Fic: These Four Kings (Year Seven 7/?)

[fox_confessor]

Title: These Four Kings (Year Seven 7/?)
Author: Dani (escribo)
Word count: 3200~
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Lily/James (in the future will be Remus/Sirius)
Timeline: November 23, 1977

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended. I've not made nor seek any profit.

Year 1: one/ two/ three/ four/ five/ six/ seven
Year 2: one/ two/ three/ four

Year 3: one/ two/three/four
Year 4 (coming in the future when work quits eating my brains! Sorry for the out-of-order-ness)
Year 5 one/ two/ three/ four/ five/ six/ seven/ eight
Year 6 one/ two/ three/ four/ five/ six/ seven/ eight/ nine
Summer one/ two
Year 7 one/ two/ three/ four/ five/ six



Lily often wondered what had taken her so long to figure things out, figure James out. Sitting at one of the long tables in the Gryffindor common room, surrounded by books and parchments as she studied with her friends, she watched for him to come through the portrait while pretending she wasn't. When he finally did, flashing a crooked smile in her direction, something in her stomach fluttered warmly at the sight of him. He'd asked for help in Potions, though they both knew it was a chance to sit close together and flirt as he certainly didn't need her assistance. As he came closer, Lily sat up taller in her chair and smiled back at him, wondering if he'd be willing to drop the pretense of studying altogether.

"You're late," she said, not able to quite keep the tease from her voice. He looked really good in his uniform, his Head Boy badge gleaming for a change, his glasses just slightly askew.

"I am. I'm sorry. Would you mind terribly if I took a rain check for tonight?" James asked and Lily was surprised. After years of James chasing after her and months of flirtation and weeks of dating, a hesitant James was something of a marvel. "I wouldn't ask but Sirius needs me to take care of something for him tonight."

"I'm being stood up for Sirius Black?" Lily leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over chest. Her friends laughed at them both, at how torn James looked. "Is this something going to explode at some point?"

"I hope not. Sirius'd kill me." With that, James winked as he stepped away, walking backwards, with his hands held out in apology. When he finally turned away, Lily continued to watch him as he crossed over to one of the couches where she noticed for the first time that Remus was stretched out in front of the fire, asleep.

When her friends would laugh again, Lily hushed them, suddenly annoyed though she knew they didn't know, that they didn't understand. To them, Remus was a sickly sidekick to James and Sirius, nice if a bit strange--eccentric with his old clothes, old books, and even older Muggle music. A misplaced Ravenclaw, some said, and Lily both loved and hated knowing the truth, knowing Remus well enough to know what the other girls didn't know at all. He was nobody's sidekick, and though he was smart enough--he worked hard enough--to fit in with the Ravenclaws, he was a true Gryffindor, mischievous, bright, creative. Terribly, horribly brave.

Her friends turned back into their books and gossip easily enough but Lily looked back over to the fireplace, watched James gently stroke his hand over Remus' head before he took off his robe to cover Remus as he slept. He smiled at her before he bent over to whisper in Remus' ear, and Lily felt it--that strange, weird, wonderful rush that often swept over her when he was near. She laughed out loud and Alice raised an eyebrow at her.

"Something you'd like to share with the class, Miss Evans? Not that I can't guess."

"Only if you're willing to tell me where you were last night."

It was Alice's turn to laugh and blush, twisting the thin bit of gold that Lily knew had been given to her over the summer as a promise between them by Frank Longbottom. Lily used to envy Alice and Frank, wishing she would find that boy, that moment, that perfect love at first sight, but no more. As Alice turned back to her books, Lily stole another peek at James, unable, really, to keep her eyes off him. It hadn't been love at first sight, no, but she really wouldn't trade this feeling for anything else.


***


"All right, Moony?" James whispered as he stroked his hand over Remus' head. He was bothered by Remus' red rimmed eyes and the way his hands shook, hating to see him like this. He felt useless--powerless--and was selfishly grateful that it was Sirius who usually took on this responsibility of caring for Remus before the full. He hated that there was no way to fix this. Fix Remus.

