Disclaimer: Still not mine. You know the drill.

Molly leaned back against the couch. James had gone to check the note and see if Sirius and Remus were still in the room. Molly got up suddenly and ran up the stairs to the girls' dorms. She grabbed her diary and wrote a quick passage, then came back down. James was sitting on the couch again.

"where'd you go?" he asked.

"Oh, I just had something to take care of."

"Okay..."

Molly sat down.

Just then, the portrait swung open and Arthur Weasley walked in.

-----

Remus sat down next to Sirius. "So, what now?"

Sirius reached into his pocket. "Would you like a chocolate frog?"

"Sure," Remus grinned.

Sirius handed Remus a chocolate frog and began tearing the wrapper off his own. Remus did the same, biting the head off his frog before it could escape.

"Maybe this won't be so bad after all," Remus said after a while, munching on a chocolate leg.

Sirius grinned over at his friend. "Maybe not." He lay back against the pillows, throwing his hands behind his head.

Remus stretched, and lay down next to Sirius on his side. "So, come here often?"

Sirius laughed. "If I did, I'd know how to get out."

"Yeah, I s'pose that's true." Remus settled himself into the pillows.

Sirius stood up, looking around. "this is going to be really boring."

Remus stood next to Sirius, unconsciously putting his hand on the taller boy's arm. "We can find a way to entertain ourselves.

Sirius's heart leapt into his throat. He'd though he'd heard a suggestive undertone in Remus's words. he looked around at the smaller boy, but the look on Remus's face was one that made him sure he'd been mistaken. "Like what?"

"Well... tell me something I don't know about you."

Sirius looked at the wall, casting for ideas. "Well..." he had a sheepish look on is face, "I like the Supremes."

Remus looked blankly at Sirius. "What's that?"

"It's a muggle doo-wop group. They were really popular in the early sixties."

"Oh."

"yeah. You didn't know that, did you?"

"No..."

"Your turn."

Remus looked horrified. "No, way! I don't like this game anymore..."

Sirius grinned evilly. "Ever had sex with a girl?"

Remus's eyes became huge. "What??"

Sirius grinned like a crazy person. "I answered your question."

"I didn't even ask a question! This is unfair!"

"Come on, Moony, life is unfair."

"No! I'm not telling you that! Ask something else."

Sirius grinned. "I'm going to take that as a no."

"Argh."

"Fine, fine. Umm... why do you like chocolate so much?"

"Raises your seratonin level. Werewolves have low seratonin levels, except for during the full moon, when they skyrocket."

"Oh. So, is that why you're so hyperactive the day before the full moon?"

"Yeah, probably." Remus flicked a piece of lint off his shirt. "Plus it tastes good."

"What?"

"Chocolate."

"Oh, yeah."

-----

Arthur was carrying a bouquet of flowers. He looked over to the couch at Molly and James. Quickly hiding the flowers behind a tapestry, he walked over.

"Molly, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Molly looked at James, who looked at Arthur.

"Go ahead," James said.

Molly looked back to Arthur. "Er... sure." She got up.

Arthur led her over by the portrait hole. "Molly," he said, "I'm sure you've noticed I haven't been myself lately.

"Yeah, I've noticed. That's why I've been avoiding you. You've been getting on my nerves. Arthur, we've been best friends since first year. You can tell me what's bothering you."

Arthur looked at his feet. "Not when you're what's bothering me. Ever since you started going out with Sirius, Molly, I-- I've realized how deep my feelings for you really are. More than friendship. " He looked up at her.

Molly looked shocked. Suddenly she felt all sorts of feelings welling up inside her. How could she not have noticed how Arthur had been looking at her? More importantly, how could she not have noticed her own feelings toward him? Sirius black was undeniably the most handsome boy in school, but Molly hadn't really had her heart in the relationship. Now she began to realize why.

"A-Arthur, I..."

Arthur held up a finger. "Don't say anything yet, Molly, I want to finish." He reached behind a tapestry and handed her a bouquet. "They're only wildflowers, but it comes from the heart."

Molly reached out and took the flowers, her hand brushing against Arthur's. She looked back at James for a moment, but he seemed to be smiling at her encouragingly. She turned back to Arthur. "Thank you. I, um..." she blushed and looked at her feet. "I think I feel the same way about you as you do about me." She looked up. "Er... this is kind of embarrassing with him watching us like this," she jerked her thumb back toward James. "Maybe we should go somewhere else and talk?"

"Sure." Arthur beamed. He took Molly's hand and led her out the portrait hole.

