Hiya! This is a project I'm doing with a friend, where we gave each other 30 word prompts to use as inspiration.

Thank you to my beta, and friend, xLady-Helenax. You rock my world.

Pairing: Sirius x Remus
Word: Time
Setting: Mid-years of Hogwarts

Time

Four fifth year Gryffindors sat together, in silence, before the common room fire.

One of them constantly ran his hand through his hair, unable to mask his nervousness. He ruffled his hair, pushed his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose, and then moved his hair back to the way it had been previously.

Another sat in an armchair, legs crossed beneath him. His chin rested on his large balled up fist, as he stared into the fire, his face completely blank and unreadable.

The third, graced with good looks, distracted himself by flipping a quill around in his lean fingers, and blowing the dark fringe away from his eyes. Every so often, he stole glances at his companions.

The fourth, and last, was curled up in the corner of the couch, trying to keep warm under a thick cloak. His eyes shone maliciously, though his face was shy and anxious. He looked out through the common room window, watching as it got progressively darker.

"It's time," he whispered. The young man beside him dropped his quill in surprise and looked at his friend.

"I think I should go," Remus continued.

Sirius nodded, and picked up his quill and threw it down onto the fireside table.

Peter lifted his head and watched Remus move under the cloak to eventually stand up. He shivered when his skin was exposed to the air. James looked apologetic, and stood beside Remus, running a hand up and down his arm in an attempt to generate some heat for him.

"Thanks," Remus mumbled, then moved away from his touch, towards the portrait hole.

"I'll come with you," Sirius declared.

"No, it's alright, Sirius, I can manage," Remus replied. He really just wanted to leave, and get this over with. His heart ached for it to be the next day already, so he could wait in the Hospital Wing with the other Marauders around him, and Madam Pomfrey forcing foul potions down his throat. He shivered again, newly reminded of what would happen to him in an hour's time.

"Rubbish," Sirius insisted. "I'll just walk with you to the Hospital Wing." He took Remus by the elbow and directed them to the portrait hole. "See you soon," he added to James and Peter. The other two boys nodded. James paced in front of the deep red couch. Peter looked like he might throw up.

Sirius and Remus walked through the dark corridors without speaking. Sirius reluctantly let go of Remus' elbow and tried to calm his nerves. Remus could hear his friend's laboured breathing.

"You all get far too upset about this, you know," he said quietly, not looking at Sirius.

"How can we not, Remus?" Sirius countered. "You go through so much pain, and every single month, too!"

Remus sighed. "It's not that bad," he said with a shrug.

"Not that bad, eh?" Sirius asked. "You look pale for a week in advance; you can hardly eat anything the day of; you spend a whole night caged in an old shack; and you develop self-inflicted scars, but no, it's not that bad," he muttered sarcastically.

Remus looked defeated, and Sirius felt instantly guilty for upsetting him. He attempted to correct his blunder. "We're just worried, Remus. We don't like having to let this happen to you every month. We feel helpless; like we're letting you down."

"W-what? Siri, you guys don't let me down!" Remus insisted, now looking directly into his friend's eyes. "It's quite the opposite, actually. Without the three of you, I may have given up by now."

Sirius would have replied, but they had reached the Hospital Wing, and Madam Pomfrey was already waiting. Remus continued towards her, but then stopped and turned to face Sirius.

"Thanks for coming with me," he said meekly.

"I suppose there's no use in telling you to be careful?" Sirius replied.

"Not really," Remus half-grinned. Once the moon had awakened the beast within him, he would lose control of his thoughts and emotions, and it would be impossible for him to 'be careful'.

"'Kay," Sirius sighed. "We'll see you tomorrow, I promise."

Remus smiled. "I know," he said.

Madam Pomfrey nodded to Sirius, and then walked away with Remus to the grounds, where they would press the knot in the Whomping Willow, and Remus would go inside to await his transformation.

Nine o'clock.

Sirius watched the clock hanging on the common room wall, willing it to move faster. How could it only be nine? He could have sworn it'd been hours since he had walked Remus to the Hospital Wing.

"Stop watching the time like that, Padfoot, it's enough to drive you insane," James muttered, though he was secretly glancing at his wristwatch every five minutes.

"Can't help it," Sirius replied. He growled in frustration and buried his face in his hands, forcing his eyes to stop watching the clock.

"I wish we could get this Animagus thing working," Peter said absentmindedly. Both his dark-haired friends nodded, though he didn't see them. "It would make nights like this so much more bearable."

