"Sirius! Get up!"
Sirius rolled onto his face, chewing the pillow and his black hair drawn like curtains over his eyes. "Five more minutes," He could feel the warm autumn sun rays spread slowly into the room, but he didn't care.
James stood over the bed with a pitiful expression on his face. He was wearing his pyjama's under a large dressing gown that was hanging loosely. Tucked under his arm were his clothes for the day. "You said that five minutes ago."
Sirius couldn't help but grin. "Fine, give me ten more minutes."
James turned to see Peter slumped against the wooden post of the bed, his lips pressed over it and drooling slightly. He sighed.
"I have now, unlimited sympathy for what Moony puts up with," He muttered. "Come on, if you want to go to Hogsmede, you better hurry up so we can visit Remus first."
"I'm sure Remus doesn't need to be visited by three overly idiotic and chaotic –" Sirius' stomach growled. "Not to mention insanely hungry, boys,"
"No, but he can't go to Hogsmede today," James said. "I'm sure he'll feel left out."
"Well maybe, and here's a thought," Sirius said, raising his finger to point at James. James thought it would be immensely more powerful if Sirius actually got up and looked around at him instead of face down on a pillow. "Maybe we shouldn't spend all night in the girl's lavatories, whilst knowing that we would have to visit the hairy git in the morning and get ready for a bloody day in Hogsmede."
"You were the one who suggested we should do it!" James cried.
"James bloody Potter," Sirius sighed. "When should you ever, ever take my suggestions seriously?"
"Since you forced me down the hall into the lavatories and told Myrtle to piss off." James replied.
"One time," Sirius said.
"Will you please hurry up?" James said. "We have about an hour."
Sirius let out a disgruntled moan before lifting his face from the pillow. He sighed and fell back onto the bed. "Okay, just another minute."
James kicked him. Sirius looked around and saw his friend begin to pull on his clothes for the day.
"What's wrong?" he asked, pushing his hair back. "Scared you'll miss a fun filled day with Caitlin?"
"No,"
"Good,"
James unrolled his socks and looked over. "Aren't you nervous about spending the whole day with Mary?"
"God no," Sirius replied.
"Well… Why not?" James asked, throwing a pillow at Peter which smacked him on the face and sent him straight to the floor.
"I'm up!" Peter declared getting to his feet.
Sirius shrugged. "Dunno, should I be?"
James raised an eyebrow. "I don't know," He said, shoving his glasses further up his nose. "Maybe not."
"You're such a girl James," Sirius said.
"Well… You know, I try," James replied. "Does this go together?"
Sirius threw his own pillow at James, who fell back onto the bed laughing, Peter was pulling out his clothes when he realised that Mithradates and Frank and the other boys in the dorm were not awake.
"Why are we up?" He asked.
"Because we need to make Remus feel better about missing Hogsmede," James said.
"I'm sure he doesn't need three blithering idiots to do that for him," Sirius said.
"Excuse me?" James said. "I am not a blithering idiot. Peter maybe, but not me."
"Thanks guys," Peter grumbled.
Once dressed and prepared for the day ahead of them (invisibility cloak included), they crept from the dormitory, careful not to wake the others and out down the stairs and into the common room. A few people were up and milling about, talking absentmindedly. Among them was Lily. She stood up when she saw them.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Why so curious all of a sudden?" James asked. "Fancy coming with us?"
"Don't be a dork, Potter," Lily replied. "Breakfast doesn't start for another good fifteen minutes."
"If it so pleases you," Sirius said, getting annoyed. "We're about to go see Remus."
Lily's eyes widened, her lips parting gently into a soft "Oh." She looked away, embarrassed and annoyed at herself. "Okay, give him my best."
Sirius nodded and grabbed James by the elbow practically dragging him away from the common room before he decided to ask Lily out for the fourth time this week. They cut across the main courtyard which though it seemed like a longer pass to the hospital wing, actually cut the journey in half. They travelled up the stairs past the sleeping Xeno who was napping on a knight's foot.
"Should we wake him?" Peter asked.
Sirius looked over. "Nah." He said. "He'll get up of his own accord. Much healthier."
Peter shrugged and followed them down the corridors to the hospital wing. The doors were shut and there was the sound of something in incredibly pain. James, Sirius and Peter looked at each other.
"Dear god, I hope that wasn't anyone I know," Sirius said, pushing open the doors. Someone was flung in front of them. Madam Pomfrey stood, her arms blocking them.
"I'm sorry," She said. "But the hospital wing is closed for today," A tear escaped her eye and hung on her lashes.
"Closed?" James said disbelievingly. "You can't close the hospital wing."
"Yes I can," She replied.
There was another sound. She looked around.
"Is that Remus?" Sirius asked.
"No," She replied.
"Then who is it?" Peter asked.
"No one," She replied.
"Let me pass," James ordered
"I'm afraid I can't do that." The MediWitch replied.
