Sirius's cold had improved drastically after a little kip. The Pepper-Up Potion had done its job, and though steam was still pouring out of his ears, he looked and sounded much better. His sneezes, though still loud and obnoxious, were fewer, and his energy had returned, leaving him far less miserable than he'd been before his nap.

Remus, watching from the side of the bed, couldn't help but feel a bit envious. If only it were that easy for me, he thought, eyeing Sirius as he stretched, looking far too smug for someone who had just been sick. Remus, on the other hand, was still congested, battling the frustrating feeling of sneezes that teased but never quite arrived, leaving him feeling stuffy and uncomfortable.

Sirius, of course, noticed. He always did.

"You know, Moony," Sirius began, his voice still slightly raspy but with a playful edge, "I have to say, I'm starting to feel much better." He paused for effect, sniffling dramatically and letting out a loud, unrestrained sneeze. "Hh'RSSHHOO!"

Remus winced slightly at the noise. Sirius didn't even bother covering it. "Who's going to catch it?" Sirius said with a grin, noticing Remus's look. "You've already been sick, and it's just the two of us in this bloody house. No Order meetings for a while either."

Remus just rolled his eyes, rubbing at his nose, which was twitching from yet another teasing, stuck sneeze that refused to come out. It had been happening all day, leaving him feeling like he was in a perpetual state of frustration.

Sirius noticed that too, of course. "Having a bit of trouble there, Moony?" he teased, leaning back against the pillows. "Looks like that sneeze has been on hold for a while now."

Remus sniffed, trying not to let his irritation show. "It'll come," he muttered, though even he didn't sound very convinced.

Sirius grinned. "Or maybe not. You're looking pretty stuck there. You sure you don't need me to scare it out of you?"

Remus gave him a look, but before he could reply, Sirius's grin turned a bit more mischievous. "You know, maybe you should let Tonks know about this. I'm sure she'd have a solution. And hey, didn't you say she's 'kind of interested' in you?"

Remus felt his face heat up at the mention of Tonks. "I didn't say that," he muttered, rubbing his nose again, though he could feel the sneeze slowly working its way closer, much to his relief.

"Oh, you definitely did," Sirius replied, his grin widening. "And I think it's adorable. Imagine her coming to help her favourite werewolf with a stuck sneeze. She'd be all over you."

"Sirius," Remus groaned, but the timing was poor, as the sneeze finally decided to make its grand appearance.

"Hh—hh'TCHHH!"

Sirius burst out laughing as Remus, now relieved but clearly irritated, reached for a fresh handkerchief. "See?" Sirius said with a wink. "All it took was a little mention of Tonks. You're welcome."

Remus gave him a half-hearted glare as he blew his nose, but despite the embarrassment, there was a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You're impossible."

Sirius grinned wider. "Yeah, but you wouldn't have me any other way."

Remus shook his head, but even he couldn't argue with that. As much as Sirius's teasing could drive him mad, he knew there was no one else he'd rather have by his side—especially when things were at their worst.

"Alright," Remus sighed, settling back into his chair, "just get some more rest. I've had enough sneezing and teasing for one day."

Sirius chuckled, but he obliged, letting his head rest back against the pillows, still grinning to himself. Remus, though congested and still battling the remnants of his cold, felt just a little bit better knowing that his friend was on the mend, even if it meant enduring Sirius's teasing for the foreseeable future.


By the time evening rolled around, it was clear that being up and about had taken its toll on Remus. He had made it through most of the day feeling better, but as the hours passed, Sirius began to notice the subtle signs of fatigue creeping back into his friend. His movements were slower, and the flush on his cheeks wasn't from exertion, but from the fever creeping back up.

They were down in the kitchen, finishing off the last of their tea, when Sirius caught Remus rubbing at his temple again. His hand drifted toward his nose, and then, with barely any warning, Remus drew in a sharp breath.

"Hh… hh'TKsCHH!"

The sneeze came out quickly, and Remus barely had time to grab his handkerchief. He sniffed, his face momentarily scrunched up in discomfort, and Sirius, ever observant, immediately took notice.

"Moony," Sirius said, his voice sharp with concern, "you're looking a bit off."

