Well, guys, this is it. I'm posing the last five chapters in one shot so that I can finally mark this story as complete. It's been a hell of a ride, and I really hope that the ending won't disappoint, and leaves you with your own thoughts about how things progress in the future years of our darling boys.

Again, I just have to thank everyone so much for all the support for the story, the faves, the reviews, the loyalty. It really means a lot that you stuck around through such a long fic, because most people would probably have gotten bored by now. Knowing that people out there are reading and loving what I've written means that I didn't do it for nothing. :)

Starrya47, sadly all good things must come to an end. That includes Snape getting any sympathy in this story XD For a while I went back and forth on how I wanted to portray Snape, because I used to think he was a sympathetic character, but not anymore lol.

Kam, Regulus I wouldn't say is gullible so much as he's just too cowardly. He doesn't really have his moment of truth until the whole Kreacher business, but of course, I'm not going to reach that point in the story before it ends.

Alright guys. Enjoy these chapters, thank you so very much for everything, and maybe I'll see you in another story in the future. Love ya!

~SXS

FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMER, SEE FIRST CHAPTER AN.


Being together really wasn't a big change for Remus and Sirius. Maybe they stayed a bit closer to each other when they walked or sat down. Maybe they glanced at each other and shared shy smiles and blushing cheeks. Maybe they found excuses to touch when they really didn't need to. But otherwise they carried on as normal.

Well, except perhaps for the snogging. That was definitely new.

Not that they had ample opportunities to do so, however. For two boys who were keeping their relationship a secret from the entirety of the world, including their best friends/roommates, finding private time was a challenge. The Marauders functioned through most of their daily lives as a group, and so it was difficult to find worthy enough excuses that would allow two of the four to escape without questions or offerings to come along. Not to mention that they couldn't even use their own bedroom to spend time together, worrying one or both of their friends might pop in unexpectedly. Even places that were hidden from most of the students and maybe staff of Hogwarts weren't safe enough for Remus and Sirius because James and Peter knew those locations as well. On top of that, if they disappeared for too long without providing a lie, they would be spotted on the map and investigated.

Needless to say, it was frustrating.

The boys did their best, though, squeezing in every moment they could and even sometimes slipping into each other's beds after their friends had fallen asleep at night. Weekends were also a treat, being that they had freedom to pretend to be studying somewhere or going to Hogsmeade. And now that Sirius was suspended from Quidditch, any time that James had practice was free time for cuddles and kisses if they could convince Peter to go spend some time with Mary.

"How long do you think we can stay out?" Sirius asked one Saturday. They had just disappeared behind the one-eyed witch under the guise of going to Honeyduke's for an emergency chocolate run. Which they were going to do anyway, but not before a few quick kisses.

"Probably an hour, maybe a bit more," Remus said, turning towards his boyfriend and smiling. His boyfriend. He never would have thought that he could use that word on Sirius. Really, he'd never thought he would apply that word to anyone but he was so happy that he could. He slid his arms around Sirius's shoulders, looking down into his eyes, which sparkled in the light from their wands. The shorter boy's heart was thudding, the vibrations passing from one chest to the other, and Sirius pushed up on his toes to kiss him.

Kissing Sirius was different from kissing Mary. Sirius had been insisting on trying to grow a 'soul patch' ("I saw it on some Muggle guy when we were at Peter's. It was sexy!"), so his face was scruffy as of late. The sprouting hairs scraped lightly against his skin. His lips were also much firmer, and made stronger movements. Even the feeling of being pressed against him, the shape of his body being more sharp and solid instead of curvy and squishy, made a difference. Not that the physical feeling of kissing Mary hadn't been nice. They were both very nice in fact.

What made him prefer kissing Sirius over Mary, however, were the sparks of excitement, the way his heartrate accelerated, how he felt almost like he wanted to get on a broom and soar, despite his fears. The emotion made all the difference.

