"Moony?" said Sirius, they were curled up underneath a towel in one of the Potter's bathrooms, Sirius was thankful that no one had tried to disturb them. Remus was lying with his cheek on Sirius's chest, absent mindedly tracing circles round he belly button.
"Mm?" he replied drowsily
"Do you ever just feel... like... happy?"
"What d'you mean?" he asked, sitting up, his cheek peeling from Sirius
"I don't know... just happy. Like I mean, just happy. Nothing else"
"Erm... No, actually" Sirius's face fell "Well, I am happy, don't get me wrong, I haven't felt this good for months. But, I don't just feel happy. I never just feel happy"
"Really? What else do you feel right now" he asked, wondering how Moony could feel anything but contentment right at this moment. The air thick with that drowsy post orgasmic satisfaction, that seemed to radiate from the two of them. The warmth between them. The fact that they were just there, curled up together, snug and nude and fulfilled.
"I feel... tired"
"Well I'm tired as well Moony" he snorted "And you don't see me making this moment more complex than it should be"
"Sorry... it's a little more than tired though... I feel..." He sighed and ran his fingers through his half wet half dry hair "Drained"
"Drained?" said Sirius disappointedly "Why?"
"Sirius don't pout"
"I'm not pouting"
"You are. We're together again. It's wonderful. Forget I said anything Sirius, I'm very happy."
"Alright" said Sirius. He knew he should have pressed Remus for what was draining him but, he was tired of complex emotions. Complexity and sadness was all he got from Remus now. He wanted his simplicity, he wanted his happiness... he wanted Remus's happiness, feigned or not. It wasn't that he didn't care, because he did, he really did. It was more like he couldn't be bothered to care anymore, that he was perhaps feeling a little drained himself. He wove his arm round Remus's shoulder and his fingers into his hair, pushing Remus's cheek back down to his chest again. Remus's gold eyes shone up at him. A flicker of annoyance and indignance there, but just a flicker. Only a flicker. There was a soft knock at the door.
"As much as I don't want to disturb you two, I'm dying for a piss and I won't make it to the downstairs bathroom!!!" whined James. Remus and Sirius exchanged a little smirk; Remus snatched the towel and wrapped it round his waist, poking his tongue out as he did so. Sirius gave him the finger and quickly pulled on his jeans as Remus scooped up his clothes, they left the bathroom, James dancing on the spot outside the door.
"Piss away Prongs, it's all yours"
"Merlin's beard thank you" said James as he pushed past them, not bothering to close the door and giving a disturbing wail of relief. Remus quickly pulled on his underwear and jeans before unwrapping the towel from his waist and pulling on an old, bright yellow and red polyester t-shirt.
"What are you staring at?" Remus smirked
"Nothing. I'm just not used to seeing you in colour, that's all"
"I've been wearing this shirt all day"
"I know. I just hadn't realised"
"Oh... you come out with the oddest stuff sometimes Sirius"
"I've got Moony fever; it goes straight to your brain... I've had it a while, hadn't you noticed?"
"You, Padfoot, are cheesy as fuck!"
"You love it!" Sirius sung, Remus smiled at him, shaking his head
"I do"
*
Moanna stared deeply into Bruce's eye
"Why'd you leave me? Why'd you have to go and leave me like that Bruce?" She begged, dropping to her knees and wishing he would look her in the eyes
"Moanna... I wish I could tell you why but I can't. All I know is, I love you. You're a cheap nasty thieving whore, but I love you"
"Bruce, my daddy would kill us if he found out... you being the farm hand and all but... " she said, her loins burning as she slipped off her dress, revealing her supple breasts "Make love to me, right now, in the back of Daddy's barn" He walked-
"Hogwarts letters boys!" called Dorea from outside James's bedroom door. Remus snapped back to reality.
"Why does it bloody matter? We got in already didn't we?" moaned James as he dragged himself out of bed. Remus rolled his eyes, he'd been sitting in one of James's bean bag chairs (which he had to admit, were getting more and more comfortable everyday) reading one of the cheap muggle books he had gotten last week in the town. He had, he swore, entirely out of curiosity, bought some trashy looking romance novel and, to his dismay, he had been quite unable to put it down. The characters had stupid names, said stupid things and were in utterly stupid situations but Remus had found it strangely compelling. More compelling, at least, than Emma, which, despite Lily's assurances he would love it, Remus had just found soppy and irritating. And it was soppy and irritating without the filth that gave him a sort of cheap thrill like his lovely trashy romance novel.
