A/N: Slash with Gideon P./Sirius B. If it's not your cup of tea, feel free to skip this one. :)

XxXxXxX

Gideon nudged his twin. 'Who's that?' he murmured, an appreciative gleam in his eye, pointing with his chin at the outrageously handsome young man lounging insouciantly in a chair a few seats down on the other side of the large table. Something about the thick, wavy black hair, dark hooded eyes, and angular cheekbones seemed familiar.

Fabian nearly choked on his butterbeer. 'Who? Sirius Black?' He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, glancing at Gideon. Fabian's eyes swivelled down to Sirius, then back to Gideon, who studied Sirius from beneath lowered eyelashes. 'He's not really your type, is he?' Fabian muttered.

'And what exactly is my type?'

Fabian tilted his chair back on its back legs. 'Someone steady,' he said after a long pause. 'He's a good time charlie, that one.' Gideon opened his mouth to object, but Dumbledore called the meeting to order.

Sirius was accustomed to being the object of lust-filled gazes, although in Hogwarts, they had primarily come from girls, but more than a few had come from boys. He'd noticed the redheaded twins as soon as they had joined the table. Not Weasleys, he thought to himself. Those two are too broad-shouldered to be Weasleys. There was a flurry of activity as a map unfurled over the long table. Sirius used the distraction as an excuse to take another quick glimpse of the man who'd been surreptitiously admiring him with naked desire. Bright brown eyes, curly red hair… Sirius frowned slightly. Prewett… Gideon and Fabian. Sirius ran a hand through his hair, tousling the glossy waves. He shifted slightly, angling his body a little more toward the Prewett twins. He toyed with the top button of his shirt, slipping it through the buttonhole with a practiced flick of his fingers. When Sirius noticed the twin staring at him, he moistened his lips with a slow movement of his tongue or traced a fingertip over his lips. Sirius picked up the cork from his butterbeer and slowly circled the rounded end with his thumb. Nothing overtly erotic, and all of it could be considered idle fidgeting from an impatient young man in what might seem an interminable meeting. At one point, Sirius boldly met the man's gaze, and his brow lifted a little, as if to say, See something you like?

The meeting ended and Sirius cheekily winked at the man before he ducked out, heading off to his favourite dive in London. Perhaps Sanjay would be there tonight. He was always up for a few dances and perhaps a good wank or a blowie, if Sanjay would oblige.

Fabian rolled his eyes. 'Damn puppy,' he muttered, waiting for Gideon to agree. Fabian turned to Gideon, who sat motionless in his chair. 'Oi!' Fabian said sharply, poking him in the ribs.

Gideon's mouth worked for moment. 'Give me a minute,' he rasped.

'You're joking,' Fabian groaned. 'You actually fell for all that?'

'Fabian,' Gideon sighed, 'if Amelia Bones played with the buttons of her top in that way, it wouldn't have an affect on you at all?'

'Point taken,' Fabian murmured. 'Take your time.'

'Thank you,' Gideon said, keeping his eyes fixed on a gouge in the table's scarred top.

XxXxXxX

The next meeting, Sirius dropped into the chair next to Gideon. 'Don't believe we've been introduced,' Sirius said, his head tilted to one side. He held out his hand. 'Sirius Black.'

Gideon grinned. 'Gideon Prewett.'

Sirius' grin widened. 'You're a legend at Hogwarts.'

Gideon laughed. 'I hear I've been supplanted. By you and your mates.'

'There were four of us,' Sirius allowed. 'Twice as much mayhem.' He tapped a fingertip on the table. 'I've never seen you in any of the clubs. You know… Our sort.'

'The Muggle ones? Not really my sort of scene. There are a few here and there in wizarding communities that are more to my taste.'

Sirius smirked. 'Stuffy ones.'

Gideon scowled at the younger man. 'Stuffy only because the rentboys aren't wanking their punters in the corners.'

'You don't know what you're missing,' Sirius scoffed.

'Shut it, the both of you,' hissed Fabian. He pointedly turned his head to the end of the room where Benjy Fenwick stood.

