Four broken boys

Regulus, and that horrible teacher

Do you ever get that feeling when you need to talk?

Do you know the feeling of knowing something you shouldn't?

Something awful?

Sirius did. And he needed it out. He'd caught himself a few times, almost blurting out during class. His secret was like a wolf clawing at his insides, fighting desperately for freedom. Many times he could feel it, climbing up his throat, threatening to bite. When this happened Sirius just swallowed thickly, drowning the wolf once again into the pit of his stomach, waiting to try another day.

A week later, Sirius, James, Remus and Peter were in an empty corridor, heading back to Griffyndor Tower before curfew. Sirius had the familiar feeling of an ever so familiar wolf with sharp claws. As usual, he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to remind Remus of his horrible, horrible secret. He was so tight-lipped that he hardly noticed James finish telling a story.

"And I was like 'Are you kidding me?' he looked like he'd just fallen into a lake!" James exclaimed to bouts of laughter from Remus and Peter.

Sirius quickly caught on, forcing a dry laugh. Anyone could tell that his smile wasn't real, forced to be precise. Anyone knows that when you really smile you do it with your eyes. Luckily for Sirius, he was with oblivious twelve year old boys who were more concerned with impressing each other than reading expressions.

Remus suddenly stopped in the hallway. "Damn." He muttered to himself.

"What?" Peter asked.

"Left my defense homework in the library." He said with an exhausted sigh. "I'll have to go get it."

Sirius had a realization.

"Well, I'll come with-" Peter started before Sirius shouted.

"NO!"

The Marauders looked at him, Remus with a hint of amusement.

"I mean..." Sirius backtracked. "Don't, you might not make it in time before curfew, you know, because Peter's a slow walker." His eyes darted in panic.

"He has a point." Remus said, half amused half bewildered. "It's ok, I'll go on my own, I'm a fast runner."

He turned away with a wave to the Marauders and speed-walked the direction of the library. Sirius watched Remus go round the corner and, making sure he was gone, turned back to the remaining two.

"I need to tell you." He hissed, beckoning them closer.

James suddenly realized what Sirius meant, and felt a little guilty for getting himself stuck in detention with Evans.

"It's Remus." Sirius said quietly, with a serious tone in his voice that they'd never herd before. "I listened to McGonagall talking to him and I found out that-"

A voice had interrupted.

"Sirius!" Regulus called, a letter in his hand.

Sirius looked round and at the sight of his brother, his eyes darkened.

Walking towards him, as if in a dream, he ignored Peter and James behind him. "Reg." He whispered. "Why did you go to Slytherin?" He asked quietly.