Hey guys! Sorry it took a while to get this chapter out to you. School started in September and I just got a job on top of it, so I've been totally busy with everything going towards my new career. I haven't really had the muse for writing lately, so I might throw the last of the chapters all at once just to get them over with. After that, idk how long it'll be before I write anything new. I have a lot on my plate at the moment. That doesn't mean I don't have ideas floating around, and I'm always jotting them down for later ;)

Oh yeah, and last chapter we finally made it to the Wolfstar we've been waiting for aaaaaaall story long. XD I wanted this to be a slow burn, and I think it might have even been a tiny bit too slow, but we finally made it. Thanks for hanging in there until the boys finally got their shit together.

Guest, more fluff is on the way!

Kam, yes, I think Sirius is going to have to do a lot to make this up to Remus, but Remus will forgive him because they need each other too much.

Starrya47, lol XD. I knew you'd have a big reaction, you were so ready for wolfstar.

Alright guys, enjoy! I think if I have a good spare moment, I'll put all the last five chapters out at once next time around, just so I can finally mark the story as complete and you guys don't have to wait around for me anymore. Until then, thanks for reading, faving, watching, etc, and I'll see you hopefully soon. Love ya!

~SXS

FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMER, SEE FIRST CHAPTER AN.


What followed was a lot of talking. Talking and cuddling, as once the pair had started hugging, they were both too emotionally drained to let go.

Sirius swore on everything that was holy to him that he wouldn't let his temper or his love for Remus cloud his judgement anymore. Of course, it was the kind of promise that could only be proven through actions, so Remus had to take his word on it for the time being. He wanted more as a penance for Sirius's sins, but for the moment he would accept an IOU.

Sirius also told Remus, to his great relief, that Severus had been forced to take an Unbreakable Vow, and that even though he now knew the truth about Remus's condition, he couldn't tell anyone about it or what had happened that night. His secret was safe, and this was helpful in reducing the anger that remained.

They also discussed their newly discovered mutual feelings, and what it meant for their relationship. It seemed silly in retrospect that they had both been longing for each other since the year before and had given each other plenty of signs, but neither pieced them together. Now it made perfect sense to Remus why Sirius had never liked Mary's presence, and to Sirius why Remus had broken up with her when things had seemed to be going smoothly.

They decided that it was best to keep things on the down low for a while. Unfortunately, their relationship wouldn't be accepted by the wider wizarding world, and probably not even the Muggle world, simply because they were both boys. Especially after the prejudices they'd received for things they couldn't help, it only made sense to leave this a secret. They were reluctant to even tell James and Peter, and thought it would be better to feel out their views on it before revealing anything.

Being that it was already late when Remus had woken, their talk had gone late into the night. They fell asleep pressed uncomfortably into a tiny hospital bed, and Sirius only got a few hours' sleep before he needed to get up for class. Remus was still in no shape to be attending lessons, and so it was up to him to copy down notes.

"I'll come back for lunch, okay?" Sirius promised, reluctantly standing from the bed. He still had one of Remus's hands, and was so glad that now it was officially his and only his privilege to hold them.

"I'll be here," Remus said dryly, but with a smile. Honestly, he could hardly remember being upset the night before, because spending the last twelve hours wrapped up in Sirius was a dream come true.

There was a silent pause, as they stared at each other with goofy smiles, both thinking about the one thing they hadn't yet gotten up to in the midst of their talking and cuddling. Sirius flushed, but he was ready, so ready, and he leaned down slowly, cupping Remus's cheek with his free hand, and kissing him.

It was a gentle, but meaningful kiss, their lips sliding together, noses lightly brushing, the overnight stubble scratching each other's skin. But it was perfect, and now Remus had a much better idea about what made snogging so appealing.

It didn't last too long, the pair not wanting Madam Pomfrey to catch them in the act, but Sirius didn't pull away fully, letting his forehead rest against Remus's with his eyes still closed. "I love you," he breathed.

