A/N: This chapter is rated M for language and a few mentions of sexual things that still gross my sister out. And there's not a lot of Remus in this one, which I apologize for, but these events are important to the story.
—
By the next day, James and Peter seemed to have forgotten about Sirius's pretend crush between all the extra homework and their plans for the first prank of the year. James tried to whisper his ideas to Sirius during their Transfiguration lecture, but the latter was slightly distracted by the way Moony's hand glided across the parchment as he took notes.
However, after dinner they had plenty of time to discuss (over their essays) precisely how to sneak flobberworms into the Slytherins' spaghetti without getting caught. Moony, who of course had no homework, listened in on their plans, not contributing to the conversation but occasionally giggling at it.
"The house-elves will notice something's up; we won't be able to move until the food is already in the Great Hall," James argued.
"But once the food's on the table, people will notice if we just go over there and dump flobberworms in it," Peter pointed out.
"What we need is a Switching Spell," Sirius said, thinking. "We add the flobberworms to the bowls on the Gryffindor table, then trade it with the bowls on the Slytherin table."
"Brilliant!" Peter said, and James grinned, nodding in agreement.
"We'll have to execute it carefully though," James cautioned. "No one can notice that anything's amiss as we're doing the spell."
"So we practice it beforehand," Sirius shrugged. "We'll probably have time anyway. The next step is asking the house-elves the next time they're planning on making spaghetti; I don't think it will work as well with any other food."
"Why don't we go now?" James suggested. "Second day of term—the last thing I want to do right now is homework."
Sirius and Peter heartily agreed and James went upstairs to grab his invisibility cloak.
"You coming with us, Moony?" Sirius asked.
"If you want me to," Moony shrugged. "I know I'm not really supposed to be in the common room without you, but I don't think anyone will mind. Besides," he added with a grin. "You three aren't really supposed to be sneaking down to the kitchens after curfew anyway."
Sirius grinned back, feeling a fluttering sensation in his midriff as he did. That had been happening a lot lately...particularly when Moony smiled at him. "It's loads of fun to go down," Sirius said. "The house-elves are so accommodating; they always give us snacks. Sometimes even chocolate."
Moony laughed, and the sound rang like a bell. "If you want me to come, just say so," he said, smiling at Sirius. "You don't need to bribe me with chocolate."
"Who's bribing?" Sirius grinned. "I was just describing the many wonderful pleasures of sneaking down to the kitchens—it's entirely up to you whether you want to indulge in them or not."
Moony just laughed again, and Sirius watched his mouth as the ringing sound penetrated the air. His lips were pink and–
–Werewolf, Sirius interrupted himself for the millionth time, looking away. He's a werewolf. He's my pet and he's an animal. Humans don't kiss werewolves.
"Let's go, then," James said, returning from the dormitory with his invisibility cloak. They threw it over themselves, though it was a tight fit with Moony, and went out the portrait hole toward the kitchens.
The house-elves offered to make the boys spaghetti right then and there if they wanted it, but laughing, they simply explained that they were just curious about the next time it would be on the menu.
"We is making spaghetti one week from tonight, sir," a house-elf informed James. "It will be served with meatballs and salad, with tiramisu for dessert."
"Great," James grinned. "That's good to know."
"You got a sample of that tiramisu?" Peter asked eagerly, and the house-elves conferred for a moment.
"We's can cook some if you want, sir, but it will take some time and we has many other desserts already made."
So instead they helped themselves to cake, brownies, and ice cream covered in hot fudge before returning back to the common room.
"What do you think, eh?" Sirius asked Moony once they were back at the dormitories. "Fun, right?"
The werewolf, whose mouth was still too full to talk, merely nodded. The wizards changed into pajamas and brushed the chocolate off their teeth, chatting a bit as they got ready for bed. Sirius felt a warm feeling in his abdomen as Moony climbed into bed beside him, sighing in contentment and making himself comfortable beneath the covers. Even though Sirius knew it was a bad idea for them to share a bed now, he still couldn't help smiling at the joy it made him feel. And it was the night after full moon, after all. Moony always stayed in bed with him the night after a full moon. Sirius told himself it helped him recover.
