As the last of the Order bade them goodnight, Sirius tried to catch James's eye. He had been waiting for a long while for the kitchen to empty. There was something important they had to discuss. James knew it, but Sirius had the feeling he was putting it off on purpose. At last, Lilly had kissed James on the cheek and told him to come up to bed soon, leaving the two men alone in the dim light of the single guttering candle floating over the table.
Sirius raised his eyebrows, determined to make James speak first. James heaved a great sigh and propped his feet up on the table, rocking back in his chair. Still however, he did not speak, although he no longer refused to meet Sirius's eyes. After a long silence, Sirius grew impatient, "Well?" he asked.
James looked at the ceiling for a moment before responding. "Well…" he said.
"Oh, come on James, I've been trying to talk to you for days, but both of us are too afraid to bring it up! Let's not dance around it anymore. What do you think?"
"About what?" James asked defiantly.
"About Remus!" Sirius exclaimed.
James glanced around nervously, as if looking for a way to escape. Finally, he dropped his feet back to the floor and leaned across the table toward Sirius. "It's… It's impossible to know who to trust," he said. This however, did not seem to satisfy Sirius.
"Of course it is!" he said, slamming his fist down on the table. He paused for a moment and then leaned towards James earnestly, "But I always thought I'd know I could trust my marauders! Now I don't know! I'm asking you for your opinion! What do you think?"
"I don't know, Sirius! Everything's so dark and mysterious and it's impossible to make judgments on anyone."
"Yes, but this is Moony! I thought… I thought we'd always know about each other! Surely you must have some idea!"
"No more than you, my friend." Sirius moaned, putting his head in his hands.
"What can we do? We can't let on that we think he's a spy."
"I don't think he's a spy," James countered. "I'm just not sure. But… We'll have to be careful," Sirius nodded, his face tired. "Just don't tell him anything that could endanger your life, alright?" Again, he nodded weakly.
For a few moments they sat in silence, both looking down at the table. "James?" Sirius whispered, at last.
"Yes?" he asked, looking up.
"I… You… You'll always be there, won't you? I mean… I can trust you… no matter what, right?"
James smiled, "Of course. And, Padfoot, my old friend… I know I don't even have to ask…"
"You know I'd rather be kissed by a dementor than betray the marauders," He stood and walked around the table to James, gripping his shoulder.
"You promise me, here and now?"
James nodded, "Yes, and you?"
"Yes," Sirius said solemnly. They embraced each other like brothers and then stood and left the kitchen silently.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait! Hope you keep reading!