"Where's Sirius?"

"Detention."

"Trust him."

"C'mon. He'll be back soon," James whispered and helped Remus to lift up a bit as James sat down, encouraging Remus use his thigh as a pillow. Once they were settled, James rubbed his thumb into the base of Remus' skull like he'd seen Sirius do a hundred times before, watching as Remus' eyes fell shut again and he slipped into a restless sleep.

The full moon wasn't until the next night but it seemed harder this time, especially since winter had finally and truly arrived. The grounds were covered in drifts of snow, the icy walls Hagrid's paths nearly to James' waist when he'd gone to the greenhouses earlier that day. The halls and classrooms were freezing, not even Professor Flitwick's charms seeming to be able to stop the frigid air that swirled through every chink in the mortar of the stone walls. They were all cold but Remus seemed to suffer the worst even with the thick wool socks that had started to appear by the dozen in his trunk and the new pair of boots that he'd found in place of his old patched pair. James had been a accomplice in that particular conspiracy, and Remus had been quietly furious at them both for what he viewed as charity, at least until the first ice storm hit. At least the common room's blazing fire was warm, and James felt warmer still when Lily moved to sit on the floor at his feet with her book forgotten in her lap.

It was late when Sirius finally made his way back to the Gryffindor common room, the old clock on the mantle showing just after midnight. He smelled of the Potions lab and looked rather pleased with himself when he crouched down on the floor in front of Remus and stroked his hand over his head as James had done earlier. He looked at Lily for a second, frowning when he saw he was being watched by her as well, before he pressed his lips in a brief kiss to Remus' brow and adjusted James' robe over Remus' shoulders. "Has he been asleep all night."

"Mostly," James answered, both whispering because Remus never slept heavily and certainly not in the days before the moon when sleep often eluded him completely.

"Good." Sirius touched Remus' face with gentle fingertips, tracing the scars that were finally fading away, and then smiled when Remus blinked open his eyes. They watched as he stretched, pushing James' cloak from over him, and settled on his back, his head still pillowed on James' leg. Sirius sat down on the floor next to Lily, watching carefully as Remus struggled to wake up fully.

"I didn't think Slughorn saw you pinching ingredients from his stores," James said after a while, once some straggling Gryffindors had disappeared up to their rooms with furtive looks at their Head Boy and Girl.

"I don't think he did. He got me for interfering with Regulus' pet project. He didn't believe me when I said I was just looking at it."

"Probably because you weren't."

"I just wanted to see what he was up to. I didn't do too much damage. Slughorn made me inventory the first years' cupboard."

"You did that last month."

"I think after seven years he's just run out of ideas," Remus said, slurring his words. He shook his head and scrubbed at his face with his hands before he yawned and struggled to sit up. "He used to give it some thought."

"You're awake." Sirius gathered James' robe from where it fell onto the floor and passed it over to Lily. "You didn't eat much at dinner."

"Wasn't hungry."

"Not even for this?" Sirius produced an orange from his pocket and held it up with a flourish, knowing they were a favorite.

"Where did you get it?" Remus asked, his eyes going wide. He pushed up onto his elbows and then eased himself down onto the floor to sit next to Sirius, shrugging their hands off when both James and Sirius tried to help him.

"You won't enjoy it nearly as much if I tell you," Sirius said, winking at Remus as he began to peel the fruit.

"You stole it from Slughorn, didn't you."

"He'll never miss it." Sirius batted Remus' hand away when he would reach for the orange and finished peeling it in one long strip before he held out a section to Remus. Remus ate it quickly and reached for more. James watched as Sirius gave him another fat slice before he licked at the juice dripping off his fingers and then pulled Remus' leg out straight so that it wouldn't go stiff.

"He will, actually," Lily said. "I heard him asking Hagrid about good fertilizers because his tree isn't doing well. He said it had only produced two fruits so far."

"He'll still have one, then."

