The next day, Lupin's friends only slightly brought back up the topic of Remus' hickey before the subject of Snape threw them off.

"Speaking of old Snivels, I haven't seen him around much lately. Do you think he's avoiding us?" James only shrugged to Black's off handed question, but Peter promptly spoke up.

"I've seen him. He's elevated himself pretty high up this year. I hear he's very popular among the Slytherins now."

"Popular? You must be kidding. I don't care how good looking the git got, he's still a slimy little… what?"

James looked confused and a little disturbed. "You think Snape is good looking?"

"He maybe bathed, that's all I meant." Sirius waved it off. "He's still a short, stinking git."

Remus couldn't help but smile. Sirius was never good at bluffing and it was good to know that he was not the only one to notice the change in the Slytherin. Mind you, Sirius thought almost anyone or thing was attractive, but at least Remus wasn't alone. "Back off Black, Snape's all mine."

"Gah! Stop saying that! It's too disgusting to think about."

"Really? I thought you said he was hot or something. You're not jealous of Remus are you? Want sweet sweet Snivellus all to yourself?" James laughed at the absurdity of anyone wanting Snape, but Sirius was not amused.

"No. Just, no. Ah. I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Peter just laughed like he always did whenever anyone said anything, but even Remus found the line of teasing amusing. "Hey James, I guess next time Sirius gets a love bite we'll know where it came from."

"I wouldn't be surprised to find out that's where the last couple of them came from." James was grinning, despite the fact that Sirius was looking quite put out to be on the wrong end of their teasing for once. "You know, Sirius, you did say that he tackled you in the great hall and bit you… you wanna talk about it?"

"Oh, shove off, Potter." Sirius took Remus, the only one of their group who wasn't teasing him, by the arm and pulled him off down the hall. "I don't know what got into Prongs, but he's being a real arse this morning."

Remus only smiled and let the prat feel sorry for himself as they entered the great hall. Peter and Potter weren't far behind, laughing and lightly hitting at each other.

"Hey, did you guys see Snape?"

Sirius glared. "Would you stop already?"

"No, no, seriously. He looked like some kind of wilted vegetable."

Peter cackled. "Yeah, even his nose was all droopy."

"Man, Mooney, whad'ya do to him last night?"

"Maybe he broke up with him."

"Is that true? Hey, Sirius, looks like Snape's all freed up."

The pair of boys were practically hysterical from laughter while Sirius sat gloomily with his arms folded and Remus looked around concernedly for any sign of Snape.

It wasn't hard to find him, and indeed, Snape looked like some sort of wilted something or other. He was listlessly stabbing a fork into eggs that looked almost as grey and miserable as he did, all the while sighing so hard that his shoulders shook.

"Blimey." Remus muttered to himself and sat down beside his friends. Maybe Snape had actually needed to eat the night before. Remus felt horrible for running off like he did, especially if it meant that the other boy looked on the pitiful verge of collapse. He promised himself to talk with Snape, see if he needed to eat... sometime today. He had a little storm cloud at his own table to deal with and one problem at a time.

He took a handful of bacon and set it on Sirius' plate, leaning close so that their still laughing palls would not hear them. "Cheer up, Padfoot. I know you don't like him."

Sirius regained his cocky smile and winked at him. "Of course not. I don't think anyone could fancy someone like Snape."

"There's someone for everyone. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a few admirers."

()()()

After transfiguration and just before lunch, Remus caught Snape's eye and motioned to him to follow. He excused himself from his friends and headed off towards the bathroom. Once around the corner, he stopped and waited for Snape to join him.

Snape was not far behind, though still looking as melancholy as he had during breakfast.

"Hey, is everything…" Remus felt so strange asking Snape these sort of things. "I mean, are you all right? You didn't eat last night and today, well…" He trailed off, knowing that they could both see the state that Snape was in.

Severus looked up dismally. "I shouldn't have… I went too far last night. I know you don't…" He sighed, unable to find the words to express how he was feeling. "I'm sorry."

Lupin blinked. "Sorry for what?"

"For ki- for kissing… I know I shouldn't have. I won' do it again."

"Like how you wouldn't grab my butt again?" Remus couldn't help but smile the smallest of smiles. If it were anyone else he would be blushing and stammering and hiding, but his friends had made him realize how ridiculous the whole situation was. After all, this was only Snape.

