Of The

ii.

"Sirius."

Sirius spins round, all smug satisfied smirking, and lifts a brow - ever so slight questioning curving polite - as he finds himself looking, as utterly expected, at a red-cheeked and slightly winded Remus Lupin.

"Oh, hullo there, Lupin," Sirius says cheerfully, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from laughing, laughing because it really is too easy, isn't it?

"The forest is off-limits to students," Remus says, brow furrowing.

"Is it now?" Sirius asks, ever the picture of bloody innocence. "I hadn't the foggiest."

What happens next, Sirius thinks, is brilliant.

Remus, pale peaky pinched little thing that he is, proceeds to do a variety of big things - big in the sense that Sirius is sure he will lock himself in the bath later and flog himself for allowing himself to - gasp! - get a wee bit out of control. He turns colour - red. His mouth gapes open soundlessly like a fish - a very large fish. He then finds a voice - most unlike his own - and summons up the courage cheek to give Sirius a rather sound scolding.

"It isn't proper to ignore school rules, Sirius! The headmaster has told us from the very first day that the forest is strictly forbidden and that we aren't to enter it, let alone go near it. If anyone sees you, you'll have lost even more house points for Gryffindor. Would you like to do that? To lose our house more points? Isn't it enough that James got docked fifty from Professor Slughorn last week, or that Peter got docked twenty from Madame Pince yesterday? Be a little responsible, please, Sirius!"

Well, Sirius probably would have found it to be a rather sound scolding had he not lost the battle with his will to remain aloof and burst out with laughter that had been a long time coming anyway.

"What," Remus says slowly, "is so very funny?"

Hand clutching his sides, Sirius gasps, "You're ignoring school rules as well, Remus."

Remus's eyes narrow for a moment, and then they round at the exact moment the realisation that yes, in fact he is ignoring school rules right this very moment hits him. Oh, but it's all so incredibly rich and Sirius can't help but to crow. "You are. You fucking are, Remus, right now so don't you deny it."

One of Remus's hands flops at his side like a fish brought forcibly out of water and left on the bank to flounder. The corners of Sirius's mouth twitch.

"Fine," he says, his head lowering. "I won't."

"Fucking right you won't," Sirius assures him, leaning back against a tree, bare branch of twisted gnarled sinister-looking brambles just overhead.

Remus lifts his chin and Sirius has to give the bloke credit for holding his gaze. Remus is far from the total sis Sirius had initially taken him far; the kid's got spirit, quiet and constant and true, at the core. "I won't," he repeats.

"What are you doing out here, Lupin?" Sirius asks, as if he doesn't bloody well know.

"Collecting you from the forest," Remus says, eyes rolling upward as he attempts to blow a few locks of mousy brown hair out of his eyes.

"Gonna put me in your pocket with the rest of your collection, eh?" Sirius grins, and the grin deepens when pink blooms on those peaky cheeks.

"You're not quite deserving enough to be immortalised on a chocolate frog card," Remus sniffs.

"One day I will be," Sirius says, all confident puffed-chest proud. "One day there won't be a witch or wizard who doesn't know my name."

"Yes, well," Remus says carefully and Sirius rolls his eyes.

"So, Remus," says Sirius abruptly, pushing himself off the tree so that he can stand toe-to-toe with his housemate. "Go on, then."

Remus's face is a sea of confusion and wonder-wrinkles. Sirius can't stand it, so he waves his hands wildly and barks, "Ask me what I'm doing out here, man!"

Comprehension washes over Remus's face and Sirius inwardly cringes. Lupin is a bright bloke, nearly as bright as James and him, but sometimes he lacks common sense, easily gets off track, lets his mind wander, or simply doesn't comprehend things. He's so slight and sad, too, and often sickly - or so it seems. Every month since they've been at Hogwarts together, Remus has managed to get violently ill and spent several days in the hospital wing all quarantined - or at least that's what old Pomfrey has said every time one of Remus's roommates has gone to look in after him. There's something just off about Remus and neither James or himself can figure it out. Peter has tossed out a few theories here and there during 'what's wrong with Remus' brainstorms, but the suggestions are just about as helpful as Pettigrew is sporty.

"Fine, Sirius." Remus shoves his hands in the pockets of his faded second-hand robes. "What are you doing out here in the forest?

"Why, Remus. I never thought you'd ask." Sirius slings an arm about Remus's shoulder and leads him down a misty path between a patch of tall, dark trees. Clutching Remus against him, Sirius can feel his smaller frame tense, but he doesn't let up his hold. "I came out here because I knew you'd follow me."

Remus stops short, shrugs his shoulders roughly, and ducks out from underneath Sirius's hold. "Why--"

You're not getting off so easily, Sirius thinks as he closes in on Remus, taking hold of him by fragile wrists, squeezing hard. "Tell me," Sirius pants, face screwing up in concentration as he fights off Remus's attempts to break free. "What happens to you? We know, Remus."

"N-nothing!"

"We're not daft! Why can't you just say it?!"

"There isn't anything to say!"

Sirius stops mid-shake to stare down into Remus's wide eyes - grey and stormy and sullen and sad - and releases his grip. Hands meet palm-to-palm and tip-to-tip and he can still feel Remus on him, under him. He was there - right there - and he felt-- he felt-- he felt Different. Different and Divine, somehow. And dangerous.

"You just don't want to say it." Two fingers tap against his mouth and then one. Shhh.

Remus says nothing.

"One day I'll say it for you," Sirius vows. "Then I'll know. We'll all know and you can't fucking hide anymore."

"I don't have anything to hide," Remus protests.

No, Sirius thinks. Only everything, apparently.