Remus avoided James and Sirius for the rest if the week, whether it was working with Peter instead of Sirius for Potions, or sitting with Lily and Marlene for Charms. It was obvious that the boys wanted to talk to him, but Remus just ducked his head and slipped away.

In order to stay loyal to his avoidance, Remus tried to pay attention to them as little as possible. But it was especially difficult to ignore James's beckoning smiles or the fact that Sirius had lapsed into a state of depression after a few days of being ignored by Remus. Sirius was never depressed or sad, except when he received the letter in which he was informed that he'd been disowned from the Black family.

"Remus, is everything okay with you and James and Sirius?" Lily asked, interrupting his thoughts.

The sandy-haired boy shrugged. "Its....complicated," he replied.

Lily looked really concerned. "I don't particularly care about Sirius, but it seems that he's not been himself this past week. He's hardly said a word and neither him nor James have pulled a single prank. Usually the matter would be a good thing, but I think there's something wrong with him."

They were in Herbology class at the moment and examining the various plants in the medicinal garden. Remus saw how Sirius stumbled around, in a daze. He saw how Sirius's face was expressionless, even though his best mate was right next to him. He saw what Lily meant.

"I don't know what's up with him," Remus told her. "I guess you could ask him, but I will not."

"Well in that case, I suppose I should go ask him then," Lily said, approaching Sirius and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Sirius lolled his head around to Lily and murmured something inaudible to Remus. Obviously he had told her to leave him alone because she retreated back.

"He won't tell me," Lily reported. "He just seems so out of it."

Remus felt guilty feelings swim around his stomach. This was his fault.

Sprout led the kids back to the normal greenhouse classroom and dismissed them. "I hope you enjoyed this exploration of many lovely plants!" She said, enthusiastic.

Remus looked around. "Where's Sirius?" He asked Lily. She shrugged. "Last I saw him, he was asleep on a bench in the medicinal garden."

Remus slipped past Sprout, who was talking to Frank Longbottom. Sirius was asleep in the garden? He couldn't help but find that a bit funny.

He navigated his way through the various herbs until he reached the very back, where, indeed, Sirius was fast asleep on a stone bench.

I don't want to wake him, Remus thought to himself. But he needs to go back to the common room. And...I need to apologize... And tell him the truth.

There was a small corner of the bench that wasn't taken up by the tall, black haired boy, so Remus sat down and began to run his hand over Sirius's back. A warm tingly feeling spread through Remus.

Sirius let out a snore, which made Remus jump in surprise. He also noticed that Sirius was drooling all over the bench. Must be a dog thing.

A bird in the tree above them squawked loudly and Sirius rolled over, his head falling on Remus's lap. The werewolf carefully scooped up a lock of Sirius's long black hair and ran his fingers through it. Oh how he loved that hair.

Sirius's eyes fluttered open and he found himself being stared at by none other than Remus Lupin.

"Geez Moons, I did not need to wake up to that," Sirius joked. Seeing the smile fall from Remus's face, he added, "You're so gorgeous that I get jealous."

He thinks I'm gorgeous? Remus wondered. He's the hot one here.

"Sirius, I...have something to....to tell..." Remus paused.

"You have something to tell me?" Sirius asked, comfortingly. Remus nodded.

"Well...you see...I kinda sorta maybe.....um..have a crush on...."

Sirius looked deep into Remus's light brown eyes. "Its okay Remus. I know you have a crush on James. I did at one point too," he soothed, putting an arm around his friend.