All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

Fourth Year : April

Saturday 26th April 1975

They were beginning to win Madam Pomfrey over, Sirius was sure. The school nurse refrained from brandishing her wand and chasing them out when they arrived in the hospital wing, and she didn’t even tut disapprovingly or level them with one of her trademark glares. Instead, she only sighed and glanced at the clock.

“Oh, go on then.” She waved them in, shaking her head. The marauders hurried past the door before she could change her mind.

“Remus Lupin, put that book down at once!” She barked, marching over to the only bed in the room that was currently screened. There was the incriminating thwump of a heavy book falling suddenly onto the bedcovers.

“Can you see through the screen?!” Remus’s startled voice came from behind the thin barriers.

“No,” the nurse replied, with an amused smile, “I just know you too well.” She bustled around the pale green hospital screens, and the three boys hung back, a few steps behind her.

It was a bit disconcerting, watching the two of them interact (or rather, hearing). It almost reminded Sirius of the way Effie would scold James—smiling, eyes twinkling, face softening when she looked at him.

“I had hoped you’d be resting your eyes, not straining them!” Pomfrey’s exasperated voice came from behind the barriers.

“I can see in the dark.”

“No excuse. As you’re up, I suppose you’re ready for visitors?”

“Yeah, of course!” Rustling noises, as Remus moved around. Sirius grinned.

Madam Pomfrey’s head popped around the screen. “Come on, then,” she called, waving them over, and the boys filed past one by one. “Not too much noise, and no books!”

“Why can’t you have books?” James asked, amused, leaning on the end of the bed frame.

“Because it’s Moony,” Sirius answered, flopping down on the small bed so that he was lying across Remus’s legs. “He doesn’t understand moderation.”

“I just want to revise,” Remus protested, looking a bit embarrassed, “I mean, I’m at school, it’s what I’m supposed to do.” He nodded to Peter, who was passing out chocolate frogs.

“You don’t want to burn out though,” Sirius said, around a bite of chocolate, “You’re miles ahead of the rest of the class, and exams aren’t for ages.” Remus’s knee was poking into his back.

“They’re two weeks away,” James shot back, raising a brow, “You could do with being a bit better prepared, Black.”

“Oh, I am sorry,” Sirius rolled his eyes, shifting around to try and get more comfortable, “I forgot you’d joined the swot club too.”

“One afternoon in the library does not make me a swot!” James grumbled, looking quite offended by the accusation.

“Don’t listen to him, James,” Remus said, moving his legs slightly under the covers—now his knee was poking into Sirius’s stomach. “I’m proud of you. Thanks for the frogs, Pete.”