Written for: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

House: Slytherin

Assignment: 9

Class: Exobiology: The Study of the potential for life beyond Earth

Prompt: Task #3: Planetary Systems Science - Write about watching or observing someone or something from a distance

Word Count: 896

Beta(s): CupCakeyyy.

Sirius was not an observant person; he didn't watch others or pay attention to if his professors had gotten a new haircut, unlike his friend Peter. However, one thing that he had observed overtime was the relationship between his best friend and Lily.

Though he spent all of his time with James, it was the moments he wasn't around that he saw how close the two had gotten after all these years.

He slowly realised that the time between the two lovebirds had become more impactful - they truly were meant for each other. The more he saw the way he tucked her hair behind her ear and the broad smile she'd give him when he made a bad joke, the more he realised that perhaps he wasn't needed as much on the bad days.

For the last seven years of their lives, James and Sirius had always been there when things had gone wrong for one of them; when James had been rejected or when his mother had fallen deathly ill; when Sirius was having trouble with his parents or when he ran away from home. They were each other's first call. Now, however, things had changed.

Sirius had noticed James going to Lily first when he had received an update from his parents, and Sirius himself felt less inclined to tell James his worries and instead leant on his other friends more; Peter and Remus.

Sirius had been minding his own business as he pushed the vials under the armchair in the Gryffindor common room - one of his newest prank ideas - when he saw a flash of red and heard James' voice. He knew that James might not angry at him for skipping out on flying, but wasn't surprised that he decided to spend the newly found time with his girlfriend instead.

"You're going to love it, Lil, I promise," said the messy-haired boy as they walked into the entrance of the common room, but not far enough into it to notice Sirius crouched by the chair.

Even though Sirius shouldn't be listening to their conversation, he couldn't help but watch.

The smile Lily gave off radiated. "And you're sure your parents wouldn't mind?"

"Mind?" James let out a cackle of a laugh. "They've been bugging me to meet you for years- I mean months. Since we started dating."

"Of course. A whole week, though?"

Sirius' eyes narrowed slightly in confusion at this question. A week for what? His friend hadn't spoken to him about anything.

James leant forward and dropped a kiss onto Lily's lips - and Sirius really felt awkward for watching. "Yes. Besides, wouldn't it be sensible to be sure we don't hate living in the same property before getting our own place?"

Lily laughed and stepped further into the room. "Don't get ahead of yourself, love."

Sirius quickly grabbed the first thing he saw on the floor - a candle - and stood up. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

James walked towards him with long strides. "There you are! I thought we were meeting for Quidditch training?"

With a roll of his eyes, Sirius dropped down onto the couch. "That wasn't me."

"Next time I won't wait," James retorted, though it was clear there was no resentment in his voice, just playfulness. However, Sirius couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt; had the distance really grown that much?

"Talking about meeting up, I should find Marlene," Lily stated as she grabbed a book and dropped a kiss onto James' check before heading off.

"Tell her I say hi!" Sirius shouted after her.

James dropped onto the couch opposite him, his expression was oddly solemn. "What's with you lately?"

Sirius hesitated. Was this a conversation he wanted to have with James right now? In all honesty, he hadn't expected his best friend to have realised something was eating at him so quickly. He couldn't lie that he loved seeing how happy the head boy was, however, he couldn't help but notice how much time James spent with Lily in comparison to him.

"Is this because I didn't turn up?" he asked and tried to deflect from the conversation they had been due to have for the last month.

James sat up a little straighter as if he knew that this wasn't just a little issue. "Sirius, what's up?"

Letting out a sigh, he too sat straighter on the couch. James couldn't be fooled, could he? Of course not, he was the only one who really knew Sirius for who he was. He glanced around before letting out another deep sigh. "You know I'm happy for you, right? You and Lily, that is."

James nodded.

"I see the way you two are when you're alone. You both laugh more, connect easier, and there's clearly no expectations in your relationship to be anything but yourselves. I don't ever want to interrupt that - it's so pure and something that I might want in the future." He paused. "I just don't want to be a burden."

"Burden?" James instantly repeated, moving forward. "Never! I never want you to feel like you're interrupting something; we love hanging out with you. Honestly!" James dropped a hand onto Sirius' shoulder. "I invited you to the Quidditch pitch because you're my best friend. Being in love with Lily will never change that. We're brothers."

Sirius couldn't help but smile. "You sure?"

"Always!"