"Sirius--"

"Better enjoy then," Sirius whispered, offering another slice, which Remus took more hesitantly. "If our prim Miss Evans thinks I'm going to spend the whole of our holidays in detention inventorying the first years' cupboard then you should absolutely make it worth my while."

"I didn't say that but you'll owe Remus an apology if he spends it alongside you."

"I'm rather adept at apologizing to Moony. It's almost become an art. He forgives me anything," Sirius said as he offered Remus another slice of the orange.

Remus stared at him for a long moment, his thin face sharpening with some unspoken need that made James shiver before Remus went back to looking like he always did. "Shades of my madness, I'm sure," Remus said just barely at a whisper as he took the proffered slice.

"Mad about me," Sirius teased in an off-hand way but there was no joke in the way Remus blushed and ducked his head. Then Sirius could hardly seem to help himself as his eyes widened greedily, and, as James watched, he moved to tuck a strand of hair behind Remus' ear so that he could tenderly drag his wet fingers over the curve of Remus' neck. James averted his eyes, the moment suddenly too strangely intimate to watch, but he could now see that Lily was still riveted by it--by them--and he worried what she would think and wondered if she knew--if she could tell through some woman's intuition--the depth of Sirius' affection.

"Lily--" James began in a whisper, not knowing what he was going to say but desperate to protect Sirius' secret as willingly as he would Remus'. He was saved when the portrait swung open and Peter tumbled into the common room, his books clattering to the floor before he found his footing.

"Has she gone to bed?" Peter asked, looking around the room.

"Who?"

"Never mind. What have you got there, Sirius? Is that one of Slughorn's oranges?"

"How do you know about the oranges, Pete?" James sunk back into the corner of the couch and tipped his head back, relieved to have a distraction. "Rumor has it there's only one left."

"I guess he doesn't have any now." Peter picked up his books, cramming them back into his overstuffed bag before he tossed the whole thing toward the staircase leading to their room and came to join them at the fire. "We always had one in our stocking at Christmas even though they're impossible to find. My mum always managed. We'd have a wish granted if we could peel it in one strip. I never could."

"So you stole it?"

"Marit asked me to."

"You're stealing for Slytherins?" The sound of Sirius' voice was scathing, and when James turned back to him, he found Sirius offering Remus another of the remaining slices though his eyes were on Peter.

Sirius had been furious when Peter had dumped his Hufflepuff girlfriend to start dating Astrid Flint's sister, Marit, a thin, sharp sort of a girl who had once (it was rumored) hexed another girl so badly when the girl did better than Marit on a project that the girl had to be sent home for the rest of the term. James wasn't actually sure that had happened since no one knew the other girl's name or in what house she belonged, but there was no doubt that Marit was ambitious, more so than her sister, and, if Peter was to be trusted (and he generally was in such matters, James thought) willing to go all the way, or would be soon.

"On that note," Lily said, "I'm off to bed."

"No goodnight kiss?"

"After you stood me up?" Lily shook her head gravely, and passed her hand over Remus head before she started to move away.

James grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss against her fingers. He was tempted to follow except that Sirius was looking rather murderous at the mention of Peter's current girlfriend. "I'll be more careful next time."

Lily didn't pull away but stroked her hand over his head, as she had done with Remus, smoothing where he knew his hair must be standing on end. Her green eyes were bright and fond, and James felt as though he'd done or said something particularly right. He wanted to ask her what it was that earned him that look--one that shot right through him and made him feel as though he was flying--because he'd do it again and again if he only knew. He watched her walk away, only turning back to his friends once she'd disappeared up the stairs to the girls' dormitories and Peter had flopped down beside him on the couch.

"So I take it your date went well if you've begun stealing fruit for her," James teased, nudging Peter's shoulder with his own.

"Not just any orange," Peter said to James. "It's some sort of special tree with healing powers from Alexandria or something, only Slughorn has mucked it up. I figured if it was just going to wither on the vine, yeah?"

"Exactly," Sirius said, still holding the slice out to Remus but Remus just shook his head.

