What was he doing in this place? wondered Remus as he walked with John, the outer Azkaban guard, through the maze of cells. Prisoners screamed random words, hitting themselves against the bars or walls. Dementors glided around the place. Remus was glad of his Patronus circling him.

"Here," said John, stopping beside a top security cell.

Remus suddenly felt nervous about seeing the traitor after so many days.

Sirius was huddled on the floor, leaning against the wall. He seemed to be muttering something—Remus thought vaguely that he heard James' name. He suddenly noticed how thin and tired his once best friend looked, and he thought he didn't want to see him in this state. Then he steeled his heart.

Sirius deserved it. And a lot worse actually.

"Remus?"

Sirius' hoarse whisper startled Remus. Sirius got to his feet slowly and approached the bar, blinking.

"Remus—you came..." said Sirius.

Remus glared at Sirius. "I just came to know why you gave away our friends." His voice was so harsh that Sirius flinched.

"You don't believe them, Moony...you don't think I did it?"

Remus couldn't believe his ears.

"I didn't...I could never—" said Sirius, sounding dreadfully earnest. "It was Peter..."

"HOW DARE YOU BLAME PETER?" shouted Remus, losing his temper. "Peter died trying to avenge James and Lily—you killed him—traitor—"

"I didn't betray them!" cried Sirius. "Please believe me, Moony—"

Shouldn't Dementors affect him more? How could he speak so sanely?

"The Muggles saw you!" said Remus fiercely. "And you were their Secret Keeper, Sirius, don't deny it."

"I wasn't—I wasn't,' said Sirius pleadingly. "At least hear me out once, Remus—please?"

Remus clearly saw the hope in Sirius' gray eyes. He realized with a start that though his looks had changed, his eyes hadn't...they were Sirius' eyes...the Sirius' who hadn't betrayed them...

--------------------

"And I've brought a friend..."

*****

"Ever heard of the saying, prevention is better than cure, Remmie?"

"Don't call me that. Are you really going, then?"

"Do you feel ill?"

"No."

"Peter, take Remus back to the common room."

*****

"I won't miss you at all."

"Neither will I."

"But I'll miss you, Remus!"

*****

"Since we have to submit it today, and you three haven't started it. But this is the last time—"

"You are letting us? You say that every time. Good old Remus—what will we ever do without you?"

"Idiots. Now will you please let me concentrate?"

*****

"And they call you the smartest boy in our year."

"You are a complete idiot, Remus. Why, you are our friend. How did you ever think that we would desert you?"

"And suppose we did. Then who will get us out of all those detentions by charming the Professors like a good little boy?"

"Not to mention that we would lose half the brains behind the ingenious pranks."

"We would not be the Marauders without you, Remus!"

*****

"Thanks...it means a lot to me."

"Don't you dare cry. Marauders don't cry."

"Um...new rule?"

"Yeah."

*****

"We can't leave Remus to face his transformations alone."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll make it less painful for you, somehow."

"Sirius...you will do nothing of that sort. Promise me you will never follow me down there?"..."Please...I couldn't live with it if I hurt you. Any of you. Promise me—"

"All right—I promise."

*****

"As animals."

"That's a brilliant idea. But I think you've overlooked a little problem—all three of you are humans. Unfortunately."

"I know that. But didn't you listen to Professor McGonagall yesterday? People can transform into animals!"

"Animagus, you mean. Well...it's an idea..."

"No, James, it's not an idea. You know Sirius is crazy—he always is, as a matter of fact..."

"I was serious, Remus!"

*****

"You see if we don't succeed in a few months, Moony."

"Moony? What sort of name is that?"

"It suits you!"

"How are you, Moony?"

"Have you finished your homework, Moony? Will you let us copy it, Moony?"

"Good night, Moony!"

"Idiots."

*****

"Don't you think there's something wrong with Lupin?"

"I'll show you what WRONG means, Snivellus!"

*****

"You deserve a prize for your knowledge in Goblin Rebellions."

"When will you all grow up?"

"One grown up is enough in a dorm, Moony."

*****

"You make a good looking wolf, Moony."

"I don't know how to thank the three of you."

"Don't."

*****

"No—it's ok if you want to go home. I'll be fine."

"Haven't four years with us taught you anything? We're friends. We're the Marauders. We stick together, Moony."

*****

"I trust you, Sirius. You, James and Peter stood beside me even after you discovered what I am. One mistake can't change that."

*****

"That's why you are doing this, isn't it? To get back at Lily through her best friend?"..."That's something only you can think of, Padfoot."

*****

"It's a mercy we didn't kill anyone or get killed ourselves. Or get arrested, either."

"That's what happens if we trust Padfoot in anything."

*****

"And don't worry. We'll always be together—the four of us. If Dementors attack, we'll protect you—me and James."

"I know you will, Padfoot."

*****

"Are you afraid of me, Padfoot?"

"Sorry, I'm not. You could be many things, but you could never be scary."

*****

"Crucio!" "Crucio!" "Crucio!"

"DON'T YOU DARE HURT HIM AGAIN!"..."Avada Kedavra."

--------------------

Remus turned and fled from the place, tears streaming down his cheeks, his heart aching so hard that he wanted to die.

Behind him, Sirius cried, "MOONY—MOONY, PLEASE...Remus..."

His broken, tearful voice suggested that he was going through as much pain as Remus was.

Choking with sobs, Remus ran, his Patronus following him. With a vicious slash of his wand, it vanished. The Dementors, though didn't attack him, made him relive his worst memories as usual.

His head spinning, Remus realized that the best memories of his life now hurt him far worse than his worst memories did.