Content Warning: Homophobic language/actions. I don't think this way but certain characters do; Underage Drinking; Kissing/Making out

Disclaimer: There is a scene in this chapter that you will recognize. J.K Rowling's original scene from Order of the Phoenix is used. Obviously, it's not mine and I did change the POV and some other minor things.

"Alright," Marlene groaned as she and Dorcas climbed the fourth flight of stairs from the dungeon to Gryffindor Tower. "There has got to be a shortcut. I'm so tired of these bloody stairs all the time. We're wizards for Merlin's sake! Why don't we have… I dunno, flying carpets or something to bring us to class?" She slumped against the railing and sighed dramatically. "I can't go any further. You'll have to carry me."

The darker girl laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not carrying you, you lazy git. Besides, you're nearly a foot taller than I am! Why should I carry you?"

Marlene giggled and prodded her girlfriend's leg with the tip of her sneaker. "Because it was your bloody idea to take Slughorn's OWL study course all the way in the dungeons. So it's your fault my legs have turned to jelly and I'll be forced to kip out on the stairs," she smirked.

Rolling her brown eyes, Dorcas smiled and stepped close, standing on tiptoe to kiss Marlene's lips. "I suppose I'd just have to stay with you then. Can't have you sleeping alone on the stairs all night," Her hands rested on the taller girl's waist. "Sorry about your jelly legs, love."

The blonde pouted prettily and hummed. "Whatever will you do to make it up to- oh bloody…ugh! I hate this castle!" She whined as the staircase began to shift and move, bringing them completely off course to the abandoned third floor. Marlene scoffed. "Lovely."

Dorcas sighed and shrugged, never one to complain and always a glass-half-full sort of person. "It is what it is. If you hadn't stopped to throw your theatrics we'd be halfway to the dorm by now, you know," she took her girlfriend's hand. "Come on then."

Marlene made more frustrated noises as she allowed herself to be pulled along. "Where are we going?"

Dorcas led her down a darkened corridor. "Somewhere to make you stop your whining, Marley," she teased lightly, finding an empty closet and pulling the other girl in with her.

Marlene raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow and smirked. "This is a closet, Dorcas."

"Very clever. Shall I give you a gold star?" Said Dorcas flatly, lighting her wand and setting it down on an empty shelf.

Marlene leaned against the wall with a smug smirk and shook her head. "Had me a star once. Turned out we were both flaming queers," she let her eyes give the shorter girl a once over. Dorcas snorted, stepping closer, and wrapped her arms around Marlene's neck. Marlene's tongue darted out to wet her lips and she smiled. "Trying to seduce me, Meadowes?"

Dorcas giggled and kissed the corner of her mouth. "Perhaps a little…"

Marlene sighed. "You know, it took us long enough to get out of the closet, I can't imagine why you'd want to be back in-"

"Shut up and kiss me, Marley," Dorcas laughed, cupping the other girl's face and bringing her down so their lips met.

After a few minutes, Marlene pulled away abruptly, looking concerned.

Dorcas frowned. "Wha-"

"Shh… I hear someone out there," whispered Marlene. Their eyes met and they both stifled a giggle at the idea of being caught by a prefect or professor, snogging in a closet. "Shh!" Marlene hissed as Dorcas let out a tiny squeal.

"But what if it's just Lily or Remus?" She grinned, thinking of the looks on their Prefect Friends' faces, finding them like this. Marlene shook her head. The muffled sounds of someone talking outside the door were more than just two people. Something in her gut felt wrong. She held her breath.

The door flung open with a loud bang and there stood four Slytherin boys, all wearing equally sickening grins.

Mulciber chuckled darkly. "Well look what we've got here! A couple of Gryffinwhores having some fun…"

The other boys laughed and Marlene quickly grabbed her wand from her belt.

"Expelliarmus!" Another boy, Avery, shouted and Marlene's wand flew from her hand Avery caught it in mid-air with a smirk.

Nott came around and grabbed Marlene, holding her arms behind her back while Avery did the same to Dorcas. "And where's your wand, Meadowes?" He hissed in her ear.

"Here it is," said the fourth boy, he had his hood up as he stepped past them into the closet and took Dorcas' wand from the shelf, stuffing it into his back pocket.

