Don't Poke Me

Don't Poke Me

Remus and Sirius crept back up to the Gryffindor Tower. James was at Quidditch practice and if they knew him well enough, which they did, he wouldn't be back until late. After practice he liked to spend time with Lily. Usually the boys would razz him about it but today they were happy for the time. They needed to put James' Christmas present together.

"This photo album idea was great Moony," Sirius said as they threw their gear down on the floor. They had searched every shop in Hogsmeade for the perfect gift for James but to no avail. Just before it was time to return to Hogwarts Remus came up with a grand idea. James was always complaining that he didn't have enough photos of his friends.

Sirius had agreed with enthusiasm and they spent the next half hour scurrying for supplies. They had bought a photo album, which was red and gold. They had James' name engraved upon the cover along with the year.

"He's going to freak when he sees this," Remus said as he and Sirius lay side by side on the floor.

"It was a good idea," Sirius said again.

"You said that," Remus said somewhat sarcastically. The room took on an awkward silence. Parts of the day had been that way as well. Ever since Remus and Sirius had spoken to James about why they fight so much they had thought a lot about each other. Finally Remus looked at Sirius and said, "I'm sorry I've been so distant."

"Yeah, me too," Sirius said. He looked at Remus and smiled faintly. "I think I figured out what my problem was."

"As did I," Remus said. "Well...James helped."

"Yeah, he tends to do that occasionally," Sirius said with another smile. "So, we're friends again right?"

"We were never not friends... we were just... troubled."

Sirius smiled again and poked Remus in the ribs. In response Remus squealed and squirmed. "Don't poke me," he said giggling. It was a very common fact that Remus was extremely ticklish.

"Kay, I'll stop...for now," Sirius said with a twisted grin. The two boys smiled at each other and began to put James' photo album together. For a while it was just the two of them concentrating on the album, working with an unnatural sort of nonverbal communication. As they neared the end Sirius began to get fidgety. Suddenly he poked Remus again.

"Hey!" Remus said as he giggled and attempted to glare. "Don't poke me."

They finished the photo album and after it was wrapped Sirius hid it in his trunk.

"Well, I'm glad that's done!" Remus said. Sirius agreed.

"Well done," he said with a smile. After the album was put together Remus returned to his spot on the floor with one of his favorite books. Sirius joined him with a sketchpad and they lay side by side, working, without interruption. Sirius kept watching Remus out of the corner of his eye, waiting until he looked very caught up in his book. When he was sure this had been accomplished, he again poked Remus in the ribs.

Remus giggled and jumped. "Don't poke me!" he yelped.

"Why not?" Sirius asked innocently.

"Cause I asked you not to," Remus said indignantly.

"Not to what?" Sirius said as he poked Remus again.

"Stop!" Remus said trying to look upset but failing miserably at the task.

Sirius poked him again. Both boys sat up now, tired of leaning on their elbows while lying flat on the floor. Remus stretched and Sirius poked at him yet again.

"You poke me again and I'll... I don't know what I'll do but you won't like it!" Remus threatened.

Sirius couldn't resist. He poked Remus again. What Remus did next surprised him. He expected Remus to poke him back, or at least try to, or to hit him, or to get up and walk away, or to get mad, but Remus didn't do any of those things. Instead Remus leaned forward, grabbed Sirius' shirt, pulled him toward him, and kissed him. It only lasted for a moment but when Remus let Sirius go he stood up as if he were going to run away.

"Moony wait!" Sirius said rising from his seat and grabbing Remus' arm.

"I'm... I'm sorry," Remus stuttered. He looked shaken. Sirius hadn't kissed him back, but he hadn't pushed him away either. He looked confused. "I... I should not have done that."

"Why are you sorry?" Sirius asked a smile spreading across his mischievous face. "And what made you think I wouldn't like that?"

Remus took a step back. "Ex...Excuse me?" Remus looked even more confused. "Be...because we aren't together anymore," was his response.

Sirius sighed. It was now or never. He didn't want to ruin the day by letting Remus walk away confused. "I think...I think we should talk."

"Okay," Remus said a frown forming on his face. Sirius could almost hear all the horrible scenarios forming in Remus' mind. The sat on Sirius' bed, which was the bed farthest from the door and pulled the curtain around it.

"Remus... Remus the reason we've been fighting so much is because I miss you," Sirius said. "I... I have missed you a lot. We don't do anything together anymore." Sirius paused and took a deep breath before continuing. " I... I'm sorry I hurt you."

