I hope that Sirius guy takes care of him...he's known for being the one-night-stand-and-nothing-more kinda guy. Honestly, he's going to do great things, he's a fuckboy at sixteen. But on the contrary, this seems different. Special. They look at each other with as much passion and love as I look at Sin with. I wonder if they notice that. Going off of that, I have high hopes. Remus talked about him so highly, he can't be a bad person. I know Remus has moved on, that part is pretty obvious, and I have too. I have Sin, he has Sirius. Maybe this will turn out okay. Actually, scratch that, I know this will turn out perfectly. I wonder if I'll get invited to the wedding? I wouldn't mind inviting them to mine. I'll add that to the topics-to-bring-up-in-a-conversation-with-them list. Although, Black better run if he hurts him. I may not love Remus anymore, but that doesn't mean I won't hunt down anybody who hurts him. I haven't used the killing curse for so long! The incantation 'Avada Kedavra' feels foreign on my tongue. I'll have to find a rat or a spider later.

Alas, I must turn in now, it is very late, and I have a Christmas card to fill out and deliver. Although, something very special did happen tonight, one that involves Sirius and I. But I'll write about that later.

Goodnight and good wishes,

                                                                                             ~Rowan Evverbury

I laid down my quill and capped the inkwell. I then closed my journal (or my diary, as Sin calls it) and put it back down in the drawer. "You done, birdboy?" A female voice asked. I looked up and smiled. "Hello to you too, Sin. How long have you been there?" Sinclair smiled. "You're not very observant for a Ravenclaw. I've been sitting on Emmett's bed for the past 3 minutes." I laughed. "You must be the stealthiest Slytherin of all time Sin, the number of times you've snuck in on me." She laughed and walked over to my bed.

Sin must be the most perfect person in the world... I thought. Sinclair Mirio Alabaster, the sole heir of the Alabaster family fortune, was very, very, very amazing. Not only was she extremely beautiful, with her long, chestnut hair with white tips (a genetic trait), her brilliant electric blue eyes, and her elegant pale skin, but also she was cunning, ambitious, sarcastic, caring, affectionate, determined! Sorry, got a little carried away there, she's just bloody amazing, ya know? "Your amazing, you know that right?" I told her. "Tell me something I don't know, birdboy." We laughed again.

"Row?" She asked. "Yeah?" "I love you." She pecked me on the lips. "Aww! I love you too, Sin. Let's go to bed though, I'm absolutely knackered." I yawned just to prove a point. "Alright. Let me go back to my dorm to get some stuff." "Would've been easier if you brought it up when you first came. Long way to the Slytherin dorms from here, " Sin rolled her eyes (pretending not to see the logic in my statement, I suppose) and left. I picked up her wand, which she left behind. It might seem like forgetfulness, but it actually shows how much she trusts me. Her wand is ash, sixteen inches, with a white river monster spine core. Very rare. Very long. Must be her determination. It was her grandmother's wand and the only one that matched her. My own wand is only a mere 10 inches, a core so rare I'm not even going to mention it, made of black walnut. A sliver ring etched with symbols and adorned with a blue jewel had been firmly attached on the end.

I laid down her wand and picked up a generic Christmas card. 'Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!' was emblazoned in large silver letters on the front, and a smiling Santa was speeding across the sky on his sleigh with his reindeer was the background. I opened it up and began to write.

Dear Sirius,

Hello. Merry Christmas. I don't believe we've met. Why don't I see you in the library tonight? Or perhaps Thursday? Choose whichever you prefer. You don't need to tell me which, I'll know. But it must be in the restricted section of course.... wait, no, actually, there will be a bird waiting for you outside the library, follow it. It will take you to a place where you've probably never been. I'll be waiting. After all, I'd like to introduce myself to Remus's new boyfriend. Exciting! Well, maybe not for you but for me. Please come alone though, and mention it's because of me as a last resort. I might bring up memories that Remus might not want to be brought up, especially now that he has found you. Then he'll want to come along. I plan on talking with both of you at some point, just not now. By the way, nice picture. The one with the large tree you drew? Very cute. Didn't know you were good with a quill. See you soon,

Good luck and good wishes,

                                                                                                                            ~Rowan

"Good enough." I closed the card and turned into my raven self. I picked it up in my beak and flew out the window again. The Gryffindor tower is surprisingly accessible. There's normally a window open at every level. I flew into the sixth year's dorm. I transformed back into a human and walked over to Sirius's bed. I laid the card down. I smiled warmly as looked over at Sirius's bedside table. That picture was simply divine! Second time seeing it, still impressed. "Finally got him, Remus. Better than me for you by a long shot." I whispered. I transformed back into a bird and flew out of the window. I hope tomorrow (or Thursday perhaps) will get here quick.

●●●●●P.O.V change back to 3rd person and a time skip●●●●●

"HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, JESUS!" Sirius shouted. "Fuck. You. Sirius." Remus muttered, barely coherent. He fumbled around for his wand and cast a Tempus. Small, flickering, gold writing appeared in front of him. It was hard to read, but since it sounded like Remus had said 'femtus' instead of 'tempus' that wasn't surprising. "How many times have I told you I'm not a morning person? It's motherfucking 6 o'clock." He whined. "BUT IT'S CHRISTMAS! WE HAVE PRESENTS!" Sirius jumped up and down on the bed, making Remus groan. The last thing he needed was to be jostled up and down.