Gideon instantly adopted a serious mien. Sirius gave Gideon that same cheeky wink, before he too assumed an air of utter absorption in Benjy's plans. Under the table Gideon felt a hand land on his thigh. Gideon stole a glance at Sirius from the corner of his eye, but nothing in Sirius' expression betrayed the slightest hint of his actions under the table. Slowly - achingly so - Sirius' hand crept up Gideon's thigh until the very tips of his fingers could just barely brush the length of Gideon's erection. Gideon shifted restlessly, and slid down in the chair, allowing his thighs to part just enough in unspoken invitation. Sirius slowly and relentlessly stroked Gideon, using a feather-light touch that made Gideon clench his teeth to stifle his moans. Before long, a bead of sweat collected at Gideon's temple and slid down the plane of his cheek.

The meeting ended a few minutes later. Sirius quickly and lightly squeezed Gideon's balls, then left without a backward glance. Gideon let out a shuddering sigh and raked a hand through his hair. When Fabian turned to him, Gideon held up a hand and muttered, 'Just a mo, yeah?' Fabian muttered a pungent curse under his breath. 'He's just toying with you, you know,' Fabian grumbled.

Gideon's head whipped around and he glared at his twin. 'Does it look like I mind?'

Fabian snorted. 'Right now? You look like you want to chew glass, not shag the boy senseless.' He sighed and tried one more tack. 'He's a Black.'

Gideon frowned. 'Don't go there,' he warned. 'Ted Tonks' wife was a Black. Arthur's mum was a Black. Sirius was Sorted into Gryffindor and he's in the Order.' He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, then glanced up at his twin. 'Fancy a drink? I could use one. A large one, in fact.'

XxXxXxX

Gideon stood in the corner of the room, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. It had been a month. At every meeting, Sirius found some way to get under his skin. Gideon hadn't wanked this much this much since Hogwarts, and lately he'd begun to fantasize about burying himself in Sirius while he stroked himself to orgasm.

Enough was enough.

Sirius strolled to the corner with studied casualness and nodded to Gideon in greeting. Fabian rolled his eyes and deliberately strode to a chair at the table as far away from Gideon and Sirius as possible. Sirius laughed softly and stood in front of Gideon, just to his right. Marlene MacKinnon led this meeting, and she was a rather dynamic speaker, so nobody would pay much, if any, attention to the shadowed corner. Gideon was rarely involved with her missions anyway, so he could tune her out after a while without feeling a great deal of guilt.

It was just what Gideon wanted.

Marlene launched into a vivid description of her mission, complete with visual aids. Gideon hooked a finger into a belt loop on Sirius' jeans, tugging gently, but insistently, drawing Sirius closer until Sirius' bum nestled against his groin. Gideon released the belt loop and let his hand rest on Sirius' hip. Gideon thrust his hips forward, slowly grinding against the younger man. Sirius inhaled sharply, but kept his eyes on Marlene and the brightly colored figures moving around a large poster propped up on an easel. Gideon continued to undulate his hips against Sirius until he recognized Marlene's usual conclusion. He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the wall, as if he'd just spent the past several minutes in rapt fascination over Marlene's plans.

Order members gathered into small knots as food and drink appeared on the table. Gideon used the bustle as cover to grab Sirius by the elbow. He leaned down until his lips hovered just over Sirius' ear. 'I think you ought to finish what you started,' he murmured. Gideon turned his head just enough to meet Sirius' eyes. 'Unless you're all talk and no action…?'

Sirius lifted his chin. 'Your place or mine?'

XxXxXxX

The cottage nestled in a heavily wooded valley near Keswick in the Lake District. 'Fabian won't be home for hours,' Gideon remarked, as he flicked his wand at the door.

'Does your brother usually have an opinion about who graces your bed?' Sirius retorted.

Gideon gestured for Sirius to enter the cottage. 'What I do in the privacy of my own bed is none of my brother's business.' Gideon closed the door behind them. 'And what he does in his bed is none of my business. Unless he's acting like a complete arse, then I reserve the right to comment.'

'So…?' Sirius looked around the entrance.

'My bedroom is upstairs, second door on the left.' Gideon grabbed Sirius' hand and started to walk up the narrow stairs. 'Top or bottom?' Gideon asked.

'What?'

'Are you a top or bottom?' Gideon repeated. 'Or a versatile, maybe? I'm a top, myself. Although if you're a top, as well, we can figure something out,' he mused. 'There're other things we can do that don't involve shagging.'

