Summary - The war with the Dark is finally over, Sirius has been pardoned and has returned to Hogwarts to claim his beloved Remus. Will Severus give him up without a fight?

Rating - NC17 for m/m slash. Consider yourself warned.

Disclaimer - They're not mine and never will be. They're JKR's. And they still won't behave.

Spoilers - For the Prisoner of Azkaban.

A/N - This is a sequel of sorts to 'Only the Lonely' coaxed from me by my Constant Readers. It started off as fairly tongue in cheek but I quickly realised that nothing was going to be that simple between those three.

Dedication - To Rowena for a phenomenal beta, and to those who asked for it. <g>

Severus Snape turned in the bed and ran a slow hand down his lover's prone body. The other man arched towards his caressing hand and smiled without opening his eyes. Severus leant forward and kissed him tenderly and found himself looking into a pair of sleepy amber-flecked eyes.

" We need to get a move on, " he murmured. " Classes will be starting soon. " He tried to ignore Remus Lupin's insistent and delightful stroking of his inner thigh, which had brought Severus to full, hot hardness.

" We haven't got time. " he protested weakly, trying to swat the offending hand away.

" You have. " grinned Remus and with the grace so peculiar to him he lowered his head to his lover's throbbing erection and sucked him deep, pushing Severus over the edge in minutes, making him cry aloud with pleasure.

" God, you're insatiable! " he growled as he staggered from the bed and hunted for his robes that he had so carelessly discarded the previous night.

" At least i've put a smile on your face! " crowed Remus from behind the bedhangings.

" I know. It's starting to frighten the students. " retorted Severus. " just wait till tonight and I won't be the only one grinning like an idiot. "

" Oh my! Promises, promises! " were the last words he heard as he left the room for the dungeon and the first Potions lesson of the day. Slytherin and Gryffindor sixth-years. He frowned when he noticed the empty seat and cauldron.

" Where's Potter? " he snarled.

" He's with the Headmaster, sir. " replied Ron helpfully. " And his godfather. "Ron's expression turned to one of barely concealed glee. " Sir, are you okay? You've gone as white as a sheet. "

" Thank you for your concern, Weasley. " replied Severus sarcastically. " It would fit you better if you concentrated on your Inspiration Potion rather than me. "

He sank into the teacher's chair feeling dizzy and sick. Sirius Black had returned to Hogwarts. Which could only mean one thing. Not only had he come for Potter, but for Remus as well.

Severus had been expecting it for some time when news of Black's pardon had become widely known but had fooled himself into thinking that just maybe fifteen years would be too long, that Black wouldn't want Remus any more. Fooled indeed when he had found the letters Black had written to his beloved while on the run. Fooled again when, in the pit of the night, Remus stirred in his sleep and called out another's name.

In his heart of hearts Severus had known that Remus could never truly love him, but he had dared to hope, and now that hope was shattered, like his poor heart into a million pieces. He was dismayed to feel tears running slowly down his sallow cheeks. Abruptly, he stood up and left the dungeon, heedless of the surprised mutters of the students. He had to find Remus. To talk to him. To say a last goodbye and try to be stoical about it. To pretend to himself it was nothing more than comfort and some pretty incredible sex.

As he headed for the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, he knew it would take a hell of a lot of convincing....

There was a great deal of noise coming from Remus's classroom. His lessons always seemed to involve a great deal of student participation and much laughter but when Severus opened the door; Remus was nowhere in sight.

" Where's Professor Lupin? " he snarled, causing the chatter to cease abruptly.

" He's not here, sir. Professor Dumbledore sent for him ages ago. " replied Colin Creevy.

Severus turned on his heel and left. He wanted to be alone, to think. His bedroom was the only place guaranteed to leave him undisturbed. He hurried down to the dungeons and flung the door open. Unfortunately, someone was already there.

" Hello, Severus. " said Remus calmly. " We were hoping you'd join us. "

Severus gawked at the sight of his lover cuddled up to a tall thin man with flowing black hair, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans that were tight enough to leave no doubt as to his gender. Sirius Black. Severus felt his heart fail. How could he compete with such a beauty? Remus's mate. The traitor who had turned out to be innocent after all.

" Have you come to tell me you're leaving? " he said, well aware of the tremble in his voice and hating himself for displaying such weakness.

" Amongst other things. " replied Sirius, uncurling himself from his lover and standing up. Severus gripped the wand in his pocket, preparing to fight.

" First of all, Severus, I want to thank you."

" What for? " Black smiled.

" For keeping an eye on Harry, for one. For all the good work you did against Voldemort. Oh, yeah, " he continued, seeing the surprise on the other man's face. " Dumbledore told me. But mostly for looking after Remus. For loving him and for caring for him when I couldn't. "

" You're not jealous? " asked Severus weakly.

" How could I be? When I escaped from Azkaban I had only one asset I could trade on. I used my body to get what I needed, slept with people i'd rather not think about in return for food, shelter, information, you name it. I became a pretty good whore. Remus had forgiven me. All I have to do now is learn to forgive myself. And I can't blame him for wanting you, Severus. " whispered Black moving closer still. Severus felt a primal thrill run through him. Rarely had he felt such animal magnetism from such a source.

" Had the situation been reversed, i'd have screwed you into the ground myself. " And Sirius bent forward and kissed him.

" Why did you do that? " spluttered Severus, ignoring for the minute how much he had enjoyed it. Sirius didn't answer, just grinned at Remus.

