The next few chapters will be late, I'm afraid; at the end of March my laptop crashed completely (I cried when the old battlehorse broke!), then I moved to South Africa, so this is being re-written in skanky internet cafes, which is taking longer than I'd like! I'm so annoyed, I had the last 3 chapters perfect on my laptop, somehow this doesn't seem as good :(
*CRACK*
"Tell you what, mate, all that extra weights work Kornbull has you doing is really paying o-" James started, rubbing his jaw lightly as he stared at an enraged Sirius across the Astronomy tower.
*CRUNCH*
"-hit the bludger that hard, and we're sure to win the league." James continued as his left eye swelled, a small trickle of blood seeping from his temple. Sirius snarled, fists balled and eyes cold. In one swift mood, Sirius dove forward, knocking the wind out of James and throwing them both to the floor.
"Shut the hell up, you dirty bastard." Sirius hissed, jumping to his feet and leering over James. "I don't want to hear it."
"Oh, trust me." James sighed, rolling up onto his elbows and wiping the blood from his cheek with a mildly annoyed glance. "You most definitely do."
"What could you possibly have to say that I would want to hear?" Sirius declared tiredly, the raw energy seeping away from him as anger turned to grief, looking down at his friend with sad, disappointed eyes. "You knew, you knew I liked Moony." He stated, lowering himself onto the window ledge.
"Of course I know, I'm you're best friend, I have to know stuff like that. The question is, how was Moony meant to know?" James replied, looking at his hunched friend. "When did you ever tell Moony that he was anything other than another Marauder to you?"
"That doesn't matter now, does it?" Sirius retorted, leaning back to look at the sky. "You know, I didn't expect it to be you that would steal him away from me. Anyone but you, Prongs. Always thought you were too wound up about Evans to see anything else. I always thought it would be a woman, a stupidly curvy, annoyingly intelligent cow who I could hate unashamedly. Then Moony comes and tells me he's gay, and I think, hey, maybe, just maybe, he feels… I don't know, something! Something for me, Prongs, for me." Sirius glared at James again, the anger returning. "Then you show up, you and your stupid hair and your bloody hero complex and it's just all so easy for you, Mr Perfectly Adjusted!"
"Will you listen to yourself?" James explained, approaching Sirius. "When has Moony ever shown any interest in me? It's always been you, you loon! Always!" James exclaimed back, finally pushing himself to his feet. "When you 'caught us', he was lamenting about how you'd never like him! And what, do you think I'd just give up on Lily, the love of my entire bleeding life, for a quick fling with Remus?"
"If you had any taste you would." Sirius smiled slightly, releasing some of the tension in the room.
"I'll let that one slide." James grinned, looking at Sirius expectantly. "Do you remember a week or two ago, I asked you if you were in love, and you said 'ask me in a week or two'? I'm asking now, Sirius."
Sirius inhaled slowly, closing his eyes and dropping his head. Looking up briefly, he opened his mouth, yet for a moment no words came out. "Do I even need to say it?"
"Not to me." James conceded, crossing his arms. "However, there is currently a 17 year old werewolf moping through Hogwarts, thoroughly convinced that you hate him, and that he's only fit for the romantic company of Snivelly, that could use with hearing it."
"Snivelly?"
"Yep. Last time I spoke to him, he was threatening to ask the weasel out, so you best go dig him out of his misery."
"Most definitely." Sirius turned to go, pausing at the last minute to look at James once more. "Sorry about, well…" Sirius waved his hand towards James' face, smiling sheepishly. "Don't know my own strength."
"No bother." James shrugged nonchalantly, looking Sirius in the eyes. "Now, I believe you have some business to attend to." James grinned. Sirius' grin matched that of his brother in all but blood as he reached up, gripping James tightly on the shoulder and squeezing tightly. Letting go, Sirius span, running out of the tower towards the man he couldn't stop thinking about.
James smiled fondly as he watched Sirius' retreating back, knowing his friend was going to make amends and declare his love for their wolfy amigo, at which point they'd embrace and…
"Oh bollocks." James huffed, eyes widening in realisation, before sprinting off in chase after his friend.
Sirius tore through the Hogwarts building, hoping that his feet would lead him in the right direction. Jumping across gaps in the stairs and throwing himself around corners, he sprinted through the charms corridor, only slowing when he spotted a slightly greasy teen lurking at the side. "Oi, Snivelly!"
Snape glanced tiredly at the approaching teen, sighing as he turned back to the noticeboard which had captured his attention. "Can I not have ten minutes of peace, Black?"
"Stay away from Remus." Sirius stated, pointing a stern finger towards the Slitherin.
"I have no inclination to approach that beast." Severus snarled, upper lip curling in distaste as he regarded Sirius.
"You say that now, but if he approaches you all wanton and whatnot…" Sirius muttered as Snape looked on bewilderedly. "Well no funny business! None at all, you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." Snape drawled. "If only you were saying something comprehensible, this conversation might actually be worth having."
"Whatever, just go to the Slitherin common room or something, he can't get to you there…" Sirius muttered.
"Gladly." Severus stated as Sirius ran off. Snape watched Sirius leave with confusion, incapable of understanding his lack of bodily injuries or extra extremities, before his eyes closed in frustration as he heard approaching footsteps. "You know what they say, can't have one marauder without another on its tail…" He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly. Unwilling to put up with the second of hell's devils, Severus slipped into a storage room, waiting for whichever marauder it was to pass, when an all too familiar voice broke through the silence.
"Potter!"