The almost-full moon shone its light on Moony's face and hair, and Sirius ran his fingers through it. His eyes already closed, Moony smiled. Sirius smiled back even though Moony couldn't see him, because it was his automatic reaction. He stroked his pet's hair for a few more minutes before yawning, settling down, and slipping his arm around Moony's waist. "Night, Moony," he whispered to the back of Moony's neck.
"Night, Sirius," came the werewolf's sleepy reply.
"You guys know you look like a couple of poofs when you do that, right?" Peter's voice filtered through the night air.
Sirius's heart jumped into his throat. He sat straight up and looked directly at Peter. "What?" he asked, praying he'd misheard.
Peter shrugged, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "Just...the both of you sleeping in one bed and like...cuddling...you look like two queers."
"Well we're not," Sirius yelled, jumping out of bed and glaring at Peter. "We're not fucking—what the hell do I look like? Moony's a werewolf, Peter! He's an animal! You think I'd fuck an animal? What kind of sick fuck do you think I am?"
"Sirius, take it easy," James said, stepping between him and Peter. "He didn't mean anything by it."
"He doesn't need you to defend him," Sirius snapped, glaring at James instead. "He can speak for himself as to what he meant."
Peter stared between his best friends, looking taken aback. "All I said was that you looked like poofs in the same bed. Merlin, Sirius, I never meant you'd actually–"
"–Well I wouldn't!" Sirius yelled. "I wouldn't fuck a man and I sure as hell wouldn't fuck a werewolf! Do I look like some sort of zoophile to you?"
"Sirius, relax," James said, putting a hand on his arm and guiding him back to his bed. "We know. No one is suggesting you'd–"
"–Sick," Sirius muttered, getting moodily back into bed. "You're sick, Peter."
"Sirius, I'm sorry," Peter murmured miserably, climbing into his own bed.
Sirius pulled his hangings shut, not wanting to set eyes on him and, almost defiantly, put his arm back around Moony, whose face was buried into Sirius's pillow. It didn't mean anything, Sirius reminded himself. He'd held Moony in bed since they were twelve—before there had ever been any attraction of any sort. And whatever was going on with him was just a phase he'd get over. It was nothing. Sirius was not some sort of pervert who got off on animals. He would find some normal human girl and he'd be much more attracted to her than he ever was to Moony.
"Sorry you had to witness that," Sirius murmured to his werewolf. Moony did not respond. There was no way he could be asleep already given the volume of Sirius and Peter's argument, but the wizard figured he was just trying to fall asleep. He forced away his sudden desire to kiss Moony's hair and closed his eyes, intent on getting some sleep himself.
—
"I've decided to ask Rebeka Vick out," Sirius informed his friends over breakfast the next morning.
James and Peter looked at each other for a moment before turning back to Sirius.
"The other night you wouldn't even admit you liked her," James pointed out.
"Yeah," Sirius conceded, "but now that I have I think it's pointless to keep pretending. I want her and I'm going to get her."
Peter sniggered, then hastily coughed to cover it up.
"You don't think I can?" Sirius asked, turning to him with challenge in his eyes. He was still angry about the night before, though he realized in retrospect he'd overreacted majorly since the accusation had hit so close to home for him. If the comment had been made last year he probably would have had a good laugh about it.
"I think she's...older..." Peter said slowly, "...and...well...hot."
"You're saying she's out of my league?"
Peter and James looked at each other again, and James shrugged. "It's not that you're not good-looking, mate, but...she's a fifth-year–"
"–and popular," Peter cut in.
"I'm popular," Sirius said.
"Sure," James said, "but–"
"–Listen, James," Sirius interrupted, suddenly grinning. "Just because you couldn't get a date if your life depended on it–"
"–I could get a date if I wanted!" James argued.
