The fire crackled contentedly, adding to the warmth of the already empty Gryffindor common room. Outside, the trees blew in the violent wind and it was snowing, the snowflakes and the wind entwining together, forming a blizzard. It was mid-December, just before the Christmas break and the majority of students had decided to turn in early, probably due to the awful weather. The only students who were not in their beds, however, were four particular schoolboys. The marauders. The marauders were known for their pranks and disregard for any school rule whatsoever. Suddenly, James Potter came bursting into the common room, closely followed by the three other boys, all laughing uncontrollably. Clearly another prank had taken place.
"I can't believe you just did that." Remus Lupin spoke first, smirking slightly and trying to suppress a laugh, although all the while trying to act serious.
"Brighten up! You know you enjoyed it". James turned to face him, raising his eyebrows and smiling.
What no one had noticed beforehand was the Sirius Black did not appear to be following the conversation, a very unusual occurrence, and was instead staring at something, or someone else. Remus Lupin.
"What are you looking at?" James spoke to him, looking bewildered at his friend's behaviour, having never before noticed him stare at anyone like that.
"What…oh nothing. You know what, I'm going to crash out now". Sirius walked away, shaking his head and wanting nothing more than to curl up into a tight ball, away from everything and everyone in this world. How could he be so stupid as to gaze at Remus with everyone there? He didn't want everyone to find out how he felt, did he?
Sirius sighed to himself, and without getting undressed, he lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. He was not remotely tired whatsoever, his mind was churning over and over about how he was going to deal with these recent feelings he had been having for his friend. Hot angry tears sprung to his eyes suddenly, and he turned onto his side, as if changing his sleeping position would solve all his problems.
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"Hey, are you all right?" Remus held onto Sirius' arm before he could walk out of the dormitory and gazed at him worryingly with those same serious eyes he had been picturing in his dreams for some time.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Sirius spoke, almost unconsciously. By now he was so used to pretending everything was all right when people asked him, ignoring the searing pain he felt in his heart every minute of every day.
"You've been acting weird for a while now. You'd tell me if there was something wrong, right?"
Sirius bit his lip and nodded, knowing full well he could not tell him.
"C'mon let's go to breakfast"
I so wish I could tell you, Remus. I just wish I could tell you everything.