"We need our new book lists" said Remus "And what if they throw a ball or something this year, they need to warn us to get dress robes or bring out old ones at least" he finished, eyes not leaving the page of his book as he found out exactly how Moanna and Bruce made love in the back of that barn without being caught by Moanna's father, Farmer Jobbs
"Come on Moony, put the book down, Mrs. Potter's been feeding you up nicely for me but you're still a bit on the skinny side" Sirius teased. Remus frowned and put his book back with his things. The four of them traipsed downstairs and sat at the Potter's kitchen table, letters already put on the table in front of them. James, Peter and Sirius tore their letters open quickly, Remus had been momentarily distracted by yet another hole forming in the knee of his cheap jeans.
"Fuck yeah!" called James
"What?" asked Peter, craning over the table to look at James's letter "What is it?"
"I'm Quidditch captain!" he grinned and held a small crimson badge aloft
"Nice one James, all the privileges of being a prefect with none of the responsibility" said Sirius, leaning casually back in his chair
"There's some responsibility! I've still got to run the bloody team! But... I was positive they'd give it to Cheng what with him being a seventh year" said James, Remus opened his letter. He scanned it, same old same old, new books, timetable, a plea for the ceasing of mischief, bring dress robes for ball (that should be interesting thought Remus) new DADA teacher, appointed Gryffindor prefect, new... Remus's eyes re read that last sentence.
"I thought they'd give it to you. Cheng's a nice guy and a good player but, he's no captain" shrugged Sirius. Remus re read that again and again... him... prefect. Were they fucking serious!? Had McGonagall looked at his fucking friends lately? But it was true; he felt a small bulge at the bottom of the letters discarded envelope. He quickly tipped it out and stuffed it into his jeans pocket. He would never hear the end of it if the other Marauders saw this.
"What was that Moony?" Asked Peter
"What was what?"
"That! The thing I just saw you put in your pocket" Peter pressed
"Nothing, I was just checking my pockets were empty"
"Bull shit!" snorted Sirius. James was giggling
"They haven't" he sniggered
"What" snapped Remus defiantly
"Given you the badge"
"Of Course not! Don't be ridiculous"
"Liar Liar pants on fire!" sung James "Our Widdle Wemmy is a Pwefect!" he mocked
"Okay... so what if I am s'not like it matters" he mumbled as the other three boys cackled with laughter
"I CAN'T FUCKING BELIEVE IT!" Screeched Sirius
"Shut up!" Snapped Remus over the laughter
"Or what? You going to give us a detention? Report us to McGonagall?" Cackled Peter
"This is priceless" James wiped a tear away from his eye, giggling manically "You should see the look on your fucking face Moony" Remus heaved a heavy sigh.
Remus spent the rest of the day with his head buried in book. He was finding the trials of Moanna and Bruce far more tolerable than Sirius, James and Peter's piss taking.
*
Dear Mum,
I'm having a great time at James's, for reasons unknown to me, I've been appointed prefect. I don't mind, I've always gotten on well with prefects and I suppose you'll be proud because you and dad were both prefects. I just wish James, Sirius and Peter would stop taking the piss. It's not like I asked to be made prefect or anything! But it doesn't matter. I am fine, the letters said we needed dress robes; can we afford new ones for me? I don't really care; I'll just wear my old ones.
I hope you're okay and I hope work is going alright, we've barely seen Mr. Potter, so things must be busy.
Don't Drink!
Remus
*
Dear Remus,
Congratulations on becoming prefect! I'm very proud of you! Work is hell; they've taken everyone working in the muggle worthy excuse committee and put us back on Obliviating on top of having to make excuses. My work load has doubled; life would be so much simpler if Voldemort would stop attacking muggles.
There's no way we can afford new dress robes on top of new books and school robes, sorry sweetheart.