"See? It's brilliant, and Marit was really excited about it, and with me, if you know what I mean. In fact, we're going out again on Friday night and I said I'd set her friend up with Sirius," Peter finished in a rush, poking the toe of his boot against Sirius' knee. "You'll go, right, only I've promised and you've got to do me this one favor."

Sirius looked up quickly, his eyes narrowing, and Peter quailed a bit against James' side at the sight of it. Remus took the opportunity of Sirius' distraction to steal another slice of orange from him without waiting and ate it quickly. Sirius leveled his look at Remus but Remus only laughed at him weakly and held out his hand for one of the last slices of fruit.

"It's the full, Peter," James said quietly, low enough so that only Peter could hear but Sirius and Remus both went still as the mention of it.

"I forgot. Sorry Moony."

"It's alright, Pete."

"I don't know how you keep up with it, mate. James gave me that lunar chart and I still can't remember half the time."

"I wouldn't mind forgetting it myself once in a while."

"Yeah, not as if you could though, right? It'd be great though. Then Sirius and me could go out tomorrow night and I could get laid instead of--"

"Instead of what, Wormtail?"

There was a dangerously sharp edge to Sirius' voice but James was looking at Remus, watching as something he couldn't quite name slid across Remus' features--guilt, maybe. Shame. Loneliness. Usually this was where James would jump in and save Peter from Sirius' temper, as he had always done in the past. Instead James kind of slumped into his seat and stared into the fire while Peter floundered, James' belated knock it off not carrying much weight but enough that when it finally came both Sirius and Peter backed down. James watched as Sirius held up another slice of the orange to Remus but Remus shook his head, done.



"C'mon. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get another for you," Sirius wheedled, his fingers dripping with the juice but Remus just gave him another weak smile and shook his head again.

"I'm really not very hungry."



"I'll take it if he doesn't want it," Peter said without much conviction and Sirius ignored him.

"Do you want to go to bed?" Sirius asked Remus, and Remus nodded. Sirius took the peel and the remaining slices and tossed them into the ashes of the fire while Peter watched. Sirius stood up and reached to take Remus' elbow, James helping him to get Remus to his feet.

"We'll be up in a bit," James said, and Sirius nodded at him as he followed Remus from the room.

"I really did just forget," Peter said, once they were alone, and sounded so dejected that James took pity on him, his own anger falling away.

"He's just tetchy before the full. You know that."

"Which one," Peter huffed out, and James didn't bother to answer. Peter stewed for a few minutes more, his arms crossed as they both stared into the fire, before he abruptly stood, startling James from his thoughts. "I got the thing we talked about."

"What thing?"

"For the prank. Marit and I took one of the passages into Hogsmeade earlier and I bought it. Do you want to see?"

"In the morning, yeah?"

"Sure." Peter sat back down again, his elbows on his knees. "You're not mad at me are you?"

"No."

"Because I'll make it up with Padfoot. I'll apologize to Remus or something."

"It'll be all right. Don't worry about it. Just give it until after the full."

Peter nodded and they both sat staring into the fire until the clock chimed half past before Peter spoke again, more quietly this time. "Do you wonder what's going to happen after we leave Hogwarts? I mean with Remus."

"It'll go on like now."

"You mean, we'll just get together during the full."

"Why wouldn't we?"

"I don't know. I mean, werewolves have to register, yeah? He'll have to register and then everyone will know."

"Do you know who's on the registry now?"

"No."

"See, it won't matter if he registers. We'll keep him safe, just like we do now."

"Do you remember what Madame Pomfrey said, about werewolves not usually living very long?"

James did but he stared at Peter's milky blue eyes for a long time. They had never talked about the things they'd heard that day, not to each other and not to anyone. The thought had been bad enough when they were twelve and hadn't known all they did now. "That was a long time ago. She didn't know anything, didn't know Remus. It was way back in second year. He didn't have us with him."

"Yeah, but what happens if--"

"Don't ever think that, Peter. Don't ever say it, especially not to Remus. Especially not to Sirius. He'll be all right, and one day there might be a cure but until then we'll keep him safe."

"But what if we can't always be with him?"

