The next morning when they all got up, James dressed in silence and rushed out of the room. Sirius and Remus shared puzzled looks and hurriedly finished dressing, and then scrambled after their friend. They found James moodily munching toast in the great hall and plopped down opposite of him.

"Thank for waiting, mate." Sirius snorted good naturedly, reaching for the bacon.

James didn't answer; he glared at his toast and didn't respond to Remus's question about how he was feeling.

"Ah, leave him." Sirius sighed, stretching, "Probably a Lily thing."

James was about to respond to that when a rather happy voice floated from the Slytherin table, "Oooo Sev! I'm so glad we have the same potions class!"

A smooth voice followed Lily Evan's, "Yes, and we also share Charms and Defense against the Dark Arts."

James turned slightly green and stood up. Without so much as a glance to his bemused friends, James stormed out in huff, knocking over a terrified first year.

Remus and Sirius raised their eyebrows but where momentarily distracted by Professor McGonagall handing out the new schedules. To their immense happiness they shared every subject except one. Remus was taking Astronomy and Sirius was taking Care of Magical Creatures. They grinned at each other and hurried off to their first class; Potions.

Arriving with ten minutes to spare, Sirius examined this year's class and mentally noted they were sharing the period with Slytherin. Typical! Snorting, he plopped down next to Remus and tossed his bad on the table, watching with veiled disgust as Lily and Severus made goo-goo eyes at each other…gross!

James wandered in after a bit and did a double take when he saw Sirius and Remus grinning at him. He hesitated and then walked swiftly to the front of the class and sat down stiffly.

"Wha—?" Sirius began before Professor Slughorn lumbered in, shouting directions and waving a sugar coated hand in the general direction of the cupboard.

Remus gazed mystified at Sirius before summoning their ingredients and began cutting a mandrake root, "What the heck was that about?" he hissed.

Sirius began a fire under their cauldron and watched Frank Longbottom and James work together. Their dark haired friend avoided looking behind him. "No freaking idea." The raven haired seventh year settled down in his seat and was content to bore holes in his friends back until Remus shoved some ingredients at him, "C'mon Padfoot, let's just finish this and we can corner James later.

Sirius nodded in agreement and turned his attention to the potion.

But they weren't able to corner James after class. He swept by them haughtily and rushed up the stairs. Severus showed more warmth than James as he passed by, mostly because he didn't give a damn, but still!

Remus frowned and Sirius glared at the door, "He's avoiding us."

The rest of the day was spent James hunting, but the damn man could move! One second he was there and the next he was gone! Remus noted that he was using the cloak to which Sirius proudly withdrew the map. They peered over it during the last class and located James in the dorm room.

Smirking triumphantly, the pair hurriedly made their boxes tap dance around the room, five feet above ground—which caused a rowdy hand of applause from Professor Flickwick—and then rushed out.

Racing up the stairs the two men leapt through the porthole and then brushed themselves off. A quick check of the map to confirm James's position and then they walked upstairs.

"Prongs?" Sirius called, pushing open the door.

"What?" Snapped James, whipping around like a cornered animal.

Remus shut the door and frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing! I'm fan-bloody-tastic!" James snarled, his usually mischievous face warped with fury.

Sirius snorted, "Yea, right." He cocked his head, "Really mate, what's wrong? Is it the Lily Severus thing? 'cause there not worth—!"

"NO SIRIUS BLACK! IT'S NOT THAT!" James yelled, his eyes flashing dangerously, "ITS BECAUSE MY TWO BEST MATES ARE FAGS!"

Sirius stumbled back, his face falling into a stunned hurt look. A distant voice shrieked at him from his memory…

'SHAME OF MY FLESH! FILTHY FAG! ROT IN HELL YOU MAN WHORE!'

Remus took one look at Sirius's face and felt his self-control snap. Taking a few steps forward he punched James Potter so hard that he heard bones crunch. But that wasn't enough. Remus tackled James to the ground and began pummeling him with his fists, his anger blanketing his mind with white hot rage. "HOW DARE YOU!" he screamed, smashing James's glasses into his face, "HOW DARE YOU CALL US THAT! TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK NOW!"

James lashed out with his legs, trying to get the crazed werewolf off him, but it only seemed to fuel Remus more. James finally morphed into a stag and tossed Remus away from him with his antlers, before changing back and racing out of the room, hands over his face.

Remus hit the ground and leaped to his feet, ready to eviscerate any scrap of James Potter in his sight. Whipping his head from side to side he snarled, damn bastard got away! He was considering hunting down James with a sword from one of the suits of armor when he heard a strangled sob come from the corner of the dorm. Turning around he saw Sirius standing there, tears streaming down his face, in slight shock. "Sirius." Remus hurried forward and hugged his friend tightly, inhaling his sent.

Sirius gripped back Remus tightly, burring his face in Remus's shoulder and sobbed heartbrokenly.

Remus sat down and dragged Sirius into his lap, letting him cry on him, "Sirius…don't cry…"

"I-I didn't w-want that to h-happen!" Sirius chocked out, clutching Remus, "I w-wanted to tell him…but later! I d-didn't want h-him to f-find out l-like that!"

Remus nodded, "How do you think he knew?"

Sirius was quiet for awhile, calming down and trying to assess the mess he was in, "Last night." He finally mumbled.

Remus winced and rubbed Sirius's shoulders, "You know…I actually thought he might understand…"

Sirius nodded and straightened up, collecting the scraps of his dignity, "I'm ok…thanks Rem."

Remus smiled warmly and then reached for his wand, clearing off the blood on his hands and the rug, "I'm not going to lie to you…that felt good."

Sirius barked out a laugh and Remus felt relief flash across his mind.

"So what now?" Sirius grumbled, drying of his face.

Remus shrugged and smiled, "Homework."

"What!"

"Kidding!" Remus snickered, "but we probably should go after James."

Sirius felt a cold fury awaken in his core, "No."

Remus looked at him, "What?"

"I said no." Sirius growled, his eyes turning steely, "If the damn homophobe can't deal with us then too bad."