Chapter six – Actions speak louder than words

Sirius went to bed that night feeling extremely disappointed. He had been so close to telling Remus only to have been interrupted. Would he ever get another opportunity like that? The atmosphere had seemed so perfect but everything was ruined. Why did Remus' room have to be trashed the same day he was going to tell him? Why couldn't it have happened tomorrow, next week or never?

Sirius sighed heavily and was about to close his eyes until he heard someone enter the room and turn the light on.

"What the hell happened in here?" said a voice that was unmistakably James'. Sirius pulled back his curtains to talk to his friend. "Someone trashed Remus' belongings; he's sleeping downstairs for the night" Sirius replied. "Where's Pete?" James asked, noticing that Sirius and him were the only people in the room.

"With Penny. He left a note" Sirius said. "Oh ok" James said and then he remembered something suddenly. "What happened with Remus?" he asked. Sirius hung his head. "Nothing. I didn't get the chance to tell him. Tylon came and told us his room had been trashed before I had the chance to" he replied, disappointment visible in his voice. 

James sat next to Sirius on his bed. "Oh I'm sorry mate. There's always next time!" James said comfortingly. "Maybe, but I'm not sure there's going to be a next time" Sirius replied dully. "What do you mean?" James asked, concerned. "I don't think I can try to again, I was so nervous tonight. Maybe I wasn't meant to tell him" Sirius replied.

"You can't say that. You'll find another opportunity to tell him and I'll help you" said James. "Thanks mate" Sirius replied, still sounding unsure that there would be another opportunity. "I'm tired so I'm going to bed now" James announced. "Ok, me too. Night" Sirius said. "Night" James replied.

Remus awoke the next morning in the Gryffindor common room on a comfortable sofa. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Sirius entered the room. Remus' stomach fluttered. Maybe Sirius would tell him now what he wanted to say last night.

"Hey Rem, did you have a nice sleep?" Sirius asked. "Yeah, it wasn't too bad. I'm sorry about last night; do you still want to talk to me?" Remus asked hopefully. "No, it's ok. It wasn't that important" Sirius lied. "Oh, ok" Remus said, disappointed. "See you at breakfast" Sirius said, leaving through the portrait hole.

James listened to this conversation on the stairs and sighed. "Can't find the right opportunity, yeah right" he muttered quietly. He made his way down the stairs and saw Remus sitting in the common room staring blankly at the portrait hole.

"Hey, what's wrong?" James asked, already knowing the answer. "Nothing really. I just feel as though there's something Sirius isn't telling me" Remus replied. "I'm sure he'll explain eventually" James said. "Yeah… I better get dressed now. See you later" Remus said, walking upstairs. "Can you find your clothes ok?" James asked. "I hope so" Remus replied, disappearing up the stairs.

When James entered the Great Hall, he took a seat next to Sirius and hit him on his arm. "Ow! What was that for?" Sirius asked, rubbing the place where James had hit him. "I heard you this morning, talking to Remus. Why didn't you tell him? He even asked you and you didn't!" James replied.

 "I don't know, it just didn't seem right" Sirius answered. James rolled his eyes in annoyance. "When is it going to feel right?" he asked. "I'll let you know" Sirius replied, buttering his toast. A few minutes later, Remus and Peter arrived. "Hey, when did you get in last night?" Sirius asked Peter once Peter and Remus had sat down.

Peter blushed crimson. "About one" he answered quietly. "Oooh what have you been up to?" James asked, winking. Peter blushed deeper and was about to reply until Penny walked over and kissed his cheek. "See you on our date tonight" she said sweetly. "Ok" Peter replied, kissing her softly on the lips. Once Penny had left, Remus, Sirius and James started laughing.

"Shut up u lot" Peter said jokingly. "I don't see you three with girlfriends" he added, making the three of them fall silent. "Well, I am getting there. I'm telling Lily soon as long as someone else keeps his part of the deal" James said, looking at Sirius.

Sirius glared at him whilst James merely smiled cheekily. "What are you two talking about?" Remus asked curiously. "Nothing, right James?" Sirius said, blushing slightly. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. Let me just say Sirius, if you don't do it soon, I will" James replied.

"Ok fine, I'll do it later" Sirius replied. Remus and Peter looked utterly bewildered. "What on earth are you two talking about?" Peter asked. "Don't worry about it" Sirius said. The subject was dropped but Remus was still immensely curious. "Come on, we have defence against the dark arts" James said once everyone had finished eating.

