Update, ahoy! Thank you very much to my wonderful reviewers! If I'm honest, this is probably my first serious attempt at writing a romance story and I'm a little nervous. Your positive feedback was definitely a big encouragement :D Just so you know, I plan to update every Wednesday. I have a couple more chapters that I've already written and would love to give to you all but I'm unwilling to set a standard of nightly updates or something because I won't be able to keep up with it, especially when the school year starts. That said, I hope you can forgive me for a week's wait! Enjoy!


Remus supposed it terribly feminine to lay awake for half the night wondering what his other half was doing now. Unfortunately, his mind couldn't be distracted. Christine had been his first girlfriend, embarrassingly so considering his age, and for a while there he'd been truly happy. Christine was amazing, beyond that she was enviable. Just a little shorter than him, which was impressive given his recent growth spurts, with hair like honeycomb and thick lashed blue eyes. His heart panged uncomfortably as he damned himself over and over for screwing it up. But then again, he had the right to choose, and he'd chosen right... Hadn't he?

Mercifully, his thoughts were cut short before they entered dangerous regret territory. A shaggy head appeared, poking in through his curtains, eyes wide from the dark and a lack of glasses.

"You awake, Rem?" he asked in James's best attempt of a whisper. Sadly, James Potter had never mastered the art of being quiet.

"Yeah, what's up?" Remus actually whispered.

"Can I come in?"

However, he already had, closing the curtains behind him and muttering a quick silencing charm.

"Shove over, mate." he spoke at a normal volume now, "Want a tart?"

Remus shifted over in bed to allow James to slip under the covers next to him and shook his head at the offered miniature treacle tart.

"No thanks. Where'd you get them, anyway?"

James shoved the last tart in his mouth, "Pe'e brough' em back f'om dinn'r."

Remus snorted at his friend's antics, instantly comforted. He always felt that way around James, whose easy going, sometimes tactless mannerisms always seemed to be what he needed at the time.

"So, what can I do for you?" he asked once James had swallowed his mouthful.

James shot him an exasperated look, "Please, do I even have to tell you."

Remus raised an eyebrow.

"Fill me in!" he shouted.

Remus sighed. Of course James would want all the details. For all the rugged Quidditch playing and mischievous prank pulling, James sure could gossip like a girl.

"What do you know?"

"Just that you're done with Christine and Sirius did something to piss her off." James recalled, making a face, "I hate being uninformed."

"Wow, that's all? Careful James, I think things are happening in this school without you knowing!" Remus said sarcastically, dodging the punch that followed.

"Poke fun all you want, but I know that the only way to avoid being squashed by the rumor mill is to turn it yourself. You can quote me on that if you want."

Remus laughed as he settled further into his pillows.

"So," James asked, voice softening, "What happened?"

"Well, you know how Christine was going home to her parents' last weekend?"

James nodded, "Yeah, she said he dad was really ill."

Remus rolled his eyes, "Turns out it was actually one of her Muggle friend's birthday and she wanted to go to a party. I dunno how she got her parents to agree to signing her out for the weekend, they're supposed to be really strict. But anyway, one of her old boyfriends was there and she'd apparently had so lot to drink... Well, you know."

James's jaw was almost brushing the quilt. Remus nodded.

"What a cow!" he exclaimed after a moment of stunned silence, "Who told you?"

"That's the weirdest thing," Remus enthused, "She did!"

James groaned, "Oh, let me guess, she did the whole 'Oh, I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself, but I think the important thing is that I came to you first' routine?"

Remus laughed at James's impression but shook his head, "More like the 'I slept with my ex boyfriend at a party, deal with it' thing."

James gave a low whistle, "Wow... What a piece of work, that girl... So what about Padfoot, what did he do to piss you off?"

"Well, I don't really know the full story. All I know is that Christine gave me one hell of a slap for it. Apparently Sirius let slip to Dumbledore that Christine was skiving school for a birthday party and she got in a ton of trouble."

James laughed and, now that his head was clear, his face wasn't sore and he'd heard Sirius's side, Remus couldn't help but join in.

"Serves her right mate, she had that coming."

Remus sighed gently, "I suppose she did. I guess I just felt bad, considering all the times we've snuck out. And she's got a bit of a reputation with the teachers for being pretty harmless and now that's ruined. I shouldn't have gotten so mad at Sirius, he was only standing up for me."

James shrugged, "He's over it, I guarantee. He doesn't hold grudges often, our Padfoot. At least, not with us."

With that James, slipped out from the covers and stood up, "Well, I'm off to bed."

"Night, James."

"G'night." he waved a hand, "Oh, and hey... Don't get too caught up in this whole Christine thing. You deserve a whole lot better and you know it."

"Thanks mate..."

James lifted the charm with a flick of his wand and disappeared behind the curtains, leaving Remus to his marginally lighter hearted thoughts. He pulled the covers up to his chin, smiling into the darkness and allowed his eyes to drift shut. Yes, James was right, Christine had done a horrible thing and it wasn't his fault at all. In the back of his mind, Remus distantly noted how easily he seemed to have gotten over the girl. Perhaps he wasn't so smitten after all. But then why did he still feel that odd clench in his heart?

Just as he was about to discard that thought and drift off, however, another silencing charm alerting him to the presence of another visitor.

"Remus?"

This voice was hesitant and careful, like a puppy slinking back to it's owner after peeing on the carpet. Remus had to fight back a laugh as he opened his eyes and identified his visitor to be Sirius.

"What's up, Siri?" he asked wearily, lethargy finally catching up with him.

In stark contrast to James, Sirius climbed slowly onto the edge of his bed, perching carefully on his knees and peering owlishly down at Remus. Remus frowned worriedly. Normally Sirius would behave similarly to James, settling right in with no hesitation. This strange Sirius hesitated, biting his lip nervously.

"Are you okay?" Remus asked, propping himself up on his elbows.

Sirius nodded and spoke uneasily, "Yeah, I guess. I just... I wanted to ask you something."

Remus raised his eyebrows, "Of course, you can ask me anything, you know that."

Sirius took a breath, stressing his lip for another moment before speaking.

"Can I call you Moony again?"

Remus couldn't help the affectionate laugh that spilled out, "Of course, Padfoot."