A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Okay, so I've been gone for a looong time, so this note is gonna be long. The thing is, I've been really busy with personal and school stuff. But, I'm here now, so I hope you like my Christmas update.

Of course, updating shouldn't be my Christmas gift to you guys since it's something I already owe all of you, so I uploaded a different story, a Modern AU of these two nerds entitled 'Gloves'. It's a just a one shot, but I hope you'll check it out and that you'll love it.

Thank you so much for your patience and your ongoing support. Thank you for the messages and for the encouragements. I appreciate all of it so much. I really love writing and I really love you guys, so you don't have to worry about me abandoning this story. I'm graduating in a few months so things are hectic, but I won't forget about this fic. I still won't be able to update as consistently as I did back in the earlier chapters, and my schedule is unpredictable so I don't want to make any promises. All I can afford to say is that I won't have a hiatus as long as the one before this update and that I won't ever abandon this story. Thank you so much, you guys; I hope you like this chapter. Happy Holidays!

- Sam

Remus is spending his first night back in school at Anthony's dorm.

Really, there isn't anything to be annoyed about. There shouldn't be. It isn't like we have any back-to-school traditions to fulfill together or promises to keep. Remus is perfectly entitled to spend a night with his boyfriend. Especially with the long day they had, they deserve that without me sulking in the background like usual.

Yet, I find myself lying in bed awake way past bedtime, wishing I'd hear that door creak open. My bones feel withered and I can still feel ghosts of bruises on my skin. It was easy to think that this sort of exhaustion from taking on a bunch of idiots so early on in the term would guarantee me a good night's sleep. But the thought of what Remus and Anthony are doing right now is irking my brain and making my heart hammer ridiculously.

It isn't even the prospect of them shagging and sucking each other's faces off that's bothering me, if I'm being honest. I wish it was. That kind of jealousy is the kind of immaturity I'm used to. What's keeping me up is how Remus is holding up.

Remus took years to be comfortable with telling people who he really is and how he wants to express that. These are people who have always been here for him. Now, he's suddenly exposed to the whole school. That kind of trauma is damaging to someone who is so used to having their life weighed down by a significant, self-defining secret. He has kept a brave face all throughout the day and shrugged most of it off. But I know there's more to it than that. I know that, while he isn't scared anymore, he's going to be holding pent up frustration and anger and exhaustion in his chest. The idea that Anthony can be there to hold him as he lets himself fall apart - a role that used to mine a year ago - and me, someone who's supposed to be his best friend, will probably only make things worse if I even attempt to comfort him.

I groan and sit up, angry and tired. I throw my wand that I've been clasping in my hand in a sudden need to chuck things around. Rubbing at my face, I try to calm my thoughts. Keep, it together, Black. You have class in a few hours.

Suddenly, as if someone was listening to my prayers, the door does creak open.

"Sirius? You awake?" Remus' voice fills the otherwise empty room perfectly. "Is that your wand on the floor? Lumos."

Freezing, I close my hands into fists, trying to steady my breathing and my pulse. With a deep breath, I draw the bed curtains apart, as I see Remus approach my bed with my wand in hand. He holds it out to me with a small smile and I take it.

"Hey."

"Hey," I mumble back. "I thought you were...you know. I thought you were gonna spend the night at Anthony's."

He raises his eyebrows at me. "I did. I just woke up, Sirius. Do you not realize it's five in the morning?"

I grunt. "Well there goes my chance of staying awake for the first day of classes."

Remus sighs and sits next to me. With the light of his wand and his closer proximity, I can see him clearer. He looks well rested and his hair is already combed, but his eyes are swollen and faintly red. The way they usually look when one cries long and hard before falling asleep. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head. "It's nothing. I'm just used to staying up."

He frowns, the scepticism on his face obvious. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Snorting, I look at him pointedly. "I should be the one asking you that, Remus. How are you holding up?"