Sirius surprisingly flushed. 'I've topped a time or two,' he admitted. 'Bottomed for a while with a Muggle bloke I met in London.'

Gideon looked at Sirius skeptically. 'Just the one?'

Sirius stopped and pulled his hand from Gideon's. 'You don't understand.'

Gideon continued up the stairs. 'Try me,' he said, walking into his bedroom. Sirius followed Gideon into his bedroom, a sparsely furnished room, dominated by a large, neatly made bed. 'It's vulnerable,' Sirius admitted. 'And in my family, you do not allow anyone to see any sort of vulnerability. Ever. Your own mother would use it against you. I won't bottom for anyone I don't trust,' he explained. 'I met Harold when I ran away from home. I was sixteen, and just finished my fifth year at school, and he was about twenty-five years older than me. Christmas hols my seventh year, I finally realized he wasn't going to deliberately hurt me. If I wasn't out carousing with James and Remus, I was with Harold, shagging my brains out.'

Gideon rubbed his index finger under his nose. He hadn't missed Sirius' referral of Harold in the past tense. 'What happened to Harold?'

'Died of an unexpected heart attack in February.' Sirius grinned crookedly. 'Maybe you shouldn't fuck me,' he said lightly. 'I'm bad luck.'

'I'll take my chances.' Gideon jabbed his wand at the bed, and the duvet folded back. He bent to untie the laces of his boots. He toed off the boots and peeled off his socks, then straightened slowly, letting his hands drag up the backs of Sirius' legs. Gideon cradled Sirius' face with his hands and kissed him. 'I promise I won't hurt you, not deliberately anyway.' Gideon paused, head cocked to one side. 'And not unless you want me to.' Sirius' brows rose with astonishment. 'And we will not do anything that you do not want to do. At any time, if you don't want to do something, tell me. Even if we're in the middle of it.'

Sirius nodded. 'Okay.'

Gideon pulled back slightly. 'Besides, think of it as telling your family to sod off, getting buggered by a blood traitor like me.'

Sirius shook the hair from his eyes. 'Well... when you put it that way...' He eagerly reached for the buttons of Gideon's shirt, but Gideon stepped just out of reach. 'Pace yourself, junior,' Gideon told him. 'We have the rest of the night.' Gideon threaded his fingers through Sirius' hair, tucking a lock behind his ear. 'Or until a Death Eater kills one of us. Whichever comes first.' Gideon traced the edge of Sirius' ear with his tongue, making Sirius moan softly. 'Oh, like that is it?' Gideon breathed, and his teeth closed lightly on the lobe.

'I'm an Animagus,' Sirius said, tilting his head to the side. 'Dog.' Gideon transferred his attentions to the other ear. 'Oh, God,' Sirius moaned. 'So… ears…'

'Good to know,' Gideon murmured. He cupped Sirius' bottom with his hands, pulling him closer. 'We can stand here for a bit longer, or take this to the bed.'

'Bed,' Sirius managed. He lifted one foot, then the other, untying the laces of his boots and pulled them off, tossing each boot into a corner of the bedroom, quickly followed by his socks. He let Gideon steer him to the bed, and they fell on it in a tangle of arms and legs.

Sirius unbuttoned Gideon's shirt, shoving the sleeves down his arms. Sirius rolled them over so he straddled Gideon's torso, and bent his head to lick Gideon's nipple. Gideon groans turned into a gasp when Sirius bit the stiffened tip. Sirius swirled his tongue over the abused flesh, soothing away the sting. Sirius lifted his head to kiss Gideon, his thumb moving in small circles over Gideon's other nipple. Gideon reached down to unfasten his jeans to free his throbbing erection from the confines of his clothing. Sirius shifted his position, sliding his hands into Gideon's jeans, grasping both the waistband of his jeans and pants, yanking them both off in one motion. Sirius let out a low whistle of appreciation at Gideon's cock.

