Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.

A/N: Hello, folks! Long time, no read! And I'm truly sorry! I started a new job, and training kept me busy. But, good news! I now do nothing but sit in front of a computer all day, and when I have absolutely nothing to do but stare into space...I get to write! So, unless I become lazy, updates should be uploaded must speeder than a month here, two months there.

Anyways, thanks to EVERYONE! who reviewed and read the last chapter. I had posted a one shot about Remus and Sirius. If anyone wants to check it out, click on my name. It's funny! And, before you read, I would like to remind everyone that no matter what happens in this chapter: this is still a will they/won't they fic!

Remus Lupin was the type of person that mornings loved. He woke up early. He was chipper. He didn't call morning names, or skip it entirely. Remus thought that mornings appreciated him. Remus thought that mornings were his friends.

Remus thought wrong.

On this particular morning, (this being the morning after Remus was kissed by Sirius in Hogsmeade), everything that could possibly go wrong for Remus, did.

Sleep must have been an uneasy situation, given the circumstances, for when Remus woke up, he found his legs tangled and knotted in his sheets. Thrashing and pulling, Remus managed to get away from the cotton contraptions, but not before he twisted his foot around the corner of his blanket and promptly fell face first onto the cold floor.

Then Remus went to brush his teeth. Walking into the Seventh year Gryffindor bathroom, which was always an adventure in itself, Remus was greeted to the sight of seeing his toothbrush taking its very own bath in the toilet. Peter, Remus thought. Clumsy, disrespectful Peter. Remus stared at the remaining three toothbrushes and grabbed the one that made the most sense. He already had Sirius's salvia in his mouth once; what's a little more?

Next on Remus's usual morning routine was a nice, hot shower. Remus was all soppy and ready to scrub the grime from his shaggy locks. He reached to his side to grab his shampoo, and instead of a full, heavy bottle, he pulled back a light, empty one complete with a soaking wet note. "I.O.U. love always, Sirius Black. P.S. - I can see your peepee." Remus growled and Accioed James's shampoo from the next stall.

After Remus became adjusted to smelling differently, he threw his robes on, discovered a new tear in the sleeve, growled for the fourth time that morning, and stomped down to the Great Hall.

Halfway down the stairs, Remus felt something damp on his leg. Looking down, Remus noted that there was an expanding squiggly circle of dampness on his robes, starting at the bottom of his pocket. Remus reached a clean hand into his pocket and pulled out an inky one. His quill burst. Sighing, Remus preformed a quick vanishing spell on his robes, so at least he didn't appear to have pissed himself. He managed to dry his hand, but the tips of his fingers were still unmistakably blackened. He would have to go quill-less throughout most of his classes.

Remus held his broken quill in his hand and felt like crying. It was his favorite. Ostrich feather, gray with tiny brownish diamond shapes on the tips; held so much ink, that Remus could write a foot of parchment, and not have to re-dip. That very quill was, coincidentally, the reason he read James's note those months back. Actually, it began the whole situation Remus now found himself in. Perhaps then, he can begin to love another. He unceremoniously dumped the quill into the next waste bin he passed.

After falling down the stairs, (in view of Slytherins, no less), finding another hole in his robes, putting another hole in his robes, and realizing he left half his books back in his dorm, Remus finally made it to the Great Hall. He could smell pancakes. Chocolate-chip pancakes. Remus gathered up a slight hope of his awful morning turning into a pretty ok afternoon.

"I can't believe I beat you here," Peter announced in a shocked voice, staring up at Remus from his seat. "You're usually half done with your second helping by the time the rest of us stagger in."

Remus sat down across from Peter, grimacing. "I've had a rough couple of hours."

Peter scrunched his pudgy face up in thought for what felt like a century, then shrugged, and looked around the Hall. "Where's Padfoot and Prongs?"

"Where's the chocolate-chip pancakes?"

"Sorry, mate," Peter whispered, forking the rest of his, and cramming them into his mouth. "Dey 'ent fas. Relly 'ood."

"Is that right?" Remus drawled.

Peter swallowed and nodded. "There's some plain left. You can put a Honeydukes bar on it!"

