Chapter 4

Over the following week, Sirius and Remus did not say a word to one another. James tried to get his friends to stop being so stupid, but to no avail. Sirius would always willingly come when James asked, but as soon as Remus would see Sirius, he would leave.

Saturday came about again, and James woke to notice Remus was already gone and Sirius was still asleep. He sighed; he just wanted things to be the same. He knew Sirius was in the wrong, but Sirius was always the mess up and they always forgave him, so why couldn't moony this time? James got out of bed and dressed and went down to the common room to wait for Lily, as always, so they could go down to breakfast.

"Hey James." Came Lily's voice not five minutes later. She took a seat next to him on the couch and by the look on his face, could tell he was really down still. Lily put her hand on his shoulder, "They'll come around James, they always do, don't they?"

James looked up at Lily and studied her for a moment then sighed, "Yes, they always have, its just never taken this long. I just want our old group back you know?"

"I know James." Lily just hugged James and let the topic go. "Are you hungry? Class is in 30 minutes."

"Yeah, I kinda am, lets go." And with that, James grabbed Lily's hand and they went down to the great hall.

Down in the great hall, Remus was having breakfast with Jen and Kate, as he did every other morning for the past week now. "Ok Remus, enough is enough." Jen said suddenly. They had all been rather silent everyday for breakfast, mainly because of the presence of Remus this past week. It's not that they didn't want him with them; it's just that they didn't know what to say to him.

"What's enough?" Remus asked as he suddenly had looked up from his plate.

"You being here with us and not with them. We love you here Remus, its just, well, haven't you given Sirius a bad enough time over this? Don't you think its time to forgive him yet?" Jen asked, "I mean you forgave me on day one, why not him? Isn't he your best friend?"

Remus just starred at Jen for a minute and as he opened his mouth to reply, Jen spoke again, "No Remus, don't make excuses. You guys have been too close for too long to let something as silly as this come between you. Now I want you to go over there and talk to Sirius and make up with him finally. He has said how sorry he was over and over and you have to realize that it is true." Jen said with slight anger in her voice. She really did care for Sirius and didn't like how he couldn't even be heard out.

Remus just sat there in silence for a few more minutes then sighed and finally gave in, "Ok Jen, I will at least go and talk to him. But I am only going over there right now because you are making me, lets have that clear." With that, Remus got up and walked down the table to Sirius.

Sirius had just joined James and Lily for breakfast when he noticed Remus was coming their way. Sirius was sure he would get no recognition so he didn't even bother to watch Remus come over, he just returned to his food.

"Sirius, can I speak with you, outside?" Remus asked.

Sirius looked up at Remus in shock, he couldn't believe it, maybe Remus was finally going to listen. "Yeah, sure." Sirius said while pushing away his food, grabbing his book bag and following Remus out of the hall onto the sunlit grounds.

They went just outside the doors when Remus stopped. "Sirius…" He started.

"No, hang on." Sirius interjected. "I want you to know that I really am sorry mate and you know had I known it would turn out like this I would not have don't it. I know I always tend to mess things up, especially when it comes to my friendship with you mate, but I really am sorry and I just hope that you can believe me when I say that and forgive me." Sirius said in what seemed like one breath because it was so rushed.

Remus starred at Sirius hard for a minute, then, to everyone's surprise, even Remus's; Remus began to chuckle.

Sirius starred at his completely dumbfounded. "Uh, moony mate? You haven't gone completely nutters on me have you?" Sirius asked slightly afraid for his friend's sanity.

Remus stopped his little laugh, "No Padfoot, I haven't gone nutters. I don't even know what I thought was funny. But no more worries. I believe, after that nice winded speech, that you really do regret what you did. I just hope you can remember not to do such things in the future and I really hope you have learned your lesson. I forgive you, don't worry mate." Remus said with a slight smirk.

"Really?" Sirius asked so he could be totally sure.

"Really, now come on. Lets go finish eating." Remus laughed and walked back into the castle towards that hall.

Jen and Kate had just watched Remus leave with Sirius. Kate turned to Jen and leaned close to speak in a whisper. "Jen, now that we finally have a minute alone, there is something I really wanted to tell you."

