'You were scared when the lights went out!' Harry couldn't hide his grin.

'I was not,' Malfoy grumbled.

'You tried to grab my arm!'

Malfoy glared across the table. 'Shut up, Potter. Just wait until tomorrow when it's my turn to choose what we do!'

Kreacher came into the kitchen carrying two plates of food. He placed the larger one down carefully in front of Malfoy and shoved the smaller one towards Harry.

'Thank you Kreacher,' Harry said. Kreacher ignored him.

Harry and Malfoy ate their dinner in silence. The silence was more comfortable than it had been in the morning. Maybe spending the day together had tricked Harry's brain into thinking they were friends.

'I just don't understand,' Malfoy said, breaking Harry's thoughts.

'What?'

'The muggles,' he clarified. 'I don't understand how they can do all that stuff. How does it work without magic?'

'I don't know,' Harry admitted. 'Muggles study different things at their schools. Instead of learning about magic they learn about maths, science, and technology so they can invent and build things. Hermione tries to keep up with the muggle stuff. She borrows her cousins school books in the holidays and her parents help her.'

'So, most muggle-borns, ones that aren't nerds like Granger, they have to make a choice between learning about magic and learning about their own world?'

'I guess, I never really thought about it,' Harry admitted. 'I never felt like I belonged in the muggle world so it was easy for me but I suppose it would be hard for other people.'

'Oh.'

They went back to eating in silence. Malfoy had a thoughtful look on his face for the rest of the meal.

It was late the next time Harry saw Malfoy. It was dark outside and Harry was laying on the couch studying the map when Malfoy's dishevelled face appeared above his.

'What the hell are you doing Potter? It's late and I can see your light from my room!'

Harry considered for a moment before he sat up and made room for Malfoy on the couch. When Malfoy sat down Harry passed him the map.

'What's this?' Malfoy asked.

'Hogwarts.'

Malfoy's eyes widened as he took in the dots moving around the map. 'That's … it shows people! How did you get this?'

'Fred and George gave it to me,' Harry said. 'I was using it to see if I could find Pettigrew.'

'Does Sirius know you have this?'

'No, I didn't know how to tell him because …'

'Because the map doesn't show Pettigrew,' Malfoy guessed.

Harry nodded glumly. 'When Ron said Scabbers was gone I knew he'd probably fled from Hogwarts but …' A lump formed in Harry's throat and embarrassingly he felt tears spring to his eyes.

'Potter … Harry, we need to tell Sirius,' Malfoy said. 'We can't just leave him alone at Hogwarts when we know Pettigrew isn't there. The Dementors might catch him or Professor Lupin might recognise him.'

'I know,' Harry admitted.

Malfoy took a deep breath. 'Kreacher!' he called.

Kreacher appeared with a pop. 'Yes, Master Malfoy?' the elf said.

'Kreacher, I need you to go to Hogwarts, find Sirius and bring him home.'

Kreacher frowned but listened to Malfoy and disappeared. He appeared a moment later dragging Sirius with him.

'What are you doing?' Let go of me!' Sirius said.

Kreacher dropped Sirius's arm immediately as though it had burnt him.

'Sirius! I asked him to bring you back!' Malfoy said loudly.

Sirius seemed to realise where he was. 'Harry? Draco? What? Why am I here?'

'Potter, umm, Harry can explain,' Malfoy said.

Harry felt nauseous. Would Sirius be mad at him for keeping this secret? He took a deep breath and avoiding Sirius's gaze, he passed the map over.

Harry heard Sirius's breath catch and looked up to see that Sirius's eyes had widened almost comically. He was running his hands over the map like it was something precious. Harry and Malfoy exchanged a confused glance.

'Where did you get this?' Sirius looked at Harry with wonder.

Harry quickly explained the story.

'I know I should have told you straight away,' he said. 'But Pettigrew was gone and I didn't want to upset you.'

Sirius didn't seem to be listening. His eyes were fixed to the top of the page where Harry knew the names Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were scrawled.

'Sirius?' Harry's voice seemed to brake Sirius from his trance.

'It's late,' he said. 'You two should be in bed. We'll talk about it in the morning.'

Before Harry or Malfoy could argue Sirius hurried upstairs, taking the map with him.

Remus could feel the effects of the upcoming full moon and was relieved that most of the students had gone home for the holidays. The castle was almost empty, giving him some peace and quiet to sulk in his room. As he curled up in his bed, Remus couldn't help but remember that strange conversation he'd had with Harry before the break. Harry either knew about their past or suspected Remus was helping Sirius. What else could that searching gaze while he asked about Sirius meant? But still, Harry had asked Remus for one-on-one lessons, that must mean he still trusted him, right?

Remus exhaled loudly and closed his eyes. He'd worry about Harry after the holidays. He was so tired.

Remus was standing in a dark clearing surrounded by trees. He didn't know how, but he knew he was in the Forbidden Forest. It was dark but enough bright moonlight was shining through the trees that Remus could see a dark shape curled up on the ground a few meters in front of him. Fearing someone was hurt he hurried forward. He almost stopped breathing when the figure rolled over and he saw it was Harry looking up at him with wide, terrified eyes.

'Harry …'

'Get away from me!' Harry stood up and Remus felt sick when he saw bites and scratches covering Harry's arms. Wolf bites was his first thought but looking closer he realised they were from a large dog.

'Harry …' he tried again

'You could have stopped this!' Harry shouted. Remus noticed the clearing had gotten brighter. A bright stag shaped Patronus was watching the scene. 'You knew he wanted me dead and you didn't stop him because he was your friend!'

'No! That's not …'

'I hate you!'

'Harry!' Remus tried to explain himself but Harry turned and fled into the forest.

Remus collapsed down onto a log. He wanted to chase after Harry and explain but his legs wouldn't move. His breath was coming in chocking gasps and he could feel tears running down his face. Something cool pressed against his cheek. He glanced up and saw the stag standing before him, gently nudging his face.

'Hey,' Remus chocked out.

The stag transformed before Remus's eyes and suddenly James Potter was sitting on the log next to him and pulling him in for a hug. Remus closed his eyes and lost himself in the warm embrace, it felt so real.

'He didn't mean that,' James said softly.

'Yes, he did,' Remus said, 'and he's right, it's my fault. I still haven't told anyone that Sirius is an animagus. After everything he did, after … he killed you James!' Remus gasped and pulled himself out of James's arms. 'Oh God! You're dead because of Sirius and I've been protecting him.'

'Stop!' James grabbed Remus firmly by the shoulders, forcing them to make eye contact. 'You don't believe that! You can't believe that!

Remus tried to wipe the tears away. 'He was your secret keeper!'

James sighed sadly and looked across the clearing. Remus followed his gaze and his breath caught as he saw Lilly and Sirius sitting on a rug that had defiantly not been there before. Baby Harry was sitting between them laughing at his god father. They were illuminated by a warm orange light. Remus remembered this. It was just before the Fidelius charm, Remus and Sirius were visiting and Sirius had been amusing Harry by turning into a dog and back again.

Remus and James watched the scene quietly. Remus couldn't help but stare at the way Sirius smiled at Harry, it seemed so loving, so real. How could Sirius have faked that?

Remus's eyes flew open. He only just made it out of bed and to his bathroom before he vomited. He crawled back to bed and as soon as his head hit the pillow he started sobbing.