I'm not drinking, I promise
Love Mum
*
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter stumbled through the leaky cauldron out into Diagon Alley. It was a particularly hot day and as a result many of the witches and wizards were in light muggle attire.
"So... where do we start?" Said Sirius confidently
"Dunno this is the first year I've done the back to school shopping without my mum" said Remus
"Same here actually" added James
"And me" Piped Peter
"My mother had the house elves do it" said Sirius, flicking his hair elegantly out of his eyes and causing a girl Remus recognised as a Slytherin third year to squeal delightedly. He flashed winked and she giggled madly before skipping over to her parents. Remus elbowed him in the stomach.
"C'mon, we've got robes to buy" he said with a frown. The four boys trotted down the street to Madam Malkin's, the witch greeted them brightly
"Hello Dears! Plain Hogwarts robes for all four of you?" They nodded and they were soon holding a bundle of new robes, they handed their money to her.
"And you'll be wanting some dress robes fitted as well, I imagine" she added
"Yep" said James grinning
"Actually, I won't be getting new robes" said Remus shyly
"What? Why?" asked Sirius
"Can't afford it. Money's always been tight... but now dad's... we just don't have enough" he said, a blush creeping up his face as he tugged at his worn t-shirt
"I'll lend you some money Moony" said Sirius
"I don't need your charity Sirius" Remus replied, more coldly than intended
"Are you sure?" Sirius continued
"Yeah, I'm sure. The three of you, go to the fitting room, I'll be waiting out here for you" Remus said, sitting down on a chair by the fitting room door.
"Okay... see you in a few minutes Moony" said James quietly. Remus slumped in his chair after they left, the small robes shop was hot and stuffy, he could see sweat causing his t-shirt to cling to him, the light ridges of his scars visible. He plucked at the shirt and sighed, sinking lower in his chair. The shop door opened, a familiar head of blonde hair dampened by perspiration was visible above the racks of robes. A pair of sea green eyes framed by spectacles twinkled nervously as they peered at him; a hand flew up to the face and pushed at the spectacles.
"Fisher?"
"Er... no..." Fisher ducked behind a rack of clothes "I'm not Fisher, who the hell is Fisher any way?"
"Fisher, don't be pathetic" he snapped, impatient with the heat. Fishers head appeared again.
"Sorry..." He said anxiously "I'll go... shit, I'll just go. Oh fuck" he muttered
"No!" called Remus, hopping up from his chair as Fisher turned to leave "Wait! I've wanted to talk to you for months!"
"Yeah... sorry about avoiding you by the way"
"You were avoiding me? I'd never've noticed" Said Remus dryly with a little smirk. Fisher went crimson almost instantly.
"Er... listen... it was just a silly crush Remus... I'm like... over it now... sorry for kissing you when you obviously weren't like attracted to me or anything..." he laughed sadly "Why would you be?"
"Oh shut it Fisher. You're really good looking, you know you are. What I've been trying to explain to you for about 2 months is that, I didn't push you off me because I don't find you attractive, I pushed you away because... and you have to promise to keep this secret"
"Of course" Fisher nodded urgently, Remus looked around, to check there wasn't someone in the shop he hadn't noticed
"I'm seeing someone" he said quietly
"What?! Who? I thought... I... I mean I knew you were gay... and now I know I'm bi... I didn't know there was anyone else..." Said Fisher, more curious than shocked
"Well... you must not repeat this to anyone, understood?"
"Right"
"Sirius Black"
"BLACK?!" He said, mouth hanging open "But... he... he's slept with all those girls... I heard... even my sister apparently... wait no... When did you...?"
"Uh... November-ish"
"Wow... I..." he cleared his throat and pushed at his glasses "I stopped hearing stuff about him with girls round then... Shit... so it's pretty serious then?"
"Erm... yep"
"Ha... well that makes sense... er haha... so... you're seeing him... and it's serious. Well... and there's no chance of you two breaking up anytime soon?" he said, a smile sneaking onto his chiselled, scarlet features, Remus smiled back sadly
"No... No I don't think so"
"Well... if you ever do... you know where to find me" he grinned, his eyes snapping back and forth from Remus to the floor, pushing at his glasses again, he was about to leave the shop
"Don't you need to buy robes?"
