What a Bludger
Remus and Sirius met up with Lily, James, and Peter in the great hall. Sirius detailed the night's events to everyone, and Peter kept sneezing from how dusty the library was. James reminded Sirius that there was quidditch practice that afternoon.
"Isn't it during Slytherin's time? They're facing Hufflepuff on the 5th,"
"They are, that's why we could only get the pitch this afternoon. They've been practicing more now that they got new beaters," James explained.
The friends departed after breakfast and went their separate ways. Lily and Remus walked down to the History of Magic classroom together.
"Sounds like you and Sirius had a fun night alone," she teased him.
"Oh shut it," Remus chuckled, "you know I'm not all there I transform anyways." He muttered the last part so as not to be overheard by passing students.
"Reguardless, it seems like he can tame you well enough," Lily told a now bright red Remus.
"Did you finish your paper for Binns' class?" Remus asked, changing the subject (again).
"Yes, although it's not my best work. I was up the other night with a first year who was homesick, so I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked to on the research."
"Sure you'll still do well, not sure you're capable of failing an assignment." Remus said.
"Halloween's next week, do you have any fun ideas, James?" Peter asked.
James thought a bit to himself, "honestly I've been so busy with school and quidditch I forgot all about it," he admitted.
"We've only got two more Halloweens here at Hogwarts, we otta do something exciting!" Peter mused.
"Have you got any ideas then," Sirius asked.
"Well… no, but you guys are usually the ones with the ideas," Peter replied.
"You staying to watch us practice?" James asked.
"No, I've got potions work."
"Why don't you try and come up with some ideas while you work on potions, we'll get back to you," Sirius suggested.
They parted ways with Peter and went off to the quidditch pitch for practice.
Surprisingly, Slytherin was already in the air with the balls.
"Oi," James called out, "where's the captain?"
A sweaty bloke with dark hair came down from the air.
"Why are you here, Gryffindor?" He panted.
"You've booked all extra time for the pitch, we can't even practice," James explained.
"This is our time-"
"Coach said we could have it-"
"Do you have a note?"
James unfurled the note before the Slytherin captain could finish her question. He snatched it from his hand and read it with a look of disgust growing on his face.
"If we lose it's all your fault, Potter!" He threatened, shoving the note back at him.
He whistled at his team, telling them practice was over.
"Gryffindorks decided their practice usurps our victory," he informed his team.
Regulus shot daggers into his brother's eyes. Sirius kept his face straight and nodded curtly at him. Slytherin marched away.
"Arseholes, the lot of 'em," Phoebe muttered.
"Alright team, let's go!" James encouraged his group.
Gryffindor practiced for a couple of hours until dark. As winter came nearer the afternoon daylight got shorter, as it tends to do.
The team went back into the castle to clean themselves up after practice.
"Hey, are you alright," James asked Sirius, "you seemed a bit off in the beginning of practice?"
Sirius sighed deeply splashing more water onto his face, his hair sloppily tied back in what was a very messy ponytail.
"I've just got a lot on my mind is all," he said.
"Is it about your brother?" James asked sheepishly. Sirius hated talking about his family, and James knew that better than anyone else did.
"I've just…" Sirius exhaled deeply, drying his face with a towel. He was very deliberately not looking in the mirror.
"I've had a lot on my mind lately."
"Anything a best friend should know about?" James probed in his usual, jokey manner.
Sirius chuckled softly, "I'm just worried about Regulus, and I know I shouldn't be, but I am. Quidditch, school, everything feels really stressful right now," Sirius turned to face James, "Its like Peter said,we've only got one more year at Hogwarts before we're out of here."
James nodded "I know what you mean, but we'll still be friends once we graduate."
"I know, James," he said, "as much as I'm glad I have all of you I still feel rather… upset about what happened over the summer."
James stood silently, thinking about how Sirius was cast out of his family and disowned. James immediately encouraged him to move in with his family, who graciously accepted him as another son.
Sirius noticed the look on his friend's face and worried that he had come off as rude.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for what you and your parents have done for me, really-"
"It's fine, I understand it's gotta be hard, especially seeing your brother around," James rested his hand on his friend's shoulder, "you're a marauder, Sirius. No matter what happens."
Sirius smiled and hugged James. It was a long, tight embrace.
Remus walked into the bathroom to see his best friends in a shirtless embrace.
"Oh, sorry-" he started, breaking James and Sirius apart.
"Moony!" Sirius greeted, arms outstretched towards his friend. Remus hugged him back, confused.
"Have I interrupted something?" He asked.
Rugged and strong Sirius was pressing his body into a fairly excited Remus. In times like these, Remus was glad his attraction to Sirius was a bit less visible than it would be if he had been built differently. Sirius let go of him and took a step back. Thus forcing Remus to pretend he's not staring at Sirius's bare chest.
"No worries, Rem, he was just feeling a bit down," James assured.
Sirius, to Remus's dismay, did realize that Remus was eying him. He flexed his muscles,
"Impressed, Remus?" He asked, "you know how intense quidditch can be."
"I still need to go to the bathroom," Remus blurted out, immediately making his way into one of the stalls.
James and Sirius finished up in the bathroom,
"We'll be in the common room,"James yelled, walking out with Sirius.
Remus sat silently, longer than he needed to. It took a while for him to pull himself together. A few splashes of cold water and a few deep breaths brought him back down.
What was the big deal?
Remus had seen Sirius topless many times, why was he so hot and bothered now?
Right, he has a crush.
It's just a little crazy teenage hormones, right?
When does a crush stop being a crush and turn into genuinely fancying your best friend?
Remus figured that his little infatuation wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. Then the problem became 'what do I do about this?" Even if Sirius is interested in other boys would he be interested in this boy?
Remus stared into the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. His eyes traced the long scars across his face.
"Sometimes the connections draw themselves"
He remembered the words that Lilly wrote to him.
Maybe things will work out; maybe the connections are starting to draw themselves.
Remus left the bathroom and returned to the common room.
"Took ya long enough, aye Moony?" Sirius bullied affectionately.
"Weren't havin' a baby in there, were you?" James joined in.
"Shut it," Remus laughed.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lupin, it's a girl!" Peter added.