Sirius hadn't realized how touch starved he'd been until the first girls began flirting with him. Letting their delicately painted nails rest on his shoulder, taking any excuse to hold his hand, he found he really enjoyed all of it, but for some reason it felt just a beat off in a way he'd never been able to explain to himself until later.

The first girl he'd been with had been a disaster on both parts, so it hadn't been immediately obvious either. The two had fondled a bit, messed around a bit more, but when the act came to, neither had walked away remotely satisfied. He'd been thirteen though, and he'd had no one who could relate yet, so he'd consoled himself the first time wasn't all bliss and sparks.

The next time he'd had much more practice, and had been with her for quite some time. She'd been a bloody good kisser, which he'd thoroughly enjoyed, but never seemed to know where to put his hands. She certainly had, she'd been impatient and rough with him, but his pleasure never did seem to match hers, as was made abundantly evident when the time had come and he'd been left as frustrated as when he'd started. He thought then it just wasn't the right person or some nonsense.

By his third time he'd been at his wits end. She'd been patient and understanding, he'd certainly enjoyed himself with her the most, yet still his satisfaction seemed beyond him and he was about to reduce himself to a life of celibacy as he found it hard just to make himself hard most days, he couldn't figure out what he'd been doing wrong.

He looked back without much surprise the idea hadn't even occurred to him for so long, he'd certainly never been exposed to it like some frolicky 'normal' couples were told off for doing. Then he'd walked in on them.

The embarrassment had been heavy on both parts, but the idea had never left his mind. So finally he'd worked up the nerve to proposition. The bloke had found the whole situation hilarious apparently, Sirius' status withstanding he could almost grasp why, but the teenager had been extremely blasé about the whole thing. It was his first time, and he let Sirius top because the guy had thought Sirius would be more comfortable with that. He hadn't been. Surprisingly though, it was still the most curious he'd felt himself become, so he was the one to ask for the switch.

Finally.

Nothing life altering, earth shattering had particularly come of it, except Sirius' confident and bravado nature. Now he was a worse flirt than ever, and he was just having fun with it. Girls still tried to hook up with him, and he still occasionally played along as far as the kissing went as he did still enjoy that part, but now when he really needed to get off he'd finally figured out what it was his body was telling him would do that.

He hadn't told his friends because, well because he hadn't found it that important to tell them. He'd shared when he'd gotten his first kiss, but not his first time. He'd told when he'd actually thought he'd been in love with his third girlfriend, but hadn't brought up the fact they'd broken up until months after it ended because he just hadn't a care it had. This fell into the later he supposed.

It helped that he didn't feel different. He still loved to make alluding comments and see the vivid reactions, especially from Remus. When he did to James and Peter, they just told him to bugger off, but with everything the Marauders did, Moony had played along. He'd been coy, and just as flippant right back to Sirius, the two often sharing private smiles the more often it started to occur after Sirius' second first time.

Then it happened. It had been as gradual as it was abrupt, the two colliding with each other in a way he'd certainly never have expected but never would have taken the chance to turn down.

They'd brushed skin for the seventh time that day, and by the fifth it hadn't felt accidental anymore. It was the day of the full moon. It was the day, as blunt natured as ever, Sirius had outright asked him if he'd like to give it a shot.

Now Moony was as coquettish as Sirius, but he also had a nature of personal space. It was as if he thought even being in someone's presence would pass on his curse, which is likely why it had taken them so long to dig into their friend and make him so. Determination had won out though, and then things had really gone out of the Forest with them when he'd told them what he was. Sirius liked to think it was all thanks to him. Remus had told them the day after Sirius had shared how he got a particular scar across his abdomen over the summer from his mother for doing the wrong thing at a dinner party.

Sirius hadn't done anything like that before hand this time when he'd asked Remus if he'd ever kissed a guy, but his friends answer had been as then as the night he'd shared his secret with his three friends. He'd been willing to give it a shot. 'Casual,' Sirius had insisted with that smirk, 'just for fun you idiot, don't make a big deal out of this or anything.'

So Sirius had been racing along to the Whomping Willow that night. That the next day he and someone he actually knew were going to do some experimenting, maybe he'd get even better at getting others off. Knowing that when Moony woke up he'd have some new way to even help him relax and things could be even better!

Then he'd run into Snape.

Then his mouth had gotten away from him yet again.

Then he'd seemingly destroyed his whole life.

But now...

The kiss must have lasted longer than his mind processed. It had started off as awkward as his first, lips frozen and unsure, his mind screaming at him this was not the answer Remus had needed from him; but then Remus had tentatively moved beneath him, jaw flowing as if to ask a question, and Sirius tilted his head just slightly and allowed himself to answer silently. His hands lingered on Remus' face, the harsh shadow of unshaven skin while not repellent finally bringing him back to who exactly he was doing this to as his finger traced a familiar nick on the edge of his face Moony always seemed to cut himself at.

