***
Harry Potter and the characters and locations involved in his world do not belong to me. They belong to J.K. Rowling. Okay! (Oh, except for Professor Balatro who – even though he is meddlesome and annoying – I have to love for getting James and Peter out of the way on two occasions!)
This chapter has come about through my own love of the first chapter, as well as your fantastic reviews which really pushed me on. Thanks.
Dedication: QueenP, who got me so drunk at the weekend, it took me until Sunday to properly recover. What I would have given for one of Madam Pomfrey's Pepper up Potions.
***
"Slytherin sucks!" Sirius said to the half-sleeping Fat Lady who lazily waved her hand and bided entrance before sinking back to slumber.
Sirius chuckled as he climbed through the opening in the wall behind the painting. Ever since James had been made Head Boy, he had used his new authority to make each password to the Gryffindor tower an insult to the other House. Sirius had to admit that he took a lot of pleasure in the act of using each succeeding password, even though Lily had protested that it was a bit unfair.
Sirius bounded up the stairs two at a time; he couldn't keep the smile off his face. He couldn't believe it had happened, finally happened. He entered his dorm room, and placed James's cloak back into the trunk of the sleeping boy. He walked to his bed, picked up his towel and headed for the bathroom. He felt like he was going to bust and as the water hit his still tingling skin, he began to replay what had happened in his head.
He hadn't gone to the infirmary with the intension of... seducing Remus. It felt like it had just sort of happened. All the signs were in the right place, and they had both easily fallen into each other. Sirius hadn't dared believe Remus would want to live with him. They seemed so different. They had spent six years as friends who were interested in the same things, friends who did almost everything together but they had always been so different. Remus probably thought Sirius and James would move in together, and Sirius had to admit that he might have asked James, but Remus was... Remus was... Remus!
As warm soapy water rushed over Sirius's skin, he remembered the way Remus had looked up at him. His eyes had been so hesitant, so unsure of themselves. Sirius had never wanted him more. Sirius remembered the first time he had realised how he really felt about Remus.
It had been in the middle of fifth year and one of the earliest full moons they had spent together. The morning had arrived and Sirius woke at the end of the bed in the Shrieking Shack. His body was cramped and he could feel Peter's breath tickling his legs. As he opened his eyes he saw James curled up uncomfortably on the armchair by the door, the other boy's robes wrapped around his body tightly. Sirius turned his head, and his eyes fell onto a head of brown hair at the other end of the bed. He seemed to be still sleeping. In the half-light, Sirius noticed the covers had fallen down and wrapped themselves around Remus's waist.
Sirius's eyes stung when he looked at Remus's chest. He knew that Remus had scars, but they had never seen them properly. As the dawning sun broke into the room, Sirius traced each scar with his eyes; following their paths from beginning to end; tracking there twisted path over Remus's body. It was like reading someone's palm, Sirius supposed. Each scar would tell a story and a little more of Remus's life would be revealed. Each scar spoke of the pain and loneliness Remus had endured for years, and Sirius hated to think about it.
Remus had opened his eyes and found Sirius looking at him. It was only when he said, 'Morning, Padfoot' that Sirius had finally realised he was awake, and met his gaze. Their eyes had locked, and Sirius felt his heart hitch. It was then that he wanted to move forward into Remus's arms, it was then he wanted to take his mouth and trace the line of each scar with his tongue, adding the protection of his touch to Remus's healing charms, but it had taken him another two years before he had found the courage to do it.
***
Sirius's eyes kept flickering towards the door of the Great Hall, waiting in anticipation for the arrival of Remus. He felt strangely nervous about it. They had only seen each other hours ago, but it felt like a lifetime had passed between them. He never wanted to be separated from Remus ever again.
His attention was pulled away by a voice whispering in his ear.
"Snape is up to something."
Sirius turned his eyes to meet Peter, who was indicating towards the far end of the table.
"He keeps looking down here. I can see him scheming." Peter's eyes looked up at Sirius. "What are we going to do?"
Sirius let his gaze dart to the other end of the table, and sure enough he was met with a narrowed scowl from the seventh year Slytherin.
"Got a problem, Snivellus?" he demanded.
