Howdy folks. I've been working on a few short stories featuring our favourite Marauders for some time now and I thought, instead of posting them individually, I'd just put them in a collection. Mostly the stories will be told in first person, either by the boys themselves or somebody close to them. Occasionally we may go into third person, it all depends on the muses. So, here's the first one. It's short and told by James; it's about how he notices something between Sirius and Remus, way back in first year.

By the way, these stories are in the same universe as my story "Mischief Managed."

Warning: Contains James Potter silliness and the main pairing throughout the collection will be Sirius/Remus.

"Perception"

I, the great James Potter am a lot more perceptive than folks give me credit for—especially in school. In first year, for example: I noticed things people were doing that they thought no one was paying any attention to. I saw girls fix their wedgies when they thought no one was looking. I stopped looking for this though because I saw Professor Sprout do it once and that had been mentally scarring.

I also noticed that my best friend, Sirius fancied someone and likely didn't realise it. I had seen Sirius more than once staring at one person in particular, none other than Remus.

Sirius and I were serving detention with Professor Slughorn for setting off a dungbomb in Potions and blaming it on the Slytherins. He had us cleaning cauldrons…the muggle way. When Slughorn was distracted by reading a book, I slipped Sirius a note—since we were forbidden from talking.

I've seen you staring at someone like every single girl in our year—except Evans—stares at you.

Sirius wrote back What are talking about?

You fancy someone.

I don't know what you mean.

You fancy Remus which is weird because he's a boy, at least I think he is. We'll have to check that, he does kind of look like a girl with that hair.

Sirius's eyes widened as he read the note and then his eyebrows furrowed. Where did you get that idea? I don't fancy anyone least of all Remus.

Slughorn stood up "Boys, you're not passing notes are you?"

I stuffed the note in my pocket "What notes?"

…

Once we were released from the dungeons and on our way back to Gryffindor tower, Sirius said "You haven't answered my question. What makes you think I fancy Remus?"

"You goo-goo eye him and you tease him."

"I do not goo-goo eye him and a lot of people tease him."

"No, those people torment him. You don't make him tear up. When you tease him, he smiles and agrees with you."

"Well he's a bit of a pushover, don't you think? He doesn't stand up for himself."

"That's because you do it for him."

"So do you; that's what friends are for."

"Yeah but…"

"James, I've never heard of boys fancying other boys. Have you?"

I thought about it "No" I conceded.

"Well then, now drop it."

And I did. For the moment. I needed to look into this boys liking other boys thing. I also needed to make sure Remus was in fact a boy. Accidently walking in on him in the shower should work. Nope, I have no qualms, none at all—well, maybe that's not entirely accurate; I'd never want to walk in on Snivellus after all. I would be blinded, I'm sure.

…

Goody-goody Remus actually swore "James, what the hell?!" It was intriguing because he felt as twelve year olds, we shouldn't use such language.

"Sorry, didn't hear the water. Jeesh, Remus calm down, nothing I haven't seen before." I didn't hear the water? Yeah, I was fully aware he wasn't likely to believe that but what else was I going to say?

Okay, Remus was most definitely a boy and made me feel slightly inadequate, I hate to admit. Maybe it was a werewolf thing. I left the bathroom to find Sirius arching an eyebrow at me "All you had to do was ask, I've walked in on him before. Feel small don't you?" he tossed a book at me, it was on werewolves "they mature faster. You'd know that if you had actually done the reading."

Walked in on him before, huh? Very interesting.

I read the book but it had nothing on werewolf mating habits so I had no way to know if Remus could fancy Sirius. Hold on, if they mature faster then why does Remus have a girly face? It's true though; he had soft features and with his longish hair, you wouldn't know unless you know, you know?

…

During the summer Sirius and I spent a lot of time together and whenever we were out in public I made sure to notice if Sirius looked at any other boys. But no such luck, if he did, I didn't see. However, what I did see was a pair of grown men holding hands when Mum and I were in Diagon Alley doing the school shopping.

I stepped away from her and approached them. They were sitting down at the ice cream parlour. "Hello there. May I ask why you're holding hands? See because last year I saw my friend staring at my other friend like he fancies him but I've never heard of boys fancying boys so does that happen? 'Cos Sirius denied it but I think he fancies Remus and I want to know if it's possible." I also have no fear. Mother's had to tell me more than once not to talk to strangers. I chose not to listen most of the time. I'm a pretty good judge of character, you see and can tell if someone I want to talk to is worth talking to.

The men blinked and one looked at the other and said "Did you catch any of that?"

"Yes," the other nodded, "I speak fluent hyper-twelve year old boy. Yes, lad it's very possible. It happens all the time."

