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The Love of Others- RLSB- Ch8

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When James and Peter got back from Hogsmeade, Sirius and Remus were both asleep in the common room. There was set of wizards chess on the table—fragmented pieces scattered all over the floor, there were playing cards strewn all over the couch and chair that the boys were sleeping on, there were empty plates and candy wrappers everywhere, and there was an empty bottle of brandy on the table.

"Looks like they had a good day," James laughed, shaking Remus and Sirius awake. "Sorry to wake you, but I have news."

"Lily?" Sirius asked groggily, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

"Looks like I've got a date for the Yule ball!" James grinned. "We kissed!"

"Congratulations, mate," Remus said. At least someone was getting the object of their affections.

"How was your day, here in the common room?" James asked, gesturing to the array of garbage and games that scattered the room.

"Perfect," Sirius said, making unreadable eye contact with Remus and smiling.

~*~

"Morning boys!" James said cheerfully, a bit too cheerfully for a Monday morning, as he joined his friends in the great hall for breakfast.

"What's got you in such a fine mood?" Peter asked sullenly, staring at his porridge.

"Yule ball on Friday," James grinned. "What's got you in such a foul mood?"

"Yule ball on Friday," Peter echoed. Sirius laughed.

"You still need a date, too?" he asked.

"You don't have a date yet?" Peter seemed flabbergasted at such a notion.

"Haven't gotten around to it," Sirius said. "Who do you guys think I should go with?"

"Anne Johnson," James said. "You said you wanted to go with a friend, right? You guys always have a laugh, she doesn't have a date yet, and she's never been interested in you romantically."

"Good idea," Sirius grinned. "I'll ask her today in potions."  Remus didn't understand why Sirius wanted to go with a friend instead of a proper date, but he kept his mouth shut. If he asked, maybe Sirius would change his mind and go with someone he would then sleep with. Right now Remus was ecstatic that Sirius didn't want to get laid after the ball. He wasn't going to do anything that might change that.

"Did you ask Maria yet?" James asked Remus, snapping him out of his mental rant.

"Yeah," Remus said shyly. "She said yes. But just like Sirius and Anne, we're just friends."

"Sure you are," Peter said crassly. Remus looked annoyed, but said nothing.

"Looks like you're the only one still on the outs," Sirius said to Peter. "You should ask Claudia."

"She loves Frank," Peter whimpered.

"Yeah, but he's taking that sixth year, Alice," Sirius said. "He's not interested in Claudia."

"She still hasn't got a date," Remus pointed out.

"Go for it, Petey," James said, "she's heartbroken over Frank and Alice—she'll settle for you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Peter whimpered, his tone was playful, though—not hurt.

"Ask her today," Sirius said. "We should both have dates by the time we all meet up for dinner."

"Fine," Peter said shyly. "I'll ask her in Muggle Studies."

~*~

Sirius and James got to dinner before everyone else.

"Did Anne say yes?" James asked.

"Yeah," Sirius shrugged. He looked extremely despondent.

"You'll have fun," James said, trying to cheer up his friend. "It's fun to go to balls with friends."

Sirius nodded.

"Although I have to admit," James continued, "The way Maria looks at Remus, I don't know if they're actually just friends or not."

"They're just friends," Sirius said abruptly.

"How can you be so sure of that?" James went on, "I mean, they spend an awful lot of time together."

"They are just friends," Sirius snapped, "why do all of constantly insist that there's more behind it? You're putting stupid ideas in his head."

"What's stupid about trying to get him a girlfriend?" James asked, but seeing the look on Sirius' face, he suddenly understood. "…you like him don't you?"

Sirius' silence spoke volumes.

"When you came out to me, you said you were in love," James suddenly realized, "but I totally forgot because I was so preoccupied with the fact that you were gay. You love Remus."

"So what if I do?" Sirius said in a pained voice, "This weekend was amazing. We had fun the whole time, and there was not a minute of awkwardness. I almost kissed him like a hundred times, but I had to stop myself. It's not like anything's gonna come from it."

"Probably not," James said honestly. "I mean, the chances of Remus being-"

"I know," Sirius said.

"Claudia said yes!" Peter cheered, rushing over to the table and effectively ending James and Sirius' conversation.

"That's great," Sirius said.

"Yeah, mate, good work!" James grinned, clapping Peter on the back a bit too hard.

"Did yours say yes?" Peter asked Sirius, as Remus came through the doors and began making his way to their table.

"…huh?" Sirius said distractedly—too busy watching Remus.

"Yeah, Anne said yes to him," James said, abruptly.

"Hi," Remus said, mostly to Sirius.

"…hey," Sirius said. Forcing himself to look away from Remus and stare at his dinner instead. James was floored. Sirius had been acting like this for months but he'd been unable to see it, until he knew the truth.

"H- How is your arm?" Remus asked. Sirius continued to stare at his food.

"Fine," he said.

James was intrigued. With his newly acquired clarity, he was not only noticing Sirius acting oddly toward Remus, but Remus was acting oddly toward Sirius, too. Though he didn't know what was happening yet, the wheels in his head were starting to turn. He would work this out. He was James Potter for Christ's sake. He was the plotter of the group—if he couldn't figure this out—he'd be a shame to plotters everywhere.

~*~
Chapter 8, a little bit happens. but hang in there, things come to a head in the final two chapters.

Slash! don't like, don't read. Flames will be used to melt the ice off of my car.

~~~~~
Chapters:
CH 1.[link]
CH 2.[link]
CH 3.[link]
CH 4.[link]
CH 5.[link]
CH 6.[link]
CH 7.[link]
CH 8. YOU ARE HERE
CH 9. [link]
CH 10. [link]
© 2010 - 2024 youliedanyway
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moon-spirt's avatar
This is an awesome story!
But when you said something about Peter dunning over to the table (and since he's not the skinniest of people) I imagined him, but in penguin form. I just couldn't help it! Hahaha