Their kisses were long, slow, and full of all the devotion to each other they'd been holding onto for so long and had struggled trying to fully convey. It felt like this was how things had always been meant to be, since the very first day they met and agreed to be friends. Why they ever believed the other wouldn't feel the same they just couldn't understand anymore.

Sirius was dizzy with all the feelings coursing through his body. He curled his hands more tightly into Remus's robes and pulled back, resting his head on the werewolf's shoulder.

"Pads? Are you okay?" Remus looked down in concern and brushed away Sirius's fringe.

"Yeah. Just a little vertigo." Sirius turned his head so his cheek was now on Remus's collarbone, and smirked up at him. "I guess I just can't handle how amazing you are."

Remus rolled his eyes, though he was flushing healthily, and Sirius beamed with pride. He had never been able to flirt with girls before, and now he was coming up with goofy lines around every corner. It just came naturally, and he loved the way his boyfriend reacted.

Sirius kissed Remus's neck right near the collarbone, and the other boy shuddered in delight. He bent his head and Sirius turned his up, their lips meeting in another soft, lingering kiss.

As they pulled away, Sirius put his head back on Remus's shoulder, half-lidded eyes staring up at him. "I love you," he breathed, his chest swelling just to be able to say that to him out loud.

Remus was feeling much the same, and he tightened his hold on the other boy. "I love you, too."

They managed to stay out for two hours before they decided it was time to head back to the Tower, so as not to arouse suspicion. If James or Peter asked, they could always say they stopped for some butterbeer. "Are you sure we can't just tell them?" Sirius asked as they walked. The halls were empty for once, and they dared to hold hands as they walked, though they did their best to cover them with the sleeves of their robes.

"Not yet," Remus said. "We still haven't had a chance to feel them out."

Sirius pursed his lips. While he savored every moment he got to spend with Remus, he was finding it harder and harder to keep up the façade of being just friends. Now that he'd finally been given permission to do all the forbidden things he'd imagined, he was getting greedy. At least if James and Peter knew the truth, they could have more freedom when they were in their dorm. He felt like they were back in second year, when only he and Remus shared the secret of the latter's lycanthropy.

Then suddenly, an idea struck him. "Hey…What if we tell them?"

Remus frowned. "Were you not listening two seconds ago?"

"No, Moons. We don't tell them. We tell them." Sirius waggled his eyebrows a bit, and Remus caught on.

"That again?" He paused. "You think that could work?"

"Seems the best way to get a natural reaction out of them."

"I suppose…" Though he was a bit skeptical. "How about we tell them it's someone else? In case their reaction is really bad."

Sirius squeezed his hand. "Whatever you want, Moony. Just let me do the talking," he said with a wink. The gesture still managed to make Remus blush.

When they reached their room, Sirius jumped right in without hardly getting through the door. "You won't believe who we just saw snogging on the third floor," he said dramatically. Remus rolled his eyes and pinched Sirius's side to get him to reel himself in. The pureblood flinched and pouted.

James and Peter's heads popped up from their homework, the former's eyes alight with a thirst for gossip. "Who?"

"Rabastan Lestrange…and Evan Rosier." Sirius smirked, proud of himself. James and Peter's mouths dropped open simultaneously, and Remus sighed. No surprise that Sirius would pick Slytherins.

"Are you serious?" James exclaimed, and then caught himself. "Don't answer that. But ew, that's disgusting!"

"Because they're Lestrange and Rosier?" Sirius prompted hopefully.

"Well, yeah, but also, like…who would want to kiss another bloke?" Remus could feel his heart sinking into his stomach. "It's probably all hard and scratchy and-" here James fake-convulsed. "Gross."

"How do they…" Peter trailed off, and then his eyes widened. "Oh. Don't they put it…Oh ew!" He shook his head, as if trying to erase the images his mind had produced.

