Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song
Tell him it won't be long
'Til he opens his eyes


Remus was exhausted. Every muscle and sinew ached with the trauma of being torn apart and sewn back together. The full moon last night had been difficult, but it was just another rock on the camel's back. It had been a long winter.

He put a kettle on and settled into his armchair, beckoning his book into his lap with a gesture of his finger. He found his reading glasses and his page and began his day of complete, uninterrupted relaxation.

The front door flew open and Remus was on his feet in a heartbeat, wand at the ready. Sirius leaned against the doorway, panting. "Whatever happens, I've been here for hours!" He declared, making his way into the kitchen to grab the whistling kettle. Remus sighed and sat back down.

"What did you do this time?"

"What did I -" Sirius peered around the corner to give Remus an affronted face. "What did I do? Absolutely nothing! I am offended that you would even think that I would -"

Remus threw up his hands in surrender. "You know, I don't care."

Sirius grinned and handed him a cup of tea. "There's a mate. What are we reading this fine February afternoon?"

Remus opened his mouth to tell him off, but the exhaustion sank into his stomach and pulled at his eyelids and he found he had no patience for Sirius' energy today. "I was actually about to take a little nap, if you don't mind," he said instead.

Sirius blinked. "Oh. Of course. Go ahead. I'll just catch up on my current events, then. If you don't mind. Where do you keep the -"

Remus had a vague inkling that Sirius was still talking to him, but his ability to comprehend words was severely inhibited as the world melted away.

He woke up several hours later covered with a blanket. His fireplace crackled comfortingly, and Sirius sat across from him, staring intently into one of his Herbology books.

His heart clenched at the domestication of the scene, and he sat up groggily. "What time is it?" Sirius blinked up at him from the book, smiling tenderly.

"Nearly half past four. You've been out for a while!" He closed the book with a snap, scooting forward in his seat.

"Why are you still here?" Remus asked coldly. "Must have done something terrible to stay this long." Sirius frowned for half of a second before resuming his usual smile.

"No worse than usual." He laughed briefly. "Hey, I made you a tea. Drink." He pointed to a cup on Remus' end table.

"I'm not thirsty, thanks." Remus fussed with the blanket, finally standing. His bones creaked. Sirius jumped to his feet and grabbed Remus' arm.

"Please."

Remus frowned, but sipped the tea as asked. Even as the first mouthful went down his throat, he felt better. His aching body was soothed. He turned to Sirius in wonderment.

Sirius shrugged. "I've been doing some research. I know the day after your transformation is the hardest. I wanted to find something to ease that pain. How does it work?"

Remus was at a loss for words. This was - "It's wonderful. I feel brand new." Sirius grinned - beamed - and the entire room became brighter. Remus' heart tugged and swelled. He could get by with only that smile. "Thank you, my old friend."

He held out his hand to shake but Sirius wrapped him up in a hug, holding him tightly to his body. Sirius sighed into Remus' neck. "I worry about you, all alone in this tiny old house. You shouldn't live alone."

Remus laughed loudly, pushing away at Sirius. "I'm all of 25 years, mate. I don't need a nurse quite yet." Sirius chuckled and scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Well, no - not a nurse. I was - I meant more of a roommate."

"Yeah? And who'd want to live with an elderly werewolf?" Remus meant it in jest, adding a wink for effect. Sirius, however, turned red and looked to the ground.

"Well, er - I would." Sirius looked up, meeting his eyes. "I would like to live with you."

Remus blinked."What, really? Why?"

Sirius turned more red, if possible. "What - I - do I need a reason to want to live with my best friend?" Remus shrugged.

"I guess not."

Sirius gazed at him earnestly. "You feel better when I'm around, right? I feel better when you're around."

Remus shoved his hands into his pockets. "Well, yeah. Of course. I feel safe." Sirius nodded emphatically.

"So let's feel better and - and safe together! In the same house. In the same - together." Sirius was gazing at him with those big, brown, puppy eyes, and Remus found he couldn't say no. He also realized he didn't want to say no.

So he said, "Okay. Let's live together." And there was that smile again.


Morning is waking up
Sometimes it's more than just enough
And all that you need to love
Is in front of your eyes