"How was your tutoring?" Remus asked, abruptly.

"Oh," Peter chirped, putting more food on his plate. "You know. Tutor-y."

"That's not a…never mind."

"How was the double date?"

Remus pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

Peter laughed. "Knew you'd have that response. You and Sirius were already in bed when I came back. Prongs said you had matching headaches."

"Cute," Remus mumbled.

"Then you were both whimpering in your sleep. I was trying not to laugh and wake everyone up! You two are perfect-"

"What?" Remus shouted, his face steely. "We're perfect what?"

"You know! You two are…"

"Sirius and I are what?" Remus practically ripped Peter's throat out with the tone of his voice.

"You know! Canines! I couldn't think of the word."

"Oh," Remus said, softly. Peter swallowed and refused to make eye contact with Remus. "Sorry," Remus said, knowing over-reacting when he saw it. "Moon's in five nights."

Remus and Peter lapped into a companionable silence. On the outside, Remus looked to be eating, but on the inside he was going through a list of names of girls in his year that he could date. "Hey, Wormtail," Remus called after a few moments. "What do you think of that girl Rose, in Ravenclaw? Our year."

"Oh!" Peter glanced up and over Remus's head, towards the Ravenclaw table. "Hmm…yeah, she's pretty."

"Think she'd go out with me?"

Peter stared at Remus, with his eyebrows linked together. "I, I suppose so, Moony. Um…why?"

"Plenty of reasons," Remus shrugged, half-heartedly. Against his better wishes, he sighed.

Remus's sigh, though, was out matched by an even louder, more heart-wrenching one streaming out of James's frowning mouth as he took his seat next to Peter at the table. "Bad morning," he said, nodding at his companions.

"You know," Peter spoke up. "It really is kind of nice that I can miss an entire outing with my mates but then know exactly what happened the next morning simply by the tone of their sighs."

"It was great, Wormtail," James moaned. Looking across at Remus, he added: "This is my side of the story, for the record. Moony's a whole other…yeah."

Remus scowled. James had no idea what was going through Remus's head. He didn't go running after Remus. No one did, for that matter; no one, in Remus's thoughts referred to Sirius.

"So," Peter squeaked up. "If it was great, then, why the I Hate My Life sigh?"

"Because, Peter," Remus jumped ahead of James. Something about James was irking Remus. "James Potter messes everything up." Remus would normally never say anything like that unless he was being sarcastic. Or speaking the truth; which he was.

"I do not! Do I, Wormtail?"

Peter swallowed his balls, his nerves, his very manhood. "Of course you don't, Prongs. More bacon?" Peter offered the platter to James.

"Why can't getting a girl be just as easy as eating a slice of bacon? There's no fuss, no chase. You just choose which piece appeals to you most, and shove it in your mouth. Done, and done."

Remus stared open mouthed at James. "Don't try to be wise at eight in the morning."

"Prongs, what do you think of that girl Rose, in Ravenclaw?" Peter asked, winking at Remus.

"The blonde? Eh. Why…? Wormy? You got a girwl-frwiend?"

"No, Moony wants to ask her out."

Thus began the stare down between Remus and James. Each trying to read the others mind, neither knowing what they were looking for; or wanted to find. Remus was the definition of confusion, and anger, and frustration. He was exactly where he didn't want to be last summer when he read Lily's note. He was being labeled; by James, no less. He was being thought about; instead of faded into the background, where he liked to be.

"Moony? What about…what about Lily?"

"I don't like Lily," Remus deadpanned.

"No, I mean…what about the plan?"

Remus narrowed his eyes. The last time he checked, his life didn't revolve around him aiding James get a girlfriend. At least, it wasn't supposed to revolve around it. Maybe it was his anger, maybe it was the moon being so close to Full, but for whatever the reason, Remus was about to slap James with a stream of harsh words, if it wasn't for the loud screech of the bench being pulled out next to him, and a certain pair of gray eyes closing his vocal cords.

"Mornin' Moony," Sirius said. Remus looked away fast. He didn't want Sirius's pity.

"What, you only greet Moony now?" Peter said, with a laugh.