Remus's hands were curled tightly into fists, and he did his best not to show that he was hurt by these words. He had been prepared for a reaction like this, but no amount of preparation could ease the sting. Sirius stepped slightly in front of him, in a subtly protective stance.

"They must think there's something appealing about it. Maybe they like each other's slimy personalities," Sirius said, still trying.

"Then why snog? I mean, I like your personality, and I'm not trying to get into your pants. I can't see why they would waste time with parts that are the same as what they have when they could have something entirely new," James said with a smirk. Sirius grimaced.

"So…what you're telling me is, you're straight," he said.

"I would think that would be obvious after all these years." James then gave him a skeptical look. "You're not…hitting on me, are you?"

"Oh Merlin, no!" Sirius put his hands up defensively. "No offense, my deer-est, but you're so not my type."

James looked relieved. "Why the sudden fascination with gay guys then? Are you trying to tell me that this is why you've never had a girlfriend?"

It was all he could do not to blush. "No, but I was curious as to your feelings on the subject. For me, I'm all for it, because it goes against everything my parents stand for." Which was a useful truth.

The bespectacled boy pursed his lips in thought. "Well…I guess you can do whatever you want on your own time. As long as you're far away from me. I'm too gorgeous for any woman or man to resist and I'd really rather not have any blokes trying to flirt with me."

Sirius raised a brow, highly doubting that his friend would have any trouble from either him or Remus, even if they weren't already into each other. He looked at said werewolf now, whose hanging head and clenched hands made him felt guilty for attempting this stunt. While it seemed that James was at least open to the idea of live and let live, he probably would be uncomfortable living with the pair if they told him the truth. For now, it seemed this would have to stay their little secret.

.:~I~S~S~:.

Sunday night, Regulus found himself in the seventh floor corridor, standing in front of the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy as Mulciber had told him too. Yet although it was exactly seven, he found the hall empty of students and doors.

Perhaps this was a good thing. If he couldn't find the place, then he couldn't be a part of the psychotic group Severus had dragged him into. At the same time, if he didn't show up, would they think he was not a follower?

He started to search up and down the hall for a sign or secret that he was supposed to discover, but the place was completely deserted. Finally, he found himself standing in front of the tapestry again, nervous that Mulciber would accuse him of not supporting the cause. That was when he remembered the password the older Slytherin had told him.

"Viper," he whispered and suddenly where there had moments ago been empty stone, a huge wooden door started to take shape in the wall in front of him. Regulus was shocked, although he shouldn't have been. The school had moving staircases and hidden passages so why shouldn't doors appear out of thin air? When it was fully formed, he opened it.

On the other side, he found a dark room, lit only by a few scattered candles. A crowd of his fellow Slytherins stood in the center.

"Regulus Arcturus Black," Mulciber spoke from directly in front of him, positioned at the front of the group. "Welcome to Voldemort's Youth Preparing to Enter the Revolution. Otherwise known as V.Y.P.E.R." Mulciber brought up his arms to form an 'X' in front of his chest, and then pulling his hands back towards each other, made a 'V'. "For Voldemort and Valor."

The others collectively repeated the action and spoke the words. There was a pause, in which Regulus realized that he too was supposed to do the same. He clumsily copied the motions and said, "F-For Voldemort and Valor."

"Don't look so nervous," the older boy said with a shark-tooth smile. "This doesn't have to be a substantial change for you. Just promise that you'll do anything and everything that Lord Voldemort might assign for us. Understand?"

Regulus found his lips parted in hesitation. No, he did not understand, but he had no choice. To refuse would be to ruin his reputation as a pureblood, to reject the values held dear to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. To refuse would mark him as a blood traitor, and open him to the same kind of torture he'd experienced in his first year. Maybe worse.

"I do," he said softly.

"Of course you do." Mulciber turned back to the collective, and he raised his hands. "Brothers! Who has news of the Dark Lord to share?"

