AN: Well, this is a short-ish chapter, I apologise but I am going camping tomorrow (Saturday) and I will be unable to post. :( So I give you this chapter as a temporary peace offering until I return! Forgive this poor author and send lots of reviews! Thanks for all those who continue to make me smile with your praise, I am unworthy but not ungrateful.

I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
- George McGovern

The silence was almost deafening, James slowly lowered his wand and stumbled, he fell to the floor just as Death Eaters began Disapperating everywhere. Sirius was distracted as Snape disappeared with a pop and left him kneeling on the cold stone, with an angry curse he stood and brushed himself down, his body ached but he had enjoyed the fight. He ran to James' side and fell to his knees at his side, Lily was stroking hair from his eyes and smiling softly. "He's just unconscious...he used too much powerful magic and exhausted himself."

"Good...he fought brilliantly, so did you." Sirius said with a small smile which Lily returned, Remus appeared at their side looking sad. "Remus, are you hurt?" The werewolf shook his head but his face remained grim, Sirius frowned. "What's wrong?" He asked warily.

"It's...Francis...Sirius he took a Killing curse right to the face." He said softly.

Sirius moved his eyes to a small pile of rubble where a figure sat leaning heavily against it. He stood as if in a dream and walked slowly towards the body, he knelt carefully and looked into the man's vacant face before reaching up and closing his eyes. "I'm sorry." He whispered softly. "You didn't deserve this..."

"He's smiling." Remus said as he put his hand on Sirius' arm. "The Ministry will be arriving shortly to sort out the Muggle dead...come on, you're wounded, we need to sort you out."

"No...no, I'll tell his lover myself." Sirius stood and gazed down at Francis with sadness. "He was good to me, and gentle..."

"I know." Remus embraced him and Sirius put an arm around him. "It's not your fault, Siri."

"It is, don't lie to me, please."

"I'm not, you couldn't have predicted this, it was a terrible accident."

"If he had never known me he would still be alive, Remus. I'll be alright." He drew away with a small, sad smile and kissed Remus on the forehead before stepping away and lifting his wand. "Tell James I'll return later tonight, I need some time to think and clear my head."

"Sirius..." Remus grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Be careful."

"Aren't I always?" Sirius smiled and spun on the spot.

The door seemed like an insurmountable wall as Sirius stood before it and gazed at the knocker, he was afraid, he wandered how Alessandro would react to being told that his boyfriend had died in an attack, Sirius had decided that the truth wouldn't do. He would go along with the Ministry line of a terrorist attack, they usually blamed large explosions on such. Finally he gathered his courage and knocked firmly, a second later and it was opened by the young Italian man, he smiled revealing white teeth. "You're ok?"

"Yeah...um...I-I have some news, I think...I think you should hear it from me first...but you might want to sit down."

The man's face fell and his eyes darkened slightly. "Is it Francis, yes?"

Sirius nodded and lowered his eyes. "I'm...sorry..."

"I see. Come inside and I will get you drink."

"Thanks." Sirius stepped into the warm house, it seemed oddly empty as he sat down in the large living room and took a drink from Alessandro.

"You have fight?" The man asked, nodding to Sirius' battered appearance.

"Yeah, kind of...Um...I have to tell you, Francis he..."

"He found another?" Alessandro asked coldly. "He liked you a lot, he mentioned you many time. If he has left me I would know."

"No...no it's not that."

"Then what?"

"Well...this is hard...I um...When we were leaving the Hospital there was...an attack...and the place was...destroyed...H-he was caught in the blast and...and was killed." Sirius spoke while frowning into his drink, the silence was long and oppressive, the atmosphere too still. He risked a quick glance up and saw the man watching him, his dark eyes were calculating.

"He is dead?"

"Yes."

"Is this certain?"

"I saw his body myself...I'm so sorry."

"No, you are not."

"Huh?" Sirius was taken back, his eyes widened. "What?"