Jen looked at Kate, "Sure, what's wrong?"

"Ok, now I know this might sound crazy all of a sudden. When you and Sirius tried to get Remus and me together, I really didn't like him, but I think that was because I never looked at him that way. Now I thought about it the next day and thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Then that night he told me it was really you and Sirius and that he had nothing to do with that letter and wished me to forget all within it because we are good friends and he said there was no sense ruining it over something some silly friends did. I got the vibe from him that he didn't like me at all. Not more than a friend at least. I realized I was really disappointed. And now, spending time with him everyday, I am sure I do like him Jen, but now I know he doesn't really like me and I don't know what to do anymore. How do you do it? How can you like Sirius for so long and never have him and be ok with it?" Kate whispered to Jen all very fast.

"Whoa, hold on, who said I liked Sirius? And also, wow."

"Come on Jen, I am your best friend, I know you have liked Sirius for a long time now. Just admit it. And I don't know what to do."

"Well, did you ever think to tell Remus how you feel?" Jen said with a hint of hope now. She knew Remus liked Kate and only led her to believe otherwise to save himself embarrassment.

"No way, weren't you listening, he doesn't like me like that."

"Did he actually use those words?" Jen said with an evil smirk.

"Well, no, but he did jump around that idea."
"Then maybe do you think he didn't say it directly and jumped around it because he really does and didn't want you to know to save himself embarrassment because he might have figured the whole situation was weird enough?" Jen said triumphantly.

"Are you trying to get my hopes up? Plus, I just don't know if Remus would say, or try to say something he didn't mean. I don't know Jen."

"Tell you what. You tell him how you feel or I do?" Jen said laughing now. She loved this, Kate did want Remus and Remus had already said he wanted Kate.

"NO!" Kate yelled, people turned to look at her but she ignored them. Then, lowering her voice, "You already tried to set us up remember? It didn't work."

"But you should tell him. You have to tell him. How can you not?"

"Because. What if I am right and he doesn't like me?"
"And what if I am right and he does?"

"Well, there's not much chance…"

"There is a lot of chance! He likes you Kate, I know it!" Jen interrupted her, now frustrated; she figured she should just be straightforward.

"And how would you know it thought Jen, I doubt he would tell you." Kate said with an exasperated look on her face.

"No, he wouldn't tell me, he wouldn't tell anyone, but he accidentally told Sirius and Sirius told me. Why do you think we tried anything in the first place? We did have motive thank you very much." Jen said feeling it a nice weight to be lifted to tell her friend this.

Kate's eyes had widened and she just sat there looking at Jen in shock. "He really does?" now a smile crept upon her face. "Wow, he really does?" Kate repeated.

Jen nodded. Just then Sirius and Remus came back into the hall side by side. Jen assumed it went well since Remus walked over to James, Lily and Peter and put his back down. He then stood back up and began to walk over to Jen and Kate. Jen got an idea and quickly jumped out of her seat and stood waiting for Remus to come all the way over. When he walked up, Jen patted his arm, told him to wait here with Kate and she would be back.

"What was that about?" Remus asked Kate while taking a seat next to her.

"I think I might just know." Kate said while she glared after her friend. She knew what Jen was thinking. She knew Jen was hoping she would talk to Remus. Well, maybe she would get her wish, Kate was too excited over the news not to.

"And why's that?" Remus asked drawing her out of her thoughts.

Kate seemed to tense up a little and looked determinately at her plate, "So I might talk to you about what her and I just talked about." Kate said in a low voice, but Remus heard her nonetheless.

Remus felt his breath catch in his throat. He didn't know for sure what she wanted to talk about, but he was afraid. "And… w-what is that?"

"Remus?" Kate looked up at him right into his eyes. "The letter they wrote was is speaking the truth? Do you really… l-like me, I-I mean more than a friend?" Kate asked very quickly she felt her palms begin to sweat from nervousness.

Remus felt his heart skip a beat out of mainly fear he thought it was. Remus just starred into her eyes for a minute before he could muster up the courage to answer her. Remus finally just hung his head and knew that he shouldn't try to hide it; his face probably gave it all away. Sure of the rejection about to come he managed out a simple "yes" along with a head nod and continued to look at the table.