"Well," said Mulciber briskly, his grinning face giving both girls the chills. "Not quite the Gryffindor queers we were out looking for… lucky for me, I'm not particular…" he looked to the hooded boy. "Sorry to disappoint you, Severus. I know you were hoping to give Black and Lupin the lesson they deserve. Will these do for now?" He gestured to Marlene and Dorcas who were both struggling to get away from Avery and Nott, who had stopped both girls' cries for help with silencing charms.

Severus lowered his hood and gave a dismissive shrug. "Makes no difference to me. Let it be a warning to them. Or practice for us…"

Mulciber let out a sinister laugh, shaking his head. "I've got to admit, Severus, you're really starting to impress me," he turned his gaze back to the struggling girls before him. He tutted and shook his head. "Oh, this won't do. They are far too feisty. Typical Gryffindors, we'll have to put a stop to all that squirming about. Severus, a little assistance? Since this is your magic after all."

Both Severus and Mulciber raised their wands to Marlene and Dorcas, who watched with horror, letting out silent screams.

"Levicorpus!" With a flash of light from both of their wands, Marlene and Dorcas were lifted into the air upside down.

The four Slytherins surrounded them, watching with amusement and taunting sneers. Mulciber looked at Snape. "So? What do you want to do to them next, Severus?"

Severus smirked, gazing up thoughtfully as he twirled his wand in his hand.

—-

James leaned against the wall just outside the Transfiguration classroom. He wondered what time it was. How much longer could Minnie possibly keep Sirius in detention when he himself had been let go from filing Filch's records a solid fifteen minutes ago? All they had done was blown up a few suits of armor… and the first years had enjoyed the fireworks once the scare wore off…

Finally, the door to the office opened and Sirius sauntered out. "A pleasure as always, my sweet!" He called over his shoulder and James could picture the disapproving look on the Professor's face. Sirius was still snickering as the door closed behind him.

James grinned. "Nice date with the missus, Padfoot?"

"Oh lovely," Sirius sighed blissfully. "Nothing quite as romantic as sorting sewing needles from porcupine needles for an hour and a half," he held up his hands to show several bandaged fingers. "What about you?"

"Filing Filch's school records. You win," he chuckled, reaching into his pocket and passing Sirius a few cigarettes. "Nicked these for us. Found it in one of Filch's drawers."

Sirius clapped him on the shoulder. "Excellent. Moony'll be thrilled that we finally have our own instead of smoking all of his," Sirius brought one up to his lips, lighting it with his wand. "Nice work, Prongs."

"As always, of course," James replied cockily. They were headed toward Gryffindor tower when Sirius made an odd turn towards a different staircase. James frowned. "Where are you going?"

Sirius took the map out of his pocket and unfolded it. "Let's find Moony and have a smoke, yeah? His rounds are nearly over," he pointed his wand at the blank parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The dark inky lines began to appear. Both James and Sirius grinned down at their masterpiece.

"Such a brilliant idea to use that security on it," James muttered, still bewildered at their own genius.

Sirius smirked. "I'm not just in love with Moony for his looks, mate. That boy's brain is hot as hell." He made a content sound and bit his lip.

James rolled his eyes and went back to scanning the map. He snorted. "Oi! Look, Wormy's in the bloody astronomy tower with Emmeline!"

"Go, Pete!" Sirius Laughed, watching the dot labeled Peter Pettigrew inch closer to the one labeled Emmeline Vance.

James chuckled. "Where's Moony supposed to be stationed tonight?"

"Err… fourth floor, I think. Right around-" Sirius paused, eyes going slightly wide. "Hey, Prongs take a look over here," he took his forefinger and dragged it along the deserted third-floor classrooms, and rested it on two dots labeled Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadowes.

James whistled and smirked but Sirius smacked his arm. "No… look," his finger moved from Marlene and Dorcas to a tight huddle of dots heading down the corridor in their direction, labeled Rowan Mulciber, Killian Avery, Jason Nott, and Severus Snape. The group of Slytherins continued to get closer to the two girls.

"Let's go," James insisted hurriedly, pulling Sirius by the arm. Sirius hesitated.

"We're not supposed to get involved with Snape's shit, Prongs…"

James groaned. "Now you suddenly want to play by the rules? Let's go, Padfoot! Marlene and Dorcas could be in danger! Moony won't fault you for that!" He pulled Sirius' arm again and this time the boy followed, folding the map and stuffing it into his pocket.

