Uncertainty

Authors Note: A pairing I usually didn't pay much attention to, that one day during Spring Break got me thinking. What pairing is that? Well, that's the point of the story, so R&R. Flames will keep me warm in my cozy kitchen.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, they're all JKR's.

Sirius watched Peter attempt to sneak down the hallway. It wasn't that Peter was bad at it, per se, just worse than Sirius. And, if Sirius said so himself, he was the best. Black knew precisely where Peter was headed: he was going to go visit his lover, in the same room he went to every night.

Sirius' heart tightened. He remembered a year ago when Peter had told them about it. Them being the Marauders, of course. They had all been sitting around in James' living room with some junk food, trying to decide exactly what they wanted to do. Peter had let out a peremptory squeak, body tightening in obvious fear. The other had turned and looked at him, and before Sirius could even ask what the matter was, Peter's poor mouth barreled out some information that none of the others would ever have guessed. After informing all three of his best friends of his different angles on sex, Peter clamped it shut. The group had sat, stunned for about half an hour, while Pettigrew became more and more frightened, eyes darting for a way out.

To this day Sirius wasn't sure what he was so afraid of. In all honesty, the others were just trying to figure out WHAT he had said, and not WHY. He had spoken so quick it was hard to catch it all. So Peter was gay. It took them all a bit to figure it out, and after some initial uncertain reassurances, things were fine with them again. That's not to say that things couldn't get uncomfortable at times, but everything about the foursome could be, really. Remus was a werewolf, that led to problems, James was sex-obsessed, that was annoying, and Sirius was depressed. So now Peter had a secret., too. If anything, it helped to bond them together, at least in Sirius' opinion.

Until recently, that is. Suddenly, Peter started taking off in the middle of the night. It didn't take long for the gang to decide that he was seeing someone. But no matter how long they questioned the rat animagus, he wouldn't say a word on WHO it was. Peter would just tug on his ear length greyish-brown hair, and look away. Sometimes Sirius saw his eyes tear up. Black wished Peter didn't always look so afraid of them when they were asking him things...but then again, it WAS three against one, and if Sirius wasn't so damn cocky, he might credit James as being mildly intimidating, Remus too. But intimidating or no, the guys would NEVER hurt Peter. NOBODY would hurt Peter, and that was why Sirius was here. Nobody else was willing to pry into the shyer boys private life, they figured he would tell them when he was ready. But Sirius had to know. It was driving him nuts. Besides, he'd be damned if he stayed on the back-burner while Peter deceived them all.

Sirius cleared his head and focused back on the girl in front of him. Sure, he had come here with a girl...but if he hadn't, Peter might had gotten too suspicious, or too afraid of being caught, and not come. Sirius continued to snog the girl while his mind was elsewhere. It wasn't hard. He hadn't had a serious relationship with anyone in years, though floozies were easy enough to find. The long-dark haired boy was well aware of how handsome he was, and was not above using it to his advantage.

Peter had gone into the room by now, leaving it slightly ajar. This means that the mystery lover would have to re-open it so that it would be wide-enough for him to enter. Sirius felt relieved to know that, because he happened to know that the door to the classroom Peter had chosen squeaked if you didn't push it at just the right spot. So chances are, Sirius would be able to catch a glimpse of whoever it was before the night ended.

His tongue slid into the Ravenclaw girls mouth as he debated with himself who it might be. He didn't know of any other queers at Hogwarts...but then again, it's not like Peter had been obvious about it. So, let's see, who seemed the gayest. Well, Snivellus, obviously. But Sirius wasn't sure if he was single because he was gay, or just because nobody wanted to get near his greasy filth. Probably both, which means Wormtail wouldn't touch him, either. Besides, Pete had too much fun watching them torment Snape for it to be him. Well, there was this Hufflepuff, Rodger, who had always looked at people funny...but no, Sirius doubted that. Rodger was too tall for Peter to even reach his lips. The thought brought a smirk to Sirius' face, causing the girl in front fo him to pull back and glare. "What's so funny Sirius Black?" she demanded.

