Remus was sitting in the Hogwarts library, studying Transfiguration, when he suddenly saw Sirius entering the library, drawing quizzical looks from some people. Evidently, Sirius Black in the library wasn't an everyday occurrence.

Sirius spotted a tall girl at the other end of the library and he waved and roared, "Hi, Andy!"

Every pair of eyes turned to him. Andy, whom Remus Lupin knew to be a 6th year Ravenclaw Prefect Andromeda Black, waved back at Sirius, her lips twitching.

"I told you Holyhead Harpies would lose! I told you!" yelled Sirius. "I won the bet, see?" His voice grew louder with every word.

Andromeda shook with silent laughter and pressed a finger to her lips.

"So you owe me—" began Sirius.

"Mr. Black!" shrieked Madam Pince, the librarian. "What do you mean by this sort of behaviour! This is a library!"

Sirius put on a most apologetic expression and walked towards Remus, who had been watching the scene with amusement.

"Hey, Remus," said Sirius in a friendly manner.

"Hi, Sirius," said Remus, smiling shyly.

Sirius peered over Remus shoulder and saw his Transfiguration essay and four large books open on the table.

"So that's why we never see you in the common room in the evening. You are in the library," said Sirius, rather mockingly.

Remus felt his cheeks burn, he stared down at the table, refusing to meet Sirius's eyes.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with that!" said Sirius.

Remus looked at him.

"I suppose we do get the occasional studious one in the Gryffindor too..."

"Is Gryffindor a house of dunces, then?" asked Remus sarcastically.

"Not exactly. But what I meant was, there are exceptions in everything. Even Peter can get full marks in a Charms essay. Even Snivellus can wash his hair one day—no, that'll never happen...even you can not study for one evening, Remus."

"Sirius?"

"What?"

"You are talking nonsense."

"I'm not! What I meant was, come on, leave studies for a while..."

"Where are James and Peter?" asked Remus.

"Detention," said Sirius gloomily. "Without me—imagine!"

"So sad," agreed Remus gravely.

Sirius looked at him. "Are you making fun of me?" he enquired.

"Most certainly not," said Remus courteously.

"Oh, all right. Come on, let's go and hex some Slytherins." Sirius tugged at Remus' arm.

"Have you finished your Transfiguration essay?" asked Remus severely.

"No," said Sirius. "Which one was that again?"

"The one which we've got to submit tomorrow," said Remus.

"What do essays matter?"

"They do," said Remus, even more severely. "Otherwise how will you get an education?"

"You sound like an old aunt," said Sirius.

Remus blushed. "But you'll get detention tomorrow."

"Big deal," said Sirius. He eyed the books on the table which Remus had been consulting. "These books," he said in disgust. "They get on my nerves." Sirius stood up, lifted two of them and tossed them aside. They fell on the ground with a resounding bang.

"Sirius," gasped Remus, horrified. "They are library books!" He bent to pick them. Sirius swiped the other two thick books off the table too.

The sound was even louder this time. Every person in the library was staring at the two of them.

"Mr. Black!" Madam Pince descended on the offender like a vulture. "Are you crazy?"

"Why?" said Sirius, very politely.

"You are damaging the school's property!" she shrieked.

Remus had picked up the books silently and stared at Sirius and Madam Pince.

"Hey, books can be cured. And besides, it's not like I'm doing them harm," said Sirius placatingly. "Madam, why do you even keep these books? They just make bookworms like Remus—" Sirius prodded Remus on his shoulder, "study even more." Sirius swiped the books off the table again.

"How dare you?" screeched Madam Pince. "Such insolence! Such arrogance!" Her voice had risen to a terrible pitch in fury.

"Madam, I must ask you to lower your voice. It is a library, after all."

This was too much both Madam Pince and Remus.

Remus doubled up, helpless with laughter.

"DETENTION!" shrieked Madam Pince. "I will not tolerate such behaviour in my library!"

"Your library?" asked Sirius in polite incredulity.

Remus roared with laughter; he couldn't help it. There were tears of laughter in his eyes and he had got a dreadful stitch in his stomach.

Seeing Remus in that state, Sirius, who had managed to keep a remarkably straight face so far, dissolved in laughter too.

Both of them, screaming with laughter, banging the table, was not a pretty sight for the librarian.

"Detention for you too, Mr. Lupin! And both of you will leave the library AT ONCE!"

The mention of detention sobered Remus a little. He hastily collected his belongings and left the library with Sirius, still laughing.

"Report to Filch's office, you dimwitted idiots—you arrogant—you..." Madam Pince's ranting voice could be heard behind them.

"So, detention," said Sirius cheerfully. "Come on, we'll meet James and Peter." He dragged Remus by his arm.

Remus did not remember any person as easygoing, mischievous and likeable as Sirius Black. Maybe it was only wishful thinking that Sirius would become his friend, but Remus had an inkling that it was not.

"Remus," said Sirius confidentially. "I'll tell you a secret."

"What?" asked Remus curiously.

"I wanted to get detention today," he said. "James and Peter are pretty hopeless without me."

"I bet they are," said Remus, his lips twitching.

They reached Filch's office. He gave them instructions to join James and Peter in cleaning out an old storeroom.

"Fine job," muttered Sirius. He brightened up when he saw his two friends. "Hey, James, Peter, I'm here!"

His friends grinned and beckoned him over.

"And I've brought a friend!" said Sirius, pulling Remus, who had been hiding behind him, forward.

"Hi, Remus!" said James cheerfully.

"Hi," said Remus shyly. He felt a warm glow inside. Sirius had called him his friend! And if James was anything like Sirius, Remus was sure he wanted James as his friend too.

Peter smiled at Remus. Remus smiled too, feeling that he had more in common with Peter than with James and Sirius.

Their detention was finished much more quickly than it would've been without Remus, as he knew a fair few handy spells.

"You are really clever, Remus," said James admiringly, as they were walking back to the common room.

"You and Sirius are much cleverer than me. You'd be able to do much more if you made the effort," retorted Remus.

"Ah, but we don't need to. We'll have you from now on," said Sirius complacently.

Remus' heart filled with joy at his words—at last he had made friends.

Back in the common room, at about ten thirty pm—

"James," Sirius said suddenly. "We haven't finished tomorrow's Transfiguration essay!"

"Oh no," said James remembering. "Detention again, tomorrow."

"And we'll not have Remus tomorrow," groaned Sirius.

"You can copy mine," offered Remus.

James, Sirius and Peter stared at him. Then all of them burst into speech at once.

"Thanks, Remus, you're a brick!" cried James.

"Thank you, Remus!" squeaked Peter.

"You have got me to thank for it," said Sirius importantly.

"Why?" they demanded.

"Cause I taught Remus to break rules. Isn't it, Remus?"

"Well, yes," said Remus reluctantly.

The four new friends laughed.

A/N: The beginning of the Marauders!
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