James and Sirius had made Professor McGonagall so furious with their exploding toilets jokes that she gave the two of them detention until Christmas. They had tried to protest, put the blame on each other (it was fair if at least one of them could get out of it), and even tried to convince her that Peeves manipulated them into doing it. No need to say nothing at all worked and they had to spend all their Friday nights from 6 to 10 p.m. doing different and unpleasant chores and she even had taken 30 points from Gryffindor each. Lily and Remus had been furious with them for this, which had led to an argument between her and James.

The common room had stood in silence during their fighting and people were eyeing each other, finding this situation way too odd to believe. Never in a million years would they have believed James was able to shout at Lily but they had been proven wrong. She had told him he was still an immature and insufferable twat, whose only desire was to destroy as many things as possible and he had answered by telling her that she was an annoying know-it-all who didn't know what fun was and that she didn't have to talk to him if she loathed him so much.

-Give us a break Evans, stop acting like you're so perfect all the time and like you've never put a foot wrong in your life, Miss goody-two-shoes. Some floors have been flooded so what. It's not like Filch had to mop them all by hand, this a fucking wizardry school Evans, it was all gone with a flick of a wand. It was more fun than harm and we'll get back those 60 points in no time, not like we aren't working hard enough on the Quidditch pitch for that or we're idiots in class like you so like to believe.

She had stood there, eyes wide open as he was vomiting on her his harsh words with a cold tone she had never heard him use, before turning his back on her and walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady, Sirius jumping above the couch where he was sitting with Peter to follow him. Needless to say, it had cast a cold around them all, and Lily had since refused to sit with them or let Marlene talk about him. She had told her friend, her face as red as a tomato, that if she wanted to date this idiot, low-level twat with a brain as small as a pea, she could do whatever the hell she wanted, but she didn't want to hear about it.

-Oh man, this is such a bore, whined Sirius as they had been assigned to clean the trophy room one Friday night, during their almost last Friday of detention. Putting his towel on his shoulder Sirius sat on the little stairs that were leading to the Quidditch trophies. -She's been way too harsh for a mere little prank, it's not like we've murdered someone or anything. James shrugged his shoulders, slowly continuing to wipe the 1923 house cup won by the Ravenclaw. -Eh, come on Prongs. Sighed Sirius. – Are you gonna say something about it or what, it's been two weeks and you're still mad at her. We're just the two of us, for once you can talk to me.

James tilted his head towards Sirius, looking him in the eyes. – Yeah… he said slowly. -It's been a while … he said, ignoring his friend's request to talk.

-We need more time alone mate; I'm feeling suffocated by the others sometimes really.

-You, James laughed. -Suffocated because you're surrounded by people at arm's length all of the time, please, you like being with people 24 hours a day. Especially when it's Moony or Wormtail, poor things, they didn't sign to bear you all day long. Besides, you're telling me this, when you've just crawled into Moon's bed last night because he had a fever.

-They did sign for this! With their own blood actually, don't you remember? Sirius asked with a big grin on his face, ignoring James's last sentence, which made him roll his eyes.

-Please, we were eleven.

-So what?

-So nothing, now could you put your fat arse back up and helped me please, I don't want Minnie or Filch to come back here and tell us this isn't clean enough, I don't want to spend the night here or have days add to our sentence, got much better things to do.

-Yeah, like what, snogging Marlene or yelling at Lily-Jolie? Sirius asked with a mocking tone he knows would provoke his best friend. He knew James by heart since the first day they met on the Hogwarts Express six years ago and he could read through his mind like an open book. And it did provoke James who had thrown his cleaning towel right to his face, telling him to shut up and not to call Lily that. -What! laughed Sirius, his barking-like laughter echoing in the room. -What, these are the two things you're doing right now, snogging Marlene or getting angry with Lily, never thought you, of all people, would have the nerves to yell at -

-She's so annoying, though, I mean what the fuck. Interrupted James, visibly angry. – It's not like she had the right to scold me or –

-She's a Prefect –

-So what does it matter? Moon's too and he doesn't mother us.

-He does, a lot actually, and we're not angels' materials so he's fighting the battles he knows he can win.

-Well, she should do the same, I mean, didn't ask her anything and she's there, yelling at me, again, in front of everyone like I was still a fucking baby like I wasn't good enough for her standards or …

-Like you aren't boyfriend material? Sirius asked calmly with a grin. – I must say that she was way too angry for 60 points, like … yeah, it's 60 points but it's nothing, and it's not like we've been thrown last for the house cup because of that. So, my opinion is, and I say that with all the experience I have of having lived with her for a full week. James rolled his eyes so much; his irises weren't visible anymore. – I think she kinda likes you and she's mad that you are snogging her best friend and don't consider her the love of your life anymore.

-Not likely, she told me she'd prefer the giant squid to me, remember? Because if you don't, well I do, and I don't think this was meant as a compliment, so I have sucked it up and she can go fuck herself and leave me the fuck alone.

