All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

Fifth Year : Moony & Co.

Remus fell off the window ledge in shock. This delighted Sirius (most things did, as a dog), and he barked happily and wagged his tail as Moony hurried to pick himself up off the floor. The tall boy (extremely tall, especially from Sirius’s current perspective) looked from James to Peter, then back to Sirius, processing what he’d just seen. Sirius changed back, unable to stop smiling.

“You did it,” Remus said, voice flat. “I can’t believe you bloody did it.” He sat back down on the windowsill, swallowing hard.

“Are you angry with us?” James asked earnestly, studying their friend’s face.

“Can you all do it?”

James exchanged a glance with Peter, and they both nodded. Remus sucked in a breath. “Go on then,” he whispered, “Show me.”

Immediately, in the place where James and Peter had been standing, there materialized a large stag, noble antlers scraping the ceiling, and a skittish brown rat. Sirius laughed, still buzzing with excitement.

“We couldn’t choose what we turned into,” he explained, “Otherwise Peter probably would have picked something else…”

“Oi!” Peter complained, changing back, “Rats are highly intelligent creatures, I looked it up.”

“Shame you’re not.”

“Not everyone wants to be a big slobbering mutt,” James said, transforming and coming to Peter’s defence, as usual. He punched Sirius lightly on the shoulder.

“All right, Bambi, calm down,” Sirius smirked to show he meant no harm, ruffling Peter’s hair, “Just having a laugh, aren’t we, mate?”

Peter smiled grudgingly, too excited to hold the teasing against him. Sirius turned back to Remus. He was staring at them, eyes wide, brow furrowed, an indecipherable expression on his face.

“Remus?” James asked, after a moment, “You are angry, aren’t you?”

Sirius’s stomach dropped. Was that it? Was Remus upset with them? He knew Lupin had asked them not to do it, but he’d thought—well, he’d thought that once they’d actually done it, he would change his mind.

“I...” Remus shook his head, still frowning, “No, no, not angry...I just....” He shut his eyes, looking almost pained, “I knew you’d do it anyway, I knew you’d try, at least. You never listen to me.”

Sirius’s throat felt tight. But we did it to help you, he wanted to say.

“We’re sorry,” James apologized, looking thoroughly penitent. Immediately, Remus’s eyes snapped open.

“No, don’t be sorry!” he said, “What you’ve done is amazing...you lot are amazing. I just...I don’t know what to say.”

You lot are amazing. Sirius’s chest flooded with warmth. So that’s what it was. Moony was happy—so happy he was speechless! Sirius remembered the way he’d felt when James gave him the mirror, recalling exactly how overwhelming it was to receive such a gift. Was that how Moony felt?

Remus glanced up, catching Sirius’s eye. He held the gaze, offering a small, understanding smile.

“Thank you,” Remus whispered, and for a moment, Sirius felt as if they were the only two people in the room.