They quickly made their way up the stairs to the abandoned third-floor corridor. Sirius paused for a moment and James skidded to a stop. "What-?"

"Shh!" Sirius hushed him, listening carefully and grateful once again for his animagus form's heightened sense of hearing. He moved up against the stone wall and peeked around the corner.

There they were.

Two boys were holding the struggling girls while the other two spoke among themselves. Sirius strained to hear but he couldn't. He motioned for James to follow and they carefully moved closer, both silently cursing the fact that they hadn't brought the Cloak to detention. They ducked behind a suit of armor.

Mulciber was speaking to a boy who still had his hood up. "Not quite the Gryffindor queers we were out looking for… lucky for me, I'm not particular…" he looked to the hooded boy. "Sorry to disappoint you, Severus. I know you were hoping to give Black and Lupin the lesson they deserve. Will these do for now?"

Sirius' jaw dropped and the color drained from his face. James stared on in disbelief.

"Makes no difference to me. Let it be a warning to them. Or practice for us…" Came Snape's drawling voice as he lowered his hood. Both James and Sirius' hands clenched their wands tightly, ready to attack.

Mulciber laughed and shook his head. "I've got to admit, Severus, you're really starting to impress me," he turned his gaze back to Marlene and Dorcas. "Oh, this won't do. They are far too feisty. Typical Gryffindors, we'll have to put a stop to all that squirming about. Severus, a little assistance? Since this is your magic after all."

"Levicorpus!"

The Slytherins laughed as the girls were lifted into the air with a flash of light.

"So? What do you want to do to them next, Severus?"

Snape took a step closer, twirling his wand between his fingers. James and Sirius exchanged a definitive look and nodded. They jumped out from behind the armor.

"Expelliarmus!" Both Snape's and Mulciber's wands flew from their hands and landed somewhere down the corridor. Avery and Nott looked to James and Sirius, then to each other, and ran off down the hall.

Sirius and James stood firmly with their wands raised and pointed at Snape and Mulciber.

"I suggest you take a hint from your mates and get the hell out of our sight," James snarled, eyes narrowed on Severus specifically. Mulciber smirked and raised both hands in surrender.

"Alright, Potter," he took a step back, still grinning eerily. "We're done here. For now," he nodded to Severus. "Come along, Severus."

Snape was glaring daggers at Sirius who was doing his best to avoid eye contact, focusing on the look of relief on Marlene's face.

"Go," James growled dangerously to Snape. "Or fuck what I said to Dumbledore about laying off you. Try me, Severus. I have no qualms getting expelled for your sake."

Mulciber took Severus by the sleeve of his robe. "We're leaving, Potter," he said curtly, and he dragged Snape away.

James watched them until they had disappeared from view before turning to help Sirius let the girls down. He set a cushioning charm on the ground while Sirius muttered a quick, "Finite Incantatem," and Marlene and Dorcas fell with a soft bounce. James and Sirius held out a hand to the girls and helped them up.

Marlene immediately wrapped her arms tight around Sirius and he reciprocated, squeezing the girl perhaps a little harder than necessary. "You alright, Marls?" He muttered against her hair.

She nodded. "Fine," she shuddered and buried her face in his neck. "Godric. How did you even find us?"

"Dumb luck," Sirius lied. "We were just coming out here to smoke in one of the old classrooms, right Jamie?"

James nodded, releasing Dorcas from their own embrace. "Lucky we were. You two aren't hurt and all?"

The girls shook their heads.

"However," Marlene added, just above a mumble as they walked back to Gryffindor Tower together. "If anyone wants to give that little shit a taste of his own slime… I can't say I could argue with that."

—-

James quickly scratched out the ornate L.E. he had doodled on his exam paper as Professor Flitwick called for the end of the allotted testing time. He stood and slung his bag over his shoulder before leaving the classroom and heading straight outside.

Sirius grinned, sliding his arm around Remus' shoulders as they walked. "Did you like question ten, Moony?"

"Loved it," Remus said briskly. "Give five signs that identify a werewolf, excellent question."

"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" James asked with mock concern.

"I think I did," Remus played along seriously. "One: He's sitting in my chair, Two: he's wearing my clothes, Three: his name is Remus Lupin-" he was cut off as Sirius leaned in and kissed him, laughing along with James.

