"Remus, I-i-i..." Sirius faltered slightly. Was this the right decision? What if Remus laughed in his face? After a moment of silent hesitation he lifted his chin and met Remus' eyes. "Remus, I love you."

Remus shook his head, unwilling to believe the words that hovered between them. Nobody could love a monster like him.

"You can't," he whispered finally.

"Yes I can and I do. Telling me that I can't love you, doesn't change the fact that I do."

Remus sighed and ran a shaky hand through his hair. He wanted it to be true, he really did. But Sirius...He had never been one for the home team, which was made quite obvious by the literal train of pretty girls that had clung to him over the last two years. He loved Sirius but he didn't want to be another one of the girls, discarded after Sirius had his fun.

"No, Sirius. You don't, at least not in the way I love you. We're friends and maybe you love me like a brother, but there's nothing more to it than that." Remus paused and closed his eyes in an attempt to prevent the tears that threatened to fall.
Before he could continue Sirius had stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug. Remus struggled, trying to escape from the arms of his friend.

"No, Rem. Listen to me," commanded Sirius, causing Remus to give up the struggle. "You think I'm just going to have my fun with you and throw you away, that I'll treat you like another of those girls that I've allowed to tag along since third year. You're wrong Rem, because I love you. I've never been more sure of anything else in my life."

"You're confused," whispered Remus, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks as he absorbed Sirius' words.

"No! I'm not! You don't see the way I stare at you, the way I find excuses to brush my hand against your arm! You don't see it Rem, you don't. I wish you did," said Sirius, the last words a whisper as he stepped away from Remus.

"Sirius..."

"Maybe one day you'll believe that I don't want to add your heart to the jar with all the others. Maybe one day...you'll realise just how much I mean it when I say I love you," whispered Sirius. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked to the door.

"Wait," called Remus. "Please."

Sirius paused, closing his eyes in an attempt to control the urge to burst into tears. A soft hand touched his arm, the fingers tangling themselves in the material of his robes.

"Don't go," whispered Remus, his breath ruffling Sirius' hair. "Please, Sirius. Don't walk away from me."

"Why?" asked Sirius softly as he struggled against the tears. The hand tightened, turning him away from the door.

"Because I'm in love with you too," whispered Remus and before Sirius' eyes had fluttered open in shock, he had pressed his lips against Sirius' in a gentle, reassuring kiss.