A History of Romance

Year 6- Part Three: Written in the Stars

Remus sat across from Snape in the library, flipping through an old, worn Potions book with crinkled, yellow pages. He felt Madam Pince watching them with her mean, piercing stare, for the old books were the ones with the most value.

Just as he had found something useful for his essay on Dragon Venoms, James appeared in front of him, holding an envelope.

"Sirius said to give you this," he explained, handed it to Remus, and left just as quickly as he'd come.

Remus blinked a few times and looked at the envelope in his hand.

'Why couldn't Sirius just give it to me personally? Is this a prank?'

Ignoring Snape's curious stare Remus opened the envelope, slowly, expecting it to blow up or start shrieking at any second, and pulled out a carefully folded sheet of Muggle notebook paper.

There, in Sirius' slanted, sloppy handwriting, were the words:

My eyes beheld the sky one night,

It seems so long ago,

A perfectly painted portrait,

Bespeckled with blue and gold

As I sit and ponder more,

It strikes me that you were there,

And it was truly your simple beauty,

That gave the stars their perfect glare.

--Graham Stuart

Astronomy Tower 11:30 P.M.

Remus frowned and looked the letter over once more.

'Now, I know this is a prank. Then again, Sirius really has been acting different. I wonder if it isn't just a phase and I really do have a chance ...'

He re-read the poem once more, chiseling the words onto his heart to forever remember the sweetest, most thoughtful words he'd ever read; and to not forget that it was Sirius who had given them to him.

Back in reality, Snape cleared his throat and asked impatiently, "Well, what is the one factor all dragon venoms have?"

But, no, Remus wasn't ready to go back to reality; not just yet. He smiled, despite his lingering suspicions, and felt a swelling of joy inside him, as if he could laugh and cry out to world he was in love and not care about the consequences.

'I'll take a chance ... but, just for Padfoot.'

Sirius looked over the Astronomy Tower, where James had set up a large blanket, scattered a few rose petals, and set up Remus' bewitched record player to play soft music from an old Elvis Presley record of his.

"Are you mad! Remus is going to look at this and bolt. He's not a girl, James!"

James looked up and rolled his eyes. "Shut up. You want pumpkin pasties or chocolate fudge?"

Sirius shrugged. "Both I guess."

James nodded and turned to Peter, who had been aiming a telescope at the girl's dormitory window.

"Wormtail, stop that! You can't see anything, anyway. Go fetch some pasties and fudge, and don't eat any of it!"

Peter grinned like an idiot and scampered off, while Sirius chewed on his lip and ran a hand through his hair, nervously.

"What if he doesn't come, Prongs?"

James sighed. "Padfoot, it'll be alright! You're not getting married for Merlin's sake."

Sirius stomped over to the stone ledge and tried to calm down. "You're right, Prongs. It's not big deal, right?"

James slung an arm around Sirius. "Padfoot, chill out. Everything will go as planned, don't worry. No one will disturb you and by the end of the night, you might just end up scoring."

"Uh, no Prongs, I'm not going to try anything with Moony."

"It's not like you have that much experience, anyway, Paddy! You've only had two girlfriends in your whole life."

Sirius shrugged. "I was just never into anyone but Moony. Strange, isn't it?"

James shook his head. "No, no, Padfoot; it's love."

Sirius looked out at the setting sun and sighed.

'Just hope love is enough to get Moony to forgive me.'

The Astronomy Tower; 11:30 P.M.

Sirius paced around the blanket James had lain out, studying the red and blue-checkered pattern. Everything was in place; the fudge and pasties were sitting in the center of the blanket, the rose petals still scattered everywhere (Sirius kicked a few out of the way as his impatience mounted), and the Elvis record had been playing incessantly since 7 o'clock.

'If he doesn't show, that's it; it's over Moony. Just friends it is. But, if he does show, what'll I do!'

Sirius ran a hand through his hair for what seemed the nine-hundredth time that day, and really jumped out of his skin when he heard the tower's door close with a snap.

'Please don't be Professor Sinistra, please, oh, please, please!' Sirius thought desperately.

As a brown-haired boy with amber eyes, twinkling in the moonlight like stars came into view, Sirius didn't know whether to be relieved or dismayed.

'What to do, what to do?'

"Hello, Padfoot," Remus said as he walked towards Sirius and his eyes swept over the tower.

"Hey, Moony," Sirius said tensely. "You came!"

