A story in which two awkward things happen, and as per usual, Peter doesn't really get it. JPLE+SBRL
Two Awkward Events.
Peter eyes Sirius nervously. See, if Sirius cackles, he is permitted to smile, and if Sirius takes the piss, he will allow himself to join in. However, even Sirius does not laugh. He's looking kind of sombre and he gives James a twisted glance that says that's rough mate.
"I couldn't even laugh" Sirius says later to Peter and Remus, in a hushed voice. "He looked so miserable. Oh, God. It's funny, but I just couldn't. I think I'm growing up. Oh God," he repeats, and nudges them both. "Don't you even care about what's happening to me?"
"Maybe it's just your time of the month" mutters Remus ironically, who is thumbing through a thick wad of his own notes, and Sirius makes an odd-smiley face and stops being stressy. But Peter doesn't get the joke.
So he just offers Sirius a knowing smile and rolls his eyes, but Sirius just frowns at him and turns his attention back to Remus. "I mean it!"
"Dear sweet Prongs" smiles Remus, mysteriously avoiding the conversation as per usual. "Once a champion amongst Gryffindors- a man amongst women. For shame."
"Shut up" groans James from across the room. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here."
Sirius gives Peter a look, and then smiles, so Peter smiles too. Sirius shakes his head at him.
"It can't have been that bad" offers Remus, walking across to pat James companionably on the messy head. "I mean- she'll get over it."
"I'm going to become a nun" he says into the pillow.
"Okay. We'll admit it. It wasn't the best time to get a- well" says Remus. James's ears turn red and Remus chuckles, and flicks them. James squirms and bats him away, trying to disappear into his bedding. "Mate, you need to regroup, accept the damage, you know, think up your next move." He nudges James ineffectually, but he won't remove his face from the pillow.
"He accidentally prodded her in the belly in a game of hide-and-seek" helps Sirius loudly, with a wide grin, in case anyone had forgotten. So that worrying spell of maturity had solved itself, apparently. "and they were trapped in the cupboard together for fifteen minutes after. There really isn't any coming back from that, is there?" James wilts; Remus gives Sirius a dark look.
"Maybe Evans was flattered" tries Peter.
James winces at her name, and stays silent, ears and neck bright red. Remus rolls his eyes and pats James on the head again. Sirius unwraps a chocolate frog and stalks across the room, intending to dispatch it down the back of James's collar, but Remus grabs his wrist to stop him.
Peter's across the room, puzzled. They stay still for a second, and then Remus glances at him right in the eye and gets like he does, when he blushes but without actually externally changing colour, and shuffles and drops Sirius's hand, and Sirius looks down at James, quickly shoves the frog into his mouth, and goes to get changed.
Remus sits beside James for a second longer, looking distinctly flustered, and avoids eye contact with Peter or Sirius for the rest of the night. They act weird: like later, Remus says something that's not really funny, and Sirius laughs too hard at it, and slaps Remus on the back too hard, as well.
And see, Peter doesn't actually get the joke. But then, Peter never really does.
Probably place this one around fifth year, maybe sixth. Review? :)