"Yes but... well... shit I was going to hide outside and wait for you to come out of the shop before I did" he said shyly
"Oh... don't let me stop you!" Laughed Remus awkwardly
"Ha! I won't!" They laughed again, and Fisher slunk out of the shop, looking completely mortified and hitting himself on the head as he shook it.
"Poor Fisher" Said Remus aloud to himself "Poor bloody... fancying me... stupid... why would you" he muttered, promptly stopping when another customer entered the shop. A girl Remus recognised from Hogwarts, she was older than he was, a seventh year. She had blonde hair and sea green eyes.
"Hey" she said casually
"Hi"
"I'm Iris Fisher" She smirked "so... you're the kid my brother's trying to fuck then"
"Er... quite possibly" said Remus nervously
"Hmm" Her eyes ran around his face "You're cute... I like the scars"
"I was in a car accident" he said suddenly
"Right, I didn't ask, but thanks for that" She raised her brows "Gabriel's pretty hung up on you. You don't think of him that way though?"
"Well... I'm seeing someone"
"Aha... but you do like him? As a friend, I mean"
"Of course, Fisher's great"
"Good... Can you do me a favour? And Gabriel?"
"Yeah, alright"
"Stay out of his way. The last thing I want is my little brother having his heart broken" She said this firmly, but not coldly or angrily. Just firmly
"Alright... okay"
"And don't tell him we spoke. I just came in here to buy his robes for him" she smiled and winked
"Right"
"Oh, and tell that friend of yours he was a shit fuck anyway, and I don't care he never spoke to me afterwards" She said coldly as she picked out a few sets of plain robes
"Will do"
"What do you think for his dress robes" she held a set of dark blue ones against her frame "Blue or..." she held up a set that were a rich lilac "...purple?"
"Neither... I'd get him green"
"Nice idea. It'll bring out his eyes"
*
"James, Moony and me, d'you reckon we're about the same height now?" Said Sirius and Madam Malkin put the finishing touches on his Gryffindor red dress robes. James and Peter had gone with navy and black but Sirius was in the mood for something a little more vibrant.
"Yeah, give or take an inch" shrugged James
"Great. Madam Malkin?" The witch looked up from his wrist, where she was adjusting the cuff of his robes
"Yes dear?"
"I want 2 sets of dress robes fitted"
"Sirius... he said no" warned James
"I don't care; I'll make this his birthday present"
"Sirius, I don't think he's bothered" Said Peter as he put his new dress robes into a bag "He's never been one to fuss over how he looks"
"Don't care; I want him to have something nice for once" scowled Sirius
"Alright, but when he tells you to fuck off with you charity, don't say we didn't warn you" snapped James
"Whatever"
"What colour would you like for this set dear?" asked Madam Malkin shyly
"I'm thinking... gold"
"Oh I bet Moony will love that" said James sarcastically "He seems like the kind of person who'd wear a lot of gold" he rolled his eyes
"It'll bring out his eyes" said Peter. Sirius and James eyed him oddly "What? I was only saying!"
*
"Okay Moony, we're all done" said Peter smiling
"Thank God for that! Do you have any idea how hot it is in here?" said Remus irritably, plucking at his sweat soaked t-shirt
"There was nothing stopping you from going outside mate" snorted James
"Oh yeah... fucking hell" Remus slapped himself "The heat's boiled my brain, it's made me an idiot"
"Cheer up Moony, we're book shopping now, your favourite" Beamed Peter, Remus perked up a little
"Flourish and Blotts is usually nice and cool" he smiled
"Exactly" said James
"Oh, Sirius, I ran into Iris Fisher, ring any bells?" said Remus wryly
"It... might" he said sheepishly "...why?"
"She wanted me to tell you: you were a shit fuck and she didn't care that you didn't speak to her afterward"
"I am not a shit fuck!" He said outraged
"Don't shoot the messenger Padfoot!" giggled Remus "Now take me out of this shop before I start to cook" They nodded and exited Madam Malkin's and the temperature was not much different outdoors, it was humid and without a breeze, it was almost unbearable
"Bloody hell" exclaimed James "I hope the books shop have the sense to put up a few cold air charms" They pushed through the crowd; it was particularly busy that day. Suddenly Peter piped
"Have any of you heard anything about the new DADA teacher?"
