Author's Note: For some reason, I find it easier to write Sirius/Remus in present tense, but I don't know how good it is, since I usually write in past tense and am used to that. Let me know if it sounds off or is annoying or whatever. Thanks (:


Gryffindor courage does not come in bottles labeled "Firewhiskey".

Everyone knows. Everyone knows, and Remus walks through the halls with his cheeks burning in shame. People point, people stare, and people make snide comments under their breath. The Slytherins are the worst, coming up with taunts that make Remus feel physically sick to his stomach and make Sirius look like he was punched in the face. The Ravenclaws are mostly prejudiced, giving dirty looks to Remus or Sirius in the hallways. The Hufflepuffs are accepting, of course, providing a much-needed break in the swarms of sneers and laughs and disgusted looks. The majority of the Gryffindors, after an initial shock, have stood staunchly behind Remus and Sirius, but Remus still catches a few dirty looks from Gryffindor girls who have always had somewhat of a thing for the handsome Sirius Black.

Remus cares about all this, but Sirius swears he doesn't. As long as his friends don't care, he says, he doesn't care. And their friends don't care. James ruffles Sirius' hair fondly and grins at Remus and doesn't try very hard to abstain from saying I told you so. Peter looks nervous for a few days, but then relaxes and acts as if nothing has changed. Lily hugs Remus tightly when she hears and whispers that she'll just have to endure Black now, which is a shame, but really, she's surprised it didn't happen sooner.

So Remus tries to roll his eyes as if he couldn't care less when a Slytherin throws a nasty comment to him. He tries to ignore it when an annoyed Ravenclaw snaps at him that nobody else in Hogwarts is like them and shouldn't that mean something? He tries, but it's hard, and he's usually unsuccessful.

But then there's Sirius. Sirius, who grins at him and melts away the dirty looks and comments of the day and just makes everything better. Sirius, who doesn't press him when he shies away from physical contact in public. Sirius, who knows exactly the right thing to say, who knows just how to make Remus feel human when he can't help but feel like a monster.

And it's hard to say no to Sirius Black when he's grinning at you in a way that makes your heart skip a beat.

And so Remus finds himself at Hogsmeade, with Sirius and James and Peter, but mainly Sirius, on Valentine's Day weekend.

"Lily doesn't know what she's missing," James grumbles for the five-hundredth time.

Sirius makes a big production of sighing and rolling his eyes. "Well, she probably thinks she's missing something crazy and exciting. But really, she'd be surprised to know that we are spending our Hogsmeade weekend in the most boring way: wandering aimlessly around, listening to Prongs moan."

James smacks him. "Well, we can't all be as lucky as you, can we? Some of us aren't blissfully happy and haven't convinced their soul mate they are meant to be together. Really, no need to rub it in."

Sirius blushes and glances at Remus. Peter looks between them and laughs. "Too soon?" he teases.

James smirks. "Sorry," he says cheerfully.

Remus spots the inviting Three Broomsticks and sighs with relief. "Let's go inside. It's bloody freezing out here."

The others agree and they troop into the crowded bar. "Grab us a table," James tells Remus and Sirius. "Pete and I will get the drinks."

Before Remus can say anything, James winks at Sirius and grabs Peter and is gone. Sirius chuckles under his breath and leads the way to an empty table in the corner. "This okay?" he asks, glancing at Remus hopefully.

Remus nods and sits down across from Sirius. He takes in the questioning stares and the muffled laughter, and bites his lip. "People must think we're on a date."

Something flashes in Sirius' eyes. "Oh. Sorry."

"It's nothing to apologize for," Remus mutters.

"Do you want me to go help Prongs and Wormy get the drinks?" Sirius asks flatly.

Remus hesitates but shakes his head. "Sorry. No. I just- Forget it. Sorry."

Sirius' eyes go hard. "Sorry for what? Not wanting to be seen with me in public?" He blushes a little. "We used to be alone in public all the time. What's changed? I'm not going to pin you down and start snogging you now."

Remus recognizes the hurt in Sirius' voice and sighs. "Padfoot, really, I'm sorry. I just freaked out a little bit, you know how I get." He shoots Sirius a hopeful grin. "I'm just a little nervous with….this out in public now. I think I need something stronger than butterbeer."

He laughs, but Sirius doesn't join in. "Gryffindor courage does not come in bottles labeled 'Firewhiskey,'" he says quietly. The words should have come out with a teasing edge, but instead are smudged with Sirius' confusion and embarrassment and hurt.

Remus gives Sirius a half-smile. "Okay." He takes a deep breath and puts his hand over Sirius' hands.

Sirius' eyes widen with surprise, but he smiles, and it melts Remus' heart. "We'll get used to this, Moony," he breathes, all wrapped up in the thrill of young love and lust and togetherness. "And so will everyone else."

Remus nods, forcing himself to believe that, forcing himself to remember that nobody views him as a monster, that it's just him and his insecurities. And he looks into Sirius' warm gray eyes and lets the insecurities drift away.

Sirius smirks a little, leaning forward. "You're lucky this table is between us," he says throatily. "Wouldn't want to make a scene."

Remus laughs. "I don't know," he muses playfully. "I don't think lucky is the right word."

Sirius shakes his head sadly, squeezing Remus' hand. "Dead unfortunate is more accurate."

Remus chuckles a little, feeling his heart pound with desire. "I wonder if the bathroom is empty," he whispers, tauntingly, recklessly.

Sirius' eyes light up. "Let's go see," he says, unable to keep the grin from spreading across his face.

They hear James' long-suffering sigh before they can get up. "Can you wait until you drink the Butterbeers we stood in line forever to get?" he demands, shoving a foamy bottle at each of them.

Remus laughs, embarrassed, and grabs the drink. "Thanks Prongs," he says, grinning at James, and making room for Peter on the bench.

Sirius takes the other one and scoots over for James to slide in next to him. "Your long wait didn't have anything to do with Evans, did it?" he asks, catching Remus' eye and smirking.

James frowns. "Maybe I saw her in line."

"And maybe you annoyed her half-to-death until she threatened to hex you," Peter adds, laughing.

James narrows his eyes. "She wasn't annoyed."

Peter grins at Sirius and Remus. "Well, she didn't actually pull out her wand. I would say that's a good sign."

James' face brightens, before he realizes his friends are laughing at him. He gives them a martyred expression. "I'm so glad my pain is amusing to you," he says, glaring at each of them. "Happy bloody Valentine's Day."

Sirius lifts his Butterbeer. "Happy Valentine's Day!" he echoes, somewhat mockingly at James, but shoots a smile at Remus.

Remus grins back, not caring that people are watching and that if they were trying to hide their relationship, they are failing miserably and that James and Peter are right there, because Sirius is grinning at him, and Sirius is causing his heart to skip a beat, and it's Valentine's Day, and he has fallen in love with Sirius Orion Black and he has no regrets.