"Pete? Open your mouth,"

"Why- oomph" Peter's voice was muffled by the sausage placed lovingly in his mouth by Sirius. James laughed, patting Peter on top of the head.

"Moony," Sirius said quietly, turning back to Remus. "We need to talk."

"I'm busy," Remus said. He knew what was coming. I didn't mean to kiss you. I was helping out Prongs. I'm sorry to confuse you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Maybe we should keep our distance, for awhile. Remus got up from his seat, and gathered his things. The best way to avoid Sirius's "talks" was to go talk to someone else. He locked his eyes on Rose at the Ravenclaw table.

Sirius turned away from Remus. Not wanting to watch him walk away. He felt horrible. He ruined a relationship with a best friend that meant so much to him, for nothing. For James. And to think, Sirius always backed James up when he claimed he wasn't self-centered; was he mistaken.

Sirius straightened his back, and watched with contempt as James shoved the great, big, gaping hole on his face that he called a mouth with a number of overcooked meat products. "Oi!" Sirius called.

James peered up at him from above his glasses. "Wha'?"

Sirius's face was a tight line of determination. He was fierce. He was taking no prisoners. "I'm telling."

With his slice of toast barely grazing his lips, Peter raised his eyebrows at Sirius. "Padfoot, I know chewing with your mouth open is sickening to witness, but I don't think that's grounds for detention," he said, looking from James to Sirius, ignorant of the fact that neither boy was paying him a lick of attention.

"You wouldn't dare," James hissed, hazel eyes locked onto Sirius's.

"Why wouldn't I?" Sirius challenged.

"You'll ruin my life!" James shouted, flinging a fork of egg over his shoulder at the Hufflepuff table. "All the work I've done!"

"Work?" Sirius threw his head back laughing. "When have you ever done work?"

James pointed at Sirius. "That's beside the point."

"Exactly. Plus, you ruined my life."

Peter snorted. "What life?"

"Oh, so that's how you feel, Wormtail?"

Peter frowned. "Maybe. No. I thought we were…I don't know what's going on really."

James threw his hand over Peter's mouth. "How did I ruin your life, Pads?"

Sirius gaped at him. If his eyes were capable of communication they would sing the question 'Isn't it obvious?' in perfect harmony. "Moony hates me!"

"Moony hates everyone," Peter noted, incapable of keeping quiet for a second.

"How is Moony hating you my fault?" James's head was starting to pound. It was one thing to be the leader of his friends, it was a whole other thing to solve their problems that you may or may not have given them. Luckily, James liked making himself seem important.

"Your fault. Lily's. Same difference." Sirius started swirling his fork around his plate. "You started the whole thing."

James blinked slowly and drank down his entire glass of Pumpkin juice. "Padfoot, I'll admit that I started it, maybe I'll admit that, in some alternate universe, this might have been my doing, but…no one, especially me, told you, made you-" James stopped. Both he and Sirius looked at Peter, who was bopping his head in time with his chewing, listening to every word that was said like the rat he was.

James puckered his lips and pointed at them. Then he pointed at his chest and shook his head.

Sirius sighed. "You have a point," he mumbled.

"Wait," Peter said, swallowing loudly. "I missed that last bit."

"But," Sirius said, eyes lighting like fire. He wasn't going to give up yet. This was James's fault, after all; and Sirius would rather break his arm off then let James get away with it. "If it wasn't for your plan in the first place, I would have been somewhere else, possibly with someone else, at that exact moment in time, and then a certain someone wouldn't flee in my presence because a certain, event, wouldn't have happened at all." Sirius paused to breathe. "And that is why, Mister Prongs, I'm telling."

"Telling who?" Peter asked.

"Telling what?" James asked.

Sirius leaned forward. "Everything." Sirius stood, eyes drifting over to Gryffindor's resident red head sitting ten chairs ahead.

"I'll kill you," James hissed, also standing. "I'm going to kill him."

"Hey, Evans!" Sirius shouted, waving his hands at Lily.

"Padfoot!" James grabbed the front of Sirius's robes from over the table.

"Evans!" Sirius squirmed out of James's hold. "Let go of me, Prongs!"