Gideon lifted his head. 'Touch me, for Merlin's sake,' he rasped. Sirius chuckled wrapped a hand around Gideon's rigid penis. He began to slowly move his hand from tip to base. Gideon's back arched, and one arm flew over his head. Gideon's fingers wrapped around the railing of the wrought iron headboard. 'Oh… I…' Gideon thrust his hips, matching the rhythm of Sirius' hand. 'Harder,' he ordered. Sirius' grip around Gideon's cock tightened. 'Yeeessssss…' Gideon breathed. His other hand rose to the headboard, tightly gripping the railing. 'Don't stop,' he gurgled. Sirius cupped GIdeon's balls in his other hand, watching Gideon's face. Gideon's balls tautened and his brow furrowed seconds before he came. Sirius continued to stroke Gideon until he'd finished.

Sirius cleared his throat. 'Erm…' He retrieved Gideon's discarded shirt and gingerly dabbed at Gideon's chest.

Gideon's hands slid down from the headboard to rest on the pillow. 'Door on the right - my right - bathroom. Facecloths in cupboard. Next to the bath.' he said, panting. Sirius climbed off the bed, and went into the bathroom, returning with a couple of warm, wet facecloth. He perched on the edge of the bed next to Gideon and gently sponged his torso clean. 'You don't have to do that,' Gideon told him.

'I expect you'd do the same for me,' Sirius replied, pulling his wand from the pocket of his jeans. He Banished the facecloths into a basket next to the bureau, then stood and shucked his jeans and pants. 'Budge up,' he said, nudging Gideon. Gideon groaned in protest, but moved over so Sirius could stretch out next to him. Sirius took Gideon's hand and positioned it over his erection. 'In fact… You could do something for me now.'

Gideon scrubbed his other hand over his face and rolled over, rising to his knees in one fluid motion. He moved to kneel between Sirius' ankles, lowering his body so he could take Sirius' cock in his mouth. Gideon circled the base of Sirius' penis with one hand, moving it in time with the languid licks of his tongue.

Sirius grabbed a handful of the sheets and clenched his teeth. Gideon had said Fabian wouldn't be home for some time, but Sirius wasn't going to take any chances that Fabian wouldn't hear a peep from Gideon's bedroom. That is until Gideon found the sensitive spot just below the head of Sirius' cock. Sirius let out a long, gurgling moan, and the hand bunched into the sheets jerked violently, tearing the fabric.

Gideon lifted his head and rested his chin on Sirius' abdomen, continuing to lightly caress the other man's cock. Sirius' eyes were squeezed shut, and his teeth were set firmly into his lower lip. Gideon chuckled softly. 'The room's charmed,' he said.

'What?' Sirius asked weakly.

'The room. It's charmed. Shout, moan, tell God I give the best head you've ever had…' Gideon nipped the crest of Sirius' hip, making him yelp. 'Nobody will hear you. Not even my disapproving twin.' Gideon resumed his ministrations, and Sirius melted into the pillows. His other hand floated up to twine in the vivid red hair swirling on the crown of Gideon's head.

Sirius's toes curled, and he dug his heels into the mattress, his muscles tensed with tortuous anticipation. The usual blowjobs he received were rushed, somewhat impersonal affairs. A means to an end. Gideon drew out the process, focusing on Sirius' pleasure. Just when Sirius thought he was going to come, Gideon varied the pressure of his lips and tongue or the pace of his hand. It was maddening. Sirius rolled his hips to meet Gideon's movements, groaning with dismay when Gideon changed course. 'P-p-p-p-please,' Sirius begged. Gideon hummed with laughter, sending vibrations through Sirius' groin. 'Let m-m-m-m-m-me…' Sirius choked. Gideon's movements took on an air of workmanlike focus. Sirius felt the orgasm gather deep in his belly. He ineffectively pushed at Gideon's head, but Gideon refused to budge, and Sirius came, pulsing into Gideon's mouth, shouting mingled curses and prayers.

Gideon swiped a drop from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and heaved himself so he lay next to Sirius. 'How was that?' he inquired, conjuring a glass, then filling it with water. He drained the glass and refilled it, offering it to Sirius.

Sirius managed to push himself semi-upright and accepted the glass. 'Thanks.'

'So?'

Sirius cracked open an eyelid. 'Bloody brill,' he murmured.

Gideon stacked his hands behind his head, smiling widely.

XxXxXxX

If Sirius wondered why Gideon needed such a large bed, he didn't any longer.

