Hi, everybody! Long time, huh? Well, no, I didn't die. I've been lazy. Lazy, lazy, lazy. -sigh- That's how it goes sometimes. Okay, gonna cut down on the babble this time. Here's Chapter 14! Please don't kill me...

Disclaimer: I own no one and nothing from the Harry Potter books. They all belong to J. K. Rowling. This story is not for profit, only reviews and an ego boost.

Summary: On one hand, we have Remus: the quiet kind, a good boy. Mostly doing what's right. Sure, he's gay. No one knows about it. But now he's in love. On the other hand, Sirius: the troublemaker, gay, in love, much like Remus. The odds keep them apart, but can Fate bring them together?

Chapter 14

Sirius's POV

The sunlight moving in through the window is what awakened me. James is already away, dressing into his game robes. I lay and watch him. Poor guy is a bit nervous. Can't blame him, really. Glad I don't have to be him. "Ready to beat those Ravenclaws into the ground, Prongs?"

He looks up at me with an insane grin on his face. The adrenaline must be kicking in from him now. He loves this sort of thing. He wouldn't rather do anything else. We both know it. "Of course! Won't let the House down!"

I can't help but smile. James is so... There are no words... He leans down to kiss me. "Time to get up already?"

Well, Peter's up. So much for a pregame romp with James. The three of us have a bit of a chat. It's half an hour before game time.

Remus is still asleep. I glance over at him every now and then just to watch the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

The conversation gets a bit louder. James sits on my bed and moves so that his foot is rubbing on the outer part of my thigh. Desire courses through me. Peter just keeps on babbling about whatever it is that he has to say. Even though I am feeling James touching me, I am thinking about Remus in that dream I had. Okay, time to cool down... Unsexy thoughts... Um... Dumbledore in a Speedo... Yuck! More unsexy thoughts... McGonagall covered in whipped cream... Yeah, that's working wonderfully to cool my raging libido!

Remus sits up. His hair is severly tossled. It looks as if he has just had a good tumble or two. Yes, the look is very becoming of him. "It lives!" James cheers. Remus just grunts. "It lives with bedhead," I add cheerfully. Another grunt. Not awake, is he? I can cure that quick, fast, and in a hurry. "Dogpile!"

We all three pounce on Remus. He was caught off-guard. Now he's awake. Laughter fills the dorm. Last night's scrap is forgotten. This reminds me of our inncoent years. God, we were so laid-back then. Now we have to worry about so much. It's good to have little moments like this where we can just forget about everything and relax. The laughter dies down. We all just lay there on Remus's bed. "Well, I've got to go. Quidditch and all that."

James disentangles himself from us, straightens his robes, then struts proudly down to the Common's Room. We all get up to run after him.

The House is in disaray. Everyone looks as if the Apocolypse has just been announced. Professor McGonagall is in the middle of it all, talking to James. My lover is running his hands through his hair as a nervous reaction. Someone should inform him that that little habit could lead to male patter baldness in his future. I get ahead of our group of three and start pushing my way through the crowd of Gryffindors.

"What's the word, Prongs?" He looks at me as if he had been sentenced to Azkaban and immediate death.

"Joshamee White is in the Hospital Wing wiht a broken arm..."

"So? Madame Pompfrey can heal bones in a second."

"That's just the thing," James says. "He broke it Muggle-brawling with a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall was forced to suspend him from the game. Now we need a beater on short notice!"

"Black," McGonagall calls from across the room. "You will be replacing White in the game today. Do your House proud."

"Yes, ma'am." I can feel the color draining from my face. Me. Out of everyone else in the House, she had to pick me.

"Don't worry," James says. "You have all the training to be a Beater. You fly wonderfully. I don't know why you haven't tried out for the team. You would be on it in a heartbeat." Oh, if he only knew... Oh well, it won't hurt to tell them.

"I'm afraid of Bludgers..."

"Afraid... of Bludgers?" James souds as if he is going to laugh. It really isn't that funny. It isn't funny at all.

"It's not funny, James! I was hit in the head at a young age, and I've been afraid of them ever since."

"Well, great. Just great. Now we'll have to get someone else..."

"Sirius," Remus says, "perhaps... perhaps if you imagined them as something else? Something you hate? Can you think of anything at all?" My reply is instant. That was an easy question.

"Snape!"

"Um, yes. Okay. Just imagine Snape whenever you see the Bludgers, okay?"

"Good plan, Moony. Okay. I'll do it."

A cheer goes up through the House. They were all listening to our conversation. I am never going to live this Bludger-fearing business down... I just know it...

L A T E R O N A T T H E G A M E...

Changed, ready, and nervous, I am standing with the rest of the team. I have to remember to think about Severus whenever I see a bludger. Hopefully, I won't embarrass myself anymore than I have already today.

Madame Hooch blows her whistle and both teams take to the air. I glance at James. He has the easiest job on the team. He only really has one thing to focus on. The whole team looks out for him. Now it's my job to keep him safe from the bludgers also.

The game went on pretty well until the main Beater took a Bludger to the head. It's solely up to me now. I am doing pretty well on my own. Just wish that I had some help.

I take a swring at a Bludger, but my club doesn't connect with the ball. It connects with another club. I look up. Hope...

"Watch yourself," she says and flies off. Oh, it's war now.

For about twenty minutes, the two of us fly around, trying to knock one another in the head with the Beater bats. At first, it is unsuccessful.

"BLACK! MOON!" Madame Hooch is yelling at us from the ground. "STOP THIS NONSENSE AND GET YOURSELVES BACK INTO THE GAME! STOP OR I'LL CALL THE GAME OFF! I MEAN IT!"

James darts into my line of vision. He's seen the Snitch! Turning my head was my biggest mistake. I doubt she meant to, but Hope swung her club with all her might at my head. I move my head and suddenly, my world starts to fade. I feel my grip loosen on my broom. I don't even feel myself hit the ground...