Title: Delicate Treasures
Author: Stardrops
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG 13 (For slash and occasional swearing, precautions only)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter. I do, however, own the plot. I am very proud. But the rest belongs to our creative genius, J K Rowling.
Chapter Three: Aboard The Hogwarts Express
The station was packed full of Muggles, as it normally was on September 1st. Sirius looked with interest at the Muggle boys lining up in their smart uniforms, ready to go to their private schools. They were wearing grey blazers and trousers with blue and yellow ties and white shirts. Sirius snickered, it all looked immensely uncomfortable and he was glad once again that he could wear jeans and a shirt beneath his light Hogwarts robes.
James was walking beside him, holding the cage containing his owl. Mr and Mrs Potter were a rather large distance ahead of them with the luggage trolleys. The adults always liked to make sure that they were at least fifteen minutes early, but today they were a record forty-five minutes early.
"Mum, why do we have to be here this early? Sirius and I could be sleeping!" whined James as they caught up at last.
Mrs Potter shook her head. "Would you rather I'd let you sleep in with the possibility of missing the train? At least this way, we'll know that even if the train leaves early, you will be on it."
James sighed. "Mum, the train never leaves early."
"Can you guarantee that?"
James shut up then, and the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 came into view. James and Sirius waited til the adults had gone through before following casually. It never failed to amaze Sirius that Muggles could be so daft as not to even notice that people were falling through a solid wall right in front of their eyes.
Mr and Mrs Potter went to load the luggage onto the train while Sirius and James went to check out who was already on board. Unfortunately, no one of interest to them was yet seated, but as they walked towards the exit, James elbowed Sirius wildly.
"Oh, shit James, that really hurt!" Sirius moaned. James ignored him.
"Look! It's Lily. She's here early too!" Sure enough, a beautiful redhead was carrying a large bag of books and walking alone in their direction. Her hair flowed out behind her in a shining, smooth cascade and even from a distance her vivid green eyes were bright and visible.
James fumbled in his pockets for his Head Boy badge and fastened it to his robes. Running his fingers through his hair, he messed up his black locks and loosened his robes so he'd look more casual.
Lily entered by the door they were standing near and James immediately leaned back against the wall. He nodded nonchalantly as she passed.
"Nice to see you, Evans."
Lily stopped and turned to James with the most withering glare Sirius had ever seen. James, however, seemed unperturbed by this; rather, he looked almost delighted that she hadn't just ignored him.
"Well, aren't you even going to say hello?" Sirius asked with a little grin. She moved her glance to him and he immediately wished he'd kept his mouth shut; he knew Lily could be very, very brutal when she was angry.
However, she offered nothing in the way of insults and simply ignored them as she moved towards the Head carriage.
James thrust a fist in the air. "Yes!"
Sirius raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. "Okay, James, most people would be slightly less than thrilled to have the girl they like glare and ignore them. Then, I suppose, you aren't like normal people are you?"
James ignored this last comment and clutched Sirius's arm in glee. "She's Head Girl. I share a compartment with her on the train, and I share a common room with her at Hogwarts!" He jumped up and down excitedly.
Sirius shook his head and wrenched his arm out of James's excited grasp. "Ugh, James, please."
Remus and Peter had arrived in the time James was attempting to flirt with Lily, and the pair walked jauntily towards their friends.
"Well, aren't you here early?" Peter teased. It was well known in their group that the Potters ensured their son was always on time, if not early, to every event they could.
James glared. "Shut up."
Sirius smirked. "He just got ignored by Lily again."
Remus frowned. "What, no insults? Just – well – nothing?"
Sirius nodded. James considered this for a moment and then shook his head. "Not really nothing, she did stop for a moment."
Sirius snorted. "Yeah, so she could throw the killer glare at the two of us. Although, she did glare at you for longer than me, so I've nothing to worry about."
James grinned happily. "But she can't escape as easily this term, she's Head Girl!"
Remus cocked his head. "Does it mean that now you're Head Boy, you won't be sharing our dormitory?"
James shook his head. "Nah, I'll still sleep there. I just get to share a special common room with the Head Girl." He waved his brows suggestively.
The others gave a collective sigh and moved onto the train, hoping to deter James from any more 'Lily' talk.
Unfortunately for them, Lily was in the Head carriage when they boarded. Remus and Sirius shared a grin: this would be amusing. It was clear that Lily did not yet know she would be sharing duties with James.
"Well, going to find it harder to get away from James this term, aren't you, Lily?" Sirius said, thinking he might as well break the news to her as quickly as possible.
Lily looked up from her book with a sour expression. "And why is that? I think I am perfectly capable of avoiding the lot of you, actually."
