Well, this won't be the last chapter. Unfortunately, I've discovered slash plots very difficult to keep going, and now wish I stuck with the one- shot version. I'd tell you what happens in that one, but it would just ruin the ending to this one. This chapter was going to be part of the last one, but I've run out of juice and this is all I have so far. Rest assured the NEXT chapter will be the last. Think of this as the last hurtle before the finish line... Or something. (That was exactly why I avoid analogies in my stories at all costs.) And remember to praise all good slash writers, cause it's not that easy. It takes little effort to ruin a plot, as I well know. Please review and read some of my other work during the wait for the last chapter. I love to read reviews. The thought of possibly getting them is like waiting for Christmas morning. For example, today, I got up at 9:36 a.m. and the first thing I did was not say good morning to my mother. It was to check my stats for Our Demons. Ah. The necessities of being a writer. Any who, this A/N is long enough. Read, review, be happy.
Cheers,
H.D.D
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Remus sat huddled over a piece of parchment, but for once in his life, he wasn't writing facts at the speed of light. In fact, he was just staring at it, quill poised in hand. Frowning, he leaned back in his chair and dropped the quill aside. He knew he should be working on the essay Quibbling assigned, but he couldn't get one thing out of his mind. Sirius. Releasing a groan, he rubbed his temples.
How could I have been so utterly stupid? he asked himself, then continued aloud, "What did I expect him to do? I mean, he was my friend and I kissed him!"
The words echoed through the book shelves, and Remus cringed. He'd said that a little too loud. Quickly, he skimmed the library for any visitors, but found himself to be the only patron. He sighed, and rested his elbow on the table.
"Why did I kiss him?" he whispered.
Because you like him, suggested a voice inside his head.
Remus bit his bottom lip at the thought. "Do I really?"
He'd really never given it much consideration until now, but the answer was a confirmed yes as his stomach did flip-flops at the thought of his doggy friend. He pounded a fist on the table in frustration.
"Oh bugger... What am I going to do?"
"For starters, Mister Lupin," came a stern voice from behind him, "I suggest you stop talking to yourself."
Remus turned, only to find a disgruntled librarian looking down on him. "Sorry."
"Why don't you finish your work and your conversation in the privacy of your own common room?"
He nodded, blushing a cherry red, then gathered up his things. Without another word, he rushed out of the library.
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There was one word to describe James Potter at this moment. Shocked. He was gasping for air, while trying to form words to describe his hysteria. Apparently, killing two birds with one stone in one day was too much for Sirius' friend to bear.
"James... You all right, mate?" Sirius asked, leaning toward him.
James staggered back, his wheezing coming down to a minimum. "I-I'm fine. S-Sirius. Just a little, ah, confused."
Sirius continued to frown. "Are you okay a-about this?"
"Oh, I'm great. Just great about everything."
"James," Sirius warned.
"What? I'm fine. Can't you tell?" James said, pointing to his false grin. "JUST FANTASTIC, BECAUSE TWO OF MY FRIENDS ARE FLAMING-"
The world for James dimmed at that very moment, brightening up once more after what felt like an eternity later and accompanied by a serious headache. He moaned as someone lifted him back onto the stands, rubbing one side of his head and wincing as he touched his right eye.
"Sorry about that James, but-"
He raised his arm, shushing Sirius. "It's all right. I deserved it, and I'm sorry. ...It's just weird, you know?"
Sirius sighed. "Believe me, I didn't intend for things to work out like this."
Suddenly, James laughed, receiving an odd glance for Sirius.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"A very funny thing just struck me."
"My fist?"
James grinned. "No. Padfoot and Moony."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"
The Stag shook his head. "No, no, no. Think about it. Of all the forms you could have taken as an animagus, what did you end up as?"
"A dog, so what-OOH," Sirius said with a new revelation. "It's like destiny was biting me in the ass all along."
"You're not so thick after all."
"HEY!"
They mock-glared at each other for a while before dissolving into laughter. It was an unspoken message that things were all right again.
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As Remus left the library, a sudden horror came to mind. The Marauders had Astronomy tonight. No doubt, Sirius would want to talk about what happened earlier, but he wasn't sure he could face that conversation just yet. He could skip dinner easily enough, but classes were a different story. An unexplained absence would bring up some serious questioning, and after all, he was a prefect. He had to maintain a certain amount of-
"No," Remus said to himself. "I won't go. That's the easiest way to avoid Sirius. I won't go to dinner or Astronomy."
He smiled, turning down the corridor that lead to the portrait door. "While everyone else is at dinner, I can wait it out in the dorm, and during Astronomy I'll nick some food from the kitchens."
Grinning like a madman, he gave the password ('Pickled Toads') and walked through the portrait door. "By the time everyone gets back, Sirius and the others will be too tired to even care about this whole mess."
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Thanks to all who reviewed on the past chapters. How about doing me a favor and doing it again?
My really stupid thing for today: trying to put the /p/ tags on the document to save time before loading it onto the document manager after I'd read about a million times NOT to.
Today's moral: Don't try updating at 1 a.m, folk. Especially after virtually no sleep for three days.