Peter shuffled his feet anxiously. "Er…I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes, and the tufted tail… but I couldn't think of anything else."

James stared at him. "How thick are you, Wormtail? You run around with a werewolf once a month-"

"Keep your voice down, will you?" Remus muttered, eyeing a group of nearby Slytherins as he and the others took a seat under a large beech tree. Remus pulled out a book, extending his legs out in front of him which Sirius immediately took as an invitation. He stretched out on the grass, using his boyfriend's legs as a pillow.

"Well I thought that paper was a piece of cake," Sirius said proudly. "I'll be surprised if I don't get an 'O' on it."

James grinned. "Me too," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden snitch, tossing it up in the air and catching it.

Remus frowned. "Where'd you get that?"

"Nicked it," James shrugged, letting the snitch fly off a little before snatching it back again, much to Peter's amusement. This went on for several minutes before Sirius groaned.

"Put that away, will you? Before Wormtail wets himself."

Remus discreetly flicked Sirius on the nose and muttered, "Bad dog."

Peter blushed and James shrugged.

"If it bothers you." He stuffed the snitch back into his pocket.

Sirius huffed and sat up, looking over the grounds and watching the other students pass by. "I'm bored. I wish it were a full moon."

Remus rolled his eyes. "You might," he said darkly from behind his book. He sighed, watching Sirius as if he could see the restlessness starting to grow in the other boy's head. "We still have Transfiguration. If you're so bored, you can test me… Here," he held out his book.

Sirius scoffed. "Oh please, Moony. I don't need that rubbish. I know it all."

James laughed and shook his head at both of them before scanning over the crowds of students congregating around the yard. Then he spotted him. "I know something that'll liven you up, Pads… Look," he nodded his head in the direction of Severus Snape.

Sirius went still, like a dog who had spotted a rabbit and grinned. "Excellent. Snivellus."

Remus gave Sirius a warning look which Sirius shot down with a significant look of his own as James slowly headed toward the Slytherin. "We won't hurt him, Moons," Sirius praised. "Just threatened him a little. C'mon, babe. After what he did to Marlene and Dorcas?"

Remus shook his head disapprovingly and picked up his book again. Sirius leaped to his feet and hurried after James.

"All right, Snivellus?" James called loudly. The look of panic that overtook the greasy-haired boy was almost satisfying enough. None of his big scary friends were around now. Snape reached for his wand but James was much quicker. "Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand flew several feet and Sirius barked with laughter.

Snape went to make a grab for his wand. James smirked and shook his head. "Impedimenta!" Snape's feet were swept from under him and he face-planted on the ground. Other people were watching now, forming a small crowd around them. James glanced over to the lake where Marlene, Dorcas, Mary, and Lily had been relaxing by the water's edge. Dorcas and Marlene had turned their attention to the scene but kept their distance. Snape struggled, panting on the ground and struggling against invisible robes.

"You… wait!" He growled. "You just wait!"

"Wait for what?" Sirius asked cooly, wand still raised. "What are you going to do, Snivelly? Wipe your nose on us?"

Severus let out a string of curses and James frowned. "Wash your mouth out," he coldly replied. "Scourgify!"

The other students laughed along with James and Sirius as pink bubbles foamed out of Snape's mouth.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

James and Sirius both jumped and turned around. James' hand shot up to his hair as Lily angrily approached them. "All right, Evans?"

"Leave him alone," Lily repeated, glaring at James with disgust. "What's he done to you?"

James' eyes darted to the circle of students that surrounded them, landing on Dorcas and Marlene. "Well," he said. "It's more the fact that he exists if you know what I mean."

Lily shook her head. "You think you're so funny, but you're nothing but an arrogant, bullying toerag! Leave him alone!"

"I will if you'll go out with me!" James said quickly without thinking. He'd curse himself for it later, he knew. Too late now. "Come on, Evans. Go out with me and I'll never lay wand on old Snivelly again."

Lily fumed. "I wouldn't go out with you if it were a choice between you and the giant squid!"

Sirius grimaced. "Bad luck, Prongs…" he turned back to Snape who was finally coming free of the jinx and making his way toward his wand. "OI!" He made a grab for his own wand but he was too late and with a flash of light, a gash appeared across James' face, splattering his robe with blood.