"That it would, Wormtail," James replied.

They relapsed into silence. The next time Sirius couldn't contain the need to know what time it was, only a couple hours had passed.

Eleven o'clock.

"It's not even midnight!" Sirius exclaimed. He collapsed across the entire couch, his head resting in James' lap. James raised an eyebrow, but let Sirius be.

Two o'clock.

"I need to go to bed," Peter announced. "I'm going to at least try to get some sleep." He rose from his chair and stood by it quietly. James nodded and tried to give him a reassuring smile. Peter nodded back and slowly ambled up the dormitory stairs.

"I'm tired too," Sirius' muffled voice sounded from James' lap.

"Well, you can go to bed too," James answered.

"Can't," Sirius mumbled lazily.

"I know," James said. He looked at the portrait hole, as though expecting Remus to burst through it suddenly, saying that a cure had been found and that he was no more a werewolf. He knew it was not possible.

Three o'clock.

James had dozed off, right there, sitting underneath Sirius' warm head. Sirius, on the other hand, had completely given up attempting to not look at the clock, and was staring at it furiously, as it slowly ticked on.

He felt alone. Peter had not come back downstairs, and James was asleep. Everyone else in Gryffindor house had retired long ago, and Sirius was left alone; just him and the time. He felt like every second that passed made him more and more insane.

However, no matter what, Remus was worse off, Sirius told himself. The dark haired boy thought about it. If he took his pain, amplified it and added physical pain, he would have what Remus had.

Five o'clock.

Sirius couldn't handle waiting any longer. He sat up quickly. James stirred, but stayed asleep. Sirius lifted himself from the couch and left through the portrait hole quietly, not caring one bit that he was not allowed in the corridors at this hour.

Remus was always grateful for Poppy Pomfrey's presence after the full moon. She supported his weight as they crossed the grounds from the Whomping Willow with ease, making sure he was feeling okay.

He watched the ground, trying to remain steady as he took deep breaths to calm his nerves. He had survived another full moon. He would finally get some rest underneath the crisp, clean sheets of the infirmary beds, slipping into slumber effortlessly under the influence of calming potions made by the medi-witch.

Madam Pomfrey sighed, and then gave a small chuckle.

"You really do have interesting friends, Remus, dear," she spoke softly towards his ear. Remus looked up to see Sirius sitting, eyes closed, beside the Hospital Wing doorway. He smiled.

Sirius heard their footsteps against the stone floors, and opened his eyes at once, then jumped up from the ground and hurried towards them.

"Good morning, Mr. Black," Madam Pomfrey said politely, continuing to lead Remus into the infirmary.

"Morning, Madam," he replied. "How's Remus?" he couldn't help but express his concern right away.

"I'm quite fine, thank you very much," Remus responded.

"Ah, at least your sarcasm is working alright," Sirius joked.

Remus only smiled, as he dropped into a soft bed. His limbs relaxed and his mind finally pushed back the essence of werewolf for another month.

Sirius was instantly sitting by his side, leaning against the bed, watching him.

"Must you stare?" Remus asked.

"Yup," was the reply.

"Great."

Sirius yawned; suddenly feeling very tired now that he knew Remus was okay. He yawned again, unable to contain it.

"How much sleep did you get?" Remus asked sternly.

"Er – about as much as you did, I presume," Sirius replied quietly. He knew Remus wouldn't like the fact that he, James and Peter had stayed up, so he didn't want to come right out and say that he hadn't slept yet.

"Sirius!"

Sirius chuckled. "Honestly Moony, I wouldn't have been able to sleep if I wanted to."

He flicked his dark bangs away from his eyes, and tried to look as awake as possible, to show his friend that he was okay. Sirius figured Remus would retort with more scolding, telling him to stop depriving himself of sleep. He expected to be told that there was nothing to worry about, and that he was foolish for making such a big deal over nothing.

Yet, that was not the reply he got. Remus closed his eyes, and sank into his pillow.

"What did I do to deserve such good, caring friends?" he said quietly, as though he wasn't talking to anyone in particular.

"If we were good, caring friends, we would have figured out a way to ease your pain," Sirius muttered in response as he laid his head down on the edge of the bed.

Remus opened his eyes, looking at the ceiling. He took a deep breath as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"By being here beside me, Padfoot, you already have."

Thanks for reading, please alert and read future instalments!

Next word prompt: Speak

-D0nQuix0te