Chasing Dreams (A Harry Potter Marauder fanfiction)

First and Last Time

A few days later, Sirius stood in front of the mirror, surrounded by clothes. He discarded another T-shirt and sighed, rolling his eyes.

"What's wrong, Padfoot?"
Peter asked from his bed, where he was looking over his transfiguration notes.
"I'm going to Hogsmeade with Skye tomorrow."
He stated simply.

"And?"
Peter encouraged. Sirius rolled his eyes for what felt like the fiftieth time that day.
"And, Wormtail, I'm going with Skye. I want to look nice."
"Bloody hell! Do my ears deceive me? The mighty Sirius, nervous about a date?"

James exclaimed, exploding out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel.

"Christ, Prongs, make yourself presentable! Yeah, a little bit nervous. For the first and last time though!"
Sirius laughed, tossing a jumper at his friend. James glanced down at his almost naked body and looked back up at Sirius with a wink.

"You love it really, Padfoot."

"I'd say Moony loves it more, actually."
A smooth voice said from the doorway.

The four boys turned to face Skye, and Sirius hurriedly pushed away some clothes, James pulled on the sweater, Peter burst out laughing and Remus flushed a deep red.

"Nah, I'm more into you, Skye."
Remus replied unconvincingly, smiling at her.
"Sorry, Remus, I'm in love with Lily."
"Lily's in love with me!"
James exclaimed.
"But Prongs, I thought you were in love with me!"
Sirius put in, feigning hurt.
"Nope, sorry mate."
"But-"

"Alright that's enough!"
Skye announced, laughing as she walked into the room and perched on Sirius' unoccupied bed, biting into a crunchy red apple.

The boys smiled as James got dressed, very awkwardly, and Peter turned to Skye.
"How are you feeling, now I mean?"

"Em.. Not too bad. Still have a thumping headache, but other than that.. I think I'm okay."
Skye answered, thinking of the accident a few days before.
"I'll get those jumped up Slytherins though."
She added darkly at the end. Remus chuckled and shook his head, glancing at Sirius, then his book again.

"Prongs, come on, dinner is in five minutes."
He grumbled, shutting his book and standing up.

"Remus are you okay?"
Skye asked as she saw his wobble slightly. He looked paler than usual- his brown eyes were lined with dark crescents and he looked somehow smaller, undernourished and weak.

"What? Oh, fine. Yeah, I'm okay."
He smiled weakly. Skye realised, with a sick twist of her stomach, that the full moon was two days away. It was no wonder Remus looked so under the weather.

Without hesitation, Skye wrapped her arms around Remus and pulled him close. Remus, uncomfortable at first, flinched in surprise, but soon relaxed and threw his arms around Skye's waist. It seemed to mean something more than the usual hugs she gave him- this was a true confirmation that they were okay again.

"Oi! Come on, let's go!"
James ordered as he walked out the door. Remus smiled at Skye and walked out after James and Peter. Skye and Sirius stood by themselves in the dorm, and for the first time in almost a year, it wasn't awkward.

"So. Are you ready for Saturday?"
"For Hogsmeade? Always."
Sirius replied with a grin. Skye laughed, a beautiful, almost delicate sound that caused her blue eyes to light up, and walked to the door.

"Piggyback?"
Sirius offered her as the stopped at the stairs.
"Why not?"
Skye replied, jumping on his back.

The entirety of the Hogwarts courtyard was filled with nearly every student from third to seventh year, and an excited buzz filled the air.