Disclaimer: It's JK Rowlings... I'm jealous, but its all hers. I am just glad we get to play in the wonderland she created!

Author's Note -- This chapter contains Slash... well, it talks about it... you have to read it to decide if it will offend you... Don't read and don't bother to flame, you've been warned.

However, you could bother TO REVIEW!

The Costume Party

Halloween came on much faster than anyone expected. The house-elves busied themselves with the final preparations for the party that evening.

The moring of Halloween dawned a beautiful chilly day. Remus was finishing his coursework for the classes at the Riddle House for the following week before meeting everyone for dinner at the Potter Estate, after which he would get ready and go to the party. He sat in his study at his quarters at the Riddle house, quill to paper, but no words would come.

He was angry with the lot of them. Madison, who was quite literally as mad as a hatter, was still angry with her mother because of a mistake. He had tried to reason with the girl, over and over, but it wasn't happening. She steadfastly refused to speak to or about Rowan with anything less than a shrill angry voice or unkind words. He simply could not explain it.

Harry, he could almost see his anger. She had put them through hell the year before and when they had moved to Texas, perhaps he expected to have a home of his imagination rather than live in a home of a woman who was healing and assumed he was an adult. She had been involved, but certainly had not woke every morning and fixed breakfast the way Mason described his younger years.

Remus knew that there was more to the story with Ron blindly following Harry's lead as well. Either he was placating Harry and spending time with Rowan, or he was Harry's friend first and everything else second.

Suprisingly, Ginny and Hermione both seemed to adore Rowan. He had walked in several times to the three of them, plus Katie sitting in Rowan's study laughing and having tea, 'Over ice... odd lot...' he added silently.

Then there was Sirius. There was a plan of sorts to bring them back together. Hatched behind Madison and Harry's back. He could not decide if he was actually happy about it or not. Part of him wanted to see a reunion that could potentially help to heal both of his lovers. But a harder, more vocal part of him, that reared its head near this time of month, wanted them together ONLY if he could be part of it.

And the last part, wanted them apart and ready for his whims. Thank Merlin, that part of him was so minute, that the other two won out easily.

Sirius had visited him the weekend before, Saturday evening.

He was sitting much like he was at that moment, tired from a long week of idiot students and studies. Tired from helping Harry's lot with rescue efforts. Tired from one magical night with Rowan that had lasted hours. With a Herculean effort, he was at the end of his class plans and almost finished marking his papers when there was a knock on the door.

Sighing, he stood, stretched and walked to the door. When he opened it, he found a quite handsome, and quite drunk Sirius Black. "...Lo Mooney..." he had said as he swayed, "thought we needed to have a talk..."

He had almost fallen into Remus' arms. Remus, with muscles of steel that he hid behind his robes, made for an easy catch of his lover. He could already feel his cock begin to harden with the smell of Sirius. He steadied his friend and helped him into the sitting area. When they sat on the couch, Sirius looked at him, "Thanks Mooney... I... didn't mean to fall ov'r."

"What's this all about Padfoot?"

"I miss her. I watch her run in the mornings...even seen you come out of her room in the mornings...I can feel her misery over having to be a bitch most of the time...I want her back but I want you too..."

Remus held his breath for a moment, glad he was still a solid ten days away from his transformation. He had to adjust himself before he could kneel in front of Sirius, who now had tears streaming down his face. Remus could smell the aftershave on his skin and the firewhiskey on his breath.

Reaching to the crying man, Remus held him for a moment. He relished the feel of Sirius in his arms. Touching his hair, making soothing noises, simple statements of reassurance as the stayed like that. Sirius wrapping his arms around Remus' torso and holding him close.

Until, that is, that moment when they became overbalanced and Remus fell backwards, pulling Sirius with him.

They ended up sprawled on the floor, still in one anothers arms. Sirius had laughed at that moment when he looked into the eyes of his lover. His own appendage beginning to harden as he came to his senses long enough to realize what a fantastic feeling it was to be laying on the floor in Mooney's arms.

Both men groaned as Sirius' tears stopped suddenly and he ground his hardness against Remus'. Remus' arms released Sirius and lay flat on the floor as he enjoyed the feeling. There was no guilt from either as he felt Sirius' fingers begin to unbutton his shirt.

No concerns as Sirius' mouth decended on the scars across his chest.

No worries as first the left nipple then the right was chewed and sucked brutally.

