Three days isn't too long when you first think about it. About half a week. 72 hours. Not so long. But when you're waiting for something to come, it seems to be forever. That was how Sirius felt, waiting for the time to talk with James. The boy seemed to have really taken him seriously as far as thinking about it went. He wasn't spending even a fourth of his usual time causing mayhem (much to McGonnigal{sp.}'s joy). Finally, the wait was up. There was a note in Sirius's binder on the morning of the third day. 'Padfoot; we seriously need to talk. You know what about. Meet me in Cin's classroom. She knows we'll be there. Prongs.' Sirius shivered out of fear and pleasure. James's word would decide it all. That night, Sirius crept down the halls that would get him to the potions room, making sure to avoid Pringle.

He cracked the door open once he got there. James was curled up on Cin's desk with his cloak pulled around him. "Jamie?" James whipped his head around. "Hey, Siri." Sirius sat down next to his friend and they looked into each other's eyes. "Have you decided?" Sirius asked. James nodded but didn't say anything. Sirius took James's hands in his own. "And?" James looked down and smiled sadly. "I do. I truly do. I love you, Siri." James's eyes didn't leave his lap. Sirius placed one hand on James face and stroked his cheek with his thumb. "Why so down, Jamie?" "It's just...I'm scared." "What of?" "You. Me. Us." "What scares you?" "Snape's hair?" "Jim, I said scares you, not traumatizes you." They both laughed. "I guess I'm just afraid of being hurt again. And think how much it will hurt. If anything goes wrong, I could loose my best friend."

Sirius placed a feather-light kiss on James's lips. "Nothing will go wrong. I'd bet you that right now if I wasn't so short on cash." "A kiss would suffice." James sounded almost hopeful. "Ah now, Jim. You don't have to win a bet to get one of those." "Good." "After all, I'm sure Moony would be willing to try." "Not even funny." Sirius pulled James into his lap. "What do I have to do to make you laugh?" "Dunno'. Too tiered to care." "Then let's go back up to Gryfendor Tower." James moved closer to Sirius and latched onto his shirt. "Too tiered. Carry me?" James pulled the super pouty face. "Nuh-uh. Nope. No way, I...No. No, Jamie not the lip. Not the lip. Oh no. No way. Nuh-uh. No. Don't do the eyes. Don't do the eyes. Okay, okay, all right, all right, okay! I'll do it already. Yeash."

"Thank you." Sirius really didn't mind carrying James. Beater mussels and James's small size made him easy to carry. He just didn't want anyone to see them. 'Ah-ha! The cloak!' Sirius picked up the light, flowing material and placed it over them. After making sure that it covered both of them, fully, he cracked the door open and stepped out into the hall. 'This would be easier if we had the map, but no. We had to let Wormtail use it. Little rat.' He almost chuckled out loud at the little joke he'd made. Even if it wasn't all that funny. He made it about halfway back to the tower okay when he heard voices. Ones that he recognized.

"But Severus, really. What is it to you if I sat with them today?" "Need I remind you, Lucius, that you are a Slytherin. *We* do not hang around with Gryfendor scum." "Right, and your little bitch, Evens, is a Hufflepuff." The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed down the hall. "Shut up, Malfoy. You have already brought enough shame upon our house; letting that little slut, Lupin, get the best of you." Now, Sirius was seeing red. No one talked about a marauder like that. He was about to set James down when he heard Lucius hiss, "Don't you dare call him that again. After all, he isn't you." "Just because I insulted your fuck-toy is no reason to get all hostile." "Oh, I'll show you 'hostile', fag-bait." "If it's anything like the 'show' you give Lupin, then just give me a time and place."

Snape stormed down the hall, barely missing Sirius and James. Sirius crept up beside Lucius. "You okay?" Lucius didn't seem all that surprised to hear him. "Yeah. He didn't get me very hard. I doubt it'll even bruise." Sirius could easily tell how fake the words sounded. "Will you be okay to go back to your common room?" "Why wouldn't I be?" "Well, if Slimeball's feelings are anything like those of the rest of your house, you might be in big trouble." "Puh-lease. Snape couldn't convince someone the sky is blue, let alone that I'm a 'traitor'. And if anyone does believe him, my surname will be plenty 'nough to keep me safe." Sirius sighed.

"You know, Lucius, one day your name won't be able to save you. And I'm gonna' laugh my ass off when it can't." "Yeah right. The day my hierarchy won't protect me is the day I get the Dark Mark." (Notice the foreshadowing.) "You got Potter with you?" "Yeah. He fell asleep in the...nevermind." Lucius gave him the 'look'. "Mm-hmm. Sure." "Ah, go jack off." "Well, now that you mention it." The boys smiled at each other. "Well, I better get Jim to bed." "Yeah, Crabbe and Goyle will probably be waiting for me." "Wanna' sit with us in class tomorrow?" "Sure." "'Kay. See ya'." "G'night."