Peter Pettigrew couldn't find anyone.

He had searched everywhere, but finally got fed up with it and got sidetracked. He snuck into the kitchens and snagged some chocolate fudge (one piece for each of his friends and two for himself) from the unsuspecting house elves and slinked back to the common room where he ate contentedly. He was enthusiastically proud of himself for doing it all by himself and not getting caught. This was something he had to tell the guys as soon as he found them.

Disputing with himself on whether or not he should eat James' piece and whether James would find out, Remus walked in. He set down the fudge rather quickly.

"Oy, Moony! Where've you been? I was looking everywhere for you. Want some fudge? I got it myself. Hey - what's wrong?" Peter's voice became quieter as he saw the tired look in his friend's eyes. Remus waved him away jadedly. Peter pouted sincerely, his eyebrows furrowing upwards with genuine concern.

"What happened, Remus?"

"Nothing happened."

"You okay? Where are James and Sirius? They get in trouble?" Peter wiggled his fingers, rubbing them together nervously.

"No. It's nothing, Pete. I just - I don't feel too well," Remus sighed.

Peter didn't believe him. The air seemed heavy, and Peter felt as if he must have missed something when he had gone to send an owl. He hated it when he missed out on important things.

"You can tell me."

"Really, Wormtail, it's nothing worth talking about."

Peter paused diffidently.

"Is it 'that time of the month', Moony?" he said, half sarcastic.

"I'm not having my period."

Peter achieved something! A joke!

"Look at the calendar, Pete. You know it's not."

Remus was right, he did know, but he was still curious at Remus' unsettling silence.

"...Want some chocolate?"

Remus pursed his lips and for an instant seemed like he was going to refuse but after a long moment he took the fudge willingly.

"Thanks, mate."

"Oh, yeah, no problem."

Remus ate the chocolate, but continued sitting quietly, as if he was somewhere other than the Gryffindor common room. Peter was wondering if he should say something, but Remus spoke first.

"Pete...you ever...you ever feel something for someone you know you shouldn't, because feeling that way you know will cause problems with the people that really matter, but you can't shake it off?"

Peter turned his head and gazed at Remus, trying to read his eyes.

"Yes actually. I have felt that way before - why? Who?"

"It's no one, it's just -"

"Hypothetical."

"...yeah."

Peter shook his head, then replied, "Hypothetically, if someone were to eat their best friends' fudge because they didn't show up, would that person's other friend tattle on them?"

"Just eat it, Pete," Remus said with a soft chuckle.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sirius couldn't understand it sometimes. James, that ass. He could be selfish sometimes, and other times selfless, and no matter what he was so damn endearing Sirius just couldn't blame him.

But he had every right to.

James had been kissing Lucius Malfoy, and although Sirius' initial impression was that it was forced, it turned out that was not the case. James had not been forced; he had been completely, utterly, and outright willing.

They fought, as any normal couple would. James pleaded for forgiveness, and at first Sirius was being too bigheaded to excuse him but in the end they were making love again.

Though, the entire time Sirius pictured Lucius Malfoy being the one James was scrumping and that totally ruined his enjoyment.

And afterwards Sirius felt a stranger power at work.