Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. But I will tell you this: Sirius Black is not dead. He's just... gone.

What if it's You?

Sirius was in agony.

He said only two words during the whole meal ("Nice dinner, Molly") to which his only response was a slight blush and a mumbled word of thanks. His eyes traced the spot where Remus and Tonks's hands were loosely intertwined, the tips of Tonks's suddenly bright pink hair, and the small but happy smile on Remus's face.

Mundungus, who was eating with them that night, was the first to finish. He stood up and, scratching his belly, said, "Fanks for the food. I got some, er, business ta' take care of."

And then he sauntered off. Sirius waited until he heard the front door close before he politely scooted his chair back. "I've got some stuff to do… also. Great supper, Molly." He wiped his face with a napkin and got up. "Have a nice night," he said, looking particularly at two people, "everyone."

Sirius climbed, stair after stair, until he reached the little attic-like room on the top floor. He pushed the door open, slipped in, and closed it behind him.

"Hey there, Buckbeak."

The hippogriff neighed in response, and licked Sirius's outstretched hand. Sirius strode across the room and leaned against the window sill, where the sun was hidden, low to the ground, behind a cloud. Buckbeak followed him, and stood directly in front of Sirius so they were eye to eye.

After looking at the animal for a while, Sirius muttered, "I know, it's just… at dinner, he looked happy, but it was… I don't know, it was probably me, but I thought he looked forced."

Buckbeak grunted.

"I'm serious! It's Moony, I can tell these things. I've watched him since… The point is, I know him very well, and – now don't give me that look – and I can see when he means something or he doesn't."

Buckbeak sneezed, and Sirius laughed, "Except this time," he shook his head, "he really looked happy, and he really looked sad, and he really, really looked embarrassed. I can't figure out why, except…"

The hippogriff blinked and lay down; Sirius slid his back down the wall until he was sitting down too.

"Except that he loves her," Sirius finished.

Buckbeak didn't move, and Sirius sat there for a couple minutes, while the sky got darker and darker behind him.

What if he did? What if Remus were truly in love with Tonks, and he was only avoiding her for her own good? What if he was only nervous around Sirius because Remus thought it was weird the way Sirius touched him at every available chance, that Sirius watched him when he thought Remus wasn't looking?

Finally, after these thoughts were clouding Sirius's head, to the extent his eyes were wet, Buckbeak inclined his head and licked Sirius's knee, then left his head there.

Sirius stroked his head and beak with one hand, and wiped his eyes with the other.

"Say anything," he said, to nobody in particular. Just because he was tired of all this silence, it was like a secret or something. A vital secret.

Buckbeak neighed, and Sirius jumped up.

"You're right. I have to tell him," he said, brushing off his pants. Sirius was halfway to the door before he turned around and hugged the hippogriff around the neck. "Thanks," he whispered, feeling a little stupid.

Then he ran as fast as he could, through the dark house, until he was outside Regulus's room, where Remus had been sleeping. He knocked and waited until he heard a noise from inside before slipping in. Remus was sitting up in the single bed, his hair catching the moonlight.

"I think I need to tell you something, Moony," Sirius admitted breathlessly. Remus nodded and patted the edge of the bed. Sirius crept over, automatically evading the squeaky floorboard about halfway, and sat down by Remus.

He took a breath. "I'm in love with you, Rem. I tried not to be, I don't know how or why – well I know why, actually, but I – I don't need you to say anything, don't feel like you have to impress me or whatnot, but I just – I just needed you to know that." Sirius said this all over the course of about eight seconds, but Remus seemed to catch it. Remus's eyebrows pulled together as he stared down at the comforter on the old bed.

Remus didn't know what to say to that.

Finally, after an awkward silence, Remus whispered, "I'm sorry I kissed you earlier…"

Sirius was shocked, he leaned in so Remus would feel the pressure of his still undecided words. "You didn't – I mean, you did, but – no. Rem, you kissed me back. I'm sorry, I kissed you."

"Oh," Remus said.

Undecided words - that's where it got Sirius. Being Sirius Black, he always had a map already out, a foolproof plan right there from the beginning. He knew what he was going to say, how it was going to sound, what the other person was going to say, and how he would respond, before he even opened his mouth. Except with Remus.

With Remus he was blind.

"Why?" Remus asked suddenly, sending Sirius out of his revere.

"Huh?"

"You said you knew why you… loved… me. Why?"

"Oh…" Sirius said. He looked at his friend, staring deep into Remus's amber eyes. "I love you because you're sweet. I love you because you're smart. I love you because you care, because you're beautiful, because you put up with me. I love you because you're always there for me. I love you because of the way your hair it partial to the sun. I love you because you try, because you're a hopeless act, because I love how you blush at the silliest things. I love you because you're Remus. Because you're my Moony."

Remus blinked, Sirius sounded so sure. He found himself struck silent again.

"Say anything," Sirius begged for the second time that night, his eyes wide with apprehension.

He could argue with Sirius, he had plenty of objections to the speech. He could say that he loved him back, but couldn't even think it without wincing – the happiest wince anyone ever experienced, more like a shiver of ecstasy, but a wince nonetheless.

So he said the wrong thing.

Remus ran a hand over his face, tired. "I don't know who I want - love."

Sirius nodded, the tips of his hair brushing Remus's face.

"But, Sirius," Remus said, sighing, "what if it's you?"

There was a teasing smile in Remus's eyes, and Sirius almost laughed. Instead he pressed against his friend's hipbone with his own, Remus gasped and Sirius felt something harden.

"Okay," Remus said hoarsely, "I'm pretty sure it's you."

A/N:Oh. My. God. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you all for the reviews! Really, you should have seen me - my sister thought I was high or something. So really, thanks. I hope you liked this chapter:)

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