There was no movement in the air, and he could not smell anything. No footprints in the dust, no sound of breathing. He walked slowly amongst the shelves, seeking a particular book with which to pass the time, his fingers trailing over row after row of leather spines. Some of the books were battered and worn, others were pristine and new. Neither state was a clue towards the age of any particular volume.

He turned a corner and heard a sound, a slight breath which was felt by the hairs on his neck rather than his ear-drum. Yes. He was here, and playing games again.

"Remus, I don't like you playing with me like this," he snapped loudly, walking swiftly to the end of the row and stopping in the corner. He has two potential paths and had to decide which would lead him to Remus. He was about to turn right when he felt the breathing again, this time on his ear.

"Hallo, Lucius," the werewolf murmured softly.

He spun round and glared at Remus. "I do wish you would stop this."

"Yes. . ." Remus nodded. "It does seem I will have to."

Lucius didn't pay any attention to the words, but slid a hand round Remus' neck, stroking it softly. "Why is it that you're most beautiful when the moon is waning?" he murmured.

Remus leaned into the touch. "Because then I am exhausted, Lucius, and we are all at our most beautiful when we are tired or sad." He paused. "Except you, I think. You are most beautiful when you are most powerful."

"Yes. I know." Lucius looked for a moment like he was going to kiss Remus, but instead he just run his tongue tantalisingly over the other's lips. The younger man's mouth opened hungrily, but Lucius did not move. Instead he said softly, "And how about Black? When is he at his most attractive?"

Remus stepped back, his eyes wide. "What? I-"

"No lies please. I have my sources and I know that you live with him." Lucius strode away, but Remus caught up quickly and grabbed his arm.

"I was going to tell you. Honestly, I was-"

"I said don't lie, Lupin!" Lucius snarled, grabbing Remus by the collar. He slammed the smaller man into the wall and made a low hissing noise. "I've killed better men than you, so don't make things worse for yourself."

Remus' breathing was short and desperate; the shove had winded him painfully, but he managed to force a small, calming smile onto his face. "See?" he said.

Lucius stared at him. "See what?"

"How . . . How beautiful you are when you're powerful."

This seemed to mollify Lucius, who moved closer and touched Remus' cheek fondly. "I don't want to hurt you. Really I don't. But you're mine Lupin, all mine. I don't like to share any of my possessions, especially not such treasures as you, and especially not with Sirius Black." He regarded Lupin for a moment, until his breathing had calmed down again. Then Lucius pushed him against the wall again, this time with his whole body, and took Remus' earlobe gently between his teeth. Remus shut his eyes as the pressure was slowly increased, trying as hard as he could to convince himself he didn't want it.

"What is this, Lucius?" he whispered, nudging his lover's chin so he would look at him. He ran his fingers through the soft blond hair as he searched the face for answers. "What are we? What do you feel?"

"I don't know." Lucius' fingers ran slowly up the inside of Remus' thigh. "What do you feel?"

Remus shut his eyes and bit back a moan. Lucius' hand had stopped moving, but his fingers toyed with the material of Remus' trousers. The werewolf managed to mutter, "I thought you felt something for me."

"Oh, I do." Lucius paused to nip playfully at his neck. "I am in a kind of awe of you. It is very strange. You're the only Romantic I've ever met and not tortured." He seemed to think about this, then added, "in a non-sexual way."

Remus ignored this last remark. "I thought I loved you," he admitted. "I really did."

"Past tense?"

"When I realised you don't feel the same about me, I knew I didn't love you. Love is a mutual thing."

"But I do adore you."

Remus shook his head as Lucius broke the embrace. The werewolf thought he was being dismissed until the blond began to undo his own shirt. There was silence in the old library except for the occasional muffled noise from the main wing of the mansion, and the faint patter of rain outside. Remus shut his eyes and tried to imagine he was alone, but hands gripped his waist and then Lucius was kissing him finally. He ran his own hands over the cold white skin of Lucius' chest, and memories of long, humid summer nights flooded back to him. It was obvious why he had mistaken Lucius' lust for love when the older man held him like this, as if he was the most important thing in the world. It was at these moments the idea of separation actually hurt him. Lucius had been the first to show any romantic interest in him, and that was important to Remus, whose self-esteem was critically low anyway, and it was going to take a lot to convince him to break away. It was, in fact, going to take a lot of effort from Sirius and no one else.