"Not as much as you do," was the slow, knowing reply he got, before Snape picked up his goblet and took a sip of his drink.
"You'd think he'd play it a bit safer considering he doesn't have his lackeys around him." James said, leaning towards his friends.
"He's just playing the big man," Sirius replied, wondering exactly why Snape seemed so pleased with himself.
"I'll take the smile of his face," James said as he pulled his wand from his pocket and directed it at Snape. "Eiciumdum," he said quietly. The tip of his wand glowed blue for a second before dying down. With a quick smile, James pocketed his wand and continued eating nonchalantly.
"What did you just do?" Peter asked with an inquiring smile. Sirius leaned in even further.
"Yeah," Sirius said with the same interest, "I never heard that spell before."
"It's something my cousin taught me last summer," James said with his usual grin. "It's quite effective."
"But what does it do?" Peter implored but was only met with a knowing smile from James.
"You'll find out in about two minutes," he promised.
And indeed, they did. After spending the time trying to steal glances at the Slytherin without him noticing, the Gryffindors' attention was pulled to the other end of the table by a large belching sound.
Snape clutched at his stomach with one hand, while the other was clamped firmly over his mouth. His skin was turning a disgusting shade of green and he had broken out into a cold sweat. As he tried to extricate himself from the table he tripped backwards and landed on the floor with a thud.
"Mister Snape," Professor McGonagall asked, after breaking away from her discussion with Madam Hooch on the qualities of the new Nimbus 1000, "what exactly is the matter?"
Snape could not answer; he was trying to scramble off the ground without taking his hand away from his mouth. His eyes were bulging, and it seemed that he was going to be sick any minute.
James let out a snort of laughter as the Slytherin went fleeing towards the door, almost knocking down a student who had just entered the room.
"That'll teach the slimy git," James laughed.
Sirius's smile changed from one of glee to a contented relief. Remus who had just entered the hall turned his head inquisitively as Snape sped by him. After a moment he made his way towards his friends who greeted him enthusiastically.
"Remus, my old chum," James exclaimed. "How have you been? I trust this fine day find you well."
"What did you do to him?" Remus asked his dark haired friend.
"ME!" James exclaimed in mock surprise. "What makes you think it had anything to do with me?"
"Because it's Snape." Remus said, sitting down beside James who looked completely affronted.
"Who did it?" Remus looked at Sirius and raised his eyebrows, waiting.
Sirius realised that he hadn't spoken since setting eyes on Remus in the doorway; he was being uncharacteristically quiet, but he was afraid that if he spoke his voice would be uneven. He cleared his throat and tested his theory.
"It was him," Sirius said giving up his friend with an easy smile. His voice was easy, and he even fooled himself.
"Traitor!" James shouted scandalised, but the corners of his mouth twitched and he finally gave away the spell. "It was a Vomiting Charm," he said lightly.
"Eww," Peter said, recoiling slightly from his plate.
"I almost feel sorry for the guy," Sirius said looking towards the door, "almost."
"Serves him right, he's just a slimy git." James said venomously. "You know he tried to make a move on Lily...? I mean, I know we not married or anything, but everyone knows we're together, and he'd tried to chat her up." James shivered, "That really pissed me off."
As James spoke, Sirius felt something brush his leg. He ignored it at first, until he felt it moving up his leg and towards his thigh. He turned his gaze on Remus, who was sitting opposite him, looking decidedly hungry. Sirius's eyes fell on the others lips, as Remus ran his little finger across his bottom lip then took it into his mouth and bit it gently. Sirius could feel the tension rise in him as a probing foot explored under the table. Remus had definitely recovered from the full moon. Sirius's eyes were becoming dilated, and he couldn't take them off Remus.
His mouth was dry, and try as he might, he was finding it very difficult to swallow or even breathe. He had to get out of here. He had to get Remus out of here. He needed to be somewhere with just the two of them.
"Did you find that book I was talking about?" Remus purred, as if he had been reading Sirius's mind.
"No," Sirius managed to choke out.
"What book?" Peter said, but never got an answer.
"I could give it to you now." Remus said, a hand discreetly stroking his neck.