James thrust his chest out further, and Lily's emerald eyes took in the shiny badge that was fastened to his robes.
She looked at Remus wildly. "Wait.........are you telling me that you're not – that he's – Head Boy?"
Remus couldn't hide his amusement as he nodded. Her eyes widened and she went pale.
"Oh lord. I have to share a common room with – with – you?" she asked James. He nodded happily.
"Oh holy crap."
James winked at her. "You never know, you may find that after spending quality time with me, I'm not so bad."
She glared at him again. "I'd rather spend time with Severus Snape."
Sirius sucked in breath. Ouch. That was harsh.
James was undeterred. "Come on, Lily, every Head Boy and Girl before us has ended up in a romantic relationship, you wouldn't break tradition now, would you?"
She swept her hair out of her face and glowered. "I think this is one ritual that was destined to be broken."
She exited the compartment, slamming the sliding door as best she could. The boys took the seats she and her books had previously occupied.
Remus looked after her thoughtfully. "I don't think that went too badly, all things considered."
Peter agreed. "Yeah, you never know, she might actually succumb to the Potter charm this year."
Sirius groaned. "Oh, please, don't start him off. He'll never shut up now."
The rest of the trip was rather enjoyable; there was no more talk of Lily but a rather long discussion of the holidays.
"Moony, what do you do on the full moon when you don't have the Shrieking Shack?" Peter asked. There'd been a full moon in August.
Remus smiled sadly. "I am locked in the basement."
James frowned. "You have a basement? I thought those things only existed in America."
Remus shook his head. "No, they exist in Europe too. I transform and when I am back to normal, I am let out."
"Don't you chew down the door?"
Remus looked at Peter. "No, the door is metal. It's a bit difficult. There aren't any windows either, so it's a very dark place to be."
"Wouldn't your neighbours totally freak out at the fact that there is a werewolf howling in the basement of your house?" James furrowed his brow.
"Well, not really. We live in a pretty secluded part of town. Our house is a five minute drive from our next door neighbour, and we're right next to a forest thing, so the people assume that the howling comes from the woods, not from the house next to the woods."
Sirius looked down at his hands. Remus's transformations out of school were always a bit of a sore topic where he was concerned. He hated the thought that Remus would be all by himself during these painful nights without anyone or anything to distract him from the injury that becoming a werewolf can bring.
Remus looked up with an effort and changed the subject swiftly to Peter's trip to Australia. Peter's parents were fond of travel, so they often went to exotic and not-so-exotic locations for holidays.
Later, as the group was eating their way through what was likely to be half the snack trolley, they received the message that they'd be reaching Hogwarts in the next ten minutes; so changing would be a good idea.
The four boys got out their robes and changed out of their sweaters and into the light material. As Remus removed his jumper, part of his shirt came up too, and Sirius could see the unhealed gashes that decorated his skin in a painful looking pattern. Remus quickly jerked the shirt back down and looked to Sirius. Sirius looked back without even a trace of a smile. He silently inclined the now covered skin and raised his eyebrow to his friend. Remus simply shrugged lightly and smiled, brushing it off as though it didn't matter. But Sirius could tell it wasn't that easily gone from his mind. He'd noticed several moments during the train ride where Remus would wince and place his hand to his back where the cuts were. Even though he knew Remus would never complain about it, he could still tell his friend was not happy.
This thought was somewhat dispelled from his mind as train slowed to a stop. Lily's voice could be heard outside as she directed the first years, and James quickly left to go join her.
Peter and Remus walked out of the carriage together, and Sirius followed, a few paces behind. He watched Remus as he walked and as Remus laughed at something Peter said, Sirius couldn't help but smile. There was nothing he liked more than to see Remus happy.
A/N: Gaaaaah! That didn't turn out the way I planned either! Remus's character has still not perfectly formed, but it will! In the next few chapters, he will start to develop further and further. There will probably be a lot more of him in the next chapter; I'll see what I can do.
Thank you so much to my lovely, beautiful reviewers. I love you all so incredibly much.
Silver sunn 101 – awwww, thank you! I love your fanfiction as well! I'm trying really hard to get Remus together, im just not doing well :P
JWGrey – thanks! I read some of your fanfictions as well, they're pretty awesome!
Lunaris – Isn't he just? I think he is one of the greatest characters in the books.
Ickle Ronnie – thanks! Here's an update just for you :P
Nya – puppy dog eyes always work on me! :P thanks, they're not all developed yet, but they will be!
Affected MangO – You've met him....but not as much as you probably should! Sorri! Ill try to get more of him for you!
Terrylove – don't be embarrassed, we're all addicts who have nothing better to do! :P Sirius/remus are a fantastic couple, aren't they? Love them! Thanks heaps for your review!