'Merlin, do I sound desperate!"

Remus grinned. "Yeah, I came, I got your letter and I must say that poem was quite touching."

Sirius motioned to the blanket. "Um, go ahead and help yourself. There's chocolate fudge, and pumpkin pasties, and hot chocolate."

Remus sat down on the blanket, cross-legged, and Sirius sat across from him. They ate and drank in silence, Remus occasionally stopping to push back the sleeves of his well-worn, brown coat, or to readjust the scarf Sirius had given him, before reaching for another pasty, or another bit of fudge.

Soon, however, the pasties and fudge were gone, the kettle of hot chocolate was half-empty, and the two boys truly had nothing more to do.

They sat in silence now, "Heartbreak Hotel" playing in the background, both wanting to speak, yet not thinking anything was worth saying. A few uneasy seconds passed, and Remus broke the silence.

"He knew, didn't he?" Remus asked softly.

"What?" Sirius looked at Remus and felt like slapping himself for missing what precious words Remus had said.

"Regulus knew about me being a werewolf," Remus began, playing with the black letters forming 'Moony' on one end of his scarf. "Severus told me he ran back to his common room after Prongs pulled him out of the Shack, and the only person he told was Regulus ... who already knew."

Sirius paled at Remus' words and fumbled with a corner of the blanket. "M-Moony, I didn't ... see, he-- I kind of told him when he was younger. Moony, I didn't know he would turn out like this, believe me-"

"Padfoot, it's okay. He hadn't told anyone before, and he's certainly not now. Severus is making sure no one else finds out; he can be trusted as well."

Sirius tapped his foot against the stone, impatient and annoyed with all this talk of "Severus."

"Moony, what exactly is there between you and Snivellus?"

Remus looked up from pouring himself another cup of hot chocolate. "Excuse me?"

Sirius just stared at him, his loosely done tie billowing in the wind like a flag.

"Sirius, he's just my tutor! I can't brew potions to save my life, so he helps me. That's it!" Remus said, exasperatedly.

Sirius snorted. "I'll bet he wants more!"

"That doesn't mean I'll give it to him, Padfoot. You needn't be worried; I can care for myself."

"It's not worry, Moony! I mean, it is, but it's more Moony! I care for you as more than a friend, okay!" Sirius was on his knees, now, nearly tearing his hair out in frustration/

Remus looked down at his hot chocolate. "Sirius, I know, but-"

"But, what, Moony?" Sirius walked over to the smaller boy and sank back onto his knees in front of him. "Haven't you forgiven me?"

"I have, yes, but it's not that. Padfoot, I don't want to hurt you, or anybody! I mean, physically. I am a werewolf, and there are some things-"

Sirius took the cup of hot chocolate from Remus' hands and set it down on the blanket. He took Remus' thin, frail hands into his own and said, "Moony, should I be hurt, or bitten, or whatever, I am prepared to become a werewolf and stay by your side!"

Remus pulled his hands away, eyes wide. "Don't joke about things like that, Sirius! Don't ever say things like that again! I'd much rather spend my whole life alone, out in a cave or in a den like the other werewolves before biting you ...or anyone."

Sirius wrapped his arms around Remus' slender frame, tightly. He whispered into the skinnier boy's ear, softly, "It scares you, the kind of devotion I am so ready to offer you, doesn't it?"

Remus struggled to push Sirius away, but Sirius held tighter, and Remus' arms were left trapped within the other boy's embrace.

"Don't Moony-- don't run anymore. Please, let me just hold you."

"Padfoot, I told you-"

"I'll give you a thousand of those Muggle chocolate Kisses you like so much if you give me a chance."

Remus laughed a bit, despite himself. "Padfoot, you don't have to bribe me."

"Is that a yes?" Sirius asked, not daring to hope for the best.

"I'll answer you if you stop squeezing the life out of me."

Sirius immediately released him, and looked at Remus with that expectant, puppy-dog look on his face.

Remus sighed. "Oh, Padfoot ..."

"Yes? Yes? Please, say yes, Moony."

Remus closed his eyes for a moment, and then, with a lingering reluctance, he nodded.

"Yes? Yeah? Are you serious! Far out!"

Padfoot howled with joy and pounced on Remus, throwing the boy onto his back, and licking his face; the other couldn't help but laugh at how such a foolish matter could bring such happiness to Sirius.

