Kyla: Hi to all! Sorry the update has been so long in waiting... I've been very much swamped with school and work, haha. I hope this chapter turned out okay... I'm kind of iffy on it, so review and let me know!
Oh, and thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far! I try to get back after every review and reply to them, but lately, things have just been too hectic, and for that, I apologize, haha. Enjoy!
"Honestly, Moony!"
Chapter 3
by
Kyla
"Moony," Sirius whined on Saturday morning, "why do you keep waking me up so early?!"
Remus rolled his eyes and tugged on his worn robe over his gray sweater and black pants. He chose not to comment as he ran his fingers through his hair, taking no mercy on the tangles he ran across.
"Seriously," Sirius continued, "I could understand yesterday morning! I had to finish my Potions essay, but why are we up so early this morning?! On a Saturday morning, if I may remind you!"
"Because I am a morning person, and if you want to hang out, you have to roll your ass out of bed earlier than normal. I'm not going to wait all day for you to wake up. I've got studying to do for the NEWT's," Remus snapped. He scowled and wandered off into the bathroom to wash his hands and comb the rest of the tangles from his hair.
Sirius hesitated.
"Hey, Moony," Sirius said, "you've been really snappy lately... Is there something I did that made you mad?"
Remus stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, and he sighed at the haggard teen that he saw reflected. "I'm sorry, Padfoot," he murmured, "I... haven't been myself lately. I suppose the upcoming NEWT's are stressing me out." He walked past Sirius and down to the Common Room, flopping into one of the armchairs, hands cradling his head.
"Aw, Moony," Sirius trailed after his friend, "you shouldn't stress about the NEWT's... You're really smart! You'll pass with no problems!"
"Hardly," Remus snorted, "I'm not naturally a genius like Lily... I have to study my tail off to get the grades I do. If I go lax in my studies now, I'll fail for sure...!"
Sirius rolled his eyes. He locked his arm around Remus's neck and brought his fist up to give the werewolf a good noogie. He grinned at the playful glare he received.
"No talk about school," Sirius declared and grabbed Remus's arm. He tugged the other boy up and out of the Common Room, "we're going to Madame Pompfrey and get you a potion to help you relax a little bit, and then we're going to go to Hogsmeade and have some well overdue fun!"
Remus laughed and obediently followed Sirius's lead. He kindly accepted the potion Madame Pompfrey offered him. The liquid burned slightly down his throat, but the gratification was easily seen when the last lines of tension slackened from his face.
"C'mon, Padfoot, let's race down to the Great Hall for breakfast," Remus exclaimed and bolted down the corridor, leaving Sirius in his dust until he could kick it up and start off after the werewolf. They laughed and elbowed each other, settling at the Gryffindor table in a tie.
"What are the two of you running from?" James asked, eyebrows raised and fork positioned halfway to his mouth.
"Nothing," Sirius gasped through his laughter, "Moony and I just decided to race!"
"Seriously? Wow, Remus," James cheered, "it's been a while since you've had some random fun!" He grinned at the werewolf.
"I know," Remus chuckled, "It was fantastic! I've missed it."
"Just wait till we get out of Hogwarts for a bit," Sirius added brightly. He bounced up and down in his seat and hurried to gulp down his breakfast. "We can go to Zonko's! We need to pull a prank or something, okay, guys?"
"Yeah!" James cheered, giving Sirius a high-five before offering one to Peter and then to Remus.
"Remus and me will get the supplies today," Sirius whispered, eyebrows hitched up mischievously.
"James, are you ready to head off to Hogsmeade?" Lily asked as she stopped beside James. She smiled at the Marauders' and greeted the rest of them hello.
"I sure am, Lils," James answered and stood up, offering the lady his arm, "What about you?"
"I'm more than ready!"
Remus knocked Sirius good upside the head when the gruffy-haired animagus gave a cat call after the departing couple. "Leave them be," Remus laughed.
Sirius rolled back his eyes in a sarcastic reply. "Fine, fine... but hurry up with breakfast," he whined, "I want to get to Hogsmeade sometime before Monday!"
"Just be patient," Remus said gently. He smirked at the frustrated moan that tumbled past Sirius's lips, and he exaggerated every movement to get more foot, adding seconds to his plate, munching very slowly, so as to "enjoy" it, as he said.
"Moony, I love you, you're one of my best friends," Sirius stated with a frustrated frown, "but, seriously, if you don't get up in 2 seconds, I swear I'll make you regret it."
Remus grinned into his pumpkin juice, taking a long, tedious sip. He set his goblet down and looked at his plate, pondering over taking another bite. An agonized groan convinced him that Sirius had been as patient as he could be. "All right, I'm ready," he said, climbing off the bench, "let's go."