Finally Lucius broke the kiss. His brow wrinkled. "What were we talking about?"

"You adoring me, I believe."

"Oh yes. I've never adored anything like you before."

Remus pretended he hadn't noticed the word "anything". Lucius hooked his finger on Remus' collar and tugged him to a low couch by the window.

"So you don't love me?" Remus asked. He knelt by the couch, perfectly passive, as the blond lounged and stroked his face with long, graceful fingers.

"I shall hate you if you just sit there much longer."

There was a moment's indecision before Remus leaned down and kissed him once. "But you don't love me," he murmured. Lucius snorted irritably, like a champion stallion losing its patience with a novice.

"What is all this talk about love? Is that what you want, Remus, to hear that I love you? Is it not enough that I own you?"

"You don't own me."

"You know that I do." Lucius' hand shot out lightning-fast and yanked him down again so their lips touched. "You'd be nothing if it wasn't for me. You know that and Black knows that."

Which was rubbish, Remus knew. If he really was worthless, what was the fascination Lucius had for him? No, there was something about him Lucius wanted. He didn't know what it was, and was not interested.

"I don't need you," he murmured.

"Oh you do. Or you wouldn't be here at all." Lucius' tongue flickered out, serpent-like, which brushed Remus' lips.

"But why-"

"Do I want you to stay? Because you are enthralling. All your odd little attempts to win my heart, all your little quirks and eccentricities. And, of course, you are beautiful. But ultimately you are weak."

"I'm not-"

Lucius stretched like a cat, arching his back and yawning hugely. When he settled again, he turned quickly to look at Remus who had been staring hungrily at him, and he grinned. "There. Don't think I didn't see that. And now we learn the real reason why you can't and won't leave me." He slid off the couch and straddled Remus' lap. The werewolf shut his eyes again as Lucius pushed against him, licking his ear and gripping his rough hands in his own smooth ones.

"This is why," he murmured.

. . .

"What is this?"

James grinned and pushed a dice towards Peter. "Snakes and Ladders. You playing, Padfoot?"

Sirius looked up from the newspaper. James, Harry and Peter were seated cross-legged on the floor with a large gaming board in the middle of them. James had been attempting to teach Harry to play chess for some time, but when it became apparent that it would have to wait until he was considerably older Lily had suggested James teach him Snakes and Ladders. The only problem was it had to be taught to James first. She had been amazed to discover wizards did not play the game, and had spent the morning showing him the rules of the game. Now he seemed to be addicted. Sirius and Peter had arrived a couple of hours ago and witnessed James being beaten twice at the unfamiliar game by his infant son who was barely old enough to throw the dice. The three pure-blood wizards seemed completely baffled by the entire concept. Lily found herself wishing Remus was here; his muggle father was sure to have introduced him to the game.

"I dunno," said Sirius. "Looks pretty complicated to me."

Lily shook her head. "It's quite simple, Sirius. You go up the ladders and down the snakes."

"Why?"

She stared. "Because that's how it's played. You climb ladders and snakes are. . .well, slippery."

"No they're not," said Peter. "They're just scaly."

Sirius nodded. "He's right. In fact you could probably climb up one just as easily, assuming it wouldn't turn round and bite you. Which it's likely to do if you go sliding down it too."

"No, look. It's just pretend. It's the rules of the game. Up the ladders and down the snakes."

James shrugged at Sirius. "Muggles, eh? Who'd have thought they could come up with something so odd?" He shifted round so there was room to join them. "Come and play."

Sirius shook his head. "I don't feel like it."

There was a dark silence. James sighed deeply. "So where is he today?"

"Dunno."

"Yes, you do."

Sirius shrugged. He had merely woken up to find Remus gone from his bed. There was no note, no reassuring hints as to where Remus had gone, but James was right. He knew where he was.

"I guess he's with his mystery man," he murmured.

James scowled. "I thought you two were steady now."

"Yeah, I thought we were getting towards it. But he just left. He's vanished for entire weekends before; I don't know when he'll be back."

They all looked at him then, as one, turned to stare at the board again. Peter picked up the dice, rolled it across the floor, and asked James to read the number. It was a six. Peter moved his little red counter six places.

"You get another turn," said Lily helpfully.

Peter rolled another six.