He's easily swayed by the change of subject. Looking down at his lap, he shrugs. "I don't know. I mean, people are crap, generally. But no one from Gryffindor has given me a hard time. That's all that matters right now, honestly. When classes start today, though, and we have to attend some classes with Snape and his lot...I don't know. I do know I can handle it. It's just that, how long am I supposed to take it before I can feel free walking these halls with Anthony?"

Before thinking it through, I grab his hand. He doesn't let go. I take that as a good sign. "Look, Moony, we're here, alright? If you need our help, ever, - which I doubt - we're just here. And I don't just mean that we're gonna beat up anyone who has a problem with who you are and who you're with. If you ever feel like you need help figuring things out...We're just here."

Remus looks up at me, squeezing back at my hand now. "Thank you."

"Sirius? Sirius!"

I jolt awake, straightening and trying to calm down. I lean forward with my elbows on the table, glaring at Lily.

"What?" she asks defensively. "We've only been here for ten minutes and you've already fallen asleep on your waffles three times. You went back up to your room before any of us, which means that you shouldn't be more exhausted than I am. Unless, of course, you were lying on your bed awake. Why, though?"

Peter has already gone ahead to Ancient Runes to clarify his schedule because he's planning to take the Advanced class, James is up at the teacher's table talking to McGonagall about his plans for the upcoming Quidditch tryouts, and Remus is at the Ravenclaw table. I'm rarely left alone with Lily, so, naturally, within the past five minutes, I already feel psychoanalyzed. Granted, I didn't exactly do well in fifth year when we covered what psychoanalysis meant, but with those focused eyes and pursed lips, I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track. I wonder how James and Remus got used to this vulnerability. Lily Evans can read anyone like a book.

"Is it because of Remus?"

"No," I try to say firmly as I poke at my breakfast. "I know he can handle it. He's a tough bloke, he'll destroy anyone who tries to bother him and Anthony."

She smiles at me with pity that makes me want to cringe. "We both know that's not what I meant."

Frowning, I drop my fork. "Fine, Evans, what do you know, exactly?"

Shrugging, she says, "That doesn't matter. All I am saying is that I know enough to be certain Remus has finally caught your eye and it's too late for that. I know you're aware that that's your fault completely and you want to change it, but he's with Anthony now and he's happy and you don't want to be the bloke who ruins that. I know that even if he wasn't, you don't know why you're feeling this and you're certain you don't have the right to be feeling this because you have no idea what exactly you want from Remus. I know that even if you did, you aren't brave enough to admit to him, or, to be more accurate, to yourself. I know that, with all that, the fact that Remus is out now makes all this even harder to manage. You want to be there for him and to protect him, but also you aren't what he needs right now. Since, you aren't, you can't help but think that maybe it's-"

I throw a piece of waffle at Lily and groan. "I get it, Evans. I get it."

Rolling her eyes, she leans over and smacks my head. "Real mature, Black."

"I leave you guys for ten minutes..."

Neither of us noticed James who just sat down next to Lily, draping an arm around her. The easy flow of his gesture and the way Lily automatically eases into it is going to take a while to get used to.

"She started it," I say as confidently as one can say while saying something so childish.

"Sirius-"

"Oh, come on," Lily interrupts James. "There was nothing to start. He was just being stubborn about Remus again."

James sighs exaggeratedly. "Ah, young love."

Lily nods dramatically. "Oh, Sirius, you'll understand when you're older."

I glare at them. "Very funny."

Chuckling, Lily puts her hand on mine. "I'm sorry. Look, seriously though, he's going to be okay and I'm sure you know that. You're worrying about something else entirely."

I squint at her. "Like what, Evans?"

"Like that," James mutters, throwing a quick glance at the Ravenclaw table.

I follow his gaze and feel my heart at the floor of my stomach. Anthony and Remus are sitting next to each other, their heads are bowed together, in soft laughter. Anthony whispers something in Remus' ear and Remus sticks his tongue out at him, nudging him playfully. Only some people in the Hall are staring at them, fewer are whispering. Even some of the Slytherins have gotten over it already.