James hissed with pain, his hand coming up to his face and wiping off some of the blood there. He smiled darkly as the memory of what Severus and the other Slytherins had done to Marlene and Dorcas flooded his mind. What was that spell…

"Levicorpus!" James shouted, spinning around and aiming his wand at Severus who was immediately hoisted into the air, dangling upside down with his robes flailing and exposing his underwear.

Sirius snickered. "Not so funny now, is it?" He whispered so only Severus and James could hear.

For a moment, Lily's eyes flickered to Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary and she looked almost as if she were going to smile. She shook herself from it. "Let him down," she requested calmly.

"Certainly," said James, flicking his wand and letting Snape fall hard to the ground. "You're lucky Evans was here to protect you."

"I don't need help from a filthy little mudblood like her!" As soon as the words left Snape's mouth, regret washed over his face. The crowd went silent and James and Sirius' jaws dropped.

Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coldly. "I won't bother in the future. But you may want to change your underpants, Snivellus."

James rounded on Severus again. "Apologize to her!" He demanded.

"I don't want YOU to make him apologize!" Lily shouted. "You're just as bad as he is! Messing up your hair so it looks like you've just flown a broomstick, hexing everyone that annoys you just because you can! You make me sick, Potter!" She turned and hurried away.

"Shit," James muttered. "Evans! Hey, Lily, come on!"

She didn't look back. James shook his head. "What is it with her?"

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," Sirius said.

—-

"Lily, wait!" Severus called, walking faster down the corridor to catch up to the redhead. He hadn't meant to say what he said to her. It was all bloody Potter and Black's fault anyway. If she had just stayed out of it and let him fight his own battles, this wouldn't be happening. "Lily!"

With a frustrated yell, Lily spun around to face him. Her emerald eyes piercing and her face was nearly the same shade as her hair. "What do you want, Severus?" She snapped, fists clenched at her sides.

Severus stalled momentarily, stunned by just how angry his best friend was. "I…" he licked his lips. "Listen, I didn't mean what I said-"

Lily laughed coldly. "You didn't mean what you said? You called me a racial slur, Severus! In front of everyone!"

"But I didn't mean-!"

"But that's what I am, aren't I, Severus?" Lily stepped closer to him. The anger in her eyes had disappeared and now she looked hurt. "Go ahead! Tell the truth! You've said it about Mary and about countless other people who are just like me! Didn't mean it," she spat, shaking her head at him. "I can't believe I've defended you for five years, Severus! Five years! When everyone else told me you were just a vile, dark-arts-obsessed snake!"

"It's Black and Potter's fault!" Severus argued and Lily's eyes went wide.

"Don't try to blame those two idiots for your behavior, Severus! Just because they act like immature little prats doesn't mean you have an excuse to do the same! This schoolyard bullying between all of you has to stop! Not to mention, they did the exact thing to you that you and Mulciber did to Mary! And to Marlene and Dorcas!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF WHAT POTTER AND BLACK HAVE DONE TO ME!" Severus shouted, anger now overflowing inside him as he thought of just how much the other two boys had gotten away with against him. The fact that Dumbledore didn't even know that Black had tried to kill him with his little pet werewolf…

Lily's body shook with anger and she glared at him. "Maybe because you deserved it, Severus," she said quietly. "Potter and Black are bullies, I can't deny that. But deep down under that, they may just be decent people. I've seen them be decent people. They'll grow out of their constant need to show off and be the center of attention. But you?" She sighed. "You'll always be a liar and a coward, following more powerful people for your own bloody protection instead of standing up for what you actually believe in."

She turned and left him standing speechless and alone.

—-

Lily was fuming. Never in her life had she felt so angry. And the sad part was, it wasn't Severus she was angry with. Nor was it James Potter. She was angry with herself.

Five years, she had let herself believe that Severus was a good person, her best friend, who maybe just needed some guidance.

Five years, she ignored the warnings from her friends and brushed off the signs that she herself had seen of Severus' dark obsession and the effect it had on his behavior.

How could she have been so stupid as to believe that she could change him?

"Evans!"

She stopped walking and quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She took a deep breath and spun around. "What do you want, Potter?"

James Potter was standing a few feet away, leaning casually against a suit of armor, but he didn't have the same cocky, arrogant expression he had only half an hour ago. He looked apprehensive. His hand shot up to his hair, no doubt by habit at this point, but he stopped in midair and lowered it. He cleared his throat. "Ev-er… Lily, sorry…" he rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, I wanted to apologize."