"That's never going to happen. We'll always have each other."



continued

outtakes

Comments

[mypretty-art.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I love the way you write these sweet little, seemingly in-between moments, they're so romantic. I practically swooned –

"Then Sirius could hardly seem to help himself as his eyes widened greedily, and, as James watched, he moved to tuck a strand of hair behind Remus' ear so that he could tenderly drag his wet fingers over the curve of Remus' neck."

K, I'm gonna read this more thoroughly now, as I was far too excited for high-levels of reading comprehension. XD

[escribo.livejournal.com]

:D :D I like them, too. I like to think that beneath Sirius' bravado and rebellious ways, he's a big sop (for Remus). Thanks for reading!

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Oh. BOYS. The way you snuggle together and love each other SO CLEARLY and awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

*flops arms at Peter* Go away. You're clearly on the path to evil now. *flops hands some more*

AWwwwwwwwwwwww booooooyssssssss

[escribo.livejournal.com]

See? Much better :D Of course, there's still the question of Remus' boyfriend... *inserts angst* I promise it'll be mostly painless.

Thanks for reading <3

[amuly.livejournal.com]

PFFFFFT. What boyfriend? ~.^ I don't see him here, snuggling Remus and taking care of him before full.

Yeah, color me entirely unconcerned as to who's going to win Remus' heart - or rather, who Remus will finally allow to have won his heart... (? You know what I mean :P)

[kayotica.livejournal.com]

First time commenter here. Love this fic.

But watching/reading Peter slide off to the wrong side more or less slowly ... I didn't think it would hurt so much to read it.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Hello! Hello! I'm so glad you're reading :D and I really appreciate the comment. Peter's a hard one. Sometimes I want to just slide off into AU and redeem them all but since I'm trying to stay within canon. I have to admit that it's a bit fun to point out the places where he could have gone wrong. It's one of the reasons I start writing this, to figure Peter out.

Anyway! Thanks for reading!

[oftirnanog.livejournal.com]

So wonderful. I love when James takes care of Remus too. They all care so much about each other! Lovely boys! Except Peter going all...well...Peter :( And I dearly love your James and Lily. They are so in love with each other! *hums happily and ignores canon*

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Secret? James/Remus is my secret OTP. I can't help writing them in the tiniest way possible. Besides, I see James (particularly as an adult) being one of those really affable, gregarious sorts who can't help but see the good in everyone else and loving them wholeheartedly. That's my head canon :D And Peter could have embrace that, too, but it's why I made his mum selfish and uncaring. He had two paths before him... Wow, am I rambling tonight :D

Thanks for reading! is what I mean to say, and for commenting. I'm glad this chapter made you happy while it lasts (j/k. mostly.)

[luaestrela.livejournal.com]

It's getting better and better. These loving-caring-tender-sweet moments between Sirius and Remus, James and Remus, Lilly and Remus, Lilly and James are so well written and, in my humble opinion, not soppy at all. Through the entire fic they're just right, hence so believable. And Sirius mercurial temper, his love and his anger, oh boy! It feels as if I could reach and touch it, does it make any sense? Now, Peter. I just can't believe his innocence, his 'I didn't mean, I'm sorry' game even at that point. I believe his selfishness, after all he's a teen (and aren't they all, the four of them, selfish at some level?). But even so, at 16 or 17 he should have known better.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! They are, the four of them, selfish, yes but at least Remus, James and Sirius are true with each other, loyal and truly affectionate. I can't quite write Peter sympathetically, though, even years away from his betrayal. He could have made other decisions, to die for his friends, as Sirius says.

Anyway, thank you for reading/commenting. I really do appreciate it.

[msilverstar]

You are ratcheting up the tension so well!

Sirius throwing away the last slices of precious orange rather than giving them to Peter really got to me.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[kiltsandlollies.livejournal.com]

This is really, really excellent. Sirius' simmering anger and Remus' exhaustion and pain and how awful he feels about having them go through this with him is so palpable. And Peter, such a ridiculous asshole. The thing about the orange got to me, too. And Lily walking away without that kiss was pitch-perfect. James trying to hold everything and everyone together as well was EXCELLENT. <3 this story, seriously.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think I'm most glad that you like James here. He's quickly becoming my favorite.