While James was sitting in class, he couldn't help but be lost in his own thoughts. 'Why couldn't Sirius have told Remus that night? Why did someone trash his room the very same night he was going to tell him? Hang on… That seems a bit suspicious. Why not any other night, any other time? Was it just a coincidence or was it planned especially so their talk was interrupted?'

James pondered this for a while and then thought: 'Who trashed his room in the first place? Maybe someone overheard me and Sirius talking and decided to plan something. The main question is who…'

James looked around the room and he saw Sirius staring at Remus with much adoration. He smiled to himself and carried on looking around the room. His hazel eyes fell on Snape, whom he noticed was also staring at Remus. 'Oh my god. Snape likes Remus! What if he heard mine and Sirius' discussion and got jealous so he decided to plan something?'  (A/N: I know he's jumping to conclusions but he is a very smart person)

James thought back to last night. 'I don't remember seeing him at dinner…' He knew that he would have to ask him about it. When lunch arrived, James made his way over to Snape who had just entered the Great Hall. "I need to talk to you" he said stiffly.

Snape seemed surprised but nodded and led James away from the Great Hall. "What do you want, Potter?" Snape asked coldly, his lip curling. "I just want to know, did you have anything to do with Remus' room being trashed?" James asked. "Why would you think that?" Snape asked.

"Because I saw you staring at Remus and I also don't recall seeing you at dinner that evening" James replied. Snape paled slightly. "Why don't you prove it" he snarled. "I think I just did" James said. "You are too meddlesome for your own good" Snape replied.

"I know that, but it does come in handy sometimes" James said. Snape glared at him and walked into the Great Hall. James smiled at his retreating back. He knew that he wouldn't be able to prove it was Snape but discovering his secret love for Remus was something he could use to his advantage…

By the end of the day, James and Sirius were found in their dorm room playing exploding snap, it was too crowded in the common room. Peter was on his date with Penny and Remus was no where to be seen. "What time is it?" Sirius asked James. "Eight" James replied.

"Ok, it's a bit dark outside isn't it" Sirius said. "Yeah… Sirius, there's something I need to tell you" James said. "Ok, what is it?" Sirius asked. "Well, I'm beginning to suspect that Snape was the one who trashed Remus' room" James replied.

"WHAT?!" Sirius yelled, standing. "That slimy git! It's all his fault I didn't get to tell Remus!" Sirius said angrily. "I know. I asked him about it and he did his whole: 'prove it' routine" James said. "But why? Also, how did you suspect him?" Sirius asked, curiously.

"Well, I saw him staring at Remus and-" James began but he was cut off by Sirius. "HE WHAT!? HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO STARE AT HIM! THAT'S WHAT I DO!" Sirius yelled, but then he suddenly blushed at what he had just blurted out.

"Don't worry, I saw you looking at him in the same way. I think Snape does like Remus and I don't think he'll stop until he gets him, you know how his mind works" James said. "No! He will not have Remus" Sirius said sharply. "You better find him first then, check the map" James replied.

Sirius searched through his trunk and found the Marauders map. He scanned it with his finger and he saw 'Remus Lupin' underneath a tree by the lake. Throwing the map down, Sirius ran outside leaving James to smile to himself.

'I don't doubt that Snape likes Remus but I don't think he'd do anything else about it. Besides, Remus would never have him. It was just good to see Sirius finally fired up enough to tell him' James thought, smirking.

Sirius found Remus just where the map had said and he sat down next to him. "Hey Padfoot" Remus said cheerfully. "Hi, what are you doing out here?" Sirius asked. "Just thinking" Remus said, staring up into the sky. Sirius noticed the bright glittering stars above him and the crescent moon.

"I'm happy when the moon is like that" Remus said. "It must be hard for you" Sirius said. Remus turned to look at him. "It is. I dread it happening for weeks and then it's over after a night and I'm relieved. But then I dread the next one" Remus said sadly, turning his gaze back to the sky. Without thinking. Sirius put a comforting arm around him.

Remus looked at him in surprise. "Remus, there's something I need to tell you, I-". Sirius was cut off by Remus' finger on his lips. "Sssh, don't speak". Remus pulled Sirius closer and their mouths met in a soft kiss.

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A/N: Awww I'm quite happy about how that chapter turned out! Please review, thanks!