Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Author's Note: SORRY! I am so sorry. But IT'S DONE! Sort of. I hope you like it…It's a bit short, but I think it's a nice ending.
----
Saturday, November 1
James apologized to me. I'm still reeling over the shock of it, I suppose. I mean, the bloke hated my guts for ages- although, it was only a few months, really.
Anyways, we left it off pretty openly. What I'm trying to say is…well, we said we'd be friends. But I think I'm supposed to talk to him about it, you know? I asked Remus a little while ago about what I was supposed to do. The conversation was less than illuminating…Remus had skived off early Friday morning, and he just got back this morning. The usual lame excuse was given, but I honestly couldn't get up the energy to question it. Anyways, I let the kid off and allowed him to change the subject, as usual.
"So, did James apologize?" Remus asked.
"Yeah, he did. I think I was supposed to be a bit more…I don't know…Apologetic?"
Remus snorted. "You mean, you didn't apologize to James?"
"Nope."
"Well, that was a mistake. Still, were you both able to reconcile your differences?"
"I guess so…But what should I do now? I mean, he said we were friends, but is that enough?"
Remus took a long time before he said anything. I was a little nervous, because…I really want to be friends with James. It would be so nice to have another friend, especially now. This time of year is always hard for me, since it's the anniversary of Camilla's death. Normally I spend this day locked up somewhere, thinking about Camilla, but what with James' apology and Remus' reappearance, I haven't given it much thought. Anyways, back to Remus' reply…
He said, "Yes, and no. If you just want to have a civil friendship, then yes. But if you want to truly be friends with James, then you'd better do something."
"Like what?"
"Seek him out, Sirius. He did a hard thing in finding you- repay him the favor. And do it now; I've got to get some sleep. Wake me when you've talked to him, alright?"
"Sure."
It' s been about an hour since Remus and I talked. I guess I should go and find James…I think I know what to say…
----
Sirius spotted James leaning against a plush, purple cushion and staring out the window. Rain pounded against the sheet of cloudy glass, and the common room was silent but for the dull roar of the fire. Sirius hesitated at the foot of the stairs, and he faltered. If he returned upstairs now…
"What do you want?" James asked as he twisted in his seat. He stared at Sirius expectantly.
In a rush, everything Sirius had wanted to say poured out.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't say that as I wanted to last night, 'cause I was tired and surprised. But I am, because I could have fixed this ages ago."
James nodded. "You said that last night. I get it. We don't have to be enemies."
"That's great, but I need to know that you don't hold any of that…stuff…against me."
James raised an eyebrow in a motion characteristic of Remus. "What 'stuff'?"
Sirius laughed desperately. "You know what I'm talking about. My family. The fights. Me throwing you into a door. But most importantly…I need you to know that I don't hate you."
James stared at Sirius, who was shaking (although it was almost imperceptible) with fervent emotion. Slightly embarrassed, Sirius plastered on a weak grin. "I mean, after all we'll be living together for the next few years. I know where you sleep, Potter, so you'd better accept my apology." Sirius thought for a few moments, and added, "And you'd better tell me if you hold anything against me."
James grasped at the slight humor in Sirius' voice. "Yeah," he drawled in return, "I guess I could take your sham of an apology and forgive you. You're not so bad of a Black."
Sirius did not even blink at the sound of his last name, as for the first time it was used jestingly. "Sure, Potter, as if you could take me…"
"I damn well could, you dog!"
Sirius smirked. "We'll have to see about that another time, young boy. I have to get some sleep."
James laughed, "That's right- old men need their rest!" And with that, Sirius flapped a lazy hand and leapt up the stairs. As he was about to turn the corner onto the first landing, he heard a quiet voice call from below.
"Sirius?" James said.
Sirius turned and peered at James. "Yeah?"
"I don't hold it against you."
Sirius' heart jumped. "Thanks, mate…"
And he bounded up the remaining stairs, with hope in his heart and finally, a happy ending for Remus.
----
Sunday, November 2
Remus was sound asleep- like a log, actually- when I got back to the room, so I didn't wake him. Although I really wanted to.
