Sirius stormed out of the portrait hole, not knowing nor caring where he was headed. Portraits along the wall called out to him, curious or teasing, but he ignored them completely. He needed somewhere quiet to think, to sort out how he felt, away from other people, most importantly James. He couldn't face James right now.

He had just calmed down enough to decide on the library when Nearly Headless Nick passed through a nearby wall. Sirius was used to this ghostly trick and didn't even slow down for a second, but Nearly Headless Nick took one look at the boy's face before gliding along behind him.

"Good morning, Sirius," he said in his annoying, pompous drawl. "Or perhaps not so good. Might I ask what can have happened so early in the day?"

"You might," came the savage reply. "But you wouldn't get any answer. Go away."

Sirius tore around a corner, hoping to lose the ghost, but Nearly Headless Nick called after the back of his head, "I would recommend the dining hall. Food often helps, although—alas—I can no longer taste it ..."

He ended up taking Nearly Headless Nick's advice, because as soon as he reached the deserted library, he found he didn't want to be alone after all. No sooner had he sat down at the Gryffindor table than a huffing Peter came running up.

"Sirius!" he panted. "What happened? Remus looks positively devastated! Have you two had a row?"

"Calm down," Sirius told him coolly. Peter was never his first choice of companion. He didn't have the psychological need for worship like James did. "I'll tell you, in good time. I want Prongs here too. He deserves to hear what his friend's been up to."

"And just what has Moony been up to?" James walked up to the table and slid easily into a seat. "What's up, Padfoot? Moony looked pretty upset, but he wouldn't say a word to me."

"Probably too ashamed," Sirius growled, doglike. "All right, I won't spare you. I just walked in on Remus and Yoni kissing."

"Kissing?" Peter's thin face was contorted with bemusement.

"Yes, Wormtail, kissing. Our former friend Remus Lupin is a poof."

Sirius felt a sudden unexpected burst of white-hot anger at this. "Why former friend, James?"

James stared incredulously at Sirius. "Isn't it obvious? All these years, and we never knew he was ... you know. He's been deceiving us."

Sirius had an epiphany then. "Don't you see? James, it's just like before, with his being a werewolf. He values us too much. He'd rather we not know, because if we did we might shun him. And," he added, "If we've been friends with him all these years and never knew he was gay, that tells us something, doesn't it? That it doesn't matter. He's never come on to one of us, has he?"

James had too much pride to show his shame, but he did nod his agreement. "Padfoot, today you're talking more sense than usual. Now, we should go and see Moony. He must be worried."

----------

Remus was worried. He knew his friends were more tolerant than most—they had learned to be Animagi for him, even, once they'd found out he was a werewolf—but just how far did their tolerance stretch? His lycanthropy was something that couldn't be helped, really, but being gay ... some people thought you chose that. Remus knew better. How he had prayed to be normal, but in vain. Homosexuality was not a choice. The question was, would they understand that?

Yoni stayed with him. They were silent as Peter came down the stairs, oblivious to his interrogation; they were silent also when James entered. James took one look at Remus's face and asked, "What happened?" But Remus couldn't bring himself to say, and for once, even Yoni seemed speechless. Finally, he gave up and left the portrait hole, probably in search of Sirius.

"Remus," Yoni said at last, "I'm sorry. This is totally my fault ... I should have known better. It's just—" He glanced away. "I've been wanting to do that. But I still should've had better sense."

"They would have found out anyway," Remus said in a hollow voice, his eyes staring ahead, unseeing.

"Yeah, but it could've been a gentler introduction. Listen, Remus, I should talk to—"

"No, don't." He managed a small smile. "Thank you for your offer, but I think I need to be the one to deal with them."

"Do you want my support at all?" Yoni's dark eyes were boring earnestly into his. He felt his world was falling beneath is feet, and a little support was exactly what he needed.

"I'd be grateful if you would. I need someone to lean on."

"Ah, now that's something even I can provide. Shall we?"

----------

Sirius, James, and Peter searched all day for Remus, but either he didn't want to be found, or he was looking for them and they just kept missing each other. At any rate, they finally met in the dormitory just before dinner.