Turning away again, I try to suppress the urge to make gagging noises as if I was twelve again. "I'm glad they look happy together."

"Bullshit, Black," Lily says with a sad smile.

Offended, I stare at her. "You honestly think that I'm not capable of wanting Remus to be happy?"

"Oh, I know you want him to be happy at all costs, Sirius," she replies immediately. "I just don't think you're a hundred percent on board with the fact that it's not you who's making him happy."

Speechless, I scoff, and look to James for some back up.

He shrugs. "Sorry, mate. She's right."

Groaning, I stand up. "Congrats, you two are now the most annoying couple."

James raises his eyebrows. "Somehow I don't need to ask who holds second place in your list."

I raise my middle finger at him, and make a face. Grabbing my bag, I turn around and march off to Muggle Studies early.

As I walk in bigger and bigger strides out of the Great Hall, I hear someone jogging behind me. I look around and see Remus catching up with a big smile on his face. How can Lily ever think I'd have anything against a smile like that?

"Can I walk with you?"

I laugh. "We are heading to the same class, you loser. Since when did you have to ask?"

"Well," he starts as we climb up the flight of stairs, "for starters, you kind of look like you wanted to kill James and Lily for a second there. Thought you weren't in much of a mood to be around people."

"Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, is all."

He snorts. "I don't think it counts as waking up if you didn't sleep at all, Padfoot. We have a free period after this, I'll go with you to our room and make sure you get some rest, yeah?"

It's getting harder and harder to ignore the warmth rising to my cheeks and the flip in my stomach. I smile at him and nod. "You're my new favorite friend."

"Don't let James hear you say that. Tears will be shed."

By the time we walk into the classroom, we're the first ones there. The curtains are parted and sunlight is pouring into the empty room, illuminating the glass displays and making the stone floors gleam. I'm pretty sure I'd appreciate the beauty of it all more if I haven't been awake for over twenty-four hours.

Remus just stares at the room.

"What is it?"

Remus shakes his head. "Can't believe it's gonna be our last year."

"Are you gonna get all sentimental before every class now or...?"

He laughs and punches me on the arm. "Shut up," he mutters, grinning. He walks past me to take our usual place at the back of the class and I follow to sit right next to him.

"Don't know why you're getting all nostalgic looking at this classroom, though," I mumble, looking around. The glass displays show things mundane to Remus. Telephone cords, ballpoint pens, fragments of car engines. "Don't you hate the fact that I beat you in a subject about crap you grew up with?"

Laughing again, he shakes his head as he takes out and flips through his textbook. "I'm just saying...I liked having these classes alone with you. One of the few times where you're the one working your arse off for a good mark."

I snort. "Sure. Bet you just liked being alone with me," I say, only half-kidding, although I hope he doesn't know that.

He lets out a breath of laugh. Looking up from his book, he smiles at me. "I still do."

I grin. And really, it's all so innocent. The way he's smiling at me and reminiscing. The way his eyes sparkle at the fact I grin back. The way his hand rests on mine so easily...

But if it really is as innocent as I claim it to be, I wouldn't be lifting my hand away from his the second a few students enter the room. He doesn't hide the look of disappointment in his face as he nods.

"Hey, Remus, it's-"

But he just looks to the front of the classroom as he cuts me off. "Professor Quirrell is here, Sirius."

He doesn't look annoyed nor does his tone sound harsh. Actually, he has a little sad smile when he says that. It's just that he looks so done with dealing with me for the moment.

"Yeah," I mumble back

I flop back down onto my bed, in disbelief that I still have five classes to go to after this free period. Groaning, I lie on my side and burrow underneath the thick blankets.

Remus smiles down at me, amused. "Sleep tight. I'll just be studying in the Common Room and wake you in an hour, yeah?"

"Yeah, thanks mate," I mumble sleepily.

He nods and turns his heel. Before he can leave, I can't help but pipe up.

"Hey, Remus?"

Turning around, he raises his eyebrows at me. "Yeah?"

