"We ought to call it a night," came Lily's voice from behind him. She sounded concerned.

James shrugged. "Maybe you're right," he conceded, herding the girls out of the dormitory. Lily halted in the doorway.

"You'll tell me how he is when he wakes up?" she asked. Smiling at him as hse left after the other two girls. James nodded.

Renetta, however, was not to be put off that easily. She gave a yawn.

"Oh, I'm so tired, I could just fall asleep right here…" she said pointedly, flopping down onto James' bed, who by now had had enough.

"Bugger off, Greene," he snapped. "Go find your own bed to sleep in."

She shot up like a rocket, and left in a huff.

James fell gratefully onto his bed, not bothering to undress. He looked over at Peter, who was already snoring.

Sirius, meanwhile, was checking Remus' pulse.

"I think I'll stay up and read, in case he wakes up…" he said distractedly.

James shrugged. "Your funeral," he said, turned over and promptly went to sleep.

Sirius found a chair and a book, and, satisfied that Remus was actually breathing, sat down by his friend's bed.

------------------------------

It was only about half an hour later that Remus did regain consciousness.

He blinked a couple of times, letting out an involuntary half-sigh, and Sirius looked up from the book he had been trying, unsuccessfully, to read.

"Remus?" he asid softly, leaning over.

Remus opened his eyes properly then, and his friend's concerned face swam inot view.

"Sirius…" he said, smiling. Then he remembered.

"Sirius!" he exclaimed, sitting bolt upright. Unfortunately, Sirius was still leaning over him, and their foreheads met with an audible crack.

"Ouch…damn it, Moony, was it really that bad?" moaned Sirius, wincing as he felt the bruise on his forehead. He squinted at Remus, who was sat up in bed, head in his hands. "I've got a reputation to uphold, you know."

"Hah…" Remus gave a soft, rather wry chuckle. "Actually…" he said slowly, "as kisses go, that wasn't a bad one." He looked down. " Not that I've, you know…" he trailed off.

"What?" asked Sirius quietly.

Remus looked away, saying almost inaudibly, "…not that I've had anything to compare it with…"

Sirius' jaw dropped.

"That…that was your first? God, moony…No wonder you passed out!"

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Thanks ever so for reminding me," he said, with just a hint of sarcasm.

Sirius looked him straight in the eye.

"I'm sorry," he said simply. "Truly I am. If I'd known-"

"It's not your fault," said Remus, cutting him off. "I don't blame you. I blame James and that bloody goblet of his."

Sirius smiled wryly, putting a hand on Remus' shoulder.

"Seriously, though. Your first is supposed to be special. I'm sorry I took that away from you."

Remus looked up at his dark eyes… and felt that golden glow spreading inside him once more.

"I'm not…entirely sure that you did…" he said a little wonderingly.

A half-smile appeared on Sirius' lips. "I didn't?" he asked softly, and Remus realised that the hand which had been resting on his shoulder was now just as gently touching his cheek.

"…Sirius…?" he breathed, almost fearfully, but those lips smiled, and Sirius shook his head slowly.

"…just…let go…" he whispered, and Remus could feel the breath of those last words against his cheek.

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A moment later, Remus was lying back on his bed, fingers interlocked behind his head, and Sirius sat cross-legged on the floor, with his back against Remus' bed.

"Well," commented Remus, "at least I was conscious for that one…"

Sirius shot him a wounded look. "What do you mean, 'at least', you ungrateful swine?" he demanded.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Oh, all right," he conceded. "Black, you are a god. That any better?"

Sirius nodded regally, turning so that he leaned with one elbow on the bed to look at Remus. "Getting better."