"Let me pass," James said again, his time his voice dangerously low.
"I can't," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Let me see my friend!" Sirius bellowed.
"I'm afraid I can't let you see him!" Madame Pomfrey said almost shrilly.
"And I'm telling you, I don't care!" James nearly roared.
"I will get the headmaster, Potter," Madame Pomfrey hissed violently.
"GET THE BLOODY WHOLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS!" Sirius shouted. "We want to see Remus!"
"DO NOT SHOUT AT ME!" Madame Pomfrey shouted.
"Get out of my way!" James shouted. He shoved her out of the way and marched down to the only occupied bed in the ward. Before he got a chance someone pulled back the curtain. Remus stood, pale panting and looking worse than they had ever seen him. He clutched his left side and clung to the curtain for support. In the morning sun, they saw the full extent of the damage. Four long claw marks etched across his face and straight down to his shoulder and in the light they saw a few flecks of grey.
"Remus," Sirius said. "What the bloody hell happened to you?"
Remus smiled weakly before letting out a groan, he doubled over, James and Sirius grabbed his arms to hold him upright.
"Bed!" Madame Pomfrey said as calmly as she could, staring at James, Sirius and Peter. James and Sirius hoisted Remus onto the bed. Madame Pomfrey then shifted the shirt of his pyjamas lifted off Remus' hands to see the extent of the damage, a purple bruise completely covering his left side. "Three broken ribs," She said. "How's your foot?"
Remus stretched it out in front of him and winced. He let out a loud groan before slumping down on the bed. Madame Pomfrey looked at him with a mixture of pity and fear. She gently pulled down a side of his trousers, carefully to protect his modesty. She felt his hip and he almost screamed. His hand gripped on the metal bar.
"Okay, Remus, grab my hand," James said. Remus did as he was told and James instantly regretted it. A lot of his friend's strength was still there from the previous night and he was holding on tightly.
Madame Pomfrey stood up and collected some things out of the cabinet.
"We'll stay here," Sirius said, looking over to James who nodded. "I'll find Mary and Caitlin. Tell them today's not going to work."
Remus caught the end of Sirius' words. He looked up. "No," He said. "No, don't cancel your plans."
"Remus, shut up," James ordered.
"I don't want you here," Remus said. "You had plans."
"Correction," Peter said. "Sirius and James had plans. I was going to be the third wheel."
"Technically," Sirius said. "You would have been a fifth wheel."
"Did that help in any way?" Peter asked.
"No, but I thought I should mention it," Sirius said. "What happened to you last night?"
Remus shook his head. "I don't remember. Is it bad?"
"What the scratches?" James asked. "You'll have to use a concealment charm otherwise Snape will cotton on."
"Snape?" Remus asked, trying to sit up, but instead just let out a muffled scream, his grip tightening on James' hand.
"He wants to know where you go ever full moon," Sirius said. "I'd hex him, but people say I can't do that anymore."
"Mm." James said. "Mind loosening your grip there Moony?"
Remus looked over, almost forgetting that he had James' hand in his. "Oh, sorry," His grip relaxed.
Madame Pomfrey was back. "You are a very lucky person to be alive after last night," She said. "You're entire left side is completely shattered. You've already started to heal, but you'll need some things to speed up the process."
"How did you manage to do that?" Sirius asked.
"Like I keep telling you," Remus replied. "I can't remember."
Madam Pomfrey pulled out a dropper and placed four drops on the bruise. Remus let out a yell, gripping James tightly. He bit his tongue, tears cascading down his cheeks.
"Let me through! I need to see him!" Cried a voice. Madame Pomfrey sighed and got up to try and stop whoever it was.
A streak of blonde passed and stood staring at the foot of the bed. Remus didn't register who it was.
"Remus?" Sarah breathed. She took his hand from James'. "Remus, I'm here."
Remus opened his eyes and saw Sarah. He squeezed her hand. "Hey," He said.
Sarah leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, stroking his hair. Tears fell down her cheeks. "You look older." She said.
"Yeah well," Remus muttered, he tried to moved towards her but let out a cry.
"I'm here," She whispered. "Hold my hand, I'm here for you," She looked around at James Peter and Sirius who were all smiling. "Oh shut up, don't you have to go to Hogsmede and meet dates?"
"No," James said.
"Yes," Remus said.
"Remus, don't argue with someone who is in full health, because they generally know better," James said. "We're staying."
Sirius pulled James back. "Actually, I think they want to be left alone."
James looked back at Remus and Sarah. "Oh. Right." He grinned at them. "See you guys later then." He said.
Sarah looked over at them and smiled, her hands in Remus'.
…
"About bloody time," James was saying to Peter. He glanced over at Sirius and Mary who appeared to have glued their lips together. Caitlin was looking at them disbelievingly.
"What?" She asked, looking over.