"Come on, get up! IT'S CHRISTMAS!!" Remus relented. He rubbed his eyes and hauled himself up. "Before we open anything, can I get a cup of tea? If I don't I might fall asleep again." "Fineeeeeeeee, KREACHER!" Sirius shouted. The house elf appeared. "Yes, tr-master?" It didn't take a detective to figure out he was about to say 'traitor'. "Get Remus a cup of tea." "Yes, master." Kreacher disappeared, and Remus frowned. "You could be nicer to him, you know." Sirius scoffed. "He's a fucker, Remus. The day I show respect to him is the day I die." Kreacher reappeared. "Here is your tea, master Sirius." He said Sirius's name venomously. "You are dismissed, Kreacher." The elf disappeared without a word. (A/N I know it's not like Kreacher to be silent but I imagine that he starts muttering after he goes insane)

"He said your name like you were a disease!" Remus frowned. Sirius laughed humorlessly. "Everybody and their dog knows that I've been disowned and disinherited, Remus. In that house, I am a disease. He's going to rejoice when I leave, then he won't have to serve me."

Remus frowned. "Is there any way you can still get any inheritance at all?" Sirius scoffed. "Only if Regulus dies. And the last time I checked Reg's young and healthy, so no, I will not get any of the Black family fortunes when my parents kick the bucket, well actually when I ram their heads into the bucket because I swear to Merlin I will. And even if Reg dies, I'm not sure I'll accept the house or Kreacher. I'll take the money, but I'm sure the ministry could find a use for an overly protected house like that. But I should stop dreaming, Reg'll outlive me, the git. Live to the ripe old age of 800 and leave me at 200."

Remus punched him in the arm playfully. "Shut it, you know you'll live to be a 1000. Leave me to die at 200 more likely." Remus sipped his tea and Sirius laughed. "Remus, I think I've made it pretty clear that the day you die is the day I die. Whether we have a fairy tale 'died while holding hands 5 minutes apart' or I swallow a cyanide pile with my firewhisky that day, we die together." Remus felt a rush of affection for his boyfriend. He's so loyal! "Thanks, bud. Now I am defiantly awake so let's open some presents!"

Remus drank the rest of the tea back in one gulp and set the teacup down on the bed. "Yay! Let's see if we can break a record this year!" They both laughed at the irony. Sirius was referring to how many presents/cards he got from girls. His record so far was 9 cards and 4 gifts. All from different people. "Let's see," He picked up a bright red and green card. "Have a very merry Christmas, Sirius. Maybe I'll see you later? Say, Hogsmeade weekend? From: Emily 'Illy' Greenswolde. Well sorry, Illy, I've gotten a boyfriend." He tossed the card into the bin. Remus chuckled. "How many in total?" He asked. Sirius picked up the rest of the cards and counted. "10! New record for cards! Yay!" He laughed. "When the girls find out you've gone gay for me they'll want my head on a stick." Remus thought about it, and yeah, he'll have to watch his back. "Don't worry. I'll hex anybody who dares hurt my Moony!" Remus laughed and gave him another playful punch. "I can protect myself just fine, Pads."

"So that's ten cards and what, 3...4 gifts?" Remus couldn't tell from where he was sitting. "I think, give me a second the read these." Remus walked over to his own bed and Sirius read his cards one by one, he threw them into the bin. "Wow, some of these girls are blunt. 'Dear Sirius, I want your tongue in my throat and your hands in my hair. -Cazia Helensworth.'" Remus made a mental note to harshly glare at Cazia every time he sees her. Sirius chucked that one over his shoulder. "'Dear Sirius, Merry Christmas, enclosed is a picture of want could be yours if you agree to meet me in the broom closet-oh! Merlin! Bloody hell!" His eyes widened and he wordlessly tossed the card to Remus.

"Oh sweet Jesus, that's a first. Why? What posses you to send a very kinky photo of yourself to someone? James'll get such a kick out of this!" Remus's eyes were wide and he chuckled. "Hey, at least it was somebody good looking. What if that half goblin girl sent you this?" Sirius groaned. "I don't even want to think about that. I think I'll keep that one to show James, toss in in the drawer."

Remus did just that, albeit a bit violently because dammit he get's protective way to easily. "Okay one card left, let's hope for no more steamy shower pics." Sirius shivered. He scanned the card and his eyes widened. Rowan? Rowan?! How does he know that we're dating?! How did he see the drawing?! Wait for the bird?! And who the hell says good luck and good wishes anymore?! He thought angrily. Sirius suddenly remembered something else. He's the new Ravenclaw seeker! I'm sooooo going to pummel him into the ground at our next match! The name Rowan was tweaking something buried deep in Sirius's memories, actually the good luck and good wishes part did too, but he ignored it. He was too angry, confused and flat out scared to care. "Sirius? Is it another photo?" Remus asked, snapping Sirius out of his gaze. "Uh, yeah. Not such a nice one either. I will protect your precious innocent eyes by throwing it away!" He chucked it in the bin very violently. What does he mean he'll know? Do we have a stalker?! How?!

"Hey, look at this, I got a card from a girl too, let's see, 'Hi, Remus. Would you possibly be free this Hogsmeade weekend? I think you look cool, like boyfriend material. Sincerely, Rosa S. Mirr.' Awww, sorry Rosa, but nope!" He threw it into the bin. Sirius barely heard him. Should he go to the library? "Oh, and by the way, my card is in that bag, if you were wondering." Sirius nodded and pushed those thoughts to the back corners of his mind. This is Christmas, not Worry-about-your-stalker-day. He counted his gifts. "One from James, one from you, one from Peter, one from Lily, that's a first, and two from some girls. Not bad." He fought to keep his voice from trembling. This Rowan guy is really putting him on edge, but he really tried to forget about it.