Remus's eyes were shimmering as he stared up at Sirius. "I love you, too." He nudged him gently with his nose. "Hurry, I don't want you to be late."

Sirius waited just a moment more, absorbing the feeling of being allowed to be this close to Remus, his Remus, at last, before straightening up. He squeezed the other boy's hand before he let go and then left the hospital wing with one last glance back.

Once he was out in the hallway, he practically squealed and sprinted back to the Gryffindor Tower.

.:~I~S~S~:.

Though he was incredibly eager to be back by Remus's side, Sirius couldn't help stopping Anjanette in the hall after Charms and dragging her into a secluded alcove. He flung his arms around her and squeezed her tightly as soon as they were out of sight.

"This is new," the Ravenclaw said, patting Sirius's back awkwardly.

"Sorry. But the most amazing thing has happened! Actually, the most terrible thing happened first, but it wound up turning into something amazing, and you're the only person I can talk to about it!" Sirius was hardly able to stop himself from pinging off the walls like a riled up pixie. He started to explain everything that had happened, starting from his run-in with Severus and ending in an excited whisper of, "And now Remus and I are together!"

Anjanette leaned back against the stone wall of the alcove, arms crossed over her chest, expression subtly shifting from shock to bemusement. The story was wild, but at least Sirius and Remus had gotten their happy ending. She let her lips twitch up at one side. "I'm glad for you," she said. "I mean, that was the stupidest thing you've ever done. But good job on the confessing your love bit."

Sirius blushed, a mismatched mix of both shame for his misdeeds and happiness. "I guess I needed something extreme to make it finally happen. And to think all this time I was worried about losing him. Well, I almost did, but that doesn't matter anymore. Merlin, I'm so happy I can't even form coherent thoughts." He sighed dreamily and slumped to the opposite wall, using it to keep him from sliding to the floor.

Anjanette grinned, quirking a brow. "Better than endless pining and suffering."

Sirius beamed. "Of course." His expression then softened to one of sincerity. "Thanks for being there for me in the meantime."

The Ravenclaw shrugged. "That's what friends do, yes?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can't thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch date." The boy then gave her another squeeze, unable to help himself, before he disappeared. Anjanette blinked and then rolled her eyes before heading out of the alcove after him. She caught sight of Sirius nearly frolicking down the hall after he'd happened to bump into his brother and share a hug with him. Regulus looked just as frazzled as she felt with the sudden affection, as he and Sirius hadn't hugged in quite some time.

"Who put Pepper-Up Potion in his juice?" the Slytherin asked as he approached.

"No clue," Anjanette lied easily. "Ready for lunch?"

Regulus nibbled his lip. "Actually, Severus asked if I would meet him in the common room. He wants to talk to me about something."

"Oh. Well, alright then." She nodded once. "See you later." Then she headed for the Great Hall. Regulus felt a twinge of regret, but he had already promised Severus. They would eat together tomorrow. Turning around, he made his way down to the dungeons to meet his Housemate.

.:~I~S~S~:.

Once there, he found not only Severus, but a few other Slytherins as well, perched on various pieces of furniture and watching him expectantly as he walked into the common room. He felt slightly uneasy. Mulciber, Avery, Rabastan, Evan…Just a few of the newer 'friends' Severus had gained in the last year or so.

"Um…What's going on?" he asked. He suddenly had a flashback to the last time a group of his Housemates had looked at him this way, which had escalated quickly into his being surrounded and bullied.

"Nothing," Mulciber said easily. "Have a seat." Regulus frowned but moved slowly into one of the open arm chairs. "No need to look so nervous."

"I'm not nervous," he immediately denied, though he was sure they could tell he was fibbing. He met eyes with Severus, trying to ask silently what was happening, but the other boy gave him nothing.

"Snape seems to think that it's about time we tell you about our little group," Avery said. "He won't really say why, only that it has to do with why he got taken out of being Prefect." Severus sneered in annoyance, though it wasn't directed at anyone.