Sirius nodded, and jumped up from the table, glad that his robes were so loose.
"Aren't you hungry?" James shouted at his retreating friends only to be met with a definite 'No!' from both.
Sirius could hardly wait to get his hands on Remus and grabbed him the minute they entered the deserted Entrance Hall, shocking a few of the paintings in the process. They kissed passionately and Sirius could feel his whole body pounding with desire. After a minute, they pulled apart just enough to breathe.
"Where can we go?" Sirius asked through panting breath. Remus smiled.
"Come with me," he said quickly, and took Sirius's hand before hastily guiding him down a corridor. After travelling past the large painting of a bowl of fruit, which led to the kitchens, Remus opened a door and pulled Sirius into a deserted classroom before closing it behind them and locking it.
"Isn't this Professor Binn's classroom?" Sirius asked mischievously, and Remus nodded.
"It'll give you something to think about the next time you're bored in History of Magic." Remus said, moving towards Sirius.
Their lips met for a second time, and Remus pinned Sirius up against the wall, pushing against him forcefully. Sirius moaned, and pressed himself hard up against Remus.
"God I want you so much," Sirius said when Remus finally pulled away and started kissing his neck. Remus was wild; he was holding Sirius's hands against the wall with his own, and huskily biting the soft flesh on Sirius's neck. It just made Sirius groan even more. Remus took his hands down, pulling at Sirius's robes until he found the smooth material of the dark-haired boy's t-shirt. Remus lifted it up and ran his hard tongue over Sirius's left nipple. Sirius gasped, and his hand felt its way into Remus's hair, trying to guide his pleasure, but Remus didn't let him. He was in control. He seemed to know instinctively what made Sirius moan and was following his senses to the letter.
Sirius closed his eyes and moved his hands through Remus's hair. 'Don't tease me,' he thought, 'I can't stand you teasing me.' He moved his hands down and stroked the back of Remus's neck. In that moment, Remus shuddered and pulled away. His breathing was sharp, and his eyes wild. Sirius could see his hands shaking at his sides as he tried to control himself.
"Don't do that!" Remus said in a warning tone, his head was lowered and as his eyes focused on Sirius, a dangerous look in them.
"What?" Sirius asked shaking his head in query.
"Don't touch the back of my neck," he said, trying to get the words out through the heaving motion of his chest.
"Why?" Sirius asked in just as shaky a voice.
"It's a wolf thing," Remus explained. "A challenge – You do that, and it leads to – a lot more."
"I want that," Sirius said, need ringing in his voice as he reached his hand out to Remus, only to have it shrugged away.
"Not from Moony!" he said. "He's – he's too strong."
"Like now?" Sirius asked, talking about Remus's dominance in this session.
"Yes," Remus nodded, his eyes clouded, "but this isn't full Moony. He's weak because it's so soon after my transformation."
"So how do we –?" Sirius questioned, wondering if the affair was over before it really began.
"We just have to be careful," he said, moving back towards Sirius and kissing him again. "We can do this –" kiss, "we just –" kiss, "have to be –" kiss, "careful." Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius, and pulled him closer. Sirius felt himself being pulled deeper and deeper into Remus. As his mouth opened and their tongues probed each other, he knew there was something more going on. He felt like he could stay in this classroom forever. He wanted to be in this embrace forever. He wanted Remus to hold him, and push him up against walls. He wanted to feel Remus's tongue as it flicked possessively over his body. Sirius had never believed that Remus would be the dominant of the two, but it was clear he was. Sirius might have the bravado, but Remus had the true confidence. Remus knew what he was and Sirius wanted that. He wanted all of Remus – all of Moony.
***
It was an hour later when Remus finally removed the Locking Charm from the door and two dishevelled, but very satisfied Gryffindors emerged from the History of Magic classroom.
"Do you think James and Peter missed us?" Sirius smiled.
"I think they may have felt our absence, yes." Remus answered, placing a kiss on Sirius neck.
"Don't start what you can't finish, Moony," Sirius said with a slight moan in his voice.
"Who says I can't finish it!" Remus argued, moving towards Sirius again, but before he had him within reach, Sirius stepped back a few paces.