"You come to our house, a stranger to me, yet Francis knew you...this tells me you met before. We have been together for many years, we met in Florence. I know he leaves to go to the clubs, I let him have his fun, I am not clingy, but he was different for you. You made him drift."

"I-I...I didn't..."

"If he is dead it is your fault."

"I..."

"He took you to the hospital and looked after you, he even took you in when you were distressed. His death is your fault."

Sirius sat there, gaping slightly. He snapped his mouth shut and sighed as he stood. "I'm sorry for your loss, I'll go now."

"You are a strange boy, you have a troubled past, that I can see and you are a violent person. Come here." He beckoned as he leaned back against the sofa, Sirius stepped closer and the man grabbed his shirt, pulling him to his knees so they were at eye level with each other. "I know he fucked you, and I would not have minded if he had not been talking of you while with me. You are pretty, but you are strange, dark...I will not have you back here again."

"No...that's fine."

"I should ask for compensation...no?"

Sirius blinked at him. "Compensation?"

"Yes."

"I see..." Sirius felt himself tugged closer. "Isn't that a little...disrespectful?"

"I am grieving and I wish to forget, you will serve this purpose."

He sighed softly. "Fine."

"Then undress."

Sirius stood when he was released and lifted his shirt off, it fell from his fingers onto the floor and was quickly joined by his belt. The Italians eyes were intense as they moved up and down his body, he undid his belt and began working open the button on his jeans, the heat of the man's stare was making him uncomfortable but he continued. He owed him something, if he could help ease the man's grief by letting him fuck him he saw no harm in it.

"On your knees." Alessandro said, as he took Sirius by the wrist and dragged him down. "Undress me." Sirius began working on his belt and jeans, when they were open the Italian smiled and shook his head. "You are too easy, you should have refused me."

"But he died because of me, I owe you something..."

Alessandro put two fingers under Sirius' chin and lifted his head. "Are you a whore?"

"No..."

"Then why would you have sex with me just because I asked?"

"Because...I wanted to...make up for what I did..."

"Then you wish to ease your own guilt? Is that not selfish?"

"Well, I..."

"Sex is not a duty, it is to be enjoyed...it is sensual, passionate and loving." As he spoke he ran a finger down Sirius' neck slowly and made him shiver. "You are not used to gentleness, are you?"

"It doesn't matter..."

"It does. It always matters. Sex is one thing..." He slid his hand down Sirius' chest, slowly caressing a nipple with a finger, teasing it and making Sirius' breathing speed up. "Making love is another, you don't seem to be someone who has known a gentle lover. This man you are in love with, does he fuck you or make love to you?"

"I-Is there a difference?" Sirius whispered as that finger moved across his chest slowly, tracing intricate patterns onto his bloody chest.

"Of course, I think Francis wished to teach you...So young, and so abused...he pitied you and I can see why." He leaned closer, unfolding his long legs and pushing his fingers into Sirius' hair gently, he pressed his lips to Sirius' and began to tease his tongue slowly forcing a long groan from Sirius' lips. "You see, there are some things that rough sex cannot do." He pulled Sirius closer, his tongue exploring his mouth as he drew soft little whimpers from him and Sirius' fingers dug into his sofa so his knuckles were white. "Mm...You taste like blood." He whispered as he drew again to find Sirius flushed with excitement, his hands shook almost imperceptibly and his eyes were glazed. "Do you still wish to have sex with me because I'm grieving or because you want it?"

Sirius took a shuddery breath, collecting his wits. "I want it..." He croaked hoarsely. "I want you."

"Good, that is the correct answer." Alessandro smiled and drew Sirius into his lap. "And now I will make you forget all about your little straight friend, soon you will only be able to remember my name."