"No! Why are you messing this up for me?"

Sirius leant over the table, touching his nose to James's. "You're lying to her. You're blinded by love. And you're lying. Maybe you should go sit over with Snivellus, 'cause you reek of Slytherin."

James backed his face away from Sirius and knitted his eyebrows together in one angry black line. "We talked about this yesterday."

"Well this is today! Hey, Evans! I need to talk to you!"

"Stop!" James shouted, using his hold on the front of Sirius's robes to roughly shake him. "Listen to reason!"

"Well, I just don't know who that is!"

"Stop yelling," Peter squealed, biting his fingernails in worry.

A soft hand grabbed the back of Sirius's robe and yanked him away from James. "McGonagall's going to slit your throats with her next thought if you don't sit down," Lily hissed. "As Head Girl I command it."

"Evans," Sirius cooed, smirking at James. "How lovely to see your face this morning!"

Lily looked Sirius up and down. "Black," she spat. "Can't say the same."

"Cute." Sirius placed his hands on Lily's shoulders. "I need to tell you something."

Like magic, James was suddenly standing in between Sirius and Lily. Since they couldn't apparate in the castle, Sirius suspected that James crawled under the table. The dark streak of ketchup on the back of James's thigh also tipped him off.

"Don't listen to him," James said. "He's not feeling right today-"

"Evans! James has been ly-"

"Lying about Sirius's mental health. You see he's-"

"No! He's lying-"

"He's lying!"

"No! I'm-"

"Stop!" Lily yelled, covering her ears. "I don't care what either of you have to say. I'm not going to believe another word."

"We're illegal animagi."

James's and Peter's mouths dropped.

Lily narrowed her eyes, spun around so fast that both boys were slapped in the face with her hair, and stomped back to her seat.

"I was just testing," Sirius shrugged.

"Sirius," James said, turning to face his best friend. "I hate fighting with you."

Sirius chewed on his thoughts, but how could he stay mad at that face! "I hate fighting with you, too, Prongs."

"I'm sorry I pulled you and Moony into this."

Sirius nodded. "I'm sorry I was going to ruin your chances with Evans."

James put his hand on Sirius's shoulder. "I forgive you."

Sirius rolled his eyes and pushed James to the side so he could sit back down. If James was Remus, Sirius would have probably pulled him into a bear hug, and then berate him for being to thin, and life would crawl along on its merry way.

Instead he got to stare at James Potter's puss. "I've got to win her back," James hissed, twisting his fingers together. "That half an hour when we were together, was the best thirty minutes of my life!"

"Even better than the time we turned Snape's face into a butt for a half an hour?"

James bit his lip. "Well, it's a close second." James sat up straight, clapping his hands together. "Ok. Plan. I need a better plan. Wormtail? What you got for me?"

"Look at that," Peter snickered, pointing past Sirius towards the doors. Sirius lazily turned his head to look. "Moony's got a girlfriend."

Sirius's eyes widened as he witnessed Remus Lupin strutting out of the Great Hall with a twittering skirt bouncing along next to him. "What the hell?"

"Looks like you've been dumped, Padfoot," Peter laughed.

"No one dumps Sirius Black," Sirius shouted. "Especially his best friend who he actually really isn't dating." Sirius stood, the blood in his veins pumping too hot, and too fast to keep him seated.

"Where are you going?" James asked; his soul wasn't in it though, as he was busy scribbling Merlin knew what on a scrap piece of parchment.

"I'm going to question his motives," Sirius said, scrambling out of the bench.

"Oh, leave him alone, Padfoot," James whined.

"Yeah, like that's possible," Peter whispered.

Sirius chose to ignore him, as his black combat boots carried him further out of the Hall.

"So, Remus, what kind of, like, music do you like?"

Remus hated his life. There he was, walking around the lake, freezing his hair follicles off mind you, with a pretty, smart girl; and he was miserable. Miserable! The conversation left something to desire, and if she giggled one more time for no reason, Remus was going to have to offer her as a sacrifice to the Giant Squid.

