Now that they all were settled in this new location, a routine began almost immediately. James would always be the first to wake and Remus would be the last to fall asleep. During the day they had a sort of system. James and Grant would make breakfast since they were early risers. Remus was incharge of cooking lunch and Peter and Sirius would make dinner. It served as a good system, even if sometimes Sirius couldn't be bothered to help with dinner and Peter had to prepare it all by himself. The effect of the dementors was still bothering Sirius but you wouldn't know it unless you knew him well. Therefore, James and Remus noticed that look in his eyes, a look of fear that hadn't completely disappeared since the incident. But Sirius optimistically pushed on, willing to try and and forget it ever happened and focusing on their objective, not being found.

Remus had been surprised that being so close to his old house didn't make Sirius on edge. For all he saw, Sirius was chatty and fine with the arrangement. Over the trees it was easy to see the top of the layers of houses, impossible to point out Grimmauld Place unless you knew it by detail. Therefore they were stuck in a forest with a view of Sirius' old neighbourhood and they stayed there with their repetitive but safe routine.

As for Grant and James, it was clear to Remus that Grant was completely smitten. He saw it with each laugh and each smile. He lit up whenever James walked into a room. But it wasn't a one way attraction. Remus could see the love in Jame's eyes whenever Grant laughed at a joke or grinned about something.

James had come out last year as Pansexual and all the three boys accepted him with open arms. James didn't make a big deal out of it so they didn't either. But seeing James and Grant together made Sirius realise what young love really was, and they had it.

Him and Sirius had it too but in a different and more complicated way. For example, they'd argue an awful lot because both of them loved to be right. The prank had been the last straw for Remus and that's when they'd broken up, even though the words were never said. The war was pulling them closer again and of course Remus cared a lot for Sirius, but every time he thought of that idiotic joke, his stomach twisted. He didn't want to talk about it because he knew it would only end in a fight so he kept it to himself. Because the way he saw it, sticking together was more important than a petty argument. Even if it hurt whenever the memory crossed his mind almost everyday.

And as far as Peter was concerned, he'd been jumpy ever since the dementors. He wouldn't sleep most nights but still managed to fall asleep before Remus. A lot of the times this wasn't so bad, the werewolf in him would hear any abnormal noises and make him the perfect lookout. So, every night, he'd sit at the opening of the tent and stare intently into the distance, almost daring anyone to attack them. After last time, he was prepared for anything. He had his wand in his pocket, he told Peter to pack some silver incase Greyback found them but to keep it well away from him. He'd even given Grant a few pocket knives just in case. He wasn't letting any of them get hurt because of his unpreparedness again.

This particular night was a week after their arrival and their routine was well underway. He was staring into the distance, the moonlight casting a grim glow over the ground and surrounding trees. This was when he heard a rustle from the nearby bushes and he whipped his head around eagerly, ready for attack.

Remus could feel his heart beating in his throat, his hand shaking only slightly. Ready for anything to come forward, he flinched when something burst forth from the bush. His breathing was rapid when he saw something black and furry approaching. Once he realised who it was he dropped his wand in relief.

"Padfoot!" he exclaimed with a breathless posture, sitting down again.

The dog rushed over and curled up on the floor, laying its head on his lap.

"you scared the crap out of me" Remus said, scratching his ears affectionately. "You been getting dinner for tomorrow?" he asked before Padfoot looked at a pile of rabbits he'd stacked in a far corner.

"Rabbit again, huh?" he asked with a slight smile "Nothing else out there?" he asked as he went to budge the pile into the corner of the tent entrance.

At this comment, he heard a rustle of leaves and heard Sirius' voice.

"England's not very exotic in their food choices in the forest" Sirius said with a sigh. Without having to be asked, Remus gave Sirius a blanket and Sirius wrapped it around himself. It was a warm night and Sirius stayed outside, grabbing his clothes from a pile on the floor.

"Next time on lookout" Remus said, going to sit down again "tell me when you're going on a bloody midnight stroll"

"Will do" Sirius said and nudged him playfully, making a small smile appear on Remus' face.

...........................................................