"No, actually" said Remus
"I've not heard anything" added Sirius with a shrug
"Dad said something the other day." Began James "Apparently they're bringing in some young guy; he's only barely twenty or something. He like just finished auror training under my Dad and erm... I think Dumbledore wanted an auror, any auror, what with the war and everything, to teach us... I can't fucking remember his name either... for fucks sake! He was in Gryffindor; he had the dorm next to ours before he left"
"Oh! You mean Frank Longbottom?" suggested Peter
"Yeah! That's him! Frank! Or, Professor Longbottom now I s'pose" smirked James
"Brilliant! I always liked Frank" said Sirius with a grin "He liked us as well, didn't he? We'll be able to get away with anything in his lessons"
"C'mon, we still need to treat him with respect like any other teacher" said Remus with a frown
"Don't be a wet blanket Moony" said Sirius with a roll of his eyes, Remus frowned at him as they entered Flourish and Blotts.
"Fucking hell! It's absolutely packed in here!" shouted Peter over the loud rumble of the crowd
"It's not that bad" called Remus as someone elbowed him in the stomach "at least they've got some cold air charms blowing" someone knocked past him and he stumbled backward
"OUCH! MOONY YOU'RE ON MY FOOT!" Snapped James
"Sorry James!!!"
"You're fucking heavy for someone so skinny" he frowned
"Bugger off" said Remus
"I don't think I can be arsed with this" said Sirius, frowning and flicking his hair "It would make more sense if just one of us got everyone's books. It'll be quicker and it'll save all of us from having to push and shove their way around everyone" They all exchanged glances
"BAGSY NOT ME!" shouted Peter
"Not me!" added Remus and Sirius simultaneously. James eyed them darkly.
"Fine! Everyone give me your money, I'll do it" James rolled his eyes and waded into the thick sea of body's, his book list held aloft.
Remus, Sirius and Peter hung round outside the shop for James to return, they stared in through the window at the mass off people inside
"We shouldn't have sent him into that hell hole alone" Said Sirius warily
"At least that hell hole's cool, I'm cooking out here!" said Remus shaking his head
"It's not that bad! Wormtail's alright and he had ten times the amount of insulation you do" Sirius teased, prodding Peter's belly
"Fuck you!" he smacked Sirius's hand away. Sirius sighed
"Sorry" he said defensively.
"What colour dress robes did you two end up getting?"
"Navy blue" said Peter, flashing Remus the inside of his bag.
"Red" said Sirius proudly "Proper Gryffindor red"
"They look a bit like your Quidditch robes" said Peter
"Don't be stupid Peter, these look far more expensive than my Quidditch robes" snapped Sirius
"Can I have a look at them?" asked Remus, his hand going towards Sirius's bag
"No! No, not yet" said Sirius holding his bag behind his back
"Why not?"
"Because... you're sweaty and these weren't exactly cheap" said Sirius, deliberately haughty
"Oh... fair enough" Remus looked down, his shirt was completely soaked in sweat
"Why are you so hot Moony?" Peter curled his lip at his damp friend
"Just the way God made him Wormy" Sirius grinned and winked at Remus, who couldn't help but smiling back
"I meant temperature wise you stupid poufs! Is it something related to your furry little problem?"
"No... I think it's just something to do with me being very intolerant of the heat"
James emerged forty minutes later, panting with four bags full of books
"All of you fucking owe me for that!"
"How bad was it?"
"It just looks busy from out here, but in there" He shook his head "Worse than the goblin riots Professor Binns is always on about"
"You actually listen to Binns when he speaks?" asked Remus curiously
"Well yeah... I want to get marks and I can't get by in that on talent alone! Don't you Moony?"
"No... I honestly didn't think anybody did" he laughed. Sirius snorted at James
"I get by on talent alone! You arrogant prat!"
"Oi! Pot, kettle, black!"
*
"Moanna, please, you can't keep lying to me!" Bruce shrieked
"I know Bruce" she wept "I know"
"Whose baby is it? Mine? Reginald's? It's not that Bentley's is it!?" He roared, stumbling drunkly towards her curvatious frame
"Bruce... baby please... I never meant to"
"Lies Woman! I always knew you were a whore!"
