'I think he said as much already,' argued Sirius, rolling his eyes.

Peter didn't like the way this conversation was going. If Remus chose some other subject, he'd be spending time with Sirius and James, when he, Peter, was not. What if they found out it was more fun without him?

'What about Divination?' asked Peter nervously. 

'Yeah, I thought I might sign up for that,' agreed Remus, his lips twitching slightly, 'never too early to think about the future.'

'Especially with one so promising as your own,' remarked Sirius dryly.

'What else are you going to take?' 

Peter needed to know. He crossed his fingers, hoping Remus wasn't about to say Arithmancy.  

'I haven't made up my mind yet.'

'You've not considered,' started James, throwing Sirius a sideways glance and looking a little nervous. 

James didn't finish the sentence.

'What?' 

'Well...' continued James, 'with your furry little problem an' all, you've not considered just doing one class?'

'Or you could sign up for Muggle Studies, seeing as your mum's a muggle,' Sirius picked up.  

If Remus only signed up for Divination, he'd have all the same classes as Peter, and Peter would still have a class with James and Sirius alone. That was not a bad idea. 

However, Peter decided to remain silent to see how this would play out. 

Remus simply looked at them, but it seemed to Peter that a war was raging inside of their friend's head. Eventually, Remus said: 'The whole point of going to school is to learn.' 

He lowered his voice so it was barely more than a whisper: 'I am risking God-knows how many lives by being here. Why am I here if I am just going to choose not to learn?'

'No offence, mate, but you'd probably not be able to attack more than one student before someone off'ed you.'

Sirius' reply was quiet too, but it was far more lazy sounding, as if the words had all the time in the world to exit his mouth.

Remus' gaped at his friend.

'Look,' said James, 'no one is disputing that you're here to learn. We all are.' 

Really? As far as Peter could tell, Sirius and James knew it all already.

'But if you're looking at that list, and not a single other subject takes your fancy, why waste your energy on that when you could use it for something you do care about? Like Charms, or Defence Against the Dark Arts.'

Sirius looked a little... what? impressed? Yeah, Peter thought so. After throwing James a look that Peter took to mean approval, Sirius continued, a smile playing on his lips: 'Or save yourself from failing Potions... That's going to take plenty of work.'

A flicker of amusement crossed Remus' eyes before something else took over. Fear.

'But what if -,' Remus started, his voice thinner and more vulnerable-sounding than earlier. He paused. When he spoke next, his voice was steadier: 'Wouldn't people notice that I only took one class.. and -'

'And what,' interrupted Sirius impatiently, 'deduce from your apparent lack of academic interest that you must be a werewolf?'

'Something like that,' smiled Remus weakly, before he rubbed his eyes and sighed: 'You know what, you're probably right.'

'Aren't we always?' grinned James.

'The world suffered cruelly before it had James Potter in it,' said Sirius, leaning back in his armchair. 'At least according to the man himself.'