The licking stopped, and the fur gave way to skin, warm against Remus' cold cheek. He looked up into Sirius' blue-gray eyes and felt his heart beat faster.

Sirius moved off him and helped Remus sit up; his legs were at either side of Sirius, who was still on his knees, and Remus couldn't help but turn the slightest shade of pink under the gaze of those gorgeous, pale eyes.

The record played on as the seconds flew by, "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You," drifting towards them; the song that so well told their feelings to the world.

Remus' heart beat faster as he studied those cool eyes, the perfect combination of smoke and ice, like a storm of the faintest blue and the coolest gray. How easy it could be to lose ones self in those eyes.

Sirius leaned closer, closer, until their noses were touching, and Remus closed his eyes and let go of any doubts, and let Sirius press his lips onto his own gently, so tentatively, and oh, it felt so right.

Sirius' hands moved up to Remus' face, stroking his cheeks lightly. Remus could only clutch at Sirius' shirt as he surrendered to the force sweeping him away in the stronger boy's arms.

Sirius' tongue slipped into Remus' mouth, easily, slowly, and tasted chocolate, and mint. Had Moony been expecting this? With no time to think, their senses overwhelmed with the yearning coursing through their bodies like electricity, pulling them closer, closer, until they would surely melt into one another, Sirius eased Remus back down onto the blanket, straddling his waist; their need was too great, it was too much, it was too soon, and when Sirius pulled aside the coat, scarf, sweater, and reached into Remus' shirt, the smaller boy pushed Sirius away.

"Stop, Padfoot," Remus whispered.

Sirius moved his mouth to Remus' neck and trailed kissed down to his collarbone. "Why, Moony? This is so good."

Remus buried his hands in Sirius hair and shuddered. "Padfoot, please, just stop."

Sirius nipped at Remus' ear playfully. "But, I know you feel it too, Remus. You like it, you want it, right?"

Sirius stopped to nibble on the slim boy's neck again, gently, not to harm Remus in any way, and was pleased as the thin boy gasped and panted audibly in his arms. There was the electric current, again-- Sirius' hands on his thighs, in his shirt, stroking, teasing, Remus losing coherent thoughts, quickly. Remus resisted the urge to moan; he knew it would only encourage Sirius further. However, it was when Sirius had finished sucking on his neck enough to leave a hickey, and moved to his shoulder, where his bite scar was, he tensed, and struggled with all of his strength to get away from Sirius.

Sirius pulled away at once, staring down at Remus with wide eyes. "What? What's wrong, Moony?"

Remus fought to catch his breath and regain his composure. He felt incredibly venerable with his arms above his head, and Sirius just above him, his long, black hair hanging down and tickling his throat. "Padfoot ... no more. It's- we're going too fast, okay? I don't like being touched much, you know that."

Sirius nodded and patted his hair down. His cheeks, too, were flushed and he grinned. "It was totally wicked for a first kiss, though, wasn't it?"

Remus smiled. "It was, yes. Best first kiss I've ever had."

Sirius laughed a bit and moved towards Remus, who backed away. "Padfoot, I-"

"Chill out, it's okay. I won't do anything you don't want, Moony."

Sirius stretched out beside Remus, his hands under his head and stared up at the sky.

"It's nice out tonight," he commented, and smiled when Remus stretched out beside him.

He put an arm around the thinner boy and pulled him closer, hoping he wouldn't freak Remus out again. To his surprise, Remus allowed him that much, and even put his head on Sirius' shoulder as they looked out at the stars above.

"Ever kissed anyone else?" Sirius asked, suddenly.

Remus sighed. "Maybe."

"Oh. Was it Snivellus? 'Cause I caught him snogging Regulus, so ... you know."

"Sirius, I'm not going to answer that," Remus said firmly.

"Okay." Sirius continued, "But, if you have ... I'm the best kisser, right?"

Remus giggled, Sirius was amazed (Remus had only giggled a few times before), and replied, "Without a doubt, Padfoot."

Sirius was satisfied with that and looked back up at the twinkling stars overhead. He was pleased that the star Sirius and the moon were the brightest heavenly bodies that night, and were closer together than on any other night.

"Written in the stars, Moony," he whispered. "Written in the stars."

A/N: I know, I know, kind of a short chapter compared to the other two parts, but I thought it would be nice to end the Sixth Year with their first kiss.

Anyway, thank you for reading, and please review.