Sirius caught a yawn before it escaped. He decided to open Remus's gift and leave the others for later. "I wonder what you got me, Moony. Nice bow, by the way." He untied it and looked inside. He pulled out a cold bag from Honeydukes. "Cauldron Cakes?! Awesome! I love these!" He took one out and ate it. So, so good! He placed the bag next to him and moved on. He reached in and pulled out another bag. "Oooo, this is from Dominic's! I wonder what....sheet music!" He pulled out the paper sheets. "Awesome! I've always wanted to play Paint it Black on guitar! It'll be my theme song!" Remus chuckled while Sirius altered the sheet.

"There one last thing in there, Sirius," Remus said coyly. "Really? You're the best." Sirius reached in one last time, and his hand landed on something plasticy. He pulled it out.

"OH MY SWEET LORD JESUS DANCING ON A UNICYCLE IN JERUSALEM, REMUS! HOW...?" He held the quill, like he just found his long lost son. Remus was taken aback by the reaction. "This is like the best quill in existence for drawing! YOU. ARE. THE. BEST!" He got up and practically launched himself at Remus, who caught him. He still at a loss for words. The gift he got originally as a joke was the best thing ever, apparently. Felix ain't got nothing on me! He thought.

Sirius hugged Remus fiercely and pulled away. "Seriously, where did you get this? They sell them at Scrivenshaft's, but like, only once per year. I go there every Hogsmeade and nope, out of stock! WHERE did you find it?" Remus smiled, hiding the fact that the only thoughts his brain at the moment were holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck I am fucking amazing- "That's my secret, Padfoot. Let me open your gifts now, I'm excited!" Sirius smiled gleefully, pecked Remus on the lips, sat on his bed, and all thoughts of the mysterious Rowan disappeared.

Remus picked up the smaller of the two wrapped presents first. "I'm ripping this to shreds, just saying," Sirius chuckled. "That's like the only point of wrapping paper," Remus tore at the paper and lifted up the three chocolate bars first. "Thanks! Wow, how did you get this? I didn't know Rosa had a mail service!" Sirius smiled. "She doesn't," He replied vaguely, picking at his nail. "Well, how...? You know what, I'll just be thankful and shut up." Remus let it drop and set aside his chocolate and tea.

"You'll really love the next one," Sirius gave Remus a sly smirk, and Remus suddenly wondered if it was a family-friendly gift.

He tore at the wrapping paper and was speechless for the third in his life. He stared at the book. The history of Pure-bloods, Muggle-borns, werewolves, giants and literally everything else by Pixyxaryl 'Pix' Goodhorn stared right back. "Sirius....." Remus didn't know where to start. Sirius smiled wide. "Sirius...." Remus gave up on words and settled for snogging him intensely instead.

"You'll really sit down for unnumbered hours and reveal it all to me?" Remus whispered, slightly out of breath when they finished. "Hell yeah, that's what boyfriends do," Sirius replied. Remus smiled and picked up Sirius's card. A small statuette and an inkwell fell out. "Aw, thanks, Pads." He held up the statuette and smiled. It was a wolf and a big dog, playing together. "And the ink represents the perfect gayness that you are, Moony." Remus laughed. "I'm so using this on our N.E.W.T.s! Slughorn better appreciate rainbows."

They put away their things and crawled back into bed. "You're the absolute best, Sirius. I love you!" Remus whispered. "I love you too Remus! Merry Christmas!" Sirius pulled Remus into a slow, thorough kiss. When they did pull away, they were both smiling. Sirius put his head against Remus's chest, and soon they were both asleep.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

"Hello, everybody. Merry Christmas!" Dumbledore was seated in the middle of the teacher's table but had risen to give the annual Christmas dinner speech. "I see we have one more student than normal. I hope you enjoy the surroundings, Mr Lupin." The great hall was decorated with 12 large Christmas trees, with baubles and holly and tinsel and just about everything else. Warm, dry snow fell from the enchanted ceiling, everlasting icicles hung from every nook and cranny and real, live fairies flew about. Remus enjoyed the surroundings indeed.

"As you all know, every professor here at Hogwarts has chipped in in decorating, but I'd like for you all to give some applause for Professor Flitwick, who has really outdone himself this year. Stand up, Filius." Flitwick blushed slightly and stood, and the students gave him polite applause. He sat back down, and Dumbledore continued. "I do not want to keep you all waiting any longer for the fabulous food the elves have prepared, so I leave you with this pearl of wisdom. Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus!"

The students clapped as Dumbledore sat back in his golden chair. The food appeared and Sirius went straight to the point, shovelling food in his mouth like it was his last meal. Normally Peter did that, but Peter wasn't here. Remus guessed Sirius was compensating for that. "Hungry, are you? Don't you dare choke!" Remus warned. "You sound like James's mum," Sirius complained, swallowing. "I'll take that as a compliment, Euphemia is bloody amazing, you know," Remus replied. Sirius grinned. "She is. Treats me like a second son, she does. I wonder why she and Fleamont didn't have more kids..." He trailed off, eyes glazing over slightly as he considered. Remus laughed. "I think James is enough. What if there were three of them? Lily's worst nightmare."