Remus wiped at his nose and sniffed again, attempting to brush off the sneeze as nothing. "I'm fine," he muttered, though the congested sound in his voice betrayed him. He stifled another tickle in his nose, eyes watering slightly from the effort.

Sirius wasn't convinced. He stood from his chair with a flourish, moving around the table toward Remus. "You've been sneezing like that all day," Sirius said, placing the back of his hand on Remus's forehead, ignoring the glare that Remus tried to give him. "And now you're burning up again. Low-grade fever, maybe, but you shouldn't be out of bed."

Before Remus could respond, another sneeze interrupted him. "Hh'TSHHHew!" He tried to stifle it this time, but the force of it left him sniffling and looking worse for wear.

Sirius crossed his arms, his expression softening with a mix of fondness and concern. "Fine, huh?"

Remus groaned quietly, pressing the handkerchief to his nose. "It's not that bad," he mumbled, but it was clear that the sneezing and the return of the fever were wearing him down.

Sirius, with his usual dramatic flair, stepped into action. "Alright, that's it," he said, taking control. "Kitchen time is over, Moony. You're heading back to bed."

"Sirius—" Remus started to protest, but another quick sneeze cut him off. "Hh'NGT!—" He pinched his nose this time, clearly frustrated by the relentless tickle. Sirius, taking full advantage of Remus's weakened state, gently pulled him up from the chair.

"Nope," Sirius interrupted, guiding Remus toward the stairs. "You're done. Let's get you back upstairs before you sneeze yourself into oblivion."

Remus chuckled weakly, even as he allowed Sirius to help him. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he muttered, his voice raspy with congestion and fatigue.

"Just a little," Sirius admitted with a smirk, "but only because I'm right."

They made their way upstairs, with Sirius helping Remus every step of the way. By the time they reached the bedroom, Remus was clearly flagging. His fever wasn't high, but it was enough to leave him drained and, much to his frustration, still fighting off the occasional sneeze.

Sirius wasted no time getting him settled into bed, fluffing the pillows and tucking the blankets around him. "Look at you," Sirius said with a grin, "right where you belong."

Remus chuckled again, though his laugh turned into a sniffle, his breath hitching once more as his nose twitched. He raised a hand to his face just in time.

"Hh'TSHHH! Hh… hh'TCHH!" The sneezes came one after the other, leaving him sagging back into the pillows with a groan.

"You're ridiculous," Remus muttered, blowing his nose and shooting Sirius a tired but amused look.

"Ridiculously good at this, you mean," Sirius replied, settling into the chair beside the bed.

Remus rolled his eyes but couldn't deny the warmth of having Sirius fuss over him, even if he wouldn't admit it. As his breathing finally settled, he sank deeper into the pillows, feeling both frustrated and comforted by the presence of his friend.

"You need anything before I start my shift as nurse extraordinaire?" Sirius asked, his teasing softened by genuine concern.

Remus shook his head weakly, his eyelids heavy. "Just… stay."

Sirius smiled, his voice quiet as he leaned back in the chair. "Always."

Sirius wasted no time in slipping back into bed with Remus, sensing the exhaustion in his friend and knowing that, despite any protests, Remus would feel better with someone close. He shuffled under the blankets, his usual carefree attitude slightly tempered by the care he took in getting comfortable beside Remus.

"Come on, Moony," Sirius murmured softly, his arm gently guiding Remus's head to rest against his chest. "You'll breathe better like this."

Remus allowed himself to lean into the warmth of Sirius, too tired to argue, and, if he was honest with himself, too grateful for the contact. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, but his nose, as usual, had other ideas. The congestion still teased him, the pressure building in his sinuses but not quite leading to the relief of a sneeze. His breath hitched several times, teasing at the edge of a sneeze that just wouldn't come.

"Hh… hh…" Remus's breath caught again, his nose twitching with irritation, but still no release. He sniffled in frustration, his nose completely blocked, and he groaned softly in Sirius's chest.

"Bloody hell, it's stuck again, isn't it?" Sirius teased, though his tone was soft, and he gave Remus's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Just relax, Moony. It'll come when it's ready."