Remus was silent. He looked at Sirius as if studying him for signs of deceit. Sirius sat, somewhat tense, wondering what Remus was going to say. Remus took a deep breath, looked as if he was going to speak, and then stopped. Again he sat and studied Sirius. Finally after what seemed to be an eternity to Sirius he spoke. "I know you didn't mean to. I know that what happened was just as much my fault as it was yours. It's just... I don't understand... why didn't we work? I tried to be everything you needed me to be."

"Which is exactly what I didn't want. Moony, when are you going to learn that you should be you... not what you think I want you to be? I... I love who you are... not who you think I think you are," Sirius said sadly running his hand lovingly down Remus' face.

"Is that why we didn't work?" Remus whispered.

"Partially," Sirius said.

"What else?" Remus asked.

"Well... when there's something wrong... you don't talk to me. You just get quiet. You... you acted like you don't matter..."

"That's not fair. You didn't talk to me either," Remus interrupted. "That's why I stopped talking to you. I figured I'd be nothing more than a pest if I told you what was wrong. I didn't want to worry you."

Sirius sighed. "I know... and that's the reason I don't tell you what's wrong. I don't want you to worry."

"I'm not good with this emotion thing," Remus said softly. "I don't know how to act when someone treats me as well as you do..."

"Just... be Remus. It's all I ask of you." Sirius smiled again and leaned over to kiss Remus. It was a warm, slow kiss, and Remus felt what seemed to be years of tension melt from his shoulders.

"What are we doing?" Remus whispered, confusion sweeping through his mind.

"I think... I think we can work," Sirius said. "If we promise each other that we'll talk about everything. Can you do that?"

"I think I can handle that," Remus whispered. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around Sirius who returned the hug. Both of them began to cry, holding onto each other as if they thought that letting go meant falling.

"I've missed you so much," Sirius said between sobs running his hands through Remus' long brown hair and hugging him tightly.

"I've missed you too," Remus sobbed. After what seemed to be forever they stopped crying and let go of each other. Remus wiped his eyes and looked at Sirius lovingly.

Am I in love with my best friend? He asked himself. Yes, I think I am. But I can't think of anyone else I'd rather love. He wiped his eyes again and yawned. It had been a long day.

"You look tired," Sirius observed.

"I am a little tired," Remus admitted. "I think I might take a nap until dinner." Having said that Remus started to crawl out of Sirius' bed.

"No," Sirius said quickly. "Stay here... with me?" he asked. Remus smiled and settled down with Sirius who poked him in the ribs again.

Remus kissed him. He expected this kiss to be like the others; somewhat tame but warm and inviting. Instead Sirius wrapped both arms around Remus and began to kiss him passionately. Remus wasted no time in kissing back, pulling Sirius close to him, almost needing him to feel closer to him. Their legs became tangled together as did their arms and their tongues. They only stopped kissing to breath. At some point Sirius moved from Remus' lips to his ear and then his neck, which made Remus' brain turn to jello. After that Remus did the same to Sirius. Time slowly crept by, but neither one noticed or cared.

**~**~**~**

Neither one of them realized how much time had passed until they heard James' voice float through the room.

"Sirius... Sirius wake up. Dinnertime. I guess Moony's down stairs already...I'll meet you there okay?" James said although he knew quite well where Remus was and what he was doing.

"O...okay..." Sirius stuttered trying to catch his breath. Remus giggled silently.

"I guess we should go to dinner," Remus whispered.

"Come on, let's go," Sirius said pulling the curtain to his bed back and jumping out of bed. He extended a hand to Remus, who took it. When he pulled him to his feet Sirius pulled Remus closer to him for one more kiss. They then walked hand in hand down to the Great Hall for dinner. They sat down beside James and smiled.

"You two look... flustered," James said with an all-knowing grin.

"We were busy," Remus said quickly as he shoved a bite of chicken into his mouth.

"I see," James said. Lily sat down and smiled at Remus and Sirius. She then pulled a small tube of brownish powder out of her bag and passed it to Remus.

"For your neck," She said with a smile.

Remus blushed.

"Why are you so red?" James asked mockingly.

Sirius poked him.

"Don't poke me!" he said with a smile. "Or I'll do something you won't like," Remus said with a mischievous grin.

"Promise?" Sirius said with a smirk.

"Absolutely," Remus said as he began to laugh. He snuck another kiss and everyone resumed eating dinner. James and Lily looked at each other and nodded approvingly. Their friends were okay again.