WARNING: This story is a slow burner, meaning that the romantic progression will take a realistic time to play out. I love instant boylove as much as the next person, believe me, but I really wanted to explore the aspects of sexuality with this one, so it'll take a little time. Hopefully you can appreciate the story for what it is and not get too impatient! Enjoy!

James Potter was considering his options. His eyes raked the dormitory, counting his exits and formulating as many escape plans as possible. Unfortunately, the only door out was currently blocked and his only other option was pitching himself out the window of Gryffindor Tower, so named because it was, in fact, a tower. So, short of pulling out his wand and throwing an AK at the objects of his torture, James resigned himself to the fact that he would just have to flatten himself to the wall, avert his eyes and endure it.

Peter Pettigrew was eating dinner alone. Fate had dealt him a better hand than his friend James, it seemed. When the chaos began, Peter and James shared a look of anxious anticipation. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and experience had taught them that these instances were never fleeting. Luckily, the objects of their fears were too caught up in their own problems to notice the two boys, so Peter had quietly slipped into his Animagus form and, after sparing an apologetic look at the friend he was leaving behind, legged it across the room and skidded through the door just before it was slammed shut. Now he sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, shrugging off inquiries as to the location of his friends, wondering if he should collect some food in his pockets to take back to James.

Sirius Black was cowering. Not that he'd ever admit it later. He had been walking back to the dormitory after a long, tiring day of being Hogwarts' most elligible and desirable bachelor and had barely made it up two steps when he was ambushed. His attacker had grabbed him by the collar, dragging him the rest of the way up, ignorant to Sirius's protests. Once they'd reached the door, he had been pushed none too gently inside and, once the room was locked and silenced, the onslaught began. Once Sirius was upright and released, he was able to identify his ambusher and, once he'd realised what he was in trouble for, resorted to what seemed to be the only thing that would save him now; cowering.

Remus Lupin was raging. But as uncharacteristic as this tantrum was, given the circumstances he believed that it was perfectly justified. Well, the shouting was, but maybe not the grabbing and the shoving. The small part of his mind that still thought clearly was beginning to regret manhandling his friend but at the time there was nothing to help it. As soon as he was released from the clutches of his furious, freshly ex-girlfriend, he saw red. He stormed back to the common room in a blind rage, terrifying some second years on the couches with his angry antics. As soon as he saw the source of his rage he struck, dragging him to the dormitory where he could sort this mess out once and for all.

"OF ALL THE NASTY, BACKHANDED, CRUEL THINGS, SIRIUS..."

Unfortunately, Remus's coherent arguments seemed to have run out a few moments ago, so he was quickly falling into half sentences of depleting volume and sting. Sirius took this as his signal to get a word in.

"Moony, just listen for a moment..."

Wrong plan, it seemed.

"DON'T 'MOONY' ME!"

"But that's your-"

"THAT'S WHAT MY FRIENDS CALL ME! YOU, SIRIUS BLACK, ARE NO FRIEND OF MINE!"

"Whoa, whoa-"

"WHAT KIND OF FRIEND DOES THAT TO THEIR FRIEND'S GIRLFRIEND!"

Until then, Sirius had been content to sit back and let Remus yell, knowing that, on some level, he had it coming. However, if there was one thing Sirius Black prided himself on, it was his loyalty to his friends, and his actions that day were rife with nothing but.

"A BLOODY GOOD FRIEND, REMUS, AND IF YOU WOULD SHUT UP FOR FIVE SECONDS I MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY!"

Until then, Remus had been content to let his anger run his mouth, mildly impressed with the outcome. However, if there was one thing Remus Lupin hated himself for, it was his submission to conflict.

"Okay."

Sirius almost reprimanded Remus for backing down so easily, but he decided now was not the time.

"Well..." Sirius huffed, frustrated that, during his only window to explain, his mind had chosen now to go blank, "It's kind of a long story..."

It seemed that all of Remus's steam was gone by now and he reached up a hand to loosen his tie, flopping down on the end of the nearest bed.

"Just... Look, I know, deep down... Deep, deep down that you meant well. You're not cruel, at least not to me."

Sirius's eyes widened earnestly and he crossed to room quickly to sit beside his friend, close enough that their shoulders touched. His normally immaculate posture, the result of a pureblood childhood, slumped.

"I did, Rem, I wasn't trying to hurt you. I just... When I heard that that..." his jaw clenched and his lip curled, slightly resembling a snarling Padfoot, "... evil, obnoxious, traitorous skank-"

"Sirius."

"Sorry. Just, when I heard what she did I was so angry..." he sighed heavily, looking away from Remus, "I went looking for her. I was probably just going to chew her out, maybe call her fat or something, but she was so... nonchalant about it. She was all 'So?' and honestly Rem, I must have blacked out or something."

Remus's eyes were closed and he almost looked in pain, taking in deep, calming breaths.

"I'd already spoken to her, Sirius, I ended it the minute I found out."

"I know, Pete told me. It was just her attitude, it reminded me so much of my bitch cousins." he snarled again, "And after everything this girl has put you through..."

It was true, Remus's relationship with Christine Scott had been a turbulent ride for all the Marauders. The pretty blonde Ravenclaw had come into their lives as one of Sirius's many conquests but had decided she liked Remus more (Sirius didn't speak to Remus for two days). At first, Remus had thought it was heaven. It went without saying that romance was a tricky business when one turned into a raging, furry monster once a month, but Christine never asked many questions. The others had thought him the luckiest man alive, to snag a girl who didn't care if he disappeared for nights on end and he, himself, was smitten. But after three weeks, the relationship turned sour. Sweet, exciting Christine had, it seemed, become a raging monster of her own (less fur, thankfully).

"I could have handled it... I did handle it." Remus muttered, more to convince himself than anything.

Sirius scoffed, "Merlin himself couldn't have handle that woman, and that man was the king of skirt."

Remus couldn't help but laugh, albeit tiredly.

"I really am sorry that I caused you trouble," Sirius said after a moment.

Remus smiled and shook his head, "Nah, it's okay. I guess I should be thankful I have someone like you in my life."

Sirius puffed out his chest proudly and joked, "Yes, you should!"

But Remus could see the relieved glint in his eyes and he couldn't help but forgive Sirius in an instant.

"Well that's just adorable. Now, I'd suggest we go wash all those good feelings down with a little dinner but it appears your little catfight ran all through dinner."

The irritable voice made them both jump, looking up to the opposite wall.

Sirius grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, Jim..."