Remus didn't respond verbally, though his nose gave an involuntary twitch that had Sirius smirking. He let himself sink further into Sirius's warmth, grateful that even through the teasing, Sirius knew exactly how to help him feel better.

As they lay there in the quiet of Grimmauld Place, Remus's mind drifted, considering their friendship. Anyone seeing them now, he thought, would probably assume it was more than just friendship. After all, it wasn't every day two blokes shared a bed like this, their bodies close and intimate in a way that would surely raise eyebrows. But their relationship had always been complicated, built on trust forged through countless full moons, injuries, and transformations. Sirius had seen him at his worst—naked, battered, bruised, and worse—and had never turned away. So perhaps this kind of close physical contact was just the natural progression of everything they had been through together.

Remus huffed softly, his congested breath hitching once more as the elusive sneeze teased him again. His head felt heavy against Sirius's chest, and despite the frustration of the congestion, there was something undeniably comforting about being so close.

"Anyone else would think this was strange," Remus mumbled, his voice muffled against Sirius's chest.

Sirius chuckled quietly, his hand absentmindedly running through Remus's hair. "Let them think what they want," he replied. "We've earned the right to be a bit strange."

Remus smiled at that, though it was brief, as another frustrated breath hitched in his chest, threatening to release the elusive sneeze, but ultimately retreating once more. He groaned again, and Sirius laughed softly, pressing his palm against Remus's back in a gesture of comfort.

"Don't worry, Moony," Sirius said, his voice soft. "I'm not going anywhere."

Remus allowed himself to relax further, letting the warmth and familiarity of Sirius's presence lull him into a sense of peace. As much as their friendship blurred the lines of what might be considered "normal," Remus knew this closeness was exactly what they both needed. They'd been through too much to care about what anyone else might think.

Sirius's breathing became steady, his arm draped protectively over Remus, and eventually, despite the lingering congestion and teasing sneezes, Remus found himself drifting off, the weight of the day finally giving way to the comfort of sleep, secure in the knowledge that he wasn't alone.


The next day, Tonks couldn't help herself. Despite knowing Remus had told her not to worry, her concern for him made it impossible to stay away. She returned to Grimmauld Place, planning to check in and maybe help where she could. But when she quietly opened the bedroom door, what she saw made her freeze in her tracks.

Remus was curled up in Sirius's arms, still nestled in bed together, Remus's head resting on Sirius's chest. It was the exact image she'd feared—would definitely explain why Remus didn't seem to be interested in her despite her very obvious hints and flirting. Tonks's eyes widened, and her face turned bright red with embarrassment. Without saying a word, she backed out of the room, her boots barely making a sound on the old floor as she hurried toward the stairs.

Remus, stirring slightly at the sound of the door, blinked groggily, only to realise what had just happened. Dora. His heart sank. He hadn't expected her to come back so soon, and definitely not to walk in on him and Sirius like that—completely misunderstanding the situation.

He cursed internally, scrambling out of bed, nearly tripping as he fumbled to get his house robe on, his body still sluggish from the lingering effects of his cold. He still hadn't had a chance to shower, his hair greasy and his face pale, but he couldn't let her leave thinking… well, that.

"Dora!" he called after her, his voice rough with congestion as he hurried out of the room.

As he made his way down the hallway, a coughing fit overtook him, his body wracked with the force of it. He stumbled slightly, gripping the bannister for support. The coughs echoed through the house, and to make matters worse, it set off Mrs Black's portrait, which began screaming from the hallway.

"Blood traitors! Half-breeds—filth in my house!"

Remus groaned internally, but before he could catch his breath enough to try silencing her, Tonks was already one step ahead. With a flick of her wand and a sharp word, Walburga Black's portrait was silenced, the curtains slamming shut. Tonks turned back to Remus, her face still flushed with embarrassment.

"Remus, I didn't mean to—" Tonks started, her words rushing out awkwardly, but she stopped when she saw how winded and dishevelled he looked.

Before she could say more, Sirius appeared at the top of the stairs, having been roused by all the commotion. He glanced down at Remus and Tonks, his expression caught between confusion and amusement. When he realised what was happening, a knowing look crossed his face, and he quietly backed out of the hallway, giving them space.

