Title: Puppy Love - Stargazing Part I
Author: juxtaposed
Summary: Remus and Sirius' lives and relationship - as seen from Remus' point of view.
Companion to Puppy Love - Lunar Love Part I.
Timeline: From when they meet, up til when Harry is born. Aka, 1971-1980.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slash!! That means guy-on-guy lovin'. Dont like it? Dont read it! Simple enough.
Pairings: Sirius/Remus, James/Lily
Disclaimer: I do not own Remus, Hogwarts, Platform 9 3/4, etc...I do own Sirius, James, and Lily, cause JK Rowling killed them off, and we all know you cant lay claim to dead persons, right? Mwahaha. Nah, I dont own them, so dont sue me for dreaming. Bah.
Puppy Love - Stargazing Part I
by juxtaposed
Chapter Two: Hogwarts Express
"The train! I think it's going to leave!" I yelped.
James muttered some choice swear words, then began to run to the train's closest doorway. "Hurry up, you two!" he yelled to us as he ran, just as the train began to move. "Hey! Stop!" he shouted at the train. "We're not on yet!"
Sirius and I reached James as the train suddenly halted – almost as if it had heard the yell – and he leapt on. "That was close." I was out of breath. Dragging along a large trunk was a difficult enough task for someone as slight as me. Add that to having to do so while running madly, and I had broken into a slight sweat. Lovely. Now Sirius, who was breathless but still perfectly sweat-free, probably thought I was some kind of weakling.
"I'll say." Sirius said while lifting his trunk onto the train, still clutching his owl's cage.
"Here, I'll help you with that." I took the cage from his hand. He nodded a thank you, then turned at James.
"Hey, where's your stuff?" he asked James.
"Oh, Mom figured I'd leave it at the station if she didn't bring it on board for me. She was probably right. And it's a good thing she did, too, or I might not have stopped the train in time." James grinned.
"Well, we might have got to miss school," Sirius said thoughtfully. He exchanged glances with James, then joked, "Mate, you should have just let it go!"
James pretended to groan, and sighed loudly for effect. "How foolish I was."
"Let's go find somewhere to sit, yeah?" I suggested, trying my best not to laugh at their silliness.
"Good idea, Remus," Sirius flashed me a wide smile that nearly well sent me into utter bliss. All I could do was smile back, my heart threatening to explode from the joy I felt, just from that smile. "Hopefully its not too crowded…" he continued.
"Oh, we can just go to the compartment where my stuff is already," James reminded him. "That should still be empty."
"Alright, let's go, then." Sirius nodded, but James remained still, only turning when Sirius asked, "Er, James? Where would this compartment be?"
"I was just wondering the same thing." James said sheepishly, red rising to his face. Sirius groaned, and James immediately remarked, "Well, its not my fault if I don't know! I'm not the one who stowed my suitcase!"
Okay, things were getting a little out of hand. "Hey, relax…why don't we just look for it?" I suggested, trying to keep everyone calm.
"Ah, a voice of reason! Just what we've been lacking all these years, eh, Siri? Where have you been all our lives, Remus, buddy?" James grinned at me while putting an arm over my shoulder. I wasn't really accustomed to such open displays of affection, and couldn't help blushing a little. James was genuinely very friendly and nice, and my previous neutrality was swaying. I couldn't help like him, he was too affable to be disliked. I stole a glance at Sirius, expecting to see him happy that we were all getting along so well. Instead, to my surprise, I saw him glowering. In fact, he seemed to be in a rather foul mood.
"Alright, then," he suddenly snapped peevishly. "Let's find your missing trunk, shall we?" He turned abruptly and began to walk down the corridor. I gazed after him, concerned. James seemed quite bewildered by Sirius' behavior, so I guessed incidents like this didn't happen often. He turned to face me, and we both frowned at what had just occurred.
"Um, did I do something wrong?" I asked nervously. I really didn't want to upset Sirius. I didn't know what I'd done, but I was planning on chasing after him and begging him to forgive me. I couldn't stand knowing he was angry at something, especially since I suspected that something to be me. I couldn't bear it if Sirius was mad at me, I'd break down right then and there. I could almost feel myself tearing up already, when James' voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Nah, mate, judging by the way he looked at me, I'd say its me who's got his feathers all ruffled up. He rather likes you, I think." James shook his head slightly. "I just don't know what I could've done. He isn't the type to get angry over luggage." He sighed. "I guess I'll talk to him about it later. We'd better catch up to him first, though." I nodded, but my anxiety must've shown, because James quickly put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Remus. Sirius…it'll be okay."
I tried to believe him; after all, he was Sirius' best friend. But I was still worried. We followed the path Sirius had taken, and saw him a long way down, talking to someone inside a compartment. "Look, he's there. Let's hurry." We quickly made our way down to where Sirius stood.
"…trunk here, we were hoping to find an empty carriage." Sirius was saying as we reached him.
James peered inside. "My stuff!"
I looked in, too. Inside sat a rather pretty little red-headed girl, and a large suitcase, covered in moving pictures of Quidditch players, and emblazoned with 'JAMES POTTER' in big characters.
"How can you be sure?" I remarked, and Sirius laughed a little. I'd made him laugh! That fact lifted my spirits tremendously. I wanted to just stay in that moment, listening to the rich, lilting laugh that was Sirius', but I knew I ought to be polite and talk to the girl, as she was suddenly ignored by all three of us, and looked rather anxious. "Hello," I greeted her. She smiled politely. "Would you like us to get our stuff and clear out to another compartment?" I offered.
"It's alright," she replied. "If you boys are hoping to find an empty one, this is the only one. I've already looked. I'm sorry to have intruded. Since your stuff was here first, I'll just take my stuff and go, then." She had turned a slight crimson, and although she spoke cheerily, I could sense she was a bit hesitant to leave. It was then that James chose to jump into the conversation, thankfully. He was gazing at the girl admiringly.
"Nah, stay," James quickly said. "You can join us. It'll be nice to have a girl to add to the ranks."
She smiled warmly at him. "Thank you," she said, with obvious relief in her voice. "I'm Lily Evans. You must be…James Potter?" Her smile widened.
"Why yes, how could you tell? And this is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin." He pointed to me and Sirius, and we both said hello. Then James began. "So, Lily Evans, how come a pretty girl like you is all alone?"
Sirius and I exchanged a look. I had to admire James' directness. I could never say anything like that. I wish I could have, maybe Sirius might find me more interesting, or more charming, or something. But I couldn't, so I was just who I was. Plain, boring, shy, quiet, bookish Remus Lupin. Someone as charismatic and fantastic as Sirius would never be interested in me as more than a friend…
AN: There you go, chapter two is up! I know the first couple of chapters are pretty short, maybe a little mundane, and the next few might be as well, but I promise that soon I'll start to churn out longer and more interesting chapters - well, hopefully, anyway. Reviews help. Hint. Hint. Hint. :)
Big THANK YOUs are in order to my kind reviewers, Lilsi and Nolwe the Lady Dragon, you guys and your reviews make me happy. -cue cheesy grin-
And a final note, I know I've made Sirius' eyes blue, and yes, I know they're supposed to be grey, but to me blue is just a little more interesting to describe and I definitely think that black hair and blue eyes make for a very handsome (and sexy!) Sirius. And I'm pretty sure Remus would agree with me. Heh heh.
Review, please?