"Do you think I'm ashamed of you?" I ask. "Because I'm not."

Remus scratches the back of his head and sighs. "No, I don't think you're ashamed of me, Sirius. I just...I think you're ashamed of yourself whenever you're with me. Which, I'll be honest, is a lot worse."

"Oh. Right," is all I manage to say.

"Look, I'm doing all I can to not be mad at you for that. I know you have your own issues. But you and I both know that I can never just leave you alone to whatever you're thinking about yourself. I always end up breaking and snapping at you, and that isn't good. However, how you're acting isn't exactly role model material either. I know you, Sirius. You're beating yourself up over this whole thing you're trying to figure out. Facing it is good, yeah, but sometimes you need to take a break because otherwise everything you do reflects everything you've got in your head. Distract yourself. Turn it into productive anger. Blow up toilets like you used to. Play Quidditch. Go on a run as Padfoot. Anything that doesn't hurt you because it exhausts other people too."

"Yeah...yeah, you're right. Merlin, am I fucking things up," I mumble, lying on my back again.

"No you're not, Sirius. You just need to figure some things out, mate. Don't be so dramatic."

I laugh. "Once Remus Lupin encourages that I blow stuff up again, trust me, things are getting dramatic."

There's a soft knock on the door and it opens to reveal Anthony. As much as I like the bloke, I feel guilty for having to keep in a groan. As I sit up to wave at him, I pick up a magazine on my nightstand and flip through it, not in the mood to talk to anyone else. However, my eyes keep wandering over the magazine to watch them.

Anthony is ruffling his hair subconsciously - the way James does around girls - and is in his Quidditch gear. "Hey," he greets, planting a peck on Remus' cheek, "am I interrupting something?"

Remus shakes his head. "Nah, I was just heading back down. You?"

"I have two free periods before lunch, so I changed to get some practice done. Barnes was in the Common Room and said he saw you go up here, so I just wanted to check if you're doing okay."

"In other words, you're checking if anyone has beaten me up yet."

Anthony frowns. "No, it's not like that. Just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Remus sighs. "I know, sorry. Just a bit on edge, I was trying to forget that whole thing. You okay?"

"Potions with the Slytherins was rubbish, but nothing I couldn't handle," Anthony says with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Right..."

"Okay, so maybe they might have gotten a rise out of me. No big deal."

"Anthony..."

"Maybe a few hexes were thrown, but nothing major, I swear."

Remus closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. "You got detention, didn't you?"

Anthony slumps his shoulders and sighs. "...Yeah."

Remus opens his eyes and put his hand on Anthony's cheek. "You hurt?"

"Few bruises down my back, but nothing too bad, I swear, Madam Pomfrey helped-"

Groaning, Remus takes his wand out. "Okay, who did it-"

"Remus," Anthony says, placing both hands on Remus' shoulders. "Calm down. Look, it's nothing I wasn't expecting. I'm okay, I swear. I just need to go down to the pitch for the next couple hours and unwind, okay?"

Remus nods in defeat. "Fine...You're lucky you look hot in your uniform."

Anthony grins and pulls Remus in by the tie. "Here's hoping I get luckier tonight."

Trying not to gag, I shudder. "Throwing up isn't fun for me, just so you two know."

They step apart immediately.

"Right, sorry," Remus mumbles, red-faced.

Anthony chuckles. "I'll see you guys later. I'll sit with you lot, yeah?"

"Sure," I say, "but it's a rule we have that you can't suck each other's faces off at the table. Just a heads up."

Anthony laughs and flips me off before he turns around, closing the door behind him. Well, at least he thinks I'm kidding.

Remus sends me a look.

I put my hands up in defeat. "I'm sorry! You two were being gross." And I hate that I can't kiss you and talk to you and hold you the way he can and it makes me irrationally angry.

He just stares at me, challenging me to keep talking.

"Yeah, yeah, I know" I mutter, "I should get some sleep."

I set the magazine down and lie on the bed once more. I don't get any sleep at all.