Remus finally managed to catch his breath, leaning against the wall as he straightened up, though he still looked a right mess. His robe was loosely tied, his hair a tangled, greasy mop, and he was painfully aware of how dishevelled he must appear. But he didn't care about any of that right now. He just needed to explain.

"Dora, wait," Remus rasped, his voice hoarse but steady. "It's… it's not what you think."

Tonks bit her lip, her eyes darting toward the front door as if she was still contemplating running. "I—I didn't mean to interrupt. I just…" She sighed, her shoulders slumping a bit. "I was worried you might be feeling worse after yesterday, and I wanted to check in."

Remus shook his head, trying to find the right words. "I appreciate that. Really. But…" He let out a small sigh, his cheeks flushing slightly, though not from the fever this time. "It's not what it looked like. Sirius was just… well, he's been helping me. I was sick, and he's been looking after me. That's all."

Tonks blinked, still looking uncertain. "I know you two are close," she muttered, her voice soft. "I just—"

"We've been through a lot together," Remus interrupted gently, stepping closer. "Full moons, injuries, worse. I trust him with my life. But it's not… like that." He winced, feeling a bit awkward explaining it, but he pressed on. "We're just… well, you know how we are."

Tonks's lips quirked into a small, hesitant smile, though she still seemed unsure. "I guess I misunderstood, then."

Remus smiled softly, a bit of relief washing over him. "I'm still a mess, clearly," he said, gesturing to his appearance, "but I wanted to make sure you didn't leave thinking something that wasn't true."

Tonks let out a quiet laugh, her face softening as she took in his appearance. "You are more than a bit of a mess, Remus," she teased lightly. "But I don't mind."

Remus chuckled, though it quickly turned into a soft cough. "I'll take that as a compliment."

For a moment, they stood there in the hallway, the tension finally easing between them. Remus felt a weight lift from his chest as he saw the understanding in Tonks's eyes, though he still cursed himself for being caught in such an embarrassing state.

Tonks cleared her throat softly. "I'm glad I came back," she admitted, giving him a small smile. "And I'm glad you're alright."

Remus smiled back, his voice gentle. "Me too."

As they stood there, the awkwardness melting away, Remus felt a quiet sense of relief. Whatever had passed between them, the air was clearer now, and he was grateful for that.

Tonks, now more at ease after Remus's explanation, raised an eyebrow as she took in his still rumpled appearance, and with a playful smirk, she teased, "You know, Remus, you really ought to take a shower. You kind of… stink."

Remus's face immediately flushed with embarrassment, heat rising to his cheeks, though it had nothing to do with his lingering cold. "I—uh—yeah, I probably should," he stammered, tugging awkwardly at his robe.

But Tonks, misinterpreting the redness in his face, frowned and leaned closer, her hand reaching up to check his forehead. "Hold on, let me check your temperature. You look flushed—"

Remus instinctively backed up, his eyes widening. "No, no, I'm fine! Really!" he insisted, holding up a hand. "You don't want to catch this."

Tonks rolled her eyes, unconcerned. "Oh, please, Remus. I'm not scared of a little cold." She brushed off his protest and pressed her hand lightly to his forehead. Finding no fever, she smiled. "See? No fever. You're good."

Satisfied, Tonks gave him a light nudge toward the bathroom. "Now, go shower. I'll grab you a fresh set of pyjamas."

Remus let out a long sigh, a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment as he finally relented. "Alright, alright," he muttered, heading to the bathroom, still feeling self-conscious.

As Remus disappeared behind the bathroom door, Tonks made her way to his room to gather some clean clothes for him. When she opened the door, she found Sirius lounging on the bed, looking more energised and back to his usual self after everything. He raised an eyebrow at her entrance, his usual teasing smirk firmly in place.

"Well, well," Sirius said, his voice laced with mock curiosity. "What brings you here, Nymphadora? Come to rescue our poor Moony again?"

Tonks rolled her eyes at the use of her first name, but she couldn't help but grin at Sirius's teasing tone. "Rescue, yes. But I'm also trying to stop him from stinking up the house. Man hasn't had a shower since he got sick."