"Remus and Sarah," Peter replied.
"Wait, are they going out again?" Caitlin asked.
"Don't know," James said. "If I know Remus, and I do, he'll kill off the relationship before it gets too serious."
"How serious does it need to get?" Peter asked. "We're at school! You can't exactly propose whilst you're in school."
"Obviously," Caitlin replied.
"Do you know if they had been seeing each other again?" James asked. "Not like dating but doing that flirty best friend thing,"
"Well I know Sarah was spending a lot of time alone." Caitlin said. "In the library mostly. I just thought that she wanted some time to herself."
"That sneaky bitch," James said.
"Who? Sarah?" Caitlin asked.
"No, Remus," Peter was grinning.
"He's been spending more time in the library too," James said.
"You should have seen it happening," Caitlin took a sip of her butterbeer and looked over at the other students who were filling up the Three Broomsticks. Madame Rosmerta was moving around the tables, her bright blue sparkling heels clicking on the floorboards as she walked. Sirius, though he didn't, let up on his snog with Mary, opened his eyes and stared at her. Peter saw it and smirked. James saw the smirk and his eyes darted towards his friend. James had to stifle himself from giggling noisily, so he just drank his butterbeer. Caitlin looked around and also saw it. She slapped James on the shoulder. "Idiot," She muttered.
"Charming," James said. "I take you out for a drink and that's all you say?"
"Yes," Caitlin said. "Mainly because as far as I know, Sirius is buying it."
Sirius broke apart from Mary at last and licked his lips. Mary hid herself under her hair, looking embarrassed. Peter pushed a glass of Butterbeer in front of her with a sympathetic smile.
"Enjoy yourself Padfoot?" James asked absentmindedly.
"Shut up Prongs," Sirius muttered.
"You boys with your stupid nicknames," Caitlin said.
"You want one don't you?" James asked.
"No comment," Caitlin said.
James was smiling. He put his hand under her ear and pulled her forward. "What about 'Beautiful'?" He asked leaning forward and giving her a slow lingering kiss.
"Oh god that's cheese right there for you," Sirius said.
"Only because you couldn't think of something like that," Peter said.
"Shut up," Sirius said, leaning back against the chair.
James broke apart from Caitlin, she was beaming happily. He caught a glimpse of Lily talking to Marlene and Dorcas. She wasn't looking at him. James looked down at his feet. He sighed.
"So, who do you fancy Peter?" Caitlin asked a bit too straight-forwardly.
Peter slopped his butterbeer down his front, his upper lip covered in foam. "No one."
"Liar!" James said.
"I am not – I mean… I'm not lying… I mean…"
"Oh Peter," Sirius sighed, shaking his head sadly. "Why must you lie to the only people who like you?"
"Be nice," Mary said.
"Why?" Sirius asked. "He's my friend, I want to be mean to him and that is my duty in life."
"You guys have a weird friendship," Caitlin muttered.
"You don't know the half of it," James said.
"Why? What's the other half?" Mary asked.
"We're really all in a relationship and intend to all marry each other in the next four years or so." Sirius said without any conscious thought. Everyone looked at him before bursting out laughing.
"I bloody love you Sirius," James said shaking his head.
"Well, duh," Sirius said. "Who doesn't love me?"
"Erm… Professor McGonagall, Professor Slughorn, Regulus, Malfoy, Remus, me, Peter, Snape, Evans'-"
"Shut up, Potter,"
"Make me Padfoot,"
Caitlin and Mary shared a look. "Men."
"When we say 'women' in that tone, we get a slap," Sirius said.
"Yes, because usually we are right," Mary said.
"Besides," Caitlin smirked. "You can't hit women."
"She's got us there Padfoot," James sighed.
"Why do we put ourselves through this?" Sirius asked, downing the last of his drink and checking his watch. "Alright, I'm going to go to Honeydukes and get something for Remus, then I'm probably gonna go to Merlins' Grove," he picked up his jacket and looked at Mary. "Are you coming?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah, but… Wouldn't you rather do that with James and Peter?" Mary asked.
"Not right now, no," Sirius said.
James groaned. "Will you just go already?"
Mary picked up her coat and took a hold of Sirius' hand before they left.
"Dirty rotten bastards," James said. "He's left us to pay, cough up Peter."
Peter pulled out his wallet and shoved some galleons onto the table. "I'm leaving you,"
James gasped. "But what about the children?"
Peter gave him a look as he stood up and pulled on his jacket. "Well, you two are going to be all loved up and like I've said before, I don't want to end up being the third wheel. Or fifth wheel or whatever the hell wheel I am."
"Oh," James grinned. "See you then,"
"Bye," Peter left.
"So…" Caitlin was smiling. "Do want to go, or do you want to stay here?"
James turned to look at her. "I think I want to stay here," He grinned, putting his hand on the back of her neck and pulling her forward.