"I didn't." He folded his arms, defensive.

"You so did." He was starting to blush, but the stammering and awkwardness of the night before had yet to resurface.

"Mmm, well…" Snape looked more unsure of himself than he had in months, and much to Lupin's surprise, a faint blush colored his otherwise ivory cheeks, "you didn't stop me."

Lupin's blush only got worse. "Maybe I got tired of always having to pry your hands of me."

"Or maybe you don't actually mind as much as you let on."

"Maybe I don't." In all honesty, that wasn't what Remus had intended to say, but he said it, and deep inside he knew it was true. Both boys glanced around the halls with sudden shifty eyes.

"Maybe we should continue this conversation somewhere more private?"

Remus knew it was the beginning of lunch and he would have some time before he would be missed. "Yeah." He led the way because, after all, as a Marauder he knew all the best 'out of the way' places that they could talk.

It was a little alcove near the astronomy room, which was only ever in use during the nighttime astronomy classes, so they would remain relatively undisturbed.

"So what did you mean by that, you didn't mind?"

Remus let out a long tired breath. "I don't know."

"Remus."

He turned around to face the dampier and was surprised to see all of Snape's energy and confidence had suddenly returned.

"Do you fancy me?"

He stammered. He didn't know how to respond because he didn't really know the answer himself. "I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe. I don't know." He looked back up at him and didn't move away as Snape stepped in closer.

"So then, you didn't mind the kiss?"

"It … it surprised me. I didn't think you liked blokes."

"Well, I like you." Snape was practically oozing confidence. He never thought he could or would be so forward with anyone about his feelings.

"Oh… that's… swell?" Remus felt his blush deepening. He didn't specifically know how he felt about Snape and his uninvited confession.

He laughed. "Well, if it's so 'swell' then I guess you approve. How wonderful." He put a hand on Remus' cheek and leaned in again, but unlike last night, Lupin leaned away before their lips could meet.

"I thought you said you were gonna stop that?" He voice was more panicked than he would have liked, and Snape only leaned in further.

"That was before I knew you liked it."

"I didn't say I liked it, just that I might not mind so much… maybe." He was carefully backing away, not wanting to get caught between a wall and a Snape.

"That's not saying that you didn't like it exactly." He leaned in again and was once more gently turned away.

"Snape, I … I'm flattered, but I've got to get to lunch." He started to edge away, looking for an escape.

"You know, you were my first kiss."

That made Lupin stop. It never crossed his mind that he could have been Snape's first, though he supposed it did make sense. Before the change, Snape wasn't what anyone thought of as kissable, but then again, maybe Severus was just as shy as he was. "You were my first too."

Severus' eyes softened and he smiled almost sweetly at him. "I wouldn't have pegged you for being a kiss virgin. You seemed so sought after. Do you fight off everyone so emphatically then, or am I just special?"

"I'm very practiced at keeping my lips away from people." He kind of smiled. Being friends with Sirius had at least taught him a few good tricks.

"I had noticed that… is it always going to be this way, or are you going to warm up to me eventually?" He gently placed his other hand on Remus' other cheek.

"I can't make any promises, Severus. I'm just here to be food."

"No you're not. You're here because I want you to be here, and because you chose to be here with me. Aren't you the least bit curious what a real kiss feels like? Personally, I'm dying to know."

Lupin involuntarily swallowed. He did want to know, but there was never anyone he could try it with. It wasn't easy not knowing if a boy would kiss back or punch you in the face for being some kind of pervert, and even though he now knew Sirius was into blokes, he knew he was only interested in the physical attention. Remus wanted more, he wanted his kisses to mean something more than that, and perhaps to Severus, they would. "If we do this, I don't want you to tell anyone about it. Not until I'm ready."

"All right. Not until you're ready." He couldn't believe his luck!

"Or maybe ever." Remus felt nervous about Snape's large and welcoming smile and the way that he was already leaning in.

"Or ever." He agreed, hesitating right before their lips touched. He didn't want to scare off Remus like he had done the night before.

Remus squeezed his eyes shut and smashed his lips against Severus'. He had no idea what he was doing, and the kiss was horribly awkward and strangely moist. It wasn't all together a grand experience, and occasionally it wasn't even a good one, but as things seemed to settle into a pleasant exchange, he hoped that with time and practice it could really be like what his more amorous friends claimed it was.

Glorious.