"Finally!"
Sirius hoisted himself up and grabbed Remus by the arm, to keep him from escaping. Together, they dashed out of the Great Hall. Leaves crunched under their feet as they made their way through the fall landscape.
The first stop they made was into Zonko's, exploring the shelves in search of new supplies. They replenished old stocks of their favorite Zonko's products and ended up leaving laden with more than 3 bags of prank material.
Sirius groaned when Remus headed next for the bookstore, but he didn't complain, knowing if he did, Remus would only get mad at him.
They walked towards the Shrieking Shack, passing by it with snickers and murmurs as a few students stood huddled in front of the entrance.
"I bet none of them even have a clue," Sirius cackled.
"I think the rumor going around is that the Shack is haunted," Remus murmured through the grin on his lips.
"Yeah... haunted by a werewolf and 3 animagus," Sirius replied.
The pair kicked back with some ice cream, watching their fellow students pass, calling out greetings to the ones they were on good terms with. Sirius whistled after James and Lily walked by, making the red-haired girl blush and James mock a scowl at his friends.
"James is really lucky," Remus mentioned once Lily and James were lost again in the throng of students. He propped his chin upon his hand and shoved a spoonful of plain vanilla ice cream into his mouth.
"How so?"
"He has Lily."
"So?"
"Nothing," Remus sighed and set against the back of his chair again, looking up to the sky, "I'm just feeling those single's blues I guess." He chuckled quietly.
"Well, is there someone that you like?" Sirius asked. His toes curled up in his shoes, and he found himself taking shallower breaths.
Remus glanced at Sirius before again looking out into the crowd. "Maybe," he said.
Sirius's nose wrinkled. "Maybe?" he asked, "What does maybe mean?"
"It means I'm not certain yet."
"Oh.. okay."
An awkward silence settled in; or, it felt awkward to Sirius. He finished off his ice cream, the soles of his feet tapping uncertainly up and down. "So, uh, you ready to go look for something else to do?" he asked, standing up. He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Sure," Remus answered with that gentle smile he normally wore.
Sirius hesitated and fidgeted as they walked along, and Remus noticed his odd behavior, even going so far as to call his friend on this odd behavior.
"Padfoot," Remus sighed, "something is bothering you. What's wrong?"
Sirius took a deep breath. It was time to muster up his courage. He opened his mouth but failed to make any words. He looked around at the crowd of Hogwarts students in the streets. "Not here," Sirius muttered and steered Remus into a side alleyway, where no one else was.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Sirius replied quietly, "but I, um, kind of have a confession to make..."
Remus tensed, and his mind turned over explanation after endless awful explanation. He fearfully nodded, masking his emotions well with a blank expression. "Okay, go ahead, I'm listening."
"Well," Sirius laughed anxiously and shook his scruffy black hair from his face, "would you... do you mind if I showed you first?"
Remus was very worried by this point. Sirius never acted so insecure and hesitant. Something was definitely up, and Remus's mind again jumped to a very big conclusion that would not leave him alone.
What if Sirius's family somehow convinced him to take the Dark Mark?
Remus's heart seized, and it took all his willpower to calm down and think rationally. That wouldn't happen, and there was no way that the Dark Mark could be plastered on Sirius's forearm. Sirius was too deeply rooted in the Light, along with his best friends. That was such a ridiculous thought. Within seconds, Remus was fine again and ready to listen to his best friend.
"Okay," Remus answered carefully, "show me."
Sirius grinned a brilliant, nervous smile with a shy side that Remus had never noticed before. The werewolf backed away slightly in surprise as Sirius drew closer, but the hands coming to gently grab his shoulders halted any retreat he may have wanted.
Remus gasped when he felt Sirius's breath ghost across his lips. They were so close to each other now, and it was a couple of moments before the werewolf could register the fact that he was being kissed. By Sirius. His best friend.
Sirius pulled away smoothly, ducking his head. His arms fell from Remus's shoulders, and he took a deep breath before meeting Remus's gaze squarely. "I'm in love with you, Moony," he declared bravely with a chin tilted up in that old pride Sirius had.
"W-what? You-wait...Whoa," Remus flushed, his face glowing crimson as dizziness took hold of him, and he swayed to and fro.
"Moony," Sirius cried anxiously and reached out to steady his werewolf friend. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm... I'm fine," Remus answered breathlessly, "I just... need to sit down and think for a moment." He thanked Sirius quietly when the other boy helped him sit down and prop up against the alleyway wall.
Sirius gave Remus some space and quiet to think, but all the while, the boy who finally confessed his feelings sat anxiously awaiting a response, hardly able to breath.
Kyla: Hope you're enjoying this story! Thanks for reading and I'll try to work on the next chapter as soon as possible!
