Routine
"Remmy! I'm booored!"
His plaintive tone was echoed by the mewing of the tiny grey kitten sitting on the back of the couch beside my head. I put my book down and slumped into the cushions, trying to hide my grin behind an irritated sigh. It was a cold Sunday morning and the common room was deserted. I had come down early in an attempt to finish reading a book that Professor Jones, our Charms professor, had recommended not expecting James, or Siri, or Peter to disturb me. There had been a raiding party to Honeydukes and The Three Broomsticks last night, and it had had ended quite late, with James attempting to serenade Lily through the walls of our dormitory, before spectacularly passing out on Peter's bed.
As though he could read my thoughts, Sirius vaulted over the back of the couch and sat down beside me, stretching his legs across my lap. Lily's kitten leapt lightly down and settled on his lap as if it had been waiting for this,
"Petey'll probably never wash his sheets again," he said, an evil grin lit up his face, and I couldn't help but smile back at him. 'You know how he worships Prongs." He absentmindedly petted the kitten, long pale fingers gently caressing its soft fur. I swallowed, trying to ignore those perfect fingers, wanting nothing more than to reach out and stroke them, the way he was stroking the kitten.
"Was he still out of it?" I asked suddenly, moving my eyes up to Sirius' pale face. I didn't have to say anything more; we both knew I was talking about our dear friend James.
"Definitely," Sirius yawned and stretched again, "I doubt we'll see anyone else before lunch. There was a lot of snoring up there when I left." He motioned to the stairway leading to our dormitory.
We sat in comfortable silence, and I reached for my book. Sirius could amuse himself, I wanted to finish the chapter at least. Before I could even find my page, Siri grabbed the book and leapt off the couch. I rolled my eyes at him and held out my hand.
He poked his tongue out and moved further away. He looked as I imagined a child did when they wanted you to chase them, but my family kept me away from children; a precaution I hated, and I had no practise in how to react. Sirius looked crestfallen when he noticed I was still on the couch, and come back to stand in front of me, pouting, "If you're not going to play," he bargained, "At least come and get coffee with me?"
I shook my head at him, but the grin on my face betrayed my answer. Deciding to introduce James and Sirius to that particular muggle beverage had been a long internal battle, but my dependence on that caffeine rush eventually won over my fear of what havoc those two PLUS caffeine would wreak on our beloved Hogwarts, and I know found that Sirius and I had a Sunday morning ritual. My book lay abandoned on the couch as we wandered out of the common room. We made our way slowly through the silent castle, down towards the kitchen, and as our hands occasionally brushed against each other, my heart raced.