Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.
A/N: Hello! Soooo sorry that it took a long time to update! I'm not going to have an update day for this story like my past ones. I'll probably post a chapter every two weeks, at the latest. Anyways, thank you, thank you, thank you to Marauders Chick, meenyrocks, zippyfox, M. Mabeuf, PeshewaCoralie, MoOnbeam, Hikaze Chimizu, The Mock Turtle, Unforgettable, Vertically Challanged Poncho, Resisting Arrest, Kathi and ElizabethChrystal for the AWESOME reveiws! Also, thanks to those who just read! Love for everyone, lol!
Ok, this chapter is somewhat like a filler. The crazy, funny parts will be coming next. I promise! So, bear with me, and Enjoy:D
Everything was blurred and liquid. Objects swayed; their colors and edges colliding with their neighbors. Everything seemed ethereal and dream like. Oh and how Remus hoped that this was all a dream.
He looked down at the crinkled parchment in his fist.
Damn.
Judging by the slight bit of sun light that managed to strike him directly in the pupil, and the slowly dying snores coming from Peter's bed, Remus suspected that morning was here. It was the last day of the school year, which gave Remus the sliver of hope that over the summer break Lily would completely forget all about her strange idea that Remus and Sirius were in love. It was absurd, really. Sirius flirted with everything moving, even if it was inanimate but happened to be in a wind gust. What made Lily think that Sirius's behavior towards Remus had more to it?
Remus sat up and rubbed his hands over his sleep printed face. The edges of James's and Lily's note, still curled into his palm, threatened to add more unwanted scratches to his skin.
He lay back down on his mattress, and held the note up into the line of sunlight. The ink sparkled through the thin paper. With a quick bolt, Remus sat himself up, propped his pillows against his headboard, and settled his back down on them. He completely unfolded the parchment, smoothing out every crease, every rip.
It was time to read this note the Remus Lupin way: with rationality. Not with panic at seeing his name, not with the excited surge of naughty snooping, not even with curiosity, but with detailed rational examining. Logic was Remus's favorite ally, and he had to be hidden somewhere in this mind boggling bizarre note.
He decided to start from the beginning. The first sentence of the note surprised him almost more than what he had read the night before. Lily started the note. Lily passed this note to James, and not the other way around. Hello, Potter was written in Lily's bold script. Remus smiled. James had been chasing after Lily Evans since the beginning of time, practically. This was defiantly a monumental achievement in the life of James Potter. Remus was selflessly delighted for his friend.
And then he read the rest of the note.
The first couple of lines were normal formalities, and somewhat boring, if anything else. About half way down he came across the part he read before; Lily's inconceivable notion that he was linked romantically to Sirius. Remus allowed himself to let out an annoyed sigh-slash-grumble before he trudged on. What Remus read next, James's response to Lily, was worthy of much more than a grumbly sigh. A thousand grumbly sighs wouldn't even begin to represent a sliver of a slice of the shock that was rippling though Remus's baby blues.
Well, what makes them happy makes me happy. I'll always accept them, and be their best friend, no matter how they choose to live their lives together.
"What?" Remus screamed in an almost audible whisper. Was James crazy? He must have been confused. He had to have been. Together? How they choose to live their lives, together? That one word could only imply one thing to its reader: That Sirius and he were together together. Together enough that one could say that they were living their lives together. Not apart. Joined, as one, side by side, living life.
Together?
Yes. That's what Remus had to do at the moment; pull it together. Remus closed his eyes. Inhale, hold, exhale. Inhale, hold, exhale. Once he felt calm enough to go on, he did.
Once again you've managed to surprise me, James! Here I've been thinking that you're nothing but an arrogant git, where actually you are human. You feel. It's nice to see the James Potter that you keep hidden. I like him. A lot. So, how long have they been together?
Oh, like, since the beginning of this year, or something. But, let's talk about what you like about me some more. Now don't make that pouty face, Evans! I was just joking.