Peter laughed. "Yeah, you've asked Lily Evans out how many times now? And how many times has she said yes?"
"She wants me," James stated simply. "She's just playing hard-to-get."
Sirius and Peter rolled their eyes at each other.
"Well I see no reason why Rebeka Vick wouldn't go out with me," Sirius said, folding his arms.
—
James nudged Sirius as they walked through the courtyard during morning break. Sirius looked in the direction he nodded and saw Rebeka talking to a few other Ravenclaw fifth-years.
"You gonna do it?" James whispered in Sirius's ear.
Sirius shrugged. "Why not?"
He looked at Peter and Moony, who each gave him a small smile. When the latter did so, Sirius felt the now-familiar warm fluttering sensation in his chest as well as the increase of his heart rate. That wasn't right. He shouldn't be feeling that.
Handing Moony's leash to James, Sirius turned the girls instead. Rebeka was easily the prettiest of the bunch. She wasn't the tallest or the thinnest, but her face and her curves made her stand out from the others. Sirius noted how he didn't feel anything as he walked across the courtyard toward them. No fear, no nervousness, no...excitement.
Well that would come soon. Once Rebeka was his girlfriend, he'd feel excited to see her and spend time with her, and once he had the opportunity to touch her, well...
Unbidden, fantasies came to Sirius's mind of him running his hands across Moony's body. They were the same images he'd jerked off to in the shower this morning, the same images that had been haunting him for two months now and got him hard as a rock within seconds.
Rebeka, Sirius thought to himself. Focus on Rebeka. She's the one you're asking out, you dolt. Not Moony.
"Hey, Rebeka," Sirius said casually, leaning against the courtyard wall.
The Ravenclaw girls all stared at him, looking a mixture of confused and curious but not rude or condescending.
"Hi, Sirius," Rebeka said slowly, looking him over. Like her friends, she looked confused as to why he was talking to her. They'd spoken maybe twice before in their lives.
"Had a pleasant summer?" he asked politely.
"Brilliant," she said without much intonation. "You?"
"Same," he shrugged.
"Well...er...can I help you?" she asked when it became clear he wasn't going to volunteer anything else.
"Guess you can," Sirius replied. "Was wondering if you wanted to come into Hogsmeade with me on the next visit."
"Oh," Rebeka said, looking surprised. She glanced at her friends, two of which shrugged and another of which smiled encouragingly. Rebeka shrugged too. "Sure," she said. "I guess; why not?"
"Brilliant," Sirius said, smiling at her. "Talk to you soon then, yeah?"
"All right," Rebeka agreed. "Well...see you."
The bell rang and the Ravenclaw girls went down to Herbology while the Gryffindor boys headed for Care of Magical Creatures. Sirius looked back over his shoulder at them as they left the courtyard only to see Rebeka doing the same thing.
—
"You lucky bastard," Peter muttered, staring across the entrance hall where Rebeka stood waiting for Sirius.
The girl was wearing short denim shorts that showed off her long, dark legs, and a flowy top that exposed her cleavage and an inch or so of skin above the line of her shorts. Her shiny hair was down and it reached her hips.
"Haven't you got a girlfriend, Pete?" James asked. He glanced over to where Lily and a few friends (including Rebeka's sister Rhonda) were about to head out the door. "Hey, Evans!" he shouted. Lily was not the only one who turned to look at James, but this didn't seem to faze him. "There's still time to change your mind," he called, grinning as though she were missing out on a golden opportunity. However, Lily gave a jab of her wand and James "oomph!"ed and grabbed his stomach as though he'd been punched.
The girls laughed and one of them said, "Good one, Lily," as they exited the entrance hall.
Sirius grinned. "Better luck next time," he said, patting James on the arm before crossing over to meet Rebeka. "You ready?" he asked, smiling at her.
She shrugged. "I suppose."
