"Woahh!" cried Sirius falling to the ground.

Severus managed to remain composed and on his feet, although it was difficult.

"Iluka? Is that the name of this place do you think?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, I believe so. Dumbledore usually does that with thought activated Port Keys," Severus explained.

They could hear the gently lapping ocean outside; obviously this would be a perfect place for a holiday. It was however very dark in the building they were in.

"It's night time! It was still early when we left!" Sirius said suddenly.

"We must be in another country then," Severus said curiously looking out the window.

"Yeah, but which one?" Sirius asked, thinking out loud.

"I am many things, Black, but psychic is not one of them," Severus growled.

"Let's go outside then and look!" Sirius shouted, suddenly excited.

"It could be dangerous! We don't even know where we are!" Severus protested, but he allowed himself to be dragged outside anyway.

"There's something different about this sky, isn't there?" Sirius said, looking up at the stars.

"You're talking to someone who failed astronomy at school, remember?" Severus chided, but there was not real malice in his voice. Even he felt the difference however; there was something strange afoot. Dumbledore had really done it this time.

They spent the night trying to sleep while not really feeling tired. They reasoned however that it would be better to adjust to this country's normal daylight hours if they were to stay there two weeks. Unable to sleep at all, Sirius loudly wondered where they were until Severus felt like shoving a pillow down his throat. Iluka was not much of a clue; neither of them knew geography very well, and even if they did, neither left Europe very much.

With the dawn they left in a hurry, heading towards the beach. The sun seemed to glare insistently at them, and with his lack of sleep Severus was in a foul mood.

They spotted an early morning beach fisherman, and Severus wondered exactly how they were going to ask where they are without sounding foolish.

"Mornin'" grunted the fisherman as they neared.

"Nice day here in…" Sirius paused hopefully, waiting for the Fisherman to finish his sentence. When he did not, Sirius finished with the word "Iluka,"

"Mmm," grunted the man, essentially ignoring them both.

As they walked away Severus muttered. "Nice one!" under his breath.

They kept walking, looking with anticipation for any familiar sight. Not far from the beach, strangely enough, was what looked like a rainforest, and grazing on a patch of grass in front of it-

"A Kangaroo!" Severus shouted, scaring it.

"But kangaroos live in Australia," Sirius said staring stupidly at it.

"Australia," growled Severus. "The mad old coot sent us to Australia!"

They returned to the cottage, Severus fuming. He knew however, that if they attempted to leave the area the protection spell would break, and Voldemort would know where he was at once. It did not stop his anger however and Sirius laughingly kept his distance.

"Come on Sevvie, it should be fun to be in a new country! We have two weeks with no stress, no war-"

"No wand," Severus interrupted. "And don't call me 'Sevvie'"

"What?" gasped Sirius patting his pockets desperately. Without his wand he felt like he had in Azkaban; completely defenseless.

Severus looked absolutely terrified. Obviously he had not been without his wand since he received it at the age of twelve. That he was so scared without it was worrying. He did not say another word, merely wandered inside and flopped down in the nearest chair. Yet again Sirius was stuck wondering whether Severus Snape was allowed to be classified as 'cute'. He was pouting and his expression grew worse the more Sirius laughed, which in turn made Sirius laugh all the more.

"Black, shut up!" growled Severus.

"Ha…ha…ha…" gasped Sirius falling to the ground in laughter.

Severus threw a cushion at him, scowling. Sirius threw it back with another thrown in for good measure.

"If it's a pillow fight you want, I'm still the crowned champion of Gryffindor!" Shrieked Sirius pummeling him.

Severus yelped. "No, I yield! I yield!"

He did not want to admit it, but he was still bruised all over and even this small effort had taxed him. Sirius noticed this and the laughter left his eyes. Having seen Severus' condition a few nights ago he had no plans to repeat it.

"I'm fine," Severus insisted when he saw Sirius was worried.

"I'm sure you are. I've had enough of losing friends lately though," Sirius replied painfully.

"Is that what we are, friends?" Severus asked wistfully, as if he had never heard such a word in reference to himself.

"Of course we are!" Sirius replied, an air of grief still obvious about his demeanor.

"Have you grieved for him?" Severus asked suddenly, black eyes twinkling unfathomably.

Sirius did not need to ask whom Severus was referring. He simply shook his head.

