Embarrassing

As if to prove that James had made the right decision, Sirius similarly embarrassed a girl two weeks later. She was a small Hufflepuff Second Year who was shorter than Sirius but had a large personality and a gaggle of girls always around her giggling. She cornered Sirius in a crowded corridor under some mistletoe.

"I'm Stephanie Pips," she said thrusting her hand toward him.

Sirius glanced back at his mates who were hiding smiles. He raised an eyebrow at Stephanie and shook her hand.

"Hi."

"You're Sirius Black, of course. Made quite a name for yourself already, haven't you?"

Sirius shrugged. "Yup, bye then."

"Oh hang on," Stephanie said, pulling at his sleeve. He looked at her impatiently.

"What?" he demanded, looking again at his friends who were now clutching at each other with mirth.

"Happy Christmas! And I think you're really sexy," she said confidently before boldly grabbing his face and planting a wet, sloppy kiss on his lips. The hallway seemed to fall silent as they separated and Sirius wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. For a fleeting moment, the anger on his face made it look like he might hit her. After a few more moments however, Sirius straightened the expression into the usual, uncaring mask most of Hogwarts saw. He then, dug into his pocket and produced a packet of gum, which he offered to her.

"You should try one of these," he said, his mouth twisted in slight disgust. Without another word, he wrenched himself free from her grasp on his robes and dropped the gum into her awkwardly open hand.

As he turned, he looked at his friends in pure disbelief. "What a nutter!" he said loudly as the people in the corridor began to laugh at the red faced girl. He acted as if he didn't notice however and simply walked away with his friends close behind, struggling to keep straight faces of their own. He laughed with them as they turned the corner.

"Blimey, who does that?" he said shaking his head. "Girls…"

"Was that your first kiss?" Peter asked in awe. Sirius didn't reply, simply shrugging as the group walked to their next lesson. None of the boys commented, knowing that even if that was Sirius' first kiss, he certainly had the rest of them beat.

"So what're everyone's plans for Christmas then?" he asked after a spell.

"Going home," they all said, to which Sirius' face fell.

"Oh…great, leaving me alone are you?" he said irritably.

"Aren't you going home?" Peter said, curiously.

"Don't you remember that Howler? I'm not welcome," Sirius said kicking a ball of parchment on the ground.

"Bad luck mate," Remus said.

"Yeah and I suppose you have to go home, don't you? With your sick Mum and all?" Sirius said gloomily referring to the last excuse Remus had used.

Remus looked uncomfortable but nodded. "Yeah, sorry."

"I'm going to Spain with my folks!" Peter said excitedly.

"Good for you."

"I'll stay," James said suddenly.

"Really?" Sirius asked, feeling a sudden rise in his stomach.

"Of course! Mum and Dad won't mind much. My aunty is coming to visit and bringing her kids who are like two years old. My parents love babies," James explained, pulling a face. "I'll send them a letter after classes, I can see them at Easter instead."

"Cool," Sirius said gratefully. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it!" James said, punching him lightly on the arm.

"Sirius?"

"What's up James?" Sirius grumbled sleepily from his bed as he lifted his head to glance at the clock. They'd had a really fun Christmas together despite missing half of their gang. James' parents had sent them both tons of presents and although disappointed to be without their son, understood and invited Sirius to come for tea with James over the Easter holidays. But it was now very late and all Sirius wanted to do was sleep.

"I wanted to show you something," James whispered, though no one else was in the dormitory.

Sirius groaned. "Can it wait?"

"Well of course it can, but you'll enjoy this!"

"Can I enjoy it when I'm awake?"

"Stop being such a grump!" James said sternly, getting out of his bed and jumping on to the edge of Sirius'.

"I wonder why we're friends sometimes," Sirius said irritably sitting up. "What is it?"

"It's the present my dad sent me for Christmas…" James said reaching in to his bottom drawer.

"Seriously? You woke me up to gloat?" Sirius snapped, thinking about how his father had sent him a lump of coal as a "lesson".

"No…look," James said thrusting something soft and silvery into his friend's hands.

Sirius examined it. "Wow…" he said softly. "These are really rare."

"Yeah, it's been in my family for generations. Apparently we hand it down when the first-born goes to Hogwarts. Cool eh?"

"So cool. An Invisibility Cloak!" Sirius breathed, thinking of the wonders that now lay before them.

"Yeah…I wanted to show you first, 'cause you're my best mate," James said quietly, pushing aside his embarrassment. "And I thought we could go on an adventure without the others just once. I mean if you want."

Sirius stared at him saying nothing but studying his friend's face. James didn't meet his eyes and hurried on.

"And even though I'm full, I heard Jeremy Felton telling his friend how to get in to the Kitchens….Want to go sneak a Butterbeer?"