Sirius held out his hand and Rebeka glanced at him for a second before taking it and walking out with him.
All in all, Sirius found the date well...dull. Rebeka didn't seem to have much to say, nor did she seem all that interested in anything Sirius had to say. She asked Sirius a few questions about his family, but seemed to lose interest when she heard he didn't really get on with them. She didn't really have an interest in going to either Zonko's or Honeydukes and when he convinced her to go to the Three Broomsticks she simply traced her finger in circles around the rim of her glass.
Sirius was feeling a bit frustrated because not only was he bored half to tears, he could tell Rebeka wasn't having much fun either. He couldn't help but wonder why she'd agreed to go out with him if she didn't really seem interested. For awhile Sirius wondered if he ought to just give it up as a bad job, but then he remembered that he had more reasons for going out with Rebeka than just to prove to his friends that he could. He should at least try and salvage the date rather than give up so soon.
"So..." Sirius said and Rebeka looked up at him from her drink. "...when you...come here with your friends, what do you do for fun?"
Rebeka shrugged. "Shop, usually. There are some nice robe shops a few blocks down. And even if we don't buy anything we often have a chat over coffee or tea."
"Well...would you rather do that, then?" Sirius asked.
She looked up at him and nodded. "We could go to Madam Puddifoot's," she offered. "I like the...ah...atmosphere there."
"Do you usually go there with your friends?" Sirius asked as he paid, more to be polite and make conversation than because he particularly cared.
Rebeka smiled and shook her head. "It's not a place you usually go to with friends."
Sirius couldn't help but wonder exactly what that was supposed to mean, but he was quiet as they walked down the street and she led him into the shop.
And as they entered he saw...quite clearly...what she meant. All the tables and booths were set for two, and each was occupied with a couple ranging from awkward and giggly to passionate and steamy.
"Look," Rebeka said, leading Sirius by the hand. "There's an open booth over there, let's sit down."
Sirius did as he was told, feeling his apprehension level grow when Rebeka sat next to him rather than across from him. She held his hand in between their bodies, stroking Sirius's fingers. The boy did not object, but he couldn't really understand why she was doing this either. Up until about five minutes ago she'd seemed bored out of her mind. And it wasn't like they even really knew each other. Even in the few weeks between the time Sirius asked her out and the day the date arrived, they'd barely spoken.
When the server arrived Rebeka ordered a peppermint tea and Sirius a sweet iced tea. He tried to think of something to talk about while they waited for their beverages to arrive—Rebeka certainly wasn't starting any conversations—but he couldn't think of anything. As their server left, Rebeka let go of Sirius's hand and instead placed hers on his knee.
The tea shop suddenly seemed very hot and stuffy, too much so for Sirius's liking. He felt himself sweating and could feel his heart beating in his chest...but that was a good thing, right? Wasn't this the way he was supposed to feel when a pretty girl touched him? But...again...was it supposed to make him this uncomfortable? Moony's closeness—especially recently—always made him feel relaxed and at ease even when his heart was going a million miles an hour. He always wanted to get closer to Moony, find an excuse to touch him. Rebeka's hand was sliding up to his thigh now and all he wanted was to bolt from the room.
Sirius was relieved when their drinks arrived, but the appearance of her tea did not stop Rebeka's wandering hands. He really wanted to tell her she was making him uncomfortable and that he wanted her to stop, but he couldn't because he knew that this was right, this was how it was supposed to be. Rebeka's finger was tracing the inseam of Sirius's jeans and he wondered if this was supposed to make him hard...or was that supposed to come after kissing and other sorts of touching with clothes removed?
"Hot," Rebeka whispered, and Sirius stared at her. She smiled. "The tea," she explained, nodding at the steaming cup on the table. "Think we'll have to wait a bit...before it's ready to drink."
Then, without warning, she kissed him.
Sirius, who probably should have expected something with the way she was moving closer to him, but somehow didn't, simply sat there, eyes still open as he processed what she was doing and wondered what the hell he was supposed to do in return. Close his eyes, right? Folks were supposed to close their eyes when they kissed.
