Chapter 3

Remus woke up the next and looked at the clock. 'Sirius really has to stop

keeping me up so late...' He thought. He looked over to Sirius' bed, where the

canine was still sleeping. He looked over to his other friends, only to notice they

were sleeping as well. He went up and got to the shower, figuring since no one

was awake he could have a peaceful shower.

He turned on the water and was about to take off the towel when he heard, "Mornin' Sunshine." Sirius.

Remus turned around, his hand gripping his towel harder and blush on his face. "I thought you were sleeping!" Remus exclaimed. Sirius smiled as his eyes scanned over Remus' half naked body. She then waved a hand in Remus' general direction. "Sleeping?" He said lightly, as if it were a question. "I jus' woke up about five minutes ago, but I heard movement and then noticed your bed was empty." He replied. Remus sighed and sat on the edge of the tub. He looked up at Sirius, then finally stated, "And so you follow me into the bath?" Sirius smiled as he moved towards the werewolf and grabbed his shoulders. With a greasy smile, he replied, "And get the chance to see you naked? Yeah, I'll follow you." Remus sighed, looking down at the cold tile. He shuddered slightly, was that the only reason Sirius was with him? To try something different? "Please get out Sirius." Remus told the other coldly. Sirius backed off, knowing he upset Remus, but not knowing how. He smiled nervously, "Hey, hey... What'd I do?" Sirius asked. Remus stood up. He looked at Sirius straight in the eyes. 'Damn, he's giving me chills...' Sirius thought. Sirius grinned again to his new boyfriend. "Remus... what...?" He stuttered, trying to keep the mood light. Remus just simply repeated, "Get out!" before Sirius nearly ran out of the bathroom. 'What did I do now?' He wondered. 'Maybe I had insulted him? I was only joking! Well... half joking at least...' He thought. He went down to the common room. "What's got you so bummed out?" Lily asked him. Although they weren't necessarily best of friends, the Marauders and Lily did tend to try to get along as mutual acquaintance, except James, who would almost force a relationship onto Lily. Sirius just sighed and just collapsed onto a chair. He sat up suddenly, almost surprising Lily

as she looked up quickly from her book. Sirius looked as if he was about to say

something, but then he just fell back onto the chair, legs over one armrest and head

leaning back over the other. "Mornin' Lily." He finally muttered.

Lily gave him a mocking smile. "There now, that wasn't too hard, was it?" She teased.

Sirius' eyes narrowed, but he did nothing. He stood up a few minutes later, stating, "I'm

going to breakfast" and left.

Lily was happily enjoying her book when Remus came down, looking

exhausted. She observed him for a moment before stating simply, "Not get much

sleep?"

Remus shook his head and sat down next to her. He slouched down into

couch. He looked over at Lily as she set her book on an end table. "What's up? Sirius came in with an almost identical look. I just figured it was Quidditch, but you don't play." Lily asked Remus. He sat up and turned to face her. "Lily, it's... Well..." He blushed, realizing he didn't know how to put it. "Have you ever had the feeling you were being used?" He finally asked her.

Lily looked at him, a little surprised. She smiled slightly, but it almost seemed cynical. "I suppose everyone has at least once." She replied before getting more comfortable in her seat. "Speak. What's up?" She asked again.

Remus leaned back. He debated if he wanted to tell Lily. Sure, they had gotten to know each other better once they became prefects, they had even become friends, but he still didn't know who he wanted to talk to about this with. He took a deep breath, and spoke, "Well... You see, umm... Sirius and I... we uhh... Kinda decided to go out... last night, actually, was when we decided it..." He rambled, not looking at Lily, but she could tell he was blushing. Remus blushed more as he continued, "And then, well... this morning... I was umm... Going into the shower, and all of the sudden, Sirius was there. I had thought he was sleeping. But he mentioned something... And it made it seem as if he was just doing this to try doing it with a guy..." He told her. He leaned back into the couch. 'They say speaking about it makes it better...' He thought angrily, '...So why do I feel so terrible?' He rolled his around before looking at Lily. Remus knew Lily wasn't fond of Sirius' sexual antics. In fact, Lily was one of the few Sirius hadn't touched.

Finally, Lily looked at him and said, "Well, you had no reason not to assume he was using you, because well, Sirius is like that... But to be honest, he can't gain your trust until you begin to trust him in the first place..." She looked at Remus soothingly. "If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out. Just don't let him bed you; if he breaks, you'll know his true feelings." She added simply. Remus stood up, but Lily grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "Remus. I'm not the one you should be asking."

"Well, I know but-" He started, but Lily shushed him and continued, "Sirius has a mind practically no one can understand. You need to ask Sirius what he was really planning to do in the bathroom..." Remus blushed, pretty sure he already knew that answer. "...And you need to clarify what you find okay and not okay. Got it?" She finished. Remus shook his head. Lily let him stand up, but before he walked out, Lily told him, "Sirius is in the Dining Hall, it's still early, so there shouldn't be too many people."

Remus smiled and turned to Lily, replying, "Thanks, Lily."