Remus cleared his throat. He was only out there for one reason, so he might as well get it over with. "Well, I like jazz, mostly. But, Sirius makes me listen to all those rocky bands."

Rose giggled. For no reason, Remus noted. This date might have been a rash decision. Remus usually planned. Well if not planned, he at least fretted like a woman over every possible scenario that could happen and then judging his options, he would blindly choose his fate.

The Ravenclaw girl sighed. "We're we going?" she asked, her voice light and fake.

"We're just walking…I guess."

"Ok." And then came the long awaited, highly avoided, put-off, awkward pause. Why do I submit myself to this? Remus thought. I could be inside a nice, warm, quiet castle, yelling at James and Sirius to stop being idiots every breathing second. But, no, I'm on an impromptu date.

"Remus?" Rose called, skidding to a halt. "I don't want to go any further. I don't like the Forbidden Forest." Rose's eyes skimmed the dark trees, shivering slightly and not because it was chilly out.

Remus would have frowned, if he wasn't already. "You don't like the Forest?" he repeated, mainly for his own benefit. The inevitable conversation was coming, his blood was telling him.

Rose giggled. "No!" she squealed. "You do?"

Remus shrugged.

"I see. Big, brave Remus Lupin isn't scared of all the dark creatures in the forest?"

"No," Remus spat. "'Cause I am one."

Rose laughed. She didn't giggle, she didn't chuckle; she full blown, head tipped back, belly shaking laughed at Remus. "Oh, oh," she managed to gurgle out. Remus's eyebrows shot up, when Rose snorted loudly. "Oh, Remus! That was funny!"

"I'm glad I could be of service," Remus murmured. Remus hated this girl. Remus had this fantasy that when he told a girl that he was a Werewolf, she would grab his hand, look him in the eye, and say "No you're not. You're Remus Lupin" and she wouldn't be laughing, and she would believe him, and she wouldn't care. Rose was not going to be that girl. But, at least Remus could get out of her what he needed at the moment.

Remus placed his hand awkwardly on Rose's cheek, still pink from laughing. "Remus?" she asked, tilting her head slightly away from his touch.

"Rose," Remus whispered, leaning in awkwardly. Awkwardly. His everything felt awkward. Not electric, not buzzing, not heated. Awkward. "Let's just get to the point."

"What?" Rose chocked, squirming slightly. "What, Remus? You just want to snog?"

Remus shrugged, and nodded. His eyes were locked on Rose's plump lips. He was ready.

Rose giggled and ripped her self away from Remus. "Remus, I'm sorry," she said. "You're a really nice guy! Really! But…I don't kiss on the first date."

"What?" Remus asked, dumbfounded.

"I don't kiss on the first date. A respectful girl doesn't, at least."

"Oh, yeah," Remus nodded, feeling like Sirius and James probably felt all the time; uncaring and rude. "Oh, well, how many, after how many dates do you…?"

"At least six."

"Six!" Remus wasn't about to commit to six dates! That was crazy talk. First off all, he was going to be "missing" the next weekend.

"Rose!" Remus and Rose turned back to the castle. A blonde boy in a Ravenclaw tie was waving his hands in the air. "Rose! You're going to miss Runes!"

"Oh, no. Coming!" Rose turned to Remus. "I've got to go."

Remus nodded. He didn't care in the first place, and now all of his interest had faded fast. "Have a nice class."

"You too," Rose called over her shoulder as she ran back to the castle.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Ravenclaws," he said.

Remus walked into his dorm. He had double study hall in the morning and was planning on spending it in bed. On his way up the stairs, Remus had chickened out of asking three more girls out. He decided it wasn't worth the stomach ache. Remus was already tired because the full moon was soon, tired because he didn't sleep well, and tired of thinking too much. Plus, Remus concluded, his mind already in a sleep haze, if he didn't have time to look for a girlfriend, then he didn't have time for one. Feeling particularly wise, Remus whipped open the door to his dorm room.

Half way to his bed, Remus stopped and glared unsurprised at the boy perched on his mattress, rudely wrinkling his covers.

"Why aren't you in class, Sirius?"

"Why aren't you?"

"I have my reasons." Remus moved forward. "Up! This is my bed."