"My whoring days finished when I met you Bruce"
"Stop lying to me!" He struck her hard on the face "Whose baby is it?"
"The baby... it's... it's... my father's!"
"No fucking way!" muttered Remus. He'd always had Farmer Jobbs down as a bastard, but a rapist? He'd never of seen that coming.
"What is it Moony?" asked Sirius, his eyes never tearing away from the intense game of exploding snap he, Peter and James were having.
"Nothing, just this stupid book"
"Alright... What time's your mum expecting you?"
"Five o'clock"
"And what time is now?" asked Sirius sadly. Remus looked at his watch and raised his brow in surprise. Time really flies when you're reading stupid muggle romance novels
"It's five Sirius. I'll have to go"
"Can't you stay just a bit longer?"
"You'll see me next week!"
"I know... but I'll miss you for a week"
"Oi" snapped James
"I'll miss you and Peter as well, of course" he said lazily "I'm dreading going home... it'll be worth it to see the look on Walburga's face when she sees the posters though" he grinned evilly.
"Please don't wind her up too much Sirius, I won't be happy if you come back to Hogwarts in bits" warned Remus with a smile, as he approached the fire place with his bags.
"Don't worry Moony" Sirius abandoned his game "I'll be alright" he gave him a particularly sloppy tongue kiss
"My eyes!!! Fucking warn us next time you do that!" Shrieked Peter
"For fucks sake just get over it Wormtail" growled James. Sirius sneered at Peter and smiled at James
"See you later Moony. Oh! Just leave the bags; we'll have a house elf send them over"
"Oh okay" he smiled and dropped his bags "Bye guys!" Said Remus as he threw a handful of floo powder into the fire "The Lupin's house, Yorkshire" He hopped into the emerald green flames, and sure enough as he arrived, his bags were there already.
"Mum, I'm home!" He called, no response "Mum!... Muuum! Mum?" he checked the kitchen, no mum; he went upstairs and gingerly opened her bedroom door. She was curled up asleep on the bed, surrounded by papers and broken quills. There was a spilt cup of tea soaking into the carpet and, to his dismay; she appeared to be clutching an almost empty bottle of wine. He sighed
"You promised me you wouldn't you stupid bint" He scowled and cleared up around her, stacking the papers on her desk, throwing out the quills and cleaning the tea out of the carpet. He gently pried the bottle from his mother's arms and tipped what little of it there was down the kitchen sink. Remus set out on hunting down all of the alcohol in the house, and making sure every last dropped was poured down the drain.
*
"Sirius... are you sure this is a good idea?" worried Regulus
"I've never been more sure of anything" he smirked as he stuck up the last of his muggle girl posters with everlasting magical glue
"She's going to go mental" said Regulus chewing his lip
"Good" grinned Sirius "And now... for the finishing touch" he flicked on his record player, which instantly began blaring loud heavy metal
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?"
"THAT, DEAR REGULUS, IS BLACK SABBATH" He laughed manically as he heard his mother begin to stomp up the stairs, Regulus panicked and flew from his brothers room into his own.
"SIRIUS! MIGHT I REMIND YOU THAT YOUR GRANDFATHER IS STILL HERE, AND STILL VERY MUCH ASLEEP" she shrieked, bursting into the room "IS THAT THE NOISE OF FLITHY MUGGLES I HEAR?!"
"WHY... I DO BELIEVE IT IS!" he sneered. She glared viciously
"EXPULSO!" There was a bang, Sirius's record played had been reduced to small pile of dust
"What the fu-!"
"Don't you dare think of using a profanity now boy!" she spat "We have always gone easily with you when it came to punishment. We mustn't hurt our heir too badly. That ends today. You have pushed too far boy" she advanced, her wand raised, she snarled like a rabid dog.
A/N This chapter took me bloody ages, didn't it! Ack! Sorry! Hope it was worth the wait!!! Remember to be cool a review, 'cause if you don't you won't be cool. And nobody doesn't want to be cool!
(The last chapter got the most reviews I've had for chapter! How 'citin is that :P)
