Chapter 2
The dorm room wakes up at 5:30. 5:30 is the time that James gets up for his morning practice, Sirius lies and says that he goes to lift weights but in reality, he does his morning yoga, and yes I said morning yoga because he also does his nightly yoga. Peter is sneaking back into the dorms from being out all night with some groupies, and Remus. Remus is the first one awake. Always. Granted he never sleeps, he stays in the common room reading until he gets up to wake the boys he goes back to his spot by the window that the boys have claimed the “Moony spot”.
Their shower order also goes in the order that they wake up in. They all use Sirius’ shampoo and conditioner because as James says ‘Padfoot, look at your hair, it’s your signature and between your hairs natural glow and Remus being well Remus there’s hardly any ladies left for me and Peter.’ This is true, ask anyone who has seen their shows or goes to Hogwarts or hell anyone who has ever seen Sirius anywhere and they’ll tell you about his hair. How it looks so soft and how they just want to run their fingers through it and how it’s so shiny and well you get the point.
But this morning was different, it was a Monday morning. And Monday mornings were a mess in the boys’ dorm. Sirius was in his bed lying in pain clutching his stomach groaning in pain muttering to himself and to anyone who would spare a second asking why they let him drink so much. Pete was in the bathroom leaning over the toilet puking his guts out and Remus swore that he saw a little blood come up. James though. James got the most messed up. I mean who could blame the guy he’s what you call a ‘fake it til you make it’ type of person. He is the most confident person besides Sirius that Remus has ever met. He is an all-around amazing guy, always looking out for others, knows when to be serious and when to joke around, his life is stable, but he is a very stubborn man.
He doesn’t let anybody help him ever, he doesn’t want anyone to worry about him, he always puts himself last. He is the most selfless man in the world, so it’s no surprise that when they loosen up and go out he takes it too far. Throughout the week James is doing everything for everyone, he will bend himself backward for everybody, so on the weekend and Monday mornings, he and Remus have come to kind of an understanding. He loses himself in anything that is offered to him and in return Remus looks after him. Remus looks after all of them but James is different. If Pete were hurt or something he would make it known and if Sirius were hurt he would make a big deal about it but James is a suffer-in-silence person.
Remus going from Sirius’ bed to see how he’s doing to the bathroom to get Peter into the shower and waking up James gently while also trying to deal with his hangover is just a typical Monday morning in their dorm.
***
“Oi! Remus what’s the homework for History?” James whispered to Remus from across the table where the four boys sat in the library, Sirius next to James on one side and Remus and Peter on the other side.
“We have to write a 10-page essay about politics including but not limited to, political parties, the electoral college, topics that political parties argue about. You could do religion,” Remus made a face at that, “I mean it’s a touchy subject but it’s there. There’s racism, gay rights, abortion. Just about any topic having to do with human rights.” Remus finished talking and went back to helping Peter with their astronomy class.
“Thanks, Moons.”
***
“Hey, Lils?” Remus approached her from where she was sitting with Alice. They seemed to be talking about something very important because they were both listening intently to each other. He could hear her tell the girl to hold on.
“Yes, Remus.”
“So I was thinking if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with us?” Remus hated asking Lily out for James but he did it anyway, not only because he had faith in his friend but because he could also see that James was winning her over. Little by little.
Lily chuckled as the words came out of Remus’ mouth, as if she already knew this was coming. “And who is us’?
“Well you know,” Remus was always too embarrassed to finish his sentence and Lily lifted her eyebrows. Urging him to go on as she could tell he was feeling flustered. Remus continued though not wanting to embarrass himself further. “Just me and the boys, Pete, James, and Sirius.”
“And why would I want to be around two arrogant sons of bitches, their lap dog that goes along with everyone, and obviously you would be there as well but I don’t have anything to say about you.” Just as Remus was about to defend his friends he was cut off, “No offense Remus.” She finished with a smile. Remus quickly collected himself though deciding not to let his anger get the best of him.
“Well Marlene was going to go and so was Mary and,” Remus scanned his brain trying to come up with more reasons for her to go with them. That was until his thoughts were interrupted by a girly giggle. He looks up expecting to find Lily laughing at him but when he realizes that her facial expressions have only softened, he turns to the occupied seat next to her to find a blonde shaking with laughter, red in the face trying to contain her amusement. “Your friend!” He blurts out. It comes out louder than he means causing some states and shushes but he continues, “Your friend could come as well. Um excuse me what’s your name.” He extended his arm hoping she would take it so he wouldn’t look like a fool.
Luckily she shook his hand and introduced herself, “My name is Alice Fortescue.”
“Ahh Alice that’s a fine name, and who is it that you fancy Ms. Alice Fortescue.” Lily had a on look of concentration and Remus could tell she was trying to figure out what he was playing at.
Alice though, she looked like she was having the time of her life watching Remus fail horribly at asking out her friend.
“Oh, you probably don’t know who he is.” She said like she was playing hard to get.
“Oh, now Alice don’t go doubting ol’ Moony,” Lily spoke elbowing him in a passive-aggressive way. “I’m sure that he can get you the man of your dreams.” She looked up at him smirking. “Can’t you Remus?”
“Yes, yes I can. I can get you a celebrity, I can get you, anyone, just give me a name.” At this point Remus was sweating, his body was shaking and he was on the verge in throwing up. He had to get out of there no matter what he had to agree to.
“Well, in that case, his name is Frank Longbottom” She could tell by the look of confusion that washed on Remus’ faces that he didn’t know who he was. So she continued. “He is a seventh year so he’s just a year older than us and he’s on the quidditch team.”
Great. Remus thought, so now not only does he have to convince an older guy but now he has to convince a jock.” He focuses back on Lily. “So what do you say Lily?”
