Hogwarts Library, October 9, 1973.

"Remus, you look terrible!" Says Lily.

Cupping his nose, Steve jokingly commented, "You stink, man. Didn't you try a shower?"

Remus had a tired face, messy hair, and he smelled a lot. The young Lycanthrope sits down at the table and replies, "I know! Hagrid asked us to help put dragon dung on the crops, ~" the boy shudders just remembering the scene.

Making faces of disgust, everyone at the table felt sorry for Remus' misfortune. After the incident in the dorms, the marauders were forced to do various tasks that the half-giant asked and it felt like torture.

"How awful~" said Navi with pity.

"Yes," confirms Remus and then blurts out, "And the worst part was we didn't have Gloves, Hagrid said something about it being better to feel with your bare hands."

Severus, hearing that, almost felt sorry, almost... He still had some grudges against Remus but had learned to reduce it over time. The boy had proved not to be as insufferable as Severus had thought, someday he might even forget the past. The intention was not to target Remus, but the boy could only blame himself for having a poor choice of friends.

As long as the marauders exist and Remus is a part of them... he will be burned.

The marauders will soon not exist!

"It must have been pretty nasty,~" said Severus in a sincere, non-mocking tone.

Remus couldn't help but be suspicious of Severus, the long feud between them makes him one of the main suspects of having made the setup. But seeing the words and sincere expression, Remus felt guilty for misjudging him. If it hadn't been him, then who had it been? Remus wondered. James and Sirius vehemently denied they hadn't done any of that and Peter wasn't brave enough.

Was it someone else? or James and Sirius lied? That fleeting thought came to Remus' mind before it was denied. It was impossible, they would never lie to him! or would they?

The young Lycanthrope felt doubtful but chose to believe his friends.

Remus adds: "And worse, I showered 3 times today and the stench hasn't come out."

"The marauders got it wrong on that one, huh?" said Mary.

"But it wasn't our fault! We didn't do any of that,~" defends Remus.

Lily looked at Remus and said, "How can you be sure it wasn't Potter and Black?"

"James and Sirius told me it wasn't them, there's no need for them to lie to me and I'm their friend,~" explains Remus.

Lily shook her head in disagreement and said, "I wouldn't trust them too much, they've been spreading false rumors about Severus' fight for some time and in that, we can see their true characters... They're liars."

Remus shivered and decided not to argue.

They keep talking until someone remembers something...

"I heard rumors that Black got 2 outs just yesterday,~" commented Navi.

Laughing Mary said, "He tried to be with Maggie from Ravenclaw and she couldn't stand his stench."

Even Remus couldn't help but laugh at his friend.

Deciding to forget about the subject, everyone begins to study and share knowledge among themselves. Remus and Severus helped with DADA's questions, as they seem to have greater command of the subject. And Lily being the best spells student helped and gave tips to everyone.

After the study, they remember something. This weekend would be the first visit of the third year to Hogsmead, all the students are looking forward and planning what they will do. In the train cabin, Lily and Mary arranged to go together to Hogsmeade with Severus, Steve, and Navi.

"Remus, will you be able to come with us this weekend?" asked Lily hopefully.

"Unfortunately not, I still have detention with Hagrid," said Remus dejectedly.

"Next you come with us, don't worry!" He assured Steve to his new friend.

That group had become very close in the last few days and Remus had come in as a member. Lily and Mary are also part of the small group of friends consisting of Severus, Navi, and Steve.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what's in Hogsmead, they say there's a clothing store and I want to check them out," Mary said with her eyes shining.

Mary turned out to be a very nice girl to be with, but Severus couldn't help feeling sorry for her future husband. She is the kind of young woman who loves to spend on fashion, clothes, and accessories. And probably the poor husband's pocket would be attacked.

"And I want to visit the Honeydukes candy store,~" commented Lily with a star in her eyes.

Severus changed his mind about what he thought of Mary's future husband. He now feels sorry for himself, just remembering that night at the Slug club dinner makes him shudder...

Lily is a candy-eating machine, it just doesn't make sense and logic for how much she can eat. Poor Ambrosius will never want to see her again.

Lily, noticing Severus' pale face, asked, "Did something happen Sev?"

Severus concerts and makes up an excuse: "Oh, nothing... I just remembered that I forgot to visit Zeus lately."

With an incredulous face, Lily said "Oh, alright then," before ignoring what had happened.

They continue to chat for a while, before saying goodbye and heading to their respective dorms.

The afternoon had been very productive and their bonds were getting stronger and stronger.

...

Malfoy mansion

Finished reading a letter, Lucius writes on a small piece of paper and then hands it to an owl near the office window.

"Those incompetents! I knew people like them can't be trusted," Lucius mutters to himself.

He began to recruit people from the outer ministry circle. A bribe here and a threat there and many have converted to the cause. But Lucius wanted to deliver something substantial to the Dark Lord and a genius potioneer like Severus would be perfect.

Feeling enraged, Lucius needed something to vent. Taking a sip of tea, he spits it out and yells, "What kind of shit is this, Dobby? I asked to make it warm and less concentrated," Lucius tosses the cup to the ground and then pushes a young elf to the ground.

"Dobby did everything Mr. Malfoy asked, Dobby doesn't understand what he did wrong," shaky and bowed Dobby explains.

Furious Lucius says, "You call me a liar?"

"Dobby dare not say that, Master Malfoy. Dobby will try to do better." The elf begs.

"You better do it, and clean up this mess," says Lucius as he points to the spilled tea and cup.

Seeing the trembling elf cleaning and obeying his orders. A part of Lucius regaled himself with the power he had over the poor creature's life. A smile spread across his face and his mind went back to plotting his next steps.

...

The scales of fate flicker, players move, and the emergence of a new force threatens the horizon. Small changes can trigger consequences that can be incomprehensible to the human mind and just a simple idea can be the decisive factor between living or dying.

Severus, who walks towards the dorms, is distracted. An inspiration had hit him and he wants to test it as soon as possible. Tomorrow if everything worked out he would make the meaning of... 'The sun' count.