So he did. It wasn't really much of an improvement, not that he'd honestly expected it to be. He pressed his lips against hers and she pressed back harder, so Sirius figured that was the right thing to do. He did it again. Then he wondered when he was supposed to pull back. His instincts were screaming at him to do so now, right this second, as soon as possible, but Rebeka didn't seem interested in stopping right away. The girl was the one who pulled back when she'd had enough, right? Then again, Sirius had also always thought that the girl wasn't supposed to make the first move.
But before Sirius could decide whether he ought to pull back or not, a slippery wet tongue plunged into his mouth.
Oh.
He wasn't quite sure what to do with that, either. Touch it with his own tongue, maybe? He really didn't want to, in fact he wanted the tongue out of his mouth, but again he ignored instinct and slid his tongue across Rebeka's. Was this supposed to be exciting? Because it wasn't...really...maybe just because Sirius had never kissed anyone before and it was so new to him?
Sirius pulled away, honestly without meaning to, and came face-to-face with a slightly panting Rebeka.
"That was your first real snog, wasn't it?" she asked.
Slightly put out that it was so obvious, Sirius nodded. "That bad at it, am I?" the words slipped out before he could stop them.
But Rebeka just grinned. "Nah. You just need some practice, that's all. I could show you some other things, too," she added in a lower voice, running her hand along Sirius's thigh again.
And before the boy had a chance to protest, she was kissing him again. And he forced himself to kiss back because this was what he was supposed to do, right? He couldn't enjoy it without learning how to do it properly and he couldn't do that without practice. So he would sit here and snog her until he learned to like it even if it meant sitting in this cramped stuffy tea shop all night.
—
Peter and James both grinned as Sirius entered the dormitory.
"So, tell," James said, leaning forward on his bed. "How was your date?"
Sirius shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Fine. We snogged."
"Just fine?" Peter asked.
"Yeah," Sirius said, suddenly feeling defensive. "Fine."
"Sirius, I thought you fancied this girl," James said, rolling his eyes. "After all that you get a date with her, hell you even snog, and all you can say is fine?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"That you're head over heels in love?" James suggested. "Well, have you made plans for another date?"
Sirius hadn't even thought of that. But he imagined spending his next Hogsmeade trip like he'd spent today and very nearly cringed. He shook his head quickly.
"Didn't you have fun?" James asked. "Or didn't she?"
Sirius sighed and sat down on his bed. "I don't know," he muttered, feeling unusually vulnerable and hating it. "Maybe...maybe I don't like her as much as I originally thought I did. It was...I don't know...it was boring, all right?"
Peter and James both laughed, and Sirius glared at them.
"It wasn't my fault!" he defended. "The stupid girl didn't want to go anywhere except this stupid tea shop and she didn't even want to talk about anything. All she wanted to do was make out."
"What's wrong with that?" Peter asked through giggles.
Sirius's face suddenly felt hot. He remembered that he was supposed to like the kissing, that was what he was supposed to want.
"No, I understand what Sirius means," James said and Sirius felt relieved. "My first date with Lily will be filled with romantic strolls through the village, plenty of flirting, she'll tell me all about her dreams and desires...and then we'll snog our brains out," he declared.
"Yeah," Sirius agreed, nodding fervently. "I'm not complaining about the snogging..." he lied, "...I just thought there would be more to it than that."
"Well you picked the wrong girl, mate," James said, smiling. "Rebeka...yeah...she's great to look at...but not so much for conversation."
Peter nodded in agreement.
"Guess I'll have to find someone else then," Sirius said, with a sigh, feeling slightly relieved. It wasn't his fault he hadn't had fun today. It was Rebeka's for being a boring date. If he just found a girl that was more interesting, a girl that he could actually enjoy spending time with, then chances were he would enjoy kissing her more. It just made sense.