The group was eager, retelling of the latest of the Death Eaters' 'good work'. The attention now off Regulus, he found himself moving to the back of the room, unwilling to participate in praising senseless murder. Severus caught his eye when as he moved, and he looked away angrily. He had no idea what must have happened between him and Sirius, but making Regulus become a part of this wasn't going to get him back his Prefect's badge. What was he trying to accomplish?

On the way out, someone snagged his sleeve and dragged him back inside. Severus was on the other end of his robes, giving him a sharp glare. "What the hell were you doing, Black?"

Regulus frowned, tugging his arm away. "What are you talking about?"

Severus glanced around to make sure they weren't being listened to, and then stepped closer. "I was watching you the whole time. You looked like you were ready to escape at a moment's notice. I can't be the only one who noticed."

The younger Slytherin felt anger bubble in his heart. He was reaching the limit of what he could tolerate. "Of course I wanted to escape!" he whisper-yelled. Severus's expression became shocked and disgusted. "You forced me to come as punishment for something my brother did. Just because I'm a pureblood and have some pureblood beliefs doesn't mean I agree with killing innocent people."

"You shouldn't speak so freely," Severus warned. "If anyone heard you say that…"

This made Regulus back down slightly, and he checked over his shoulder to see whether anyone was still lingering. Thankfully, they were alone. "I don't understand you, Severus. You're a half-blood. Who's to say they won't turn on you in the future?"

Severus sneered and he turned away. "You don't understand. Muggles are cruel and hateful."

"You say that even though one of your parents must be a Muggle," Regulus pointed out hotly.

"That is exactly why I say it," Severus snapped, and the younger boy was taken aback. He suddenly realized he knew nothing about Severus's parents besides their blood status. Perhaps there was a reason. "One day you'll thank me for this," he said more calmly and then walked away without looking back. Regulus could only watch him leave, but he didn't agree. Nothing beneficial could ever come from this.

.:~I~S~S~:.

Remus was laying on his back, staring up at the canopy of his bed in wait. Sirius was just seeing off James and Peter for a Quidditch practice and a date respectively, giving the couple some private time. As he awaited his boyfriend, his mind began to drift to the less than pleasant thoughts that waited for these lonely moments to attack.

Since coming back from winter break, he'd had a lot on his mind to distract him from missing his parents. Sometimes it even felt like they were still alive, because besides the lack of their letters, everything was going along normally. Only in the silence, when the barriers of lessons, studying, and spending time with his friends were gone, would the crushing grief return full force.

It had all been so sudden. He never got a chance to tell them how much he appreciated what they'd done for him. They had been so patient with his condition, had been ready to do anything to give him a normal life. Before he'd known about his acceptance to Hogwarts, they were ready to illegally teach him magic themselves. They tried to give him all they could with what little they had. It just wasn't fair.

Sirius burst through the door, breaking his thoughts. "Alright, we should have a good forty-five minutes before-Moony?" He moved immediately to the bed when he saw Remus's teary eyes. The werewolf hadn't even realized that he'd started crying. "Moons, what's wrong?" He slid into bed next to Remus, pulling him into a hug.

"N-Nothing," he lied weakly, pressing his face into Sirius's neck.

"Moony," Sirius said, tilting his face up. "Come on. Tell me," he urged gently.

Remus's lip trembled and he reached up to wipe at his eyes. "I…I was just thinking about Mum and Dad…" Sirius quirked his mouth to the side.

"We haven't really had a lot of time to miss them, have we?" He guided Remus's head back onto his shoulder and rubbed his back. "It's still hard to believe they're gone."

"I don't want the year to end," he murmured against Sirius's neck. "I don't want to go back to the house and see…"

"I know," Sirius said. "But we'll all be there to help you, and then you'll never have to go back again."

Remus's breath hitched at that. He'd decided that he couldn't live alone in the house, but he also didn't want to leave behind his childhood home. He felt selfish worrying about himself in this situation, but he had nowhere to go. Those who could take him in didn't want him, and those who were willing to couldn't. "What am I going to do, Pads?" he asked pathetically.

