Amour

Quatorze

Well it was Saturday, end of the week, beginning of the weekend. The announcement of the second task leering over everyone as the day came to an end.

"Isn't it weird how we have one hand that just does all the work, while the other just sits there and does fuck all?"

"James please, it's been a long day." Remus sighed, rubbing his temples in a desperate attempt to distract himself before he snapped.

"No but what's it even there for, it's about as useful as fingernails" James scrunched up his eyebrows in thought as he plonked down onto the winter ground, no doubt going to get his trousers all soggy.

"clavus abierunt" Remus murmered, pointing his wand at James. Clavus abierunt was a rough latin translation to nails gone, he didn't even know if it was a real spell. Apparently it was.

"REMUS JOHN LUPIN YOU GIVE ME MY PETER SCRATCHERS BACK RIGHT NOW!" James cried, waving his nail-less hands around in panic.

"Uh, excuse me?" Peter looked up from his frog card, Albus Dumbledore's figure walking away out of boredom, "You and your cocktail sausages can fuck right off, thanks!"

"I love you, but I will not hesitate to take all of your clothes and hide them while you're in the shower" James lowered his voice, kneeling in front of Remus.

"Bloody hell, alright alright!" Remus was praying to whatever Gods that were listening, that this thing had a counter curse, "Err, clavus retro.."

The nails came back.

"Don't try me lupin" James pointed a--nailed--finger in Remus' face, which only made him laugh.

"I could snap your neck with one hand, Jamie"

James' eyes widened for a second, and he sat back down, muttering "My apologies"

"Je suis de retour, chanceux!" Sirius grinned, bounding over. "I've returned, lucky you!"

That would have been a pretty smooth entrance if he hadn't tripped over a tree root, headbutting James on his way down.

"I want to be fucking home schooled" James wailed, holding the side of his head, "Why's it always me?"

"putain de boules de baise" Sirius groaned, rolling onto his back. "Fucking fuck balls"

"Anyways" Peter scooted to the side slightly, "Did you have a riveting experience!?"

Sirius had been asked by Slughorn to attend a short brunch, supposedly to further introduce him to the school, but it was no secret Slughorn wanted an in with the Blacks. It was short, maybe an hour--two at the most--of tiny sandwiches and senile banter. Absolute hell.

Sirius looked at Peter blankly, effectively getting the message across that he would rather not.

"Dinner's in, like what, a few hours. Whaddya say we introduce Sirius to some good ol' Maraudering?" James grinned, the lump forming on the side of his head making him look like a bit of a nutter. 

"Oh hell" Remus groaned, despite being a grade O student and prefect, he never really escaped James' pranking clutches. It would be a lie to say he didn't enjoy it, though. James was many things, including thorough. When he pranked, it was more artwork than a practical joke. 

"Est-ce que c'est censé être un nom de gang ou quelque chose comme ça?" Sirius looked at James wearily. "Is that supposed to be a gang name or something?"  

"Embrace it bud, you're one of us now" 

Sirius would've been touched if it wasn't for the--frankly frightening--malicious grin on his face. 

"Qu'avez-vous en tête?" "What've you got in mind then?" 

___________________________

"Oh I hate this so much, so so much..." Remus moaned as the four of them levitated in the great hall, Slytherin filing into their table below.

James, Peter and Sirius were all holding 1kg bags of ketchup, eyes alive with mischief.

"Just one...more...NOW!" James cried, upending his bag on the oblivious Slytherins. Sirius, Peter--and finally Remus--following suit. There were cries of shock and shouts of disapproval as the teacher came bustling over, Flitwick slipping on a particularly viscous bit of sauce.

The four of them fled the scene, brooms carrying them into the safety of the courtyard, away from prying eyes. Well, supposedly. 

"THAT WAS BRILLIANT!" James yelled, doing loops in the sky.

Sirius' borrowed school broom was starting to shake, so he lowered himself to the ground with Remus while James and Peter started chasing each other. He was just bustling with adrenaline, he was never allowed to do anything like that back in France. 

"Nous devons le faire plus souvent!" He said, excitedly, jumping up and down. "We have to do that more often!" 

"Easy there, you might get a bloody hemorrhage. And no, we cannot do that everyday, you've got a task to be preparing for." Remus laughed, eyeing Sirius' pattering feet.  

"Oh mais c'était tellement amusant!" Sirius whined, grabbing Remus by the shoulders and shaking him slightly. "Oh but it was so fun!" 

"Don't do stuff like this a lot in France, huh?" 

"Ne me lance même pas" Sirius stopped shaking him, adopting a comically child-like pout. "Don't even get me started"

"Okay the-" 

"Je suis comme un moine, mais avec des cheveux super doux. C'est tellement plus amusant ici, comme si j'étais sorti de l'enfer pour une excursion d'une journée au paradis." Sirius started, chucking himself on the ground in self pity. "I'm like a monk, but with super soft hair. It's so much more fun here, like I've come out of hell for a day trip to heaven." 

"I'd hardly call it heaven..." Remus shrugged, him too sitting on the ground. 

"C'est comparé à Avignon. On me raille avec des farces et moins de jugement. Assez foutu si vous me demandez!" "It is compared to Avignon. I'm being taunted with pranks and less judgement. Pretty fucked up if you ask me!" 

"Is it really that bad at home?" Remus had turned uncharacteristically solemn, looking at Sirius with pity and concern. 

"Non ça va, juste une réaction excessive je suppose" Sirius laughed, smile not quite reaching his eyes. "No it's fine, just overreacting I guess" 

Wow, great job Black, just fuck up the good mood by unloading all of your troubles on this poor 16 year old, honestly. 

Hey, it kinda smells like bacon right now. IS THERE BACON SOMEWHERE.

"Sirius, stay with me here" Remus snapped his fingers at Sirius, who had started spinning his head in search of the food. 

"Sentez-vous le bacon? Je sens le bacon." He stood up, done with the topic of their conversation, this was really not the time. "Do you smell bacon? I smell bacon." 

"No, look-" 

"Yay allons-y!" "Yay, let's go!" 

Remus watched as Sirius bounded back over to James, who had apparently also smelt the delicious aroma. He tried to drop the subject, he knew it was none of this business, but couldn't help feel rather sorry for Sirius. He obviously didn't enjoy it at home, that much was clear, but Remus felt as if there was more to this boy than he was letting on. 

And desperately wanted to find out what. 

But, for now, he would respect Sirius' privacy and went to join the boys in there little meat hunt, ignoring the slight prickling on the back of his neck. 

Perhaps it was the breeze that just hit. 

Not like anyone would be watching them. 

Omg, two chapters in two days, who am I!? 

Hope you're liking it so far, I have so many plans but I'm trying SO hard not to rush it, pain pain pain!!!