Disclaimer: You know, I was gonna write a book about a young British wizard named Harry Potter – no, honest! But that sneaky Ms. Rowling stole my idea, and then copyrighted it. Oh well. But she ruined it! *stabbing OOTP with pointy objects* Why did you kill him?!

A/N: I did want to thank everyone for their reviews – normally I don't reply to each one, but I'm going to.

Nimair Black – I'm glad you liked that bit – it was my favourite too. Here's your update!

SailorBaby16 – He does have horrible luck, doesn't he? *laughing evilly* As for James…well, you'll see.

Ikki – Well, I'm glad I could help make the holidays more enjoyable. Thanks for the compliments!

Jill – Lol. Go slash, huh? Well, there's a bit in this chapter, but just wait for the next one – smut! Yay!

SilverThorn – Thanks. The Boggart idea is a bit over used, but I'm happy you liked it.

Lunaris – Potential is a good thing. I like your banner. *waving banner with "here's more" on it*

Broncobabe007 – I didn't know you were a HP fan – much less a R/S one! Glad to have you aboard!

Nolwe the Lady Dragon – Look, I updated. Which is more than I can say for you and "Sleeping Beauty"!

Rieina Bara – Thanks for your review. Here's the next chapter!

Sorry for the wait, people, but I was grounded – my parents think it's amusing to keep me off the computer. This chapter is short, but I'll make up for it with the next one – bear with me, my exams are murder. Enjoy!

Behind Closed Doors

By: Hawkeye's Seductress

Chapter 2: Shattered Reality

Sirius sat on the bed, slowly sinking down next to Remus, who still had his face buried in his pillow. He watched, confused and worried as the werewolf didn't raise his head. "Hey," he said, gently rubbing the smaller boy's shoulders. "Calm down. Nothing's happened. You're fine. Just calm down." His soft words caused Remus to emerge from the pillow, eyes red and wet, cheeks tearstained. He was choking, trying to breathe, but sobs kept worming their way in, and he was as white as the sheets.

"Breathe, Moony, breathe!" Sirius exclaimed, lightly prodding his friend's arm. But Remus still gasped for breath, and he was turning red. Sirius stared at him, terrified to know what had scared him that much. "C'mon, breathe," he commanded. In desperation, he pulled the shaking boy close, wrapping his arms around the thin, trembling shoulders. He threaded a hand through auburn hair, stroking lightly, while his other hand teased an abstract pattern across Remus' back. For some reason, being this close, this intimate, suddenly felt…right. Sirius didn't quite understand, but he didn't mind.

Thank god, he thought as he felt Remus begin to breathe again – shaky, shallow breaths, sprinkled with incoherent words. Pulling back slightly, he tipped the honey head to meet his eyes. "What happened?" he asked gently, leaving his arms were they were, still cradling Remus close.

"I had a dream – I was the wolf," Remus said dully, swiping furiously at his eyes. "I attacked you. I nearly killed you." He looked up, the force of his amber eyes burning into Sirius. "I nearly killed you, Padfoot. Killed you!" He jerked out of the embrace, standing and staring down at the older boy.

"It was just a dream, Remi," Sirius said bracingly. "Just a dream." Remus shook his head. "It doesn't matter. That could happen! It could actually happen, Sirius, you must understand that! I could kill you one day. And…" He broke off, voice cracking slightly. "And I can't bear to think of it."

Sirius shook his own head, standing and gripping the young werewolf's shoulders. "Never. It'll never happen, Moony. Don't even think it."

"But we don't know, Sirius!"

"I know. It's never going to happen."

Remus groaned in frustration, chucking his pillow across the room. He stared out the window, then whirled around, horrorstruck. "What the hell time is it, Sirius?" he demanded. Sirius shrugged. "Nearly time," he replied. "Why?"

Remus stared. "Why? It's a full moon tonight, remember? When were you planning to wake me up?" Sirius shrugged again. "There was still time."

"Not much," Remus groused, removing his shirt and jeans, leaving him in only his boxers. Sirius couldn't keep his eyes off the tanned, lightly muscled body displayed for him. His eyes roved across miles of skin, the better part of it riddled with faint, but visible scars. As he let his gaze rise, he found the angry red of the bite scar. That crescent moon, branding Remus forever, seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. He kept moving, finally finding the face of the cursed teen. His lips were still tightened in frustration, while his eyes were slowly filling with that eerie, almost luminous colour they had when he was transformed.

"You'd better change," Remus grated, his voice filled with ancient pain. Sirius winced. He hated that – his best friend was in agony, and he could do nothing.

Sensing his thoughts, Remus smiled through the fiery pain coursing though his body. "You don't do nothing, Sirius," he commented, gazing at the raven haired boy. "You keep me sane, and that keeps me from hurting myself. That's not nothing."

"But I can't stop it from happening, Moony, and that hurts me too," Sirius whispered, his intense gaze causing shivers to race across Remus' skin. "You do enough – it's all you can," he grunted, flinching as his bones started to rearrange. "Now stop talking and transform before my dream becomes reality!"

there was a slight waver, and Sirius was gone. Padfoot stood at the foot of the bed, watching anxiously as remus twisted in pain, hair sprouting along his body. "Shit," he hissed, a growl in his voice. He ripped off his boxers, tossing them aside.

Padfoot turned his head, whining in sympathy. He had never fully watched a transformation – he couldn't bring himself to do it. He heard the cracking of shifting bones and muscles, the gasps and cries of Remus as the curse carried out inexorably, then the blood curdling howl that signified the completion. He turned back – and there was Moony. The wolf was still trembling, but then it shook it's head, and snapped it's long jaws. Padfoot snapped back, teasing, and the wolf pounced.

The two canines play growled, jumping on each other. "Packmate," the wolf confirmed, and Remus, now the minority, agreed.

Outside, the moon rose to her final height, her ethereal glow enveloping everything.

~TBC~

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