A/N: Where have all the faithful reviewers disappeared to? Have you all forsaken me? I know that alot of people are reading this story so PLEASE start letting me know what you think. I am really enjoying writing this and it would be nice to know what those of you who are reading do think (especially as this fic is going to be a longer one than Patient Potions Master).

Anyway, we go back into the past again now (having reminded you all what Remus is actually currently doing). The suspense and intrigue begin to build in this match as we approach, what will be, a turbulent Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Rvaenclaw. Hope you enjoy reading and PLEASE remember to review!

Thanks to Megan for, yet again, deleting all my un-necessary semi colons!

Disclaimer: I've I owned these characters I would be J.K.Rowling and would be, in fact, in the middle of writing the final Harry Potter book and wouldn't have time to post stories on here. So don't sue

The days had passed smoothly since then; James seemed to be too focused on the upcoming match to dwell on Snape's words of warning for long. Sirius had lost the venom that had caused him to be so snappy and short tempered, and things once again returned to a happy equilibrium of teasing remarks and quick, confident smiles.

Remus couldn't help but feel relieved. The tension that had been gradually building since the start of term had grown unbearable. Sirius's cutting remarks seemed a little too swift, a little too scathing to be taking in the light hearted way they were usually intended. Remus had noticed that Sirius had been quick to react hotly as he, in turn, had been quick to jump to Peter's defence. He was in part to blame for the animosity between them. Perhaps it would be easier if this were true; if Remus could blame Sirius entirely for what had been growing between them. Instead, Remus acknowledged that, recently, he had jumped in a little too quickly when Sirius attacked Peter. He had, perhaps, been a little too ready to defend and to scold. Remus knew that Sirius never meant it, that he would never consciously say anything would truly hurt anyone. Yet recently Remus felt that he needed, more than ever, to bite back on Peter's behalf. Such arguments and hot words had become habit between them since the start of their sixth year; words that were said in a temper and then swiftly forgotten with the most tender of looks…it could all be explained away though…of course…

Since that soft touch in the Common room after their confrontation with Snape, Remus noticed that Sirius had become more subdued. He indulged James more than he had before when he would speak at length about his latest plan to attract Lily Evans' attention. He even paid attention to Peter occasionally when he was bouncing excitedly beside them as they walked through the corridors. Remus found he was able to relax, to not feel the need to be constantly prepared for an argument that he knew that would come. He found that now things had returned to the way they used to be, he could quite happily sit for hours in their dormitory, half listening to James and Sirius playing exploding Snap, half reading. He had even joined in when James began to mock Sirius for the attentions he was receiving from Marianne Merrydew. James had strutted round the room as if intoxicated; his voice high pitched as he imitated what he believed they might speak about in private. Peter had suppressed his giggles; Remus had laughed out loud, only to be met with a pillow in the face that Sirius had flung across the room.

Yet now as Remus watched Sirius scraping the last of his cereal from his bowl he realised that despite the calmness that these days had brought…he missed it. He missed the fire in his stomach as fought the urge to snap. He missed the way his mind would prepare him for all possible insults that Sirius could use; thinking of a witty retort for each one. He found himself wishing sometimes that Peter would just do something stupid, so inexplicably stupid that Sirius would just have to say something; and he could, once more, take the moral high ground.

Sirius let his spoon clatter in his bowl as he leant back and stretched his arms above his head, yawning. Remus missed the way those eyes would lock with his. He missed the way that he could only feel irrational when Sirius provoked him. Remus looked down into his own bowl and gulped hard, a thought, which hadn't ever occurred to him before, crossing his mind. Maybe it wasn't the confrontation he missed. He wasn't, by nature, an argumentative person. Remus looked up from his bowl to Sirius, whose eyes were fixed on the powdery blue sky of the Great Hall ceiling. Maybe what he missed so much was the moments of forgiveness…the moments that James and Peter never witnessed…the moments when Remus felt that he and Sirius were completely alone…

Sirius' eyes had dropped and he had noticed that Remus had been staring. Remus fought the urge to blush, yet it was hard not to when Sirius raised a suspicious eyebrow and flashed one of his characteristically seductive smiles. Remus took a gulp of his pumpkin juice and, digging his elbow into James who was sitting beside him, nodded in Sirius' direction before saying, "Anymore of this and I'll think he's coming on to me."