Sirius nodded and the two boys got up to put on their dressing gowns in silence. James was still feeling a little embarrassed at spilling his thoughts to Sirius who was always so nonchalant and cool. James knew Sirius would've never made such an uncomfortable confession so bluntly…in fact he was quite surprised he hadn't been laughed at yet. He was sure if Peter had made a similar statement, Sirius would be rolling around on the floor. Meanwhile, Sirius too was thinking hard. He'd never had someone admit something so nice to him before. It was a simple statement, but without realizing, James had just shown Sirius the most care he'd ever really felt before. He hadn't had any friends growing up because all the children he'd met were from snooty Pureblood families and were no fun at all. Even his own brother, Regulus who was only a year younger had never had a heart to heart or played a prank with him and James' confession left Sirius with a strange, warm sensation that somehow made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. As they walked towards the door of the dormitory, ready to put the cloak over the two of them, Sirius gripped James' shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes with a hard but sincere look.

"You're my best mate too. You know?"

James nodded and they both laughed before pulling on the cloak and setting off towards the Kitchens.

Whether James or Sirius had bothered to worry about the Kitchen Elves telling on them, they needn't have anyway. The Elves were so pleased to be serving Hogwarts residents, they brought them fresh cakes and pastries with the Butterbeers the boys had ordered. They clinked their bottles together happily before taking deep swigs and looking around the Kitchen. The elves left them to it as they sat in the corner at a small table, talking.

"So what d'you reckon?" Sirius said after a while.

"About what?"

"Hogwarts…our friends…"

James sighed as he took a sip of his drink. "I'm really happy here. I always looked forward to it…but it's better than I thought."

"Me too…I thought I was doomed for a life of Dark Magic in Slytherin," Sirius said quietly.

"Ha! Imagine you and Snivellus buddying up."

Sirius laughed. "Disgusting!"

"I do sometimes miss my mates from primary school. But I'd rather be learning magic than science or whatever!" James laughed.

"You went to a Muggle School?" Sirius asked, surprised.

"Yeah…didn't you?"

Sirius shook his head. "No way! My lunatic mum taught me and my brother. I'd never even met a Muggleborn let alone a Muggle before here."

"Seriously? That's crazy!"

"Yeah, as it turns out they don't smell bad or anything," Sirius joked.

"No…" James said thinking of Evans.

"It's too bad about Remus' Mum eh? He's always so worried about her. Wonder what he's up to? " Sirius said off-handedly.

"Yeah, and Peter," James added reluctantly.

"Cosying up to the family toad?"

They laughed and fell into silence once more.

"So what did that kiss feel like?" James asked trying to use Sirius' signature nonchalance.

Sirius grimaced. "It was bloody awful. Wet and slimy…" He shuddered.

"She's alright looking though."

"Is she?" Sirius said with a shrug. James wanted to say something about Evans being pretty, maybe then Sirius would stop teasing her every time she tried to talk to them. But it seemed, while plenty of girls appeared to be interested in Sirius, it wasn't cool to be interested back. So, James held his tongue.

"I have to," Remus insisted only a week after they returned from the holidays. He had been withdrawn and sickly looking ever since, barely saying two words to any of his friends.

"You've only just got back Remus. How come you didn't see your gran over the holidays?" Sirius pressed.

"I did! But her dying wish is to see me again," Remus snapped irritably.

"But we've got that big Defence Against The Dark Arts essay on Kappas and I need your help!" Peter whined.

"Well you'll just have to get on without me, won't you!" Remus said in a hard voice before falling silent and returning to his supper.

"We didn't mean to push you mate…we just wanted to hang out with you for a bit this weekend!" James said kindly after a while. Remus softened and shrugged.

"I know…I want to as well…I'm just stressed out."

Sirius patted his friend's back. "It's ok mate. We'll plan something fun when you get back. Maybe we can all go out in James' Cloak?"

James nodded vigorously. "Of course! You and Peter haven't had a go under it yet."

Remus smiled genuinely. "As long as we don't get caught."

"When we're invisible? Impossible!" Sirius said with a wink.

"James, Evans is staring at you again," Peter put in motioning with his head.

"So?" James said turning red and glancing at Sirius.

"Oi Evans! Tear your eyes away, James isn't going to go out with you if you keep creeping him out!" Sirius yelled across the table making several people chuckle. James had raised his hand to stop him but was too late, so he let it sink back to the table, unnoticed.

Lily was bright red as she glanced over to the Slytherin table to where Severus Snape was glowering.

"Sirius…" Remus said warningly but he was ignored.

"Actually Black I was looking at you," Lily said coolly after a moment. James whipped his head around so quick he had to grab his neck when it cracked painfully. Sirius looked surprised momentarily but quirked an eyebrow.

"I was trying to figure out what Stephanie saw in you. Have you ever thought that you might be mistaken for a girl with hair like that?" Lily retorted gaining some more chuckles.

"Not bad Evans," Sirius laughed. "But twist it whatever way you like…James still doesn't fancy you. Do you mate?"

James fought the blush off his face and grinned. "Of course I don't."

Lily's green eyes narrowed as she heard this and shook her head. "Pity you don't seem to think for yourself Potter. If I did fancy you, it might be off putting." She then stood up daintily, saying goodbye to Mary who was chatting with some Second Years and headed off to the Entrance Hall to meet up with Snape.

