Remus made it his personal goal not to bother anyone for anything. He didn't like being a nuisance and if he could help it he'd prefer to do things on his own. So why was it no matter how hard he tried, a certain group of people would go out of their way to make him miserable.

"Nice robes Lupin, why are they so bloody ratty? Parents spend too much money trying to fix your face?" James looked smug as the group roared with laughter.

"I think they might want their money back on that one," Peter piped up, causing them all to fall into another fit of laughter.

Remus tried his best to ignore their remarks usually, but when he caught a glimpse of Sirius laughing along with the rest of them, it took all he had not to lose it right then and there.

Over the few weeks, Sirius had found a comfortable place with the other two boys. He belonged in Gryffindor, and as such was entitled to be friends with two of the most rowdy boys of the house. They were often cruel and mocked those beneath them, which was just about everyone. James and Peter had a particular beef with Remus.

He had barely begun his Hogwarts journey and he was already being slammed into walls, shoved and tripped in the hallways, and the butt of almost every cruel joke. But it wasn't the jokes or the bruises that hurt Remus the most, no; it was that Sirius Black was always there with them. Even if he didn't physically shove Remus, his voice was always the loudest when it came to the laughter.

"Aw, did we hurt your ickle feelings scar-face?" Remus flinched but tried to ignore them as he made an attempt to push past the group. James reached out, grabbing onto his patch-work robe, "I was talking to you Lupin." He jerked him back and held him in place.

"Let go of me!" He squirmed and tried to strike James, but James caught his fist and held it there. "Quit squirming brat!" James grabbed onto Remus' hair, causing him to yelp in surprise and immediately stop struggling. "Much better," James said, shoving Remus forward by his hair. "Who wants the first go? Sirius?"

He stared wide eyed and terrified up at his friend. "Sirius please..." Remus pleaded. Turning his shoulder to the boy he crossed his arms over his chest. Remus let out the breath he'd be holding just in time for it to be knocked out of him as he tumbled the floor. He glanced up at his attacker, seeing Sirius standing over him.

He could feel the tears welling up in eyes long before they started to fall. He cringed away from Sirius' sneering face. "You're such a cry-baby Lupin." The three boys laughed loudly and cruelly before turning on Remus and walking down the hallway.

He sat on the floor, completely stunned by what has had just happened. Suddenly a vibrant red headed girl was had his heels. "Are you okay? I saw what they did to you! Here, let me help you." She dropped her books and offered him her hand. Remus stared at her hand for a few moments, still not believing.

Slowly he reached out, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him up. "Those boys are just nasty! They think they're cool. They're nothing but a bunch of jerks. Picking on someone like that." She glanced back towards Remus and offered him an embarrassed smile. "I'm Sorry. My name is Lily Evans." She held her hand out towards him again, this time Remus gratefully took it in his own.

"Remus Lupin." She nodded, accepting it. "You don't think I did anything to deserve what they did?" She turned her bright green eyes on him shocked.

"Deserve that? I don't think anyone deserves that! I know that James Potter, he lives on my street. He's really mean. He picks on all the neighborhood kids, he's always in trouble. I don't think a quiet boy like you did anything but exist, and that's what ticked him off."

He walked with the girl not really knowing where they were going until they found themselves in front of the library. "Are you going to go in?" Lily asked him after a few minutes of standing in front of the room. "I.. I actually need to go find someone. Thanks for the help," He waved to her as he sped down the hallway in search of another boy.

-&-

Sirius had felt guilty, of course he had. Not only had he been a jerk, but he ruined a friendship along the way. So he stood, brooding alone in the great hall. He wasn't hungry, but he could never deny a good meal. He glanced up in time to the sandy haired boy standing in front of him, pain etched across his face.

"I knew I'd find you here."

He averted his eyes and gave a soft grunt in reply. "Are you going to avoid me," Remus asked him hurt. Sirius dropped the chicken bone onto his plate and thought it over. If he ignores Remus, he doesn't have to admit what he's done, but he loses their friendship. If he talks about it, Remus hates him and he loses their friendship. Either way he couldn't win.

"I wasn't planning to," he replied shortly. Remus sighed and slunk down onto the bench across from Sirius. "Why did you do it Sir.." it was hard to keep the pain out of his voice. "Why are you on my case?" Sirius threw back at him, causing Remus to flinch. Running a hand through his messy, curly hair he lifted his eyes to face Remus.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Can we go somewhere else and talk?" He got to his feet and guided Remus out of the room and towards an empty classroom. Closing the door behind himself he leaned against it heavily.