Haha, Potter! But, they've only been together for a year? I would have thought it was much longer than that. Maybe they kept it quiet. A secret romance! Sounds like something Remus would be ok with…but, I'm sure that self-centered, attention seeking Sirius Black had a problem with it.
I can think of two other people who should follow their example. Sorry, couldn't help myself. But, yeah, Sirius and Remus have always been close, come to think of it.
I think they're cute.
Haha, do you?
Yeah! Remus and Sirius, oddly enough, seem rather perfect for each other. It's sweet.
They're the best mates I've ever had, but I think it's about time we talk about something else.
Oh, James! I think you're sweet, too. Happy?
Remus wanted to throw up here for two reasons. One: this note became so sugary and enamorus, he was sure that even Cupid would have burned it on sight. And two: Lily now is not only positive that he and Sirius are a couple, but she also thinks they're cute, and perfect, and sweet, and the sticky, hot liquid began to once again propel up his throat.
Fortunately, for James, Remus was able to determine that by James's unusually wobbly penmanship, and the occasional crossed out word, that James really had no clue what he was writing. Most likely he was blinded by love, and would say anything if it meant that Lily would continue to pass him notes. Did Remus blame James for all of this? No. Remus Lupin doesn't blame people. Remus Lupin keeps everything locked up inside him. Remus Lupin will instead tear a new, deep cut into his confused enraged werewolf body come next full moon. And dedicate it to James Potter.
"Moony! Get up!" James's chipper morning voice made Remus jump. He suddenly became aware that the tiny stream of sunlight that slipped through his bed drapes earlier had now become a pure onslaught of brightness. Remus was really in no mood to get up.
"Padfoot! Wormtail!" James continued. "Up, all of you! It is our last breakfast as sixth years. We must celebrate with orange juice and toast."
"And jelly?" Peter asked, his voice still held on to its early morning scratchy drawl.
"It wouldn't be a celebration without it, my dear rat."
Remus folded the note up and stuck it into the pocket of his pants. He curled up into his bed and closed his eyes. He wasn't ready to face the world. What if everyone thought the same thing Lily did? He didn't want to think about it. His head hurt.
"Moony?" Remus's eyes sprang open. "Moony? Are you awake?" Peter's small shadow hovered outside the drapes around Remus's bed. Yawning, Remus checked his watch, and realized that he must have fallen back to sleep since James did his imitation of an alarm clock. Remus was about to answer Peter when ten fingers popped threw his drapes, each one curling around the opening.
"Just yank his curtains apart, Pete," Sirius said. "Or are you afraid he might be starkers?" Remus stupidly checked to make sure that he was indeed fully clothed. His curtains were thrown apart, and as Sirius's eyes fell on him, he felt like he wasn't.
"Who wears his robes to bed?"
"Tough luck, Padfoot," James said, stepping in between Sirius and Peter.
"Well," Sirius said, cocking an eyebrow at Remus. He dramatically dragged his tongue over his upper lip. "I'll just have to do something about this then." Sirius jumped onto Remus's bed and leaped at his chest. Remus, despite all the still sane bones in his body, screamed like a ten year old girly girl who just saw that a monster did in fact dwell in her closet.
Sirius stopped his attack on Remus's shirt buttons, and sat back on his legs. "Settle, mate! I was just playing with you."
"Breakfast," James whined loudly, falling in between Sirius and Remus on the bed and holding his stomach.
"All right!" Sirius pushed James off the bed. "Seeing as Moony's fully dressed for Merlin knows what secret reason, I think we can go." Sirius, without any real thought or motive on his part, grabbed Remus's hand, pulling him off the bed with him.
Remus of course read an encyclopedia of things into that one small gesture.