Only pleasure coursed through their veins.

Remus was brought out of his revelry of pleasure as he felt Sirius' tongue dip into his naval. His cock jumped at the feeling. He could almost feel Sirius' response to the low moan coming out of Remus' throat.

Sirius continued his tongue's journey, first unbuckling, then unbuttoning the pants and pulling them to Remus' knees. Tasting the pre-cum that was so uniquely Remus, he swirled his tongue around the head. Mooney growled and tried to raise his hips to get a mouth solidly around his cock.

Sirius laughed, but did take the hint. Being half-drunk and mostly relaxed, he took the cock all the way to the balls. The barbed center not nearly as pronounced during this time, he easily began to suck his lover. Sirius loved this part, Remus' cock deep in his throat, his hands in his hair, Sirius' hand rubbing the ballsack of his lover. Feeling them tighten as he sucked harder.

Remus pulled Sirius' hair, directing how hard he sucked and how deep he took his cock. Thrusting his hips up to meet the lips of the man he loved, with a herculean effort, Remus changed his mind and pulled Sirius off his cock. Sitting up, Remus kissed Sirius. Pulling him to when he was, once again, laying on top of him. Remus' hands still fisted into Sirius' hair, his cock caught between skin and Sirius' clothes, steadily dripping desire.

Remus finally released Sirius and breathed deep cleansing breaths for a few seconds. "Sirius, you are overdressed... stand up and undress for me."

Sirius, being just drunk enough to be submissive, nodded his head. Pulling away, watching Remus as he divested himself of the rest of his clothes, he began to unbutton his shirt.

Remus watched as the silky white skin was revealed, one button at a time. Remus' hand found and began stroking his hard cock as he watched Sirius peel off his shirt and jacket before beginning to take the belt off. Remus' breath hitched again as Sirius pulled the zipper of his pants slowly down to reveal not only no underwear, but a cock as hard as his own falling to attention as it was released. Sirius did not touch it until he finished undressing completely.

There eyes met, passion, compassion, caring, uncaring, desire, love, hatred all mixed together as invitation. Sirius knelt beside Remus and waited. There had been other times when Sirius was submissive, but not often. Remus silently thanked the stars that he was that evening.

"Go to the drawer beside my bed and bring me the lubrication." Sirius stood and did as directed. When he returned, Remus watched as another drop of pre-cum fell to the floor from the hard cock of his lover. "I want to watch you prepare yourself." Looking deep into the eyes of the man standing over him, he added, "You do know that I am going to fuck you tonight."

Sirius was unsuccessful as he tried not to smile at the thought. He stepped over Remus, who was still lying on the floor, pausing as another drip of pre-cum left his body to land on the chest of his lover. He watched as Remus used a finger to clean the drip from his skin. He watched Remus bring the finger to his mouth and deftly suck it as though it were the best taste in the world, before stepping over to the couch.

He turned away and knelt over the couch. Knees planted firmly on the ground. His upped body bent over the cushions. His fingers fumbling with the lubrication as he put some on both hands.

Remus watched as his lover arched his back and reached behind him to his dark opening. He watched as first one finger, then another stretched his opening. He noted somewhere in the still functioning part of his brain that he truly loved this.

Sirius groaned as two fingers from each hand entered his body. Pulling the rings of muscles apart slowly, he hoped that his lover liked what he was doing. He heard a growl from behind him and felt breath on the hard cheeks, but no touch. Remus had moved closer to view better what he was doing to himself.

With a sigh, Sirius saw a hand reach to the small Muggle tube of lubrication. He pushed a fifth finger into the opening, shuddering at the invasion of his own fingers...

Remus watched the fifth finger add to the hole. Waiting a moment before instructing Sirius to remove his fingers completely. Reaching for Sirius' discarded shirt, he then instructed Sirius to clean his hands before holding himself open.

Remus watched as Sirius placed one hand on either cheek and pulled appropriately. Remus placed his hand across the now semi-stretched opening and muttered a cleaning spell, thanking Rowan for her insistance that he learn wandless magic along with the children that year.

Coming quickly back to the present as he heard his lover groan at the magic. Remus held his lubricated cock in his hand, placed the other on the small of Sirius' back and touched just the head of his cock to the opening before him.

"Is this what you want Siri?" He growled in a low tone.

"Gods Remus, please..."

"You know how this works Sirius... I tease, you go mad with desire until you tell me exactly what you want..."