James, who had been on edge ever since he had woken and realised that the match with Ravenclaw was today, cracked a smile. Remus' face remained passive for a moment as Sirius' eyebrow fell; a confused scowl replacing the smile before he mumbled, "You wish Moony."

"Ha ha ha!" Every inch of James' laughter was sarcastic, successfully hiding Remus' look of complete embarrassment with the words, "Honestly Padfoot sometimes I wonder if you really do believe you are god's gift to women…."

"And men!" Peter offered who, up until this point, had pretended to be engrossed in an article in The Daily Prophet whose headline read Tension grows as Giants cut communications. Sirius flicked a soggy cornflake at Peter's head before articulating slowly, raising a hand to his head and pretending swoon, "It's not my fault none of you understand what it's like to be impossibly handsome." Peter looked confused but James laughed. Sirius winked at Remus who too gave way to the joke and began to chuckle despite himself.

Their laughter was interrupted however when the post arrived; each student that was seated for breakfast turned their eyes expectantly to the owls that were swooping above. Remus looked for a moment, not really expecting to see anything from home. He was surprised, however, to see a large, dark Eagle Owl heading towards their table. Peter yelped as it landed. Confused, Sirius picked up the letter which the owl had dropped and, without offering it the smallest of thankful gestures, allowed the owl to hoot disapprovingly and take off.

After turning the envelope over in his hands and seeing the familiar Black family crest that had been pressed in the wax to seal it, Sirius had placed the letter back on the table, and proceeded to ignore it. Remus looked at James who too had seen the crest.

"Maybe they just want to wish you luck for the game?" James offered as a tentative joke. Sirius did not smile however, and continued to scowl down at the envelope before Remus said gently, "You should open it though…it could be an emergency…"

All eyes were on Sirius as he licked his fingers clean before, leaning forward slightly; he slid his finger under the envelope and broke the seal. Remus watched as he unfolded the parchment, yet his eyes were not where Peter and James' were. He was not attempting to read what was written in the letter. His eyes were firmly fixed on Sirius' face as he read; his grey eyes scanning the parchment swiftly, his face growing dark and unreadable.

He finished and after flicking his hair from his eyes pushed the parchment back inside the envelope and stared into his pumpkin juice for a very long time. No-one spoke. Peter shifted nervously. James seemed to be thinking of what he could say to get Sirius to reveal the letter's contents to him. Remus, on the other hand, was still watching Sirius gaze down into his cup, watching the way his eyes had grown solemn as he looked up eventually to scan the Slytherin table.

"What did it say Padfoot?" Peter asked his voice small and nervous. Both James and Remus stared at him, shocked that it would be he, of all people that should take it upon him self to ask. It was almost as if Sirius hadn't heard however as he rose to his feet, grabbing the letter and stuffing it inside his robes; his eyes still on the Slytherins as he said, "I've got to go and…do something. Meet you before Quidditch." And with that he climbed over the bench and made his way across the Great Hall.

The rest of the Marauders watched him go; watched him make his way over to a shorter, darker, more contemptuous looking Slytherin boy whose eyes were the same as Sirius', though they contained none of his humour or warmth. Remus saw the way Regulus raised his hand to stop the girl beside him from speaking. He watched as Sirius leant down, his face pale with displeasure as he hissed something into Regulus' ear. Regulus had only been giving Sirius half of his attention until now, yet something Sirius had said caused his eyes to fix on his elder brother's face before he stood up and, after muttering something to the Slytherins that surrounded him, followed Sirius out of the hall.

"What do you think Moony?" James voice broke Remus' gaze and as he turned back to face James he saw that the concern he felt was mirrored in his friend's face.

"I don't know…" Remus said quietly, shaking his head slightly. "I just don't know."

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