They stayed in silence for a moment or two before Lily came to a decision. “Well I suppose if you’re going to go through all that trouble, one night as James’ date can’t be so bad.”
“Great amazing he’ll text you all the details. Have a good day and I will see you both at dinner.” He walked out as fast as he could to get out of there but could hear the girls giggling and saying goodbye.
His walk back from the courtyard was rather quiet. Remus enjoyed the quiet, he enjoyed it when he was reading a good book, he enjoyed it when he went to visit his fathers grave, he enjoyed the quietness that the night brought. But when he reached the hallway where all the doors stood, as he walked down the hallway there was no more quietness. There was no more silence during good books instead the sounds of others conversating, there was no more privacy when he went to visit his fathers grave only the feeling of being suffocated, and there was no more vulnerability that the night brought, only fear.
So when he opened the door and found James on the floor, a worried mess, he didn’t think twice about lifting him up, bringing him into a hug and congratulating him.
Sirius seeing how emotional Remus was being and how big James’ smile was stretched across his face he could only assume that for the first time in six years, Lily Evans had said yes.
Peter, well Peter wasn’t overflowing with excitement as Sirius and Remus were but he told James that he was happy for him, gave him a hug and stuck around for a bit while the three of them listened to Remus telling them what happened. Eventually he got over it and politely excused himself from the boys saying he had homework to do and needed to go to the library.
“What’s his problem?” Sirius had a face on. One Remus knew all too well from the arguments the two had gotten in over the years. There was a couple tell tale signs that Sirius was getting ready for an argument, his chest puffs out and he fixes his posture, his face tenses and he starts holding his breath.
To be able to notice all these signs you would have to know Sirius quite well, or stare at him all day. Really studying the way his face changes depending on what he’s feeling, how his hair falls, how he only smiles half assed because he doesn’t like his dimples. Remus could go in all day and if you have him the time of day he would spend every minute talking about Sirius. It would have to be with the right person of course and that person was the one and only Lily Evans. And if there was somebody who knew Sirius Black better than Remus Lupin it would be James Potter.
So when Sirius subconsciously began doing this he also started getting up from his spot on the floor. James knowing where this was going stood up as well. Remus tried to think of something to get the attention off Peter as did James.
“Hey did I tell you mum said that when you guys come over for Thanksgiving break we can help paint the house.” Sirius didn’t react to what James had told him, his mind was set on figuring out why Peter was acting weird. “Yeah,” James continued, “She also said that we can go shopping for clothes and trinkets.” James started worrying, what Peter did wasn’t even a big deal, sure James was a little upset that his best friend was not sharing his joy but it wasn’t worth starting a fight over. Sirius always took it too far when it came to his friends, whenever someone made a comment about Remus’ scars, they magically ended up in the infirmary and Sirius would hide his hand. Whenever someone said something about Peter, anything about Peter the same would happen. But with James, James was his brother, he would go through hell for him.
“We have to convince Frank Longbottom to go on a date with Lily’s friend.” As soon as the words left Remus’ mouthy James' jaw was left agape.
Sirius slowly turned to face Remus, “What do you mean we have to convince Frank Longbottom to go on a date with Lily’s friend?” As Remus was about answer Sirius cut him off, “Who is Lily’s friend and why is she coming anyway?” Sirius stood there arms crossed looking at Remus expectedly and with James standing behind him, mirroring Sirius. “Well are you going to answer?” His hands on his hips, James still mirroring him moved his too.
“Well I didn’t know if I could speak yet considering you always-”
“What do I cut you off, Remus? Is that what you were going to say?” Am I a cutter offer?” James was thankful that he was standing behind Sirius because if Sirius saw his face he would get mad at him.
“Well as a matter of fact I was going to say that. Now, are you finished or not so I can explain?”
Sirius huffed, threw his head back, and rolled his eyes, “I suppose I’m done now. You can explain.”
Remus nodded his head and started shifting his weight from side to side. “Well, part of why Lily said yes is because when I asked her if she wanted to come her friend was also there. So I saw an opportunity and I took it.”
“And exactly what opportunity was that?”
“Well,” Remus started messing with his hands. He always did that when he got nervous, “I told her that her friend could come as well. Her friend is Alice.”
“Holy shit, Alice.” Sirius said at the same time James asked who Alice was. “Dude you don’t know who Alice is. I mean bloody hell Prongs I know you only have your eye on Lily but do you really not notice any other girl.?”
James shrugged not looking interested in this conversation, he just wanted to know who Alice was, “No.” Sirius gave him a shocked look, “I mean the only girl I’ve ever wanted to be with was Lily and if that didn’t work out then,” James paused he had never thought that far ahead. “I don’t know, I mean maybe I’d find someone but no one could compare to her.”
“Wow Prongs,” Sirius slapped him on the back, “You’re proper in love with her.”
Remus scoffed before adding, “It’s all he’s ever talked about for the past six years.” The three of them laughed until it became quiet again.
“Anyway we’re getting off track here.” Sirius once again turned to look at Remus, “How does Frank fit into this? I mean I know why Alice is going but why is he?”
“Alice fancies Frank. So I promised her that if she came I would get Frank to come too since it’s a group date.” Remus felt… he felt guilty almost, for dragging Alice into this mess, for promising that he’d get the guy she likes to go. What if he couldn’t do it? What if he promised her that this would happen and it didn’t? Too many ’what it’s’ Remus decided.
As if Sirius could sense that Remus was feeling down he walked up to him and patted his back before bringing him into a hug. “It’s okay we’re going to get him to come.” He looked back at James asking for help.
“Yeah you know us Moony. You can count on us to do a little convincing.” James added before approaching the pair and wrapping his arms around both of them. They stayed like that for a while just holding each other before Remus started getting antsy.
“So how are we going to get him to come?” Sirius asked with a smirk stretched across his face.