Sirius groaned into the cushion. Remus smiled and rubbed the head of his cock across the stretched opening. Remus heard him take a deep breath, "Remus I want your cock inside of me. I want you to take me as hard and as fast as you can..." there was no slur to his words as he continued, "I want you to take control for one night and let go... I want..."

"What do you want Sirius?"

"I want you to fuck me... like you fuck Rowan." He finished almost in a whisper.

With a shock he could not hide in his voice, he asked "Why?"

"I want to know what you do to her that I can't or don't. Please fuck me...like that."

Remus sat back on his haunches and looked at the trembling man splayed out in front of him. He tried to wrap his blood-deprived brain around the request. He couldn't decide if Sirius wanted him to gently make love to him or just out and out fuck him silly. There was always something new with his female lover. She trusted him enough that she told him what she wanted and their desires usually combined for incredible encounters.

Remus was lost in thought when Sirius released the hold on his cheeks and Remus heard the man begin to sob quietly. "Please Remy, show me what I've done so wrong with her. She loves you. You always know what she needs. I want her back in my life even if it costs me my pride."

In the end, both men had lost their erections and sat up all night drinking hot tea or chocolate and talking. Remus explaining their relationship with the woman they both loved, knowing at the light of day, he was giving his male lover enough information to make the marriage work.

Remus' thoughts came back to Halloween afternoon and stretched. His cocked begging for attention as he wondered vaguely if Sirius had spoken to Rowan but had stayed away for the week so as not to interfere if he had. Standing, Remus walked to the the shower and started the heated water. Undressing and stepping in the spray with a hiss, he wrapped his hand around his hard cock and began to stroke himself, as he had done several times a day since Sirius' departure.

Closing his eyes, he thought of what it would have been like to push himself into the ass of the man who had prepared himself so carefully... imagining the tight ring of muscles being stretched around his thick cock. The tempo increased as the thought of filling Sirius' tight ass with his cum helped complete this self pleasure. Panting as the water washed away the evidence, Remus steadied himself and washed his hair to prepare for the party.

Rowan, reading a book in her room, had decided not to go. With a knock on her door, she sighed, set it aside and asked them to come in. Ginny, Hermione, Katie, Narcissa, and Molly all filed in. "Hey ya'll; what's up?"

Molly spoke with the kind voice of a parent about to tell a child she would have to eat her peas if she wanted dessert, "Rowan dear, we were about to get ready together and well, when you didn't come out, we were concerned."

"I'm… not going." Rowan told the women, her voice giving only the slightest regret.

"But Rowan, you have to go," Hermione urged, "everyone will want to see you."

She laughed, "I doubt it. Think about the people in attendance. I don't think my not attending will make a negative effect on the party. Just go ahead and enjoy yourselves tonight. Don't worry about me."

"Dear, we brought your costume;" Narcissa told her kindly, "You have to go."

"Thank you for the offer, but no, as luck would have it, I do not have to do anything. I don't want to go, really. Thank you for the offer, and the costume, but I am going to stay in tonight."

It was Ginny that was watching her carefully, "No one will recognize you. The costume that Narcissa has fits to your personality. We won't even be able to recognize you."

"Thank you for the thought, now you all need to go get ready and have fun tonight."

"I'll just leave it for you, if you change your mind."

Rowan thanked them again before shooing them out of her suite. Albus knocked a few moments later, entered and assisted with her glamour to cover the scars.

She turned after sealing the door behind him, grateful for the friend's concern, to look at the bag of material laid across the bed. 'It won't hurt to try it on, I suppose, but I'm not going to go.' She assured herself. She took a quick shower, glad she didn't need to wash her hair, and tried on her costume.

Sirius, sitting in the living room, lost in thought as he watched the roaring fire in the fireplace of Grimmauld Place had been convinced to go, but not dress up.

Arthur, Mason, and Ron entered Grimmauld Place at almost exactly the same moment that the women had entered her suite. Looking up at them, he asked. "What do you lot want now?"

Arthur spoke, "I want you to grow up, get dressed and come to the party tonight."

"I've already told Harry and Mason I would be there."

"But you need a costume." Ron added.

"No, I don't want to wear a costume. Take me as I am."

Ron put the bag on the empty chair, explained what it was, and told him not to be late. The men left him to get ready. He looked around to be sure no one would see him before he gently touched the fabric in the bag. With a smile, he took a shower, dried himself with magic and returned to the bedroom to see just what the costume would make of his personality.

