The Other Side of the Coin

The hooded figure stopped outside the cell door, preparing to rid another prisoner of his memories. It reached out with its mind, taking hold of the man's soul and gently, oh so gently, began to spool out his happy memories, sucking them into itself. The Dementor would have smiled, had it possessed the capability, as it heard the guttural groan from the prisoner as he sunk even lower to the floor and into his own private pit of despair. The memory was a good one, from a long time back in the man's mind. The cloaked thing tasted it almost tenderly, enjoying the pain it caused the filthy creature on the other side of the door.

"Siri, it's your turn!"

"Ah... Oh... Ok... Truth?" Sirius had asked hopefully. He had hated having to do dares, especially when playing with the other Marauders.

The others put their heads together and whispered conspiratorially. James and Remus were obviously trying to convince the other three that they should ask him something really embarrassing, while Lily, Peter and Dawn were trying to argue for something else. Peter snaked a hand round Dawn's waist and grinned at Sirius over his shoulder. Sirius smiled back. Peter and Dawn had been going out with each other for a few weeks now. Just as everyone had despaired of ever finding Peter a date, he had bumped into Dawn (Literally. He had accidentally tipped a whole mug of Butterbeer down her robes) in the Three Broomsticks. The Hufflepuff girl was nice, friendly and attractive in a mildly round, blonde way and everyone could tell that Peter had fallen for her. Finally it seemed like Lily, Peter and Dawn had won through and turned back to him.

Lily smiled at him and asked "Tell the truth Sirius... Who do you think is the most snoggable Gryffindor?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. He had told his friends that he was pretty sure he was gay a few months before, after figuring out that if they didn't mind that one of their friends turned into a huge wolf every full moon then they were unlikely to just dump him for something so trivial as his sexuality. Ever since then however, they had been trying to set him up. He did, however, know just how to answer that particular question.

"Well... It's gotta be Remus, hasn't it?"

Everyone gasped and started to laugh loudly as Remus went bright red. The laughter continued for several minutes and ended up with everyone except Remus rolling on the grass. Eventually they pulled themselves together for long enough to work out who was next.

"Ok, Remi. What do you want? Truth or dare?"

Remus still looked embarrassed and Sirius wondered if he had somehow hurt his feelings. He vowed to apologise later.

"Dare." said Remus firmly.

James glanced around at everyone. "Well," he said. "There's only one thing it's gotta be. We dare you to kiss Sirius..."

Now it was Sirius' turn to look embarrassed. "James..." he said softly. "Don't." He looked up at Remus, who he was surprised to see had stopped blushing.

"I was hoping you'd say that!" grinned Remus. "Come here Siri!"

And with that, Remus launched himself at the stunned boy and kissed him passionately. Sirius was shocked for a few seconds and then began to kiss the other boy back. He felt Remus' hands move to hold the back of his head and stroke the back of his neck. Sirius mentally shrugged, closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his friend's waist. He felt Remus' tongue flick against his lips and he parted them with eagerness, allowing the kiss to move from what was a friendly joke to something a little more serious. Sirius pulled Remus closer and began running his hands up and down his back. Boy, Remus tasted good.

It was then that he heard someone cough and he realised not just what he was doing, but who else was there.

They pulled apart, and saw the other four staring at them, mouths open.

It was James who broke the silence first. "Errr... Remus? Is there something you're not telling us?"

After that first kiss it had just gotten better and better. After it had gotten too dark to see, they had begun to walk back towards the castle. Lily and James were wrapped in each other so tightly Sirius wondered how they were ever going to contain themselves before they got back to the dorm. Peter and Dawn walked hand in hand, staring at the stars and wandered off towards the Hufflepuff tower. He felt Remus catch at his hand. He paused and turned to face him.

"Siri..." Remus began, but Sirius didn't wait to hear the rest. He stepped forward and cupped the other boy's face in his hands and leant towards him. Their lips met and their tongues brushed each other, Sirius could feel the simple electricity in the kiss and pulled him closer. He heard Remus moan in pleasure as he held him, and knew that whatever was happening, it wasn't just a game. After a long while they pulled apart, still clutched in each other's grasp. Sirius looked into Remus' face, into his golden eyes. He smiled tentatively. "Ummm... What were you going to say before?"

Now it was Remus' turn to smile. "It doesn't matter anymore... I was going to ask if you were... err... embarrassed, by what happened back there, but I think that question has been answered... Conclusively."

He stroked Sirius' hair gently. "Did you mean what you said though? About me?"

"Of course I did! And even if I didn't, I would now..."

"That's a relief..."

"Why?"

"Well... If you hadn't meant it, I'd be looking pretty stupid now, wouldn't I?"

"Remi, you're gorgeous. Everyone knows that..."

Remus chuckled.

Sirius smiled at him again. "There's just one thing I don't understand... Didn't you like girls this morning?"

"Still do. I've just been thinking ever since you... well, came out... and I realised I liked boys just as much. I've just never really thought about it before now."

"Ah... Well that explains it. Come here."

They kissed again, standing under the starlight on the dewy grass.

As the memory ended, the man's moans turned slowly into screams and faded into whispers. The Dementor, interested now, paused to listen. It heard declarations of innocence and of love, of betrayal and revenge, none of which meant anything to it, except as conduits of the glorious pain which surrounded it. The voice, broken and harsh from years of screaming his fears into the night, finally faded and the Dementor savoured the memory of first love like a fine wine, rolling it around its mind until it felt sated enough to swallow. It glided off down the corridor, already waiting for its next meal of pain and sorrow.

The man in the cell was silent now and lying motionless on the stone floor, lost in the only thoughts he was allowed to keep.