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Revised Version - 1

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DEMENTOR'S KISS

: Felnezia Elaine Lloyd

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How stupid can somebody get?

In Cornelius Fudge's case, the answer was – infinitely stupid, or that was what Remus Lupin felt.

As he sat in the kitchen of No. 12, Grimmauld Place, drinking a cup of black coffee to help him keep awake, he mused that he hated Fudge with an intensity that was greater than he had hated Voldemort.

The war had been won. Voldemort was dead and gone for good. However, there was no happiness for Remus in that thought. It wasn't as if he was sad that they had won the war. No, he was sad that Sirius had been exposed during the war and taken to Azkaban, and had been proved as a Death-Eater, albeit with false evidences.

The wizarding world was still in a riot. The few Death-Eaters who were on run had been causing havoc, especially since Dumbledore had died during this war. That was another reason that blemished the victory.

Cornelius Fudge, in an attempt to restore the order and spreading terror among the Death-Eaters, had ordered the souls of all the captured Death-Eaters to be sucked out by the Dementors.

And that meant that as tomorrow would dawn, Sirius would be…

He spluttered his coffee, a nauseous feeling enveloping him. This was disgusting. He couldn't just sit here and do nothing about it.

He glanced at his watch and cast Wakefulness Charm on himself. He had some Sirius-saving to do.

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At least Harry and Remus are safe…

Sirius, lying on the floor in his dog form, to keep some of his sanity in tact, glanced wearily out of the small hole in the wall of his cell. The night would soon merge into dawn and…

He shuddered. It was his worst dream. Harry wasn't the only one for whom Boggarts changed into Dementors.

At least Harry and Remus are safe…

Was it a happy thought? It couldn't be… or it would have been sucked out of him. Why wasn't it a happy thought? Wasn't this what he had fought for?

At least Harry and Remus are safe…

But not for long. He still remembered how they had killed Dumbledore – right before his eyes. He remembered how they had killed Snape. Merlin! How many times had he wished Snape's death! And when it had taken place just before his eyes, he felt sick. He felt gloomy. Suddenly, he realized what a very terrible thing it was to wish someone dead.

So late… everything had happened too late…

He had no energy left in him even for small movement. As he turned his eyes to the hole again, he could just see the sky lighten to a purplish-pink shade.

And just then the Dementors came into his cell.

He transformed back into a human being. He was a Gryffindor. He would die a man.

There weren't many happy thoughts left in him for the Dementors to suck. So they did not have too terrible an effect on him. He could discern the other prisoners who were being taken and saw Draco Malfoy among them. So he wasn't the only one who had fought against Voldemort and got nothing for it.

At least Harry and Remus are safe…

But he… Harry… would be devastated without… his soul-mate, and Remus without his best friend.

It wasn't a happy thought. No, not at all.

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This is it.

He closed his eyes and sank to the ground, his 'Gryffindor' courage spent.

The Dementor was gliding up to him. He did not realize that he was trembling.

Oh Merlin! This is it! I have a fate worse than death. Snape seemed luckier than me this one time.

The creature lowered its hood, but Sirius had his eyes tightly shut. He did not have to see it.

Cold… arms, for lack of a better word… gripped his shoulders.

And then he felt it. It was going to be the last sensation in his life and he knew it. The Dementor's mouth was on his.

Sirius' eyes snapped open – and he saw with growing shock that he was looking into a well-known pair of hazel-brown eyes.

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He could feel the fear radiating off Sirius. If only he could reassure him… but no, that would spoil the plan.

He looked up to his left and saw the 'Dementor' nod slightly.

He was cold with the sensations that the Dementors had caused. Shakily, he gripped Sirius' shoulders.

He could do it… they could get away with it… it was of no use… they would be found out…

The Cheering Charm that he had put on himself was weakening. He had to do this. Fast.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed his lips to Sirius'.

It was a Cheering Charm of its own kind. He had never felt anything like this. Ever.

He had loved Sirius all his life. But he had been afraid to tell him about it, especially when he got to know that Sirius was a 'womanizer'.

He prolonged the kiss. He wanted to enjoy it while it lasted. Tomorrow, though he would have Sirius, there would be nothing but the memory of this kiss to keep him going.

Now, when the danger of death was all about them, he felt that he could die and die happily. Tomorrow, he would be out of danger and die in pain of unrequited love.

His thoughts were interrupted by a frantic cry of "Remus".

He jerked away from Sirius to see that a hundred Dementors were gliding up to them.

Of course! They had sensed his happiness.

He pulled Sirius up and muttered, "Disapparate. Grimmauld Place. Now."

Beside him, Harry and Draco did the same.

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It was worse than the worst hangover. Sirius groaned as he woke up. His head was bursting with pain.

"Here, this might help."

Reluctantly, he opened his eyes to see Remus holding up a vial to his mouth. Sniffing the dirty-looking potion, he decided to drink it in spite of its horrible look and smell.

It had an instant effect. His headache was gone and his body ached no more.

"Thanks, Moony."

"Any time, Padfoot."

Remus kept back the vial. But he wasn't looking at him.

"What's the matter? Aren't Harry and Draco safe? Or is there some other bad news?"

"No, nothing. I mean nothing bad has happened."

"Why are you looking so miserable, then?"

Remus looked at him. "I am not miserable. How could I be miserable? You are alive."

"My life and death aren't the only matters that might determine your happiness, Moony," said Sirius, propping himself up against the headboard.

If only you knew… thought Remus and did not venture a reply.

"Are they?"

For Remus, the only thing which was worse than Sirius' unrequited love was being laughed and ridiculed for his love.

"I'll go and check on Harry," he said hurriedly and got up.

But he stopped as he felt a warm hand close around his wrist.

"Are they?"

Remus' face hardened. Why was he doing this to him? To ridicule him? To have a laugh at his expense? No one knew better than him that Sirius could be quite… merciless.

"Remus…"

That made him turn around. It was very rare for Sirius to use that tone with his name. Hell! It was very rare for Sirius to use his given name.

"What?" he spat out angrily. He was angry at Sirius for making him feel like this. As if it wasn't enough to feel the pain of his love that he had to be pestered about it.

"Answer my question," commanded Sirius with narrowed eyes.

"What?"

"You know what."

"No. I do not," he said stubbornly.

"You will be difficult, will you?"

Their eyes met. Remus could read his affections in Sirius' eyes. He swallowed hard. Sirius knew. And now, he was even going to lose his best friend. How he wished for that tense moment of today's dawn to return. Feeling Sirius' body under his own… his lips warm against his…

Sirius tugged hard at his wrist. Caught unawares, Remus stumbled into his lap.

"Took you long enough, didn't it?" he said huskily, cupping his cheeks and catching Remus' lips in a bruising, demanding kiss.

Remus' eyes widened. For a moment he wondered if he was indeed sane, alive and conscious. But just for a moment.

He returned the kiss with twenty years' worth of passion. His hands moved to feel him… over his chest… in his hair… down his arms… around him… everywhere… there was no world around them. Just them. Just him. He was his world – literally for those few minutes.

They broke up, gasping for air.

Sirius was grinning widely at him.

The kind of grin that made him melt – or… harden would be a more suitable description.

"How did you know?" asked Remus weakly.

"The kiss I was given today on the crack of dawn, Remus, was no Dementor's Kiss."

And he pushed him back on the bed, determined not to let this chance slip by.

Snivellus, he thought maliciously, as he ripped open his lover's shirt, was never to be luckier than him after all.

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THE END

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Please review because this was my first attempt at Sirius/Remus.

Felnezia

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