Chapter 16: Up Against Reality

"I am getting married," James announced as he Apparated with a 'pop' into Sirius' living room. Sirius almost dropped the chess piece he was holding while Peter turned around, wide-eyed.

"Congratulations would be nice," James grinned., breaking the prolonged silence. Peter continued gaping at him while Sirius tried to affect his usual nonchalance.

"Merlin, how did that happen?" he asked. "You didn't even bring a ring."

James waved the question away. "She loves me."

"You said that in 5th year too, right before she said she would rather go out with the giant squid," Peter said helpfully.

The light in James' eyes couldn't be extinguished. "That was different," he waved his wand airily.

"Prongs, old mate," Sirius sighed. "Tell me exactly what happened."

James hesitated, looking as though he would rather hug the moment to himself. "Where's Remus?" he asked instead.

Sirius stared at him thoughtfully. James had never been reluctant to share his exploits with other Marauders.

"He Apparated into a forest to transform," Peter answered amiably. "Checkmate," he added, taking advantage of Sirius' absent-mindedness.

No one, heeded him; James was staring into space with a dreamy smile; Sirius was staring at James as if he had morphed into a creature that he couldn't quite recognize.

"Oh yeah, full moon," James belatedly absorbed Peter's reply. He drifted out of the room in an obvious trance.

Sirius shook his head mock-sorrowfully, refusing to acknowledge an ache deep inside that James had somehow left him. If that was what falling in love was like, he told himself, he preferred his meaningless relationships. "Would you like to fall in love, Wormtail?"

"No one loves me," Peter said plaintively.

Hoot. Hur…hoot…

Owls and showers of letters. The Grim had brought a huge box of letters and emptied it on his head. "I don't get it," Sirius heard himself say. "I trained him not to do that…" the voice became James….He just needs a splash…Hold this…

A spray of water shot up his nostril and Sirius sputtered awake, pushing his dark hair out of his face as he sat up. Cursing, he reached for his wand, but James had it securely grasped.

"Rise and shine, mate," he grinned. "The brand-new day's half gone."

"May I remind you that this is my house. I can sleep as long as I want," Sirius grumbled. The clock opposite the bed cheerfully leered at him at 10 minutes to noon. Blinking sleep from his eyes, he focused on Peter's inordinately happy face. "What are you so happy about?" Peter's face fell.

"You have a lot of letters," the smaller youth said hesitantly.

Sirius' eyes lit on the huge pile of letters next to him. He groaned. "I thought that was a dream."

"Just read one," James ordered. "This is great. Everyone wants us."

Sirius arbitrarily reached for one letter in the huge pile. It bore the Gringotts purple and cream sealing wax.

Dear Mr. Black,

WE have received your application for the position of Curse Breaker and we are pleased to inform you that you have been shortlisted for an interview on…

He ripped open another envelope.

Dear Mr. Black,

We have received your application for the position of magical creatures keeper…

"I don't get it," he said at last. Wide awake now, he noticed that James was clutching a similar sized pile while Peter had noticeably fewer letters. "They didn't even wait until NEWT results are out."

James shrugged. "Its only interviews. Anyway, any offers made will only be conditional on satisfactory exam results. Looks like our strategy backfired. We still have a lot to choose from."

Peter waved a letter in Sirius' face. "The Auror Academy wants to interview me!" he squawked excitedly.

James and Sirius exchanged worried glances. Peter was hopeless at dueling. They would have to try and talk him out of going.

Not wanting to dim his joy yet again, Sirius said instead, " Damn. This means I'd probably have to start work earlier. Responsibilities," he shuddered.

"At least," Remus' voice came form the doorway. "you'd have something to do." His face looked even more wan and exhausted than usual.

James swept his wand at a chair. It flew towards Remus who overbalanced and fell gratefully into it.

"Thanks," he tried to smile.

"How many did you get, Moony?" Peter chimed.

"Nothing," Remus said. "I didn't receive anything."

His friends shot uneasy looks which Remus did not fail to notice.

"Maybe the owls could find you. You were in a forest somewhere…." Peter's voice trailed off at exasperated looks from James and Sirius. The owls could have left his letters at his last known place of residence and all of them knew it. Added to the fact that records of registered werewolves and vampires were freely available to anyone who bothered to check with the Ministry, there was only one unpleasant conclusion to draw.

My mother was right, Remus thought, more tired than upset.

"Morons, the whole lot of them," Sirius began furiously. He pointed his wand at the pile of letters beside him. "Incen-.."

James knocked his hand away. "Padfoot, you idiot, you will burn the bed."

Remus strove for a more upbeat tone. "You won't do any good joining me in the ranks of the unemployed. Maybe Peter is right. Its too early to tell. Perhaps everyone just wants someone more Sirius." He got up and headed for the door. "I need some sleep."

Sirius watched him leave with narrowed eyes. "He's feeling bad if he's resorting to my lame puns."

"We'll think of something for him," James vowed. "We stick together."