Gideon slept on his stomach, arms outstretched, one leg bent at the knee. Sirius turned his head and studied GIdeon's face in the low light of the lamp sitting on the bureau. Sirius never slept in anyone else's bed, not even Harold's, regardless of the lateness of the hour, or how much his knees trembled when the assignation was done. It wasn't an altogether unpleasant sensation to wake up next to someone else.

Sirius stared at the ceiling until his eyes watered. He wondered what bit of poetry his mate Remus would spout about this particular moment. Probably something sappy and dramatic, laced with sadness. Sirius could feel the soft puffs of air from Gideon's partially open mouth toying with the hair over his ear.

Nobody in the Order had a harsh word to say about either of the Prewett twins. They loved a good joke or prank, to be sure, but everyone agreed neither of them had a cruel bone in their bodies.

Sirius could only name a handful of good, decent men in his life. Harold had been one. Roderick Potter, Prongsie's dad, was another, along with Dumbledore.

And Gideon Prewett was a very good man.

Sirius nodded to himself once, as he came to a decision. After all, Gideon said it would be his to make.

'How long have you been awake?'

Gideon's husky whisper jolted Sirius from his reverie. 'A few minutes,' Sirius replied. Gideon stretched elaborately, reminding Sirius of one of those tigers he'd seen in the zoo. 'You take up a lot of room,' Sirius said pointedly. Gideon chuckled sleepily, and slid his arms around Sirius' waist, rolling onto his back. His movement brought Sirius to drape over Gideon's chest. Sirius threw one leg over Gideon's hip, and sat up. 'You can have me,' he said quietly, none of the usual dancing humour playing on his face.

Gideon's eyes lit up and his cock twitched in anticipation. He reached down to stroke his hardening cock. 'You steer,' he told Sirius. 'This is your broomstick.'

Sirius eyed Gideon's penis, then met Gideon's gaze, with a mocking expression. 'Broomstick, eh? Feeling optimistic tonight, are you?'

Gideon stared at Sirius for a full minute before he began to laugh. Snorting with mirth, Gideon twisted his torso and opened the drawer of one of the night tables. He felt around blindly until his hand emerged with a small, stoppered vial. He cracked the wax seal by giving the cork a good, hard twist, then tossed the cork across the room. 'Tell me what you want me to do,' he said, handing the vial to Sirius. Sirius blinked and stared at Gideon. 'Just because you're bottoming, it doesn't mean you can't control this.'

'I know that,' Sirius huffed, dribbling the liquid from the vial on his fingers. It turned out to be a heavy, slippery oil. Sirius held up the vial. 'Got more of this?'

'I've got enough.'

Sirius grinned and drizzled oil over Gideon's fingers. 'Touch me,' he whispered, sliding down in the bed, so he lay on his side, facing Gideon. Gideon slid his oily hand over Sirius' hip and began kneading Sirius' bottom, fingers slipping into the cleft, massaging, but not entering him. Sirius sighed and pressed his mouth against Gideon's, delicately tracing the line between Gideon's lips with his tongue. Gideon's lips parted, and he kissed Sirius deeply, continuing to caress and knead Sirius' bottom.

Gideon held up his hand. 'More,' he grunted. Sirius poured a generous splash of oil over Gideon's fingers. Gideon immediately slipped his fingers between Sirius' cheeks. 'Ready?' he murmured. Sirius nodded. Gideon slowly massaged the opening of Sirius' bottom, then slid his middle finger into Sirius. Sirius inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, eyes fixed on Gideon's. 'We can stop at any time,' Gideon reminded Sirius. 'Just say the word.'

A ghost of a laugh floated from Sirius. He pushed his hips back against Gideon's hand. 'Should have thought of a safe word before we started all this.'

Gideon's face creased in a smile. 'Scone?' he suggested.

'Why scone?' Sirius asked as his breath hitched.

'When was the last time you used the word "scone" while fucking someone?'

'Good point. Scone it is.' Sirius pulled his leg up and threw it over Gideon's waist, then pushed against Gideon's chest until he rolled over on his back. Sirius straddled Gideon, wrapping his hands around Gideon's erection. 'Oh bloody hell…' he groaned.

Gideon's hands stilled. 'Have I hurt you?'

Sirius shook his head. 'I've gone and lost the damn vial. I think it's under your arse.'

