Lily had blushed deeply and muttered something about 'homework' and 'idiotic boys' as she hurried up to her dormitory. James had grabbed his invisibility cloak and stalked out of the Common Room, not apologizing to Sirius or Remus before he went.
"He's completly mental!" Sirius muttered as he collapsed back into his chair. Peter was at his feet and was nodding fervently.
"You know how James is about Lily," Remus reprimanded Sirius as he took a seat. "He probably would have killed you if it was true."
Peter gaped as if this was news to him.
"Well..." Sirius muttered in a guilty tone.
"Sirius, you didn't!" Remus gasped. Peter's eyes were wide in amazement at Sirius's bravery. "When?"
"I..." Sirius shrugged. "I'm not sure. A few times over the last few years. Whenever she was really mad about James and that greasy git Snivellus."
"Sirius," Remus sighed, letting his head fall into his hands. "What's wrong with you?"
"She didn't want him, Moony!" Sirius said defensively. "He just follows her around and annoys her! It isn't my fault she turned to someone who could-"
"Please, don't say it," Remus muttered into his hands.
"When was the last time?" Peter said, still in awe of Sirius. Remus looked at the boy on the floor with utter disgust.
"I guess the last time was right before summer started last year." Sirius, to Remus's disgust, didn't sound ashamed. He sounded almost...proud.
"And what exactly did you do?" Remus asked. He looked old, stressed. Like he was fighting some great inner battle while he listened to his friend speak.
"We just...fool around. Nothing too serious. She usually laughs, and then when she starts to cry we stop." His face fell a bit. He looked embarassed, but not nearly embarassed enough.
Remus just sighed and left the room, feeling absolutely awful. Angry at what Sirius had done. Disbelieving that Lily had done those same things. Painfully sorry for James. Because as much as it pained him to do this to Sirius, to Lily, and most of all to James, Remus knew that he had to let the truth be known.
