Ah, fifth year.
Remus Lupin was looking forward to this year. Who wouldn't be? The teachers had increased the workload, there were their GCSEs coming up, and Sirius was almost legally allowed to have sex (not that age had really stopped him before....always be safe kids.). Not to mention his high confusion about his sexuality. He didn't want to be gay. Why couldn't God just give him one bloody break?
So yes, Remus was really looking forward to fifth year.
"Moony, have a sausage."
He blinked, looking at the proffered sausage. "No?"
Sirius put it on his plate anyway. "Don't be ridiculous."
And there was the crux of his troubles: Sirius Black. Remus could deal with being gay if he didn't have to deal with Sirius Black (not that he was actually gay).
It wasn't Remus' fault that Sirius had eyes the colour of the moon, or that the little hairs at the edge of Sirius' hairline were curly and became visible when he had put his hair into a bun (which was a fairly common occurrence).
It wasn't his fault that Sirius would flirt with Remus constantly, or that he felt obligated to flirt back. After all, it would be rude not to. Extremely rude.
Just because all of this was true, it wasn't his fault. And it didn't make him gay.
"Moony you aren't paying attention."
"Leave me alone James," he grumbled. "What do you want?"
James steepled his fingers under his chin, rather like Sherlock Holmes. "I have a new plan of attack."
Remus and Peter groaned. "James," said Peter, "When will you realise that Lily doesn't like you?"
"Never, because that isn't true." Sirius grinned. "So what's the plan?"
"See, guys. This is how you're supposed to react."
"Not likely."
"Shut up Moons. So, basically..."
Remus tuned out of the conversation once again, leaving Sirius to cheer on the highly-detailed, bound-to-succeed formula. He heard 'lilies', 'arrows' and 'pigs' along the line somewhere, but couldn't bring himself to remind the two dark-haired imbeciles how utterly moronic they both were.
No: instead of wasting his breath, Remus watched Sirius. Or, more specifically, his lips.
Remus didn't know if it was against the school rules for boys to wear lipstick, but he sure as hell felt it should be. Especially the dark-purple kind, and definitely when Sirius was wearing it. They made his lips look fuller, and it didn't help that Sirius kept biting them gently, white teeth bright against the plum -
Remus wasn't gay, though. He was just admiring the colour. It's just the colour, he thought to himself. Yes. It's just the colour.
Sure.
" - she probably won't die - "
"Sorry, who's going to die?" Remus asked, alarmed.
"No one, weren't you listening?"
"I have better things to do."
Sirius put a hand against his chest, fluttering his eyelashes, mouth falling open, etcetera, etcetera. "Ex-cuse me? I thought what we had was special."
Remus sipped his coffee. "You thought wrong."
The other boy gasped, apparently shocked. "How could you? After everything I've done for you - "
"Sirius, we've been over this many times." Peter pulled Sirius' hand away from his chest. "Remus loves James, not you."
"Peter! You're meant to be my number-one bitch!"
"You're the bitch here, Padfoot."
"Stop it James or I won't help you."
"He has a point, Prongs. Lily isn't going to go out with you."
"Remus - !"
"Will the four of you shut up!" said Lily, who was sitting nearby and looking vaguely pissed.
"Oops."
"Sorry Lily."
"Yeah, we'll shut up."
"We promise."
The marauders made their way out of the Great Hall, looking sheepishly at the ground. James cleared his throat.
"So...what do we have first?"
"Erm..." Sirius looked at his timetable. "Dammit. Maths with Sinistra."
There was a collective sigh.
As they were walking, Remus saw something on the noticeboard, and came to a stop.
SINGING COMPETITION
If you or anyone you know has a knack for singing, then come along next Sunday at lunchtime and sign up for Hogwarts' annual singing competition!
Now, here's the thing: Remus loved to sing. He was alright at it too, at least from his perspective. But he had always chickened out when it came to performing.
The others always told him to sign up, but he never did. But during the summer holidays, he had decided that this year he was going to do it. He couldn't hide away forever.
Grabbing one of the flyers, Remus scanned it quickly.
"Hurry up, Rem!"
"Coming!" He ran after the others, smiling grimly.
Into battle.