Gideon shifted slightly. 'Can you reach it?'

Sirius groped blindly for a few moments. 'Found it!' He held up the vial in triumph that quickly turned to dismay. It was empty. Gideon resumed his leisurely exploration of Sirius' body. 'Check the drawer in the night table,' Gideon said. 'That one,' he added, gesturing toward the one on his right. Sirius leaned alarmingly to the side and grasped a vial just by his fingertips. He twisted the cork to remove it and dropped it next to the bed. He poured a generous amount over Gideon's penis. It slid in rivulets down the plane of his stomach to puddle in his navel. It dripped off his waist, spotting the sheets, but neither of them noticed or cared. Gideon nudged Sirius's hand, who obliged by splashing oil onto Gideon's hand. Gideon swiped his hand over Sirius' bottom. Sirius nodded. 'Ready?' he asked.

Gideon glanced down at his stiff penis, sandwiched between Sirius' hands. 'Oh, yeah.' He looked up at Sirius. 'You?' Sirius shifted, arranging himself to hover over Gideon. Gideon positioned his cock just so and tilted his head back. 'Whenever you're ready.'

Sirius took a deep breath and lowered himself onto Gideon with excruciating deliberation. It made his toes curl. Gideon's jaw clenched with the effort to restrain his impulse to thrust. Once Gideon was sheathed completely inside him, Sirius' head fell back and he swayed slightly with the resulting head rush. Gideon grasped him lightly around the waist. 'Steady on, mate.'

'I blame you,' Sirius gasped. Gideon's reply was a soft chuckle. 'As well you should,' Gideon breathed. He pried the vial from Sirius' nerveless fingers. It was empty. Gideon stretched out one arm and just barely managed to pluck another vial from the drawer. He pulled the cork out with his teeth, and turned his head to the side and spat it out on the pillow. He carelessly poured the contents over Sirius' cock, wrapped his fingers around it, and lightly moved his fist up and down the slippery skin. 'Oh, Christ,' Sirius groaned. Gideon moved his hips upward a mere fraction of an inch, keeping his gaze fixed on Sirius for a reaction. 'More,' Sirius urged.

'More what?' Gideon rasped.

'All of it.'

Gideon began to move, just a little, trying to keep his own wits about him, so he could match Sirius' rhythm.

It wasn't easy.

Gideon's fingers began to tingle, while small tremors radiated from his groin. The pace of his hands faltered and came to a complete stop. Gideon placed first on hand, then the other on Sirius' hips. Sirius' hips rocked to an unheard tune, but Gideon soon caught the cadence, and soon began to resume stroking Sirius, adding a counterpoint to rise and fall of Sirius' body. Gideon dug his heels into the duvet and shuddered, his back arching. Gideon's hands briefly convulsed, and he quickened the pace, sensing his end was near.

Sirius leaned forward slightly, bracing his hands on Gideon's chest. He felt his rhythm falter and jerk. Sirius came with a high-pitched yelp. Gideon clamped his hands on Sirius' hips and thrust into him - once, twice - hard and fast, until he, too, came with a deep grunt. Sirius balanced on his hands and knees before he collapsed in sections, coming to rest half on, half off Gideon. 'Now that,' Gideon murmured, 'was bloody brill…' His only reply was a soft gurgling snore.

XxXxXxX

Gideon stirred and cracked open his eyelids. Sirius' head was pillowed on his shoulder. Gideon frowned and reached up to touch a lock of Sirius' hair, just above his ear. It was stiff with some presently unidentifiable substance, but Gideon had a fairly good notion of what it was. He gingerly ran a finger down his own chest, grimacing at the stickiness that coated his torso. He jiggled Sirius' shoulder none too gently. 'Oi.'

'Mmmmmmmmm.' Sirius turned his head, burying his face into Gideon's neck.

'Oi. Wake up.'

'Why?'

'I'm not sleeping like this,' Gideon stated. 'I mean I could, but I'd feel much better if I had a wash. And I imagine you would, too.'

