Whoa, I got a major reaction to that last chapter. Even something vaguely resembling a flame. Does this mean I've reached international stardom?

Well, thanks to all who reviewed, even if you were quite incensed by what I wrote. It was something I'd been planning all along! (Much evil laughter)

The rest of the day was spent with Remus and Sirius trying their best to act natural, and therefore acting strangely enough to end up in St Mungo's. Remus found himself able to do his homework in the common room in the evening, but Sirius left immediately, claiming a headache. Remus waited inconspicuously for everyone but James, who was working on extra work due to quidditch practice, to leave.

He carefully scooted closer to James and looked at him with what he hoped was a mild expression. "James? Do you think we could talk?"

"Um, sure… What's eating you? There isn't any trouble in lover's paradise, is there?" Ok, maybe it wasn't such a mild expression. Or the fact that I used his actual name gave me away, maybe…

"No! Um, well…" Remus often found it best not to beat around the bush. "Padfoot and I kind of walked in on you and Snivelly in an empty classroom." He paused for a moment. "I think 'what the Hell' would be a slight understatement."

"Oh… fucknuts." James had a look that suggested the world was falling down around him. "Shit… Moony… I'm so sorry, I don't know…"

Remus looked at him earnestly. "Don't apologize, I'm not upset. I can't say the same for Padfoot, but… I'm really just curious." Curious may have been a slight understatement, as well.

"Is Padfoot upset?"

"Murderous would be a somewhat more appropriate term."

"Bugger! Well…" He paused, obviously unsure about where to begin.

Remus suddenly remembered something. "You rushed out of the transfiguration classroom in that direction. Were you going up there to meet him?"

"No! I mean, I was up there to meet him, but not for that." He swallowed audibly and continued. "He'd challenged me to a wizard's duel, and when I'd gone up there he just… pounced, and landed this great nasty kiss right on me. And at first I was about to just beat his slimy arse into oblivion, but then he looked me straight in the eye and he looked… scared."

Remus nodded – he had also noticed that. The crazed, frightened look that Snape had when he had Remus cornered. It had made him wonder what someone like Snape would be afraid of in a situation like that. The truth, perhaps?

"Well, anyway, it was just so strange to see him scared; I don't know what I was thinking… I just started snogging him back. And I guess one thing led to another and before I knew what was going on, I had him cornered. Eventually he realized what was going on and just scampered, but…" James trailed off and shrugged, looking very tired. "That's hardly an explanation for anything…"

"It's enough, Prongs." Remus smiled warmly and squeezed James's hand. "Feel free to copy my homework; it's all in the bag, there…" He got up, yawning and stretching. "I'm off to bed, ok?"

"'Night, Moony." James still looked fairly miserable, but Remus was confident that he'd be ok for the night. He wandered out of the room, idly re-doing his ponytail.

"Mm… M-Moony!" Sirius was mumbling in his sleep again, with Remus in his arms. "Sexy… wolf…want you… nmh..." Remus was blushing as he became increasingly aware of something that felt suspiciously like a boner pressed up against his rear end.

"Padfoot! Wake up, will you?" Remus elbowed Sirius and sat up.

"Well hello, Mr. Moony! I had the most wonderful dream about you just now…" Sirius had a rather silly grin plastered on his face, and he sat up to toss his arms around Remus happily.

"Somehow I gathered as much… what's today?"

"Saturday, my cute canine." Sirius yawned, making his endearing puppy-whine noise. "Shall we go down for breakfast? I could eat a hippogriff."

"I'd like to see you say that face-to-face with one." Remus nuzzled Sirius's cheek and got up. "Don't have to wear robes today, do I? Hm…" He rooted around for a shirt in his trunk, eventually choosing an oversized, rusty-colored flannel one. All of his clothes were secondhand and never fit properly. "Does this look ok?"

"Dashing, Moony." Sirius winked, putting on his usual semi-tight jeans and a clean muscle shirt. "Makes you look thinner than ever, though, mate. At breakfast I may just have to force meat down your throat."

"Wow, if that wasn't a double entendre my name is Merlin."

"Well you could take it that way if you like it like that, Moo – ack!" A pillow collided with Sirius's head. "Breakfast, then?"

"Please."

The two of them walked down to the Great Hall together, teasing one another with their usual banter and eventually getting around to talk about flying motorcycles (in other words, Sirius talking about every facet of them known to man and Remus listening politely).

"So, I'm thinking that the new Orion model is what I'm going to be getting… It's a sweet machine, really. Black is always the most stylish color, but I'm thinking that the idea of getting a white one would piss off my parents more…"

"The dog star, Sirius, is Orion the Hunter's dog. That would make you the motorcycle's bitch, wouldn't it?"

"What does the name have to do with anything?" Sirius tossed his arms around vaguely in mock anger. "Honestly, you just don't get it…" He trailed off at the Great Hall's entrance, giving James a dangerous stare. "…I know how to get that bastard back."

"Padfoot! Don't…" Remus faltered as Sirius stormed ahead of him. What could he say to convince Sirius to stop?

James was chatting up Evans at the Gryffindor table, and she actually seemed more flattered than annoyed. James was beaming like a ray of sunshine, obviously amazed at his incredible luck. That is, until Sirius strode calmly behind them and said quite loudly and viciously, "You know, James didn't really write that poem he sent you; he commissioned Remus to do it."

"What!?" Evans stood up and looked from Sirius to James. "I can't… I was just starting to like you, too!"

"And Peter wasn't the only person he snogged yesterday, either!" Sirius was sneering with pleasure now, watching James squirm unhappily.

Evans was incensed. "Is that so? Well… Maybe I'll show you how it feels to be treated like that, you pig!" She strode over to Remus, who was still standing – quite shocked – at the doorway. She stared at him with her usual intense laser-beam eyes and said, with a slight hint of a sob in her voice, "That poem was beautiful, Lupin. I always liked you quite a bit," and gave him a quick, soft kiss on the lips.

Now, Remus had always liked Lily Evans as well – she was sharp and kind and deeply vindictive, a girl of true character – but he would never even dream of fancying her. She was reserved for James, because they were a love-hate match made in heaven. Not to mention, Remus had never particularly fancied girls. For these reasons, he pulled back and studied her face. "Lily, James only had me write that poem because he couldn't write one that you'd like himself. He cares a lot about you. And playing jealousy games with him won't help anything."

She blushed, seemingly a little shocked by his astute statement, and looked away from him. "I'm sorry, Remus…" She brushed her thick auburn hair out of her face and turned back to the table, acutely aware of everyone's eyes on her. Someone from the Slytherin table shouted, "Been turned down by Loopy Lupin, 'ave ya? That's got to 'urt."

James, meanwhile, looked as though he wasn't sure who to shout at first. Sirius was still sneering at him, and Lily was slinking quite abashedly into her seat at the Gryffindor table. Remus chanced a glance at the Slytherin table and looked for Snape. He found Severus burying himself in his food, refusing to chance meeting James or Remus's eyes.

I hope that was an adequate explanation. Tune in Saturday for number eight! Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews.