In the fifth year Gryffindor boy's dormitory, four boys lay in bed. Moony's dreams flew across the castle to the Ravenclaw tower, where a red-haired girl lay sleeping. Prongs was out on the Quidditch field, remembering his perfect goal of the week before and his lap of honour that included three loop-the-loops. Wormtail was lost in nonsensical dreams of power, and him beating his three friends in all his OWL's. Padfoot's heart lay in the bed next to him. He longed to get up and go over to Moony, but he knew he couldn't. He contented himself with remembering Moony's smile, the touch of his hand…
Breakfast was always a noisy affair in the Great Hall on a Saturday. Today it was even more so. It was Ravenclaw versus Slytherin, and whichever side won would face Gryffindor in the final. At the end of the Gryffindor table, the four marauders sat. Moony was staring across the hall at the Ravenclaw table; Padfoot was staring across the table at Moony, Wormtail was shovelling food into his mouth and Prongs was once again discussing Quidditch, among other things.
'Don't you think Lily Evans is fit?' he said, suddenly.
'She's not bad,' said Padfoot, once again wondering what on earth his friends saw in girls.
'I think she's pretty,' said Wormtail. Moony stayed silent, still staring across the Great Hall.
'Moony?' Prongs waved his hand in front of Moony's face.
'What?' Moony tore his eyes away from the back of Lily's head.
'I said, don't you think Lily Evans is fit?'
Moony stared at him and then replied: 'She's all right I guess,' he shrugged.
'Alright? She's hot!' Padfoot looked pityingly at Moony. He had resigned himself to the fact that Moony was in love with Lily Evans years ago. Now he felt sorry for him, knowing that Prongs was developing a crush on her, oblivious to Moony's infatuation. 'So who's going to the match?' Prongs asked.
'I can't,' said Wormtail. 'I've got detention with McGonagall. She said I could either miss this match or the final.'
'I've got too much homework,' said Moony. They all turned to look at Padfoot.
'Er… yeah, homework,' he said. 'Remember Kettleburn gave me extra homework for setting off that firework last Tuesday?'
'Guess it'll just be me then,' Prongs sighed. 'I'll see if I can get a seat next to Lily Evans!' he smirked. 'Anyway, it stars in ten minutes, I'll see you all.' He got up and left. Wormtail looked down at his watch and made a very rat-like squeak, realising he was late for his detention. He sprinted out the hall, followed by laughter from the Slytherin table. Moony gulped down the last of his pumpkin juice and turned to Padfoot.
'Shall we go up the common room?'
As they walked out the Great Hall they met three Hufflepuff sixth years coming the other way. Padfoot and Moony passed and they started whispering.
'Urgh!' one of them said, loudly enough for the whole Entrance Hall to hear. 'Lupin and Black? That's disgusting!'
Up in the common room, Padfoot and Moony laid out their books and papers on a table, glad of the silence now everyone was at the match.
'Explain the differences between Kneazles and ordinary cats,' Padfoot read from the top of his parchment. 'Er… Kneazles are ugly? I have no idea; I hate Care of Magical Creatures. Have you seen my copy of Fantastic Beasts?'
'Yeah, I borrowed it last night,' said Moony. 'I put it back by your bed this morning.'
'Oh right, thanks,' Padfoot got up from his chair and slouched up the stairs to the dormitory. The book wasn't by his bed, so he started rummaging around in his trunk. After a while he heard the door open.
'I can't find it anywhere, Moony,' he said, his head still buried in his trunk. 'You sure you left it by my bed?'
He turned around to see Moony coming towards him holding a familiar red book.
'Sorry, I had it downstairs all along,' Moony said. He stared at Padfoot for a few seconds and then realised what he had to do, what he needed to do. He dropped the book on the floor and came towards Padfoot. He put his arms around his neck and kissed him softly. Padfoot returned the kiss, pulling Moony closer to him. The two of them fell backwards onto Padfoot's bed.
'What took you so long?' Padfoot smiled, running his hands through Moony's hair.
'Too long staring at a girl I knew I could never have. Prongs can have her now, I don't want her. All I want is you.'