"You have to catch me first," he said with a glint in his eyes. "You get me before I reach the Fat Lady and I'm yours."
"I thought you were already mine!" Remus said his eyes assertive.
Sirius smiled and in a flash, took off up the corridor away from Remus. It took the other boy a second to realise that he really was going to have to catch up with Sirius if he wanted to get his prize and he set off at a sprint.
Sirius craned his head around to see where Remus was but his eyes scanned an empty corridor behind him. As he made it to the Entrance Hall, a smile broke across his face. He was going to have to slow down if he didn't want the fun to end.
He smashed headlong into something in the middle of the corridor. Feeling slightly dazed, it took him a second to adjust to what had happened, but a voice explained it all.
"You!"
Snape!
"I suppose you thought that was hilarious, Black, didn't you?" Snape accused. "Stupid schoolboy prank."
Sirius looked at Snape's face and tried to suppress a smile when he noticed tinges of green around the Slytherin's temples and eyes.
"I don't know what you talking about." Sirius said in his best innocent voice, but it didn't fool Snape.
"You know bloody well what I'm talking about, the Vomiting Charm!" Snape exclaimed.
"Oh, is that why you left dinner so quickly," Sirius asked keeping up the act. "I did wonder. I suppose the house elves are feeling a little poorly after the Christmas cheer, not up to their usual standards." Sirius shook his head in mock melancholy.
"I know it was you, Black, and –" Snape stopped as he saw something over Sirius's shoulder. Sirius looked to see a smiling Remus panting behind him, but the smile soon disappeared when Remus's eyes fell on Snape.
"What's going on?" he asked Sirius, as he fought to get his breath back.
"He thinks I tired to poison him," Sirius explained as if Snape wasn't even there. "but he's got no proof, as usual."
"Actually," Snape's insipid voice interrupted, "I think I'm a lot more interested in what you two have been up to." His malicious gaze flicked from Sirius's dishevelled robes to Remus's. "No doubt it's illegal, or at least – illicit." Snape's voice curled in pleasure at the prospect of catching them out.
"What's it to you?" Remus said as he moved forward to stand at Sirius's side.
"That's it, Lupin, protect your boyfriend." Snape's voice dripped with malice. "You never know, he might even let you be on top next time!"
"How dare you!" Sirius bellowed as he pulled out his wand and bowled towards Snape. He stopped within inches of the Slytherin, his wand pointing between the other boy's eyes. Rage was building up inside of Sirius. He didn't know for how long he could hold onto it as he stared at the satisfaction on Snape's face.
"Temper, temper," Snape scolded. "You wouldn't want to scare him off, now would you?" Snape drawled, standing and watching him. Sirius's eyes widened in anger and he pulled his wand back, ready to strike Snape. Just then, a warm hand rested on top of Sirius's wand hand. He turned his head to meet amber eyes again.
"Don't Sirius," a familiar voice implored, "he's not worth it."
"Yes he is," Sirius half-snarled holding his wand tighter, but Remus pulled him away from Snape and up the large marble staircase.
"That's it, Black," Snape chided. "Listen to your boyfriend."
Sirius fought to get back to Snape and injure him, even if it had to be with his bare hands, but Remus's intent was stronger. It took until they had climbed to the fifth floor before Sirius found himself able to talk again.
"Why didn't you let me do it?" he asked.
"Because you would have regretted it," Remus said from a couple of steps in front of him.
"No I wouldn't!" Sirius replied stopping in his tracks. "It would have been worth it for what he said."
"And what did he say, Sirius?" Remus asked in a simple way as he turned to look at his friend.
"You were there, Remus, you heard him," Sirius answered feeling his rage again. Remus sighed and walked towards Sirius, this time looking Sirius directly in the eyes when he spoke.
"What did he say, Sirius?" Remus asked again.
"He said – he said –" Sirius couldn't put it into words. His body was shaking. He hated what Snape was able to do to him.
