Behind Blue Eyes

2. Express

SIRIUS
I pass through the booth and sit across the two lovebirds. Lily hadn't left James' side YET.

I told Remus about my new girlfriend. "Well, she's a brunette. Likes to study the human body and its...parts, I guess. She's got glasses, but they really fit her face well."

"Sirius..." James warned, again. "You know what we talked about."

"I don't care if she's a muggle, James. I love her."

James scoffed. "You only just met her a month ago."

Remus sat down near me, but farther away from me than I'd have liked. He glanced out the window, then at James. It was like he forgot about his other friends for a minute, looking almost glum. After a moment, he seemed to feel everyone's eyes on him. "Lily, James, Pete! Pete, for goodness sake, I barely recognized you. The haircut," he cleared his throat timidly, "it looks good."

I joined in, grabbing Peter by the jaw gently. "And the hair on his upper lip too! He's a man now." Peter shrugged my hand away, shaking his head with a laugh.

I used this moment of fun to inch a bit closer to Remus. He was always so nervous about everything, I thought maybe he could use some comfort. The last full moon was nearly a month ago, so he was probably anxious for the next coming.

Speaking of which. He never talked about it anymore. The scars. The howling nightmares. He barely wrote me over the summer, firstly. That was sort of the reason I needed to occupy myself with the new girlfriend over the summer. It was almost like getting back at him.

Remus gave me a small look and a smile, making a move away from the window. It was the first time I got a real look at him; there was a new facial scar in front of his ear.

All I could think was, did he do that to himself?

"You two'd better change into your robes. Remember what happened last year?" Lily coddled James' arm, Peter clearly being the third wheel.

"Yes, I know." I mocked Minerva (we called Professor McGonagall that). "Ten points from Gryffindor, as you are not in school uniform upon arrival time 13:45." I chuckle, along with James. "Merlin's beard. The school year hadn't even started yet and we were down negative house points!"

Remus nodded along whilst standing up, gathering his garments. He looked eager to get changed.

"Right, then. We'll be back..." I too gathered my garments and followed Remus out toward the restrooms. We pass the trolley lady. "Hey miss, would you mind dropping off Bertie Botts in booth fourteen? The one they call Potter, he'll pay ya. Thaaanks!" I scooted past her, then followed Remus into the boys' restroom. The one stall was taken.

I looked at Remus for a moment, shrugged, then pulled my shirt over my head, picking up the white-collared tee.

"Sirius..." Remus turned, his cheeks a pink shade. Please don't watch me." He tugged at the collar of his shirt, then pulled it over his head.

I wasn't offended, but I felt the urge to object. I lower my voice. "Remus, I've seen your scars before. You can change in front of me. It's okay."

Remus covered his front with the shirt, then slowly reached down for the robes at his feet. I thought I might take the change and...yes. I grabbed the robes and held them over my head, chuckling.

"Sirius, you creep! Give them—back—" He jumped up, and so did I.

I cackled, realized we were both shirtless, then threw the robes down to him. "Fine, fine." I smiled at him, getting a strange sensation. He was more muscular than I remembered, and some old scars were healed. I cleared my throat and continued to change alongside him.