Peter was in the library. He had been studying really hard. He wanted to show his parents some good grades and there would be just a few assignments before the Christmas break. He then found Lupin. Peter did not get the pale, strange boy. He never seemed to enjoy it when Potter and Black bullied him or Sev and he was so studious and still he followed them around and was friends with them.

Lupin must have noticed Peter's staring as he gave a small wave as he coughed awkwardly. "Why are you friends with them? You don't have to hang around with them. You could surround yourself with people that are not-" Peter was thinking for the right words. "Bullies and arrogant toe-rags." Peter then gulps. "Do they eve treat you right?" What if he had not been right and he had offended Lupin.

However Lupin smiled. "We sat together on the train didn't we? It was Peter right?" Peter nods confusedly. He looked a bit awkwardly at the ground as he suddenly seemed unable to look Peter in his eyes. "James and Sirius are just joking around.."

Peter had never been good at sticking up for himself as he heard himself agree and laugh it off. His face flushed. It was not okay, he felt his body scream and he crossed his arms, swallowed and looked Lupin straight in the eyes ready tell him exactly that.

"Lupin," Sev then sneered. "Get out of my way."

Sev then took a book and looked at him with a smile. "Are you coming? I cannot imagine you actually enjoy his company."

Peter flushed and felt troubled. Lupin had seemed so studious and he had been kind on the train, why would he hang out with the likes of Potter and Black. He felt confused. Sev was impatiently waiting for Peter and gave him a strange look.

The collision had bothered Peter the moment since it happened. He had not seen Lupin alone much. He was many times in the company of them or in the library, but he could hardly talk to them with Severus breathing down his neck. No, he had to face him alone.

Then his time came. Black, Potter and Lupin always were rowdy. Lupin seemed more tired and bleak then usual as he told them that he had to visit his sick grandma. He quickly walked to a less crowded hallway. Peter scurried after him and grabbed his sleeve. "Look James, Sirius, thanks for the worries, but like I said my grandma is frail and I just have to visit. I will be fine, my whole family is there, you don't have to come along.

Peter thought is was weird he did not even turn to look at him. It was as if he was unable to look at them, but Peter could not understand why, he only did that when he lied or was feeling particularly shy or embarrassed. "It's not them. It is Peter. Remember, from the train. And I wanted to tell you that your friends are not funny. What they did was mean! You don't use a balding potion on a girl, even if it is your cousin and she is really scary. You don't levitate people into the lake on cold days. Sev and Farah still have a cold. And you definitely do not throw rat spleens in someones cauldron. That was really painful." He showed his red marks on his arms.

Lupin looked embarrassed. "I'll talk to them. They just go too far sometimes. They don't mean it badly. Honesty."

"You keep telling that yourself," Peter spat. "I don't know why I am being nice to you. You are just as bad as them." Peter then walked away.