Maybe things like that was why Lily thought he and Sirius were together? The four boys left the room and made their way to the Great hall. Peter walked ahead, constantly making sure that he stood next to James at all times. Sirius walked behind James, to make sure he didn't take any Lily influenced detours was what he cited his reason as. And Remus walked next to Sirius, not ever caring, until today, that Sirius practically walked on top of him. He was so close their hands touched. Sirius walked that close to Remus because Sirius had a rough, almost unloved childhood and he liked being close to people that actually cared for him, and, more importantly, Sirius was fond of his sarcastic comments, and was even more fond of the way that Remus listened to them, laughed and then didn't try to top them.
But, once again, Remus couldn't help but think that it was walking a little to close to each other that made Lily believe they were together.
Then something hit Remus. He looked next to him, and watched Sirius recoil with laughter at an unheard comment from James. Who cares really if Lily thought he and Sirius were an item? She was just one girl. Lily wasn't the type to spread gossip, or even listen to gossip. And she did say yesterday morning that their secret was safe with her. If it wasn't for the de-friending ceremony that would occur if James found out that Remus had and read his note, then Remus would talk to Lily, explain to her that she is very much mistaken. Instead, Remus decided that he was just going to live with it. Let Lily believe what she wanted to.
"Moony? You almost walked into that wall! You alright?" Remus shook himself out of his rambling trance, to find that he was being given the look of bewilderment from James, and being held tightly around the waist by Sirius.
"Why is Sirius hugging me?" Remus asked, staring down at Sirius's hands, which were locked together over his belly.
"Because I love you," Sirius whispered seductively, giving Remus a squeeze. Remus's eyes caught on to something bright red, billowing in an unfelt gust of drafty wind. His eyes quickly traveled down, only to be met with shiny green orbs of understanding and knowing. Lily mouthed a quick "awe" to herself, prompting Remus to tear away from Sirius's grasp.
"Let's just, ah, let's just go eat," he mumbled, trying to avoid his three friends's laughing faces; mainly because he didn't want them to see the redness his pale cheeks had just required.
He tried to put some distance between himself and Sirius, which turned out to be the hardest thing in the universe to accomplish. Sirius was laughing, but his eyes shined with worry. He decided to stick close to Remus.
As they walked into the Great Hall, Remus felt naked. Everyone's eyes were on him; everyone was curiously pointing at him in disgust or making sweet pleased faces. Snape suddenly propelled out of his seat, and stood on top of the Slytherin table. He produced a large piece of cardboard, and held it up. Remus squinted his eyes, and read the sign. "Welcome Gryffindor Poofters!" The whole Slytherin table erupted in evil laughter. Dumbledore started banging his fork against his glass. Remus froze. The blood drained from his entire body. What could this possibly be about? And why wasn't he yelling at Snape, who was now holding up another sign that had a drawing of Sirius and Remus stick figures snuggling and kissing in repeat jerky motions. "Attention students!" Dumbledore shouted. "Thanks to the brilliant Lily Evans, and her keen ability to drag things out of her stalker-er-friend Mr. Potter, it is my pleasure to introduce Hogwarts newest couple: Sirius Black and-"
"Remus?"
"Arh!" Sirius's voice made Remus scream and whip around.
"You walked past our seats, mate," Sirius laughed. Remus, his mouth still hanging open, looked back around the large hall. No one was even mistakenly glancing at him, let alone staring and pointing. Snape was in his seat, brooding over his porridge. And Dumbledore was chatting animatedly to McGonagall, there didn't seem to be any utensils within a mile radius of him. "What's the matter with you today?" Sirius continued, pulling Remus down into his seat.
"You missed my whole plan for our one last hurrah as sixth years. A little see you next time Slytherins. It's brilliant."
"It's brilliant," Peter repeated James, beaming.
"Sorry," Remus said, for lack of better excuse. He was quite relieved that he was just mental and not actually being falsely ousted by his headmaster. He needed to eat, that's what he needed. His blood sugar levels must be slipping. Remus pilled his plate high with food, much to his friends's shock. Waffles, bacon, toast, porridge; anything and everything he could grab. He was going to overload his restless mind, (he must remember to thank Lily for his mental instability later), with food.
