Disclaimer: I own nothing from Harry Potter.

Thanks to lookinginward, Kenna Hijja, Snape coolgirl, Xia and Pik for reviewing. Your feedback produced this chapter.

Notes: I'm not actually too sure about this chapter. I can't work out if its too fast, or too slow. Please review, and tell me what you think.

And I know I should have looked up some Latin for the incantation, but I wasn't online when I wrote it. Please forgive me.

Chapter Five

"How well is it going, Sev?" asked Lucius. "Nearly there, yet?"

"You really have no idea, do you? Read the instructions yourself. This needs to be stirred anticlockwise three times a minute for the next two hours, then left to simmer for nine."

"And then ready?"

"No, then we have to add our blood and say the incantation."

"I don't mind doing that," Lucius offered. "If you want me to."

Severus glanced briefly at his friend. "If you want," he said quickly. "Now either shut up or go. I can't mess up the timing."

"You're so charming, aren't you?"

"You're the one who wanted this done. Now let it happen. Leave it to the expert."

Lucius smiled, shook his head and silently left. He was immensely pleased. Things were working out perfectly, as only plans involving Severus could. He couldn't believe how stupid he'd been to screw Rosier their first night back. He coveted Severus more than anything, and needed their friendship with an intensity he had not realised. And Sev loathed Rosier more than Sirius Black. Lucius would like to dream of that hatred instead masking jealousy, but in reality he was not so sure. What many people failed to realise about Lucius Malfoy, was that although he created an aura of confidence and aloofness, most of it was just show.

Lucius was a very capable person. But Severus was the security behind it. Running his hand through his white-blonde hair, Lucius sighed. Why did Severus have to be so damned stubborn? Why couldn't he have just gone along with his suggestion like anyone else would have, and been grateful for it too? Lucius knew how attractive he was to the masses, male and female alike. What he didn't understand was how Severus could remain unaffected. It couldn't be just that he didn't find him attractive. It couldn't be. Everyone found Lucius attractive.

Apart from the only person that had ever have meant anything to him.

~~~~~

Brown eyes met green ones. A broad grin met a quizzical one, and James quirked an eyebrow. "Care to share the secret?" he asked his best friend.

The Gryffindor's were at dinner, and Sirius had been looking like the cat that got the cream all evening. James couldn't work it out. First of all, Sirius had had some bust-up with Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape in Hogsmeade, and Sirius had stomped round in a foul temper all afternoon. Then he went upstairs with Remus and by the time he came down again he was the happiest James had ever seen him. The Head Boy hoped to God Sirius wasn't taking drugs.

James's gaze slid to Remus. The two had been friends for a long time, and he knew when Remus was putting on a show. And James knew for certain that the weak smile that Remus was putting on wasn't fooling anybody. Except maybe Sirius, who probably wouldn't have noticed even if Remus had dyed his hair pink. James leaned forward, and whispered to Remus, "so why is his Lordship so happy then? What did you do to change his mood all of a sudden?"

Remus couldn't suppress the flush that stealthily crept over his cheeks, staining them crimson. He cast a surreptitious glance at Sirius, who was staring at him openly. "Must be my vivacious charm and personality," he mumbled. James grinned, and so did Sirius. Remus wished that his friend would stop drawing attention to them.

"Well actually, dear heart," Sirius began. "There is a perfect reason for my improved mood."

James raised an eyebrow. "And that would be...?"

Remus decided to cut in, but Sirius got there before him. "Remus and I have an announcement to make."

It wasn't just James and Peter who looked interested at this, but a few of the nearby Gryffindors perked up at the promise of gossip. Sirius, well pleased with his audience, ignored Remus who was by now sinking his face into his hands. James's gaze flickered over his friend, and debated stopping Sirius, but his curiosity got the better of him. He waited with the rest of them.

"Remus and I are now an item. We're together."

Stunned silence followed this announcement. Although only a third of the school remained in the Great Hall, Remus would bet his life that the entire population of Hogwarts would know before the day was out. He felt humiliated. He had hoped that Sirius would wait a while before announcing it, and that he would show a little more discretion when he did. The Gryffindor's around them looked amazed, and even more surprised when Sirius had told him that he wasn't straight. Sirius had quite a reputation with the women. Nobody had suspected that it had applied to men as well.

Sirius grinned smugly. Everything was coming into place. He had Remus. Remus hadn't liked Snape after all, and now everyone knew. He was more than happy.

James couldn't believe his ears. If that was the case, why wasn't Remus looking happy, instead of looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders? James had no problem with his best friend coming out. But shouldn't he have chosen a more private way to do it? Maybe that was the cause of Remus' embarrassment. But hadn't Remus looked like that before Sirius had started talking?

Eventually, someone said something, and surprisingly, it was Peter, who maintained his usual habit of stating the obvious. "So you're gay, then?"

Sirius sent him a cool look. "Yes, I am. And I'm with Remus." God, he loved saying that.

Another silence. Eventually, a Hufflepuff from behind them came up and shook Sirius' hand. "How you do it, I don't know. And it's only, what, the third so far this term? Maybe this time it'll last longer than the time it takes to pull his skirt down." A group of them laughed, and walked out, eager to spread the word. Remus' blush spread to his neck and shoulders, and he got to his feet and headed towards Gryffindor tower. Sirius, an incredulous look on his face, got up after him.

Remus made his way up to the dormitory, planning to barricade himself inside his bed. How could Sirius humiliate him like that? He didn't want to be known as Sirius' possession, and he even more didn't want the Slytherins to find out. Severus would never look at him, now he was marked as belonging to Sirius Black. Not that it would have ever been very likely, but all chances were now blown.

He heard footsteps coming quickly behind him. In the distance, he heard someone calling his name, but he moved on, unwilling to hear them. He was just about to turn a corner when he was grabbed by his elbow and spun round to meet his new boyfriend.

"What's wrong with you? Why did you storm out like that?" Sirius asked breathlessly, searching Remus' face.

"How could you do that to me?" Remus whispered. "Why did you just announce it to everyone?"

Sirius looked puzzled. "What? They were going to find out sometime. Why shouldn't I have told everyone?"

"You should have asked me first!" Remus hissed. "I've barely had time to get used to the idea myself, without the whole school being let in on the picture!"

Sirius couldn't understand what the problem was and why Remus was acting this way, but accepted that he was angry. This time, he'd acquiesce, and say sorry for upsetting his lover. For one thing, he genuinely didn't want to hurt Remus, and on the other, he was hoping they'd make out for a while later. Dinner had come far too soon.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to upset you."

Remus wrenched his arm free of the other boys grip. "Well you bloody well did. Now leave me alone. I need to think."

Sirius' mind panicked. That sounded serious. Remus couldn't be having second thoughts, could he? "Remus?" he asked desperately.

The fairer boy turned and looked back. "What?"

"I'm really sorry. Please, let me make it up to you. Don't listen to any of those Hufflepuffs, they're just idiots. I'll make you feel better. I need you," Sirius said apologetically.

"Oh, I bet you will," Remus said sarcastically. "Taking bets on how long it takes to pull my skirt down, are we?"

At this remark, such a hurt look appeared on Sirius' face that Remus felt guilty. He moved towards Sirius, who stood his ground and gazed at him with betrayal in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," said Remus. "I shouldn't have said that." Sirius didn't say anything. After a hesitation, Remus moved forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. After no reaction, he drew back and looked worriedly at his friend. After meeting his gaze, Remus shivered. Sirius looked murderous.

Suddenly, Remus found himself thrown backwards against a wall and was then covered by Sirius. The older boy harshly pinned his partner against the stone and roughly thrust his tongue into Remus' mouth, who moaned against the onslaught, but found himself responding. After a fierce kiss, Sirius stepped back, and Remus, with no support, had to grab hold of him to steady himself. Reaching a hand upon Remus's face, Sirius whispered in his ear, "don't you ever say anything like that again." Before Remus had time to reply, Sirius had taken hold of another kiss and he was kissing him back with all he was worth.

