A/N: Hi! First Harry Potter fic; what more can I say? Had to be Remus/ Sirius. Just had to. Don't argue! ¬¬ Joking. Feel free to criticise, so long as it's constructively. Hope that you enjoy it! If you don't like slash, it's probably a good idea not to read this… Oh, and any suggestions for improvements to the way I write the characters owuld be really appreciated! I'm not at all sure that I've got them right yet...

Remus' thoughts. In later chapters, there might be Sirius' thoughts, too.

Prologue:

"I did it! I'm amazing!" Sirius cried, dashing into the common room and 'gracefully' vaulting the sofa to land between Remus and James. They both looked up in surprise (Remus from his book, and James from Lily, who was sitting the other side of the room trying to avoid him). They stared at the dark-haired teen.

"Well, aren't you going to congratulate me?"

"Um, well done, Sirius…"

"Uh, yeah, good one mate… He'll be sorry he messed with you…"

"What? Do you guys pay ANY attention to me? You have NO idea what I'm talking about, do you!" he cried, dramatically.

"Well, it would help if you actually told us the conversation topic to begin with." Remus said, his calm self as usual.

"Yeah, at least give us hints, or small clues… Hey! You could do us a treasure hunt!" James exclaimed, getting more excited by the minute. "Man, treasure hunts are fun!"

"Um, I'll just tell you. I got a part in the school play!"

"Wow, that's great, Sirius!" Remus said, momentarily forgetting his book.

"Yeah, good going, mate!" James agreed, nodding vehemently. "Always said you were a drama queen."

Sirius growled.

James glared.

Remus coughed nervously, before quickly asking, "So, what part did you get?"

"It's Rodeo or something. It's in some Shakespeare thingy."

Remus stared. "You got the part of Romeo, in Romeo and Juliet? Sirius, that's the lead role!"

"Really? COOL!"

James burst out laughing, "So who's Juliet?"

Peter entered the room and sat down on the arm of the sofa,

"I heard that it's that Ravenclaw girl. Tina Farmsby, or whatever her name is."

"Hmm, I think I know her. Not bad, I guess. Could've been far worse, that's for sure!" Sirius pondered aloud.

"Trust you, Sirius. I just wish I could see your face if they chose to do it 'old school' and have the whole cast male!"

James proceeded to have a great deal of fun teasing Sirius, who was turning steadily redder, about 'Romeo and Julian', before Lily stood up and walked out of the common room.

"Now's my chance! Wish me luck… again…"

"Good luck, James, not that it'll help." Sirius teased, eliciting an angry growl from his best friend before he vanished through the portrait hole.

Meanwhile, Remus talked animatedly about the various aspects of Romeo's character, and asked how he planned to portray them, while Peter played gobstones with the first years (who had taken to calling him 'Uncle Pete').

"There's a lot of impulsiveness shown by Romeo. How do you think you'll show that?" Remus asked, eyes ablaze as was always the case when he discussed literature.

Sirius paused a long time, obviously not having a clue about what the amber-eyed boy was talking about. "…I get to play Romeo…"

The werewolf sighed, "Yes, Sirius." Ferocious yells and James' girlish screams were heard from somewhere outside the portrait hole, which he promptly burst through, glasses askew and part of his hair missing, presumed torn out. He had a black eye forming and a nasty cut on his forehead.

"… I think I'm going to get an early night…"

"Good idea." Sirius and Remus said in unison.

James traipsed off to the dormitories, with Peter following like a puppy as always, leaving Remus and Sirius sitting in silence. Sirius, being by nature allergic to such a silence, broke it.

"I'm never going to be able to play Romeo!" he wailed.

"What? I thought you were excited about it?"

"I was, but now that you've asked me all these questions, I realise that I have no idea how Romeo should act, or speak, or- or- anything! I have trouble remembering which lesson I have next; how am I going to learn all the lines of the lead role in a play? A Shakespearean play!"

Remus looked at the broken man that was his friend, before sighing. How do I know that I'm going to regret this? A lot. "Sirius. Stop panicking. I've read that play so many times I almost know it off by heart. I'll help you learn your lines, and cues. I'll teach you about Romeo's character. You'll be fine, I promise."

"You promise?" Sirius asked, a flicker of hope entering his slate-grey eyes.

"Promise."

"ThankyouThankyouThankyou!" Sirius cried, hugging a startled Remus.

I'm definitely going to regret this.