Author: Stardrops
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG 13 (For slash and occasional swearing, precautions only)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter. I do, however, own the plot. I am very proud. But the rest belongs to our creative genius, J K Rowling.
Chapter Three: Aboard The Hogwarts Express
The station was packed full of Muggles, as it normally was on September 1st. Sirius looked with interest at the Muggle boys lining up in their smart uniforms, ready to go to their private schools. They were wearing grey blazers and trousers with blue and yellow ties and white shirts. Sirius snickered, it all looked immensely uncomfortable and he was glad once again that he could wear jeans and a shirt beneath his light Hogwarts robes.
James was walking beside him, holding the cage containing his owl. Mr and Mrs Potter were a rather large distance ahead of them with the luggage trolleys. The adults always liked to make sure that they were at least fifteen minutes early, but today they were a record forty-five minutes early.
"Mum, why do we have to be here this early? Sirius and I could be sleeping!" whined James as they caught up at last.
Mrs Potter shook her head. "Would you rather I'd let you sleep in with the possibility of missing the train? At least this way, we'll know that even if the train leaves early, you will be on it."
James sighed. "Mum, the train never leaves early."
"Can you guarantee that?"
James shut up then, and the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 came into view. James and Sirius waited til the adults had gone through before following casually. It never failed to amaze Sirius that Muggles could be so daft as not to even notice that people were falling through a solid wall right in front of their eyes.
Mr and Mrs Potter went to load the luggage onto the train while Sirius and James went to check out who was already on board. Unfortunately, no one of interest to them was yet seated, but as they walked towards the exit, James elbowed Sirius wildly.
"Oh, shit James, that really hurt!" Sirius moaned. James ignored him.
"Look! It's Lily. She's here early too!" Sure enough, a beautiful redhead was carrying a large bag of books and walking alone in their direction. Her hair flowed out behind her in a shining, smooth cascade and even from a distance her vivid green eyes were bright and visible.
James fumbled in his pockets for his Head Boy badge and fastened it to his robes. Running his fingers through his hair, he messed up his black locks and loosened his robes so he'd look more casual.
Lily entered by the door they were standing near and James immediately leaned back against the wall. He nodded nonchalantly as she passed.
"Nice to see you, Evans."
Lily stopped and turned to James with the most withering glare Sirius had ever seen. James, however, seemed unperturbed by this; rather, he looked almost delighted that she hadn't just ignored him.
"Well, aren't you even going to say hello?" Sirius asked with a little grin. She moved her glance to him and he immediately wished he'd kept his mouth shut; he knew Lily could be very, very brutal when she was angry.
However, she offered nothing in the way of insults and simply ignored them as she moved towards the Head carriage.
James thrust a fist in the air. "Yes!"
Sirius raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. "Okay, James, most people would be slightly less than thrilled to have the girl they like glare and ignore them. Then, I suppose, you aren't like normal people are you?"
James ignored this last comment and clutched Sirius's arm in glee. "She's Head Girl. I share a compartment with her on the train, and I share a common room with her at Hogwarts!" He jumped up and down excitedly.
Sirius shook his head and wrenched his arm out of James's excited grasp. "Ugh, James, please."
Remus and Peter had arrived in the time James was attempting to flirt with Lily, and the pair walked jauntily towards their friends.
"Well, aren't you here early?" Peter teased. It was well known in their group that the Potters ensured their son was always on time, if not early, to every event they could.
James glared. "Shut up."
Sirius smirked. "He just got ignored by Lily again."
Remus frowned. "What, no insults? Just – well – nothing?"
Sirius nodded. James considered this for a moment and then shook his head. "Not really nothing, she did stop for a moment."
Sirius snorted. "Yeah, so she could throw the killer glare at the two of us. Although, she did glare at you for longer than me, so I've nothing to worry about."
James grinned happily. "But she can't escape as easily this term, she's Head Girl!"
Remus cocked his head. "Does it mean that now you're Head Boy, you won't be sharing our dormitory?"
James shook his head. "Nah, I'll still sleep there. I just get to share a special common room with the Head Girl." He waved his brows suggestively.
The others gave a collective sigh and moved onto the train, hoping to deter James from any more 'Lily' talk.
Unfortunately for them, Lily was in the Head carriage when they boarded. Remus and Sirius shared a grin: this would be amusing. It was clear that Lily did not yet know she would be sharing duties with James.
"Well, going to find it harder to get away from James this term, aren't you, Lily?" Sirius said, thinking he might as well break the news to her as quickly as possible.
Lily looked up from her book with a sour expression. "And why is that? I think I am perfectly capable of avoiding the lot of you, actually."
