All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

Sixth Year : September

Wednesday 1st September 1976

“This is the year, lads. This is the year it finally happens. Six years of waiting and it all pays off.”

“You can’t be talking about what I think you’re talking about,” Remus said, raising a sceptical eyebrow from over top the pages of his book.

“Oh yes,” James grinned maniacally, “Lily Evans is definitely going to realise she’s mad about me. I can feel it.”

“Are you sure, though?” Sirius drawled, glancing over his shoulder from where he sat at the window, “You've had these feelings before.”

“I have,” James conceded, solemnly, “You’re quite right, Padfoot. But something is different this time. I can practically taste it. Love is very much in the air.”

“Or lust,” Remus returned to his book, muttering, “You’re probably just picking up on the raging hormones coming off these idiots.” He jerked his chin towards Sirius and Peter, who were both pressed against the windows of their carriage, searching King’s Cross for their girlfriends.

“Who’re you calling an idiot, Moony?” Sirius shot back, “I can’t help it if I drive women wild with desire.”

“SIRIUS BLOODY BLACK, I COULD KILL YOU!” The train shook with the wrath of Mary Macdonald as she pounded down the corridor in her heeled boots, shrieking furiously.

Remus nodded smugly.

“Wild with something, anyway.”

James (the traitor) almost choked on his Bertie Botts every flavour bean from laughing so hard. Sirius shot him a glare, but when James grinned back it was hard to remain annoyed. He’d been effusively happy since discovering that Sirius and Remus had reconciled, and although he was tactful enough not to mention it directly, it was obvious that he’d been counting down the days until they made up almost as much as Sirius. Now that he was no longer caught in the no-man’s-land of tension between the two boys, James was practically bouncing off the walls with energy, making grand declarations about all that would be accomplished in the new school year (most of which had to do with Lily Evans). 

James was still trying to catch his breath when Mary barged into their carriage, eyes aflame. Her gaze locked onto Sirius, and he could have sworn that the temperature in the car went up by a few degrees.

“What have I done?!” He demanded. He was sure that he hadn’t had time to do anything to warrant his girlfriend’s fury, yet—the train hadn’t even left the bloody station!

“You really don’t know, do you?!” Mary shook her head in disgust, fuming. The gold hoops in her ears jangled with motion. “Diagon Alley?!” She stamped her foot.

Sirius felt the blood drain from his face.

“Bugger."

“Fuck you, Black!” She whirled around, slamming the door open just as the train began to move. Sirius scrambled to his feet, hurrying after her,

“Oi, Mary, wait! I’m sorry!” 

He followed her into the corridor, stumbling a bit as he tried to grab her arm.