-It's so fascinating how your language is suddenly so colorful when you're angry. Laughed Sirius, which earned him a punch on the shoulder. – So what now Prongs? What's really up with Marl'? I mean, she's a nice girl and all, she got guts and I like that, but I don't understand why you're suddenly clinging to her like that.

James just shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to say to Sirius. -Marlene's cool, I've grown fond of her really, she's smart, I like her hair –

-You've never liked blonds –

-She likes Quidditch and she's a good Chaser too –

-She's good because you've trained her on the field, like the rest of us –

-She makes me laugh, she's a bit too much something but I guess I am too and –

-You've never liked loud girls either –

-Would you shut up and let me talk! Snapped James, angry at the comments Sirius kept pushing on him. Nevertheless, Sirius was right and that was what makes him so angry at the situation. But James couldn't drown in his thoughts a bit more because Sirius just got up and pretend to be fiercely cleaning the trophy he had in his hands, as he had sensed Filtch entering the room to tell them it was 10 p.m. and they could go.

They had walked back to the Gryffindor common room, desperately needing a shower as Remus told them upon entering the room and James had shrugged once more but had got upstairs to their dormitory to take one, hoping to maybe drown in the running hot water over his head. As the water was running on his shoulders down his back, covered in new bruises from a new fall during Quidditch practice of last week, he tried furiously to chase Sirius's word from his head, telling himself that it was not worth it.

-Prongs, you alright, mate? He heard, Remus's soft voice coming from behind the door.

-Yeah, sorry I'm getting out! James then quickly turned off the shower and got out of the bathroom, his hair still soaks as he was drying them with a towel. -Sorry Pad', you'll have to be quick if you want hot water.

-Nevermind, I'll shower tomorrow morning. Sirius said lightly.

-You're going to take that shower right now, Pad', even if you have to take it cold. Remus told him, pointing to the bathroom door.

-Yeah, poor Moon's gonna suffocated with your smell tonight if he has to climb in your bed. Laughed Peter at him, not noticing the slight blush that had appeared on Remus's cheeks as Sirius barking laughter filled the room. Peter then leaned a bit to see if Frank Longbottom was really asleep, and by the sound of the snoring, not even fireworks could have wakened him. – Full moon is on Christmas Eve this year, what are we gonna do?

- We stay, of course, what kind of stupid question was that? asked James. – My parents will understand; besides, they have planned to travel and I'm not keen on that, they already asked me if I'd prefer to stay at Hogwarts.

-Much more like they don't want you and Sirius ruining their lovely holidays together. Peter mocked him.

-Can't argue with that, actually. James smirked. – Well, anyway, it will be much quieter, and I have some things to do for – er – homework research, so it would be the perfect time to do it!

-What kind of homework research? asked Remus, frowning.

-The kind that is none of your business for now my little Moon'. James answered him, as Sirius was getting out of the shower, shivering in cold as Remus was rolling his eyes at James. – So, if you all still wanna talk well sorry but shut it, I need to sleep, there's Quidditch practice tomorrow morning.

- Again! Whined Sirius.

-Yeah again, we can't afford to lose another match! If we beat Hufflepuff, we still have a chance to win the cup and I am not letting this go.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't want to hear it, I've already gotta put up with your captain complex on the field, I don't need it when we're not playing Quidditch. Sirius groaned, closing his four-poster bed curtains as the other ones were going to bed too.

A lightning bolt woke Remus up in the middle of the night as thunder was rumbling nearby. He was sweating and probably had, yet again, fever, even if it was still bearable, he knew he couldn't go back to sleep easily. Sighing, he opened his bedstand drawer to take some chocolate and his book. Cautiously closing his curtains to light his wand, trying to read to appease his mind. His bones were already cracking inside of him and his breath was shorter than usual and a headache was going to follow, he just knew it. Nevertheless, he tried to ignore it, concentrating on his book.

But thirty minutes later his curtains opened on a sleepy Sirius, only wearing his boxer, and carrying a cup of hot tea. – You alright Moon? he asked with a yawn, handing him the tea and pushing him to lay down beside him, not waiting for Remus's answer before closing his eyes, ready to go back to sleep.

Remus could only smile at him, clutching onto his cup of tea. – Yeah, thank you, Sirius. Do you want me to put down the light? he asked, ready to say Nox, to his wand but Sirius brushed it off.

-Nah, don't mind me, I just saw the lights and knew you couldn't sleep so, just thought you might need a cup of tea and some warmth, you're as cold as the dead. He said with a smirk, not opening his eyes. -G'night. He said before falling back to sleep.

Remus smiled at him once more, pushing away some of Sirius's locks that were on his closed eyes as his head was touching Remus's shoulder. -Thank you for the tea Pad'. He said sipping it slowly, the warmth of the drink and the one coming from Sirius's body quickly put him back to sleep too and before he knew it, his head falls off Sirius's.