Sirius sighed and lay back on the couch, watching Lily preparing Harry's lunch. He felt utterly betrayed. A darkly sick feeling rose up in his throat and he had to fight back tears when he remembered the fear that struck him when he realised Remus was gone. There was no sign of a struggle, and if Remus had been taken against his will you could guarantee there would have been one. He had gone back to Malfoy, and that knowledge made Sirius feel violently ill. He had thought last night was the start of something new and genuine between Remus and himself, but apparently Remus had other ideas.

He glanced at James, who had pulled out of the game and instead leaned back with a glass of lemonade in one hand, watching Peter and Harry play. Sirius rolled off the couch, transforming as he did so and flopped his head in James' lap, whining miserably.

"I know, Padfoot," said James softly. "It's difficult for you, but I'm sure Remus will sort himself out." He ran his fingers through Sirius' soft fur. "Tell you what . . . Just stay as a dog and come and live with us."

Sirius howled forlornly.

"No, I suppose that was insensitive of me." James sighed and flicked at Sirius' floppy ear. "But like I said, he's bound to come around. If he loves you, he'll be with you."

Sirius became a man again and stared up at James. "He won't say it."

"What?"

"I've told him I love him, but he wouldn't say it back."

James scarcely realised Sirius' transformation, and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Maybe he doesn't know how. You know Remus, he's shy."

"Which is why he's with two men at the same time," said Peter, very nearly under his breath. He glanced up when he became aware of Sirius' fierce gaze on him. "Seriously," he said, trying not to twitch under Sirius' glare, "he's a werewolf, do you really trust him?"

Sirius sat up quickly, and James narrowed his eyes. "This is Moony we're talking about," James snapped. "Of course I trust him. And so does Sirius, don't you?"

Sirius nodded. "Just shut up and play Lakes and Bladders, Pete."

They sat in silence for a while, Sirius leaning on James and James leaning against the wall. Lily eventually picked Harry up and fed him something unidentifiable from a pink pig shaped bowl. Peter wandered off and found the newspaper, and sat at the table reading. Sirius watched him, then watched Lily, then turned and looked at James. His eyes were glazed over as he stared into the middle distance.

"You all right?" Sirius murmured. James nodded. "Scared?"

His best friend turned to smile at him. "A little. But things will be okay now, you'll see, with you and Remus and Peter and Dumbledore all guarding this place."

"Good." Sirius forced himself to grin, but his expression froze when the doorbell rang. Lily made a frightened sound and snatched Harry up from his high chair.

"You Know Who doesn't ring the bell," said James sharply. "Will you lot calm down?" But he nodded at Sirius, who slid into dog form again, and trotted silently to the front door, where he peered through the letter box. He let out a loud yelp, shifted quickly back into his usual shape, and wrenched the door open. Lily and James peered curiously out into the hall.

Remus gave them a cheerful smile and glanced once at Sirius as he came into the house. Lily and James grinned with relief.

"We were starting to worry about you," said Lily, giving him a hug. James pried her away so he could also hug Remus, take his coat, and give him a gentle shove into the living room. Sirius stood back and glanced at them.

"Peter?" Lily called. "Can you just come into the kitchen a moment? Bring Harry."

Once the others had gone, Sirius followed Remus into the living room. The werewolf helped himself to his favourite chair, and Sirius sat opposite him.

"Morning, Padfoot."

Sirius folded his hands together. Remus knew without looking at his face that he was annoyed; he could smell it.

"I know where you went, Moony, but you might have said something."

"Sorry."

"A note wouldn't have hurt."

Remus nodded. "I know, but I thought I'd be back before you woke."

"And that's supposed to be comforting, is it?"

Remus had the decency to look thoroughly ashamed. Sirius sat back and stared at the ceiling, trying to keep his eyes dry.

"I guess you didn't tell him it's over then?"

The werewolf frowned slightly. "I tried, Sirius, I really did. But talking to Lucius is almost impossible. He doesn't listen; he hears the sounds but not the words, it doesn't register in his mind if he doesn't want to hear it. He knows exactly why it's so hard for me to walk away and he's convinced I won't do it."

"But you will," said Sirius. "Won't it feel good to prove him wrong?"

Remus shrugged. "Perhaps. I don't know how to do it though."

Sirius grinned. "Well, maybe I have a few ideas."