Chapter 7: Coming out (Part 2)
The next morning, the boys entered the Great Hall cautiously, aware of people's glares and the reason behind them, but that knowledge didn't make the feel any better. At least, we've got James and Peter on our side, thought Remus, feeling unconfortable under so many glares, I don't know what I'd do without them.
The boys sat, Remus and Sirius in the middle and the other two on each side, as if to protect them. They ate in silence, Remus with his head down and Sirius and James, glaring back at everyone.
Suddenly, the morning mail came and the Great Hall was filled with owls. One of them, one that Sirius reconized as the the Black family owl, threw a red envelop at him.
"Uh oh!" Said Peter eyeing the howler fearfully. "Run with it, Sirius, run!" but before Sirius had even considered it, the envelope exploded and the shrill voice of Walburga Black was heard through the hall.
"Sirius Orion Black" he winced a little at the use of his full name "How could you ? You may not live under our roof anymore, but you still use our name! You're destroing the name of the most noble house of Black! You filthy freak! Didn't think it was enough to stain the family name being a filthy blood traitor and socializing with moodbloods. Oh, no no no no! Had to be a freak, a faggot! You are no longer a Black! Your father and I have only one son, Regulus Black. Ah! Regulus, stay away from the freak!" And silence fell all around them.
Sirius and Regulus stared at each other for a moment, they both looked away.
After the incident with the howler at breakfast that morning, some people decided that they had heard enough already, and the ones that had nothing against them were more open about it as well, but most people still took upon themselves to call them names whenever they could.
Sirius and Remus were at the common room talking, they had a free period before dinner. They were sitting together ( the room was nearly empty and noone had aproached them), discussing their situation.
"Sirius, do you think I should tell my parents ? Remus asked. "I mean, we were forced to come out to the entire school already, they will find out, sooner or late, won't they ?" He didn't look very happy with the idea, though. "Maybe I should tell them this christmas."
"Are you sure, Moony ? We can wait longer if you want." Sirius said.
"Yeah, maybe. But I'm afraid I might loose my nerve if I wait too long."
"Yeah! I guess you're right!" Sirius agreed. "You know, I know they're not really my parents, but I guess I should tell Mr and Mrs Potter too. I mean, they took me in, I should be honest with them, shouldn't I ?"
"Yeah! It's a scary idea, though, isn't it ?" Remus said laughing nervously.
"Yeah, it certanly is!"
"Do you think..." Remus was obviously trying not to sound too depressed "Do you think they will accept me ?" He looked at Sirius expectantly.
"Of course they will." Sirius said with more certanty then he felt "Your parents are not like mine, Moony. They love you, and probably always will."
"I hope so!" and they hugged.
Then, a group of fifth years entered the common room, coming back from class, and tree of them came over to the couple.
"Aww...! Look! The little queers are so cozy in the couch, aren't they ?" One of them asked the others. "A bit too cozy, I'd say!"
"Yeah! Have you no shame ?!" Another one asked with evident disgust. "If you like being with each other, fine, it's your problem, but you have no right to submit us to this disgusting sight!"
"You are the one who has no right whatsoever of saying such a thing to them!" Lily Evans who had been in the room, had come to their ade, before Sirius could respond. "They have as many rights as any other couple, to hug, kiss, hold hands and do all that sort of things in our common room. And if you think, that just because they're boys, they shouldn't be together, than you're the one who's disgusting!"
The boy got angry and walked towards her with a very irate look on hus face and towered over her, obviously trying to intimidate her.
"I would stay out of it if I were you, little girl. Or maybe do you think they're not man enough to defend themselves, and need a girl to stand up to them."
"Hey!" Yelled the two marauders, a little offended.
"Oh, I know they can stand up for themselves. If they wanted, you would be going to hospital wing right now, I'm sure, but Remus has always been a sensible person, and aparentely Sirius is listening to him. Otherwise, there'd be no way you'd still be here talking."She said in a superior tone.
The boy looked like he was going to strike her, but suddenly there was a wand in his chest and someone had yelled from the portrait.
"Stay away from her, and while you're at it, stay away from them as well!"
Sirius was the one with the wand pointed at the boys chest, looking livid, and James was the one yelling angrily from the entrance of the common room, and he had already took his wand out.
"And you think you're more of a man then we are! Threatning to hit a girl ?" Sirius said.
"Maybe that's it, isin't it ?" Said James with a smirk. " Maybe he's a closeted one, and just don't have the guts to admit it. That would explain his reaction to both you two and Lily. He's jelous!" Then he and the others laughed, including Lily.
The boy looked even angrier, and Lily said teasingly:
"You know what, Potter, that makes sense!"
James looked surprised that Lily had agreed to something he said (even if it was a joke) and before the boy could try anything against them, Remus said in a surprisingly commanding voice:
"Get out! Get out, now!" He was calm and serious, but one could feel the threat in his voice. The boy looked indecisive but soon nudged his friends and walked away.
"Wow" Said Sirius "You know, you're pretty sexy, all dominant like that!"
Remus blushed and complained "Sirius!"
"When will it stop ?" James said after a sigh. "I mean, how do you deal with it ? It must be preety bad to be you, right now!"
"Yeah!" Remus aswered. "But at least we've got each other!" then added "And great friends that are always helping us out!"
"Oh, come on, mates! Like I already told Sirius, I'll always be there for you guys, no matter what. Besides, why should I care that you like boys, that you like each other ?"
Lily looked at James, a little surprised. She considered him an idiotic and imature bully, and had no idea he could take the situation so well. She half expected the boy to tease and bully them, or at least, since they were his friends, stay away and do nothing, maybe even distance himself from the others. She was impressed with the real James, and admited to herself that she didn't really know him. To herself.
"Yeah! You boys can count on me too." She said. "It's an absurd that people like those boys still exist! Consider me your new friend! I'll always do my best to help you!"
The boys looked at her gratefully and nodded, and James looked at her like he worshiped her, wich he did, of course!
The four of them set down together and started to talk, forgeting the stupid incident that happened minutes before.