Severus wished there was something he could say or do to take that pain away. Standing before him was a man so incredibly complex, pain tangled tightly inside him. All of his problems seemed insurmountable, his grief not the least of these. Remus had been gone for only a short time, but Sirius had barely acknowledged it.

"It's ok though," Sirius replied quickly- too quickly.

Severus arched an eyebrow but decided it was best not to say anything until Sirius wanted to talk about it.

"Don't look at me like that! What am I meant to do?" Sirius asked.

I've told you before. You need to face things instead of pretending you're fine and then having a breakdown when you don't want one," replied Severus.

"Yeah, because you're so good at this emotional crap, aren't you?' sneered Sirius. "How about you stop telling me how to live my life and look at your own?"

Severus felt like he had been dealt a physical blow. He did not however show any outward sign of emotion; he was far too proud for that. Nor did he know what to say in return; all of a sudden he felt an enormous lump in the back of his throat.

"I didn't mean that," Sirius said suddenly. Even though Severus had intended none of his emotions to show, his entire withdrawal was obvious.

"What did you mean then?" Severus asked quietly.

"I was just angry at my own weakness, I guess. I took it out on you. I'm sorry," Sirius sounded contrite, but Severus arched an eyebrow in disbelief.

"It sounds strange to hear you apologize," Severus said simply.

"Huh? Why?" Sirius asked.

"Of all the things you have done to me over the years, you apologize to me for this? It is strange that's all,"

Sirius reddened. The man in front of him was not the boy he had terrorized as a child. Here was someone oddly compassionate and interesting. Sirius had not been in a relationship since before Azkaban, and it had been a long time.

"What are you staring at?" Severus asked bewildered.

"You," growled Sirius with a trace of his former charm.

A delightful pink blush spread across Severus' face as he turned away.

"Well you won't see much looking at me," he scoffed.

"Oh but I do see things. Things I like," Sirius growled once more.

"Ok. Stop. Remember whom you are talking to," Severus pulled himself from the chair, intending to make an escape.

Sirius stared at him long and hard.

"You know, I think I do know who you are. Severus Snape I presume?" he said keeping a straight face.

"Be serious, Sirius," Severus stopped, realizing he had just uttered the biggest Harry Potter pun ever.

"I am being serious. You're an attractive guy and I've been alone for a long time. What's the problem?"

Severus' eyes widened and his nostrils flared.

"So I'm some casual relief, is that it?" he asked.

"Oh Merlin no! It's not like that…" but Severus was barely listening, instead choosing to stare at the window with a furious look on his face.

Instinctively Sirius moved behind him, blocking his escape.

"Move," Severus said flatly.

"No," Sirius responded playfully. He caught the other man's wrists as he tried to brush past, and fought his struggles to gentle press his lips against unresponsive ones.

"I'm not doing this because you're the only one here, or to embarrass you or to make you mad. Although you're kind of cute when you're angry,"

Severus closed his eyes, willing himself not to respond.

"Sirius, please," he whispered against insistent lips.

Sirius pulled back but did not release his hold.

"You don't like it?" Sirius asked, cocking his head to one side.

"No it's not that. It's wonderful," replied Severus uncomfortably.

"Then why stop?" Sirius murmured leaning in close again.

Severus pushed him away.

"Because you change lovers more often than underwear, and I'm not some common whore you can screw and leave. I do not have casual relations,"

"You don't have lasting ones either," Sirius replied, miffed.

"Exactly. And that's why I've never…" Severus cut himself short, looking horrified at what had almost come out of his mouth.

"You never…you're a virgin?!!" Sirius cried out in realization.

Severus did not answer verbally, but it was obvious all the same.

They spent the rest of the afternoon actively avoiding each other. Severus simply had no wish to discuss his personal life, or lack thereof, with a nymphomaniac like Black. Sirius was embarrassed his overture had been rejected and the secret he had uncovered in the process. Still, how was he meant to know that Severus was a virgin? Sure, he himself had chased away anyone who even tried to talk to Severus while they were at school, but there had been thirteen years while Sirius was in prison for him to get over that. With a jolt Sirius realized it was probably his fault that Severus remained a virgin. Everyone had been doing it at Hogwarts; everyone who married afterwards seemed to stay within their friend group or house group. Severus had no friends, thanks to Sirius. The other man was glaring out the window, a book prone in his lap. He did not do casual relationships according to his own admission. That only left one thing. Could Sirius commit to anyone, given his reckless behavior and non-committal attitude?