Written for Hogwarts' 1st September Event: Going to the dormitory, rested and settled after the hectic day.
And back to first year, sequel-ish to Uniform.
Word count: 265
Dormitory
Remus had barely had the time to find his bed - third in the room, by the window - and sit there, contemplating whether or not the fact that he was still so keyed up from his Sorting would overcome his exhaustion from this day, when that choice was basically taken away from him.
"Anyone up for Exploding Snap? James here owes me a match," a black-haired boy said. He gestured at the spectacled boy next to him as he said 'James', so Remus deducted that was the boy's name, and nodded in both Remus' and the last occupant of the room's direction as he made his offer. "I'm Sirius, by the way," he added.
"Peter," the last boy mumbled, fingers pulling at his sleeves, which only left Remus to introduce himself, which he did.
"So, anyone interested?" Sirius repeated.
Beside him, James rolled his eyes. "You do know you're just going to lose, right? Do you really want to have a bigger audience to you humiliation than before?"
"And I think that you're just afraid you'll lose," Sirius retorted.
"As if," James scoffed. There was laughter in his eyes, and for a moment Remus let himself want. He let himself imagine he could join in that easy friendship James and Sirius seemed to already share. This wasn't for him, though.
From his bed, Peter quietly declined joining the game and, with a heavy heart, so did Remus.
He slept fitfully that night, but it was better this way. He had don what he had to do, and it had been the right thing.
