Sirius groaned, flopping down in the common room after taking Remus up to the hospital wing. It was the designated that the last marauder in the shack would take Remus up to Madam Pomfrey. Sirius smiled slightly as he recalled that it had been months that he was in the castle before Remus on these mornings.

"So you got him up okay there, Padfoot?" James asked, collapsing into the couch next to Sirius.

He nodded, exhausted.

"You, uh, have a letter waiting for you upstairs," James said quietly, knowing the reaction his friend would have. It was the same one every time a letter bearing the Black Family crest found its way to his best friend's pillow.

"Bugger," Sirius sighed, standing up. "I won't make it to supper tonight," he said unnecessarily. James only nodded, watching his friend go up the stairs.

Sirius frowned as he saw the letter upon his pillow. It was thicker than usual, which wasn't surprising, seeing as he had told them in his last letter that he would be living on his own, and didn't need their "assistance" any longer. His mother would have shred his Uncle Alphie to bits. No doubt he would hear about it now. With more apprehension than his detentions with McGonagall, he slit open the letter and sat heavily on the edge of his bed.

He threw it in the fire half an hour later on his way out of the portrait hole.

"Where are you going?" Peter asked. But Sirius ignored him.

Twenty minutes later, Remus was released from Madam Pomfrey's clutches.

"Where's Sirius?" he asked Peter as he entered the common room.

"Don't know," Peter shrugged, looking up from his letter to his mother. "Got a letter from his mother and left a while ago."

"Thanks," Remus grinned, turning back around. He was almost at the portrait hall again when Peter spoke up again.

"Are you two poofters?" he asked finally.

Remus smiled, turning back around. "Congratulations," he said softly. "You beat James to the chase."

And leaving Peter looking a cocktail of confused and triumphant, Remus went out into the castle looking for Sirius.

He didn't say anything as he sat beside Sirius.

It had started two years ago when Sirius had finally walked out on his family and the first heart-wrenching letter was sent to him. Sirius Black was not one to cry in front of his friends. So he found a spot on the edge of the lake, just hidden by a couple of wide oaks and bush that fed off the lake. He had intended for the lake to see his tears, but Remus – also heartbroken after his parent's divorce, had fancied the same spot. They shared their tears, and never spoke of it to any of the others.

"Burned Uncle Alphie off the tapestry," Sirius finally mumbled, his face dry.

Remus nodded.

"Said they hoped I would rot in the muggle stench."

"Typical."

Sirius looked at Remus, an unfamiliar expression in his eyes.

"Are you scared?"

Sirius shook his head, turning his gaze back to the lake. "Just worried."

"Why?"

"Everything is changing," Sirius whispered, watching the giant squid propel itself across the surface of the lake. "But there are some things I don't want to change, but what if they do?"

"Then we'll take it in stride," Remus whispered. "It's all we can do, isn't it?"

Sirius shrugged, cradling his face in his hands, his elbows on his knees.

Remus, in a moment of daring, kissed him lightly under the ear. Sirius smiled smally.

"What are we going to do?" he asked softly, looking at Remus, flushed and brave.

"Living always works."

Sirius actually laughed, lying back on the dirt. "I mean us," he said softly. "Are we still going to –?"

Remus shrugged, lying down beside him. "I want to," he whispered.

"Good," Sirius smiled. "So do I."

"Oh, and Pete's caught on."

Sirius laughed, smothering Remus with kisses. The best therapy.