Sirius' POV
"I really need to buy you an alarm clock," I shake Lupin awake.
He looks up at me blearily,
"Hello…"
I laugh,
"Come on, or we're going to be late."
He sits up suddenly,
"Sorry," he stammers, "I'll be quick."
I catch his shoulder, but release him and hold my hands open when he flinches away in fear.
"Lupin, s'ok…"
He shoots me a half smile, then hurries to the showers.
"Oh no," Potter wanders round from the other side of his bed, "you don't like him at all."
I smirk at him,
"At least he can recognise his betters."
Potter laughs,
"Aww, you like me really Sirius, old buddy!"
I roll my eyes,
"I have to spend the next seven years with you…"
"Great, isn't it!" he beams.
I shrug,
"Sure, suit yourself."
Oh yes, I'm completely in control of this situation…
"Why are you getting Remus up anyway?" Potter asks. "It's Saturday."
"I do know how to use a calendar, thank you," I shoot him a withering look.
"That doesn't answer the question," he tells me.
"The tailor is coming this morning," I shrug. "And it would be useful if Lupin was there for the fitting."
Pettigrew laughs,
"Yeah, true."
I scowl,
"Why are you two up?"
Potter grins,
"We're going exploring."
Remus' POV
I get dressed quickly after my shower and hurry back to the dorm room.
I find Sirius alone, lying on his back on his bed with his hands under his head. He glances up as I walk in.
"Right," he jumps to his feet, "let's go."
I smile and follow him obediently.
"I've never met a tailor before," I tell him, nervously.
He glances at me and I think I almost see some sympathy,
"No, I guessed that."
"I don't have to get undressed, do I?" I ask anxiously, only too aware of the scars across my body.
"Shouldn't think so," he tells me.
We arrive in the entrance hall and see Professor McGonagall; she appears to have been waiting for us.
"Black, Lupin," she strides over to us. "I must say this is most irregular…"
By the looks of it she very much disapproves of what Sirius has done.
"However," she continues, "the Headmaster has made an exception this once," she looks at me knowingly.
"Thank you, Professor," I answer respectfully.
Sirius stays silent and before I can stop myself I give him a nudge.
"What?" he asks.
"Say thank you," I hiss at him.
He looks baffled,
"Why?"
I feel myself flush,
"Never mind," I mutter, then drop my eyes.
"Your tailor has been shown into one of the spare classrooms," McGonagall continues, scowling slightly at Sirius. "The charms corridor, fourth door on the right. Do you know where to go?"
"Yes Professor, thank you," I thank her again.
"Hmm," Sirius nods once, then strides off.
I hurry after him.
He doesn't even glance at me as he strides down quickly down the corridor, but I notice that he isn't walking as fast as he could. He is making sure I can keep up with him.
"Here we are," he nods to the door as we approach it. "Now, remember, let me do the talking. You just stand still and smile."
"Ok," I agree.
We step inside and a thin man looks up from across the room,
"Lord Black," he nods deferentially to Sirius.
Sirius nods in response,
"This is Mister Lupin," he touches my arm, "whom I told you about in my letter."
I nod hesitantly and the tailor nods back.
Sirius gestures to the catalogue and the man hands it over to him. He flicks to the correct page, then gestures to the chosen robes. The tailor nods in agreement, then gets out his tape measure.
"Hold your arms out to the side," I'm told, then he notes all my measurements down.
Sirius lounges silently against the wall watching everything.
"Ok," the tailor nods. "Who is paying for this?"
"I am," Sirius nods. "I want five robes of that design, and one matching bag."
"Certainly, my Lord," he notes that down as well.
"You have my account details," Sirius continues.
"You are a valuable customer," the tailor murmurs. "So we shall take 20 off of the price."
Sirius nods,
"I shall remember."
"You will receive the recite in the post within two days and the items within a week," and with that the man bows low to Sirius, nods to me, and slips out of the door.
Sirius' POV
"Well," I clap my hands as we exit the classroom, "that went well."
Lupin nods nervously,
"Thank you, again, for this…" he smiles slightly. "You really didn't have to."
I shrug and look down at the floor as we head back to the dorm,
"Yeah, well. You're welcome."
I notice he looks surprised, then smiles again.
I just hope my parents don't hear that I have been buying clothes for a Gryffindor. Not that I care what they think of me, but Howlers can get irritating.
"Are you pureblood?" I ask casually.
Re… Lupin flinches,
"No, I'm half-blood."
I nod,
"Ah."
"Is that a problem?" he asks after a pause.
I shrug,
"I guess not."
"Sirius! Remus!" Potter yells down the corridor.
"Potter," I nod to him, "I am amazed how you always act with such dignified restraint."
"Hello, James, Peter," Lupin smiles at each of them.
Potter smirks at me and puts his arm round my shoulders. I glare at him and he backs off.
"Find anything interesting?" Remus asks. I mean Lupin…
"We got up into the Astronomy tower, and got a peek into the Forest," Pettigrew grins.
"We took a look at that Whomping Willow in the grounds too," Potter tells us. "Now that was worth the trip."
"You should be careful," Lupin murmurs, "that tree is dangerous."
Potter laughs,
"Oh come on! It's not like we strolled right up to it or anything. We just took a look."
"It's time for lunch," Pettigrew tells us, after glancing at his watch, "are you coming?"
"Yeah," Potter grins, "that sounds like a plan."
I shrug,
"Fine."
Later
I sit on my bed pretending to read a book. I even turn the page every so often to keep up the facade.
Lupin is reading the Transfiguration textbook, by the looks of things. I haven't bothered to tease him about it. Potter is playing chess with Pettigrew.
Lupin looks up and catches my eye. He smiles, then continues reading.
I wonder what mother would think of my roommates.
Well, actually, I know she would look down her nose at them and consider them lower than dirt…
Then again, that is probably how she considers me.
I turn the page.
Potter, of course, has his strengths. He is stronger than Lupin; who is a walkover at the best of times. Though Lupin is obedient, which has its advantages.
I consider which of them, as a Black, I would be expected to be friends with.
Lupin would be a good lackey, I suppose. Potter would be an equal, and Pettigrew is a groupie.
I blink and realise I have been staring into space, and that at some point Potter and Pettigrew must have wandered off.
"They snuck off to the kitchens," Lupin tells me.
"I knew that," I tell him sharply.
He flinches and nods,
"Of course, sorry."
I wince,
"S'ok, Lupin, you know… I didn't mean to…" I shrug, indicating my inability to apologise adequately.
He smiles again,
"You can call me Remus, Sirius."
I grimace,
"That would go against everything I have been taught that I am."
"So does being a Gryffindor," he points out quietly.
I nod slowly. He is right; being a Gryffindor is practically a capital sin to my family.
"I'm trying to fit in," I admit to him. "But… well, old habits die hard."
He nods,
"I understand."
Author Notes:
Gosh! I do believe I have just updated! It's a miracle!
Forrest- Thank you!
TeeDee- They're getting there!
Shadow Cat17- Calm down! I have updated! Be happy!
Bkwrmbenny- Thank you!
BrenntQT- I know, it's kinda how I think it would have happened. My cousin says thank you.
Thanks again!
