Remus

Remus stormed into the prefect common room, he didn't want to be around the Gryffindors at the moment, especially Sirius. He'd trusted him completely, only to have that trust thrown back in his face. Did Sirius not understand what would happen to him if his secret got out? Not to mention what could have happened to Snape. Remus threw his book bag into the corner startling Regulus who he had only just noticed was in the common room too.

"Are you OK?" Regulus asked hesitantly.

Was he? Well, Snape wasn't going to say anything, Dumbledore had seen to that. His friend's betrayal was harder to deal with.

"I'm fine," Remus muttered. "I just wanted to be alone."

"Oh, umm I can go," Regulus looked uncomfortable and started to stand up.

Remus realised his mistake. "No! I didn't mean … please stay. I just meant I didn't want to be …" around your brother, "in the Gryffindor Common Room."

"Oh," Regulus sat back down and stared at him. Remus wondered if Regulus was trying to figure him out the same way he was trying to figure out Regulus. "Did you have a fight with your friends?"

Remus sighed. "Yes." He didn't say anything else. Regulus was the last person he should be complaining about Sirius to.

They sat in silence for a few moments.

"Would you like some chocolate?" Regulus asked shyly. "It's from Honeydukes."

"Oh, OK. Thank you." Remus went and sat next to the younger boy as he pulled a cellophane wrapped bag of chocolates out from his book bag.

"You're welcome. Kreacher says that there's nothing better than chocolate for making people feel better."

"Kreacher's your House Elf?" Remus thought he'd heard the name from Sirius.

"Yeah," Regulus flushed. "He's kind of my best friend too. Pathetic isn't it."

"I don't think it's pathetic," Remus said honestly. "House Elves are much more intelligent than most wizards realise. I've never understood the way some pure-blood families treat their elves. It's actually really nice to hear that you consider yours a friend".

Regulus looked at Remus in surprise before he smiled brightly. There was something different about this smile. Remus's heart quickened as he realised it was the first time Regulus had smiled at him without any hint of distrust hiding in his eyes. He was surprised to find he really liked it.

Over the next few weeks Remus spent more and more time with Regulus while avoiding Sirius like the plague. He had started talking to James and Peter again, they had had nothing to do with it after all, in-fact everything would have been much worse if not for James. Still, he avoided the Gryffindor Common Room. Most evenings Remus could be found hanging out with Regulus in the Prefect Common Room. Regulus had been letting his guard down more and more lately and Remus had learnt a lot about him. He found out that even though he wasn't shy anymore, he was still quite. He was very talented at potions and spellcasting, but struggled more with theory. He liked to read and was a talented flyer. Most importantly he was kind, caring, and not at all like how Sirius had described him. Remus found that he was no longer spending time with Regulus because he was trying to figure out the mystery around him but instead because he genuinely liked Regulus's company.

That evening found them once again in the Prefect Common Room.

"My name is Remus you know."

Regulus raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I know."

"So why do you insist on calling me Lupin?"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Fine Remus, happy now?"

"Very happy."

They were silent for a moment. Remus was thinking of something that he'd seen earlier today which had bothered him.

"Hey Regulus?"

"Yes Remus?"

"I was just wondering … I saw you earlier talking to Avery and Mulciber, are they friends of yours?"

Remus noticed Regulus had tensed. "No, they're not my friends."

"Good."

Regulus looked at him questionably. "I just mean … you know they're into the dark arts?"

"I'm aware," Regulus said shortly.

"So why were you talking to them?"

"Why are you mad at my brother?" Regulus counted.

"Fair enough."

They went back to sitting in silence.

"Is that what this is?" Regulus asked after a moment, he looked troubled. "Are you spending time with me because you can't have the real thing? Or to get back at him for something?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Remus moved in closer to Regulus. "This has nothing to do with Sirius! I just like spending time with you!"

Regulus didn't look like he fully believed him. "OK," he said anyway.

"Actually, I've been thinking," James and Peter would probably be spending the weekend with Sirius, "do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me on the weekend? We could go to Honeydukes."

Regulus looked surprised for a moment before he nodded. "Umm, OK, yeah, that'd be great."

Sirius was waiting for him when he got back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Truthfully, he'd already started for forgive him but he wasn't ready to let Sirius off the hook just yet.

"Can we talk?" Sirius looked so sad.

Remus nodded and the two walked back out the common room door. They were silent until they found an empty classroom.

"I'm so sorry," Sirius said as soon as the door shut behind them. "I wasn't thinking at all! I only wanted to scare Snivellus, I didn't want anyone to get hurt, especially not you!"