Sirius' face scrunched as he stretched with the extravagant thoroughness of a sleepy cat. 'But so cozy here,' he whined. He pulled away from Gideon wincing as their skins peeled apart with the sound of ripping Spellotape. 'Ugh. Guess a shower would be nice.' He reached up to scrub his hands through his hair, grimacing when his fingers encountered the clump of hair that felt as if it had been glued together. 'And a shampoo wouldn't be a bad idea, either.' Gideon yawned and slid off the bed, shuffling to the bathroom. He twisted the taps in the shower cubicle and the bathroom filled with clouds of steam. Sirius stumbled after Gideon and waved a hand at the bathroom. 'From the outside, you wouldn't expect all this.'

Gideon held a hand under the rush of water from the shower, testing the temperature. 'Arthur Weasley's dad taught us that trick,' he said off-handedly, glancing at the spacious bathroom. It was one of the few luxuries he really wanted when he and Fabian had moved into the cottage. He stepped into the cubicle. 'Come on, then.' Sirius followed, and closed the glass door behind him.

Gideon selected a sponge from a shelf, and lathered it until the scent of bay rum filled the steamy bathroom. 'Turn round,' he told Sirius.

'I'm not a child,' Sirius objected. 'I can wash myself.'

Gideon gripped Sirius' arm and tugged until Sirius faced the other way. 'It's what adults do in a relationship, innit?' Gideon told him, moving the sudsy sponge in circles over Sirius' back. 'They scrub each other's backs in the shower and make sure the other doesn't wear white tube socks with black Oxfords.' He handed Sirius the sponge. 'You can do the rest.' Gideon grabbed another sponge and rubbed soap into it, then began to scrub at his arms and chest.

'Turn round,' Sirius said, poking Gideon in the arm.

'Hah?'

'You just said adults scrub each other's backs, so…' Sirius held up the sponge. Gideon grinned and replied, 'Touché.' He turned and braced a forearm against the wall, feeling his shoulders relax as Sirius moved the silky sea sponge in long strokes over his skin. They scrubbed themselves thoroughly, and Gideon snagged a bottle of shampoo from another shelf. He poured a puddle into his palm, and began to work it through Sirius' wet hair.

'Why didn't you tell me to relax in bed?' Sirius asked, leaning into Gideon's hands massaging his scalp.

Gideon chuckled. 'Ever notice that the second you tell someone in a tizzy to calm down, it makes it worse? My sister, Molly, is like that. Best to let her have her say, than try to tell her to calm down. The last time I told her to settle down, she Bat-Bogeyed me. Had to see Madam Pomfrey to pry the last bogey off my face.'

'She's married to Arthur, yeah?'

'With five sprogs,' Gideon affirmed.

'Five?'

'Bill, Charlie, Percy, and Fred and George. They're twins, the last two. Just born in April. It's why Arthur won't let her be more active with the Order. Otherwise, all five kids would end up with our Auntie Muriel, and she's as miserable an old bat as I've ever seen.' Gideon tilted Sirius' head under the spray, rinsing the lather from his hair.

Sirius blinked slowly, like a child up far past his bedtime. Gideon turned off the water, and opened the cubicle door. He grabbed a handful of warmed towels and gave one to Sirius. Sirius rubbed his hair dry, then haphazardly dried himself, and wrapped the towel around his waist. Gideon strode from the bathroom, drying himself with much more energy than he felt. He stooped and rooted through their piled clothes next to the bed and found his wand. With a few deft flicks of his wand, he stripped the bed and replaced the sheets with a set from the chest at the foot of the bed. One last, drawn-out motion of his wand unfurled a clean duvet over the bed. He Banished the bundle of soiled bedding into the laundry basket next to his bureau.

Sirius dropped his damp towel into the basket and crawled into the bed, naked. Gideon set his wand on the bedside table and slid between the crisp sheets with a sigh. Sirius shifted, as he arranged himself into his usual position to sleep, unable to stop the soft grunt of pain. 'Sore?' Gideon asked.

'A little…'

Gideon reached across the bed and opened the drawer of the night table on the other side. He removed a tin the size of his palm. Gideon prised off the lid and nudged Sirius with his other hand. 'Roll over,' he ordered.

Sirius eyed the bluish-green ointment in the tin. 'What is that?'

Gideon scooped up a dollop of the ointment on his fingertip. 'One of my former lovers is a Healer. He makes this stuff up and sells it on the side. It helps with the aftermath.' He gestured at Sirius. 'Go on. Roll over,' Gideon said briskly.

