Chapter 4

Sirius was trying really hard not to doze off in the middle of Defence the Dark Arts. The new teacher was slightly scatter brained and had to keep umming and ahing as he looked down at his own notes. At one point, his thick rimmed glasses fell off his face and onto the floor as he went to pick something else up. The guy was so blind he kept talking to an empty desk. Sirius rolled his eyes and buried his head in his arms. Peter yawned loudly just as tired. The boys had spent a good majority of the night trying to coerce wolf-Remus to stop flinging himself against trees. The new teacher dropped a stack of papers on the floor and excused himself. Most likely to find someone else who knew more on the subject than he did. As he left the whole classroom erupted into noise of conversation. Sirius couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him. James looked like he was going to doze off any minute but Lily was talking to him about something with a serene smile. Sirius turned around to see Marlene the only one not talking. She sat a little further away from James and Lily and had her textbook open and was taking notes. Sirius got up despite his lack of energy and sauntered over to her, taking a seat next to her.

Marlene peered up from her notes, quirking up an eyebrow as if to say 'what?' Sirius grinned at her and pinched her hip under the table. She jumped in surprise but quickly turned her look of surprise into a glare, "What are you doing?" she asked

"What are YOU doing?" Sirius shot back, "The ding-bat of the professor's already gone. Loosen up a bit will you."

Marlene rolled her eyes, "Same old same old from you. Still not studying or bothering to do any work."

"Well that's partially your fault for giving in and always helping me study isn't it?" Sirius said with a wink.

Marlene's mouth formed a small smile, "That's your fault that you're so good with your mouth." Sirius threw his head back and laughed. "And I'm doing my work because I know this professor will probably be teaching us next to nothing all year. Go and get your books! You can't fall behind either."

Sirius groaned loudly, "Marls come on! Can't we just hang? Take advantage of the lack of professor?" He said with a yawn.

For the first time since he had walked over, Marlene actually put her quill down. "Sirius you look terrible." She said in a concerned voice. "Are you alright?" She said putting a hand on his forearm.

Sirius waved a hand, "Nothing I'm just tired."

Marlene gave him an incredulous look, "How can you be tired? You went up to your room at like 8:30?!"

"I had trouble sleeping." Sirius said.

Marlene turned to face him fully with a furrowed eyebrow, "What's going on Sirius? Lily hasn't noticed yet but don't think I can't tell that James and Peter are just as tired as you are. I'm sure that if Remus were well he would look just as bad as the three of you."

Sirius inwardly let out a sigh of relief, "Nothing is going on. It's not a big deal. It's just a boy's thing."

Marlene looked at him with scrutiny, "I'll drop it if you come study with me for a little bit." Sirius groaned and let his head droop to her shoulder, "We've got forty minutes left! You can do twenty minutes of studying and then you can sleep for the rest?"

"Fine." Sirius said with a begrudged huff. He allowed Marlene to open his books up and teach him about Dark creatures whilst he was half asleep.

"Thank God it's lunch." Peter said as he sat down at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

"You're telling me." James' messy head of hair looked messier than usual and his glasses did not hide the dark circles that took home under his eyes. "Too bad they don't serve coffee for lunch."

"You don't like coffee." Peter pointed out.

"I do when it makes me feel slightly less dead than I'm currently feeling."

"You guys gone to check on Remus yet?" Sirius asked, piling his plate high with food.

Peter nodded, "I went to see him before Divination. He doesn't look as bad this time round."

"If he looks better than us I'm going to dig at him extra hard with my antlers next time."

Sirius picked up his plate and got up from the table.

"Sirius mate, I'm sure Remus doesn't mind if you eat before you go see him." Peter said eating himself.

"I'm sick of you twats anyways." Sirius said with a tired grin. Peter continued to eat yet had enough in him to still give him the middle finger.

Sirius barked in laughter as he walked off.

When he got to the Hospital wing Remus was the only one who occupied a bed. Dorcas was sat on his bed talking to Remus whilst he was lying down. Remus had a hand resting on Dorcas' thigh and was smiling up at her as she talked to him. Although Remus looked rather worse for wear, he still had a large grin across his features as he listened intently to what Dorcas was saying to him. His tired eyes held a gleam and his hollowed cheeks wore dimples. He let out a loud laugh at what she was saying. Sirius stepped backwards towards the wall before either of them could see him.

"You're looking better already." She said with a smile.

"I'm feeling better, I should be right before tomorrow." He replied, "Hey did that guy ask you out yet? The Slytherin? Michael Jannet?"

Sirius didn't need to be looking at Dorcas to know that she was blushing but peeked at the couple anyways to see if he was right. He was. "Um not yet."

"He's been rather flirty lately. Don't think I haven't noticed." Remus said rather awkwardly.

Dorcas sounded apprehensive, "I don't think he'll ask me out."

"Why not? He'd be crazy not to." Remus said softly.

Sirius thought this would be a good opportunity to quickly walk in. Mostly because the awkward scene unfolding was starting to get much too awkward for him. "Hey guys!"

Dorcas jumoed in surprise to the new person in the room, "Oh hey Sirius." She looked down to his hands. "I see you brought your lunch." She said with a laugh.

Remus patted her thigh, "You should go get some."

Dorcas nodded, "Bye guys." She said and hurried off.

Sirius turned to look at Remus, "Hungry?"

"Starved mate." Remus said sitting up eyeing the plate of food Sirius had.

"Scooch over then." Sirius said.

Remus moved over and grabbed a piece of chicken off Sirius' plate.

"What's going on there?" He asked Remus.

"What?" Remus asked avoiding eye contact.

Sirius had to stop himself from pulling a face at his friend, "Between you and Doe. What're you two playing at?"

Remus shrugged, "Nothing we're just really close."

Sirius scoffed loudly with food in his mouth, much to Remus' disgust, "Remus bud, you keep making eyes at her. Drop the act."

Remus sighed, "Yeah alright I think she's pretty great alright. She's hilarious and caring and when she smiles I smile too."

Sirius laughed, "Who would've thought you would've settled down so quickly. Thought it was going to be James."

Remus shot an amused look at Sirius, "Oh really what about you and Marlene?"

"What about me and Marlene?" Sirius shot back.

"The other lads might not notice it but I'm a perceptive man." Sirius scoffed at Remus' use of the word man but let him continue, "You and her are as thick as thieves. I give it until Christmas before you crack."

Sirius let out a scoff, "It'll never happen don't you worry. She's not into guys like me."

"What? Man-whores?" Remus asked.

Sirius glared at him but knew he was right.