Chapter Three

Sirius felt sympathetic in spite of himself. Given, this was the first girl that had really ever paid any attention to Remus, but it was rather unfortunate that she just happened to be the same girl James had been sweet on since, well, as long as he could remember. Sirius didn't know why James bothered with the whole "I'm tired" routine. He saw right through that, and looked around for the source of Prongs' distress. He spotted it instantly. Lily and Remus were sitting side by side in the same oversized armchair, fast asleep. This wasn't the worst of it for old Prongs, though. They were holding hands and her head was leaning prettily on his shoulder.

How adorable. He let out a laugh like a bark and summoned his camera lazily with a flick of his slender wand. He took the picture, waited for it to slide out the bottom of the contraption, and placed it silently inside the cover of Moony's book.

"That should give him a smile tomorrow" he muttered to himself, and walked up the stairs to deal with James.

He opened the dormitory door loudly, and was met with the sight of Prongs's drawn hangings.

"Oh shove it, Prongs. We both know you're not really asleep." he waited a minute for a reply and, getting none, proceeded to wrench open his friend's hangings. James was lying there, still fully dressed, looking daggers at the ceiling.

"Prongs?" Sirius said uncertainly as James sat up.

"Padfoot, just leave me alone, alright? You've done enough."

"Me? What have I done this time?!? I was just trying to keep you out of trouble, mate."

"Yeah, well, thanks. Thanks a bunch." James was nearly shouting, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He continued muttering to himself, Sirius catching pieces like

"... What he thinks he's doing.... Lily, honestly..... making stupid prat of myself...."

Sirius waited patiently as James trailed off into nothing. He sat cautiously on the edge of his bed, leaning back on his elbows, brushing his long dark hair out of his face impatiently.

"Well, I reckon you're being a bit unfair there, Prongs. Think about it. How many girls have you got drooling over you every day, Mr. Gryffindor Team Seeker? And Remus? Most of the girls who have figured out what he really is avoid him before they even bother getting know him. All but Lily. She likes him, Prongs. And if you can't be a good enough friend to Remus to get over that... well... then you just need to get over yourself." he finished, rather lamely.

He met James's eyes, staring into them and finding a flicker of guilt. James nodded, whispering "You're right, Padfoot... I've been a prat."

Sirius nodded and grinned, saying, in what he hoped was a jovial, reassuring voice "Well, I give it a week anyhow."

James laughed and his eyes were twinkling.

"We'll see how old Moony does with a girl..."

The two friends laughed, and they spent the rest of evening sitting on Sirius's bed in their pajamas discussing Quidditch, O.W.L.'s, and planning their next adventure for full moon.

When James had turned out his light, Padfoot lay awake, listening. He felt the safest at times like these, just him, the night, and the wind. He lay there, thoughts chasing themselves around in his head until he couldn't keep his mind going any longer. It was past two before he drifted off; listening to Frank's snores and Pettigrew's whimpers of sleep, and Moony had still not come up to bed.