Maybe it's me who needs to unwind.

So I try to unwind.

The first couple weeks are the hardest. It's the adjustment period that calls for me to be as mature and tolerant as one can be. The worst thing to deal with is the Slytherins and the few Ravenclaws who keep giving Remus and Anthony a hard time. However, most of the incidences were easily remedied by James and Lily's newfound power and my, well, newfound hexes.

It all would be less confusing if the second difficult thing on the list were Remus and Anthony themselves. Protecting them - Remus, especially - is no biggie and will always be my priority for as long as it has to be. But sometimes it's hard to protect them when they act like they don't need protection as much as they need a room.

So I throw myself into potions. I throw myself into practice hexes and charms and jinxes. I bother Peter every free second he has for a game of Exploding Snap or Chess, because these days he seems to be the only friend who can spare an hour for me. I can't find it in me to feel resentful of James or Remus or Frank because they're happy in their little realm of couples and it's not even like they ditch me constantly. It's just that I feel like a piece that doesn't fit well into the big picture anymore so I need to distract myself.

Distraction, however, by the time two weeks has passed, becomes less than enough for my pent up frustration and confusion. I can't take out my irrational anger on little card games with Peter or through making potions that I know I'll never need or use. I need something as an outlet for all these emotions I cannot understand.

That's how I end up on the Quidditch Pitch.

"Sirius, I'm not letting you do this."

I frown. "But I have to, James."

Anthony, with his arms crossed and an amused smile on his face, is standing next to James. "Oh, I don't know, James. He could be a great Beater."

The other students who are trying out for the team are up in the air already, doing a few laps so that James can see how easy being on a broom is for them. Some of them are already tossing Quaffles back and forth and playing with the Snitch. James was never known to be lax as a captain, especially during Quidditch tryouts, but at the moment, he's too preoccupied to care about what the other contenders are doing for their warm up.

He shoots Anthony a look. "It's already bad enough that this was your boyfriend's idea, Anthony. You're the only one in the team who doesn't have to try out again, you git, but if you keep encouraging him, I swear I'll find a new Seeker."

Anthony snorts. "Yeah, right. And cost yourself a championship on your final year? Doubt it, Potter."

James rolls his eyes and looks back at me. "See? There's already enough ego on this team without you as a Beater."

Groaning, I put my hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Prongs, why are you so against me trying out?"

He sighs. "Fine. You really want to know?"

"Yeah. Bring it," I challenge.

"Sirius, mate, I love ya," he starts, "but you're a huge baby."

"That's hardly a good reason!" I cry, stomping my foot.

He eyes the gesture. "See?"

I cross my arms, letting the broom I had in hand fall to the grass. "I was being ironic."

Sighing, he shakes his head. "Look, seriously, it's just that I like getting players who don't let their personal shite in the way. You, on the other hand, will lose me a game every emotional crisis you've got. I mean, all these years you always talked about maybe trying Quidditch out and I know you aren't a stranger to brooms, but you never followed through because you were too lazy or annoyed at the world or your hairspray wouldn't hold if you actually exercised. You're a drama queen, Black."

I keep myself from scoffing because that's just going to support his point. So I just look away. Then, I realize, looking away dramatically doesn't help my argument either.

"Come on, James. We need a new Beater," Anthony insists.

"Yeah, come on, James," I mimic, batting my eyes and pouting.

"Nope. No way. I just-"

"James," Anthony cuts off. "I want you to look up and see how many students are trying out."

James doesn't even look up. "Twelve," he grumbles.

"And how many of them are going for Beater?"

"Three."

"...I mean, other than the two fifth years who can barely hold their bats properly."

"One."

"And who's that?"

"Isaac Wood."

"Who is..." Anthony prompts with a smug smile.

James glares at him. "Who is already part of the previous team which means we need another one," he finishes, speaking like he's got a wand pointed at him.

Okay, so maybe having Anthony around isn't that bad all the time.

