Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Oh My God guys, I made such a big blunder. I uploaded the third chapter as the second chapter. . T.T

I am so sorry; I can be such a scatterbrain. This is the legit 2nd chapter. And the 3rd chapter (which I had put as the 2nd chapter because of my stupidity) is now the 3rd chapter. I really hope this doesn't put people off from this fic

Chapter – The Scarlet Letter

"Is that yours?" he asked hopefully. I took a quick peek at the envelope and shook my head rapidly, "Nope", my voice had an unmistakable relieved note to it.

Grimacing, he bent forward and picked the howler up by tips of his thumb and his fore-finger.

"Sirius," he stated, shaking his head and then hanging it in defeat, "Best to get it over with," and with a cringe as if it was physically hurting him, he tore open the envelope.

Immediately an overly exuberant voice filled the almost empty hall, and now I could link it to the slightly deeper voice that Remus had been impersonating, "Moony, my mate, how you doin'?!" I caught Remus rolling his eyes and stifled a laugh even as I wondered over the nickname, "I hope this howler reaches you in the best of health and hopefully not in the middle of a wank or a good shag, since goodness knows you need that." Remus covered his face with his hands and the tips of his ears were a bright pink in colour. I myself was turning a tad red. Sirius however was ignorant of our embarrassment, "By the way, this howler was totally James idea -"

A different voice interrupted him, "No it was not!"

"Oh, please James," Sirius continued, "We all know that you love embarrassing Remus and playing pranks on the innocent populace and chatting up all two legged beings in skirts-"

Once again James interrupted him, "That's you! ALL YOU! I am devoted to my darling flower," here the voice held an unmistakable reverent quality, "My beautiful Lily."

"Snort," Sirius snorted the word, "Whatever, you obsessed psycho. At least now we all know that I am cooler than you. Anyway," he emphasised and increased his volume on the word to override all the incomprehensible shouts in the background, "Last night we went to Leaky Cauldron and you'll never guess who we met there? Venus Vane! And Merlin's saggy balls, you won't believe how hot she looked mate. And her knockers, they were so..big, you know?! And her-"

Remus had a sudden coughing fit which blocked out the rest of Sirius' sentence, I squirmed in my seat, looking anywhere but at him. Would it be rude to just stand up and leave without a word or to sit here and listen?

When he stopped I caught the end of Sirius' sentence, "-and we are meeting up again tomorrow night. Don't worry, I'll keep you updated with every single detail of our date night."

By now Remus was banging his head against the table, groaning "Please don't," between each dull thud. I smothered my laugh behind my hand.

"Anyway mate, I'll talk to you later, yeah? Oh and about your furry little problem," Remus stopped his banging and slowly looked up to stare at the letter, his face pale as a ghost as he looked at me from the corner of his eyes, I studiously ignored his gaze. Whatever they were talking about it was none of my business, I should have left a long time ago but now it felt like the window of opportunity had passed and it would be even more awkward/rude if I left now and I was anxious that if it got any more awkward then maybe Remus wouldn't talk to me again and our recent acquaintance would also peter off like the one with Sirius did. "Mate, I- we just wanted to reiterate the offer, you could still come and stay with us for the holidays, you know Mr and Mrs. Potter would back us up" his voice had gone quiet and uncharacteristically serious, "we can still arrange with Dumbledore for you to come here. Its not too late, so just... just think about it yeah?"Then he continued in the cheerful voice of before, "Now, I'll leave you to your wanking-"

"Oh and Moony," James voice interrupted whatever Sirius was going to say, "I forgot my BertyBotts-"

"Write your own letter Prongs! Cheerio Moony. Don't forget to reply!" And with that the Howler burst into flames leaving behind ashes and a ringing silence in the Great Hall.

In the ensuing hush we stared at the remains of the letter.

"Still up for doing some homework and umm..forgetting this ever happened?" I questioned from beneath my lashes.

"Merlin, yes."

The smile that we shared as we vacated our places and walked to the Entrance Hall, was identical - relieved and yet still slightly nervous.

"Lets start with Charms, yeah?"

I nodded, still smiling.

"Okay, I'll just run up for a moment and bring the stuff then lets meet in the Charms' section in the library."

This time my nod was accompanied with a quiet, "Okay."

We dawdled there for another moment waiting for the other to leave first but neither wanting to be the first one. Then with a quick nod in my direction, Remus hurried up the stairs. He stopped at the top of the staircase, on the landing and turned to throw a quick grin in my direction before disappearing from sight.

I didn't even consciously realise that I was grinning, though the warmth of cheeks made me aware of my blush as I myself made my way down to gather my own studying supplies, my rather morose mood of the morning having vanished like dirt after a good Scourigify.

Much of the rest of the day was spent in the Charms' section of the library, at a table pushed against the wall and bathed in the pale wintry sunlight which reflected off the lake of which the window gave a bedazzling view.

I stretched my hands above my head, a few hours later, and revelled in the feeling of muscles stretching and bones popping.

Remus looked up and smirked, "Had enough for today?"

I gave him a rueful smile, "This may be the first time that I have finished the homework of two subjects on the first day of holidays."

He chuckled sheepishly, "I am sorry, I know spending time with me can be a bit boring-"

I cut him off with a wave of my hand, "Of course not, contrary to popular belief, silence or working together in silence is not boring, it has a certain..." I flailed my arms, searching for a proper word, "... a certain tranquillity to it, a camaraderie that even the most simulating conversations may fail to establish."

I return my eyes to see him staring at me, a small smiling stretching his lips, "What?" I muttered, my cheeks heating up.

"Nothing," his smile widened and stretched an old scar near his lips into white relief, "you have just put everything that I have felt, and tried and failed to verbalize to my friends for the past six and a half years into words."

I returned his grin, "Well, you can quote me on that if you need to."

"You know what? I may just do that," and he winked at me.