Author's note: Another chapter.....if I can think of one.

Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Remus, Sirius, James, or Severus. Tough world, huh? None of them are mine...except in dreams. : P (Peter I can do without...)

Remus Lupin

I figured there wasn't any point in trying to be rude to Sirius if I could just find out everything the easy way. Severus's plan was about to be excecuted, all it would take is a teaspoon of the potion in his coffee, one hour to wait until full potency, then clear sailing. All I did was kindly ask him to pass me the toast, knowing full well he'd be unexpecting of me to say anything to him. He was flustered and before he got the chance to grab the basket, James dealt toast onto my plate. Meanwhile as Sirius wasn't looking I emptied half of the vial into his mug and quickly hid the bottle in my pocket. He didn't see a thing, but James looked at me after I had disposed of the evidence for a moment, then back at Sirius.

Sirius gulped his coffee down and I felt a smile forming on my face, however small and grim it was.

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"I saw that, little sneak," James muttered as we marched off to Transfiguration.

"Saw what?" I mused.

"You know what I'm saying! So what was it in there?"

"Just a little F and F," I laughed.

"F and F?"

"You'll see, Jim. Events will play themselves out soon," I stated simply, opening the door and sitting down in my normal seat, a hesitant Padfoot beside me. McGonagall started the lesson, an alternative way to turn tortoises into teapots, and Iattempted to take notes. However, for the first time ever, my mind was only on Sirius. I could barely concentrate, my eyes constantly darting towards the clock. Once it reached past an hour from breakfast, I immediately scribbled down on my paper, impatience getting the best...or worst...of me.

'Sirius Black, do you still have feelings for me?'

I folded the note neatly and passed it to him under the desk. This was nothing unusual, James, Sirius, and Peter often passed amusing comics or pictures to each other during class, but usually I did not take part in it. Sirius took the note gratefully and unfolded it beneath the desk. He stopped and picked up his quill, hiding the note beneath his doodles, then slowly tried to begin to write, but nothing came out. He tried again and wound up scratching his way through the parchment. Suddenly he took the paper in his hands, crumpled it up, and tossed it into his bag, focusing on the desk with the most irritated look I had seen on him for months.

This was discouraging, but I still figured maybe I had merely timed it wrong. So I waited until after class to speak with him.

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"Sirius..."

He turned sharply and sighed. "Remus, my pen ran out of ink and--"

"I want to talk to you alone. Could we go somewhere?"

"......like?"

"Anywhere. Just alone," I muttered, grabbing his hand and pulling him down the hall. We had a total of 20 minutes before the next class and I wasn't going to waste any of them. We managed to find our way into the Prefect's bathroom oddly enough, but I just kept my mind steady.

"Sirius, we need to talk."

"......About...?"

"Oh come on, you know full well what about, Padfoot. Did you really mean all that?" He was silent for a while and stared at the ground. I knew the potion had to be working by now, but he had to say something! "Sirius, please answer me---"

"I didn't mean any of it, Remus, alright? I made a completely dumb mistake and I don't even know why I did anything at all. I was being a fuckin' git and....I don't know why....nothing I said was true...hell--it didn't even make sense..."

"Then why did you sa--"

"I told you, I don't know! I don't have any clue! I just....maybe I was and all, you know? But...Remus....none of it was what I meant to say---a complete whim...." he muttered, hands in his pockets.

"...Well...then that means..."

"....Yes, it does...." he sighed, eyes returning to the ground again.

"...What do you want to do about it then, Black?" I asked. I wanted to know the answer because I thought I already knew it.

"...I don't want to hurt you any more....I've made so many mistakes, Remus...I don't want to make the mistake of really losing you forever. It might be better if....if we remain friends.''

I was speechless for a moment. "....But...."

"I love you, Remus, that's true--but I've ruined too many things. I can understand how you could hate me by now--"

"Sirius, that's not how I--"

"But listen, it would be much better if I stopped treating you this way. You know me--I act on impulse. What if I say another thing I'll regret forever? Ican't bear the thought of hurting you again and---"

"Sirius, you fucking idiot!" he looked up suddenly, I usuallynever swore. ButI continued as determinedly."I don't want to have this platonic charade any more--I won't be able to do it! I love you, and you love me. Why should we pretend?"

"Because, Remus, what if I--"

"I'll always know the truth, Sirius. Just like I did when you did that--I couldn't believe it because....because I love you and we're practically soulmates. Anyone in Hogwarts can see that even if you cannot. I can't bear it to lie anymore. I lie everyday to everyone--I can't do it about this, Sirius. I won't."

"...Remus..." He began, but took a step and embraced me tightly. "...How can you possibly be like this...I don't deserve you at all...."

"...You love me, don't you Sirius?...That's more than enough for anyone...."