James watched them walk out. He'd known Molly and Arthur would end up together, he was a good judge when it came to matters like that. But it had been nice to kiss her, anyway. He had felt closer to her lately than ever before, and he'd just wanted to let her know that, really. He stretched, and made his way up to his room.

-----

Sirius looked at Remus for a moment. Remus was playing with a tassel on one of the pillows. Sirius was almost glad of this; whenever he looked Remus in the eye, he felt a tightening sensation in his chest. Even now, just looking at him and knowing they were stuck here together, he had butterflies in his stomach. Sirius shook his head at himself. This was stupid. They'd always gotten along fine before. He was being a big romantic idiot. As if to prove to himself that he could handle the situation, or maybe just because he felt the urge to, he scooted closer to the sandy-haired boy.

Remus looked up. Sirius was scooting closer. Oh, what now? Remus didn't know if he could handle this. Already his heart was hammering against his ribcage like a trapped convict. Remus sighed softly. He'd known Sirius for years. His behavior was just stupid. Even if he was in love with Sirius, he should still be comfortable around him, shouldn't he? Damn it, why did emotions have to get so complex?

Suddenly Remus noticed Sirius's hand resting on the floor between them. Not thinking about what he was doing, Remus placed his hand over the dark-haired boy's.

Sirius looked up at Remus, his eyes opening wide. Then he looked down at his hand where Remus's covered it.

Remus saw Sirius's startled expression, and felt a similar expression appear on his face. He started to pull his hand away, but found that Sirius had taken hold of his fingers, holding his hand in place. It was Remus's turn to look up.

Sirius looked at Remus, pulling his hand away slowly. "Um," he began, but after a long pause he realized that for once he couldn't think of a single thing to say. He just looked at Remus, his eyes locked on the golden eyes staring back at him. He felt that tightness in his chest again, and it rendered him unable to look away.

Remus stared at Sirius, unable to tear his gaze away. The other boy's slate-grey eyes were locked on his, and he found he couldn't move. He just kept staring into Sirius's eyes, becoming increasingly aware of the sound of his own heart. It seemed to get louder and louder with every second, while at the same time climbing higher and higher into his throat. Pretty soon, he thought vaguely, he wouldn't be able to breathe. He blinked. His eyes didn't seem to be working right. Sirius seemed to be getting closer, filling his field of vision, like a muggle television camera was zooming in on him. Remus closed his eyes, finally, and shook his head. When he looked up he realized Sirius really was closer than he had been before.

"Remus? You alright?" Sirius had shaken himself out of his Remus-induced trance when Remus closed his eyes. Now he was shaking his head as if he didn't feel well.

"Oh. I.. I'm okay. Sorry. I just…" Remus looked up at Sirius, who was closer than ever now. Oh, Lord, Sirius was so close if he shook his head his hair would touch Remus's face. And if he leaned closer…

-----

Sirius realized suddenly how close his face was to Remus's. Good Lord.

Sirius wasn't aware of moving forward, nor was Remus, but somehow they kept getting closer. As the distance closed between them, Remus began to get so agitated that the ground felt shaky underneath him. Fireworks sounded in his head, and he was having trouble breathing. It wasn't until Sirius looked up suddenly that he realized that the ground really was shaking and that the explosions he'd heard had been real, too. As Remus got his bearings, more explosions went off.

Both boys leaped to their feet. "We need to get out of here," Sirius exclaimed. He motioned Remus over to the door, thinking if they put their combined efforts against it, they might be able to force the door. To his immense surprise, however, as they slammed against the door it gave way easily, and they tumbled out onto the floor.

Remus looked around. There didn't seem to be anything exploding in their immediate area, but nonetheless… "We should get down to the first floor," he told Sirius, his hand on the Gryffindor's shoulder.

"Right," Sirius replied, placing his hand over Remus's unconsciously and leading them in the direction of the stairs.

-----

They ran down the stairs. The explosions were getting closer. Sirius, being curious by nature, ran in the direction of the chaos, dragging Remus along behind him. Their search eventually led them to the library, where Peter was standing in a heap of upturned tables, fallen shelves, cracking walls, broken chandeliers, and scattered books. He was twisting his hands sheepishly around his wand, looking singed.

Sirius and Remus skidded into the library, gaping at the scene before them.

"What the HELL happened in here??" Sirius shouted at Peter, who looked even meeker at the outburst.

"Well," started Peter, clearing his throat nervously, "It's a long story…"

Yeah, I know, that was cheap. But I hit a dead end. . Sorry.

Next chapter: What DID Peter do, anyway? And how will James and Molly be... repaid... for their little prank? Sirius and Remus have a talk.

(The next chapter might take a while, as I have yet to figure out something brilliant for Peter to have been doing. Suggestions are welcome.)