After all, it isn't any day that I set aside a two month long feud with a bloke and "kiss and make up."
Anyways, I got Remus up bright and early. Actually, it was bright and early for me (10 o'clock), and a bit late for Remus. I think I might be rubbing off on the boy. I woke him with a calm, collected greeting that went like this:
"REMUS!!! GET UP!"
I was immediately shoved from my perch, rather indecently, actually. Remus replied, also indecently…
"What the HELL are you doing, you damn MONGREL?"
"Easy there, Remus…Calm yourself. I have never heard such profanities issued from your divine mouth." Remus snorted, chucked a pillow at Sirius' head, and was forced to endure Sirius' all-knowing grin as the pillow sailed across the room.
"Anyways," Sirius continued, "It's pretty late for you, and I have NEWS!"
Remus sighed, clearly resigned to his fate. "What."
"I did it."
Those three words meant a lot to Remus, I guess. He got what I meant immediately.
"Thank God!"
---
Exactly one week after Halloween, on a sunny Friday afternoon, four boys descended on a large, shady tree by a glassy lake.
The first two, one a lanky youth with fluttering black hair and dramatic facial features and the other a thin, peaked boy with large, all-knowing eyes, were chatting animatedly. The dark-haired boy was gesturing vastly with his hands, and the sandy-haired boy was softly laughing.
"Alright, Sirius!" the pale youth laughed, as the boy called Sirius threw himself onto the ground.
Sirius smirked, and replied, "What ever you say, Remus. But I'm telling you, it was a wild night…Girls everywhere…"
Remus rolled his eyes and settled himself on the ground, resting his back against the solid tree. He shaded his eyes and peered at two small advancing figures. "Oh, look- here they come."
Sirius paled slightly. "Okay," he mumbled.
Remus assured him, with a gently mocking tone, "He won't eat you. Everything is fine."
The two approaching boys, whose robes were swirling in the breeze, were just as different as Remus and Sirius. One sported several scrapes and scratches, and he was good-naturedly plump. The other was an athletic boy with brown hair that refused to be tamed by any brush. They grinned simultaneously in response to the hand that Remus threw up in greeting.
"Hey James," Remus said to the boy with the flyaway hair. "And you too, Peter," he added to the plump one. Sirius managed a nod. Despite Remus' assurance that James was ready to begin a long, lasting friendship, Sirius was more than a little apprehensive. After all, they had not really been afforded the chance to speak about anything of importance during the past week. Sure, the other Gryffindors (and a few perceptive members of the other Houses) noticed the amity between the two roommates who had once been sworn enemies, but that did not settle the fluttering sensation in Sirius' stomach.
Little did Sirius know, but James was feeling the same way. He had only agreed to sit down with Remus, Peter, and Sirius because Remus had been very adamant. Remus had even insisted that Peter tag along, for in Remus' words, "He worships you, James, and honestly, I think he'll be a good friend if we give him the chance." When James had remained skeptical, Remus had sighed and shaken his head. "This will seal it," Remus had said. "Then we can leave behind this…unpleasantness."
James laughed silently at the memory of Remus' understatement. It was hard to believe that he and Sirius could ever be friends, but James at last knew that he wanted it to be so. And so did Sirius.
But words could not convey the myriad of emotions the two boys experienced in that moment. While James had had an idyllic childhood, he had always wanted the comfort of a brother, who would be the ultimate best friend. And Sirius had never known what a true family felt like, as his own household was scarred by Dark Arts. Both boys were feeling as if they had finally come home, and yet, what words does one use to say such a tender thing? And so they did the best they could, as young boys are wont to do…
"Hey, Sirius," James said.
"Hey, James," Sirius replied.
They both grinned.
----
OH WOW. IT'S DONE.
Aren't you all so proud? I finished a story. Sure, it's only 8 short chapters, but still.
Anyways, I have good news. I'm foregoing the new story in favor of writing a sequel for this. The story doesn't have the proper note of closure, you know? So I'm planning on writing a sequel (similar length, hopefully) that deals with the second of their first year, during which I imagine the burgeoning Marauders discover Remus' secret and name themselves the Marauders.
