A/N: Okay, I am officially one of the worst updater in the history of human kind...or at least author kind. D:

I am soooooo sorry for the lateness of this chapter. My finals are coming up, which to my tutors meant that it's time to pile me up with all sorts of assignments.

This story is nearly finished! One or two more chapters, then we're done. Don't want to drag it for too long. c:

As a warning, I need to say that the next one would come in the next few weeks. Can't promise speed coz I have to study for my finals now. D':

THE STAR AND HIS MOON

Chapter 8

An unusual silence filled the Marauders' dorm room. One of its occupant was missing, probably hiding somewhere within the enormous ground of Hogwarts. Another hid within the safety of his curtained bed, silent and unmoving.

James shared a helpless look with his only roommate who was currently not wallowing in depression.

"What are we supposed to do, Prongs?" Peter whispered vehemently.

"I don't know. This is more messed up than I expected. I wished I haven't done that now," James whispered back, keeping how voice as low as possible, not wanting the boy hiding behind his bed curtain to hear him.

"James, if you don't know how to fix this, who will?" Peter exclaimed incredulously.

"I know, I know."

Falling into silence for a few minutes, James suddenly smiled; a hint of relief on his face.

"I know who we can go to, Pete! Let's go!"

Dragging a confused Peter behind him, James started moving towards the common room. He could only hope that the person he was trying to find would be in the room.

"So? Is there a reason as to why the two of you dragged me out of the common room so suddenly? While I'm in the middle of doing my assignment, no less."

"Well, you see, Lily…Sirius and Remus, the two of them had been rather…how should I say, depressed? Lately?"

"Yes. I do realise that, James. But since I'm rather spectacularly out of the loop and have no idea what had happened, I wouldn't be able to help you here."

"But you can! I really, really need your help. I have no idea what to do. And this is partly my fault."

"James, you can't just blame yourself. You never knew this was going to happen," Peter consoled the raven-haired boy.

Lily, feeling sorry at seeing a distraught James Potter for the first time, relented. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that she might've been developing not-too-platonic feelings for him. Nope, not at all. Never let it be said that Lily Evans left her friends in misery. And despite the fact that she argued back and forth with Sirius on daily basis, she considered him to be a reliable and close friend along with Remus.

"Okay, then can you please tell me the events that led up to this whole mess? Because Remus is giving a broken-hearted looking Sirius the cold shoulder. And he looked pained while doing it too."

Taking a deep breath, James began to tell the incidents leading up to this point.

"Okay, I figured out what we should do. You know how you made the Felix Felicis potion for your potions assignment? The one that you tried to hide from us?"

"Oh, get over it, Prongs. I just wanted to surprise all of you. And it wasn't as if I was going to hide it forever. Just until Slughorn gave me the O that I deserved for it," Sirius replied without heat.

The two were currently sitting on their dormitory beds. Remus having been dragged by Jennings to a library date; and Peter was held in a detention that did not involve Sirius or James to be with him for once. The pair decided to talk out the problem that didn't seem to be getting better even as a month had passed.

"Yes. Well, anyway, I figured maybe you should've used it on this mess. I was thinking that you could maybe drink it and confront Remus and Jennings about this mess and resolve it all in one go. If you drink the potion, everything should go according to plan, right?"

Sirius, looking somewhat thoughtful, lifted his eyes to meet James'.

"You think?"

"Yeah, I really do. I reckon that might've been the reason as to why you were making this potion. At least this way it'll be used for something useful, eh?"

Slowly nodding to himself, Sirius started to smile.

"Yeah. That might actually work. We should try it! You're a genius, Prongs!" Jumping up and dragging James around the room and twirling themselves around, the pair exhausted themselves with laughter.

"Okay, so here's what we do. You should drink some in the morning just before breakfast and then resolve things just before the first period. Is this fine?"

Sirius nodded in agreement, his face resolved. He knew that he couldn't very well keep up this whole façade of a nothing's wrong look.

The next morning, unbeknownst to Sirius, James himself was strongly resolved to help his two friends get together. After watching the two of them, James was almost absolutely sure that Sirius and Remus quite clearly fancy each other. He didn't see the point of their werewolf friend to be keeping a relationship with someone he doesn't care about romantically. Thus, he secretly pour in the rest of the Felix Felicis potion down Remus' goblet during breakfast while Sirius was staying back to drink the potion that was supposed to help him. James had thought this plan was flawless. What he didn't expect was the fact that Jennings accidentally took the wrong goblet and drank Remus' juice instead.

Blanching in horror, James had quickly excused himself and started to move and warn Sirius about it only to find - to his dismay- that Sirius had stepped into the Great Hall. Cursing at his lack of luck – and somewhat wishing that he'd had thought to drink some himself is he knew things were going to turn out this way – James moved to walk more quickly towards his best friend who was fast approaching.

"Sirius, come here quickly! There's a change in the plan!" He hissed quietly to Sirius. The other boy looked bewildered for a second before promptly following him moving out of the hall.