So he'd stepped back, far more out of breath than he would have anticipated, and said, "I'm sorry."

Remus remained still for so long Sirius had the urge to slam his face against the wall just for something to be done, when finally he said back flatly, "don't ever apologize for doing that again." The gold flecks in his green eyes stood out more than usual, and were still more wide from shock than anything.

Sirius swallowed, rather unsure if this was the right thing to ask, but that's what came out. "Will there be an again?"

"You tell me," he told him, eyes never leaving each other as Remus fixed the space, some unreadable look of deep consideration lingering as this time he grabbed Sirius in much the same fashion Sirius had just done.

It was still, hesitant. Yet for the first time, Sirius felt anything but. He placed his hands confidently on Remus shoulders because he knew Moony, having always been the tallest, had no care when they tried to drape themselves over him to get his attention. He took a step closer, because he knew as Remus put his hand on the back of Sirius' neck to pull him closer that's what he wanted. This kiss lasted shorter than the last, Remus pulled back but left his hands in place and just gazed down at him with a look of such familiar exasperation Sirius had to fight the urge to say 'Wormtail did it,' to whatever they weren't supposed to be doing according to the dorm rules.

"I suppose we can tell the other two we're not fighting anymore."

Sirius hadn't at all been thinking of anyone else, but decided, "that's a rather astute observation."

Their hands lingered, but they sprung apart guilty when a loud knocking echoed behind them.

As if Remus' words had summoned them, Peter's voice traveled loudly through the door, "are you two actually killing each other in there? Prongs is driving Evans nuts and I may need backup soon if you don't mind."

This, they both knew, was a complete and utter farce on Wormtail's part to insert himself into the conversation, as the two could practically feel James on the other side of the door, staring in after them but forcing himself not to intrude yet and let them work it out.

Sirius gave an annoyed little scoff, the two had been perfectly gung ho to let him wallow while Remus had been pissed at him. 'It's Remus' decision to forgive you,' James's words mocked in his head. 'I'll back him on that until he decides what to do.' He was sure Prongs hadn't seen this coming. Now they wanted to have a nice chat with him?

Then he looked back to Remus and saw how he was being studied, and he wanted to flush if he wasn't so sure himself of what came out next. "We don't have to tell them."

"I don't have the urge to kill you anymore, I think we should at least share that," Remus said blandly.

That hadn't been what Sirius meant, and they both knew it.

This wasn't like when he'd realized his personal preferences though, he did want to tell James this time. He'd gone three weeks without talking to his brother, because James had told him in no uncertain terms Remus would have to forgive him first before he'd bother hearing Sirius out, he could spend his quiet time thinking about how to work that out.

He supposed though, this still managed to fall into that area where Remus' secret would hold until he could gage a reaction, except now Sirius was in on it.

Clapping his hands together as if all business, Remus then walked past him to the door, but hesitated with his hand on the knob to grin back at Sirius while opening it so that Peter and James practically fell through the door to see this scene.

"Oh good!" James quickly fixed himself, his grin honest as he looked at the new energy between the two. "I was getting rather sick of your spat, was going to have to step in myself soon."

"Uh hu," Remus rolled his eyes as he walked past.

"No really Moony," James waved Sirius frantically to his side while jogging after him. "You think I enjoyed watching my brothers fight?"

Sirius burst out laughing, and it was such a sound of relief all three of them joined in as they stepped back into the pub.

"Back door opened when I finished by the way," Frank informed them with a tentative smile at the friends, at least he didn't feel like he was in the middle of a bomb about to go off anymore.

"I'm sure we're allowed to head out into Diagon Alley now, and I'd rather enjoy that than being in here," Alice agreed, not waiting for permission before heading out and calling over her shoulder, "Evans is already."

That was all James needed to hear to follow after, Peter still on his heels and Remus and Sirius trailing behind, still exchanging small little smirks. Sirius froze at the door though, almost having forgotten the last member of this little group but finally spotting Regulus sitting in the far back in the shadowy pub at the only table positioned underneath the staircase.

Sirius hesitated, glanced at his three friends watching him curiously, and decided to leave Regulus be with whatever had put him off joining them outside.

The cobblestones of various shades of brown were hardly ever anyone's main focus when such shops were all around them, but Lily couldn't help letting her eyes linger on these instead as the four Marauders instantly began going from window to window and chatting about whatever they peeked inside. Thankfully the majority of the doors remained closed so they couldn't loot or whatever they were thinking of doing in there, most gratefully Quality Quidditch Supplies. Lily instead chose to meander over to the apothecary, eyeing the barrel of different breeds of slugs and much preferring to think on if the slime from the more poisons ones would help thicken her concoction brewing back at the school, if it was still there.

