Chapter 26

Disclaimer: Harry Potter etc still belongs to JK Rowling, plot still belongs to me.

Author's Note: I've just had to go through all the chapters trying to work out when things are happening. I hope it's worked.

A/N2: Well I was going to work on some new material, but now exams are beginning to scare me too much.

Important message: If you like this story, or anything of mine, do me a big favour and help me fix the main thing going wrong in my life right now! Look up 'sweetypud' on this site (she's an author) and send her a personal message saying that Deb doesn't want to give up, and thinks that she is worth fighting for. Please, please, I really need your help on this, guys.

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Harry did not get a chance to speak to Draco on Tuesday, as the evening was taken up by a practice for Gryffindor's next Quidditch match. This was scheduled for the coming Sunday and was against Hufflepuff. Owing to their victory over Slytherin in the last match, the Gryffindor team were quietly confident.

The practice was just what Harry needed to take his mind off his latest train of thought. This train of thought was along the lines of 'What were Lupin and Sirius talking about on Monday night?'. Harry forced himself to ignore this thought; after all, he shouldn't have heard the conversation in the first place. Quite apart from the fact he had been eavesdropping, he and Draco shouldn't have been out in the corridor at that time anyway.

Sadly, by mid morning on Wednesday, Harry's resolution not to think about what he had heard had gone out of the window. At lunchtime, the topic of discussion between himself, Ron and Hermione had turned to Lupin's sudden change in temperament. They all agreed that Sirius's return had made Lupin much happier, as the loss of his friend must have been quite a blow.

"But why was he so happy today?" Ron asked persistently. "He was in a good mood before, but today he seemed really happy. Like, almost delirious."

Hermione looked thoughtful. "I know what you mean."

At that point, Harry decided to reveal a piece of information he had been withholding. "Um, guys… I walked past his office on Monday night, and Sirius was in there with him. Lupin said something about being sorry, and he knew it must be a bit of a shock."

"What was a bit of a shock?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"I don't know, I didn't hear that part. Then Sirius said that he'd been denying it, but he sort of felt the same about the whole thing…"

The three of them sat in silence for a few moments, each wrapped up in their own thoughts.

"Something's fishy here," Hermione said at last.

"Well done, genius," Ron said sarcastically. "If that's the best you can come up with, we might as well ask the giant squid!"

Hermione glared at him. "I'm working on it, OK? It's not too obvious!"

"Whoa, guys, chill!" Harry said quickly, before a full-scale argument broke out. The other two fell silent, glaring at each other.

"Well, what do you think's going on?" Hermione asked Ron.

"I don't know," Ron replied, frowning in thought. "I don't want to bring it up, but it sounds a bit like that night in the common room, where we all got really confused with each other…"

"Ron!" Hermione cried in a strangled whisper. "You're making it sound like Lupin was declaring undying love for Sirius or something!" She narrowed her eyes briefly. "Actually, that would make a lot of sense…"

Ron turned pale. "That wasn't what I meant! Lord, is the whole world going gay?"

Harry glared at him.

"No offence, mate," Ron said quickly. "It's just that I'd never have thought Lupin and Sirius would…"

"Well you have to admit it makes sense," Hermione told him in a businesslike tone.

"We don't have any proof though," Ron said, sounding less and less sure of himself.

"Well…" Harry began uncertainly.

Hermione and Ron turned to face him with startling quickness. "What?" Hermione demanded.

"I wasn't going to tell you this, but I looked at the Marauder's Map last night, and they were both in Lupin's office."

"So?" Ron asked.

Harry steeled himself and finished: "All night."

"Well, that clinches it." Hermione said briskly. "They're together."

Harry and Ron stared at her in thinly veiled amazement.

"Hermione, that doesn't necessarily mean that!" Harry managed to stammer at last.

Hermione sighed wearily. "I've been right about this kind of thing before, haven't I? I spotted that Lupin was a werewolf. And Ron, our little bet? You never had any idea, did you? And I knew, didn't I?"

In the end, Harry and Ron had to concede that she had a point.

Later that night, Harry tested out the theory on Draco.

"I suppose she might be right," Draco said meditatively, sitting beside Harry on a large purple sofa. "I mean, Lupin has seemed really happy lately."

Harry nodded reluctantly. "I guess."

Draco grinned wickedly. "So, are you going to ask them?"

"Draco! Of course not!"

"Why not? You'll never know otherwise. Anyway, you can offer a swap. You tell Sirius about you and me, if he tells you about him and Lupin."

"Has it occurred to you how much of an idiot I'd sound if we turned out to be wrong after all?" Harry asked.

"Yes, for a brief moment," Draco replied lazily. "But Sirius is your godfather, he'll understand. And you're Lupin's golden boy – he'd forgive you anything!"

"Look who's talking!" Harry shot back, smiling. "Snape lets YOU get away with murder!"

Draco blushed.

Harry noticed this. "What is it?"

"Well, have you ever wondered how exactly I got into Potions class this year?" Draco asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "Not really. Why?"

"I didn't get an O at all. I got… an A. I only got in because Snape swore that I was a really good student, and he took me into the class anyway."

"You got an A?" Harry asked in surprise. "I mean, Neville got an E!"

Draco winced. "Don't rub it in, I suck at Potions."

This had been a strange day.

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Author's Note: The Gryffindor Detectives are back! Whoo. Hope you like. Now I have to go and watch Big Brother. I'm such a sad act. Review!