For the Can You Make It To the End Challenge (Round Five: Sirius Black in a noncanon House at Hogwarts)
"Watch where you're going, Black!" Potter sneers, elbowing Sirius as he passes.
Quick as a flash, Sirius draws his wand. "So help me, Potter, I will hex you into next week," he warns.
Potter snorts, eyes rolling. "That doesn't sound like something you would have learned at school. Hmm… I wonder who could have taught you dark magic? Mummy and Daddy?"
"Just leave it, James," Remus mumbles, catching Sirius' eye.
"If you insist," Potter grumbles.
Sirius scowls and keeps walking. It's weird to think that there was a time where he and James could have been friends. Against all odds, they could have been the amazing Slytherin and Gryffindor duo of Hogwarts. But, as time went on, the illusion shattered. Too many differences, too many conflicts. Now, there is nothing but resentment between them.
He turns, catching one more glance at Remus. At least Remus doesn't hate him.
Sirius feels a tingle in his chest.
He and Remus had fallen in love before the fallout with James. There had been a chance that they could have been amazing together, open and happy about their relationship. Now, they're stuck sneaking around.
…
"You could at least try to be civil to James," Remus says as he meets Sirius in their favorite secret passage.
"Did you tell James the same?"
"As it happens, I did."
Sirius snorts. "Bet that went over tremendously."
"It didn't."
"I didn't even call Evans a Mudblood. That was Severus."
"And you didn't say anything. You kept silent."
Sirius scowls. What was he supposed to do? There were already too many whispers about him for his friendship with the Gryffindor. Silence seemed better. Maybe, in retrospect, it had been a mistake.
"You're a good bloke, Sirius. I know that. I'm sure James knows that deep down."
"I'm a Slytherin. That's all James sees now. Just another enemy," Sirius says.
Remus brushes his thumb over Sirius' cheek. "I'll keep working on James. But you need to try, too."
"No point. He hates me. He always will. Your mate sure knows how to hold a grudge."
Remus pulls him closer, pressing a kiss to his lips. Sirius closes his eyes. Whatever is wrong in his life, at least he has Remus. For now, at least.
But Sirius doesn't want to think about that. He doesn't want to think that their time at Hogwarts is nearing its end, and one day, in the not so distant future, they won't have their little hideouts for safety.
But, for now, Remus is his. For now, that's all that matters.
"I'll ignore James if you can convince him to ignore me," Sirius offers. "Best I can do."
"Maybe it will be enough."
Sirius hopes that it will be.