The First Match of the Year
Remus sat tightly between Lily and Peter. Were it not for the close proximity of the excited students, the temperature would have felt much colder. The stadium rows were packed with students from all houses desperately awaiting the first quidditch game of the year. Peter was trying to toss a piece of popcorn into his mouth when suddenly-
"Aaaaatention!! Witches and wizards of all ages: the Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor match is just about to start. Take your seats and get ready, because the game will commence when the snitch is released." The announcer's words were met with cheers from the excited students.
Both teams were called onto the field, the captains shook hands, and mounted their brooms. The coach released the bludgers and then the golden snitch.
Sirius was keeping the goal hoops clear. Ravenclaw's chasers couldn't hold a candle to James, Geoffrey, and Marlene. Both teams had extremely diligent seekers. It was a real neck in neck race as to who would catch the tiny ball first.
Peter was loudly cheering on James and Sirius, waving a now empty popcorn bag in place of a flag. Remus was keeping his eyes on the seekers, barely paying attention to the rest of the players. There was a concerned 'ooooohhh' noise coming from the crowd and Lily tapped Remus on the shoulder. She pointed at Sirius, who was turned upside down and holding his face. One of the Ravenclaw beaters batted one of the bludgers right into Sirius's eye. One of the chasers used this opportunity to score another goal for their team. He flipped himself rightside up and brushed the bloody hair away from his face. It took no time for Sirius to get his head back into the game.
The match had been going on for a few hours and both seekers appeared to have lost sight of the snitch. Ravenclaw was a hundred points ahead and most of Gryffindor had taken a good beating. Every player in the air looked tired, but some were far worse for wear. The game had hit a bit of a low point action-wise.
"Oh, it looks like Phoebe Dawson has caught the lead on the snitch."
Everyone stood up staring at the petite Gryffindor girl flying towards the west. Ravenclaw's seeker fought to catch up, but the snitch darted south. The other beater lined up a shot at Phoebe, but he missed.
"Ravenclaw beater takes down his own seeker."
Remus, Peter, and Lily stood with wide eyes, determined to watch their team win. Both of Phoebe's hands were outstretched as she leaned into the small, flying ball. She flew dangerously close to the Hufflepuff section when the snitch had been captured in her grasp.
"GRYFFINDOR HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH, GIVING THEM 150 POINTS AND ENDING THE GAME! GRYFFINDOR WINS!!"
The crowd roared with excitement, except for the Ravenclaws. All of the students eventually shoved their way out of the stadium and back into the castle. James caught up with Remus, Peter, and Lily after taking off his padding.
"You were fantastic, Prongs!" Peter cheered.
James gave Peter a pat on the back, "It was a right mess out there, Wormy."
He gave Lily a chased hug and kiss, not wanting to get her all dirty and sweaty.
"Was Sirius okay?" She asked.
"Oh he'll be alright, nothin's broken. Just some bruising and a cut on his face." James assured, "he said he'll meet us upstairs at the after party."
The friends all made it back up to Gryffindor tower. As was expected, there was loud music playing from a small radio and students celebrating the first win of the year. Little Phoebe Dawson was surrounded by people congratulating her on catching the snitch. Groups of students were chatting, drinking butterbeers and pumpkin juice, and having a good time.
Sirius comes through the portrait door with a couple of butterfly bandages over a fresh cut across his cheek. The gash is accompanied by dark bruising on his face and a split lip.
"Hey, guys!" He greets his friends. Lily and the other marauders moved over to Sirius to greet him.
"Woah, you took quite a beating, Pads," Peter blurted upon seeing his injuries.
"Yeah, nothin's broken, just sore," Sirius said.
"Except the skin," Lily corrected in a joking tone.
"Except the skin," Sirius repeated, matching her tone.
"Now that you're here," James said, pointing at Sirius, "upstairs?"
Sirius's eyes lit up, "I was thinking the same."
James leads the group up to the sixth year boys dormitory. He drops beside his bunk and digs through his stuff. He pulls out a glass bottle of a dark reddish-brown liquid.
"Nicked this last time I was in Hogsmead," he explained.
"Is that firewhiskey?" Peter asked in a hushed tone, "how'd you get that?"
James pulled up the cloak of invisibility without a word.
"Oh," Peter understood, feeling a bit dumb.
"Now it's a celebration," Sirius said, taking the bottle from James, who uncorked it with his wand.
"To victory!" Sirius and James say as Sirius raises the bottle.
Sirius takes a swig and makes a face at the burning liquid. He hands the bottle back to James who does the same thing.
"Shouldn't we be using cups?" Peter asked, holding up a small goblet that used to contain pumpkin juice.
"I'm injured, not ill," Sirius said.
James handed the bottle to Peter. He took the bottle and splashed a little into his cup. The face he made was of disgust more than of pain. Peter passed the bottle to Remus.
"I could have told you that wasn’t a good idea," Remus told Peter.
Then he too swallowed the firewhiskey, wincing at the burning sensation. He passes it to
Lily, who takes a small sip.
The group of friends continued drinking until the bottle was gone. They joked and talked and had a fun night. Peter didn't drink anymore, but everyone else ended up a bit tipsy.
"Stuffs pretty strong, no wonder my parents always have it in the house," Sirius said, slurring his words just a little bit.
"I should be heading back to the girls' dorms," Lily yawned, "Remus, would you mind walking with me."
Remus looked puzzled, but agreed anyway.
"Night boys," she said before kissing James on the cheek.
"G'night" Sirius and James said in tandem.
Peter had fallen asleep already.
Remus took Lily's lower arm and helped her down the stairs. About midway to the common room she stopped him.
"Remus," she said, pulling him to the side.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Do you have a crush on Sirius?" She whispered.
Remus was taken aback by how forward she was. What gave her that idea? Was she more drunk than he thought?
"W-what do you mean?" He asked.
"So you know how when you're into someone ya sortof stare at them and laugh at their jokes more? That's you, at Sirius." She said, a bit delirious.
Remus thought back for a minute.
"It's cool if you are, I'm not judging. Does he know you're not quite like most guys, ya know?" She pointed downwards, referring to Remus being trans.
"I'm gonna get you to bed, we can talk about this another time." Remus told her.
Lily nodded and Remus led her up the girls' side until the stairs tripped him.
"Ah!" he said upon impact, "the stairs know I'm a man."
"I'm fine. Thank you," Lily said, taking a step up.
Remus went a couple steps down.
"Good night, Lily," he told her.
"Night,"
The friends turned and went their separate ways.
'What does she mean?' Remus thought. 'Does Sirius even like men? Do I like men? Would he be put off by knowing I don't have the same anatomy as most other blokes?'
Eventually Remus opened the door back to the room where his mates were. James was missing and Sirius was in his pants.
"Mooney, ya back!" Sirius greeted him, arms open like he wanted a hug.
"Pads, I just went to the other side of the tower, not the planet." He replied, accepting the hug.
He has hugged Sirius before, but this felt different. He felt closer than usual, and not just because there were less clothes between them. When Sirius let go he went back to putting on his pajamas. James re-entered the room with toothpaste on his lower lip. He raised his hand to his friends before flopping onto his bed. Sirius and Remus followed suit and went to sleep as well.