"I know," Sirius spat, not getting up, just moving over. He held up a crumply looking piece of parchment. "I was watching you." Sirius circled around Hogwarts and the grounds for sometime until he slipped on a discarded piece of parchment. After shouting a list of swear words at the parchment, Sirius was reminded of another special piece of parchment, and promptly flew up to his dorm. He swore he was up to no good, and sat watching Remus make his slow ascent to the Tower, the whole time thinking what on Earth he was going to say to make Remus not hate him.

Remus situated himself comfortably up against his headboard. "What else is new?" Remus asked, quietly. To his displeasure, Sirius's cheeks colored slightly.

"I'm just…Remus! You ditched me for that girl, and I want to talk to you!"

Remus stared at Sirius. "And what do you call this?"

"I call this you being snippy with me, and skirting around the real issue."

Remus sighed, letting his shaggy bangs fall over his eyes. "Padfoot. I'm not mad. And you're still talking to me. That's all that matters."

Sirius leaned forward, apprehensively and eager. Remus couldn't help but notice the resemblance Sirius the boy had to Sirius the dog. "If you're not mad at me," Sirius spoke. "Then why are you not acting normal?" Sirius knew there would be no easy answers; he just wanted his Moony back.

Remus sighed. He was going to take the easy way out of it. "Sirius, because I'm not normal. I'm a Werewolf."

Sirius reached his hand out, grabbing Remus's tightly. "No you're not," he whispered. "You're Remus Lupin. First, you're Remus Lupin. Then you're my best mate. Then you're the most intelligent person I know. And then you're a Werewolf."

"Have you been reading my diary, again?" Remus asked. He was trying to distract his mind, his soul, from wanting to cry.

Sirius growled, ripping his hand away from Remus's. "I'm trying to be serious with you. And you're acting like a git."

"Do you blame me?"

"What?" Sirius asked, shocked.

"I can't go back to how you want things to be, Pads! I can't because I can't remember." Remus took a deep breath. If Sirius wanted Remus to talk, then he was going to talk. He was going to spill every thought in his head, no matter how messy it made things. "I can't remember how I acted around you without thinking too much, or second guessing my every move. I can't remember being comfortably around you, not caring what people thought. Because, Lily's note to James ruined it. It ruined my perception of my life. I can't remember how it was without remembering how it is now; with Lily's eyes seeming to watch our every move. And…I can't remember how I felt when we kissed. I must have blocked it out. I can't remember if I liked it, if I didn't, and I was out with Rose because I wanted to kiss someone and see if it felt the same, better, worse. Because I can't remember!" Remus looked down, trying to think if he missed anything. He looked up and nodded. There that must cover every possible question he has for me.

Sirius was quiet. He licked his lips. "Do you want to kiss me again?"

Every food Remus had ever eaten, for his entire life, was making a shocking attempt to evacuate from his body. With his hands shaking, Remus dragged his fingers up to his ears, and tried to clean them out.

"You heard right," Sirius said, laughing despite the intensity in the room.

"Why would I want to kiss you again?" Remus asked.

Sirius inhaled and exhaled roughly, like breathing had become the hardest thing to accomplish. "I can't remember either. How it felt. I've been trying to…but…so…if we kiss, this time without being blindingly mad at each other…we'll be able to find an answer."

Remus swallowed. "Why do you pick the oddest times to be logical about things?" Sirius smiled and moved closer. "But, what if-" Remus stated to say.

Sirius shook his head. "This is the plan, Moony," Sirius said, eyes locking with Remus's. "We're going to kiss, we're going to form our own opinions, we're going to share them, we're going to accept them, we're going to move on, Lily Evans be damned!"

"This is crazy," Remus whispered, laughing airily. Then he leant forward, brushing his dry, chapped lips, against Sirius's much better wet and smooth ones. Sirius pressed against Remus's lips, dragging his tongue against Remus's bottom lip. And they both began the long process of "forming their own opinions".

Forming opinions was such involved work, that Lily Evans was able to stick her head in the room, start to say "Jame-", and pull her head back out just as quickly. Without being noticed.