"Do you have any idea what would have happened to me if Dumbledore hadn't convinced Snape to keep his mouth shut?" Remus asked. "I would have had to drop out of school, I never would have been able to find a job. And what if James hadn't stopped me from hurting Snape? He could have died Sirius! I never would have been able to live with myself!"

"I'm sorry," Sirius actually looked close to tears.

"So you said," Remus snapped.

He sighed. This wasn't the way he'd wanted the conversation to go. He really had missed Sirius and he wanted to put this whole thing behind him.

"I'm still upset at you," Remus admitted, "you broke my trust, but I want to be friends again. Can we just take it slowly?"

"Yeah! Of course!" Sirius brightened considerably. "Are you going to come to the Quidditch game on the weekend? It's Hufflepuff verses Ravenclaw."

"There's Quidditch this weekend?"

Sirius looked at him in disbelief. "Wow Moony."

"I can't go anyway, I'm going to Hogsmeade with a friend."

"A friend?" Sirius looked surprised, "Who?"

"Umm …" Somehow Remus didn't think Sirius would like the answer.

Unfortunately, Sirius misread Remus's hesitation. "Wait, is it a date?" He smirked, "now you have to tell!"

"No, it's not a date," Remus said. Was it? Had he accidently asked out Sirius's brother? He had to admit he didn't hate the idea. Regulus was interesting, smart, and he was definitely good looking. Oh God.

"It's not a date," Remus repeated.

Sirius looked at him knowingly. "Right, of course not."

Hogsmeade was practically devoid of Hogwarts students most of whom had stayed behind to watch the Quidditch game. Remus noticed that Regulus seemed to relax more as they got further away from school. Was this a date? He hadn't been able to get the question out of his mind since his conversation with Sirius. Regulus seemed to be acting the same as normal so probably not. Remus didn't like the disappointment he felt at that.

"I'm not keeping you from the Quidditch game am I? I didn't realise there was one on when I asked."

"No," Regulus said. "Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw aren't a threat to the cup this year so it doesn't really matter to me who wins."

"Oh right."

"You don't really like Quidditch, do you?" Regulus asked.

"Not really," Remus admitted. "I go to Gryffindor's games. I've seen you play before, you're good. James would never admit it but I think he likes playing against Slytherin.

"Thanks," Regulus was blushing.

They visited the potions shop, the book shop, and Honeydukes. Remus was relieved that Regulus had no interest in visiting the Shrieking Shack.

The only other Hogwarts student they saw was Snape. Snape glared at Remus before hurrying away. Remus tried not to let it get to him.

Throughout the day Remus noticed Regulus staring at him and blushing. He wondered if the younger boy had a crush on him or if he just wasn't sure how to act around other people. Remus knew he was probably one of Regulus's first friends.

By the time they got back to the school Remus wasn't ready say goodbye. They found themselves back in the Prefect Common Room sharing their Honeydukes treats.

"What do you think this one is?" Regulus was holding a light brown Bertie Bott's Bean.

"Coffee?" Remus guessed.

Regulus put the bean in his mouth. "Almond," he declared. "Here, your turn," he slid a white bean across the table.

"OK, you have to guess," Remus said.

"Marshmallow?"

Remus put the bean in his mouth and immediately screwed up his face. "Mashed Potatoes," he said.

"Could have been worse," Regulus said, "I actually thought it was onion."

"Hey!" Remus hit Regulus playfully and they both laughed.

Regulus stopped laughing. His face was so close to Remus's. Before Remus knew what was happening Regulus had closed the distance and pressed his lips against Remus's.

Remus froze and Regulus immediately jumped back.

"I'm sorry," Regulus stammered nervously. "I didn't mean to ..."

Remus cut him off by leaning back in for a real kiss. They were both smiling as they broke apart.

"You taste like potatoes," Regulus laughed.

Remus was almost offended before he remembered why. "Yeah, well who's faults that?" he said.

Remus picked out a red bean. "Do you like cherry?" he asked Regulus.

"Only one way to find out," Regulus said.

Remus grinned and put the been in him mouth. Regulus leaned back in.

"Gross that was ketchup!"

They hung out for a few hours before Remus finally made his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room. He was not surprised to find his friends waiting to ambush him.

"Moony! How was your date?" Sirius said loudly.

Remus felt his cheeks heat up.

"Oh look," James said. "He's blushing! It must have went real well!"

"Yeah, where have you been the last few hours?" Sirius smirked. "Snogging in a classroom somewhere?"

Sirius and James both laughed.

"No. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go work on my assignments in the dorm."

"We're going to find out who she is Moony," James yelled after him as he walked up the stairs.