"Wake up, mate! The sun is shining, the birds are singing…" James sang. "AND MY BEST MATE JUST TOTALLY RUINED MY CHANCES WITH THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS!"

Remus felt something hot on his ear. Figuring James had just hexed him, his eyes flew wide open to find that it was a dream. And the something hot on his ear…it wasn't the unfortunate results of a hex, but in fact, it was Peter's hot breath as he rolled on top of Remus.

"MERLIN'S BEARD, PETER! YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BED!" he yelled as he scrambled out of bed.

Peter jumped and fell flat on his face on the hard, dormitory floor. He struggled to his feet and looked up at Remus, his watery brown eyes pleading.

"I had a bad dream. And you were the only person I knew wouldn't hex me."

"I'm in the right mind to do it," Remus muttered.

"But you won't."

Remus sighed and realized that the rest of the boys were waking up. Peter noticed this, too.

"Please," he whispered. "Don't tell them."

Before Remus could answer, Sirius spoke. "Merlin, Remus," he said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "You were yelling like a house-elf was trying to eat your skin clean off."

"Something like that." He half-glanced at Peter, who seemed to be letting out a long, slow, sigh. "What's the date?" he asked suddenly.

"Saturday," answered Peter. "Hogsmeade weekend." He added, as an excited look crossed his face. "Honeydukes got a new shipping today! A new flavor of lollipops, I heard."

"Peter," said James irritably, throwing his comforter off of him. "If you keep eating candy, you'll get fat."

~*!*~

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts-"

"Shut up, Peter. You're not even singing it right. It goes like this: Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts, teach us something please! Whether we be old and bald, or young with scabby knees-"

"Sirius, you're not singing it right either. It's-"

"Please. Just stop it. I have a headache."

"Sorry, Remus."

"Sorry, Remus."

"Sorry, mate."

Remus sighed and chugged the last of his butterbeer. The warmth of the drink spread throughout him, and he was thankful for it. He looked all around the crowded pub. The bar was neatly polished, with holly and mistletoe drapped across it for the holidays. Madame Rosmerta was offering a new drink, special for the time of year: butterbeer with peppermint and cinnamon. The pub was full to bursting, and there was the peculiar smell of alcohol and gingerbread hanging in the air. Even Severus Snape, who had been bitter ever since Lily had asked Remus out, was drinking a large mug of warm peppermint butterbeer. Even though the pub was so crowded, he was sitting alone.

"I'll be right back," said Remus.

Sirius looked at him for a second, then said, "Er, okay. Don't die."

Remus laughed. He went all the way to the bar, asked for a refill, then sat at the only other seat at Severus' table. Remus waited for Severus to notice him.

"If James dared you to come over here, you can just go back." he said, not looking up from the nearly empty mug. "It's not that fun if the subject knows that a prank is being pulled."

"No, actually, they don't know I'm over here."

"So why are you over here?"

"I wanted to ask you a question."

Severus nodded. He looked down at the table. "And I have to tell you something. So I guess your timing is perfect."

"Well, then, by all means, go first."

Severus cleared his throat. He put a greasy strand of hair that had fallen in his face behind his ear. "Erm...I've been, sort of, watching you."

Remus blinked, and tried to remain calm. "Oh?"

"Not like that!" said Severus quickly, and Remus released the breath he had been holding and looked down at the table. "Oh, Merlin, of course not like that. I mean...I've been noticing...patterns."

"Patterns? Like what?" asked Remus, a little too innocently.

"Like," Severus cleared his throat. "Like how you're always absent when there's a full moon."

Remus looked up at the frighteningly calm face of Severus Snape. His black eyes seemed to roam over Remus', for any sign of shock, for any sign of terror. But Remus kept his face emotionless. "And I've been noticing how you refuse to wash your hair, but I don't say anything about it." he said, venomously.

Severus wavered for a fraction of a second before recomposing himself. "And I've been noticing how you've been throwing yourself all over my friend. It's disgusting."

"Disgusting? Severus, you are the last person who should be talking about disgusting, with robes like yours."

"You are the last person who should be talking about robes like mine, with robes like yours."

Severus' mouth slowly curved into a smile when he realized that Remus had no retort. "Listen, Lupin. I don't want to fight with you." He leaned in until his face was literally an inch away from Remus'. "But if you go out with Lily, I'll tell everyone your secret."

Remus was reminded of this morning, when he had sworn to tell everyone Peter's secret. "I don't know-"

"I know you're a werewolf. The only question is, when will everyone else know? It's a simple thing, really. Don't go out with her, I won't tell. Is that clear?"

A/N-Sorry I haven't been updating...my motherboard melted. I'll be updating everytime I can get a computer!