A/N: there's some pretty nasty homophobic stuff in this chapter, but nothing massively important to the storyline happens so please skip over it if you're going to be upset by it! stay safe xx

As James walked to his class he had time to reflect further on yesterday. He liked to think that he already had a pretty good grip on his own situation, he knew where he was going and who he could trust, he rued the fact that the same could not be said for all of his friends.

He knew that Sirius was only acting out of love, all that Sirius had talked about the night prior was how he could try to help Remus, but he had to be careful-they all did. 

James was happy that Peter had found a friend in Ruby, but he was falling too hard too fast, and Peter wasn't great at keeping secrets. He wasn't afraid that Peter would start shouting to the hills about everything they were hiding, James trusted Peter, but not Ruby. There was something about that girl that he couldn't quite put his finger on, but he was airing on the side of caution, to say the least.

James was trying hard as he could not to pity Remus, that's not what he needed. If truth be told, James knew that Remus would be fine if he was alone, because he's always fine. James' job now was to make sure that no one, Marauders included, does anything to make his life harder. James knew that Remus didn't need anyone to fight his battles for him, but he knew how to throw a punch before he learned to wave a wand and was not afraid to put that to use for any one of his friends. 

James managed to dodge through the crowd of people outside his form room and found B a step back from everyone else, not accompanied by the blonde that was there yesterday. 

"Hey." James greeted, deciding that he would make a friend in B, figuring that some common ground might be nice. 

B made an almost pleasant noise of greeting without looking up, her hair fell in her face, obstructing her from view. James recognised that this was not an accident. He wondered if he should press this matter or let it slide, but he had never been one to ignore someone who might be in pain. 

"Are you okay?" He asked, trying to sound conversational, though he could hear the concern in his own voice. 

"Just not a morning person." B laughed, but it caught in her throat, she lifted her head slightly as not to seem rude, but not so much that her features could be seen.

James nodded in agreement and stood back against the wall next to her. He couldn't help but worry, he didn't want to impose but he had spent so long watching his friends struggle in silence that he wished she could just talk to him. This was ridiculous, seeing that they had known each other for less than a day, but James had such a protective instinct that he couldn't put the feeling away. 

Mr Shipway turned up punctually and strode through the door, neither acknowledging the pupils or caring if the door hit them as it closed behind him. 

James followed B to the back of the class and sat opposite her. He didn't speak for a while but noticed that she didn't seem to have the same mischevious air about her as the day before. 

The register was taken and James decided to try and strike up a conversation.  

"One of my friends, Peter, said he and Remus met you yesterday, he seemed to like you."

B let out a sigh and finally looked properly at James. There was a cut on her lip and a bruise shining on her temple. James felt a sinking feeling inside him.

"Just...tell your friends to be more careful, please." B's voice shook with something between anger and worry. James was confused above all else, he had no idea how this could have anything to do with him.

"What do you mean? What happened, B?" 

She was clearly hesitant to answer, seeming torn between telling James the truth and sparing his feelings. 

"Someone saw your friends kissing and, I don't know, maybe they think I'm rubbing off on the new kids or something so decided to remind me how things work around here." She spoke quietly, but casually, as if she was just describing a normal trip to school. 

"Oh my God, that's awful, I'm so sorry. Shouldn't you tell someone?" James felt guilt eating up inside him. Sirius and Remus knew they had to be careful, they always had been, it was so unlike them to be so reckless as to be seen kissing. 

"Are you kidding?" She laughed for real this time. "I damn near passed out at Shipway's feet one morning and all he had to say was 'You're bleeding'. Once one person in this school knows something, everyone knows it, you've just got to keep your head down and stay out of trouble." 

Staying out of trouble had never been their forté at Hogwarts, but James had a feeling that would have to change pretty sharpish. They couldn't let themselves get hurt.

As horrible as it made him feel, James knew that he would have to warn the others about this, there was no way they had the power to change it, so they would just have to deal with it.

The rest of the lesson was spent in pregnant silence, James deep in thought about what he could do to make life easier for his friends, new and old. B was still unsure about how she felt opening up to James, but she supposed that he understood, on some level, what she was dealing with, and some common ground might be nice.

Peter walked slowly to his class, he felt jittery, but nowhere near as nervous as he had been the day previous. He was excited to spend more of the day with his friends, but also anxious to see Ruby again. Whenever he thought about her he felt unsettled and weird but in a good way.

He felt bad for it, but Peter was having a hard time relating to the other's woes when he was so transfixed with Ruby, there was a quiet curiosity in both of them. She was different, and he wanted to know how so. 

Peter sat quietly through form and tried not to draw attention to himself. He was succeeding until he realised that he was accidentally listening in on a conversation that struck him as suspicious.

"...look, there's nothing wrong with being a bit queer, just don't shove it in my face is all I'm asking!" A boy that Peter recognised as Scott was listening closely with a disgusted look on his face as one of his friends remarked his statement. 

"Nah, it's not right. James reckons the whole lot of 'em are fags. Bet it's 'cause they went to some whack boarding school or something." Scott replied feverishly. 

"Well, we bumped into Les this morning, I reckon she'll pass the message on..." The girl who spoke had an evil look on her face, the kind that is only joyful when something despicable is happening. 

Peter started to feel sick, he was certain that he and his friends were being discussed in this awful way.

"Yeah well if they don't get the message, I'm sure Scarface wouldn't mind another one to add to the collection." The whole table laughed with Scott as Peter's fears were confirmed. 

Peter was selfishly glad that no one recognised him as part of his group, he was too afraid of what might happen if they had to speculate on how they could possibly know about Remus and Sirius. He knew that people wouldn't exactly support their relationship, if he was being completely honest, Peter didn't fully understand it himself, but this was the first time he had ever heard anyone be so openly cruel. 

Peter shrank into his seat and kept his head down until he was safely on his way to his first lesson. He had to warn the others about what had been said, or they would all be in certain danger, he was sure of it.