Chapter 9 - I don't mind

OoO

The next morning, Remus was still sitting on his spot against the trunk. James woke up first. Didn't matter if he drank a barrel of Meade, he was always the first one up after Remus. He literally rolled out of bed, poking his head up as he searched for his glasses. He frowned, once he had them on as he saw Remus sitting there with red stinged eyes, knees drawn up to his chest.

"Moony?" He asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes. Remus nodded his head to Sirius and Izzie. "Oh." He gasped a little and sat down on Remus's bed, next to his head. "How long are you awake?"

"Haven't slept." He muttered just as Peter's alarm clock went off. Peter's hand smacked it until it quieted down. Sighing, Peter pushed himself out of the curtains. He raised his eyebrows when he saw the two of them. They both nodded their heads to the sleeping pair. Peter walked over to them, turning his head to Sirius and Izzie, making him stumble over James' broom cleaning kit.

"Fuck." He cursed. Making the sleeping pair stir in their sleep. Sirius woke up first, he blinked a few times, then turned his head to their still intertwined fingers and he smiled.

"Oh, shit!" James cursed. Sirius head snapped to the three at Remus's bed. The dopey smile was gone, and he frowned at them. "You more than like her, don't you?" James asked.

"I'm not talking to you." He snapped quietly. Then turned to Moony whose face was brick hard. "Don't look at me like that. She was tired and drunk. I needed to carry her almost the whole way back and I couldn't wake her, and since I can't get in the girls' dorm, I brought her here. I even slept on the ground." Remus face softened but not by much. "You should look at him like that." He pointed at James, who looked stunned.

"What?"

"He was the one kissing her last night." He hissed, turning back to Izzie. He saw she wake, her eyes only open by a millimetre. She squeezed his fingers, making him smile. "Hi-" He just wanted to wish her good morning when Remus had jumped up.

"You did what!?"

"I-" James looked wide-eyed. He frowned, thinking about the night before. "I did, didn't I?" He chuckled a bit before terror struck his face. He looked panicked from Remus to Sirius. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

Izzie had pushed herself up on the bed, leaning on her arms. "Merlin, Potter. It was just a kiss." She chuckled, and all heads snapped to her. She looked to Remus. "We were trying to make Lily jealous, but James was far gone and took it a tad too far." She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, next to Sirius. She raised her eyebrows as she saw the sweatpants. Sirius gave her a lopsided smile alongside a shrug. She smiled before turning back to James. "It was a nice kiss. I'll make sure to tell Lily that." She smirked as James paled. "I should go talk to her and get some breakfast; I'm starving." She turned to Sirius. "Where are my clothes?"

"Oh." Sirius scrambled up from the ground and handed over her jeans and boots. "Here."

"Thanks. I'll get these back to you." She pulled on the baggy sweatpants.

"Keep it." He rubbed his neck. "I have more than enough."

The smile she gave him, made his heart skip a beat. "Thanks." She leaned up to kiss his cheek. When she pulled back, he held up three fingers. She chuckled and rolled her eyes. She turned to the others. "James Potter!"

James straightened up and he looked like he was ready to salute her. "Yes?"

"We're not going to get awkward about this, are we?"

"No, ma'am."

"Good." She snickered. "I'll see you guys at breakfast." She waved behind her before she disappeared from the room.

"I'm going to go shower." Sirius muttered pushing past James.

"Pads." Remus voice was stern.

"I know, we'll talk later." He looked over his shoulder and Remus nodded, before he stepped in the bathroom.

OoO

"Morning." Izzie said quietly as she entered the girls' dorm. Mary and Marlene were still fast asleep. Lily was already dressed and was putting her hair in a high ponytail.

"Hey." She answered not turning to face her.

Izzie walked over and sat down next to her on her bed. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" She asked, knowing damn well what.

"That James and I kissed."

"I don't mind."

"Lily." Izzie placed her hand on her shoulder to make her turn. "You can fool anyone but me. I know you like him, even though you hate to admit it." She laughed.

"It's not funny!" She slapped her arm, but a smile curled her lips. "I despised him for years."

"Oh, I know." Izzie muttered, but she ignored her as continued her little rant.

"I can't like him, Iz. I would look like a fool." She said dramatically, letting her head fall on her shoulder, very un-Lily like.

"Oh, Lils." She patted her head. "I can see the appeal actually." Lily's head snapped up and she glared. "What? Oh, Godric not about the kiss." She laughed. "He's a good guy, he's funny and an amazing friend to Remus."

"But do you like him?"

"Not like that, no." Izzie gave her reassuring smile.

"Good." She nodded, then she grinned. "Sirius likes you."

"Sirius likes everything that moves." Izzie waved her off and walked to her closet to get changed. "He's just bummed he hasn't been able to kiss me like he kissed the rest of the school." She said, her voice muffled in the closet.

"I don't know." When Izzie came out, dressed in her muggle clothes, she saw Lily frowning. "Where were you last night?"

"Drunk and tired. Sirius carried me, after I nearly fell." She shrugged. "He let me sleep in his bed, he slept on the floor."

