Disclaimer - J K Rowling made up all the characters. I just put the words into their mouths.
The black sky was fading as Sirius swaggered through the spiny trees, his thumb absentmindedly brushing the well used scrap of parchment in his right hand. He tipped his head back, enjoying the chill air against his skin, and the fleeting touch of the frost coated earth under his boots.
"Padfoot?" A slight figure, seemingly birthed from the lingering shadows, strode to reach his side, his long steps easily matching Sirius' languid pace. "You're up early," Remus cast a pointed look at the leaf dappled light touching the air about them. He received a twitch of the mouth in reply, but no words until they reached the fringes of the forest.
"I was thinking," Sirius turned the bright intensity of his gaze to meet Remus', with eyes so dark they may have harboured the dispersing night.
"I'm impressed."
"Don't get used to it; you'll soon be able to disapprove of me again,"
"Of course, it depends wholly on what you were thinking about," Remus broke eye contact, settling his gaze upon the pale stone walls before them. Sirius folded the parchment before sliding it into his pocket, and pushing the hair back from his face. "Or who."
"You know me so well."
"Too well," Remus remarked sardonically, his hands burying themselves in his pockets.
"True." It was almost whispered. Sirius did not make a habit of whispering, and so his friend decided to disregard the unguarded emotion painfully evident in the usually mocking voice.
"So? Who was deemed worthy enough to deprive you of your sleep?" He rolled his shoulders back, trying to ease a sudden stiffness. Sirius yawned, breath ghosting his lips, and for a moment they were united in comfortable, boyish silence.
"They do not need me to deem them worthy," He shrugged, a smile flickering, "Everyone I know has nothing but praise regarding this person."
"A paragon of perfection then." Their glances grazed one another fleetingly, agonisingly.
"You could say that."
"Strange for you to be so reticent," Remus turned away in a barely perceptible movement, removing his hands from his pockets to brush the kiss of some lichen from his sleeve. "I'd normally know her name, house and age by now." He didn't see Sirius' face at his words, because he was struggling to compose his own.
"Maybe you'll never know."
"Maybe."
"You might find out without me saying anything."
"Possibly." Remus shivered, stamping his feet. "Shall we go in?" Sirius looked at his pale hands with a bemused expression, as if his mind had been too occupied to register the cold.
"I'll check the map." He produced the crumpled parchment, and unfolded it. "Seems safe. Most are still sleeping."
"Good." They started walking towards Hogwarts, their footsteps indenting the frost glittering on the lawns.
"I never asked," Sirius began as they stepped from the sliver grass onto the first of the steps, "Why were you prowling the woods so early? It's not your time of the month for another week yet." The inevitable smirk at his own joke dimpled his cheeks. Remus hesitated, his hand on the solid wood of the door, before looking intently at Sirius.
"I was thinking."
A/N So, it's been a while, and I just wanted to check I could still write really. I found I quite liked this idea though, if anybody wants me to continue it beyond a one shot just say :) I am hopefully going to update "What's Mine is Mine" soon as well, I promise I haven't given up on it!
Peachesandcream xx