Title: Not Right Now
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters belong to J.K.R. No profit is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
"Last night?" Remus tried to act cool, but he was finding it quite difficult. He glanced at Frank from his mirror, briefly making eye contact, before looking in the sink, rinsing away the spit from brushing his teeth.
"Yeah, we were up 'till about 3 am, and Sirius never went back to bed."
"Um..." Remus shifted his weight uncomfortably and grinned shyly, "We were just sleeping."
"Mhm. That's why your pants are on the floor?"
"I changed! Look it me!" He gestured up and down his body frantically They can't know...they can't know I like him.
"Sure, Remy. Just calm down, it's not like we'll tell anyone. We're your mates, remember?" He slung an arm around Remus' shoulders. Flustered and embarrassed, Remus threw him off.
"There's nothing to not tell!" He picked up his toothbrush and stormed out, leaving a very confused Frank Longbottom staring at his reflection in the mirror.
Remus slammed the door to the dormitory, ignoring the angry grunts of three boys, and flew over to his bed. He threw his toothbrush onto his nightstand and ripped back the hangings.
"Sirius! Sirius! Get up!"
Sirius rolled over to face his friend and rubbed his eyes with fisted hands. "What is it, Moony? We late for class?"
"No! I want you to get up right now and go in there," he pointed to the bathroom, "And tell Frank exactly what did not happen last night!" Remus was so hurt, he was shaking.
"What do you want me to tell him didn't happen, Moony?" Sirius swung his legs around, so he was facing Remus. His paw print boxers were all that he wore and despite the situation, Remus found it extremely hard not to look.
"Tell him...he thinks...he thought we...we didn't shag last night!"
"No..." Sirius shook his head, confirming Remus' jumbled statement.
"Well tell him that! He thinks we did!"
Sirius stood up, and walked over to his bed, next to James who had fallen back asleep after he saw it was just Remus yelling. He pulled a pair of pants out of his trunk and started to pull them on.
Forgetting himself, Remus walked over and grabbed the pants. "Don't wear these, they're all wrinkled, wear these ones." He pulled out another pair and handed them to a smirking Sirius.
"Sometimes, you act so much like a woman, Moony. Why don't you just tell Frank we didn't shag?" he asked as he tugged on the slacks
"I did!" Remus sighed, exasperated. "He didn't believe me."
Sirius snapped his trunk shut, his tie and shirt held between his teeth, "Fit dawn, Moony."
"Huh?" Remus looked at him, his eyes wide.
Sirius pointed at his trunk then pulled his clothes out of his mouth. "I said, 'Sit down'."
"Oh." Remus fell onto the trunk, glanced out the window.
"I'll go talk to him, ok? You've just gotta breathe, mate."
Remus nodded and Sirius walked away, his heart breaking more than just a little.
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The rest of the day went by quite uneventfully, unless one were to count Sirius' sullen mood, which really was shocking to everyone, except James, because Sirius loved Hogwarts so much more than being stuck at him with his crazy mum.
James, however, had not gone to sleep that morning, but had pretended to, listening to the entire exchange between his mates. And he realized, then, that Sirius was in love with Remus. He just couldn't tell if his best friend's feelings were reciprocated, or not. And it seemed to James that his friend couldn't tell, either.
After potions, all of the boys were heading towards Care of Magical Creatures when James pulled Sirius to the side, "Hey, Mate, wanna go to Hogsmead today and steal a couple o' drinks?"
Sirius shook his head sadly. "Not today. Not right now, James."
And James knew then that Sirius' heart was slowly breaking, ripping itself apart. The same feeling James had everytime Lily turned him down. And he resolved himself to do something, to save his friend from his fate.
"Moony. Oy! Moony!"
Remus fell back to where James and Sirius were walking. "Yeah?"
"Do you love Sirius?"
Remus blanched. "I'm sorry. What?"
Sirius was looking on hopefully. He didn't seem to care that he looked like a starving dog waiting for his first meal in weeks.
"Do. You. Love. Sirius?"
"Um..."
"I mean, it only makes sense," James continued, slinging his arms around the other boys' shoulders, "You got naked with him last night and all."
Remus blushed.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Just tell me and Sirius."
Remus voice was low, as though he didn't want anyone to hear him, "But what if Sirius doesn't love me back?"