Regulus could already tell where this was going, and he really didn't want any part of it. "What does you not being a Prefect have to do with me?"

Severus suddenly spoke vehemently. "It's time you officially separate yourself from that blood-traitor you call a brother, and all his warped friends." That still didn't make any sense to the younger Black, unless Sirius had done something to Severus recently that really pissed him off.

"But I hardly even talk to him anymore," Regulus said, with a pang of guilt. There were times when he missed the closeness he used to have with Sirius. Even though they would speak here and there in the halls or at home, their relationship had become less sibling and more cousin-like, and it left a certain emptiness. They were growing different in the passing years, being in different Houses, having different friends, interests, and opinions, but that didn't mean that he didn't still love him.

"That's not enough. You haven't shown yet where your loyalties lie," Mulciber clarified with a dark smile. "You're a Black. Your family is one of the most famous in magical history and there are certain…standards you're supposed to follow."

Yes, this was exactly what Regulus had feared. He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair defensively, and shot Severus a glare for bringing him to this ridiculous intervention. "I don't think I've been doing anything that goes against my family's beliefs."

Avery stood and approached, looking slightly manic. "It's not just about traipsing along blindly. You've got to be active. You've got to get out there and fight for what you believe in!"

"I'm sure you've been keeping up with the news," Mulciber said, standing as well. "The Dark Lord is bringing around a new era, an era of magical superiority, and we're the instruments of his change." Whatever façade of confidence Regulus might have been wearing was quickly breaking down.

"He needs us," Avery added, still far too close for Regulus's comfort. "All purebloods are being called to serve. There isn't much we can do from school, but he's expecting us as soon as we're able."

Regulus finally looked at Evan and Rabastan, who had been silent the entire time. It was obvious who was running this junior Death Eater club, but he had to wonder if they were as enthused as Mulciber and Avery or if they'd been dragged in themselves. Neither looked particularly one way or the other.

"The world is being born anew," Avery continued forebodingly. "You had best find your place in it soon. Mudbloods and their sympathizers will not be spared."

"We'll be expecting you at our meeting Sunday," Mulciber said with finality. "Seven on the seventh floor across from the Barnabas tapestry. The password is 'viper'." Without waiting for Regulus to speak, he then left the room with Avery, Evan, and Rabastan automatically following. Regulus and Severus were left alone.

The former waited a beat after the door to the common room had closed before he looked at the latter, bewildered. "What the bloody hell was that?!"

The hook-nosed boy seemed to think that the whole event was nothing out of the ordinary, by the look on his face. "They've been asking when you would finally be ready to join. After this weekend, I felt it was the right time."

Regulus frowned, annoyed and anxious about having been signed up against his will. "Whatever Sirius did to you has nothing to do with me being a part of this. If you're afraid I'm going to turn out like him, you shouldn't be. I thought you would know that by now."

Severus raised a brow. "I would expect you'd be joining up anyway, once you have the chance. Your parents would surely be proud of your involvement."

Regulus pursed his lips. His parents had been talking to him about the 'great things' that the Death Eaters had been doing to 'save' magical kind. But they hadn't suggested that he get involved.

Yet.

"How are you even a part of this?" Regulus deflected. "You're a half-blood."

Severus nearly snarled. "I didn't choose my lineage, but I do choose my beliefs. Muggles are horrible. Jealous of our power, scared of what it can do. They weaken magic with their useless blood and given the choice would see us destroyed."

This was becoming too uncomfortable for Regulus. He did see some truth in Severus's feelings. He was proud to be a pureblood and felt a certain sense of superiority because of it. Plus, Muggles that knew about magic did tend to be intimidated by it, and genetically it only made sense that Muggle blood would dilute magical. But to go to the extreme level of the Death Eaters' actions was another story entirely. "What if I don't go to the meeting Sunday?"

"Now that they've told you, you must go. If you don't you essentially label yourself as a Mudblood supporter," Severus said.

That's what he'd been afraid to hear.