When Sirius and James turned up at the Quidditch pitch Clara wasn't there. Gideon and Fabian, the two beaters, were arguing over which colour of roses to give her. Gideon was vehemently sticking with red whilst Fabian had opted for the more unromantic colour of yellow.
"It suits her personality more," Fabian argued.
"If that was the case then she would be in Hufflepuff!" Gideon said. "The reds are romantic and our house colour!"
"Why don't you go stick a thorn in your arse?"
"Why don't you come up with better arguments?"
"It's good to see a bit of brotherly love," Sirius said to James, who nodded.
"Oi! Dimwits!" James said. Gideon and Fabian turned to look around. "Where is our esteemed leader anyway?"
"Oh she hasn't turned up yet," Said Valerie, the seeker of the team. She was a nimble bright girl just finishing her N.E.W.T's with bright blonde hair, cut short and spiking in all different directions. She waved over to her boyfriend, David, who was sitting in the stands talking to his friends. He waved back before ruffling his messy black hair.
"Fantastic," Sirius said. "I'm gonna do a few circuits of the pitch, wanna join?"
"In a few minutes," James said.
"Alright," Sirius mounted his broom and took off. James watched for a minute before walking over to the captains tent. He peered inside and saw Clara kissing Greg, her boyfriend. Blushing, James retreated, making sure he wasn't seen. He got on his broom and flew over to Sirius.
"Guess who I saw kissing,"
"Clara?" Sirius asked.
James' grin dropped. "How on gods' earth did you get that?"
"It was pretty obvious,"
"No, seriously, how did you know?"
"I didn't," Sirius shrugged. "I guessed."
A sharp whistle blew from beneath them and Sirius and James leaned forward flying down to the rest of the team.
"Alright!" Clara said. "We divide into teams of three. All chasers. We need to train the new recruit, Nellie,"
James and Sirius paired off into a team with Valerie, whilst Gideon and Fabian went to Nellie's side. Clara gave Greg a quick peck on the cheek before mounting her own broom and hovering, watching the game from afar. James got the quaffle first. He darted throwing it to Sirius who flew low against the ground. He threw it at Valerie who darted a attack from Gideon. Fabian knocked her slightly, grabbing the Quaffle and zooming from view.
"CATCH NELLIE!" He bellowed throwing the quaffle at her. Nellie grabbed it and zoomed off. James could tell that she was good. She managed to dodge several of Valerie's attacks without no hesitation. There was a jeering from the crowd. James stopped and looked around. A group of Slytherins had gathered and were jeering Nellie.
"MUDBLOOD!" Shouted one.
"FILTHY BITCH!" Shouted another.
Sirius had stopped too and was looking furious. Nellie was close to tears. She stopped and got from her broom running away into the bathrooms. Valerie and Clara stopped, getting off their brooms and following her.
"I ought to teach those little bastards a lesson or two," Sirius hissed, getting his wand out. James held him back.
"Wait," He said calmly.
"They've upset Nellie!"
"I know!"
"Then why are you telling me to wait?"
"Because attacking them will do no good for the team." James said.
"I don't care about the team!" Sirius said. He flew down and got off his broom, marching towards the group who were cat-calling him. James got down too and ran after his friend. He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him off. Sirius was fighting against him.
"How DARE they treat her that way!" He bellowed.
Gideon and Fabian grabbed Sirius and together with James, they hauled him back. Sirius stood for a moment before running after the girls into the Bathroom.
"SIRIUS!" James shouted. "You can't go in there!"
Too late. Sirius had disappeared. James looked begrudgingly at Gideon and Fabian.
"He's your friend." Gideon said.
James let out a hefty sigh and followed Sirius. They were crowded against the sink. Nellie was sitting next to the bin, a tissue in her hand and her face snail-trailed with tears. Sirius kneeled in front of her whilst Valerie and Clara were trying their best to stop her from crying.
"They're just no good wasters," Sirius said. "They don't know how brilliant you are."
"Yeah," Valerie said. "They're just scared because with you on the team we'll beat them this year."
"Trust me," Clara said. "When I joined, I got called every name under the sun by those Slytherins. But it wore off eventually. You just gotta be a Gryffindor and stick it out."
Nellie said nothing. Clara put her arms around her.
"Do you want me to get McGonagall?" Asked a voice.
They turned to see David standing at the door. Valerie jumped up and ran up to him. "I think that's for the best." She said.
