Disclaimer: As much as it pains me… I do not own Harry Potter or anything recognizable in this story. D':
A/N – So much thanks to bookworm4792, jgrisso07, lady levies, and 0st for reviewing the first chapter of this story! You're the only reason I got this second chapter up even this soon (I know it's not soon at all), what with that little distraction called school. So. Enjoy the product of me letting my imagination run wild!
Remus' POV
"So," I address Sirius, who at the moment was sprawled on the floor in front of the large fireplace while I was in my usual chair studying my Arithmancy textbook. The Gryffindor Common room was nearly deserted at this late hour, but the Marauders were usually up for another hour yet, often planning their next great prank. Peter was already in bed (not a surprise), but James was curiously absent. "Tell me again why James decided – after 16 years – that sleep is important?"
Sirius raised his head a bit off the floor and eyed me for a moment, "You study too much," he whined. I scoffed inwardly at his attempt at changing the subject, but decided to humor him. He's obviously planning something with James and I pitied the poor victim.
"You don't study enough," I quipped.
"Why would I need to study?" Raising himself into sitting cross-legged, Sirius grinned playfully at me. "Especially when I have you, Moony Dear."
Even though I knew he was just teasing, I could feel myself flush at the endearment. Sirius had no idea how much I wished he wasn't just playing…
I collected myself, then jokingly threatened, "Well let's see just how far you get without my he-"
Just then a loud crash sounded in the hallway outside the portal. The clanging seemed to ring in the air forever.
"What the bloody hell was that?" said Sirius, who was by then on his feet like the 3-odd people left in the room.
I stood up from the chair and set my textbook gently down on a side table. "Just Peeves having fun, I expect." A glance around the room revealed no one eager to investigate the suspicious sound, and I sighed. "I guess I'll go check it out then."
I took a step towards the portal hole, wand already out, but Sirius' hand on my shoulder stopped me. I shivered involuntarily at his touch.
"Wait Remus, what if Filch shows up? You know he'll bust you for being out of bed." Sirius' eyes had started to go all puppy-dog on me. I looked away, knowing I couldn't resist him if I was inflicted with the full effect.
"What if someone needs help? Dumbledore trusted me enough to make me a prefect last year, I can't let him down," and I turned to go again.
I could hear Sirius growl behind me, and then he was right at my side.
"What are you doing Sirius?"
"Watching your back, isn't that what mates are supposed to do?"
A small smile worked its way onto my lips.
Out in the hallway, we walked down the hallway to the left until we came upon a suit of armor sprawled out on the floor, in a position much like Sirius had been in before.
I glanced around for a probable cause, but couldn't see anything, not even the near-invisible whiteness of a ghost drifting nearby.
A strong hand gripped my arm before I was suddenly yanked backwards off my feet and dragged through the nearest door. I intended to yell something along the lines of, "Sirius, you git, what do you think you're bloody doing?", but was prevented from making a sound by that same strong hand clamping my mouth closed as the door was kicked shut behind us.
"Shh, be quiet Moony," Sirius breathed into my ear. Shivers ran up and down my spine and I was suddenly glad for the hand suppressing any – er – sounds I might make. Again, Sirius's warm breath tickled my ear as he said, "I heard Filch coming."
Barely able to register what he said, I simply leaned back into Sirius, who was crouched behind me I soon found out, for he toppled over under my weight. A minute passed of me lying contentedly on top of him before he shattered my daydream with a polite cough and muttered, "You can get off me anytime, Moony."
I scrambled up as fast as possible; sure my face reflected my immeasurable embarrassment. Then I doubted he could see it, due to the near-absolute darkness of the unused classroom Sirius had dragged me into.
I heard, but couldn't see, Sirius rise from the floor. I could just imagine his lean limbs pulling himself to his feet, standing with the inherent confident stance that came with being Sirius Black, the object of admiration and lust for nearly every girl at Hogwarts, and the object of envy for nearly every boy. Again I was reminded of how lucky I was to be even this close to him, this amazing person who can do anything he sets his mind to. The fact that this closeness, this trust he places in me, seemingly isn't enough to satisfy my need for his attention disgusts me. Sirius deserves the most beautiful, talented, loving woman in the world, and she would be lucky to have him. I knew that there was no chance in hell that he would ever look at me as anything other than a friend.
I knew that.
And yet these wants, these needs keep rising up in me, barely suppressible. Sometimes he gets too close and it's almost painful, how much I want him. I then flee, like the contemptible coward I am. I escape to a little cranny somewhere I won't be found and attempt to get a grip on my rampaging emotions. I again tell myself I'm just a scrawny little werewolf with patched clothes and an unnatural love of books. In every way I'm incompatible with the dark vision of desire that is Sirius.
No. No chance in hell.
"Do you think Filch is gone?" Sirius whispered into the dark, a few minutes after I almost squished him to death.
"Probably." I stepped forward carefully, hands in front of me, until I could feel the wood of the door under my fingertips. I slid my hands down the wood near the right side of the door frame until I encountered the doorknob and attempted to open the door. However, the handle refused to turn.
"Bloody hell, it's locked." I proclaim to the darkness around me.
A/N – Yes, this was a rather short chapter. But don't worry, the rest will be up soon! Can you guess what James' plan was? I wonder what Sirius will do now that he has poor little Remus all to himself in the dark… ;)