"What happened?" Sirius asked as soon as they stepped into a safe alcove, a distance away from the Great Hall.

"I- I'm really sorry, but I accidentally gave Jennings some of the Felix Felicis. I wanted Remus to drink some, but Jennings accidentally took his drink! I didn't mean to, Padfoot! I'm so sorry!" James exclaimed with tightly closed eyes and kicked puppy expression.

Sirius, feeling sorry for the other boy, knowing the fact that James was trying his best in helping him, told him that it was fine. They decided that the plan would have to be pulled back and they would have to think up of a new plan. However, their relief was shortly diminished when they heard shocked gasps coming from the direction nearby. The pair turned; and to their chagrin, found a shocked Remus and angry Jennings standing at the entry to the alcove.

Needless to say, all hell breaks loose.

"I trusted you! I thought after making a mistake like before, you would never betray my trust anymore, Sirius. But obviously I was wrong!"

"Wait, Remus. Listen to me, I didn't mean to do anything bad –"

"Yeah, well, that's a bit hard to believe, Black. Considering your selfish tendencies. Its okay for you if I'm the one who's hurt at the end, isn't it? As long as you're free from the pain? Don't you feel the guilt, Sirius? Or are you that heartless to do such a thing, to break my trust for the second time?"

Sirius recoiled as if slapped.

"But I really wasn't –"

"Shut it. I really don't want to hear it from you anymore. As of now, I don't know you, Sirius."

What broke his heart the most was the fact that Remus extended his hand towards the Ravenclaw boy. The fact that he trusted his boyfriend more than him who was ready to lay his life for the werewolf.

It was his entire fault. It would be better if he stay silent from now on.

Lily sighed upon hearing what really happened. With a frown on her feature, her bright mind quickly came up with different scenarios that might improve the Marauders' current situation. Misunderstandings often happened in-between the four boys; but never to this proportion. What made her confused is as to why Remus would trust Jennings' accusations towards James and Sirius more than Sirius' explanations. Could it be –?

"James, did you pour a lot of the Felix potion to Remus' goblet?"

"Well, there was quite some…"

"Do you remember whether the amount Sirius consumed is more or less than the one you put into Remus' goblet?"

Thinking hard, James' mind grasped onto Lily's train of thought.

"Did you mean to say that I was probably giving more to the amount that Jennings drank compared to the amount Sirius took? Is that why the whole mess ends up better for Jennings?"

Lily nodded with a grim expression on her face. James groaned.

"Merlin, this was my entire fault. If only I didn't try to do that…" His words were cut with a louder groan of regret.

"Well, you didn't know that it would happen. It was probably because Sirius hasn't taken the potion yet when Jennings took Remus' drink. Because otherwise, it wouldn't have turned out bad for him."

"Yeah, well...now it's all a mess. How am I supposed to pair them up together when they're like this towards each other?" James asked with an exhausted tone. They never liked it when any of the Marauders were in argument or fighting with any other of themselves. Their tight knit made sure that the rest of them would feel the tension as bad as the ones having the argument.

Lily huffed in exasperation. "Seriously those two. It's so obvious to anyone looking that they're smitten with each other, but they're oblivious to anything aside from their supposed unrequited crush," she stated, while her fingers moved to quote the word 'unrequited.'

"I know. But now, we'll be lucky if they'll even talk to one another."

"You know what? I'll go and talk to Remus. This way at least there might be a possible progress rather than sitting here and not doing anything," Lily said while moving away from the wall that she had been leaning against.

"Oh. Right. Thanks a lot, Lily. We wouldn't know what to do without you."

"I'm sure you would've figured something out with that bright brain of yours," Lily replied before walking back towards the direction of the Gryffindor tower.

James stood in stunned silence. Slowly, he turned his head towards Peter's direction.

"Did she just- compliment me?" The whispered question was filled with a tone of disbelief.

Peter was looking almost as gob-smacked. "I think she really did, James."

James' feature morphed into a grin of the highest possible proportion; which, to be honest, looked quite creepy on his face to Peter's opinion.

"Come on, we have a Marauder to cheer up!" Shouted the raven-haired before tugging on Peter's arm and dragging him up towards the direction of the dorm.

'Well, that was quick.' Peter thought. It seemed like James really was head over heels over Lily if a few words from her enable him to change mood that quickly.

Mentally shrugging his shoulders, Peter followed his friend's footsteps. Never let it be said that he wasn't happy when one of his close friends finally stopped his sulking.

Meanwhile, one red-haired girl was attempting to find a particular someone without success in the common room. To her relief, Remus stepped into the room not long after.

She quickly stepped towards him, not wanting to give him a chance of escape even though she rationally knew that he wasn't looking for one. At least for now when he's unsuspecting of her.

"Remus, can we talk?"

Remus looked surprised at her sudden words, but he simply smiled in affirmative.

"Yes, of course."

