Chapter 2
Lily
Lily had of course already forgotten her anger at Remus, and was curiously studying him instead of glaring.
He was clearly trying to look as if he was watching the sorting but she saw that it was not the point of his interest. She watched as his eyes drifted to the boy sitting opposite him.
Sirius Black was also paying little attention to the apparently sacred sorting ceremony and was instead laughing at James who was attempting to change the colour of the floating candles and instead causing hot wax to drop into his messy hair making him release small shrieks. Lily rolled her eyes and focused again on Remus.
He was still staring at his best friend. The expression on his face was not a new one to Lily.
That'showIlookedatMarylastyear , she realised with some shock. And suddenly her mind was running. How long had Remus looked at Sirius that way? Had Lily been too distracted last year to see anything different?
She continued looking back and forth between the two boys, her mouth slightly open in shock.
Remus must have felt her eyes on him because he turned around after a few moments and frowned at her.
‘You alright, Lils?’ he asked. Lily quickly shut her mouth and nodded a bit too fast. She didn't trust herself to open her mouth without spilling Remus’s newly discovered secret to the entire great hall.
He frowned again but Dumbledore had just stood to give his speech taking Remus's attention with him.
‘You sure you're alright?’ Lily shuddered at the soft breath that brushed over the back of her neck.
She looked at Mary and a grin automatically appeared on her face when she saw the worried expression on her girlfriend’s face.
Lily had liked Mary since she first sat next to her at the Gryffindor table. Bright eyes and dark curls and a fucking complicated personality.
Unfortunately Lily’s simple “crush” didn't disappear after a few months, it lasted all the way to fourth year and at that point Lily had abandoned any hope that her friend might feel the same way.
But then, half way through their fourth year summer, Mary had stormed into Lily's room and screamed, as Lily loved to quote: ‘I FUCKING HAVE FEELINGS FOR YOU AND THERES NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT YOU FUCKING GORGEOUS BITCH!’ then she’d ran out.
Lily had sat on her bed and stared at the place where her best friend had been standing moments before. Her words finally got to Lily's head and she raced out of the house ignoring her sister's annoyed comments about filthy witches.
She’d caught Mary just before she’d left and had thrown her arms around the surprised girl before placing a slightly sloppy kiss on her lips. They had been dating ever since.
They'd decided not to tell many people and at the moment only their best friend Marlene knew.
The last months had been the best of Lily's life and she could not be happier.
She smiled at the beautiful girl next to her and gave a small nod. She was, in truth, fine. But certainly had a new fixation.
Dumbledore finished his speech and the feast appeared.
***
Mary walked with her as she and Remus herded the first years towards the Gryffindor tower. Mary’s hand was brushing Lily's arm and she saw Remus give them a knowing smirk and she couldn't help but smile back. I also know your secret.
When all the students had been shown their dorms, the three fifth years joined their friends in the common room and immediately collapsed on the couches in front of the fire.
‘Who knew the shrieks of such tiny beings could damage your ears so much?’ Mary complained as she sat beside Lily and threw an arm over her shoulders.
Remus snorted. ‘Try actually having to control them and remind them not to try and cast spells every other minute. How do they even know any?’
Lily and the others laughed but a high pitched giggle was missing.
‘Where's Sirius?’ Marlene asked, from where she was curled in an armchair with a quidditch magazine.
Lily quickly glanced at Remus but his nose was already deep in a book. Look away everytime you hear his name. Great tactic. No one will notice. Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
‘I think I saw Regulus pull him aside after dinner.’ James said, briefly looking up from his chess game with Peter in which time the other boy cornered his king.
‘WELL FUCK YOU TOO!’ the portrait slammed closed and a very angry Sirius Black stormed towards them.
‘I can't believe him!’ Sirius exclaimed as he sat on the arm of Remus's chair. Remus shifted uncomfortably away from Sirius. Sirius however did not seem to notice the look on Remus's face because he hooked an arm around his friend's shoulder and slid into his lap. Remus’s ears turned red but he did not shove Sirius off.
‘Wanna talk about it, Padfoot?’ James asked, stretching out on the carpet.
Sirius stiffened and shifted around, looking anywhere but his friends' eyes.
‘Um, I… I-'Sirius stuttered. Now he truly had everyone's attention. Even Remus peeked over the edge of his book, eyes concerned. Sirius Black did not stutter.
‘Maybe later. Sorry, Prongs. It's probably stupid.’ Sirius rushed. Everyone continued staring. Even Lily, who was known for her hatred of the black haired marauder, was worried.
Sirius got out of his chair still avoiding their gaze. ‘I'm going to the kitchen,’ he mumbled. ‘Does anyone want anything?’
Suddenly, as if a spell had been broken all of them started talking at once, ordering their favourite things from the house elves.
Relief and a grin spread over Sirius's face and Lily thought he might actually bring them what they asked for instead of wandering off to smoke. Once they were done he practically flew out of the room.
A few moments of silence hung among them before Lily and James spoke simultaneously, ‘Someone should make sure he doesn't get stoned.’ They grinned at each other. Sirius was so predictable.
Remus sighed and put down his book. ‘I'm done with this anyways, I guess I'll go.’
‘You sure?’ James asked. ‘I could-’
‘Don't you have somewhere else to be?’ Remus cut him off. Looking right at James with a raised eyebrow.
Realisation seemed to hit him. ‘Oh, yes, of course. That thing. Right.’ he stumbled to his feet and almost tripped on his way out. Lily rolled her eyes, not very agile for a quidditch player.
‘Dumbass.’ Remus mumbled as he packed up his things. Lily wanted to ask about it, and about Sirius. But she knew he wouldn't appreciate her asking in front of the others. So she stayed silent as he walked after James with a small wave to the rest of them
I'llaskhimlater, Lily promised herself. But right now she was content to listen to her girlfriend rant about some Ravenclaw bitch.