'Unnnhhh.' Sirius did as he was told, for once. He laughed softly. Professor McGonagall would say - rather tartly - it was about bloody time he did as he was told. Gideon slid his finger between the cheeks of Sirius' bottom, working the ointment into the skin. A long sigh escaped from between Sirius lips, as the soreness began to fade. Gideon's hands were gentle and soft, soothing even. Sirius felt unusually safe and protected. He couldn't recall having this particular sensation before. 'Do you always treat your lovers like this?'

Gideon used his free hand to brush the hair from Sirius' eyes. It had an annoying habit of falling into them. 'You mean do I do this,' he began, tilting his head toward his other hand, 'with the other men I've slept with?' Sirius nodded. One corner of Gideon's mouth turned up. 'Sometimes.'

Sirius peered at Gideon over his shoulder. 'You said something about your brother disapproving of you…"

"Well, yes and no." Gideon glanced up, but continued to carefully massage the ointment into the cleft of Sirius' bottom. 'Fabian couldn't care less that I'm gay. It's you he doesn't like.'

'Because…?'

"Who you are, or rather who your family is."

"Sod my family," Sirius said bitterly.

Gideon reached for the tin and scooped another dollop of ointment on his finger. "This might sting a bit at first," he warned. "Do try to relax…". He eased his finger into Sirius, who hissed at the brief sharp pain. Gideon sighed. "You're not my usual type," he said finally. "I don't do one-night stands. Never have. And you..." He withdrew his finger and wiped his hands in a damp facecloth, then drew the duvet over Sirius. 'And, well, there's talk about you," he mumbled.

'There's always talk about me,' Sirius said dismissively. "I'm not nearly as much of a man-whore as people think.'

Gideon made a low noise in the back of his throat. He wasn't going to belabor the point. 'And your age…'

'I am of age,' Sirius protested. 'I'm nineteen in October.'

'And I was thirty last January.'

'It's not like I'm going to fall in love with you,' Sirius retorted.

'Good. Because I'm much too old for you.' Gideon tossed the tin onto the night table and slid off the bed. He quickly washed his hands, then rejoined Sirius in the warm bed and burrowed into his pillow. 'Besides, it's too risky to be in an acknowledged relationship.'

Sirius felt a pang in his chest, but years of childhood custom and habit left his face carefully neutral. 'Agreed.' He adopted his usual position for sleep, curled on his left side.

'What day in October?' Gideon asked suddenly.

'What? My birthday?' Sirius replied sleepily.

'Yeah.'

'Halloween.'

Gideon snorted. 'Fitting.' He slid an arm under Sirius neck and they scooted toward one another until Gideon spooned Sirius. 'Your mates know that you're gay?'

Sirius exhaled slowly. 'Dunno,' he said after what felt like an interminable pause. 'I haven't told them,' he amended. 'I couldn't guess if they've figured it out.' He yawned widely. 'Maybe they have.'

'Hmmm.' Gideon nuzzled the back of Sirius' neck. 'D'you think they'd care?'

Sirius blinked owlishly at the corner of the pillow under his cheek. Progsie's family probably had as much money as his, but they lived so modestly, you wouldn't know that one of his ancestors invented Skele-Gro or Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. He was going to marry his Muggle-born fianceé in a few weeks. Lots of people would have turned up their nose at a Muggle-born witch, but not Prongsie. He loved Lily with complete and utter devotion. Lily's parents were all right, but her sister. Well, the less said about Lily's snobbish, priggish sister and her doughy dolt of a husband, the better. Moony… Sirius suppressed a sigh. He loved Moony, but never breathed a word to anyone. Moony might not have ever laid a hand on a girl at school, but Sirius hadn't missed the burning in his eyes when a particularly pretty one passed by. Besides, Moony always used his "furry little problem" as a crutch to avoid most human entanglements. Sirius barely took half a second to consider, then dismiss Wormtail. He felt his eyes drift shut and murmured, 'I don't think they'd care, honestly.' The last word trailed off into an indistinct mumble, and Gideon felt Sirius go slack as he drifted off.

Gideon pulled SIrius a little closer. 'Get some sleep,' he whispered, feeling his heart shatter into a thousand tiny pieces.