"Come with me," she said it quietly before moving out of the door. She knew of a perfectly secluded corridor near the mostly unused indoor classroom for Care of Magical Creatures.

"Lily? What is it that you wanted to talk to me about that it needs to be said in such a place?" His eyes were worried, though his tone was still light.

"I just wanted some privacy. I don't want people to overhear us," she stated in an even tone, giving nothing away.

He frowned at her words.

"What-"

"What happened between you and Sirius, Remus?" She cut him off. Being blunt was one of her strengths. She was good at subtlety, but she knew that Remus was too smart for it.

His expression turned cold so quickly that she was sure she would've missed it if she so much as blinked.

"I really don't think I want to talk about this with anyone, Lily. Did Sirius make you talk to me?"

"What? No! I haven't even talked to him for awhile. He's been looking really down these past few days. I know for a fact that he'd been skipping most of his classes. I'm getting worried, Remus."

"Well, you should talk to him then; since you're so worried about him. Why are you asking me?"

"Because I know for a fact that you're looking just as bad. Whatever it is that's bothering Sirius, it's also affecting you. The two of you always looked this depressed when it involves one another only." Lily replied in a stern tone.

"Well, I don't care about him anymore. I'm finished with him, Lily. You have to find some other way that doesn't involve me," Remus replied. Even though his words were harsh, his tone gave him away. It was an exhausted tone of someone who'd lost all hope.

"I'm sure whatever it is that caused this between the two of you can be fixed. After all, you guys have always been through a lot of things already, haven't you? Talk to him, Remus. Please. You have to talk out this mess before it caused even bigger problems. Before it's too late and the two of you live your lives regretting it," her eyes were sincere and somewhat pleading. Her words and expression hit him to the core. It was true; he didn't want to live his life regretting the fact that he'd never allowed Sirius any chance to explain himself. But – he was just so tired. Every single time Sirius made a mess of their relationship, it was always him who had to somehow forgive and allow it to be fixed. He was so tired of being hurt.

"I – I really don't know, Lily. I know I should listen and talk to him, but I'm just – I'm just so tired of all this."

"I'm sure Sirius felt the same. You know that he always hate it whenever any of you fought with one another. He might smile and joked around all the time, but that's mainly because he hides his feelings away inside. You and James probably know him better than anyone, you should know that."

He sighed, " I know. But that doesn't mean that I would always be the one who fix him out of the messes that he made everywhere he goes."

Lily let out an exasperated sound. "I know that. But this time, no one else but you can fix this! You need to talk to him."

"I'll – I'll think about it, Lily. But I promised Jennings that I wouldn't do that to him, that I wouldn't go back to my old habits just because they're my best friends."

"You're listening to your boyfriend? About your friends? Your friends that knew about you, tried to find out what was bothering you and never ran away from the truth? The ones who worked for years trying to find a way to ease your pain? The ones who loves you despite everything? Are you sure that you'd rather listen to your boyfriend's words rather than try to listen to these friends who've always tried their best for you?"

"But I hurt him, Lily. Jennings was never guilty of anything aside from liking a boy who'd never thought of him romantically. Even if he didn't know that."

"Well then you should tell everyone the truth, you moron!"

Remus lifted up his face in surprise. In all these years that he'd known her, he'd never heard her insult him even once before this. It was a somewhat new and refreshing experience. He must've annoyed the hell out of her for her to resort to insults.

"You love Sirius, don't you?"

Wanting to deny those words, but knowing it was futile against the bright mind of one Lily Evans, Remus mutely nodded his assent. Lily smiled.

"Well then, what are you waiting for? Go get him, lover-boy!"

He chuckled at her words.

"I think there's a problem with that, Lily. Mainly because Sirius obviously doesn't feel the same about me," Remus replied sarcastically. His tone was resigned and it pulled a chord in her heart.

"I don't know if you're actually that oblivious or you just pretended to be stupid. Remus, that boy has been in love with you for years! Everyone who knows the two of you well knows about it. It's not even funny anymore how only the two of you managed to be blind to the truth that's staring at you in front of your eyes."

Remus looked at her in disbelief; clearly never having thought that such a thing would come true.

"Are –" An intake of breath, "Are you serious?" He whispered softly.

"Never been more serious of anything else in my life," Lily replied easily with a grin. "So? What are you waiting for?"

"I – I'll talk to him now," Remus started to jog towards the direction back to the tower. He turned a few steps away," Thank you, Lily!" He smiled before running.

"You owe me a year's supply of chocolate!" She replied jokingly; a relieved smile on her face.

"Well, that was that. I should go back to my assignment," the words were spoken to no one and she started her trek back.

When Remus arrived inside the Gryffindor common room, his excited smile died on his lips upon seeing a troubled James and Peter walking down the stairs from their dorm room. Worried for Sirius, he started to walk up to them quickly.

"James? Peter? What's wrong?"

James' concerned frown deepened before he replied, "Sirius is missing."

TBC

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