As the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the station, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin found themselves sharing a compartment. They had been close friends since their first year at Hogwarts, and they were excited to catch up on everything that had happened over the summer.
"So, Moony, how was your summer?" Sirius asked eagerly.
"It was alright," Remus replied, looking a bit uncomfortable. "I spent most of it with my family."
Sirius could tell that something was bothering Remus, but he didn't want to push him to talk about it if he didn't want to. Instead, he decided to change the subject.
"Have you heard from James or Peter?" he asked.
Remus shook his head. "No, I haven't heard from them since we left school. Have you?"
Sirius frowned. "No, not really. I sent James a letter, but he hasn't responded yet."
The rest of the train ride passed quickly as the two friends caught up on everything that had happened since they last saw each other. When they arrived at Hogwarts, they were greeted by the usual chaos of students trying to find their way to their dormitories and classes.
Over the next few weeks, Sirius and Remus fell back into their old routine. They attended classes together, played pranks on their fellow students, and spent long hours talking in their dormitory late into the night. Sirius couldn't help but notice how much Remus had changed over the summer. He seemed quieter and more reserved than before, and Sirius couldn't help but wonder what had happened to cause such a change.
One night, as they were lying in their beds, Sirius decided to ask Remus about it.
"Hey, Moony," he said softly. "Is everything okay? You've seemed a bit off since we got back to Hogwarts."
Remus sighed. "I don't know, Padfoot. It's just...my family isn't doing well financially. My parents are struggling to make ends meet, and I don't know what to do to help them."
Sirius felt a pang of sympathy for his friend. He knew what it was like to come from a family with financial difficulties.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.
Remus shook his head. "No, I don't think so. But thanks, Padfoot. It means a lot that you would offer."
From that night on, Sirius made it his mission to help Remus in any way he could. He started sneaking food from the Hogwarts kitchens and leaving it in Remus's trunk, knowing that his friend was skipping meals to save money. He also helped Remus with his schoolwork, knowing that he was struggling to keep up with his studies while worrying about his family.
As the weeks turned into months, Sirius and Remus grew even closer. They spent more and more time together, and Sirius couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort whenever he was around Remus.
One night, as they were sitting by the fire in their dormitory, Sirius turned to Remus and said, "You know, Moony, you're my best friend in the whole world."
Remus smiled. "You're mine too, Padfoot."
Sirius took a deep breath. "And there's something else I want to say. Something I've been wanting to say for a long time."
Remus looked at him curiously. "What is it, Padfoot?"
Sirius took Remus's hand in his own. "I love you, Remus. More than anything in the world. And I know it's crazy, but I can't help it. I just...I can't imagine my life without you in it."
Remus's eyes widened in shock, and