I'm not even kidding, this is a mess. I wrote this two weeks ago because I was in a rut, and not able to work on AER. I know it's very shitty, but yeah, it's something.

On another note, in case anyone's following AER here, I just posted the next chapter :")

Word count: 722

It was James's turn to be standing on the Astronomy Tower that evening. His normally smiling face was emotionless and his normally wild hair lay flat, which was, in itself, a miracle. It didn't feel like one, however.

Suddenly, the sound of paws thudding on marble could be heard coming up the stairs but James didn't so much as twitch. He knew who it was. He had known since the moment he decided to go up to the Astronomy Tower that he would not be alone for more than a few minutes.

It took less than a minute for a huge black dog, The Grim, to come padding in beside him. James didn't even think before he was sitting down on the cold marble floor, with his back to the wall, and leaning on the dog. He didn't even feel the cold as Padfoot radiated enough heat to keep them both toasty warm.

"I know I should've told you, but I really couldn't bring myself up to go to the Common Room," James started but a short bark from the dog caused him to stop. He looked down to see Padfoot looking up at him with an eyebrow raised. He was aware that raising eyebrows wasn't something dogs could actually do but since this was actually Sirius Black and no one could stop him from doing what he wanted in human form then it was hopeless in animal form. He sighed at the action but dutifully shut up.

Padfoot took a couple steps forward until he was half in James' lap, before pressing his head against the other boy's hand in an obvious effort to get him to pet him.

James dutifully obliged, running his hands through his silky soft fur and relishing in the mewls the simple action generated. He occasionally scratched the back of his ears, knowing how much he loved it.

After some time of complete silence, James spoke up again. "It was Lily. She saw me hexing Snivellus and without listening to any sort of explanation, just slapped me and walked away." Sirius licked his hand in support before pawing at gently to continue.

"He was bullying one of the younger Puffs, Pads. With Avery and Mulciber. They were laughing at her tears, how could I let that go? I couldn't! I know Lily was coming down that hallway for Potions but I couldn't just let them get away with that. And you know what Dumbledore would've said, 'ah they're just kids, finding their way in the world, 10 points from Slytherin.' That's not how it should work, Pads!

And then Lily saw me hexing Snivellus, it wasn't even anything painful, just an underpowered Reducto that made him fall to the ground. Of course, she decided I had to be the bad guy and without hearing anything, decided to just slap me and get it over with," James eyes' were now downcast and slightly wet.

No one other than Sirius knew how much Lily Evans and her behavior hurt James, and he couldn't help but curse her out every time he saw her because of that. James wasn't a stalker, nor was he a mindless bully. He had asked her out maybe twice, and she decided, egged on by Severus Snape of all people, that he was the Devil Incarnate.

Sirius whined slightly, nuzzling into James' hand. He gently climbed onto his lap, his front paws resting on his shoulders, making sure not to scratch him and licked James all over the face, making him smile and then laugh. Soon they fell into a wrestling match, which was slightly unfair due to the advantage Padfoot had in his Grim form over James, who was just a measly Fifth year. At least when compared to Padfoot.

Sirius couldn't do a lot more other than just being there for James and listening to him. He knew that this, playing around with Padfoot, petting him, calmed him down more than anything else and that he needed Padfoot more than Sirius right now.

So he stayed right there, with his head on his best friend's lap, hoping he would feel better soon because he couldn't bear to see him in such a state.