Sirius let out a bark of laughter, clearly enjoying the entire situation. "Yeah, I noticed that too. You're doing Merlin's work, Tonks."

She grabbed a clean set of pyjamas from the dresser and shot Sirius a look. "Well, someone's got to. And what about you, Sirius? Are you just going to sit here while I do all the work?"

Sirius gave her a dramatic sigh, stretching out on the bed with exaggerated laziness. "I've been doing my share, thank you very much. But with all this excitement—Remus's cold, and now the confusion about our bedding arrangement," he added with a cheeky grin, "it's been nice to have a break from my usual funk."

Tonks raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she studied him. "Oh, so matchmaking has been what brought you out of it, then?"

Sirius grinned wider. "Maybe. Remus is my best mate, after all. If I can't tease him about you, what's the point of being his friend?"

Tonks chuckled, shaking her head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yeah," Sirius said with a wink. "But you love me for it."

Tonks just smirked and headed toward the door, pyjamas in hand. "Don't get too comfortable, Sirius. We'll see how long your teasing streak lasts once Remus is back to full strength."

Sirius let out another laugh as she left, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh, trust me, I can handle it."

Tonks shook her head, smiling to herself as she returned to the bathroom with Remus's fresh clothes. If nothing else, the commotion had lifted everyone's spirits, even if it came with a little bit of chaos—and a lot of teasing.

She quietly opened the bathroom door just enough to slip the fresh set of pyjamas onto the top of the toilet lid. She tried to be discreet, not wanting to disturb Remus while he was in the shower. But as she glanced up, she could see through the slight gap in the shower curtain, and she couldn't help but pause for a moment. Her eyes widened slightly, and despite herself, she had to admit—Remus was fit. Really fit. What a shame he usually hid all that under baggy jumpers. She blinked, quickly tearing her gaze away before he could notice, her face heating up as she backed out of the bathroom as quietly as possible, closing the door gently behind her.

She let out a small breath, composing herself as she moved back down the hallway, trying to shake the image from her mind. Focus, Tonks, she scolded herself, though a small smile tugged at her lips.


A short while later, Remus emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp and clinging to his forehead, his face looking refreshed after the long-awaited shower. He rubbed at his neck as he entered his room, glancing around. He had some idea how the change of clothes had mysteriously appeared in the bathroom while he was in the shower, and it wasn't hard to guess who had left them.

As he moved through the cooler air of his room, still adjusting to the temperature difference from the steamy bathroom, he felt the familiar tickle in his nose.

"Hh… Hh'TshhEW!"

The sneeze burst out of him before he could even think to grab his handkerchief. He sniffled slightly, rubbing his nose, and turned to find Sirius standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with an exaggerated look of mock sadness.

"Well, well," Sirius said dramatically, crossing his arms. "Looks like my services as nurse are no longer required."

Remus raised an eyebrow, already sensing where this was going.

Sirius sighed theatrically, placing a hand over his heart. "You've got a new caretaker now," he said, his voice filled with playful lament. "I see how it is. Replaced just like that."

Remus chuckled, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his still-damp hair. "You're impossible."

Sirius grinned, the teasing light in his eyes returning full force. "My mission was impossible, yet here we are."

Remus smiled, rolling his eyes as he sat down on the edge of his bed, still adjusting to the coolness of the room. "I think you're reading a little too much into the whole situation."

Sirius snorted, still leaning casually against the doorframe. "Oh, I don't think so. You should've seen the look on Tonks's face when she went downstairs. She's smitten, mate."

Remus groaned softly, though the flush in his cheeks from the warmth of the shower wasn't the only reason his face was turning red. He glanced up at Sirius with a tired but fond smile. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Not a chance," Sirius said with a grin, straightening up and giving a mock bow. "But I'll leave you to it. Clearly, my work here is done."

And with that, Sirius turned on his heel, dramatically exiting the room with a flair only he could manage, leaving Remus to shake his head in amusement. Even though Sirius's teasing could be relentless, Remus couldn't deny that it was good to see his friend back to his usual self after days of sickness and gloom.

Still, as Remus sat there, towelling off his hair and thinking about Dora's flustered reaction earlier, he couldn't help but wonder if Sirius was right.