Sirius laughed his signature bark-like laugh, and Remus chuckled a bit too. Sirius went back to eating, but noticeably slower. "Pass the pumpkin juice, please," He asked automatically. "Good manners today." Remus joked as he handed it to him. Sirius laughed. "That's Mum's fault," He light-heartedly accused, "honestly, she beat into my brain so often that I still know the difference between a salad fork, a dinner fork, luncheon fork, cheese fork, and a dessert fork. Long story short, there's a lot of forks. And don't even get me started on the spoons. The spoons." He shuddered, forgetting he was in the great hall with Remus and momentarily reliving the proper dinner etiquette lessons he mum gave him when he was younger. He shuddered again.

They spent a good three months on spoons. Spoons. "Soup spoons, tea and coffee spoons, dessert spoons, saucier spoons, caviar spoons, bonbon spoons, jam spoons, olive spoons, oh my good lord all the spoons!" He threw his hands up in the air and fell on the empty bench dramatically.

Remus stared at him, eyes wide with surprise, and he laughed. Sirius Orion Black has impeccable dinner manners (when he uses them), and know's all the different forks and spoons. Who knew?! And why so many spoons?! Like good fuck, man.

Sirius got up and laughed too. "Gods," He said after they had calmed down. This conversation had him feeling oddly nostalgic as he remembered his days before the hat called him a Gryffindor.

"When I was 10, we, dad, mum, Reg and I went to this absurdly high-end dinner party in...France? Or was it Italy...? No, it was France, and there were 8 courses! 8 bloody courses, Remus! 8!!" He put force into the word eight like his destiny depended on convincing Remus how fucking absurd eight fucking courses are, (and at that moment, it seemed like it was), so much so that he had to stop for a second to catch his breath. He continued. "Let me see if I can remember...oh yes, first it was the hors-d'oeuvres, then bread, soup, fish, salad, main course, cheese, and finally dessert. Oh and tea and coffee with pastries and sweets afterwards. And there was plenty of alcohol the entire time, too. Not that I had any, of course. I've never been fuller in my life and I doubt I ever will be. 8 fucking courses," He shook his head in disbelief.

At this point Remus was practically on the floor, he was laughing so damn hard. That was the most emotion Sirius had ever used in his voice. Ever. And it was about an eight-course meal. Not Quidditch, but an eight-course meal. Fucking Sirius. Remus suddenly decided that favourite number would be 8 from now on.

Sirius laughed too once he realised the absurdity of the situation. Here he was rambling on about an eight-course meal he had one time in fucking France when he was ten and he nearly had a fucking aneurysm over some spoons earlier. Man, this is quality conversation tonight.

"Did your mother teach you anything else rich-family-fancy? You know dinner manners and the piano, anything else?" Remus questioned. Sirius sighed. "Let out a peep and the whole school will know about you and Snape." He threatened. Remus put his hands up in surprised defence. "Whoa, I won't say a thing, Siri, I promise. What is it?" Sirius looked at his feet. "Ballet." He said quietly.

Remus blinked. "B-ballet? You do ballet?" He asked. "I did. Not anymore." Sirius snapped. Ballet was a touchy subject for him. There was nothing wrong with it, it's a skill, an art form, it's to be respected, people who do it well are to be envied. It's a beautiful dance. But Sirius bloody hated it. With a motherfucking passion.

It's not that he wasn't good (he was actually decent at it, his performances were worth seeing he was forced to do them) but gods, it never something he wanted to do, and the instructor spent more time looking at his ass than actually teaching. Sirius was afraid he was going to assault him in the dressing room half the time. He almost did once. Sirius banished that that memory back to the hell it came from. He then briefly wondered if Regulus has the same problem, but Sirius didn't even know what instructor he has. Gods, he hasn't thought about this in months!

Remus, sensing something was wrong, tactfully changed the subject. Sirius knew this probably come up again later, and he half hoped it would half prayed it wouldn't. "I wonder how James and them are doing. I hope he isn't driving Lily insane with letters." Sirius smiled and replied, "Knowing him, they'll have owls bloody everywhere. In the chimney, in the shower, in the goddamn closets, the poor Evans family." They laughed and tucked back into the food again, for it was growing cold.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

"So do you actually remember what you ordered that night?" Remus asked casually, putting away the kitted jumper he mum had made for him. "Hm? What are you-oh! Let me think for a second." Sirius hadn't thought about that meal in years (well, excluding dinner of course). "I can really only remember the main. I was tired that night, it was super boring and to be honest there was really nothing special about anything else but the main."

"And what was the main?" Remus inquired. "Sautéed lamb chops with herbes de Provence, served with mashed potatoes with olive oil & parsley and haricots verts with toasted walnuts and chèvre. Honestly, it was fucking delicious!" Sirius said as casually as he could. The fact he could still remember the full dish perfectly kinda surprised him. Remus cocked an eyebrow and asked, "What gives?" His words were filled with disbelief. Sirius looked confused. "What?"

He had not realised he was speaking in French (it just hadn't registered that he wasn't speaking English), and thus became even more confused when Remus stood there, silent and completely bewildered. "'Quoi'? What the hell does 'Quoi' mean?!" He asked. Then it donned on him. "I just spoke a ton of French didn't I?" He asked sheepishly. "You speak French?" Remus was surprised, to say the least.

Sirius grinned. "Oui, qu'est-ce que tu penses alors? Pour moi d'être avec sans d'éducation dans des autres langues? Ma maman et mon papa veulent tous des membres de famille d'être capable de parler en français. Regulus et moi prenons des cours de français en été." He explained (A/N Bi-lingual FTW, bitches).