[purplemugwump.livejournal.com]

"But what if we can't always be with him?"

"That's never going to happen.

Aw... whenever I think about the Marauders too deeply it makes me so sad to think that they all died in the hands of Voldemort and that Remus was the last one left. I'm actually tearing up right now. Why do I do this? Anyway, back on track. That was some lovely foreshadowing, because clearly 3 years later James and Lily are killed, Sirius goes to Azkaban, and Peter is "dead". They all leave Remus in the end. Even though he is supposed to die young, he dies last. THIS IS SO UNFAIR. REMUS. I also love how Sirius takes care of Remus no matter what, and how defensive he is. I am in love with this whole entire story actually. Goodnight, and thank you.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

It makes me really sad, too. I can't think of James and Lily too hard or poor Remus suffering his transformations alone, and it's the chief reason I won't write the war. I'd have to save them all (except Peter) and make it au.

Thanks for reading/commenting!

[eprime.livejournal.com]

I'm like a broken record here: I'm so in love with your James that if I could transplant myself into fictional worlds I would totally marry him. ;) (Actually, he might be my second choice, but as far as HP goes he's number one, yeah, haha.) Also, Peter--you suck!

Loved the chapter and the outtakes you posted too! Marit and Peter bits were quite interesting.

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm a bit in love with my James, too (if I do say so myself :D ahaha)

[ohayogozaimasu.livejournal.com]

I think this chapter made my heart explode with cuteness. Sirius feeding Remus an orange will now be embedded into my mind for eternity. Too cute ><

I love how protective James is of Remus in this chapter--that he'll take over for Sirius when he needs to. Also, Sirius and Peter stopping their argument when James speaks up shows how much of a leader he is. Nice touch!

I can't wait for more! These puppies have to get together soon!

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked James here. It's a fun to let him grow up and then draw him back a bit, but I love when he's being protective of his friends.

Thank you for reading!

[ohayogozaimasu.livejournal.com]

I agree! I love watching him mature enough to make Lily fall for him. James is such an amazing character--I don't understand how some people dislike him!

[mieystrapurore.livejournal.com]

I was saving this chapter for a good time and I wasn't disappointed at all. Another great read. I loved the detail of Sirius offering the orange to Remus and Peter forgetting that it was the full. His falling out with the gang seems pretty inevitable now. Thanks again!

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading and letting me know what you thought. I really appreciate it, and I'm so glad you're still enjoying the story.

[emmaleficent.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I've finally plucked up enough courage to comment and here I am with no words in my mouth/keyboard. [insert clever remark involving Alanis Morissette and needing spoons here] I've been reading for about two months or so, I think, and HOT DAMN. This may not mean much as I never was an avid fanfiction reader before, so my frame of reference is sorely lacking, but the story and universe you've created are so, so amazing, and I have no hesitation in saying that it's the best fic I've ever read and ever have hopes of reading. (For being such a grammar snob, I'm feeling a touch of self-hatred at the length of that sentence.) I've recommended several people to read this and I've never done that with anything but a published novel. This story has absolutely become canon to me. The way you've developed the Marauders is so realistic and just perfect. The tension, the build up, the confusion, the raw emotions you've created... I can't say enough good things about this fic. I believe I'm a touch obsessed - I find myself checking for updates at least twice a day, if not more. From the time I finished reading the first entry of this story, I've had it saved in Favorites bar. I realize I'm sounding totally stalker-ish but I just really, really love this story. I hope the next installment comes soon, or I might need to actually get outside and - gasp - socialize! xD

- Emma

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Hello! I'm so glad you found the story and are enjoying it so far. Thank you so much for letting me know, too, I really appreciate that, far more than you can know. I'm sorry I'm rather slow on posting, especially this month as I've been writing fest fics! I'll hopefully get back to it really soon. Thanks again for reading!