The next morning Remus was woken up to a squeaking of a pen, instead of James' usually cheery voice. His eyes fluttered open and took a while to focus on his view. There was Peter on his bed, marking off days on a calender. Remus looked as he did and saw that October had just began. He couldn't help but be a little shocked by this. They'd already been out of Hogwarts and on the run for a month. He should've known time had passed quicker than he'd realised because it had started taking a toll on James. He could tell because there he was, fast asleep in bed. Which was strange because Remus could smell breakfast cooking outside.

'Grant must be making it alone today' Remus thought as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. As usual, Sirius was sound asleep in his own bed.

"G'morning" Remus muttered, getting Peter's attention who just smiled sheepishly.

"Grant's almost done with breakfast by the sound of it" Peter explained, looking hungrily at the small fire outside which wafted in the scent of sausages and egg.

Remus slowly nodded, feeling his stomach rumble with hunger. He was ready for a good breakfast.

After Peter gazed one more longing look at the food, Grant came through with two plates, one for Peter and one for Remus.

"Figured you'd be awake" Grant said as he handed Remus his breakfast.

"Oh yeah?"

"Peter was making a lot of noise with that calendar and you're a light sleeper" Grant said with a slight shrug "You might wanna wake Sirius, his breakfast will be ready in a few minutes"

Remus glanced over at Sirius, his face peaceful as he laid unmoving, asleep. Then he glanced at James, the daylight shining through the tent and lighting up his face. James asleep this late in the morning made Remus worried.

"Is he okay?" Remus asked nodding over at James who was breathing lazily.

Grant's warm smile faltered slightly before he looked down "No"

After a few seconds, Grant seemed to decide that telling Remus was a good idea. He sat next to him on his bed and said in a hushed voice.

"I think the hiding is getting to him. Just last night he was talking to me about how he wanted to help more with the upcoming Wizarding War. Heart of a lion that one" Grant said with a sigh of admiration.

"He really feels that way?" Remus asked, a pang of guilt hitting his nerves.

"He wants to help you Remus but...he wants to help the Order...whatever that is..."

"The Order of the Pheonix" Remus explained "A secret organisation that's working on winning this war and taking down Voldemort's followers"

"But as much as James wants to fight with them...he told me that his friends mean more than anything so he'll stay here. He'd hate himself if he left"

"That sounds like James" Remus commented, suddenly not feeling too hungry anymore. Both of the boys looked at James who had dark circles under his eyes, clearly exhausted.

............................................

To Remus' surprise, James was as upbeat as ever when he finally woke up;. He sat up and grinned, putting on his glasses and said "what's for breakfast?"

Both Grant and Remus were happy to see him happy but for Remus, what James really wanted was in the back of his mind. He wanted to fight with the order, not stay here. But as usual, James was doing this for everyone else.

By the time James woke up, Sirius seemed to wake up faster. He'd been whining and groggy until he saw James awake, then he seemed to become lively and more like himself.

Sirius and James chatted away at breakfast and Grant was setting up for the map for James' usual morning routine, checking updates and mapping down places that had been attacked.

"Any emergency places we can go to if we're found?" Remus asked nervously as he approached the table.

"Only 2" Grant said, pointing at two locations James had marked in bright green marker.

"What are we gonna do if they chase us down? We can't hide forever. Who knows how long this war is gonna last Grant?" Remus said, every single fear coming to the surface.

"From what James said, Dumbledore had this plan right? and isn't he like the smartest wizard ever?" Grant asked innocently and Remus couldn't help but smile at Grant's belief in their headmaster.

"It was supposed to be a temporary plan for just this year, but by the looks of things...we could be here longer than we thought"

"One question though" Grant said, his eyebrows furrowing "why couldn't you stay at Hogwarts? I mean I know there was plan of a break in...but weren't there enough wizards to fight...why send you off and the whole school home?"

"I think...." Remus said "Dumbledore's trying to protect Hogwarts. If all targets are removed then the death eaters won't attack. but I guess that's easy for him to say...he's not the one who's practically banished to the woods" Remus said passive aggressively.

"At least your friends are here" Grant reminded him, pulling him out of a close mood of anger "We're here Remus"

Remus took a breath and nodded "Thanks...for you know...not running in fear from all of this"

"We're in this together now, whether you like it or not" Grant said with a teasing grin.