"No!" Nellie said sharply through her tears. "I don't want her here."
David ran his hands over his scruffy face.
"David," Valerie said. "Try and get those idiots off the pitch."
He stared at his girlfriend before nodding and kissing her forehead. He rubbed her arm then left. Valerie went back down to sit with Nellie.
"Are you sure you don't want him to get McGonagall?" Clara asked.
Nellie nodded. "I… Don't… Want… Them… To…See…This!" She motioned at herself before dissolving into tears again.
James sighed and pulled a bit of chocolate from his pocket and handed it to her. Sirius stared at James who shrugged. "Moony's given me his habits."
"I can see that," Sirius observed.
Nellie took the chocolate. Then Gideon erupted with. "AND WHERE'S MY CHOCOLATE?"
The team broke into a smile.
…
"So you are going out with her?" James asked.
"Yes, fine, Prongs," Remus said closing his book and stuffing it into his bag. "I'm going out with her. Get over it."
Sirius looked up, his face bright. "Does that mean I get to sing my song?"
"Fine!" Remus said. "I'm really in no mood to argue with you today."
"Time of the month?" Peter asked.
"Yes,"
"Oh,"
"But you still are coming to Hogsmede, right?" James asked.
"Not with you guys." Remus said.
"I'll sing it anyway." Sirius said. "Moony's got a girlfriend, Moony's got a girlfriend-" Remus grabbed one of Sirius's sausages from his plate and stuffed it into his mouth. Sirius stared angrily at Remus, then muttered. "Fine, I'll stop."
"Thank you," Remus said, throwing the rest of the sausage on his plate and wiping his hands.
"God you can get grumpy during the full moon," Sirius said.
"You've only just noticed?"
James bit his toast as he got up from the bench. "Come on," He said. "Let's get going." Sirius, Peter and Remus got up, pulling on their jackets and moving quickly through the school towards the courtyard where the rest of the students had gathered.
"Remus!" Shouted a voice. Remus twisted around and saw Lily running towards him.
"Yes?" He asked.
"I need to talk to you," Lily said urgently.
"Remus!" Cried Sarah, moving towards him, smiling brightly. Remus looked at her.
"Listen, Lily, can it wait until we get back?" Remus asked.
"What?" Lily asked. "No, it can't wait."
"No, please," Remus said. "When we get back," He took Sarah's hand and left. Sirius and James stared at the scene.
"What the hell was that about?" Sirius asked.
"Have no clue," James said.
"Maybe she's about to declare her undying love for him," Sirius suggested.
"Don't joke about that," James said.
"Come on!" Peter said. "Maybe we can find out what's going on if we follow them."
But they lost them in the crowd.
"Damn," Sirius said.
…
"So, do you hang out with them all the time?" Sarah asked.
Remus smiled gently. "Not all the time. I'm hanging out with you, aren't I?"
"Yeah, well… I know that much…" Sarah said. "I mean, what are they about?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, they're idiots, you're not, they're pranksters, and you're not…" Sarah said. "Do I need to go on?" Remus was smiling. "What? What is it?"
"Mm?" he looked up. "Oh, nothing, they're my friends. They've stuck with me through thick and thin. Can't exactly abandon them,"
"What do you mean by thick and thin?" Sarah asked. "I mean, you're not exactly fighting wars here."
"No, not quite, but you know, they're more brothers than actual friends."
"Brothers you can't choose," Sarah said.
"Ah, true." Remus said. "What about you? Any brothers or sisters?"
"One older brother, one younger sister. Derek will be… 21 in July and Betsy will be 5 in… November…"
"You love them?"
"No!" Sarah let out a laugh. "I haven't seen Derek in so long, Betsy I adore though." Remus smiled. Sarah took his hand and he stared at it for a moment. "Sorry, do you not want me to – "
"No it's…" Remus smiled some more. "It's fine."
"I want to go to Three Broomsticks," Sarah said.
"Okay," Remus nodded. "Hold on though," He stopped and dug his hand into his pocket and checked his galleon count. "Oh… Er…"
"Remus, if you're short a few sickles just say," Sarah said. "Nothing to be ashamed of."
"REMUS!" Lily was darting towards them. Remus turned.
"Lily, I asked you if this could wait," He said.
"I know but it can't," Lily said.
"I'm with someone at the moment," Remus said.
"I know, hey Sarah." Lily said.