"This is what we're going to do, Moony," James picked up. He leaned closer to the middle of the table. Peter leaned in too, eager to hear the retelling. Sirius tried to sneakily steal a piece of bacon from the second year next to him; Remus managed to take it all.
"Hi." Lily's cheery voice halted any speeches from the messy haired boy, and he whipped around to greet his lady.
"Hi, Ev…Lily. What do I owe this pleasure?"
Lily's cheeks seemed to glow instantly. Her eyes traveled to Remus and stopped. Remus was chewing quietly, keeping eye contact with Lily, and trying hard no to make it look like he wanted to leap across the table and rip her to shreds. Lily's hand sprang to her chin. She pointed at it and pretended to wipe something, and then nodded, wide eyed at Remus. Remus stopped chewing and looked puzzled around the table. James, Peter and Sirius followed Lily's eyes and looked at Remus. They immediately started laughing.
"Moony!" Sirius exclaimed….with fondness. Remus was about to push him as far away as he could, when Sirius grabbed a hold of Remus head, and began to wipe Remus's chin with the tip of his napkin; Sirius's fingers burrowed into Remus's hair, and he smiled bright with amusement.
"Remus doesn't eat much," Peter said to Lily, lighting up when she actually laughed at him.
"Is it gone Sirius?" Remus asked, through clenched teeth.
"You have a giant chin, Moony." Sirius withdrew his napkin. "There we go. Porridge free, sexy as ever." Sirius sent Remus what only could be referred to as bed room eyes, from behind his dark mask of black hair.
Lily giggled. Remus was a mixture of emotions worthy of a complicated potion. Food; more food; no more thoughts, just grease and fat.
"James," Lily said, returning everyone's attention back to why she was standing there in the first place. "I, uh, I just wanted to give you my address. So, if you need someone besides Black to talk to…someone who might actually hold an intelligent conversation-"
"Hey! That was uncalled for!"
"-then you can owl me. I won't mind. I need distractions from my nosy sister." Lily extended a shaky hand to James, a small piece of parchment was held between two elegantly long fingers. James grabbed the parchment, gurgled, and attempted what he probably thought was a dashing smile. It looked like he had indigestion. Lily didn't seem to notice, and she returned to her seat with a silent nod.
"Well, this is going to be a fun summer." Sirius threw his napkin down over his food. Folding his arms across his chest, he sank down into his chair.
"Hey, you can go back to your parents, you know! No one told you to run away and denounce them."
"You did," Sirius shouted, pointing widely at James. "If I recall you even told me to pee on the carpet, but Moony advised against it."
"I'm still confused as to why that would have been important?" Peter asked.
"It doesn't matter," James sang, making kissy faces at Lily's address. "This is going to be a great summer!"
"Let me see that." Sirius ripped the piece of paper from James's mouth. "In case you need a break from the love birds. What the hell does that mean?"
"Maybe she means my parents?"
"That's creepy," Peter said, shuddering.
Remus closed his eyes in expectancy, but then snapped his head up and looked at James with wild confusion. "Wait! You really have no idea what she means?" James shook his head. "No clue at all?"
"No, Moony." James swatted his hand at Remus; sign language for drop it all ready. He pulled the note with Lily's address slowly out of Sirius's angry fist. "But, who cares? I've got Evans's address. We should be celebrating!"
Sirius and Remus shared a look; both annoyed for two different reasons. Sirius slung his arm around Remus and dropped his head down onto his shoulder. "Expect me on your door step in three weeks. That's all I'll be able to stand of the Lily love festival." Remus laughed. He did feel bad for Sirius. "Unless I'm sent a miracle."
Remus looked over at Lily; she smiled at him and winked, before turning back to her friends. He didn't shrug Sirius off of him this time; what would be the use? Lily wouldn't notice, and if anything he would only succeed at making Sirius more upset at the world. Now with James becoming closer and closer to Lily, Sirius was going to be come more and more clingy to Remus.
This was going to be a long summer.