Chapter 5

"So, how did it go? You haven't told us anything yet," Sirius hissed at James.

"How did what go? You've never told me what you meant," James returned.

"You know what I meant. Lily, Head Girl; you, Head Boy—do you want me to draw you a diagram?"

"Of what? Our meeting on the train? Her pursing her lips when she saw I was Head Boy and not Remus? Trust me, mate, this was not one of my shining moments."

"So what's the game plan?"

James covered his face with his arm. "there is no game plan. I have no plan and I'm not going to come up with one either."

"So you've given up?" Sirius asked him then quickly went on. "Good. This way you'll have more time to help with the motorcycle."

"No!" Sirius perked his head up and James backtracked. "I mean, I don't mind helping you with the motorbike but I haven't given up. Maybe I'll just let her set the pace—no pressure, no rush."

"And there's no harm in the fact that you get to spend a few nights every week strolling around the castle." Even in the dark, Sirius could see James' grin.

"No, there's no harm in that at all."

"I didn't think there was. When shall I ask her to go on a date with you?"

"You won't." His response was firm and Sirius felt his smile slide off his face. "This is our last year at Hogwarts. My last opportunity to make an impression that could lead to any sort of interaction later in life that won't be construed as stalking."

"Why don't you just ask some other girl out, then? I'm sure there are loads who would love to go out with the Head Boy." Sirius felt a mischevious spark run through him. "I bet there are some Slytherin girls you could meet up with."

"Ugh—thank you, Sirius. You've put me completely off my feed."

"Sorry. I thought you wanted to treat Slytherins more as equals."

"You're remembering wrong. What I said was that Slytherins are also humans and," he slowed his speech to enunciate every word clearly, "it might be wise to treat one of them with a certain amount of deference."

Sirius sneered. "Snivellous and deference are not words I often hear in the same sentence."

"Sirius, you know Dumbledore is the only reason Snape hasn't told the whole school already."

"That and the fact he likes having something to hold over our heads," Sirius said disgustedly. "The best thing that could happen is at this point would be his complete elimination."

"Sirius, that's not funny."

"Oh, come on now. Admit it: He—is—a—threat." Sirius jabbed his finger in the air with each word. "As long as he's around, there is a chance—a strong one, mind you,--that he will blab Remus' secret and very possibly yours."

"Mine?" James' voice was confused.

"Well, all of ours."

"We don't know for sure how much he saw that night," James said irritably. "So what would you have done? A few drops of Veritaserum in his pumpkin juice and then we interrogate him in the common room before obliviating his memory?"

"The Veritaserum and oblivating parts don't sound too bad but there's no way in my parents' house I'd let him in the Gryffindor common room."

"Sirius, really now. Could you just let go of your dislike for Snivel—Snape for one second and think about the fact that you OWE Remus this? If you can't then—then maybe you are in the wrong house." He finished quietly, as though this might soften his harsh words but Sirius heard each and every one of them. For a moment neither of them said anything. Then, as calmly as he could manage, Sirius responded, "All right. I will try—try—to be nice; no, no I take that back. I will be as—no, that's not it either. Civil, that's it. I will be as civil towards Snivellous as I possibly can. Is that good enough, Prongs?"

"Well," James relented, "it'll do. I can't very well ask you to sell you soul, can I?" They sniggered. "Just be as polite to him in front of Remus as you can. He gets really nervous around you cause he's not sure what you're going to do next."

"Are any of us?" Sirius joked. "Look, I told you this before: I didn't think he'd go down that far into the tunnel. Slytherins aren't known for their bravery."

"I know that, Padfoot. But I don't think Moony knows that so you better try to get it across. I swear, sometimes the tension between you two gets so thick, I could transfigure it."

Sirius snorted. "This is the new and improved, modest James Potter?"

"Hah. I wish. Good night, Padfoot."

"G'night, Prongs."