"He said you were my boyfriend!" Remus finished. "And you wanted to kill him." Remus lifted his hand up and placed it on Sirius's cheek. His brow was furrowed as he looked into Sirius's eyes. "I never thought someone should die for telling the truth." After a moment Remus let his hand fall and began to walk back up the stairs
Sirius's mouth dropped opened. He hadn't really done that, had he? Attacked Snape for telling the truth? – No! He had attacked Snape for being Snape, for being an arrogant, pompous, slimy, annoying git who just wanted to nose around other people's business. Then it hit Sirius.
He looked at the retreating figure of Remus Lupin. 'Did he just say?'
Sirius sprinted up the stairs after Remus and circled around him until they were face to face. Remus stopped when he realised Sirius was there. Reluctantly, he raised his head to meet Sirius's gaze.
"Boyfriend?" Sirius said quietly, looking at Remus intently. The other boy looked back. After a moment, Remus shrugged his head in despondence. "Boyfriend!" Sirius said more loudly this time, and Remus smiled slightly. A happier Sirius moved closer to Remus, and said almost in a whisper "Boyfriend," before placing another kiss on Remus's lips.
***
When classes started back after the Christmas it seemed the professors where piling on the work. Their NEWTs were fast approaching and even though Remus and Sirius tried to get away to empty classrooms – even an empty broom closet one time – it never seemed to satisfy them.
Sirius would sit and watch Remus as he studied one book or another. Remus's hair was just long enough to push behind his ears but there was always one piece that seemed to escape from its bonds, and try as he might, Remus could never keep it out of his face. Sirius would watch as it once again slipped forward, and he wanted so desperately to reach forward and push it back but he couldn't.
Sirius slammed his Potion's book shut making half of the Gryffindor common room jump in surprise.
"What's wrong with you?" James asked looking up.
"I'm bored," Sirius moaned.
"You're always bored," James replied looking back at his book and trying to figure out exactly when in real life he would need to know how to do a Bubble-Head Charm. Honestly! You'd think they'd at least teach us something worth knowing, James thought.
"Why are we studying anyway?" Sirius interrupted again. "It's only January! The exams are months away."
"That's what you said about your OWLs!" Remus teased.
"And I got good grades, didn't I?" Sirius reasoned.
"Only because you made a Wit-Sharpening Potion," Remus pointed out.
"Well the wit has to be there in order for it to be sharpened." Sirius smiled back. He loved to have these little discussions with Remus. It always felt almost like foreplay to Sirius; the small talk before the big event. He felt himself groan inwardly when he realised they probably wouldn't be alone at all today. It was almost passed curfew and they really didn't have any reason to leave the tower.
"Who wants to go on a kitchen raid?" Peter asked. Sirius could have hugged him. In a split second, James had shut his book.
"Hell yes!" James replied. "I don't care if I fail McGonagall's Transfiguration exam I can't look at this book any longer." He shook his head as if trying to shake away the stress. Sirius smiled; he very much doubted that James would ever fail a Transfiguration exam, but he wasn't going to say it because they would only stay longer.
James sprinted up the stairs and returned a moment later, looking carefully around the crowded common room as he held his cloak under his robes.
"You coming?" he asked Sirius as he headed towards the door.
"No, I'm not hungry," Sirius said, trying to keep his eyes focused on his book.
"Yeah right!" James said doubtfully. "Come on or I might believe you," he said beckoning Sirius with his hand.
"Honestly, I'm not hungry, you two go." Sirius said convincingly.
"Do you want me to bring something back?" Peter asked, but Sirius shook his head.
"I'm fine, honestly – go!" Sirius said, and after James gave him a quick look, Peter and he left through the portrait hole.
Sirius lifted his head and looked at Remus.
"They didn't ask me to go!" Remus said with a smile on his face.
"That's because you never go on Kitchen raids." Sirius said teasingly.
"That's not true!" Remus said, his eyes widening in self-defence.
"The last time you did was just after the start-of-year feast, and that was only because you wanted some more chocolate cake," Sirius stated, and Remus was about to answer when Sirius leaned forward and began speaking again. "What I want to know is where that book you promised me is?"
Remus gave him a questioning look.
"What b-" he started but then remembered the conversation they had weeks ago in the Great Hall. "Oh that book!" he said smiling. "I could give it to you now," Remus seductively offered, "that is, if you still want it?"