Lily didn't respond, she just stared blankly at him.

"Er…" he continued awkwardly. "I just… I'm sorry for what just happened out there. For what I did to Sniv-ah Severus, what he said was out of line, but-"

"It's alright, Potter," Lily interrupted quietly, looking down at the floor. "I… I've been ignoring the truth behind all those things you lot have done to him. He's not who I thought he-" she sighed and shook her head, "He's not who I wanted him to be."

James took a step away from the suit of armor, this time he did ruffle his hair but he kept his eyes downcast. "Sorry, you had to find out that way."

Lily shrugged. "It's my own fault. I knew it, really… I should have listened to everyone else."

James chuckled lightly. "I dunno, Evans. You seem more the type to follow her own heart no matter what people tell you. Stubborn girl, you are."

She tried to hide it, but the corner of her lips twitched up. "Oh, I am indeed the most stubborn."

The boy snorted. "Sirius could give you a run for your money, I'm sure," he rolled his eyes. "Prat would probably teach himself to fly without a broom just because someone told him he couldn't."

Lily actually laughed. "He's going to get himself killed someday."

Potter shook his head with a lopsided grin. "Nah, Sirius will live forever out of spite. Stubborn git," he sighed and looked up at her. "Anyway, I… I had another apology as well."

Lily gave him a look as if to give him the go-ahead and he let out a deep breath.

"Lily, I'm sorry for acting like a conceited git. And for pestering you and…er… just acting like, as you so eloquently put it, an 'arrogant toerag'," he smirked as she tried and failed not to giggle. "I will try my best not to do that to you anymore," he held out his hand. "Truce?"

Lily cocked her head to the side, one eyebrow raised as she stared at his hand for a moment and considered him. She took it and they shook on it. Potter went to pull his hand away but Lily held on. "Wait," she smirked. "What about all of those obnoxious date invitations? That stops as well?"

James chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "That, Miss Evans, I cannot promise you," she groaned but he squeezed her hand. "I can promise you something different though."

"Oh really?" She asked smugly. "What's that?"

He smirked. "You're eventually going to say yes," he winked and let go of her hand, walking right past her in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. "Night Evans!"

She stood frozen, watching him leave. "Good night… James…"

—-

Remus returned from his potions study groups with every intention of taking a much-needed and well-deserved nap. Everyone knew that OWLs were going to be stressful, and he was thankful they had by some miracle not landed within the week of the full moon, but he felt utterly drained. Not to mention the whole scene in the courtyard that afternoon. He groaned to himself. He had hoped that after what had happened between them all and Severus in March, maybe this whole rivalry thing would finally come to an end and there would be peace.

Alas, there was no peace when it came to Sirius Black and James Potter.

Even if Snape had deserved some sort of repercussion for what he and his friends had done to Marlene and Dorcas, and what they were rumored to be planning to do to others, Remus didn't see why James and Sirius repeatedly took it upon themselves to dish out the punishment.

When he entered the dorm room, he was surprised to find Sirius sitting on his own bed, cross-legged between Marlene and Dorcas. All three of them looked up when he closed the door.

"Hi Remus," the girls both gave him a small wave and a smile.

Remus smiled tiredly back at them. "Hey, Dorcas, Marls… er…am I interrupting?"

Dorcas shook her head. "No, not at all. We just finished up studying and came up to have a chat while Sirius waited for you."

Remus' eyes landed on Sirius who was chewing his bottom lip anxiously. Remus smirked. "And decided to try out new eyeliner styles as well, I see?" He noted the perfectly shaped wing tips in the corner of his boyfriend's eyes. The girls giggled.

"Guilty," Marlene shrugged. Remus raised an eyebrow at her and she giggled again. "What? It's easier to test it out on someone else first and he was a willing participant."

Sirius smirked. "I'm always available to be your test dummy, Marls."

Remus snorted. "Dummy, for sure," his eyes roamed over Sirius for a moment. Something seemed off.

Dorcas cleared her throat and hopped off the bed. "Well, we best be off, right Marley?"

Marlene blinked. "Hmm? Oh! Yes," she smiled and kissed Sirius' cheek, giving him a quick hug. "Thanks again, Sirius," she said quietly. Dorcas did the same.