"Hey," Sarah said, a little annoyed at the interruption.
"Remus please," Lily insisted.
Remus bit his lips then nodded. "Excuse me," He said, letting go of Sarah's hand and following Lily to the side. Lily looked around and checked if anybody was eavesdropping.
"Remus, I need to know," Lily took in a deep breath. "Are you a werewolf?"
Remus stood still for a second, he then let out a shaky laugh. "What a preposterous idea," He said as calmly as he could.
"Remus, don't lie to me," She ordered.
Remus ran a hand through his hair. He began to fumble around desperately for an excuse. "Lily, please, don't be so ridiculous."
"Remus!"
"No!" He cried. "I don't know where you heard it, but put it out of mind,"
"Remus, don't you dare insult my intelligence," Lily said. "Are you a werewolf or not?"
Remus stared at her, then he nodded. "Yes. Yes, I am."
"I just needed to know,"
Remus was shaking his head. "Don't tell anyone." He said. "Please. I get enough segregation as it is,"
"I understand that, it's just,"
"Lily, promise me you won't breathe a word of this to anyone!" Remus said grasping her forearms. "Please, promise me."
Lily nodded. "Not a word."
"I have… I have to go…" Remus said, letting her go. He ran off back to Sarah, angry and red.
"Remus?" Sarah asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Remus said. "Listen, Sarah, I can't… I can't do this."
"It's Lily, isn't it?"
"No." Remus sighed. "I just… I knew that I shouldn't, but it felt nice. But it's stupid, I can't… I'm sorry." He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving.
…
"Evans' knows?" James asked.
"Yes," Remus said into his butterbeer.
"Knows, knows?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, Sirius,"
"Shit," Peter said.
"Tell me about it." Remus said.
"So what did you do?"
"I ran away," Remus said. "Duh."
"Bloody hell man," James said. "She isn't going to tell anyone is she?"
"I don't think so," Remus said sighing, putting his glass down. "I hope not."
"Girls can be right bitches," Sirius said.
"Mm."
"What about Sarah?" Peter asked.
"Not going out with her," Remus said.
"You dumped her?" Sirius asked.
"Well it could hardly be classed as dumping," Remus said. "Seeing that we only went out twice, and the second time is when said relationship failed."
"You're an idiot." James said. "Sarah didn't know, you would have been fine with her."
"She'd find out eventually," Remus said. "She is a Ravenclaw. Lily only worked it out before her because she's known me for longer,"
"I doubt she would mind," Sirius said.
"I doubt your doubts," Remus said glumly.
"You always do," Sirius sighed.
"What about you?" Remus asked. "Any luck with Mary?"
"Moody bitch," Sirius said.
"So that's a no?"
"No, that's a yes." Sirius said. "She's just a moody bitch. I'm sure she calls me a dog behind my back."
"You're not a dog though," James said. "Remus is-"
"Yes James, enough with the dog jokes," Remus interrupted.
"Are you guys official yet?" James asked, looking over at Sirius.
"I don't know." Sirius shrugged. "I guess not yet. I'm sure she wants to wait until we're both ready to go official."
"Oh, Sirius Black the lady's man not officially dating someone yet?" James asked. "I find that hard to believe."
"Just drop it James," Sirius said. "I know that you'll never get Lily, or any other girl for that matter."
"Hey!" James said. "I have Caitlin."
"Who you haven't spoken to since… Slughorns' party." Sirius said.
"No!" James argued. "I spoke to her just yesterday."
"Oh, were you comforting her over her pet rabbit dying?" Remus asked.
"Y-" James stopped. "Her rabbit died? Bummer."
"Well you would know, she's been crying about it all week."
"Dammit,"
"Freshen your drinks, boys?" Aberforth asked.
"Thanks," James said, he leaned back examining Hogs Head. "Aberforth?"
"Yes James?"
"Do you know of any passageways and stuff leading out to Hogwarts?" James asked.
Aberforth considered this whilst handing out drinks. "There is a few that you might not know of, but I recommend not using them. Shall I write them down?"
"If you could." James said. Aberforth leaned down, taking a pencil out of his pocket. He stopped and looked up.
"You ain't gonna use these for pranking stuff are you?" He asked.
"No!" Sirius cried. "How dare you suggest such a thing?"
James grinned. "Aberforth, how long have you known us?"
Aberforth let out a grumble and continued to write on the napkin.