The boys' dorm was a mess. Except for the pristine corner that belonged to Remus, everything was in perfect order. The beds were unmade, clothes strewn about the place and there was a table leg stuck to the ceiling beside a very disgusting looking substance that no one spoke about.

After the previous evening, the boys had left Remus in the care of Madam Pomfrey before trudging back to their own dorms for some much-needed rest.

Sirius was staring at Remus' corner of the room.

Last night had been a bad moon and they were waiting on James to return before they would ambush Madam Pomfrey to check on their fourth friend. Peter was scribbling away in a book, glancing up every now and again to check if anyone was watching him. However, Sirius was lost in his own world, mumbling lyrics to a muggle song he had on record whilst simultaneously twirling his wand between his fingers. "Lunch is served!" Announced James, bursting into the dorm room before bowing dramatically. He almost dropped the plate of sandwiches that were saved by a quick-thinking Peter who caught them just in time.

"I prefer my sandwiches without bits of dirt on them thanks." Smirked Sirius, winking at Peter as he grabbed a sandwich and jumped back on his bed, crossing his legs beneath him. "Can't see why." said James dryly, holding back a real chuckle as he gave Peter his share of the food.

************

The infirmary was as quiet as always when the boys traipsed in, laughing with one another.

James ruffled his hair upon seeing the closed off bed, only a few down from Remus' designated spot. Sirius paused and remembered the evening before they had slipped off to help Remus and his furry little problem. Peter couldn't even bear to look in the direction of her bed; he anxiously wiped his hands on his trousers, eyes bouncing from wall to wall, never settling.

"Mr Black. Mr Potter. Mr Pettigrew."

Upon hearing their names, Peter smiled shyly, Sirius grinned and James flashed her a charming smile. "Hiya Poppy." James greeted. The matron rolled her eyes with pursed lips.

"I hope you do not plan on standing in the doorway forever." She scolded, hands on her hips as she looked them up and down, attempting to understand if they would cause much trouble- but who was she kidding? They were the Marauders after all. "Of course not." replied Sirius, hands tucked into his pockets as he rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet. "Just here to see Remus." Pomfrey stiffly nodded whilst the boys ventured further into the ward.

"I expect noise levels to be kept at a minimum- we have other patients here boys." She warned with a stern glare, before walking away. Remus was at the very back of the hospital wing.

************

As Sirius approached Remus, he noted the boy was awake and already reading with an open chocolate bar on the bedside table next to him, courtesy of Madame Pomfrey.

James couldn't help but chuckle at the usual antic. Remus looked up and spotted his friends with a smile before eyeing them suspiciously- they were smirking. "What did you do?" He questioned, narrowing his eyes which made Sirius let out a bark of laughter as he sunk into the closest seat. "Nothing Moony." James teased with his usual grin, and Remus uncertainly nodded and focussed back on his book, although he fought back another smile. He would never admit out aloud how much it meant to have the boy surrounding him after a full moon. It was the fact that they gave some of their time to see him that touched his heart.

The boys sat in their usual places; Peter on the foot of the bed, munching on a chocolate bar that he happily shared with Remus and the others, Sirius on the chair beside the bed with his feet up on the bed with James lounging on a chair that he always dragged from across the ward.

Remus couldn't help but notice Sirius' eyes glancing back at the bed only a few away.

He sighed dramatically, revelling in the fact that he was just as dramatic as the other (if not more so) as he slammed his book closed and pouted. "Here I thought you came to see me." He whined with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he continued, "Yet you're barely giving me any attention." He chuckled, taking a large bite of his chocolate bar, savouring it as he sighed.

"Sorry mate, but you're not giving me attention, are you?" Sirius smirked back and Remus nodded in agreement with a grin that made Peter grin too; he found it hilarious when Remus would let his real Marauder show. "True, but why would I want to give you attention? You're horrible to look at." He joked, and Sirius laughed, loudly, causing James to snigger and Peter to snort. Madam Pomfrey glared at the boys who all shared a look at one another as she promptly turned away again, mumbling under her breath as she kept a close eye. "We both know I am a gorgeous specimen Moony." Sirius retorted, arms above his head as if to prove his point.

Remus rolled his eyes with a smirk of his own gracing his features. "Alright, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night Padfoot." He teased, before turning back to his book, his expression falling to a grimace as he fidgeted on his bed.

A sharp pain shot through his side, but he contained his reaction to a mere wince as he got more comfortable. In comparison to the agony of the full moon, it was practically a pin prick. But James noticed. He jumped to his feet, moving to help Remus until the boy held his arm out, preventing James for getting any closer. "Mate you're in pain." He complained, reluctantly stopping in his tracks, glancing to Peter and Sirius for support. His voice was a mixture of worry and concern as his eyes flickered back to Remus friend who cleared his throat as if nothing had happened.

"I'm fine." He said stubbornly, beginning to pick up his book again.

James growled a little, "No you're not-"

"Yes, I am-"

"No, you're not."

"Am too." Remus scowled.

James huffed, "Am not-"

"Stop it." Remus rubbed his eyes for a moment before sighing heavily at the end. "Just, let it go this once. Alright?" he pleaded. James went silent and thought for a moment as Sirius went to object- but a scream broke him off.