Remus blinked once, blinked twice. He knows how to write in Latin and he knows fluent German, but of gods, every word Sirius just spoke beside 'Regulus' made absolutely no sense! None! He could be speaking ancient Babylonian for all Remus knew. French was hard. He preferred English or German for the time being.

"Uh, every word you just said flew straight over my head, just saying," Sirius laughed. "That's how I feel whenever you speak German-" Sirius suddenly cut his sentence short and that oh-so-familiar mischievous glint came into his eyes. Remus looked at him. "What?" He asked. "We should totally fuck over everybody!" Sirius declared. McGonagall suddenly winced while she was walking down a corridor almost a mile away.

Remus looked at him incredulously, wondering whether he heard right. "Wha-why? How?" He stammered. "James, Pete, and Lily don't know anything but English, so we should totally prank them with our languages! When I say something in French, you reply in German! Not a word in English the entire day, it'll drive them mad." Sirius grinned widely. Remus was intrigued, he wasn't going to lie, that sounded fun, but he could see a few holes in the plan. "What if a teacher calls on one of us to answer a question? Reply in a different language? That might not be a good idea." Sirius laughed. "Rem, the worst they'll do is give us detention. Come on, please?"

Remus didn't the detention part at all, but gods, he can't refuse Sirius anything when he asked him like that. "Fine, but if we get detention you owe me." Remus conceded. "But," He continued, "You don't know German, and I don't know French. How do we communicate like that?" Sirius pondered the problem for a minute, then two. He snapped his fingers. "Let me get something," He ran over and rummaged through Peter's bedside table. Remus put his finger up and opened his mouth to argue that Sirius should keep his hands out of Peter's shit but his curiosity triumphed over his morals so he didn't.

"Got it!" He held up a sapphire coloured book titled Potions from the Pythons. Sirius flipped through the pages, finally stopping on one. "Here we go, page three hundred and ninety-four, translation potions..." He mumbled. After a few seconds of speed reading, he held up the book and pointed to a paragraph. "This says that if you dip an item in the potion, it will show live translation from a certain language to a certain language." Remus was impressed. He made a quick mental list of the ingredients and nodded. "Alright then. We'll do it soon. I'll try to find a Chizpurfle carapace, even though I have no idea why it needs to be used. That Venomous Tentacula will love me. "

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

There was nothing Sirius hated doing more. It left him feeling dirty and unworthy. Long story short, horrible. He rarely did it. He hoped he would never have to again. Lying to Remus.

Well, was it really lying? He didn't know. He really hoped it wasn't. Even if it doesn't count as lying, Sirius knew Remus would reject this idea all seven ways to Sunday if he knew about it. Sirius had made his decision, he was going to meet this Rowan guy. The more Sirius thought about it, the more it seemed like Rowan was an ex-boyfriend of Remus. But why hadn't Remus told Sirius about him? After a few seconds, he realised how stupid that sounded. That was his personal life, not Sirius's. Sirius hadn't mentioned that Muggle guy he, ahem, did, that one time to Remus either. Man, that was probably the drunkest he has ever been, that night.

Sirius had to use the excuse of a detention so Remus wouldn't follow him. "I'll be back before you know it," He told him. Remus had sighed but picked up a book and said he'd wait for him. Sirius agitatedly ran his hand through his hair as he walked towards the library. What will be waiting for him? Well, besides a bird apparently. In seemingly no time at all he arrived. "I swear to god if this a prank and Rowan doesn't exist I will punch every Ravenclaw I see in the face," Sirius whispered menacingly to the closed library doors.

Suddenly a loud caw came somewhere from his left and he nearly toppled over in surprise. "Bloody hell!" He exclaimed. "Give a man some warning next time," The raven flapped its wings impatiently, and Sirius noticed odd markings on it's left wing. This was the same crow he saved yesterday night (or early this morning, Sirius can't remember which). "Take me to Rowan, I guess." He asked it. It flew down the hall, and Sirius had to run to keep up with it. Sirius still wondered how it understood him.

Sirius was lucky that he was quite fit from Quidditch, or he might've had a heart attack halfway to his destination, which turned out to be the seventh floor. Do you know how tiring it is to run six floors straight? He lost the raven just before the last corner (or at least what he hoped to be the last corner) so he sped up a bit, only to skid to a halt right beside the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy when he saw a boy in front of him. The raven was nowhere to be seen.

Sirius studied him. Blackish-blueish hair, tall, pale skin, deep blue, almost black eyes. If he had to guess his age he would pick 16, possibly 17. He was from a rich, pure-blood family, Sirius could tell. Perfectly tailored robes (Ravenclaw, Sirius noted, the Seeker story checks out), perfect teeth, his shoes were new and clean, and he stood up straight and proud, but oddly he didn't seem all that cocky. There was an air of friendliness around him, and he wore a good-natured smile, but Sirius still approached with caution. This boy knew he and Remus were dating, even though they'd only been intimate in empty rooms behind closed doors, or when they were completely alone. Besides how he knew that only one thing confused Sirius. Why did Rowan look so familiar?

"Rowan?" Sirius asked. "Yes, that is my name. Hello, Sirius." It bothered Sirius, he looked so damn familiar! Anyways, whether it was because he was feeling extremely apprehensive or because he just didn't trust him, Sirius did not reply. Rowan's face fell. "Look, I know this must be extremely weird on your part, but if you can't trust me I might as well leave. Here," He said. He took his wand out from his pocket and tossed it to Sirius. Sirius caught it, surprised. "I'm unarmed, I just want to talk. Please?" He asked. Sirius took a second to examine his wand instead of answering. 10 inches and made of black chestnut, but obviously he couldn't tell the core.