"Why does she hang out with him?" James said, his eyes following her.

"Oh bloody hell James. You do fancy her," Sirius groaned, smacking his forehead.

"I don't. But she's sort of cool and I don't get why she likes him."

"Beats me. All girls are nutters mate," Sirius shrugged.

February the fourteenth was upon them before they noticed and to Sirius' great embarrassment, he received four Valentine's day cards, one of which sang loudly as it landed on his head when he woke up.

"Popular are you?" Remus snickered as he read over Sirius' shoulder.

"Didn't any of you get any?" Sirius said, looking around at the rest of them desperately. "Why me?"

"It must be so difficult being adored," Remus teased, still laughing and ducked as the singing card grazed over his head in a crumpled up ball.

"Someone shut that thing up!" James groaned, pulling a pillow over his head. Peter groaned in agreement as he rolled over.

"Get up lazies! I want to go find the nutters who sent me these and give them a piece of my mind!" Sirius said huffily.

As James and Peter dragged themselves to the bathroom, Remus watched as Sirius tore the rest of the cards in to pieces.

"You know mate…." He began hesitantly. "If you just ignored it all together instead of teasing them about it, they might just give up."

Sirius mulled this over. "Well if I embarrass them enough, surely they'll give up too?"

"I don't know…you heard what Mary said to Lily about James. I think girls twist any sort of attention into whatever they like."

"Blimey Remus, since when did you become an expert on girls?" Sirius asked, impressed.

Remus blushed and shrugged. "Far from it. I just have a lot of time to think. Though, if I got the kind of attention you do, I'm not sure I'd know what to do either!"

"Bet Evans sends James a card," Sirius chuckled.

James did get one card during breakfast and he threw it with another discarded three Sirius had received.

"From Evans?" Sirius asked, chuckling.

James shook his head. "Wendelin Warcroft," he said nodding his head discreetly at the Ravenclaw table where a nice looking girl with dark auburn hair sat beside Emmeline Vance.

"What, did they divide amongst themselves?" Remus chuckled, seeing that Emmeline had sent a card to Sirius.

"You have a type James," Sirius said looking over at Wendelin. "Fancy yourself a ginger, do you?"

"Oh shut up," James replied, shoving his friend and helping himself to eggs.

Outside the Defense classroom later that day something they hadn't expected at all happened. The boys had arrived early at the insistence of Remus, who told them they had quite enough detentions to be getting on with already and so, they witnessed something that made three of the boys laugh, but one irrationally angry.

Severus Snape skulked past them, for once ignoring their usual secretive whispers and walked straight to the front of the line where Lily stood with Mary. None of the Slytherins had arrived yet, and it seemed that he had planned it this way.

"Happy Valentine's Severus!" Lily said cheerfully.

"Happy Valentine's," he replied, a shy smile of his pale face. He then thrust a box of simple but nice chocolates into Lily's surprised hands.

"Oh Sev!" Lily said, happily. "Thank you!" and she threw her arms around her friend's neck in a tight hug. Snape blushed while the passing students laughed. Lily didn't seem to care however because she was still grinning when she drew back.

Sirius was not one to pass up such an opportunity.

"Look at that, Snivelly's got himself a girlfriend!"

Remus covered his mouth to hide his smile but Peter laughed loudly. James however seemed to be frozen, staring at the unlikely pair at the front of the queue.

"Oh shut up Black! Just because you aren't mature enough to be friends with a girl, doesn't mean Severus isn't!" Lily snapped in irritation.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well, it's just as well. I don't much fancy buying any mate of mine chocolates. And I doubt they expected any, eh James?"

James had a twisted grimace on his face as he realized he was being spoken to. He laughed and looked at Lily mockingly.

"Don't think much of your taste Evans. Downgraded have you?"

Lily and Snape both looked livid at this comment and suddenly both Snape and James had drawn their wands.

"Will you think much of his precious present when he's burping slugs all over them?" James taunted, laughing again.

Snape angrily raised his wand, ready to send a nasty curse at James when Lily, who hadn't noticed, stepped in front of him. He immediately dropped his arm, though he continued to glare at James.

"His present was something a thoughtful friend gives to another. So you can both shut up about it! And for your information, just because you think you're Merlin's gift to the Universe, doesn't mean we all do!"

Sirius laughed at her remark and Lily's sharp eyes snapped to him for a second before going back to James.

"Why don't you and Black just go and snog each other!" She hissed before disappearing in to the classroom, Snape and Mary behind her.

"Sorry mate, but I'll have to pass on that one," Sirius chuckled. Remus nudged him however and nodded at where James was still glaring furiously at the doorway.

"Is everything alright James?" Peter asked hesitantly after a few moments.

"I fancy her," James blurted out to general astonishment. "And not a word, Sirius. That's that." And then leaving his surprised friends behind, he headed back to the dormitory to skive off class.

A/N: Thought I'd update again since i'd already written this. Hope you enjoy and review! :)