It did work for the next week and a half. Severus and Remus practiced the animagus charms, though the Slytherin still was only able to produce fox ears -- a great achievement in so little time, but that didn't stop him from being frustrated. Sirius seemed none the wiser and returned to the way he had been acting before, as if he'd never had a conversation about fancying Remus. In fact, he even started to date someone fairly regularly and was constantly sneaking out of the Common Room.

"Have you heard if the draught's been released?" Severus asked, anxiously after they'd recovered from their second base tumbles the night before the full moon. He laid in their bed in the Room, sheets over his bright white skin from the waist down, propped up on his elbows. "I don't want you to tear yourself apart again."