A/N: I was always interested at how Lupin would react when he found out about the incident with Sirius sending Snape to the Shrieking Shack. This is my take on it. One Shot. Constructive Critisism greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not Harry Potter or anything connected with it.

Forgive, But Never Forget

Dawn was just tingeing the horizon pale when they stumbled back into the dormitory. Normally they were all laughing, full of themselves and their exploits. Not this time. Jokes fell flat and laughs were hollow. Everyone knew why, it hung over them like a cloud no one dared to mention.

They did not even speak as they settled down to pretend they had been in their beds all night. Silence was oppressive, but it was cheerful compared to actually discussing the events of the night.

How could he? How could Sirius have done such a thing? Remus knew that Sirius hated Snape. But he had never thought that he would go this far. Surely he had thought it through. Surely he wouldn't have come so close to ruining his friend. But he had.

He knew his friend as well as anyone. Sirius was as loyal and honest a friend as anyone But he was rash. He was reckless. He never thought ahead. He could be blinded by emotions. He also never regretted anything. Sirius would apologise for what he had nearly done, but he would show no remorse.

Remus thought that Sirius had understood his condition. That he knew what he would do to any of them in human form. They all had seen what he had done to himself before they came along. He thought they all understood why they had to be in animal form. Sirius evidently had not.

He shuddered to think of what he could have done; what he would have done, if not for James. James had saved not one life but two when he stopped Snape. If he had killed – mauled, eaten, destroyed – Snape, he would have been ruined, expelled. Dumbledore would have suffered too. No werewolf would ever again be allowed at Hogwarts, had Sirius succeeded.

James hated Snape as well, but Remus was proud that he had seen past that. Sometimes he thought that James was becoming the best out of all of them. He at least had some forethought. Sirius was too reckless. Peter too willing to conform. And he himself? He was a werewolf.

He would forgive Sirius, of course. How could he not? The four of them were brothers. He would forgive him; but he would never forget. Never forget how his best friend had come so close to ruining him.