I grin widely and grab my broom - which is still dusty from all the neglect these past few months - from the ground. Mounting it, I shoot a smile at James. "Watch this, captain."

Kicking off with ease, I find myself zooming up at an instant, hovering a few feet above James and Anthony. I stop ascending with a thought and look back down. "WAIT I FORGOT MY BAT THING."

Anthony laughs as James already looks like he's regretting everything. He reaches into the chest next to him and retrieves a bat before tossing it up to me. I catch it without much trouble.

I wink at them, before flying higher up.

I do a few laps with the other students. I'm faster than most of them and dodge anyone who gets in the way. The only ones who seem to beat me are the ones who are already on the team and are fighting to keep their spot. I lean forward and feel myself move quicker through the air, swerving and diving and pulling up at all the right times, feeling the strong gusts of wind going against me.

Then, in the distance, I hear James' laughter and a faint whizzing sound.

Smirking to myself, I spin, arm outstretched, and hit the incoming Bludger that was going for the back of my head with all the force I have, causing a slight throbbing in my hand.

But it's worth it as I see the metal ball fly into a high arc, and go through one of the goals. I can hear James' laughter die down.

The real tryouts are beginning, and he's obviously targeting the newbies. He lets loose more Snitches, makes the old team members throw the Quaffles around until someone can steal it, charms some of the Quaffles to throw themselves at the aspiring Keepers. And, of course, the Bludgers start going after all the hopeful Beaters. The whole pitch is in competitive chaos.

I dive forward across half the pitch to the goal posts and catch up with the Bludger again, slamming my bat into it. It bounces right off and flies all across to opposite side of the pitch. It pounds against the goal posts and slams off it.

So I zoom to meet the metal ball halfway. When my bat makes contact with it, I send the Bludger flying back where it just came from, only this time, it goes through the tallest hoop.

When the ball goes at me again, I hit it downward and send it flying to James.

Faintly, I hear him curse right before he catches it with both hands, the Bludger knocking him off his feet.

He struggles, half-crawling to the chest, and secures the Bludger again with the leather straps. I glide towards him, lowering myself until I'm hovering right in front of James as he gets up, brushing grass off his uniform.

"So..." I start, raising my eyebrows.

He rolls his eyes and ruffles my hair. "Fine. Practice starts on Tuesday. Don't be late."

Grinning victoriously, I hop off my broom and let it drop to the ground as I tackle him into a hug.

"...and then I slammed that right at his chest!" I conclude, softly jamming my fist into Remus' chest for emphasis.

Remus laughs, his eyes shining with amusement of my story. "You're horrible."

"He didn't kill you?" Peter asks, smirking from the other side of the coffee table.

"Nah," I say. "He needs a Beater too bad and the two other students going for the position were rubbish."

Shaking his head, Remus puts a hand on my shoulder and I try not to react. "You know, when I said that you should play Quidditch, I didn't mean try out for the team, you git."

"Well," Peter reasons, "you can't say it didn't turn out well."

Remus shrugs, smiling. "And I can't say I'm surprised you made the team."

I chuckle. "Really, now?"

"Oh, come on, Sirius," Remus says. "I know why you tried out for Beater, out of everything else. Remember when I taught you baseball and you were way better with a bat than I was? You sent the ball smashing right through my bedroom window from the other side of the yard. That certainly gave you an ego boost."

Laughing, I nod. "Okay, so maybe I may have taken that into consideration."

Peter laughs along, but then it dies when he looks at his watch. "Hey, Remus."

Remus looks away from me. "Yeah?"

"I still need help with Care for Magical Creatures. There's a big test coming up and..."

Remus stands up immediately. "Oh, yeah, sure, come on. I'll show you this section in the library with cross references about the similarities of the skeletal system of Kneazles and common animals in the Muggle world. The DNA samples that are recorded in print are way more accurate because they were done by a Muggleborn. So anyway, while the skeletal system shows parallelism to other animal structures, their circulatory and respiratory responses to other bodily functions are found to be unique because..."

