'Seen Moony?' asked Sirius.

James didn't even look up from his potion. 'Shh, I'm trying to make this work.

'Try the dormitory,' Peter suggested.

Wiping a layer of sweat off his forehead, Sirius hoisted his bag back onto his shoulder. He'd already looked in the dormitory. And the library. And the Owlery.

At least he could lie down on a cool bed in the dormitory. Sirius half walked, half crawled up the stairs. He pushed open the door.

No Remus. Sirius flopped onto his bed and pulled off his robes. He was only wearing boxers underneath - it was way too hot to be wearing proper clothes as well as the thick, heavy uniform.

A drop of sweat fell from Sirius's lip into his mouth. Grabbing his towel, Sirius opened the bathroom door. A girl screamed.

'Sirius!' Remus pulled a towel over himself, covering his naked chest like a girl. 'W-What are you doing here?'

'I was looking for you for AGES. Moony, you scream like a girl.' Sirius stared at Remus's skinny legs. Unlike James and Sirius, Remus always drew the curtains of his bed closed whenever he changed, so Sirius had never seen much of Remus's flesh.

'My Potions essay is in my bag, next to my bed, you can take it.' Remus was frantically trying to cover himself.

'I don't want your Potions homework,' said Sirius. He'd never realised what a skinny boy Remus was.

'The Defence Against the Dark Arts homework is also in my bag...er...Padfoot, will you please get out so I can cover up?'

'If you want me to,' said Sirius. 'But I wasn't looking for you so I could copy your homework, I just wanted to talk to you.'

Remus frowned. 'Hmm...OK, one second...'

Sirius sat back on his bed and waited for Remus. Remus's body was actually quite beautiful in an unconventional way. It wasn't like every guy had to be super muscly.

Remus came out wearing a long-sleeved shirt and trousers.

'You must be burning in that,' said Sirius, getting up. He grabbed Remus's arms. 'Why are you so shy about your body? Is it the scars? Cos I don't care about that.'

'No, it's not the scars.' Remus wriggled his arms away from Sirius's grasp. ' What did you want to talk to me about?'

'Nothing in particular,' said Sirius. 'Why don't you like your body, Moony?'

Remus ran a hand through his hair. 'I'm just not exactly the epitome of male beauty. You and James are confident because you are what girls want.'

'Moony.' Sirius lifted the shorter boy's face. 'I think you're beautiful. Who cares what anyone else thinks?' Before Remus could respond, Sirius kissed his forehead.

Remus laughed shakily. 'What was that for?'

'You're my friends and I love you. So I kissed you.'

Remus stared at Sirius. Then he kissed Sirius's lips. 'Same reason here.'

Sirius grinned at him. 'My legs are getting tired, let's sit on my bed.' Sirius lay down and moved up to make space for Remus. Remus lay down stiffly next to him. Sirius draped an arm across Remus's waist and felt Remus relax. He kissed Remus on the lips.

'Why are we so kissy?' asked Remus.

'Is it bad? I'll stop if you want.'

'No, I like it. I just wonder why.'

Sirius yawned. 'Stop wondering, you already know enough stuff.' Who cared why Sirius suddenly felt so much love for Moony? Sirius clasped Remus to his chest. 'You are my beautiful friend.'

'Does that mean that Prongs and Wormtail are your ugly friends?' Remus asked, his eyes closed.

Sirius put his finger on Remus's red, feminine lips. 'You overthink, baby. Now go to sleep.'

Remus snuggled into Sirius's chest. Sirius waited until he could feel his chest moving steadily against his, then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.