The evening gala was spectacular. Although the guests were required to wear a mask that covered more than half of their face, it was easy to some to pick out some couples. Molly and Arthur were dressed as Muggle Doctors, complete with stethoscopes and white masks.

Ron and Hermione were also recognizable as a Genie and Master; showing more of her body than anyone was accustomed seeing, kept Ron close to her at all times. Ron did not miss the look on his best friend's face when he saw them.

Harry and Ginny were Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Madison and Draco were dressed as a Cowboy and Cowgirl with bandanas for masks. Even Mason and Katie were recognized as they were dressed as a Drummer from an 80's hair band, complete with a long wig and torn spandex. Katie dressed as a groupie; jeans, rock t-shirt, and lots of make-up.

Dumbledore arrived dressed as a Muggle American Air Force World War II Pilot. Minerva walked came dressed in a sleek satin dress with her hair pulled up in, for the first time, a loose bun.

The guest list brought people from all over the world in attendance.

The party was in full swing when she walked nervously through the door; her costume a gold and red Renaissance full length dress, her hair a light honey blonde was swept up into an up-do hair style. Her mask had enough sequins and feathers to hide all of her face, except her mouth. She took a sip of wine before making her way to the farthest reaches of the room.

He entered just behind the woman in the red and gold dress. He was dressed in a tantalizing green costume, complete with tunic, belt, sword, tights, and strange boots which were quite comfortable. A bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back. Most guessed him to be Robin Hood. His face was hidden with a black face mask which covered his nose as well as the upper part of his face. He noticed the dress in front of him, wondering if she would dance with him later.

The music played continuously that night. Couples danced and swayed. Madison and Draco didn't seem to sit at any point, preferring to be in one another's arms; although she did dance with Lucius and Remus a couple of times while Draco danced with his mother.

She stood in the corner far away from the hosts; although she had danced with Remus, Albus, Lucius, Lanis (the Australian Minister of Magic), Jeb Bush (the American Minister of Magic), and a couple of other men whom she could not identify. She was watching a couple dressed as servants dance a fast number; when she heard someone clear his throat. Looking up, he asked her to dance. She agreed, but asked that he wait until the next slow one. He agreed and said he would return.

It was two songs later when Robin Hood asked Maid Marion to dance again. Leading her out to the middle of the dance floor, he held her as close as her feathered mask would allow. They did not talk, instead seemingly content to just not be alone anymore that evening. For over an hour, they danced, even the fast ones, when she tripped and fell into his arms as they tried to swing dance for the first time when she tripped over the hem of her dress. When he caught her, he held her just a bit too long for comfort. She made her apologies and left the room to stand on the balcony in order to get some air.

He followed her, after grabbing two coffees from a house-elf. She thanked him quietly when he handed it to her. The night was clear that night, allowing the stars to shine as brightly as any Astronomy class at Hogwarts. Neither spoke until she shivered a little later, made her apologies, and left him alone to his thoughts as she returned to the party.

Just before midnight, everyone was asked to find their partner and be ready for the reveal. At precisely the last stroke of midnight, the masks fell from their owners. Robin Hood was standing next to Maid Marion when the masks revealed Rowan and Sirius. They both gasped when they realized they had danced most of the night together without saying a word.

Their friends, children, and lover watched with smiles on their faces as the couple stood, in shock, staring at one another. Rowan opened her mouth to give an apology, an explanation, or anything that might explain it away, but couldn't think of anything.

Sirius reached for her waist, pulled her in close and kissed her soundly. When they broke, the hall erupted into applause. Rowan whispered that he was welcome at the Estate if he wanted to talk, she was ready. They left hand in hand without good-byes to any of their children or friends, he apparated them to the Cowan Estate for long overdue explanations.

When they arrived at the estate, they entered their suite with yet a word to be said. At precisely one o'clock in the morning, their costumes evaporated leaving them only in what they wore underneath. Rowan, luckily, was about to get in the shower when it happened, which saved her the time and effort of undressing. She showered and washed her, once again dark brown, hair, and dressed in her pajamas and tank top; thanking God above that Dumbledore had given her the glamour to conceal the scars.

Sirius, however, was not so lucky, he was just about to take a sip of hot tea when it spilled down his chest and suddenly found no clothes to protect the skin underneath.