Sirius sat at home in the apartment he shared with Remus, James living with Lily only a few doors away down the corridor. They were both out, however, so Sirius was free to write an owl to the girl he had met in the bar two nights ago.
Having been afraid to seem too desperate if he wrote to her right away, he decided to wait, before he couldn't anymore.
He had to see her.
The only thing he could think about was the look of pleasure and interest she gave him as she walked away, her green eyes gleaming beneath her rectangular glasses. Sirius had never been fond of eyeglasses, but they suited her remarkably well. They made her delicate face seem sophisticated, like a Muggle lawyer, and they softened her strongly outlined eyes and her piercing gaze.
"Green Eyes," he began, choosing his words carefully, sparing the last of the ink. "There's a restaurant I think you'd enjoy. I'd love to take you. Please reply with my owl. –Sirius Black from the Werewolf's Tooth."
He refrained from re-reading it, afraid it would be too horrible to send out, so he folded the paper and tied it to James' owl's leg. Sirius carried it to the window and dropped it, willing it to flap its wings, and it did, but carrying itself back into the apartment, perching on the windowsill, blinking questioningly at Sirius. He sighed, and threw a dead rat out the window, and the owl flew after it with the letter tied firmly to it's leg.
His heart was pounding and he couldn't feel the tips of his fingers. A chill was rising in his chest, as if he was being devoured by ice from the inside out.
It was the greatest feeling he had ever felt.
At that moment, James and Remus came in through the door, carrying baskets of clean laundry.
"I'm telling you, I'm right, James. No matter what you say, you don't try … and then do something! You try to do something."
"Well, I'll try and remember that saying that is incorrect."
"I hate you," mumbled Remus, through gritted teeth.
"Not this one again," groaned Sirius from the window. "How long have you two been on the subject of 'try and' versus 'try to'?"
"Well, 'try to' is correct!" shouted Remus, irritably.
"Where's Pete?" said James, looking around.
"Dunno," said Sirius.
"It's true, he has been gone an awful lot lately. Keeps mumbling something about doing something for work."
There was a pause between the three friends before Sirius took a sharp intake of breath, held it for a moment and said, "What is it that Peter does … again?"
James and Remus looked at each other.
"Sheesh," said James. "It's a wonder he even hangs out with us still."
"What?" asked Remus, starting to fold his laundry
"Well, come on, Remus. I mean, it's not like we were ever that great to him. In all honesty, would either of you two have stayed with us if we treated you like we … treat … him?" he said, slowing down towards the end, realizing he wasn't making much sense. "Did … either of you two understand any of that?"
Silence.
"Yes," said Remus slowly, as if unsure that that was the right answer.
Sirius nodded, his eyes crossed.
"Anyway!"
"Yeah, right. That one."
"What were you doing here, Sirius? I thought you were gonna go pick up the papers at the Ministry," said Remus, throwing him some of his clothes.
"I was – uh—"
"I know what he was doing," said James, slyly.
"No you don't," said Sirius blushing and throwing a book at him.
"Yes I do! You were writing to that girl, weren't you? I told you to wait a couple days!"
"I did! I swear I did, I only just sent your owl, dumb arse."
With those words escaping Sirius' lips, James' owl came zooming in through the window and flew blindly into Sirius' arms.
"What! What are you doing here so soon, you blasted bugger?" He looked at the owls leg and found the same piece of parchment tied to his leg.
His right leg. Sirius had tied it to the owl's left.
She had already written back!
After scanning the letter, Sirius felt butterflies. "Where's Empyrean Street?" he asked James and Remus.
"Four blocks away to the North, why?" said Remus.