A/N- OK, this is slightly odd, but I couldn't get it out of my head. The idea was practically fully formed, so it took me about five minutes to write. I'll explain. I read loads of fics where James falls for Lily, and the other Marauders plot and scheme to get them together. But not that many that portray the Marauders feelings, how I imagine them. Sad and desolate, because they're losing their best friend. So I wrote this. It's set in the Marauders seventh year, when Lily finally starts to like James. It told entirely from Sirius' point of view. Very short. Tell me what you think.
Smile.
The thing that kills me the most is how little effort it takes. All she has to do is walk into the same room as him, and he's gone. Lost, and irretrievable. She doesn't even try; her mere existence is enough to block us out. Her input is non- existent. And after that, it's simply a losing battle, trying to persuade him to acknowledge us. Sure, I'll laugh, I'll tease him- "Prongs, you're dribbling!"- And all that. I'll never say anything else. I'll never question his loyalty. Ever. But I never thought a girl would split the Marauders up. I thought we were stronger than that. Whenever she's near him, the rest of the world pales in comparison. We fade into the background, barely there. She takes centre stage, without even trying. She's stealing him, tearing us apart, without even realizing. I'll never tell him. To tell him would be to lose him. So I just watch. I watch him, as he is slowly prised away from me. I'll hang on, right until she pulls him away completely. I wont let him go until I have to. But the tragic thing is, I know eventually I will have to let him go. Part of me will die inside, but that will be masterfully concealed behind my smile. Just like all my other emotions are hidden. A grin and a wink. If they're lucky, they'll even get a fantastically witty, light- hearted comment to make them laugh and distract them. But then again, maybe not. The only thing I'm sure of, is that they wont know. When she finally takes him away, when I finally have to admit defeat, when a part of me is torn away, no- one will know. No- one will have the faintest idea. 'Cos I'll smile.