The next morning found the Marauders sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, though only two of the four were eating their breakfast. Sirius had cheerfully sat beside Remus, almost annoyingly chipper. He practically inhaled his food, joking boisterously the whole time. Remus, on his left, was as quiet as usual, but had what seemed to be a permanent smile fixed to his face. He kept his head down as if embarrassed, his eyes on the untouched plate before him. When Remus felt Sirius find and squeeze his hand beneath the table, he blush's colour rivaled the red of the Gryffindor hourglass. Any normal person would have said he looked adorable.

Not James, though. James would have said absolutely nothing at all. Now, all he could manage to do was stare at Sirius reproachfully, occasionally glancing at Remus. The phrase 'if looks could kill' was fitting. He hadn't even bothered to put food on his plate.

'I have a pimple in my ear!' Peter announced cheerfully. 'It hurts like hell,' he said, stuffing French toast and eggs in the bottomless pit that was his mouth. Sirius laughed loudly, seemingly oblivious to the death stare James seemed intent on perfecting. Remus chuckled too.

'S'not as bad as the one you have on your face,' Sirius said, suddenly solemn. Peter's hands flew to his face.

'What pimple? Is it big?' Peter felt his face nervously.

'Enormous. No, wait—that's your nose1' :oud guffaws erupted from Sirius and from the few Gryffindors surrounding the Marauders.

'Wanker!' Peter said. He looked at Sirius sourly, who was looking at Remus expectantly, who was looking at James (taking in his expression), who was not looking at Peter. He was, in fact, looking just beyond Peter, where a very pretty redhead could be seen walking down the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. And Lily was determinedly not looking at James, her emerald green eyes fixed directly ahead angrily.

'Hm, so I take it your date with Lily didn't go so well?' Sirius asked, genuinely concerned.

'No,' was James' only terse reply. Finally, Sirius noticed what mood his best mate was in. He raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anymore.

'Gotta get to Divination guys, see ya!' said Peter, stuffing one last pancake into his mouth and running off, bag in hand. Without a word, James stood up and followed him, casting one last murderous glance at Sirius. Remus stood up and held out his hand to help his friend.

'Time for Ancient Runes, Pads. Coming?' Sirius did not let go of Remus' hand after he had stood up and grabbed hold of his bag. He looked up to the slightly taller Remus, grinning hugely. Slowly raising Moony's hand to his lips, he pressed a soft kiss to it.

'Not here! People will see!' Remus tried sounding cross, but he didn't think he succeeded, as he was smiling from ear to ear.

'You're right, you're right. Then let's say you and I go find an empty classroom somewhere so we can do that and much more privately,' Sirius said flirtatiously. Remus blushed.

'Mm, tempting, but we can't miss Ancient Runes.' Remus reluctantly tugged his hand free from Sirius' and started walking towards the grand doors. Sirius caught up with him, looking truly disappointed.

'That's not true! We'll still be top of the class, and you know it,' he said petulantly.

'If you miss another class, you could get kicked off the Quidditch team.' He used the tone of the voice that used to be reserved for prefect duty.

'Aw, Moony!' They set off for Ancient Runes, Sirius pouting like a child the whole way.

Remus wasn't really sure about this whole affair. Sure, he'd enjoyed snogging Sirius last night, but before that first kiss, he hadn't even known he was gay. Or at least, that he was capable of liking boys. A werewolf, a muggleborn AND gay. What a combination! No matter how many times Sirius had tried to explain to him that in the wizarding world there was a whole different set of prejudices, Remus couldn't wrap his mind around it.

There was also the fact that this was Sirius. Padfoot. Snuffles, sometimes. Rulebreaker extraordinare. His best mate. The one who told him all his secrets, even the ones he apparently didn't tell James. Sirius, the one to come up with the Animagus idea. Sirius, the one who had helped Remus with Charms their first year and whom Remus had helped with Defence in return. And even though Sirius had proved he could be an untrustworthy little git (the Prank came to mind), was it really worth risking their friendship for what was (probably) a couple meaningless snogs?

And then Remus had an epiphany. Not the 'Oh-My-Godric-All-My-Problems-Are-Solved' kind, either. The 'Oh-Shit-You've-Got-To-Be-Kidding-Me' kind.

The whole of Ancient Runes was spent with Remus doing his best impression of this morning's James and a very confused Sirius. Even after the class was done, Remus refused to talk to his friend. When Sirius tried to get him alone throughout the day, Remus devoutly avoided him, making up poor excuses that Sirius didn't believe for a second. The fifth time, right after lunch, Sirius felt he'd had enough. The four Marauders were walking towards Herbology when Sirius stopped Remus, urging the other two to go on.

'What's wrong with you?' Sirius demanded, more than a little hurt. He'd never been turned down by anyone before.

'Nothing's wrong, really,' Remus lied. He tried to get away but Sirius stopped him by grabbing his arm.

'Tell me the truth!'

They both tried to ignore the strange feeling that had been ignited by Sirius' rough touch. Remus looked down at his arm, taking a deep breath.

'Okay. What are you doing? Don't think I don't know what your plan is – trying to get into my pants just so I'll say yes to brewing those stupid potions. Well, I'm not going to put up with that!' Remus yelled heatedly, not caring that they were in a crowded corridor and that anybody could hear. Sirius was quite speechless for a second, but that never lasts and he regained his voice quickly.

'Do you really think I'd do that to you?' he said softly.

No, Remus thought.

'Yes,' is what he said.

'How!'

'I don't know! But I have to think here! Why me? Why not James or Peter? Why did you have to get in my bed last night, why did you have to go and snog me? Because I'm the only one who can give you what you want, and everyone knows that what Sirius Black wants, Sirius Black gets. Well, I don't know how much you want me, but you sure aren't getting me. ' Remus turned on his heel and marched off towards the greenhouses, leaving a once more speechless Sirius standing in a slowly emptying corridor.