Remus leaned against a small, old forgotten desk and stared at Sirius wearily. It took all Remus had to keep his heart and feelings intact. "I want to fit in, Remus." "So do I Sirius! But I don't go shoving kids around to do so."

Sirius clenched his fists at his sides trying to keep his own feelings together. "But I want to fit in with the guys who shove people around!" Remus stared at Sirius for a long time, lost in thought. "What happened to the Sirius I knew? You wouldn't hurt a fly and suddenly you're hurting human beings. You're hurting your friends Sirius! You want to fit in so badly you're willing to hurt anybody."

"We weren't that great of friends," Sirius muttered. Remus stared dumbstruck at the boy. "Who are you.."

"Oh come off it Rem. You always did tag around me like a lost puppy," he shot him a look. "It was rather annoying now that I think about it." Remus could feel his body trembling, not believing what was coming from his friends mouth.

"They've brainwashed you.." slowly Remus lowered his gaze and stared at his hand willing away the tears. "Look, I won't tell anyone about your secret, if that's what you're worried about," Sirius told him.

His head snapped up fast and he glared at Sirius causing the boy to shutter away from him. "I just don't think we should be friends right now. It's nothing against you." Remus threw his hands up in the air, the tears now falling.

"Of course not. Come find me when it's in your convenience to be friends again," he turned on the boy, ready to leave, when Sirius caught his robes and pulled him back into his arms. "Don't give me that Remus. I just mean we shouldn't be friends in public. I'll come visit you in the Ravenclaw common room."

Remus squirmed in his grip, trying to pry the boy off of him. "Oh bugger off Sirius! I don't want anything to do with you. Go hang out with your fake friends and do us both a favor by disappearing out of my life!"

Sirius sighed and let the boy go, watching his retreating back. He stood there, sputtering, unable to form real words.

-&-

"So you're friends with that boy?" Lily asked him while finishing her paper with a few hearts and swirls. She smiled down at her work, approving of her design job along the edges. "I was," Remus corrected her finishing his own work. "I'm not anymore. If he wants to be a jerk, I'd rather not be his friend."

"But didn't you know him before you came here. Weren't you friends for a long time?" He was tired of going over it with her. It seemed like they had been in the library all morning going over the same details.

"Yes Lily, I knew him before I came here. We lived in the same area and hung out when his mum permitted it or just didn't care. He was my only friend. We did so much together; but now it seems it was only in vain. I don't know why he wanted to fit in so badly he was willing to hurt me."

She smiled at him sadly and patted his shoulder every now and then. He was glad he found some comfort in Lily. She was a good friend, albeit a bit annoying sometimes. She was the only one who reached out and talked to him instead of making fun or just plain ignoring him.

"I don't think he deserves to be your friend anyways. What kind of friend just throws a relationship like that out the window?" Remus half-listened to her go on and on. His eyes grazed over the library, his one safe zone. As soon as he dashed into the library the boys would stop following him. They made it their personal goal to go out of their way just to torment him. Sirius was becoming especially cruel.

He'd shove Remus just a bit harder to get his point across. He pulled things from their past together to insult him about. Whether it be the way he trailed around Sirius or something much more private, it didn't matter to Sirius as long as he could use it against him.

But Remus was getting smarter about the boys. He knew what time they ate at, so he'd either eat later or earlier than they did. He knew the places they frequented and made sure to stay clear of those areas. On the occasion they would catch him in the hallway and back him into a corner. Of course no one else would do anything; they were all relieved that Remus was getting most of the torment instead of them.

Teachers and Prefects stood up for him, but it was starting to become a hassle. No matter how many times the group was punished it would only fuel their anger and the torment would pick up ten fold. And course there was always Lily. It seems she was the only thing the boys were truly terrified of. The ickle first year could pack a punch with her words when she really meant it.

But behind her back they'd tease Remus about having a girl stick up for him. In the end, she just made things worse. Remus thought about telling her they shouldn't be friends, hoping the teasing would lessen, but he didn't want to do what Sirius had did to him. He liked Lily after all, but he wanted the other three boys to like him enough not to pick on him.

He forced himself back into the present as Lily just stared at him. "Remus? Did you hear what I just said?" "Oh, yeah Lily. I was listening to everything you said." She smiled at him sweetly, "It's getting late, I'll se you later." He watched her fiery red hair disappear out the door before slumping over.

His head reared as a familar cold voice echoed in his ear, "Now that your girlfriend's gone Loony Lupin, who's going to protect you now?"