James sprinted down the Hogwarts corridors, twisting and turning through the narrow aisles in search of Sirius. Spinning rapidly round a blind bend, it took all his quidditch agility to avoid the figure on the other side, though even he couldn't evade the slim, freckled hand that shot out to grab his arm.
"Potter!" Lily hissed, starting slightly as she saw the state James' face was in. "What in heaven's name happened to you?" James frowned for a moment, before touching his face in realisation.
"Oh, nothing much..." He stated, smiling appreciatively as Lily healed the worst of the injury. "Lily, as much of a pleasure as it is to bask in your company, I'm afraid I really must dash –"
"Oh no you don't!" Lily screeched, tightening her grip on his arm. "No, you are going to listen, and you are going to listen good, mister." Lily huffed, pulling him back so she stood between him and his intended escape route. "We're going to have a little chat."
James froze, his gaze finally leaving the path ahead of him and hitting Lily. If the annoyed glare on her face was anything to go by, nothing good could come of this. Oh bollocks.
Sirius tore through the entrance hall, through the grounds and down the tunnel to the Shack before he even knew where he was going. He approached the opening to the Shack slowly, desperately hoping his feet had led him to his desired target, to Remus.
Sliding the door open and shuffling in, Sirius spotted Remus' bag, discarded on the old leather recliner. He stood silently for a moment, waiting for an indication of Remus' location, before a light creak upstairs gave Remus away.
Climbing the creaky old stairs with intent, Sirius knew Remus would hear his approach, would have time to try and escape if he so wished, but Sirius didn't care. He wasn't about to slow down now. Running to the door that lead to the old, master bedroom, Sirius yanked it open. An expectant Remus sat on the bed, charms books scattered across the threadbare duvet and parchment in his lap. He looked at Sirius curiously, a guarded expression covering his face, and Sirius found himself speechless. Soon enough, the first words to come to his mind slipped through his lips.
"I'm an idiot?"
"Lily, please –" James started, before Lily shot a swift silencing spell at him. Sighing silently, James lent against a storage door for comfort, and stared at Lily expectantly.
"For the last few weeks, Potter, you have been acting like a complete imbecile." Lily started, crossing her arms across her chest. "More than usual, even; forcing me onto a broom, embarrassing me in front of the entire student body, and kidnapping me. You are one of the foulest, most idiotic human beings I've ever had the misfortune of meeting? And do you know what makes it worse?" James shrugged, eyebrows raised. Lily huffed, throwing her arms aloft in annoyance and pacing quickly. "The fact that when you're not doing something unbelievably stupid, you're saying something uncharacteristically nice! You can't do this to me, James!"
James watched Lily with wide eyes, her frantic pacing pausing for a moment as she glanced over at him angrily. "Do what?" James mouthed.
Lily closed her eyes for a moment, pursing her lips tightly as she opened them. "Make me want to give you a chance."
"I'm an idiot?"
"Is that a question…?" Remus asked, putting his charms text book aside and frowning slightly. "Sirius, about before…"
"James already explained." Sirius interrupted, pushing off from the door frame and heading into the room. "And I am an idiot. No question about it." He repeated, approaching the bed slowly. "A proper, certified idiot."
"Can't argue with that, I suppose." Remus conceded, watching with wary eyes as Sirius sat on the bed cautiously. "So, exactly how much did James explain to you?"
Sirius squeezed his eyes shut for a second, willing himself to have that usual cocky confidence. Opening his eyes, he stared at the freckle just below Remus' left eye. "Enough." He squeezed the word out, shifting to look at Remus' large wide eyes for just one second.
Remus' breathing hitched, hands shaking as he looked at Sirius. "Look, I understand if you don't feel –"And just like that, the calming drum of Remus' voice brought Sirius to life, pouncing across the creaky bed and pushing Remus into the sparse pillows.
"Shut up." Sirius stated, leaning heavily on Remus as their faces lay inches apart, breath mingling. "You don't have a clue how I feel, and that's my own fault." Sirius whispered, bringing his hands to thread through the tawny ash hair below him. "I should have told you."
"I didn't exactly tell you either." Remus reminded Sirius gently as he frowned, wrapping his arms around Sirius' form and squeezing experimentally. Sirius grinned, realising his excitement at the position they found themselves in was all too evident. Remus, surprisingly, took control for a moment, leaning upwards to trail desperate lips along Sirius' jawbone. Sirius pulled away, grinning as Remus whined quietly.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this." Sirius smiled, lowering himself down with intent.
"Lily…" James mouthed, watching her resume her pacing. She ignored his silent call, huffing back and forth frantically before a strong grip on her arm froze her feet.
"Must you be so insufferably nice?" Lily asked, waving James away as he attempted to answer. "Seriously; sincere apologies, caring for your friends, being able to hold a serious conversation; you're meant to be the bad guy, you're meant to give me reasons to hate you." James opened his mouth once more, but a stern glare swiftly rendered him motionless.
Lily stepped forward, a near frozen James watching as she approached "Remus once asked me to give you one shot. One chance to prove that you're not a complete arse. You better thank him profusely because this is the only chance you're ever going to get."
Lily took his face in her palms, completely in control as she pressed their foreheads together tightly. "I have no idea what I'm letting myself in for, but it sure as hell better be fun, Potter."
And so, in completely different parts of the Hogwarts grounds, four sets of lips met in their pairs, the passion and desperation of years of desire evident in both furious embraces.
I'll try and have the next one up in 2 weeks (response dependent, of course, if you lot think this is shit then I may need to rewrite what I have of the next chap!)