11 o' clock in the Gryffindor common room and the Marauders had their favourite spot in front of the crackling fire lit previously by the tower's house-elf. Peter kept re-positioning himself restlessly, accompanied by many grumbles and sighs- he always got restless when they weren't messing around so he could feel mostly part of the group. Remus on the other hand loved this rare time when the boys weren't doing anything. Sitting in the opposite armchair to Peter he simply basked in the ability to relax and read a book, a rarity when your best friends were the two most accomplished pranksters in the school; James and Sirius that was. Sirius was sat at the foot of the sofa below James reading Quidditch Weekly and giving his broom a much needed service due to the state that winter training had left it in. And James was lounged across a sofa in front of the fire idly playing with the snitch he had caught in his last game, before going on to nick it from Dumbledore's office after being dragged up there with Sirius for their latest antics. However, James's attention wasn't all there as he methodically caught and released the snitch from his grasp. He was staring blankly at the girl sitting in front of the fire, at the way the fire light was playing on her russet waves, making them dance like they were alive.
Watching them was hypnotic. His mind's eye started to conjure images of the girl, of them together locked in embrace. He imagined running his fingers delicately through them; following the waves down to the middle of her back where they ended his hand continuing along her slender curves to run firmly over her hips.
"James…" she whispered delicately looking up into his handsome face; as he looked down into hers, a fire danced in her eyes, a rhythmic tempo of passion as she slowly reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him again…
Sirius looked up from his magazine to investigate what the disturbance was. A small walnut sized golden ball was buzzing annoyingly close to his ear. Last time he'd checked James had been playing with it, letting it fly in and out of his grasp. Apparently that game was over and being replaced with the 'annoy Sirius' one that James so loved.
He half turned from his position on the floor to tell James to pack it in when he noticed that James was just as oblivious to the game. Instead, he half lay on the sofa one arm propping his head up from the elbow, mouth slightly open, gazing off into some unknown world. The effect was rather comical and Sirius was just about to snap him out of his reverie when he followed his line of sight to Lily sitting in front of the fire with her friend Alice.
Sirius inwardly groaned at his friends eagerness, he was all for them getting together, they would look good together and all; but little miss firecracker was showing no signs of loosening that sharp tongue of hers anytime soon.
Sirius felt terrible for being the one that had to do it but he was his brother and he didn't want to watch him sit there like a lost puppy…
"James mate" he said snapping his fingers in front of his best friends face. It was like watching someone being obliviated in reversal as he slowly blinked and then focused on Sirius with a sigh.
"I don't want to be the bearer of bad news" Sirius started cautiously, " but I think maybe mate, for both of you, maybe you should just give up on it. You know?"
Several emotions passed over James's face; some of the unrecognisable and Sirius felt like the worst brother in the world. And then, with a sigh James looked him dead in the eye and said,
"Yeah. I know."
A/N* I know in the books James was chaser therefore he wouldn't have caught the snitch however I've always imagined him as a Seeker like Harry, I think it gives more of a connection between the two, as we don't meet his character in depth.