This was fantastic. I love being right. "Does it have a name?"

"Yes. When a boy fancies another boy or a girl fancies another girl, it's called homosexuality."

My eyes were wide "Girls can fancy girls? THAT explains those two Hufflepuffs." And those two Hufflepuff birds were gorgeous, I had the sudden desire to see them snogging.

"That's right, they're called lesbians."

"They have a special name? Neat."

The two guys smiled and looked at me in that 'you're so adorable' way most people look at me. I've since learned it means they're patronising me. Anyway, the one who spoke fluent hyper-twelve year old boy said "Yes and homosexual males are called gay, we much prefer it."

Being from an old-money family, I knew gay to mean happy and/or bright and showy "Because you're happy?"

They were looking at me with that look again and the one who didn't speak fluent hyper-twelve year old boy said, "Yes, yes we are very happy."

"Well jolly good then, that's fantastic. Do you think Sirius is gay?"

"How old is he?"

"Twelve, same as me."

"Well, if he is gay, he might not know it yet. Some gay people don't realise or admit it till they're much older."

"Uncle Phil, you wouldn't believe the state of that restroom." To my surprise, none other than Remus himself was coming towards the table and he froze when he saw me.

"Remus" said the hyper-twelve year old speaking one, who must be Uncle Phil 'cos now I was looking at him, there was a resemblance between him and Remus—same girly nose "we were beginning to think you'd drowned. What took you?"

"Sorry, Uncle Phil I was cleaning. Uh, James…uh…"

"Remus!" I smiled and hugged him. He didn't hug me back, in fact he went rather rigid. I think he was in shock "Good to see you, old bean, been ages."

"It's been less than two months," he straightened out his shirt and regained some of his composure. "I see you've met my great-uncle Phil and his…his…Doug."

Uncle Phil chuckled "It's okay Remus, I think your friend is very open minded. James, Doug is my boyfriend."

"Well I guessed that," I said "why else would you be holding hands? Me and Remus wouldn't hold hands, just sitting. I mean, sure if we were trying to get away from the giant squid, that's another thing entirely."

Remus's face was Gryffindor red and he was breathing quite heavily but he still managed to correct my grammar "Remus and I, James."

"Yes, Reams, that's what I said."

"Don't call me that."

"Remus, why didn't you ever tell us about your uncle and his boyfriend?"

"Yes, Remus" said Uncle Phil "why didn't you?"

Remus sighed "I'm sorry, I didn't think it was necessary information and there was never an opening in a conversation. In what context do you say, 'oh by the way, my uncle's gay'?"

"Randomly" I said "that's how I mention stuff. You could have done, poor Sirius hasn't even heard of boys fancying other boys."

"He hasn't? How do you know?"

"Came up. Those two Hufflepuff birds, Tara and Mallory, they're lesbians." Well I wasn't about to tell him that Sirius fancied him when Sirius didn't even know it himself, now was I?

"Yes, James, I know. James, does your mother have her hair up in a bun and is she carrying a large carpet bag?"

"Yes why?"

"She's calling you."

I turned around immediately "Be right there, Mother!" I turned back to Remus "See you on the train then and fantastic meeting you, Uncle Phil and Doug."

…

Speaking of the train, Remus told Sirius and Peter about his uncle since I already knew.

Sirius stared him "Men can fancy other men?"

"Yes" Remus nodded "not everyone thinks so though. My granddad apparently didn't approve of Uncle Phil's lifestyle. Same goes for some others in my family."

Remus dropped the subject after that.

Well, time went on and the stories from that time are for another time. We talked about Uncle Phil and Doug now and then but the gay thing didn't come up again for a while. I knew that Sirius would only deny it if I accused him of fancying Remus. So I watched and waited.

Oh it was obvious Sirius fancied him and after a year or two, I noticed that Remus fancied him back. See, not only did I know Sirius better than he knew himself but I knew Remus too and I knew that Remus would also deny it. And I'll tell you why: he had said some of his family didn't approve of Uncle Phil's lifestyle and that told me that he wouldn't like it if Remus swung that way. I mean, in Remus's way of thinking, he was already a werewolf and he wouldn't want anything else to be "wrong" with him. Now that's not to say Remus thought being gay was wrong but his relatives apparently did and Remus is a pushover; he just has to please everyone—that's why he lets us get away with pranks when they're against his better judgement.

Okay, to be fair, a lot of that was stuff I realised later—I'm not purporting to be some super genius or anything.

Okay, so that's where we're going to leave this chapter. I know it might seem a little cut off but James was gonna keep rambling if I didn't shut him up.

Not sure when the next story will be up, I've got other stuff to concentrate on as well.

TTFN