Alls Fair in Pillow Fights and War
‘Guys!’ Remus called. ‘You might want to see this.’
Sirius glanced up, leaving the cards and moving over to where Remus is looking at the Gryffindor Tower noticeboard.
‘The Christmas Ball is back in full swing,’ he read out loud. James and Peter paused shuffling the cards they had all been playing and listened. ‘Saturday, 31 Decemeber, 9pm to 3am. Black tie attire only. Food and drinks will be allowed, alcohol is served to those over the age.’
‘Think we could trick it somehow?’ James asked. There’s a familiar glimmer of mischief in his brown doe-eyes.
‘Maybe,’ Sirius said, grinning, ‘Depends on how they determine the age.’
‘Maybe an age line,’ Remus said thoughtfully. ‘Age potions might trick it—might, I said, don’t get your hopes up high,’ he added, in response to James and Sirius’ excited looks.
‘We can charm Minnie into telling us,’ Peter said confidently.
‘Oh, definitely,’ Sirius said, chortling. ‘Or Flitwick—he really likes you, Peter, since you’re so good at charms. Minnie’s like bloody iron, she never breaks.’
‘December,’ James mused. ‘That’s in two months from now.’
‘Enough time to get clothes and all, right?’ Remus asked.
‘Definitely,’ a new voice interrupted. It’s Lily, who’s passing by, her arm wound around Marlene’s waist. ‘Marlene and I are going dress shopping,’ she said, sounding giddy with excitement.
‘Yeah, I’m a total dud when it comes to dresses and the like,’ Marlene said cheerfully. ‘Lily’s the genius when it comes that stuff, I just like to sit there and look pretty.’
‘So, you won’t have to work very hard,’ Sirius called, winking, and she laughed. Remus presses his lips, staring determinately away. Jealousy curled in his stomach like a cat.
‘Sirius, you taking us robes shopping?’ James asked, changing the subject. Remus smiled gratefully at him, and James gave him an apologetic grimace.
‘Oh, definitely,’ said Sirius. ‘We’re all going to look so hot everyone will be begging to shag us.’
‘Some of us don’t need to go dress shopping for that,’ Peter teased, and Sirius yelped in outrage and threw a pillow at him. Peter dodged expertly, the pillow hitting James instead. James, unable to resist a pillow fight ever, bellowed: ‘PILLOW FIGHT!’ and the common room exploded. Remus shouted in shock as a pillow hit him hard at the back of his head, and spun to find Sirius, eyes glittering playfully, smirking at him.
‘Oh, it’s on,’ he promised, and snatched up the fallen pillow and began to chase Sirius around the common room, weaving between people who were doing the same and dodging the pillows that seemed to fall like rain. Sirius ran ahead, laughing, and Remus laughed along with him, breathless and knees weak from laughing so hard. He finally caught up to Sirius, using his long legs to full advantage, and tackled him to the ground. Sirius rolled away, and he began battering him with the pillow.
‘That’ll—teach—you—to—hit—me—with—bloody—pillows—’ he panted, hitting everytime he said a word.
‘Truce, truce!’ Sirius gasped, eyes streaming with tears of mirth. Remus paused. He realised suddenly that they’re in a very compromising position, him basically straddling Sirius. The other boy’s smile faded, the laughter in his eyes replaced by something more intense.
Some pillows had split, the pure white feathers drifting gently through the air like snow.
Remus isn’t sure why Sirius’ smile had disappeared, but he guessed it’s because of the situation they’re in. He cleared his throat hastily and backed away hurriedly.
‘Sorry,’ he muttered, looking into the fire so as to avoid Sirius’ eyes. He couldn’t help sneaking a look out of the corner of his eyes, though, and Sirius looked oddly… disappointed?
I did what you wanted, didn’t I? He thought, bewildered.
‘Er—that’s all good,’ Sirius said brightly, though he wasn’t meeting Remus’ eyes either. ‘All’s fair in lo—pillow fights and war, as they say.’
Remus snorted, looking around at the ravaged common room. ‘In this case, I’d say the pillow fight is the war,’ he said dryly, and Sirius laughed that barking, delighted laugh he so loved to draw out of him.
A couple of seventh years were waving their wands, and the stuffing flew back into seams, pillows thumping onto couches, and seats zooming back into their place.
‘That was incredible,’ Peter said, out of breath. James was following behind him.
‘Indeed,’ Sirius said softly, and when Remus snuck a look at him again he found that Sirius wasn’t looking at the common room reminiscently, like the others, but at him.