Sirius felt his heart ache in sympathy. He may have hated his house and family, but at least it was somewhere to bide his time until September came again. "You have that cousin of yours, right? Arnold?"

"Ernie," Remus corrected with a tiny snort. "I don't know about that yet. Pete's mum has been nice enough to mail him letters in the Muggle post for me. I know it wouldn't likely be a problem to tell him about magic, but it would still be a huge issue once my transformations came around."

Sirius pursed his lips. "Yeah…But you and Madam Pomfrey could work something out."

"Maybe…" Remus had thought about the possibility of coming back to the Shrieking Shack just for those nights. After all, Hogsmeade was open year-round, so it wouldn't be hard to sneak in. It was the aftermath of the moon that he worried about. He hated having to ask Madam Pomfrey to come on her own time. He wasn't supposed to be her problem over the summer. Perhaps she could teach him how to take care of himself, since it was something he was going to need to know once he graduated.

"Besides, it's only for two years," Sirius said. "Once we're graduated, we'll have our own place, and we'll have a space for you to change, and I'll be there to patch you up." Remus looked up, blushing. Living together was a huge relationship step, but for his and Sirius's relationship, it seemed very natural. They had talked about it before anyway, when they were just friends, so it only made more sense now that they were together. He finally cracked a smile.

"I don't think we'll be able to afford much," he said.

Sirius scoffed. "Of course we will. I'm going to be a big shot magical creature handler. Minnie said that I could make a decent living depending on what I specialize in."

Remus raised a brow, smirking. "Why am I not surprised that you want spend your days with dangerous animals?" Sirius grinned.

"Because you know me too well," he said, winking. "What about you? I don't think we ever talked about what happened in your meeting with McGoogly."

Remus sighed. In all the chaos, the offer he'd received during his career meeting had been pushed to the back of his mind. "She told me Dumbledore was willing to give me a teaching position if I wanted it."

"That's fantastic!" Sirius said. "You'd make a great professor. You're brilliant and you're always helping us with our homework. Plus, they already know about your furry little problem. It all works out." He noticed that Remus's expression wasn't as excited as it should have been. "Why do you look upset?"

Remus let his head rest again on Sirius's shoulder, and reached up to pluck at his shirt collar. "I don't want to take advantage of Dumbledore. He's already going against the law by having me here, he doesn't need to support me for the rest of my life."

"If he's offering, then he must be willing," Sirius pointed out.

"Or he just pities me because he knows that it's virtually impossible for a werewolf to get a real job on his own." He could feel Sirius's hands tighten on him slightly, and he closed his eyes, nuzzling closer. "I just wish I wasn't so helpless. Everyone in my life has had to make exceptions and sacrifices for me just because I exist."

Sirius ran a hand through Remus's hair. "You're not helpless, Moons," he said. "There must be someone out there who wouldn't mind hiring a werewolf."

"Sure there is. Especially when werewolves are making themselves look so trustworthy and harmless as Death Eaters," Remus deadpanned. Sirius bit his lip.

"Well…Then I think you should really consider Dumbledore's offer," he said. When Remus looked up at him, unsatisfied, he continued, "Hey, it's a job, and not a bad one either. What else would you really want to do if you had the option?"

Remus did have to admit, he'd not thought too hard about what he would want to do with his life, lycanthropy or not. He certainly wouldn't hate being a professor. School, books, learning, those were sort of his thing, so maybe it was a better combination than he'd originally thought.

He smiled softly up at Sirius. "Alright. I'll think about it."

"Good," Sirius said. "But do it later. For now, you should be thinking about the very attractive boy next to you who would like your kisses." Remus laughed lightly, and he tilted his head so that he could press his lips to Sirius's.


**(AN: somewhere in the castle, unbeknownst to Sirius, Evan and Rabastan were cuddling together and their ears were ringing XD)