"Yeah. Really, Sirius…"

Sirius gave what Remus knew was a forced smile and bid both girls goodnight as they slipped out the door. Once their footsteps were out of range, Sirius swallowed and looked up at Remus.

"Moony, I'm sorry."

Frowning, Remus placed his book on his bedside table and looked at the other boy. "For what?"

"For what happened today with Snape. I know you didn't approve-"

"If I really didn't approve, I would have stopped you," Remus said matter-of-factly, sitting on the edge of his own bed and watching Sirius. "I'm a prefect, Sirius. If I had wanted to stop you, I would have."

Sirius looked unsure. "But you still haven't forgiven me for what I did and I promised I wouldn't-"

"Sirius, come here," Remus patted the spot next to him on his own mattress and Sirius came without hesitation, but he kept his eyes downcast.

Remus cupped his chin and tilted his face up. He couldn't help but smile. Sirius' eyes looked so bloody gorgeous like this… Damn it, McKinnon… He sighed. "I'm not angry with you for what happened today. I mean… sure, I'd have preferred it if you and James would have just left him alone, but… what Snape and those other blokes did to Marls and Dorcas, and what they've done to other students was really… evil," he shuddered a little. "You didn't go out looking for revenge out of anger or do something terribly dangerous. You and James just… acted like you and James, that's all," he snorted. "Not that that's great either… But you've been trying so hard, babe. I see that, and I'm proud of you."

Sirius' lips twitched up. "Thanks, Moony."

Remus kissed him and felt Sirius' whole body melt as he wrapped his arms around him. Smiling against his lips, Remus gently coaxed the other boy into his lap and laid back against the pillows, bringing Sirius down on top of him. Sirius was still tense and hesitant.

Remus peppered kisses from his jaw to his lips. Then he pulled back and spoke into Siruis' ear. "I forgive you, Sirius."

Sirius smiled and made a content sound. "Why is that the hottest thing you've ever said?"

He connected his lips to Remus, no longer tense and hesitant to kiss him. Remus reached over and pulled the curtain around the bed closed. Sirius pulled at Remus' shirt and he promptly lifted his arms up for him to take it off. Sirius looked up and down Remus' sides. He took note of every new scar, painfully thinking to himself: these are my fault. I did that to him.

Noticing that the fire in Sirius' eyes had begun to fade into guilt, Remus grabbed him firmly by the chin and pulled him into another kiss. Then in a swift movement that pulled a gasp of shock from the dark harried boy, Remus flipped them. Remus pushed back on Sirius' shoulders.

Sirius sighed. "Love it when you get like that, Moony…"

He knew Sirius enjoyed it on the rare occasions that it had ever happened, usually around the full moon. But it always made him a little nervous to have more control.

"Do you," Remus smirked. He kissed Sirius with more passion. He felt Sirius melt under him. A feeling he hadn't felt in what felt like years. He did forgive Sirius, but what he did was a significant disrespect and he needed Sirius to know that.

"Moons, I love you," Sirius mumbled into the kiss.

"I love you too, Pads."

After what felt like hours in each other's presence, they laid back. Remus wrapped his hands around Sirius' waist.

"Sirius…" Remus started. "Although I have forgiven you, I think you still need to work on your little self-control problem…"

"I know, Remus," Sirius replied. "I'm trying, I promise."

"I know you are, Pads. But what you did really hurt, and I know you felt really guilty. You were torn to shreds," Remus paused. "I don't want either of us to go through that again."

Sirius was silent for a moment. He turned to kiss Remus' forehead. "I'm sorry, Re."

"You can stop saying that, I forgive you," Remus chuckled. He then placed a light kiss on Sirius' lips.

"I know, I know, I just… I still feel so terrible and I want you to know that…"

"I do know, I promise. Get some sleep, Sirius."

"AWWWW! YOU FORGAVE HIM!"

Remus' eyes snapped open and he blushed furiously.

Sirius erupted into laughter. "Bloody hell, mate… Thought you were still off studying!"

"Pfft and miss the juicy stuff. Nuh uh," James teased. He poked his head through the curtains. "But for real though, I'm glad you two made up. Even if there were some kisses…"

"Go to sleep, James," Sirius lightly pushed him out of the curtains and they heard a thunk.

"Ow! I take it back, I-"

"Silencio!"

Okay I know I said that normally chapters won't be as long as the last one but then this one is longer, but I can no longer be held accountable for my actions. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it.