As/N: Don't you love The Scientist by Coldplay?

Chapter 37: And What Happened There

Sirius POV

As usual, I had my second hour free after Double Potions. I headed up to the Common Room... to find Sky, there, waiting for me.

"Hey," she said nervously. "Can we talk?"I nodded, feeling nervous myself. She came to me, took my hand and pulled me to our sofa.

"Okay... so, what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked.

She bit her lip, and subconsciously, I leaned towards her. I noticed what I was doing only when she put a hand on my chest, an awkward and amused look on her face.

"Oops, sorry." I said, not really repentant.

She just shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. I was distracted again for a few second before she said, "Look, Sirius. I... I know how you feel. The thing is, I really don't know how I do. I care for you... but I just need time to figure out in what way..."

Whoa, and I thought I was good at puppy dog faces.

The thing was, I couldn't deny her anything. Plus, I was really relieved that this had not ruined things between us. Yeah, I know, I was whipped. So I just said, "Sure. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you into this position."

She shook her head again. "Stop blaming yourself for everything. We both know it's my fault."

I laughed bitterly. "How do you work that one out? I kissed you."

She smiled brightly and I could barely breathe. "Yeah, but I'm freaking adorable. I should've reined it in, somehow."

I laughed. "I don't think that has anything to do with it." I teased, both relieved and a bit hurt that she was taking it like this.

Her eyes softened, sensing what I was going through. "Sirius, I swear I'll figure things out."

I smiled, pulling her legs onto my lap as I always did. "I know you will."

She shook her head. "You say it like it's a bad thing."

I snorted. "It is if you don't...I mean... you know."

She turned pink and looked as if she didn't know what to say.

Luckily (or unluckily?), we were interrupted by someone coming into the Common Room. It was Remus, with Diana.

My eyes zeroed in on his hand, which was holding hers. I waggled my eyebrows at Sky, who laughed lightly.

Diana rushed over to us. "OOH!" she squealed. "Does this mean...?"

Sky rolled her eyes. " and I are talking again. That's it."

Diana's expression crumbled and she frowned, pouting playfully.

"I'm disappointed, Sky. I really am."

Inside, so was I.

James POV

During break, I'd gone up to the Common Room to see Sky on the sofa with Sirius. Remus was holding hands with I the only one without a girl by my side? Ah, Lily.

"LILY!" I hollered. "TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!"

Lily came rushing into the Common Room. Looking around at the couples in the room, who were now staring at me, her face softened.

"Wow, you all got together finally?" she gushed.

Sky rolled her eyes. Diana shook her head. Moony and Padfoot, on the other hand, just frowned.

Lily laughed. Then she left the Common Room, followed by Skylar and Diana.

The three of us Marauders looked at each other. All of us were pretty much in the same position now.

"What do we do?" Sirius moaned.

Remus, always the calm one, said, "Why don't we ask them out on the next Hogsmeade trip."

Sirius snorted. "Yes, because kissing Sky worked out so well last time that she'll immediately say yes to an actual date. And Lily has been shunning James for over two years now. And you are in a worse position than either of us."

Remus shrugged.

I grinned. "You guys are weird."

Sirius and Remus looked at each other. "Uh oh," Sirius said. "What's going on with you, James?"

My grin grew wider. "I asked the one and only LILY EVANS to go to Hogsmeade with me on the Valentine's Day weekend."

Remus smiled. "So you're happy because you got to be in the same room with her when she rejected you again?"

I beamed. Now was the fun part. "No... I'm happy because I got to be in the same room with her when she ACCEPTED!"

Sirius choked. Remus' mouth fell open. I laughed.

Remus was the first to sober up. "Congrats, mate."

"Yeah," Sirius said, calming down. "That's really great, Prongs. How exactly did it go?"

"Well..." I began. "Basically, I just asked her out while you and Sky were up here and Remus was drooling over Diana in History of Magic. And she said yes."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "So the simple route worked, huh?"

"Yeah," I said, smiling. "I guess it did."

Now, if only Sky would finally work out how she felt about Sirius...

Skylar POV

"You know, we should do something," I said conversationally.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

I grinned. "Lillers, you and Di spend a lot of time together, and I'm always with the Marauders. I need a break from them."

Diane smirked. "This is about Sirius, isn't it?"

I blushed. "Maybe... but I think we need to hang out sometime."

Lily nodded slowly. "So, like a girls' thing."

I smiled. "Exactly like a girls' thing. How does tomorrow night sound?"

Lily and Di smiled back in agreement.

Great. Now I could keep them away from the grounds, just like I'd promised the boys I would. We didn't want anyone else finding out about Remus' secret, especially Di and Lily.

Remus was particularly afraid of how they would both react. I knew neither one of them were purist, but... it was Remus, and if he didn't want people to know, we would do anything to help him out.

Even if it meant lying again.