"SIRIUS BLACK CARRIED YOU!?"

Lily and Izzie both jumped at that exclamation. Mary and Marlene were both sitting up in their beds, the former was the one who cried out.

"Let's go." Izzie quickly, grabbed Lily by the elbow and walked out of their dorm.

OoO

The guys were already at the breakfast table when they came down. But they weren't sitting in their usual spot. They were all the way in the back for some reason, and all in one row. Sirius on one end, then Peter, Remus and James. Lily and Izzie shared a glance with raised eyebrows before sitting down at their usual spot.

On the train, Mary had dragged Marlene to sit with some Hufflepuff guys that she was trying to impress. Lily and Izzie both stretched their legs out on the seat, making themself comfortable. But not for long as three of the four marauders barged in.

"Here's still room." James grinned.

Lily tutted. "Sorry, all taken." She pointed at their legs. James crunched up his nose with a grin. Remus walked in and waited until Izzie pulled her legs away. She did so with a smile. Remus wrapped his arm around her, tugging her close. James and Sirius were still standing in the doorway, glancing in. Izzie frowned as she saw the space between them.

"Well, are you just going to stand there or..." Izzie raised an eyebrow. They both grinned. James took a seat next to Remus but again a fair bit of space between them, while Sirius sat down next to Lily. An awkward silence fell in the compartment. "So." Izzie started, breaking the silence. "How are you all spending your break?"

"Me, my mum and Petunia always make gingerbread houses on Christmas day. I wished you could come." Lily said sadly.

"Me too." And equally sad smile appeared on Izzie's lips.

"Oi." Remus nudged her. "You have me to keep you company." He grinned.

James and Sirius shared an involuntary glance. "So, that's why you never come over for Christmas."

"Oh, have I stolen your boyfriend?" Izzie chuckled.

"As a matter of fact, yes. We've been asking for him to come over since first year. Pads is always with us, even Pettigrew. But never our Moony."

"Sorry, he's all mine." Izzie grinned, leaning even more into Remus's side.

"You can come over too." Sirius said softly. Izzie turned to glance at him. She gave him a beaming smile.

"Thank you, but I can't. It's still a miracle my father let me go to Remus's."

"He wouldn't know if you just popped by, would he?"

"I-" She stared at Sirius. His grey eyes soft and an edge of worry around them. Gods, those eyes! She ducked her head. "He'd know." Her eyes flickered outside. Remus gave her shoulders a squeeze. Sirius and James shared another glance but now one filled with worry. "I'll be fine at Remus's." Her voice shook.

"What do you two usually do?" Lily asked James and Sirius, trying to steer the conversation away from her. Oh, how thank full she was of her. Izzie kept her gaze out of the window, the scenery flashed before her eyes. A few hours later, she only knew because of how the sun had shifted, Remus nudged her.

"I'm going to meet..." He whispered.

"Say hi for me."

"I will." He kissed my cheek. He stretched and stood up. "I'm going to do rounds."

OoO

Sirius had been watching her since he came in the compartment. She had been snuggled up against Remus. Safe. And when she talked about her father, it was like alarm bells that went off. Unsafe! Unsafe! He thought to himself. He felt more than relieved when he heard she would spend her time at Remus's house. And even though she couldn't come to the Potters, maybe they could pop over to Remus's. He had barely registered that Moony had walked out, the sound of the door clicking shut made him snap out of it. He saw her rise from her seat, and with a sinking heart, he thought she would walk out too. But she didn't. She reached over to her trunk and rummaged through it.

"Do you need help?" James asked standing up and holding her bare waist where her shirt had shifted. Sirius growled a little and if he would have turned, he would have seen Lily's fixed stare.

"I know how to get something from my trunk, James." She rolled her eyes as she sat back down, holding a walkman. She looked over to Sirius who was looking wide eyed at the instrument in her hand. He stood up and pushed James out of his seat, practically throwing him to Lily, and flopped down next to her. "I gather you want to listen?" She snickered. James had sat down next to Lily, both flushed.

"Duh, but how did you get it? I thought it wasn't out yet?"

"Can someone tell me what that is?" James asked truly perplexed.

"A walkman." The three of them said. "You can listen to music with it."

"How?" James frowned.

"Prongs, you're asking all the wrong questions." Sirius said. "How the fuck do you have this?" Sirius was so excited, excited like a little kid at Christmas, it made her smile.

"A girl got to have her secrets, Black."

"You have enough secrets." He mumbled with a frown. Before anyone could react, he grinned. "Can I listen with you?"

"Sure." She shook her head smiling. They both leaned their heads against the back of the bench, she lifted the earpiece, pressing one on her ear, the other on Sirius. She swore she could feel him shiver. She pressed the play button, and a mix of rock music filled their ears. They both sighed contently and closed their eyes. About ten minutes later, Sirius reached over to replay a song, and his hand stayed on hers after that. Sirius beyond giddy that she didn't pull away. About an hour later, Izzie had fallen asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. Lily and James were apparently too busy whispering amongst themselves to notice. He glanced over at the head of caramel hair, and once again, Sirius thought, Safe. She felt safe with him.