Sirius did not trust him, not one bit. But he needed answers, and hey, Remus knew, possible even dated this guy, so Sirius reasoned he couldn't be all bad. And Remus would probably murder Sirius if he snapped Rowan's wand in half (even if he barely knew him), so he tossed that idea out the window too. He decided to play along. "I'm sorry. I'm just really confused and a bit angry, like how? How do you know what you know? This is kinda overwhelming for me. Please explain." He asked.

Rowan's smile returned. "Come on then," He opened a door Sirius didn't even know was there. He walked in, and Sirius followed cautiously. The room looked like a common living room. Bookcases tucked neatly into one corner, a fireplace with a roaring fire in it was in front of a couch, a door leading off to what seemed to be a bathroom. Rowan sat in an armchair, Sirius sat on a couch next to it. He sat on the edge, he was ready to bolt, but Rowan didn't notice.

"Before I answer anything, I want to know how became an animagus. I thought you had to be born with it." The colour drained from Sirius's face. "Wha-wha-wdhd d-fmce-What?" He stammered. His brain seemed to stop forming thoughts other than 'Fuck' 'How' and 'Caught'. Was he planning on turning him into the Ministry? Was this the reason he brought him here?

"I'm not an idiot Sirius, I watch you four all the time. Thick as thieves, you are. Sirius the dog, James the stag, Peter the rat and Remus the werewolf. I find it nice how you stay with during his transformations. I was never able to do that, he'd eat me alive." Rowan casually sipped from a glass of water as if he didn't just drop a bombshell.

The world seemed to blur around Sirius. This guy knew everything. Everything. About him, about his friends, probably about everybody in the whole damned castle. Then he felt anger. Pure, hot, blinding anger. Who the hell does this guy think he is? Does he think he is entitled to know everybody's secrets? To be able to blackmail anybody within a 10-mile radius? Hell, he possibly knew the teacher's secrets! Sirius then did something that normally got him in trouble, he stopped thinking.

Within seconds he stood up and grabbed Rowan by the front of his shirt, hauling him roughly to his feet. He all but threw him into the nearest wall. Being a beater in Quidditch has benefits, you know. "If you think I'm going to let you walk around throwing about everybody's personal information like motherfucking confetti then may the good lord help you," He said in a menacing whisper, "Because if you don't explain yourself right now I'm going to hit you so hard you won't know the difference between left and right!" He shouted a bit at the end.

Rowan knew full well that Sirius was capable of carrying out that threat, and he's not going to lie he's scared shitless. Never would he have imagined that Sirius would react like this. He probably should've put more thought into this conversation. This was not going according to plan. Maybe asking the Animagus question last (or not at all) would've been a better idea. "A-alright, just let me go and explain, I hope you'll understand afterwards." Sirius dropped him and sat back down, looking at him impatiently and expectant. Rowan cleared his throat and began.

"Well, it started with my family. As the future Earl of Evverbury, this little town in upper England that seems to be stuck in medieval times, like where the hell has Earls anymore, I had my life decided from the start. From the beginning to the end, every decision was already made for me. They made my life before they even came up with my name," Rowan shook his head and Sirius felt more sure with every word he had met Rowan before. But where? Rowan continued.

"The kept information from me, my parents, well I don't even know if I can call them parents, they're bloody horrible. Slapped me if I asked a question. But anyways, I woke up each day wondering what they had planned. I got sick of it. So, I used my unique gift for all it was worth. I snuck around, and that habit stuck with me. Especially after my sister fucking DIED and nobody bothered to tell me! A letter! All they gave me was a damn funeral notice! I didn't even know she was sick!" Rowan scowled and banged his fist on the table. Despite his better judgement, Sirius felt sympathy for this boy. He too hated his parents. And how awful it must feel to have a sister die and not even know it? Horrible.

"When Remus and I stopped dating, I wanted to make sure he was getting treated right. I don't believe in hating your ex, I mean if it was destined to end why fight it? I also I don't love him anymore, if that's what you're worried about. I have somebody else taking that position." Sirius decided to believe him, for now at least. But before he even considers being civil with him, he needs one more question answered. "How do you 'sneak around' in empty places and small rooms?" Rowan grinned.

"Let me show you." He got up and without further ado, turned into the raven from earlier.

Sirius's eyes widened. Of course, he thought. Seeing a raven outside is completely ordinary, they can hide in high up corners or behind large objects, and just try to spot a black raven in the dark. "Highly convenient," He commented. The Rowan-Raven unfurled its wings and flew on top of a bookshelf.

That's when Sirius noticed it. On it's left wing. White and black marks decorated the feathers there, the same ones as the raven he saved last night. Realisation took hold. He had saved Rowan from permanent damage, at least to the leg. This bastard owes him. T h i s   b a s t a r d     o w e s   h i m.

"Hey! You fucking owe me, you know." He said. The raven transformed back into Rowan and sighed, swinging his legs back and forth from the top of the bookshelf. "I do. I totally do. You probably didn't see but this damn thing-"-he slapped his left leg-" was falling off. Thanks for taking me to Kettleburn, he fixed me right up then Pomfrey did the rest. Thank Merlin she asks no questions," He shook his head Sirius couldn't keep a look of shock off his face. "What the hell did you do?!" He demanded.