" You're right, Moony. He is a good kisser. "

" Told you so. "

" But you hate me. " said Severus, bewildered. " Don't you? "

Sirius wrapped his arms round him.

" No more than you hate me. Life's too short to have something like this soured by a schoolboy grudge. Let the dead bury the dead. Didn't the war teach you anything? Life is a gift to be enjoyed to the full and no experience should be disdained if we learn from it."

Severus couldn't reply as Remus had joined them, winding his frail-looking arms round them both.

" Tomorrow we'll be gone, Severus. We'd like to do one last thing for you. " He said, moving his hands over the other man's body in a slow caress. Severus bit back a groan of pure lust.

" How would you like to sleep with us? "

" Both of you? "

" At the same time if you like. " replied Sirius, joining his mate in mapping Severus's trembling frame. He chuckled when he came into contact with Severus's suddenly agonised erection. " Hmm. Looks like that's a yes. " said Sirius. " is it? "

" You two are unbelievable. " moaned Severus. " I want you both, any way I can have you. "

" Oh love. " whispered Remus for Severus's ears alone. " You'll enjoy it so much. And you're so incredible in bed we'll enjoy it too. "

The three of them stood trading deeper and more passionate kisses, Severus revelling in the novelty of two different sets of lips, two pairs of hands stroking him, undressing him, leading him towards the bed. He lay sprawled against the headboard watching the other two interact. He thought it might hurt seeing Sirius with Remus, watching Sirius fondle the parts of Remus that Severus had so recently learned to touch with such reverence, but he found it incredibly stimulating, not least because Sirius was almost the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, his lean rapacious body grinding slowly against his mate, his long black hair rippling down his back. Severus trembled at the thought of being invaded by him.

" Let him be the one who fucks me. " the tiny part of his rational brain that was left thought and he whimpered.

Sirius clambered onto the bed beside him and held him securely as Remus crawled between his splayed thighs. Remus's eyes were heavy with lust.

" What way do you want us, love? " he asked.

" I want Sirius to fuck me and I want you to...to..." He broke off unable to articulate his need as his lover wrapped a long-fingered hand round his aching cock and Sirius began nuzzling his exposed neck, biting at the tender flesh, using his fingers to pinch Severus's hardening nipples.

Severus moaned between them, unable to process such a welter of sensation, thrusting his hips reflexively against Remus's grip.

" Easy, love. " Remus cautioned, lowering his head to Severus's groin, licking him from root to tip before engulfing him, swallowing around his length.

" Doesn't that feel wonderful? " whispered Sirius as he continued to run his hands over Severus's body, returning again and again to his abused nipples.

Severus moaned his agreement as he fucked that sweet, sinful mouth, grabbing Sirius's head and pulling him round to kiss him, crying his release into the other man's mouth.

Remus grinned as he released him and Severus sank back into Sirius's embrace. He felt the other man's trapped erection pressing against his back and felt empty.

He didn't resist as Sirius positioned him on his hands and knees, sighed as Sirius's lips trailed over his backbone and gasped aloud as he felt Sirius's tongue enter him, opening the entrance to his body.

Remus paced steadying hands on his shoulders. " Relax, love. You're so beautiful like this, Let him make you ready for him and you'll really feel how much he wants you. "

Severus eyed his lover's leaking cock but was distracted as Sirius grabbed his hips and pulled him back to impale himself on Sirius's erection. He hissed aloud at the intrusion, at the spiralling pleasure radiating from Sirius's thrusts.

Remus rose to his knees, suddenly hungry for stimulation. Severus obliged, taking every inch of his lover's cock deep into his throat, savouring the taste of him, matching his rhythm to Sirius's and he felt Remus's fingers tangle in his hair.

Sirius's cry of completion was heartfelt; Remus following him seconds later, Severus chasing every last drop of the spilled seed.

They lay entwined on the bed, a heap of sated salty-sweet flesh, completed, and content.

Severus awoke in the early hours. He bit his lip as his eyes focused on the pair beside him. They were so closely entangled it was difficult to tell where one finished and the other began.

They looked so right together, Severus thought. Remus could never have loved me like that.

At the slight disturbance, Sirius awoke instantly, the legacy of the fugitive's life. No words were necessary. Sirius's arms tightened round the slight body of his mate. It was a fiercely possessive gesture that spoke volumes.

MINE. NOT YOURS. NOT ANY MORE.

Severus bent over Remus's sleeping form and tenderly kissed his parted lips for the last time.

" Goodbye love. " he whispered.

He had no recollection of walking to his office but that was where he found himself, sobbing, insensate, with a raw bleeding hole that had once contained his heart. He only stirred when a hand landed on his shoulder and he looked up through bloodshot swollen eyes into Dumbledore's concerned face.

" I'm sorry Severus. You realise of course that you have to let him go? Keep a werewolf from his mate and he will die. "

Severus nodded, unable to speak through a throat clotted with tears.

" It will hurt less with time. " said Dumbledore, squeezing his shoulder and moving towards the door.

Severus glared at his retreating back, drowning in misery. What the hell did that old fool know about it? Sirius was the lucky one. Sirius had had his mate returned to him, had someone to grow old with, to care for him, to love him.

" And what do I have? " muttered Severus to himself. Nothing but despair and pain and hurt with only the faintest promise of an end to it.

Sighing he wiped his eyes and moved a pile of parchment scrolls away, pillowing his head on his folded arms, seeking the solace of sleep.

Life must go on, and he'd just have to live with it. Alone. And one day at a time.