James thrust his chest out further, and Lily's emerald eyes took in the shiny badge that was fastened to his robes.
She looked at Remus wildly. "Wait.........are you telling me that you're not – that he's – Head Boy?"
Remus couldn't hide his amusement as he nodded. Her eyes widened and she went pale.
"Oh lord. I have to share a common room with – with – you?" she asked James. He nodded happily.
"Oh holy crap."
James winked at her. "You never know, you may find that after spending quality time with me, I'm not so bad."
She glared at him again. "I'd rather spend time with Severus Snape."
Sirius sucked in breath. Ouch. That was harsh.
James was undeterred. "Come on, Lily, every Head Boy and Girl before us has ended up in a romantic relationship, you wouldn't break tradition now, would you?"
She swept her hair out of her face and glowered. "I think this is one ritual that was destined to be broken."
She exited the compartment, slamming the sliding door as best she could. The boys took the seats she and her books had previously occupied.
Remus looked after her thoughtfully. "I don't think that went too badly, all things considered."
Peter agreed. "Yeah, you never know, she might actually succumb to the Potter charm this year."
Sirius groaned. "Oh, please, don't start him off. He'll never shut up now."
The rest of the trip was rather enjoyable; there was no more talk of Lily but a rather long discussion of the holidays.
"Moony, what do you do on the full moon when you don't have the Shrieking Shack?" Peter asked. There'd been a full moon in August.
Remus smiled sadly. "I am locked in the basement."
James frowned. "You have a basement? I thought those things only existed in America."
Remus shook his head. "No, they exist in Europe too. I transform and when I am back to normal, I am let out."
"Don't you chew down the door?"
Remus looked at Peter. "No, the door is metal. It's a bit difficult. There aren't any windows either, so it's a very dark place to be."
"Wouldn't your neighbours totally freak out at the fact that there is a werewolf howling in the basement of your house?" James furrowed his brow.
"Well, not really. We live in a pretty secluded part of town. Our house is a five minute drive from our next door neighbour, and we're right next to a forest thing, so the people assume that the howling comes from the woods, not from the house next to the woods."
Sirius looked down at his hands. Remus's transformations out of school were always a bit of a sore topic where he was concerned. He hated the thought that Remus would be all by himself during these painful nights without anyone or anything to distract him from the injury that becoming a werewolf can bring.
Remus looked up with an effort and changed the subject swiftly to Peter's trip to Australia. Peter's parents were fond of travel, so they often went to exotic and not-so-exotic locations for holidays.
Later, as the group was eating their way through what was likely to be half the snack trolley, they received the message that they'd be reaching Hogwarts in the next ten minutes; so changing would be a good idea.
The four boys got out their robes and changed out of their sweaters and into the light material. As Remus removed his jumper, part of his shirt came up too, and Sirius could see the unhealed gashes that decorated his skin in a painful looking pattern. Remus quickly jerked the shirt back down and looked to Sirius. Sirius looked back without even a trace of a smile. He silently inclined the now covered skin and raised his eyebrow to his friend. Remus simply shrugged lightly and smiled, brushing it off as though it didn't matter. But Sirius could tell it wasn't that easily gone from his mind. He'd noticed several moments during the train ride where Remus would wince and place his hand to his back where the cuts were. Even though he knew Remus would never complain about it, he could still tell his friend was not happy.
This thought was somewhat dispelled from his mind as train slowed to a stop. Lily's voice could be heard outside as she directed the first years, and James quickly left to go join her.
Peter and Remus walked out of the carriage together, and Sirius followed, a few paces behind. He watched Remus as he walked and as Remus laughed at something Peter said, Sirius couldn't help but smile. There was nothing he liked more than to see Remus happy.
A/N: Gaaaaah! That didn't turn out the way I planned either! Remus's character has still not perfectly formed, but it will! In the next few chapters, he will start to develop further and further. There will probably be a lot more of him in the next chapter; I'll see what I can do.
Thank you so much to my lovely, beautiful reviewers. I love you all so incredibly much.
Silver sunn 101 – awwww, thank you! I love your fanfiction as well! I'm trying really hard to get Remus together, im just not doing well :P
JWGrey – thanks! I read some of your fanfictions as well, they're pretty awesome!
Lunaris – Isn't he just? I think he is one of the greatest characters in the books.
Ickle Ronnie – thanks! Here's an update just for you :P
Nya – puppy dog eyes always work on me! :P thanks, they're not all developed yet, but they will be!
Affected MangO – You've met him....but not as much as you probably should! Sorri! Ill try to get more of him for you!
Terrylove – don't be embarrassed, we're all addicts who have nothing better to do! :P Sirius/remus are a fantastic couple, aren't they? Love them! Thanks heaps for your review!