"Oh I want it," Sirius answered and they both quickly picked up their bag and books.
As they walked up the stairs to their room, Sirius could feel Remus behind him. His body was almost pressing right up against him and it made Sirius quiver, grasping his books closer.
The minute the got into their room, a crash of books hit the floor and Sirius turned to face Remus, burrowing his hands deep inside the others robes. Remus's mouth still tasted of dinner and Sirius's tongue exploded at the discovery.
They stood there kissing, and panting, and caressing until Remus pulled away suddenly, needing to get his breath back.
"Do you think," he gasped as Sirius kissed his neck and ran hands up his naked back under his robes, "do you think we should tell them?"
"Huh?" Sirius mumbled, not taking his lips away from Remus's fair skin.
"James and Peter," Remus said as he arched his neck.
"Sure," Sirius said, opening Remus robes.
"I'm serious," Remus said regretfully pushing Sirius away. "They're going to notice something is up when we keep disappearing together."
"They disappeared tonight!" Sirius said moving back to Remus, "for all we know they're shagging in a broom closet somewhere."
"Eww Sirius," Remus reproached, but allowed Sirius to push his arms around his waist again. "but – should we tell them, I mean, I know we should, but – should we?"
"Are you feeling a little unsure of yourself, Moony?" Sirius teased but stopped when he saw the concerned look in his friend's eyes. "Do you want to tell them?"
"I don't want to lie to them." Remus explained, a pained expression on his face. "I know how hard it is to keep a secret from you guys, but – it's not just my decision," he said, running a finger through Sirius's hair.
"But you know what it's like," Sirius said, "to be – well – outed." Remus nodded. "We're not harming anyone, are we? We're not leading anyone astray who doesn't want it." He kissed Remus lightly on the lips.
"I just feel that by lying to them, I'm spitting in the face of what you all did for me – do for me," Remus explained. "You three mean so much to me." Remus said gazing intently into Sirius's eyes.
"We won't lie to them then!" Sirius said pulling Remus closer. "If they ask, we'll tell them the truth."
"The whole truth," Remus smiled.
"Every – gory – detail!" Sirius said, pecking Remus on the nose.
"Hey," Remus defended himself, "that's not what you said after Quidditch practice." He allowed his hands to trail down Sirius front. "In fact I think your words were a whole lot different." Remus's hand slipped under the waistband of Sirius's trousers, and quickly found what he was looking for.
"Oh God!" Sirius exclaimed as Remus grasped his palm around Sirius's throbbing erection.
"That's more like it," his lover teased.
***
Almost half an hour later, Sirius heard the familiar thud of Peter's steps climbing the stairs and James voice trailing behind him.
"Bloody Idiot!" James's voice travelled through the closed dorm door to be followed a moment later by its owner. "Bloody Idiot!"
"What happened?" Sirius asked as he stretched out on the bed where Remus and he had just been lying.
"Professor Balatro caught us coming back up," James explained in fury as he talked about the head of Slytherin House and the one professor you wouldn't want to meet after curfew.
"What do you mean he caught you?" Remus asked, picking up the two bags dumped beside the door and chucking one at Sirius. "You had your cloak on didn't you?"
"It got caught in the doorway on our way out of the kitchens," Peter explained his voice doleful. "We were trying to get it back when Balatro came round the corner – Never seen him look so happy."
"Gave us detention straight away," James said as he threw himself on his bed, "and took twenty points from Gryffindor."
"Probably get us to polish the Dungeon corridors like last time," Peter complained. "He loves that one! Not that polishing them makes any difference they still look dank and grimy afterwards."
"Did you get your cloak out?" Sirius asked.
"No, I'll get it first thing in the morning. I'm sure he guessed what we were up to."
***
Author's Note: Thanks to you all for reading, and sorry it took so long to get out. It was practically finished, but I got all depressed after reading book five. Just so you know, because so much of it was written before book five, I am not changing too much to fit in with new information. Surprisingly however, I had written some facts that turned up in Order of the Phoenix before it's released. I like to think of JK as my psychic sister. (I jest of course.)
Chapter Three will be along shortly, maybe even quicker if you review!!! Hint, hint.
***