"Flew into something- it may or may not have been the whomping willow and I may or may not have also flown into the Gryffindor cupboard on the way to the infirmary and damaged it even more," They both chuckled. It felt nice. Sirius realised he wanted to trust Rowan. It was a bit unsettling.

"So," Sirius asked, shoving his hand into his pockets, "When were you and Remus a thing?" If Rowan was uncomfortable with the question, he didn't show it. "Oh, uh, we were a couple for a year and a half. Broke up...3, no 4 and a half months ago." Sirius took a deep breath to make sure he didn't let jealousy take over. He wanted to like Rowan. He really did. Him being Remus's ex shouldn't stop that.

Rowan looked thoughtful. "I'm not even sure if we were a couple, honestly." He laughed suddenly. "It was more of an experiment. We hung out, sometimes made out, but nothing more. Actually, we probably couldn't be considered a 'couple' after about 3 months in because we decided to, instead of date each other, we'd help each other in the dating department. But we still made out. It sounds weird and complicated, and it was, but it worked."

Sirius tried to imagine that. It was a bit weird. Rowan fiddled with a large copper and Turquoise ring that Sirius hadn't noticed before. He noted how much it looked like a nest with a Raven's egg in it. Clever. "Who gave you that?" He asked. Rowan looked up, surprised. "Oh, my girlfriend did. Sinclair Alabaster? Perhaps you heard of her?"

Sirius cocked an eyebrow. "When you'd get a girlfriend?" Rowan chuckled. "I wouldn't have one if it weren't for Remus. Honestly, he got so fed up with me rambling on about her that he single-handedly managed to get me and her on a date. The rest is history. I owe him." He turned into bird, flew down from the bookcase, and turned human again. He leaned against it, a strange glint in his eyes like he was trying to remember something, but it disappeared; and Sirius wondered if it had been there at all.

"He talked about you a lot, you know," Rowan smirked. Sirius's cheeks went pink. "About what?" He tried to sound casual but failed. "How much he liked you, you much he liked your eyes, like oh my god he would not shut up about your damn eyes! I admit they are pretty but there's only so much I can take in a day!" He threw his hands up dramatically and Sirius laughed. After he caught his breath, Rowan's eyes glazed over as he thought.

"It was kinda... sad actually." Sirius frowned. "Why?" He asked. "Why? He thought you were straight, that's why! I'm pretty sure everybody did. He convinced himself that you'd never reciprocate his feelings. I could see it tortured him. He never liked anyone else. Ever." Rowan frowned and Sirius's heart ached. All those girlfriends, Remus had good reason to suspect he was straight. I guess he didn't know I never felt a damn thing for any of them, not like I do for him, he thought. He decided to change the subject to another question on his mind.

"Why do you have those marking on your wing?" Rowan smiled. "Tattoo. I got it a couple months ago." He left edge up his sleeve on his left arm. "The symbol is a rune for a warrior, and the snake represents Sin." Sirius stepped closer. He liked looking at other peoples tattoos, especially wizards. They were so rare. He himself has six so far, with many more planned.

Rowan touched the snake, and it moved, slithering around the rune. "Awesome," Sirius muttered. Rowan chuckled. "When Mam sees it she'll skin me alive, but whatever. I like it." Sirius didn't know how to reply to this, so he decided to ignore the comment. "White ink is so hard to get to show up. It would disappear in the milk that is my skin. Lucky you have a slight bit of colour." Rowan laughed. His skin was very pale but not as pale as Sirius's. His was a slight bit pinker, too.

"Animagi are weird. I have six tattoos and none of them are on my animal's skin or fur. But your tattoo appears on your wing." Sirius wondered if Rowan could answer this, but Rowan just shrugged helplessly. "Maybe it has to do with the skill itself? Like whether you're born with it or learned it?" It was more of a question than an answer. "By the way, how did you become an Animagus and not kill yourself in the process?"

Sirius grinned as he remembered the tedious but rewarding task. "Took the whole year, like we got lucky that electrical storm happened when it did, and if you want a step by step guide then read the damn book because we'll be here for hours if I try to explain it." Rowan's eyes widened. "Book?" He asked. "There is a step-by-step instructional guide? Restricted section, I suppose?" Sirius nodded. Rowan gave a low whistle. "Dammmmmn. And all three of you did it right? Sometimes I wonder how you got into Gryffindor. That's some serious Ravenclaw shit right there. That's about as advanced as magic can get." Sirius snorted. Like he, James, and Peter would survive a day in Ravenclaw. That door is a literal nightmare.

"Can I have my wand back?" Rowan asked. Sirius grinned. "Sure. If you tell me the core." Rowan sighed. "You'll never believe me. Nobody ever does." Sirius raised one of his eyebrows. "Really? What is it?" "My first wand was a unicorn tail hair, but this one," He locked eyes with Sirius, "has a thestral tail hair core."

After a few seconds of disbelief, Sirius hurriedly threw the wand at him like it was going to explode, and he caught it, grinning. "Holy cow that's powerful! I've only heard legends of thestral tail hair cores!" Sirius suddenly remembered something, and his brow furrowed. "I don't mean to pry, but haven't people with thestral tail cores.... met death?" He asked cautiously. Rowan sighed. "I did meet death, Sirius. Once. It was...." He trailed off. "I'll show you the memory later. Happened when I was about 14." There was a heavy silence as Sirius tried to realise the implications of this. Rowan was perhaps destined to be one of the most skilled wizards ever, with a wand like that.