For a few seconds they all just stood there staring at one another. Then, finally, without releasing his hold on Remus's gaze, Sirius stepped forward and offered his hand as if they were just meeting for the first time. "Remus John Lupin, I am still proud to call you my friend."

"We always will be, long as you don't start dating trolls," James quipped. "I don't think we could quite stand that."

Remus could hardly believe his ears. He felt tears filling his eyes, and he ducked his head so the others wouldn't see. "You ... you're not mad? You don't hate me?"

"Course not," Sirius said smoothly. "We just think you've got rotten luck. Now all you need is a bit of giant blood and—"

"It's not something to joke about," Yoni interjected quietly. "Persecution never is. My parents are survivors, they taught me that ... and to always eat everything on my plate. You don't need to ask for more hatred. For everyone there is someone who will hate you because of what you are, not who you are."

Everyone looked puzzled, everyone except Remus. Remus thought he knew what Yoni meant, and it chilled him. But he didn't want to ask, because he didn't want to know for sure.

They all stood around, bemused and awkward, until Yoni blurted out, "What happened, it was my fault, I started it—"

"You know what, Yoni, it's a moot point, because we don't care. Well, we care, because it's Remy, but there's no way it's going to affect our friendship. It goes deeper than that."

"Sirius, I'm glad to hear you say that. When I saw the look on your face ..."

"That? Oh, it was just shock." Sirius gave him a reassuring smile. "I'd never abandon Moony ... oh, and there's something else you should probably know, but I'll let him tell you about that."

----------

The weekend passed with alarming alacrity. Remus was dreading the return to the daily grind, though usually he was eager to resume learning. But on Monday he dutifully shouldered his books and marched of to double Transfigurations.

Transfigurations was another thing he had been dreading. This year had been hard so far, seeing as they would take their N.E.W.T.s in the spring, but Transfigurations had always been Remus's worst class. While he got good marks, of course, it was a subject that did not come easy to him.

Just now they were beginning Animatriada, the bringing to life of stationary objects, and it was something of an individual project. Remus's was based on Rabbi Judah Lowe's creation, the Golem. Partly because of conversations with Yoni, he had become fascinated by the kabbalistic master, and how he had made legend in the Muggle world as well. However, imitating him was anything but easy.

But Remus Lupin never skived off classes, especially not the only class he had with his twin. He and Romulus weren't that close as far as twins went, but they enjoyed each other's company and it was nice to have someone who knew you so well. In their first year, however, the Sorting Hat had sent them to separate Houses (Remus to Gryffindor, Romulus to Ravenclaw), and now their encounters were mainly during Transfigurations, not counting holidays and the occasional weekend.

Romulus was early, as usual, with his books already stacked neatly on his desk, a piece of parchment and a quill beside them. He spotted Remus in the doorway, smiled and waved. Remus strode over to the desk next door and set his book bag on the chair.

"Hey, Remy."

"Hey, Romy."

They grinned at each other. Then, as Remus was getting settled in his seat, Romulus spoke, his voice quieter. "Remy, word is you and your gang had a bit of drama going this weekend. What was that about?"

Remus hesitated. Should he tell his twin? Romulus was great with secrets. He wasn't worried about that. But he could be extremely bigoted; even now Remus thought he was afraid of werewolves. Still, it couldn't be helped; he would have to find out sometime.

He leaned in close and whispered to Romulus, "Sirius walked in on a kissing session. He was just really shocked."

"Snogging? You? I don't believe it. Who with?"

Remus sucked in a harsh breath, then plunged forward. "Yoni." It came out as a short whoosh of air.

"Yoni? Who's Yoni?" He looked blank for only a second, then the light dawned. "Yoni!" Remus saw his face, almost identical to his own, flush a deep Bohemian red, and Romulus stood abruptly, sending his chair clattering backwards. Even his ears were red now. His brows were indistinguishable from each other. He looked like a bomb, and like a bomb, he had to explode eventually.

"You!" he spat. "Bloody little faggot!" He didn't waste any time, but left the classroom at breakneck speed, everyone staring after him. Remus, not wanting to meet anyone else's gaze, turnedto his friends. They were all staring at him like deer caught in headlights. Professor McGonagall was standing paralyzed behind her desk, her mouth frozen into a big round 'oh' of utter shock.