Evening found them on the sofa, Sirius sat astride Alessandro, moving himself up and down slowly. His fingers dug into the back of the seat and his head had been thrown back as pleasure engulfed his senses. He trembled and bit down on his lip as the Italian encased a nipple in wet heat, he ran his tongue around it until it hardened. The Italians hands gripped his hips and controlled his speed which he kept at an agonisingly slow pace, his kisses were molten, his tongue like fire that left Sirius feeling desperate as he rode him. He was harder than he had been in a long time, it was almost painful as he tried not to speed his movements. "Oh god..." He gasped as his toes curled. "Oh fucking hell..."

Alessandro chuckled breathlessly. "You seem to be enjoying this, Sirius."

"Fuck yes! So good..." He opened his eyes which he hadn't even realised he had closed to gaze into those dark depths, they were like liquid jet and full of passion and desire. "A-Alessandro...!" He whispered with a soft gasp as hands ran up his back, he arched it like a kitten as his skin tingled and that wicked tongue found his throat. He felt teeth and hands and soft lips, his touched were gentle and loving, his lips delicate as they kissed their way down his body and made him swear and tense.

"No...don't cum yet..."

"C-Can't...can't...Nnn...oh fuck! Oh f-fuck...!" His hands gripped the sofa as he fought his orgasm.

"Shh...not yet, hold on..."

Sirius bit down hard on his bottom lip and took a deep, shuddery breath as the urge to cum passed. He sighed shakily. "I'm fine now...I..." he groaned heavily as his lover began pumping his hips upwards, teeth nipped ever so gently at his neck and he tangled his hands into those tight curls and began responding.

Their gasps echoed through the room, punctuated by searing kisses and heavy breathing, finally he felt Alessandro tense. "Cum, Sirius..." He whispered gently. "With me..."

Sirius moved, his hips speeding up as he lifted himself with his legs, his gasps became louder as his voice joined his partners. They came together, Sirius spattering their chests with hot white liquid as he shook and came down from his high. He lay on top of his lover gasping into his hair as he calmed down, his mind slowly ground back into gear and he pushed himself away enjoying the feel of Alessandro's fingers on his back, he gazed into those eyes and smiled weakly. "That was...amazing..." He said softly.

Alessandro smiled. "Now you can break from your straight friend and find someone who will love you, Francis wished to show what it could be like and so I completed his last wish."

Sirius' smile fell slightly. "I see...then all this was...?"

"Merely a show of kindness, although you are cute."

Sirius laughed at that and slowly lifted himself off, he leaned down and kissed Alessandro slowly, their tongues tangled for a moment before he pulled away. "Thanks." He said.

XXX

Remus sat on the sofa as dawn approached, he was supposed to be reading but the words of the book seemed meaningless as he continued to glance up at the clock. Time seemed to tick past slowly, he was worrying again, Sirius hadn't returned from telling Francis' lover that he had died. Suddenly he heard the roar of an engine and leapt to his feet, the book spilled from his hands as he ran for the door and ripped it open, he leapt down into the street to find Sirius manoeuvring the bike into the garage. "Sirius!" He shouted as his housemate cut the engine and turned to him, he flung his arms around Sirius' neck and breathed in his scent...but he could smell something else as well; A spicy smell, like some kind of foreign aftershave and the definite scent of sex clung to his skin. "You've been having sex..." He said and pulled away, Sirius was smiling.

"Yeah...I needed it." He swung his leg off the bike and winced slightly. "Need a shower though, wanna join me?"

"Alright, but I'm getting the full story from you."

Sirius laughed and threw his arm across his shoulders, pulling him to his side. Remus smiled, he was glad to see Sirius happy, it made those butterflies flap in his stomach and the feeling was pleasant.

They showered together and Sirius teased him gently, turning him around and washing his back while laughing and describing his encounter with Francis' lover. Remus laughed with him, he enjoyed Sirius' laughter and the gentleness of his hands, even more so the fact that he seemed unable to see the horribly disfiguring scars that covered the werewolf's body.

Afterwards they curled up beside each other in Sirius' bed and talked, giggling softly to each other as the light crept into the room and they both fell asleep curled around each other as they so often had in the shrieking shack during a full moon.