He keeps rattling off as he starts to walk to the Portrait hole and Peter stares at me. "We haven't even opened a book yet!" he whispers.

I bite down my lip to keep myself from laughing. "You better go follow him before he thinks of more crap to make you study," I say, nodding my head in Remus' direction.

Peter rolls his eyes and pushes himself off the floor. "The things I do for a good grade," he mumbles before catching up with Remus.

When they leave, I stand up to go back to the room. I've been in these clothes since the tryouts a couple hours ago and should probably shower. However, before I can see what's happening, I feel the back of my robes yanked and I get pulled down to the couch.

"Fuck," I mutter and turn around to see Lily smiling at me. "What is wrong with you, Evans?!"

She shrugs innocently and walks around the couch to sit next to me. "I just wanted a chat, with my favorite Gryffindor Beater," she says sweetly.

"I doubt that," I mumble.

She laughs. "Okay, really though, I just wanted to ask you something."

I roll my hand in a prompting gesture. "Which is?"

"Why'd you join the team?"

"I needed to let some steam off."

"And why is that?" she asks.

"Because...all the work for classes is really getting to me and I'm just so stressed most of the time because of it so-" I cut myself off, seeing her nod along with mock-concern. "Okay, fine, you know I'm lying. Do you have to make me say it aloud?"

She raises her eyebrows. "I'm impressed. That's the closest thing to a confession I've gotten out of you."

I make a face at her. "Don't get used to it."

When I get out of the shower, it's only half past four in the afternoon, but I'm already in my pyjamas. Figuring that everyone would still be outside, I head down to the Common Room with a paperback in hand. The moment I get there, however, I see Remus, sitting by the fire. He's on the couch, curled up with a book. It's one of those beaten up hardbounds he has.

"Moony? Aren't you supposed to be tutoring Peter or something?"

He looks up from his book, and, upon seeing me, puts it down and grins. He sits up and pats the space next him. "Nah, he got annoyed with me and made me leave," he says, chuckling. Then, looking at me, he suddenly adds, " You know, I realized I never really congratulated you for getting the spot on the team."

I sit next to him, beaming. "Thanks."

"You're gonna be fucking fantastic, you know that, right?"

Shrugging, I fake an air of nonchalance. "Well, I mean..."

He rolls his eyes. "Oh, stop kidding around. You know you're amazing."

I laugh and hope to the gods I'm not blushing as much as I think I am. "Thanks, you nerd."

"And I'll be the loudest one in the crowd, cheering like hell's gone fucking loose," he says with a proud smirk.

Before I can help myself, I nod and say, "Well, of course, your boyfriend is going to be playing."

He frowns at me. "I meant cheering for you, you twat."

I scrunch up my face. "I doubt that."

Punching me lightly on the shoulder, he laughs at my disbelief. "I swear!"

"He's gonna win us the game with his reflexes and speed and everything, while I'm gonna be slamming a metal ball around," I say, matter-of-factly.

"First of all," he starts, "it's your job that keeps him from falling thirty feet and breaking like 20 bones. Besides, you could be, like, a towel boy and I'd still cheer for you."

"What the fuck is a towel boy?"

As he realizes his mistake, he chuckles and shakes his head. "Never mind, Muggle sports thing," he says. "What I'm trying to say is, you could be...a mascot and I'll still cheer for you."

I grin. "Even with Blondie kicking ass out there?"

He rolls his eyes. "Yes, even with Blondie kicking ass out there," he repeats. Then, his expression turns a little serious. "I know we're just kidding around right now and all, but you do know that I'm for real, right? You always come before him, no matter what."

I smile and try to hide how irrationally touched I am as I say, "Yeah, of course."

And I know he means that in an as a friend kind of way, but it doesn't matter, because suddenly it feels like me making the Quidditch team isn't the best thing I've heard all week.

Preview:

"Hey, Lils?"

"Mhmm?"

"Is there...Oh Merlin, I'm gonna sound so daft, but...Is there anything going on between Rem and Sirius?"