Disclaimer: All characters belong solely to JK Rowling. If you recognize a scene or a name, it is hers.

Chapter Eight: The Confession

It wasn't until the next morning that Remus realized what had transpired the night before. He had not only let slip that he was gay, but he also told James Potter of all people of his secret crush on Severus Snape. He slipped out of the room, headed for the showers; a hot shower could clear his head for sure.

When he returned to the dormitory, however, it was to an argument between James and Peter. The werewolf originally planned to stand in the doorway for a few seconds and let his friends notice him when they wanted. But he quickly realized he shouldn't interrupt; it was clearly going to go badly either way.

"Yes, James, I took the map last night. I always take the map when I go out alone. You had Moony; he can hear and smell people coming from a mile away!"

"Pete, that's not the point and you know it. And Moony was in the library, not with me." Peter gave him a look of skepticism. "Where the hell were you? All night long, and you're just now getting back. You know, there's a thing called curfew, and if you were caught… You didn't even take the cloak, what were you thinking?"

"Oh, like you'd have let me take the damn cloak. You let Siri take it; you let Remi take it… You don't trust me, I doubt you even like me at all, James!"

"Pete, what are you talking about?"

"You and Sirius have this… this relationship without telling me. Remus is hanging all over that Snape freak. Who am I left with in all this? That thought even cross your mind?"

"Peter, we're the Marauders! Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. Where'd we be without you? You're one of us!"

"No I'm not. Not really. When we decided to become Anamangi for Remus, you two got it down immediately. Who helped me figure it out? No one. I had to figure it out myself, while you two were too busy planning pranks for the Marauders to notice that your friend, who was also a Marauder, was struggling. In class, who helps me out when I need it? Lily Evans. Not you three. And now, Remus develops this… this infatuation with Snivelus and who am I stuck with in Potions? Evans again. How is this friendship, James? I don't see why…"

Remus had enough. He stepped out of the doorway and slammed the door, blocking the exit of any of the three. The startled expressions James and Peter both wore were slightly amusing to Remus, but the seriousness of the situation was enough to stop him from smirking. "Pete, what is this really about? You are one of us, you have been one of us since second year. What's changed? Nothing." James opened his mouth for a second, but Remus talked over him. "Nothing changed, Wormtail. You know you can come to any of us, and we'd be there. Talk to me, Petey. You know that we care about…"

"That's just it, Remus. I don't know that. I wish I did, but it's hard to see, especially now. You're all of a sudden blowing me off for that Snake, and Sirius and James are… well… much closer than they were. That's a change, Remus. A big change."

"I'm not blowing you off for Severus." Peter gasped at the use of the Slytherin's first name, but the werewolf persisted. "You're one of my best friends, Pete. You know that much, I know you do. It's just… different with Severus. I mean I'm…" He hesitated for a second, unsure of whether he should tell his friend the truth. "Okay fine, I told Prongs accidently last night, so I'll tell you. I'm in love with Severus. But that doesn't mean that I don't still see you as my best friend, Pete! I'm here no matter what. But for now, we've already missed breakfast, so we should be headed to Arithmancy, because I have no plan on being late. I don't want another detention. We can talk during the free period after class."

And with that, Remus grabbed his bag and Peter's and, slinging his arm around the smaller boy's shoulder, led the way out of the dormitory. He knew James would follow.

Arithmancy passed without incident. What no one but James and Remus realized, however, was that the werewolf wasn't taking notes at all in class, which never happened. He was panicked about the conversation which would be taking place soon. He had known that Peter was upset at James for stealing away Sirius, but this? This was just crazy. He asked James in a whisper to take notes, but knowing Prongs, that wouldn't happen. It never did.

The three friends, with a small glance amongst themselves, headed toward the Hospital Wing. They knew the odds of Sirius being awake were slim to none, but the remaining Marauders didn't want to have their conversation where it would be overheard. But when they got to the Infirmary, a surprise met their eyes. Sirius was deep in an argument with Madame Pomfrey.

"I know what I saw, and what I saw was Bellatrix standing in front of me, and the next second, I was here, and so were you, her, the Headmaster, and Sn… Snape. He must have done something too! I told you that already!"

"Mr. Black, you did already tell me that. But as I already said, I have evidence that Mr. Snape was with another student at that time." Remus had never heard the school nurse as impatient as she was now.

"Hey, Siri!" Remus sighed as James made it known that they were there. He would have preferred hearing the remainder of the conversation. Madame Pomfrey fixed the three with a glare and left the room.

"Jamie! Was wondering when you lot would show up! About time!" James dropped down on the bed beside Sirius and hugged his lover, and Peter had made a disgruntled face. "Hey, Petey, you okay?"

"Ever observant, Siri," Remus said with a chuckle. "He's still mad at me about Potions. No big deal." Remus wanted to avoid having this conversation now. Not when Sirius had just woken up from unconsciousness. Peter looked at him in surprise, his eyes grateful for the distraction. Remus planted a stupid grin on his face and waited for the inevitable questions, knowing that he would have to tell Sirius about his secret.

"Ah. Well, I still don't know why you'd rather work with Sni…"

"If you call him that, Sirius, I will hit you."

"Oh come on, Moony! I just barely escaped from that git and my deranged cousin with my life! How could you possibly…"

"He had nothing to do with it, Siri. You know that."

"Just because he has a fake alibi, doesn't mean he's innocent, Remus. He's probably lying. That's what Snakes do. Lie, cheat, steal… anything to protect their precious innocent façade."

"Sirius. Shut. Up. I was Severus' alibi. He was with me when you got attacked by your cousin. He wasn't lying."

"WHAT! Did you just call him… Wait, why were you with…"

"I'm in love with him, Siri."

"Again, what? Where the hell did that come from?"

"It's true, Padfoot. I'm in love with him."

"Shit, Moony! I mean… glad you found someone and all but… you do realize that this is Snivelus we're talking about, right?" Remus glared at Sirius. "Okay fine. I'll rephrase. You do realize that this is Snape we're talking about, right?"

"Yes, Siri. I'm in love with Severus."

None of the friends realized that that admission could possibly have been overheard, except possibly by Madame Pomfrey. What they had not expected was that halfway through their free period, the Ancient Runes professor, Professor Babbling, had sent one of her students to the Infirmary to bring back a headache potion.

And so, when Remus heard the door close behind that student and he looked up, he met the obsidian eyes of the one person who was never supposed to hear his declaration. Severus Snape broke eye contact with the werewolf immediately, and went directly to Madame Pomfrey's office, as if he hadn't heard a word. But the boy's conflicted expression said it all. He had heard everything.

Sorry for the ridiculously long time since I've posted. I couldn't figure out how to fix this chapter. I changed it five times. Chapter 9 shouldn't take as long.

How will Sev react to Remus, now that he knows the truth. What will become of the Marauders, now that Peter is expressing his doubts? You know the drill... Please review! xD