"I was doing something so mundane before it happened, it's ironic. I was writing a letter to one of my childhood friends, man I haven't seen him in forever, name of Sirius Bla-"

Suddenly and without warning, Rowan's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. "Can it really...?" He mumbled. Sirius grew confused. "What?" He asked. Then Rowan said the words that Sirius never dreamed he'd hear again. The words that were the pivotal moment of his childhood. The words that unlocked distant memories of happier times.

"I shall nev'r crumble, I shall nev'r falleth. I shall defeat mine own enemies and-"

"-And at which hour I am done, I shall flyeth from mine own cage of expectations, and thriveth in the landeth of ev'rlasting, gl'rious peace."

Sirius finished his sentence. They stared at each other. It all made sense now, how when they spoke, they somehow knew they'd spoke before, how they recognized each other's appearances, all of it. They both had a flashback, of a memory so old and sweet they wondered how they ever forgot it.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Flashback ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

"Good day. I am Rowan Evverbury," The boy stuck his hand out as he spoke. The other boy grabbed it and shook it. "Hello, I am Sirius Black."

To say the meeting was formal was an understatement. The two pure-blood families were both powerful and old. Orion and Walburga Black had come to talk business with Earl Lennox and Lady Elora Evverbury, and they brought their 6-year-old son Sirius along. They did not bring 4-year-old Regulus, for he was too young. "Go and show Sirius your room, Rowan dear," Elora asked Rowan. It sounded like a request that Rowan could deny if he wished, but he knew better then too. He didn't feel like getting slapped.

As the adults went into the sitting room, and the boys went up the stairs. "The view is beautiful," Sirius commented as they passed a large window. The Grand Manor (that's what the locals call it) is surrounded by large green hills that turn yellow in fall and a forest on one side of the estate. Rowan opened his door and lead Sirius inside.

Rowan obviously had a thing for crystals, glass, and the colour blue, for that was what decorated his room. "Awesome!" Sirius declared. Both boys had dropped their hoity-toity attitudes as soon as the door closed behind them. Rowan got visibly excited. "I know! I love glass. Isn't it pretty?" Light streamed in through a large window and was splayed around in random patterns as it shone on the glass and crystal work. There were more than a few rainbows caused by this too.

They sat on Rowan's bed and talked for what seemed to be hours. They became best friends in minutes. They were each other's first best friend, they'd never met anybody else besides their siblings. They played and laughed and talked and smiled. They talked about magic, Quidditch teams, Hogwarts and Rowan delighted Sirius by turning into a raven and flying around the room. 'It must be awesome to be able to be an animal.....I think I'd be a dog.' Sirius thought.

After a while, something caught Sirius's eye. "What's that?" He pointed to a large crystal and glass statue. It was a raven with its wings outstretched, and the detail took Sirius's breath away. "Ooooh, that's my favourite! Come look, it has an engraving on it that I think you'd like." They walked over to it. It must've been old, or at least the saying must've been old because it was written in Shakespearean English.

In deep blue cursive writing, it said, I shall nev'r crumble, I shall nev'r falleth. I shall defeat mine own enemies and at which hour I am done, I shall flyeth from mine own cage of expectations, and thriveth in the landeth of ev'rlasting, gl'rious peace.

"Who gave it to you?" Sirius asked in awe. "Dunno. I wish I knew. It showed up one day, addressed to me but with nothing on it telling me who the sender was." Sirius and Rowan talked about the mysterious statue sender for a while. When Sirius had to leave, they promised to write each other, and as soon as Sirius got home, he took out his quill and began to write a letter.

●●●●●●●●●●●● Flashback over ●●●●●●●●●●●●

"R-Row." Sirius's voice was barely audible as he used Rowan's old nickname. "S-Siri," Rowan whispered back. Both their eyes watered and they hugged. "I thought I'd never see you again..." Rowan whispered. "I know, I know...." Sirius smiled. They pulled apart. "Why'd you stop writing?" Sirius asked. Rowan hung his head in shame. "Parents. As soon as you started to resent your parents, bam, if I write you I get slapped. 'Bad influence' they called you." He rolled his eyes. "I tried to write you anyway, but it rarely worked."

"Bah, forget 'em. At least we see one another again." They sat down. "Man, we have a lot of catching up to do, it's been what? 8 years?" Rowan looked at him quizzically and laughed. "As much as I'd like that, don't you have somebody waiting for you?" Sirius stood up suddenly. "Idiot! Remus! I'll see you later?" He asked hopefully. Rowan smiled. "I'll owl you when the time is right." They hugged once more and Sirius left.

He strolled down to the Gryffindor tower, in great spirits and unaware that Remus saw him. Unaware that Remus was behind a statue, wondering where his boyfriend had gone. Unaware that Remus saw Rowan leave too, also in great spirits. Unaware of how suspicious it looked. Unaware that a crack of suspicion, pure disbelief, and sadness had appeared in Remus's heart. Only one thought was in his brain, one he didn't want to believe.

Is Sirius cheating on me with Rowan?

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Hey. Things aren't looking so good at the end there, huh? Wonder what'll happen. I doubt anything bad. I mean, really. How bad can it get?

*Distant laughing*

 *mumbles* y'all gonna hate me, just saying. I need to buy a shield.

~Misty

Oh and side note, fucking props to @NellSkk for the comment on chapter 4 like oh my god you guessed everything about Rowan in one go. Rowan is a Ravenclaw, he had a past relationship with Remus that Sirius didn't know about and the raven is Rowan. Like we got a true seer over here! You even guessed his nickname!