Sirius Black lay in his bed at number 12, Grimmauld Place, headquarters to the legendary Order of the Phoenix, and felt his heart ache with the pain of loving someone who he knew would never understand. Never understand how he longed to feel the soft touch of his hand upon his cheek, the feel of his lips brushing his own. Never understand how everytime he saw him, his stomach would fill with butterflies, his heart leaping into his throat.

Sirius Black was in love with his best friend.

It was wrong, he knew it. Wrong to feel this way about Remus, the man with whom he had shared his childhood. But how could he help it? How could he forget the crush he had held since his seventh year at Hogwarts - when he realized he wanted what James had with Lily, that closeness, that feeling, with someone. And that someone had to be Remus Lupin.

And now, of course, Remus was in love with Tonks. Well, he wasn't seeing her, but that was because he didn't want to put that burden on her, of loving a werewolf. He, Sirius, would gladly accept that burden. If he had the courage to tell Remus how he felt about him, maybe things would be different. Sirius looked disgusted. Who was he kidding? Remus would never love him. Never.

He sat on the end of his bed, and a tear ran down his cheek. The cheek he wanted to feel Remus' hands caressing, lips gently touching. He rested his head in his hands, and cried. Then he heard a creak. He looked up, in shock. Who could be here at this time? And his stomach filled with butterflies, and his heart leaped into his throat as he caught sight of the man he loved, standing in the doorway.

"Remus..." he croaked.

"Sirius. What has happened?" Lupin replied, worry lining his face.

"Oh, nothing old friend. Just an old man and his broken heart."

"Sirius."

Sirius remained silent.

"Sirius. Tell me."

Sirius sighed. How could he even begin?

"I'm in love, Remus."

"Yes?"

"In love with someone I know doesn't love me back."

Sirius paused, wondering how to continue. He kept his eyes fixed on his feet, not wanting to lose himself in Remus' eyes.

"It's you, Remus."

This time, it was Lupin's turn to stay silent. Sirius regretted his words immediatley. He had just lost everything he ever had with him. His friendship was broken, damadged beyond repair.

"Remus, I'm so sorry, I-"

But Lupin leaned towards, him and his lips softley brushed against Sirius'.

"Remus..." Sirius whispered.

"Have you never known I love you?" Lupin replied with a smile.

And then they fell upon each other, their hands around each other's waists, their bodies entwined, each one's lips trying to outdo the others.

"I love you, Sirius."

"I love you too, Remus."

A few months later, Sirius fell. He fell through a veil so powerful it killed him. And Remus watched him fall, and forced himself to use every last bit of stregnth he had to stop Harry following. And he did it for Sirius, because he knew he would never have forgiven him if he had let Harry die. And when Harry broke free of his grasp, he lost control. He fell to his knees, tears forming rivers down his cheeks, screaming and crying in agony, and drew his wand.

And Remus Lupin killed himself, for he loved Sirius so much that now, after three months of spending every possible moment with him, they could not bear to be apart. So he killed himself, and joined Sirius. And as he died, he yelled his love for him, proclaiming it to the remaining people in that room, so at least someone would know, that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were victims of something more powerful and painful than death. Love.