Chapter 9~ The aftermath wasn't so bad

Everything was going to hell in a hand basket. Not only were his friends not talking to him but everyone was staring at him like he had transformed into Moony right in front of them.

After he had left the Gryffindor common room, Remus had ran to the room of requirements where the room and given him a nice place to sit… and drink. Glass after glass seemed to magically appear. Remus had gotten to about his 15th drink of the stuff before he passed out, only to wake up with the worst head ache of his life and a pain in his neck that wouldn't seem to go away. It had been an awkward trek up to the Tower and when he had entered through the portal all movement suddenly stopped in the common room. Remus, being embarrassed had run up to his rooms only to be greeted the same way by his friends. They had looked at him for at least 5 minutes before Remus had enough and without further ado, grabbed his clothes and practically ran to the bathroom. He had taken a very long shower and was just contemplating the pros and cons of going to Madame Pomfrey for a Pepper-up potion when an owl flew through the window with a parcel attached to its leg.

Hope you feel better, and don't worry it's not as bad as it seems.

~ Lily

Thanking any and all deities, Remus opened up the potion and downed it in one go. Finishing up he had made his way down to the Great Hall for breakfast which was where he was now glaring back at the entire school as he made his way to the dining table. Any qualms about where to sit was figured out for him as Lily shouted "Remus" and waved him over, patting the seat beside her.

"Hey Lills." Sitting down Remus started to pile his plate, trying to ignore the glances he was getting from the people around him.

Well at least they are not shifting away

"Hey Remus, how are you feeling" Her soft green eyes sparkled with both concern and mischief.

"Much better, and thanks for the potion I really needed it but how did you know?"

"I saw you leaving the Room of Requirements this morning and thought you might need some help. Wouldn't want you to be anything less than your best for the day ahead."

"Don't remind me"

"I'm just teasing you. Really it is not as bad as you think. After you left the common room the room was deadly silent but Jeremy Holding, you remember him, in our Charms class, well he broke the ice by making a joke about how he always wanted to shag you and now he had a chance. The whole room broke into laughter and that was that. No one really cares."

"Then what is up with everyone staring at me. And this morning when I entered the common room they all looked at me like I was a freak even James Sirius and Peter didn't say anything to me when I got to the rooms."

"As for the common room, you look like death so that may be what the silence was about; Jenny Lang was telling me so I have it on good authority. As for your friends I have no idea. They probably just need some time. I think you should talk with them to set everything straight….excuse the pun hehe."

Remus ate breakfast in silence until he and Lily went to their first class. The day progressed pretty normally and Remus relaxed a little as he found that no one cared that he was gay. He was still not on speaking terms with the guys but he promised himself that tonight he would find them out and talk to them.

SSRLSSRL-

Severus was sitting at the Great Table when he heard the news that Remus was gay. At first he couldn't believe it. He had seen him with girls and knew for a fact that he had been in some relationships with them.

He did kiss me though and he always gets hard whenever we kissed and touched.

Yet in the back of Severus's mind he was disappointed. He had thought that Remus's reaction to him was special and that he was the only one, or at least only guy that had been able to stir him up with arousal.

What idiot thoughts! Get a grip on yourself, either you take his teasing and lies or you never see him again!

But that was the problem; he wanted Remus with a part of himself that he never even knew existed. He was drawn to the other boy in ways that he had never experienced before. Yet he wasn't willing to take the humiliation of being rejected or lied to if he gave into his feelings. He would never come back from a betrayal like that if he gave all of himself to Remmy and he got hurt.

He knew that he would have to see the boy again soon. They had potions together in the afternoon and chances were, because luck seemed to want to make him miserable, they would be partnered together. Damn Slughorn and his ideas about inter house partnering.

"Alright time to pair you lot up"

Severus's thoughts seemed to come back to life as Slughorn paired him up with Remus for there next potion project. Their task was to make a very strong healing draught. If it came out acceptable then it would be used by the infirmary.

Bastard just doesn't want to make them himself on his spare time.

Severus smiled slightly at the thought. If he were potions master at Hogwarts he would have been glad to stock up the infirmary for Madame Pomfrey.

"What are you smiling at Sev?" Remus's voice broke him out of his thoughts. He turned to make a spiteful comment but came up short when he saw Remus's smiling face in front of him. A slight blush worked its way up his cheeks and he looked away mumbling "nothing, and don't call me that".

Why did the damn Gryffindor have to be so attractive? He had tried to stay away from Remus but it seemed that he needed more time if he was to get over the boy.

If I ever will get over him

And that was what worried Severus the most.