[xkeijukainenx.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say... I've been meaning to read this forever, I read the first chapter months ago and was saving it until you'd finished but last night, I caved and started reading the whole thing. I was up til 8 am reading as fast as I could, just trying to swallow the entire story whole.

I can't even begin to describe how very much I like this story. You have clearly spent time, so much time, developing the characters so that they're about ready to jump off the page. I am completely enraptured with Sirius and his unwavering, all-consuming love for Remus, and James with his fierce loyalty, high spirits and diplomatic nature. Peter feels so real, even if he does create this horrid itch under my skin. Remus is fragile but strong and independent, and I like him best that way. It takes a lot to portray such fierce and understated courage in a character but you've really done it.

The way Sirius and Remus are fumbling towards each other, even though they clearly exist on a plane that they share only with each other and no one else, is simultaneously captivating and infuriating. I just kept holding my breath, thinking that surely the next chapter would be the one where they finally realize... but no.

I cannot wait for more of this fantastic story. If I had the time I would comment on each chapter but sadly I don't. You are a beautiful writer and I just can't wait for more. <3

[escribo.livejournal.com]

:D I'm blaming LJ for my not having seen this earlier :D Thank you! Especially encouraging as I'm writing for you in small_gift and was nervous! I love your writing so it means a lot that you've enjoyed this story of mine. That's how I feel about Remus and Sirius, too--no matter the struggles to come together, it doesn't much matter because clearly they are meant to be together no matter what. Anyway! Thank you for such a lovely comment. I'm thrilled to bits that you've found the story and enjoyed it. I hope the rest of it lives up. <3

[(Anonymous)]

This is the most incredible fic i've ever read! Actually! Thank you so much for your brilliant writing!
Arghh I love your sirius, and your remus, and your james (especially) and your peter. i just want the other three to realise what he will become, little turncoat! But you've sort of made me feel sorry for him too.
When will you be updating?

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I really appreciate the comment :D I'll be updating soonish, I hope. I'm writing for three holiday fests so those have to come first for now but after 11/28, I should be able to get back to working on this story. Thanks again for reading!

[(Anonymous)]

This is an amazing story pls update soon!

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I hope I'll be able to soon :D

[(Anonymous)]

Hello! I'm another lurker but I just had to tell you how much I love this! I think you've actually created the best account of how Sirius and Remus' feeling have developed for one another. Most fics have it like wham bam! Now they're snogging each other and others that draw it out a bit still don't feel as realistic as you've created. I love that others have noticed too and that they're subject to school gossip which sadly is still the nature of high/secondary schools everywhere. Anyway, I'm rambling! I hope you continue with this! I loooove it!

Lou x

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Hello! Thank you for such a lovely comment! I really appreciate it.

[hazelnut917.livejournal.com]

Hello! I've been reading this for the past month or so, and I just wanted to tell you how absolutely gorgeous this entire story is. You portray the closeness of Remus and Sirius' relationship so wonderfully, and it makes my heart ache for them so much. You don't leave out every little head pat, or back rub, or anything else that makes them so married, and it's so lovely and romantic and swoon worthy :) All of the characters are so brilliantly developed (and Peter- gah! I just want to smack him with heavy objects.) and the pacing is wonderful. Although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't DYING for the boys to finallyfinallyfinally get together and say they love each other, because that just needs to happen. On this chapter- BAWWWWWW ORANGE STEALING/FEEDING. I love so much that the boys look out for their Moony, and how Lily is starting to (love that girl). Except PETER just makes everything worse. Peter gtfo right now.
Anyways, slightly ranty, but I just love this story so much <3 I really, really hope you continue it! xoxo

[escribo.livejournal.com]

Hi :D Thanks for reading! The good news is you don't have to wait for the next two parts from here if you haven't found them already. They start here (http://escribo.livejournal.com/55839.html). I'm so glad you found it and even happier that you've enjoyed it. Thank you for letting me know what you've liked about it.

[hazelnut917.livejournal.com]

ASDFGHJ OFF TO READ NOW :D