Kate felt herself untense and burst into a wide smile. She let out the breath that had caught in her throat and put a hand on Remus's chin as she pulled his face up to look at hers. He looked up at her and it made Kate nearly jump when she saw the fear and pain in his eyes. "Remus." She said softly. "I-I really like you too." She said really low.

Remus heard her say it but it sounded miles away. He lost all sense of fear and just starred at her, now in shock. Remus didn't need her to say it twice. He just leaned in and kissed her. Kate was so happy. She kissed him back and then they both pulled away. "Then, do I get to call you my girlfriend?" Remus asked while reaching for her hands and holding them.

Kate looked up at Remus and smiled, "only if I get to call you my boyfriend." Kate laughed and Remus just kissed her again.

"Ok. Ok you two break it up now, I guess I left you alone long enough!" Jen said walking over with Sirius.

"Aw, and see here moony, you said Jen and mine's plan was a bad one that didn't work. Now look at you two crazy lovebirds! AWWWWW!" Sirius whined in a mocking tone with a broad smile. He turned to look at Jen and put his elbow out to her. "Well Jen, can I escort you to class now?"

Jen laughed but took his arm nonetheless. "Yes Mr. Black, I think you may." They both turned and left the hall for class.

Later that night in the common room there was a new announcement from Lily and James, being the Head boy and girl, that there was to be the annual Christmas all for 7th years to celebrate their last year. Though they could be a date of any age. James and Lily came back to sit down by the fire with Remus, Kate, Sirius and Jen after the announcement.

"So Pads, who are you taking? Have any ideas yet?" James asked Sirius.

Sirius laughed at this. "Me, take a date? Never! This is my last chance to be unattached at an event, like I would commit myself to a date!" Sirius said then let out a howl of laughter.

James just shook his head and muttered something about "some people never changing".

"Sirius, you have to have a date. Everyone else will." Lily said hoping Sirius meant what he had said about wanting to change and be serious with a girl. "I mean, what if you find a girl you really like, you wouldn't take her?"

"Oh, come on Lils, I know every girl in this school, and as of right now, none can tame me for a date to the big ball." Sirius said with his cocky grin. Sirius didn't notice how Jen seemed to slump back at this comment and look into the fire with apparent hurt written on her face. Lily did notice though, as did Kate and Remus.

"Really Sirius, there is no one who you might even consider taking?" Kate said as if trying to drive something out of him.

"No, not really, why, know someone I don't?" Sirius said with another laugh.

"Then how about you Jen, you know who you would like to go with?" Remus said looking toward Jen and dragging her out of her thoughts.

"Oh well, I hadn't thought about it. I guess I will just see whoever asks me, but then again, I don't know if I want to go." Jen said trying not to sound upset because she was since Sirius said there was not a girl in school to catch his eye.

"Oh no you don't Jen! You are going! Come on! Who else am I going to hang out with?" Sirius said turning to look at her, seeing as she was in the chair right next to him. "Don't you notice that these two couples have each other and you and I have no one, so see Jen, you have to go, you can't leave me alone with all these couples, I need you there to save my sanity!" Sirius added with a very fake looking pleading face.
Everyone seemed to laugh at this, even Jen. "Come on padfoot, we're not that bad!" James said in protest.

"Yes James, you and Lily are the worst. Come on Jen, I need you there. I need at least one friend there."

"Oh and what are we then?" said James.

"You guys are couples that are always around." Sirius said as if they just didn't matter to him. This time the laughter was only Jen and Sirius.

"Ouch. That's hurts mate, that really hurts." James said pretending to be offended and holding a hand to his chest.

Sirius just laughed at this again and turned back to Jen. "So come on Jenny, please come?" Sirius said giving his puppy eyes and most pleading smile. Jen was no fool, but when is came to Sirius Black, how could she ever resist a face like that.

"Ok, ok. Fine I will go!" Jen finally caved, as everyone else knew she would. Sirius let out a whoop of triumph and went back to talking to Remus and James about their next prank. Sirius said they had to end the year in a bang.

