This Love

Chapter 4

Sept 1, 1974 (Year Four)

Remus boarded the Hogwarts Express alone. He couldn't find the rest of the Marauders anywhere on the platform, so he figured he'd just get their usual carriage and wait for the others. Remus had a book open on his lap when James, Peter, and Sirius finally stumbled through the door, all three hysterical.

"Oh Merlin, I wish we could have stayed to see Evans' face!" Sirius all but fell on Remus, hardly breathing from laughter. Remus felt the corner of his lips turn up. It was always good to see Sirius like this. He knew holidays home were always extremely hard on Sirius. But James had always been able to make Sirius smile.

Remus let out a sigh. "What did you idiots do this time?"

"Oh God, Moony! You had to be there!" James could hardly stop laughing long enough to get the words out. And it just spun the three boys deeper in the hysterics. Remus highly doubted he wanted to be any part of it if James and Sirius were this over joyed at whatever they did. He didn't mind the pranks. They were harmless. And he was the mastermind behind most of them. But he let James and Sirius (with Peter trailing along) have fun executing them. The dynamic worked perfectly for them.

"I highly doubt I'd want to be there with your reactions." Remus simply raised a brow, nudging Sirius who was still sprawled across Remus. Sirius finally managed to haul himself into a sitting position, letting Remus calm his racing heart.

After a few more moments, the three boys were able to control themselves long enough to actually be able to tell Remus what they had done. "It was so simple but so bloody brilliant!" Sirius's eyes shined like stars as he was telling Remus what they did. "We changed all of the Slytherin stuff to Gryffindor! And when I say all, I mean all. And they can't figure out the counter curse because we meshed several spells together so any basic counter curse won't work." Sirius started chuckling again. "Oh, it's going to be a wonderful feast, this one. All of Slytherin wearing Gryffindor colors!"

Remus simply shook his head, unable to hold back a smile any longer. His eyes traveled over to Sirius, wanting to see him having a moment of happiness. But when Remus looked over, the other boy was already looking at him, a smile still on his face. But this one was gentler than the one he'd had before. Remus felt his face warm and quickly looked away.

It was going to be a long year for Remus.

Oct 1, 1974

"This is the year lads! This is the year that Lily Evans finally falls in love with me!" James was standing on his bed, arms spread wide, shouting at the other three boys.

They were all in the dorm, trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. But James could never be quiet. Especially about Lily Evans.

Sirius just let out a snort. "Yeah, sure Potter. Whatever you say."

"Yeah... James I don't think it's gonna happen. You've said that every single year since second year. And it never happens." Remus and Sirius were on Remus's bed, a fact that was making Remus go crazy. Remus was up against the headboard, legs stretched out in front of him. And Sirius was laying with his head resting on Remus's thigh. Remus had to fight every part of him that wanted to card his fingers through Sirius's long hair that was fanned across his lap.

Sirius looked at Remus with a smirk. "Way to go breaking Potter's heart Moony."

"Yeah Moony. That was just cruel. You are supposed to talk me up. You're friends with Evans, you're friends with me. Tell her how amazing I am. She'll listen to you." James had plopped down to sit on the bed cross-legged, frowning at Remus.

Remus just groaned and leaned back, hitting his head on the headboard with a soft thud. "I am her friend, James. And because I am her friend, I am going to respect her wishes to 'never speak about James Potter' in her presence." At this, James let out an affronted gasp. "Her words, Potter, not mine."