October 11th, 1974

James Potter had been running an experiment on his friends. Yes, he knew it may have been unethical, but his motivations were pure. You see, he simply wanted to help two blokes fall in love. It had all started last week when the Marauders had been attempting to study in the Gryffindor common room:

"Moony," Sirius groaned, "School work is boring. I'm not doing anything, and James isn't doing anything either: he's thinking about Evans. And Peter….Well, Peter, what are you doing?"

"Trying to study!" The rotund boy squeaked. "But I'm having a rather slow go of it all…"

"See!" Sirius exclaimed. "No one is doing work, except for you. Come on, get your nose out of that book."

Remus, now understanding that he was the only one of his friends to actually be doing anything, sighed and closed his History of Magic book.

"And what, pray tell, should I do instead?" Remus asked, a bit tired. Sirius pursed his lips in thought.

"Well," He mused, "My shoulders are a bit stiff. Mind sorting that out for me?" Remus rolled his eyes, but without complaint, sat up from the plush reading chair and walked up behind Sirius, who was sitting criss-cross on the floor. Remus began kneading Sirius' shoulders, eliciting a soft moan from the shaggy-haired boy's lips.

"That's it…Thank you, Moony. That wasn't too hard, was it?"

In that moment, James noticed something off: Remus just did whatever Sirius asked him to. And Sirius asked him to do the darndest things. James couldn't imagine asking any of his mates for a back massage, nor, he had to admit, did he particularly want to give any of them one. So why would his best friend ask Remus for a massage? And why on earth would the boy accept? It wasn't only that day in the common room, either. Remus gave Sirius his class notes before he was even asked. Remus had muggle magazines delivered to his parents' home and gave them to Sirius on breaks, just because the boy had asked. It was more than James ever did for Sirius, and more than his furry little friend ever did for him either. The more the bespectacled boy thought about it, the more little signs of affection he saw.

So, while his friends were off in their own little world—and Peter, as always, oblivious—James had devised a plan.

October 12th, 1974

The boys were once again studying in the common room. Step one of an experiment: recreate the original scene as much as possible. James sat as Sirius had, criss-crossed on the floor, and Moony sat in the plush armchair by the fire, as per usual. Sirius was mucking about, and Peter was attempting to write an essay, but was struggling to get past the third word. If James hadn't been so concerned with his little experiment, he might have realized how very routine his life was.

"Hey, Moony," James chirped. "My shoulders are awfully sore. Could you give me one of your world-famous massages?" He asked. Remus snorted without even looking up from his book, and James didn't have to see his eyes to know they were rolling.

"Not a chance. Go back to work."

"Ouch, James, burned by Moony," Sirius said, not even one of his best taunts. But that got Remus to look up from his book and actually laugh.

James tried his best not to smile. He knew it! He knew Remus was giving Sirius preferential treatment! That, plus the touchy-feely nonsense, plus the looks he just knew Remus gave Sirius when no one was watching along with everything else was more than enough to convince James that Moony had a crush on good ol' Sirius Black.

"Fine. But would you at least help me find my Divination book? I think I lost it in our room." Remus sighed and closed his book; this time, a pleasure read: Huckleberry something or other—James wasn't paying attention.

"Sure, James. I'll help." Remus normally did, if it was school related.

The two boys walked off to their bedroom, and James shut the door behind them.

"James, what—"

"You have a little crush," James said, smirking. "It's okay, believe me—I just want to know who on?" He looked for a change on Remus' face, but nothing. The kid was good. Years of lying and hiding had turned the werewolf's mind into a vault. It would take more direct poking to get him to open up.

"James, I have no idea what you're talking about," Remus replied rather curtly. "When have I ever talked about a girl? Never."

"That's because you don't fancy girls, mate,"James retorted with a smirk.

Remus' eyes widened. Jackpot.

"How, what? No!" He exclaimed, trying to play it off. James just rolled his eyes.

"Come on Moony, you're already a…you know what. What's being gay gonna change?"

"Well, nothing I guess, but—"

"Aha! So you are!" James said excitedly. Remus turned red. "Oh I knew it! But who is the object of your desires?"

"No one," Remus whispered, now very, very red.

"No one?" James quipped. "Alright, then, I see how you;re going to be. Lemme take a guess…Is it Peter?"

"No!" Remus nearly shouted. "Merlin, no…"

"Is it…Me?"

"No! No, stop this at once—"

"Is it…Sirius?" James asked. Remus froze. Bingo.

"You already knew," Remus said meekly. James nodded fervently, and Remus sighed.

"You can't…you can't tell him. I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship," He said, defeated almost.

"Tell him?" James shook his head. "No, mate, that's up to you. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to keep yet another secret from us…how long has this one been burdening you?"

"Since you all found out the first secret. You were all kind, but Sirius, he just…" Remus shrugged. He couldn't explain it. James smiled.

"You don't have to explain. The heart wants what the heart wants," James said simply. Remus smiled.

"Thanks. Now, let's find your book," he began. "It's got to be around here somewhere, perhaps under—"

"—Remus…"

"Oh."

October 20th, 1974

James was laying out his clothes for the day in the room for four boys shared. Peter had already gone to breakfast, and Remus was in the infirmary—the full moon was that night. Sirius was looking in the mirror, fixing his fair.

"Hey, James?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, mate?" James responded, half paying attention.

"You don't think I've been too obvious, do you?"

"Nah, mate," James said, deciding on a tie. He had a couple of stock responses all set up for moments like this. Sirius could go on for awhile, normally about the same few things, and over the years James had figured out just what to say on repeat.

"Because I'm worried he's not gonna get it," Sirius continued.

"Uh huh, well, I'm sure it will work out," James muttered, slipping on his shirt.

"I just can't stand him not knowing—I have to tell Remus."

James spun around.

"Tell Remus WHAT?" James asked, eyes wide.

"Oi!" Sirius exclaimed, furrowing his brows. "You haven't been paying any attention, have you?" James fell silent. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Classic. Here I am, trying to come out to my best mate, and you aren't even listening."

"Oh, I'm listening," James said. "Intently."

Sirius sighed. "I'm gay, James. And I like Remus—very much so. Haven't you been paying attention? I'm all over him, and I ask him for favors all the time hoping he'll ask me why but he never does," Sirius complained. "He gave me a massage and I moaned, for Merlin's sake!"

James shrugged. "I dunno, mate, I figured that's how you two were," He lied. He wasn't going to make this too easy.

"How we—who else is like that who you know?"

James paused. Should he tell Sirius? On one hand, this could all be over quickly—Sirius would rush to the hospital wing tomorrow and profess his love. On the other hand…James could play them both like fiddles and prank them into confessing their feelings to each other. As a Marauder, there was only one correct response.

"I guess no one," James thought pensively. "Well, thanks for telling me mate," James smiled, pulling on his trousers. "I can only imagine how long you've been carrying this around…say, how long have you liked him for?" Sirius paused, but only for a moment.

"Since we found out he's a werewolf—I mean, when we confronted him about it. I know we all wanted to be there for him, but I kept wanting to be there for him more, if that makes any sense." James nodded intently.

"You don't have to explain. The heart wants what the heart wants," James said for the second time that week. Sirius smiled.

"That's a sweet sentiment, James. Thank you, I've never heard that one before."

"Of course, Sirius," James said, finishing getting dressed. His plan was in motion.