always. He just doesn't make it a spectacle. But running around like a junior death eater with Avery and Mulciber. You want to talk about boys masquerading…"

"Why do you think he does that? He's a Slytherin Remus, to avoid those others would be a death sentence. It's not like he actually believes in it." Lily looked down at this, as if she really wasn't sure if she believed her words know. Remus took this as an opportunity to speak up.
"Oh he doesn't?"

"Why else would he be friends with me?" Lily asked.

"I can think of a few reasons." Remus scoffed. Lily shoved his arm a little bit at that. He winced, her hand having touched the fresh scar on his arm from a night of scratching at himself as a werewolf, alone in the shrieking shack for the first full moon in quite a few months. Lily was distracted from their argument for a moment.

"What's that?"

She pointed to the deep scratch just visible on Remus' arm. He quickly pulled down his sleeve to hide it.

"Nothing. Hit a branch playing quidditch with James."

"Remus," she tried to push the subject further, but he spoke up again.

"Look, Lily, can we get back to the matter at hand? I'm not here to argue with you about Snape. Whatever he is as a person he doesn't deserve to be humiliated so publicly and so frequently. I am sorry and I just don't want to lose you as a friend. Think about forgiving me?" He asked it with that same pleading look in his eyes.

"I'll think about it," she replied.
"That's all I ask," he said.

"Ok, but Remus," she tried once again to broach the subject of the scratch, but Remus was too quick for her.

"I've got to go," he said.

Remus hiked his bag up, rushing off down the hallway before Lily could ask him about the long scratch that most definitely didn't come from a branch.

Remus didn't turn up for potions class, much to James' and Sirius' surprise. It had been a few days since the full moon, and he had seemed to be in better shape. James made sure to take diligent notes on Slughorn's instructions to show him afterwards. He and Sirius made their way back to the Gryffindor common room with Peter trailing behind.

"You know, we've really got to come up with a winning end of year prank idea." Sirius said.

"I've got a few ideas." James replied with a smirk. They made their way to the portrait of the fat lady.

"Shrivelfig" Sirius said, as the portrait swung open revealing the hole.

Remus had spent the afternoon soothing his many cuts and bites in the Prefect's bathroom. As much as Madame Pomfrey tried to assist with her various potions and salves, he sometimes enjoyed the relaxation of soothing his injuries in a more traditional muggle way. It's how his mother used to help him get through full moons, the hot water burning at first before seeping into his aching muscles and making him feel much better. After his bath he made his way back to the Gryffindor common room where he found his roommates whispering excitedly over a piece of parchment, never a good sign.

They heard him approach and James spoke up. "Moony, come here we want to show you something."

"What is it?" He asked, concern lacing his tone.

"Listen to that tone. It's as if he doesn't trust us." Sirius said with a grin.
"Now Moony, given our recent moral lapse we have a plan to make it up to everyone." James said.
"What plan?" Remus asked.

"See for yourself." James handed the parchment to Remus who looked it over skeptically.
His eyebrows raised as he glanced down the paper and he shook his head with a light chuckle.

"Flooding the great hall?" He looked at Sirius questioningly

"I believe what you mean to say is giving the whole of Hogwarts a relaxing beach party to kick off the summer." Sirius replied with a wide grin, shared equally by James.

Remus grinned at them both with a shake of his head.

"Alright, I'm in what do you need from me?"

They laughed clapping Remus on the back, Sirius letting out an "Attaboy Moony."

The group began discussing their plans for this ultimate prank, while Remus looked around at them amazed at his luck in scoring such friends.

In their first year Remus had just been glad for the chance to attend Hogwarts at all. When he was young, around 6 or 7, he had convinced himself that some magical savior would swoop in and allow him access to Hogwarts despite his mother and father's reservations. He knew about his condition, and understood what it meant, but he hadn't quite grasped how dangerous he really was. Every full moon his mother would lock him alone in the cellar, he would transform painfully, bite and scratch at himself, and emerge from the basement covered in new scars. But no one would be hurt, not because of him, so he thought a similar arrangement would be possible at Hogwarts. By the time he was eight that fantasy had died away.

His father decided to sit him down and said: "I need to speak to you plainly Remus. You're getting older, and I know how you've looked forward to going to Hogwarts year after year. But I'm afraid…with your condition. Your mother and I are going to have to teach you from home. Plenty of respectable wizards have received a home school education son, and I just…"

Remus had run away after that, ran off into the woods behind his home and cried for two hours straight. Great fat tears rolled down his face knowing that he would never be able to walk through those big castle doors his father had described so lovingly, never be sorted into one of the four houses, Ravenclaw he suspected greatly. He realized that his savior had not come after all, there was no such thing, or so he thought. That savior did eventually come, when at the age of ten, Albus Dumbledore became headmaster.

"Remus, there's some mail for you."

Remus pulled himself out of bed, despite still feeling very weak from the full moon the night before. However, at the prospect of mail just for him he was taken aback enough to push through the pain and see who could possibly have sent him something. Perhaps one of his grandparents? Although his birthday had long since passed. He walked forward and, to his great surprise, was handed a letter with the Hogwarts crest embossed in a wax seal. He slit it open quickly, ripping the envelope in his enthusiasm, and pulled the letter out with trembling hands.

Dear Mr. Lupin,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely,

Horace Slughorn

Deputy Headmaster

Remus nearly sobbed. After all his doubts, he would be going to Hogwarts after all. He looked at his mother as if questioning the validity of the letter in his hands. His father was the one who confirmed it, stepping forward with a stern look on his face.

"Now Remus, you will have a meeting with Professor Dumbledore before the start of term. He will explain to you how they will be taking care of your condition. You are under no circumstances to tell anyone about it do you understand? Professor Dumbledore has been kind enough to accept you we can't risk anyone finding out. If anyone knew…"

"I understand, Dad. I won't tell anyone."

Remus was broken out of his reminiscing by James speaking up.

"Well, I've got to head out, detention with Minnie again you know?"

Remus glanced up.

"Yeah, alright, have a good time Prongs."

"Will do," Prongs winked, holding up his mirror with which Remus knew Sirius would be on the other side discussing their newest prank. He smiled, watching him head off while Sirius berated Peter for spilling water on the parchment they'd been writing on.

As he watched Sirius raise his wand to Peter who responded with a spell of his own, shouting:

"Expelliarmus!" He laughed as Peter immediately shrunk down to his rat form, holding the wand between his teeth while Sirius was forced to chase him around the room growling and trying to jump on him to reach Peter's rat form. Remus could swear he could hear the rat giggling as he kept away, and he laughed out loud as well. Remus watched two of his best friends, who spent the better part of the last three years becoming Animagi just for him. He knew that despite his father's initial nerves at least he had them to rely on.