Hm. Well, at least she hadn't smacked him. Now, if only Sirius could remember her name to use back. "Nothing, babe, come here," he soothed her, reaching out again. "I was just laughing about how stupid I was not to have met you sooner." It was a HORRIBLE line, but it seemed to work, because the Ravvie returned to his arms.

For a brief moment, Sirius focused all of his being into kissing her. She wasn't a bad kisser, really, just not one to turn him on. Sirius decided not to focus on that train of thought. It wouldn't lead to any possible solution. Instead, he began to listen once more for footsteps. And, luckily, there they were. They started farther down the hall, and were clicking as they walked. Whoever it was had no fear of being caught. So, they were the opposite of Peter, at least based on personality. That, and this guy didn't seem to be hurrying, which meant he wasn't eager to meet up, like Peter had been. Or maybe the speed was just another part of Wormtail's fear of getting caught. Not that it mattered, because if Pete was close to getting caught by staff, Sirius would distract them long enough for Peter to get away. After all, Sirius was used to getting in trouble, and Pete wasn't. Sirius wanted it to stay that way.

Sirius practically choked the Ravenclaw spit when he saw who was turning the handle of the door. LUCIUS MALFOY! Black NEVER would have seen that one coming. As far as Black had known, Malfoy had been seeing his dreaded cousin Narcissa. No, this couldn't be right. Something else must be going on, the Marauders must have guessed wrong. Lucius wasn't Pete's lover, no, he must be there to hurt him.

Without another thought, Sirius broke away from the girl he was with and strode towards the now-shut door. He aimed his wand and shouted, "Alohomora," letting it unlock. Flinging it open, Sirius strode into the room, blind with protective rage...only to stop dead. There in front of him Was Lucius leaning against the desk, with Peter's hair in his hands and the smaller boy all over him. Peter squeaked when he realized what was going on and flipped around, backing into Lucius' embrace. The snow-blonde haired boy smirked over at Black.

"Well, pleasure to see you here, Black," he drawled, drawing out Sirius' surname. Padfoot clenched his teeth and his hands grew into fists. There was no way. This couldn't be. He wanted to stare at Pete and demand to know why and how, but he couldn't take his eyes off of Malfoy. That slime-ball! That useless piece of shit, not fit for the trash! How DARE he take advantage of Peter like this.

Peter squirmed, before letting out a murmur, "Sirius...just leave, alright? Don't tell anyone, and just go. Please." The pleading tone forced Black's eyes from Lucius, and onto the miserably uncomfortable boy. His words killed any hope that this was a mistake, and Sirius tried to suppress the lump inside him.

"Oh, come now Peter. What if Black here likes to watch?" Lucius wondered, in a sickeningly amused tone. That git! Peter flinched for a brief moment, but then stood still as Lucius began to stroke his cheek reassuringly. "We can't fault him that, can we? We ARE so beautiful together, you're face scrunched up, begging me to finish..." He said these words looking at Peter, but it was obvious they were meant to annoy Sirius.

Blacks nose curled, and he snarled back, "I'd be dead before I'd want to see you fully clothed, Malfoy. Don't flatter yourself." Luckily, Sirius hadn't said anything about Peter. He didn't trust himself not to shout something he didn't want to.

Whimpering, Peter said, "Come on, Sirius. Just go away. Let me be happy with him, alright?" Up until then, Sirius had been sure that Lucius was the source of Petes discomfort...but Sirius himself? It seemed like it, and that killed him.

The words came out before Sirius had time to think them through, and the minute they came out, Black regretted them. "Fine," he snarled. Sirius was furious. "Stay with this filth. If you want him instead of me, so be it."

Realizing what he had said, Sirius whirled around, more to leave with whatever was left of his pride than anything else. "Aw, don't be angry I got him first, Black. I always thought you had a thing for him. Too bad he doesn't like you, back."

Lucius's taunts followed Sirius down the hall, and echoed in his head as he ran as far away from that hallway as he could.

End of Chapter One.