The Christmas break couldn't have ended soon enough. Sirius most of all was glad that he had escaped from his nightmare of a home. But he worried for Regulus. During hsi time at home, he kept his brother as close as he could. They both needed it, the warmth and comfort they could only salvage from each other. With a bittersweet taste on his tongue Sirius left his brother to the nightmare house and boarded the train to Hogwarts with fresh marks all over his bodies. 

Luckily in the places where it could be hidden by his uniform.

But there was something else that worried not only him but also Peter and James. That being Remus's dissappearances. Every once in while he'd wander off. Wouldn't return for the night and only the next morning. Every time they asked him about it, the lies became more ridiculous. 

Quiddich season had come and gone, and the four boys were so engrosssed in their plan and pranks that they barely noticed not even James. The masked man hadn't done much. He just wandered around the school not really doing much before dissaperating.

It was the second of April and Sirius was still chuckling about yesterday, April Fools day. What had the four trouble-making boys done? Absolutely nothing. It had been so amusing to watch people flinch when they came near. Remus's plan was indeed working.

He walked into the dorm and realised Remus was changing. It usualy didn't matter to Sirius if it was Peter or James but Remus was so damned secretive about it he usually avoided the boy when he changed. But he walked in and Remus didn't even notice. His back was turned to him.

It was bare and scars riddled it with the subtlety of a hurricane. It made Sirius grab at his own collarbone where the purple bruise was fading to yellow. He'd almost asked if Remus's parents hit him too.

But he remembered Lyall's words and Hope's liveliness and decided it was impossible. There was something else that he was missing. Instead he plastered a grin on his face and said:

"Wotcher Remus!"

Remus turned with a smile.

"Hey Sirius! Where's James and Peter?"

He'd almost forgotten about them in his rememberance of April Fools.

"James got detention for putting dungbombs in Snivellus's pocket. Peter is also there because he almost set Snape on fire trying to help James."

"You should really stop pestering him."

Sirius shrugged. "Where you off to?"

"The Library to find some more books. Wanna come?"

Sirius usually declined the offer, though he often found that when he did come along he like Remus's company. Afterall they ended up doing more talking than reading.

So the two of them sauntered off to the Library. Remus laughing as Siriys animatedly reinacted James and Peter's escapade.

"And the Snivelly started running around screaming like a girl."

With that Sirius ran circles around Remus shrilly screaming, causing Remus to double over in bouts of laughter. Sirius found himself grinning. He liked it when Remus laughed, especially of he was the one who made him laugh.

They finally arrived at the Library.

Remus perused through the shelves of books while Sirius commented on his choice ("Really Remus, that's OWL's level Potions.") as Remus shot back curses ("Piss off Sirius, I can read what I want.").

Remus signed off as Sirius helped him carry his twenty or so books.

Remus J Lupin. His signature read.

"You have a middle name?" asked Sirius.

"Most people do Sirius Orion Black."

"Point taken." said Sirius. "What's yours?"

"No telling."

"C'mon you know mine!"

"Guess." said Remus calmly.

"Juniper."

"No."

"Joseph?"

"No."

"Jupiter?"

"No."

"Judas?"

"No."

"Jeremiah, Jehova, Jondalar?"

"No, no and no."

"Jackofsky?"

"Is that one ever real?"

"Stuff it! Jelena?"

"Hell no!"

"Thaddeus."

"That doesn't even start with J!"

"It could have been a fancy T."

Laughing the two walked across the hall. When all of a sudden Remus pulled Sirius behind a wall. Professor Ambrosius Woodbead was having a very serious conversation with Lucius Malfoy.

"Sneaking around after dark?"

"I'm a prefect Sir!"

"But does that give you permission to wander the school willy-nilly neglecting your prefect duties."

"But Sir."

"No buts. If I catch you at it once again I will report to Dumbledore."

The were brisk footsteps as the Professor walked away.

~~~

James had his feet kicked atop the desk as he joked with Peter. The laughter died a little. Then James looked at Peter with a serious expression.

"You fancy anyone Pete?"

"No."

"C'mon you can tell me..."

Peter turned pink before saying.

"Ophelia Aarons."

"The Ravenclaw?"

"Yeah her."

"You know after we catch the masked man, our next mission will be to help you score a date with her." promised James.

"Thanks James."

~~~

A/N: Short chapter because I'm lazy. But please if you can give me some ideas for marauders pranks that would be great.

Cya next chapter! 

I've basically finished writing this story out on paper. So let me know when you want me to update bc its all ready.