~~~~~

Bugger. Lucius always screwed large Latin incantations, which was ironic considering how often he had to do them. Whispering under his breath, he was watched by Severus from behind amused lashes. Smirking, the dark boy moved forward and grabbed the text. Laughing, he said, "I'll do it, Luc. You obviously can't be relied upon at the crucial moment."

Outraged, Lucius made a valiant attempt to retrieve the stolen text. "Give me that back, thief!"

"We've no more than two minutes before we have to add the blood and say the recitation. Seriously, we can't mess it up. Do you think you'll be able to do it?" Severus asked sincerely.

"Yes! Now give it back or I'll hex you and use all this myself," Lucius threatened. Little did Severus know how empty that threat was.

"But how would you know it was done properly? I could have spiked it on purpose. And after all this work that I've put in, I'm the one who deserves to get it all."

"Is that so?" Lucius asked in a good-natured tone, albeit a little arrogantly.

"It is. Now practice that bloody thing. I'll get the knife."

Bugger, bugger, bugger, Lucius thought. Oooh, where had Severus got that knife? It had a wicked blade. Severus caught him staring, and couldn't resist a chance to show off. "It was my father's, who received it from Grindelwald after the Massacre of '48. Gave it to me on my sixteenth. Now get on with it, it's time."

Although he stumbled slightly, Lucius managed to pronounce the letter of the incantation. Then it was time. having read the Latin, Lucius was first to give his blood. Taking the knife, he made a deeper than necessary cut into his wrist, and turned it over the cauldron to let it flow. Severus, after counting out the drops, motioned to Lucius to move it away. And then it was his turn. His incision was far more modest than that of the Malfoy heir, but it served the same purpose. The potion bubbled, and turned a murky black. Severus stepped away, and performed a quick healing spell on both himself and his friend.

"Now, we've just got it to leave it to simmer for 36 hours, and then we're done," Severus announced. Lucius smiled. Severus took it to mean he hadn't bodged up the potion after all. But Lucius smiled because he knew this was the next stage in the plan off the list.