Chapter Six

"I read the textbook, I listen to the teacher – why can't I understand biology?" Remus moaned uncharacteristically.

It was a bright, balmy Friday night, and Remus had just received the results of his first diagnostic test. He was, needless to say, less than happy about the results.

"Sorry. I'm a maths guy. I stink at that side of science," James responded, shrugging apologetically.

"I... just stink," Peter confessed helplessly.

"You are rather pungent," said Sirius, entering from the adjoined bathroom. Remus quickly averted his gaze from his half-naked figure, while Sirius reclined gracefully on his bed. "What are we talking about?"

"Remus is about to fail bio," James recapped bluntly. "Speaking of, if you want help with that, this guy's the one to ask."

Remus chanced a glance at the barely-covered boy. "You? Really?"

"Should I be insulted?" Sirius asked, all raised eyebrows and smirking lips. Remus felt an odd sensation in his stomach – probably the extra dessert he'd had, he decided.

"I didn't mean it like that," he replied hastily. "But it just seems like you don't really pay attention..."

"Well, yeah," Sirius admitted unashamedly. "That would be why. The entire lesson is built around a concept that's made obvious from the start. How boring is that?"

James shook his head, laughing. Peter looked downright jealous.

"I think I'm the opposite," Remus mused. "The work and the problem solving I can handle, but I never really understand why I'm doing it. And that's just annoying."

"Perfect," James sniggered. "You can be study-buddies. It would be adorable."

Sirius just laughed in his bark-like way, lazily throwing a pillow at him.

But the next day, Sirius and Remus found themselves under the shade of the lakeside tree, studiously committed to their task. Or at least, Remus was.

"This," Sirius drawled, "is boring."

"Really?" asked Remus, somewhat riled. "I never would have guessed from the sighs, finger tapping and little tuts."

"I don't tut," Sirius countered.

"Apparently you do."

"Pencil-chewer."

"Finger-tapper."

"You know, this conversation sounds incredibly dirty."

"I think that's just your mind."

"Or my co–"

"Get out of the gutter, Sirius."

"But it's so much fun down here."

"You're sick, you know that?"

"Join me in the gutter, Remus. You know you want to."

Their banter was interrupted by the sound of jeers, as a familiar redheaded girl dashed across the lawn, the near-crimson hair clashing brilliantly with the verdant backdrop of the lawn.

"What is it, I wonder?" Remus mused inquisitively, watching Lily's retreat. She had seemed so well-liked.

"Just..." Sirius paused. "She's what people call nouveau riche. Well, her parents aren't, but she has a trust fund... I don't really know the details. Point is, there are people who think that the other classes shouldn't have advantages like going to this school, because their families don't have the titles and history to back up their wealth. They want the old families to stay in control of the country's wealth, and everyone else to stay in the mud."

Remus wrinkled his nose in distaste. "That's awful."

"Yeah." Sirius let his head loll back against the aging birch, long lashes shuttering out the late afternoon sun. "You'll have to watch out for that, you know."

Remus regarded him thoughtfully. "My family used to be wealthy, I think. For a couple of generations, at least."

Sirius opened his eyes a crack. "Bad investment?"

Remus smiled sadly. "You could say that." Eager to change the topic, and rather curious besides, he added, "You seem oddly comfortable with all these class ideals."

"You'd understand if you met my parents," Sirius replied, almost too carelessly. "On another note: never meet my parents." He sighed, letting the lush blade of grass he'd been twisting between his fingers fall back to its family. "Come on. Dinner's in half an hour."

They swiftly shoved the books back into their bags, Remus scrambling for stray notes, and Sirius somehow managing to sweep them all in with one hand. He swung elegantly to his feet, while Remus staggered up, off-balance. Snickering, Sirius grasped his wrist, causing the other boy to flinch and fall back.

"Sorry; I must have grabbed you too hard," Sirius replied smoothly, the look of concern melting quickly away.

"Yeah, sorry." Remus forced an obligatory laugh, and they were soon traipsing back to the castle. Sirius seemed as at ease with the thought of someone recoiling from being touched as he did with the bigotry of his own family; or at the very least was worryingly capable of masking his true feelings on these matters. Remus, on the other hand, found himself quite uncomfortable with the entire situation, his wrist still tingling strangely where Sirius had gripped him.

H.A.T. was going to have a field day with this.

a/n
Being post-school is boring. It's like purgatory with less babies.
Ba-doom-ssh.