September quickly faded into October, and soon they found Halloween was upon them. James and Lily, along with Remus and Kate were still going strong so that left a lot of time for Sirius and Jen to become even closer friends. The Gryiffindors were in potions with the Slytherins at the moment. Potions was Jen's worst subject. No matter how hard she tried, she always messed up. Jen was trying to do this potion right, but as a loud BANG went off, she dropped to much lacewing flies into her potion and made hers blow up also, but unfortunately for her, Professor Slughorn was passing by her cauldron at that time trying to get about to the potion that was blown up across the room. Apparently, the potion across the room was an outside job and the two with the guilty faces were as predicted, James and Sirius. Slughorn now had scorched eyebrows and black soot all over his face and down his front. He looked down at the cowering Jen and yelled, "DETENTION! ALL OF YOU!" he added pointing out James and Sirius also.

James and Sirius seemed to think detention was well worth scorching a few Slytherin but Jen had noted that I was not even two months into school and she had already had about ten detentions from Slughorn alone. "Aw, come on, cheer up Jen, a little detention never hurt anyone." Sirius said putting his arm around her shoulder as the bell rang and they all made there was toward the feast for Halloween.

Jen looked up at Sirius and laughed. "I will never understand how you make light of everything. This has to be the tenth time this terms he has given me detention for messing up."

"Yes well, we all have to suck at something." Sirius said with a light cheerful tone.

"Oh really, then tell me Mr. Black, what do you suck at?" Jen asked raising an eyebrow, expecting him to say he didn't suck at anything, that he was exempt.

Sirius looked around the corridor; everyone else had already left them behind, "Isn't that obvious?" Sirius asked her as he stopped and lowered his voice.

Jen shook her head, so Sirius went on, "Well, obviously I suck at relationships. You know, keeping a girl more than a day." Sirius let out a light laugh. "I just can't see myself committing. I mean I want to, but come on, we have to be real here I can't commit."

Jen looked at Sirius in a much different light all of a sudden. "Now Sirius, I don't think you cant commit. I seem to think you might just have a fear of commitment. Its really common you know."

"Fear? Me? I'm not scarred of anything, we all know that." Sirius said drawing himself up all cockily.

"I bet if you found a girl you really like you could learn to change."

Sirius seemed to think on this for a minute. "Really? You think so? Lily and James seem to think the same. See I told them a while ago I wanted something real, like what they have and they have been talking with me and trying to help me change. But I just don't have a girl to change for yet. So if there is no girl, why change now?"

"Sirius, I really think you could change and any girl lucky enough to tame you, well she will be worth it all then." Jen said as she patted his chest and began to walk down the hall toward the feast.

Sirius seemed rooted on the spot for a minute until, "Hey Jen! Hang on now, where do you think you're off to?"

Jen stopped only a few feet away. "The feast, duh, I'm hungry."

Sirius walked back over to her and stopped and looked right at her, "Hey, I was kinda thinking though, more like wondering, if you would go as my date to the big ball coming up?" Sirius saw the wide eyes and shocked face she gave and quickly added, "You know, if you want and we would only have to go as friends you know."

Jen was mentally kicking herself now. He was the man she wanted asking her to the big ball and she couldn't accept. "I-uh, I can't." Sirius face seemed to fall at this. "See, it's just that someone has already asked me, and I said I would go with him." Jen added.

"Oh, well that ok, really. So uh, who asked you?" Sirius asked. He felt a little put off and didn't really know why.

Jen looked at him skeptically. "Why do you want to know?" She said in a joking tone.

Sirius looked her right in the eyes and in a very serious tone said, "Cause, I wanna kick his arse." Nothing in Sirius's face showed him joking and Jen got scarred for a minute.

"Uh- Sirius, now come on that's not exactly fair and…" She was cut off by Sirius bark of a laugh. She realized it was a joke.

"No really, who asked you, I just wanna know."

"Kevin Bradley, you know, from Hufflepuff.

"Oh, wow, that sucks."

"Who does that suck?"

"Because you have to go with a total looser, we would have had more fun together." Sirius said quietly as he brushed her hair out of her face. Then he quickly walked past her and disappeared around the corner. Jen was still standing the looking struck. She couldn't believe Sirius asked her and more over that she couldn't go with him. 'Damn that Bradley!' Jen thought.