Alice and Frank chose to go over to sit at one of the umbrella tables outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, though a book in between them instead as Alice began.

The chapter title came to no one's surprise when Alice read it, as that was an obvious next step, but it was even more depressing than before to hear of this kid back in the Muggle world, and in that company, after what he'd finally gotten a chance to experience.

Some nostalgia was felt all around after the initial cursing fading from further mistreatment by the Dursleys, but no one was all that concerned Harry wouldn't make it onto the train, even the silly suggestion of poking his wand through the barrier proved he was a smart enough lad he'd figure it out.

Instead, Lily was forced to listen to the Marauders start reminiscing about how they'd first met, and finally Lily couldn't fight away the burn in her face as a tear tried to come out.

James noticed at once, and tried to go over to her, but Peter caught him with a small frown in her direction.

Prongs look scandalized at him, but Peter didn't loosen his grip. "When have I ever stopped you making a fool of yourself in front of her?" He pleasantly reminded. "Now's not the time where she needs your idiotic arse, but her friend's not exactly hear right now is he. Just give her a moment."

James deflated, not at all agreeing as he kept throwing her anxious looks but admitting at least he hadn't a clue what he would have said to Lily crying of all things, which is why he protested no more when Alice went over to her.

"It's, hard," Lily said awkwardly, both because she wasn't sure how much the others could hear her while she could still hear the book when Alice had been three buildings away, and because she and Alice barely knew each other's names before this began. To be honest though she didn't have any real friends besides Severus, and she'd been growing so distant from him lately it was beginning to feel as if she didn't have anyone. She couldn't stop Petunia's rant replaying in the back of her head as if on a loop, and even hearing of Harry's first train ride and making friends of his own was only making things worse.

"We don't have to talk," Alice quickly assured when Evans kept shuffling her feet and twisting her hair rather than continuing. "I just, you know- I mean this is weird for all of us and I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Thanks Alice," Lily said sincerely, giving her an honest smile and taking a careful breath before elaborating just a bit. "I guess, I still can't think about this the way Potter clearly is. He's getting all invested in this kids life, and I can't get past the fact Harry's supposedly half mine. That some future out there actually involved me liking that bloody prat, let alone falling in love with him." She still finished self consciously, scenarios and events playing out in her head of how this could feasibly happen and still drawing a blank.

"Then don't," Alice shrugged. "Who says you have to? Frank and I have absolutely nothing to do with this, we're just along for the ride aren't we? Think whatever you want to think and if Potter tries to tell you otherwise, do what you always do."

Lily grinned faintly and asked, "got any suggestion? I'm honestly running out of curses."

Alice burst out laughing and Frank glanced over with an automatic smile at the noise, which lingered when Alice waved Lily over to join them back out front of Florean Fortescue's.

"Hey look Pete, you're in the story," James still managed to hold all attention as he burst out laughing at some stupid joke they missed when Alice had kept going, the three honestly confused considering nothing of mention was happening in the story as Ron was simply explaining about how he'd gotten all of his possessions and his pet.

The talk of pets was made a bit more sad when a poor kid showed up looking for his toad, but Hermione Granger certainly livened up the conversation, unintentionally sure, but her ah, avidness was honestly amusing to the lot of them. Frank hadn't even seen fellow Ravenclaws come so prepared to school.

The three at the table mostly ignored whatever the Marauders were commenting on about her, they were positive from the snickers alone it wasn't anything kind, but they did take note when Regulus finally joined them outside around the time Malfoy announced himself.

"Ergh, further breeding from the planetarium of idiocies."

"You still calling yourself that Sirius?" Regulus asked, unnecessarily putting special emphasis on the dog star name.

"I didn't chose my name," Sirius huffed, "how you got the better one I'll never know?"

"Me?" Regulus asked with honest curiosity.

"You took astrology lessons you idiot, Regulus is in the Leo constellation, the lion-"

"It also means little prince," Peter offered helpfully.

Sirius kept going with an eye roll, "so why our parents named you when I'm the one who got the better house is forever amusing to me."

"It's not like they knew that when they named us you prat," Regulus rolled his eyes right back at his brother reading far more into something so silly.

Alice kept going around the sibling bickering, thankful that she'd been left out of this trend as well as Frank, and hopefully more pureblood families wouldn't keep at the tradition, she knew she certainly wouldn't be. The chapter reached its end with at least one thing resolved, they were all smiling just a bit at that kid finding his pet, Alice didn't even think to warn them when she finished.